I Am Leaving You with a Gift

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John

September 12, 2024 

I Am Leaving You with a Gift

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

John  14:27

There are times when we look at Scripture through an either/or lens, and there are times when we use a both/and lens. Today’s passage is an either/or. John uses the word, world, to denote the two-fold opposition to the Kingdom of God. First, within the world are those who choose not to believe and obey Jesus. Secondly, within the world, is the “ruler of this world” (John 14:30) which is a literal reference to Caesar and his forces and a figurative reference to the forces of evil that oppose the reign of God.

It is within this world, dominated by both the human forces who oppose the Kingdom of God and the spiritual forces of wickedness, that Jesus sends his disciples; but Jesus does not send us alone. He assures his followers that the Advocate, as Jesus’ representative—that is, the Holy Spirit— will teach us everything and will remind us of everything of which Jesus spoke in Scripture. (John 14:26)

Jesus also promises that as we live in fidelity with his teachings, we will experience peace of mind and heart. And the peace Jesus gives us is a gift the world cannot give. So we don’t have to be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)

Jesus sending his disciples into harm’s way, equipped with only the promise of his Advocate and his peace, is somewhat akin to sending a soldier into combat without a weapon or body armor. The Apostle Paul added the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) to our equipment list, but it is designed only to enhance our witness and experience of Jesus’ peace, which really doesn’t seem sufficient against the combined forces of this world.

My Takeaway: St. Teresa of Avila is quoted as saying, "Dear Lord, if this is how You treat Your friends, it is no wonder You have so few!”

Still, I want to be counted as among the friends of Jesus. 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

We Are In Jesus; Jesus Is In Us

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John

 September 11, 2024

 We Are In Jesus; Jesus Is In Us

When I am raised to life again,

you will know that I am in my Father,

and you are in me, and I am in you.

John  14:20

Today’s passage contains one of the most profound theological truths about God. But before we look at today’s text, we first need some background information to help us grasp this truth. In Matthew 16, Jesus was in the region of Caesarea Philippi when he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” You remember that Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Do you also recall how Jesus responded to Peter? “Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being” (Matthew 16: 13-19) There are some truths about God that we cannot grasp on our own. We need God to supernaturally reveal His truth to us. We call such an experience with the Holy Spirit, Revelation Knowledge.

Now, let’s look at today’s passage. Jesus promises us the gift of his very presence in our lives. His presence, the Holy Spirit, our Helper and our Comforter, will teach us to dwell in God’s greatest Glory, the deepest theological truth of God:

Jesus and God are in each other;

we are in Jesus;

and Jesus is in us.

When the Holy Spirit quickens within our spirit, and we respond, “Yes and Amen” to this theological truth, this truth will be transformed from information to revelation knowledge. When we experience this revelation knowledge, we will grasp the meaning and power of praying in Jesus’ name. We don’t pray in Jesus’ name by tagging ‘in the name of Jesus’ at the end of our prayer. We pray in Jesus’ name when the substance of our prayer expresses the Glory of God in Christ, when our prayer exemplifies the very life of Jesus.

My Takeaway: When our heart aches for the things for which Jesus’ heart aches, when our heart desires the things Jesus desires, when our heart loves the way Jesus loves, we pray in Jesus’ name. 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Jesus Is The Way, The Truth And The Life

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John

September 10, 2024

Jesus Is The Way, The Truth And The Life

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

John  14:6

As we continue to read the Farewell Discourse of Jesus, keep in the forefront of your mind the foundation Jesus laid for this teaching. In Jesus, the Glory of God has been revealed. In Jesus, we see the heart of God the Father. Jesus, as the revealed Glory of God, washed the feet of his disciples, loved his disciples, and was the Passover Lamb who took away the sins of the world. Jesus is the revealed Glory of God. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus shows us the way home to paradise, the way home to God our Father. Jesus and God the Father are one.

Therefore, because of all that Jesus is, he can make the most comforting promise in the Bible: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:1-3).

This one promise is the tipping point of our response to all the claims Jesus has made on our lives. Our fidelity to Jesus’ command for us to go and make disciples depends on our response to this promise. Our willingness to entrust our lives to God so that He can use everything in our life for His purpose of transforming us to become like Jesus depends on how deeply Jesus’ promise resonates within our soul. Is Jesus’ promise to you sufficient to earn your unconditional, unqualified obedience? If yes, hallelujah; rest in his assurance that you will always be with him.

My Takeaway: If not, what else must he do to earn your loyalty? 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A New Commandment

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John 

September 9, 2024

A New Commandment

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John  13: 34-35

Jesus begins his Farewell Discourse by reflecting on the exchange of glory between Father and Son. The very essence of God is goodness, mercy, holiness and love. The Glory of God is the revelation of God’s essence. This glory is revealed through the presence of God. God, as a burning bush to Moses, and as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night for the Israelites during the exodus, are examples of God’s Glory. The ultimate expression of God’s Glory is in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Christ Jesus.

The Glory of God is meant to be an unbroken circle. God’s glory is shown or revealed to His people, and in return His people give glory to God. This responsive glory is expressed in adoration, honor, praise and obedience.

Jesus gave his followers a new commandment to obey. The Latin translation of commandment is also the root of the word mandate. In French, the word for mandate is mandé, and over time its use within the church was changed into Maundy. The Maundy Thursday service during Holy Week is in remembrance of John 13:34, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” There is no greater way to glorify God than giving ourselves to fulfill this new commandment to love each other as Jesus loves us. Jesus said that our love for one another will prove to the world that we are his disciples. That seems so simple, yet it is the one thing that has proved the most difficult for Christians to fulfill.

We can do well in loving those people who are like us, but not so well loving those who are different from us, or who we suspect may betray or deny us. Peter’s exuberance in proclaiming his devotion to Jesus, only to be confronted with the truth that he would soon deny Jesus, should be for us a startling reminder to fix ourselves firmly at the feet of Jesus.

My Takeaway: The farther away we get from Jesus, the more impossible it becomes to love one another the way Jesus loves us. 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

One Of You Will Betray Me!

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John 

September 6, 2024

One Of You Will Betray Me!

Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

John 13: 21-30

Jesus had washed the feet of all twelve disciples. Now they were reclining at the dinner table partaking of their Passover meal. That they were reclining is a very important detail. Only those who were free reclined while eating; slaves and servants ate either standing or seated. Although the Israelites were living under Roman occupation and oppression, Passover celebrated God setting them free from slavery in Egypt, and every Jew would partake of the Passover meal while reclining at their table. Reclining people gathering around the table are touching one another; the Passover was a very intimate meal for Jesus and his disciples. The text includes the detail, “Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl” (John 12:26a). In first-century Israel, sharing a meal together was yet another indication of intimacy and right-standing relationships.

As Jesus looks around the table at his disciples, his friends, he knows one will betray him to the religious authorities, one will publicly deny even knowing him, and all but one of the remaining men will scatter into hiding after he is arrested. Even so, Jesus reclined at the Passover table with his disciples; even so, Jesus washed the feet of all twelve.

My Takeaway: I noted in the previous passage that Jesus had laid down a pattern for his disciples to follow. As you ponder Jesus’ interaction with his disciples, what do you hear God saying to you? Do you have an attitude toward someone that God wants you to adjust?

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Jesus Never, Ever Lowers the Bar

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John 

September 5, 2024 

Jesus Never, Ever Lowers the Bar

I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

John  13: 15, 17

Jesus looks his disciples squarely in the eye and demands uncompromising loyalty and obedience, knowing full well that his disciples are destined to fall short of his expectations time and time again. In today’s passage, Jesus tells us that he has laid down a pattern for us to follow. We are to be humble followers of Jesus who never think of ourselves as better than others, and who never think of menial service as something beneath our station in life. Then Jesus hints that one of his disciples seated at the table with him doesn’t grasp this teaching. In the following passages, Jesus will identify Peter as another disciple who will fall short of the expectations Jesus has set for Christianoi, the people of Christ.

Jesus never, ever, lowers the bar. This is why we will never, ever, outgrow our need for the church, for the sacrament of Holy Communion, for prayer, for accountability partners or groups, and personal devotional and worship time. For some, the poetic lines of worship songs may seem a bit over the top; “I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee” or “This is the air I breathe . . . Your holy presence living in me; This is my daily bread . . . Your very word spoken to me; And I I'm desperate for you; And I I'm lost without you.” Do we really mean it when we sing these lines?

My Takeaway: I do, because as we will see in several days, Jesus was quite serious when he said, “For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5b). 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Mind of Christ

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John 

September 4, 2024

The Mind of Christ

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.

John  13: 1

John’s Gospel is reaching its climax, and John sets the stage beautifully in the very first verse of Chapter 13. We learn the Passover has come. This is the third Passover in John’s Gospel, and he has been continually pointing to the fulfillment of Jesus’ mission as the sacrificial offering of Passover. In the opening verse John states, “Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father.”

In the previous passage Jesus said, “For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me” (John 12:45). Betrayal by one of the twelve disciples, denial by the leader of the disciples, Jesus’ suffering excruciating pain and public humiliation are just some of the markers along the path Jesus took on his return to the Father. What does the path taken by Jesus on his return to the Father reveal to you about God?

John shows us the Word has become flesh, as Jesus “took the humble position of a slave” and washed the feet of the disciples. Jesus wrapped his humility in love: “He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.” The Gospel of John uses the word agape, love, more than the other three Gospels combined.

When you think of your identity as a Christian, or perhaps, a leader in your church, is your mind flooded with memories of Jesus loving his disciples to the end, to the uttermost? Do you remember the Messiah washing the feet of his disciples?  

My Takeaway: A very early hymn of the church was incorporated by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:5-11 to remind us that as the followers of Jesus, we must have the mind of Christ Jesus.

In your relationships with one another,

have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

    did not consider equality with God

something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8 NIV

 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.