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Lessons from the Gospel According to
John

By Ken Raggio

The Word of God

Before ANYTHING else, "in the beginning was the Word." The Greek root is "logos," which means "thought, order, arrangement, reasoning, something said." Without thought, all is disordered chaos - anarchy. The Word of God is the creative force of Spirit that assembled and ordered all things. Every atom and molecule, all things material and spiritual sprang from God's thought. God's Word is the spark of life. Without His Word, nothing would exist. The Word is the most comprehensible nature of God.

John 1:1 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Word Was God

If we could see spiritual things with the naked eye, we could see the city of Heaven, the throne of God, angels, demons, and everything else in God's invisible world. As the material world has a microscopic underpinning of atoms and molecules, so the spirit world has a substructure of the words of God. The Word is the essence of God. Jesus is the only bodily form of the Word.

John 1:1-2 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God."

Jesus - Your Creator

Mohammed did not create you. Confucius did not create you. Buddha did not create you. Jesus did. That is as bold a claim as anyone can make. Either Jesus Christ is Creator or the entire Bible is a farce. I have no doubt. When Mary held baby Jesus, she was simultaneously looking at her newborn son and her eternal Father. The invisible Holy Spirit who created all things, embodied Himself in a mortal man. He said, "Before Abraham was, I AM." Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us. Fully man, fully God.

John 1:3 - "All things were made by Him."

Jesus - The Light Of The World

The life of Jesus Christ is light shining in darkness for all men. John bore witness of Him so all the world could believe. Jesus is the true Light. No other man has ever shined so brightly, nor given more life to more men. "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness," John 12:46. NOBODY is truly enlightened without Jesus.

John 1:4-5 - "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

Believers Given Power To Become Sons Of God

The invisible God embodied Himself and came to reveal Himself to His people, Israel. "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Therefore, God birthed a new nation - His Church.

John 1:12 - "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

The Word Made Flesh - God In A Body

The Old Testament heroes never saw God. They only saw the angel of the Lord, or dreams and visions of God. Jesus "declared" (manifested, revealed, showed) God. Jesus was the fulness of God bodily (Colossians 2:9). When you see Jesus, you see the Father (John 14:9).

John 1:14,18 - "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ...No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, ...he hath declared him."

Jesus - Prophet Like Moses

Moses prophesied to Israel that God would raise up another prophet "of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him shall ye hearken," (Deuteronomy 18:15). Peter taught that Jesus was that prophet, (Acts 3:22). Stephen agreed with that in Acts 7:37. Philip agreed in John 1:45. What is the significance? Moses led the people out of bondage to the border of the Promised Land. But Moses said, "...unto Him shall ye hearken." Jesus came to finish everything Moses started.

John 1:17 - "...the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

Make Straight The Way Of The Lord

The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to investigate John the Baptist. John quickly informed them, "I am not the Christ." Then they asked, "Art thou Elias [Elijah]?" "I am not." "That prophet?" "No." Then who? "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness." Isaiah had prophesied of one who would "make straight in the desert a highway for our God, ... and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed," (40:3,5).

John 1:23 - "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord."

Why Did John Baptize By Immersion In Water?

The Pharisees asked John, "Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?" He answered, "That he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water," (1:31). John baptized believers unto repentance in preparation for Christ to baptize them with His Spirit.

John 1:26-27,33 - "I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. ...the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."

Jesus - The Lamb of God

Before Israel inherited their homeland, they spent almost 200 years as Egyptian slaves. God sent Moses to deliver them, but Pharaoh would not let them go. God sent plagues to change his mind. Finally, God killed Egypt's firstborn sons. Israel's firstborn were saved because they sacrificed a lamb and sprinkled its blood on their doorposts. This "passover" offering saved them from God's wrath. If we obey the gospel, Jesus' blood-sacrifice saves us.

John 1:29 - "...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

The Baptizer Of The Holy Ghost Confirmed By A Sign

John saw the Spirit descend on Jesus in the shape of a dove (Luke 3:21). The Holy Ghost is an invisible Spirit, not a dove. That was the sign that Jesus was the one who would baptize with the Holy Ghost.

John 1:32 - "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."

Where Dwellest Thou? Come And See!

Two disciples of John the Baptist were standing nearby when John declared, "Behold the Lamb of God!" These two men immediately left John and followed Jesus. When Jesus saw them following Him, He asked, "What seek ye?" to which they replied, "Where dwellest thou?" Jesus answered, "Come and see." One of them was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, both of whom Jesus called to Himself. Learn from this. Ask the Lord to show you where He dwells. You may end up in His Holy Presence.

John 1:39 - "They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day."

Jesus - Son Of God, Messiah, Christ

Within twenty-four hours, Jesus' true identity began to spread like wildfire. John the Baptist said, "I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." The next day, John added, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Then, one of John's disciples concluded, "We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ." Then, Philip added, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." And Nathanael summed it up.

John 1:49 - "Thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel."

Thou Art The Son Of God, The King Of Israel

"Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael asked how Jesus knew him. Jesus said, "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." Nathanael was impressed. "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." Jesus replied, "Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these." Great confessions of faith lead to greater revelations.

John 1:51 - "Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

Do You Need A Miracle? Tell Jesus About It

At a wedding, Jesus' mother told Him, "They have no wine." He resisted her, saying, "Mine hour is not yet come." But she told the servants, "Whatever He saith unto you, do it." Jesus instructed them to fill six huge waterpots with water, then serve the people. That was His first recorded miracle. The host was delighted. No matter how unusual your problem, tell Jesus about it.

John 2:10 - "Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now."

His Miracles Manifested His Glory, And They Believed

The miracle at the wedding in Cana (where Jesus turned water into wine) was the first miracle He did in public. It had a dramatic effect on everyone. Nobody had ever seen anything like that happen. Water into wine? Surely it was typological. Water commonly represents life. But Jesus turned it into wine, representing supernatural life from God - the New Birth. At Pentecost, those who received the Holy Ghost were accused of being full of new wine.

John 2:11 - "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."

The Zeal Of Thine House Hath Eaten Me Up

They were selling oxen, sheep and doves inside the Temple. Moneychangers traded in booths inside the Temple. Of all places! Such business does not belong in the Temple! Jesus made a scourge and drove them all out, saying, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." Nowadays, anyone who acts like that is likely to be turned over to the police. Will somebody please stand up for holiness and righteousness, and cleanse the house?

John 2:17 - "And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up."

Rising From The Dead Better Than Rebuilding Temple

Jesus was in the Temple, and the Jews wanted Him to show a sign. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." They argued, "Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body." Rebuilding a fallen building is not miraculous. Rising from the dead is.

John 2:22 - "When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."

Jesus Knew All Men - He Knew What Was In Man

Once Jesus began to do miracles, the crowds instantly followed. Everything about Him amazed them. He could have stopped right there and built an enormous church congregation. But He knew better than that. He had a divine agenda, and did not need popularity, or the approval or endorsement of men. He knew, supernaturally, both the potential and the detriments to every person and every situation.

John 2:24-25 - "Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."

You Must Be Born Again To See The Kingdom

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He came by night to Jesus, confessing, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." Jesus was not impressed. Unbelievers only see Him as a teacher or miracle worker. You must be born again to see the Kingdom.

John 3:3,5 - "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God ...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

They Will Hear The Sound Of The Spirit

On the day of Pentecost, 120 were in the Upper Room. Suddenly, a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind filled the house. "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." Multitudes came. "Every man heard them speak." Speaking in tongues is the sound of being born of the Spirit.

John 3:8 - "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

Men Of Great Social Status May Know Nothing Of God

Jesus told Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again." Nicodemus asked, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? ...How can these things be?" Study to understand heavenly things. Earthly knowledge will perish.

John 3:10-12 - "Jesus answered...Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? ...We speak that we do know, ...and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?"

The Son Of Man Which Is In Heaven

Get this straight. No HUMAN ever came down from Heaven. Jesus' GOD NATURE came from Heaven, but His HUMAN NATURE came from the womb of Mary. When Jesus used the phrase, "the Son of man which is in heaven," He could ONLY have been referring to His GOD nature. His human nature was standing right there in front of them! One God is simultaneously in Heaven and on earth in the body of Jesus.

John 3:13 - "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."

As Moses Lifted Up The Serpent In The Wilderness

There has never been, nor will ever be, a science-fiction writer on earth who could concoct 1200 pages of intricately interwoven futurisms such as the Bible contains. Nobody could fabricate a story that would have so much direct bearing on events hundreds, even thousands of years future. Moses lifted up a serpent, not realizing how miraculously he typified Christ dying for our sins on the Cross.

John 3:14 - "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

Whosoever Believeth In Him

"Whosoever believeth in Him" will have eternal life. So, the priceless question is, "What evidence proves that a man believes in Christ?" Does merely believing that Jesus Christ exists constitute faith in Christ? Hardly. "The devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" James 2:19-20. You must repent, be baptized in His name, and be filled with His Spirit (Acts 2:38), and you must live a godly life (Hebrews 12:14).

John 3:15 - "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

Everlasting Life

Everlasting life. I cannot think of any subject more difficult to comprehend. The infinite and eternal Spirit of God knows me personally, and cares about me, and wants me to spend eternity in His presence? I cannot imagine why or how God cares so much. But on second thought, I do know. He created me, and He loves me. From the Garden of Eden, He intended His creation to live in paradise.

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."

All Were Condemned - Jesus Only Came To Save

God did not make the world with any intention to destroy it. Everything He created concluded with, "It is good!" But sin and Satan wreaked havoc on God's paradise. Sin condemned a third part of the angels, and countless multitudes of mankind. Never forget that all condemnation originated with Satan. "He that believeth not [on the name of the only begotten Son of God] is condemned already." Jesus came to save the condemned who believe.

John 3:17 - "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

The Coming Condemnation And Wrath Of God

Condemnation is a prophesied event. You may think you have troubles now, but if you love the darkness of this world instead of the Light, your worst is yet to come. And it will come. TODAY is the day of salvation. NOW is the time to believe.

John 3:19,36 - "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ...He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

The River Aenon - There Was Much Water There

We cannot overstate the significance of water baptism by full immersion in the New Testament plan of salvation. John baptized unto repentance as a prelude to Jesus' baptism in the Holy Ghost. But Jesus did NOT diminish water baptism. Only Jesus could have baptized the first disciples. Afterward, they baptized in His name.

John 3:22-23 - "After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized."

Jesus - The Bridegroom

God married the nation of Israel, but Israel forsook Him. God gave them a divorce (Jeremiah 3:8). Nevertheless, God never forsook Israel. He came in the flesh of Christ, died for their sins, and terminated the old covenant under the law. Following His resurrection, Jesus offered a new covenant under grace. He is bridegroom of Jews and Gentiles who enter into His grace. John the Baptist rejoiced to be a key witness of the beginning of that era.

John 3:29 - "The friend of the bridegroom ...rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled."

Fulfilling Your Prophetic Role - My Joy Is Fulfilled

John the Baptist introduced the crowds to Jesus saying, "Behold, the Lamb of God." He played his appointed role -- preparing the way of the Lord. Shortly, John's disciples worriedly reported that the crowds were migrating to Jesus and His disciples. John then knew his role was finished. Days later, he was put to death by adversaries. Fulfill your calling and don't worry about the rest.

John 3:29-30 - "...the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled."

Fasting and Prayer

Not enough people practice consecrated fasting anymore. Fasting means you stop eating for a while. Jesus told the disciples that they failed to cast out certain devils because they had not fasted and prayed first. A carnally-minded person is no match for devils. Fasting and prayer corrects the balance of our two natures. Fasting weakens our flesh and our doubtful carnal mind. Prayer enables God's Spirit to work in believers. Fasting weakens and decreases the old man, and prayer strengthens and gives victory to the new man.

John 3:30 - "He must increase, but I must decrease."

He That Cometh From Above (Is Above All)

God is a Spirit, eternal in the heavens. The Son was born of a woman. The Son did not come down from heaven. He came from the womb of a human. God came down from heaven, wrapped in the body of that baby. That is incarnation.

John 3:31,34 - "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. ...For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him."

The Father Loveth The Son

The Eternal Spirit loves the manchild that Mary gave Him. That is His only begotten Son. He incarnated Himself in the Son. The Spirit delivered all power in heaven and earth to Him. Everyone who believes in and obeys the Son will live forever. Those who reject Him will face the wrath of God.

John 3:35-36 - "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

From A Spring To A River - The Waters Of Life

Ezekiel saw a prophetic vision of waters issuing out from under the Temple (chapter 47). At first, the waters were shallow, but they became deeper until there was a great river. This allegory speaks of the waters of life that spring from Jesus, the true tabernacle of God. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

John 4:15 - "The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water."

"I Have No Husband" - "Thou Hast Had Five Husbands"

Physical science cannot explain the omniscience (total knowledge) of God. Human brains do not interface biologically. How did Jesus know the woman had had five husbands and was living unmarried with a sixth man? God knows all things - past, present and future.

John 4:16-19 - "Go, call thy husband, ...The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband.... The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet."

Worship Him In Spirit And In Truth

The Samaritan woman asked Jesus why Samaritans worshipped in their mountain but Jews worshipped in Jerusalem. Jesus said, "The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. ...the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." He knew that He would soon pour His Spirit on His new Church, and they would worship Him freely.

John 4:24 - "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Do You Know When You Are In The Presence Of God?

The woman at the well confessed, "I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things." Jesus said, "I that speak unto thee am he." She left her waterpot at the well and ran into the city, saying, "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" Jesus is here right now, right where you are. Lift your voice and make your needs known to Him.

John 4:30 - "Then they went out of the city, and came unto him."

Meat To Eat That You Know Not Of

When the disciples arrived in Samaria, they found Jesus at the well. It was meal time, so they urged Him to eat. But He said, "I have meat to eat that ye know not of." They wondered if someone had brought Him food. Jesus was not hungry, because His soul was satisfied. He was doing a heavenly work. He had been ministering to the woman at the well. If you do His work, you know the feeling.

John 4:34 - "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

The Fields Are White To Harvest - I Sent You To Reap

After a profoundly fruitful encounter with the woman at the well, Jesus lectured the disciples about the ripe opportunity for winning souls. We must not wait a moment to pursue lost souls. "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

John 4:36-38 - "He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: ...I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours."

They Besought Jesus To Stay With Them

Long after Jesus left Sychar, the woman at the well continued telling others about her amazing encounter with Him. Many Samaritans believed on Him because of her testimony - "He told me all that ever I did." When they finally saw Him, they begged Him to stay with them. He stayed two days. "And many more believed because of his own word." You have heard of Him from others. Now urge Him to stay with you.

John 4:42 - "Now we believe, ...for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."

The Nobleman Besought The Lord To Heal His Son

Everyone in Cana heard about Jesus turning water into wine. The next time Jesus came through, a certain nobleman came to Jesus "and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death." "Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. ...And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth." ASK for your miracle. He is able.

John 4:53 - "The father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth."

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

In considering all the potentials of prayer, it is nice to remember that He knows what we have need of BEFORE we can ask or think. Not everything is contingent upon our own efforts. When Jesus saw the crippled man beside the Pool of Bethesda, He said, "Wilt thou be made whole?" There was a man who, for thirty-eight years, sought for his miracle in the best venue he could find. Suddenly, Jesus sovereignly intervened, and healed him. Your miracle could come just as unexpectedly.

John 5:8 - "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."

Recognizing Jesus' Deity Transcends Keeping Sabbath

The Jews were incensed that the man at the Pool of Bethesda was healed on the Sabbath. Also, it was against the law for him to carry his bed. "Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him." Of thirty-nine categories of things forbidden on Sabbath, the first forbids carrying anything. Even a woman is forbidden to carry a purse. Jesus was not ignorant. He knew exactly how they would react, and obviously wanted to provoke them to face a greater truth - His deity.

John 5:8 - "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."

Sin No More, Lest A Worst Thing Come Unto You

The crippled man did not know the man who healed him, partly because Jesus immediately left the scene. Later, Jesus saw him in the temple, and said to him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." That was a solemn warning. Both sin and righteousness are self-fulfilling prophecies. "There is a reward for the righteous," (Psalm 58:11). "There shall be no reward to the evil man," (Proverbs 24:20). "But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation," (Hebrews 10:27).

John 5:14 - "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee."

The Father Working Through The Son

The Jews persecuted Jesus, "and sought to slay him," for healing the man and commanding him to take up his bed. But Jesus declared, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." That made them try harder to kill Him, because He "said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." Jesus responded, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do." The Son of Man took all His instructions from God, who was incarnate in Him.

John 5:20 - "The Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth."

The Son - Judge Of All

Throughout the Old Testament, God worked sovereignly among men. But when Jesus was born, God channeled Himself through Him, making Jesus the only door to God. Anyone refusing to acknowledge that God is incarnate in Christ cannot know God.

John 5:21-22 - "As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him."

If You Do Not Honor Jesus, You Do Not Honor God

The Jews wanted to kill Jesus, thinking that He claimed to be equal with God. Jesus explained that God loved Him (the Son) and "sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth, that ye may marvel." The Father handed all judgment to the Son.

John 5:23-24 - "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. ...He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

The Voice Of Jesus Christ Will Resurrect The Dead

No one else but Jesus can give you everlasting life. As God raised the dead, "the Son quickeneth whom He will." "The hour is coming, ...when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." No other voice can resurrect you.

John 5:28-29 - "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Two Resurrections - 1000 Years Apart

Jesus taught that there will be two resurrections - one of the righteous dead, and one of the wicked - at different times (Revelation 20:4-5). The righteous dead will be resurrected before Jesus rules on earth for 1000 years, and will rule with Him during that time. The wicked will not be resurrected until after that millennium and must face Jesus at the white throne judgment to be sentenced to Hell for eternity.

John 5:29 - "...shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

I Seek Not Mine Own Will, But The Will Of The Father

If Jesus was co-equal with the Father, this statement could not be true. He said, "I can of mine own self do nothing." Only God has all power. The Son is the human incarnation of God. His human nature was powerless, but God in Him was all powerful. "My Father is greater than I," John 14:28. That is why Jesus prayed. Even the Son of Man needed God.

John 5:30 - "...as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."

The Invisible Witness - The Father

Jesus told the people that He was not His own witness, nor did He depend on any man's testimony. John the Baptist "was a burning and shining light." But Jesus' greatest witness was "the WORKS which the FATHER hath given me to finish. ..." The Father was Jesus' greatest witness. "Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape." The Father is eternally invisible. You can only see God in the body of the man Jesus Christ. God is in Christ.

John 5:32 - "I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true."

Search The Scriptures

In the midst of all your prayer requests, do not forget to search the scriptures. Too many times, we want a unique, personalized, custom-made answer from God, when the answer has already been published in the Bible for centuries. Read the book from cover to cover. You will be amazed at how many answers to prayers will be revealed as you go. Best of all, you will discover Jesus Christ more intimately than you ever imagined.

John 5:39 - "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

Ye Will Not Come To Me, That Ye Might Have Life

Jesus healed the crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda, but the self-righteous Jews could do nothing but attack Him for it. He answered them with a powerful discourse on who He was, but they could not comprehend that He was God in the flesh. They thought they had eternal life in the scriptures, "but these are they which testify of me." They were face-to-face with their Creator, yet treated Him like the enemy. Come to Jesus now. He is your life.

John 5:40 - "And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."

Men Honor The Dishonorable, Dishonor The Honorable

Jesus said, "I receive not honour from men." He said they did not have the love of God in them. If they did, they would have loved and honored Him. Foolishly, men honor self-promoters and the undeserving. If someone dishonors great men like Moses, they can hardly be expected to honor anyone else as they should.

John 5:43-45 - "There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"

Whence Shall We Buy Bread, That We May Eat?

When Jesus looked at the great company of people who had come unto Him, He asked Philip, "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" The question was a probe, because if Jesus had not asked, one of the disciples would almost certainly have. Nobody had any idea where they would find enough food to feed the multitude. God asks the questions - and knows the answers - before you think of them.

John 6:5-6 - "Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do."

Give Thanks For Whatever Portion You Have

Jesus wanted to feed 5000+ who came to hear Him. The only food they could find was five barley loaves and two small fishes. Jesus told them to seat the people in the grass. He took the loaves, gave thanks, and instructed the disciples to distribute to the crowd. Everyone was filled, and twelve baskets-full remained. Give thanks in Jesus' name for whatever portion you have. Watch it multiply. God is a multiplier.

John 6:14 - "When they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."

He Can Walk On Water

In the evening darkness, Jesus' disciples set out by ship across Galilee to Capernaum. "The sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew." Suddenly, they were frightened to see Jesus walking toward them on the water. He said, "It is I; be not afraid." They gladly took Him into the ship. Never in the history of the world had a man walked on any sea. Our Savior has infinite supernatural power. He can do anything, and that includes anything you need. Trust in Him unreservedly.

John 6:21 - "Immediately the ship was at the land whither they went."

Seek Him, That You May Have Everlasting Life

After seeing His miracles, the crowds followed Jesus all around Galilee, intending to forcibly make Him their king. When He sent the disciples away by ship without Him, the crowds searched frantically for Him. But He rebuked them, and commanded them to seek eternal life instead of earthly blessings. Crucial advice, even today!

John 6:26-27 - "Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you."

Jesus - The Bread Of Life

The crowd asked Jesus, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" He answered, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Then they asked, "What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee?" They suggested that He send manna, as in Moses' day. He retorted, "Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven."

John 6:35 - And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger."

What the Father Giveth

What do you possess? God gave it. What do you lack? You may ask Him for whatever you wish. He will grant it according to His divine purpose and will. Nevertheless, the most priceless possessions are the things He sovereignly bestows. What the Father giveth defines your purpose.

John 6:37 - "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." John 3:27: "John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven."

I Should Lose Nothing

"This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." If Jesus had held on to people who were NOT given to Him, He would have suffered many losses. If they will not believe in you, they were not given to you.

John 6:40 - "This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

They Shall Be All Taught Of The Lord

God begat a human Son and incarnated Himself. He knew every ancient prophecy, because He invoked them! He was in the world, but they knew Him not (John 1:10). The Man knew that only the Spirit could make Him known to humans. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 6:45 - "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

The Flesh And Blood Of Jesus

"Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." Jesus spoke an allegory, certainly not about literal cannibalism. "Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life. ...[and] dwelleth in me, and I in him." Devouring His flesh and blood means that we believe that HIS broken body and HIS blood is the atonement for our sins.

John 6:58 - "This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever."

The Spirit Quickens - The Flesh Profiteth Nothing

For over forty years, I have been captivated by Jesus' discourse on "what the Father giveth." John the Baptist, as his ministry was ending, understood that "a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." Jesus made a virtually identical claim. No matter how you try, you cannot do the work of God by fleshly or carnal means. Only the Holy Ghost working according to His Word can.

John 6:63 - "It is the spirit that quickeneth [makes alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

You Cannot Come To Jesus Unless God Draws You

You can take this at face value. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. ...Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." We know other humans after the flesh. But Jesus was God incarnate. That does not occur to very many people. Only God reveals that to whoever pleases Him.

John 6:65 - "Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."

To Whom Else Could We Go?

It was not difficult to think of Jesus as the Bread of Life, or the Water of Life. But when He began to speak of "eating my flesh" and "drinking my blood," they had no idea that He was instructing them to embrace His impending sacrifice at Calvary. "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." Jesus asked the twelve, "Will ye also go away?" There is life and salvation in NO OTHER!

John 6:68-69 - "Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."

Have Not I Chosen You Twelve, And One Is A Devil?

The word "devil" usually means "Satan, accuser, slanderer." A few times, it means "demon, god." Why did Jesus CHOOSE a devil to be a disciple? Because God prophesied to Satan in the Garden, "Thou shalt bruise His heel," but also that Jesus would bruise his head. You may face demonic accusations and slander, but "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly," (Romans 16:20).

John 6:70-71 - "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him."

Enemies Of Truth

The twelve disciples had offended no one, but Jesus' miracles and teachings angered the hyper-religious Jews. "Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him," (John 6:64). He lingered near Galilee because so many in Jerusalem hated Him. Some of His disciples urged Him to "do these things [miracles], shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him." TRUTH has many enemies.

John 7:7 - "The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil."

Jesus Avoids Those Who Seek Him With Wrong Motives

The Jews sought for Jesus, saying, "Where is He?" The disciples tried to persuade Jesus to appear more openly in public, wanting multitudes to witness His miracle-working powers. But He said, "My time is not yet full come." They went to the feast in Jerusalem without Him, but He went inconspicuously later on. Those who seek Him with a whole heart find Him, but He avoids those with evil hearts or intentions.

John 7:12 - "There was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people."

The Doctrine Of God

During the annual feast of Tabernacles, Jesus went into the Temple and taught the crowds that stood around. The Jews marveled at His teachings, asking, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" Should not the giver of the law have every saying perfectly in His mouth? Jesus was Emmanuel (God with us), and the Word made flesh.

John 7:16-17 - "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

He That Seeks The Glory Of Him That Sent Him Is True

If you constantly talk about yourself, then you are seeking glory for yourself. If you faithfully speak the doctrines and precepts of God, then you are seeking His glory. There is no unrighteousness in that.

John 7:18 - "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."

Judge Righteous Judgment

The Jews wanted to kill Jesus for breaking Moses' law. They justified exceptions for themselves, but not for Jesus. Righteous judgment does not use a double standard.

John 7:19,23-24 - "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? ...If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

Be Sure You Have Biblical Understanding Of Prophecy

Here is a prime example of how people pass around non-Biblical teachings, and their folly for holding them equal to the word of God. Some Jews DENIED THAT JESUS WAS CHRIST because of a false tradition which said, "When Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence He is." They knew that Jesus was born of Mary, so they rejected Him. That teaching was not in the Bible. Dump any doctrine that is not in the Bible. It may cost you your soul.

John 7:27 - "We know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is."

Ye Shall Seek Me And Shall Not Find Me

Jesus peppered His conversations with prophetic clues, most of which nobody could understand. "Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come." He was eluding to His death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven, but they were clueless. Now, we can see that plainly.

John 7:35 - "Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?"

If Any Man Thirst, Let Him Come Unto Me And Drink

Who else in the world can say to every man living, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink"? Can Mohammed quench your thirst? Can Buddha? No. Nobody. Why? Because no one but Jesus infuses the Spirit that created you. The Holy Spirit is the water of life, and only Jesus can baptize you in it.

John 7:38-39 - "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive)."

The Holy Ghost Was Not Yet Given

Jesus' extensive teachings about drinking the water of life, a well springing up, and a river flowing out of their belly was all about receiving His baptism of the Holy Ghost. Neither Nicodemus, the woman of Sychar, nor anyone else could actually RECEIVE the Spirit yet, because it was NOT YET GIVEN. They had to wait until the Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, after Jesus' ascension.

John 7:39 - "But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified."

Misinformation Can Cause You To Doubt The Truth

Many people are not interested in understanding the Bible, or learning important facts relating to it. Paul said to Study to show yourself approved, but they will not study in depth. Some Jews would not believe in Jesus because they thought He was NOT born in Bethlehem. If they had been more studious, they would have known.

John 7:41-43 - "Some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him."

Shall Christ Come Out Of Galilee?

Plenty of people would have shut Jesus up, but they were afraid of Him. "Never a man spake like this man," one said. The Jewish officers called Him a deceiver, and said that people who did not know the law were cursed for being deceived by Him. But Nicodemus reminded them that the law did not judge a man without a fair trial. They argued that no prophet would come from Galilee - an unscriptural belief.

John 7:52 - "They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet."

The Woman Caught In Adultery

The law will kill you for sinning. Grace will deliver you from the law. The law condemned the adulterous woman. But the law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Law teaches what is wrong. Grace teaches what is right.

John 8:4-5,9 - "This woman was taken in adultery, ...Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? ...They which heard [Him], being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst."

Take Your Judgments To Jesus

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery, desiring Him to pronounce a sentence of death. But they were wrong. That is why we should take our judgments to Jesus. "Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness," I Corinthians 4:5.

John 8:7,10-11 - "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. ...he said unto her, ...hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee."

Jesus - God In Man, Father In Son

Pharisees: "Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true." Jesus: "My judgment is true: for I am not alone, ...I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."

John 8:19,24,27 - "[They said] where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. ...Ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. ...They understood not that he spake to them of the Father."

I Go My Way, And Ye Shall Seek Me

"One day too late." That is going to be the plight of vast multitudes of people when the last of the great prophecies have been fulfilled, and the Last Trumpet sounds. Just like the multitudes who turned deaf ears to Noah and his invitation to come into the ark, the whole world is now ignoring the True Ark - Jesus Christ. It won't be water, but fire next time. Hell fire.

John 8:21 - "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."

Continue In My Word - The Truth Shall Make You Free

I cannot overstate the blessedness of faithful obedience to the will of God. Jesus said, "the Father hath not left me alone; for I DO ALWAYS those things that please him." ALWAYS do those things. Break the pattern, break the blessing. Nobody is more free than the person who is consistently obedient to God.

John 8:30-32 - "As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Absolute Truth

Jesus Christ claimed to be the truth. In these days of ecumenism, cultural relativism, situational ethics, and anything-goes, "I'm OK, You're OK!" thinking, the truth of Jesus has fallen in the streets. As a society in general, we have become so open-minded, our brains are falling out. Only a true believer in Jesus can recognize the value and potential of truth. No society ever fared better than those who believe and follow the teachings of Jesus.

John 8:32 - "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Freed Slaves

Slavery existed on every continent before written history. Almost every culture practiced slavery. Greece, China, and Africa had slavery for 1000 years. The nation of Israel began in Egyptian slavery. Jewish law prescribed humane treatment of slaves. Christian teachings called for brotherly kindness and mutual respect among masters and servants. Eventually, slavery was seen as immoral. There is only one sovereign master who owns us all - God, Himself. He is altogether loving, kind and benevolent toward those who honor Him.

John 8:36 - "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

The Sinner Is A Slave Who Must Be Set Free

"If ye continue in my word, ...ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The Jews were baffled. Free?? We are not in bondage! The whole world is exclaiming that today. But Jesus said, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever." Sinners - slaves - cannot inherit the house; only the Son can. Only the Son-Heir can free the slave to live in the house.

John 8:36 - "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Your Father, The Devil

The Jews contended sharply with Jesus about their freedom. They forcefully declared that they were descendants of Abraham, and heirs to his covenant with God. Jesus forcefully declared that He was the Son of God and that THEY were sons of their father, the devil, because their deeds were evil. They wanted to kill Jesus because He contradicted them.

John 8:37-38, - "I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. ...Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."

If A Man Keep My Saying, He Shall Never See Death

In a boiling war of words, the Pharisees denied that God was with Jesus, saying that He was His only witness. Jesus retorted, "You are of your father the devil. ...I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. ...why do you not believe me?" If they had been of God, they would have rejoiced to see Him. Jesus shocked them. "If a man keep my saying, HE SHALL NEVER SEE DEATH."

John 8:52,58 - "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets," they argued. " [Jesus finally concluded,] "Before Abraham was, I am."

The Night Cometh When No Man Can Work

Several scriptures demonstrate that we should practice urgency in gospel ministry. Jesus said, "I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" Luke 12:50. "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth," Mark 1:38. "Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews..." Acts 18:5. We must work diligently to rescue the perishing!

John 9:4-5 - "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."

Ask Jesus For An Explanation - You May Get A Miracle

Jesus and His disciples passed by a man blind from his birth. "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." Jesus spat on the ground, made clay, anointed the man's eyes with it, and sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam. When something troubles you, ask Jesus about it. The disciples' honest question triggered an unimaginable miracle.

John 9:7 - "He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing."

Jesus Defied False Traditions About Sabbath

Jesus defied heresies. Dr. Ken Trivette found 1521 things that Jews forbid on Sabbath. "For example: you could not rescue a drowning person on the Sabbath. Untying knots that needed only one hand was permissible, but if two hands were required, it was forbidden. ...If a man was bitten by a flea on the Sabbath, he had to allow the flea to keep on biting. If he tried to stop the flea from biting or killed it, he was guilty of hunting on the Sabbath."

John 9:16 - "This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day."

Testify - Tell Others What Jesus Has Done For You

The hard-hearted Jews refused to believe that a man had been healed of blindness, so they called his parents. They confirmed that it was indeed a miracle, but refused to say how it happened "because they feared the Jews." So the Jews called the man again and intimidated him, saying that Jesus was a sinner. The man could only tell the truth. That is what we all must do. Testify.

John 9:25 - "He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."

God Often Works In Spite Of Our Theological Errors

The blind man was not healed because he had good theology. In fact, two of his arguments in defense of Jesus were not even valid. 1. "Now we know that God heareth not sinners." Oh, yes, Jesus hears sinners. If He did not hear sinners, none of us would be saved. 2. "If this man were not of God, he could do nothing." Actually, many deceivers are in the world (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; Revelation 13:14; Exodus 7:10-11). Nevertheless, the man had a good conclusion.

John 9:31 - "If any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth."

The Cast-Out

It does not seem to make sense. The poor man had been blind from birth, and Jesus wonderfully healed him. It should have been a day of ecstatic joy. Instead, the self-righteous Jews made it a nightmare for him. After arguing with him for at least half the day, they cast him out of their midst. Paul said, "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his [Jesus'] reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come," Hebrews 13:13-14.

John 9:34 - "And they cast him out."

Jesus - A Sinner, Or The Righteous Judge?

The Pharisees were obsessed with Jesus' "law-breaking." They warned that anyone confessing Christ would be put out of the synagogue. The crowds argued, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?" The healed man insisted, "He is a prophet." Still, they demanded, "We know that this man is a sinner." Jesus opened the eyes of one, and closed the eyes of others who refused to see.

John 9:39 - "Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."

Are We Blind Also?

The Pharisees cast out the man who was healed. Jesus found him and asked, "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" "Who is he, Lord?" Jesus said, "It is he that talketh with thee." He said, "Lord, I believe." Jesus said, "For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." Some Pharisees heard Him and asked, "Are we blind also?" No. Self-deluded.

John 9:41 - "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth."

Enter By The Door Into The Sheepfold

You can enter into a safe place with God, but you HAVE TO go through the door. The ONLY DOOR is Jesus. Judaism cannot save you. Islam cannot save you. None of the Eastern religions can save you. Only Jesus. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," Acts 4:12. Call on Jesus.

John 10:1 - "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

The Thief Cometh Not But For To Steal, Kill And Destroy

Satan and his kind usually masquerade as do-gooders and well-wishers. They tell every kind of lie to persuade you that you can follow the world, the flesh and the devil, and nothing bad will come of it. But the horrifying truth is that Satan only wants to utterly destroy you. He NEVER comes unless he intends to steal, kill or destroy. Never did. Never will.

John 10:10 - "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

The Hireling Fleeth

Here is both a principle and a prophecy. Jesus said that the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep, but a HIRELING will not. When a hireling sees a wolf coming, instead of risking his life to destroy the wolf or protect the sheep, He will FLEE! You can expect that to happen in the last days when great tribulation comes upon the earth. Big-shot preachers will bail out, leaving multitudes of professing Christians looking for a true man of God.

John 10:13 - "The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep."

Other Sheep I Have, Not Of This Fold: Them I Must Bring

Following an elaborate discourse to His Jewish brethren about His sheep, sheepfold, the Good Shepherd, the hireling, thief and wolves, Jesus interjected a marvellous prophecy. "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring." Jesus alluded to the Gentiles who would come into His Church. In John 17:20, He prayed for them. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." That prayer was for you and me!

John 10:16 - "They shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

Jesus - The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd calls His sheep by name. They recognize His voice, and follow Him wherever He leads, whether into pasture, or into the sheepfold. They will not listen to or follow a stranger, but flee. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep.

John 10:26-28 - "But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

I Lay Down My Life, That I Might Take It Again

The Son of Man 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." "This commandment have I received of my Father." God used His human incarnation to die, revive, and impart eternal life to all born-again believers.

John 10:28 - "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

Jesus - A Man? A Devil? A God? The One True God!

His exhortation about the Good Shepherd seriously divided the Jews. "He hath a devil, and is mad." Others argued, "Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?" They asked, "If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." When He told them, they started to stone Him for blasphemy, "because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."

John 10:37-38 - "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him."

The Father Is In Me, And I In Him

How is it possible for the Father to be in the Son, AND the Son be in the Father? God is a Spirit, invisible and infinite. That is our Father. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He was born of a woman, the virgin Mary, about 2000 years ago. God dwells in that man. The theological term for that is "incarnation." "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself." Meanwhile, the Son - the human embodiment of God - dwells in the heart and Spirit of God.

John 10:38 - "The Father is in me, and I in him."

Call For Jesus To Come

Many of the greatest stories in the Bible would never have occured if they had not been precipitated by prayer. What if Mary and Martha had never called for Jesus when Lazarus died? "Ye have not because ye ask not," James 4:2. "In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God," Philippians 4:6.

John 11:3-4 - "Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God."

True Worshipers Have Favor With God

"It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick." When the greatest crisis of your life comes around, it will be comforting to know that you have recently been worshiping the Lord from a sincere heart. True worshipers have favor with God.

John 11:5,11,23 - "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. ...and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. ...Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again."

If You Do Not Walk In The Light, You Will Stumble

The disciples urged Jesus not to go to Jerusalem because they had recently tried to stone Him there. But Jesus was determined to walk in the light (to do God's will). Do not walk in the dark (anything other than God's way), because you will stumble. God's way is best, regardless of the consequences.

John 11:8-10 - "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him."

Delays Do Not Hinder God - His Plan Is Foreordained

It seemed strange that Jesus lingered for two days after hearing of Lazarus' emergency. Why did He wait? Why didn't He rush to the side of His friend and heal him before he died? By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany, "he found that he had lain in the grave four days already." You and I must remember that time is NOT God's enemy. Anxiety rises when we forget that God ALWAYS has everything under control. Trust Him!

John 11:15 - "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe."

Mary, Martha, Lazarus And Jesus

Mary, Martha and Lazarus were among Jesus' dearest friends. Sometimes best friends seem more like family. This poignant story reveals Jesus' intense compassion for His friends Mary and Martha in their grief - even weeping with them. Then He showed ultimate kindness. He brought their brother back from the dead. Take heart! "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you," (15:14).

John 11:33,35-36 - "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. ...Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!"

God Could Have Healed, But He Had Another Purpose

Martha was probably weeping when she told Jesus, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Later, Mary made the identical claim, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Friends said, "Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?" We rarely understand why God says "NO," but it is always for His glory. The glory that He will eventually reveal will be greater than all our sickness, pain and death.

John 11:43 - "He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth."

Jesus - The Resurrection And The Life

Despite the overwhelming pall of death that surrounded Lazarus' loved ones, Jesus spoke very intentionally. "Thy brother shall rise again. ...I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Jesus has ALL POWER. Death is powerless against Him. Eternal life is in His word.

John 11:44 - "He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."

Jesus Gave Thanks, Then Raised Lazarus

Jesus lifted His eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE that thou hast sent me." Then He called Lazarus out of the tomb. Jesus did not even pray. He only gave thanks that the people would believe. His thanksgiving worked as good as any prayer. Try it yourself. Give thanks.

John 11:45 - "Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, BELIEVED ON HIM."

High Priest Caiaphas Prophesied That Jesus Should Die

When the Pharisees learned that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, they responded, "This man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation." Caiaphas said, "It is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not."

John 11:51-52 - "Being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God."

The Irony In Prophetic Destiny

The irony is mesmerizing. Jesus healed the blind man, but the Pharisees refused to see that God did it. One saw. Others were blinded. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, causing the rulers to decide that He must be killed. One lived. The Other died. Every godly work necessitates a confrontation with evil.

John 11:53,57 - "Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. ...Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him."

Show Gratitude

Only days before His crucifixion, Jesus was invited to eat supper with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. While Martha served, Mary took a costly ointment of spikenard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. How would YOU treat someone who just raised your brother from the grave? If Judas had felt any gratitude for his privileged relationship with Jesus, he would have commended Mary for her gratitude. Gratitude might have saved Judas. Let the ointment flow.

John 12:4-5 -"Then saith ...Judas Iscariot, ...Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?"

Mary And Lazarus - Targets Of Hostilities

Judas was not feeling compassion for the poor when He insisted that Mary's ointment should be sold for the poor. Judas did not care for the poor. "He was a thief," (verse 6) and he carried the bag. Evil-minded people will always look for ways to stop good things from being done. Many Jews began to follow Jesus after He raised Lazarus from the dead, but some decided that Lazarus must be killed to stop the crowds from being drawn to Jesus.

John 12:10 - "The chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death."

They Remembered These Things Were Written Of Him

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 when He rode into Jerusalem on the foal of an ass. They "took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." Many epic prophecies will soon be fulfilled. People will be shocked to realize, "these things were written."

John 12:16 - "These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him."

The Hour Came For The Son Of Man To Be Glorified

There is an unavoidable connection between Lazarus being raised from the dead and the final decision of the Pharisees and Temple rulers to kill Jesus. So many people came to see Lazarus, even including some Greeks, that the Pharisees panicked. "Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him." It was time for Jesus to be glorified. The timing was prophetically determined. On Palm Sunday they would be shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel!"

John 12:23 - "Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified."

A Corn Of Wheat Must Die

The rulers of the Temple were terrified of Jesus. After raising Lazarus from the dead, the whole nation was ready to declare Him their King. The rulers had to kill Jesus to save their own positions. Jesus knew it. It was all in The Plan. Righteous men have to take their beatings from the wicked until, at last, God says, "Enough!" and righteousness prevails. Get ready to die for the cause. Life follows.

John 12:24 - "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

If You Love Your Life, You Will Lose It

You cannot have the world and Jesus, too. If you want the pleasures of sin, or to follow your worldly friends, you can have them. But you cannot have Jesus, too. You have to "HATE your life in this world." Those are Jesus' actual words.

John 12:25-26 - "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that HATETH his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

A Voice From Heaven

He knew that His earthly stay was almost over. Jesus said, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name." A voice from heaven said, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." Those nearby thought it thundered, or that an angel spoke to Him. In this RARE display, God spoke to bear witness of His Son, that they may know Jesus was heaven-sent.

John 12:29 - "This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes."

Now The Prince Of The World Will Be Cast Out

"If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Jesus crucifixion on Calvary meant that for the first time in human history, sinners could find a safe-harbour from sin and Satan, just beyond the cross. Jesus' death judged the world. It separated the lovers of God from the haters of God. Because of Jesus' sacrifice at Calvary, Satan's doom was irrevocably sealed. When Jesus returns for His Church, Satan will be violently overthrown.

John 12:31 - "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out."

The Son Of Man Must Be Lifted Up

When Jesus said, "If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me," they knew He signified His death. That confused them. "We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up?" (David prophesied, "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek," [Psalm 110].) Even after death, He lives and abides forever. His light will shine forever.

John 12:36 - "While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light."

Isaiah Prophesied That They Could Not Believe

Isaiah prophesied Jesus' rejection. Despite His many amazing miracles, the Jewish rulers viciously opposed Jesus. "Though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, ...Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

John 12:39 - "Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them."

He That Seeth Me Seeth Him That Sent Me

Nothing in all Christian theology has been more misconstrued and misrepresented than this fact. If you see Jesus, you see the Father. Not a clone. Not a resemblance. Not Jehovah Junior. Not the second person of the Godhead. Not somebody co-equal or co-eternal. The FATHER. If you see Jesus, you have seen the Father. God is in Christ. Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

John 12:44-45 - "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me."

Jesus - The Spoken Word

Imagine an alien coming to earth with a message from the King of another world. Contrast that to Jesus, who was born of a virgin, and known as "Emmanuel - God with us." This Son of Man had no message for us from His human nature. But the King of Heaven dwelled inside, and spoke through Him.

John 12:49-50 - "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. ...whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."

You Ought To Wash One Another's Feet

After the Last Supper, Jesus gird Himself with a towel, poured water in a bason and began washing the disciples' feet. When Peter objected, Jesus answered, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Peter said, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." Jesus told them all, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet." Nobody is too important to be the lowest servant in His kingdom.

John 13:15 - "Ye should do as I have done to you."

The Servant Is Not Greater Than His Lord

The primary lesson in Jesus' washing the disciples feet was this: "The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him." Jesus was hated, run out of town, ridiculed, falsely accused, blasphemed, rejected, despised, mocked, spat upon, scourged, stripped, beaten, pierced, crowned with thorns, nailed to a cross, and murdered. It could happen to you or a fellow believer. A servant is not too good to endure what his master endured, and has no right to complain.

John 13:17 - "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

Mine Own Familiar Friend Which Did Eat Of My Bread

"I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." His betrayal could have come from any direction. Jesus had countless enemies. People in high, powerful places wanted Him dead. But ominously, prophetically, Judas ate Jesus' bread from the sop. "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me," Psalms 41:9.

John 13:18 - "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me."

The Devil And Judas Iscariot

Judas complained when Mary worshipped Jesus with the ointment of spikenard. His heart was obsessed with money, not with Jesus. Later that week, when [Jesus] had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, and "Satan entered into him. ...And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him..." Judas was demon-possessed. Satan scouts for renegade hearts. Watch yours.

John 13:27 - "Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him."

You Shall Seek Me And Not Find Me

Three times, Jesus told the people that they would seek Him and not find Him. Peter asked Him, "Lord, whither goest thou?" He answered, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." We have no more access to the physical body of Christ, but we commune by His Spirit. "Receive ye the Holy Ghost," John 20:22.

John 13:33 - "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you."

Love One Another

Judas dipped the sop with Jesus and went out into the night. Jesus exhorted the rest about how God would be glorified in Him that night. Then, He exhorted them to love one another as He loved them. He wants His disciples to caringly minister to one another just as He did. It is our trademark.

John 13:34-35 - "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Why Cannot I Follow Thee Now?

The disciples did not understand why they could not go where Jesus was going. They did not realize He would die that night. Peter asked, "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?" Sooner or later, you are likely to desire to go somewhere with God that He will not allow you to go. Do not be offended. God's plan often requires things far beyond our understanding. You do not need to go. That's why.

John 13:38 - [Jesus said,] "Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? ...The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice."

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled - Believe Also In Me

Trouble motivates much of our praying. More trouble, more prayer. Less trouble, less prayer. Old Testament saints sought help from the invisible God, but Jesus said, "from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him, (14:7)." Jesus is the image and body of God. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus preempted all Old Testament worship, and announced to them that from henceforth, HE was the only way to God.

John 14:1 - "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."

In My Father's House Are Many Mansions

One thing is certain. Jesus promised us an eternal dwelling place. This contradicts either the notion of annihilation or of disembodied spirits floating in space for eternity. "Many mansions" means many dwelling places. God has an eternal throne, and 100-million angels surround it. A countless multitude of white-robed redeemed will be before Him. Walls, streets, rivers, trees, music, a rainbow, and much more are described in various places.

John 14:2 - "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."

I Will Come Again And Receive You Unto Myself

Jesus went away to prepare a place for His saints. He promised that someday He would return to gather them and take them to be with Him in that heavenly place. Based on all the scriptures, we know that at the end of this age, Jesus will come to establish an earthly kingdom for 1000 years, after which He will receive all His saints into His heavenly kingdom forever.

John 14:3 - "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

How Can We Know The Way?

It seems that Thomas studied, but could never quite understand the awesome ministry of Jesus Christ. When Jesus spoke of preparing a place for them, Thomas asked, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" Jesus never gave elaborate, step-by-step details about His future plans, but He certainly made it clear that our top priority should be to simply follow Him closely. HE is the way.

John 14:6 - "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Philip: Show Us The Father - Jesus: Ye Have Seen Him

Philip told Jesus, "Lord, shew us the Father." Jesus answered, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father." God the Father is embodied in His Son. God (Father) and Christ (Son) share the same body.

John 14:7,10 - "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. ...the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

If You Ask Anything In My Name, I Will Do It

Jesus made an extraordinary promise to those who believe that He is God incarnate. "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." He raised the dead, healed all kinds of diseases, delivered the oppressed, and more. WE can do GREATER? YES! Ask in His name!

John 14:13-14 - "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

He Shall Give You Another Comforter

Jesus comforted His followers. "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but YE KNOW HIM; FOR HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, AND SHALL BE IN YOU." The Comforter was WITH them: the Spirit of Christ! He would be IN them when they received the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. "Another comforter" is the Holy Ghost; another manifestation of the Spirit of Christ.

John 14:16 - "He shall give you another Comforter."

I Will Pray The Father

The Son of Man admonished them to keep His commandments, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth." You cannot possibly understand this verse correctly unless you remember that God is A Spirit (John 4:24). One Spirit. Not two or three. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and conceived Jesus. He is the Father, and the Spirit of Christ. The Father, the Incarnate Spirit of Christ, is our Holy Ghost Comforter.

John 14:18 - "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

Because I Live, Ye Shall Live Also

If Jesus had died a natural death, and (as all men do) returned to the dust, then Christianity would never have come into existence. But the fact that Jesus was murdered, buried in a tomb for three days, then ROSE AGAIN... that is evidence that demands a verdict. Can He also raise us from the dead? Yes. "Because I live, ye shall live also." In that day, the deity of Christ will no longer be doubted.

John 14:20 - "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."

He It Is That Loveth Me - He Keeps My Commandments

This verse is a benchmark for everyone who claims to love Jesus. Love is more than a state of mind. If all you have is a state of mind or an emotional feeling, that is NOT love. Love is the choice to do the highest good for God, which means obeying His commandments. And that requires studying, knowing and doing them.

John 14:21 - "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

Holy Spirit Of The Father, Holy Ghost Of Christ

Does God exist as three separate spirits? No! God is A Spirit. God enters you when He baptizes you with the Holy Ghost. That is the same Spirit that dwelled in Christ. (Why do you think they called Him "Ghost"?)

John 14:23,26 - "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. ...But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance."

My Father Is Greater Than I

Jesus told His disciples that He was going away, and would come again. He said "I go unto my Father," and that they should rejoice about His leaving, "...for my Father is greater than I." That is a powerful doctrinal statement. The Father and the Son are not co-equal and co-eternal. God is One - the Father. The Son is the man in whom the Father dwells. How else could Jesus' statement be true?

John 14:28 - "If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

The Prince Of This World Hath Nothing In Me

Nearing the end of His days, Jesus made several closing statements. One of them seemed somewhat mysterious. "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." Satan might have found something with which to accuse an ordinary sinner man, because Satan is the accuser of the brethren. But Jesus never sinned. Satan "hath nothing in me." No man or devil could rightfully accuse Jesus of sin.

John 14:31 - "That the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do."

Jesus - The True Vine

After centuries of dressing His vineyard, Israel, God had to effectively begin again. The High Priests and Pharisees were corrupt, and the nation was bearing no fruit. A root out of Jesse, Jesus Christ, established a new vine for a new covenant. Henceforth, ALL the fruit that God will receive must come through that root, that vine - Jesus Christ.

John 15:1-2 - "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

Abide in the Vine

A parent's genes are in each child, so the child resembles its parents. In the born-again believer, God's Spirit and Word produces the nature of God in us. Because we are grafted into His divine life and character, God's holiness and righteousness appears in both our looks and our character. For best results, abide in the vine!

John 15:4 - "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."

If You Abide In Me, You Shall Ask What You Will

Yesterday, storm winds blew two large branches down from a pear tree in the yard. There will be no more pears from those branches. The young fruit on them will never mature. You can have fruit only if you are true to His Word.

John 15:6-7 - "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

Continue Ye In My Love

The child born of Mary was the focal point and the object of all divine and human affection. Did God love His Son? How did the Father love the Son? He guided Him step-by-step through His paces, enabling Him to minister to His fellows, suffer their rejection, die at their hands, and rise again to become their everlasting King and Savior. God will love us just the same; caring step-by-step, until we stand glorified in His presence.

John 15:9 - "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love."

Chosen And Ordained To Ask In His Name

Every born-again believer was chosen - hand-picked by God Himself - for the express purpose of bearing lasting fruit for the Kingdom of God. He has ordained us to go into the world and bring fruit back for His Kingdom. Whatever you ask Him for, in the name of Jesus, He promises to give.

John 15:16 - "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

They Will Also Persecute You

When the world hates you, remember that it hated Jesus first. If you were of the world, they would love you. But because you are not of the world, (Jesus chose you OUT of it), the world will hate you. "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!" Luke 6:26.

John 15:20-21 - "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me."

They Hated Me Without A Cause

Jesus' preaching exposed the people's sins, but it only made them hate Him. "Now they have no cloke for their sin." No man had ever done the miracles Jesus did, "but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." Jesus said that the scriptures had prophesied, "They hated me without a cause." But the Holy Ghost-filled early Church would bear witness that Jesus was of God.

John 15:26-27 - "But when the Comforter is come, ...he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."

They Will Put You Out, And Kill You

Everything about Jesus conflicts with the world. He is the key to eternal life, but that is not on their minds. They are worldly-minded, and He threatens their status quo. They will kill Him and His followers to prevent their own selfish interests from being foiled. It will be that way until the end.

John 16:2 - "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."

The Comforter

John 16 is all about the transference of the manifestation of God from the body of Jesus Christ to the Holy Ghost in the Church. For approximately 33 years, God was on earth in the physical body of Jesus. Then Jesus ascended into heaven, and sent His Holy Ghost back to earth, to minister in His stead until His final return at Armageddon.

John 16:7 - "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

You Must Keep His Commandments To Abide In His Love

Jesus made an inextricable connection between obedience to His commands and the very definition of love. You cannot truthfully say that you have love for God or others if you are not faithful to perform the will of God. True love cannot exist outside the will of God. Do-as-you-please Christians betray the love of God, and hazard their right-standing with Him for now and eternity.

John 16:10 - "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."

The Holy Ghost - Reprover Of The World

A huge bulk of modern Christian preaching is focused on positive affirmation, self-actualization, and maximizing one's human potentials. However, Jesus' prophecies about the ministry of the Holy Ghost reveal a radically different model: ""He will reprove the world of sin, ...He will reprove the world of righteousness, ...reprove the world of judgment, ...guide you into all truth: ...shew you things to come." The Holy Ghost does not champion carnal, ambitious men. He purges carnality, and champions the will of God.

John 16:14 - "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."

Afraid Of The Answer? Pray Anyway

Jesus told His disciples that He was going away. Curiously, nobody asked Him where He was going. "None of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?" Apparently, they sensed His impending death, and were afraid to discuss it. "Because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." Later, He confronted their fears. Sometimes, we are afraid to pray, fearing an unwanted answer. Pray anyway. It is the right thing.

John 16:20 - "Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy."

Hitherto Have Ye Asked Nothing In My Name

Calvary turned a new leaf and opened a new chapter in the relationship between God and men. Jesus' followers waited upon Him for every word and miracle. But after His ascension, their access to God changed. He instructed them to look to God, and pray in the name of Jesus.

John 16:23 - "In that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

The Proverbs Of Jesus

Jesus' statements forebode His departure - "ye shall not see me," then, "a little while, and ye shall see me." He spoke of a woman in travail, then delivering a baby. Travail represented His agonizing death. The newborn baby represented His victory in resurrection. But they could not imagine that. Why proverbs? "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."

John 16:25 - "These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father."

Who Do I Pray To?

"Who do I pray to? Jesus or the Father?" The answer requires understanding the nature of God. God is a Spirit. That Spirit is our Father. That Spirit incarnated Himself in the man Jesus. Jesus is now glorified, and is the only body sitting on the Throne. Jesus is God. Whether you pray to the Father or the Son, it is the same.

John 16:26 - "At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me,"

I Am Going To Him That Sent Me

The enigma of Jesus' identity left the disciples wondering what He meant by the statement, "A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father." They could not comprehend that God descended to earth to manifest Himself in the body of a mortal, nor could they imagine a mortal ascending into heaven. But flesh and blood cannot enter (I Corinthians 15:50). Jesus resurrected immortal. A glorified man now sits on God's throne.

John 16:28 - "I leave the world, and go to the Father."

Ye Shall Be Scattered, Ye Shall Have Tribulation

The disciples finally began to understand that Jesus was talking about dying and going to heaven. "Now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, ...we believe that thou camest forth from God."

John 16:32 - "Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: ...These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Jesus' "Going-Away" Prayer

No greater prayer was ever prayed than Jesus' "going-away" prayer in John 17. He prayed for all those He loved. His compelling desire was for a manifestation of the glory of God - that the Son of Man would be glorified, even as the Son of Man had glorified God.

John 17:1-5 - "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ...that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. ...I have glorified thee on the earth: ...now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self."

Those Whom Thou Hast Given me

Here is a man with no mission in life but to do the will of God. He has no hobbies, pastimes, or leisure pursuits. God gives Him twelve men, then seventy, then thousands. Listen to His heartbeat.

John 17:9,11,15,19 - "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; ...keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, ...I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. ...for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified."

Forbidden Prayer

It may be hard to believe, but sometime God does not want us to pray for certain people. Three times, Jeremiah warned, "pray not for these people." God knows every person intimately. He knows every nuance of a person's heart -- rebellion, hypocrisy, atheism, even blasphemy. Even Jesus only prayed for those who were given to Him. Don't waste time praying for the wrong people. Pray for those you know are given to you.

John 17:9 - "I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine."

Jesus Prayed For You And Me

Jesus was not only concerned about His twelve as He prepared to leave this world. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word..." You and I believe upon Him through the disciples' word. Therefore, Jesus prayed for you and me.

John 17:22-23 - "The glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me,...and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

Glory Before The Foundation Of The World

The Father glorified Jesus before He was born. "Thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." Jesus prayed, "Glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." My fourth grandchild was born three days ago. He had glory in our family before he was ever born. Since the moment of his conception, our family has adored him. Now, Jesus lovingly glorifies His own.

John 17:22,24 - "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; ...that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me."

The Son Of Man Knew The Father Like No One Else

"O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee." That was Jesus' shocking claim. Nobody ever knew God like the Son of Man. Why? Because the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, was conceived in His mother's womb by God. God was literally His Father. Jesus knew the voice of God and obeyed Him.

John 17:25-26 - "These have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."

The Brook Cedron (Kidron)

David fled across the Brook Kidron from his son Absalom, following a hostile coup. Years later, Solomon punished Shimei for cursing David, by forbidding him to go beyond the Brook Kidron from Jerusalem. King Asa destroyed his mother's idols by the Brook Kidron. The priests in Hezekiah's day cleansed the Temple and burned the refuse by the Brook Kidron. In that infamous place, Jesus made the epic decision to die for our sins.

John 18:1 - "[Jesus] went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples."

Gethsemane - The Place Of Pressing

Jesus crossed the Brook Kidron (Cedron) to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. "Gethsemane" means "oil press." Jesus' Spirit was pressed beyond measure there. "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." Even His best friends failed him there. But when He finally concluded, "Nevertheless, not my will," the pressing was over. Once Jesus submitted, Judas and his cohorts soon appeared. As soon as you submit to the will of God, your trial will enter into its final stage.

John 18:2 - "And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples."

I Have Lost None

The Chief Priests provided Judas Iscariot with a band of officers and soldiers carrying lanterns, torches and weapons. Judas led them to the Garden of Gethsemane because Jesus often went there. Jesus, "knowing all things that should come upon him," asked "Whom seek ye?" They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." "Jesus said, "I am He." The men fell backward to the ground. Jesus told them to let His disciples go their way. None of the disciples were prosecuted - fulfilling scriptures.

John 18:9 - "That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none."

Drink The Cup Of Suffering

Peter would have fought to protect Jesus from His enemies. He drew his sword and cut off Malchus' ear. But Jesus told him to put up his sword. Vengeance is not a New Testament doctrine. "Turn the other cheek" is. Suffering for the cause of Christ is prescribed. "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"

John 18:12 - "Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest."

God Sees Your Private Sorrow And Contrition

All four gospel writers chronical Peter's denial of Jesus, and the incident with the cock crowing. Matthew, Mark and Luke mentioned that Peter wept when he realized his failure, but John did not. Often, we fail in public but repent in private. People remember our failures, but do not notice our contrition. But God sees your sorrow and your repentance. When failure leaves a pile of rubble in your life, clear the plot and build anew. Write a new chapter to correct the error of the previous chapter.

John 18:27 - "Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew."

The Praetorium - Pilate's Hall Of Judgment

The Jewish Sanhedrin determined that Jesus was worthy of the death penalty (Matthew 26:66), but because Israel was under Roman rule, they did not have the authority to put Him to death. They were forced to send Jesus to the Roman Governor Pilate. There in the Praetorium (residence of the Praetor), Jesus was sentenced to die. Visitors to Jerusalem can still see where tradition says that occurred. When Jesus returns, He will build His new Temple nearby. Where men judged Him, He will rule all men.

John 18:28 - "Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment."

Gross Hypocrisy Must Be Avoided

The Jewish authorities who sent Jesus to the Romans to be executed refused to enter into the Hall of Judgment, lest they defile themselves in the presence of Gentiles, and disqualify themselves from participating in the feasts following Passover. What hypocrisy - avoiding defilement by Gentiles, while commiting cold-blooded murder! Every one of us must use great caution to prevent being highly commited to certain elements of Christianity, while commiting gross sins in other areas.

John 18:28 - "...they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover."

Jews Send Jesus To Romans To Be Killed

The soldiers bound Jesus and took Him to Annas, then to Caiaphas the high priest. Caiaphas told the rulers that it was more important that one man (Jesus) should die than for the people to make Jesus their King, thereby provoking Rome to "come and take away both our place and nation," (John 11:48). Men foolishly reject God to protect self-interests.

John 18:31-32 - "The Jews therefore said unto [Pilate], It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die."

Jesus Came To Bear Witness Unto The Truth

Pilate asked Jesus directly, "Art thou a king then?" Jesus said, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?" Tragically, Pilate did not wait for His answer. Jesus was the bodily presence of Truth, the King from Heaven. But Pilate never knew it.

John 18:38 - "When he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all."

Do Not Threaten God When You Pray

The Jews told Pilate that, by their law, Jesus must die "because he made himself the Son of God." That scared Pilate. In the judgment hall, he asked Jesus, "Whence art thou?" [Where are you from?] Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate assailed Him. "Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?" Jesus answered, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above." Do not threaten God when you pray. He controls your future.

John 19:12 - "From thenceforth Pilate sought to release him."

Jesus - The King Of The Jews

Ultimately, the conflict was about the choice of a king. Would the Jews have Caesar of Rome or Jesus of God? They foolishly chose Caesar. When Pilate tried to release Jesus, the Jews shouted, "If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar." But Pilate knew. He stood Jesus forward, and declared, "Behold your King!" The chief priests said, "We have no king but Caesar." Pilate insistently (and prophetically) wrote a sign and put it on Jesus' cross.

John 19:19 - "JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Jesus Loved

John was five times referred to anonymously as that disciple "whom Jesus loved." At Calvary, Jesus' mother, Mary, was included with John in the phrase, "whom He loved." Jesus' last act before dying was to care for the two people He loved the most. Jesus loves me, this I know. That is comforting.

John 19:26-27 - "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."

Done, That The Scripture Might Be Fulfilled

Psalms 22:18 prophesied, "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." Soldiers took Jesus' garments and said, "Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it." Psalms 69:21 prophesied, "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." John 19:29 says, "They filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth." Psalms 34:20 prophesied, "He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken."

John 19:33 - "When they came to Jesus, ...they brake not his legs."

The Water And Blood From Jesus' Side

Nothing whatsoever on earth is more critical to human life than water and blood. Our bodies are 60-80% water, and our life is in the blood. The Spirit of God needs neither. Jesus spilled both water and blood from His side, ending His mortality. The Holy Spirit was His resurrection life. "This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood," 1 John 5:6.

John 19:34 - "One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water."

The Garden Tomb Was Nigh At Hand

Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus' body in linens with spices of myrrh and aloes, and laid it in a brand new sepulchre. One of the many great proofs of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection can be visibly observed within the space of only a few yards - both Golgotha and the Garden Tomb.

John 19:41-42 - "In the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand."

The Empty Tomb

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, where did His body go? After 2000 years, nobody has a more plausible explanation than the resurrection. Hard-core atheists drive themselves to confusion with baseless theories of stolen bodies and mistaken identities. Face the facts. Jesus' tomb was empty, and over 500 people saw Him alive after His resurrection.

John 20:6-7 - "Then cometh Simon Peter following [John], and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself."

They Knew Not The Scripture That He Must Rise

I have followed Bible prophecies closely for four decades, and am agonizingly aware of the awesome Biblical significance of countless epic world events that are now transpiring. Tragically, however, most people do not know the scriptures that give us all these critical warnings. If they did, every church would be packed this Sunday with men and women getting ready to meet God.

John 20:8 - "Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

Two Angels Announced Jesus' Resurrection

"The angel of the Lord descended from heaven, ...and rolled back the stone," (Matthew 28:2). He invited the women to "Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Inside, they saw "a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment," (Mark 16:5). They ran away, found Peter and John, then returned. Those angelic "two men stood by them in shining garments." (Luke 24:4). As Mary stood weeping, she saw the two angels in white.

John 20:13 - "They say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? ...she turned herself back, and saw Jesus."

Touch Me Not

When the women first saw Jesus alive, "they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him," (Matthew 28:9). But Jesus was focused on seeing His other disciples. He had many things to say to them. There is a time to worship, but we must also take care to spread the message that Jesus ordained. Our churches must not have a disproportionate worship-to-preaching ratio. Preach the Word.

John 20:17 - "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father."

Peace Be Unto You

Jesus' horrifying execution by the Jews and Romans truly frightened the disciples. After witnessing Jesus' merciless trial, torture and murder by powerful men, they hid in a house behind closed doors, "for fear of the Jews." But suddenly and unexpectedly, Jesus stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be unto you." He showed them His hands and side. They were amazed and comforted. You may be terrified by things around you, but whether you see Him or not, Jesus is in the room with you.

John 20:20 - "Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."

So Send I You

After Jesus' death, His disciples hid in a closed room for fear of the Jews. Jesus miraculously appeared to them alive, and said, "Peace be unto you." Jesus wants all His children to be at peace. God has a plan for our lives. This is not the end. This is only the beginning. God sent Jesus to give hope to lost men. Now, He sends His disciples to deliver the message of the hope of redemption to all men. Go! Preach!

John 20:21 - "Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."

Whose Soever Sins Ye Remit, They Are Remitted

Before you die, be certain to have your sins remitted. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins." Only Jesus' blood can cleanse your sins. If you want your sins to be remitted, you must repent, and turn from your sins. You must be born again, of the water and of the Spirit (John 3:5). Present yourself to a minister for water baptism in Jesus' name. Jesus gave His ministers power to remit sins thereby.

John 20:23 - "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

Do Not Be A Doubter

Thomas doubted that Jesus was risen. Days earlier, He doubted that Jesus would heal Lazarus. "Let us also go, that we may die with him." Doubt has a deep root. Dig it up. Cast it out. Do not be a "doubting Thomas."

John 20:25,29 - "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. ...Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

Confess: 'My Lord And My God'

Thomas refused to believe that Jesus was risen, "Except I shall see in his hands... and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side." When Jesus later told Thomas, "Reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side," Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God." Today, the written Word presents the evidence. Thrust in your hand. Confess!

John 20:30-31 - "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."

Many Personal Appearances Proved Jesus Was Alive

Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9); to two other women (Matthew 28:9); to two on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13); to Peter (Luke 24:34); to ten disciples without Thomas (John 20:19); to the eleven including Thomas (20:26); to seven (John 21:2); to disciples in a mountain (Matthew 28:16); to almost 500 at once (1 Corinthians 15:6); and to James (1 Corinthians 15:7). He probably appeared many other times which were not mentioned. The apostles saw Him ascend into Heaven from Bethany (Luke 24:51).

John 21:1 - "Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias."

When Your Way Fails, Try His Way

Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John spent the night fishing on the Sea of Galilee. They caught nothing. At daybreak, Jesus stood on the shore. The disciples did not recognize Him. "Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." Jesus knows fishing. He also knows fishing for men. At His Word, you shall catch men.

John 21:6 - "They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes."

153 Fish In The Net - More Than You Can Handle

John recorded that they caught 153 fish in the net after obeying Jesus. Scholars have searched for centuries for some mystical or prophetic meaning in the number 153, without finding a useful interpretation. The simple lesson is that God can bless you exceedingly and abundantly if you follow His instructions.

John 21:8,11 - "The other disciples came in a little ship; ...dragging the net with fishes. ...Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken."

Lord, And What Shall This Man Do?

Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him (three times) "Lovest thou me?" But Jesus was preparing to forewarn Peter prophetically about how he would eventually die for Jesus' sake. "This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God." Looking toward John, Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, and what shall this man do?" When you pray, do not compare your divine destiny with someone else's. God has a unique purpose for your life. Just follow Him.

John 21:22 - "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me."

People Sometimes Interpret Prophecies Recklessly

When Jesus prophesied concerning Peter's eventual death, Peter looked at John and asked Jesus, in effect, "What about him?" Jesus replied, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" The brethren jumped to a conclusion that John would not die. But Jesus did not say that. People still jump to conclusions and misconstrue and misinterpret Bible prophecies. Mis-quotes or mis-statements have absolutely no prophetic value.

John 21:23 - "Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?"

The World Could Not Contain The Books About Jesus

John, the Gospel writer, was closest to Jesus - the one who leaned on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper. He followed Jesus through His trial and conviction, completely faithful through the years. John "wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true." John declared that Jesus performed more miracles, wonders and teachings than could have been written or published.

John 21:25 - "There are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

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