Day of Resurrection

April 8 Day of Resurrection John 20:1-18

“(T)he voice of the Shepherd penetrates Mary’s mind, opens her eyes, arouses all her senses and so affects her that she forthwith entrusts herself to Christ. Thus in Mary we have an image of our calling. For the only entrance to the true knowledge of Christ is when He first knows us and then intimately invites us to Himself, not by the ordinary voice which sounds in everyone’s ears indiscriminately, but by the voice with which He especially calls the sheep whom the Father has given Him.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:198

Suddenly, there is a lightness to the text. The slow, steady inevitability of Jesus’ last week gives way to breathless anticipation. A new day had dawned. Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene came to Jesus’ borrowed tomb. She had been among the women who had gathered at the Cross. She had seen Him breathe His last. Now, she was coming to mourn. But when she reached the tomb, Mary discovered that he stone had been rolled away from its entrance. Resurrection was not on her mind as she ran to Peter and John, to tell them what she had seen. “They have taken away my Lord,” she cried, “and we don’t know where they have put Him.”

Peter and John ran to the gravesite. John outstripped his fellow-disciple but hesitated at the entrance. Peter barged past him into the tomb, but he found no body there, only the strips of linen that had bound Him, and the burial cloth from His head. These had been folded and placed to one side – surely not something that a grave-robber would have troubled to do. John, following, felt the first, faint flutterings of hope within Him. Could it be? Overcome with wonder the disciples left, making their way to their homes. Mary remained.

Confused and still distressed by what she had witnessed, Mary stood by the stone and wept. As she bent over to look into the tomb her morning took another dramatic turn. Two men in white, angels, messengers from the Lord, were there, sitting on the raised shelf where Jesus’ body had lain. They asked why she wept and she replied with the same phrase: “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have put Him.”

Behind her a figure stirred. Taking Him to be a gardener, Mary repeated her question. If only she could find out where they had taken Him, she would go to find Him. One word awakened her. Jesus spoke her name, and in that instant she knew. “Rabboni” she exclaimed, meaning “Dear Master.” The intimate form of her instinctive response demonstrated the depth of her love. Still kneeling, she made to grasp His feet. “Don’t hold me now,” He said, “but go instead to my brothers and tell them…” Gladly, joyfully, she did as she had been asked. If, then, she shed yet more tears, this time they were tears of joy. She ran to tell them, all pretense of decorum gone. Her world had changed. Despair had turned to hope; grief had turned to joy, all because of an empty tomb and a risen Savior. Mary’s enthusiasm was contagious. It took time for the shocked disciples to catch up with her, but they did. Soon, the Gospel was being whispered around Jerusalem. From there it spread until even mighty Rome heard the amazing story.

And what a story it was – a love story without equal. The Gospel proclaims that the God who made us loves us still. Despite the folly and the rebelliousness of the human race, in Jesus Christ, God has made a way whereby, through repentance and faith, we can be reconciled to our Father in heaven. That reconciliation is not only for this world; it extends beyond the grave. Death itself holds no horrors now for those who trust in Christ.

Breathless, excited beyond words, Mary reached the place where many of the disciples waited. It was an upper room. She broke the wondering silence with words that echo down the centuries. Wicked men did their worst, but death could not hold Him. “I” said Mary, “have seen the Lord.”

For further reading: Psalm 113

It is Finished

April 7 It is Finished John 19:1-42

“It is finished – Now this word of Christ is most memorable, for it teaches us that the whole accomplishing of our salvation and all the parts of it are contained in His death… The meaning therefore is that everything contributing to men’s salvation is in Christ and is not to be sought elsewhere; or – what is the same thing – that the perfection of salvation is found in Him.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:183

Soldiers took Jesus away to scourge Him. Normally, this preceded execution, but it is unclear whether, at this stage, Pilate had made up his mind how to deal with the Carpenter from Nazareth. Certainly, he ordered the scourging. Innocent or not, this man had disturbed Pilate’s peace. Strips of leather, embedded with stone and metal, flayed His back. Jesus had claimed to be a king, so the soldiers dressed Him as such and took great delight in striking Him. Did they think of their commanding officer as the blows fell? “Hail, King of the Jews!” they cried, adding mockery to cruelty. Pilate merely looked on. Eventually, bloodied and beaten, Jesus was brought before the Jews. “Behold the Man!” said Pilate.

The Roman official must have thought that he had done enough to merit leniency from the crowd. He had expected the torn body of Jesus to have evoked sympathy, but he was wrong, “Crucify him,” they cried. Once again, Pilate hesitated. He tried to pass responsibility to the local, Jewish courts, but was reminded that they had no power to execute prisoners. So Pilate questioned Jesus, looking for a way out. He did not find one. There was some sympathy, at least in his tone, but eventually Pilate realized that, in order to placate the Jews, he was going to have to agree to their demands. When they threatened to report him to Caesar for supporting a rival king, Pilate gave in – Jesus would have to die.

Soldiers took Him and made Jesus carry the cross, the means of His execution, to a hill called Golgatha, the place of the skull. There they crucified Him, driving rough nails through His feet and hands; they set Him between two criminals and waited for Jesus to die. Pilate had had a sign made and placed above His head. In three languages it proclaimed: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” It was Pilate’s pitiful protest against the sentence. The Jews objected strenuously to the notice, but Pilate refused to have it removed. “What I have written, I have written” he responded, petulantly. The sign stayed. Beneath it soldiers cast lots for His clothes. In abject humiliation the Word made flesh suffered unspeakable torment.

Four soldiers argued over Jesus’ meager belongings; nearby, four women huddled together in their grief. His mother was among them; loving her still, the dying Jesus commended her into John’s care. At the foot of the Cross their families became one, as do ours. Human distinctions cease to matter before such amazing love.

They gave Him wine vinegar with which to moisten His lips, lifted on the stalk of a hyssop plant. This was the plant that had been used to sprinkle the blood of the paschal lamb on the doorposts of the Israelites in Egypt. Now, the blood of the Lamb of God was being shed for the sins of the world. Then, having taken the foul liquid, Jesus said, “It is finished!” then He bowed His head, and died.

Jesus’ work was done. His hour had come, but it had also passed. He said that it was finished, not in resignation but in triumph. He had fought the good fight; He had stayed faithful to His Father’s will; He had given God the glory in all things. Now, all that awaited Him was the cool quietness of the tomb, and the promise of new life.

For further reading: Psalm 116

Arrest and Trial

April 6 Arrest and Trial John 18:1-40

“(I)f we want to read the story of Christ’s death with profit, the chief point is to look to God’s eternal counsel. The Son of God is set before the judgment-seat of a mortal man. If we think that this was done by men’s will and do not raise our eyes to God, our faith must needs be put to shame and confounded. But when we realize that our condemnation is blotted out by Christ’s, because it pleased the heavenly Father thus to reconcile mankind to Himself, we are raised on high by this alone and boldly and without shame glory even in Christ’s ignominy.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:164-165

After passing through the Kidron valley, whose stream would soon run red with the blood of sacrificed Passover lambs, Jesus ascended to the Garden of Gethsemane. Humanity’s problems had begun in a garden, in Eden; God’s solution made His way to the garden on the Mount of Olives. He had been there before to pray. It was not difficult for Judas to find Him. Soldiers arrested Jesus there to take Him to trial. They came with lanterns to find the Light of the World, but He did not hide from them. Indeed, John’s account suggests that they were intimidated by Jesus. There was no question who was in ultimate control. They did not seize Him; He gave Himself up to them. When Peter swung his sword in frustration he only succeeded in wounding a slave named Malchus on the ear. Even then, Jesus calmed them before His arrest could turn into a bloodbath. They bound Him and took Him away.

Jesus was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. Annas, his father-in-law, the former high priest who still wielded considerable influence, was also there. There was a courtyard between their homes; it seems that some of the proceedings took place there. This may have been the place where Peter was recognized, where he denied his Lord. This was an important story for the early Church. If even Peter cold be forgiven after he had fallen so badly, surely there was also hope for those whose courage had wavered under persecution? We don’t need to be perfect; we simply need to cling to the One who is.

Several members of the high priestly family questioned Jesus, led by the wily elder statesman, Annas. They wanted Jesus to condemn Himself, but He was not easily cowed. Instead, Jesus radiated authority. It was as if He ought to have been questioning them. But they abused Him by striking Him in the face; then they sent Him on to be questioned further. Meanwhile, Peter was lurching from one denial to another, his courage long gone. Did he see the Lord being taken out, through the courtyard? Was it then that the cock crowed?

Jesus was taken before Plate, the Roman Governor, Procurator of Judea. Pilate’s primary concern was not justice, but expediency. He wanted to prevent any kind of popular uprising that could have tarnished his reputation. He was a career politician who was not averse to using violence or dirty tricks in order to climb the ladder. He didn’t know what to make of the rabbi from Galilee. The charge was sedition. The Jewish authorities wanted to have Jesus crucified, a manner of death that they did not have the power to impose but that, if administered would, they believed, carry the curse of God. There would be no popular cult of Jesus if the Romans crucified Him.

They left Jesus at the entrance to the Praetorium, not wishing to be rendered ritually unclean by association with the pagan Romans. But they did not hesitate to hand over the Lamb of God to the same pagans, even as they dusted themselves off in preparation for the Passover. Pilate was not eager to get involved, but the Jews insisted so he agreed to question the prisoner. Pilate probably concluded that Jesus was a harmless dreamer, scarcely deserving of death. He even tried to have Him released, but the baying crowd chose Barabbas, a bandit, instead. Not for the last time a weak man gave in to the demands of a hostile crowd. Jesus was condemned.

For further reading: Psalm 40:1-14

The Greatest Prayer

April 5 The Greatest Prayer John 17:1-26

“He again places the end of our happiness in unity, and justly. For the ruin of the human race is that, alienated from God, it is also broken and scattered in itself. Conversely, therefore, its restoration lies in its proper coalescence in one body, the perfection of the Church being joined together in one Spirit.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:147-148

The seventeenth chapter of John’s Gospel is sometimes called Jesus’ “high priestly prayer.” The title is a little misleading, in that Jesus did not achieve priestly office until He ascended to be with His Father, there to intercede for us. Nevertheless, it is probably the greatest and most-loved prayer in the Scriptures. In it, Jesus re-emphasizes His need to glorify the Father through His obedience, and through the preparation of the disciples. He would not be with them for much longer, and so He prayed for them, and for us. Some commentators imagine Jesus praying as He made His way to the Mount of Olives, to Gethsemane. These were among Jesus’ final words before His arrest.

Jesus had spent His entire earthly ministry striving to bring glory to the Father. In His prayer, Jesus asked that He might share in that glory. He was thinking about the Cross. He knew full well that His death was to be the means of His triumph, but He also knew what He would have to endure. To share in the glory of God was to overcome the terrors of the grave and to draw sinners to Himself. This, then, was a prayer of exaltation. Jesus saw the time, rapidly approaching, when He would no longer be rejected as a victim, but hailed as the victor. His arms, outstretched upon the Cross, radiant with the glory of the Father, would be a symbol not of agony but of welcome.

Jesus continued by praying for His disciples. He had been their Good Shepherd; He did not want to leave them to fend for themselves against ravenous wolves. So He prayed for them. He asked for their continued unity in Him and in the Father. He did not ask that they be taken out of the world, only that they be kept safe from the evil one. And He prayed for their remarkable mission, that they should be empowered from on high to take up the works of the Son. Jesus had glorified the Father through His obedience; now the disciples would have their opportunity to give God the glory as they reached out with the Gospel of Christ.

Finally, Jesus prayed for disciples yet to be born, those who would believe because of the message passed on by the first believers. Second generation Christians must have read these words and been encouraged. So should we; these words have not lost their power. Again, He prayed for unity in the truth, not a political unity that fails to recognize cultural differences, but the unity that prevails when believers stand united on the fundamentals of the faith. Jesus also prayed that, one day, all believers might be with Him, beyond the veil of death, to see His glory and to delight in His presence.

We, too, should be amazed that, on the night before He was taken away to be crucified, Jesus looked down the centuries and saw us. More than that, He prayed for us, that we might find unity in the truth, that we might be ardent in passing on that truth to others, and that we might know the blessed hope of eternal life with Him. In humility, we must admit that we do not know everything that there is to know about this Jesus; but at the same time we must not hesitate to say that we do know Him, and that we look forward to the day when we shall know Him fully, even as we are fully known.

For further reading: Psalm 39

The Comforter

April 4 The Comforter John 16:1-15

“That same Spirit led them into all truth… Whoever thinks that anything ought to be added to their doctrine, as if it were imperfect and incomplete, not only accuses the apostles of dishonesty, but blasphemes against the Spirit.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:119

Most of those who came together to form the early Church did so from a Jewish background. Within a few years they were facing persecution. Some were evicted from their synagogues; others faced more severe trials, including martyrdom. Jesus warned His followers about what was going to happen and encouraged them to stand firm. They were to remain connected to the True Vine, abiding in Him.

It was, strangely, to the advantage of His followers that Jesus should leave. In the first place, it would make it less likely that they would be caught up in His fate. In the second place, they would benefit because only when Jesus left would the Holy Spirit come. This was the Counselor, of whom Jesus had spoken previously. The Holy Spirit would convict the world of its guilt “with regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” To convict is to bring that which has been hidden into the light. Jesus gave warning that one of the primary functions of the coming Holy Spirit would be to convict sinners by persuading them of their fallen state. The Spirit would convict people: of their sin of not believing in Jesus; of their unrighteousness in standing by as the Son of righteousness was put to death; and, of judgment since, along with the devil, the prince of this world, they had been judged.

In addition, the Spirit would reveal many things that, at that time, they could not bear or understand. The Spirit would explain the significance of the Cross to them and help them to recognize the truth of God’s self-revelation. In all this, the Spirit would glorify the Son by expounding His nature and ministry, just as Jesus had glorified the Father by explaining the Gospel of God’s grace. The Spirit would, therefore, be taking what the Father had given to the Son and explaining its significance to followers of Jesus. In this way, the things that had previously been hidden would become known to them and they could, in turn, pass them on to the next generation. So, the Holy Spirit would be their teacher, working in their minds to enable them to perceive, accept, and teach the truth as it is found in Jesus Christ..

In response to some of the excesses that have elevated the person and work of the Holy Spirit, almost at the expense of Jesus, some Christians have ignored the third person the Trinity. For some people, the Holy Spirit has become little more than an abstract power, devoid of any sense of personality. This is unfortunate. Clearly, Jesus valued the work of the Spirit in convicting of sin and teaching about salvation. That He spent precious time, just before His death, to teach His disciples about the coming of the Comforter, should persuade us to take the Holy Spirit seriously.

The Holy Spirit is not interested in self-promotion. He does not advance His own cause. Like John the Baptist, the Spirit is content to point beyond Himself to Christ. In His ministries of convicting and converting, the Holy Spirit is always most concerned to give the glory to Christ.

For further reading: Psalm 31

The True Vine

April 3 The True Vine John 15:1-17

“When He calls Himself the true vine, it is as if He were saying, ‘I am truly the vine; and therefore men toil in vain when seeking strength elsewhere. Useful fruit will proceed from none but the branches produced by Me.’” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:94

As Jesus and the disciples walked, down the Kidron valley then across to the Mount of Olives, they would have had the Temple in plain sight. On the front of the Temple was a great golden vine, the national symbol of Israel. Could this have been the illustration that led Jesus to speak of Himself as the True Vine?

Over the preceding months, Jesus had made repeated use of a linguistic device in order to claim divinity. “I AM,” He said, echoing the name-that-should-never-be-uttered from the Old Testament. He had claimed, for example, to be the Resurrection and the Life, the Good Shepherd, the Way, Truth, and Life. Now, for one last time, He repeated the form. “I am the True Vine,” He said. Jesus was claiming to be the true Israel, the recipient of His Father’s blessing and care. His body, the Church, would become the focus of the New Covenant. Jesus’ words were a plea for His disciples to stay connected to the vine, and to bear fruit. Any branch that did not bear fruit would be subject to God’s pruning.

We need not to push the extended metaphor too far. It is not important for us to argue about whether the branches that are removed represent faithful, if fruitless, Christians. The details of the metaphor should not be the source of doctrine. Neither should we waste our time using these words to debate whether or not Christians can lose their salvation. Jesus’ main point remains clear – Christians are to remain connected to Him, and they are to bear fruit. And the greatest fruit any Christian can produce for a weary world is love.

Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as He had loved them. They were not to pursue power or prestige, they were to serve one another, and they were to love one another. The supreme example of love, for Jesus, is when we are willing to lay down our life for our friends. Of course, this is precisely what He was about to do. To emphasize His intentions, Jesus assured the disciples that they were no longer to think of themselves as servants of a master, or as followers of a teacher, but as friends.

Five elements of Christian love are outlined in this passage: it is sacrificial; it is lived out in willing obedience to Christ; it always communicates the truth; it is anxious to meet the needs of others; and it bears fruit. Clearly, we can distinguish each of these elements in the life and ministry of Jesus. We are also expected to demonstrate them in our lives. Our motivation in doing so is not that we are followers of a divine rule, or even that we are members of a fellowship of believers. We are to love as Jesus loved because we are His friends. The God of the Ages does not treat us disdainfully as rebellious creatures; He comforts us in our sorrows and calls us His friends. If we live in line with His will, we are no longer servants; we are friends of the living God.

For further reading: Psalm 27

A Place Prepared

April 2 A Place Prepared John 14:1-14

“He is the way because He leads us to the Father. He is the truth and the life because in Him we apprehend the Father… For Christ proves that He is the life, inasmuch as God, with whom is the fountain of life, can be possessed in no other way than in Him. Therefore, all theology separated from Christ is not only confused and empty but also mad, deceiving and counterfeit.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:77

More questions followed Peter’s. This should have been a time for sympathy and support, an opportunity for the disciples to encourage Jesus, instead, graciously, He comforted them. They were going to have to trust Him, even though the coming hours would be incredibly discouraging and dispiriting for them. They had given up so much for Jesus; now He was telling them that He was about to leave them. No wonder they were afraid. Once again, in a simple yet exalted claim, Jesus showed His equality with the Father: they must trust Him, just as they must trust God.

Jesus spoke of “His Father’s house,” meaning heaven, as the place to which He must go. In that house, many rooms were prepared for those who put their trust in Him. The imagery behind the words is of opulence, which is why “rooms” was originally translated as “mansions.” The idea is that there will be no poverty in heaven, and no want. We shall have all that we need and more, for we shall be in the presence of God Himself. Jesus promised a place in heaven for His disciples; but He also promised that He would return. Some commentators take this as a reference to the Rapture, as they call it, but there is really no justification for doing so. Jesus promised that, one day, He would return, and that those who trust Him will join Him in His Father’s house.

There seems to be a reference here to Jewish wedding customs. Following the ceremony, the groom would take the bride from her home to a specially prepared apartment in his father’s house. There, she would take her place of honor. Jesus promised His disciples that they would have a place of honor in His Father’s house. And they knew the way there.

Thomas objected. They didn’t know where Jesus was going, so how could they know the way? Jesus replied with one of the best-known texts in the New Testament. They knew where they were going because Jesus Himself was the way, the truth , and the life. He was the way to God because He had the truth about God and because He imparted the life of God. He was the truth because He was the embodiment of God’s self-revelation. He was the life because He imparted divine life to those who believed. Moreover, Jesus was not one way among many. In order to come to the Father and to gain eternal life, the only way was to come through Him.

Evidently, the time for ambiguous language was over. When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus replied that those who had seen Him had seen the Father. He claimed identification with God. He was not just a gifted teacher; He was more than a prophet; He was not just the Messiah sent by God. He was the Word incarnate, God made flesh. His words were God’s; His miracles were signs of His divinity. He intended to glorify His Father by His obedience, and encouraged His disciples to do the same. If they, too, would seek to live in accordance with the will of God, then they could ask for anything and it would be done.

For further reading: Psalm 41

Love

April 1 Love John 13:31-38

“The last hour was at hand. Christ knew how weak the minds of the disciples were, and He wanted to support them in every possible way so that they might not fail. Even today, the very thought of the cross of Christ would make us tremble were we not at once met by the consolation that on the cross He triumphed, victorious over Satan, sin and death.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:68

With Judas gone, Jesus was able to launch into an intensive teaching experience for the remaining disciples. Realizing that time was running out, He tried to prepare them for the difficult days ahead. He began by reminding them that His main concern was to glorify His Father in heaven. This was a glory in which He shared, yet Jesus understood that in order to bring glory to the Father, He had to do the Father’s will. In effect, this was what He required of the disciples. They, too, would glorify God if they did as He asked.

Jesus’ command was that they should love one another. He had given them a practical demonstration of selfless love when He washed their feet. Now, they must lay aside the competition that divides and commit to love. They had been the recipients of Jesus’ love as they traveled with Him throughout His ministry. They would witness the supreme expression of sacrificial love when Jesus took up the Cross for their sakes. Therefore, they must learn to love.

This was not really a new commandment. Leviticus 19:18 speaks of the necessity of loving others “as you love yourself.” Jesus’ interpretation made this into a higher standard. They were to love one another “as I have loved you.” The principle of sacrifice was to be the guiding influence upon their lives. It was also to be the foundation of the new community which would become the Church. Unlike human institutions, designed to further the ambitions of individuals, the Church was to be begun, continued, and ended in Christ-like love.

Peter, as always, rebelled. He was sure, by this stage, that Jesus was walking into a trap and that His death would surely follow. Rather than attempting to dissuade Jesus, Peter offered to join Him. If Jesus died, so would he! Tradition suggests that Peter was, indeed, martyred for the Gospel, but Jesus was adamant that this was not the time. Peter would be needed as a leader in the fledgling Church; his enthusiasm and breadth of vision would be essential. So Jesus told Peter that, for now, he could not follow.

Peter came close to insisting. He was willing to lay down his life for Jesus. No doubt, in that moment, he was totally sincere. But it is one thing to protest your loyalty in the safety of an upper room, surrounded by friends, with the lingering effects of a good meal. It would be a very different matter out in the cold night. Jesus knew Peter’s heart. He knew that he would not be able to resist temptation. Before the cock crowed, Peter would have denied his Lord three times.

Did Peter’s brave words stick in his throat? Did he realize, in that moment, that he was not very far from betraying Jesus? Perhaps that was why the disciples made no attempt to restrain Judas – they saw the darkness in their own hearts. They did not trust themselves. Fortunately, Jesus saw beyond Peter’s denial to Peter’s faith. He would fall down, but Peter would not stay down. By grace, even the disciple who denied the Lord would end up giving the glory to God.

For further reading: Psalm 61

A Morsel of Bread

March 31 A Morsel of Bread John 13:21-30

“Those who are unconscious of any evil in themselves are made uneasy by Christ’s saying… And although Christ seems to be unkindly torturing the innocent for a time, this sort of anxiety was profitable to them and Christ did them no harm. It is proper that, when the children of God have heard the judgment on the ungodly, they should also be tortured that they may sift themselves and guard against hypocrisy; for this gives them an opportunity of examining themselves and their life.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:65

Visibly distressed at the thought of His betrayal, Jesus spoke plainly: “I tell you the truth,” He said, “one of you is going to betray me.” He gave no indication that the act was imminent. Most of the disciples fell silent in thoughtful introspection: were they capable of such a dreadful deed? It is hard for anyone to be certain how he or she will react when faced with extreme circumstances. Like soldiers going into battle, they all wondered whether they would prove to be cowards.

Peter, wearing his heart on his sleeve as usual, broke the silence. The seating arrangements were such that he was able to speak quietly to John, “the beloved disciple.” “Find out who He is talking about,” Peter asked. In response, John leaned back, put his head on Jesus’ breast and whispered his question. This was possible because, for the formal meal that was just beginning, the disciples and Jesus were reclining in the Greek style, leaning on their left elbows, their legs pointing away from the table. When first introduced this manner of eating had been regarded as the height of decadence, but over time it had been accepted into Hebrew culture. By the first century it was common for diners to recline at table, especially for formal occasions.

John was on Jesus’ right. This is the first time in his Gospel that John refers to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved” or “the beloved disciple.” He does this, not to exaggerate his importance as one especially loved, but in order to emphasize the centrality of Jesus. John is only a mouthpiece for the Gospel; he requires no special recognition.

Judas was on Jesus’ left, in a place of honor. That no one questioned this is interesting. Judas’ hypocrisy must have been well-hidden; he was very convincing. As the holder of the common purse, he was in a position of trust. He was clearly respected by the other disciples. No objection was raised against his exalted position. Perhaps this is why John made no effort to stop him.

Jesus answered John’s question by replying that the person to whom He gave the bread, after dipping it in the dish, would be His betrayer. Then, having broken the unleavened bread, Jesus dipped it in the bowl of paschal stew and handed the morsel to Judas. It was a natural act, following established tradition. Jesus honored Judas, who responded by rising, speaking quietly to the Teacher, then leaving. The final chapter was about to begin.

The time for repentance was past for Judas. He had decided to betray his Lord, so he had better go and do quickly what was needed to be done. So Judas left, going about the devil’s business. He may not have realized the extent of the storm he was about to unleash, but Jesus had no such illusions. He knew that the enemy of all that is good would crow his victory before man more hours had passed. Judas went out, leaving behind the Light that had come into the world. He stepped from the warmth of fellowship with Jesus into the coldness of his rebellion – and it was night.

For further reading: Psalm 119:153-176

Lord and Teacher

March 30 Lord and Teacher John 13:12-20

“Now He unfolds the reason for what He had done. He who is the Master and Lord of all gave an example to be followed by all the godly, that none might think it a burden to stoop to a service, however mean and low, to his brethren and fellows. For the reason why love is despised is that everyone puts himself too high and despises almost everybody else. Nor did He intend merely to teach modesty, but also to lay down this rule of love, that they should serve one another.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:59-60

Having washed and dried His disciples’ feet, and having replaced His outer robe, Jesus proceeded to explain what He had done in terms they could not fail to understand. If He, their Lord and Teacher, could stoop to wash their feet, surely they could do as much for one another? It was an object lesson in humility.

They called Him “Lord and Teacher” but they had not fully grasped the importance of terms they used. They called Him “rabbi” or “teacher” because that was the role He had chosen, but they failed to see the significance of what Jesus taught until much later. They called Him “lord” as a common title of respect, but it would not be until the crucifixion had led them to question His claims, and then the resurrection had confirmed those claims, that they realized He was, indeed, “Lord”. Light came to them gradually, just as sometimes it can come to us. They progressed in their understanding of Jesus’ mission, just as they developed an increased awareness of His nature.

One among them still refused to believe. Judas, in fulfillment of Psalm 41, was still plotting to turn against his Master. He planned to “lift up his heels” against Jesus. The full significance of the phrase is lost to us. Presumably, Jesus was using a contemporary figure of speech to indicate that one among them would walk out on his friends. To do so was to heap insult upon injury. In the custom of the day, to share a meal together was to affirm a common bond. Friendship was sealed in the breaking of bread. So, for Judas to sit and eat with those he was about to betray indicates a level of callousness that it is hard for us to imagine. Judas was not simply betraying a friend, he was breaking social convention. This was more than disappointment with the direction of Jesus’ ministry. This was close to contempt. Beneath the surface Judas’ scheming heart was boiling with anger against the One who had promised so much, but whose life would soon end in shame. Jesus understood, but did nothing. He knew that His hour had come.

There is acute irony in the scene. The Word incarnate came to earth to reconcile sinful humanity and a holy God. Over the months and years Jesus revealed His identity to His disciples. His teaching and His miracles demonstrated that identity. As they discovered who He was the disciples ought to have fallen in worship at His feet. Instead, He knelt at their feet and performed the menial task that would normally have been undertaken by a slave. At the same time, seeing His humanity, one of the disciples was so overcome with anger that he decided to sell what he knew for thirty pieces of silver. Would Judas have acted this way if Jesus had fulfilled his expectations? If He had entered Jerusalem on a warhorse, gathered an army, and taken a stand against the hated Roman oppressors, would Judas have been satisfied? Maybe so, but then the Carpenter from Nazareth would have been a footnote in history, not the Savior before whom millions bow.

For further reading: Psalm 119: 129-152

A Towel and a Bowl

March 29 A Towel and a Bowl John 13:1-11

“(Peter’s) modesty would be laudable, were not obedience of greater value in God’s sight than any kind of service or honoring; or rather, if it were not the true and only rule of humility to submit in obedience to God and have all our senses devoted to His good pleasure, so that everything He declares to be agreeable to Him shall also be approved by us, without any argument. We should therefore, above all, keep this rule of serving God aright that we may be always ready to agree without delay, whenever and whatever He commands.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:56-57

The hour had come. Jesus knew that, before long, He would be separated from the disciples, so He took the opportunity to reinforce the lessons they had learned. But, just as they did not fully grasp the necessity of His death, so they failed to understand the pre-eminence of love. Some of the disciples, it seemed, had been arguing about who among them was the greatest. Jesus demonstrated that, in terms of the Kingdom of God, the greatest is the One who serves.

They had gathered, in an upper room, to celebrate the Passover meal together. Perhaps the gathering was private, and there were no servants present, or perhaps the excitement of the coming storm caused them to forget social convention. Either way, no one had performed the foot-washing that would have been expected. Their feet were dirty and dusty. A servant should have been on hand with a bowl of water and a towel; but for whatever reason the courtesy was not done. So Jesus did it.

He took the bowl, and a towel, and proceeded to wash the disciples’ feet. As He washed and dried, Jesus recounted the values of the Kingdom and exhorted them to humility and love. There is no place for one-upmanship in the Kingdom of God. There is neither a hierarchy nor a meritocracy. We are all sinners saved by grace alone. Only Jesus escapes from the condemnation caused by sin. He alone, among those gathered in the upper room, truly deserved to be served. So, for the highest and best to take the lowest place was an object lesson they would not forget.

It seems that the disciples were stunned into silence. One can only imagine the turmoil that consumed them, especially Judas, who had already made arrangements for betraying his Lord. Did he justify his betrayal by blaming Jesus? No self-respecting Messiah would ever stoop to wash His disciples’ feet. The same concern may have moved impetuous Peter to cry out, not to blame Jesus but to protest His actions. It was not right, thought Peter, that the Christ, the Son of the living God, should wash his feet.

Jesus’ answer to Peter teaches us an important distinction. Peter must have his feet washed, but the rest of him is fine, for he is already clean. If we are to be made clean, spiritually, we must experience both forensic cleansing and familial washing. We are cleansed, forensically, when we undergo the full bath of salvation, when we accept the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. By this action our sins, past, present, and future, are atoned for. They are wiped out and forgiven. But we also need the familial washing of regular acts of confession. When we come to God, either in worship or alone, seeking forgiveness, we do not do so as those who need to have our feet washed. We are clean, if we have repented and turned to Christ in faith. We don’t need the same level of cleansing ever again. But we can become sullied by our association with the world, so we need to confess our sins to God, and seek and receive our Father’s forgiveness. This time, we come not as enemies, but as friends.

For further reading: Psalm 119: 105-128

Believe

March 28 Believe John 12:37-50

“We must remember that the prophet is speaking to unbelievers, who had already rejected the grace of God. It is certain that all would continue to be so by nature, did not the Lord form to obedience to Himself those whom He has elected. At first, then, the state of men is equal and the same. But when reprobate men have of their own accord and by their own malice rebelled against God, they make room for this vengeance that they may be given over to a reprobate mind and rush ever more and more to their own destruction.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:47

Despite having witnessed Jesus’ miracles, having heard the testimony of the man born blind, and having seen Lazarus, now raised from the dead, some of the Jews continued to reject Jesus. They stubbornly refused to believe. In this, they fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy in their rejection of the Servant of the Lord. Although the passages quoted had originally referred to the role of Israel among the nations, they had also come to be understood as prophesying the treatment that would be meted out to Israel’s Messiah. Just as the Gentiles refused to acknowledge Israel, so Israel herself would refuse to acknowledge the Messiah. God would harden their hearts.

This is not an easy passage for us. It seems to imply that God is responsible for the behavior of the Jews. They are condemned for their response to Christ, and yet that very response is to be understood as initiated by God. How can a person be condemned when their actions have been determined by God? We need to be careful not to read too much into a literary form that is very different to ours. Hebrew and Semitic expressions often seem strange to us, just as ours will seem odd to those who attempt to understand our vernacular phrases after two thousand years. John cannot simply mean that the Jews had no part to play, whatsoever, in whether or not they believed. That interpretation is contradicted by verse 43, in which human agency is assumed. God is not a tyrant. John merely quotes Isaiah to point out that the prophets had already predicted that many would reject the Messiah, when He came.

Nevertheless, some Jews did follow Jesus. Among them were probably Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, both of whom played important parts in the Gospel narrative. Nicodemus came to Jesus at the dead of night; Joseph took Jesus’ body when supernatural night had descended upon the land. Both had to learn the necessity of making a public confession in order to bear witness to Christ. It may be easier, sometimes, to keep quiet about our faith, but it is not right.

Seven times, in this brief passage, John uses the word “believe.” Clearly, he wanted his readers to put their trust in Jesus. To do so, was to discover that Jesus was far more than a human leader. To believe in Jesus was to believe in the One who had sent Him. To see Jesus was to see God. This is another clear indication of the deity of Christ. He had come as a light to dispel the darkness, not to deepen it. His purpose was not to condemn, but to save.

One day we shall all stand before the throne of judgment. In as much as we have turned from the deceptions of this world, repented of our sins, and chosen to live by faith in Christ, we shall know the joy of eternal life. If, on the other hand, we have rejected Jesus and refused to accept His words, we shall have condemned ourselves. This is Jesus’ last public appeal, presumably made as He taught in the Temple courts. From this point on, He would concentrate His teaching upon those to whom the mantle of leadership would soon be passed.

For further reading: Psalm 119: 89-104

Paradox

March 27 Paradox John 12:20-36

“That death may be less bitter and disagreeable to us, Christ invites us by His example to submit to it cheerfully. And certainly this makes us ashamed of refusing the honor of being His disciples. But He only admits us into that number on condition we follow the path that He points out. He leads the way before us to encounter death.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:38

Some Greeks asked to see Jesus. This is significant. Even though they were probably Gentiles who had converted to Judaism, who were coming to Jerusalem for the Passover, but they were not, strictly-speaking, Jews. If Jesus had rejected them outright, it would have signaled to His disciples that His ministry was to be restricted to the people of Israel. Some early Christians did believe that, in order to follow Jesus, one had first to become a Jew, by circumcision. But before long a much more expansive interpretation prevailed. Within a few years, many people who had no connection to Israel at all were clamoring to know more of this Jesus. Anticipating them, Philip and Andrew did what all true disciples must do: they brought them to Jesus.

The Man they sought was becoming increasingly conscious of the lateness of the hour. His earthly ministry was drawing to a close. So Jesus chose this moment to remind His disciples of a recurring theme throughout His ministry – the paradox of life and death. Just as a kernel must be thrust into the ground if it is to bear fruit, we too must die if we are to generate new life. Reading His words, we see the obvious implications with regard to His own death, but Jesus’ teaching has a wider application. Those who concern themselves only with themselves are destined to waste away and to bear no fruit. But those who give themselves in the service of others, to serve a greater goal, will experience the fullness of life. It is those who give away their lives who really gain them. Those who hoard their lives end up holding only a handful of dust. This is the principle of sacrifice. It goes far beyond the need to do good deeds for others. It contains no element of self-justification. For those who follow Jesus Christ it means being prepared to put Him first. As we give ourselves in His service, we lay aside the culture of greed and death and take up life everlasting.

Jesus knew that He would have to give His life in obedience to His Father’s will. Even though He knew that the gate of death opened into resurrection life, it was not a prospect that He, or anyone, could relish. He struggled. This is John’s equivalent of the story of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed, and the Father spoke, and His voice came like thunder from heaven. Jesus heard confirmation that, by His obedience, He would give glory to God. This was the confirmation His anguished heart required. He knew that the “Son of Man” would have to die in order that the ruler of this world (satan) could be cast out. Jesus would have to be lifted up. A wooden Cross would raise Him.

When they engineered Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution, His enemies believed that they were ridding themselves of a dangerous opponent. What they did not understand was that, in condemning Him, they condemned themselves. Because of the Cross, Jesus would draw people, without distinction, to Himself. More than the Greeks who asked to see Him, Jesus would draw millions to Himself, from every tribe and tongue. He was, and is, the Light of the World.

For further reading: Psalm 119:73-88