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God of Second Chances
A couple of weeks ago, we considered Peter’s three denials of Jesus. We remember his anguish upon the hearing of the rooster crowing, because Jesus had prophesied of these denials. Today, we return to that story, but see the renewal of commitment. In Peter’s story we are reminded that God loves to give a second chance.
The Other Lord’s Prayer
We have journey through much of the Gospel of John this year—not verse by verse, but nonetheless, I think that we have been in this glorious Gospel enough to see its purpose (to make Jesus known so that He would be known by others). Today, we find ourselves in John 17. It’s a prayer. In a sense we are eavesdropping, through the miracle of the inspiration of Holy Scripture, on the prayer life of Jesus. There is another prayer that we refer to the Lord’s prayer. You know the one. It begins, “Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name…” But, here in John 17 is another model prayer. As one said, “John 17 gives us a glimpse into the heart of Jesus unlike any other chapter in the four Gospels.” (Gary Burge, NIV Application Commentary, 458)
Peace in Times like These
How do we find peace in time like these? It’s what we want isn’t it? It’s what we long for? But, it’s Boston, North Korea, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, or the economy. And that doesn’t even include what might be going on just in your individual life. So, where can we find peace in times like these? I point us to John 16:33 today.
The True Vine
We are in the Gospel of John again today. We began this year considering the 7 miracles of Jesus as told by John. Now, we are considering the 7 “I Am” statements of John. In fact, today we have come to the last of these. Seven times, John records Jesus proclaiming Himself with the introductory formula “I am.” “I am the bread of life.” We said that just as bread sustains our lives physically, Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the One who sustains us spiritually and eternally. “I am the light of the world.” This statement gives us a radical claim (I am the light of the world) which calls us to a radical discipleship (anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness) which guarantees for us a radical promise (but will have the light of life). Then, there were the statements, “I am the door” and “I am the Good Shepherd” that point to Jesus being the only way to salvation. “I am the resurrection and the life.” This statement points to the promise of eternal life. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Again, Jesus is the one and only way to eternal life. The last is recorded here in John 15.
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
We are in the Gospel of John again today. We began this year considering the 7 miracles of Jesus as told by John. Now, we are considering the 7 “I Am” statements of John. Seven times, John records Jesus proclaiming Himself with the introductory formula “I am.” We have considered the statement “I am the bread of life.” We said that just as bread sustains our lives physically, Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the One who sustains us spiritually and eternally. We have considered the statement, “I am the light of the world.” This statement gives us a radical claim (I am the light of the world) which calls us to a radical discipleship (anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness) which guarantees for us a radical promise (but will have the light of life). Then, there were the statements, “I am the door” and “I am the Good Shepherd” that point to Jesus being the only way to salvation. Last time, we looked at that glorious Easter themed claim, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Today, we have before us what one has called the “premier expression of the theology of this entire Gospel.” (Gary Burge, NIV Application Commentary, p. 392)
