- araratchurch
- Mar 24
- 4 min read
Last time, we heard Jesus telling the disciples some things they needed to know before He went away. One of the main things that He wanted them to know is that although He is going away, He would come back and get them to be with Him! He also told them that it was important that they do what He has said. As well, if they do what He has said, the Father will send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to be with them. Jesus also told them that the evil ruler of the world is coming, but that it was going to be all right, because the evil ruler doesn’t have anything in Him.
Before looking into today’s activities, let’s look at to whom we were introduced last time:
>The Spirit of truth - earlier in our journeys, our guide has mentioned the Holy Spirit, but last time, we heard Jesus’ first mention of the Holy Spirit, as He referenced the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth
Now, let’s catch up with our guide to see what we’re going to be hearing today:
Today, we will again go and hear Jesus telling the disciples what they need to know before He goes away. As we enter the scene, it seems that Jesus and the disciples are in a different place. Jesus is telling them that He is the true vine, and that they are the branches. He explains that the branches that bear no fruit, are cut off and destroyed. However, even the branches that do bear fruit, are pruned so that they will bear more fruit. Jesus again tells the disciples that they must love one another. He then tells them that there is no greater love that can be shown, than to give your life for your friends. Jesus reiterates what we have heard several times before, that they show their love for Him by doing what He has said for them to do. As well, Jesus says that if they will live in Him, and His words live in them, they can ask what they will, and it will be done for them. Jesus tells them that He will no longer call them servants. He will now call them friends, because He is going to tell them what He is doing. Jesus warns the disciples that they will be hated just as He has been hated. He says that all of the people who have rejected Him, are condemned. Jesus goes on to tell them more about the Spirit of truth, saying that the Spirit of truth will testify to them concerning Him, and that they, in turn, will testify to others about Him because they’ve been with Him from the beginning.
Our highlighted verses for today:
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”
John 15:2, 5, 7, 9-10, 13-15, 18-19, 24, 26-27 NKJV
Question for reflection:
Why does Jesus reference the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth?
Next time, our guide is taking us to hear more about the Spirit of truth, and some other things the disciples must now know.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 22
- 3 min read
Last time we went to a supper Jesus was having with His disciples. There, Jesus did something very unusual: He washed the feet of His disciples. As well, Jesus revealed that it was Judas who would betray Him. After Judas left from the supper, Jesus went on to tell His disciples about the importance of them loving one another. Jesus also told Peter that he would deny Jesus.
Since we did not meet any new people last time, let’s go right away to meet up with our
guide. It seems that Jesus is going to prepare the disciples for His departure by telling them some things they need to know.
As we enter the scene, Jesus is trying to encourage the disciples by telling them that they should not be upset. Although He is going away, while He is away, He’ll be preparing a place for them. Then, He will come back and get them. He tells them that they know the way to where He is going. But Thomas seems confused and says he does not know the way. Jesus tells him that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus tells Philip that if he has seen Him, he has seen the Father. Jesus tells them that whoever believes in Him will do greater works than He has done, because He goes to the Father. Jesus says that for those who will obey Him, He will ask the Father to send another helper who will dwell with them forever. Jesus says this helper is the Spirit of truth. Jesus also tells them that if they keep His Commandments, He and the Father will come and dwell with them. Jesus goes on saying that this helper who will come, will help them to understand what He has told them. Jesus then promises that He is leaving His peace with them. He then says that He won’t be able to talk with them much longer because the ruler of the world is coming, but that this evil ruler has nothing in Him. Therefore, He will do, what he’s going to do, because He loves the Father and wants to obey Him. But the evil ruler of the world has no power over Him.
Our highlighted verses for today:
““Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 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. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.”
John 14:1-4, 6, 9, 12, 15-17, 23, 26-27, 30 NKJV
Question for reflection:
What does Jesus mean when He says that the evil ruler has nothing in Him?
I hear that next time, Jesus is going to talk about the true vine.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 20
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 24
Last time we heard Jesus explaining that a grain of wheat only multiplies when it dies, or gives up its form; then, out of that one grain will come a great increase. We heard Him talking about the fact that He knows that His mission is about to be completed. Also, our guide told us that so many people rejecting Jesus, actually fulfilled prophecy. Sadly, he told us that there were many of the religious leaders who actually did believe in Jesus, but they were afraid to say anything, lest they be put out of the synagogue.
Before heading out on today’s adventure, let’s look at the new people to whom we were introduced last time:
>Greeks - they came to Jerusalem, seeking Jesus
Our guide is waiting. Let’s join him and see where we’ll go today. It sounds like it might be suppertime.
Our guide begins today’s adventure by telling us that Jesus knows that the time has come for Him to leave this world and go to be with His Father. He also says that what Jesus is about to do, is because He knows that He came from the Father, and is going back to the Father. Our guide also shares with us that Satan has already put it in Judas‘s mind to betray Jesus. As we go into the scene, we see that the disciples have finished up their supper. Jesus now takes a towel and puts around His waist. He then takes a basin of water, and begins to wash the disciples’ feet. When He comes to Peter, Peter objects and expresses that Jesus should not wash his feet. Jesus explains to him that if He does not wash him, he cannot belong to Him. Peter quickly changes his tune, saying that Jesus should wash his hands and head, as well. Jesus then explains that if you’re already clean, all you need washed, is your feet. Jesus says that they’re all clean, except for one. (Our guide tells us that Jesus is speaking of Judas.) After dressing Himself, Jesus sits down with them again. He tells them that if He, being their teacher and master, has washed their feet, they ought to wash each other’s feet. Having said these things, Jesus then plainly indicates that one of the disciples will betray Him. This seems to trouble all of the disciples. At this, Peter motions for John to ask Jesus who it is. When asked, Jesus says it’s the one who will take the bread that He’s about to dip. He then dips the bread and gives it to Judas. Our guide tells us that at this point, Satan fully entered into Judas! Jesus, then told him to go and quickly do what he was going to do. Our guide tells us that at this point the disciples thought Jesus was instructing Judas to go buy provisions for the feast, or to give something to the poor, because he was the keeper of the money box. After Judas goes out, Jesus tells the remaining disciples that He’s giving them a new commandment. Jesus says that they should love one another. In fact, Jesus says that this is the way that people will know that they are His disciples: if they love one another. Jesus then says that He is going away and they can’t go with Him. Peter responds that he will follow Him anywhere. Jesus then tells Peter that before the rooster crows, he will have denied him three times.
Our highlighted verses for today:
“And supper being ended, the devil having already put it 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 had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” 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. “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.”
John 13:2-6, 8, 10-11, 13-14, 18, 21, 23-24, 26-27, 34-35, 37-38 NKJV
Question for reflection:
Why didn’t Peter want Jesus to wash his feet?
Next time Jesus is going to tell the disciples some things they need to know before He goes away.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!