John 14-16: When Your World Explodes
Jesus knew, the night before his death, that the disciples' world was about to be blown to pieces. He would be arrested, tried, and crucified. They'd committed themselves to Jesus and he would be gone. In this powerful message, Jesus prepared the disciples to live in peace and spiritual power when the world around them was falling apart.We will take the next three weeks delving into this passage.
Today's Reading: John 16:1-7
“I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going away to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.
Through the Bible Readings: Ecclesiastes 3-4, Romans 8:1–17, Psalm 96:1–6, Proverbs20:19–20
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: Jesus in Me
It is an amazing statement - one you probably don't believe!
You don't believe it because you've never experienced life the way the disciples did. They were with Jesus for over 3 years and they lived in constant confusion. Everything he did boggled their minds, troubled their hearts and gave them anxiety. Why, Jesus? What are you doing? They never understood his teachings. They misunderstood his kingdom. They pretty much got it all wrong all the time.
We have the Holy Spirit living in us, illumining our hearts to understand the word of God, the will of God, and the ways of God. Still, sometimes, God confuses us, baffles us, and blows our minds. But the ministry of the Spirit inside of us enables us to understand God's word and walk in the light.
That's what Jesus said that is so hard to accept. "The Spirit of God in us is better than Jesus with us." In John 16:7, Jesus told the disciples that it was to their advantage if he went away because then the Holy Spirit would come. Their lives would be better when they received the Spirit and were filled by his power.
Have you ever said, "I wish Jesus was here so I could ask him some questions." Most of us have. We all have questions. And if we had the Holy Spirit AND Jesus, that would be quite a combination. But Jesus made it absolutely clear that we are way better off today with the Spirit of God indwelling us than we would be if Jesus was here beside us and the Spirit were not indwelling us. We'd be as clueless, as confused, and as prone to error as the disciples were.
The Spirit indwells us at salvation (called the baptism of the Holy Spirit) and is our ever-present source of power, of enlightenment, and of the wisdom of God. He convicts us of sin, helps us to see the truth of God, and empowers us to walk in the ways of God. As we walk in the fullness of the Spirit, all that God has prepared for us can be ours.
Father, I thank you that you have given to me your Holy Spirit to enlighten me, to empower me, and to guide me in your ways. May I walk daily in the fullness of your Spirit's power.
Think and Pray:
Think about how the disciples' lives changed after Pentecost.
Remember that the power that changed them indwells all believers and is available to you.
Consider how your life might be different if you walked daily in the fullness of the Spirit.
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