People write books for many different reasons. John wrote his book so that people would be able to know Christ and have eternal life.

John tries to avoid any praise for himself as he writes. He does not even tell us that he is the author of this book. In the book, he refers to himself as “the disciple who Jesus loved.” He gives us a good example. We should all try to get people to praise Jesus, not ourselves.

John tells us that he wrote so that we would know who Jesus is, and so that we would have life through him. Jesus was the promised one, who’s life was prophesied in the Old Testament. He was God and man. Anyone who trusts in him for forgiveness of sin will certainly be given eternal life.

John wants all of us to take the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. John did his part by writing a book about Jesus. It is our responsibility to explain this book to the peoples of the world.

It is good to understand Thomas’ doubt. His doubt was sin, since he
was disobeying one of the commands that Jesus had given him. Jesus
instructs all men everywhere to believe in him. It is difficult to
tell whether or not Thomas was really a Christian before this time,
but we know that the cure for his doubt was to look to Jesus and
believe Jesus’ words.

Jesus was under no obligation to prove himself to Thomas. However,
Jesus is compassionate towards Thomas, and give Thomas the proof he
wants. When Thomas saw the wounds, he learned of the great love of
Jesus, who died in his place. We should think of the love that Jesus
had for us, and praise him.

When Thomas realized that Jesus had fulfilled his promises, Thomas
said, “My Lord and my God!” This personal confession of faith is a
model for all of us. Like Thomas, we should proclaim that Jesus was
indeed God in the flesh, and submit to him ourselves as our Lord.
When we do so, we are blessed beyond our wildest dreams. 十二弟子のひとりで、デドモと呼ばれているトマスは、イエスがこられたとき、彼らと一緒にいなかった。25
ほかの弟子たちが、彼に「わたしたちは主にお目にかかった」と言うと、トマスは彼らに言った、「わたしは、その手に釘あとを見、わたしの指をその釘あとにさし入れ、また、わたしの手をそのわきにさし入れてみなければ、決して信じない」。26
八日ののち、イエスの弟子たちはまた家の内におり、トマスも一緒にいた。戸はみな閉ざされていたが、イエスがはいってこられ、中に立って「安かれ」と言われた。27
それからトマスに言われた、「あなたの指をここにつけて、わたしの手を見なさい。手をのばしてわたしのわきにさし入れてみなさい。信じない者にならないで、信じる者になりなさい」。28
トマスはイエスに答えて言った、「わが主よ、わが神よ」。29
イエスは彼に言われた、「あなたはわたしを見たので信じたのか。見ないで信ずる者は、さいわいである」。

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples. In every New
Testament account of his appearance, he commissions his disciples to
carry on the ministry that he began during his time here on earth.
Throughout this age, he continues his work in the world through his
people.

The disciples, and all other Christians, are given a message of peace.
As they have found peace with God, so they must take this message of
peace to other people in the world.

Jesus sends out all of his followers as he had been sent. Just as
Jesus obeyed the Father, so Jesus’ followers are to obey all of his
commands. Jesus was sent from heaven to earth to bring the message of
salvation to men. His followers, though they are no longer a part of
the world in an important sense, are sent back into the world to bring
it the message of salvation. Jesus, the Son of God, had the fullness
of the Holy Spirit resting upon him throughout his ministry.
Likewise, the followers of Jesus are called the children of God, and
they have the Holy Spirit living within them. The picture is one in
which Jesus sends his followers as his representatives to a lost
world.

The story of Mary’s love for Jesus began long before the crucifixion.
Jesus had worked a remarkable act of grace in her life, saving her
from seven demons that controlled her. It is true that those who have
been saved from something terrible will often have a great love for
the person that saved them. Mary had this sort of a love. She helped
to support Jesus’ ministry financially, she was there at the cross
when he died, and she put spices on the grave later on. She loved her
savior more than life itself.

Jesus rewarded Mary’s love for him in several ways. All of Jesus’
followers were upset because of his death, but Mary was the first to
be reassured that her fears were needless. From this, we learn that
our fears are often needless as well.

Jesus rewarded Mary by reminding her that he was God as well as man,
and that he would soon ascend to be with God the Father. There, he
would make sure that she would have a home in heaven (John 14:2), send
the Holy Spirit (John 16:7), and ultimately return to earth again to
raise the dead (John 14:3). He will do the same for all of us who
love him as well.

Jesus rewarded Mary by his kind and gracious words. Though she had
doubted him, he lifted her up again and did not judge her for her
sins. He sent her to go and tell the disciples (who had doubted him
as well) about his resurrection, so that they would be encouraged. By
his death, he is able to forgive the sins of all who love him.

The passage focuses on two of Jesus’ followers, Peter and John.
They ran to the tomb and saw the traditional linen cloths and spices
laying there, but there was no body.  Gradually, the light finally
dawned on John: His master had risen from the dead.  His life was
changed, and your life will be changed if you can understand what he
understood.

The resurrection is important to our faith, because it assures us
that our Savior has conquered sin and death in our behalf.  It is
important to our witness to others, because it allows us to tell the
world that Jesus has proven that he is able to give eternal life.  No
other religion can say this.  It is also important to our hope, since
we know that we will be raised like he was raised.

Jesus’ trial was not a search for truth and justice, but it was a
quest for power. Legal requirements were ignored. Both the trial
before the High Priest and the trial before Pilate revealed no
wrongdoing on the part of Jesus.

Yet, this travesty of justice was a necessary for us to be saved. He
was the righteous one who stood in the place of unrighteous men.
Peter tells us, “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for
the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in
the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18). He became a
curse for us, so that we could escape the curse of death. This is the
truth that Pilate rejected.

God the Son had perfect and complete glory before the world began.  He
has always lived in unapproachable light, and has always been
perfectly honorable (1 Tim 6:16).  When God the Son became man, he
remained perfectly glorious in himself, but he veiled that glory in
human flesh, so that he appeared to be a man like any other.  At
times, however, Jesus’ inward glory would peek through, such as the
time on the mountain when “his face shone like the sun, and his
clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2).  Jesus is praying that
he would once again be clothed in splendor, such as he was before the
world began.

There is a sense in which Jesus’ inward glory can be seen on the
cross.  Though he did not shine with light, he did display God’s glory
to the world as he died for our sins.  In the cross, God the Father is
glorified through God the Son.

The glory of God in the cross of Jesus Christ is made clear whenever
someone believes in Jesus.  As Jesus seeks and saves those sheep that
the Father has given to him, he brings glory to God.  We should praise
him for redeeming us.

There is a great deal of confusion in the Christian Church regarding
what it means to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled with the
Holy Spirit.

The New Testament mentions being baptized with the Holy Spirit seven
times.  The most important reference may be found in 1 Corinthians
12:13.  In this verse we see that all Christians have unity with one
another because of they are all united with Jesus Christ, and we see
that union with Christ involves being baptized with the Holy Spirit.
So, we may safely conclude that everyone who is a genuine believer has
been baptized with the Holy Spirit at the moment they first believed.
Every Christian has the Holy Spirit working in them.

The New Testament mentions being filled with the Holy Spirit fourteen
times.  In these verses we see that the result of being filled with
the Spirit is that a person tells others about Jesus Christ and
demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit.  Being filled with the Spirit
does not mean that a person speaks in tongues.

Though Jesus is going away, the disciples will continue his work inthe power of the Holy Spirit during this age. The light of the world will shine through them, exposing the deeds of darkness that people do (Ephesians 5:11). The result is that some people will be convicted of theirsin and be driven to repentance, though others will merely hate the light.

We can find the origin of this hatred in Genesis.  In the book of
Genesis, we find that there are fundamentally two kinds of people:
those that love God and those that hate him.  People who hate God have
always hated the people that love God.  This was true in Genesis, and
will remain true throughout the ages.

When people hate God, they express that hatred by persecuting those
who love God.  This hatred burned against the prophets, and it is the
same hatred that resulted in Jesus’ crucifixion.  It is the same
hatred that is poured out on Jesus’ messengers today, and you can
expect to face this hatred if you live a righteous life in Christ
Jesus.

Nonetheless, as we are being persecuted, we know that the Holy Spirit
is with us.  He comforts us and uses us to be witnesses of Christ to a
dark world.

Because of their relationship with Christ, believers will have love,
joy, obedience, and will bear witness to others. The love that God the
Father has for the Son is infinite and eternal, and it is this same
sort of love that Jesus has for all of his followers.  As believers
remain in Christ’s love for them, they will surely love each other
with the same sort of devotion.  This love will be self-giving, and
not self-seeking.  The joy that comes from Christ is one that endures
even in difficult circumstances, and comes from being accepted by God.
Furthermore, Christians will desire to obey Christ.  This obedience
is not the simple obedience of a slave, but the joyful obedience of a
son who knows that his Father loves him and desires the best for him.
Christians will also desire to make the glory of Christ known in the
world by telling others what he has done.

Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he promised them that he would
indeed return, he would be raised from the dead.  And what is more,
they would all be raised from the dead on the last day just as he had
been raised.  They would even experience some of the benefits of his
resurrection during their own lives.  Jesus’ resurrection changed the
path of history, such that his followers would change the world.

Jesus’ resurrection provided the foundation for their knowledge of God
as well.  It would solidify all of the claims that he made about
himself throughout his lifetime, and it would ensure that he would
continue to reveal himself to his people.

Even though he would soon be gone, his resurrection assured that he
would always be inside his people.  They would become the temples of
the Most High, the place where God is found.

Jesus reminds his disciples of his love for men by talking about his
glory.  He would soon give them the ultimate example of undeserved
love by going to the cross for sinners.  Though men do nothing in
themselves to warrant this sort of love, Jesus loved his people so
much that he died for them.

After Jesus died and rose again, he ascended into heaven to sit at the
right hand of God the Father.  Soon he would no longer be living in
the presence of men.  Men will not be able see his love for them
firsthand, but nonetheless he has not left the world without a witness
to his love.  The love that Christians have for one another should
mimic the love that Jesus had for them at the cross, and this love
should be so profound that it becomes a powerful testimony to all of
those around them.

Matthew 18 tells us to do three things when someone commits a sin that
cannot be overlooked.  First, we should go to that person personally,
and seek to understand what he has done and why he did it.  If he is
indeed in error, we should use the Bible to show him his fault,
seeking his repentance.  If this does not work, we should get one or
two others to go along with us as we seek his repentance.  If this
does not work, we should expel this person from the church.

The approach that Jesus gives to deal with sin is the best thing for
the sinner, since it pushes him towards repentance.  It is the best
thing for the church, since it ensures holiness within the church and
protects the honor of God’s name.  Indeed, if a church habitually
neglects this responsibility, Jesus will not be “among” them.

As a counterpoint to this great love, John tells us that Judas was
already busy on his plot to kill Jesus.  The Devil had put this desire
into his heart, and he was delighted to obey Satan’s commands.  Even
though Jesus’ murder was a result of Satan’s evil, John is quick to
remind us that it fits into God’s plan.  Jesus is not a helpless
victim, but has all things in his hands (John 13:3).

Jesus then prepared his disciples to understand the love that drove
him to the cross by demonstrating that love by washing their feet.
Though he was the Lord of all, he performed a task normally reserved
for the lowest slave.  This footwashing serves to illustrate what
Jesus does for his people at the cross.  The Almighty Son of God
humbled himself by putting on flesh and dying for us (Phil. 2:6-7).
We are cleansed from our sins by relying on Christ, and this cleansing
results in us continually relying on Christ for the rest of our lives.

Jesus wants his disciples to understand that the Jew’s rejection of their Messiah is not a failure in God’s plan for the world, even though it might seem to be a failure at first glance.  Time and time again, Israel has failed to listen to the prophets that have been sent to it, and their present disbelieve is simultaneously their own decision and also God’s judgment upon them.

Jesus concludes his public ministry with one, last appeal to believe. He has seen that they are more worried about what men will think of them than they are about the things of God, and so he warns them that the words that they were hearing him speak that day would be evidence used against them in the final judgment.

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead affirms to us that Jesus has
completed his earthly work of redemption and that he is indeed
glorious.  He took all of our sins upon himself, and he paid the full
penalty for those sins.  Thus, it would have been be unfair for the
grave to hold him forever.  When he was raised from the dead, he was
glorified by God for having completed his work, and so we are assured
that our ransom has been paid.

It was appropriate, then, that Jesus’ glorious resurrection from the
dead was accompanied by glorious signs.  A great earthquake and
angelic messengers struck fear into the hearts of the guards and
ultimately brought comfort to Jesus’ followers.

The angels told the women “He is not here, he has risen,” and then
told them to go look at the place where Jesus lay.  This served to
confirm to them that Jesus was indeed alive.  Christians in all ages
should take comfort in the empty tomb, for just as Jesus was raised,
so shall those who believe in him be raised.

The angel assigned these women with an important task.  They were to
go and tell Jesus’ “brothers” in Galilee of the Gentiles that Jesus
has risen.  Those who were once despised and outcast are brought into
the family of God, and are to report this good news to all men.
Through reporting the glory of the resurrection, Christ is glorified
and God’s name is made great.

A great voice from heaven rumbled, and the crowd heard these words: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” Oddly, many of the people there dismissed the voice. They said that it was probably just thunder, nothing to worry about. Others denied that the voice came from God, saying that it must have merely been the voice of an angel. If they had admitted that these words were from God, they would have been forced to admit that Jesus was the Messiah.

Jesus told them that “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.” He had already resolved to go the the cross with joy, he did not need any further assurance. However, they needed to hear God the Father’s approval of him. To some, it would strengthen their faith. To some it would be instrumental in their first believing. To others, it would be evidence that would be used to judge them.

Jesus’ death on the cross began a change that would be completed later on. Judgment had begun, since all who reject Jesus and his sacrifice would face a harsh judgment when he returns. Satan’s defeat was assured, though he would not be completely destroyed until later. Jesus’ glorification has begun, though he would not be glorified fully until his kingdom was complete.

Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus had been waiting for his “hour” to come (John 2:4; 4:21-23; 5:25-28; 7:30; 8:20).  The “hour” that Jesus had been waiting for was the proper time for him to die in behalf of his people, the time that fit into the predestined plan and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23; 4:28).  In the first few verses of this passage, Jesus told his hearers that the long-awaited hour of his demise had come at last.

The indication that his hour had come was that the Gentiles had arrived.  The grace of God that had been largely confined to the political nation of Israel was about to be spread throughout the entire earth.  The Gentiles in Jerusalem at that time were about to see the Son of man glorified in his death and resurrection.  These Gentiles were typical of what we expect to see in this age: people throughout the world, moved by the Holy Spirit, will want to see Jesus.

Jesus then gave an illustration that helped his hearers to understand the way in which he would be glorified.  He said that a seed must fall to the ground and “die” (be buried) in order for a plant to grow and bear much fruit.  His death will be like that.  Though it appeared to be a defeat for him, it would end in many people having life.  It was a great victory, and one of the reasons that we give him glory today.

When Jesus died and was glorified in his hour of death, he provided an example for all people to follow. All of us must die to ourselves and our own desires in order to find real life and joy. We must follow after him in the path of suffering if we are to be honored by the Father.

The people who saw Lazarus be raised from the dead went to Jerusalem
for the Passover.  They told everyone about the miracle, and Jesus’
popularity quickly reached an all-time high.  When Jesus entered into
Jerusalem, the crowds thronged around him and cried out, “Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of
Israel!” (John 12:13).  They believed that the Messiah had come, and
would soon deliver them from the hands of the Romans.

Jesus did come as a king, just not the kind of king people expected.
He did not come on a warhorse, but he came as a gentle king, riding on
a donkey, bringing in a reign of peace (Zech 9:9).  He is the one who
would proclaim peace to the nations and extend his reign to the ends
of the earth (Zech 9:10, Psalm 72:8).  He came to free his people from
the prison of sin by his blood.  His kingship during this age is a
spiritual kingship, which anticipates a completed kingdom, which he
will finish in the future.

Last week, we saw that the Pharisees feared that the people would want
to crown Jesus as the physical king of Israel, and that the Romans
would then destroy Jerusalem in an attempt to maintain control.  When
the Pharisees saw the crowds praising Jesus, they believed that their
worst fears are coming true, so they said to one another, “You see
that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him”
(John 12:19).

Their words were far more true than they realized.  They saw Jesus’
popularity among a crowd composed of people from throughout the Roman
Empire, but he will one day be praised by a crowd composed of people
from throughout all the nations of the world.

John wants us to see the High Priest’s statement on another level as
well.  It is also an unintentional prophecy.  Jesus would indeed die
for the Jewish nation, taking their sins upon himself and dying in
their place.  Yet the full meaning is even greater than that.  He
would die for all of the “Israel of God” (Gal 6:16), the one, unified
people of God gathered from the nations of the world.

The next section tells us how Mary prepared Jesus for burial.  She
anointed him with expensive perfume and wiped his feet with her hair.
Her act was remarkable for several reasons.  It was an act of
humility, because only the lowest slaves would wash people’s feet.
Also, it was a very expensive jar of perfume.  And, of course, her act
foreshadowed what was about to happen.  Jesus was about to be killed
for the sins of men.

The last section tells us about the plot against Lazarus.  The
Pharisees hatred for Jesus burned so fiercely that it even lashed out
against Jesus’ followers.  Lazarus was a living symbol of Jesus’
power, and so the Pharisees decided that Lazarus needed to be killed
as well, so as to thoroughly extinguish the threat that Jesus posed to
their power.

This entire passage of Scripture emphasizes the plan of God in
salvation.  Though the Pharisees contrived their plots, the death of
Jesus happened according to God’s perfect plan.  This plan is still in
effect today, as people throughout the world are being added to the
people of God, and even as Jesus’ followers are still being persecuted
for their faith.

Of course, one of the great burdens of John’s gospel is to display
Christ’s divine nature.  This verse shows us clearly that Jesus was
also perfectly human, as well as being God.  He is someone who is wellOK
acquainted with grief.  It shows us that he loved us so much that he
identified with us in our humanity.

It also shows us God’s compassion for us.  God, though he is infinite
and holy, chose to enter into a relationship with men and loves them.
He sheds tears for his his people, and also sees us when we weep.

Last, it shows us how valuable we are in God’s sight.  Though God had
every reason to allow his wrath to rest on all of us forever, he
nonetheless chose to save a people for himself; though the cost would
be tremendous.  God the Father sent God the Son to die in our place.

Though John 11:35 is a short verse, it shows us a great deal about the
love of God for us.

There is a real change that has taken place in Martha’s life.
Once, she was so anxious about making sure that she was a good hostess
that she failed to sit at her master’s feet (Luke 10:38-42).  Now, we
see that a change has taken place.  She hurries to go get her sister
Mary and bring her to Jesus.

Mary went immediately to go see Jesus, and her friends and
relatives went with her, since they thought she was going to the
graveside to mourn.  The scene that follows is characterized by
hopelessness.  Mary and many of the friends and relatives thought that
the only hope for Lazarus had passed, since Jesus, the healer, did not
arrive prior to Lazurus’ death.

Yet Jesus showed them all that he has power over death.  Even
though Lazarus had been in the grave for four days, Jesus called
Lazarus forth and he came out of the grave.  This miracle showed for
the glory of God the Father and the glory of the one he had sent.
Some of the people that saw this miracle at the graveside believed
that Jesus Christ is the one who sets men free from the bonds of
death, and would one day cause them to rise from their graves as well.

All of us who believe have this same assurance.  Our bodies, which
are sown into the ground like a seed, will someday spring forth from
the ground with new life.  When Jesus returns, our bodies will be
renewed so that they will be imperishable.

Jesus did many signs so that people would believe he was the anointed
one and have life through him (John 20:30-31).  Perhaps the most
dramatic sign was when Jesus raised Lazarus, who had been dead for
four days.

When Jesus hears that his friend Lazarus is dead, we expect him to
react immediately, running as fast as possible to be with Mary and
Martha.  Yet, he just sits there for two days.  This is to show that
he is not to be moved by any external forces, but he works entirely on
God’s timetable.  He cannot be rushed.  Also, it helps us to see the
magnitude of this miracle.  He is not reviving a patient who died a
few seconds before, but he is raising a man who has been dead for
quite some time.

If Jesus travels to Judea to go to Lazarus, it seems that he will put
himself and the disciples into great danger.  The disciples remember
vividly the Jews who had picked up stones to kill Jesus, and they
start to become afraid.  They think that they and Jesus will surely be
killed.  Jesus reassures them using an analogy.  Just as there is
always twelve hours of daylight in a day, so his light will shine in
the world for an appointed time.  He will not die before his work is
completed.

Jesus then downplays Lazarus’ death, comparing it with sleep.  Of
course, Lazarus was fully, completely dead.  Jesus knew this perfectly
well (John 11:14).  However, he wants his disciples to understand that
death is not the end for Christians.  Those who believe in him will
have eternal life and hope in a future resurrection.  The miracle that
Jesus is about to perform will be a picture of that hope, just as
Lazarus emerged from the grave, so shall we all.

When Jesus talks with Martha, he tells her that he will raise Lazarus
from the dead.  It does not occur to her to think that he will raise
Lazarus at that very time, but her mind moves forward to the future,
when Jesus will raise all believers from the dead.  Her response to
Jesus is one of faith.  Though she has not seen him raise anyone from
the dead with her eyes, she nonetheless believes that he is “the
Messiah, the Son of God” (John 11:27), who has power over death.