Devotion

Read: John 12:31-33; Hebrews 2:14

Christ’s death on the cross is the main focus of our Lord’s discussion in today’s text. He mentioned two things that result from His crucifixion: (i) judgment of the world and its prince, and (ii) drawing people unto Himself.

The judgment that results from His cross constitutes, firstly, the judgment of the world. As the world rejected the Lord and put Him to death, they were rejecting their only way of salvation. So when they passed judgment on Christ, their own judgment became more evident and real. Secondly, the judgment of the cross includes the casting out of the prince of this world...

Read: John 7:26-30; Psalms 71:16

Some of the Jews in Jerusalem did know of the murderous attitude of their leaders. They knew how dangerous the situation was for Jesus. It amazed them that Jesus still taught the people openly, and the rulers could not take advantage of it to kill Him.

In verse 26, the Jews described Jesus as One with boldness. They also wondered whether the leaders knew that Jesus was indeed the Christ! The inability of the Jewish authorities to harm and silence Jesus...

Read: John 1:4; 1 John 5:11-14

After introducing Christ under the title “the Word,” and affirming His deity (vv.1–3), John introduces Him in this passage as “the Life” and “the Light.”

“In Him was life,” said John about Jesus Christ. What does this imply? Firstly, it portrays Christ as self-existent and ever-living. Since life is in Christ, He is self-existent. He was never created; and He lives for ever...

Read: John 13:21-30; 1 John 2:19

Unmasking Judas’ betrayal must have caused deep anguish to Jesus (cf. v. 21). In His anguish, He said, “One of you shall betray me.” It must have been difficult for the disciples to fathom that one of them could have such treachery in his heart. John says that they began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking (cf. v. 22). And Judas, the hypocrite, even said, “Is it I, Rabbi?” (Matt 26:25).

Read: John 10:1-18; Ezekiel 34:2-5

Jesus used this occasion to distinguish between the true and false shepherds, or between Himself and the Pharisees. For this purpose, He used the allegory of the Good Shepherd. The word rendered “parable” (paroimia) in verse 6 means a wayside saying. The word for parable (parabole) does not appear in John. A parable usually teaches one point, with little emphasis being placed on the details of the story. An allegory is a kind of parable in that it also stresses one theme. But it approaches it from many angles through the details. So in the allegory of the Good Shepherd, Jesus drew many pictures of the Pharisees and other false shepherds in contrast to Himself...

Read: John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-3

The Apostle John’s main purpose for writing his Gospel is that his readers “might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (Jn 20:31). At the very first passage itself John points to Jesus Christ as God, by introducing Him as “the Word.” (From Jn 1:14, we can see that Jesus is the “Word.”)

Much as our words reveal to others our personality and purposes, so Jesus Christ is God’s “Word” to reveal God and His purposes to us. Jesus Himself said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). Jesus Christ is the ultimate divine revelation (cf. Heb 1:2). Being “the Word,” the faithful Witness of the mind of God, He is also the Truth and the Amen...

Read: 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 3:9-14

Peter mentions two fruits of salvation in verses 13-16. The word, "wherefore," in the beginning of verse 13 suggests that in this passage we are given the consequences or results of the salvation that is discussed in the preceding passage. Today let us consider the first result of salvation, mentioned by Peter.

Peter mentioned hope as the first fruit of salvation. He wrote in verse 13, ". . . . hope to the end. . ." This is a call to all Christians to exercise hope perfectly. In Greek the verb, "hope" is an imperative or command...

Read: 1 Peter 2:9-10; Psalms 33:12

The first readers of this epistle were a persecuted and rejected people in this world. They were like strangers in their own countries. In this world they were like a rejected people. However, Peter reminds them that they are a special people to God. No matter how horrible the treatment of the world would be, Christians should remember how special they are in God’s eyes.

Peter’s description of the New Testament Church parallels God’s description of the nation of Israel in Exodus 19:5-6 and Deuteronomy 7:6. When the nation of Israel has gone rebellious and disobedient...

Read: 1 Peter 1:8b; John 20:29

When the intensity of trials increases, people tend to doubt the reality of God's love for them. When trials become difficult to endure, and when our prayers and desires are not quickly granted, it would seem that God has deserted us. He seems to be no where near in sight. This is when our faith must come to full expression. When every thing around us tries to prove that God is not real, our faith in God must refuse to succumb to such pressure. “Though now ye see him not, yet believing”! In Paul's language what Peter says is “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Read: 1 Peter 1:18-21; Ephesians 1:6-7

In verses 18-21 Peter calls the attention of believers to the priceless redemption God has secured for them. He introduces the value of our redemption as another reason for holy living. The words, "Forasmuch as ye know," at the beginning of verse 18 is a common method of expanding the preceding thought, which in this case is the reasons for holy living (vv. 14-17). (Such phrases are found in Romans 5:3; 6:9; 2 Corinthians 1:7; 4:14; 5:6; etc.)...