Category: John Devotionals

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John Devotionals

Walking in grace

Following Jesus

[Jesus] told him, “Follow me.” (John 21:19)

John 21 has many similarities to Luke 5:1-11.

One that really struck me this morning was that in both stories, Peter recognized his own failings and sinfulness. And each time, Jesus still said, “Follow me.”

Peter started his faith journey walking in grace. Three years later, he was still walking in that grace. And he would continue to do so until the day he met Jesus face to face once more.

We too are on a journey. Like Peter’s, our journey starts by grace. And it continues each day by grace.

We’re not perfect. Our love for Jesus isn’t perfect either. But despite that, Jesus still says, “Follow me.”

So let’s not get discouraged by our own sins, weaknesses, and failings. Let’s simply keep our eyes on him and follow.

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John Devotionals

Peace be with you

Jesus and disciples

Peace be with you. (John 20:19)

That was a pretty common greeting in those days and still is among Jews.

But was that all it was? Considering Jesus said it twice, I’m kind of thinking not.

The disciples were in hiding, afraid of the future. And even Jesus appeared to them, how much angst did they have because they had failed him.

But Jesus said, “Peace be with you. I’m here. And despite your failings, I accept you.”

He then sent them out to bring his peace to people without it.

But it’s hard to bring peace into people’s lives if we don’t have God’s Spirit of peace living in us. And so he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus wants to send you out too.

But do you have peace yourself? Or are you constantly worried about the future? Are you constantly worrying about what God thinks of you?

Remember: Jesus looks at you, and says, “Peace be with you.”

Jesus has already given you his Spirit. Not a spirit of fear, but one that cries out with us, “Abba, Father.”

We have peace with God now. (Romans 5:1, 5; 8:15)

So rest in his peace. And let’s take that peace out to those living without it.

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John Devotionals

He prays for us 

Jesus praying

I pray for them. (John 17:9)

For some reason, those words stood out to me this morning.

Jesus prayed for his disciples.

Jesus prayed for us. (John 17:20)

And even now, he continues to do so. (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25)

He prays for our protection. (John 17:15)

He prays that we would know and live by God’s truth. (John 17:17)

He prays that we would know him and the Father more intimately. And he prays that as our relationship with God deepens, that our relationship with one another would also deepen. (John 17:21-23, 26)

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. How much more intimately does Jesus pray for those he loves?

We often say, “Jesus loves me.”

But today, let’s consider this truth. Let it ring in your soul: “Jesus prays for me.”

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John Devotionals

Do I trust you?

Praying in the storm

Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)

As I was thinking on Jesus’ words today, I asked myself, “When my heart is troubled, how often is it because I’m not trusting God?”

Trusting that he is for me.

Trusting that he is with me.

Trusting that he is in control even though my circumstances, and even this world seem out of control.

Trusting that he will never leave me an orphan. That he will always come to me when I cry out.

That nothing, not even death can separate me from his love. That when I leave this life, he will take me to be where he is.

When we find ourselves losing our peace, maybe that’s the question we all need to ask: Lord, do I trust you?

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John Devotionals

Our right to draw near

Praying at the foot of the cross

I was thinking this morning about our right to draw near to Jesus. How often do we take that for granted?

In today’s passage, there were some Greek men that didn’t feel they had that privilege, probably because they were Gentiles, outsiders to the Jewish community, and Jesus was a famous rabbi.

But Jesus was lifted up on a cross so that all of us could draw near to him. (John 12:32)

It made me think of an old hymn.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

O what peace we often forfeit.
O what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

— Joseph Medlicott Scriven

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John Devotionals

But what does God really think about me?

Mary and Martha

Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was. (John 11:5-6)

Many people, including Christians, often have this nagging doubt in the back of our minds in which we ask, “But what does God really think about me?”

When Jesus delayed in coming and Lazarus died, I’m sure that Mary and Martha were thinking the same thing about Jesus.

“Does Jesus really love us? Why didn’t he come? Why didn’t he heal Lazarus.”

But what was the truth? What did Jesus really think about them?

He loved them.

When we’re going through struggles and God seems to be silent, it’s easy to start questioning what he really thinks of us.

But let us always remember: He is for us. And he deeply, deeply loves us. (Romans 8:31-32)

And nothing, not even the sting of death can separate us from his love. (Romans 8:38-39, John 11:25)

The only question is, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)

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John Devotionals

That everything I do would be pleasing to you

Man and woman praying

There were many words that hit my heart this morning. Perhaps none more so than verse 29 when Jesus said, “I always do what pleases the Father.”

I wish I could say that.

But there were other words too.

If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32)

Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. (34-36)

…my teaching makes no progress among you. (37, NET)

The one who is from God listens to God’s words. (47)

I honor my Father and you dishonor me. (49)

And so my prayer for the day.

Lord Jesus, I want to be like you. I wish I could say with you that all I do pleases the Father. But that is not so. There are many things I do that are displeasing to him.

Forgive me. Help me to never dishonor the Father or you by my words or my actions.

Instead, let there always be room in my heart for your Word. Let it progress in my heart. Help me to understand it better. Not only that, help me to obey it better.

Help me to be like Abraham, listening to the truth of your Word, believing and accepting the truth, and following the truth.

Jesus, thank you for your grace. Because of you, I am no longer a slave to sin. By your blood shed on the cross, you have set me free. Thank you for making me a child of God.

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John Devotionals

Rivers of living water

rivers of living water

On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:37-39)

Somehow, whenever I read this passage, my very first thought is how when I come to Jesus, his Spirit quenches my spiritual thirst.

But what God reminded me today was that he doesn’t simply give me his Spirit to quench my thirst. He wants his rivers of living water to flow out from me so that those dying of spiritual thirst around me may also find life.

So this was my prayer today.

Holy Spirit, I have received you and you have quenched my thirst. But I pray that you would be like a river flowing out from me so that those thirsting around me might also drink and find life too.

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John Devotionals

Three questions

Phillip

So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?”

He asked this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. (John 6:5-6)

I was thinking this morning what it meant that Jesus was testing Phillip.

What was he asking Phillip?

I’m not sure, but I imagine he was asking, “Do you know who I am yet? Do you know what I’m capable of doing? How much do you trust me?”

If that’s what Jesus was asking, Phillip failed the test on all three counts.

All he could see was the disciples’ inadequacy in meeting the needs of the crowd.

But Jesus already knew what he was going to do. And in his grace, he used what little Phillip and the disciples had to feed thousands.

Sometimes, I am like Phillip. Jesus sees people around me he wants to minister to. He already knows what he’s going to do. But he turns to me and asks, “Do you know who I am yet? Do you know what I’m capable of? How much do you trust me?”

But instead of seeing who Jesus is and what he can do, all I can see is my own weaknesses and inadequacies.

The truth is, my weaknesses and inadequacies are irrelevant. What’s important is who Jesus is. What he can do.

The only question is will I trust him and do what he asks.

Because Jesus is more than able to take what little I have to touch those around me with his love.

So maybe I need to think on those questions more.

“Do you know who I am yet?”

“Do you know what I’m capable of doing?”

“Do you trust me?”

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John Devotionals

First loved

God's love

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

I reallly like this translation.

Most translations read, “For God so loved the world…” and it can be translated that way. But usually, the Greek word for “so” would be read not as “so much,” but as “in this way.”

John uses different words in his letter, but expresses the same idea.

God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.

Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice, for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)

Paul says something similar in Romans 5:8.

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The amazing thing is that God didn’t wait for us to turn to him before he showed us his love. Rather, he first turned to us. Not in judgment, but in mercy.

I wonder. How shocked was Nicodemus that Jesus said God demonstrated his love for the world by sending his Son.

It’s possible that his only concept of God sending his Son was to judge the world for its rebellion (Psalm 2).

Had Nicodemus ever considered that the blessed people in Psalm 2:12 could apply to those nations who had once been rebellious but had repented because of God’s love for them shown through his Son? Had the psalmist?

I don’t know. But let’s always remember the most amazing thing about John 3:16. God first loved an unrepentant, rebellious world, and sent his Son to save it.

And that includes us.

Take time to ponder that today. Ponder John 3:16. Ponder 1 John 4:9-10. Ponder Romans 5:8.

Ponder this truth and bathe in it: “God first loved me.”

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John Devotionals

The one who sees our hearts

Jesus

While he was in Jerusalem during the Passover Festival, many believed in his name when they saw the signs he was doing.

Jesus, however, would not entrust himself to them, since he knew them all and because he did not need anyone to testify about man; for he himself knew what was in man. (John 2:23-25)

[Peter] said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (John 21:17)

Jesus, you see my heart. You don’t need anyone to tell you what is there. Because you know me. And so I say with Peter, “You know that I love you.”

You know how imperfect my love is. You know my failings. You know my sin. But you also know I love you.

Still, it’s so easy to deceive myself. So peel off the layers of my own heart. Expose it. Show me the things you see so that you can heal it.

Lord Jesus, I want to be like you. Make me like you.

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John Devotionals

A world that needs light

Light in the darkness

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it…

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:4-5, 9)

Last week, I was reading the news and it said that 527 students from elementary school to high school committed suicide in Japan last year.

Just one is too many.

John tells us that in Jesus is life, and that he is the light-giver to those walking in darkness.

There are so many people living in that darkness. So many people living without hope.

And they need that light.

In my church, we’ve been talking recently about our Father’s eyes, and the importance of understanding how God sees us.

That understanding brings light to our darkness.

That’s what Jesus did for everyone he touched. Whenever people looked into his eyes, they saw the Father’s eyes. And it brought light into their darkness.

My prayer is that people would see Jesus in me. That when people look into my eyes, my wife, my daughter, my students, my coworkers, everyone I meet, they would see my Father’s eyes.

And that through me, God would bring his light into their darkness.

May we all have our Father’s eyes.

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John Devotionals

Jesus’ heart

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When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught…

Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them…

Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. (John 21:9-10, 12-13)

I love this chapter on a lot of levels. We see Jesus’ heart, particularly for Peter in this chapter.

But today, I was thinking about why Jesus would prepare breakfast for his disciples. I mean he’d just performed a great miracle for them already.

I think the answer is very simple. The thought came into his head, “They must be tired and hungry. Let me do something for them.”

I wonder where did he got the fish and bread from. I strongly doubt he miraculously made them (though he could have easily done so).

My guess is he had bought the bread in a nearby village perhaps the day before, and had perhaps bought the fish from some other fishermen who had been more successful catching fish earlier that morning.

Whatever the case, he was thinking about his disciples and wanted to bless them. This was no big miracle he performed. Just a simple act of kindness.

That’s a part of Jesus’ heart that I want more of. A greater awareness of what the ones I love need, not just in the big things (like restoring Peter), but in the small. And then doing what I can to bless them.

Jesus, give me that kind of heart.

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John Devotionals

Peace

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19, LSB)

Just thinking about the disciples and how they were feeling that Sunday. Fearful. Anxious. Confused. And Jesus comes into their midst and says, “Peace be with you.”

Later he would say to Thomas, “Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (27)

It mirrors what Jesus said to his disciples earlier.

Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)

There are certain things on my mind this week. And it’s easy to get fixated on them. To get anxious or worried about them.

And yet, Jesus comes to me where I am, and says, “Peace be with you. I am with you. Trust me. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

My Lord. My God. Prince of Peace. Immanuel. In the midst of all I go through, Jesus, that’s what you are. Help me to remember that…and trust you.

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John Devotionals

Drinking the cup God has given us

At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11)

Sometimes, we go through trials, and as we’re praying, God makes it clear that he is not going to take it away. This is the cup he has given us.

Jesus experienced this (Luke 22:42-43).

Paul also experienced this (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

And faced with that cup, we have a choice. We can either be bitter, fighting the cup God has given us.

Or we can say, “Your grace is sufficient for me. You are with me. And you are enough for me.”

One path leads to a miserable life and death.

The other leads to joy…and ultimately resurrection.

So the question I’m asking myself today is this. “Is God’s grace enough for me? Is God enough for me?”

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John Devotionals

Jesus’ patience

patience

I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. (John 16:12-13)

I wonder how many times Jesus says that to me. How many things does he yet have to tell me, but I’m not ready to hear it.

And yet Jesus doesn’t scold me for not being ready yet. He patiently waits. And as I continually open my heart to him, in his time, his Spirit will tell me the things I need to know.

Jesus you know my heart. You know what I’m ready to hear and what I’m not ready to hear. Thank you for your patience and gentleness toward me.

Continue to prepare my heart to hear your words. Help me to keep a soft heart towards you.

Holy Spirit, I open my heart to you. In your time, lead me into all truth, even though it may be hard to hear.

And Jesus, help me to show the same patience and gentleness you’ve given me to those around me.

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John Devotionals

Knowing Jesus

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?” (John 14:9, ESV)

As I read Jesus’ words, it made me think, “Would Jesus say to me what he said to Phillip?”

“Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me? Really know me?”

I certainly know him better than I did when I first became a Christian. And I’d like to think I know him better than I did even last year.

But how much more do I need to learn about Jesus? I know it’s a lifelong process. Paul himself had been a Christian a long time when he said, “I want to know Christ.” (Philippians 3:10)

As much as he knew Jesus, he knew he needed to know Jesus more.

And if I’m honest with myself, so do I.

Jesus, I want to know you more. Really know you.

I have a lot of head knowledge about you. But let all of that head knowledge go down to my heart.

I want to trust you more. I want to join in your work, doing even greater things than you did. (I have a hard time wrapping my head around what that even means).

You promised you would reveal yourself to those who love you. (John 14:21)

So I’m asking. Reveal yourself to me more and more each day. I truly do want to know you more.

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John Devotionals

Clean

clean water

Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean… (John 13:10)

A lot of Christians live steeped in guilt. All they can see is their own sin and failures.

Is that you?

If you have put your faith in Jesus and what he’s done for you on the cross, his words are for you.

“You are clean.”

Let Jesus’ words ring in your soul.

“You are clean.”

It’s made all the difference in my life.

Yes, my feet get dirtied by sin as I walk through this world. But I know he has accepted me. And I know that when I come to him, in his grace, he’ll wash my feet and I’ll be completely clean again.

That’s the confidence I walk in. That’s why I have joy as a Christian, despite all my weaknesses and failures.

Is that the confidence and joy you walk in?

Meditate on Jesus’ words. Repeat them in your heart and mind.

Let them sink deep into your soul.

“You are clean.”

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John Devotionals

Too late?

tomb

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. (John 11:21)

As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and told him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!” (32)

I’d always seen Mary’s and Martha’s words as a kind of rebuke of Jesus. “Why didn’t you come earlier? If you had come earlier, Lazarus wouldn’t have died.”

Now I’m not so sure.

Lazarus had been in the grave four days when Jesus arrived. Which means even if Jesus had left right away, Lazarus would have still been in the tomb two days when Jesus arrived.

And so it seems more likely to me that they were saying, “I wish you hadn’t been so far away when Lazarus got sick. If you had been here, he wouldn’t have died.”

But one thing that’s clear to me is that when Jesus arrived, Mary and Martha had no thought that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead. It never entered their heads to ask him.

Even when Martha told Jesus, “I believe God will give you anything you ask,” looking at her words in verses 24 and 39, it’s very clear she wasn’t thinking Jesus would raise Lazarus right then and there.

It just made me think. Do I ever think, “It’s too late; it’s no use praying anymore”?

Is my Jesus so small, that I don’t think he can raise the things I consider dead and beyond hope to life again?

Do I truly believe he is able to do far more than I can ask or imagine? Or is my thinking as to what Jesus can do still too small?

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John Devotionals

I believe

Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, and when he found him, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?” he asked.

Jesus answered, “You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

“I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped him. (John 9:35-38)

Father, give me the heart of that man who had been blind. A heart open to you. A heart that is quick to believe you, to trust you, to worship you, to follow you, no matter what others say.

He was so opposite to the Pharisees who were willfully blind, refusing to see what was so plain, refusing to believe.

I don’t want to be like that.

So Jesus, today, with that man, I come to you in worship, and with the heart of a child say, “Lord, I believe.”

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John Devotionals

The mark of a disciple

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. (John 8:31)

Jesus’ words really spoke to me this morning.

One of the marks of a disciple is of course love (John 13:34-35).

But Jesus says here that another mark of a disciple is that we not only believe him, but continue in his word. That is, we continually open ourselves up to his word, receive it, and obey it.

Jesus said to the Jews in verse 37.

I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill me because my word has no place among you. (37)

The translation in the NET Bible is very interesting:

But you want to kill me, because my teaching makes no progress among you. (37, NET)

As I read that, I sensed God asking me, “Are you truly making room for my word in your life? Is my word making progress in your life?”

If we truly make a place for God’s word in our lives, it will transform us. It will change the way we think and the way we live. We will think and act like Jesus did. We will think and act like children of God.

And Jesus says that as we remain in his word, opening ourselves up to it, believing it, receiving it, and obeying it, his truth will set us free. (32)

How about you? Are you making room for God’s word in your life? Is it making progress in your life?

Father, how much is your word making progress in my life? Sometimes I wonder.

Help me to have a heart that is always receptive to you.

When I hear your word at church, when I read it at home, when people share your word with me, help me to hear it, receive it, and obey it, even when it’s hard. Even when it’s something I don’t want to hear.

Because I believe you are good. And I believe that in your word, I will find freedom and joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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John Devotionals

What Jesus wants to give us

Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled…

I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.” (John 6:26, 35)

Why do we seek Jesus? Why do we come to him? Do we come to him for solely for what he can give us? Or do we come to encounter him? To know him?

Certainly Jesus wants to meet our needs. But the thing he wants to give us more than anything else is himself. Because he is the only one who can satisfy the hunger and thirst in our souls.

And the good news is that when we knock on his door, he will always open it to us. And as he himself said,

…the one who comes to me I will never cast out. (37)

Jesus, I come to you today, not simply for what you can give me. I want you. I long to know you more. Thank you for always opening the door to me.

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John Devotionals

Entering into Christ’s labor

Christ's labor

My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work…

I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. (John 4:34, 38, ESV)

“Entering into their labor.”

God touched me with those words this morning.

The disciples entered into the labor of that Samaritan woman whose testimony caused many Samaritans to seek Jesus. The disciples entered into the labor that Jesus himself started when he started talking to that woman by the well.

And I just felt God telling me, “I want you and all my people to enter into the labor of my Son, the labor he started on the cross. The labor that others have continued in the centuries since.

“Lift up your eyes. See the people around you who are dying in their sin and need me. Don’t shut your eyes to them. Don’t ignore them. Reach out to them and touch them with my love.”

So that’s been my prayer today.

Father, let me enter into your labor today and every day, touching those around me that Christ has died for. Use me.

Help me to do your will and accomplish the work you’ve given me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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John Devotionals

As we seek a miracle

“Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants. (John 2:5)

Some of you may be seeking a miracle in your life this year. It may be physical healing. It may be the healing of a relationship. It may be a new job. It may be the resolving of a seemingly never-ending problem.

But as we come to God seeking that miracle, let us take the attitude of Mary.

Let us not just pray repeatedly, “God, please solve my problem.”

Instead, as we think about our problems, let us come to Jesus, saying, “What do you want me to do? Whatever you tell me, I’ll do it.”

That’s the heart God seeks.

Not a heart that that simply sees him as a genie.

Not a heart that seeks to bribe or manipulate him.

But a heart that is fully submitted to him.

And as we submit to him, we’ll find that the greatest miracle is not the change God brings about in our circumstances, but the change God brings about in our own hearts.

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John Devotionals

You follow me

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Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:22, ESV)

I suppose it’s natural for us to compare ourselves with others. I know I do.

But ultimately, comparing ourselves to others distracts us from what’s most important: following Jesus.

I was thinking about Peter and how when he saw Jesus, he leapt out of the boat and swam to him.

My first thought was, “I wish I had his passion.”

My second thought was, “That’s not me. There’s no way I’m every jumping out of that boat to swim to Jesus.”

It’s not that I don’t love Jesus. It’s just not my personality. (Would you have jumped out of that boat?)

But I felt like God was saying to me, “If it was my will to make Peter that way, what is that to you? I made you the way you are. You follow me.”

God doesn’t want me to be Peter. He doesn’t want me to be my pastor. He doesn’t want to be any of the other Christians I know. He wants me to be what he’s made me.

God feels the same way about you.

And if you and I just keep our eyes on him, following him, and being faithful with what he’s entrusted us, that’s enough for him.

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John Devotionals

Behold Your King

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[Pilate] said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” (John 19:4)

Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. (John 20:19-20)

I don’t usually wax poetic, but yesterday and today, I felt particularly inspired.

Behold your King.
Body, bloodied and torn.

Behold your King.
Crowned with thorns.

Behold your King.
Face, battered and bruised.

Behold your King.
Unjustly abused.

Behold your King.
Crucified.

Behold your King.
For you, he died.

Behold your King.
His empty grave.

Behold your King.
In glory, raised.

Behold your King.
His hands, his side.

Behold your King.
In his peace, abide.

Behold your King.
Coming soon.

Behold your King.
Making all things new.

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John Devotionals

What God has written

Cross sign
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So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the king of the Jews.’ ”

Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.” (John 19:21-22)

Father, what Pilate wrote stood, despite the Jewish leaders’ objections.

How much more does what you say stand, no matter how people in this world object and rebel against you?

What you have written, you have written.

All that you spoke through the prophets concerning Jesus happened. (24, 28, 36-37)

That’s my hope.

This world is broken. This world has rebelled against you. But you have established your King. (Psalm 2:6)

This world crucified him, but you raised him from the dead.

And the day will come when he will come back and make all things new.

I wait for that day. I wait with hope. I wait with expectation.

For what you have written, you have written. And in your timing, all your words will be fulfilled.

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John Devotionals

When the questions will no longer matter

So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you. In that day you will not ask me anything. (John 16:22-23)

Just reflecting on those words today. Last Sunday was Father’s Day, and as usual, I think about my dad who passed away twelve years ago.

He saw a lot of struggles in his life, including a lot of health issues in his last ten years. He was never one to ask God, “why?” But he easily could have.

I’ve seen a lot of things in this world that make me ask “Why?” I’ve seen friends die of cancer. I’ve had relatives go through depression and even commit suicide. I’ve seen bad things happen to “good” people.

And because of that I’ve known sorrow. I’ve felt pain. There are a lot of unanswered questions I have.

But Jesus says that the day will come when I will see him face to face. My heart will rejoice and I will not ask him anything.

Why not? Maybe it’s because on that day, all the answers will be clear.

But maybe, just maybe, the questions won’t matter to me anymore. Because Jesus is there. And his presence alone will wash away all the pain and sorrow I’ve ever felt.

For now, though, I have direct access to the Father. I can lay my requests before him. And he will hear me. He hears me because he loves me.

And if in his wisdom, he decides I’m asking for what’s good for me, as a good Father, he will not withhold it from me. (1 John 5:14-15, Matthew 6:11)

So I hold on to Jesus’ words.

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world. (John 16:33)

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John Devotionals

Clean

[The Father] prunes (literal translation: “cleans”) every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (John 15:2-3)

As I thought on those words this morning, it occurred to me that Jesus said very similar words in John 13.

One who has bathed…doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean… (John 13:10)

Those words were encouraging to me. Jesus impressed those words on my heart today.

“Because you have believed my words, because you have believed in me, you are already clean in my sight. You are already accepted by the Father.”

There are still sins that dirty my spiritual feet as I walk through this life.

Recently God has been showing me some attitudes that I have toward people that are keeping me from being fruitful as I should be.

But he doesn’t give up on me.

Rather, with great patience, love, and grace, he washes me. He prunes me so that I can be more fruitful.

And he does the same for you.

When you look the spiritual mirror of God’s Word, you might see the same kinds of things I see: sin or other things blocking your fruitfulness.

But remember that God looks at you and says, “You are already clean.”

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John Devotionals

Living by every word that comes from your mouth

Jesus, you said, “Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

And that’s how you lived. You lived on every word that came from your Father’s mouth. Everything your Father commanded, you did. (John 14:31)

Now let me live by every word that comes from your mouth. Because everything you said came from your Father’s mouth. (John 14:10, 24)

Don’t let me lean on my own wisdom and understanding.

Nor let me lean on the “wisdom” of this world whose thinking has been so corrupted by sin.

Instead, let your words shape the way I think. Let them shape my values. Let them shape my priorities. For your words are truth. And they give me life.

Thank you for giving me your Spirit to teach me your truth and to remind me of all you’ve said. (John 14:26)

Help me to each day keep in step with him.

In your name, I pray, amen.

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John Devotionals

Questioning Jesus’ love

Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was sick, he stayed two more days in the place where he was. (John 11:5-6)

So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Couldn’t he who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?” (36-37)

One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.”

He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God. (49-52)

Jesus loves us. But there are times he doesn’t act as we had hoped, and we struggle to understand why. During those times, it’s easy to start asking, “Does Jesus really love me?”

But the truth is, often times we know nothing at all. There are things that God knows that we are not considering.

That was most clearly seen at the cross. No one understood what God was doing. Not the priests. Not the Pharisees. Not Jesus’ disciples. Not Jesus’ mother. No one.

But the cross was the greatest expression of God’s love.

Are there questions you’re struggling with? “Why”s you can’t understand?

Let us be like Mary and Martha, who though hurting, didn’t stay away from Jesus, but ran to him. Who kept believing in him. Who kept obeying him.

And like them, the day will come when we will see the glory of God.

On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory.

None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written,

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no human heart has conceived—
God has prepared these things for those who love him. (1 Corinthians 2:7-9)

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John Devotionals

My prayer to the Shepherd

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. (John 10:3-4)

Somehow, Jesus, this resonates in my heart.

I’m not some nameless, faceless sheep to you. You call me by name saying, “Come on! Let’s go!”

You go ahead of us. You lead us. You clear the road for us. You protect us from harm. You take us where there is good pasture.

Lord Jesus, go ahead of me. Let me not go ahead of you. You go ahead of me. And I will follow.

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John Devotionals

That God’s work might be seen in us

As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)

Sometimes bad things happen in life, and we wonder if God is punishing us. But there are two truths we must always keep in mind.

First, while our sin can cause us all kinds of suffering and pain, sometimes our suffering comes simply from the fact that we live in a broken world filled with broken people.

And our suffering is a reminder to us that this world is not our home. We are just passing through, looking for a better country, a heavenly one. (Hebrews 11:16)

But second, God sometimes allows our suffering so that his marvelous works might be seen in us.

If that’s going to happen, though, we need to do the two things this blind man did: put our faith in Jesus and obey him. (John 9:7, 37-38)

What trials and struggles are you going through now? Will you fall down and worship him, trusting that he is still good? That he loves you? That he wants your best?

And will you obey him?

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John Devotionals

Making room for God’s word

…my word has no place among you. (John 8:37)

Those words really made me think this morning. As God’s people, do we make a place for his Word in our hearts?

Do we value his Word enough to make time to read it? To put aside social media, Youtube, video games, TV, music, books, or whatever we do in our free time so that we can read what God has said?

More importantly, as we read, do we give God time to speak to us? Or do we simply read the passage, and say, “Well, I did my Christian duty for the day.”

Sometimes as we read his Word, it contradicts the way we think; it contradicts our values. When that happens, what do we do?

Do we push aside his words saying, “It’s not for me” or “I don’t want to think about this right now”?

Or do we make room for his word in our hearts, letting his Word push out old way of thinking?

Father, help me to always make room in my heart for your Word.

If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (31-32)

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John Devotionals

That I might have life

Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.

Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.”

“What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked.

Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:26-29)

Jesus, the people came to you for bread as if bread was the most important thing, as if bread was the thing that truly gave life.

But Jesus, I come to you hoping you will give me yourself. Because you yourself are the source of life.

You gave your life for the world on that cross, your flesh crucified, your blood shed for our sins. For my sins.

And by giving yourself on that cross and dying in my place, you gave me life.

But this life-giving doesn’t stop at the cross, does it? I first got that life by coming to you and believing in you for my salvation.

But I’m continually receiving life from you by coming to you and believing you every day. I need to be constantly coming to you and feeding off of you.

You have the words of eternal life. They give me life as I face the challenges of the day. They encourage me. They lead me. They give me wisdom. They correct me when I start going on the wrong path.

But you not only give me your words. You give me your grace when I fall. Even now I’m feeding off what you did on the cross for me.

And by what you did on the cross, I now have access to your power. The same power the Father used to raise you from the dead is now in me.

Power to overcome temptation. Power to overcome Satan’s attacks. Power to deal with difficult people. Power to deal with anything I face in life.

All this was bought for me when your body was broken and your blood shed at the cross.

But again, most of all, you give me yourself, walking beside me every moment of every day.

So Jesus, I come to you today and ask, “Please give me yourself. You’re all I need.”

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John Devotionals

Leaving the pity party

The disabled man in this story was throwing a full-on pity party. When Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well, he complained, “Nobody ever helps me.”

But then Jesus said, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk.” (John 5:8)

And by Jesus’ power, the man was healed.

How often do we throw pity parties for ourselves when we have problems? How often do we complain, “Nobody cares about me! Nobody helps me!”

But Jesus asks, “Do you want help? I’m more than willing.”

And if we’ll just do as he says, by his power, he will transform our lives.

How about you? Are you ready to leave the pity party and do what he says?

Or will you just stay where you are feeling sorry for yourself?

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John Devotionals

Opening our eyes

Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest. (John 4:35)

Those words really resonated with me this morning. And I really felt God speaking them to my heart today.

There are so many people like the woman in today’s story. Who are drinking from broken cisterns (Jeremiah 2:13).

Who are always trying to fill their deepest needs, perhaps being satisfied for a while, but soon finding themselves empty again.

For years, this woman sought to fill her needs through men. Yet five men proved to be broken cisterns. And the sixth wasn’t looking that promising either, living with her, but not being willing to marry her.

I’m thinking of two people right now who are struggling with problems and need Jesus. And I’m praying for opportunities to reach them. But I need to open my eyes to those opportunities.

At the same time, I’m wondering who are the other people around me who are drinking from broken cisterns that I am not seeing right now.

Who are the people who have broken cisterns in your life? Can you see them? Do you recognize them?

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John Devotionals

Because you know me

[Jesus] did not need anyone to testify about man; for he himself knew what was in man.” (John 2:25)

Lord Jesus, you need no one’s testimony about me to know me. To know what’s in my heart. You know, Lord, what is in me. You know what’s in my heart.

Honestly, Lord, you know me better than I know myself. So hold the mirror of your Word to my heart. Show me what’s in there.

Thank you that I don’t need to fear what I see in that mirror. Because as ugly as that reflection I see may be, you have accepted me as your child. And by your grace, you cleanse me.

You changed ordinary water into extraordinary wine. If you can do that, I believe you can do so much more with me. Thank you for your grace and faithfulness to me.

In your name I pray. Amen.

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John Devotionals

Abiding with Jesus. Abiding in Jesus.

[Jesus] asked them, “What are you looking for?”

They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. (John 1:38-39)

Remain (same word translated as “stay” in John 1:38-39) in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. (John 15:4)

Jesus, the very first question Andrew and John(?) asked was, “Where are you staying?” You welcomed them and they stayed the whole day with you.

Lord, I want to be where you are. I want to stay with you. To remain in you. To abide in you. Because from your fullness, I receive grace upon grace. Not from your emptiness. Not from your half-tank. But from your fullness.

Fill me with your grace. Fill me with your strength. Fill me with your wisdom. And let me bear fruit for you today. In your name I pray, amen.

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John Devotionals

Though we fail Him

John

As I read this passage this morning, this thought came to me.

How much did Peter feel the immensity of his sin? Of his failure? Of his betrayal?

And yet, as he stood there before Jesus, Jesus didn’t bash him. Jesus didn’t require a kind of penance from him.

Rather He asked as simple question.

“Peter do you love me?”

And as imperfect as Peter’s love was, Jesus accepted it. Then He said, “Follow me.”

More, He commissioned Peter to do His work.

Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by guilt. We are struck by the immensity of our sins and failures. And we wonder how in the world Jesus could ever accept us.

But Jesus asks us a simple question.

“Do you love me?”

And imperfect though our love may be, He accepts it.

Then He says, “Follow me.”

More, He entrusts us with the work of touching people who are just as broken as we are.

So let yourself feel the immensity of your sin.

But after that, let yourself feel the even greater immensity of his grace.

For though your sin may abound, God’s grace abounds far, far more. (Romans 5:20)

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John Devotionals

If you love Jesus…

John

As I read Jesus’ words to Peter, they really hit home today.

Do you love me? Then feed my lambs. (John 21:15)

Do you love me? Then shepherd my sheep. (16)

Do you love me? Then feed my sheep. (17)

Love for Jesus is more than investing in your relationship with him. It’s caring for the people that God has put in your care.

That starts in the home. If you’re a husband, that means feeding and shepherding your wife.

If you’re a father or mother, that means feeding and shepherding your children.

Obviously pastors are in a special position to care for the people in their church.

But if you’re a small group leader, you have that responsibility too.

If you’re a Sunday school teacher or ministry leader, you have that responsibility too.

If you have ever led a friend to Jesus, you have that responsibility too.

A single pastor can only do so much. We are called to minister to others. To feed Jesus’ sheep. To shepherd them.

It’s easy in this Covid season to focus only on ourselves. But what Jesus told Peter, he tells all of us.

“Do you love me?

Then feed my lambs.

Shepherd my sheep.

Feed my sheep.”

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John Devotionals

Believe!

John

Do not be unbelieving, but believing. (John 20:27, NASB)

Jesus’ words to Thomas resonated with me this morning. They echo Jesus’ earlier words to the disciples the night before his crucifixion.

Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)

In a world filled with trouble, we have hope. We have hope because of the resurrection.

Peter talks about that hope we have.

Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

As I said a few days ago, the world is not our home. We have something far greater awaiting us.

For that reason, Peter said,

You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

That’s the hope we cling to.

But we need choose to believe.

To a large degree, after the resurrection, it was easy for Thomas to believe. After all, he saw the risen Lord with his own eyes and was able to touch Jesus’ hands and his side.

But Jesus told him,

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. (John 20:29)

Peter would later remember these words and say this to people like us who had never seen Jesus with their own eyes.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)

Are you troubled by all that is going on in the world? Are you struggling with personal trials?

Remember the resurrection. Remember the hope we have in Jesus. Trust the Father. Trust Jesus.

Do not be unbelieving, but believing.

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John Devotionals

Who we trust. (Or why we can have peace).

John

I’ve been meditating on the words of Jesus from these passages over the past few days. Particularly the first few verses of John 14.

Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)

There’s a lot to be troubled about in this world.

Covid-19 to be sure. The moral direction of society. The departure of many people from the truth of God’s word to “everyone doing what is right in their own eyes.”

And yet Jesus says, “Don’t let yourself be troubled.”

What is the basis of this command?

“Believe in God. Believe also in me.”

Though Covid-19 runs rampant, trust God. He has a plan in all this.

Though things go from bad to worse in society, trust Jesus. He has already won the victory on the cross.

Jesus doesn’t say to trust our politicians or judges. He doesn’t say to trust our political or judicial systems. All of these are flawed, imperfect, stained by sin.

Nor does he say to just believe that somehow, someway society will get better.

Instead he reminds us that this world is not our home. That he is preparing a better world. A better society. Not based on human wisdom or effort. But based on what Jesus did on the cross.

And the day will come when he returns, he judges this world, and he makes all things new.

That’s our hope. And that’s why we can have peace.

And so Jesus says,

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. (John 14:27)

And again,

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.

You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world. (John 16:33)

So in this troubled world, let us rest confidently in our Lord.

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John Devotionals

Because Jesus went before us

John

This morning, I was meditating on verse 36, where Jesus told his disciples,

Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later. (John 13:36)

Where was it that Jesus was going? And why couldn’t the disciples follow him at that time?

The answer, of course, was the cross. And the reason his disciples couldn’t follow him at that time was because no one, not they nor any other person, could ever pay the price for sin that Jesus paid when he died on the cross for us.

But because Jesus went before us, we now have a pathway to the Father.

As we walk down that path, we may be called to suffer for Christ’s sake (I Peter 2:21).

Peter and the other disciples certainly had to. But we do so not to earn our salvation. Rather we do so out of joy because our salvation has already been bought.

And the day will come when we will follow Jesus into glory.

That is why the writer of Hebrews could say,

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19-20)

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John Devotionals

The fragrance of worship

John

Last Sunday, I was speaking in my church about being a living sacrifice.

One of the things I pointed out was that in the Old Testament, when sacrifices were made to God, they were described as a pleasing aroma to him.

In the same way, all our thoughts, all our words, all our actions are to be a pleasing aroma to God. That’s what a living sacrifice is.

Here in this passage, we see an example of this. Mary poured out perfume on Jesus’ feet and its fragrance filled the room.

I think it’s safe to say that her action was a pleasing aroma of worship to God.

Contrast that with Judas, who though he claimed to care for the poor, nevertheless thought only of himself.

As Paul would have put it, Judas’ “love” was filled with hypocrisy (Romans 12:9).

As such, it was a stench before God, and that stench filled the room as much as Mary’s perfume did.

Let us not be like Judas, but like Mary.

May our thoughts, our words, our actions, and our very lives be a pleasing aroma that rises up to God and fills this entire world.

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John Devotionals

Running to Jesus

John

We don’t always understand why God does the things he does.

Martha and Mary certainly didn’t. Several days before, they had sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick. But Jesus deliberately delayed in coming.

What would you do?

Many people would turn their backs on Jesus, bitter and angry.

But Martha and Mary went to him. In Mary’s case, she “rose quickly” and went to him.

They were upset. They were confused. But they still went to Jesus. And in doing so, they found out that he truly is faithful.

How about you? When you are angry and confused by what God does, do you turn from him? Or do you run to him?

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John Devotionals

Because our time is short

John

Jesus knew his time was short. His ministry only lasted three years. And so he made the most of his time.

So he told his disciples,

We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:4-5)

Here Jesus refers his life here on earth as day, and his death on the cross as night. And he said, “As long as I am here, I am the light of the world.”

As God’s Son, Jesus was uniquely the light of the world. He revealed God as no one ever had before him and no one ever will until he returns.

But as God’s children, we are to take Jesus’ attitude. Jesus said we too are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14-16)

And as long as we have breath, we are to join in God’s work.

By God’s grace, let us do so, and be light to a world lost in darkness.

As Paul said,

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

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John Devotionals

Never cast aside

John

The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.” (John 8:29)

When I read these words, my first reaction was, “I wish I could say what Jesus did. I wish I could say I always do what pleases the Father.”

But the truth is, I often fall. I sin.

Recently, I often find myself questioning my motives. I question my thoughts, my words, my actions. “Are these things pleasing to you, God?”

And sometimes, I just don’t know.

But the amazing thing is I can say the same thing that Jesus did. The Father is still with me. He has not left me alone.

I can say that not because I always do what pleases the Father. Because many times I don’t.

I can say it because Jesus paid the price for all my sins on the cross. And each day, I stand in his grace.

As Paul once wrote,

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

Let us hold on to that truth today, and every day.

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John Devotionals

Entering into the Father’s work

John

This is the famous story of Jesus encountering the Samaritan woman.

At that time, Jesus told the disciples,

My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4:34)

Jesus then called them to join in the work that the Father started. He noted that other people had already been participating in the Father’s work, and then he told his disciples,

Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. (38, ESV)

Those words struck me as I read them.

The Father has been doing his work for thousands of years. Millions of people have already labored doing his work. Now we are called to enter that labor too.

How do we do that? Through our testimony (39). And through sharing the words of our Lord (41).

So let us lift up our eyes, see the harvest, and join in with our Father’s work.

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John Devotionals

A new identity

John

When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”). (John 1:42)

When Jesus sees us and calls us, he gives us a new name and identity, as he did with Peter. (See also Revelation 2:17)

But often times, we don’t live up to that new name and identity. Peter certainly didn’t. He was hardly a “Rock” that was steady and stable in his faith.

Yet Jesus sees beyond what we are now to what we will be.

The reason he can confidently call us by our new name is because he is the one working change in our lives. And what he starts, he will complete. (Philippians 1:6)

Do you feel like you’re not the Christian you should be?

Don’t focus on yourself and your failings. Focus on Jesus. And remember, what he has started, he will complete.

 

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John Devotionals

The Word

John

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1, 14)

As many of us know, when John talks about the Word, he’s referring to Jesus. He was with God in the beginning. And he is God himself. But why did John refer to Jesus as “the Word”? 

There are various theories, but here are some thoughts. 

In Psalm 33:6, the Psalmist says this,

The heavens were made by the word of the LORD,
and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth.

John also echoes this idea in verse 3. 

All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. (John 1:3)

Many times in the Old Testament, we see the Word of the Lord coming to the prophets revealing God and his message to the people. (Isaiah 38:4, Jeremiah 1:4 for example). 

John also talks about this in verse 18. 

No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. (John 1:18)

The Psalmist further talks about how God sends his Word to bring healing and salvation.

He sent his word and healed them;
he rescued them from their traps. (Psalm 107:20)

And Isaiah talks about the power of the Word that he sends. 

For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,
so my word that comes from my mouth
will not return to me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

And so John essentially says, “This Word who created all, who reveals the Father, who heals and saves, who accomplishes all of God’s purposes, he became flesh and dwelt among us.”

So take some time and meditate on these things. Meditate on who Jesus is. And worship him. 

Come, let us adore him!
Christ the Lord.

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John Devotionals

A God who does not doubt our love

John

This is a very famous passage in which three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?”

Why did Jesus ask this? Because he doubted Peter’s love?

That would have been a reasonable response by Jesus. After all, Peter had denied knowing him three times. Wouldn’t you doubt someone like that?

But I think we see clearly that Jesus does not doubt Peter’s love at all. We see this in two ways.

First, he tells Peter, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.”

Would Jesus tell Peter do this if he had any doubt in his mind concerning Peter’s love?

Second, Jesus essentially tells him, “I know you love me. I know because the day will come when you will die for my sake.” (18-19)

So why did Jesus question Peter?

Perhaps one reason was that Jesus had been looking right at him when Peter denied knowing him the third time (Luke 22:61).

He knew Peter needed the chance to look at him in the eyes and reaffirm his love for Jesus.

More, Peter needed to know that Jesus believed in his love. And that’s what Jesus did for Peter that day.

He said, “Yes, Peter, I know you love me. I know you failed miserably. But I do not doubt your love.”

And then he told Peter. “Follow me.”

Sometimes we feel like Peter. We’ve failed miserably, and we wonder, “What does Jesus think of me? Does he doubt my love for him?”

Sometimes, we feel need to prove our love for him because of our failure.

But we don’t need to prove our love to him.

Jesus already knows our hearts. And while he sees us now with all our weaknesses and our failures, he also sees what he will be.

But remember this: it’s not that Jesus knows we will change ourselves and make ourselves better Christians.

It’s that Jesus knows that he will never give up on us, and he will keep working on us until the day we are complete. (Philippians 1:6)

So more than believing in ourselves and our love for him, let us believe in him and his love for us.

And with our eyes fully fixed on him and his love, let us follow our Shepherd wherever he leads.

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John Devotionals

Behold the Man! Behold your King!

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Pilate’s words strike me.

“Behold the man!” (John 19:5)

What did the Jews see that day? They saw God incarnate, bloodied, beaten, a crown of thorns on his head, and in a purple robe.

Amazing love!
How can it be,
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
–Charles Wesley

“Behold your King!” (14)

What did they see? A King condemned to death, not for his own sin, but for ours.

Amazing love!
How can it be,
That you my King, would die for me?
–Billy James Foote

Don’t just read this passage and go on with your day. Take some time and reflect on what the Jews saw that day.

Remember what Jesus did for you. Remember his suffering. Remember his death. And remember his resurrection.

Let us not be like the Jews of that day and take our King lightly.

Instead, with deep gratitude and joy, let us sing, “You are my King!”

And each day, each moment, let us offer our lives to him.

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John Devotionals

Truth

John

Back in John 10:26-27, Jesus said to the Jews,

But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.

We see Jesus saying something similar to Pilate in chapter 10.

Everyone who is of the truth, listens to my voice. (John 10:37)

We live in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to the truth. A world of people who, like Pilate, ask, “What is truth?”

To the world, truth is relative. They think humans decide for themselves what truth is.

If they want to believe in Buddha, that’s truth for them. If they believe that Biblical moral values are out of date and that modern cultural values are truth, that’s truth for them.

But when Jesus prayed to the Father, he prayed,

Your word is truth. (17:17)

Do we believe that?

Christ’s sheep listen to his voice and follow him. If we don’t do those things, we don’t truly belong to him. We don’t belong to the truth.

When the Bible contradicts what you believe, what do you do? Do you change your thinking to match God’s? Or do you try to change the Bible to match your thinking?

Do we say with Jesus, “Father, your Word is truth”?

Who is your shepherd?

The culture we live in?

Or Jesus?

Who are you following?

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John Devotionals

Changing yourself?

John

When Christians struggle with sin in their lives, one thought often pops up in their minds. “I have to do better.”

It is of course good to want to be victorious over sin.

But that way of thinking can also be dangerous. It often leads to pride if you are “victorious.” Or it leads to discouragement when you’re not.

And so Jesus’ words are very important here. He says,

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (John 15:3)

If you believe Jesus is God’s Son, that he paid for your sins on the cross, and that his words are life, you are already clean in God’s sight. (John 7:68-69)

We don’t need to strive to change ourselves to make ourselves acceptable to him. We are already clean in his sight.

So what do we need to do then?

Simply remain in Jesus.

Walk with him, each day. Learn to listen to his voice. Through his Word. Through your times of prayer. And as he speaks, with your hand in his, take one more step forward.

Jesus doesn’t expect you to become perfect in one day. All he wants you to do is to take one more step forward. And as you do, you will bear fruit. You will change.

There’s no striving to change yourself. No beating yourself up when you fall. No pride in thinking that you are somehow changing yourself into a better person. Only walking, one step at a time, rooting yourself deeper into Jesus and his love.

So let’s meditate on Jesus’ words this week.

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. (John 15:3-5)

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John Devotionals

Believing in yourself? Believing in Jesus?

John

“You can do it! Believe in yourself!”

How often do we say that to people?

Peter certainly believed in himself. He said, “Even if I have to die, I will follow you. Even if everyone else runs away, I won’t.”

What did Jesus say? “Yes! You can do it! Believe in yourself!”

Actually, no.

He said, “Really Peter? The truth is you will deny deny me three times.”

Talk about getting your balloon pricked.

But Jesus went told Peter and the other disciples,

Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)

In other words, “Don’t get discouraged that I see your weakness. The truth is, I don’t want you to believe in your own goodness.

“Rather, believe in God. Believe in me. Believe in my goodness toward you. That though you fail, I am still preparing a place for you. That I will never abandon you.

“And by trusting, not in yourself, but in me, you will start to do all the things I do. In fact, you’ll do greater things. So take heart.”

Are you discouraged because you see your own weakness and sin?

Be encouraged. God does not want us to trust in our own goodness or strength. Instead he wants us to rest in his goodness and love toward us.

Are you discouraged because your ministry isn’t going so well. Or maybe you feel you’re not making a difference in this world for Jesus.

The answer isn’t to “do better.”

Instead, pray and connect yourself to Jesus.  Each day, plug yourself into his word. Talk to him throughout the day.

Learn to trust in his leading and rely on his power. Only then will you truly bear fruit in your life.

In short, don’t believe in yourself. Believe in Him.

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John Devotionals

Knowing who we are and where we’re going

John

In this passage, we see Jesus doing the lowly job of washing his disciples’ feet.

That included Peter, who Jesus knew would deny him. That included Judas, who Jesus knew would betray him. And that included the other ten disciples, who Jesus knew would run away when he was arrested.

That is incredible humility and love. What was at the base of that humility and love?

John tells us.

Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. (John 13:3)

Jesus knew his position with the Father. That he was beloved. And that the Father had given him all authority.

Jesus knew where he came from. That it was the Father who had sent him.

Jesus knew where he was going. That though he would die on a cross, he would return to the Father.

We all want to be like Jesus. To love as he did. To forgive as he did. To serve as he did. But do we have the foundation that he had?

Do we know our position with the Father? That we are beloved? That we have received the right to be a child of God (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1-2)?

Do we know where we came from? That we were specially created by him (Psalm 139)? That God himself sends us out to be his ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)?

Do we know where we’re going? That because Jesus rose from the dead, we too have the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

And though we may have troubles and sorrows in this life, do we know that Jesus has overcome the world, and we will go to be with him someday? (John 14:2-3, John 16:33)

Read these passages this week. Meditate on them. And remember your foundations.

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John Devotionals

To be where Jesus is

John

There are a lot of things I could talk about from this passage, but verse 26 struck me, probably because I talked about it this past Sunday.

Jesus said,

If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. (John 12:26)

Is that your mindset?

“Jesus I want to be where where you are.”

Of course Jesus is with us wherever we are. He is always trying to speak to us. To lead us. To show us what he’s doing.

But are we with him? In other words, are we consciously listening for his voice? Are we looking for his direction? How often do our thoughts turn to him during the day?

Only in the morning when we’re reading the Bible? Only at meals just before we eat?

How about the rest of the day?

Lord Jesus you are always with me. But help me to truly recognize that.

Each day, each hour, each moment, help me to hear your voice and recognize your leading. I want to be where you are.

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John Devotionals

Ramping up our faith

John

Martha’s faith was pretty remarkable when you think about it.

Even though Jesus had delayed in coming when her brother was sick, and as a result her brother died, her faith in Jesus never wavered.

So many people in her position would have been so disappointed in Jesus that they would have just said, “I’m done with Jesus. He doesn’t really care about me.”

But though she was clearly hurting, and couldn’t understand why Jesus didn’t come earlier (John 11:21), she said,

Yet even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you. (John 11:22)

You see clearly from the next several verses that she was not at all thinking Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead. All she was saying was, “I still believe in you Jesus. I still believe you are from God.”

She later affirms,

I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world. (27)

Martha clearly had faith. But Jesus wanted her to ramp up her faith. He wanted her to deepen her understanding of just who he was.

So he told her,

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. (25-26)

Talk about needing to ramp up your understanding of who Jesus is. No mere human could claim this. There is only one source of life, and that’s God.

Frankly, I think Martha’s head was spinning. With a child’s faith, she said, “Yes,” but it’s clear that she did not fully understand Jesus’ words.

And so when Jesus told her to roll away the stone to Lazarus’ tomb, she objected. At that point, Jesus once again challenged her to ramp up her faith in a very practical way: obey him. (39-41)

And when she did, she came to a deeper understanding of who Jesus truly was. That understanding became even more complete when she saw Jesus himself rise from the dead.

Do you really want to know Jesus better? Obey him.

Even when you don’t understand what he’s doing or not doing. Even when you don’t understand why he’s telling you what he’s telling you. Obey him.

In what area of your life is Jesus now telling you, “Trust me. Obey me.”

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John Devotionals

What are you seeking?

John

I don’t mean for this to be a series or anything, but I keep seeing this question throughout John. (Maybe because I’m preaching on this question on Sunday).

In verses 37-38, Jesus cries out,

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him. (John 7:37-38)

There are probably two pictures here. At the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a water ritual which reminded the Israelites of how God provided water for them in the desert through a rock that was struck by Moses.

In that same way, Jesus was struck for us on the cross, and because of that, we receive “water” that leads to eternal life from him.

The Holy Spirit (verse 39) himself comes into our lives and makes us new people.

But there’s another picture, provided in Isaiah chapter 55.

God speaks and says,

Come, everyone who is thirsty,
come to the water;
and you without silver,
come, buy, and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk
without silver and without cost!

Why do you spend silver on what is not food,
and your wages on what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and you will enjoy the choicest of foods.

Pay attention and come to me;
listen, so that you will live. (Isaiah 55:1-3)

Again, are we seeking? Are we seeking things that do not satisfy? Or do we seek Jesus, who alone can satisfy?

But notice what is the result of coming to God and drinking of the water he provides.

so you will summon a nation you do not know,
and nations who do not know you will run to you. (Isaiah 55:5)

That’s what I want in Japan (and in all nations for that matter). That people would see the glory of God in us, and run to us wondering why we’re so different.

What do we tell them when they do? The message found in verses 1-3. And the message in verse 6-7.

Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call to him while he is near.

Let the wicked one abandon his way
and the sinful one his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD,
so he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will freely forgive. (Isaiah 55:6-7)

And God promises,

my word that comes from my mouth
will not return to me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do. (Isaiah 55:11)

And as we are filled with the God’s Spirit, touching people’s lives, God says,

You will indeed go out with joy
and be peacefully guided;
the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. （Isaiah 55:12）

May we all seek a life filled with God’s Spirit and love to the point of overflowing. A life that touches others so that not only we find joy, but the the people we touch find it too.

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John Devotionals

What are you seeking

John

I asked the question last week, “What are you seeking?”

We see this theme again in today’s passage.

At the start of this passage, many people were seeking for Jesus. Why? For healing. (John 6:2)

Then in verse 24, they went seeking for Jesus again. Why? To get more bread from Jesus.

And so Jesus tells them, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled.

Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.” (John 6:26-27)

In short, “You’ve missed the point of the miracle. The point of the miracle was not to fill your stomachs. The point of the miracle is that I’m the life-giver. Don’t seek physical food. Seek me, the giver of life.”

But the crowd didn’t understand his words. Their words “Give us this bread that leads to eternal life” echoes the Samaritan woman’s words, “Give me this water that leads to eternal life so that I won’t get thirsty. ” (4:15)

And so Jesus says,

“I am the bread of life…No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.” (6:35)

That verse is the key to everything that Jesus says afterwards about “eating his flesh” and “drinking his blood.”

To come to Jesus is to “eat his flesh.”

To believe in him is to “drink his blood.”

Put another way, Jesus is the only one who truly satisfies our soul. Nothing else will truly satisfy.

And so Jesus says,

“The one who eats my flesh (comes to me) and drinks my blood (believes in me) remains in me, and I in him.” (56)

That word “remains” is the same one we saw when Andrew and John “stayed” with Jesus in chapter 1. And it is the same word we see in John 15, when Jesus commands us to remain in him.

True satisfaction comes in coming to Jesus, believing in him, and remaining in him.

But that’s hard for a lot of people to hear. It’s hard for them to accept. It’s offensive to them.

Many people willing to accept Jesus as a good man or a good teacher. But they do not accept him as the one we must come to, believe in, and remain in if we want to find life.

That’s what the Jews struggled with. And when they saw what Jesus was really saying, many left him.

Jesus wasn’t just saying, “Come to me and I’ll give you healing and make your life happy.” He was saying, “I am the one you need. Don’t chase these other things. Seek me. I am all you need.”

Do you believe this? Are you pursuing Jesus? Are you saying, “I want to be with you. I want to learn from you. I want to join in your work and touch this world?”

Or are you merely seeking personal happiness?

What are you seeking?

Jesus asks us the same question he asked the disciples.

“You don’t want to go away too, do you?” (67)

May we be like Peter and say,

Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. (68-69)

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John Devotionals

The water we’re drinking

John

Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman strike me here.

If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. (John 4:10)

And again,

Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.

Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (13-14)

What are we “drinking” every day? When we’re tired or discouraged, and need to be refreshed, what do we turn to?

Do we turn to the internet? Porn? TV? Music? Games? Books? Entertainment? Alcohol?

Do we forsake the spring of living water for broken cisterns that cannot hold water? (Jeremiah 2:13)

How often are we like the Samaritans who cry out to Jesus, “Stay with us”?

(That word “stay” is the same word Jesus uses when he tells us to “remain” in him in John 15:4-11.)

How often do we drink in his Word, and take time to listen to his voice?

I admit, it is easy for me to turn to other things too. Oh, I’ll spend my time with God in the morning, but it’s easy to turn to other things at the end of the day.

Lord Jesus, stay with me. Let me abide in you and your love each day. Don’t let me turn to broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Instead, may my life be rooted in your love.

And each day, may those roots grow ever deeper, that I may know just how wide, long, high and deep is your love for me. In your name I pray, amen.

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John Devotionals

Only by the Spirit

John

I live in a country, Japan, where less than one percent of the population is Christian.

It’s been that way as long as I can remember. And it can be easy to despair. To wonder if things can ever change.

But in this passage, Jesus says two important things about salvation.

First, to be saved, we need to be born again. Another way to translate that, is “born from above.”

What does that mean, “born from above”? (John 3:3, 7)

I think Jesus clarifies his meaning in verse 5.

He says,

Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

There are multiple interpretations of this verse, but I think the answer is found in Ezekiel 36:25-27 where God says,

I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.

Here God tells the Jews who are in exile, “I will bring you back to Israel, and at that time, I will cleanse you of your sins, and place my Spirit in you.”

The interesting thing is that God does not do this because they are so good or have repented.

Instead, he makes it clear that he’s doing it in order to show his own holiness to the nations (Ezekiel 36:22-23, 32).

Only after God works his salvation do his people repent of their sin (Ezekiel 36:31).

What does this have to do with Japan? Or for America or any other nation for that matter?

It has to do with the second thing Jesus teaches here: salvation will only come when the Spirit of God moves, cleansing people of their sin and coming to dwell in their hearts. Unless he works, there is no hope.

Jesus said,

The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

Jesus is doing a word play here: the words wind and Spirit are the same in the Greek.

Whenever you see someone become a Christian, you see someone the Spirit has touched. You may not know how he worked in their lives or what brought to them that point.

They themselves might not realize until years later exactly what the Spirit did. But their changed lives are proof of his work.

We don’t know where the Spirit will blow next. But he will blow. And that’s what we need to pray for. That he will blow in the hearts of the people around us. In our cities. In our nations. In our world.

Because only in him, will we ever see changed hearts and lives.

Holy Spirit, blow in the lives of our nation. Blow in the lives of the people around us, especially those we love. Only you can change the human heart.

So blow. Breathe life into people. And blow in our lives.

Use us as your instruments to touch the people around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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John Devotionals

What are you seeking?

John

“What are you seeking?”

That was the question Jesus asked two men who had just left John the Baptist, and were following Jesus from a distance.

At this point, these two men knew almost nothing about Jesus. All they knew was that John had pointed them to Jesus and said, “He is the one you must follow now.”

And so perhaps hesitantly at first, they started following after Jesus. It didn’t take long for Jesus to notice them, and so he turned to them and asked, “What are you seeking?”

They answered, “Teacher, where are you staying?”

Kind of a strange question, don’t you think? Not “Hi, my name is Andrew and this is my friend John, son of Zebedee. Nice to meet you.” But, “Teacher, where are you staying?”

What did he mean by that?

Probably he meant, “We want to be with you. We want to learn from you. We want to follow you. We want to be like you.”

And so Jesus answered, “Come, and you will see.”

How about you? Were Jesus to ask you, “What are you seeking,” how would you answer?

“I need healing.”

“I want a better life.”

Or would you say, “Jesus, I want to be where you are. I want to learn from you. I want to follow you. I want to be like you.” 

Certainly, Jesus wants a better life for you. He wants you to find healing.

But he doesn’t want you to stop there. He wants you to see beyond your own personal needs and desires.

He wants people who desire to be with him, to learn from him, to take on his values and be like him, and who ultimately join him in making a difference in this world. And in so doing, we find what life truly is about.

Life is not primarily about our own personal happiness and satisfaction.

Life is walking with Jesus and joining him in his work to touch a world that is dying. And it’s when we start doing those two things, that we truly find a life that is worth living.

How about you? What are you seeking?