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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/17): John 17:6-19

Aug17

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“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given me, for they are Yours. “ John 17:9

REVIEW – After the Passover meal and a time of intimate teaching with His disciples, Jesus then turned to His Father in prayer. What a priviledge to hear their Master pray like this, as He praised and glorified His Father and spoke of them as chosen of God and given to Jesus, and granted eternal life.

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John 17:6-13

And now, you hear Jesus as He “reports in” to His Father.

“I have manifested (made known) Your name to the people (women too, although they were not present) whom you gave me out of the world.”

“I have given them the words that You gave me, and they have recived them and have come to know in truth that I came from You, and they have believed.”

“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given me, for they are Yours.”

“I have guarded them and not one of them has been lost … except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”

(Psalm 41:9, Psalm 109:6-8 fortell Judas’ treachery. And John 13:18 reveals that while Jesus DID choose Judas, He KNEW he would be the betrayer from the beginning. See Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:19, and Luke 6:16.)

“But now, I am coming to You…” (Can you feel His eagerness to be “home”?) And Jesus prays that THEY may have His joy fulfilled in them.

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John 17:14-19. Jesus prays earnestly for the disciples (and the other believers not present in that upper room – including we who believe.)

“I have given them Your word, but the world has hated them because they are not OF the world.”

Jesus acknowledges that the situation for His followers will be hard. The world will hate and abuse them. And so, Jesus prays specifically for them (and us).

“I do not ask that You take them OUT of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.”

“Sanctify them (cleanse them and make them holy) in the truth; Your WORD is truth. As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.“

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(What joy to hear Jesus PRAYING for His disciples – all of us.

Doesn’t that give you comfort when you experience ridicule and persecution for HIS sake?.

Think: Jesus is praying for me right now, as he stands beside the Father. He is also protecting me from the devil, the evil one, who causes others to want to harm me, but also brings doubts inside to my very soul.

In a quiet moment, stop and thank Him for His love and protection, for the truth He’s given us in His word, and for the Joy He has promised as we hear and obey Him.)

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

Aug12

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“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

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“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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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/7) John 14:15-31

Aug7

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“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,” John 14:16

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – Jesus has been speaking intimately with His eleven believing disciples. They are afraid and confused at what He says – He’s leaving, they can’t come, but not to worry; He’s preparing a place for them and will come again, and they will go to Him. They have questions, but Jesus’ answers don’t help them much. He also promises that they will do MORE/GREATER “works” than He has done because He’s going to the Father. AND… that they will be able to ask the Father anything in His name and He will give it to them. Just love each other sacrificially and obey His commands!

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John 14:15-17.

Then Jesus begins to lay out some amazing promises for them. But He premises these with this truth: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

Obedience is tied firmly to love. Just like when we love our parents, we will obey them and want to please them. So with God. Obedience (without griping, as our parents would say) shows our love, PROVES our love. As our parents also would say, “Actions speak louder than words.”

Jesus told the self-assured religious leaders just that in Luke 6:46-49.

“Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and NOT DO what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and DOES them, I will show you what he is like.” Then Jesus compares the wise (obedient) man and foolish (disobedient) man who build their home foundations on different soils, and the outcomes of their choices.

NOTE: When Jesus is speaking of obedience to His commands, He is not simply saying to love one another sacrificially, and you’re done. HIS commands include the entire revelation from the Father.

  1. So, what is the first supernatural blessing Jesus promises?

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be WITH you FOREVER, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. YOU know Him, for He dwells WITH you and will be IN you.”

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John 14:18-24

2. And before they can ask more questions, Jesus assures them with the second supernatural blessing.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but YOU will see me. Because I live (again), you also will live.”

Jesus is speaking of his death, and the three days in the tomb in which they will definitely “feel” like deserted orphans. After a little while, however, they WILL see Him again, when He is resurrected. The world won’t see Him (There is no record of any unbeliever seeing Jesus after His resurrection), but THEY will. And because Jesus will be raised from the dead … so will they!

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3. Then, a wonderful third supernatural blessing, union with God.

“And in that day, you will KNOW that I am in the Father…. and YOU in Me… and I in you.” “He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to  him.”

Dear Judas (the son of James, not Iscariot) manages to get a question in.

“Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Patiently Jesus answers. “If anyone loves me (that’s you guys), he will keep my word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

“But whoever does NOT love me or keep my words (that’s the world, Judas), they won’t have My Father and Me coming to dwell in them.

Hopefully Jesus’ answer cleared up Judas’ question.

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John 14:25-31

4. Jesus promises the blessing of a supernatural teacher.

14:15: “I will give you another Helper to be with you forever.”

And now, 14:26: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will TEACH YOU all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

What a comforting promise! A holy, indwelling helper to teach them (and us) and help them remember all the things that Jesus said, demonstrated, taught, and promised! WOW!

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5. And now the blessing of supernatural peace.

“Peace I leave with you; MY peace, I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Wow. Later, the apostle Paul describes the peace that Jesus promised as: “the peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

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Jesus continues to encourage His disciples and to allay their fears and confusion. He says they should rejoice that He is going away, because He will come again.

“And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does, you may believe.“

“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on Me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”

“Rise. Let us go from this place.“

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NOTE: John doesn’t describe “The Last Supper” as the other Gospel writers do. He centers instead on the final teaching and encouragement Jesus gives to His disciples.

And although chapter 14 ended with Jesus telling them they were leaving the upper room, John will insert three more chapters of teaching, prophecy, and the final “High Priestly Prayer” by Jesus. We’ll look at them in the next 7 days of reading.

And then, with chapter 18, we’ll catch up with Jesus and the disciples as they go out across the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/5) John 13:31-38

Aug5

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“When he (Judas) had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.'” John 13:31

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – Jesus had just revealed that one of His small group would betray Him. None suspected Judas. In fact, Peter asks John to ask Jesus who it was. Jesus indicated Judas when He handed him the dipped piece of bread, but it was as if a veil was over their eyes. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have mobbed Judas and stopped him? Judas took the offered bread, and at Jesus’ “What you are going to do, do quickly,” he slipped out into the night, the devil filling his heart with darkness.

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John 13:31-33.

A moment or two after the door closed, Jesus looked up at his beloved men and said, “NOW is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”

Yes, Jesus could have dwelt on the things that were going to happen to him soon as a result of Judas’ mission. But He turned to look PAST that, to the way that both He and His Father would be glorified at His finished work on the cross (that They had planned before the world was created), after it was accomplished.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who, for the JOY that was set before Him, ENDURED the cross, DESPISING the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Then Jesus looks around at the Twelve, His men, and calls them, “little children.” Tenderly He tells them that he is going “somewhere” they cannot come.

He means His death on the cross.

Yes, almost all of them will one day face martyrdom, some on a Roman cross, but THIS death, Jesus’s death, is for the redemption of all those who will ever believe in Him. THIS death is the “wages” earned by sinful man that God pronounced in Genesis 3. It will be substitutionary, for a sinless Jesus will die in the place of every sinner who repents and believes in Him.

NO, His disciples cannot go with Jesus.

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John 13:34-35

Then Jesus gives them a NEW commandment, that He (and they) will repeat in their teaching and writings. It is:

“Love one another:

just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another.” (repeated three times!)

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What makes this a “NEW” commandment? Isn’t it already part of the two greatest commands: LOVE God and LOVE your neighbor as yourself?

Yes and no. It has the tone of the second commandment, for sure. But notice that Jesus replaces “as yourself” with “as I have loved you.”

Yes, we are to love others (our neighbors) as we love ourselves, treating others well, caring for them, sparing nothing on their welfare… but Jesus’s “as I have loved you” speaks of DYING for others. Not just giving our time, money, experience, kindness … but sacrificing our LIVES, our physical lives for others. Wow.

Yes, this will definitely reveal that those who love in this way ARE the true disciples of Jesus.

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John 13:36-38.

Then Peter – (don’t you just love him) – jumps up and asks, “Lord, WHERE are you going?”

And Jesus answers him as before, “Somewhere you can’t follow me … though you WILL follow some day.”

“Lord, why can I not follow you NOW?” And then, thinking of that new love, he says, “I will lay down my life for you!”

Jesus answers, “WILL you lay down your life for me, Peter? Truly, truly, I tell you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”

Whoa.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (7/30) John 12:20-36

Jul30

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“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32.

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – On what we now call “Palm Sunday,” Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (the picture of a peaceful king). Crowds called out Hosanna, and Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, but did they know what they were saying? Did they truly believe Jesus was their Messiah? The religious authorities were even more determined to arrest Jesus and put Him to death, jealous of his popularity, angered at His exposing their hypocrisy. The tide is going to quickly change … and Jesus knows it.

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John 12:20-26.

Interestingly, as the Jewish officials plot Jesus’ death, and the manic crowds are soon to turn their opinion against Him, some Greeks (Gentiles, probably converted to Judaism and in Jerusalem for Passover) are SEEKING Jesus.

They ask Philip, who asks Andrew, who goes to Jesus. (With this, we get just a peek of the door opening to the Gentiles, as the Jews, “His own people, receive Him not,” and the promise, “but to those who do believe and receive Him, He gave the power to become the children of God.” See John 1:11-12)

Jesus continues with the cost of following Him, starting with His own sacrifice. He compares Himself to “a grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies,” and then, as with a seed, it abides alone a certain time, but then grows and bears much fruit. (He is speaking of His own death, burial, and resurrection, which will eventually bring in a harvest of both Gentiles and Jews.)

And then Jesus turns the concept to His followers (His disciples and the seeking Gentile Greeks). “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

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I wonder if these Greeks went away satisfied with Jesus’ answer, stayed around for the horrendous happenings of the next week, heard about/saw His resurrection, and were ones of those who returned to their homes outside of Israel with the message of Salvation through Jesus. I wonder…

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John 12:27-30.

And now, the horror of what is to take place begins to hit Jesus. He will experience physical pain, yes, but greater still is the taking on of the wrath of God for the sins of the world. The SINLESS Savior!

2 Corinthians 5:21
"For OUR sake He made Him to be sin,
who knew no sin,
that in Him,
we might become the righteousness of God."

Philippians 2:5-8
"Have this mind among yourselves, 
which was in Christ Jesus, who, 
though He was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God, 
a thing to be grasped,
but,
made Himself nothing
taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men. 
And being found in human form, 
He humbled Himself 
by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross."

Hebrews 12:2
"...looking to Jesus, 
the founder and perfecter of our faith, 
who for the joy that was set before Him, 
endured the cross, 
despising the shame..."

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“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”

And a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

But the crowd heard it only as thunder or perhaps an angel speaking.

“This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself!”

Jesus said this to reveal what death He would die (crucified and lifted up on a Roman cross). But the crowd disagreed. (Can you see them beginning to turn from Jesus?) “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can YOU say that the Son of Man must be “lifted up?” WHO is this Son of Man?”

Jesus knows they don’t understand, but urges them that, “The Light is among you for only a little while longer. Walk in the light while you HAVE the light. The darkness is coming and will overtake you.”

“WHILE YOU HAVE THE LIGHT, BELIEVE IN THE LIGHT, THAT YOU MAY BECOME SONS OF LIGHT.”

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And this warning is for us today, too. Jesus will return for those who believe in Him. Waste no time. Believe in Him while you can. Walk in that Light.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (7/1) John 6:25-40

Jul1

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“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” John 6:37.

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – Jesus miraculously feeds 5000+ people with only 5 loaves and 2 fish from a boy’s lunch. All are filled, and there was enough leftover for the disciples to have their fill. The people wanted to make Jesus KING, so He would feed them for free every day. But He hides, sends the disciples back across the Sea, and after it’s dark, He walks to them (on the water). Another pair of miracles.

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John 6:25-29.

Jesus and the disciples had arrived back in Capernaum during the night via a miracle of Jesus. The crowds had waited around and, when they found Him gone, had boarded boats (or traipsed around) and arrived much later.

“Rabbi, when did you come here?‘” they asked Jesus in wonder. I think their real question might have been HOW did you come here? Jesus had walked on the water half way, got into the disciples’ boat, which was then miracously at the opposite shore. Wouldn’t that have shocked them!!

Jesus knew the reason for their anxious seeking Him. They still wanted to make Him king after that miraculous sign of multiplying the loaves and fish. But Jesus wanted them to “hunger” for Spiritual things, for Him.

“Don’t labor for the food that perishes, but rather for the food that endures to eternal life … which the Son of Man will give to you.” (What a promise!)

“What must we DO to be doing the works of God?” The people thought they were required to do some works to “earn” eternal life.

(OH, isn’t that what so many people think today. They HAVE to be good, not lie, cheat, steal, kill, and all the other commands, to be “good enough” to deserve eternal life. NOT SO! We can never be good enough. It is a gift of God that Jesus gives by His own sacrifice.)

“THIS is the work of God,” Jesus tells them. “that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

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John 6:30-34.

Believe in Jesus, the Son that God sent into the world to save the sinners whom He loved so much. Believe in that mercy and grace, and receive life everlasting. (John 3:16)

But the people are way off on another planet in their understanding. Jesus’ words of salvation go right over their heads. “Um…then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness (for 40 years!) Moses gave them ‘bread from heaven to eat.”

Had they completely forgotten how Jesus had just miraculously fed a crowd of 20,000 with one boy’s lunch???

(I would have given up on them and just walked away. But Jesus shows His love for His own people.)

“It wasn’t Moses who gave you Manna, but my Father in Heaven. My Father (now) gives you the TRUE bread from Heaven … the “Bread of God” is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Jesus is speaking of Himself.

Then, much like the Samaritan woman who sought the water that would quench her thirst forever, these people misunderstood Jesus’ words. “Sir, give us THIS bread always.”

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John 6:35-36.

“I AM the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.“

Jesus could not make that much plainer. HE was the answer to their heart’s hunger and thirst. HE was sent down by the Father to fill them and satisfy them. And yet they do not believe.

(Earlier in John 1:10, the apostle says, “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.” Paul later explains that Israel was blinded or hardened temporarily concerning Jesus, as a mercy for the Gentiles to be included in salvation. Then the nation of Israel would believe. See Romans 11:25-31)

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John 6:37-40.

This section is full of wonderful promises. Read and meditate on them!

“All that the Father gives me WILL come to me…

“And whoever comes to me I will NEVER cast out.”

“I have come from heaven NOT to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose NOTHING of all that He has given me.”

“For this is the will of my Father, that EVERYONE who looks on the Son and believes in Him, should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

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Amen! Thank You, Jesus!

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (6/19) John 3:22-36

Jun19

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“” John

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – Jesus spoke and taught Nicodemus one night and explained the wonders of new birth, true belief, and eternal life. He even gave the inquiring Pharisee a picture of how all this could happen – when He was lifted up like Moses’ serpant in the wilderness. Difficult, but Nicodemus pondered it I’m sure. And he was eventually saved. See John 7:50-51 and John 19:38-40 to see the evidence.

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John 3:22–24.

After the Passover Feast, Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem and went through the Judean countryside to the river. They remainded there, and His disciples were baptizing. John the Baptist was also baptizing, farther south where the water was plentiful, and the people were coming to him in repentance.. (In doing this, John always pointed the people to the Messiah, Jesus.)

At one point, a discussion began between John’s disciples and a Jew.. They brought their question to John. “Rabbi, He who was with you across the Jordan (Jesus), to whom you bore witness, is baptising and all are going to HIM.” In other words, we are losing our baptees.and followers.

But this was not a probllem to the humble “voice” in the wilderness.

He said, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him. The one who has “the bride” is “the bridegroom”. A friend of the bridegroom rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.“

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John 3:30-36

Then John gives a speech that is surely spirit-inspired.

“He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way,” (John). “He who comes from Heaven is above all. (Jesus the Messiah) He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one receives His testimony.

“Whoever receives His testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.”

And as John fades from the forefront, he gives an invitation to faith in Jesus.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Wow! What a testimony of truth. What a man of God. Wouldn’t you love to have heard more of his sermons before he held the baptisims? He was a preacher, and you know his words were Spirit-led, for this “invitation” is just like Jesus was preaching to Nicodemus in the previous section.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (6/18) John 3:1-21

Jun18

Read and believe in Jesus

“Truly, truly, I say unto you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – Jesus, indignant about how “His Father’s house had been turned into a marketplace, made a whip and drove out the animals, birds, the men selling them, and the moneychangers. (They simply moved their business outside the walls.) However the chief priests were angry at Jesus, for they got a cut of all the money exchanged “for the Temple,” they said (haha). They wanted to know by whose authority Jesus had done this.

Give us a “sign,” they said. Jesus told them the only sign of His authority was His own resurrection from the dead. (He’d cloaked this information in an allegory – “Destroy this temple (His body) and in three days I will raise it up.” They took it wrong, of course, and thought He meant the temple King Herod was restoring. He was crazy!)

After this, “many believed in His name when they saw the miracles He was doing,” but Jesus knew their hearts and did not trust their allegience to be genuine..”

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John 3:1-8.

But there was a man, a Pharisee, a renowned teacher of the law and member of the Jewish “Supreme Court,” the Sanhedrin, who wanted to know more about this country rabbi who spoke so forceibly and performed miracles. But this important man did not want to be seen inquiring. He might have been black-balled, even thrown out of the court. So he came to Jesus by night.

(Perhaps, Jesus was already establishing the garden on the Mount of Olives, as a place for He and His men to relax and sleep. It was quiet and private.)

Nicodemas came up to Jesus in the dim light of a torch and began his shpeal. “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” You can almost here him open his mouth to continue, but Jesus spoke first, getting right to the question that bothered this man the most.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Taken aback, Nicademas blurted out, “How can a man be BORN AGAIN when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? (Good question, Nick.)

Again Jesus emphasized the truth of what He was saying. He wasn’t joking. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is flesh is FLESH. And that which is Spirit is spirit. Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Then Jesus clarifies (and confuses) with, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. SO it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

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John 3:9-15.

Okay, now Nick is really confused. “How can theses things be?” he asks.

Jesus scolds him. Are you a teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but YOU do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe it if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And … as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that … WHOEVER believes in Him may have eternal life.”

Whoa, that was a mini-sermon that Jesus spoke to Nicodemas. 1) Who is the “we” and “our” that Jesus uses first? 2) Is Jesus declaring openly to this Pharisee that He came down from heaven? 3) Why is He comparing Himself to a serpant?? 4) And when anyone looks on Him (lifted up like Moses’ snake) and believes they will have eternal life.What does THAT mean? WOW.

  1. Jesus’ use of “we” and “our” (speaking for the Godhead) in verse 11 counters Nicodemus’s “we” in verse 2, and places the real, devine testimony of God against the flawed understanding of the Pharisees.
  2. And yes, Jesus reveals to Nicodemas that He, like the Son of Man of Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 7:13-14), has descended from heaven and has true knowledge of heavenly things.
  3. Yes, as an “picture” or simile, Jesus was saying that LIKE the bronze image of the serpant that Moses made and lifted on a pole for the people to see (in obedience to God’s instructions) and be healed … HE would be lifted up on a cross.
  4. In Numbers 21:5-9, God sent vipers to the people as a judgment on their sin. In His mercy, He told Moses to make an image of the vipers and put it high on a pole. If the people would look on the image – NOT to worship it, but in obedience and faith in God’s words – He promised them they would not die from the poison, but live. And so, those who will look on Jesus – lifted up on the cross to pay for the sins of man, and believe what God says about Him – they too will live. TAnd this time have eternal life.

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John 3:16-21.

You know this wonderful and well know verse. Say it with me and think of the wonderful sacrifice and promise God makes in it.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus came to earth to die as the judgment on the sins of man because of the great LOVE of God for His human creation. God sent His only beloved Son to be tortured, disgraced and die in the place of all who would believe (place their trust) in Him. BELIEVE that His death covers their sin once and for all… that His death gives them the righteousness they need to one day stand before a super-holy God of the universe, and not desinergrate.

Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, but in order that it might be saved through Him.

And sadly, those who reject Jesus and His work on the cross, have no chance, for they are ALREADY condemned. They love darkness instead of that Light that has come into the world. And why? Because their deeds (thoughts, speech) was evil, and Light shows that up, and they would stand … EXPOSED.

Not so, those of the Light. They eagerly come to the light to show what God has worked in them.

"This is the message we have from Him and proclaim to you, 
that God is light and in Him is no darknesses of all.
If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness,
 we LIE, and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, 
we have fellowship with one another, 
and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:5-7

Reading the Gospels in 2026: (6/9) Luke 24:13-35

Jun9

A five-day-per-week study

June 9 – Luke 24:13-35

Read and believe in Jesus.

“Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32

The Gospel according the Luke.

REVIEW – Jesus was resurrected early on the first day of the week (Sunday). A group of women came to do a thorough job of annointing His body with spices and ointments. (Joseph was hurried on Friday when he placed Jesus’ body in his tomb because it was almost the Sabbath.) /But the women found the tomb empty. Then a pair of angels appeared. One asked them the most amazing question. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” He told them to remember what Jesus had said about rising from the dead. The women ran to tell the disciples, who pooh-poohed their account. But … after they left, Peter (and John) ran to the tomb to find it exactly as the women had said.

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Luke 24:13-24.

Later on the same day, when the women and the apostles received the good news that Jesus had risen, we meet two more of the Master’s disciples. They were returning home from Jerusalem to Emmaus after Passover. One was named Cleopas (possibly the husband of one of the Marys who stood at the cross, see John 19:25).

As they walked, they talked about everything that had happened in Jerusalem that week: 1) Jesus’ triumphant entry on a donkey, 2) His amazing teaching, 3) His arrest, trial, and ultimate horrible crucifixion, with the darkness and earthquake, 4) Joseph’s merciful act of burial, and then 5) the news about His resurrection. It was all just too much to take in.

As they walked, a man joined them on the road. Jesus kept His identity from them as they went, listening, then questioning what they were talking about.

They stopped, amazed, and Cleopas asked, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?“

“What things?” Jesus asked them, urging them on.

“Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. We had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel! And now, some of the women amazed us, saying they saw a vision of angels who said that He was alive!

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Luke 24:25-27.

“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” said Jesus tenderly. “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?

And beginning with Moses (five books of the Law) and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in ALL Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

(Some of the Scriptures would have included an explanation of the sacrificial system, with its offerings and death. He would have pointed them to the prophetic passages that spoke of crucifixion, like Psalm 16, 22, and 69, Isaiah 52-53, Zechariah 12-13, and even explained such passages as Genesis 3:15, Numbers 21:5-9, Psalm 16:10, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Daniel 9:26, as well as many more.)

OH, WOULDN’T YOU HAVE LOVED TO HEAR THAT TEACHING AS THEY WALKED ALONG? This is why we should study the Old Testament too. It’s rich in the things that point to Jesus.

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Luke 24:28-32.

When they came to their house in Emmaus, Jesus acted as if he would travel farther, but they urged Him strongly to stay with them for the night. Jesus agreed.

When he was at the table with them, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. (OH, that must have seemed SO familiar!!) And at that minute, Jesus “opened their eyes to recognize Him.” And then He vanished.

Amazed, cheered, and with more understanding of all the events as they finished the simple meal, they said over and over, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”

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Luke 24:33-35.

And they got up that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the Eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two from Emmaus told what had happened along the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

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What a time of rejoicing that must have been. Jesus really was alive. And those who hadn’t witnessed His appearing yet longed for it to happen to them too. (And it would soon.)

Oh, and don’t you know that special appearance to “Simon” (not Peter) was surely a sweet time, when the distraught disciple who had denied his Lord three times, as predicted, was tenderly assured that he was still Jesus’ own sure possession. Such grace. Such love.