Category: John

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Peter needed a public reinstatement because of his public denial of Christ. Jesus asks His question of Peter three times to answer for Peter’s three denials. Jesus’ question is well worth putting to yourself!

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please teach us from Your word to us today.

“He said to him a third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. …'”

Three times Peter denied Jesus.

Three times on the night our King was betrayed by one of His closest friends, another of His closest friends denied even knowing Him.

Three times Peter decided to throw his faith in Jesus as the Lord’s true Christ under the bus of cowardice and worry of what the world thinks.

You and I have been there, done that.

How many times have we chosen to stay silent when a word would have marked us as Jesus’ followers?

How many times have we chosen to keep walking toward the broad road, stubbornly rejecting the guiding of the Spirit?

How many times have we chosen the admiration of man over the love of God?

We are sinful man, each of us.

And yet. As with Simon Peter, so with us.

Three times Jesus brings Peter back into the fold, mirroring his denials.

Three times Jesus asks Peter to take care of His people, an under-shepherd to the Good Shepherd.

Three times Jesus asks Peter to publicly profess his love for the King of kings.

These are for us to experience too.

Let us wrestle hard to be unashamed to own Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

* Dear God,

Your word to us is life and health, please write it on our hearts today.

Thank You that You brought us back into the sheepfold, even though we were enemies.

Thank You that You continue to guide and shepherd us, even when we choose what the world thinks over You.

Please forgive us Lord God.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The Resurrection is the great pivot of faith. Everything depends on this being true, on this happening within time and space. John lets you see what stopped him in his tracks when he stooped in and saw, not an empty tomb or a mess of hardened myrrh-gummed linen scraps torn off the body, but the linen strips unglued and folded up by themselves. Resurrection!

SJA Notes

* Holy God, You are the God who is and was and it to come – Thank You for today!

“Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.”

What a wonderful and humble testimony from John here. He displays honesty and clarity around this pivotal moment (for him and John, and the other disciples).

That before this event they did not understand that Jesus must rise from the dead.

But now, they BELIEVED.

And what a belief this was. It marked their lives, they went out into the world and brought the gospel to those around them, the spirit setting fire to hearts and minds in a wave of motion that still carries on in force today.

These disciples gave up the pursuit of earthly prestige and wealth, power and material possessions to follow Jesus; they gave up their lives for their King.

This is a great cry for us, an exhortation. To BELIEVE! In the Risen King, the Lord Jesus.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* Dear Lord God,

Thank You for Jesus, our risen Lord and King.

That You for the belief of the disciples we read in today’s passage, for the example it gives us.

Thank You that we will join with them in glory, joining with You! Worshipping You in all fully revealed majesty and spleandour.

Thank You!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Joseph of Arithamea and Nicodemus gave Jesus a costly burial, suitable for royalty. It is their declaration that Jesus is their King, their Messiah. They are drawn to Him in His death and confess their allegiance openly.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, thank You for this day, and for Your word to us. Please write it on our hearts through You the Spirit at work in us.

“Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.'”

These are some steadfast words.

Whether he is in glory or not, Pilate here stands strong in his affirmation of the truth of Jesus.

THE KING OF THE JEWS

Pilate had been pushed around, politically manipulated, by the Jewish chief priests and teachers of the law, the leaders of the church gunning for Jesus.

And he would be pushed no further.

Whether Pilate became a believer, whether he grasped the depths of what it meant for Jesus to be King – That’s not the point here.

God was working all things through His Sovereign Will. And through Him, His Spirit at work in us, we can understand.

Jesus was the true King of the Jews. God’s people called through Abraham.

And He is the true King of God’s people, who brought blessing to all nations through Abraham.

Pilate’s inscription describes the truth of Jesus. To those at that time who wished Jesus dead. It speaks backwards to all from Adam. And it is true for all time since then and through to the end of days.

Jesus is King!

* Great God Above,

Thank You for Jesus, the true King!

Thank You for Your love for us, that through the death of the king we who were enemies might have life.

Thank You that You open our eyes to the truths in Your word.

Please write Your word on our hearts this day, and each day.

Amen.