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John The Bread of Life
Week 30 Day 1
Reading: John 6:35; 48-51 "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." ESV Thought: As in the days of Jesus' ministry, there are still a very great many who do not have enough to eat and drink. Jesus refers to Himself as the bread of life, that is the bread that gives life, for He also says, "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" (v53). So whilst Jesus as the bread of life for salvation is metaphorically imposed, the statement still appeals to those who still hunger and thirst, for in Him all needs are met, for He works all things together for those He calls, bringing them from death into new life. For He signifies that if we do not eat of His flesh then we are dead, for there is no life within us. What though does it mean to eat of His flesh? During the Last Supper, did He not break bread and give it to them saying, "Take, eat, this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me" (Mat26:26; Luk22:19). The important words here are, "in remembrance of me", Jesus is showing that if you believe and have faith in Him then you have indeed eaten of His flesh. Then after dinner did He not take the cup and give it to them saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Mat26:27-28), this is to show that in being in remembrance of Jesus and the faith that flows from it, that you do indeed have new life apart from sin, in the new covenant sealed by His blood. Jesus is demonstrating that He is the heavenly fulfilment of the Showbread of the Tabernacle; fellowship of God and man. Therefore we are to seek out those who have chosen to attend the feast of the Lamb that they too should dine of His flesh and thus receive the gift of salvation. Prayer: Lord, we hunger for more of You, feed us I pray. And whilst there are those who yet still await their invitation to Your feast, let a provision be given that they too should eat of Your body. May they be joined to Your body, as it was broken upon the cross.
The Light of the World
Day 2
Reading: John 8:12; 9:4-5; 12:35-36; 46 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have
the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." ESV Thought: In this world the actions and workings of sin are darkness, Jesus is the light that exposes their evil, lighting the way for others to be called out of that darkness. For in the light is life, for John also writes, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (Joh1:14) for all men stood in darkness, and all were dead, for the life of Him had not be manifested in this world yet. Yet it was the decision of the Father, that the light should come into the world to be overtaken by the darkness, that the darkness should be overcome by life. Jesus is the source of that life, that light, for to those He chooses to reveal the light, life pours in to expel the darkness, for the darkness is opposed to the light. For those who were in the darkness could not reach out to grasp the light until the light had already entered in. In the Holy Place within the Tabernacle there was only one light, the lampstand. If the lampstand ever want out, the Holy Place would be enveloped in darkness, so attendants were needed to keep it burning. Jesus is the heavenly fulfilment of this lampstand, for He never goes out. So then, as those who have received the light we are called to become sons of light, to reflect the brightness of He who is the source, that we might bear testimony of Him and pray for Him to be revealed to others, that to they also the light should come. We must remember that Jesus is the only source of light in a dark world, let that thought permeate the way we live. Prayer: Lord, thank You that when we were imprisoned in the dark You shone through it all. Let now Your light shine through all the darkness of the world and sin. Expel the darkness with Your radiant glory, revealing Yourself to those still bound in the dark. Let them see Your glory and be desiring of it, that they should put trust in You.
The Door of the Sheep
Day 3
Reading: John 10:7-10 "I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." ESV Thought: There is only one way to pass from death to life, into the presence of God, and that can only be found through Jesus. Just as the tabernacle gate was the only way to enter into the courts, Jesus is the only way to enter into the courts of God. Jesus was not the first to claim something special or to go after reform during the Roman or Greek occupations, Acts mentions two, saying that there movements did not succeed because they were not from God. Jesus picks up on this from a different angle, commenting on those who came before not being able to convince the sheep. The sheep refer to the elect, for they cannot be swayed or misled by any, for they belong to the Lord. We are the elect, and nothing can separate us from the salvation we have been given. We now are married to Christ, nothing will stop the bridegroom from claiming all of His bride, once chosen no person can fall from the grace to which they have been received. Therefore since we cannot fall to the lies of those who seek evil upon us, we must set ourselves to denounce them before others, that when they come to steal and destroy they will not succeed. Set yourselves to do good, and to rebuke those who speak false truths, correcting those who have been misled, and thus dispelling the darkness through the testimony of Jesus. Prayer: Lord, You called us to You before even time began, You set a place for us in Your Apologies for the long length of this Take 5, it was necessary to communicate the mystery of Jesus which John portrays throughout his gospel.
presence before we were even born, and You called us Your own before we even acknowledged You. And You set us apart from the world that we would never be separated from You. So now send us to others who belong to You, let us speak out against those who teach falsely or trick people with false signs, be with us when we rebuke and when we correct that others would be received into Your name.
The Good Shepherd
Day 4
Reading: John 10:11-18; 25-28 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep... I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." ESV Thought: Within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle there was the altar for burning incense before which prayers were made, it was placed directly in the path through to the Most Holy Place, and thus signified the position of an intercessor between man and God. Jesus is the fulfilment of this position acting as an intercessor before God for us, praying on our behalf. His death also became significant in this, for He became an intercessor or our part by taking away all our sin, putting us to death from sin, wiping away our hearts of stone, and giving us His life that we should live. Jesus is the Great Intercessor, for He worked all together that we should be joined with God through Him. Even now He prays before the Father on our behalf, He "who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us" (Rom8:34). So He called us, who were not part of the first fold, to bring us also to eternal life, for the Gospel was to Israel first, then to the Gentiles, to all be included in His flock, because He called us to Himself, to be baptized in His death. Yet there are those not a part of His flock, who will not listen to His voice, for their rejection is being used to glorify God. Therefore we must be diligent to seek out those who are a part of the flock, for to them belongs eternal life. Prayer: Lord, You chose me to be a part of Your flock, that You should lay down Your life for my sake. Teach me also to love in this manner, that I should intercede on behalf of others and thus grasp the depths of Your love by showing it to others. Be with me I pray, and be with those I pray for.
The Resurrection & the Life
Day 5
Reading: John 11:25-26 "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." ESV Thought: What little it is to believe, and thus to receive. Such a little thing asked of us, to receive so much. How much grace was shown to we who were far away, to be brought close, to be granted a portion of faith, and to receive eternal life, and all we have to do is believe in the Gospel. So much grace that words cannot describe its height, nor depth, nor length, nor breadth, for if grace were an ocean we'd be sinking. And the amazing thing
about grace is: it's not about what we can do, for if it were the Law would have been sufficient to bring all to salvation; but grace is about what He's already done. For death reigned from the one man Adam to the one man Jesus, and the Law was given to expose sin and death for what they were, that by holding to the Law a person might realize that they too were dead because sin reigned over their life. Yet in the face of death, Jesus cries, "I am the resurrection and the life!" So then whereas death once reigned, now there is life found in Him who conquered it, given freely to those who are dead that they should have new life in His resurrection, His very life and Spirit within. It is thus the Ark of the Covenant which this is in reference to, and to which in this respect Jesus is the heavenly fulfilment. For within it were kept the tablets which identified the death of man, and to touch it meant death; yet with Jesus are the commandments of life and only life can be found at His touch. Seek life and not death in the person of Jesus. Seek grace and not the Law in your blessings. Seek to be given and not to earn, for this is the heart of the Gospel. Prayer: Lord, You gave without regard when You elected us to Your salvation, You gave us life without regard for Your own, to bring us from death and into life. Therefore send us Lord to give this gift to others also, that they too should receive Your life You so freely gave. Go to them Lord.
The True Vine
Day 6
Reading: John 15:1-2; 4-5; 16 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." "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." "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." ESV Thought: The laver or basin of the Tabernacle was used for purification; the water contained within was used for daily cleansing. Jesus fulfils this since He is the source of living waters, that by cleansing ourselves in Him, we might abide to Him. For to believe is such a small thing for it is simple to do, but to abide is to do something so much deeper, more personal, more wonderful. To abide in Jesus is to be in relationship with Jesus, not only to have Him as Saviour, but as friend also. And to be in that relationship means imparting trust, full trust, this is why He says, "Abide in me, and I in you." For apart from Jesus we can do nothing good, nothing that can bear fruit. But when we abide, great good will come about, fruit will ripen like harvest time and there will be an overflowing of grace around you. For when you abide, you will follow the words and actions of Jesus, teaching of Him in action yourself, for if you abide you will listen to Him, and do as He does, and thus you will bear witness of Him to all through the testimony of your life, and not just your words. Remember that even though we didn't choose Him, He chose us and appointed us to a holy calling to be His witnesses throughout all the nations, therefore we go out in gratitude for what He has conquered in us. We do not go out to find people; we go out; He finds them. So to those God is calling you to, I give you this word; Go. Prayer: Lord, teach me to abide in You, and abide in me I pray. Send me out, and go out with me, find Your people and call me to them that they should bear fruit in coming to Apologies for the long length of this Take 5, it was necessary to communicate the mystery of Jesus which John portrays throughout his gospel.
repentance. Let Your words and Your life be alive in me that in like I would be a witness of You through living like You. Bless me as I go Lord.
The Way, the Truth & the Life
Day 7
Reading: John 14:6-7 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." ESV Thought: The final statement covers to the larger extent the importance of Jesus, His necessity and purpose in our relationship with the Father, our connection with sin, and how to touch a world that doesn’t know truth, and thinks that God can be found in many ways. With regard the Tabernacle Jesus is the fulfilment of the altar of burnt offering, the holy altar where sacrifice was made for the forgiveness of sins. The sacrifice of Jesus made that full atonement for sins, for the sacrifices on the altar could never give forgiveness but merely a covering awaiting the revealing of the Messiah, for as the Pharisees astutely said, "Who can forgive sins but God alone? (Mar2:7). Thus it is only Jesus who could provide forgiveness for sins, being both fully man and fully God simultaneously, and in this way restored the relationship between man and God through His sacrifice, this is the necessity of Jesus. For His sacrifice broke the bonds of sin, bringing us from death and into new life, His life; thus only with Jesus could this be achieved and a way to the Father be received. Our culture has serious problems with truth in our present time, and though we might seek to deny it, we have been influenced by our culture to believe very similarly. For our culture no longer understands what truth is, for at one moment one thing might be true, but at another time something else might be. Truth no longer is a rock solid foundation but something which evolves based on personal experience: thus something which is true for me may not be for you. The problem with this drought of truth is that when our definition of truth fails, such as in times of economic crisis we have no grounding upon which to fall back. It is at these times when this statement from Jesus is particularly poignant, because Jesus is the truth, and we can give full assurance that Jesus never fails, and is thus a strong foundation upon which life can be built. These seven statements given by Jesus which I have presented to you are set to underline one very specific point, Jesus is God. For each statement reads, "I am", the same statement given to Moses when He asked the name of the Lord, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you'" (Ex3:14). Jesus when saying these statements is completing the sentence which the Lord started, being the fulfilment of the Word of the Lord. Therefore I urge you, teach that only Jesus can save, and without Jesus a person can never come to God, for Jesus is God, and to reject Him is to reject God. Teach that Jesus is the truth, a strong foundation which will never fail. Seek out those suffering from loss of truth, for in these times is when the Gospel is most effective. And remember always the sacrifice that Jesus made that you should have life, therefore the life that has been given to you I urge you to share with others in word and action, that the life of Jesus should be seen in you. Prayer: Lord, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We worship You. Be with us I pray.
The God’s Cross
Extra
Reading: John 18:36; 19:28-30; 33-34; 36-37 "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." "After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." "But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water." "For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced." ESV Thought: As I have covered, it should be clear that in writing his gospel it was the intention of John to demonstrate that Jesus is the Son of God, thus being God. He does this using poetic language as in John 1, reserving the title of Son (Greek huios) for Jesus and a believer as child (Greek teknon), referring to miracles as signs; the only writer to do so, covering the doubt of Thomas which follows with the exclamation "My Lord and my God!" (Joh20:28), and focusing on the more mystical aspects of Jesus ministry; particularly His teaching regarding Himself and the Father. During the final days of Jesus' life there is yet more shown to demonstrate that Jesus is the Son of God, and the fulfilment of all the Scriptures. Before Pilate Jesus speaks of His kingdom which is not of this world or even from this world, speaking of the kingdom of heaven, and in speaking of His servants He highlights His position within that kingdom for a servant fights for his king. Jesus is thus saying He is the King of Heaven. Upon the cross His request fulfilled David's writings in the Psalms, He thirst and they brought Him sour wine (Psa69:21), when inspected and found dead they did not break any of His bones (Ex12:46; Psa34:20) and so instead pierced His side with the spear (Zec12:10). All this was done to fulfil the Scriptures, and seeing its completion prepared and all finished accordingly He confirmed this with His final words, "It is finished." With these events we can know that Jesus was indeed sent from the Father to fulfil the Scriptures being found to be fully man and fully God. Our lives must thus reflect this, by living in confidence of the work Christ completed. Prayer: Lord, Your death completed so much, fulfilling all the Scriptures, setting us free from death, bringing to light the true nation of Israel, and revealing to Your servants the way to eternal life, yet still making reservation for the Spirit to be given. Thank You Lord for such glorious gifts You gave us, though it cost You Your life. Let us never be ashamed of Your Gospel or ever do anything to cause shame to You, but be glorified in every moment of our lives as we walk with You.
Apologies for the long length of this Take 5, it was necessary to communicate the mystery of Jesus which John portrays throughout his gospel.