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TODAY’S READING: JOHN 20-21

 

OVERVIEW: 

Christ’s resurrection (20:1-10); Christ’s post-resurrection appearances to Mary and to His disciples (20:11-31); Jesus’ reinstatement and restoration of Peter (21:1-17); Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples (21:18-25).

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

By the time we move into John 21 in today’s reading, Jesus has already risen from the dead (John 20).  He has made numerous appearances, two of them to His disciples.  But at this point, the disciples are in danger of drifting back into their old way of life (21:3).  They had spent three years with the Lord, but all of that is pretty foggy right now.  Things didn’t really go like they had planned.  They’ve gone from disillusionment to despair.  Sure, there was certainly a tremendous rejuvenation of their hearts to realize that Jesus had risen from the dead, but at this point, the disciples still hadn’t quite pieced the whole thing together.

 

Things were different now.  For three years they had walked with the Lord and talked with Him; they were always together.  Now He appears and disappears without any notice.  It’s just different.  And on top of that, they’re all bearing the guilt of the fact that they had forsaken the Lord.  All of them but John scattered when Jesus needed them most.

 

And when you come to the end of chapter 20 in today’s reading, the main narrative ends with the great climax of Thomas’ confession of faith in verse 28 as he says to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”  Then John gives an explanation of his purpose in writing the book in verses 30 and 31, “and many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name,” and it’s a beautiful conclusion to the whole thing.  And if you couldn’t see the other chapter just below those verses in your Bible, you would think that the Book had ended with verse 31.

 

But that’s not the end!  There are still some extremely important things the Holy Spirit wants us to know about Peter’s situation.  John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, doesn’t want his Gospel to end without telling his readers that Peter had been fully restored and reinstated.  You see, without chapter 21, there would have been a major question in all of our minds about whether a person who has blown it like Peter had, could be restored in his relationship with the Lord.  Peter didn’t just turn his back on the Lord as had the other disciples; he had actually denied Him on three different occasions!  I mean, how could someone who had done something like that still be entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding the flock of Jesus Christ?  Again, without chapter 21, the question would remain unanswered.

 

Also, were it not for chapter 21, it would be a mystery in all of our minds, why in the world Peter is so prominent in the first 12 chapters of the next Book of the Bible, the Book of Acts.  I mean, how does a guy go from completely denying the Lord when he’s 50 feet away from Him, to the boldness exemplified on the Day of Pentecost just seven weeks later, when he looks out on the religious leaders of Israel, and all the people of Judea and Jerusalem, and faced them with the fact that they had taken God’s own Son, the Lord of glory, and by their wicked hands, had slain Him!  Pretty strong stuff!  How do you go form being a coward, to having that kind of courage?  What takes place in chapter 21 is the missing link.

 

And then there is at least one other reason for chapter 21.  When you come to the end of chapter 20, the last of the disciples has come to genuine faith.  That, of course, was “Doubting Thomas.”  They had all been convinced of the resurrection, and that, of course, was wonderful, but what now?  What were they going to do about it?  And chapter 21 is Jesus’ call for action.

 

A few other things to grab a hold of as you make your way through chapter 21:

 

21:3 –   Perhaps we could paraphrase, “Well, I’ll tell you what fellas, I may not be a great preacher or evangelist, but there is one thing I do know how to do, and I’m gonna do that!  I’m goin’ fishin’! Come on boys, let me show ya how it’s done!”  Notice, they didn’t even get a bite.  The one thing Peter thought he could do, he couldn’t do anymore (John 15:5), because God had put His hand on his life and was in control.  Learn the lesson from Peter.

 

21:15-17 – No matter how our love has failed, there is restoration!  Perhaps that’s the message God wants you to receive today — there IS restoration!  And notice in this passage, the restoration was initiated by the Lord.  He could have said, “You know what Peter, you’re a chump! You talk a big talk, but you can’t be counted on to do anything!  I gave you three years of my life, and I can’t even get you to follow one simple command.  Just forget it, man.” But that’s not the way it was at all.  Jesus initiated the restoration, and provided the one who had denied Him three times, the opportunity to affirm his love three times!

 

21:17– After the third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Peter appeals to the doctrine of omniscience.  He says, “Lord, thou knowest all things.”  In other words, “Lord, you’re going to have to read my heart, because I know my love for you isn’t obvious by my life.”  The doctrine of omniscience is a tremendous thing.  I used to feel like God kind of had a way to spy on me, but now I know that if God weren’t omniscient, there would be a lot of times God wouldn’t know that I love Him, because like Peter, it isn’t always obvious from my life. I, too, have to ask Him to look on the inside, at what is in my heart.

 

21:15-17 – Saying, “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep.  Feed my sheep,” was Jesus’ way of saying, “I forgive you, Peter.  I still believe in you, Peter.  I still think you’re the right man for the job.”

 

The things revealed in chapter 21 of John’s Gospel were a turning point in Peter’s life.   The things that took place seven weeks later on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 are the proof of that.  May God use this chapter to be a turning point in our lives today!

 

TODAY’S READING: JOHN 15-19

 

OVERVIEW:  Jesus teaches about abiding in Him (15:1-11); Jesus teaches about loving one another (15:12-17); Jesus warns about persecution (15:18-16:7); Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit (16:8-33); Jesus’ prayer of intercession (17:1-26); Jesus’ betrayal and arrest (18:1-14); Peter’s denial (18:15-18); Jesus before the high priest (18:19-24); Peter’s second and third denial (18:25-27); Jesus before            Pilate (18:28-38); Barabbas is released (18:39-40); Christ’s crucifixion (19:1-37); Christ’s burial (19:38-42).

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

We enter into the whole arena of our Lord’s betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion today for the fourth time in almost as many weeks.  One of the most important things to keep in your mind as you read about His incredible sacrifice is something Jesus said back in chapter 10, verses 17 and 18.  Jesus said, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I LAY DOWN MY LIFE, that I might take it again. NO MAN TAKETH IT FROM ME, but I LAY IT DOWN OF MYSELF. I have power to LAY IT DOWN, and I have power to take it again.”  The reason these two verses are so significant, is that they help us to interpret what is really taking place as Jesus is being crucified.  Though it appears that He is the victim, nothing could be further from the truth!  Jesus was never a victim to anybody!  The fact is, Jesus died, not because men killed Him, because they couldn’t!  There was no way that Jesus could have died had He not willed to die.

 

For centuries people have been arguing about who killed Jesus.  The Jewish leaders, of course, are the primary targets of the blame, and rightly so, because it was their plot, and their false charges that actually forced the issue.

 

Others choose to blame the Romans, and they, too, deserve a portion of the blame, because they were the ones who set aside what was normal justice to appease an angry mob, and they knowingly went ahead and executed an innocent man.

 

But if you really want to get to the bottom line on who bears the responsibility for Christ’s death, all you have to do is listen to Peter in Acts 2:23: “Him, (that is, Christ) being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken (the Jews), and by wicked hands (the Romans) have crucified and slain.”  Who was it that was responsible for the death of Christ?  It was neither the Jews nor the Romans, though they certainly bear the guilt for the actual execution and sin that was involved.  The ultimate responsibility lies with God!  It was God who destined it.  It was God that planned it.  And Jesus, in an act of submissive obedience, simply carried out the eternal plan (Rev. 13:8).  But don’t ever lose sight of the fact that HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE!  John19:30says, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and HE BOWED HIS HEAD, AND GAVE(!!!) UP THE GHOST.”  Nobody TOOK it.  He GAVE it! He yielded His life.  And just as surely as He laid down His life, He TOOK IT AGAIN!

 

Allow me to call to your attention to a few places in today’s reading where Jesus is demonstrating the fact that HE is in control:

 

19:16– “Then delivered he (Pilate) him (Christ) therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and LED him away.”

 

It seems a minor thing to say “they led him away,” but it isn’t minor.  Jesus didn’t have to be driven, He went willingly.  He followed them to the cross.  And, of course, that’s just how the prophet Isaiah said it would happen.  Isaiah 53:7 says, “He is BROUGHT AS A LAMB to the slaughter.”  Unlike cattle which are DRIVEN, sheep are LED.

 

19:17a – “And he BEARING HIS CROSS”

Notice, Jesus carried His own cross.  Why is this happening?  Because it, too, is exactly how God prophesied that it would unfold in a prophetic type in the Old Testament.  Genesis 22:6 is a prophetic type rather than a prophetic statement as in Isaiah 53:7 above.  In Genesis 22:6, Isaac is a picture of Christ, and the verse says, “And Abraham took the WOOD of the burnt OFFERING, and LAID IT UPON ISAAC HIS SON.”  So, Isaac went up toMt.Moriah(same mountain as Jesus, by the way) carrying the wood that was to be used for his own execution.  And so Jesus, controlling every detail of what is taking place in John 19, carries His own “wood,” in a perfect fulfillment of what Isaac pictured prophetically.

 

19:17b – “And he bearing his cross WENT FORTH”

“Went forth” means that He was LED outside the city walls.  Why did that happen?  Because that was Roman law.  Roman law said that no one could be crucified inside the city.  And so they had a place outside the city “called the place of a skull” (19:17c), and it was called that because from a distance the mountainside resembled a skull.  Jesus was taken there because it was the normal place for crucifixions.  But once again, long before Rome built that law into its books, way back in the Book of Exodus when God instituted the offering for sin He said, “But the flesh of the bullock and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without (i.e. outside) the camp: it is a sin offering” (Ex. 29:14). And Jesus, in perfect fulfillment of the picture of the sin offering in the Old Testament, was sacrificed outside the city.  The Romans had no idea about that when they made their laws, but they made that law because God knew that one day His Son was coming to fulfill the picture of Ex. 22:6.

 

19:18a – “they CRUCIFIED Him.”

This is another exact fulfillment.  And one that could not have been anticipated!  The Jews didn’t crucify people.  They stoned people.  But Christ was to be crucified.  That was a Roman way to die.  And once again, it fulfills Numbers 21:6-9, which says that whenIsraelwas bitten by snakes, they were to make a serpent and lift it up on a rod, and anybody who looked upon it would be healed.  Jesus said in John3:14– “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”  And that’s exactly how it happened.  Jesus was lifted up on a cross.  That kind of death was unheard of to the Jews in the Old Testament, but that’s how prophecy said it would happen, so it did.

 

19:18b – “they crucified him, and TWO OTHER WITH HIM, ON EITHER SIDE ONE, AND JESUS IN THE MIDST (i.e. middle).”  Is it significant that He died with criminals?  Absolutely.  Isaiah 53:12 says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.”

 

We could continue like this through this entire passage.  It is one fulfilled prophecy after another.  Jesus is ordering every detail of His own execution to fulfill the plan that He laid down in eternity.  He was in control of every single aspect.

 

Finally, John 19:28 says, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst.”  Why did He say, “I thirst”? Because He was thirsty?  I’m sure He was!  But He said it, because He knew that every single other Old Testament prophecy concerning His death had been fulfilled except that one.  Only one prophecy remained unfilled.  Psalm 69:21 says about Him in His death, “In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” So, in John 19:28, Jesus says, “I thirst.”  He reaches back and grabs that one unfulfilled prophecy so that His death could be “according to the Scriptures” (See I Cor. 15:3 – for the gospel to be the gospel, it required that every detail of how the Scripture said He would die be fulfilled.)  John19:30says, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished.” In other words, “Every prophecy has now been fulfilled.  I can go ahead and die now.”  And verse 30 goes on, “And he bowed his head (no slump to the side, He bowed it!)  and gave up the ghost.”  How did He die? Did he bleed to death?  Did He die of exposure?  Did He have a heart attack? Did He suffocate?  No. He died because He willed Himself to die.

 

 

 

TODAY’S READING: JOHN 11-14

 

OVERVIEW:  The raising of Lazarus (11:1-46); the Pharisees’ plot to kill Jesus (11:47-57); Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet (12:1-11); the triumphal entry (12:12-19); Jesus’ answer to the Greeks (12:20-50); Jesus washes the disciples’ feet (13:1-17); Jesus foretells His betrayal, His death, and His second coming (13:18-14:14); Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit (14:15-31).

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As has been mentioned, and as you have no doubt already noticed, the Gospel of John is the most unique of all of the Gospels.  It is unique for numerous reasons, but perhaps the main reason for its uniqueness has not yet been mentioned:  its unique author.  As far as Jesus’ disciples are concerned, John is in a category all to himself.

 

John is, without a doubt, the greatest picture or illustration of what a Christian should be in the entire New Testament.  As Jesus begins His ministry and calls the Twelve, what soon becomes evident is that out of all the disciples, John is going to be:

 

A UNIQUE FOLLOWER.

As Jesus calls the Twelve, it is interesting to observe that in a loose sense, they actually picture and represent all of Christianity.  There are things that were true about that group that have been true of every group of believers who have ever gathered together.

 

You see, of the Twelve, there was one that made the same claim as all of the others.  He looked like a Christian.  He knew how to speak Christianese.  He knew how to present himself as a Christian.  The only problem was that he had never genuinely been saved.  Of course, that was Judas.  Perhaps that same ratio exists in the church today.  Maybe one out of twelve have a “profession” of salvation, but no real “possession.”

 

Then, of the rest of the eleven, there were eight.  And these guys were saved, and just really “good folk.”  They attended the meetings of the assembly.  They sang the songs; they gave their offerings, and were a part of the activities.   But that’s about as far as it went.  They were just kind of satisfied with being “average.”  I think most pastors would tell you that just like the disciples, that description fits about two-thirds (8 out of 12) of their congregation.

 

But then there were the three.  There were three of the disciples that couldn’t be satisfied with the status quo. There were three who had a more intimate relationship with the Lord than all of the others. Of course, they were Peter, James and John.  They witnessed greater miracles than the others (Matt. 17:1; Luke9:28; Mark5:37; Luke8:51).  The Lord revealed to them what He revealed to no one else (Mark 13:3).  He shared more of His heart with them than He did the others (Mark14:32-34).  All the way throughout Jesus’ ministry, they were just more in tune with the Lord.  There is that same 25 percent in churches today.  While it seems others are just passively walking through life, they’re walking with their eyes fixed on things which cannot be seen (II Cor.4:18).  They walk up mountains with the Lord, and He reveals to them His glory (Matt. 17:1-8).  They go further than everyone else (Mark14:32-33).

 

And yet, even out of those three, there’s that one that goes even further!  And that, of course was John.  John is an incredible picture of somebody who goes all the way with Christ.  At the crucifixion, Judas had already done his thing.  James is gone. Peter is following afar off (Luke22:54).  All of the disciples have scattered (John16:32).  All except one.  You know where you find John at the crucifixion?  He’s right where He’s supposed to be!  He’s at the cross, at the feet of Jesus (John19:26).  Man, what a unique follower!  The only one who followed Jesus all the way.  Are you that one out of twelve?

 

And secondly, God has for this “unique follower,”

 

A UNIQUE TITLE.

On six different occasions when the Bible is making reference to John, when it could have very easily simply said “John,” the Holy Spirit inspired it to be written, the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”  It is a phrase not used of any of the other disciples.  Didn’t Jesus love them?  Certainly He did.  But Jesus had a very special love for John.  And do you know why Jesus had such a special love for John?  It was because John had a very special love for Jesus!  John is a great example of what it is to love Jesus with all of your heart.  And that love for Jesus gave John something else:

 

A UNIQUE CONFIDENCE.

In the upper room with His disciples when Jesus revealed that one of the Twelve would betray Him, Matthew 26:22 says they “began every one of them to say unto him, Lord is it I?” All of them except John.  John13:25says that John’s question was, “Lord, who is it?”  John may not have had enough spiritual discernment to figure out which one would betray Him, but there was one thing he knew for sure.  It wasn’t going to be him!

 

But there is at least one other thing that makes John more unique than perhaps any other person in the Bible, and that is that John had:

 

A UNIQUE PRIVILEGE.

In fact, John had the privilege of privileges!  John13:25says that in the upper room the night before Jesus was crucified, he had the unbelievable privilege of laying his head on “Jesus’ breast.” And do you realize Whose breast that actually is?  It is God in human flesh!  Here is John with his head on Jesus’ breast, as he listens to the very heartbeat of God!

 

That may sound like an over-spiritualization, or you may think it is dramatizing the point, and yet the fact is, the problem we face in Christianity today is that we don’t have our head on “Jesus’ breast”! Because we don’t, we don’t hear the heartbeat of God!

 

Most Christians are so in love with themselves (II Tim. 3:2); they hear and know their own heartbeat.  Most Christians are so preoccupied with people’s opinion of them; they definitely hear and know the heartbeat of others (I Cor. 4:3).  Most Christians are so engulfed in the world and enamored with the things of this world; they hear and know the heartbeat of the world.  But realize today, that the Book you hold in your own two hands today is God’s heartbeat (John 1:1, 14).  Through it, lay your head on Jesus’ breast, and listen today with John (John13:25), to the very heartbeat of God!

 

TODAY’S READING: JOHN 8-10

 

OVERVIEW: 

The conflict over Moses (7:1-8:11); the conflict over Abraham (8:12-59); the conflict over Christ’s Sonship (9:1-10:42).

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we continue seeking to get our bearings in John’s Gospel, and seeing how it relates to the other Gospel accounts, there is plenty to glean by observing the introductory genealogy in each of the Books.  Because Matthew presents Christ as the King of the Jews, Christ’s genealogy runs through David, back to Abraham (Matt. 1:1).  Because Mark presents Christ as the Servant of the Lord, the significant thing about Mark’s genealogy is that there is none!  A servant’s genealogy is insignificant!  His significance is determined by what he does (i.e. His work).  Because Luke presents Christ as the Son of Man, His genealogy is traced through His human mother back to the first MAN.  And because John presents Christ as the Son of God, Christ’s genealogy takes us back to the very “beginning” (John 1:1; Gen. 1:1) to show Christ’s deity (that He is, in fact, God and very God), and the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has always eternally existed in the Godhead.  There has never been a time that Christ wasn’t, and that He wasn’t God and completely co-equal with the Father (Heb. 1:8; Phil. 2:6).  There came a time in history when He was begotten as a SON (John 1:18; Heb. 1:6,8), but He was never a “begotten God” as the Jehovah’s False Witnesses teach and some very popular versions of the Bible teach in John 1:18!  If I were a Jehovah’s False Witness and a Christian met me at their door with a New American Standard Version, I’d make a beeline for John 1:18!

 

Today’s reading is absolutely jam-packed with irrefutable biblical evidence that Jesus Christ is God.  One of the key arguments Jehovah’s False Witnesses assert is that Jesus never actually claimed to be God.  All I can say, is how do you spell “BLIND” (I Cor. 4:4)?!!

 

Familiarize yourself with8:12-57 before we take just a second to comment on Jesus’ statement in verse 58: “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

 

Do you understand what is actually happening here?  Jesus was declaring to the Pharisees (and to the whole world!) that He was God, using the same name for HIMSELF that Jehovah Himself used when He revealed HIMSELF to Moses in Exodus 3:14!  He claimed to be the Great “I AM”!!!  Listen, there is absolutely nothing that Jesus could have said that would have been a stronger claim of deity!  Note that Jesus did not say, “Before Abraham was, I WAS.”  Jesus is not simply claiming here that He existed before His physical birth (i.e. that He was a begotten God that was begotten of the Father, as were the angels, before Abraham.) He uses the term “I AM” to show that He was not only “a god,” but “THE God” — “JEHOVAH GOD”!!!

 

And be it known, that that is not simply “my” interpretation, or “one way” of interpreting the meaning of the verse!  That this verse is specifically teaching that Christ is, in fact, Jehovah God is made abundantly clear by the response of the Pharisees in the very next verse (verse 59)!  They understood exactly what Jesus was claiming!  That’s why they “took up stones to cast at him.”  Stoning, according to Leviticus 24:16, was the penalty for blasphemy!  They wanted to stone Him because He claimed to be God!

 

The same exact thing happens in chapter 10, verses 22-33.  Jesus makes His absolute claim of deity in verse 30 (again, how totally ludicrous to say that Jesus never claimed to be God!), stating, “I and my Father are one.” The Jehovah’s False Witnesses can claim all they want that that doesn’t mean that Jesus was claiming deity, but the passage teaches otherwise!  Again, those who were listening to Jesus in John 10 understood exactly what Jesus meant by what He said, evidenced by their reaction to it.  In verse 31 they “took up stones again to stone him,” because that was the Old Testament penalty for blasphemy.  Jesus even forced them to identify exactly why they were responding in such a manner so there would never ever be a question about His claim: “Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God” (10:32-33).

 

There is no doubt about it, folks, Jesus Christ is God!

 

TODAY’S READING: JOHN 5-7

 

OVERVIEW: 

Christ and the Jewish leaders (5:1-47); Christ and the multitudes (6:1-71); the conflict over Moses (7:1-8:11).

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we saw in yesterday’s comments, John clearly identifies in chapter 20, verse 30 and 31, that the purpose of this Gospel was to reveal the signs Christ gave during His earthly ministry to prove His deity, so that the gift of life (both eternal and abundant – John 10:10) can be ours.

 

It is important to know that the first three Gospels have been referred to historically as the “Synoptic Gospels.”  The word “synoptic” comes from a Greek world meaning “to see together.”  These three Books, as we have seen, cover the same basic material.  Over 90 percent of the material covered in John’s Gospel is not covered in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  While these first three Gospels deal primarily with the “events” in the life of Christ, John deals primarily with the “meaning” of these events.  Perhaps the clearest example is the feeding of the 5000.  While all four gospels record the event, only John follows the miracle with the sermon of Christ being the “Bread of Life” (John 6), which provides the explanation of the miracle. 

 

But not only does John emphasize the meaning of the events in the life of Christ, He also emphasizes the PERSON of Christ.  John records key sermons that Jesus preached in which He identified WHO He is, and WHAT He came to the earth to do.  It is significant that in John’s coverage of these sermons, John records the seven “I AM” declarations of Christ.  “I AM” is significant in the fact that it was the name Jehovah God used to reveal who He was to Moses in Exodus 3:14.  As we have noted on previous occasions, seven in the Bible is the number of “perfection” and/or “completion.”  Remember, John’s purpose in this Gospel is to reveal that Christ is “perfectly” and “completely” God (20:30-31)!

 

            1. I AM the Bread of Life. (6:35, 41, 48, 51)

            2. I AM the Light of the World. (8:12; 9:5)

            3. I AM the Door of the Sheep. (10:7, 9)

            4. I AM the Good Shepherd. (10:11, 14)

            5. I AM the Resurrection and the Life. (11:25)

            6. I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life. (14:6)

            7. I AM the True Vine. (15:1, 5)

 

Do note that there are other occasions in John’s Gospel when Jesus refers to Himself as the “I Am” in reference to His deity (4:26; 8:28, 58; 13:19; 18:5, 6, 8), but the above seven are unique in that they are not only descriptive of His deity, but of how He as God provides life (20:30-31).

 

Another very distinct, unique and interesting quality of John’s Gospel is that of the many miracles Christ performed, John chose (under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, of course) to record seven.  And in keeping with his purpose in everything that he recorded in this Gospel (20:31), these seven were specifically chosen to reveal that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” Not only, however, were these miracles specifically chosen, but they are revealed in a very specific order because they form a “perfect” and “complete” picture of salvation.

 

The first three show the MEANS of salvation:

 

1. Water into wine (2:1-11) – Salvation is by the WORD of GOD.
2. Healing the nobleman’s son (4:46-54) – Salvation is by FAITH.
3. Healing the paralyzed man (5:1-9) – Salvation is by GRACE.

 

The fourth miracle stands by itself to teach that dedicated disciples must give the Bread of Life to lost sinners.

 

4. Feeding the 5000 (6:1-14) – Salvation is brought to the world by HUMAN MEANS.

                       

The last three show the RESULTS of salvation:

 

5. Calming the storm (6:15-21) – Salvation brings PEACE.
6. Healing the blind man (9:1-7) – Salvation brings LIGHT.
7. Raising of Lazarus (11:38-45) – Salvation brings LIFE.

 

It is also significant to note that each of these seven miracles actually introduced the discourse that followed.  For example: the discourse with Nicodemus was the direct result of the miracles that Nicodemus had witnessed (3:2); the healing of the paralyzed man (5:1-9) led to the discourse in 5:10-47; the feeding of the 5000 was the backdrop of the discourse concerning the Bread of Life (6:1-59); the healing of the blind man in 9:34 that led to him being cast out is what led to the discourse concerning Christ being the Good Shepherd Who never casts anyone out (10:1-41).

 

As we did for each of the other gospels, the following will provide an overall analysis of the Gospel of John:

 

1. Information About The Author

   His name: John.

   His name means: “Jehovah” (The Lord) is a gracious giver.”

   He is referred to in scripture as the disciple whom Jesus

   loves. (Jn. 21:20-24)

   His father’s name is Zebedee. (Mt. 4:21)

   He has a brother named James. ( Mt. 4:21)

   He was intolerant of others. (Lk. 9:49-56)

   He is one of the two Sons of thunder. (Mk. 3:17)

   His initial ministry was limited to Jews. (Gal. 2:9)

   He was imprisoned on an island calledPatmos. (Rev. 1:9)

   He also wrote the books of Revelation, and I, II, III John.

 

2. Facts About The Gospel

   Approximate date of writing: 85-90 A.D.

   Written from:Ephesus

   Dates of recorded events:  26 A.D. – 33 A.D.

   Theme: Deity of Christ

   Christ is seen as: Son of God

   Key verse: John 20:31

   Key word: Believe (99 times)

   Chapters: 21

   Verses: 879

   Words: 19,973

 

3. Features Of This Gospel

   The gospel that identifies Christ as the Son of God more than any other gospel.

   The gospel that has the least number of events recorded in the other gospels. (7)

   Contains 15 fulfilled prophecies

 

4. A Simple Outline Of This Gospel

    Three Witnesses

            Witness #1 – of His words and works. Chapters 1-12

            Witness #2 – to His witnesses.  Chapters 13-17

            Witness #3 – to the world. Chapters 18-21

 

TODAY’S READING: JOHN 1-4

 

OVERVIEW:  Christ is the Word (1:1-3, 14); Christ is the Light (1:4-13); Christ is the Son of God (1:15-18), 30-34, 49); Christ is the Messiah (1:19-28, 35-42); Christ is the Lamb of God (1:29, 35-36); Christ is the King of Israel (1:43-49); Christ is the Son of Man (1:50-51); Christ and the disciples (1:9-2:12); Christ and the Jews (2:13-3:36); Christ and the Samaritans (4:1-54).

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

We have come to the fourth and final of the Gospels, the Gospel of John.  One of the obvious questions that surfaces in every generation of believers is, why are there four Gospels, and not just one?

 

Certainly, the easiest answer is the simple fact that God wanted it that way!  That’s good enough for me, but perhaps we can site three very basic reasons why God wanted that way:

 

1. The Practical Reason.

If you were a police officer investigating an accident at an intersection and had found four people who had witnessed the accident from the four different corners of the scene, it would provide you with all the information you would need to prove conclusively what had actually taken place.  The four Gospel accounts allow us to do the same. 

2. The Presentational Reason.

As we have seen, each Gospel is written to a particular audience with a very particular way of presenting who Jesus Christ actually is.  We saw that Matthew was written to the Jews to present Jesus Christ as the King of the Jews.  Mark was written to the Gentiles (perhaps more specifically, the Romans) to present Jesus Christ as the Servant of the Lord.  Luke was written to the Greeks to present Jesus Christ as the Son of Man.  And John is written to the world to present Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  It is interesting to note that the word “world” is found 59 times in this Book (almost one-fourth of the times it is found in the entire Bible!). John wants every tribe, tongue, people and nation of the world to hear and understand that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, God in human flesh, and is the source and meaning of life.  In fact, when John comes to the end of his Gospel he declares that very calculated two-fold purpose: “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence!  of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ (i.e.  the “anointed,” the Messiah), the Son of God (i.e. God in a human body); and that believing ye might have life through his name” (20:30-31).

 

In presenting this Gospel to the world, keep in mind that the greatest barrier to “world communication” is not geography.  It is not monetary.  It’s not even politics (the world is quickly moving to a one-world government!).  The greatest barrier has always been and is LANGUAGE!  So take just a second to look up these verses to see what this Gospel that seeks to present Christ to the world is so intent on:1:38, 41, 42; 5:2; 9:7;19:19-20.  John wants every culture in the world to understand exactly what is being said, so they will BELIEVE Jesus Christ is God, and RECEIVE the life He offers.

 

3. The Peripheral Reason.

It is quite interesting to note what God reveals are on the four corners of His throne.  In Revelation 4:6-7, John writes, “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.”

 

The connection of the four beasts of Revelation to the four Gospels seems more than apparent by the likeness of each beast to the content of each gospel, right down to the very order in which they are listed.

 

 

 

–    1st Beast: Like a LION.

As Matthew’s purpose was to reveal Christ as the King of the Jews, He is presented as the “Lion of the tribe ofJudah” (Rev. 5:5).

 

–    2nd Beast: Like a CALF.

As Mark’s purpose was to reveal Christ as the Servant of the Lord, He is presented as the One who MINISTERS in service and sacrifice.

 

–    3rd Beast: Like a MAN.

As Luke’s purpose was to reveal Christ as the Son of Man, He is presented as the perfectMan.

 

–    4th Beast: Like an EAGLE.

As John’s purpose was to reveal Christ as the Son of God, He is presented as the Word who descended from heaven like an eagle and was made flesh.

 

In keeping your bearings in the Gospel of John, it is important to realize that this Gospel is centered around the Passover Feasts.  John takes us through three Passovers in this Book, which ultimately culminate with the crucifixion.

 

–    1:1-2:13 is the beginning of Christ’s ministry up to the first Passover recorded in John’s account.

 

–   2:14-5:1 takes us up to the second Passover Feast.

 

–    5:2-6:4 takes us up “nigh” (near) to the third Passover to the actual record of Jesus eating the Passover Feast with His disciples in 13:1-2, and we move into the night before His crucifixion.

 

Why is everything built around the Passover?  Keep in mind the things we saw in yesterday’s comments from Luke 22 — Jesus is none other than the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb (I Cor. 5:7)! That is why John the Baptist said what he said concerning Christ in today’s reading: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (1:29).

 

The Passover was the commemoration of the most significant even in Jewish history: God’s deliverance from the slavery and oppression inEgyptunder Pharaoh, its wicked king.  And how were they delivered? Through the blood of a spotless lamb!  In this Gospel, John takes us to the final Passover, and the shedding of the blood of THE spotless LAMB of God!  This one-time historical event has been delivering people from the slavery of this world (Egypt– Eph 2:2) and its wicked king (Satan- II Tim.2:26) for nearly 2000 years!  May God use each of us to declare what John the Baptist declared in1:29to the lost people in our world today!

TODAY’S READING: LUKE 7-9

 

OVERVIEW: Jesus’ response to the faith of the centurion (7:1-10); Jesus’ response to the sorrow of the widow (7:11-17); Jesus’ response to the doubt of John the Baptist (7:18-35); Jesus’ response to the love of a woman with a sordid past (7:36-50); Jesus teaches His disciples about receiving God’s Word (8:1-21); Jesus tests His disciples concerning applying God’s Word (8:22-56); Jesus sends out His 12 disciples (9:1-11);  Jesus feeds the 5000 (9:12-17); Jesus  teaches His  disciples about His person, His sacrifice and His kingdom (9:18-36); Jesus endures His disciples lack of power, love, and surrender (9:37-62).

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As has been mentioned several times since beginning the Gospels, because they are the record of actual events, for the most part, they are easily understood.  Though each event is power-packed full of practical application, the nature of the365 Days of Pursuitdoes not lend itself to commenting everywhere the passage is screaming for it.  Make as much practical application as you possibly can as you make your way through today’s reading, but let’s do something a little different today, and “camp out” in the story of “The Pharisee and the Prostitute” in Luke 7:36-50.  It provides some incredible lessons in contrast.

 

 

 

 

Lesson #1 –

The Pharisee was willing to interrupt his SCHEDULE to have JESUS in his PRESENCE.

The Prostitute was willing for the PRESENCE of JESUS to interrupt her LIFE! (7:36)

 

Examination: 

Do I want Jesus in MY presence? Or, do I want JESUS’ presence in me?

 

Do I want to have HIM? Or, do I want Him to have ME?

 

Lesson #2 –

The Pharisee wanted Jesus in HIS presence, but was seeking to SAVE face.      

 

The Prostitute wanted the presence of Jesus in HER, and was seeking HIS face. (7:36-38, 44-46)

 

Examination:

What am I seeking to HOLD on to, while I’m telling Jesus I want His PRESENCE in me?

 

Do I want as much of the presence of Jesus in me as I can HAVE?

 

Or, do I want as much of the presence of Jesus in me as I can HAVE and not lose my IDENTITY?           

 

Lesson #3 –

Jesus heard what the Pharisee was saying in HIS heart;

and Jesus heard what the Prostitute was saying in HER heart. (7:39, 44-47)

 

Examination:

What does Jesus HEAR when He listens to MY heart?

 

Would Jesus HEAR my worship if it weren’t expressed with WORDS?

 

Lesson #4 –

The Prostitute was 10 times the sinner the Pharisee was, but our sinfulness is not determined by the amount of sin-debt we incurred, but by the amount we had to pay on the debt. (7:40-42)

 

Note: We all had absolutely NOTHING to pay on the debt!

 

 

Examination:

Do I really understand my SINFULNESS before God?

 

Do I fully comprehend the significance of the fact that regardless of the amount of my sin, I had “nothing to pay” on the debt?

 

Lesson #5 –

The Pharisee’s blindness to his own sinfulness DIMINISHED his capacity to love Jesus.

 

The Prostitute’s overwhelming awareness of her own sinfulness ENLARGED her capacity to love Jesus. (7:40-43, 47)

 

Note:  How you view your own sinfulness affects your ability to love Jesus!

 

Examination:

Do I fully comprehend the significance of my own sin when I view the price Jesus paid for sin in His crucifixion?

 

Lesson #6 –

The Pharisee was so BLIND to his own sin; it OPENED his eyes to the Prostitute’s sinfulness.

 

The Prostitute’s eyes were so OPEN to her own sinfulness; she was BLINDED to everyone else’s.    (7:36-39)

 

Note:  How you view your own sinfulness affects your ability to see!

 

Examination:

Has pride BLINDED my eyes to my OWN sin, and OPENED my eyes to the sin of OTHERS?

 

Lesson #7 –

The Pharisee’s “worship” in the presence of Christ was based on his OWN WORTHINESS.

 

The Prostitute’s worship in presence of Christ was based on CHRIST’S WORTHINESS. (7:40-50)

 

Note Jesus’ explanation of the Pharisee’s “worship”:

1. You didn’t THINK enough of Me to even provide water to wash my feet.
2. You weren’t EXCITED enough about receiving Me into your presence to even provide an affectionate greeting.
3. You weren’t CONSIDERATE enough of Me to go out of your way to provide for My head to be anointed with oil.

 

Note the demonstration of the Prostitute’s worship:

1. She broke open the box of her most prized treasure to release the fragrance of true worship.
2. She expressed a broken and contrite heart through her tears used to wash Jesus’ feet.
3. She dismantled HER glory (I Cor.11:15) to give HIM glory.
4. She overflowed in her affection and exaltation of Christ by ceaselessly kissing His feet.

 

Examination:

What is the “box” of your most prized treasure Jesus is waiting for you to break open to release the fragrance of your true worship?

 

Has my heart become calloused and cold, unable to be broken into tears to wash Jesus’ feet?

 

Have I become so consumed with my ego and self-glory that I’m unwilling to dismantle it for His glory?

 

Is my affection and exaltation of Christ apparent by my humility toward Him? (i.e. kissing His feet)

 

 

Will you be a box-breaking, oil-pouring, tear-washing, glory-sacrificing, foot-kissing, face-seeking worshipper of the Lord Jesus Christ today?  Go for it!

 

 

TODAY’S READING: LUKE 4-6

 

OVERVIEW: The testimony of Satan concerning Christ as the Son of God (4:1-13); the testimony of the Scriptures (4:14-30); the testimony of demons (4:31-44); Jesus is the difference between failure and success (5:1-11); Jesus is the difference between guilt and forgiveness (5:17-26); Jesus is the difference between the old and the new (5:27-39); a new kind of Sabbath (6:-11); a new kind of nation (6:12-19); a new kind of blessedness (6:20-49).

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

If you were to be asked who it was that God used to provide the most content in the New Testament, that would be a no-brainer, right?  The OBVIOUS answer is Paul.  But though Paul is the obvious answer, the only problem is, he just doesn’t happen to be the RIGHT one!  That’s right!  Though Paul was used of God to write more BOOKS of the New Testament than any other writer, it is actually Luke who is the one God used to provide the most actual content.  (Note: This is based on the amount of words and verses written by Luke in Luke and Acts, compared with the words and verses in the 13 Books known to be authored by Paul.  A great case could be made that Paul may have authored the Book of Hebrews during his 40 days and 40 nights inArabia, but it would be impossible to be dogmatic about it since the Holy Spirit did not inspire its human author to include his name.)

 

In yesterday’s comments we spent most of our time providing information to help us keep our bearings as we move through the Gospel of Luke.  But who is this “Luke” anyway?  Colossians4:14refers to him as “the beloved physician.”  It should be noted, that God’s choice of words concerning him is very specific.  It is NOT, “Luke, the beloved doctor,” but “Luke, the beloved physician.”  Why make such a “to-do” about such a seemingly insignificant observation?  Well, above everything else, because “every word of God is pure” (Prov. 30:5).  God chooses His words very carefully.  There are no indiscriminate or random words in the entire Bible.  He specifically calls Luke a “physician” because He wants to make a distinction between his occupation and the “doctors” of his day.  When God refers to “doctors” in the Bible, (Luke 2:46; 5:17; Acts 5:34), they were actually theologians who were so engulfed in head knowledge about God, that they actually missed God when He was right in front of them!  It is amazing how many people know all kinds of things about God and the Bible, but in the midst of all of their knowledge, never really get to know Him.  Perhaps the reason for such a strange discrepancy is that the Bible is not an end in itself.  It is a means to an end.  The end, however, is not to get to know the BIBLE, but to get to know GOD!  Why do we read the Owner’s Manual in the glove box of our cars?  To get to know the manual, or to get to know the car?  Obviously, the car!  In that same way, God provided us with His “Owner’s Manual” (the Bible) for the purpose of getting to know HIM!

 

It is also interesting to note that there are only two physicians who are actually mentioned in the entire Bible.  Luke is obviously one of them, and our Lord Jesus Christ is the other.  Though they both possessed the ability to heal physically (Jesus through miracles, and Luke through medicine), both were more concerned about the spiritual healing needed in the souls of those who have tested S.I.N. positive, than the healing needed in men’s bodies.)  Jesus is, in fact, both the Physician and the Cure Himself!  Luke, the beloved physician, pointed men to the Great Physician and His glorious cure.

 

As we have provided for both Matthew andMark’s Gospel, the following is a basic summary of the Gospel of Luke:

 

1. Information About The Author

His name: Luke

His name means: Light-giving

He was a Physician. (Col. 4:14)

He wrote this gospel to Theophilus. (Luke 1:3)

He also wrote the book of Acts. (Acts 1:1)

He joins the 2nd missionary team inTroas. (Acts 16:1-10)

He stays behind inPhilippi. (Acts 17:1)

He rejoins the missionary team on their 3rd journey.(Acts 20:1-6)

He journey’s with Paul toRome. (Acts 27:12)

He is also referred to in scripture as Lucas. (Phm. 1:23, 24)

 

2. Facts About The Gospel

Approximate date of writing: 60 A.D.

Written from:Philippi

Dates of the recorded events: 6 B.C. – 33 A.D.

Theme: Christ as the perfect man

Christ is seen as: Son of man

Key verse: Luke 19:10

Key word: Man (131 times)

Chapters: 24

Verses: 1,151

Words: 27,090

 

3. Features of This Gospel

The only gospel that records the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The only gospel that records the cleansing of the 10 Lepers.

The gospel that shows Christ ministering to women.

Contains 9 fulfilled prophecies.

 

4. A Simple Outline Of This Gospel

            Four Periods

Period #1 – A time of Preparation.   (Chapters 1-3)                     

Period #2 – A time of Identification.(Chapters 4-8)                      

Period #3 – A time of Instruction.   (Chapters 9-18)                     

Period #4 – A time of Culmination.   (Chapters 19-24)

TODAY’S READING: LUKE 1-3

 

OVERVIEW: The introduction of Theophilus (1:1-4); the conception of John the Baptist in Elisabeth, wife of Zacharias (1:5-25); the conception of Jesus in Mary (1:26-38); Mary and Elisabeth’s meeting (1:39-56); the birth of John the Baptist (1:57-66); the prophecy of Zacharias (1:67-80); Christ, the baby (2:1-20); Christ, the child (2:21-28); Christ, the youth (2:39-52); the testimony of John the Baptist concerning Christ (3:1-20); the testimony of God the Father and the Spirit concerning Christ (3:21-38).

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Today we move into the third of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Luke.  Whereas Matthew was written to Jews to present Christ as King, andMarkwas written to Gentiles (specifically Romans) to present Christ as a Servant, Luke was written to Greeks to present Christ as aMan.

 

To really understand God’s mindset through Luke in this Gospel, it is important to understand something about Greeks.  I Corinthians1:22says that just as the Jews require a sign, the Greeks seek after wisdom.  That is why historically, the Greeks are synonymous with “philosophy.”  The word “philosophy” actually means the “love of wisdom” (philos = love; sophia = wisdom).  The Greeks loved wisdom and were consumed with the desire to discover the real meaning of life and one’s morality.  This entire Gospel is written from the vantage point of revealing to the Greeks the fact that Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, is the true meaning of life and the ultimate standard of morality.  Interestingly, the name Luke means “light-giver” (much akin to the Hebrew name Lucifer, meaning “light-bearer”). The Gospel of “Luke” shines as a “light to lighten the Gentiles” (2:32).  Because every generation has been mightily influenced by the philosophical mindset of the Greeks, this Gospel “gives” tremendous “light” to every generation.

 

Note to whom this Gospel was actually written: Luke writes in 1:3, “It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus.”  Obviously, it was written to Theophilus (a Greek word meaning “lover of God”). Note also that the purpose for which Luke says he wrote this Gospel in 1:4, “That thou (Theophilus) mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”  Theophilus is obviously a believer.  Back in 1:1, Luke talks about “those things which are most surely believed among US.”  Luke says that because he “had perfect understanding of all things from the very first” (1:3), he wanted to write to Theophilus, to lay any questions or doubts in his mind to rest (“that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou has been instructed” – 1:4).  That is why you will find that this Gospel is given to facts, and is a much more detailed account of the life of our Lord.  (See 1:5; 2:1-4; 3:1-2 in today’s reading for some great examples of Luke’s emphasis on facts!)  This is, no doubt, why Luke is the longest of all four Gospels. (Though it doesn’t have as many chapters as Matthew, it has about 2,000 more words.) Note also in that same train of thought, that the Gospel of Luke is actually the first volume in a two-volume set. Note how the Book of Acts begins, “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to do and teach” (Acts 1:1).

 

But not only is Luke’s Gospel written to the Greeks, it is written to present Him as a man.  That is why the phrase “Son of man” is found 26 times in this Book.  It focuses our attention on Jesus’ humanity, and all through this Book, Luke’s account will highlight the human element of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We will see Him weeping over those who rejected Him (19:41); touching the untouchable (5:13); being touched by the unthinkable (a prostitute) — (7:39); and seeking the lost (5:31-32;9:56;19:10).  In fact, seven different times in this Book Jesus asks someone to follow Him.

 

Because this Gospel is written to present Christ as a man, it is also reflected in Luke’s record of His genealogy.  Remember, Matthew is a Jewish Gospel, so His genealogy begins by identifying Christ with David, but runs His family line beginning with Abraham, the Father of the Nation of Israel.  Luke, however, traces Christ’s genealogy through His “human” mother, but takes it back to Adam, the first “man” (Luke3:38).

 

Though Luke presents Christ as 100% man, don’t fail to realize that at the same time, He is 100% God.  This, of course, is a major hang-up for Jehovah’s False Witnesses.  They like to throw out verses like Luke 2:40 in today’s reading as proof that Jesus wasn’t and couldn’t have been God.  All they do, however, is prove that they don’t believe the Bible, and that they do not have the Spirit of God in them so they can even understand the Bible (I Cor. 2:14)!  I Timothy3:16calls it the “mystery of godliness” (no wonder they can’t get it! Not because it is a “mystery,” but because it has to do with “godliness”!).  “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

 

TODAY’S READING: MARK 14-16

 

OVERVIEW:

The Servant’s suffering (chapter 14:1-15:20); the Servant’s death (chapter15:21-41); the Servant’s burial (chapter15:42-47); the Servant’s resurrection (chapter 16:1-18); the Servant’s ascension (chapter16:19-20).

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Chapters 14 through 16 in today’s reading break down into two neatly formed sections: •The last six PLACES in the Servant’s WALK. •The last four EVENTS in the Servant’s WORK.

 

First of all, let’s make our way through

•The last six PLACES in the Servant’s WALK.

 

Place #1 – In the town ofBethany. (14:1-11)

It was here that Jesus was WORSHIPPED. 

This account lets us know that Jesus appreciates worship that is “out of the box” (14:3)!  Jesus has already revealed the events of the His suffering and death, and nobody seemed to care (10:32-34).  Nobody appeared to have been compassionate enough to even question what He meant!  The only question in the disciples’ minds was where they would be sitting in the kingdom (10:35-41).  But, then there was Mary.  Rather than wait to use her precious ointment to anoint the body of her Savior after His death (14:8), Mary is passionate to lavish her love, adoration, and worship on Him now.  Do recognize that when your worship is “outside of the box” and out of the “mainstream,” it will cause the “mainstream” to have the same response toward you that they had toward Mary: “And they murmured against her” (14:5).

 

Place #2 – In the upper room. (14:12-26)

It was here that Jesus was BETRAYED.

What an incredible contrast!  Coming off of the heels of this glorious act of worship in 14:1-11,Markrecords the most hideous act of treason!  One of His very own disciples would betray Him.  What must have been going through our Lord’s mind and heart as He spent these final hours with His disciples, knowing full well that as He handed the bread that represented His body to Judas, the hands that reached out to receive it were the very hands that in only minutes would reach out to receive the money for offering the body of Christ to be crucified.

 

Place #3 – In theGardenofGethsemane. (14:27-52)

It was here that Jesus was FORSAKEN. 

Peter is a classic example of the old adage, “Talk is cheap.”  Again, knowing full well what Peter would do in the next few hours, Jesus invites him, James and John to go further than the rest of the disciples (14:33), allowing them to enter not only another level of information, but another level of intimacy with their Lord.  At the time our Lord in His humanness most needed the love and support of His friends (14:34), He was forsaken.  First, the “intimate three” slept through His deepest sorrow (14:37), then verse 50 adds, “And they all forsook him, and fled.” 

Note that the real battle Jesus faced was won before He ever got to the cross. It was the battle fought inGethsemanefor “my will” vs. “thy will.”  It is likewise in the “Gethsemanes” of our life, that battles are won or lost.

 

Place #4 – In the High Priest’s Palace. (14:53-72)

It was here that Jesus was REJECTED.

Not only was Jesus plotted against by the chief priests and the council, lied about by the very ones He had come to redeem, but vehemently denied by the very one who vehemently vowed that he would die himself before denying Him!

 

A quick overview of Peter’s track record throughMark’s Gospel reveals that Peter:

• Argued when he should have submitted. (8:32-33) •Talked when he should have listened. (9:5-7)
• Slept when he should have prayed. (14:37-38) •Fought when he should have surrendered. (14:47)
• Denied when he should have witnessed. (14:66-71)

 

We read that and are tempted to criticize Peter, until we realize that he sounds an awful lot like us!  Note also, that Peter was remorseful and repentant (14:72) and forgiven (John 21).

 

Place #5 – In Pilate’s Hall. (15:1-20)

It was here that Jesus was CONDEMNED.

In order to be condemned to death, the Jewish council recognized that they had to find some way to convince Pilate that Jesus had been guilty of a capital offence (John 18:31-32).  There was only one possibility, and that was to spin Jesus’ claim to be King as a statement againstRome’s authority, making Him appear as a political revolutionary.  Pilate recognizes, however, that the accusations of the chief priests were all bogus and born out of envy (15:10).  Pilate, hoping to avoid having to make a controversial decision concerning Him, offers to release one prisoner, either Barabbas or Jesus, thinking that the people certainly would never choose to release the likes of Barabbas!  The chief priests, however, had “worked” the people ahead of time (15:11), and they cry out for the release of Barabbas, and for Jesus to be crucified (15:12-14).  Verse 15 is tremendously revealing:  “And so Pilate, willing to content the people.” Markit down, being a people-pleaser will invariable lead to unbelievable and unthinkable compromise!

 

Place # 6 – OnGolgotha. (15:21-41)

It was here that Jesus was CRUCIFIED.

Markprovides us a time sequence of the crucifixion:

• “The third hour” (15:25) –9 a.m.  Jesus was nailed to the cross.

 

• “The sixth hour” (15:33) – 12noon  Darkness for the next three hours.

 

• “The ninth hour” (15:34-37) –3 p.m.  Jesus’ final words and then He “gave up the ghost.”

 

The last section ofMark’s Gospel presents

• •The last four EVENTS in the Servant’s WORK.

            Event #1 – The Servant’s DEATH. (15:21-41)

            Event #2 – The Servant’s BURIAL. (15:42-47)

            Event #3 – The Servant’s RESURRECTION. (16:1-18)

            Event #4 – The Servant’s ASCENSION. (16:19-20)