Growing in Grace

John 15 is one of my favorite chapters in this Gospel. In this chapter Jesus teaches about abiding in Him, growing fruit, loving others and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Verse 1 begins with Jesus' statement that He is the vine and His Father is the gardener. In Scripture, "the vine" referred to Israel. God "transplanted" the people of Israel from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan. Jesus Himself is the "True Vine". Warren Wiersbe writes that "our union with Christ is a living union, so we may bear fruit; a loving union, so that we may enjoy Him; and a lasting union, so that we need not be afraid." Branches are referring to mankind. Wiersbe writes that alone, "a branch is weak. . . The branch cannot produce its own life; it must draw. . . from the vine. It is our communion with Christ through the Spirit that makes possible the bearing of the fruit." The key idea in this analogy is the word "abide". This wo...

John chapter 14 carries in it the antidote for a troubled heart. Verse one begins with the verse, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” We cannot control many of  the difficulties that enter our lives, but we can control our responses to them. This chapter tells us how to do just that. The very key to overcoming stress is found in verse one - “Trust in God.” This verse was important to the disciples as they knew that the religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus; Jesus had just revealed that one of them was going to betray them; He also shared that Peter was going to betray Him. The disciples were likely shook up and were in need of some reassurance. In verses 2-4, Jesus shares reasons why we can trust Him. First, in verse 2, He talks about His Father’s house, how there are many rooms and how He is going there to prepare a place for us. “Many rooms” is another way of saying “dwelling places” and indicates a permanence (NIV text note). “My Father’s house” refers to heaven. Warren ...

"In chapter 13, John's attention turns from the themes of light and life to that of love . The Passover spent in the Upper Room with the disciples will prove more memorable and critical for their final training. With the cross overshadowing Jesus and the authorities pressing in, the mood becomes tense but the significance of the moment will remain with the disciples long after Jesus is gone." (Harvest study) Warren Wiersbe divides the first 5 verses on what our Lord knew (vv. 1-3) and on what our Lord did (vv. 4-5). In verse 1 we read that Jesus knew that "His hour was come. It was the time when He would be glorified through His death, resurrection and ascension." In verse 3 we see that "Jesus knew that the Father had given Him all things." Wiersbe adds that "what Jesus knew helped determine what Jesus did." In verses 4-5 we read about Jesus washing the disciples feet. He says, "the disciples must have been shocked when they saw thei...

Chapter 12 of John opens six days before the Passover with Jesus arriving in Bethany. A dinner is given in Jesus’ honor by Mary, Martha and Lazarus in the home of Simon, a former leper Jesus had healed. While Martha was busy serving as usual and Lazarus was reclining at the table with Jesus, Mary approaches Jesus with an expensive bottle of perfume which she poured on Jesus’ feet. She then used her hair to wipe Jesus’ feet while the fragrance of the perfume filled the house. This was a great act of worship by Mary. First, the bottle of perfume was very costly - worth a year’s wages or $10,000 by today’s value. Her act was also unusual. Anointing was usually done on the head, not the feet. The fact that Mary used her hair to wipe Jesus’ feet was also unusual as women did not usually unbind their hair in public. Her act showed great humility because she was doing a servant’s job by attending to the feet. Mary’s costly act of love toward Jesus was in stark contrast to Judas Iscariot. ...

John 11:17 begins with Jesus arriving in Bethany to find that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. When Martha learned that Jesus had arrived, she went out to meet Him; while Mary stayed at home. Warren Wiersbe in his New Testament commentary writes that "each experience of suffering and trial ought to increase our faith." In Jesus' exchange with Martha, we see her faith increasing. When Martha met Jesus, her first words were, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (v. 21) And while her words contained the big "IF", Martha also shows her faith in verse 22 by stating that she knew even then, that whatever Jesus asked, God would give Him. Jesus then declares to Martha that her brother would rise again (v. 23). Martha believes that Jesus is referring to the future resurrection; but Jesus meant in the present. In verse 25, Jesus makes one of his "I am" statements. He declares, "I am the resurrection and th...

In John chapter 10, Jesus teaches about the difference between the false shepherds (the Pharisees) and the True Shepherd (Himself). Shepherds were common during this time in history, so the people could easily understand what Jesus was speaking about. Jesus begins by talking about the characteristics of a true shepherd. First, the true shepherd enters through the gate (or door). The watchman at the gate recognizes the shepherd and allows him to come in. Second, the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. Because the shepherd spends so much time with the sheep, the sheep learn the voice of the shepherd and respond only to it and no others. Third, the sheep will follow the shepherd because they trusted him. (It is interesting to note that shepherds in this area “led” their sheep; they did not “drive” them.) “To a sheep, a stranger is anyone they do not know, someone who could possibly do them harm.” (Harvest study) Jesus also shared what the signs of a false shepherd were and the poten...

John 11 opens with Jesus being informed that his dear friend, Lazarus, is sick. Jesus sends word to Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, that “this sickness will not end in death.” (v.4) While the messenger is traveling back and forth, however, Lazarus dies. After two days, Jesus tells His disciples they will now travel to Bethany to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. The disciples are concerned and remind Jesus that the Jews there wanted to kill Him. Jesus tells them that “Lazarus has fallen asleep” (v. 11) and He is going there to wake him up. The disciples mistakenly think that Lazarus is only sleeping and will get better. Then Jesus informs them that Lazarus has, in fact, died; but that his death will be an opportunity for the disciples to believe in who Jesus was. Thomas, who is known for his doubting, showed great courage and faith by saying that they should “also go” and die with Jesus. So our first thought might be why didn’t Jesus keep Lazarus from becoming sick in th...

John chapter 8 begins with Jesus retreating to the Mount of Olives. At dawn He resumes His place in the temple to teach. He was interrupted by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees who brought a woman they claimed to have been caught in adultery. Their motive in doing so was to trap Jesus so they could accuse Him. In those days, the Romans did not allow the Jews to carry out death sentences. If Jesus had agreed to stone the woman, He would have been in conflict with the Romans. Yet if He said not to stone her, then He would have been guilty of not supporting the Law of Moses. Jesus cannot be “trapped” by any man. He began to write in the dirt with His finger. Then He disarmed the religious leaders with His statement, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” With these words, Jesus upheld the Law. However, because of the qualifications He gave, no one was qualified to do so. As He began to write in the dirt again, the men gradually began to l...

Following the feeding of the five thousand in chapter six, chapter seven opens with Jesus continuing to teach and do miracles throughout Galilee. He stayed away from Judea, however, because the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Him. As the Feast of Tabernacles was drawing near, Jesus’ brothers, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas, told Jesus that He should go to Judea to do His miracles publicly. Their advice was not to bring others to a salvation, but to see Jesus become a prominent public person. Sadly, Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in Him. Jesus told His brothers that it was not the right time for Him to go. He was on a divine time table set for Him by the Father. It was right for the brothers to go to the Feast because they were following tradition - it was expected of them and they were not a threat to anyone. Jesus, however, was hated because His teaching challenged people to live righteously. He called sin what it was - sin; and the world hated Him for it. Therefore, He could not g...