ABS – Gospel of John

Review of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. 
Jesus washed every disciple’s feet including Judas. Are we willing to serve everyone; even those who we know are going to betray us? Jesus didn’t do this unknowingly, he did it knowing fully well that Judas (Peter and the others) were going to betray Him. His feet washing was not based on the disciples’ actions – it was based on His source, the Father. 
 
We are called to serve those who will betray us. We cannot do this as an act of obedience to a commandment. We have to serve with love, as an overflow of what the Father has done for us. Only then we will be able to serve those who will betray us.
 
Suresh Joel
Abide in me and I in you.
 
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
John 15:4‭-‬6 ESV
 
We have to Abide in Jesus to bear fruit. If we do not Abide in Him then we dry up (dying without God, no satisfaction in life, unhapiness  Vs 6 ). If we do, we bear fruits ( love, joy, peace, kindness..). How do we Abide in Him? We Abide in Him by doing what he’s asked us to do. And his commandment is to love one another(Vs 17)
 
As simple as this passage is, it’s a tough battle for every Christian to bear fruits. But if we Abide in Him, In his word, he gives us the life that we need to bear fruits. Bearing the fruits of love is the most hard task but if we always Abide in Him will correct us and give us life. And your joy will be made full Vs 11 (complete happiness, no want)
If we meditate on His word daily, he will water our hearts and mind to listen to his voice. 
He says I will come and Abide in you. What more would we want than the maker of the universe being with us.
The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.”
‭‭John‬ ‭2:3-8‬ ‭NLT‬
 
There are two things that God spoke to us when we read the wedding at Cana. First part where  Mary tells Jesus the Wine being NO MORE. That is nothing left or about to get empty.  Lord Jesus uses the word “My Hour has not yet come”. But Mary still request the servant men to be with Jesus. 
 
*Jesus starts the miracle only after absolute emptiness on our side and absolute dependency on him.*
 
 Jesus uses Water that is there in stone jars for CEREMONIAL WASHING (means: Cleaning involved washing all or part of the body or one’s clothing) and replacing it with WINE (BLOOD) and now he requests them to take it to Master of Ceremonies. 
 
“he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.”
‭Now when Master tasted it, he says this is THE BEST of all.
 
*Apostle John says this is the first time Jesus chooses to revealed his glory  and he replaces water which is for ceremonial washing with wine (His Blood)* and in this, he also showed his disciples and mother the glimpse of what will happen when His hour comes.
 
By Vimal Shan
John shares how he sees Jesus.
 
The first two verses Apostle sets the truth straight,  the places where English bible uses “word” in original Greek, it was logos and God it was as “Theos”. The word *”*logos” *comes from Greek and introduced by *Heracleitus*, it is about deep study of the reason behind origination of something (all studies like biology, physiology etc used logy here for the same reason)
 
Here Apostle John says the Logos – “Divine and cosmic reason” was He who was with God from the beginning.
 
Now when we read 3, it was mind blowing. He who is “divine and cosmic reason” , *through him all things were made and without him NOTHING was made. 
 
Apostle John started with Creation in V3 exactly in the same order as in Genesis. First creation followed by Life. 
 
Here he says Jesus, the Divine and cosmic reason behind all creation himself is the LIFE. When we went to v14 and realised that how fortunate we are! This logos became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 
 
Wow, just to realise that this awesome CREATOR and the one who is LIFE is our personal saviour is just mind blowing. This CREATOR says we are the children of God because we believed in Him and his work. That’s not because of we have great natural descendents or because of human will but purely because of His WILL to die on the cross for us
 
John says they all have seen the glory – he is full of grace n truth. We just realised we too have seen his glory in our lives in most difficult situations and there is a personal experience. But sometimes with the world moving faster and with our desires to aspire or hold on to many things, I think we are in danger of losing every day personal experience.
 
Some questions remained 
 
1) Are we seeing Him as Creator and Life in every situation?
 
2) Are we sure about our identities  or still expect identity given by the world around us
 
Most importantly, 
 
3) Are we experiencing relationship with this true Creator who says you are my sons n daughters adapted because of Him. We have lot to share about our friends, family, are we sharing?? We will if we experience.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:18 ESV
 
Jesus says whoever does not believe in him stands already condemned. Jesus was addressing Nicodemus directly because he did not seem to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah.
In v17, Jesus says he came to save and not condemn. Jesus was asking Nicodemus to believe and be saved here. This was after Nicodemus failed to understand what Jesus told him about heavenly things and of the Spirit. 
 
It is to Nicodemus that Jesus says “for God so loved the world” – it’s the verse that summarises God’s love story towards us. God does not turn away those of us who don’t understand, he tries to teach. We must be willing to try to understand though.
By Shashank Solomon 
 
Do you understand the love of Jesus?
 
By Shashank Solomon

Jesus says let not your heart be troubled,nor let it be fearful.
It was time when Jesus had to leave His disciples and go to the Father. He knew that they were scared because they wouldn’t be able to see Him again.
He tells them they should be happy because He goes to the Father and that he will send us the Holy Spirit
We are not orphans in this world. We have the Spirit of God who created the earth as our helper to give us peace.

Whatever situation we may be in, if we abide in HIM and he gives us peace.

Jesus said his hour had not come at several places earlier but in Chapter 12 and 13 He says that His hour is here. The hour is the time for Him to die on the cross.
I learnt again today that Jesus knew His hour had come. It was no accident. He knew He was to die on the cross He planned it. It was the purpose of His life. He was born to die.

We have plans for our life but the life goal of the God of this universe was to die a cruel death to save me.

What kind of love is this?

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