Day 224/260: Read John 14

The Lord has told His disciples that He was about to be betrayed by one of them. He has told them on multiple occasions that He would be put to death. He tells them near the end of the last chapter, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward” (John 13:36). If you were one of His closest friends, would you have been concerned?

Jesus likely recognized that they struggled as they processed this information, and He says, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” To paraphrase: “Don’t worry. Trust the Father and trust Me.”

The apostles didn’t have the full picture yet, so Jesus wanted to set their minds at ease. He said He has everything under control, and He was making things ready for them too. “In My Father’s house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I got to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Heaven is prepared for the faithful; hell is prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Sadly, many will choose to spend eternity in a place that was never intended for them (Matthew 7:13-14).

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

John 12:48. He who _____________ Me, and does not receive My words, has that which _____________ him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Pray

Pray for comfort as you seek to do God’s will, following Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.

Day 223/260: Read John 13

Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

Jesus provides His followers with the ultimate example of humility. Though He was called “Teacher and Lord” by His disciples, yet He saw fit to be a servant to them. He taught them that no one is too important to serve another.

Everyone has a role to play in the Master’s kingdom, yet no role is so important that one can be excused from working in any capacity, even the lowliest capacity. We all work together, serving one another, to get the Lord’s work done.

Later in the chapter, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

How did Jesus love His creation? He left heaven for a time, “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). Even more than that, though, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

It was the only way to save mankind. And He loved us that much. Do we love each other enough to give up some of our comforts and conveniences, to serve as examples of faithfulness, to seek and to save the lost?

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

John 12:48. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My ____________, has that which judges him—the ____________ that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Pray

Pray that you may exhibit the humility and love of Jesus in your life today.

Day 222/260: Read John 12

You have probably heard the expression, “Hindsight is 20/20.” It is easier to look back on past events and see more clearly things that were not obvious at the time. Twice in the twelfth chapter of John, the apostle makes reference to things that were not initially evident, but made more sense later.

The first is the motivation of Judas Iscariot. John notes Judas’ objection to the anointing of Jesus’ feet. He claimed that the money should have been used for the poor, but in hindsight, John saw that his words did not match his motivation. John said that Judas did not care for the poor, but rather was “a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.”

Later in the chapter, Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” At the time, the disciples did not understand the full import of His words, but when John wrote his account of the gospel, he was able to look back on these words and see their meaning more clearly. “This He said, signifying by what death He would die.”

When things happen in our lives, we may not see how much it impacts us and those around us until years later. We may look back and see God working in ways that we simply couldn’t have grasped in the moment. Remember, James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Good things come from bad situations, and we must trust in God to allow that to happen.

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

John 12:48. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Pray

Pray for patience through the struggles of life.

Day 221/260: Read John 11

One of the first memory verses children are tasked with is often John 11:35. Two words: “Jesus wept.” But how much profound teaching is found in those two words?

Why did our Lord weep as He looked at the tomb in which Lazarus’ body lay? Was He simply overcome with the grief that was felt by His friends, Mary and Martha? Or was there something more? Something deeper? Something spiritual?

Where was Lazarus? His body was inside the tomb, but his spirit had departed. James reminds us that “the body without the spirit is dead” (James 2:26); Jesus affirmed that Lazarus was dead. Thus, his spirit was not in the tomb with his body.

If Lazarus was a faithful follower of God, he was in Paradise. Jesus was about to recall him from a place of spiritual safety back into a wicked world filled with temptation and sin. Do those two words—“Jesus wept”—carry more weight when thinking of those implications?

James Burton Coffman commented on this incident, “The prospect of Lazarus again facing life with its inevitable dangers to the soul, and particularly with the additional burden that would be imposed by his resurrection (fort he Pharisees would try to kill him) – all such considerations are of such profound weight that they may be rightly viewed as plunging the Son of God into tears as he thought of them.”

There is so much more meaning to those two little words than when we first memorized them. There is so much more meaning to much of the Bible when we truly meditate on what it says.

Memory (Read aloud 5-10 times)

John 12:48. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Pray

Pray for a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, using sound resources to better understand the mind of God.

Day 220/260: Read John 10

How frustrating is it to talk to someone who denies plain truth? Despite all the evidence in the world, they still refuse to accept what you see and understand.

John records an incident that happened at the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem in which the Jews questioned Jesus, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

John the Baptist proclaimed the truth of Jesus’ identity. “John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, “He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.”’…The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’…‘And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.’” (John 1:15,29,34).

Jesus’ disciples knew who He was. Andrew told his brother Peter, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41). Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49). Peter declared, “Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69).

Jesus answered the Jews, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me” (John 10:25).

The answer was in front of their very eyes, but they could not acknowledge the truth.

Memory (Recite to a friend without looking)

John 8:31. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”

Pray

Pray for the wisdom to accept Jesus at His word.

Day 219/260: Read John 9

Why do bad things happen to good people? From physical ailments to natural disasters, we see good people suffer all around us. Why?
John presents to us in the ninth chapter of his gospel account a man who was born blind. The Lord’s disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” It is a common assumption that bad things happen because of sin that one has committed.

Job’s friends argued this when trouble befell him. Eliphaz said, “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same” (Job 4:7-8). Bildad said, “Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, nor will He uphold the evildoers” (Job 8:20). Zophar’s comments to Job were similar, blaming Job for all of his suffering.

While it is true that we can suffer from our personal sin, we must not jump to conclusion that all suffering is caused by such. There are times that we are affected by the sin of others. In fact, there are times that we suffer because we refuse to sin (2 Timothy 3:12; Matthew 5:10-12).

In addition to this, there are times that we may suffer so that God can be glorified. Jesus answered His disciples, “Neither this man nor his parent sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in Him.”

Whatever happens in this life, good or bad, look to God and glorify Him. Seek opportunities to praise Him despite less than ideal circumstances.

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

John 8:31. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My ________________, you are My ________________ indeed.”

Pray

Pray for opportunities to shine the light of Christ in your life, even when bad things are happening.

Day 218/260: Read John 8

“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” This statement of Jesus is often used by those who are engaged in open sin, rebelling against the authority of God and daring anyone to call them out. Look a little deeper at the incident, though, and you’ll see there is much more to it.

The woman was “caught in adultery.” The scribes and Pharisees that brought her to Jesus said that she was caught “in the very act.” I can’t help but wonder why the man was not also brought to the Lord.

The scribes and Pharisees appealed to the Law of Moses for punishment, citing the command to stone those who were guilty of the sin of adultery. Jesus refused to answer them, so they asked again, and finally He said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”

Perhaps they were bearing false witness, or had entrapped this woman. Or perhaps they came to realize that God desires repentance rather than retribution. Whatever the case, they understood that they were not without guilt themselves.

Then notice Jesus’ words to the woman. He did not pass final judgment on her, but neither did He condone her actions. He told her, “Go and sin no more.” The intention of pointing out sin should not be to embarrass or belittle another, but to bring them back to the truth so that they may “sin no more.”

Memory (Fill in the blanks)

John 8:31. Then Jesus said to those Jews who ________________ Him, “If you ________________ in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”

Pray

Pray for those who have given in to temptation, and encourage them to make their life right with the Lord.

Day 217/260: Read John 7

It has been said that Jesus can fit only one of three descriptions. Either he was a liar, a lunatic, or He is the Lord. This is not a new thought; there were disputes during the first century about His character.

“And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, ‘He is good’; others said, ‘No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.’” The Pharisees and chief priests wanted Him arrested, and they mocked their officers when they came back empty-handed. “Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” They reasoned that Jesus was lying to the people, deceiving them.

Others claimed Jesus was paranoid and possessed. They said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?” In another passage, we read that even those close to the Lord doubted His sanity. “But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind’” (Mark 3:21).

Was Jesus a liar? Was He a lunatic? Some recognized the truth of His identity. “And many of the people believe in Him, and said, ‘When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?’”

How do you view Jesus? Is He your Lord?

Memory (Copy into a notebook 5-10 times)

John 8:31. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”

Pray

Pray for a better understanding of Jesus’ identity as the Christ, the Savior of mankind.