Showing posts with label Jesus farewell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus farewell. Show all posts

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Trust Jesus For Your Eternal Destiny

A series on Jesus final teachings before his betrayal.


John 14:1-3 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me."

2 "There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?"

3 "When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."

Jesus has been predicting his death to his disciples and with the end of his ministry coming to an end soon, he gives them some words of encouragement for the days of trouble that are just around the corner. Jesus wants to give them peace for today and security and hope for the difficult days to come.

Jesus tells them that if they are already trusting God then they should be able to trust in him as well. Trusting God shouldn't be all that difficult to do, just take a look at his record for keeping promises, the Bible is full of examples of God's promises fulfilled.

The fact that Jesus was here on earth was one of the promises that God made that came to pass. We have heard it said that Jesus coming the first time fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, did you know that there are more prophecies of the second coming than there were of the first? We have every reason to believe that the second coming of Jesus will happen just as the Bible said that it would.

Don't worry about your future.

2 Timothy 1:12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
The future is a scary thing for a lot of people, there is a sense inside of us that the physical life that we are a part of right now isn't all that there is. God knew that we would be anxious about our next minute, tomorrow and for our eternity.

I need to remember that the Bible is full of promises that I will be taken care of and that Jesus will return to take me home just as he promised. I need to live without fear of the future.

Thank you Lord for the promises that are in your word, the fulfillment of your promises thus far is proof that you will do what you have said that you will do. You are worthy of my trust for my eternal destination.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Learn How To Serve Like The Master

A series on Jesus final teachings before his betrayal.


John 13:1-5 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.

2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

John 13:12-17 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each others feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Jesus entire life was an example of what love looks like, in today's scripture he has a limited time to teach his disciples before his death. Jesus uses this opportunity to teach his disciples to show them love in a very tangible way, once again showing them the kind of lifestyle they should live.

Foot washing was a hospitable act that a servant would do but at this meal we see the host doing the foot washing. Most of us wouldn't want to touch anybodies stinking feet but Jesus used the opportunity to show us a few things about serving others.

You say that you don't like to serve? Jesus love was what motivated him to serve maybe if you are not motivated to serve then you might have a problem loving people. Jesus loved us so much that he came into our world as a peasant and served us and gave it all for us despite the high position that he had. Jesus wasn't too good to serve so it seems pretty obvious that none of us are too good.

Let God's love show through you.

1 John 3:16,18 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
We are called to live a life of sacrifice and service, putting aside our old selfish man and following the example that we have been given. (Romans 12:1, Philippians 2:5) It sounds like a difficult task, to live in opposition to our sin nature, we don't have to go it alone, the Holy Spirit will help us to become more like Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 8:5-9)

I need your help Lord to live a lifestyle that is pleasing to you, thank you for your willingness to show love.