Joh 19:12 - 15 "From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." 

The will of man is captive to inclinations of the direction of the heart. Even though you would choose something different if you could your choice has not been freed from the fear of rejection, pain and death. Whether denying there is a God of Love or believing in a different god altogether, the lack of freedom is characteristic of man apart from God. Their hearts and wills are enslaved by the inclination in opposition to God. 

Their King and ruler is other than the Absolute Love. 

Even though it was not a free choice it is the choice of all who do not know the Love of God. Rejection of God and of doing right. 

Joh 19:16, 17  "So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha." 

Pilate knew in His heart this was Yahweh, The King, yet His inclination towards self and self preservation led him to condemn himself. 
How often i fight this tendency to do other than what I know God would have me to do. Unbelief in God's graciousness, goodness and love is the essence of the sin of Adam. 
Our only hope The Second Adam, The Son of Man. Jesus of Nazareth dying sinless and faithful to remove the penalty of my faithlessness and unbelief.

Joh 19:18 - 22 "There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.  Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'"  Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." 

All of the acts of Jesus would fulfill the word of God, fulfill the righteousness of God, fulfill the just penalty of sin and make way for my faith and forgiveness.

Joh 19:23, 24  When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." So the soldiers did these things, 

Jesus would take care of His own, fold them into His family and give them power to stand as ONE with God and with one another.

Joh 19:25 -27  "but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home." 

Jesus saw all things to completion, even to know the thirst of man in separation from the Father. It was finished and accomplished completely on the cross.

Joh 19:28 - 30 "After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.  When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." 

Jesus paid the price in full. His heart broken and silence but for a moment as He bore the weight of eternal punishment within His eternal life.

Joh 19:31 - 37 "Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him.  But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness--his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth--that you also may believe.  For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken. And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced." 

His immediate family and friends buried Him in silence and the pain of grief. In denial at the loss.

Joh 19:38 - 42 "After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.  Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.  So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there." 

That moment of grief and pain was turned to wonder and faith as Jesus had risen, He was not in the tomb and the words of Jesus came flooding back. 


Joh 14:19, 20  "Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." 

Joh 16:16 - 22 "A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me." So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?" So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?  Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." 

Joh 20:1 - 9 "Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;  for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead." 

They hadn't realized Jesus was going to be raised from the dead.  

We need to expand our faith in the possibilities of what God will do in the midst of seeming defeat.

Joh 18:28 - 29 "Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"

The religiously self righteous don't want to get their hands dirty. The religious leaders take Jesus to the state governmental authorities to do their dirty work. They use the state for their purposes but reject the legitimacy of their authority in the process.

They had no specific charges-only excuses and lies. Pilate as ruler and judge wanted no part of it, yet in order to keep their hands clean they needed someone to do their dirty work. They couldn't murder Jesus in front of the people for He was to popular and they didn't have the power.

All this was set up by the sovereign direction of God in order for the what was Jesus foretold would be fulfilled.

Joh 12:32, 33  "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."  He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die."

Joh 18:30 -32 "They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you. Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die."

Jesus was King of all, Master of everything, Creating and sustaining all things. Yet His Kingdom is not of this world, this cosmology. If it were Jesus would be taking over, and ruling. This world is given over to sin, rebellion and Satan. This world is passing away and will fade in the fire of God's judgement.

Don't cling to this world!

Joh 18:33 - 36 "So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?  Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done? Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."

Pilate got the message unmistakably he knew what Jesus was claiming. He was Yahweh, the God of all creation. Jesus had come to bear witness to the truth of God, His character and purpose. Everyone who is of the truth listen, hear and believe- putting their trust and faith in Him alone.

Those who shut their eyes and tune out reality can't believe the truth. To them there is no truth, no absolute.

God is Absolute Love. You can find no guilt or displeasure in Him. He is complete in being absolutely just and absolute love. Fully justified in all He does.

Joh 18:37, 38  "Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.  Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him."

Pilate couldn't find Jesus guilty of any crime, but he also to appease Jesus' accusers offered them another chance at forgiveness.

They only wanted Jesus dead and gone- they would sooner have the release of a known thief than see Jesus released.

A mockery of themselves in mocking Jesus. What a clear picture of the folly of those who reject the Love of God!

Joh 18:39 -19:6 "But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews? They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.  Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him. So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man! When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him."

The self righteous stand upon the Law of God but they do not understand God's Law or it's purposes. They do not have spiritual sight and therefore no insight into following God or recognizing Jesus as their Messiah. 

Jesus only answered when others claimed authority, there is no authority outside of that allowed by God. Even evil men when granted authority only hold it according to the will of God and for His purposes.

Joh 19:7 - 11 "The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God. When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.  So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you? Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."

Pilate recognized Jesus authority and he sought to avoid being responsible for Jesus' condemnation, but his fear of man ironically  outweighed his fear of God. This is the essence of sin displacing God with something that you grant more authority to over your life and decisions. This is Idolatry. 

Pilate took the seat of judgement and condemned himself. 

Joh 19:12, 13  "From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar. So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha."

It was the night of the afternoon before the celebration of the Passover. Bitterness would be served up for the sins of the world and for the nation of Israel. 

The leaders declared; "We have no King but Ceasar!" 

Joh 19:14, 15  "Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!  They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

Joh 18:11, 12  "So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me? So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him." 

Jesus calmed down the disciples and went away with the gang of outlaws. They were disguised as upright, distinguished, law abiding and godly men. Yet they were jealous murderers. 

Jesus named them white washed tombs. Beware of religious pride and self righteousness!


Mat 23:23 - 31  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,  saying, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets." 

In the face of religious pressure is the desire to be accepted. The fear of rejection and the reaction of the flesh to self preservation is against those not ready to stand fast in the face of testing. Peter learned this difficult lesson as a part of the training Jesus intended for him. 

Joh 18:13 - 17 "First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.  The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 

Jesus was open, honest and forthright. There were no secrets or reasons for condemnation. He was completely innocent. The perfect Lamb of God. 

Joh 18:18 - 20  "Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret." 

Isa 53:3  "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

Joh 18:21 - 23 "Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said. When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest? Jesus answered him, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?" 


Again and Again ...

Joh 18:24. 25  "Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.  Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." 


... and Again Peter denied His relationship to Jesus. Preparation for the ministry that Jesus would give him. 

Even our failings are in the will of God, preparing us and giving us the grace that enables us to fully rely on Jesus as our source of power, determination and purpose.


Joh 18:26, 27  "One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him? Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed." 

In an attempt to not be defiled they unwittingly were to condemn the true Lamb of God! They condemned themselves by their blindness to their rejection of the One who instituted the Passover when He passed over the oppressed slaves in Egypt passing judgement on the Egyptians. He was Yahweh, the judge of all things and of everyone. 

Joh 18:28  "Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover." 

Joh 17:7 - 18:1 "Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered."

Jesus had given to the disciples the totality of God's love. All that they needed to believe and follow was theirs. They were full of the knowledge of God and the grace of receiving faith. 

Now Jesus Himself being ONE with the Father needed time alone with His Father to prepare for the most difficult task- receiving the Fathers wrath for the sins of the world. 

Judas the betrayer came to the garden for he knew that Jesus often withdrew there with His followers in order to be alone with them and with The Father. He had gathered the gang of unlikely allies. Soldiers, temple guards, officers of the temple courts and the religious elite. They all felt threatened by Jesus power and the crowds who followed after Jesus. They had torches and weapons and displayed their fear of Jesus. 

No weapons would be of use against Jesus for He was the sovereign Lord of all creation. What a laughable and pitiable gang of thugs and law breakers. 

Jesus knew this would all happen in this way. He stepped forward and said; "Who are you looking for?"

Joh 18:2 - 4 "Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.  So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.  Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"

They said; "The man Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph and Mary." Jesus said; I AM, I AM Yahwh, I AM Yeshua Messiah, Isa Al Masih, I Am the Christ." 

They fell back frightened and startled! They fell to the ground at His presence and power, the Word of God speaking with commanding authority. 

Joh 18:5, 6  "They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground." 

They lay on the ground. Jesus spoke forcefully; "Who are you looking for?" They said fearfully, "Jesus of Nazareth."  "I told you already many times, I AM!;" Jesus exclaimed." "If you want Me here I AM, let these other men go!" 

Joh 18:7, 8  "So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go."

Jesus fulfilled all that was prophesied concerning the Messiah. "He would keep all of the followers for the purpose God had intended. 

Joh 18:9  "This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one."

Peter boldly drew his sword and struck the servant of the highest religious leader cutting off His right ear. Jesus stopped the violence right away healing the ear of the servant. Jesus told His followers, "This is the will of the Father and I will take it as I Love the Father." "I AM Absolute Love." 

The mob of law breakers were still so afraid that they bound Jesus hands. How pathetic and unimaginble. To think that you could bind the Sovereign God.

Joh 18:10 - 12 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?" So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him." 

Mat 26:51 - 53 "And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?"


Luk 22:49 - 53 "And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.  But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?  When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

Joh 17:3 - 8 "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me."

A fulfilled life an eternal life comes from being intimately related to God in Jesus Christ. Jesus has prepared the disciples in every way to know Him and the Father. His followers were filled with belief. Yet, would their faith hold up in the face of what was to happen.
Jesus needed a prolonged time to talk with Father God. He is the intercessor. He pleads on our behalf.

Jesus advocacy is upon those whom He has been given by the Father, they are chosen of God's own Absolute Love. They belong to God by choice adopted by God and redeemed by Jesus Christ. He is Yeshua Messiah, Isa Al Masih, He is Yahweh. The Spirit of God keeps them in His love through the grace of Jesus. All is fulfilled and foretold according to plan. 

Joh 17:9 - 12 "I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.  While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled."

God wants us to be filled with His joy, being fulfilled in His presence and bu His power. 

Joh 17:13, 14  "But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

Jesus wants us to be torn away and kept free from the evil of the world that serves their own desires and the desires of the evil one. They will be kept from Satan's grip. Set apart for God in Christ Jesus. Set apart to walk in truth and know truth. Unified to the Father, Son, Spirit and to one another. In God and in faith. 

Joh 17:15 - 21 "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.  "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus wants us to receive the glory of being in God. One with Him, perfectly attached to the perfect and complete in Him. Filled with His Absolute Love. 

Joh 17:22, 23  "The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,  I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."

Jesus wants us to be with Him, to come to Him, to abide in Him, to walk with Him and realize eternal life with Him. Sharing fully in the Absolute Love of God. Absolute Love is in God, surrounds God and is constantly overflowing from God. 

Joh 17:24 - 18: 1 "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered."

"Did you ever notice that every time we see the metaphor of the body of Christ in the Bible, it is followed immediately by a discussion about or a reference to love? Look at 1 Corinthians 13, the chapter devoted to a description of agape love. What precedes it? A discussion about the body of Christ and its in-dividual members and functions. Romans 12: 4– 8 is another beautiful passage about the body of Christ. A simple phrase follows in verse 9: “Let love be genuine.” And following a discussion for the reasons for the differing 

offices of apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers, Paul concludes:   Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. —Ephesians 4: 15– 16   The link is there for a reason. Undeniably. Love is to be the natural outflow of the body of Christ, with each member contributing as it should. Of course, for that to happen, individual cells need to be healthy, and we’ll get to a discussion of that later. In Chapter One, we saw that love is to be the defining, dominant characteristic of the body of Christ, the evidence of our discipleship to a world longing for love. What I’d like you to see from a closer inspection of the body of Christ metaphor is that this flow of love isn’t something that’s contrived or forced. Cells within the human body normally experience the give-and-take that is necessary for health and vitality. Likewise, healthy members of the body of Christ will love each other as a natural result of the transformation of God’s Spirit working within them."

Kraus, Harry (2012-08-24). The Cure: The Divine Rx for the Body of Christ--Life-changing Love (pp. 61-62).  . Kindle Edition.


Blogs to Return Monday

"In essence, love was sowed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit at our new birth. Allow me to return to my premise. Remember, I believe that love is what should and will define the Christian as long as it is given proper nourishment. It is that way by design. But just as DNA defines and determines a set path and behavior for individual cells, but that path can be thwarted by illness, so the seed of love that has been planted within us can falter and fail to yield fruit because of the competition—“ cares” and “riches.” It is true that what you love will control you. And we are hard-wired to have only one top spot. So if God isn’t in control, who is? The question could be rephrased: Whom or what do you love? Your car, house, investment portfolio? Your reputation, position, convenience, comfort?"

Kraus, Harry (2012-08-24). The Cure: The Divine Rx for the Body of Christ--Life-changing Love (p. 53).  . Kindle Edition.

Blogs to Return Monday

"The sad thing is that a radically man-centered view of love permeates our culture and our churches. From the time they can toddle we teach our children that feeling loved means feeling made much of. We have built whole educational philosophies around this view of love-curricula, parenting skills, motivational strategies, therapeutic models, and selling techniques. Most modern people can scarcely imagine an alternative understanding of feeling loved other than feeling made much of. If you don't make much of me you are not loving me. But when you apply this definition of love to God, it weakens his worth, undermines his goodness, and steals our final satisfaction. If the enjoyment of God himself is not the final and best gift of love, then God is not the greatest treasure, his self-giving is not the highest mercy, the gospel is not the good news that sinners may enjoy their Maker, Christ did not suffer to bring us to God, and our souls must look beyond him for satisfaction. This distortion of divine love into an endorsement of self-admiration is subtle. It creeps into our most religious acts. We claim to be praising God because of his love for us. But if his love for us is at bottom his making much of us, who is really being praised? We are willing to be God-centered, it seems, as long as God is man-centered. We are willing to boast in the cross as long as the cross is a witness to our worth. Who then is our pride and joy?1
 GREAT SELF OR GREAT SPLENDOR? Our fatal error is believing that wanting to be happy means wanting to be made much of. It feels so good to be affirmed. But the good feeling is finally rooted in the worth of self, not the worth of God. This path to happiness is an illusion. And there are clues. There are clues in every human heart even before conversion to Christ. One of those clues is that no one goes to the Grand Canyon or to the Alps to increase his self-esteem. That is not what happens in front of massive deeps and majestic heights. But we do go there, and we go for joy. How can that be, if being made much of is the center of our health and happiness? The answer is that it is not the center. In wonderful moments of illumination there is a witness in our hearts: soul-health and great happiness come not from beholding a great self but a great splendor."


Piper, John (2008-04-07). God is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself (pp. 12-13). Good News Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Blogs to Return Monday

"When I say that God Is the Gospel I mean that the highest, best, final, decisive good of the gospel, without which no other gifts would be good, is the glory of God in the face of Christ revealed for our everlasting enjoyment. The saving love of God is God's commitment to do everything necessary to enthrall us with what is most deeply and durably satisfying, namely himself. Since we are sinners and have no right and no desire to be enthralled with God, therefore God's love enacted a plan of redemption to provide that right and that desire. The supreme demonstration of God's love was the sending of his Son to die for our sins and to rise again so that sinners might have the right to approach God and might have the pleasure of his presence forever. In order for the Christian gospel to be good news it must provide an all-satisfying and eternal gift that undeserving sinners can receive and enjoy. For that to be true, the gift must be three things. First, the gift must be purchased by the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our sins must be covered, and the wrath of God against us must be removed, and Christ's righteousness must be imputed to us. Second, the gift must be free and not earned. There would be no good news if we had to merit the gift of the gospel. Third, the gift must be God himself, above all his other gifts." 

Piper, John (2008-04-07). God is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself (pp. 13-14). Good News Publishers. Kindle Edition.



"The gospel is the good news of our final and full enjoyment of the glory of God in the face of Christ. That this enjoyment had to be purchased for sinners at the cost of Christ's life makes his glory shine all the more brightly. And that this enjoyment is a free and unmerited gift makes it shine more brightly still. But the price Jesus paid for the gift and the unmerited freedom of the gift are not the gift. The gift is Christ himself as the glorious image of God-seen and savored with everlasting joy."

Piper, John (2008-04-07). God is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself (p. 14). Good News Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Blogs to return Monday 11 26

Joh 16:28 - 30 "I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father. His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." 

Jesus was very clear and plain in telling His followers that He and The Father were "One God". He was Yahweh, the deliverer and Lord of Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Daniel and Peter, John and all who follow after the true God." Obedient Faith is the hallmark and stamp of those who belong to the family of God.

Jesus said to His close followers, "Do you believe now?; Your faith will be tested to the limit, you will feel the sting of your unbelief and abandon Me." "I Am never alone for Father God is always with Me." "Don't despair you need to learn how to handle adversity and trials." "This is the world of sin and unbelief that now exists, but strengthen your hearts, I have overcome the world of unbelief."

Joh 16:31 - 33 "Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Then Jesus spoke to God out loud, it was time for Him to glorify the Father and be glorified in vindicating God of allowing unbelief to go unpunished for these many centuries. The plan was all along to demonstrate His character of love and grace and bring about the just punishment of sin so that His righteousness and justice would triumph over sin and unbelief. 
He would give over all authority to Jesus the Messiah and in Him display the glory of His mercy and wrath; His grace and truth, His gift of eternal life. So that all who saw Him as life eternal, fulfilling and completing all things they would be able to find life everlasting in Him. 


Joh 17:1 - 3 "When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,  since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

"The acid test of biblical God-centeredness-and faithfulness to the gospel-is this: Do you feel more loved because God makes much of you, or because, at the cost of his Son, he enables you to enjoy making much of him forever? Does your happiness hang on seeing the cross of Christ as a witness to your worth, or as a way to enjoy God's worth forever? Is God's glory in Christ the foundation of your gladness? From the first sin in the Garden of Eden to the final judgment of the great white throne, human beings will continue to embrace the love of God as the gift of everything but himself. Indeed there are ten thousand gifts that flow from the love of God. The gospel of Christ From the first sin in the Garden of Eden to the final judgment of the great white throne, human beings will continue to embrace the love of God as the gift of everything but himself. Indeed there are ten thousand gifts that flow from the love of God. The gospel of Christ proclaims the news that he has purchased by his death ten thousand blessings for his bride. But none of these gifts will lead to final joy if they have not first led to God. And not one gospel blessing will be enjoyed by anyone for whom the gospel's greatest gift was not the Lord himself. IS DIVINE LOVE THE ENDORSEMENT OF SELF-ADMIRATION? The sad thing is that a radically man-centered view of love permeates our culture and our churches. From the time they can toddle we teach our children that feeling loved means feeling made much of. We have built whole educational philosophies around this view of love-curricula, parenting skills, motivational strategies, therapeutic models, and selling techniques. Most modern people can scarcely imagine an alternative understanding of feeling loved other than feeling made much of. If you don't make much of me you are not loving me. But when you apply this definition of love to God, it weakens his worth, undermines his goodness, and steals our final satisfaction. If the enjoyment of God himself is not the final and best gift of love, then God is not the greatest treasure, his self-giving is not the highest mercy, the gospel is not the good news that sinners may enjoy their Maker, Christ did not suffer to bring us to God, and our souls must look beyond him for satisfaction. This distortion of divine love into an endorsement of self-admiration is subtle. It creeps into our most religious acts. We claim to be praising God because of his love for us. But if his love for us is at bottom his making much of us, who is really being praised? We are willing to be God-centered, it seems, as long as God is man-centered. We are willing to boast in the cross as long as the cross is a witness to our worth. Who then is our pride and joy?"

Piper, John (2008-04-07). God is the Gospel: Meditations on God's Love as the Gift of Himself (pp. 11-13). Good News Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Joh 16:12 - 15 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." 

"You have not been given the ability to know everything, that is where faith in Me comes in to strengthen you;" Jesus told His followers. "You don't have all power and the ability to foresee every contingency as I have." "I Am Yahweh." "I Am Absolute Love." "I Am full of grace and truth." 
"So I will not leave you alone, The Spirit of God, full of truth and grace, will come guiding you, speaking through you, giving you authority and comfort." "The Spirit is One with the Father and I so that what He declares to you will be My presence within you." 

"You will only see Me for a little while longer;" Jesus said comfortingly. "Then you will again see Me in just a short time." 

The students following Jesus didn't understand this. They questioned one another saying; "What is He trying to tell us?" "We don't get this." 

Joh 16:16 - 19 "A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me. So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?"  So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about. Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?"

Jesus wanted to clear things up. He wants us to know and believe in Him. Jesus was emphatic; "You are going to be mourning and then your mourning will be turned to gladness and rejoicing." "This is a metaphor for what is going to happen." "It will be like the pain of giving birth to a child, but the reality of the new child causes all the pain to be wiped away." "This is what it will be like you will be full of grief and then it will all be forgotten." "When you see Me again you will never lose that joy in your hearts, for My presence will eternally  
be in you." "You will ask the Father for My presence and to have the My insight and you will be given what you ask for." "Your will find joy in Me." 

Joh 16:20 - 24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." 

"Jesus continued teaching;"I have told you things in parables and metaphors, because you could not see the future clearly." "I wanted you to have a reference for remembering when these things happen, that they were meant to take place." "Then you would know and believe that I Am in control of all things." 
"It is coming soon that I will talk to you plainly and you will be able to receive and believe what you hear from Me." 
"Then you will ask things in My name and I will be your advocate to the Father." "My Father, God will be filled with Love for you because of Me." "This is because you love and believe in Me." 
"I came from God The Father, He and I are One." "When I leave you and Am no longer in your world, I and the Father will be together as One." 

Joh 16:25 - 28  "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.  In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;  for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.  I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father." 

The followers of Jesus said; "Thank you for telling this to us plainly in ways that we can understand." "Now we know and fully understand that you know all things." "You have demonstrated plain as day that you are Yahweh." "There is no question in our minds about You." "We believe You are from God and are sent here to do the works of God." 

Joh 16:29, 30  "His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!  Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." 

Joh 16:5, 6  "But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart."

"I Am going away to be with My Father, I Am One with Father God and He is One with Me;" Jesus said. "I know you are sad because I talk about leaving you." 

"It is for the best that I go away."  " I do all things for the glory of the Father and for your good." "The advantage to you is that the Spirit of God will come to help you." "I will send Him to you." "To be present in life while I Am again in the presence of The Father."   

Joh 16:7  "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."

"Here is the advantage of the Spirit of God invading your heart and life;" Jesus declared. "When He is put into your heart, and working through you into the people around you, He will minster to the world around you in three areas." "The Spirit in you will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgment"

Joh 16:8  "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:"

"You will have a ministry of conviction of sin." "Sin in it's essence is unbelief in Me." "I Am Yahweh." "I created the world and sin is unbelief in My love and the goodness that belongs to God alone." "There is no ultimate good outside of a relationship with God through Me." "The Spirit will convict people of their unbelief through you." 

Joh 16:9  "concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;"

"You will have a ministry of showing others what is right in the eyes of God through the Holy Spirit." " I will no longer be here showing others though My example what God is like, what God does, the greatness and glory of God." "You will be the primary examples of Christ-likesness, the revelation and image of God in the eyes of others." 

Joh 16:10  "concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;"

"You will have a ministry of judgment." "Living in the victory over sin, death and Satan." "Satan is judge and under sentence of an eternity of chains and punishment." "You will show the joy, faith, hope and love of living in the forgiveness and love of God to others." "In the Love of God others will see the justice and just judgment of Satan and all who remain in the sin of unbelief."  

Joh 16:11  "concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."

If the church were saying that God is three Gods in one God, that would be a contradiction in logic. But the New Testament claim is that there are three Persons in one God. Think about this in mathematical terms. One can say that P + P + P = G (that is, three Persons constitute one God) and be completely logical. It is only if one were to claim that G + G + G = G (that three Gods are one God) that we should cry foul. However, the Church has always carefully maintained that all three Persons are fully divine because they share in one essential being. They are not three beings (three Gods) but one indivisible being (one God). This may be strange and mysterious, but there is nothing illogical about it. When people begin to think about God’s triune nature and say, “That doesn’t seem logical,” in reality it is not a contradiction in logic that they are sensing but something else. They are sensing the strangeness of the doctrine—there is something to this teaching about God that lacks analogy to anything else in human experience. It is unfamiliar to think of a being comprised of three Persons. While there may be nothing innately illogical about the idea, it is certainly unheard of in any other sphere of human experience and is thus strange to us. This is what we mean by saying that the so-called logical question is not really a logical question but an analogical question.


Ryken, Philip; LeFebvre, Michael (2011-04-05). Our Triune God: Living in the Love of the Three-in-One (pp. 40-41). Good News Publishers/Crossway Books. Kindle Edition.

Strangeness alone does not mean that something is illogical, much less that it is unreal. These two fields of modern physics, producing the doctrines of relativity and quantum mechanics, remind us that reality is full of strange phenomena. Such phenomena are difficult to come to grips with, not because they are untrue or illogical, but because they are unlike anything already familiar to us. Like astrophysics and quantum physics, theology takes us into realms of reality beyond normal, this-worldly matters. When we study the very nature of God’s being and make observations concerning the kind of being that he is, we should not be surprised at findings that are nothing like our experiences of other beings in the everyday encounters of our world. The discovery that God is triune is certainly one such finding. It is an anomaly, but it is not illogical. Nor is it to be dismissed as untrue because we cannot comprehend it. Rather, just as physicists examine the evidence of their fields to establish their doctrines about nature, the claim that God is triune has to be tested against what is revealed about him, and if the evidence sustains it, it must be accepted reverently. But unlike physics, which studies material phenomena, theologians study an immaterial God who cannot be examined through experiments with a telescope or a microscope. The only infallible evidence we possess for knowing God is his self-revelation in Scripture. It is, therefore, through the exegetical study of Scripture that the theologian must discern what is true about God, even if it stretches our mind beyond what we can fully comprehend.

Ryken, Philip; LeFebvre, Michael (2011-04-05). Our Triune God: Living in the Love of the Three-in-One (pp. 46-47). Good News Publishers/Crossway Books. Kindle Edition.


Blogs to return Monday

The Puritans on the Trinity     We do believe that God is one, most singly and singularly one, and an only one: The unity of the Godhead is…a most singular unity…. All three Persons have one and the same single and infinite Godhead, and therefore must needs mutually subsist in one another, because they are all three one and the same infinite God…united in their one nature, not confounded in their distinct subsistences; nay though their subsistence is in one another, yet their subsistences are distinct, but the nature most singularly the same. —FRANCIS CHEYNELL1 

Beeke, Joel R.; Jones, Mark (2012-10-14). A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life (Kindle Locations 3284-3291).  . Kindle Edition.


God, Three Persons The Puritans were monotheists because scriptural evidence led them in no other direction (e.g., 1 Cor. 8:6; Deut. 6:4; Deut. 32:39; Isa. 44:8). On this point, they agreed with the Socinians that there is only one God.11 But that agreement was only apparent because it was not the whole truth about the identity of God. With the ancient church, the Puritans affirmed the singularity of “God,” and the unity of the “Godhead,” while at the same time affirming that there are three persons in the one Godhead. Therefore, in Goodwin’s words, “we may safely say of each Person, as of the Father, that He is God, and likewise of the Son, that He is God, and of the Holy Ghost, that He is God.”12 In almost identical language, Owen remarks “that God is one; that this one God is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; so that the Father is God, so also is the Son, and the Holy Ghost likewise.”13 This is a point which is not up for debate since, if it is denied, “we have no ground to…discourse about the unity of the divine essence, or the distinction of the persons.”14

Beeke, Joel R.; Jones, Mark (2012-10-14). A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life (Kindle Locations 3332-3342).  . Kindle Edition.

Blogs to return Monday

Joh 15:10, 11  "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

Obedience to God is like doing what you have always wanted to do, becoming what you were meant to become, finding the greatest, most satisfying joyful place you could imagine, but you couldn't have imagined it  as good as it is in reality. Abiding living in the love of God, experiencing the love of God, loving to do His will, this is eternal, full, heavenly joy.

 1Co 2:9, 10  "But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--  these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God."

This is following God, doing His will, being Christ-like. Loving one another as Christ loves us.

Choosing to love first, He loved us first and chose us before we could choose Him. He is Absolute Love.

Joh 15:12 - 17 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

You will not always be loved in return. You will not always be tolerated or accepted. You will carry the stench of death to those who are perishing and they will not like it one little ounce or gram.


2Co 2:15, 16  "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?"

Joh 15:18 - 20 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours."

The haters hate because they do not know God. Though they are not excused for not knowing. God has spoken in the world through His Son. He is Yeshua Messiah. He is Isa Al Masih. He is Jesus Christ. He is Yahweh! He has spoken from the beginning. Creator and giver of all things. Judge and Advocate. 


Col 1:13 - 20 "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." 

All is fulfillment of His Word and His will. 

Joh 15:21 - 25 "But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause."

We carry the fragrance of Christ because we are the vessels of the perfume of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of the Father, sent from the Son. He flows out in witness through us. 

Joh 15:26, 27  "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning."

The Spirit is the the seal the stamp upon you enabling you to stand and not fall. In His power you will endure through mistreatment and persecution. 


2Co 1:20 - 22 "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.  And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." 

"Know this'; Jesus says, "They do this because they don't know Me or Father God." 

Joh 16:1- 3  "I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.  And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me."

"I want you to know this before it happens." "Don't be surprised, remember when this happens that this is what to expect." "It is not a defeat, it is fulfillment giving surety to you of your standing with Me in Love." " I was with you and now the Spirit of God will be with you."  

Joh 16:4  "But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you."

Joh 15:1, 2  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." 

Attached to the vine. Life, vitality, growth, sustenance! Detached from the vine shriveled, wilted, dying!

The Son is the giver of life- The Father provide the outgrowth of the Son's reach into our lives, into the universe. Fruitfulness, abundance, lacking nothing, providing all things. 

In His speaking we are cleansed. Listen, hear, obey!

Joh 15:3  "Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you." 

To be the abode of Christs life. Indwelt by The Spirit of God. Infused with His love. He is Absolute Love.

Joh 15:4 - 7 "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. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." 

The glory of almighty God is manifest in our lives becoming a reflection of Christ-likeness. Abide- Abide- Abide in His Love. 

Joh 15:8, 9  "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." 

Keeping commands is a grace, all gift. Justice and mercy stand side by side in the character of God. Obedience and grace undivided two parts of the eternal gift. "The obedience of Faith." in Paul's Words!


Rom_1:5  "through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations," 
Rom_16:26  "but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- "

Joh 15:10  "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." 

Obeidience is not drudgery in the economy of God. Obedience is gift and grace, fullness of joy. 

Joh 15:11  "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." 

Mat_11:29, 30  "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." 

We all are servants of someone and given to serve something!

Joh 14:22  "Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" 

"As followers of Jesus it sometimes seems difficult to understand. We want to see Jesus. He manifests Himself to us in different ways than others see Him. We need to have spiritual eyes, spiritually tuned senses. 

Jesus reveals Himself to those who have a love for Him and His presence. Loving Jesus is following after Him, obeying Him. Father God loves us as we reflect the obedience of His Son. 

Joh 14:23, 24  "Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me."

We must receive help in obeying, in loving Jesus. The Helper is given. Gift of grace, sent by the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. Three in One- the One indwelling and teaching. Causing a focused remembrance of what it is to reflect the love of Christ. He is Absolute Love.

Joh 14:25  "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

Jesus providing peace with God in the living presence of the Spirit of God. Unexplained peace, impossible peace- without this peace given fear and anxiety over come and incapacitate. Loss of Faith, loss of Hope, Loss of relational integrity. 

Joh 14:27  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Knowing that Jesus is working for us, in the presence of The Father, causes rejoicing and rejoicing causes activity, celebration, sharing and giving of self. 
Jesus wants us to be full of faith believing in the greatness of the Father. He is over all. There is no greater gift than to know God. Knowing God is eternal life. 

Joh 14:28, 29  "You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe."

The ruler of earth set up by our sin toward God and unbelief in God is coming to claim what we have given Him. His place as ruler of our world. Satan has no authority or claim on the life of Jesus, Jesus never gave Satan an inch, He was completely without sin or unbelief. 
Jesus didn't have to lay down His life, but out of obedience and love to Father God, He would give Himself up. An eternal substitute for our eternal guilt and the claim of death that sin held over our heads. 
It was in God's time and under God's terms freely given, not taken. 
It was time to go and prepare for the ultimate sacrifice. 

Joh 14:30, 31  "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here."

Joh 14:1- 4 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going." 

Jesus is preparing for His return. Preparing to receive us home. The family of God will be together and Jesus will return to take us to Himself. He is Absolute Love. 

He told His followers that they knew where it was that He was going. 

There is only one way through Jesus He is the gift and the giver all grace is received through Him and in Him. You can't meet God without meeting Jesus. If you have a relationship with Jesus you have seen and know God the Father. 

Joh 14:5 - 7 "Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

The followers of Jesus were like us, we have a hard time coming into and understanding spiritual reality. 
Jesus says, " Have I been with you for so long and you still don't know Me." If you knew Me would know and see Father God." "I Am in the Father and the Father is in Me." "The Father and I are ONE." "I Am Yahweh." 

"What I do verifies My relationship to the Father;" Jesus said. "Believe in Me!"

Joh 14:8 - 11 "Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.  Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves."

This is all it takes, but this is the condition of receiving and walking in the Love of God." In loving like God loves." In following the command of Jesus."Love one another as I have Loved You." 
You will have a great Love if you walk with Jesus and ask for Him to put His love within you. He is Absolute Love.

Joh 14:12 - 15 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

This Love is not possible on your own, without help. Without receiving The Helper. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Working in you, through you and for you. 
Orphans are left without a family, you in Jesus are brought into a family. The Spirit of God is there with you and causing you, enabling you to Love others as Christ loves you. 

Joh 14:16 - 19 "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live."

Though I leave this world you will see me again soon, when you do you will see and believe. You will know that your life is everlasting in Me. Following after Me receiving Me and obeying Me, will be demonstrating the Love of My Father. My Father and I will love you ans show ourselves to you. 

Joh 14:20, 21  "In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

Another follower named Judas, not the betrayer spoke up; "How will you do that?" "How will you show yourself to us and not the entire world?"

Joh 14:22  Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?"

"If you love Me and demonstrate your love in keeping My Word," Jesus responded; "then you will not be able to keep Me away, I will dwell with you." "You will be My home and be loved by My Father."

"You can say you love Me, but it won't matter unless you keep My Word!" "That is only your Word and it is a lie if you won't obey Me." "My Word is the Word of God, The Father." 

Joh 14:23, 23 "Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me."

Joh 13:34, 35  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

The revelation of God's standards after the incarnation are not different in the grace given that imparts ability to follow the standards, all ability to follow God is grace and gift. The change is in the greater degree of obedience to command that is placed on the believer after Jesus Christ has been revealed. 


Mat 22:36 - 40  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Instead of "Loving Neighbor as Yourself" the command is "Loving as Jesus Christ Loved Us, We are to also Love One Another." This is Absolute Love. Our love for self is not the yard stick or measuring rod, Christs love for us is the standard to be measured in our lives.
This now the measuring stick that other people will judge to know if we are followers of Jesus. 

Simon Peter, the natural leader of the close followers said' "Where are you going to go when you go away?"  
Jesus said; "You can't come with Me now, but after I Am there you will continue to follow Me." "You will be with Me there after a while."

Joh 13:36  "Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward."

"Why can't I follow now"; Peter protested! "I would give up my life to continue to be with you."

Joh 13:37  "Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 

"Would you give up your life," Jesus questioned." "I want you to understand that you will deny knowing Me before the rooster cries three times tomorrow morning."
" Don't let it bother you afterwards though, you have a strong belief in The Father and in Me." "I won't leave you empty handed or feeling homeless, like you don't belong." "I will e going away when I leave in order to build a place where you belong with Me." I will come back to get you and take you to where I Am." "You already know where I Am going for you long for that place to be with Me forever." 

Joh 13:38 - 14:4 "Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going."

Thomas also wanted to know; "How do we know where you are going, and how to get there?" 

Jesus said: "You know Me and I Am the way into the presence of The Father, I Am the Truth of God's Love, I Am the One who gives and sustains life eternal." "You will find your way into the presence of My Father through Me." "I will bring you there." 

Joh 14:5,6  "Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."