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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/1): John 20:19-29.

Sep1

Read and Believe in Jesus

“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

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REVIEW – Jesus has risen from the dead. God is satisfied that Jesus has opened the WAY for sinful mankind to be saved. His beloved Son has obeyed to the last detail. Now there is only the regathering of His scattered disciples, their assurance, and their commissioning for their future work, and then His ascension.

The women were the first to hear the good news. Then Peter and John witnessed the empty tomb and believed. Mary Magdalene saw the Master with her eyes and heard Him speak to her. Now Jesus will appear to and encourage more of His disciples in Jerusalem before going to Galilee.

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John 20:19-23.

On the evening of that first day (Sunday), when the disciples were still hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews (Would they arrest THEM as well?), Jesus came to them, right through the walls.

He stood before them and necessarily said, “Peace be with you,” because they were obviously terrified.

(Yes, back in Galilee, they thought He was a ghost when He came walking to them on the water, but this was different.) He looked like the Jesus they knew, but He also didn’t. And how did He get inside their house? No one had opened the door.

(From the account of the two men on the way to Emmaus when Jesus joined in their walk, we know that Jesus could keep His identity hidden and reveal it whenever He chose. He could also vanish at will. See Luke 24:15-16 and 30-32.)

To calm and assure His anxious disciples, Jesus showed them His hands and His side, as proof that He really HAD BEEN crucified. The bloodless wounds were still very visible. They were shocking, but they also reassured the disciples, and the men could finally relax and be GLAD to see their Lord.

Again Jesus spoke peace to them, and then He commissioned them to the work that He himself had begun – to spread the Good News, first to His people, and eventually to the entire world. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

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(Luke’s account reads, “Then He opened their eyes to understand the scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”)

(Matthew’s familiar account reads, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…'”)

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John 20:24-25. Sadly, Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them. We know from earlier scriptures that he loved Jesus as much as the others, but he feared losing Him. So when Jesus spoke of His death, he didn’t want to “hear” it. Possibly, he was off by himself, tucked into a ball of intense grief. And so when he heard the account of the others seeing and talking with Jesus, he just couldn’t believe it.

And then, that famous proclamation: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side … I will never believe.”

(I wonder how often, later, he cringed when he thought of those words.)

But Jesus knew just how to deal with this hurting disciple (no more rebellious than Peter!!). Eight days later – oh, what a long time for Thomas to wait! – Jesus came and stood among them again – the doors still being locked.

“Peace be with you,” he said to all of them, and then to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. (Thomas’ exact words) “Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

And Thomas’s overpowering, debilitating grief collapsed. “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/31): John 20:11-18.

Aug31

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“I have seen the Lord!” John 20:18

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REVIEW – Mary Magdalene and a few other women went to Jesus’ grave early Sunday morning with burial spices, not realizing that Joseph and Nicodemus had already prepared Jesus’ body. Mary was ahead of the group, eager to arrive, and perhaps more emotional. She saw the stone rolled away from the tomb and assumed the worst.

Leaving the other women (who would see angels and hear the good news), Mary ran to where Peter and John were, carrying the message, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid Him.”

Shocked at her words, both Peter and John ran to see if it was true. Both entered the tomb and saw the niche or shelf where Jesus had lain; only HE was not there. The grave clothes and head napkin lay collapsed as if Jesus had vanished through them. John “believed” that He’d been resurrected, but didn’t understand that the resurrection was part of the salvation plan.

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John 20:11-13.

While Peter and John returned home, Mary slowly, and weeping all the way, walked back to the garden where Jesus’ open tomb was.

By this time, the other women had taken the message the angels gave them (“Jesus has risen! Tell the disciples, and Peter, that He’s going ahead of them to Galilee and they will see Him there.“)

Mary stood outside the tomb for a moment, weeping, and then stooped down to look inside. Then she saw the two angels the other women had seen. “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked her.

Blindly she answered, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him!”

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John 20:14-16.

Before the angels could speak to her, Mary straightened up and turned away from the grave, weeping even more profusely, perhaps with her face hidden in her scarf.

“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” said a figure before her.

Mary glanced up, supposing him to be a gardener, and cried out, “Sir! If you have carried Him away, please tell me where you have taken Him, and I will take Him away!”

And then that one word…. “Mary.”

(IMO, Jesus said her name with a light chuckle and a big smile, full of love and tenderness for this distraught but faithful disciple.)

However you imagine Jesus speaking to her, Mary immediately recognizes His voice when He says her name.

“Rabboni!” she cried out, which means “my Master!” in Aramaic.

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John 20:17-18.

Jesus then, almost immediately, says to Mary, “Do not cling to me…”

Perhaps she has fallen at his feet, holding them, her tears wetting them. Perhaps she would even dry them with her hair, as she had done one time, when Jesus was dining with a rich Pharisee.

At that incident, Jesus told the pious man, “The one who has been forgiven much, loves much.” (Mark 16:9 says that Jesus had cast out seven demons from Mary, so she must have “loved Him much.”)

But Jesus prevents her from clinging to him, hoping to keep Him on earth forever, as He has been until His death. Jesus tells her that His ascension back to Heaven to His Father is coming soon. He has only 40 days, and then He will go to the Father and send back the Holy Spirit to be with and in them.

Jesus also wants her to deliver a message to His disciples. “Go and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'”

And Mary obeys her Master.

Canceling the panicked message she gave them before (“They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have laid Him!”), she now says confidently and joyfully, “I have seen the Lord.”

Mary was a messenger for Jesus, a sent one, or ‘apostle’ if you will. She was ‘an apostle to the apostles’, with that glorious message: HE LIVES.

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Alfred H. Ackley, 1887-1960

Verse 1
I serve a risen Savior,
He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy,
I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.

Verse 2
In all the world around me,
I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary
I never will despair;
I know that He is leading
Through all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing
Will come at last!

Verse 3
Rejoice, rejoice, oh Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to
Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him,
The help of all who find,
None other is so loving,
So good and kind!

Chorus
He lives, He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart!
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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/27): John 19:38-42.

Aug27

“Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly… Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night… took the body of Jesus…” John 19:38a, 39a, 40a.

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REVIEW – After Jesus was crucified, his clothing was divided out, and His mother was given into the care of His beloved disciple; Jesus knew it was time for Him to die. He asked for something to moisten His tongue (“I thirst.”), and after they brought him vinegar-wine on a sponge, He cried out, “IT IS FINISHED.” His life, but also His mission, His work for which He was sent… all was accomplished. He had perfectly fulfilled the “plan of salvation” devised way before the earth ever existed. And then He had – of His own accord – given up His spirit of life.

The pompous religious leaders, “floating on air” at what they had accomplished, now, in false piety, went to Pilate to ask that the victims be killed quickly and their bodies removed, for it was coming up to the high holy Passover Sabbath and they didn’t want such “uncleanness” to be seen.

The heart-hardened soldiers did their leg-breaking deed until they came to Jesus. Seeing he was already dead, one thrust his spear into Jesus’ chest cavity to make sure. It was only left now to lower the crossbeams and take off the dead bodies.

John attested to this, as a truthful eyewitness, and stated the Scriptures that these actions fulfilled.

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John 19:38.

Another disciple (or two) was present besides John at the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Both were “secret” followers. Joseph, from the town of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, also knew the importance of removing the bodies from the crosses before sundown. He hurriedly went to Pilate and asked for permission to take away Jesus’ body.

Mark 15:43-45 tells us that Pilate was surprised Jesus was dead so soon and sent a Centurion to make sure. When the affirmative report came back, Pilate released Jesus’ body to Joseph.

Luke 23:50-51 describes Joseph as “He was a respected member of the Council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the Kingdom of God.”

John is the only Gospel writer who mentions Nicodemus. He told about the teacher (a Pharisee) from the Council who came to Jesus by night, with questions about the Kingdom. Jesus told him he had to “be born again of the Spirit.” All this time, Nicodemus must have been contemplating Jesus’s words. John 7: 50-53 says he tentatively stood up for Him in the Council while Jesus still taught in the Temple. Nicodemus was harrassed for it.

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John 19:39-42.

Now, close to sundown, we see Nicodemus come with Joseph to care for Jesus’ body. Joseph was wealthy, we know, for he had a private family tomb newly hewn in the rock in the garden near Golgotha. And now we see Nicodemus as equally wealthy, bringing a large amount of burial spices and ointments to bind Jesus’s body for burial.

Together, they wrapped His body in linen strips, packed with spices, and gently laid it on the platform in Joseph’s tomb. Then they rolled the great stone across the opening to seal it and to keep animals and humans from desecrating the body.

Then the Sabbath rest descended on Jerusalem, as Jesus’ body lay in the tomb.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/26): John 19:28-37.

Aug26

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said, ‘I thirst.’ And then… ‘It is finished.'” John 19:28 & 30

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REVIEW – Jesus was taken to Golgotha and crucified with two others. His crime was listed on a board over His head: ‘King of the Jews’. The soldiers divided His clothing and bargained for His tunic. Four women looked on in grief, including Jesus’ mother, Mary. The beloved disciple – alone among the eleven – also stood nearby. With compassion and duty, Jesus committed the care of His mother to John.

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John 19: 28-30.

Between the four gospel accounts, seven “words” or sayings were spoken by Jesus. John, however, mentions only three.

Towards the end of the three hours, when Jesus hung on the cross (in darkness, according to Luke 23:44), He managed to say in a raspy voice, “I thirst,” and some sour wine on a hyssop branch was brought to Him and held to His mouth.

(Sour wine, or ‘vinegar,’ would cause any amount of saliva left in His mouth to rush in and make speech possible. This was different from the ‘wine mixed with myrrh’ in Mark 15:23 that was offered to Him at the beginning. That drink was used to deaden the senses, and it kept the victims from struggling while the soldiers nailed them to the cross. Jesus had refused that “drug.”)

After Jesus drew the sour wine into His mouth, He said, “It is finished!” Then He lowered His head and died.

Both Mark’s and Matthew’s accounts reveal that this was said in a LOUD voice, like a shout of victory, which it was. Jesus had completed His work of salvation that His Father sent Him to do. His horrific death showed the visual results of sin in the world.

His visible pain and agony made plain what is due to each and every person who has ever lived, sinners all, unless they believe that Jesus – the sinless, undeserving-of-punishment Savior – has died in their place.

God had told Adam and Eve that if they disobeyed and sinned, they would “surely die.” And they did, physically. But they believed the promise that the coming “seed of woman” would accomplish victory over sin and death and allow them to live spiritually. That “seed” was Jesus.

And as we will see, God accepted the substitutionary death of His perfect, sinless Son, in the place of all who will believe, and RAISED Jesus back to life. THAT was the proof that God was satisfied, and we’ll read about it in a couple of days.

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John 19:31-37.

This next part seems to add cruelty on top of cruelty. In order to keep their Kosher Laws of cleanness for the upcoming Sabbath Day, those insensitive, self-righteous, murderous Jewish officials came to Pilate and asked that the deaths of the crucified criminals be “hurried along a little” so the bodies wouldn’t still be there on their holy day.

Okay, a quicker death might be preferable, but the means was horrific. Crucifixion mainly killed by asphyxiation. As they weakened, the victims had to push up with their feet to draw air into their lungs. That would be impossible if their legs were broken, and they would soon be unable to breathe and would die.

This is what the Jews were asking Pilate for.

So, soldiers were sent to Golgotha to swing a club and crush the shin bones of the three “criminals.” (Imagine the screaming and then gasping for air!)

But mercifully, Jesus was already dead. And that is how God planned and prophesied it would happen.

1) Isaiah had prophesied that “no bones would be broken” on the Lamb of God. (See Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12)

2) It was also prophesied that the Messiah would be pierced. See Zechariah 12:10).

3) And most importantly, Jesus ‘gave up His own life’ at the moment HE chose. He had said, ‘No man would take His life, but that HE would lay it down.’ That is what he did when HE “bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

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Instead, the soldier did something else to “prove” death. He rammed his spear up into Jesus’ chest cavity below His ribs. Immediately, blood AND WATER poured out.

Yes, it is sentimental to say that ‘Jesus died of a broken heart,’ but what the blood and water actually proved was that the blood and fluid around His heart and lungs were already mixing. The experienced-in-crucifixion soldier would know at once that Jesus was dead.

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Then John adds his personal testimony about Jesus’s death and quotes the Scriptures. (Remember HE was there. He knows what happened, and he tells us the truth… so we might believe.)

“For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: ‘Not one of His bones will be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They will look on Him whom they have pierced.'”

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/25): John 19:17-27.

Aug25

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“And they took Jesus and led Him away, and He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called Golgotha, where they crucified Him.” John 19:17-18.

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REVIEW – Jesus has been in the custody of the Roman Governor, Pilate, who has handled Him like a “hot potato,” fearful of offending the Jews, fearful of offending Heaven, and fearful of offending Rome. He did not want to sentence this Nazarene to death – he found no fault in Him at all.

He suggested Barabbas instead. He appealed to the Jews’ sympathy by torturing Jesus, but the crowd, urged on by its religious leaders, refused both options. Pilate felt squeezed in a vice. Jesus himself did not even beg for mercy.

Pilate finally gave in and signed the order for Jesus’ execution.

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John 19:17-22.

Isaiah 53:7 – “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”

The Roman soldiers took Jesus to the place of execution, a hill from where all passersby could view the results of crime and be deterred. Golgotha was a place that even looked like a skull.

There they nailed Jesus, the sinless and beloved Son of God, the only way to the Father, the Truth and the Life … to a blood-stained wooden cross. Two other fellows, true criminals, were crucified with Him and hung on His right and left.

Pilate, in a last jab at his Jewish tormentors, wrote the sign that was placed above Jesus’ head on the cross. It was supposed to list the offender’s crimes so people would be warned. But no crime was assigned to Jesus. He wrote in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek:

“Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

The chief priests went to Pilate. “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said I am King of the Jews!'”

But Pilate dug in his heels and said, “What I have written, I have written.”

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John 20:23-24.

So common was crucifixion at that time that the four soldiers who had nailed these men to crosses hardly took notice of their deed or the suffering above them. They had stripped Jesus, and custom said His clothes now belonged to them.

They divided His clothes (outer garment, belt, sandals, and head covering) among themselves, then argued over who would get His tunic. It was woven in one piece, and to cut it up would spoil it. Instead, they took out the “lots” and gambled who would get it.

Psalm 22:18: “They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

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John 19:25-27.

Also nearby, standing at Jesus’ cross, were four women who looked up at Him and sorrowed. Mary, Jesus’ mother, was devastated to see her Son in such horrible pain and suffering.

(I wonder if she remembered the words of the righteous and devout old man, Simon, when they had brought baby Jesus to the temple to be dedicated: “a sword will pierce your own soul.”)

Beside her, supporting her, were Mary’s sister, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John, the “beloved disciple,” also stood nearby.

When Jesus saw them, He struggled to speak. “Woman, behold, your son!” And then to John, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour John took her to his own home and cared for her.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/21): John 18:28-60

Aug21

Read and believe in Jesus

“I find no guilt in Him.” John 18:38b

REVIEW – Jesus, inside the house of Annas and observed by John, answers plainly a question by the former high priest. ‘I taught openly in synagogues and the Temple; if you want to know what I said, ask all those people.’

A guard didn’t like that answer and slapped Him, a foretaste of greater abuse to come. Annas decided to send Jesus to his son-in-law, Caiaphas. As Jesus was led there, He was able to see Peter in the courtyard, openly and vehemently denying he was a follower of Jesus – for the third time.

The rooster crowed, stunning Peter, but realizing Jesus’ presence sent him into the night, weeping.

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John 18:28-32

NOTE: John skips the mock trial with Caiaphas, but Mark 14:55-64 gives us a glimpse.

1) First, many false witnesses spoke against Jesus, but they couldn’t seem to agree with each other (and the LAW says 2 or 3 witnesses MUST agree).

2) Some claimed they heard Jesus say that He would destroy the Temple and rebuild it Himself in three days, but even here, no two could agree exactly.

3) Caiaphas stood up and demanded, “Have You no answer to make against these men who testify against you?!” But Jesus looked at him, His mouth firmly closed.

4) Finally, Caiaphas asked, “Are YOU the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

And Jesus responded, “I AM.” This caused chaos in the chambers, and in a great show of pious horror, Caiaphas tore his gorgeous priestly garments.

5) “What further witnesses do we need?” He asked the 70 members of the Sanhedrin. “You have heard His blasphemy. What is your decision?”

They all condemned Jesus and called for His death.

6) Some members spit on Jesus. Others covered His face, hit Him, and taunted Him by saying, “Prophesy who hit you!” Given license from these actions, the Temple guards began beating Jesus with their fists.

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And we pick up with John 18:28…

“Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s headquarters. It was early morning.”

Now why would they do that? Several reasons.

It was Passover. They had a “criminal” that they wanted executed, but this was a high holy day. They were ceremonially “clean” so they could take part in this holy day. Stoning someone to death would make them ceremonially “unclean” for at least a week.

Second, for a person as well known as Jesus, the Romans would demand the right of execution. And, presumably, the Jews could not kill someone for breaking the law because they were a nation under Roman control.

And lastly, it was prophesied that the Messiah would not be stoned to death, but would be “lifted up on a pole, or tree,” which pointed to the Roman form of execution. (See Psalm 22:16 and Deuteronomy 21:23.) Later, in Acts 7, however, we see this religious group stoning Steven to death, a believer in Christ,

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And so we see the accusing Jews standing “outside” the Roman headquarters (to “stay clean” for Passover). Governor Pilate was used to these Jewish customs and came outside.

“What accusation do you bring against this man?” A logical question for a “judge,” even today.

“If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered Him over to you.” They said.

Yes, yes. Pilate knew these Jews well and turned to go back inside. “Take Him yourselves and judge Him by your own law.”

“But, but… it is not lawful for us to put anyone to death!”

This caught Pilate’s attention.

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John 18:33-38a.

Pilate went inside and sat down, calling for Jesus to be brought to him.

“Are You the King of the Jews?” he asked Jesus, looking at his somewhat battered appearance.

“Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say this about me?” Jesus asked boldly. Was Pilate’s heart open to the Gospel, or was he speaking only as a judge?

“Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”

“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” replied Jesus, explaining more to this Gentile ruler than to His fellow Jews.

“So…. You ARE a king?”

“You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world — to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate throws down his quill and rises. ” What is truth?”

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John 18:38-40.

Outside in front of the Jewish leaders and the growing crowd, Pilate announced, “I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release the King of the Jews?”

But instigated by the Jewish officials, the crowd cried out, “NOT THIS MAN, but Barabbas!”

Now Barabbas was a robber. (He was also a terrorist, an insurrectionist, and a murderer.)

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/18): John 17:20-26

Aug18

Read and believe in Jesus

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who WILL BELIEVE IN ME through their word.” John 17:20

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REVIEW – Jesus continued to pray for His disciples (including those believers not in the upper room, and women followers too). Jesus emphasized that these believers belonged to God first, and that God gave them to Jesus (as a reward for his work on the cross).

Then Jesus asked His Father to “keep them in His name” after He leaves the world. He also asks the Father to “keep them from the evil one.” And He prays that God will “sanctify them.” (Remember, Jesus is praying this for US BELIEVERS too.)

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John 17:20-26.

And then that wonderful verse that shows that Jesus was thinking and praying for YOU and me, while He knelt in the upper room among the eleven disciples.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may ALL be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in us … so that the world may believe that You have sent me.”

Our unity with fellow believers in the love of Jesus and the Father helps unbelievers see that Jesus really is the Christ, the Savior of the world.

Jesus said in chapter 15 that the world will know we are Christians (believers in Christ) because of our love for one another. Now He says that our love and unity with each other and with Him is what will stir up a hunger for faith in the people around us.

“Then Jesus shows His eagerness for all His disciples to one day be with Him in heaven, ‘to SEE My glory that You have given me because You loved me before the foundation of the world.”

Wow, if Jesus is so eager for US to be with Him in heaven, how much more should OUR hearts long for Him, and for “that day.” (Even so, LORD, come quickly!)

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Then Jesus summarizes His prayer in the last two verses of chapter 17, emphasizing the strong connection between God, Himself, and all true believers in both knowledge and love.

“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know You, but I know You. And these disciples KNOW that You have sent Me.”

“I made known Your name to them, and I will continue to make it known.”

“May the love with which You have loved Me be in them, and I in them.”

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(AMEN!)

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/14) John 17:1-5

Aug14

Read and believe in Jesus

“And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 15.3

The Gospel according to John

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REVIEW – Jesus seemed to speak in riddles to the disciples. “In a little while” this, and in another “little while” that. Some of the disciples asked, “What does He mean?” and “What is He talking about?” Jesus had already referred to His death and resurrection, when they would be sad, but the world would rejoice, and then the opposite when He lived again. But now Jesus tells them about a longer period without Him, for He would be returning to Heaven to His Father. BUT! He would send the Holy Spirit in His place, who would be in them ALL, to help, teach, comfort, and empower. He assured them that their joy would be full! And He WOULD return!

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John 17:1-5.

And then the teaching was finished, and Jesus lifted His eyes to Heaven to pray. He knew their hearts and minds were in turmoil, and He wanted to pray for them. He began by speaking to His Father in an intimate communion of mutual knowledge and praise.

“Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.

“And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

“I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.”

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Such intimate prayer between Father and Son. It makes me want to kneel and bow in their presence.

You can feel the bond that they had before the world was created, united as One in the pre-knowledge of the Fall and man’s separation. They were also united in one plan: the redemption of mankind through the willing sacrifice of the Son, and the grace and mercy of the Father as He chose His redeemed and drew them to the Savior, with the Holy Spirit convicting and giving the needed faith.

You can also feel Jesus’ eagerness to be back with His Father. And so, “for the joy set before Him, He would endure the cross” and all that led up to it.

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Jesus’ prayer will continue in the next reading.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/12) John 16:1-15

Aug12

Read and believe in Jesus

“I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away,” John 16:7a

The Gospel according to John

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REVIEW – Jesus turned from the comforting picture of His disciples being grafted into Him like branches on a vine, drawing their life and vigor from Him, and producing fruit for the vinedresser, the Father. In an abrupt change, Jesus turns to the “wild boars” of the world who will try to root up and destroy the vineyard… and the disciples, because of Him.

They are to expect hatred and persecution from the world for their witness. The world hates God and hates His Son whom He sent. How much more will they hate the Son’s ambassadors!

But they will have a “Helper” whom the Father will send. This powerful, indwelling “Spirit of Truth” will help the disciples in their witnessing, despite threats of death.

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John 16:1-5.

(1) “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.”

These are the warnings Jesus gave in the previous chapter. They will be hated and persecuted for Jesus’ sake and for their witness about Him. “Falling away” doesn’t mean losing their salvation and heavenly reward, but more of being trapped into silence in their witness; not knowing what to say about the attacks. Jesus is forewarning them, so they will have “weapons” to fight that fear and doubt.

Further, Jesus is telling them that the disciples can also expect to be “put out of” their synagogues (excommunicated) because of their testimony.

And here, Jesus adds a terrifying thought: that some “will even kill you and think they are doing service to God.”

Wow!

But, you know, if you have studied the book of Acts and the letters of Paul, he himself was one of those who would mercilessly persecute and kill believers, thinking he was doing God a service, since he believed Jesus was a blasphemer and they were corrupting the worship of the One Creator God.

(2) “But I have said these things to you, that when ‘their hour’ comes, you may remember that I told them to you.”

What is Jesus talking about here when He says “their hour”?

If you compare Luke 22:53, you’ll see that there is a time for all things. In that verse, Jesus told His accusers that He had been in the Temple daily, teaching, but they had never come after Him then to arrest Him. But now, in a dark and lonely Garden, with no public witnesses, they had come. It was “their” hour.

The disciples would also experience a time when the authorities acted according to their own reason and timing. Be on guard.

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John 16:5b-11.

(3) “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going away to Him who sent me.”

While Jesus was on earth and with the disciples, He could protect them from the hassles and harassment that He got from the religious leaders.

In fact, in the Garden, when He was being arrested, Jesus showed one final way that He was protecting them. He asked the guards whom they were seeking. When they said, “Jesus,” then He told them to let His disciples go. (Read John 18:7-9)

With Jesus back in Heaven with the Father, who would “protect” His little lambs? In 14:18, He promises them ‘I won’t leave you as orphans.” Now He’s telling them AGAIN how that is possible.

“It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.”

Jesus promises to ask His Father to send the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, to come and not only be “with” His disciples, but to be “in” them.

And this mighty Spirit of Truth will CONVICT the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment. (In other words, He will “HELP” the disciples (and Jesus’ witnesses down through the ages) in their witness, testimony, and ministry for Christ.

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John 16:12-15.

The clock is ticking towards Jesus’ “hour,” and Jesus has more to tell them, and He still wants to pray. But He, as well as believers today, can rest confidently that the Holy Spirit will be His and our helper in all things.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.

“He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Jesus so wants to instill confidence and trust in the disciples for the Holy Spirit. They have been so close to Jesus for the last three years, and now, they hear He is leaving them. But Jesus tells them that the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, is part of God too.

“All that the Father has is mine (Jesus); therefore I said that He (the Spirit) will take what is mine (Jesus) and declare it to you.”

“No worries, my dear disciples. Just wait and see! And remember what I’m telling you!”

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/10) John 15:1-17

Aug10

Read and believe in Jesus

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide,” John 15:16

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – Jesus is privately teaching his precious eleven disciples in the upper room. The time is short, and He has much to say. He emphasizes their loving Him and each other sacrificially. He stresses obedience to His words. He promises the Spirit of Truth, who will come and be with and live in them forever. He promises them extraordinary peace in the unknown things to come, and answers their prayers. And although He is going to die, He promises to see them (and only the believers) again when He is resurrected.

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John 15:1-9.

And now, Jesus teaches those promises in an extended metaphor. Many times He has used agriculture in His teaching, mostly because that’s what the common people knew. Also, Jewish people were very familiar with the picture of “the Vine.”

The Old Testament scriptures used “the vine” to picture Israel.

Read Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5, if you can.

The Lord brought this “vine” out of Egypt, prepared a fertile place for it to be planted, cultivated, fed, protected it, and expected good grapes and delicious wine from it. Instead, it (Israel) brought forth sour grapes, bitter grapes, and let herself be overridden by boars and trampled. So the Lord let this vineyard fall into ruin.

But NOW, Jesus says that HE is the true “vine” chosen by His Father, the “vinedresser.” And the Father sees that it bears fruit by cutting away the dead branches (like Judas) and aggressively pruning the ones that remain (true believers) so they produce more “fruit of righteousness.” (Read Galatians 5:16-26)

Jesus tells the disciples how they can be fruitful branches. (NOTE: They are “already clean” by the Word Jesus spoke to them, vs 15:3.) But now, they must “abide” or “remain” in Him, to “stay around” and allow Him, by His Spirit, to abide in them.

It’s leaning on Him, trusting in Him, allowing Him to do His work of pruning, loving Him and others, and obeying His commands. This is what produces strong branches, fit for bearing heavy yields of fruit.

Oh… and remembering that apart from Him – doing things on our own, in our own wisdom and strength – we can not even produce a single withered raisin.

Jesus says that the Father is glorified when we bear the fruits of righteousness and of testimony. Bearing fruit proves that we are indeed His children, disciples of His Beloved Son. “And as the Father has loved Jesus, so Jesus loves us.”

“ABIDE, stay, IN MY LOVE.”

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John 15:10-11. And Jesus tells us how.

“If you keep my commandments, you WILL abide in my love, JUST AS I HAVE kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

Abiding in Jesus’ LOVE is simply OBEYING Him.

And Jesus is the perfect example, having done (and will do ) ALL that the Father has ordained. And what is the outcome? No, not drugery, defeat, depression, but … JOY. It gave Jesus joy to obey His Father (even to die), and He wants this joy to be in His disciples too.

Yes, sometimes, it’s hard to obey. “Give your life for the cause of the Gospel. Give your money, your keys, your car, your home, your children to the LORD, for His use. Give it all. Take up your cross, and simply follow Jesus.

Joy?

Yep, if done in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.

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John 15:12-17

And Jesus says we are His FRIENDS if we do what He commands us. Friends, not slaves. Intimate friends. Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.”

And “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Yes, Jesus was speaking to his chosen disciples from Galilee, but as we’ll see in chapter 17:20-21, He is speaking to true believers down through the years too.

“These things I command YOU, so that you will love one another.”

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