As Jesus was preparing His disciples before He gave His life on the cross, He told them, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other.[1] John 13:34 Then Jesus continued to explain the profound impact of this commandment. John 13:34Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your …
The thief’s purpose is to get, but Jesus’ purpose is to give. John 10: 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.[1] Here life is the Greek word zoe. This means the absolute fullness of life, life real and genuine, a life …
Jesus goes ahead of us. That is a comforting thought and reveals how much He loves us. Jesus illustrates the sheep-and-shepherd relationship of going ahead, and, in a spiritual sense, this is what Jesus does in our lives. John 10:4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him …
Jesus wanted His disciples to persist despite rejection, so He gave them a heads-up about what was to come. John 16: 2 For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.[1] There was already a precedent for …
Jesus tells us we are chosen and appointed for a purpose. John 15: 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. [1] Some claim they “found …
Followers of Jewish rabbis were considered to be slaves to their teacher. But with Jesus, we see a friendship forged by sacrifice. The night before Jesus was crucified, He celebrated a Passover meal with His disciples. There, Jesus had washed their feet, warned one of them would betray Him, and that Peter would deny Him. …
Jesus began His teaching by urging His disciples to abide in Him like a branch does to a vine. Then He tells of the joy of obedience. He asks the disciples to remain in His love. They can do this by being obedient to His commands. A result of this obedience will be overflowing joy. …
Forgiving in the face of suffering is one of Jesus’ most extraordinary acts of compassion and mercy as He suffers on the cross. Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[1] As we reflect on this verse, we see …
Trusting God leads to obedience, which is seen in Peter’s life as the Lord begins to do something new. Hebrews 11:1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.[1] As the early church spread out from Jerusalem, it was now God’s plan to evangelize the Gentiles, but …
child and how important being loved was. How has being loved shaped your life? As I write this, our granddaughter is almost a year old and loves to give her doll hugs. It does not take long for a child to understand something unique about hugs and love. Love did not begin with us but …