St. Simons Community Church

v. 1, 2 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.  The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head.  Jesus had been betrayed and abandoned by his friends, and then he was handed over for torture and inhumane treatment.  He was mocked and made fun of.  In Isaiah 53, the prophet spoke over 700 years before the events that the Christ would be despised and rejected by men.  He also said that the Christ would be pierced for our transgression, and by his wounds we would be healed – and the punishment that brought us peace would be upon him.  All of this is being fulfilled as Jesus is placed in the hands of the Roman soldiers.  They made sport of him, mocking him for calling himself a King, and the Son of God.  And yet Jesus took it all.  He bore the wrath of God and took our punishment that ultimately would bring us peace.

v. 7 The Jews said, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”  The Jews wanted to hold Jesus to the standard of their law saying he must die for blasphemy, claiming to be God.  The irony is that Jesus would die to set them free from the penalty of that same law.  None of them and none of us would stand up to the standard of that law.  These men were not innocent of all sin according to the law.  And yet they were crucifying Jesus because of the law.  God knew what he was doing.  Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled the law of God , actually died under the law in order to set us free from the law’s condemnation of our sin.

v. 11 You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.  Pilate had the ultimate say in the matter.  Under Roman rule, the Jews could not execute a man without Roman consent.  Pilate tried to get Jesus to realize that he could set Jesus free.  Jesus told Pilate that his authority was underneath the ultimate authority of heaven.  We see here again God’s sovereignty and absolute control of the situation.  These things did not just happen to Jesus.  These were a part of the sovereign plan of God.  He was and is in control.  It was all in His hands.  Jesus trusted the Father’s plan even when it hurt and meant the cross.  He knew there was a greater good.

v. 15 We have no king but Caesar.  The Jews were trying to make an argument that they were under full compliance of Roman law, but their statement reveals their spiritual blindness.  They had thrown off true submission of their lives to the God of Israel, and had become slaves of a religious system that they tried to work for their own advantage.

v. 34 Instead one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.  There are a couple of things I have heard and read through the years about this event.  The first is that the spear probably struck Jesus in the heart and pierced the sac that surrounds the heart.  Therefore we are to understand that Jesus was pierced to the heart.  Perhaps this is a symbolic picture of the deep grief of Jesus having taken on the sin of the world.  His heart was pierced for humanity, grieved at their sin and rejection of God.

John 18 begins Jesus’ journey to the cross.  The climax of his earthly journey has arrived.  He has fulfilled the work God gave Him to do on earth which will now end in the cross.

v. 4 Who is it you want?  That is a great question.  Jesus was asking those who came to take him captive, but it is a good question for us as well.  Who do you want?  Do you really want Jesus?  If so, He will not become your captive.  You must become his captive.  And yet, He is not seeking for prisoners, he is seeking for servants who are captured by His love.

v. 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.  The soldiers came with their weapons to arrest this peasant preacher.  And yet, when He spoke and said, “I am he,” they fell to the ground.  What actually happened?  We do not know, but it seems there was a manifestation of God’s power and authority in a very tangible way that knocked these men to their feet.  Jesus said, “I AM… he.”  Remember He is the great I AM – this is the name God revealed to Moses many years before.  This verse reminds us once again that Jesus was the one who was in charge.  Even with their weapons, these men could not have taken Jesus by force.  It was only his willing surrender to them that led to his arrest and crucifixion.

v. 11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”  Jesus did not come to conquer by sword.  He came to conquer the sin condition of the human heart.  The only way to do this was through his sacrificial death.  The phrase “drink the cup” is used several times in the Old Testament to refer to God’s judgment and wrath.  Jesus was drinking the cup of God’s judgment for the sin of the world.  He drank the cup of wrath so that we could be spared the wrath of God.  We must in turn drink in the life of Christ for forgiveness.  This gives new insight for me at communion.  Jesus drank the cup of judgment and wrath for us.  We now drink the cup representing his blood to acknowledge our forgiveness and freedom from the wrath of God.  To “drink the cup” aslo is a reference to submission of God’s will.  Jesus was willing to give himself in complete obedience to his Father for our sake.

v. 17 “You are not one of his disciples are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter.  He replied, “No I am not.”  In this passage we see that betrayal to Jesus abounds.  Obviously Judas fully betrayed Jesus to the point of handing him over to the guards.  He completely turned on Jesus in rebellion.  There are some who completely rebel against him.  Peter’s rebellion was more subtle.  He even continued following Jesus (v. 15) after his arrest, but when he was questioned, Peter denied his association with Jesus.  He wasn’t against Jesus, but he wasn’t willing to stand with him and for him in this hour.  How do we subtly deny our Savior throughout the course of our life and day?  Are there times we should speak up for Him, and we don’t?  Do we deny Jesus?

v. 28 By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to able to eat the Passover.  There is so much irony here.  The Jews had strict laws of cleanness and uncleanness.  For them to enter the Roman palace would have caused them to become unclean (because of the Pagan nature of the Romans) and would have required a period of ceremonial cleansing.  This would have caused them to miss out on Passover, the great Jewish festival celebrating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. They are clinging to their laws and rules of uncleanness and yet handing over an innocent man to death becasue they are jealous.  Jesus has threatened their religious ideology and they will not stand for it, so they are seeking to literally “railroad” him.  They are less concerned with true justice, than dealing with this threat.  They want to remain clean for Passover, and yet Jesus is the true Passover Lamb.  Their celebration they are preparing to observe was a foreshadowing of Him who would give his life to rescue people from the slavery of sin.

v. 36 My kingdom is not of this world.  The ways of Jesus will not always make sense to the worldly mind.  Why should I forgive those who hurt me?  Why should I give my hard earned money?  Why should I put others first?  Why should I die to self?  Only the person who understands the nature of Jesus’ kingdom can begin to understand the ways of God.

v. 38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked.  This is the great and eternal question of human history.  What it truth?  Many people will have their own version of truth.  Some will say that truth is subjective to each individual.  Some will say that there is no ultimate truth.  Jesus said he is truth, and that he will lead us into truth.

v. 40 Give us Barabbas!  When Pilate asked the Jews who they wanted to be freed, they shouted Barabbas, a rebellious murderer.  Barabbas was a hardened criminal, and unrepentant man.  And yet the crowd chose Barabbas over Jesus.  Let Jesus die, and let the criminal go free.  Here again is a foreshadowing of the cross.  Who is Barabbas really?  I am Barabbas.  You are Barabbas.  We are the guilty ones who do not deserve to go free.  We have sinned.  And yet Jesus has died for us, and we have the chance to go free – forgiven by God.  Thank you Jesus.

v. 7 I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Jesus told the disciples he was leaving them.  He knew his plan was to rise from the dead and return to the Father.  From heaven he planned to send the Holy Spirit to fill the church, and to fill the lives of believers.  Jesus said it was good that He go away so He could send His Spirit, the Counselor.  When Jesus walked the earth, he could be in one place at one time.  He was limited by a human body.  In the presence of the Holy Spirit, the presence of Jesus is no longer limited to one location on earth at a time.  The Spirit of God can make the presence of Jesus real to me as I type this, but also real to you as you read it.  He can be with us in worship on Sunday, and at home with each of us on Sunday afternoon. He can be with us in America at the same time He is in the midst of His church on the far side of the world from us.  When Jesus was on earth, he could walk beside his disciples.  Now through the Spirit, Jesus can live inside his disciples.  Yes, it was good for Jesus to go away.  For now we have another counselor with us – His Spirit.

v. 8 When He (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment: v. 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; v10 in regards to righteousness because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; v. 11 and in regard to judgment , because the prince of this world now stands condemned. When the Spirit comes, part of his role is like a prosecuting attorney who seeks to prove his case.  He will convict men of sin because they do not believe in Jesus.  Rejection of Jesus is the ultimate sin.  When we deny the one who gave his life for us, this is the ultimate rejection of God.  There is no forgiveness for rejecting the one who offers forgiveness.  The Spirit convicts the world of righteousness as well.  Righteousness can only be found in and through Jesus Christ.  The world has no righteousness of its own.  Isaiah tells us that our good works are like filthy rags before the Lord.  Our only righteousness can come through the person of Jesus.  The Spirit also convicts the world of judgment.  According to Jesus, judgment is real.  Hell is not a figment of man’s imagination according to Jesus.  It is a place of judgment reserved for those who rebel against the living God.

v. 13 But when he the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. Again we see the Spirit is meant to be our personal guide that Jesus has sent to us.  The Spirit is a total team player who is seeking the glory of Jesus in our lives and in the world.  Any true revelation from the Spirit will always be in line with God’s Word and with the person and work of Jesus.  Any Spirit filled church or person is going to be consumed with the work of Jesus in the lives of people.

v. 33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world, you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world. The world does not give peace.  The world gives trouble. Jesus gives peace even when the world gives trouble.  Jesus has overcome the world.  One day he will set us free completely from the trouble of this world, but for now He helps us walk in victory as we walk in the world.  Claim his victory and his peace.

v. 1 I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. As the vine, Jesus was comparing himself to the source of life and nutrients for his people.  He will refer to believers as “branches” who are in the vine.  Just as a branch must be connected to the vine, so we must be rightly connected to Jesus if we are going to have true life.  The Father is the gardener.  It is his job to tend to the branches to ensure that they become fully productive and fruitful.  Our Father will tend to our lives and seek to create the greatest environment for growth in our lives.

v. 2 He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit. There is some dispute over this verse.  Some feel it speaks simply of judgment.  A person who bears no fruit and yet calls himself a believer is not truly a part of the Vine.  He is cut off from the Lord.  Others feel that the phrase “cut off” should be translated “raised up or lifted.”  There is some good support because the Greek word airo is never translated “cut off” in any other place.   If it should be “raised up” instead, the idea may be of the special care that an actual gardener would give to his unproductive branches.  Often they are unproductive because they are too close to the ground and become covered in dirt and soil.  It stunts the growth.  In this case, the gardener would lift up the branch, clean it, and tie it up higher off the ground so it will no longer sag.  The branch is much too valuable to just cut off.  Perhaps, this is what God does.  He disciplines us when we are stuck in the dirt of sin and remain unproductive.  This discipline is meant to bring us out of sin, and lift us back up into God’s purposes.

v. 2 while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. Gardeners prune, or cut back their vines so they will become even more fruitful.  This is a natural part of the world of agriculture.  Prune for greater growth.  There are times the Heavenly Father prunes us.  It is not correction for doing wrong, it is pruning and instruction to bring about even greater fruit in our lives.  Pruning is a very good thing for us as believers.  It humbles us, and keeps us looking to Him.

v. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  V. 5 I am the Vine, you are the branches.  If a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Jesus calls us to remain in him.  Some translations use the word “abide” – Abide in me.  This is the call to stay close, and rightly connected to Jesus.  We can’t bear fruit on our own.  We can only bear the fruit of the Spirit when we are receiving the life of Jesus on a continual basis.  We must remain in Him.  We remain in Him through prayer, worship, God’s Word, fellowship, giving, serving.  We must abide, knowing that He is the source of life.  If he doesn’t fill us, we are empty.  Apart from him, we can do nothing.  We can do a lot of things without Jesus, but we cannot do anything that has eternal value.

v. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Here is a radical thought for your day:  Jesus loves you just as much as the Father loves him.  The same love God the Father gives to the Son, Jesus gives to us.  It is a free gift.  Open your heart and receive it.

v. 9 Now remain in my love.  V. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love… Again we see in this chapter that obedience is a sign of our live, but true obedience from a heart of faith is also a key to abiding in the love of Jesus.  I do not believe this is about keeping the rules for the sake of keeping the rules.  This is the obedience of a humble man and woman who loves and trusts his/her God.

v. 15 Instead I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my Father I have made known to you. Can you imagine having a friendship with the God that made you?  Here Jesus calls his disciples his friends because he was revealing to them all the Father showed to him.  He is calling us into an intimate relationship with Himself.  Abraham was called a friend of God.  We are supposed to be the friends of God.  No other faith system speaks so intimately of their relationship to their deity.  Muslims could never call Allah a friend.  He is master and they are slaves and servants.  We are servants of Jesus and slaves of Christ for sure.  And yet we are children of God as well.  And yes we are friends.

v. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Jesus chose us.  We have been called by God into relationship with God, and we are appointed by him to bear fruit.  Jesus expects our lives to make a difference for him.  He did not choose us just so we could go to church for the rest of our lives.  He called us and chose us to live lives for his glory.  Are you bearing fruit?  Are you making a difference for Christ?

v. 18 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. Don’t be surprised when everyone doesn’t celebrate your love for Jesus and your commitment to biblical values.  The world doesn’t understand, and doesn’t want God.  They hated Jesus, and there will be times that they resent the followers of Christ.  It isn’t pretty.  It isn’t fun.  But it is real.  Don’t give up.  Be bold.

v. 26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.  V. 27 And you also must testify… The Holy spirit is our Counselor.  Some versions translate this as the Comforter.  He is both.  The Greek term is “paraklete” – meaning one who comes along side of us.  The Spirit of God is in us and alongside of us to help us live the Christian life.  He is the life of the Vine that we receive into our lives.  The Spirit has come to testify to us and the world about Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is the ultimate witness of Jesus.  He makes Jesus real to us.  He reveals Jesus to us, and by him and through his power, we witness to the World about Jesus.  We need the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life, to bear fruit, to share Jesus with the world.

v. 1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. This is the great antidote for a troubled heart.  It is based upon trust in our Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus.  Place your trust in Him, and His Promises.

v. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Jesus Christ has returned to heaven to prepare a heavenly home for his people.  He has a room for you and me if we belong to Christ.  Jesus is our treasure and heaven is our true home.  One day, He will come back for us to take us there.  Are you ready for his return?  Are you ready for your departure?  We are not promised another day on earth.  Be ready at all times for His return.

v. 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me. One of my favorite verses.  Jesus sums up his life and his mission.  He is the way – the way to God, the way to heaven, the way to forgiveness, the way to live.  Following Jesus is the sure path to everything we need.  He is the way.  He is the truth – the truth about God, the truth about life, the truth about eternity, the truth about our deepest needs.  There is nothing false in him.  When we seek Jesus through his word, we discover the truth for our own lives.  He leads us out of falsehood, and out of darkness and into his glorious light.  And Jesus is the life. True life is found in Jesus.  Eternal life is found in Jesus.  Abundant life is found in Jesus.  Apart from him, we are spiritually cut off from God, and spiritually dead.  Our hearts are not alive, but captured by sin.  Jesus brings life, gives life, and He is life.  Surrender your life to Him, so that you may find his life.  No one comes to God except through Jesus. Is this an exclusive statement?  Yes, it is.  Jesus makes a claim that no one can do for us what Jesus can.  No one else can lead us in the way to God the Father. No one else can reveal the truth about our sin, and the truth about forgiveness. No one else can bring spiritual life to a spiritually dead heart.  He is the way, the truth and the life.

v. 12 -14 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. I have always been captivated by v. 12 – “He will do greater things than these…”  Are we to do greater works than Jesus?  That’s what Jesus seems to indicate.  As his people, we carry on His ministry, not our own.  We are his representatives, now filled with His Holy Spirit.  Jesus is with the Father in His glory, seeking to direct the ministry of the church through the Holy Spirit.  As we have faith in Him, Jesus can and will use us beyond anything we have ever imagined.  We are to do His greater works.  I will not debate what that looks like, but I sure want to discover what it looks like.  Jesus, I believe in you.  Let us do your work here on earth by your Spirit.  Jesus also promises that He will do whatever we ask in “my name.”  He is speaking of the weapon of prayer.  We can move heaven and earth through true prayers of faith.  There are some conditions though for Jesus to answer us.  He says He will do whatever we ask in His name.  This doesn’t mean to use his name at the end of our prayer like a “magic incantation.”  The name of Jesus represents his character, his will, and his reputation.  To pray in his name means that we seek to pray according to his will and according to his character.  We can’t just fill in the blank with any request we want and expect Jesus to deliver for us.  We must be in tune with his will.  If so, we will see His kingdom and his work in our lives.  Jesus also said that he answers us to bring glory to his Father.  In the end, answered prayer is about bringing glory to the Father.  It is to the glory of the Father to answer the prayers of his children.  He wants us to see His power at work on behalf of his kingdom in the lives of his children.  Be glorified through your Son!

v. 15 If you love me, you will obey what I command… Obedience to God is the sign of our love for Him.

v. 16 He will give to you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come in His place.  The word another means “one who is just like me.”  Jesus is the truth.  The Spirit of truth would come in our lives to take his place.  He will lead us into all truth.

v. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Jesus left his disciples physically when he died, rose again and returned to the Father.  But he promised his disciples they were not orphans.  He came to them through the Holy Spirit.  As Christians, we are not alone.  He is with us.

v. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to Him. Again, obedience is proof of our love.  When we respond in love and obedience to Christ, we experience more fully the love of God in our lives, and we receive a greater revelation of Jesus and the Father.  When you do not obey, you do not receive more revelation. You head into darkness.  Obedience leads into light.

v. 26 But the Counselor the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. We have a teacher in our lives.  The Holy Spirit will guide us and teach us the ways of Jesus.

v. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.  Jesus gives peace. His peace is not like the world, not according to circumstances.  His peace is a gift.  His peace is supernatural.  His peace is for those who seek Him.  PEACE OUT!

Hey, go back and read some of the responses that people have made to the posts.  There is some good insight that the Lord is giving to others.  God bless.  David

v. 1 It was just before the Passover Feast… This was the annual feast Israel celebrated to remember God’s deliverance of his people from the power of Pharaoh and Egypt.  He did it through a lamb.  At Passover, the men of Israel took a lamb and slaughtered it.  They roasted the lamb and feasted upon it, and then placed the blood on the door frames over their home (Exodus 12).  When the Angel of the Lord saw the blood, he passed over the home of the Israelites and spared them from judgment.  Now Jesus was in Jerusalem at Passover, preparing to give his life.  The timing is significant because Jesus would be the true Passover Lamb slain once and for all for the sins of the world.

v. 1 Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.  Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. Jesus was fully aware of the Father’s plan.  He did not end up on the cross by accident.  He knew the time had come to give his life, and return to the Father having provided an acceptable sacrifice for sin.  He loved his disciples, but his actions were going to reveal the full extent of his love. The washing of their feet revealed the servant nature of Jesus.  He would ultimately wash them clean by shedding his blood for them.  This passage reveals the call to servant hood, but also foreshadows the cross – this is where Jesus would become the ultimate servant and do for us what we could not do. This is where he showed the full extent of his love as He took our sin away.  I am captivated by the phrase, “he now showed them the full extent of his love.”  I find myself asking Jesus to help me truly know and experience the full extent of his love in my life.  I am open Jesus.

v. 2 “the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot… to betray Jesus.”  It is interesting how both God and the devil are involved in the death of Jesus.  We see Satan tempting Judas to betray Jesus.  Satan wanted nothing more than to get rid of the Son of God.  He sought to get inside of Judas’ mind and tempt him to betray Jesus.  I am sure the enemy was inside the mind of the religious leaders as well, inciting them to actually order and demand his death.  So we see that man also has a role in the death of Jesus.  And yet we know that behind all of it was God the Father.  It was actually his plan to give his only begotten Son so that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life.  We know that in the end, God can use any means to accomplish his purposes and will.  He can even use the sinful intent of man, and the wicked schemes of Satan to bring about his will.  Satan means to destroy us and God’s work in us, but if we will fully trust and surrender our lives into the Father’s hands, we can know that His will shall prevail in our lives.

v. 3, 4  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist… he began to wash the disciples feet. AMAZING.  After the first sentence that described Jesus’ position of power and his understanding that he was returning to God, you might expect the next sentence to say that he demanded everyone at the table to bow down and kiss his feet.  He had every right to demand worship, to demand surrender, to demand respect, to demand to be served. Instead, it says he clothed himself like a servant, took a towel and basin and washed the disciples feet.  Just a chapter before, Mary was washing his feet… and now He is washing the feet of his disciples.  He has assumed the role of a servant.  He is revealing his character and providing an example at the same time.  Jesus is humble, and the servant of man.  He gives himself for our good.  And yet he calls us to go and do the same.  What a Savior.

v. Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. Jesus was speaking of a spiritual cleansing.  We cannot truly have fellowship with Jesus and his Father until he cleanses our sin.  Our sin is a barrier between us and God.  It must be removed for us to have fellowship with God.  Jesus removes our sin.  Unless he washes you, you have no part with him.  Oh Jesus, thank you for washing me clean.  Continue to cleanse me of all sin.  AMEN!

v. 34 A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. What is the mark of true discipleship.  There are many, but love must surely be near the top.  Authentic disciples are not just people who have a lot of head knowledge about the Bible.  They are people who have been transformed by radical love.  LOVE one another.  We are called to love each other as Jesus loved us.  He gave his life for us, even when we didn’t deserve it.  Do we love people like that?  We tend to love those who are nice to us.  Jesus’ love goes way beyond our human limitations.  We are called to walk in His love.  The world show know we are different by our love.  Jesus, I am convicted by the shallow nature of my love.  Help me to love.  Take me deeper in love for you and for others.  Teach me radical love that this world knows nothing about.