simplelife

Jesus knows what is coming and nothing takes him by surprise. He prepares his Family for what lies ahead, even when they do not yet fully understand what he is saying.  In fact, Jesus comforts his disciples in advance : he is leaving them. They will betray, deny, and forsake him but he will forgive. They will be restored. Such is the unconditional love of God. Even when we lack the courage to do the right thing or when we prioritize our safety over our duty to God, he does not leave us without his peace.  Read more in John 16:17-33.  Jesus went on to say,   ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.’ At this, some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying,  “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,”  and  “Because I am going to the Father” ?’  They kept asking, ‘What does he mean by  “a little while” ? We don’t understand ...

We can't underestimate the importance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus talks about his Father God, that he is the Son. He and his Father will send the Spirit to live among the disciples of Jesus. Every part of us is immersed in the life of God. [Jesus assured his disciples:]   ‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me.   And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. > Jesus knows that the road ahead of his disciples is challenging. They will be mistreated, banned, and even killed by ignorant and willfully disobedient people. ‘All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.  They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 'They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.   I have told you this, so that when their ...

It's mystifying how people who claim they are serving God can be hateful to God and to each other. Jesus says that anyone who is cruel to followers of Jesus and persecutes them would have done the same to himself. As his servants, we will encounter the same harm and suffering as our master. ‘If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.   If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 'Remember what I told you: “A servant is not greater than his master.”  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.   They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.   "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.   > Jesus doesn't mince words. He has said that he a...

Jesus loved to use stories and familiar pictures to illustrate deep truths. In this often-quoted passage, Jesus explains that he is the life-giving source. His Father is not afar off. He carefully tends his family, pruning away everything that is unnecessary or harmful. Do you let God do his work in you? Or are you hanging onto habits, sins, and baggage that God wants to remove? [Jesus said to his disciples]  ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.   He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes [ a ]  so that it will be even more fruitful.   You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.   Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. > Jesus promises  fruitfulness. He's not offering a skimpy and scraped-out harvest but abundance. Sometimes people who claim to...

In John 14, Jesus is giving his last instructions to the disciples. He knows he will suffer. He knows they are confused. He knows the pain ahead for them and for himself. Yet he says: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God [ ; believe also in me.   My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?   And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.   You know the way to the place where I am going.’ >  The disciples have questions. What Jesus is saying is confusing. Their master is leaving? He is preparing a place for them that they should know about? What is going on? > Notice that Jesus does not say he is the destination. He is the journey, the way to God. He offers pure integrity - absolute truth - and eternal life to his followers. Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how...

Jesus has just washed his disciples' feet. The dirty stinky task is over. He sits down at the table with his inner circle and makes an astonishing statement. He's preparing his friends for what is coming that night, including his betrayal by Judas.  (John 13:18-38) ‘I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil this passage of Scripture: “He who shared my bread has turned  against me.” > Judas is about to go to the religious leaders and hand over his friend. Jesus will be arrested and sent to his death because of that betrayal. It's no surprise to Jesus but his heart is heavy. What lies ahead is spiritual and physical suffering that is almost unimaginable. ‘I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.   Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.’ After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit a...

Jesus is literally Master of the Universe. He can claim importance, status, service and obeisance from others. Yet he does just the opposite. He finds a bowl and water, and takes a towel. He does the dirty work of the humblest servant to demonstrate spiritual leadership to his disciples.  Read what happens in John 13: It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;  so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped roun...