John 14: 8-14, John 17:20-26 In John 14, Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father then they will be satisfied. Jesus answered somewhat flustered basically saying haven’t you witnessed the Father in me? Jesus explains to him that the Father dwells in him thus all the words and works he does are from the Father. “If you don’t believe me,” he goes on, “believe in the works alone.” He then tells him that those who believe in him, of God in him, will not only do the works that he does but even greater works. He will do whatever you ask in his name. Why? So that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Here Jesus is making it clear to them and others who have witnessed his words and his works have seen that the Father is in him. Further in the passage Jesus will promise to send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit to them to bring them to all truth. As we go on to John 17 we see Jesus praying not only for the earthly disciples, those who have witnessed him but for those who believe through thei...

Luke 24:44-53, Ephesians 1:15-23 Luke 24 tells of Christ’s Ascension into heaven but before he departs Jesus opens the minds of the disciples to understand the scriptures. He says that all the words written about him in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled and it was done so by the words Christ spoke to them while they were not only witnesses of his actions but also to his words. Christ opened their minds to understand how salvation had to be accomplished and how they need to go out and proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins. The CEV translates repentance calling it “a change of heart and life.” He then tells them to stay in the city until the Father’s promise of being clothed with power from on high happens. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus leads them to Bethany and while blessing them he was carried off into heaven. They return to Jerusalem with great joy continually in the temple returning Christ’s blessing to them to God. The author of Ephesi...

John 14:23-29, Acts 16: 9-5 Jesus talks about how those who love him keep his word. Jesus clarifies about this word that we hear saying it is not his but from the Father. The other part of the Trinity will be involved when Jesus leaves -it is the Holy Spirit. Called the Advocate, the Holy Spirit will teach them everything and remind them of all the words of the Father that Jesus has said to them. This Advocate will also remind them of the peace Jesus left them with, not peace as the world gives, so they are not to be afraid. Eagerly listening to the Spirit is the apostle Paul who in our Acts passage has a vision of a Macedonian man pleading him to come and help the people there. So doing and keeping God’s word, Paul sets sail for Macedonia. He finds there a group of women at a place of prayer. He speaks the gospel to them and one woman, Lydia opened her heart to listen eagerly to what Paul said. In response she and her household were baptized and she lets Paul and his traveling com...

John 13:31-35, Revelation 21:1-6 Some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples is to tell them they can’t go where he is to go but he leaves them a commandment to love one another. He qualifies this by adding “how I have loved you.” Why? “By this everyone will know you are my disciples.” This is what we are to do until we go to heaven and are glorified. In Revelation 21 Christ sits on his throne telling how the home of God – the new heaven and earth is with mortals. God will dwell with them and wipe every tear from their eyes since mourning, crying, and pain will be no more since death will be no more. Jesus last words are, “I am making all things new. It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end.” To those who thirst for him he will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life – eternal life. Though we live on the old earth now with its pain, suffering, and tears Christ promises us a new heaven and earth where pain and tears will be gone. Until then the Holy...

John 10:22-30, Revelation 7:9-17, with Psalm 23 The question in both of these passages is “Who are God’s sheep?” In John 10 Jesus tells the Jews that they don’t believe since they do not belong to his sheep. He then lists the qualities of the sheep who do belong. They hear his voice and follow him. In return he will give them eternal life – they will never perish. He assures his sheep that no one can snatch them from out of the Father’s hand. He then declares that he and the Father are one. Revelation 7 tells about a great multitude standing before Christ, the Lamb clothed in white who state that salvation (being one’s sheep) belongs to God and to the Lamb (Christ). After the angels praise God, the elder asks who are these people dressed in white and where do they come from? The answer is those who have been saved by washing their robes white in the blood of the lamb. This Lamb is not only the one who brought salvation but is their shepherd who will guide his sheep, those who belon...

John 21:4-17, Acts 9:1-20 In our John passage we have the disciples returning to their trade of fishing yet they are catching nothing. Jesus appears the third time but they don’t recognize him until after he tells them to cast to the right side and there are so many fish it is too heavy to haul in. Then John realizes that it is Jesus. The Lord then serves them breakfast. Afterwards he asks Peter three times if he loves him. This counters with the three times that Peter denied him. After Peter answers yes each time Jesus tells him to tend to his sheep. Christ here is commissioning Peter to shepherd – take care of Christ’s sheep – these being the Jewish people – proclaiming to them the gospel that Jesus is the Messiah. Peter becomes the instrument that God has chosen to reach out and take care of the souls of the Jewish people. Our Acts account tells of another chosen instrument of God – the apostle Paul. It tells of his dramatic conversion to Christ. When Ananias is told in a vision...