Day 144: John 13:31-38, John 14:1-14

'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”' - John 13:34-35 ESV

This is the first of three instances where Jesus commands His disciples to love one another (13:34, 15:12, 17), but this one is unique in the fact that He calls it a new command. What was so new about this command? The Law of Moses commanded them to love their neighbor as themselves (Leviticus 19:18), but Jesus ratchets the expectation way up. He is asking His disciples (and us) to love each other in the way that He loved them. A love that serves. A love that gives. A love that self-sacrifices for the good of others. A love that forgives. A love that confronts injustice.

We soon realize that this kind of love will not be something that we can master in 20 years of practice. We will always be working on it.

Also, Jesus said that it should be our main signifier to the outside world that we know and follow Him. Unfortunately, this isn't what we are known for most in the world today. But the result of certain Christians obeying this command over the past 2,000 has literally changed the world in more ways than we have room to talk about here.

From the abolition of slavery to gender equality to care for the poor, Christians have always led the way in loving and caring for all.

Your turn.

Day 143: John 13:1-30

'You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.' - John 13:13-15

Washing feet at this Passover meal wasn't done by those participating in the meal, especially not the one who was presiding over their time together. This was, instead, the job of a slave. When Jesus told His disciples to go and prepare a place, He never asked them to make accommodations for a slave to be there to serve them.

Many believe there was a moment of awkwardness where the disciples were looking around, wondering who would perform the task of a slave by washing their feet. Jesus stepped forward to do the menial task, which was shocking, especially for Peter (see verse 6).

Earlier, Jesus had said this:

"...and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Matthew 20:27-28

Now he was giving them yet another example of how to serve.

What about us? What is our end game? Many want to be the "boss" to tell others what to do so that we can feel important and in control. We rarely see people positioning themselves to serve. When we do, it startles us, just like it did for the disciples.

May we always be prepared to serve. If we have this mentality, we will shine bright in a dark, self-congratulating world.

Day 142: John 12:20-50

'“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”' - John 12:27-28 ESV

Many (if not all) of us have struggled at some point with extreme anxiety or depression. When I've experienced them, it seems to have been brought on by either a moment that seemed too big for me or through regret of a mistake.

John records that Jesus' soul (literally: life) was troubled. The word he uses for troubled is tarassō, which can also be translated as "disturbed" or "to cause a riot." Ever felt like there was a riot going on inside of you? The following quote is so helpful:

"Jesus is saying more than that he is emotionally troubled. He is saying that the very core of his human person is naturally resistant to the coming pain and death. This is a spiritual battle, a battle between survivalistic instincts God has purposely built into humans, and the course of obedience that calls Jesus to the cross." - Bryant/Krause

It is wild to think that committing to see our life's purpose being to glorify God can help settle our souls, reducing anxiety, allowing us to take a deep, confident breath.

May we hear the Father's voice to us as well. If it was enough for Jesus to make it to and through the experience of the cross, it will also be all we'll need to face whatever seems insurmountable.

Father, glorify Your name!

Day 141: John 11:55-57, 12:1-19

'So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.' - John 12:10-11 ESV

When we read the beginning of Holy Week (the week leading up to Jesus' crucifixion on Friday, resurrection on Sunday), we may wonder what buzz created such a reaction from the crowd that was waving palm branches, tossing their coats, and yelling out Messianic praise. On the one hand, we have the overarching prophecy that is being fulfilled, but by what means did God use to generate this kind of response?

If we read this in its context, we see that Lazarus' resurrection from the dead caused quite the stir in Bethany and Jerusalem (just two miles down the road).

Lazarus and his two passionate sisters (Mary and Martha) played a key role in the events leading up to Jesus' ultimate act of rescue and defeat of death. We can see why. Jesus had resurrected all three of them (in some sense), giving them new and focused reasons to live.

It seems like this is how evangelism (sharing your faith) is supposed to work even today. Jesus transforms our lives, and then we can't help but want that transformation for others as well.

May we get to hear these words again in our generation:

"Look, the world has gone after him." (12:19)

Day 140: John 11:1-54

'Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.' - John 11:50-52 ESV

God's plan never seems to happen in a vacuum, insulated within a select group of people. When God starts to do something, He seems to involve everyone, even those against His plans and purposes.

It is mindblowing that the High Priest, a Jew with the maximum amount of power and influence during this particular year, is even prophesying about the rescue plan that is about to occur. Soon, this entire group of religious leaders will be on this High Priest's own property, trying to convict Jesus of crimes He didn't commit.

All of us have a decision to make. Will we be used by God willingly to move forth his plans and purposes, or will we stubbornly resist (like Pharaoh) and still find ourselves in the middle of what God has wanted to do the entire time? To be sure, we all have a choice. We can decide to follow Jesus.

May we stay in the flow of His will both now and forever.

Day 139: John 10:22-42

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." - John 10:28 ESV

We, as a culture, are obsessed with what others think of us.

Do they think I'm legit? Do they think I'm fat? Do they think I'm stylish? Do they think I'm boring? Then it shifts to a more serious tone: Do they think I'll be unsuccessful? Do they think I'm close-minded? Do they think I'm insane for believing Jesus rose from the dead? Do they think I'm a horrible person for believing the ENTIRE Bible?

What Jesus says in our reading today should set all of those fears to rest. Once He sets us into an eternal life reality (which began when we committed ourselves to follow Jesus and will culminate when we die and are raised imperishable), we are secure in every way. Though we may listen to the opinions of others, we know they are not our ultimate authority. Other people do not have the ability to snatch us out of Jesus' hand. It isn't their call.

Again, this is why it is vital to take our lead based on what Jesus says about us. He says we are forgiven (Romans 3:23-26). He says we are His treasured possession (1 Peter 2:9). We are the ones He wants to spend eternity with (John 17:3). I mean, that is saying something.

Take a deep breath.

Jesus has you in His hand.

Day 138: John 10:1-21

"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd." - John 10:16 ESV

Every human being on earth was skillfully crafted by God and was made in His image. This means that all people are to be treated with dignity and respect, even those living lifestyles that are in opposition to biblical teaching. Just because they are "other sheep" currently does not mean that they will not someday enter through the "gate" and be saved.

Jesus is the trusted Shepherd. He proved this by His sacrificial death and powerful resurrection. He has set Himself apart from the fake shepherds.

Our passage for today makes us wonder who Jesus is targeting with his strong language. Many believe it is yet another way of Jesus' deconstruction of the Pharisees' religious system. They were frauds, and it wasn't even close. They were not going to protect the sheep when it came down to it.

We need to know today that Jesus is always motivated by protective love.

What a great message to bring to the "other sheep" we are working to reach. One Shepherd protects our one flock, and there is no one else that will fight for us like Him.

Eugene Peterson did a great job paraphrasing verse 10 of our reading to say that "A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

Day 137: John 9:1-41

'Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”' - John 9:39 ESV

It isn't hard to become enamored with the miracle that Jesus performed on this man who had been born blind in our reading for today. I mean, in a matter of moments, this man was given a completely different life. He went from begging to boasting, not in himself but in a man he didn't even know.

As was Jesus' custom, His miracles were never about showing off. He wasn't that insecure and didn't need affirmation from people (see John 2:25). This miracle was, of course, to help this man, but it is was also about Jesus making a statement about what it really means to see.

Being religiously elite and esteemed apparently doesn't guarantee a 20/20 Kingdom-of-God-vision.

This (formerly) blind man started to truly see not after he washed off the mud. He started to see when he began to believe (trust) in who Jesus was.

Proverbs 26:12 sums up the state of the Pharisees:

‘Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.’

May we remain ready for Jesus to teach us the best way to live. There is no bottom to this kind of learning. It is a lifetime of drinking deep.

Day 136: John 8:31-59

'So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”' - John 8:31-32 ESV

Truth isn't constricting, as many in our world claim today. It doesn't make you narrow-minded to follow the narrow way of Jesus.

Truth is liberating; it sets us free from the enslavement of sin. It opens us up to become the person Jesus always intended for us to be, even before our births (see Psalm 139:16).

The best friends we have will not hesitate to tell us the truth. They know that lying to us will not help. Going the route of deception in the name of flattery leads us away from eternal life.

Jesus is your best friend. The truth He has to offer will confront all of our failures and let the light of His love (via His blood) do what it does best: cleanse (see 1 John 1:9).

Verse 44 of our reading today is one of the most revealing places in all of the Bible regarding our enemy, the devil. The "lie" originated with him (the nachash) in Genesis 3:4 when he told Eve, "You will not die."

The devil will always lie to us, but it will be in a way that parades as truth.

Choose freedom. Listen to Jesus.

Day 135: John 21-30

'I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.' - John 8:24 ESV

The more days we accumulate on planet earth, the easier it can get to write people off that are currently making bad decisions. We think (as Jesus said) they are doomed to "die in their sins," and so we move on to the next individual who may seem more open to the idea of faith in Jesus.

Can you remember a time in your life where you weren't open to the way of Jesus? Perhaps it was a tragedy or hypocrisy among Christians that drove you away. Aren't you glad there were people who didn't consider you a lost cause?

Even with the stubbornly-bent-on-evil Pharisees, Jesus knew there was still an opportunity for them to repent (return to God). If anyone could have been given up on, it would have been these men. Yet, Jesus still holds out an invitation to them.

Beating hearts in our chests and breath in our lungs are proof that there is still hope for us not to die in our sins.

What do you know, at the end of our reading, John records that "many believed in Him." (verse 30)

Jesus died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3) so that we would not have to die in them.