John 13:31-35 
 
John 13:31-35 contains perhaps the most remarkable command given to Christians: that love for others is the characterizing indication of faith for ''all individuals,'' denoting the existence of a genuine believer. Jesus outlines this as a new commandment, utilizing His own model as the norm. In giving this charge, Jesus indeed predicts His looming demise and exit from earth.

To cherish others was not another new commandment (Leviticus 19:18), but rather to love others just as like Christ loved others was progressive. Presently we are to love others dependent upon Jesus' conciliatory love for us. Such love will not just carry unbelievers to Christ, it will likewise keep believers solid and joined in a world antagonistic to God. Jesus was a living illustration of God's adoration, as we are to be a living example of the love of Jesus.
 
Jesus says that our Christlike love will show that we believe in him and follow him. Do individuals see insignificant quarreling, division, and jealousy in our congregation? Or on the other hand, do they have at least some ideas that we are followers of Jesus by our love for each other?

Love is not just warm sentiments; it is rather a disposition that uncovers itself in real life. How might we love others as Jesus loves us? By aiding when it is not advantageous, by giving when it is uncomfortable, by giving energy to the welfare of others rather than our own, by engrossing damages from others without whining or retaliating. This sort of love is difficult to do. To that end people notice when you do it and realize that you are engaged by a heavenly source.
 
Loving Your Enemies
In the book of Matthew, Jesus teaches about loving our enemies. By calling us to nonretaliation, Jesus guards us back from going rogue and trying to put the law in our own hands. By loving and petitioning God for our adversaries, we can defeat evil with goodness.

The Pharisees deciphered Leviticus 19:18 as instructing that they should only love the people who reciprocate love. They also see Psalm 139:19-22 and Psalm 140:9-11 as implying that they should loathe their foes. Yet, Jesus says that we are to cherish our adversaries. Assuming we love our foes and treat them well, we will really show that Jesus is Lord of our lives. This is attainable for the individuals who give themselves completely to God in light of the fact that no one but he can convey people from their self-centeredness. We should trust the Holy Spirit to assist us with showing affection to those for whom we may not feel love. (Matthew 5:43-47)
 
Loving Our Neighbor
In one of my sermons titled, (How Are We to Know Who Our Neighbor Is?), it is on the story of the Good Samaritan. The lawyer viewed the harmed man as a subject for discussion; the thieves, as a thing to exploit; the priest, as an issue to avoid (Psalm 38:11); and the Levite, as an object of interest. The Samaritan was the only one who viewed him as a person to cherish, which at the time was unbelievable (John 4:9).

From the story we learn three guidelines about loving our neighbor: (1) shortfall of warmth is consistently easy to legitimize, regardless of the way that it is seldom right; (2) our neighbor is anyone of any race, statement of faith, sex, religion, or social establishment who genuinely needs something; and (3) love infers acting to resolve the issue. Anywhere that we live, there are people close by that need some type of help. There is only bad thinking for declining to help. (Luke 10:27)
 
The Characteristics of Love
In chapter 12 Paul gave proof of the Corinthian's absence of affection. Here in chapter 13, he teaches us about the genuine characteristics of love ("charity"). Furthermore, in chapter 14, Paul shows how love works. Love is a higher priority than each of the spiritual gifts practiced inside the congregation body. Incredible faith, demonstrations of affirmation or penance, and spiritual working power produce extraordinarily little without affection. Love makes our activities and gifts helpful. Despite the fact that individuals have various gifts, love is accessible to everybody. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
 
Love Comes from God
Everyone acknowledges that love is significant and far-reaching, yet we normally think of it only as an emotion. In reality, love is a choice and an action (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). God is the wellspring of our love: he revered us enough to relinquish his Son for us. Jesus is our outline and guidebook of love; everything that he did all through his life and death was a momentous demonstration of love. The Holy Spirit empowers us to love; he lives in our spirits and makes us progressively more like Jesus. God's love reliably incorporates a choice and an action, and our affection should take after his. How well do we show our love for God in the choices that we make and the moves that we make? (1 John 4:7)
 
For God so Loved
The whole Gospel comes to concentrate in this section. God's love is not static or egotistical; it connects and attracts others. Here God sets the example of genuine love, the essentials for all love connections. If we love somebody beyond all doubt, then we should give openly to the mark of altruism (self-sacrifice). God paid the consequences with the existence of his Son, the most exorbitant cost that he could pay. Jesus took our chastisement, paid for our wrongdoings, and afterward offered us the new life that he purchased for us. When we share the Gospel with others, our love should resemble his, enthusiastically surrendering our own solace and security so others may unify with us in accepting God's love. (John 3:16)
 
Let Brotherly Love Continue
Genuine love toward others produces unmistakable and substantial acts: benevolence to outsiders (Hebrews 13:2), compassion toward the people who are in jail ("in bonds") and the individuals who have been abused or mistreated (Hebrews 13:3), regard for one's marriage promises (Hebrews 13:4), and fulfillment (contentment) with what we have (Hebrews 13:5). We are to ensure that our love runs sufficiently profound to influence our accommodating hospitality, our compassion, our devotion, and our state of happiness (contentment).

John 15:1-16
 
The grapevine is a very productive plant; a solitary plant bears numerous grapes. In the Old Testament, grapes represented Israel’s productivity (fruitfulness) in taking care of and doing the work of God on earth (Psalm 80:8; Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 19:10-14). In the Passover meal, the fruit of the plant represented the goodness of God to the Israelites.
​
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus teaches about the Vine and the branches. I would like to take a moment to look at this in three sections: the content, the condition, and the consequences, of a fruitful vineyard.
 
The Content of a Fruitful Vineyard – The Church
In verses 1-5:
Christ is the vine, and God is the farmer who really focuses on the branches to make them productive. The branches are all who claim to be believers of Christ. The productive branches are genuine believers, who by their living association with Christ bear a lot of fruit. Be that as it may, the individuals who become useless, the individuals who turn around from following Christ in the wake of making a shallow commitment, will be isolated from the vine. Inefficient followers are just about as good as dead and will be cut off and thrown away.

Jesus makes a qualification between two sorts of pruning: (1) isolating and (2) scaling back branches. Productive branches are scaled back to advance development. All in all, God will at times teach us to fortify our character and faith. In any case, branches that do not prove to be fruitful are cut off at the base, since they are useless, they frequently contaminate the remainder of the tree. The individuals who will not prove to be fruitful for God or who attempt to impede the endeavors of God's believers will be cut off from the heavenly progression of life.

Fruit is not restricted to soul winning. Answered prayer, joy, and love are referenced as fruit (15:7, 11-12). Different qualities of the Christian character are portrayed as fruit in Galatians 5:22-24 and 2 Peter 1:5-8.

• God provides what we need.
• God purges, prunes, and promotes.
• What is produced is fruit, more fruit, and much fruit.

 
The Conditions of a Fruitful Branch – The Christian
In verses 6-8:

• Abide
• Believe Jesus is God’s Son.
• 1 John 4:15, Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
• Receive Christ as Savior and Lord.
• John 1:12, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
• Do what God directs.
• 1 John 3:24, And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
• Continue in the faith.
• 1 John 2:24, Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
• Relate with other believers.
• John 15:12, This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

 
Numerous individuals attempt to do good, to be honest, and to make wise decisions. However, Jesus says the best way to carry on with a genuinely decent life is to remain connect to Him, like a branch connected to the plant. Aside from Him, our endeavors are unfruitful.

God is glorified when a plant bears “much fruit.” For every day He sent the sun and the rain to make the crops develop, and He continually sustained each minuscule plant and set it up to bloom. What a snapshot of magnificence for the Lord of the harvest when the harvest is brought into the silos or barns, protected, and prepared for use. This cultivating similarity shows how God is glorified when individuals come into the correct relationship with Him and start to bear “much fruit” in their lives.
 
In verses 9-14:

• Obey
• Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 
At the point when things are working out positively, we feel thrilled. But when difficulties come, we surrender to sadness. In any case, genuine euphoria rises above these influxes of situations. Joy comes from a steady relationship with Jesus. When our lives are interwoven with His, He will help us stroll through misfortune without sinking into crippling lows and oversee affluence without moving into tricky highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ day by day keeps us prudent regardless of how high or low our conditions.

We are to cherish each other as Jesus loved us, and He cherished us enough to give His life for us. We might not need to die for somebody, yet there are alternate approaches to exercise sacrificial love: helping, empowering, giving, and listening. Consider somebody who needs this sort of love, and give all the affection that you can, then at that point, attempt to give somewhat more.
 
The Consequences of a Fruitful Life – The Culmination
In verses 15-16:
Jesus could call us slaves because He is our Lord and Master, however, we are called friends. We have been chosen and ordained. And we are to go and bring forth fruit and our fruit should remain.

• 2 Peter 1:5-8, And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 
We are not called to produce fruit but to BEAR fruit. Christ will make the increase.

John 11:38-44
John 11:25-27
 
Why did Jesus call out to the dead? What was His purpose?
 
They saw death as:

1. Dark – John 8:12 – I am the light of the world.
2. Obstacle – Romans 8:35 – Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
3. Only saw negative – Mark 11:22 – have faith in God.

 
To whom did Jesus call out to?

1. Lazarus
2. Widow’s son – Luke 7:14
3. The daughter – Mark 5:41
4. Sinner’s – Isaiah 9:2
5. Death’s door – John 10:9
6. Disciples – Matthew 4:19
7. All people – Matthew 11:28

 
The devil cannot defeat:

1. The Power of God
2. The Glory of God
3. The Mercy of God
4. The Love of God
5. The Grace of God

 
What voice does Jesus need to use?

1. Loud
2. Soft
3. Whisper
4. Scream

 
Physical/Spiritual:

1. WHO – is dead?
2. WHAT – causes death?
3. WHEN – did death occur?
4. WHERE – did death occur?
5. WHY – are/were we dead?

 
In the Garden, Jesus called unto the Father, why?
 
Have you heard Jesus calling?

• Maybe you did not recognize His voice.
• Maybe you did not want to hear.
• Maybe you are trying to avoid Him – conviction.
• Answer the call to salvation.
• Answer the call to sanctification.
• Answer the call to regeneration.
• Maybe someone needs to call Him – Acts 2:21.

 
 
Church Hymnal, page 161, “Jesus Is Calling”
Jesus is tenderly calling thee home,
Calling today, calling today.
Why from the sunshine of love wilt thou roam?
Farther and farther away.
Calling today, calling today.
Jesus is calling.
He is tenderly calling today.
 
Church Hymnal, page 385, “Softly and Tenderly”
Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling.
Calling for you and for me.
See on the portals He is waiting and watching.
Watching for you and for me.
Come home, come home,
Ye who are weary come home.
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home.

John 6:1-13
 
Undoubtedly many have heard this passage of Scripture before and hopefully, many have read this story. This is the story of where Jesus feeds the multitude, the five thousand. What a miracle to perform. I cannot imagine trying to feed that many people. no doubt there are quite a few mothers out there that would find that a daunting task. Can you see five thousand people coming through your door, walking to the dining room, either trying to find a place to sit or going around the table in a buffet style?
 
When I was in the Navy on board the ship, Sailors had to stand in line (and sometimes that line went up a flight of stairs to the upper level). When they finally reached the mess deck (that is what we called the cafeteria area), they would grab a tray, and when they finally got to the actual food line, they could tell the culinary assistants what they wanted.
 
I remember when I was first onboard the ship going through the line to have breakfast. I thought I would have something that would be quick to eat like I was used to doing when I was growing up. I loved grits and an egg sandwich. A nice bowl of hot buttered grits, boy I could not wait to eat. So, when it was my turn, I told the guy behind the line that I wanted grits and an egg sandwich. Well, he puts a slice of bread on my plate, then the fried egg on the slice of bread, then a big spoonful of grits on top of the egg with the other slice of bread on top. I did not ask for that meal ever again on board that ship.
 
But let us get to the story about feeding the five thousand. Have you ever wondered what did they do with the leftovers? You know, the twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten? They did not have refrigerators back then nor did they have plastic containers, plastic bags, saran wrap, or aluminum foil. So, what did they do with all that food? and where did the baskets come from?
 
In verse 5:
By Jesus asking Philip where they could buy enough to feed the crowd, Jesus was testing Philips faith by asking for a human solution. The nearest town was approximately nine miles away (Bethsaida). Philip looked at the cost. Here he was being taught that financial resources are not always pivotal ones. We hinder God by working in us by assuming what might be impossible or not. We should not let our appraisals of situations prohibit us from the task God wants us to perform. We need to trust God to provide whatever the resources are needed to get the job done.
 
In verse 9:
Andrew stated a boy had some food, but it was not enough. The disciples had food, but they were confused as to what to do. They knew that what they had could not feed so many, so they did not give anything. The boy gave what he had which turned out to be exactly right. If we do not offer anything to God, he may not work. We are to humble ourselves, give what we have, and watch for what God can do with it.
 
Jesus took what the child had to offer and performed one of the greatest miracles. We should not feel that we are too young or too old for God to use us.
 
In verse 11:
Jesus blessed the food, and it was passed around. There was so much that the basket of food never ran out. The way I read this; the people ate until they were full. The food was not portioned or rationed out (one slice of bread for you, one filet of fish for you). The basket stayed full. I can just imagine the disciples handing out the bread and fish. They looked in the basket and grabbed one of each and turned to give it to someone. Then when they looked back in the basket, there it was again!
 
What would people do today if they saw that happen? Some would no doubt be singing praises to the Lord, but the way society is today, many would probably be greedy and try to hoard as much as they could get.
 
In verses 12-13:
Jesus tells the disciple to gather whatever remained. Twelve baskets were full of the leftovers. There was so much food left after feeding 5000 people. There may have been a multitude of people, but no one went hungry.
 
What do some people do at a buffet? Do they leave food on their plate? Do they throw any food away? When sitting at the Lord's table, you can partake of as much spiritual food as you can, it is like a buffet, but does anyone throw any of the leftovers away?
 
Some people may worry about what they do not have when serving God. We are to serve with what we do have.
 
Christ stated He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), which means we will never go hungry. The physical needs of the people were met and then some extra. When comparing this to our spiritual life, how much is leftover spiritually?
 
Who were the disciples to the Bread of Life to say that there was not enough bread?
When Jesus looked at the crowd, He had compassion. When the disciples looked at the crowd, they had complaints. What do we have?
 
 
There is a lesson in the leftovers:
 
God gives the abundance. He takes what we can offer and multiplies its effectiveness. We are to take the first step by the giving of ourselves. That means to make ourselves available for him and he will show us to further the work for his kingdom.

Long ago there were three trees. One was a fig tree, one a sycamore tree, and the last tree we know not what type it was. Regardless of what the last tree was made of, we want to look at the significance of the three trees. 
 
John 1:45-51
 
Nathanael
One Man Under a Tree
Under Condemnation
 
Nazareth was scorned by the Jews due to the Roman army that was stationed there. Nathanael's remark undoubtedly mirrored the public view.
 
Philip found Nathanael and said that they had found Jesus of Nazareth, the one Moses and the prophets had spoken of. When Nathanael heard that the Messiah was born in Nazareth, he was surprised. Luckily, Nathanael went to see Jesus. If he had acted on his prejudice, he would have missed the Messiah, but fortunately he met Jesus and became a disciple. We need to invite people to come and meet Jesus, regardless of their stereotypical thoughts about Him.
 
Jesus knew of Nathanael before physically meeting him. Jesus stated, 'behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile'. What is guile? According to the dictionary, guile is deceitful cunning. So, how can I say that Nathanael was under condemnation, but Jesus found him without. All were under condemnation under the old covenant. Christ came to bring the new covenant. Nathanael had questions but rose in faith as he proclaimed, “thou art the Son of God, King of Israel.”
 
Look at the number three here, which represents resurrection, divine completeness and perfection. First, there was cultivation; a sinner brought o Jesus by a believer (Philip took Nathanael to meet Jesus). It took a believer going out and compelling someone to come to Jesus. Second, there was a conversation between the sinner and Jesus. Next, Jesus saw Nathanael coming and before anything was said, He looked at Nathanael's heart. Nathanael asks how Jesus knows of him. Jesus had replied that He saw him under a fig tree and knew him.
 
Thirdly, there was a confession; “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God.” Had he heard this from John the Baptist? Had he wrestled with this within himself? All we can see is that he realized who Christ was and believed.
 
 
Luke 19:1-10
 
Zacchaeus
One Man Up a Tree
Working for Righteousness
 
The Roman army charged high taxes on the people they conquered to pay for their empire. Jews defied these taxes since they endorsed a profane government and its pagan beings.
Jewish tax collectors were among the most disliked individuals since they decided to work for Rome and were viewed as double crossers. In addition, there was mutual understanding that the tax collectors made themselves rich by gouging their comrades.
 
Apparently by the crowd's reaction, they were disappointed in light of the fact that Jesus decided to go into the home of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. They were astonished by Jesus accepting the hospitality from a tax collector.
 
Despite the fact that Zacchaeus was a self-centered, money-minded, and deceitful man, Jesus loved him, and hence, Zacchaeus realized his life needed changing and he was converted. Zacchaeus demonstrated his inward change by his outward actions, he gave to the poor and paid back those he cheated. This attitude of concern for others and doing right was evidence that salvation had come. Zacchaeus showed his faith by his works. (James 2:18)
 
Jesus called Zacchaeus by name (John 10:3) and said that Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham, although he was lost. This undoubtedly surprised those who heard this. The people would not have liked to recognize this disagreeable tax collector as a kindred child of Abraham, and that a child of Abraham could be lost. An individual isn't spared by legacy or denounced by a terrible one. Faith is more important than someone's ancestral heritage.
 
Each society has individuals that are considered “distant” on account of their political perspectives, their indecent conduct, or their way of life. We ought not surrender to pressures that would shield us from contacting them. Jesus adores everybody, and everybody needs to hear His Word.
 
 
Luke 23:40-42
 
The Dying Thief
One Man on a Tree
Paid the Price
(Waited Until the Death Bed)
 
This man was about to die, and he obviously accepted the Lord was God's Son who
would return as judge to set up His Kingdom. This shows that faith, not works, saves us. Jesus had mercy on the thief that believed in Him.
 
The second thief asks the first thief to not solicit favors from the dying Jesus, however to rather “fear God,” valuing that His Son was partaking in their demises, but the power of God would revive, and return in glory to pass judgment on men and build up His Kingdom. Before Jesus was crucified, we were condemned. The repentant thief focuses on that “we are condemned justly” (Luke 23:41), for it was clear to all that here hung an innocent and righteous man.
 
Here was a deathbed conversion. Stories like this may make one wonder was the conversion real. We can never know someone's heart. We must look for outward evidence of a conversion.

• John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

• Acts 16:30-31, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must 1 do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 
We are all under condemnation prior to Jesus' death on the cross. Many will try to work for righteousness, and some may wait until their last moment of life to seek the Lord's forgiveness.

• John 6:37, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

 
Jesus worked in unification with God the Father. This gives us affirmation of being accepted and preserved by Him. Jesus' motivation was to do the desire of God, not fulfilling human wants.

John 1:1-4
 
How do you explain to someone that without God there is nothing? What did God do? What has He done?
 
God was and is:

• John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 
In Hebrew Scripture, the Word was a specialist of creation (Psalm 33:6), the wellspring of God's message to His people through the prophets (Hosea 1:2), and God's Law, His norm of sacredness (Psalm 119:11). In Greek theory, the Word was the heavenly pith that held everything together, God's optimal example for creation. John's depiction shows obviously that he is talking about Jesus (John 1:14), an individual he knew and adored, and yet the Creator of the universe, a definitive disclosure of God, the living image of God's sacredness, the one by whom “all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). To the Jewish readers, “the Word was God” was ungodly. To the Greek readers, “the Word was made flesh” was unbelievable.

• Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

 
We know that God is creative; as the Creator He is unmistakable from His creation; He is everlasting and in charge of the world. We do not know why God created, but He did. He did not have to make the universe; He chose to make it.
 
 
If a man is without God, then he is also without:
 
Without Peace:

• Isaiah 48:22, There is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked. 
• Isaiah 57:21, There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

 
Numerous individuals shout out for solace, security, and alleviation; however, they have not found a way to eliminate the transgression in their lives and open channels to God. They have
not tried to atone and trust in Him. If we want genuine peace, we need to look for God first, at that point we can obtain it.

• John 16:33, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

 
Jesus tells us to have courage. Regardless of the struggles that we will face, He is with us. We must remember that the victory has already been won.

• Romans 8:6, For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

 
We must daily choose to center ourselves on God. Daily, in every situation, we should ask ourselves, “what would Jesus want me to do.”

• Colossians 3:15, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, lo the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

 
Paul is telling us that the peace of Christ should be the umpire of our hearts. In our hearts there is continual conflict over what is right and what is wrong, hopes and fears, love and jealousy, and other aspects. The choices we make will either promote peace or remove it.

• Psalm 119:165, Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. 
• Galatians 5:22, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy. peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
• John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth. give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 
• Numbers 6:26, The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 
• Psalm 29:11, The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. 
• Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God. which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and mind5 through Christ Jesus. 
• Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 
• Romans 15:13, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 
• 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

 
Without Food & Water:

• John 4:14, But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 
• John 6:35, And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

 
Numerous spiritual aspects are comparable to physical capacities. Our bodies get hungry and thirsty, our souls do as well. However, our souls need spiritual food and water. We would not consider denying our bodies of food and water so for what reason would it be a good idea for us to deny our souls? We can fulfill spiritual thirst and hunger and support our spiritual life simply by a correct relationship with Jesus Christ.
 
Without Strength:

• Romans 5:6, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

 
We can do nothing to save ourselves. Mankind is helpless. For that reason, someone had to come and rescue us.
 
Without Hope:

• Ephesians 2:12, That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

 
Spiritual pride blinds us to our own shortcomings and amplifies the deficiencies of others. We should be mindful so as not to become proud for our salvation. The Jews and the Gentiles could both be blameworthy of profound pride. The Jews believed that their services and ceremonies raised them above everybody. The Gentiles failed to remember their hopeless position prior to accepting Christ.
 
Without Love:

• 1 John 4:8, He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
•  1 John 4:16, And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

We cannot say that we love God if we have no love and concern for others. Do we truly love other believers and non-believers? We can show the love that is within us by our concern for others and how we help them, regardless of what we think of them. What makes us feel good is not love. Are we willing to give up on moral principles in hopes of obtaining what the world thinks is love?
 
Without Life:

• 1 John 5:12, He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

 
Simply stating, if we believe in Christ and the work that He did on the cross, and have accepted Him as our personal Savior, then we have eternal life. We do not have to wait for it. We do not have to work for it. We do not need to worry because God has given us guaranteed eternal life through His Son Jesus.
 
Without Anything:

• John 1:3, All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

 
When God created, He made something from nothing. Since we are made creatures, we have no reason for pride. We ought to remember that we exist simply because God made us, and we have extraordinary endowments since God offered them to us. With God we are something important and special; aside from God we are nothing.
 
A conscience without God is like a court without a judge.

John 6:35
 
In the book of John, Jesus says “I AM” seven times. Seven is the number of completeness, spiritual perfection.
 
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE – John 6:35

• Fed thousands with a few fishes and bread
• Exodus 16:35 – children of Israel ate manna
• As in many cultures, bread is a staple of life
• Bread sustains physical
• Jesus sustains spiritual

 
I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD – John 8:12

• Jesus wanted followers to know they didn’t have to live in darkness (bondage)
• Jesus was speaking in the Temple part known as the treasury
• Lit by candles to represent pillar of fire which led Israel through the wilderness - Exodus 13:21
• Pillar of fire represents God’s presence, protection, guidance
• Jesus brings God’s presence, protection, guidance

 
I AM THE DOOR – John 10:7, 9

• Verse 7, Jesus is the door of the sheep,
• Sheep gathered in the sheepfold together at night for protection
• Verse 9, Jesus is the way to salvation from dangers of this world
• Pharisees rejected only access to God
• Jesus is the door open for passage and communication with God

 
I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD – John 10:11

• Hired men tend sheep for money
• Shepherd loves his flock
• Sheep know the voice of the shepherd
• Psalm 23 – the Lord is my Shepherd
• Shepherd gives life for flock

IAM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE – John 11:25

• Jesus has power over life and death
• Sister was in anguish after brother died
• Whoever believes in Jesus has a spiritual life death cannot touch
• Sister knew she would see her brother in the final resurrection
• John 11:43-44 – Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead

 
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE – John 14:6

• Jesus states only one way to the Father
• Some may argue too narrow, actually wide enough for whole world, many will refuse it
• People should say thank you to God for providing the way
• John 8:32 – ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
• Christ is the Way to the Father, the Truth fulfilling prophesies of a Savior, the Life by whose life-giving Spirit the dead in sin are raised

 
I AM THE TRUE VINE – John 15:1, 5

• Grapevine is prolific plant bears many grapes
• In OT, grape symbolized Israel fruitfulness
• Psalms 80:8 – thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt
• Isaiah 5:7 – for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel
• In Passover meal, fruit of vine symbolized God’s goodness
• Christ is the vine; true followers are the branches which remain dependent on vine to bear fruit
• Understanding this helps believers to live fruitful lives

 

John 6:1-13
 
 
Undoubtedly many have heard this passage of Scripture before. Hopefully, many have read this story. This is the story of where Jesus feeds the multitude, the five thousand. What a miracle to perform. I cannot imagine trying to feed that many people. No doubt there are quite a few mothers out there that would find that a daunting task. Can you see five thousand people coming through your door, walking to the dining room, either trying to find a place to sit or going around the table in a buffet style? It gets fairly hectic around our house on Thanksgiving.

​When I was in the Navy on board the ship, Sailors had to stand in line (and sometimes that line went up a flight of stairs to the upper level). When the Sailors finally reached the mess deck (that is what we called the cafeteria area), they would grab a tray, and when they finally got to the actual food line, they could tell the culinary assistants (cooks) what they wanted to eat.
 
I remember when I was first onboard the ship going through the line to have breakfast. I thought I would have something that would be quick to eat like I was used to doing when I was growing up. I loved grits and an egg sandwich. A nice bowl of hot buttered grits, boy I could not wait to eat. So, when it was my turn, I told the guy behind the line that I wanted grits and an egg sandwich. Well, he proceeds to put a slice of bread on my plate, then he puts the fried egg on top of the slice of bread, and then a big spoonful of grits on top of the egg with the other slice of bread on top. I did not ask for that meal ever again on board that ship.

But let us get to the story about feeding the five thousand. Have you ever wondered what did the disciples do with all the leftovers? You know, the twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above what the people had eaten? They did not have refrigerators back then nor did they have plastic containers, plastic bags, saran wrap, or aluminum foil. So, what did they do with all that food and where did the baskets come from? Scripture does not say, but I would hazard a guess that all the remaining food was distributed out to other people that had not been there.
 
In verse 5:
By Jesus asking Philip where they could buy enough to feed the crowd, Jesus was testing Philip’s faith by asking for a human solution. The nearest town was approximately nine miles away (Bethsaida). Philip looked at the cost. In this, Philip was being taught that financial resources are not always pivotal ones. We hinder God from working in us by assuming what might be impossible or not. We should not let our appraisals of situations prohibit us from the task God wants us to perform. We need to trust God to provide whatever the resources are needed to get the job done.
 
In verse 9:
Andrew stated a boy had some food, but it was not enough. The disciples had food, but they were confused as to what to do. They knew that what they had could not feed so many, so they did not give anything. The boy gave what he had which turned out to be exactly right. If we do not offer anything to God, he may not work. We are to humble ourselves, give what we have, and watch for what God can do with it.

Jesus took what the child had to offer and performed one of the greatest miracles of all time. We should not feel that we are too young nor too old for God to use us. When we come to Christ as a willing vessel for him to use, wonderous things can occur.
 
In verse 11:
Jesus blessed the food, and it was passed around. There was so much that the basket of food never ran out. The way I read this; the people ate until they were full. The food was not portioned or rationed out (one slice of bread for you, one filet of fish for you). The basket stayed full. I can just imagine the disciples handing out the bread and fish. They looked in the basket and grabbed one of each and turned to give it to someone. Then when they looked back in the basket, there it was again!

What would people do today if they saw that happen? Some would no doubt be singing praises to the Lord, but the way society is today, many would probably be greedy and try to hoard as much as they could get.
 
In verses 12-13:
Jesus tells the disciple to gather whatever remained. Twelve baskets were full of the leftovers. There was so much food left after feeding 5000 people. There may have been a multitude of people, but no one went hungry.

What do some people in our society today do at a buffet? Do they leave food on their plate? Do they throw any food away? When sitting at the Lord’s table, you can partake of as much spiritual food as you can, it is like a buffet, but does anyone throw any of the leftovers away?
 
Some people may worry about what they do not have when serving God. We are to serve him with what we do have. Christ stated that he is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), which means we will never go hungry. The physical needs of the people were met and then there was plenty extra to go around. When comparing this to our spiritual life, how much in our life is leftover spiritually?
Who were the disciples to the Bread of Life to say that there was not enough bread? When Jesus looked at the crowd, He had compassion. When the disciples looked at the crowd, they had complaints. What do we have?
 
There is a lesson in the leftovers:
God gives the abundance. He takes what we can offer and multiplies its effectiveness. We are to take the first step by giving of ourselves. That means to make ourselves available for him and he will show us to further the work for his kingdom.

John 1:45-51
 
Long ago there were three trees.  One a fig tree, one a sycamore tree, and the last tree we know not what type it was.  Regardless, of what the last tree was made of, we want to look at the significance of the three trees.
 
John 1:45-51 – One Man Under A Tree
Nathanael – Under Condemnation
 
Nazareth was scorned by the Jews due to the Roman army that was stationed there.
​Nathanael's remark undoubtedly mirrored the public view. 

Philip found Nathanael and said that they had found Jesus of Nazareth, the one Moses and the prophets had spoken of.  When Nathanael heard that the Messiah was born in Nazareth, he was surprised.  Luckily, Nathanael went to see Jesus.  If he had acted on his prejudice, he would have missed the Messiah, but fortunately he met Jesus and became a disciple.  We need to invite people to come and meet Jesus, regardless of their stereotypical thoughts about Him.

Jesus knew of Nathanael before physically meeting him.  Jesus stated, ‘behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile’.  What is guile?  According to the dictionary, guile is deceitful cunning.  So, how can I say that Nathanael was under condemnation, but Jesus found him without.  All were under condemnation under the old covenant.  Christ came to bring the new covenant.  Nathanael had questions but rose in faith as he proclaimed, ‘thou art the Son of God, King of Israel’.
 
Look at the number three here, which represents resurrection, divine completeness and perfection. 

First, there was cultivation; a sinner brought to Jesus by a believer (Philip took Nathanael to meet Jesus).  It took a believer going out and compelling someone to come to Jesus.

Second, there was a conversation between the sinner and Jesus.  Next, Jesus saw Nathanael coming and before anything was said, He looked at Nathanael’s heart.  Nathanael asks how Jesus knows of him.  Jesus had replied that He saw him under a fig tree and knew him.

Thirdly, there was a confession; ‘Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God’.  Had he heard this from John the Baptist?  Had he wrestled with this within himself?  All we can see is that he realized who Christ was and believed.
 

Luke 19:1-10 – One Man Up A Tree
Zacchaeus – Working For Righteousness
 
The Roman army charged high taxes on the people they conquered to pay for their empire.  Jews defied these taxes since they endorsed a profane government and its pagan beings.  
Jewish tax collectors were among the most disliked individuals since they decided to work for Rome and were viewed as double crossers.  In addition, there was mutual understanding that the tax collectors made themselves rich by gouging their comrades.  Apparently by the crowd’s reaction, they were disappointed in light of the fact that Jesus decided to go into the home of Zacchaeus', the tax collector.  They were astonished by Jesus accepting hospitality from a tax collector.  

Despite the fact that Zacchaeus was a self-centered, money-minded and deceitful man, Jesus loved him, and hence, Zacchaeus realized his life needed changing and he was converted.  Zacchaeus demonstrated his inward change by his outward actions, he gave to the poor and paid back those he cheated.  This attitude of concern for others and doing right was evidence that salvation had come.  Zacchaeus showed his faith by his works. (James 2:18)

Jesus called Zacchaeus by name (John 10:3) and said that Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham, although he was lost.  This undoubtedly surprised those who heard this.  The people would not have liked to recognize this disagreeable tax collector as a kindred child of Abraham, and that a child of Abraham could be lost.  An individual isn't spared by legacy or denounced by a terrible one.  Faith is more important than someone's ancestral heritage.

Each society has individuals that are considered 'distant' on account of their political perspectives, their indecent conduct, or their way of life.  We ought not surrender to pressures that would shield us from contacting them.  Jesus adores everybody, and everybody needs to hear His Word.
 

Luke 23:40-42 – One Man On A Tree
The Dying Thief – Paid The Price, Waited Till Death Bed
 
This man was about to die, and he obviously accepted the Lord was God's Son who would return as judge to set up His Kingdom.  This shows that faith, not works, saves us.  Jesus had mercy on the thief that believed in Him.

The second thief asks the first thief to not solicit favors from the dying Jesus, however to rather "fear God", valuing that His Son was partaking in their demises, but the power of God would revive, and return in glory to pass judgment on men and build up His Kingdom.  Before Jesus was crucified, we were condemned. The repentant thief focuses on that "we are condemned justly" (Luke 23:41), for it was clear to all that here hung an innocent and righteous man.

Here was a deathbed conversion.  Stories like this may make one wonder was the conversion real.  We can never know someone’s heart.  We must look for outward evidence of a conversion. 

• John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’.
• Acts 16:30-31, ‘And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house’.

 
We are all under condemnation prior to Jesus’ death on the cross.  Many will try to work for righteousness, and some may wait until their last moment of life to seek the Lord’s forgiveness. 

• John 6:37, ‘All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out’.

 
Jesus worked in unification with God the Father.  This gives us affirmation of being accepted and preserved by Him.  Jesus' motivation was to do the desire of God, not fulfilling human wants. What is your answer to Christ when He comes to talk to you?

John 6:22-40 (31-35)
 
John 6:22-40 portrays the underlying outcome of Jesus’ feeding of the thousands the day previous. The people’s real longing is for another extraordinary and supernatural scene and all the freer food. In this entry, Christ starts to clarify the genuine significance behind His wonder and His service. This incorporates the first of seven “'I AM” explanations in the Gospel of John, where Jesus proclaims His divinity. Jesus explains that actual physical things, for example, bread are intended to be images of a spiritual truth. In the accompanying portion, the group will quit looking and seeking and then begin their whining and complaining.

Jesus condemned the individuals who followed Him just for the physical and worldly advantages, not on the grounds that they were hungry for spiritual things. Numerous individuals use religion to acquire notoriety or solace. Be that as it may, those are egotistical thought processes. Genuine believers follow Jesus basically in light of the fact that they realize His direction is the correct way to live.

Numerous true searchers of God are confounded about what He wants them to do. The religions of the world are humankind’s endeavor to respond to this inquiry. Be that as it may, Jesus’ answer is brief and straightforward: we should have faith in Him whom God has sent. Fulfilling God does not come from the work we do, yet from whom we accept. The initial step is accepting that Jesus is who He professes to be. All spiritual growth is based on this confirmation. We are to announce in supplication to Jesus that “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and begin on an existence of conviction that is fulfilling to our Creator.

We eat bread to fulfill actual physical hunger and to support real life. We can fulfill spiritual hunger and support spiritual life simply by a right connection with Jesus Christ. It is no big surprise that He called Himself the Bread of Life. In any case, bread should be eaten to give life, and Christ should be welcomed into our day-by-day walk to give spiritual life.

Jesus did not work autonomously of God the Father, yet in association with Him. This gives us considerably more affirmation of being invited into His presence and being secured by Him. Jesus' motivation was to do the desire of the Father. We ought to have that equivalent reason.
 
It seems that at sometimes in our lives, we become so dependent on the pastor or a preacher to feed us that we have forgotten how to feed ourselves. Why is that, especially for the mature Christians? And I am not talking about those of physical age, yet to those of spiritual age. New Christians, or new converts, are “Babes in Christ,” and they do not fully understand and know the Word of God. They are fed the milk of the Word, which is easy to digest and to understand.

The older Christians, or I should say the mature Christians, they should be obtaining their spiritual nourishment from the meat of the Word of God. That is the portions that are more in depth which takes deeper study and understanding of the Word of God.

The older believers should be helping to nurture the new converts, as well as to each other. And, as the new converts begin to grow in spiritual maturity, they should learn to feed on the meat of the Word. This means getting into a more in-depth study of God’s Word. Granted, we all need something to help wash down what we are feeding on, so we should on occasion, take in a little of the milk of God’s Word.

Sometimes new converts are left to learn on their own. They may not know how to apply that learned knowledge from a Bible study or from Sunday school. They have not truly learned to obtain the Word on their own, or maybe it is that they only get the Word on Sunday. Lord forgive us! Older Christians should be ashamed and embarrassed about this.

As babes, parents must feed their young children until the children learn to feed themselves. In doing so, the children learn what is good for them. When the children (new converts) are ready for school, they do not go through school without doing some type of homework. That same concept applies to their spiritual growth. New converts need to learn to take responsibility to study the Word, and to do so mature Christians need to guide them.

If the only spiritual food is taken in on the Sunday morning service, by the next week that person is starving spiritually. Some may not be physically able to attend multiple services during the week, that should not prevent people from reading the Word and from studying the Word. Turn off the distractions. It may be a good idea to take the Word to those that are shut ins.

Mature Christians need to learn that there is more to do than just “winning souls.” Do not think that just because we led someone to Christ that the job is done, especially if that new convert stays within our local church body. And for those new converts that may not be in our local church body, we need to point them in the right direction.

• John 6:48, I am that bread of life.
• John 6:51, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
• John 6:58, This is the bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
• 2 Timothy 2:15, Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 
Jesus is speaking on the subject that He is what we need to sustain our spiritual growth. But how could Jesus give us His body as bread to eat? To eat living bread intends to join ourselves to Christ. We are joined with Christ in two ways: (1) by having faith in His death and resurrection and (2) by dedicating ourselves to living as He requires, relying upon His teachings for direction, and confiding in the Holy Spirit for power.

We must take heed to what the preacher is giving us (spoon fed) from God, but do not try to live our lives solely on that. We need to learn to feed ourselves in between the “mealtimes” (worship services).

We eat breakfast, but before lunch time we may get hungry again. Do we just wait, or do we go get ourselves a snack? If the only spiritual meals that we take in is at Sunday morning service, Sunday evening service, and possibly a Wednesday evening service, the rest of the week we are doing without spiritual food unless we have learned how to feed ourselves. Fasting from spiritual food is not the same as fasting from physical food. Doing without spiritual food makes one weak.
​
We need to learn to belly up to the spiritual table when the spiritual meal is prepared for us but also, we need to learn to snack on the spiritual goodies until it is time for that next full spiritual meal.