John 17:3

March 29, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
‭‭(John‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬)

John introduced us to “eternal life” in chapter 3: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬)

In 3:16, we saw that believing in Jesus would result in eternal life. In today’s verse, Jesus indicates that if we have eternal life, we know the only true God and Jesus whom He sent.

If we smash up these two verses (3:16 + 17:3), we can see that Jesus is the gateway to the Father, which is exactly what John 14:6 says: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” By believing in Jesus, we come to know the one true God (I.e., the Father).

This is really deep, but I’m afraid we are so familiar with John 3:16 that we walk right past the significance. Eternal life means that we know (I.e., are in relationship with) the one true and living God. Jesus has not only shown us the Father (14:9), but he also brings us into a relationship with the Father. In the Old Testament, such closeness was rare (as is true in all other religions). Usually, people interacted with God indirectly via intermediaries, whether that was priests, sacrifices, or angels. They couldn’t say they knew God.

By knowing Jesus, we know the Father because they are one. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, not just with us. This is Trinitarian theology.

Father, help me to see the significance and depth of believing in Jesus. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Gospels, Jesus Said, John, 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 14:26

March 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“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 that I have said to you” (John‬ ‭14‬:‭26).

I don’t think we could overstate the importance of this verse for the disciples going forward. Their world is about to be rocked in ways they can not imagine. Their daily access to Jesus is going to change in a few hours, and while Jesus understands this, the disciples can’t.

One beautiful thing about this verse is that Jesus is assuring them that they are not being left alone. But in addition to God’s presence, they will also have God’s guidance. First, the Holy Spirit will teach them all things. I don’t think this necessarily means that the Holy Spirit will teach them algebra, for example. Rather, the Holy Spirit will help them learn all the things they learn.

Second, the Holy Spirit will remind them of the things that Jesus had said to them. John 2:22 is an example of what Jesus meant: “When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” (John‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬, emphasis added)

How does any of this apply to me? Because the Holy Spirit came to dwell in believers, not just the disciples, I have the same blessing of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence.   I believe that everything I learn is by the help of the Spirit. This is why I pray for my kids every day before they go to school. This is why I asked God to open His word to me this morning before I read John 14.

In the way that the Holy Spirit would bring to the disciples’ remembrance the things that Jesus said to them, I am hopeful he will do the same for me. This can be throughout the day when various things come my way or when talking to others, particularly about spiritual topics.

Finally, these words to the disciples, and by extension to me, should help me have courage throughout each day, knowing that the Holy Spirit is with me. “You got this!” is a popular mantra that teachers use to encourage their students, particularly younger children, in stressful situations. Based on what Jesus said, I would adjust that to “We got this!”

Father, help me have greater confidence in you because of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Please help me learn new things and bring to my remembrance all that you have said to me. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Gospels, Holy Spirit, Jesus Said, John, New Testament

John 13:19

March 25, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place, you may believe that I am he” (John‬ ‭13‬:‭19‬).

Jesus appears to be establishing reminders that will be pivotal for the disciples in the future. Sometimes we call this prophecy, which is foretelling future events. The event foretold here – Judas’s betrayal of Judas – will begin to take place in the next moments, but will become clear in a few hours.

I think Jesus’ foretelling the future is important for a few reasons. First, it demonstrates his clear knowledge of the future. While foretelling the future alone does not prove his deity, it is surely part of the whole argument for his deity.

Second, foretelling the future demonstrates that Jesus wasn’t unaware of or tricked into this betrayal or his impending death. He willingly walked to Calvary for me!

Third, foretelling Judas’s betrayal demonstrates Jesus’s kindness toward Judas. While he knew what Judas was doing, he still gave Judas an honored seat at the meal. I suspect that had I been in that position, I would have put Judas far away from me.

Fourth, foretelling the future for the disciples is a measure of grace because his words will help them believe afterward. He did the same regarding his death and resurrection in Mark 8, 9, and 10.

Jesus will use this phrase twice more in John:

“And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.” (‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭29‬)

“But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.” (John‬ ‭16‬:‭4‬)

This pattern demonstrates Jesus’ commitment to his disciples and us! Why us? Because these words are preserved for us, along with many more, and are helpful for us to believe.

Thank you, Father, for the love and grace of Christ demonstrated in foretelling the future. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Gospels, Grace, Jesus Said, John, New Testament, Prophecy
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