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#1059
When God allows extraordinary trials, He gives
extraordinary comfort.
John 1:1-28
This Gospel gives much more, than the other three,
of the Persons of the Son of God, the Father and
the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost). We will be
reading of the rejection of the Lord Jesus and
our redemption, as if they had already taken
place. There is no mention of the Lord's birth,
or ascension to heaven, nor are the events in
sequence. Everything, we could say, is "now".
Israel is looked at as being totally rejected by
God.
Jn 1:1 God takes us back into eternity, before
the creation of the world. God had no beginning.
This gospel concerns the glory of Christ, that
blessed Man Who is in the glory today. It shows
us God's children (the believers) as His family.
John tells us over and over again that this
blessed Man is God.
In John (1) there is no birth of the Lord Jesus.
(2) No record of His earthly ancestors. (3) No
temptation by Satan. (4) No mention of anyone
possessed with demons. (5) No agony in Gethsemane.
(6) No three hours of darkness on the cross. (7)
No forsaking by God. (8) No ascension. It is the
Lord Jesus Christ, rejected by His own people
Israel, but living and dying to the glory of God.
Jn 1:1-5 What the Lord Jesus always was and is.
He was before the beginning of everything. All
that God is, His wisdom and love and power, are
in Christ.
Jn 1:6-13 The purpose for which John the Baptist
was raised up, was to point to "the Light".
Jn 1:12 Only those of us who have been "born
again" are the children of God.
Jn 1:14-18 This is what the Lord became when He
came to earth. His glory was seen.
Jn 1:19-28 He came after John, but was before him.
#1060
God loves each one of us as if there were but one
of us to love.
John 1:29-51
Jn 1:29-34 Jesus is the "Lamb of God",
the sacrifice God has provided for us.
Jn 1:32 God proved that Jesus was His Son by the
Spirit of God coming down onto Him.
Jn 1:35-51 Beautiful sight, the blessed Lord
Jesus attracts followers to Himself. John's
followers leave him and follow Jesus. All rejoice
together. Now notice His many names (1) the
"Word", (2) "Jesus", (3)
"the Light". See if you can find at
least 5 more.
#1061
Praise is the soil in which joy thrives.
John 2
Jn 2:1-11 The first miracle. Wine in scripture is
sometimes a picture of joy on earth. Man has
spoiled it. The Lord Jesus turns the water into
wine, only He can give us true joy.
Jn 2:13-17 He has the right and power to clean
the temple, His Father's house. He would have to
leave it later, because the nation rejected Him.
Jn 2:23-25 Like today, many believe in His name,
but it goes no further. They only saw; people say
- "seeing is believing". But that is
not so. Their conscience is not reached.
#1062
God wants us to use the prime of our life for Him.
John 3
Jn 3:1-21 These verses really explain what the
last three verses of yesterday's chapter mean.
Many people think that if they are "good
living" that they have a better chance of
reaching heaven. Nicodemus thought so. But he was
told that he must be "born again".
Jn 3:12-21 The Lord as it were, turns to the
whole world, and gives us the wonderful news of
eternal salvation with God through believing in
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jn 3:18 Anyone who does not accept the Lord Jesus
as their personal Saviour is already condemned;
verse 12:31 shows that the judgment has already
been passed. But if a person believes, all is
forgiven and that person is saved. A good verse
to give to unbelievers.
Jn 3:25-34 John the Baptist says things which are
very plain. The youngest person could understand
these words.
Jn 3:35,36 The John who wrote this gospel (not
the Baptist) is thought to have written these
words, because John the Baptist didn't know about
Christianity and eternal life.
#1063
God loves me the way I am, but He loves me too
much to let me stay that way.
John 4
Jn 4:1-4 To go from Judea (in the South) to
Galilee (in the North) a person would have to
pass through Samaria.
Jn 4:5-42 Although the Lord Jesus is not wanted
in Judea, He is happy to spend time in winning a
sinful woman. He is the Giver of living water.
Try all she could, her heart could not be
satisfied. But it was only when her conscience
was touched that she realized she was speaking to
no ordinary man.
Jn 4:28-42 She showed the sure sign of a believer,
she immediately wanted to tell others about the
Lord Jesus. If you have never told anyone about
the Lord Jesus being your Saviour, then you are
not sure you are saved - Romans 10:9,10.
Jn 4:43-54 But He had other work to do. He could
raise from the dead if necessary. Now he cures
this son who was at the point of death, (a
picture of Israel as a nation). After the Lord
Jesus comes for the believers, He is going to
raise up Israel from their present condition of
being as dead.
#1064
God never takes anything away from us but that He
gives us something infinitely better in return.
John 5:1-27
Jn 5:1-16 What a miracle Jesus performs; He comes
to the poor man, He doesn't tell the man to come
to Him. And so it is now, we cannot move towards
Him in our sins. But He comes to us. Doing this
on the Sabbath, only brought out the hatred of
the religious people.
Jn 5:17-27 But it also brought out the truth that
God the Father, and God the Son, are working
together in the salvation of souls. Every living
person will receive one of two things from the
Lord Jesus, eternal life or banishment to hell.
Jn 5:25 Refers to a person being dead in sin.
This is the way all unbelievers are. When we
heard the voice of the Son of God, we received
life, we live.
#1065
When we pray for our brethren it helps a great
deal in loving them.
John 5:28-47
Jn 5:28,29 These verses refer to something
entirely different. These dead are those who are
in their graves. Their body is dead. Both saved
and unsaved. The believers, whose bodies are in
the graves are going to be raised by the voice of
the Lord Jesus one of these days (1Thess. 4:16).
The unbelievers who have died shall remain in
their grave for about a thousand years longer!
And then they shall be raised by the voice of the
Son of God - Rev.20:12. So our two verses refer
to two separate events and two separate times.
Jn 5:32-47 They were without excuse when they
refused to accept Him. Four things and persons
spoke about Him to them. (1) John the Baptist. (2)
His own works. (3) His Father at His baptism (1:32,33);
and (4) the Old Testament scriptures, verses 45-47.
#1066
You may serve without loving, but you cannot love
without serving.
John 6:1-40
Jn 6:1-4 What wonderful power! The Lord Jesus
could feed 5,000 men from 5 loaves and 2 small
fishes. Today He is the food for every believer
on earth.
Jn 6:15 Outwardly it looks as if they wanted Him
to be their King. But He could see beyond their
actions into their hearts.
Jn 6:16-21 When we have difficulties in our life,
remember to read these verses; verse 20
particularly.
Jn 6:22-40 They were interested in Him mainly
because they had been fed by Him. But what He
wanted was their heart. He wanted everyone to
receive Him and the gift He could give them...
eternal life. (verse 27).
#1067
A idol is anything that we allow to come before
Christ.
John 6:41-71
Jn 6:41 The Jews complain because He said that He
had come down from heaven!
Jn 6:44 This verse takes from us all the credit
for accepting the Lord Jesus and gives all glory
to God. The bread which Jesus gave was His flesh,
which He would give for the whole world. There
could be no salvation for us if the Lord Jesus
had only come to earth, and then had gone back to
heaven. He must die.
Jn 6:51-58 This does not mean that we actually
eat the flesh and drink His blood. But it does
mean, that if we are going to be saved, it is
through His death, and no other way. The death of
Christ makes it very plain that the old life with
which we were born can never inherit eternal life.
It is only when we realize that the old life is
condemned and put in the place of death, that we
can know that our new life is in the Christ Who
has died and has been raised again.
Jn 6:53 We EAT once for salvation.
Jn 6:54-57 The word changes to EATETH. These
verses are for the believer. "Eateth"
means that we must be eating over and over again.
It is His death which keeps us in our new life.
Jn 6:60-71 Many could not accept what was just
said, and gave up. But it only showed that their
belief in Him was very shallow.
Jn 6:68 If our heart grows cold toward the Lord,
who could we turn to that would make us happy?
Peter's answer is very clear.
#1068
To the extent that I have allowed the world to
occupy my heart, I have lost my spiritual
strength. The world is a system apart from God,
over which Satan is the god and prince. Insofar
as I love the world in any shape or form, I am
being unfaithful to Christ. James 4:4
John 7:1-31
Jn 7:1-9 The family of Jesus does not believe in
Him! They urge Him to go to Jerusalem for the
Jewish celebrations. But He waits; later He will
go and show Himself.
Jn 7:10-13 As Jesus is teaching in the temple, He
does not say much about Himself.
Jn 7:17 If any one desires to do the will of God,
he will know the teaching of scripture... whether
they really are from God or are the thoughts of
men. Are we submitting to the Word of God?
Jn 7:19-31 Moses gave the Israelites the law, but
they did not keep it. When Jesus came they tried
to kill Him because He had cured a man on the
Sabbath!
#1069
Things that I allow in my life might be the cause
of stumbling in another.
John 7:32-53
Jn 7:37 Glorious Person - so individual.
Christianity is not a religion, it is a Person.
Do you live in communion with Him day by day?
Jn 7:38,39 Water is a picture of the Holy Spirit,
Who came down from heaven at Pentecost. He fills
every believer with heavenly joy and satisfaction,
if we don't allow other things into our life. (But
remember, the Holy Spirit had not yet come,
because Jesus had not yet gone to heaven).
Jn 7:40-53 They were divided about Jesus. What we
think of Him decides the side we take, even after
we are believers. How much the Lord Jesus means
to us is going to decide what kind of a life we
will lead. Do we enjoy the company of unsaved
people? Then the Lord has lost His attraction for
us.
#1070
If we love the Lord we will love His brethren.
John 8:1-32
There are three words which can describe the Lord
Jesus - "Life", "Light" and
"Love". In these chapters, "water"
or "life" is mentioned - a picture of
"Life" (see 4:10 and 7:38). In chapters
8 to end of 12, it is "Light". Then in
chapters 13 to end, it is surely "Love".
Today we will notice "Light".
Jn 8:1-11 These religious leaders still try to
cause Jesus to make a mistake so they might
accuse Him of going against the Scriptures. First
of all, they were breaking the law themselves.
For in Lev.20:10 it clearly says that both the
man and the woman were to be punished. But they
bring only the woman. Jesus brings their own sins
to mind. He wrote on the ground, giving their
conscience time to work. With guilty conscience
in the presence of God, they left one by one.
They could not stand the "Light". And
the Lord told the woman to go and sin no more.
The Light shows how bad we are, but the blood of
the Lord Jesus cleanses us from all sin. (1st
John 1:7).
Jn 8:12-32 What is the Lord Jesus in verse 12?
Jn 8:13-19 The Pharisees said that one witness
was not enough. But God also was His witness. So
there were two, but still they would not change,
nor believe.
Jn 8:21-32 Some of the most helpful verses in all
scripture to see the importance of knowing who
Jesus is. Read them carefully - particularly v.24.
#1071
We have to do with a God who can pardon and
cleanse everything, but can pass over nothing.
John 8:33-59
Jn 8:33-50 Jesus pointed out that though they
were the descendants of Abraham, before God, they
were sinners. And they were following their
father, the devil.
Jn 8:51-59 Jesus said that if anyone kept His
Word, he would never see death. But they argued
that Abraham had died. Was Jesus greater than
Abraham; they asked?
Jn 8:58,59 His wonderful answer, and their reply.
(Did you notice "light" in the chapter?...it
exposes).
#1072
God tries our faith that we may try His
faithfulness.
John 9
Yesterday we saw Jesus' words rejected. Today we
see His works not wanted. The whole chapter is
one story of the "Light", Jesus,
bringing light to man in darkness. The question
of Who Jesus is, is the centre of everything. The
Pharisees were in a spot. They could not deny
that a great miracle had been done. Verse 24 was
what they believed. The world has not changed!
Most of the arguments the religious leaders are
having these days, centre around the very same
question. "Is Jesus the Son of God?" If
Jesus is not God, then there is no heaven, no
hell, no salvation. But since He is the Son of
God, then everything the Bible says is true. What
the Lord Jesus did to this blind man, is a
picture of what He has done to every believer in
Him. He has given sight to our blind eyes. The
blind man could understand better than they could,
that if Jesus was not from God, He could do
nothing.
Jn 9:35-38 The blind man is cast out of the Jew's
religion, but Jesus finds him, and shows him that
He is the Son of God. The man believes and
worships Him.
Jn 9:40-41 If the Pharisees had confessed that
they were blind, there was a cure too for their
sin, but when they said that they saw, their sin
remained. (Did you see "light" in this
chapter?...it brought relief).
#1073
Today may begin as an ordinary day, but it can be
a day in which God will bless you, direct you and
use you for His glory.
John 10
Jesus is gathering His sheep to a new centre -
Himself. He was gathering them out of the old
sheepfold (Israel). (The Jews had been helping on
the work of the Lord, without knowing it, by
putting out the man in yesterday's chapter 9:34).
Jn 10:3 The porter is the Holy Spirit. Jesus
leads the sheep out of the Jewish fold to bring
them into life in a new condition.
Jn 10:7-9 Those who enter in through the door (Jesus),
find salvation, liberty and food and closeness.
Jn 10:29 They also find security and protection.
The Father gave the sheep to Christ.
Jn 10:16 The "other sheep" are us,
Gentiles. Some have heard Him. Notice there is
one flock. He is the Shepherd. We stay close to
Him because He attracts our hearts. There is no
fence around us,
there is no law, but He is the attracting Centre.
Jn 10:24-38 The Jews are divided again. Who is He?
They say. He again tells them of His Words and
works. They would not believe because they were
not His sheep.
#1074
John 11
By His power the Lord Jesus proves to be the
resurrection and the life. Though Lazarus was
sick, Jesus did not visit Mary and Martha until
Lazarus had been dead four days. This must have
tested their faith very much. But He was waiting
for His Father to tell Him when to go.
Jn 11:24 They knew that Lazarus would rise again
at the last day, but that didn't comfort them at
the time. Oh, they thought, if Jesus had only
come before Lazarus had died!
Jn 11:42 Jesus longed that the people might
believe on Him!
Jn 11:43 Jesus calls one man to come out of death,
for He had power without limit.
Jn 11:47 The more love and power He showed, the
more the leaders hated Him. They were determined
to stop His work one way or another; by murder,
if necessary. (Light in this chapter).
#1075
John 12:1-19
Jn 12:1-11 Here we find in Mary, a beautiful
contrast from all the hatred and lack of
understanding. She is in communion with the Lord.
The result of communion with Him is to understand
what is happening. She alone seemed to know what
was ahead for Him. She anoints His feet with very
costly perfume; this immediately stirs up the
others to find fault with her!
Jn 12:10 They turn their murderous thoughts
toward Lazarus. And yet people today say that no
one has ever come back from the grave. The truth
is that they will not believe, though one rise
from the dead (Luke 16:31).
Jn 12:12-19 People acclaim Him King of Israel.
But the leaders do not know how to stop this.
#1076
John 12:20-50
Jn 12:20-26 Greeks (Gentiles) want to see Him.
Jesus knew that His time to be King had not yet
come. Instead He was going to the cross!
Jn 12:24 Jesus, first would have to become like a
seed which is planted in the ground. It dies, but
through death, there springs up fruit. Those who
have believed in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour,
are the fruit for God.
Jn 12:26 It is one thing to be saved, but it is
another thing to follow the Lord Jesus! Here is
where the happiness and peace is in the believer's
life.
Jn 12:27-36 The Lord's soul was troubled, and He
asks to be saved from what was ahead of Him. But
immediately He adds that it was for that very
purpose He had come to earth.
Jn 12:37-50 No matter how many miracles He had
done, yet they would not believe. Two great
things were going to happen in the one event. The
world was going to become guilty of the
crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, and Satan's power
was going to be broken.
Jn 12:38 Isaiah, over 500 years before had
written these very words -Isaiah 53:1.
Jn 12:46 "The Light" mentioned again.
Jn 12:48 The Bible is going to judge and condemn
the unbelievers when they stand before the Lord
at the end of the millennium (F on your chart).
#1077
John 13
From now on, Jesus is only seen with His
disciples.
Jn 13:1 The love of Jesus never changed for His
own, even though He now faces the cross.
Jn 13:1-17 Jesus is teaching us a lesson. Each
believer is to have a real interest and concern
for other believers. We are to wash each others
feet. By this is meant that when one of us does
something which is not pleasing to the Lord,
another believer can come to us kindly, and point
it out. Satan would here say to us that we are
not to judge each other. If we love each other,
we are going to try to help each other. It is
only when we have judged and put out of our life
the things which do not please the Lord, that we
can have fellowship with Him.
Jn 13:7 Jesus was going away, and they would
understand later. The "hereafter"
refers to our present day.
Jn 13:18-30 Judas is pointed out as the one who
betrays the Lord. Judas goes out before the Lord's
supper. That is not told here.
Jn 13:31-35 The Lord Jesus will be seen in His
glory when He comes in His kingdom at the
beginning of the millennium. But God has
glorified Him before that time - now in heaven.
Jn 13:34-36 By having love one for another, we
show that we follow the Lord Jesus.
Jn 13:37,38 Peter boasts of his faithfulness, but
is told of the fall ahead of him.
#1078
John 14
Jn 14:1-14 They were greatly troubled at the
thought of His leaving them. So Jesus comforts
them. He is going to prepare a place for them in
His Father's House, and He will come again to
take them
to himself. This to comfort us too.
Jn 14:6 Just think how much there is in these 22
words!
Jn 14:9-11 When we believers read John 1:18, we
might think that we shall never see God the
Father. But these verses explain that we shall.
But in the Person of the Son. Read also Col.2:9,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are pleased to dwell
in the body of the Son.
Jn 14:13 This assumes that we are living in
obedience to God's Word.
Jn 14:16-26 The Comforter is the Holy Spirit. He
is the One Who taught the Apostles. If we
believers obey the scriptures, we all would be in
one fellowship, gathered only to the Lord's Name.
Jn 14:21 The more obedient we are, the more Jesus
reveals Himself to us. The more He attracts our
hearts, the less the world will attract us.
Jn 14:27-31 The Lord Jesus had constant peace
with His Father. He was never disturbed, no
matter how terribly He was treated by this world.
This is the peace which He gives to us. If we are
not walking each day with Him, the world soon
crowds into our heart, and that peace is
disturbed. May He satisfy our heart more and more.
#1079
John 15
Jn 15:1-7 When Jesus was on earth, He was the
true vine. Israel should have been this vine - Ps.
80:8. The branches must abide in the vine or they
could not bear any fruit. If a man did not abide
in Him, he was cast out as a dried branch,
because he was merely a professor. These verses
are saying that without Him we can do nothing -
verse 5. Many people think they are Christians,
because they live a good clean life; but the Lord
Jesus has no power over their life... they are
not born again.
Jn 15:8-11 These verses have been called the
royal road to happiness. Are they true of us? We
receive fullness of joy through obedience Verse
11.
Jn 15:18-27 The world hates a believer in the
Lord Jesus, who is living for Him.
Jn 15:24-25 If they had not had the miracles
which He did, there might have been an excuse for
their not believing in Him, but now they have no
excuse.
#1080
John 16
Jn 16:1-16 Jesus continues to comfort His
disciples. He is telling some secrets concerning
their future...He warns them that some would be
put out of the synagogue...some would be killed...and
He tells that if He didn't go up to heaven, the
Holy Spirit,
with all His power, could not come. It would all
be well worth it.
Jn 16:8 The Holy Spirit would be a demonstration
to the world.
Jn 16:12-15 Jesus had many things to say to the
disciples, but they did not have the power to
receive them until the Holy Spirit had come down.
The Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth.
Jn 16:16-22 They would sorrow while He was away,
but He would come again, and they would then
rejoice. Now after He had died, He rose again,
and some of the believers saw Him. But mainly
this is referring to the coming for all believers
in the air. For this we wait today.
Jn 16:23-26 He opens up to them the way they were
to pray. They could pray to the Father in His
name.
Jn 16:24 Fullness of joy through prayer...dependence.
Jn 16:33 What Jesus had spoken was in order that
they might have peace in Him. In the world they
would have troubles, but He had overcome the
world. This is the end of the Lord's talking to
His disciples.
#1081
John 17
This is the Lord's prayer to His Father, Jesus
wanted all that the Father had decided, to come
to pass.
Jn 17:1-5 The glory of the Lord Jesus, as Son of
the Father, is opened up to us.
Jn 17:6-19 Jesus puts His disciples in His own
relationship with the Father. (They are brought
into the place that He was as a Man before God
the Father). He prays that they might enjoy this
place of blessedness.
Jn 17:20-21 Others would believe later. We are
some of these. All believers are brought into the
same blessing of oneness in the Father and the
Son.
Jn 17:22-26 Here we get a glimpse into our
eternal position in the glory. There is going to
be complete oneness. We are going to see the
glory of the Son. But they (and we) are to enjoy
this wonderful relationship now.
#1082
John 18
Jn 18:1-14 Jesus enters into the garden and is
betrayed by Judas. In John we do not read of His
agony in the garden. But only here do we read of
the officers and men falling to the ground,
because John shows us the Lord Jesus as the Son
of God.
Jn 1815-18 & 25-27 Peter denies his Lord. He
has lessons to learn. Note the words "Annas
had sent Him bound", v.24 - "then led
they Jesus"-v.28. The blessed Lord Jesus
humbly let these wicked people lead Him around!
What a low place He took! Read Phil 2:7-11.
#1083
John 19
Note the many contrasts throughout this chapter.
Jn 19:1 Pilate has examined Jesus and has found
Him not guilty, and yet he whips Him.
Jn 19:2-3 The soldiers put a crown on His head,
but it is a crown of thorns! They say "Hail,
(or greetings!) King of the Jews!" 6 times
He is called King in this chapter. They strike
Him with their hands!
Jn 19:4-6 Pilate says that he finds no fault in
Him. The chief priests reply, "crucify Him,
crucify Him!"
Jn 19:7 In Luke 22:67, we read that the chief
priests had asked Jesus to tell them if He was
the Christ. Here they say that He should die
because of what He had said!
Jn 19:8-11 Pilate tells Jesus of his power. Jesus
replies that he had no power at all! (Unless he
received it from God).
Jn 19:12-15 The Jews hated Caesar the head of the
Roman Empire, and here they want him as a friend!
Jn 19:16 Having admitted that Jesus was not
guilty, yet he condemns Him to be crucified.
Jn 19:18 The Lord of glory, the Creator, is
crucified between two thieves.
Jn 19:19 After all this, Pilate writes this title
and puts it on the cross!
Jn 19:23,24 The blessed Lord Jesus, after all the
good He had done, is stripped of His clothes, and
nailed to the cross by rough soldiers. They cast
lots (like tossing a coin), but they don't know
they are carrying out the scriptures! (Psalm 22:18).
Four times in this chapter it says "that the
scripture should be fulfilled"...He the
Living Word fulfilled the written Word.
Jn 19:28,29 In His thirst, they gave Him vinegar!
- Ps.69:21.
Jn 19:30 No man took His life, He gave it up
Himself, 10:17-18.
Jn 19:32-34 The soldiers see that Jesus is dead
and one pierces His side with a spear! The
cleansing power of the blood of Jesus is for the
sinner. The atoning power of the blood of Jesus
is for the throne of God. You will see the first
in Leviticus 14; and the second in the 16th
chapter. The first satisfied the need for us
sinners; the second satisfied the heart of God
about sin. The first is for "sins", the
second, for "sin".
Jn 19:36 Scripture written about 1,300 years
before concerning the Passover - Exodus 12:46 -
is fulfilled! And in verse 37 another scripture!
#1084
John 20
God now acts! The greatest power ever known is
now shown. The Lord Jesus is raised from the dead.
All now changes from darkness to light.
Jn 20:1 in the first creation, God worked for six
days, then rested on the 7th day. But through
Adam's sin, death has been brought to everyone.
But the Lord Jesus (the 2nd Adam - 1Cor. 15:47)
has come down to earth and has made a new and
perfect creation. Now God can rest for ever on
the day after the 7th, the 8th day. The day after
the old Sabbath (7th day, Saturday) is the 8th
day (Sunday) and that's the Lord's (Acts 20:7).
When we accept Christ as our Saviour, we are born
again into the new creation (2Cor. 5:17).
There are 3 new things (A) a new day, verse 1,
the first day of the week, (B) a new name (for
the first time the Lord Jesus calls His followers
"brethren", verse 7, (C) a new
relationship verse 17, God becomes their "Father".
Jn 20:1-10 An empty tomb is what we now know.
Death could not hold our Saviour. He lives and
lives forever. Rev. 1:18.
Jn 20:11-18 All the disciples lack the devotion
of Mary. Turn to Luke 8:2 to see who she was. She
wishes to touch Him, supposing He would be as He
had been before His death. But He was going to be
known in a new way. Christ has been raised into a
new place. The way in which He was known when He
was seen by the people, is gone for ever. That is
what 2Cor.5:16 means. We know Him no more after
the flesh, in other words, our old life is in the
flesh.
Our new life is a spiritual life.
Jn 20:19-23 These verses are a picture of what
God wants us to be enjoying. The Spirit of God
wants to gather each believer around the Lord
Jesus. Separated from all things which are
contrary to the Scriptures.
Jn 20:24-29 Thomas (one of the apostles), won't
believe unless he can see! But later exclaims
"My Lord and my God". Notice the 29th
verse.
Jn 20:31 A summary of the whole gospel of John.
#1085
John 21
Jn 21:1-14 Sad that Peter wants to go back to his
old life! And the others follow him. Are we
drifting back into our old life? To live like we
used to? If we do, it is because the Lord Jesus
has lost His attraction for us. They worked hard
at fishing. Isn't that true too of us when we get
cold in our souls? Nothing would stop us from
working late into the night if it was something
we wanted to do?
Next, the Lord kept the fish from getting into
their nets! Then in the morning, He comes to
where they were, and asks them if they had any
food! Why did He ask them? Because He wanted them
to admit that they had absolutely nothing for all
their work. Did you ever see a believer who was
happy who had gotten away from the Lord? They
think they are.
Jn 21:6 Will they listen to this instruction?
Notice the wonderful results for simply obeying.
They were not able to handle the big load of
fishes! (See Malachi 3:10).
Jn 21:7-14 The Lord always is the Provider -
James 1:17, so He says these two sweet words
"come, dine". Are we responding? The
food which the blessed Lord gives to us is
Himself, and this food is for our new nature.
John 6:35.
Jn 21:15-25 In Psalm 23 it says, "He
restoreth my soul". Here the soul of Peter
has been restored, after having so terribly
denied knowing the Lord. Now he is instructed to
feed and shepherd (the Lord is the Chief Shepherd)
other believers.
Jn 21:25 There is no limit to what we can learn
about the Lord Jesus. May we learn more and more
of Him.
With this chapter, we complete the reading of
most of the Books of the Bible. We have
alternated between Old and New Testaments to show
the oneness of the whole Bible. We trust it has
been a blessing to you.
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