Scripture Meditations

        Jesus proclaims His final 'I AM' statement in the first verse: I am the true vine. I looked this image up and I see a tree with vines and fruit on the small branches. He commands His disciples to abide in Him. The Greek word for abide means to remain, or not depart. Communion with Christ is essential and crucial for my faith. Verse 6 says that if one does not abide in Christ, he is cast off, withered and thrown into the fire. Outside of Christ, all I will find is death, destruction and ruin. Verse 10 tells us that we abide in Christ's love by keeping His commandments. As followers of Christ, we must obey Him. We must study His teachings and strive to obey them. We can't call Jesus Lord and not do what He says.           When we abide in Christ, we bear fruit. This fruit is mentioned in the book of Galatians as the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus also teaches us in this chapter to love one another. This is perhaps the 'fruit' He w...

       In this chapter, we discover the 6th 'I AM' statement of Jesus. He declares in verse 6 "I am the way, the Truth, and the Life..." There is so much to take from this statement.      The Way : Jesus is the The Road that leads to God The  Father. In the second part of verse six, Jesus states that no one comes to The Father, but by Him. Christ reconciles us to a Holy God by His shed blood. Romans goes on to tell us that we are justified by Jesus' blood. When we are justified, we are reconciled.         The Truth : Jesus is the source of truth and wisdom. Later on in this chapter, Jesus explains that He speaks the words of God. God is not a man that He should lie. He is referred to as The Wisdom of God in 1 Corinthians 1:24.         The Life : Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly teaches that He has come to offer eternal life. In John chapter 6, He declares Himself to be the Bread of Life. He...

     Jesus and His disciples had just finished having supper (or The Last Supper). Afterwards, Jesus removes His clothes and wraps Himself in a towel. He then washes His disciples' feet. Peter is astonished at this, as the washing of the feet was done by the lowliest servant of the household. Peter objects, most likely thinking that The Lord has debased to such a low position. But Jesus tells him that if He (Jesus) doesn't wash Peter, then Peter has no part of Christ. This is such a statement of spiritual depth. Only Christ can cleanse us. Without His Cleansing, we have no part in Him and no reconciliation to God. Sin cannot dwell in His Holy Presence.         This is also the moment that Jesus confirms that He knows Judas will betray Him. This was also a fulfillment of prophecy from Psalm 41:9. It also shows that personal level of betrayal Jesus experienced.        Jesus also gives His disciples a new commandment. To love one ...

      Christ's impending death is alluded to several times in this chapter. It starts at the beginning when Mary (Lazarus' sister) anoints Jesus' feet with spikenard ointment. Bodies were often prepared for burial by anointing them with fragrant oils and even spices. Jesus also alludes to His death in the metaphor of a corn of wheat falling to the ground and dying. And in verse 32, Jesus states 'And I if be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.'        Jesus also reiterates His title as The Light of the world. Anyone who believes upon Christ will not walk in darkness. That means that the Truth of Christ will illuminate everything and keep us from deception. It will expose the darkness of sin.        What really stands out to me in this passage is verse 41. It references the prophet Isaiah's vision in Isaiah chapter 6 of The Lord on His Throne. It is a glorious vision of God's majesty. John reveals that this was the Pr...