Lesson 1873

(Lesson 1873)(12-08-16) John 14:1-3

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Today's lesson contains one of the most cherished of all the promises Jesus made to His disciples. He has indeed gone to prepare an eternal place for those of us who have placed our faith in Him." Give the glory to God for His mercy and grace.~

Lesson 1872

(Lesson 1872)(12-07-16) John 13:33-38

"Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice."

Today's quote relates to us how Christian people are to be distinguished from all others. Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Therefore, anyone who considers themselves to be "Christian", should self examine to make sure that they fit that criteria.

Today, there are far too many self-righteous, so-called Christians, who give the outward appearance of being devoted Christian people while privately ignoring, and some even exploiting, the strife of their less fortunate neighbors. We should remember that Jesus also said, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:18-23)

Lesson 1871

(Lesson 1871)(12-06-16) John 13:18-32

"I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him."

In today's lesson, Jesus exposed Judas as the one who would betray Him to the Jews.

It is interesting to note that Judas appears to have had no malice in his heart until Jesus identified him and appointed him to his divine and deceitful task of betrayal. God clearly allowed Satan to take control of Judas prompting him to betray Jesus.

This demonstrates that God, at times, allows Satan to control the actions of some individuals so as to ultimately accomplish His divine will.~

Lesson 1870

(Lesson 1870)(12-05-16) John 13:12-17

"So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

Today's lesson demonstrates that after Jesus had washed the feet of His apostles, he left instructions that they too should continue to wash each other's feet.

Although today, in a time of very little foot travel when we are blessed with comfortable shoes that are specifically made to safeguard our feet, the necessity to soothe the feet of a house guest as a courtesy, has long been removed. I believe the actual lesson in this quote to usward, is that as Christians, we should always humble ourselves toward one another, making the comfort and peace of our brothers and sisters our second priority to the worship of Jesus Christ.~

Lesson 1869

(Lesson 1869)(12-03-16) John 13:1-11

"Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean."

Today's quote tells us that as He and His apostles sat to eat the Passover meal, Jesus realized that His time had come and that Judas would betray Him to the Jewish leaders who would eventually have Him killed.

In an act of pure love and devotion and according to Jewish tradition, Jesus washed the feet of His apostles.~

NOTE: In Hebrew lore, to wash another's feet was seen as a demonstration of very high respect and devotion. Foot washing was practiced among the Jews under several different circumstances, such as before entering someone's home as a guest, before entering the temple or a tabernacle before eating a meal, or before bedtime etc.

Lesson 1868

(Lesson 1868)(12-02-16) John 12:42-50

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."

The first part of today's quote demonstrates the hypocrisy of the Jews. Some believed in Jesus but refused to confess Him for fear of their unbelieving brethren.

Today's lesson also relates that Jesus once again proclaimed Himself to be the Son of God and the ONLY means through which mortal sins can be justified.

Herein, we are once again assured that Jesus the Son and God the Father are one, and that believe in Jesus is also believe in the Father. Jesus is God in human form.~

Lesson 1867

(Lesson 1867)(12-01-16) John 12:27-41

"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him."

In today's quote, God spoke from heaven again confirming that He had glorified Himself through the righteousness of Jesus. God would also glorify Himself again after Jesus, His only begotten Son, had accomplished the ultimate sacrifice for the remission of the sins of all those who would come to believe in Him.

Though many of the Jews came to believe on Jesus, the vast majority did not. Their reaction to Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah wherein he said, "He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them."~