OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS UNJUSTLY STRUCK

The book of John chapter 18 verses 19 - 24 records the high priest named Annas questioning Jesus about His followers and His doctrine and it was at this time that  Jesus commented on the absurdity of the situation by saying that He has always taught at the temple alongside the religious leaders and that the open and public venue was the appropriate location to have the discussions on doctrine that the priest was now trying to have at five  in the morning. 

19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

The detail captured in this passage was that Jesus was struck by an officer for asking the chief priest why they were having a secret tribunal on His doctrine when all His teachings were always presented publically to the world. 

Jesus had not spoken anything false and yet the protocols enforced by the priest allowed for Him to be unjusty struck.

The high priest then sent Jesus to Caiaphas who was the chief priest who had articulated the principle that it was ˋexpedient for one man to die to save the whole nationˋ as the justification for capturing and killing Jesus.

2

 OUR FATHER WHOSE SINLESS SON WAS SUBJECTED TO AN UNJUST TRIAL

The book of John Chapter 18 verses 15 - 18 picks up the movements of two disciples who followed Jesus after His arrest and as the procedings at Annasˋ house unfolded, a disciple ( likey the  apostle John, the writer of this book ), was able to get into the courtyard of the high priest because John was known to the household and he was able to secure access for Peter to 

As Peter entered the complex, the lady who administered access through the compound gate, recognised him to be one of the followers of Jesus and when she mentioned it, Peter denied it.

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

In the cold morning, the soldiers who had been charged with arresting and holding Jesus, made a fire by which to keep warm as they stood waiting for the matters to conclude at Annasˋhouse so that they could take Jesus to Caiaphasˋ residence where the next tribunal would be held.

Peter stood among the men and warmed himself.

1

OUR FATHER WHO GAVE HIS SON TO DIE FOR A NATION AND INDEED THE WHOLE WORLD

The book of John chapter 18 verses 12 - 14 

12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

The high priest at that time was Caiaphas and it was he who had pronounced the determination that it was necessary to sacrifice the life of one man to save the whole nation. This triggered the plot to capture Jesus and it culminated in Jesusˋ arrest in the garden of Gethsemene.

Jesus was handcuffed and likely roughed up by the soldiers ( if the reading from Psalm 17 verse 11; They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. could be ascribed to this point in time)  and taken to Annasˋ house ( the father-in-law to Caiaphas ) where He was held in custody and questioned by Annas.

The mis-treatment of Jesus continued at Annasˋ house when He was struck by an officer during questioning which began the deterioration of Jesusˋ condition at the hands of the religious establishment and then the Romans.

As the early morning broke, Jesus was taken Ciaphasˋ house.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON LOVED HIM TO THE POINT OF OBEDIENCE UNTO DEATH

The book of John chapter 18 verses 1 - 11 records Jesusˋ arrest at the garden of Gethsemene this way;

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Judas, knowing that Jesus often met with His disciples at the garden of Gethsemene, led a contigent of officers and soldiers  to that location.

When the authorities arrived at the garden, Jesus identified Himself to them and they, surprised by His sudden proximity to them, fell to the ground.

He told them again that He was the one they were looking for and that they should let His companions go so that the scripture would be fulfilled that had prophesied that He would lose none of His men.

Peter, in a passionate move to protect His Lord, struck one of the members of the arresting party with a sword he was carrying and cut off an ear.

Jesus responded to Peter by telling him to stand-down because He ( Jesus ) was willingly going to drink the cup that His Father gave Him.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO IS KNOWN BY JESUS

The book of John chapter 17 verses 20 - 26 records Jesus' tender prayer to the Father on behalf of all the believers of that time and all those who would come subsequently.

Jesus told His Father that He wanted those who believed in Him to be with Him where He was so that they may see the Glory He Had before the creation of the world. 

Jesus also prayed that His people would stand out from the rest of the world because of the unity and love that they carried as they reflected Him.

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

The Lord Jesus prayed to His Father saying that He has let His followers know about Him and would continue to do so in order that the same love the Father had for Jesus would be upon those who followed Him and that Jesus Himself would be in them.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO KEEPS HIS PEOPLE THROUGH HIS NAME

The book John chapter 17 verses 6 -  19, the Lord Jesus prayed for His disciples starting with the revelation that the men were originally the Fathertˋs and that the Father gave the to Jesus and they responded the words that Jesus gave to them by receiving them and believing that Jesus came from the Father.

The Lord Jesus then said that the men were both His and of the Father and that Jesus was glorified in them (reflecting how the Father was glorified in Jesus  mentioned in verse 4; I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ). 

Jesus then spoke of the hatred His followers would recieve from the world in the way that Jesus was hated by the world.

6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

The Lord Jesus, before his Father, asked that His followers be kept from the evil one and that they be sancitfied by the Fatherˋs Word which is the Truth. Jesus then said that even as the Father send His into the world, He (Jesus) was sending His followers into the world in a symetric reflection of the first step of the redemption enterprise.

Jesus said that He santified ( or set Himself apart ) for the the sake of the people who would follow Him. This seems to be part of what the followers would need to do for the sake of the ones who would come after them.

Amen.

4

 OUR FATHER WHO GAVE HIS SON AUTHORITY OVER ALL FLESH

The book of John Chapter 17 verses 1 - 5 records the Lord Jesusˋ continued discourse to His disciples but now with His eyes lifted to heaven addressing His Father directly;

1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Jesus, approaching the last few hours of His life as a man, told His Father that He had glorified Him on the earth and that He finished the work His Father had given Him to do.

He asked His Father to glorify Him with the glory which He had with Him from before the creation of the world.

These statements Jesus made reveal  that the ancient metaphysical plan for the redemption of mankind was reaching its conclusion.

1

 OUR FATHER FROM WHOM THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH PROCEEDS

The book of John chapter 15 verses 26 - 27 concludes the chapter with this;

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

The Lord gave His disciples some last minute guidance as they approached the garden of Gethsemene.

The Holy Spirit would come from heaven who Jesus calls here, the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit, who proceeds from the Father, would testify about Jesus and this would be in conjuction with the witness the disciples would bear having been with Him from the beginning.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON CALLED US OUT OF THE WORLD

The book of John chapter 15 verses 18 - 25 gave his followers a caution about how they would attract the same hatred that He attracted because they would not longer bear the identity of the world.

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

The reaction of the world to the kingdom of righteousness was forseen by the prophets and reflects the viscerally felt conflict between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light.

4

OUR FATHER WHO CALLED HIS FOLLOWERS HIS FRIENDS

The book of John chapter 15 Verses 9 - 17 says this:

9 “As the Father loved Me I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 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.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

The Lord Jesus, talking to His disciples as they travelled to the garden of Gethsemene, spoke uplifting words to them. He told them they were now included in the knowledge of the things that the Father was making known to Him and thus they were no longer servants but rather friends.

He adjured them to love one another and to use the privilege of being chosen to bear fruit.

Amen.

4

 OUR FATHER  WHO IS GLORIFIED BY THE FRUITFULNESS OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE

The book of John Chapter 15 verses 1 - 8  captures the Lordˋs words as He and disiples left the venue of the last supper.  In these last-minute exhortations, the Lord teaches His followers that they should abide in Him in order to bear fruit in the same way that  a branch must stay connected to the vine in order to bear fruit.

In the state of connection with Jesus and heeding His word, the requests we make of heaven will be heard and fulfilled.

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

The Father is glorified when the followers of Jesus remain connected with Him such that they look to heaven for their supply and they bear much fruit.

The Lordˋs emphasis to His disciples is that they should be permanently connected to Him.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER TO WHOM JESUS WAS ABOUT TO RETURN

The book of John chapter 14 verses 25 - 31 says this,

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But 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 things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Jesusˋ concluding statements to His disciples just as they were about to go to the garden of Gethsemene assured them that even though He was leaving them, they would not be without Him. He told them that teh Father would send the Holy Spirit to be with them and teach them and to remind them of all the things Jesus had taught them.

Jesus then promised that He would give them His peace which born again believers experience when they turn to Jesus. The apostle Paul in the book of the Phillipians chapter 4 verse 7 refers to this peace that is beyond understanding but guards our hearts and minds.

Jesus told His disciples not to let their hearts be troubled inspite of what was about to happen. He said that if they loved Him, they would understand and rejoice in the fact  that He had to return to His Father because His Father was greater than He. 

The final sequence of events, foretold from centuries before, was now unfolding and Jesus told His followers that He would not be saying much to them henceforth. 

The great test of Jesus was about to begin and Jesus told the disciples that the ruler of this world was on His way to put maximum pressure on Jesus but Jesus asserted that the ruler of this world had no claim on Him.

The test at hand was whether Jesus loved His Father to the point where He would voluntarily obey his Fatherˋs commands even to the point of death and the last thing that Jesus said at this gathering was that He ldid indeed love His Father to that degree that there would be no daylight between His father and himself no matter how much pressure was put on Him.  This is the perfection of Christ.

Jesus then said that it was time to get up and leave the place they were.

Have mercy on us. O God.

4

OUR FATHER WHO LOVES THOSE WHO LOVE HIS SON

The book of John chapter 14 verses 15 - 24 continues with the Lord Jesus giving His disciples a last briefing before he was to leave them. 

He instructed them to keep His commandments to them as proof of their love for Him. The Lord then made the promise of the ages; He told them that He would ask the Father and the Father would give them a Helper who would be with them forever.

The Helper was the Spirit of Truth and He would dwell with them and be in them and through Him, Jesus would be with them even though is short while  would not be physically with them. Jesus also told them that because He lives, they would live as well.

The passage reads this way;

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will  see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

One of the disciples asked Jesus how He would be reachable to them while being inaccessible to the world to which Jesus replied that the distinction between those in the world and them would be that those who kept Jesus words (which were actually the Fatherˋs words) would be those in whom the Father and the Lord dwelt.

This personal indwelling was not available to the world but only to those who heeded the words of Jesus and kept them.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO IS GLORIFIED IN THE SON

The book of John chapter 14 verses   12 - 14 says this;

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

The Lord Jesus, a few hours from His arrest, reveals a truth to His disciples that to this day, is the most shocking thing about Christianity.

Ordinary people, made out of the dust of the earth, when in a state of belief in Jesus, would be able to supernatural things even greater than those that Jesus did.

Because of a mechanism of the glorification of the Father through the Son of God when heaven underwrites a request that is made in the name and authority of Jesus, anything we ask for in Jesus' name that is in in the set of works that Jesus did, He will fulfill.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHO IS IN CHRIST AND IN WHOM CHRIST IS WITHIN

The book of John chapter 14 verses 7 - 11 continues with the intimate conversation the Lord Jesus was having with His disciples. The Lord was explaining to them that He and the Father were one and that to know Jesus was to know the Father.

Unable to comprehend what Jesus was was explaining to them,  Phillip asked Jesus to show them the Father and that they would then have what the needed to truly believe in Jesus.

Jesus was concerned because Philip, along with all the rest of them, had been with Jesus for along time  and still they did not grasp that Jesus, as He stood there with them, was the exact representation of the Father.

The passage reads this way:

7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

The Lord ended this section of the passage by saying t by ere are two avenues of belief that they had access to. On one hand, they could see Jesus modeling the Father's voice and authority and believe in Jesus based on that. On the other, they could look at the miracles He was performing and understand that such astonishing works that they could derive their belief in  Jesus based on the miraculous signs He was demonstrating.

Amen.

4

 

OUR FATHER IN WHOM WE BELIEVE

The book of John Chapter 14 verses 1 - 6 says this;

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

The Lord Jesus, preparing His disciples for His departure, advised them that He would have to leave to prepare a place for them and that they would eventually be with Him.

The Apostle Thomas asked the Lord how they would know where to find Him because they did not know the way.

Jesus' response was the widely known scripture that declared that He was the way, the truth and the life and that there was no access to the Father except through Him.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WOULD BE STRUCK AND HIS FOLLOWERS WOULD SCATTER

The book of John chapter 13 verses 36 - 38, just after the Lord Jesus had announced to His disciples that He was about to leave them,  the apostle Peter asked the Lord where He was going.

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”

37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

The apostle Peter thought that He would be able to follow Jesus into the maw of the vengeful authorities even at the risk of his own life but Jesus corrected Him by saying that Peter would deny even the knowledge of Jesus on three occasions before morning broke.

The Lord Jesus, in this moment of imminent danger to Himself, could see the upcoming events with clarity even to the number of times that Peter would be intimidated by the circumstances. 

4

OUR FATHER WHO IS GLORIFIED IN HIS SON

The book of John chapter 13 verses 31 - 35 records the final commandment that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples.

As the time of His arrest drew closer, He let his followers know that He was going to depart shortly but in this moment of sorrow, He adjured them to love one another in the same way that He loved them.

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

To love one another is the most universal way of demontrating to others that we are followers of Christ as we obey His command to do so.

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS BETRAYED BY A FRIEND

The book of John chapter 13 verses 18 - 30 captures the fulfilment of a prophecy found in Psalm chapter 41 verse 9 which says : Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.  

At this last meal, Judas, who had been covertly recruited by the authorities  to betray Jesus by giving them His location, was handed a piece of bread directly by Jesus to underline that Jesus shared His bread with the one who was about to betray Him.  

Judas was then prompted to leave the gathering and go to the chief priests to report where Jesus was going to be that night.

The passage reads this way;

18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

25 Then, leaning [e]back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

The mechanism of the sarifice of Jesus were now in motion. 

Judas, knowing that Jesus would go to the Garden of Gethsemene to pray, was off to bring the authorities to arrest Him and Jesus, gathered the rest of His disciples to go to the garden of Gethsemene in order to be handed over to those who wanted to kill Him.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS GOING TO RETURN TO HIM

The book of John chapter 13 verses 1 - 17 records the last supper that Jesus shared with His disciples. This event was to celebrate the Passover meal that was a customary in Israel to commemorate the salvation of God from the angel of death by the marking the households of israel with the blood of a lamb. 

This gathering was held on the night was was to lead up to the day that Jesus was going to be arrested and put to death.

When the meal was complete, Jesus, in a demontration of humility and obedience to His Father, got a basin of water and a towel and knelt down to wash the desciples feet. Peter objected to the Jesus washing His feet but Jesus pursuaded him to have his feet washed so that he could participate in the plan of salvation that was being carried out before their eyes.

During this time, Jesus was aware of the betrayal that was being plotted by Judas and knew that it was the mechanism by which He was going to fall into the hands of the authorities and ultimately be killed and return to the Father.

The passage reads this way;

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you [b]know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus, in this final act of servitude for his disciples, set an example for us to maintain a stance of humility and service for those around us and emulate his servant heart.

Holy is the Lord.

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OUR FATHER WHO SENT HIS SON TO MAKE EVERLASTING LIFE POSSIBLE FOR MEN

The book of John chapter 12 verses 42 - 50 captures the tension that had formed around Jesus because many of the leaders of Israel were pursuaded that He was the awaited Messiah but because the chief priests and pharisees were campaigning against Him, they kept quiet so as not to be ostracized by the establishment.

42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

The case that Jesus made to them was that He, though standing before them as a man, was actually the exact representation of the Father and that the  appropriate reponse to His words was to believe them because if they refused to believe, those words would serve as a witness against them on the last day of judgement.

He implored them to understand the stakes involved. The mission that Jesus was on was one of offering eternal life to men and it is because of what was being pursued by the Father that Jesus completely subjected Himself the commands of the Father in order for the intention of providing everlasting life to be realized.

This was the last entreaty that Jesus made that was recorded by the apostle John before the final countdown to His arrest by the authorities.

Holy is the Lord.

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 OUR FATHER WHO KNEW THAT HIS SON WOULD BE REJECTED

The book of John Chapter 12 verse 37 - 41, the apostle John links the unbelief of the children of Israel at the appearance of their Messaih to the prophecies of Isaiah the prophet. Isiaiah had foreseen that the Messiah would appear among His people but the people would not believe in Him.

37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: 

“Lord, who has believed our report?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,

Lest they should see with their eyes,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

So that I should heal them.”

41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

The prophet Isaiah, having see the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ  wrote of Him centuries in advance but also knew that the people would be blinded and their hearts hardened so that they would see the signs and wonders that He would perform  before their eyes and they would still be unable to comprehend the importance of what they were seeing and they would not be able to believe in the One who came to save them.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO GLORIFIED HIS NAME THROUGH HIS SON

John chapter 12 verses 27 - 36 says this;

27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”

Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

The Lord Jesus continued teaching and counseling the people even as He was approaching His own trial.

He told them that His soul was troubled because of the horror what was imminent but that He was not going to evade the very purpose for which He was sent.

He advised his listeners to believe in the light so that they would become sons of the light and then Jesus left the gathering and was concealed from the people.

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 OUR FATHER WHO GAVE HIS SON TO DIE THAT WE MAY LIVE

The book of John chapter 12 verses 20 - 26 describes an event where a contigency of  Greeks who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the passover asked some of the disciples to set up an appointment so they could meet Jesus.

Philip and Andrew took the matter to Jesus but Jesus declined the meeting because the time had reached its fulness and His imminent death was now on the forefront of His mind.

Jesus gave the disciple a message to pass back to the inquirers that  advised them to hate their own lives so they could gain eternal life and to serve Him because serving Him was the certified way to be with Him for where He was going, those who were His servants would be with Him there.

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO SENT HIS SON TO BE KING OF ISRAEL

The book of John chapter 11 verses 12 - 19 records the formal entry of the awaited Messiah into the city of Jerusalem. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was a catalyst for the anticipation that the people in Jerusalem had to receive the Messiah and they waved palm branches to welcome Him.

The political and religious establishment of Jerusalem were feeling that Jesus was drawing infleunce and authority away from them and became more desperate when the Lord Jesus publically entered their domain and the people were hailing Him as the king of Israel.

 12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

 “Hosanna! 

‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 

The King of Israel!”

14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

Behold, your King is coming,

Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

The tension in Jerusalem was climbing as the people polarized around the question of who Jesus was and the time was getting close to where the authorities would make a risk everything to get Jesus and try to destroy Him.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS THE STONE THE  BUILDERS REJECTED BUT BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE

John chapter 11 verses 9 - 11 captures the extent to which the religious and political establishments were willing to go to stampt out the effect that Jesus was having on the population. 

 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Because Lazarus had been raised from the dead, people swarmed to see him because of how astonishing the miracle of his ressurection was. This groundswell of interest in what had happened threatened the fiefdoms that the religious leaders had established for themselves and they targeted Lazarus in their assasination plans so as to erase any evidence that would revive the peopleˋs interest in spiritual matters and point people to Jesus.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS GIVEN FOR US

The book of John chapter 12 verses 1 - 7 says this;

1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

The miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead had set off a political firestorm among the leaders of Israel but for many regular people, the event moved them to at a deep level of faith. One such person was Mary who, in a passionate gesture of reverence, took a reserve of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesusˋ feet and dried it with her hair.

Judas Iscariot, who was soon to betray Jesus to the authorities who were seeking to kill him, grumbled about the waste of perfume. He felt that they could have sold the perfume to add to the their cash holdings to give to the poor.

Jesus rebuked the grumblers and indicated that there was a momentus reason for the annointing of oil that Mary was carrying out. Whereas the poor were always present and thus could be helped at any time, Jesusˋ life on earth was drawing to an end and the opportunities to be with Him and lavish gratitude on Him were down to the last few days and Mary was doing well by taking the time to annoint Him.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

The book of John chapter 11 verses 45 - 57 recounts the fallout of the raising of Lazarus from the dead by Jesus.

There were many who witnessed the events and believed in Jesus but when word of the miracle got back to the Pharisees in the Jerusalem, they interpreted the event to mean that they were soon going to lose control over the spiritual narative of their nation. The high priest of the time, Caiaphas, unknowingy made a statement that was a prophetic declaration of the substitutionary death Jesus would die for the nation of Israel and indeed for all the children of God who were scattered around the world.

45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

The focus on Jesus intensified and intructions were issued to report His whereabouts so that He could be seized.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SON SHOWED THE GLORY OF GOD

John chapter 11 verses 38 - 44 says this;

38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” 

Amen

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WEEPS WITH US AND IDENTIFIES WITH US

John chapter 11 verses 28 - 37 says this;

28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

The book of Hebrews chapter chapter 4 verses 15 - 16 that affirms that our perfect saviour is able to identify with us having lived a human life fraught with grief and temptations.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need..

Amen.

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