The Scripture was fulfilled in the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. We may have loved ones who have crossed over to eternal life. Although they may watch and wait for all to receive this gift, we are at times too distracted with worldly concerns to remember our true calling (as ambassadors for Him). Standing near the cross, the apostle John received a loving directive to care for Mary, the mother of Jesus. John’s concern for this precious yet temporal responsibility did not change his eternal perspective taught by His Savior. In fact, the “the one Jesus loved” may have still been young enough at the time to respond with childlike faith. – Teresa #believe

John 19:23-42 English Standard Version (ESV)

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic.[a] But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,

    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

The Death of Jesus

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 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. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus[b] by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds[c] in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Footnotes:

a John 19:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

b John 19:39 Greek him

c John 19:39 Greek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams

On the road of life, we have a choice to abide in Christ and His love example (to lay down His life for us). He was abiding in the Father’s love and able to touch His disciples with that same love. In turn, they were asked to abide in His love and touch others with that love (thereby turning the world upside down). If you are being pruned, rejoice!! It may be painful for a moment and means diminshing of “self”. The end result, however, is fruit that will last for His kingdom. – Teresa

John 15: 1-17 (ESV)

John 15 English Standard Version (ESV)

I Am the True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 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. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 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. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants,[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 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. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

The gospel of John provides 7 “signs” and 7 “I am” statements by Jesus to prove He is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31)*. I propose that the whole second half of the gospel is written in order to provide us with the ultimate “sign” (Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection). John’s gospel is written with the whole world as his audience, that means you and me! Embracing our knowledge and understanding (John 10:38) of the eyewitness accounts recorded in ancient literature authenticated and verified by historians, we can trust that deliverance from sin and oppression has come through Jesus. – Teresa

*The Bible Knowledge Commentary, by Walvoord & Zuck (p.269)

John 10:31-42 (ESV)

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

God buys back for His purpose all who are redeemed blessing them with a new and living hope. Where bondage holds captive, we have only to call to Him in our trouble. He promises deliverance and displays steadfast love. Grateful for His wonderful works, we can praise with the Psalmist, “thank the Lord for His steadfast love and His wondrous works to the children of man”. – Teresa

Psalm 107: 1-16 (ESV)

107 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

    for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,

    whom he has redeemed from trouble[a]

3 

and gathered in from the lands,

    from the east and from the west,

    from the north and from the south.

4 

Some wandered in desert wastes,

    finding no way to a city to dwell in;

5 

hungry and thirsty,

    their soul fainted within them.

6 

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

    and he delivered them from their distress.

7 

He led them by a straight way

    till they reached a city to dwell in.

8 

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

    for his wondrous works to the children of man!

9 

For he satisfies the longing soul,

    and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,

    prisoners in affliction and in irons,

11 

for they had rebelled against the words of God,

    and spurned the counsel of the Most High.

12 

So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;

    they fell down, with none to help.

13 

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

    and he delivered them from their distress.

14 

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,

    and burst their bonds apart.

15 

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,

    for his wondrous works to the children of man!

16 

For he shatters the doors of bronze

    and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Lake Superior is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the world. When Jesus spoke about filling our lives with “living water” he not only alluded to having our thirst quenched but also promised a fountain sourced in eternal life. How can a well deeper than Jacob’s well be placed in our needy hearts? The Son of God invited us in John 7:37 to come to Him and drink if we are thirsty. This was on the greatest day of the feast of tabernacles where the cistern of water was poured out in remembrance of God’s provision for the children of Israel (Jacob’s 12 tribes) in the desert. If God could provide for His people physically, then how much more would He fulfill our spiritual thirst through the Savior of mankind. – Teresa #drinkandbesatisfied #Is55:1,2 #Hemakesallthingsnew

John 4:4-42 English Standard Version (ESV) 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.[a]

7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.[b] The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Footnotes:

a John 4:6 That is, about noon

b John 4:14 Greek forever

The temple of Jesus’ body was raised after being destroyed three days earlier. This is one additional “sign” that John placed in his gospel, written to all generations and cultures. “These (signs) are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God…” (John 20:31, NIV- parenthetical word added based on vs. 30). I urge you today to place your faith in God’s provision for the sin of mankind. -Teresa

John 2:18-22 (ESV)

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple,[c] and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.