The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
Oct 23-28, 2023
Enter the presence of the Lord-
(M) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
(W)and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
(M)Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
(W)In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
(M)The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
(W) The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
(M)The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
(W)We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son,
(All) who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(M)No one has ever seen God,
(All) but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
(The Gospel of John 1:1-5, 9, 14, 18)
Confession
God our Creator, you know that we cannot find rest apart from you because you created us with a place in our soul that only you can satisfy. You know our longlining for you. Yet we looked for you somewhere else. We even invented many idols and treated them as our gods. O, God, how foolish we had been. We were totally wrong. Thank you for your word opening our minds to comprehend that your Son is your best plan for us. Lord, we embrace you and we behold your gracious love and glory in Jesus Christ. We praise you. Amen.
Scripture Reading: The Gospel According to John
3:16-18 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
10:10b-11 I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
11: 25-26a 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.
Thoughts to Share: Jesus as Eternal Son of God who Gave Life to Us
In the Gospel according to John, we see John wasted no seconds to tell of the divinity and eternity of Jesus. The first 18 verses of the chapter 1 capture our attention and cause us to wonder the One from the eternal past who understood so well what we long for so much: life, light, truth, grace, love. When I read this passage, I sensed an indescribable joy, peace and awe beyond my own understanding.
As I dig in the entire book of John, I find that John led us to see the Truth that Jesus was the Son of God in many ways.
First, Jesus revealed himself to many.
- In the town of Samaritan: The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming...” Jesus said to her. “I who speak to you am he.” (4:25, 26)
- At the outside of the Temple: The healed blind man, “Who is the Son of Man (or Son of God)? …Jesus said to him, you have seen him, and it is he who is
speaking to you. “(9: 36)
- Jesus performed numerous miracles to signify he was from God: He turned water into wine at a wedding. He healed the son of a nobleman.
He got an impotent man by the pool up to walk. He fed 5000 hungry people. He raised Lazarus from the dead.
Secondly, Jesus was recognized by many.
- “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” by the John Baptist. (1:29)
- “This is the Son of God!” by the John Baptist (1:34)
- “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote.” by Philip (1:45)
- “You are the Son of God. “by Nathanael (1:49)
- “Can this be the Christ?” by the Samaritan woman by the well and some people of Jerusalem (4:29b; 7:27)
- ‘This is indeed the Savior of the world.” by many Samaritans (4:42)
- This is indeed the Prophet who is come into the world” by the hungry people who were fed (6:14)
- “…you have the words of eternal life…you are the Holy One of God…” by Simon Peter (6:68b, 69b)
- “yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” by Martha (11:27)
Thirdly, Jesus told how he related to the Father God
- To the pigeon sellers at the Temple: “take away these things away. Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.’ (1:16)
- To a ruling councilman Nicodemus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness what we have seen.” (3:11)
- “For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. “(5: 19)
- “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son him authority in execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. (5:27)
- “...because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (5:30)
- “For on him (the Son of Man) God the Father has set his seal.” (6:27)
- ”my teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” (7:16)
- “If you knew me, you will know my Father also.” (8:19)
- “I am from above...I am not of the world…I came from God…but he sent me...” (8:23, 43)
- “...the Father is in me, and I am in the Father. “(10: 38)
- “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (14:7)
- “I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. “(15:1)
- “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” (17:1b)
Fourthly, Jesus publicly announced his essence truly reflecting God the Father
- “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.” (4:14)
- “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” (5:39)
- “Truly truly I say to you…I am the bread of life…. I am the living bread that came down from the heaven. …whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” (6:35, 58)
- “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (6:63)
- “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.” (8:12)
- “I am the door of sheep…I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his
life for the sheep. ” (10:7,10, 11)
- “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. (10:26)
- “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (12:46)
- “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through me…. Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…. I am in the Father
and the Father is in me…” (14:8, 9, 10)
- “I am the vine…” (15:5a)
Fifthly, Jesus clearly knew his life purpose and mission.
- … I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (10:10)
-... For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life:
that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent…” (17:2)
- In his final week before his crucifixion, Jesus said, “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.” (12:27)
-On the cross, Jesus gave his last words- “It is finished.” (19:30)
Jesus accomplished his most important work of saving by his bearing the sin of the world, being crucified on the cross, being buried, and being raised. He came for this purpose to accomplish God the Father’s will.
Sixthly, Jesus planned Father God’s mission through him.
John gave a long discourse of Jesus with his disciples on the night of their last Passover meal before Jesus went on the cross. Jesus taught some very important truths to prepare these disciples for the next stage of God’s mission.
- Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit to come and to be with them. The Holy Spirit was to teach them the Truth; to be their Advocate, Helper,and
Comforter; to strengthen them, to remind them of his teachings; to convict the world concerning sin, righteousness and judgement.
- Jesus alerted them to understand the reality of the world around them and their way of life as “in the world but not of the world”.
- Jesus instructed them to love one another. He washed their feet to show the example of a humble service to each other
Then, after Jesus’ resurrection, he went to find and restore those disciples who were scattered away during his crucified time. He greeted them with peace and blessings. He accepted them and trusted them again. He re-commissioned them.
Biblical scholars generally believe that Christians were facing another round of persecution when John wrote down his memories with Jesus at the end of the first century, A. D. Could these Christians hold fast their faith through suffering? Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, John retold the truth of Jesus Christ to strengthen their faith. More importantly, all people of later generations can hear this eternal good news: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing they may have life in his name.
Our age is an age full of ways and philosophies to explain our existence that is full of all puzzles. Who is wise and understanding among us? Maybe all that we need is to sit and listen to the One who came down from above and from the very beginning. Let this Jesus full of the truth and grace come into our being and our existence. We will find mercy, peace, understanding and wisdom in him and his loving gift: eternal life.
Prayer Suggestions
Jesus, the Lord of our life, as a deer thirsts for the flowing water, my soul thirst for the living God. You came to tell us that you are the One who can satisfy our quest for life. You have made a way for us to return to the living God. God the Father, thank you for the words of the Law and the Prophets about Jesus. Thank you for sending your only Son Jesus to us and showing the truth, grace, light, life, wisdom that we need so much. The Holy Spirit, thank you for your awakening, revealing and convicting work in us. The Trinue God, continue to do your work in us. We praise you and worship you. Amen.
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