John 18:1-2

March 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.” (John‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭2‬)

Here, John describes the Garden of Gethsemane as 1) across the Kidron Valley, meaning on the east side of the valley, and 2) a place that Jesus frequented with his disciples.

I suspect that Judas initially took the soldiers to the upper room, only to find it abandoned. Quickly gathering his thoughts, Judas knew where Jesus would be because he had been there with Jesus before. Admittedly, the fruitless trip back to the upper room is conjecture; Judas may have already realized they would be gone and went directly to the garden. But finding the upper room empty adds pressure to the storyline because Judas had an agreement to fulfill. Regardless, John tells us that Judas “knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.” (2)

The point of regularity is what stands out to me in this passage. Although that consistency aided Judas in his evil pursuit, I still see it as a good thing, and something I want to mark my own life with. I believe spontaneity can be a great strength, and consistency in some things is also essential.

One of the things I have tried to build as a constant in my life is completing this chapter-per-day devotional. With God’s help, today marks the 975th day in a row that I have read a chapter of the Bible devotionally. This practice doesn’t make me a hero; it simply shapes my life and establishes some landmarks for my life. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I have completed this reading before getting out of bed because I want God’s word to be the guide for my day. I don’t think it is a sin to read the Bible later in the day, but I want to make sure the busyness of the day doesn’t eat up my basic Bible time. (I read/study the Bible in addition to the morning devotional time, but admittedly, not every day.)

There are other things that I want to be regular things that I’m known for, but not for my glory. I have friends who are quick and automatic to pray when someone shares a burden. I have other friends who are consistent encouragers. And others, who automatically help the disadvantaged. These are all great things to be known for, as Jesus was known for spending time in the garden meeting with his disciples.

Father, help me to grow markers of consistency in my life. Help me to be a dependable intercessor. Help others see consistency in my life such that they can have confidence in me. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, discipleship, Gospels, Jesus Said, John, Life in Christ, New Testament

John 16:32-33

March 28, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John‬ ‭16‬:‭32‬-‭33‬).

In chapter 16, Jesus is walking his disciples – literally and figuratively – toward his departure to the Father. Of course, several events will take place before his ascension, including his arrest, death, burial, and resurrection. He has already cryptically told them of his departure, but of course, they didn’t understand. In this chapter, he answered the question presented in chapter 15: “How do we abide in you if you are going away?” Answer: The Holy Spirit. (16:7-8)

In these verses, we see three important things. First, Jesus warned them of a hardship coming that would scatter them. He is referring to his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, which will happen in a few hours. (Jn 18)

We have the advantage of having the complete story, so we can read ahead and see that what Jesus told the disciples would come, did come. Since Jesus proved himself a trustworthy and reliable foreteller, we can trust the portion of his foretelling that applies to us, even if it doesn’t always make sense.

Second, Jesus mentions His unity with the Father. Although the disciples will be scattered, leaving Jesus “alone,” He will not be alone because the Father is with him. Surely, there are times I need this reminder that God is with me. When it seems that all have abandoned me, I must remember that God has not abandoned me.

Third, Jesus told the disciples where they could find peace in a topsy-turvy world. Where? In HIM! Because He has overcome the world and its traps, they can find peace in him. At his resurrection, Jesus defeated the worst things the world has to offer like death and everything else that kills our souls.

Father, help me to find strength and hope in Jesus. Help me to lean into him in hard times. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, discipleship, Gospels, Holy Spirit, Jesus Said, John, Life in Christ, New Testament

John 15:4-5

March 27, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭5‬).

The disciples need important guidance to move forward, and Jesus is intentionally providing it.

The setting is so important. Remember, in a few hours, Jesus will be forcefully separated from the disciples, and then hours later, they will see him publicly crucified. Their world is about to be shattered in ways they can’t imagine, and they will have to make some important decisions about following Jesus.

In a few hours, Jesus’s command to abide/remain in him will be difficult to understand. How can they abide in one who is going away? How can we abide in one whom we have never seen? Jesus’s next statement escalates the value of abiding: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (5)

According to Jesus, the disciples will not be able to bear fruit without abiding in Jesus. This is so counterintuitive. The natural mind will suggest that we don’t need Jesus to bear good fruit. A few years ago, a Harvard Divinity School graduate published Good Without God. In this apologetic for humanism, he argued that humans do not need a belief in God to do good. Notice that Jesus’s statement is much narrower. Jesus isn’t arguing for generic deism; he is talking about exclusively abiding in him. Apart from him, the disciples will not be able to produce fruit.

Jesus challenged the innate belief that in ourselves we are good enough. But on whose scale? How do we measure “good enough”? Whatever natural abilities the disciples had – and, like us, they must have had some – Jesus said they were not enough to produce the fruit Jesus is referencing.

This lesson may need to percolate in our souls before we can embrace it.

Father, please help me realize that I can not produce fruit on my own. Help me to get over my self-appreciation and abide in Jesus. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, discipleship, Gospels, Jesus Said, John, Life in Christ, New Testament

John 12:23-24

March 24, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.’” (John‬ ‭12‬:‭23‬-‭24‬)

Two things stand out to me in these two verses. First, Jesus revealed that he is fully aware of his impending death. This should be a helpful observation for those who think Jesus was caught by surprise or tricked. Jesus was fully aware, though the disciples were not.

Second, Jesus used an agricultural illustration to explain his own sacrifice, but also the sacrifices that his disciples would make.

The grain of wheat is not worthless when used in food. Of course, one grain alone will not make much difference, but its value isn’t zero. The real exponential value of a grain of wheat is realized when it is planted. That one grain can reproduce itself directly into 90-450+ grains. In the next generation, those grains can multiply themselves similarly. The numbers become staggering pretty quickly. The point, though, isn’t to guess exactly how many grains that one grain can become, but rather to understand that the death of that grain is where its greatest potential lies.

In an illustrative way, Jesus isn’t saying his life – the time spent walking with the disciples – has zero value. He is trying to help the disciples see that his death is where the infinite value is found. Of course, John already told us in verse 16 that the guys didn’t get it until after Jesus was glorified. Time, explanation, and creative illustrations didn’t fully prepare the disciples for what was about to happen.

Father, help me to read your word well, then to receive it well. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Jesus Said, Life in Christ, New Testament, Word Pictures

John 8:51-52

March 20, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ (8‬:‭51‬-‭52‬)

The confusion here is somewhat understandable. There are two meanings of death or die in the Bible. Both are referenced in these verses.

Appearing first in the Bible is spiritual death, the death of the soul. We see this referenced in Genesis 2:17, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭17, emphasis added‬)

We can conclude that this refers to spiritual death because Adam didn’t fall over dead at the moment or on the day he ate. Genesis 5:5 says he lived a long 930 years. Of course, we don’t know how long Adam and Eve lived outside of the garden, but we can surmise it was a lengthy period since they bore children there. The main point is that Adam’s soul died immediately.

The second type of death in the Bible is physical death. We already mentioned that in relation to Adam. But we can see the phrase “see death” used by both man and God in reference to physical death in Luke 2: “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭26‬)

In the John passage, Jesus is using “see death” in the spiritual sense. The Pharisees, like Simeon, are thinking of physical death.

In the case of Adam, and in the case of us, spiritual death leads to physical death. Unfortunately, most people in the world don’t make this connection and focus solely on physical death because, as they say, “The only two things guaranteed in life are taxes and death.”

Paul explained to Timothy how spiritual death can be reversed in 2 Timothy 1:10, “and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬). “Through the gospel” explains why we should be adamant in sharing the gospel. While the gospel doesn’t reverse the curse of physical death, it can bring eternal spiritual life.

Two important things we can see in these verses are 1) the importance of understanding how a person is using a word/phrase, and 2) our need to recognize that the gospel is our gateway to eternal life.

Father, help me to have a greater burden to help people see their need for the gospel. Amen.

Filed Under: Death, devotional thoughts, Evangelism, Jesus Said, Joel, John, Life in Christ, New Testament
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