John 18 NASB

"Jesus therefore said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18: 11) 

As Jesus is about to be bound and taken captive, Simon Peter tries to prevent it by pulling out his sword and cutting the ear off the high priest's slave's ear. 

However, Jesus did not long to be set free, but commanded Peter to put his sword away.  Jesus knew what He had to accomplish. It was to be taken captive like a lamb to be slaughtered and beaten for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:7-8) He also knew that the only way to receive the cup His Father gave Him, which I believe is the power to give eternal life was to be crucified and offered as a sacrifice.  

Jesus desired to die for us because He knew what awaited Him in Heaven. He knew that He would be given the cup of eternal life and power, which He could then give to us.  He deliberately stopped Peter from helping him escape and allowed them to lead Him to death. He set His mind to the things above (Colossians 3:2) ... drinking from the cup His Father gave Him. 

John 17 NASB

"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth. As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." (John 17: 16-18)

Everytime I read this passage, I feel a sense of peace knowing that Jesus Himself prays for us declaring the truth that we are not of this world.  It makes enduring and persevering through the temptations of this world that much easier.  Each time I find myself getting bothered by something of this world, I just declare this truth and tell myself over and over again that I am not of this world just as Jesus is also not of this world. And suddenly I find the strength to stomp on the obstacle/temptation of this world that I am not even a part of.  Thank You Jesus that I am not of this world, but merely IN IT temporarily until we go home to You! 

John 16 (NASB)

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 17:33)

Why are we cowering behind fear, insecurity, doubt, anxiety, stress...??!!

We have a Helper, the Holy Spirit of truth whom Jesus has sent (John 17:7 & 13) & the Lord Jesus Himself who declares that He has overcome the world!! 

As I'm declaring this verse at this very moment, I feel His boldness and power rising up inside of me! 

This is so awesome! We have Jesus who has overcome THE WORLD living inside of us! Whom shall I fear?? No one! Nothing! But I will take courage. For Jesus has overcome the world!! 

John 15

"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made know to you." (John 15:15)

A slave is not free to have a relationship outside of works with its master.  However, we are no longer called slaves, but called friends of Jesus! Imagine how a slave who had been in bondage would act the minute he is told that he is now free and called a friend! I totally picture him so excited to be a part of his new friends life.  I want nothing more than to get to know my new friend who has counted me worthy to be His friend! He makes all His ways, plans, works know to us. For we are His friends now! Take advantage of this great friendship that is now available to us!

 

John 14

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15) 

I love this verse for the very fact that Jesus does not tell us to keep His commandments and then love Him, but to just Love Him. 

For like my favorite quote by Saint Augustine goes... "the soul that loves God is taught by the same love never to do anything which displeases and leaves nothing undone that pleases Him".... 

DON'T focus solely on keeping His commandments and making that your priority. But make your priority and focus JESUS! For if you love Him entirely will all your heart, mind, soul and might, you will, with no doubt, keep His commandments.  It's inevitable! Jesus said it! "If you love Me, you WILL keep My commandments!" 

John 13

"For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you." (John 13:15)

Jesus came and was our perfect example of all.  More than anything thought, He lived His life as perfect example of complete humility and humbleness.  "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, to give his life as ransom to many." (Mark 10:45) 

Jesus washes His disciples' feet and tells them to wash one another's feet (John 13:14).  He was not a hypocrite, giving a command and not doing it Himself. But He always gave an example first and THEN asked them to do the same.  He came to set for us a perfect example of how we should live as humble servants to all.  Teach us Your humility and humbleness Lord! 

John 12 (NASB)

"While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light." (John 12: 36) 

Jesus is our light (John 8:12) He is the light of this world, and while He is available to us, we must believe in Him so that we can become His sons and daughters.  Whether we want to or not, "Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess." (Romans 14:11)  So, might as well take advantage of it now and believe in the LIGHT now so that we won't be left of our inheritance as sons and daughters. 

John 11 (NASB)

"When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jew who came with her, also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled, and said,"Where have you laid him?" 

they said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. And so the Jews were saying, "Behold how He loved him!" (John 11:33-36)

I love this passage because it clearly shows that Jesus was man as much as He was God.  He wept! (the infamous shortest verse in the entire Bible) So short yet so powerful. It shows that Jesus was one with emotions and desires.  He is able to carry us through every situation because He experienced it all.  He experienced the loss of a loved one.  He loved Lazarus so much, it broke His heart to see His dearly loved one dead.  His deep love for Lazarus led Him to tears.  How I long to know more of this One who is so full of love.  

What I love the most about this story is that the next verses tell us that Jesus was yet sooo deeply moved within that He had to raise Lazarus back up. (John 11:38-40) He loved Lazarus so much that He had to bring him back to life to enjoy him more.  Jesus longs to enjoy us.  Jesus longs to display this same deep love to us. That's why He gave us life, like He did to Lazarus.  He can't bear to part with us! He must have us! He loves us too much! 

John 10 (NASB)

I don't even know where to begin with this chapter because God has been downloading so much from it.... 

hmmm ok I'll start with verse 18: "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.  This commandment I received from My Father." (John 10:18)

  Here Jesus speaks of His life that was laid down for His sheep.  However, what really makes this verse so great is that Jesus says He "lay down His life on His OWN INITIATIVE".  He chose to die for us. He desired it! He made His own choice to sacrifice Himself. It was not some forced decision or command.  It was His own initiative.  I LOVE THIS VERSE~! We have such an awesome Lord!! 

 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall  never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:27-28)  This is also such a powerful verse.  It says that no one shall snatch us out of Jesus' hand.  For we are all in His hand. Suddenly I'm reminded of the song, "He's got the whole world in His hand"... haha... But He truly does! We are in His hand, His sheepfold, where no one, nothing, can snatch us out.  He is our protector and as long as we are under His wings, there is nothing that can take us away to harm us.  

"When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice." ( John 10:4) 

Jesus is our shepherd and we are His sheep. We must know His voice if we are to follow Him. This can only be achieved if we spend time getting to know His voice. Otherwise, we will never be able to recognize it when He calls out to us to follow Him into safety... This will become soo sooo sooo crucial (knowing His voice) when the enemy comes to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10) 

Through two different dreams and various others who have been receiving the same revelations, God has been revealing that there is coming a time, which has already begun, when the enemy will do all that he can to "steal, kill and destroy".  And the only way to be protected so that we cannot be "snatched away" is to KNOW OUR SHEPHERD'S VOICE. 

We must know His voice or we will be led astray by the enemy who wants so much to steal, kill and destroy us.  The enemy will not relent until he has destroyed all of Jesus' sheep.  But he will not succeed!!! For we have the GOOD SHEPHERD, Who has promised that He has laid down His life for us (John 10:11), given us eternal life so that we will never perish (John 10:28)

So spend time with our good shepherd and get familiar with His voice.  This is the only way we can follow Him to "green pastures and still waters." (Psalm 23) 

John 9:6

"When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes." (NASB)

I wonder what this blind man was thinking as Jesus put the clay made of spittle on his eyes... haha 

For sure, I would've thought Jesus was some crazy man... at the same time, I think I would've been thankful and willing to do anything if I had been blind from birth and some person came along offering healing.

The previous verses also show us that not all infirmities come from our sins or generational sins.  God knows all and knew that this was what He had to do to cause them to believe in Jesus.. that Jesus was one with God.  "...but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him." (John 9:3).  

I also love John 9:25... "...one thing I do know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."  So true!! If there's one thing I'm am absolutely positively certain about, it is that once I was blind, but now I see!!  It's His AMAZING GRACE

Amazing grace how sweet the sound, 

that saved a wretch like me. 

I once was lost, 

but now I'm found,

WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE !!! 

 **Thank you Jesus for opening my eyes to see You! 

I'm in love with the One who opened my eyes~ <3

John 8:8-9, 11

"And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she had been, in the midst." (John 8:8-9 NASB)

Every time I read this passage about the adulterer being brought to Jesus to be stoned, I'm so curious to know what Jesus was writing on the ground. This scene's in the movie, The Passion of Christ too! I was hoping Mel Gibson would've at least made up some words that Jesus wrote, just to ease my curiosity, but NOoope. Still curious~ What did He write with His finger ?????? 

 

It's also interesting to note that John specifically points out how the "older ones" were the first to start leaving after Jesus told the ones with no sins to be the first to throw the stones. Obviously, those who are older have more years of sinning than those who have lived less. Just thought it was interesting how John included this detail. I love it~!! The Bible's so fun to read because of these details. It comes alive as it helps you visualize all the stories of the Bible and takes you into the time & world of Jesus while He was on earth.  Like I could totally picture the older men/women grumbling and dropping their stones while walking away from the woman who they were just about to stone.  

"And she said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go your way.  From now on sin no more." (John 8:11)

Jesus NEVER CONDEMNS us because of our sins. But ALWAYS shows us mercy.  He is "a forgiving, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love." (Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 86:15 & 103:18 & 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2, Nahum 1:3)   Look how many passages there are on just how Good He is~ 

He always gives us a 2nd, 3rd, 4th.... chance over and over again!  Just as He did for this woman.  He is sooo GOOD~! 

John 7:24

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement." (John 7:24 NASB)

My greatest struggle has been judging other, whether openly or in my mind.  I find myself battling against judgmental thoughts of others quite often throughout the week... And most times, I'm plainly just judging by appearance.  

I take this verse literally and ask God everyday to teach & help me not to judge... Especially if it's by what I see, but if I do end up judging that it'll be in righteousness.  

John 6:12 & 15

"And when they were FILLED, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the LEFTOVER fragments that nothing may be lost."

Jesus is our gracious provider! He is truly our faithful One. He not only provides for these followers, but makes sure to give them more than they need.  He gives more than enough every time we are in need.  

"Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force, to make Him king, WITHDREW again to the mountain by Himself alone." 

Like in John 4: 1-3 when Jesus departs Judea into Galilee, He knew that His purpose for coming to earth was not to be hailed as king.  His reign as king would come later with His second coming... once again like in John 4, He knew that He had been sent to live, die and resurrect for us to be saved from our sins.  He truly did all in complete obedience to His Father's will.  

John 5:4

"for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted." 

I read this passage and just can't help imagining this little child angel, coming down and just splashing and playing in the water to stir it up so that whoever steps in there can get healed! 

That would be one of the most fun jobs to have as an angel of the Lord ! haha 

John 4:1-3

"When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee."

I find this passage quite interesting... especially the word, " ALTHOUGH".... from the beginning of Jesus' ministry... God had already planned for the Pharisees to be His accusers.  Jesus stood before the Pharisees, received every absurd false lie & accusation, and NOT ONCE utter a word to redeem Himself.

I'm sure I don't speak for myself, when I say that, I have to fight extremely hard not to get angry and lash back with explanations for my actions when I am faced with false accusations.

But Jesus knew His role and what was to come...   He would be accused of things He did not do.  YET, He would not redeem Himself from those accusations, which would lead to His crucifixion on the cross.  His role was to die and allow God the Father to redeem Him with His resurrection, which would then Redeem us!! 

Jesus went to the slaughter as a silent lamb of sacrifice so that we could be redeemed from every true accusation that could've been held against us for our sins.  

HOW CAN I NOT BE THANKFUL!!  He stayed silent for me...

John 3:16-17

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His ONLY begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him." 

This is the ultimate Christian verse... it pretty much sums up the nature of God and His great love for us! 

He LOVES us! and so, He made the greatest sacrifice.. He gave his ONLY Son, Jesus, as the most perfect blood sacrifice to redeem/save us from our sins. Jesus did not come as a ruler to judge, but as a pure sacrifice. That was the sole purpose of His birth and existence on Earth.  Jesus had ONE & ONLY ONE goal~ Do DIE for us! imagine living your entire life, knowing that the reason you were born was so that you could die for others............... 

This is the kind of God we have.  He is a God of LOVE.  No other God has or will ever make such great a sacrifice..  There is none like Him. 

John 2: 15-16

"And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers, and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, " Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a house of merchandise." (John 2:15-16)

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible.

It displays the very nature of Jesus. He is HOLY & PURE. Though He is patient, compassionate, full of mercy and grace, humble and all loving He is HOLY as His Father is HOLY. 

He may be good and kind, but He also has a holy anger that is aroused when He sees unholiness and impurity in His Father's holy temple.  He is not some sappy lovey dovey push-over King who will overlook evil.  He is Holy & Pure! Therefore, He will not tolerate any impurity or unholiness.  He is one to be feared.... He has all the power to overturn & clean us out if we, as His temple have any impure or unholy things dwelling inside of us.... 

"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?¹⁷If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (1Cor.3:15-17) 

For His Spirit to dwell in us, we must be holy and pure because He, who is holy and pure, cannot dwell together with something that is unholy and impure.  

Lev.7:7

I've been reading Leviticus and God's really been highlighting the whole message of atonement for sins.  

 Lev. 7:7 says, "the trespass offering is like the sin offering; there is one law for them both: the priest who makes atonement with it SHALL HAVE IT " 

 Jesus as our High Priest made atonement for us with His own life.. Therefore, as the priest making the atonement He shall HAVE His life!! 

Jesus was given His life, THE SACRIFICE, after it had been offered.  

John 1:13 says that we "were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God".  Therefore, we are now able to have eternal life because He was given life, who we were born of.  We were born of God, who Jesus is One with, so we have the life that Jesus received after He, as our High Priest offered it as the sacrifice in making atonement for our sins.  

John 1:11

"He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (NKJV) 

Though the latter part of this verse is sad, I love this verse.. We are His OWN~! 

I was reading Leviticus this morning and Lev.4-7 is about the Sin and Trespass Offerings which the priest offers up to make atonement for whoever sins/trespasses, and that person is forgiven.  

So, I began to meditate on these chapters and the underlying message that the "priest makes ATONEMENT for our sins" so that we can be forgiven of those sins.  

Hebrews 4:14-5:11 talks about how Jesus Christ is our compassionate perfect High Priest. "He learned obedience by the things which He suffered and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as HIGH PRIEST" (Heb. 5:8-10)

Jesus suffered for us and made ATONEMENT for us as our HIGH PRIEST~!!! 

Why would He do such a great act of love for something that did not have any importance to Him.  It was because WE ARE HIS OWN.  He laid His own life down as a sacrifice for His own.  

I'm just sooo amazed and astonished at how strategic, wise, and omniscient God is... He had planned for this great act of atonement even before Jesus was sent. He knew that His creation would sin and that God would have to send a blood atonement to save us from our sins. He had it all planned out from the Old Testament times of Aaron and the process of atonement was finalized/abolished with Jesus who came as the ultimate sin/trespass sacrifice and offering for our sins.  

We belong to Jesus!! and we are forgiven and set free when we come to that place of believing that we are truly His own who He made atonement for us on the cross.    

Freely Receive, Freely Give

In the midst of professing, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus You are Holy, Holy, Holy"... I was filled with the revelation of our freedom in America. Too easily do we forget the freedom we have as Americans to say the name of Jesus whenever and wherever we want...(though it's been getting a bit tense in our schools and workplace)... Yet, we are given the freedom to freely gather in our churches, homes, schools, prayer houses, wherever we desire to praise the Holy Name of Jesus. We do not have government officials secretly attending our gatherings to monitor our activities and do not have our Bibles confiscated or smuggled to us. We can freely worship Jesus at the top of our lungs whenever and wherever we want and we can freely evangelize and preach the gospel on any street corner. We have a freedom that's envied by citizens of other nations around this world.

Many times, we take this freedom for granted and get comfortable in our safe secure churches. It is time we step out of the structure of our churches. We need to take all that we have learned and received so freely, OUT into the nations that do not have the luxuries of freely learning about Jesus. We go from conference to conference freely listening to various gifted and highly anointed speakers... but where does it all go?? into our hearts? our minds? into our notebooks?

Why are we not taking what we have freely received and giving it freely to the people of nations that are deprived of this freedom. There are so many souls in nations that do not have enough Bibles to read, worship songs to sing or seasoned veterans of Christianity to teach them about God's Kingdom. These are not easily available to them as it is for us...

Then, my approaching mission trip to China flashed into my mind. We are to go to China with all that we have freely received from anointed prophets/speakers, Bible studies, sermons, discipleships, conferences, our worship skills (our team has 4 worship leaders !!!.... I don't think it's a coincidence that 4 out of our church's 6 worship leaders are going on this trip.... I believe God plans on raising up many musicians in China and pouring out Fire on their times of worship) and FREELY GIVE. We must not sit back and get fat with all the free blessings God has given us.

Go out to wherever you can and freely share what you have received ~ ("But do not forget to do good and to SHARE, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" Hebrews 13:16)

Fall in LOVE

We make living for God so complicated and difficult sometimes...
Why? I suppose it's cuz we just want some kind of excitement in our lives, which usually just turns into another unnecessary burdensome short-lived piece of drama that we can't even handle... haha

The only everlasting excitement we'll find is when we get ourselves into a relationship with Jesus. He creates the best drama in our lives. : )

Wewant a good cry, He hits us with revelations of His grace, love & mercy and rocks us till we're puffy and dried out (the story of my life). We want to vent our head off to someone who'll actually listen, He opens His ears & waits in patience and kindness answering back with His peace and joy. We need a comforter, He opens His arms wide and becomes our perfect Father with tender words of His unfailing love. He's the creator of creation!! He can never run out of ways to fascinate our minds. So why are we having such a hard time??
Take our focus off of pleasing Him & turn our eyes onto Jesus... Fall in Love~

I sat in my car listening to Allen Hood speaking on the nature of God...
He quoted the most simple yet profound revelation...
It is now my favorite...

"LOVE God & do whatever you please.. Because the soul that LOVEs God is taught by the same LOVE never to do anything which displeases Him & leave nothing undone that pleases Him" --Saint Augustine

Love Him with all our heart, mind, soul & strength. When we can truly come to that place of loving Him so much.. to the point where there is nothing else that will satisfy our soul but Him... giving up the pleasures of our flesh becomes automatic, easy, desirable. Because the only thought in our mind is that of our LOVER whom we cannnot be without, whom we want to spend every waking day with, whom we were made for, whom we live for....

So Fall in LOVE.. & all else will follow...
We will please Him, when we LOVE Him.

(yay!! I finally posted a blog! Though it took quite a while...Thank You God for Your grace that allowed me to be obedient.. haha Esther knows..)