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 15:12-15
12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.
Through the Bible Readings: Job 37-38, Romans 4, Psalm 94:6–12, Proverbs20:9–10
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: Was Jesus a Failure?
What is the marker of true Christian maturity? Many Christians today would judge growth and maturity by adherence to rules. You can know a Chrisitan by the things he does and doesn't do. Others would look at positions held or energy expended in church ministries. As a pastor, I am all for faithful service and grateful for those who give themselves in the work of the Lord at the local church. I also know that there are many people who work hard at ministries but are stagnant in their walk with God. Some have come to believe that conformity to rigid theological systems is the marker of maturity. If your theology is good, your walk with God must be as well. The evidence against this concept is overwhelming.
What does the Bible say is the marker of genuine Christian growth and maturity. Jesus spoke variations on the concepts of this passage over and over again. It is love for God and love for one another that is the marker of Christian maturity. The world will know that we are believers if we love one another. Paul made it clear in 1 Corinthians 3 that division and quarreling were markers of immaturity. Those who are full of Christ will put aside their differences, their injuries, and their emotions to love one another and serve the Savior.
Jesus states it clearly here in verse 12. It is his commandment that we love one another. What is the measure of that love? To lay down your life for your friends.
Think about this. By every human metric we have, Jesus was a complete failure. He never gained much wealth during his lifetime and the vast majority of the people who at one time followed him decided to leave him behind. Can you imagine what would happen to a pastor who had a congregation of many thousands dwindle within a year or two to about 120 people? He would be branded a failure and fired! Public opinion turned against him and he was put to death. He died a failure in every way that we count success.
So, was Jesus a failure?
Of course not. Why not? Because he laid down his life for others. He died on the cross to redeem those who were in sin, but would, through his act of love, become his friends. We are reconciled to God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! What an amazing gift. What amazing love! God demonstrated his love to us in Christ. Jesus' life was eternally successful because he laid it down.
He calls us to walk the way of the Cross, to lay down our lives for others. No, we are seldom called to be martyrs, though we must be faithful if that is ever our destiny. But still, our calling is to lay down our lives for others as Jesus did - to love, to serve, to give. Our lives are successful because we invest in the eternal success of other people.
Father, may my life be eternally successful as it is invested in the eternal success of others!
Think and Pray:
Are you living for yourself, or are you are laying down your life and investing in the eternal success of others?
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