"The Father HIMSELF
loves YOU!"
Intro: John wrote his gospel account of Jesus' life around 50-60 years
after Christ died and rose from the dead. He had had many years to experience
the truth of what he was writing, and the depth of fellowship with the Father
which he describes in these chapters is from his own intimate knowledge. In
John's first letter, he writes, "That which we have seen and heard
we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our
fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things
we write to you that your joy may be full!" 1 John 1:3,4.
Joy
in close relationship with the Father and with Jesus because of the Holy
Spirit, is John's theme. Don't be concerned that you may not fully grasp what
it all means. Relationship takes time to grow and mature, and that is what we
will read about now.
Day 1: John 15:1-8
"I AM the true Vine!" If you are a gardener, you will understand
Jesus' use of the vine, as he describes our union with Him, and how the Father
cares for us as the Master Gardener. To
abide in the vine is about receiving a steady flow of life and every blessing
of God from Jesus Himself. Without the life-giving sap a tree cannot flourish
or bear fruit. Notice that Jesus is the true vine. There are other
vines, the main one being the vine of this world and its culture. A branch
cannot change around from tree to tree! Consider Who you belong to today. AGAIN
there is the promise in verse 7 that we can ask whatever we desire and it will
be done for us. This asking is from that position of knowing we are secure in
Jesus, rooted, grounded in His love, and will result in glory to Father and
more fruit in our lives!
Day 2: John 15:9-17
Why does Jesus choose a vine rather than say an olive tree? A
vine produces grapes from which wine is made – wine is the symbol of JOY in the
Bible. Jesus is telling us these things so that HIS joy may be in us, and that
OUR "joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and
overflowing". (verse11 Amplified version) This joy flows because we know
our Father's love and will flow out into loving others. And being friends of
Jesus; friends, to whom He tells His Father's secrets;
asking whatever we want in His name and receiving
from our Father! Chosen and appointed by Jesus! Bearing lasting fruit of love
and joy. Fruit is not what we do, but is what grows in our lives as we
live every day with Jesus. Read Galatians 5:22,23. What does it mean to you to
be Jesus' friend?
Day 3: John 15:18-27
Jesus reminds us that we will experience rejection and hate
in this world. BUT He is sending the promised Holy Spirit. He will
witness to Jesus through us and for us. When Jesus finally leaves the disciples
after His resurrection, He tells them they will be His witnesses – but only
AFTER the Holy Spirit comes – see Acts1:8. Whenever it is hard to
tell others about Jesus and your love for Him, remember the Holy Spirit is with
you – and because He is with you, your life and love and joy will show Him to
others!
"These things have I spoken" – again Jesus is
comforting His disciples at this traumatic juncture in their lives. He wants
them to know that even though hardship and persecution will come, His Father is
faithful to His Word. In many parts of the world today, Christian believers
risk being killed for their faith. And in our country, more and more we will
have to stand for God's truth in a way that is unacceptable to the world
culture, and contrary to media and government thinking! God cares that we
should not stumble or fall. He has provided the Holy Spirit, our STRONG Helper.
Rom 5:5 "Now hope does not
disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Day 5: John 16:8-15
The Holy Spirit's role – to convict! Notice there are 3
separate categories here. First He convicts the unbeliever of sin. Remember
when you knew His working in your hearts to bring you to receive forgiveness of
sins through what Jesus did on the Cross. Pray for your friends and family
today – that the Holy Spirit will convict of sin, and bring them to know Jesus.
Second He convicts of righteousness! This means He keeps on demonstrating the
forgiving, loving, healing nature of the Father to us and through us, as Jesus
Himself is no longer on earth to do it, always affirming to us our right
standing with the Father. The Holy Spirit wants us to walk in that certainty
and assurance of our complete wholeness in Christ. It is finished! Jesus has
done it all on the Cross! Thirdly He convicts the devil and all his minions and
will commit them one day to judgement. What
a comfort as we witness the terrible evil in the world today. Consider the
mission of the Holy Spirit in verses 13 -15. The Holy Spirit is God, and
glorifies Jesus and speaks the Father's words to us.
Day 6: John 16:16-24
Sorrow turned to Joy. Jesus is trying to prepare his friends
for His approaching death. "I will see you again", He says. How hard
it is when we are disappointed to
believe for the impossible – Jesus is putting His words in their hearts,
and believing they will come through into joy. How many times has He said it –
"ASK ….."? When we ask in His name, then our joy will be full. The
very best thing we can ask, considering all this chapter has been teaching us,
is for the Holy Spirit to come into our lives more and more, because He will be
our Teacher, showing us more of Jesus, teaching us how to live and how to pray. Ask, and you WILL receive! Read also Luke
11:13.
Day 7: John 16:25-33
"For the Father HIMSELF loves you!" What a statement. Why
does the Father love us? Is it because we are coming to church, or reading our
Bibles, or helping at Alpha – NO! All these things happen because we are
following Jesus – BUT Father loves us because we love Jesus and believe
that He is One with the Father. It is all about LOVE and FAITH! Father's love
poured into our hearts is His response to our love and faith in Jesus His Son!
It is a circle – we love Him because He first loved us, and He loves us because
we love Him! The chapter ends the same as it began with Jesus encouraging our
hearts, and promising His peace. Jesus has overcome the world – its
temptations, trials and pain. What does this mean for you in your situation today?
Summary: It is impossible to absorb everything
these two chapters are telling us. As we grow in the knowledge of God and His
Son Jesus – as we stay close to Him and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us more
and more – we will bear His fruit in our lives. It is a process. Do not get
disheartened. It is not about who is a better Christian than someone else. It
is about being rooted in God's love, growing up in Him, making mistakes, but
having the Holy Spirit as our constant Helper and Encourager, Teacher and
Friend.
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