He Asked | Part 3

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S.O.A.P. – “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer”

What would you like Jesus to pray to the Father for you?

Jesus prayed to the Father at the Last Supper: “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.” John 17:13–26 NLT

What is the connection between people receiving God’s glory and those same people experiencing perfect unity with each other?

Take a moment to humbly relish the truth that, if you are a new creation in Christ, Christ lives IN you. Do you realize you bring Jesus with you into all relationships and interactions?

As you consider that you bring Jesus with you into your relationships, consider also that Jesus said that what you do for the “least of these…you have done for me.” You are to bring the real Jesus to people through you…and you are to treat those same people as though you are serving Jesus through them. How might this impact your “self-esteem” in terms of your God-given significance and security?

Lord, I am astounded that despite my unworthiness, you gave me the gift of your glory. Teach me to love others as I have been loved so that the world might recognize your love!

What area of your life do you feel you need to work on managing your expectations better?

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. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. John 13:1–17 NLT

Do you expect to experience difficulty in your life since the perfect God-given path that Jesus walked also included suffering?

Jesus’ painfully humble service was not televised, broadcast, or posted on social media. How then can you read about an obscure foot-washing, in a small room on the other side of the world, two thousand years later?

Lord, you have made your true ways of love, patience and kindness known through humble servants tracing their spiritual direction all the way back to Jesus himself! Use me to help today’s world see you once more!

When do you know you are truly loved? How do you feel?

Jesus was speaking to his disciples at the Last Supper: “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I AM the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

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

The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night. John 13:18–30 NLT

Do you find it odd that, despite Jesus’ clear words, the disciples simply could not understand what was going on?

What do you think was in Judas’ heart when he heard the words of Jesus?

Judas could have refused the bread. Judas could have given it back. But when Judas ate it, he was fully committed. He knew he was on a mission at that point to betray Jesus, and Satan “entered into him.” Sadly, this was not a surprise to Judas; it was a calculated act based on years of deceit, a growing lack of trust in Jesus, and Judas’ belief that he would take better care of himself than Jesus would. These are temptations and traps that any one of us can fall into over time. How will you guard yourself and those you love against such treachery?

Judas “left at once, going out into the night.” What a sad portrayal of someone losing their faith and the brokenness that would follow. Who in your life do you need to encourage today?

Lord, I have walked similar paths to what eventually led to Judas’ downfall. Forgive me, save me, and help me to trust you always, even when I am uncertain about your path for me.

How focused are you on the mission (purpose) God has given you?

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going.

“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.”

Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”

And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”

“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”

Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” John 13:31–38 NLT

How easy is it for us to neglect loving each other and think we’re doing better/greater/more exciting things (like Peter’s wish to die with Jesus)?

Do you consider it a God-sized miracle when you exhibit the symptoms of the Holy Spirit in your life—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? You probably should. Many yearn for the visibility that comes with notable gifts while neglecting perhaps the most critical and central to following Jesus: loving your friends and even your enemies. How can you “keep the main thing the main thing”?

Lord, thank you for really loving me. Love others through me. Bring glory to God through me by filling me with the most important gifts of the spirit: love for God and love for others!

Someone wrote a meme that attempted to describe the difference between religion and a relationship with God. It said: “Religion: ‘I messed up. My Dad is going to kill me.’ Gospel: ‘I messed up. I need to call my Dad.’” How do you relate to God in failure—by running and hiding out of shame/fear/guilt or by humbly drawing close to him and confidently asking for his mercy?

This is a portion of the historical account of what happened after Jesus’ death, burial and RESURRECTION!!! Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16–20 NLT

Peter preached to the crowd who had gathered on the day of Pentecost: “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”’

“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. Acts 2:32–41 NLT

Have you repented (turned to God for mercy) and received the gift of baptism for the forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit?

What is your next step of faith and obedience to King Jesus?

Lord, thank you for giving me a relationship with you built on love and forgiveness!

He Asked | Part 3

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