Scripture: John 8: 19, 21, 24

Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me, or my father,” Jesus replied. “If you know me, you would know my Father also.”(19) Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”(21) I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.(24)

Scripture Commentary: Jesus is the one true light

Jesus is “the one.”  He is who he claimed to be.  Rejecting him is rejecting our only salvation. Christ died for our sins and recognizing that, and living by that, is what saves us from our sins. People live by the values of this world and ignore the gift Christ gave us.

Where is your focus; on the values of this world or on the priceless gift of an eternal life with God? Jesus is the truth that sets us free, and rejecting him means lying to yourself. He is the standard for what is right and he is a model for how we should try to live.

The truth can free you from the consequence of your sin. He is the truth that will break down your self deception, and deception by Satan. You have a choice to know the truth or lie to yourself. Do not leave here without Jesus Christ in your life.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 8

Scripture: John 21: 15-17

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Scripture Commentary:  It’s one thing to save you love Jesus, it’s a different thing to show it

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him.  When Peter answered yes, Jesus told him to feed his sheep.  When you tell Jesus you love Him, what do you do to show it?  It’s one thing to say you love Jesus, but the real test is your willingness to serve Him.

Jesus led Peter through an experience that removed his denial.  Peter had disowned Jesus three times.  How many times have you disowned Jesus?  Each time you knowingly do wrong, you are denying Jesus.

How would you characterize your relationship with Jesus?

Peter repented, and here Jesus was asking him to commit his life.  Peter’s occupation changed from fisherman to evangelist; his identity changed from impetuous to rock; and his relationship to Jesus changed.

Peter had to face his true feelings and motives when Jesus confronted him.

How would you respond if Jesus asked you?

Do you really love Jesus?  Are you really His friend?

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John Chapter 21

Scripture: John 16: 1-4

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.  But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus tells us many things so we will be prepared

Jesus told disciples things that will come after He is gone.  This message is still pertinent today.  We hear news stories of people being killed because they are following Jesus Christ.  As Christians, we know that there will be continuing tension with an unbelieving world.

Satan is not finished; His goal is to destroy our faith

He is going to use anybody or anything he can to battle God.  Satan and his forces are motivated by bitter hatred for Jesus Christ and His children.  And we are His children.

Jesus warned His disciples and us of persecution, punishment and even death in His name.  He knew what was to come and He did not want the disciples, or our faith, to be shaken or destroyed.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to convince the world that they are living in sin, reveal the true way to live a Godly life, and demonstrate Christ’s judgement over Satan.

God is telling us that we are not alone

We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to teach us the truth, and to help us.  This is a comfort to those who are persecuted.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 16

Scripture: John 8: 21-30

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.  Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.  And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.  I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.  As he spake these words, many believed on him.

Scripture Commentary: Your sins separate you from God; accepting Jesus is the key to eternal life

You will die in your sins if you reject Christ.  Jesus rescues you from your sins.   Sadly, many people are taken up with the values of this world. They are blind to the priceless gift Christ offers.

Where are you looking?  Don’t focus on this world’s values and miss what is the most valuable thing of all: eternal life with God.

Jesus is the truth that sets you free.  He is the source of trust, the perfect standard of what is right.  Jesus frees you from the consequences of sin and from Satan’s deception.

As you seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect trust frees you to be all that God meant for you to be.

Accept Jesus!

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 8

Scripture: John 13: 36-37

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.  Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

Scripture Commentary:  Follow Jesus’ example and have a servant’s heart

Will you hear the Lord’s voice when He calls you?  Each day that you don’t follow Him, you are denying Him.  How many times has the cock crowed in your life?

We go through life not really thinking about what we are doing to either spread His word or distort it.  When we are spreading His word, we are representing Him. And in doing so, we are brought to a higher level.

Jesus was the model servant showing the disciples – and us – how to behave.  If God in the flesh is willing to serve, we as His followers must also be servants.  We must be willing to serve in any way that glorifies God.

John 13 may be hard for leaders who don’t think of themselves as followers.  But if we are to serve Jesus, we must get on our hands and knees and become servants.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 13

Scripture: John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Scripture Commentary: You are so loved by God that He wants to spend eternity with you

The entire gospel comes to a focus in this verse.  For God so loved the world … God’s love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws us in.  God loves us so much – to the point of sending His Son to pay for our sins.

What Jesus did on the cross 2017 years ago was for all of us …and for each of us today – yesterday – tomorrow!  He accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us forgiveness and the opportunity to live eternally with Him.

Give yourself to Jesus and learn about eternal life

Some people are repulsed by the idea of living forever because their lives are miserable.  If you give yourself to Jesus, you will learn that this life is not what He is offering.

In God’s eternal life, there is no death, sickness, emnity, evil, or sin.  If you do not know Christ, you make choices as though this life is all you have.  If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of GOd, then in reality this life is just the introduction to Him and eternity.

Believing means trusting and relying on God

To believe is to put Christ in charge of your life.  Believing is both trusting His Word as reliable, and relying on Him for the power to change you into what your heart and soul want to be, which is a servant to Our Lord.

Receive this new life by faith and begin to evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective.  If you’ve never trusted Christ, let this promise of everlasting life be yours.  Believe!

God so loved YOU that He gave His only Son!

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 3

Scripture: John 3: 17-18

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus was sent into the world to save us

God sent His son Jesus Christ into this world for our sins, to die for us to give us a direct path to God.  And still there are people who reject Him.

Some people look for points of disagreement so they can sow seeds of discord and doubt.  Some people are repulsed by the idea of eternal life because their lives are miserable.  They have rejected Jesus because they think the next life is an extension of this life.

What does it mean to be born again?

John 3:3 says, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

When we are born again, it is not of the flesh but born again of the Spirit.  We accept Jesus as the Only Begotten Son of God, believing that He died and rose on the third day and went to heaven to His Father.

To believe is to put your trust and confidence in Jesus.  If you have never trusted Christ, let this promise of everlasting life and believe in Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 3

Scripture: John 20: 29, 31

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

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.

Scripture Commentary: Blessed Are They Who Believe Without Seeing

Believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is in every breath we take, and in every day we live when we are living for him.

When you want to talk to Jesus, open your Bible. By opening your Bible and reading the Gospel – His Gospel – He talks to us. He will answer you every time.

Some people think they would believe in Jesus if they could see a definite sign or miracle. Jesus says we are blessed when we can believe without seeing. When you have doubts, as Thomas did, Jesus will not be hard on you. He loves you and will wait for you despite your skepticism.

Some people doubt before they believe.  If you are in doubt, ask questions.  Questions lead to answers. When those questions are answered, and you accept those answers, your doubt has done a good work by bringing you to Christ.

It is when doubt becomes stubbornness and stubbornness becomes a lifestyle of doubt that harms your faith. Let doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for the answer. When you study the Gospel of Jesus you will find answers to your questions .  God will be there for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 20

“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

John 16: 16-18

Commentary:

Jesus was referring to his death, now only a few hours away, and his resurrection three days later. What a contrast between the disciples and the world! The world rejoiced as the disciples wept, but the disciples would see him again (in three days) and rejoice. The world’s values are often the opposite of God’s values. This can cause Christians to feel like misfits, as some may feel today. Remember, until Jesus died and was raised from the dead, we did not have direct access to God the Father. The disciples didn’t fully understand the promise Jesus made until the Holy Spirit came after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then the Holy Spirit revealed truths to the disciples that they wrote down in the books that now form the New Testament.

In the New Testament it is the Holy Spirit guiding us in the truth about Jesus Christ. The Spirit also helps us through patient practice to discern right from wrong. Christ’s death made a personal relationship with God possible.