I am the Way, the Truth and the Life John 13-14

In our study so far we have seen Jesus interact with a multitude of people, performing all kinds of miracles. John calls them signs and he specifically mentioned 7 of them.

Here is an entry from The Tyndale's Bible Dictionary about the significance of the number 7.

In Scripture, seven symbolizes completeness or perfection. On the seventh day God rested from his labors and creation is finished (Gn 2:2). Pharaoh in his dream saw seven cattle coming from the Nile (41:2). Samson’s sacred Nazirite locks were braided in seven plaits (Jgs 16:13). Seven devils left Mary of Magdala, signifying the totality of her previous possession by Satan (Lk 8:2); "seven other devils" will enter the purified but vacant life of a person (Mt 12:45). However, on the positive side, there were the seven spirits of God (Rv 3:1). In the seventh year the Hebrew slave was to be freed (Ex 21:2), having completed his time of captivity and service. Every seventh year was a sabbatical year (Lv 25:4). Seven times seven reiterates the sense of completeness. In the Year of Jubilee (at the completion of 7 x 7 years = the 50th year), all land is freed and returns to the original owners (Lv 25:10). Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks, is seven times seven days after Passover. "Seventy," which is literally "sevens" in Hebrew, strengthens the concept of perfection. There are 70 elders (Ex 24:1) in Israel. Israel was exiled to Babylon for 70 years (Jer 25:12) to complete its punishment. "Seventy times seven" (Mt 18:22) reiterates this still further. The Lord was not giving Peter a mathematical number of times that he should forgive another person, but rather was insisting on limitless forgiveness for a brother’s sin.

The seven signs were:

1. Changing the water into wine (CH 2)
2. Cleansing the temple (CH 2)
3. Healing of the nobleman's son (CH 4)
4. Healing of the lame man (CH 5)
5. Feeding the multitude with 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread (CH 6)
6. Healing of the blind man (CH 9)
7. Raising of Lazarus (CH 11)

 Along with the 7 signs John mentions 7 I AM statements. The significance of those statements goes to prove the deity of Jesus. I AM means YAHWEH. When Moses asked God in Exodus what he was to call Him, God answered

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14

So far we have seen 5 I AM statements which were:

1. I AM the bread of life (CH 6)
2. I AM the light of the world (CH 8)
3. I AM the gate (CH 10)
4. I AM the good Shepherd (CH 10)
5. I AM the resurrection and the life (CH 11)

If you go back to your notes and reading, you will quickly noticed that the statements are linked with a sign.

Bread of life = feeding the mutitude

Light of the world = healing the blind man

Resurrection = Lazarus

 In John 14 Jesus makes a new bold statement

I AM the way

the truth

the life

We are in the Passion week. The time is near for Jesus to be betrayed and suffer the punishment for our sins. He is now spending time with his disciples (the ones that were still believing) and imparting in them some important wisdom. Jesus, their teacher, friend, mentor, the son of God takes off his outer garments and washes their feet, showing them THE WAY.

I am sure that you could have heard a fly drop. The whole situation was shocking, embarrassing, surreal. Foot washing, a ritual that dates back to Abraham (see Genesis 18), was to be performed by the lowest servant. For Jesus to wash their feet was similar to the disciples to the Queen of England coming to your house to clean your toilets. Unthinkable.

But there is a lesson here - a two fold lesson.

Repentance of sins

The way means to be cleansed from sin. When you have been cleansed you belong to Christ. This cleansing is not a simple outward cleansing but an inward one. Jesus DID wash Judas' feet. He lowered himself to wash the feet of the person who was going to betray him in a few hours.

Let me say this again:

He lowered himself to wash the feet of the person who was going to betray him in a few hours.

Let this sink in. The way means being clean, having a relationship with Jesus and NEVER assuming that you are too good to serve those who do not believe. Jesus knew that Judas was unclean, yet he still served him. Jesus did physically wash Judas but Judas was not clean because he did not accept Jesus. A person can be baptized every single Sunday and go to church every day of the week and still be unclean if they do not accept Jesus. It means accepting Jesus even when it does not look like we think it should look like. Remember: they expected a king and instead saw someone washing feet and about to die like a lowlife criminal.

 After Judas left, Jesus goes on and talk about the truth. The truth is very simple and at the same time very complicated. The disciples did not realize that Judas was about to betray Jesus. The impact of what he is about to tell them will have much much more impact after the arrest.

We, on the other hand, are reading this lesson knowing what has happened, knowing the heart of men (and women) who days after hailing Jesus will be shouting "crucify Him". We are the ones fortunate enough to live in a time and a place where reading the Bible is easy, free and strongly encouraged. We are lucky enough to have the freedom to proclaim that we love Jesus.

truth or dare: do we?

Jesus tells them "“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

A new command

Love one another

by this........

Jesus LOVES. Period. Jesus loves the Judases of this world. He loves the sinners. He loves the lost. He loves the outcasts. He loves until it hurts. He loves and died.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Do you?

 Jesus is the life. How can you have life?

 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—" John 14:15-16

Love is a choice. Love is THE choice we need to make every single day. Love is really the ONLY choice we should consider.

Love is not always easy. It is a choice.

But Jesus is right there. This is a simple math equation

Jesus loves me = I love Jesus + I love others

I love Jesus + I love others = I obey His commandments

I obey His commandments + Jesus loves me = Holy Spirit

Romans 8:4-7 instructs us to live by the Spirit which is the opposite of living by the flesh. When we choose to live by the flesh, we let ourselves be controlled by our own selfish desires and also by standards put forth by the world. Those standards rarely conform to the teaching of Jesus.  In order to have life we have to live by the Spirit.

The Spirit lives in us when we love Jesus, obey His commands and love others. This can only happen when our hearts belong entirely to Jesus. The Israelite were set aside by the ritual of circumcision. We Christians also need to perform a circumcision. Circumcision of the heart to remove the foreskin aka hardness.

Take time time today, this week to ponder the following verses and ask yourself what is making the foreskin of your hear? Bitterness? Jealousy? Anger? Depression?

Pray over these verses and remove the foreskin, let your heart be freely all for Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your helper. Allow Jesus to fill you with life.

You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Acts 7:51

Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. Deuteronomy 10:16

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
    circumcise your hearts,
    you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire
    because of the evil you have done—
    burn with no one to quench it. Jeremiah 4:4

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? Ezekiel 18:31

Great peace have those who love your law,
    and nothing can make them stumble.
I wait for your salvation, Lord,
    and I follow your commands.  Psalm 119:165-166

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

John week 10 homework .pdf

Selah

As I am reading through the book of Psalms, I find myself pondering on this one word,

Selah

Selah does not have a translation.Some believe it means forever, others believe that it is like an amen. Another explanation comes from the root word Celah which is used in the Bible to indicate weight as in scale or value (cf Job 28:15-16).

Another modern theory is that it means lift up. 

This mystery word occurs seventy-one times in the book of Psalms and three times in Habakuk.

It is a mystery word and I love mysteries!

    When I come across something I do not know or understand, I tend to pause and think about it. So let’s look at some examples of that pause that can mean “amen” or “forever” or “valuable” or “lift up”:
Psalm 3:8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.  

Selah (pause-amen-forever-valuable-lift up)

Psalm 4:2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?  

Selah (pause-amen-forever-valuable-lift up)

Psalm 4:4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah (pause-amen-forever-valuable-lift up)

Psalm 85:2 You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins.  

Selah

Hab. 3:13 You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot.  

Selah (pause-amen-forever-valuable-lift up)

I encourage you to read through the rest of the Psalms and Habakuk and find the other Selah.

    So why pause and weigh what you read? 

Who has time to pause and weigh in the situation? 

Surely not me! I have children to take care of, a house to upkeep, laundry to clean and fold and put away (yes I do skip the ironing....), groceries to buy and the list goes on and on. There are days when I barely have time to shower and brush my teeth so why would I pause? Because God said so. He asks us to pause, reflect and praise Him seventy one times in the book of Psalm. “From the Lord comes deliverance”, pause, weigh in, amen, lift up your hands and praise Him forever! “You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one”, pause, weigh in, lift up your hands and praise Him forever amen! Nothing else matters. Put God first and reflect on His goodness and your world will be a better place.
    There are Selah all through the Bible, written on all the pages right after that verse you read that seems to speak straight to your heart. Take the time to pause, weigh in and praise Him! He is gently whispering to your ear

“be still my child and know that I am God, be still, selah....” 

I am challenging you in the midst of your busy days to pause and remember what matters the most. Pause at the exact moment you think you ought not to or do not have the time. Recite a verse and pause. I guarantee you that this pause will add time to your day, peace to your mind and joy to your heart.

    You are His beloved. No one can snatch you out of His hand (John 10:38). He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6). Take His yoke and give Him yours so you can find rest (Mat 11:29-30). Above all be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). 

Selah

Uplifting quote

Agent Blue

“Where can I go from your spirit?” 

Psalm 139:7

Wouldn’t it be wonderful and amazing if Jesus was still among us today? He could answer our daily emails filled with questions and requests. We would be able to go see him on tour and listen to his teachings. I am sure that arenas and stadiums would be filled with eager people and that tickets would be sold out a year in advance. Even though it would be wonderful to have the ability to see him face to face in this life (the good news is we will get to see him one day), we would also be missing out on one of God’s most precious gift: the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit could only come after Jesus ascended to heaven. Jesus refers to the spirit as the counselor (John 14:16), the spirit of truth (John 14:17). Through the spirit Jesus promises that he will come to us (John 14:18). Since the spirit lives in us, we have access to Jesus 24/7. No need to wait for a response to an email or the next conference.

I occasionally buy for my children the Listerene Agent Blue™ (I have no affiliation with the company nor will I receive monies for mentioning this product. As a matter of fact Listerene does not even know I exist.)

Agent blue reveals spots that still need to be brushed. So the kids brush their teeth, do the rinse and check for spots. Agent blue makes the stains visible. When used regularly, it helps prevents plaque, cavities and gingivitis. In many ways the Holy Spirit is like an Agent Blue in our lives. When used properly it reveals those “stains” aka sins that we need to confess and turn away from. When used regularly it prevents “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry, and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like.” (Galatians 5:19-20) After repeated uses side effects can be “joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Are you ready to use some Agent Blue in your life? It is powerful and can be intimidating at times. After all who wants to have their dirty spots revealed? I know though from personal experience that the results are amazing and well worth going through the process. So let’s do this together. Pray with me

“Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24

If you have not yet received the gift of the Holy Spirit or are not sure about it please talk to a pastor, a chaplain or a godly friend. And please let us know how we can pray for you.