John 18

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Devotional

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

– John 18:37-38

It’s a shame that Pilate did not wait to hear Jesus’ answer to his simple question, “What is truth?” We can’t know for certain what Jesus would have said, but we know that the night before, He told His disciples, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Perhaps that would have been part of His answer.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim

John 17

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Devotional

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

– John 17:17

The Scriptures are living and powerful. They are shaper than any two-edged sword. They cut deep and reveal the true thoughts, desires and intents of our hearts. They are useful for revealing what is true (i.e. doctrine), for rebuking what is out of order, for correcting what is misaligned and for guiding us through the true and right way. His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. By it we are warned, enlighten, made wise and satisfied. Through them we are transformed and sanctified.

When meditating upon these truths, I cannot think of any better use of my time than to hide God’s word in my heart and mind.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim

John 16

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Devotional

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

– John 16:33

Yesterday we read “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Now Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.” Peace and Joy, are those not two distinct things that every human being would love to secure? The aim of our Lord is to bring us into the experience of both, in full! This is what the Gospel brings. That’s why it is “good news.”

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim

John 15

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Devotional

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

– John 15:11

God desires that you and I have total, consummate joy. The words He spoke as He neared the hour of His betrayal, trial and death were given to produce escalating and enduring joy. Go back and listen to them again (especially chapter 14).

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim

John 14

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Devotional

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

– John 14:27

There are a lot of troubled people in the world. Why wouldn’t there be? It often feels—especially in our day and age with a constant flow of news and information from around the world—that the world we live in is in continual chaos. Whether it be terrorist attacks, earthquakes, wars, viruses and potential pandemics; there are a lot of things to be troubled over. Yet Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled.” Twice in John 14 He says, “Let not your heart be troubled.” How can we live like this? Simple. Rest your heart completely upon the peaceful assurance given to us of a life beyond this life through Jesus Christ.

“I go 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.”

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim

John 13

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Devotional

“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

– John 13:15

After completing the selfless act of washing His disciples feet Jesus said, “I’ve given you an example… you should do as I have done for you.” Does this mean we should wash feet? Perhaps, though I think it means far more than that. The actions of Jesus were wholly and completely selfless. He came and willingly laid down his life, therefore we ought also to lay down ours. Jesus as we saw previously that the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep, in John 10, here again we are reminded of the importance of selfless service as disciples and followers of Jesus.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim

John 12

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Devotional

Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

– John 12:9-11

The incredulity of the chief priests is stunning. In Luke 16 Jesus tells a story (which I believe is a true account and not merely a parable) of “The rich man and Lazarus.” In the story Jesus speaks of a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen who died at the same time as a beggar named Lazarus. In the story Jesus gives insight into the afterlife wherein the rich man was in torment and Lazarus in paradise. As the story unfolds the rich man, tormented in a hellish state, calls out to Abraham, who was comforting Lazarus in the paradise of eternity. He plead with Abraham to send Lazarus back to speak to those of his fathers house (he had 5 brothers) so that they repent and not end up on torment after death too. To which Abraham responded, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” But the rich man continued, “No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”

I’m convinced that Jesus was giving us advanced insight into this actual Lazarus, who died here in John 12. And upon his return from death, what was the response of the wealthy, ruling, religious class? “The chief priests plotted to put lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.”

I guess the assumption of the rich man of Luke 16 was incorrect. Interestingly, the clothing the rich man wore (purple and fine linen) indicates (to me at least) that he may have been of the family of the chief/high priests, as linen was the clothing of the priests and purple the color of the upper class and royalty.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim

John 11

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Devotional

Jesus wept.

– John 11:35

Yes, this is the shortest verse in the Bible. If you’ve never undertaken the task of memorizing Scripture, because your memory isn’t so good… you can at least remember John 11:35.

Though this it is an easy task to memorize John 11:35, it isn’t exactly easy to understand why He wept. Did Jesus weep because of the death of His close friend Lazarus? Maybe… though I don’t believe so. Did He weep because because of the weeping of the grieving sisters of Lazarus (Martha and Mary)? Possibly; verse 33 seems to indicate that could be the case. There are several additional theories. Perhaps Jesus wept because of the lack of faith of those at Lazarus’ tomb. Maybe He wept just seeing the general condition of the people’s hearts. It could be that He wept because horrendous nature of death, in general. It could even be possible that He wept with an underlying joy, knowing what He was about to do.

This is one of the little things I look forward to learning when I too rise to new life in His kingdom one day.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim

John 10

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Devotional

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

– John 10:11

One of the keys of Christlikeness is the willingness of an individual to lay down their lives for others. I’m not necessarily speaking about actual sacrificial death, but rather a laying down of our will, our opinions, our rights, our preferences, our selfishness for the sake of others. This is especially important for those upon whom the Lord would grant the privilege of being an “under-shepherd” within His church (i.e. pastors). Pastors are (chiefly) to be servants, laying down their lives for the sake of “the sheep.”

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim

John 9

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Devotional

He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

– John 9:25

Has Jesus transformed your life in any measurable way? That is the answer to the tough questions of faith that even seasoned saints have a difficult time answering. When someone throws a zinger at you; “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Why is there suffering in the world?” “What about people of other faiths, do they go to heaven?” “Don’t we all just worship the same God?” There are great answers to everyone of these and I’ve discussed (argued rather) the answers with people many times before. But the end of their questions normally comes when I simply say, “Jesus has changed my life, here’s how… and He can change your life too.”

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

Books on the Gospels

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edersheim