[3] We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. [4] The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3-4)

[Click here for Bible study materials based on this passage.]

Last Sunday we learned that our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. We need to walk in the light and confess our sins in order to have fellowship with God continually.

Now in today’s passage a new topic arises. It is to know Jesus correctly. We need to know what it means to know Jesus. To know Jesus is important in our fellowship with Jesus. The more we know Jesus we can have deeper fellowship with Jesus. To know Jesus is also important because eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Not only that but also our practical life of faith shows why to know Jesus correctly is so important. For example, One person I know told me that he was confused when he believed that Jesus took away the possibility of our sinning when he took away our sins. Because of the confusion he suffered many years. Another person I know believed that he did not need to deny himself because Jesus solved his sin problem on the cross. Then he ended up committing more sins than when he did not believe in God, and he was in great agony. Their examples show how important it is to know Jesus correctly.

So in today’s passage we want to learn how we can know Jesus correctly and what it means to know Jesus. My message have two parts. Part I. I say this to you so that you will not sin. (v.1-2) Part II. We have come to know him if we obey his commands (v.3-11).

Part I. I write this to you so that you will not to sin. (v.1-2)

Look at verses 1 and 2. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. [2] He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

In chapter one the author talked about sin. He said in verses 8 and 10 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8) “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:10) It is true that we have sin and we have sinned. Yet, it does not mean that we should sin. But some people might misunderstand his writing as allowance to sin. They may think, “Well, we have sin in us and we have sinned. And Jesus will forgive us and purify us if we confess our sin. So it is not a big problem even if we sin.” But that was not the purpose of the author. So he says, “My dear children I write this to you so that you will not sin.”

In the world there are many false teachings which promote sin. There are many theories which justify our sin. Even today’s passage shows that there is possibility for some people to be led to false interpretation and false teaching from chapter one.

But all of these false teachings do not come from God but from the evil one. If we follow those teachings we will continue to sin. Most of all we will not know Jesus truly. So we should reject any teachings or theories that take sin lightly and promote sin. In fact, Satan uses all kinds of human ideas in order to promote sin. As far as man sins he remains as slaves of sin and he is under Satan’s control. That is why Satan is so eager to produce all kinds of deceptive theories to encourage sin.

I heard one female Counselor who had advised one married woman, “If you feel so you can have affairs with other man when your husband cheats you.” In another time I heard one man claims only brave men and women do what they want to do, and what they want to do was bold sinning. At the time when the apostle John wrote his letter there were a group of people who claimed that they had secret knowledge of Jesus while they sinned freely. They were like people who think knowing Jesus as an intellectual game. They believed man’s body is evil and therefore their sinning in their body did not matter. Indeed there are all kinds of ideas that justify sin and they all come from the devil. But God’s teaching is clear: ‘My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.”

But now what happens if anybody does sin? Look at verse 1b again. “But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

Verse 1b does not say ‘When anybody does sin’ but ‘if anybody does sin.’ It is true that ‘we have sin and we have sinned, but that does not mean we should sin.” The word ‘if’ shows there are people who do not sin. But ‘if we sin’ we suffer from all kinds of shame, fear, guilt, and condemnation. Most of all we despair the most. The result of sin is very destructive. It not only destroys our fellowship with God but also tempt us to sin more in despair. So the author helps us not to fall into another sin of despair and giving up by teaching us that we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense when we sin.

When we sin Jesus works as our defense attorney. He speaks to the Father in our defense. Furthermore he never charges anything. These days prominent lawyers charge a lot. You can ask Dan Kim. He knows how much good lawyers charge these days. Long time ago I experienced how good it is to have a lawyer who does not charge and still understand my cause. I had a dispute in my dental expense. I was charged with $450.00 although I had the insurance. It was so unfair that I went to a lawyer, explaining my situation. Do you know what he said? “Well, I charge you $500.00 to take care of your case. But you do not have money to pay for $450.00. How will you pay me? It does not make sense.” I was hurt because he regarded man who did not have even $450.00. What I wanted was to see justice served. So I felt bad but I could not argue with him because he was right. So I paid $450.00. At that time I felt ‘whether I am right or not does not matter to the lawyer. What matters is money’. I almost wanted to sue for justice even if I had to pay $50.00 more. But Jesus dose not charge anything and still cares about our cause. Yet, Jesus wins our cases all the time. Now, think about it! We have our defense attorney throughout our life time, all free of charge, and he wins our cases all the time. If that is true don’t you want to have one? I do. I would like to have one. Indeed we all have one. Who is he? Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. Verse 1b says, “But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” This is a good news for all who sin. So when we sin we need to go to Jesus, our attorney, instead of despairing and sinning more and restore our relationship with God as soon as possible. Because of Jesus we can have confidence before God even if we do sin. Because of Jesus we can be free from Satan’s condemnation and others’ accusation even if we do sin.

Now how could Jesus win our cases all the time? Verse 2 explains. It reads, “[2] He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Jesus wins all the time because Jesus paid the full price of man’s sin. The meaning of ‘atoning sacrifice’ is ‘the price of man’s sin is paid in full’. On our side there is no sacrifice but on Jesus’ side he sacrificed his own life. On our side there is no pain and suffering. But on Jesus’ side he had to go through the pain of being crucified and staying on the cross for several hours. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and in this way he freed us from sin. Jesus became the sacrifice so that we may not sin.

One person I know told me a story which explains the meaning of Jesus being the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Figuratively sin is like a prison. So we are all like prisoners in a prison. We are all born inside of prison and have lived inside of the prison all our lives. So we do not know what it means to go out of prison and become free men, and we do not know there is another free world outside of prison. One day Jesus came and he served all the prison terms for all of us. Then he opened the prison door widely. In this way he freed us from our sins.

I believe the same image is described in Acts 16:25-26. Acts 16:25-26 reads, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. [26] Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.”

I believe this is what Jesus did by becoming the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Through Jesus “At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” We are free to go. We are free to live as a free men rather than prisoners of sin.

Now we need to remember that Jesus saved us not to sin. Some people are so happy to hear that they are all free from sin, and they sin more. But that is not the purpose of Jesus’ becoming the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He saved us from sin so that we may not sin. Indeed to know Jesus means not to sin.

Part II. we have come to know him if we obey his commands (v.3-11).

Let’s read verses 3 and 4. “. 3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
These verses teach us how we can know Jesus. It is through obedience. Knowing Jesus comes through obedience. The word ‘know’ used here has the meaning of deep personal and intimate knowledge. It refers the knowledge between husband and wife. The word ‘know’ is repeated 36 times in 4 chapters of this book. (2,3,4, and 5). Indeed true knowledge is so important in this book that the author ended up using the word ‘know’ so many times. He did it because there were people in his time who claimed to have super knowledge of Jesus without obedience.
To know God through obedience is God’s design for man from the beginning. In the Garden of Eden God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. To obey his command was God’s way for them to know him. Surely God opened the door for man to have fellowship with him and grow in the knowledge of him through obedience. In another words God does not want man to know him through the knowledge but through obedience.

God’s way for us to know him remains the same. So verse 3 reads, “3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.”
But why do you think so many people are deceived by their own desires and the devil in knowing Jesus? It is because to know Jesus without obeying his command is easy. Yet, to know Jesus through obedience is different game. Obedience involves self denial and suffering. In the Garden of Eden to eat the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is easy whereas to obey God’s command requires self denial and patience.

Even to Jesus obedience was not easy although he was the Son of God.
Hebrew 5:8-9 says, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered [9] and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

Even Jesus had to learn obedience through suffering. Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for our sins by obeying God’s command. John 14:31a reads, “But the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”

So if a man says “I know Jesus” and does not know obedience he is a liar and the truth is not in him. So verse 4 reads, “4 The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
Now look at verse 5-6. “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: [6] Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

Obeying Jesus’ commands helps us to know Jesus and Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love. So verse 5a says, “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.” To be in Jesus or live in Jesus means to live a life of obedience like Jesus. So verses 5b and 6 reads, “This is how we know we are in him: [6] Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
Now what is Jesus’ word or his commands? His word has many commands. But the author is talking about one command which is the sum of all his commands.
Verses 7 and 8 reads, “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. [8] Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

Verse 7 talks about old command, and ‘the old command” is ‘to love God and love your neighbor’. This is the message they have heard since the beginning. But verse 8 talks about new command. What is the new command? It is to love one another.

Jesus said in John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

The old command ‘to love God and love your neighbor’ is completely fulfilled and revealed in Jesus and believers experienced it. So verse 8b reads, “its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.” Here ‘the darkness’ may refer to ‘ignorance’ about true love, and ‘the true light’ could refer to Jesus or ‘true love’.
Now in verses 9 through 11, the author contrasts the difference between two people; the one who loves his brother and the one who hates his brother.
Verses 9 through 11 reads, “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. [10] Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. [11] But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.”
Anyone who loves his brother lives in Jesus who is the true light. He knows Jesus because he obeys Jesus’ command. But anyone who hates his brother lives in darkness. Since he disobeys Jesus’ command he does not know Jesus who is the true light. He lives in darkness and walks around in darkness. The most tragic thing about him is that he does not know that he is in the darkness. He does not know where he is going or what he is doing because the darkness has blinded him.

When I prepared the passage I was shocked to know the desire of some group at the time of Apostle John is so powerfully present among us and in me even these days. I found that I was seeking to know Jesus without obeying his commands and with the desire to sin freely. So I did not know Jesus personally and I was in darkness, and walked around in darkness and did not know where I was going.
Surely if we want to know Jesus deeply and personally we should not sin but to obey his commands.

One word: we have come to know him if we obey his commands.

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1:3)

[Click here for Bible study materials based on this passage.]
 
   We just finished the book of John.  Through studying the book our prayer became the same as Jesus’ for those who would believe in His Name, to have complete unity, just as Jesus and the Father have complete unity.  Now we are studying the book of 1 John and in chapter 1 we begin to see why this complete unity is important and practically how to have it. 
 
In this world there are many kinds of fellowships.  There are all kinds of groupings and associations of people, who gather together for many reasons, they are all very diverse and different from one another, but one thing we can say about all of them is that they always join together for mutual benefit and mutual purpose.  There is one other thing we can say about such associations, unions and leagues and that is that they are very temporal.  But Christian “fellowship” is quite different. It is fellowship with the Eternal God. It is fellowship with the Risen Jesus. It is fellowship among those who have experienced the love of God, and it is the fellowship of those who understand the meaning of Jesus’ coming to earth in the flesh.
 
The Apostle John wrote this letter to the fellowship of believers at Ephesus. At first, they were happy to have fellowship with God and Christ and with one another.  They were like the early church that shared everything with one another and sold their belongings as needs arose.  Their fellowship was so sweet and beautiful; it looked like heaven on earth.  It was like a beautiful tree that grew and gave shelter for all the birds and food for all the animals.  But just like when a tree that shelters peaceful birds, it also attracted interlopers and birds that wanted all the benefits of the tree for themselves, in the church of Ephesus there arose enemies within.  Enemies on the outside are easy to distinguish and easy to fight. But enemies within are very difficult to fight, because often they are wolves in sheep clothing. They also spread their bad influence to the unsuspecting and easily swayed within the church.  The Apostle John knew the bad influence of Gnostics within the church and began to write about the blind spot Gnostics and the grace and truth of Jesus’ incarnation. Finally, he explains what it means to have Christian koinonia.
 
First, Gnostics within the church.
 
   In the early days of Christianity, there was a glory and a splendor, magnificence and radiance, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Christians had the flame of devotion and the thrill of world mission and they had an earnest expectation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Especially, the early Christians were very sure about God’s love and the meaning of Jesus’ incarnation. They also knew the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. They were especially very happy to be pilgrims on earth while waiting for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  There were many who were willing to obey the world mission command of Jesus. They were like Joshua and Caleb who were ready to follow God whole-heartedly anywhere they were told to go.  But when John observed local churches, they became habitual, traditional and half-hearted. They became like old wineskins (Lk 5:37). Within one century, the early Christians had become worthless and useless. Why did they become so? It was due to the bad influence of Gnostics.  In nature, Gnostics were similar to modern dispensationalists, who say, “World mission is given only to the Eleven disciples, not at all to all of us.” Likewise, the Gnostics claimed that spirit is good and matter is evil. We see this even today in the church where many young people are being deceived into believing that they are being led by the ‘spirit’ of God, when in reality they are being led by their emotions and when their emotions are no longer fed, their faith becomes shipwrecked. 
 
   In short, Gnostics denounced the incarnation of Jesus Christ. They don’t want to accept that Jesus had come to die for our sins.  They don’t want to accept that Jesus had called His followers to follow His example and that they too would share in His sufferings.  Basically, they began to doubt the love of God, who sent his one and only Son Jesus Christ to save men from their sins.
 
   When the early Christians began to doubt the love of God and the grace and truth of Jesus’ incarnation, they lost their first love for Jesus. The Ephesian church members worked hard for Jesus. They persevered for the name of Jesus.  They did not tolerate wicked men. But they did not examine Gnostics. They were influenced by the Gnostics’ love of the world. As a result, they lost the most important thing. Revelation 2:4 says, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” They were good Christians. But they lost the first love for Jesus Christ and they began to love the world. This situation grieved Apostle John and so he wrote this letter, not to criticize the Gnostics, but to help the believers to rekindle their first love remembering Jesus’ incarnation and what true Christian fellowship is.
 
Second, Jesus is the Son of God (1-2).
 
   John wrote that Jesus is the perfect God and perfect man. Look at verses 1-2. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched —this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.” John was one of Jesus’ disciples. He lived together with Jesus for three years. He saw Jesus with his own eyes. He spoke to Him; ate with Him and even touched Him with his own hands.  One time, John even leaned on the breast of Jesus with great confidence (Jn. 13:23). John 1:1-3 summarizes who Jesus is very clearly. It says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” These verses tell us that Jesus is God and Jesus was with God in the beginning. In the last part of 1 John 1:1, “the Word of life” is Jesus Christ. Here we learn who Jesus really is.
 
   First, Jesus is the Almighty Holy God. Jesus is the Creator God who made the heavens and the earth. Jesus is also the holy God. Isaiah 6:3-4 says, “And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.” When we have God in our hearts, we become children of God and have the fear of God. When we have God in our hearts, he gives us power to overcome the world.
 
Second, Jesus is the Word of life.  When John and the other disciples met Jesus, He looked like a poor, dusty traveling preacher.  There was nothing about Him to attract them to Him.  He looked like a root in dry ground.  But when they listened to His calling and spent three years with Him, they learned that Jesus was the Word of life they had been looking for.  They found out that Jesus was the incarnated God.  John says in John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John said Jesus’ incarnation is full of grace and truth.
 
Jesus was like no one else.  In Him was life and that life was the light of men.  Jesus looked so meek and weak and powerless, but in reality in Him was the life for all men.  Men want life but they don’t know where to find it or how to gain it.  For example, there was once a servant of God who dedicated his life to God’s work for 35 years without a vacation. His joy was to send his only son for undergraduate study at the University of Chicago, and then to obtain a Ph.D. from Purdue University, ranked number one nationally in analytical chemistry. But after obtaining a Ph.D., his son was not invited as a tenure track professor. He seemed to have become a PHD– a Pizza House Deliverer. Then the father could not thank God and he did not lean on God’s leading for his son’s future. How proud is fallen man. A fallen man never knows how to humble himself or to trust the Word of life, Jesus who leads our lives perfectly. A fallen man always wants glory and honor, even if they have to accomplish it through their children. In this story, we learn how difficult it is to humble ourselves. When we look around the world, fallen man seems to be born to be proud for nothing.
 
   But when we look at Jesus, we see something completely different! He gave up the glory and the honor and almighty power of God in order to come to this world and dwell among us. We call it “incarnation.” How beautiful it is that Jesus came to this world in a human form to save men from their sins. Once, Jesus was on the road with his disciples. As Jesus was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed (Lk 17:11-14). This is Jesus’ fellowship with men with leprosy. One day, Jesus was passing by a tax collector’s booth. There was Levi, all alone. Jesus knocked at the door and told him, “Follow me” (Lk 5:27). When we read the gospels, Jesus’ prayer on the cross is most impressive. When Jesus came to this world, He had fellowship with all kinds of men and eventually they placed Him on the cross to die, but while on the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34a). In this short prayer, we find that Jesus to the very end had a life giving spirit and lived for the sake of others, that men might truly have life and life to the full.  This was because Jesus had fellowship with the Father God. And because of this Jesus could even have fellowship with those who did not know what they doing.  This is divine fellowship. This fellowship is full of grace and truth. It is because Jesus gave up all his glory, honor and power and came down and became a criminal and prayed on the cross, looking down at his mother beneath the cross.
 
Third, the incarnation of Jesus was so that man could have fellowship with the Eternal, Almighty God and with one another. (3-4)
 
Christian fellowship is not like human fellowship.  As I shared earlier human fellowships and associations are for mutual benefit and are temporary at best.  To understand the fellowship that believers have in Jesus we want to think about the Greek word “koinonia.” Koinonia, in character, has the meaning of participation. When Jesus came to this world, he was born by the virgin Mary and laid in a manger. This scene shows us that Jesus participated in the fatalism and oppression of all mankind. When he was born in a manger, He bore all men’s fatalism and helplessness.
 
   When Jesus began his earthly messianic ministry, he healed
the sick and preached to crowds of people. But He focused His attention on His Twelve disciples. On the road, or at the table of someone’s house, he shared His divine purpose with them, especially the meaning of his death and resurrection. But his disciples were young and slow to listen and were politically ambitious. They did not listen to Jesus’ teaching. Once, Jesus talked about his suffering, death and resurrection to his disciples. Immediately, politically-minded disciples only argued on the topic, “Who is the greatest?” But later, through koinonia with Jesus, they became great servants of God. Paul was a promising young man in the community of Judaism. But he was converted on the road to Damascus. The risen Lord Jesus Christ forgave all his sins and appointed him as the apostle for the Gentiles. Then Paul eagerly wanted to participate in the remaining suffering of Jesus.  Once Paul preached the gospel of Jesus in Lystra (Ac 14:8-20). Then some gang members came and beat Paul until he looked dead. But his consciousness came back after the assault and he said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Ac 14:22).  In Paul’s heart, he had faith in God. He had faith in Jesus. He also had faith in the work of the Holy Spirit. So he participated in the remaining suffering of Jesus. Once, Paul was in Ephesus.  There was a great revival. Many received the gospel of salvation, the grace of forgiveness of sins, eternal life and the kingdom of God as their inheritance. Paul was happy. But his mind was occupied by the purpose of God. It was to evangelize the whole world through the Roman roads. So Paul said in Acts 19:21, “After I have been there, I must visit Rome also.” Finally, he went to Rome as an ambassador in chains (Ac 28:20).
 
   We can experience the power of Christian koinonia; in order to do so, we must also participate in His mission and share in His sufferings.  When Jesus finished his earthly messianic ministry, after his resurrection from the dead, he visited his disciples and he ascended into heaven. The disciples had thought that Jesus would be with them forever, but he was ascending. So they were looking at the sky. Then they were rebuked by the angel, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Ac 1:11).
 
   After hearing this message, Jesus’ disciples and his followers, around 120, became helpless. Jesus had taught them the spirit of koinonia through His service to them. But now that He was no longer physically with them, they did not know what to do. But there was one thing they could do. They began to pray. Acts 1:12-14 says, “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” They gathered together and prayed earnestly that God’s world salvation purpose would be fulfilled. In the past, Peter did not even look at Bartholomew because he was too strange. John and James thought Peter was a political opponent. Matthew thought that all these guys were ignorant about the importance of money.  In short, they despised each other and each was his own man; they were twelve different men with twelve different agendas. But when they prayed in the fellowship of Jesus, something great happened. The Holy Spirit came upon them and changed their old natures. They all became soldiers of Christ, they became like one lean, mean fighting machine. According to Biblical truth, those who obey are those who love, and those who obey the word of God are true brothers and sisters and mothers. Mark 3:31-35 says, “Then Jesus mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’ ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” This is the true meaning of koinonia. Christian koinonia is based on the word of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Most of all, we must know that the gospel is the word of life. When we have the word of life we have the most precious thing in the world. When we have the word of life, we can have Christian koinonia.
 
   Christian koinonia is the absolute minority, not the majority. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” This verse means that when even two get together in the name of Jesus, then they become a spiritual vessel. And God can use the vessel. There are many people who want to do some great work with their own effort. But God does not use men’s wisdom and political intrigues. God only uses Christian koinonia, which is the vessel of the Holy Spirit. The absolute minority can conquer the whole world. Once, the British Empire was morally very low because she became easygoing as a result of exploitation of colonial peoples. Then seven students at Cambridge University prayed in Christian koinonia. We call them the “Cambridge Seven.” Through them, the British Empire was mysteriously restored from moral corruption. Here we learn that when we love God, we not only love others, but also we can have a common goal for which we can give our lives. They are true friends with God. They are indeed the stewards of God’s world. Christian koinonia produces stewardship, a sense of responsibility. Above all, Christian koinonia destroys the selfishness of fallen man.
 
Fourth, The Characteristic of Christian fellowship (5-9).
 
   There are two requirements to live in Christian fellowship. First, they must live in the light. As we know well, there is light and there is darkness. Many people live a double life, sometimes they live in the light, sometimes in the darkness. Therefore, the responsibility of the
Christian is to guide those who are living in the darkness to the marvelous light of Jesus.  1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
 
   We must know that darkness stands for the chaos of life without God. As we know well, 100 percent of those who live in darkness crave for immoral lives. And immoral lives make people’s souls very sick. These days unlimited human freedom has become the social consensus of this country. But human freedom makes people very selfish. Selfishness is connected with lack of love.
 
   Next, Christian fellowship should be the life of repentance. Look at verses 8-9. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
No one should deceive themselves by thinking they are righteous. No one is righteous not even one.  We write and share our testimonies with one another for one purpose, so that we can grow in righteousness before God’s Word.  We naturally never want to reveal who we really are.  But the characteristic of true Christian fellowship is to confess our sins to one another.  No one is better than another, we are all sinners and fall short of God’s glory.  We are all in need of Christ our Savior.  True Christian fellowship grows together in righteousness.  But those who pretend to be without sin only deceive themselves and there is no truth in them, nor do they truly have fellowship with fellow believers.  Their sin remains.  But on the other hand, if we confess our sins, God will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  Look at verse 9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
 
   May God richly bless us and help us to grow up to be true members of Christian koinonia. We must remember Christian koinonia first begins with God and his Son Jesus Christ and finally, with one another.

Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:19b)

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Today’s passage is our final Easter/ resurrection message. It is also the final chapter of John’s gospel. What is the concluding message of the gospel? I feel very privileged because I could serve the message based on the first chapter of John’s gospel and now I can serve the message based on the last chapter. What have we seen from chapter 1 to the end? We see that God has loved us; he became flesh, he taught us, he suffered and died for us, and now calls us to follow me, to love him and feed his sheep. He came down to lift us up. In this final chapter, Jesus again calls Peter to love him by feeding his sheep, and to follow him. 

We hear many messages with this title, “Follow me.” we heard this message at the conference with Levi the tax collector. We have had a “Follow Me” message at the conferences once a year for a few years now. It’s because Jesus said it a lot. Remember, Jesus came to call sinners. From today’s passage we can learn about Jesus who loved us and calls us to follow him.

First, we can learn about the kind of love Jesus has; Jesus invited his disciples to breakfast (1-14). 

Verse 1 says that afterward Jesus appeared “again” to his disciples. Previously, he met them in Jerusalem behind locked doors. At that time he helped them to believe that he rose from the dead. He met them twice in this way because one of them, named Thomas, wasn’t there the first time. I think Jesus purposely went while Thomas was out because he knew how to help Thomas best. But what happened to them after they saw Jesus and even Thomas believed? 

Well, in this passage Jesus comes and meets them in Galilee, at the sea of Tiberias, which is the sea of Galilee. They had gone there because Jesus told them he would meet the in Galilee after he had risen. So they did a good thing by going to Galilee. But they really didn’t know what they were doing.

At this time seven of the disciples were together and Peter said he was going out to fish with the others following him. With Peter was Thomas, Nathanael, James and John, and the other two unnamed disciples who are likely Andrew, Peter’s brother and an experienced fishermen, and their friend Philip, who was also a Galilean. 

This scene is very significant. Jesus and first called them to follow him while they were out fishing. And at that time they had left their nets and their boats and business behind. It became their old life and following Jesus became their new life. But now back in Galilee without Jesus, we can really see that they didn’t know what to do because Peter is there and says, I’m going out to fish, and the others go with him. Most likely they hadn’t fished at all since Jesus had called them. Was he trying to pick up his boat and nets where he left off? Verse 3 says, but that night they caught nothing. At least they thought they could go out fishing. But they caught nothing. 

Then Jesus appeared to them. Look at verses 4-6. “[4] Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. [5] He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. [6] He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”

They didn’t realize it was Jesus at first. Strangely, a man was calling out to them, friends, from the shore and asking about if they had any fish. They answered no. Then Jesus told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat and they would find some. When they did it, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 

Immediately, John recognized that it was Jesus. He said, “It is the Lord!” (7). And as soon as Peter heard those words, he wrapped himself up, jumped into the water and swam to Jesus. I recently went out on the water in a boat early in the morning, around 4am. And it is very cold. I had on two jackets and wished I had not forgotten my beanie cap. The captain said, if we crash and sink, you probably won’t make it out here. 

This was a really amazing scene. John recognized Jesus right away because what happened was just like what happened when he had first called them. Let’s look at that passage for comparison’s sake. 

Luke 5:1-11.
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, [2] he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. [3] He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. [4] When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” [5] Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” [6] When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. [7] So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. [8] When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” [9] For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, [10] and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” [11] So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

It was just like that first time. At that time Peter told Jesus to go away from him because he was sinful. But now Peter jumped into the water and swam to Jesus defying nature.

What did they find once they got to shore? Look at verse 9. “When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.” although Jesus asked if they had any fish, he already had some. And he had prepared this fire and fish and bread for them. But still he asked for some of heir fish anyway and said to them, “Come and have breakfast” (12). And as they sat with him, they knew it was him. He did this so that they would recognize him.

They went through such anguish and fear and guilt since the time of death and first appearance of resurrection. Some, like Peter, felt guilty for how they had acted when Jesus was arrested. He hadn’t followed Jesus to death like he had promised. But as they sat around this fire, it must have warmed not only their bodies but their hearts. Jesus had called them, “Friends.” He helped them to make such a big catch. Look at verse 10. When he said, “Bring some of the fish you have caught,” they recognized humble Jesus. They could not catch anything on their own, but by Jesus’ help they could. They could remember his words that if they obey him they would be very fruitful. These were the actions of a friend they knew. They were the actions of the same Jesus who called them about 3 years prior and called them to a new life of following him. John even counted and remembered the number of fish they caught. Isn’t that very interesting? It numbered 153 “large fish,” but what he wanted to say was that with so many fish the net still did not break. It must have represented his heart that was suddenly getting so filled with Jesus’ love for them that he thought it would burst, but it didn’t.

Through this catch of fish and invitation Jesus revealed himself to them. He was the same Jesus who had come to them and called them. His love did not change. Although they had faltered and weren’t sure what to do now, Jesus was the same. And he still loved them.

Look at verses 13-14.
[13] Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. [14] This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

He served them a nice warm breakfast. Then Jesus was quiet as they ate. This was the third time he appeared to them. He was patient with them. He humbly served them and helped them when they didn’t catch anything. It took three visits to rekindle the fire in them for him and his calling.

We can learn from Jesus here that eating fellowships are one of the best ways to mend a broken relationship. Like Jesus we should do our best to incite others to come and eat with us, and we should do the preparations. And if someone asks us to eat with them, we should accept their invitation by all means. Last Friday, David Park invited me to dinner. I had been thinking about this passage at the time, so I looked at him and asked, “Is something wrong?”

At this point they might have expected Jesus to share a great vision for them as he had done before. But first he had to clear up some matter with Simon Peter. Previously, Simon Peter brought his problem to Jesus. Look again at Luke 5: 8. When he had a large catch of fish, he knelt before Jesus and said first, “Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinful man.” But now Simon Peter was quiet. He was quiet the whole time. Something was wrong.

Second, Jesus asked Peter if he truly loved him (15-17). 

Look at verse 15.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Jesus asked about Peter’s love for him.

Peter had loved in his own way. He had said, “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37). But he had failed to do that. Now he could love Jesus in Jesus’ way. Jesus had previously told them, “Remain in my love” (John 15:9). To remain in Jesus’ love (or anyone else’s) he had to not only accept Jesus’ love but love Jesus. So we can see that this question was not for Jesus’ sake but for Peter’s. Peter understood this and said, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Peter loved Jesus. Peter knew that Jesus knew. Then why did Jesus ask? To understand this we can think about why Jesus asked Peter, “Do you truly love me more than these?” To help Peter, Jesus went deeper to make clear what Peter loved most. Why did he add, “more than these?” What do “these” refer to? It was not to the other disciples, but to the fish and the nets lying there. I don’t think Peter would ever say, I love fish more than Jesus. But these fish and nets represented him, Peter. In a way, Jesus was asking if Peter “truly” loved Jesus even more than himself.

Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” here we notice a difference in the love mentioned. Jesus and asked, do you “truly” love me, but he responded, you know that I love you–not, you know that I truly love you, or, yes, I do truly love you. But, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. he did love Jesus and knew that Jesus knew it. But he didn’t know how to show it. He could say only, “you know…”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” jesus accepted his answer but gave him a way how Peter could show his love to Jesus. What a loving direction from Jesus. He showed his forgiveness and love to Peter and his trust in him. Thankfully, Jesus didn’t say, you have to keep your word and die for me. But he gave him the direction to feed his lambs. That’s how he could show his love. Jesus is the good shepherd. And a good shepherd doesn’t entrust his sheep to just anyone, just like a parent doesn’t entrust their children to just any babysitter. Who are Jesus’ lambs? All those whom he died for. Those who listen to his voice.

This was divine help for Peter. Jesus knew that Peter had the tendency to compete with others, especially fellow disciples. And even as we see in today’s passage, he was leading them in a wrong direction. The new direction for Peter frees him from trying to prove himself and think only about showing himself off, but to feed Jesus’ lambs. Feeding is a big task. You have to learn what they can and cannot eat and how much they should eat. You have to learn when are the feeding times and understand well about the lambs. I find it stressful if I have to feed my kids instead of my wife feeding them. I have to feed at the right time and make sure their food is good and healthy and enough portions. There is no part of feeding where you get to think about yourself. Only others.

Then Jesus asked Simon Peter a second time, “Do you truly love me?” Again Jesus said, “truly” but this time he did not say, “more than these?” and Peter again replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” But this time Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” Taking care of sheep is a lot more involved than just feeding them. To take care of them you need to know each of them, their habits, when to sleep, how to get them to the right places for eating and drinking, getting them exercise, checking their health, protecting them from all harms, and helping them to reproduce. This was so perfectly helpful for Peter.

Then, Jesus asked Simon Peter a third time, “Do you love me?” Was it because Peter did not give any acknowledgment, like, yes, I will feed and take care of your sheep? Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him a third time, “do you love me?” This time Jesus did not ask if Peter “truly” loved him, just if he loved him at all. Finally, Peter answered differently. Look at verse 17. He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Then Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” he didn’t say, “you’re right, I know. I’m sorry you’re hurt.” Look how strongly he emphasized to Peter to love him by feeding and taking care of his sheep. It tells us that we have to love Jesus. John wrote that he wrote these things down so that we would believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have life in his name (John 20:31). And each story in this gospel revolves around believing. But not chapter 21. This story revolves around loving Jesus and following him. Faith is important and necessary. But we need to love Jesus who has loved us. It is for our benefit. To have a relationship with someone and get the benefits of that relationship, you have to love back.

Loving Jesus is really the best thing for us. Like Peter, it requires us to accept his love first. And this passage shows us how good his love is because it is unchanging and faithful. Proverbs says, “what a man desires is unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 19:22; 20;6). We can find one, Jesus! He is faithful and his love was the same. We change, and it’s our problem, but because he is the same we can go to him. And his love fills the deepest of our heart’s desires and satisfies.

Like Simon Peter, we tend to use this phrase a lot, “Jesus knows __________.” as an excuse. For example, we say, “Jesus knows that I’m weak in this particular area, he’ll forgive me,” and we try to justify our sin. We say, “Jesus knows I love him, it’s okay if I just rest and I’ll serve him another time. Someone else can do it today.” it is important that if we know Jesus love us, then to remain in his love we have to love him back and show that love properly by leaving the old life and feeding his sheep.

Since they are Jesus’ sheep, it requires loving as he loves. This is the love that is self-sacrificial and from above. It is not self-serving. It is demonstrated best in Jesus’ death on the cross, laying down his life for the sheep. Jesus wanted Peter to know Jesus’ love and to love and feed with sheep with that same love as Jesus’. Jesus also fed Peter with his word, the word of God. Peter came to know that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Jesus did many things with his disciples and with Peter. But he fed them God’s word and he cared for them with his sacrificial love. Now it was time for Peter to feed Jesus’ sheep and to care for Jesus’ sheep, all as Jesus had done for him.

In our UBF ministry we use the phrase “feed sheep,” even referring to Bible students as sheep. This is sometimes offense to people because portraying people as sheep is often used in a derogatory manner to mean that people are dumb and mindless and follow whatever. But we use it because Jesus used it. Actually, we do have a problem of following the wrong thing and going astray like sheep. Jesus came as our good shepherd. Like Peter, by feeding Jesus’ sheep we can show our love to him, and we can learn of his love by practicing it in obedience and faith. It is his way to know and love him. The sheep Jesus has given us are the students on the college campuses and the abundance of children. We are all Jesus’ sheep, so we are directed to feed his sheep with the word of God and care for them with his love.

Third, follow me (18-25). 

Then Jesus finished by saying, “Follow me!” look at verses 18-19.
[18] I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” [19] Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Finally, Jesus said it again, “Follow me!” By finishing up by saying, “Follow me!” Jesus put the direction to love him in the context of the call to follow Jesus. It was the same call as in the beginning, “Follow me!” but Peter was not to follow any way he wanted. He had to follow in Jesus’ way. He had to keep his love to Jesus and feed his sheep. It shows us that following Jesus is about loving him and keeping his direction and mission. We cannot follow Jesus any other way. Otherwise we’re just following our own ideas and ways. That’s why he says, “Follow me.” 

As verse 18 says, following Jesus also involves denying ourselves and doing what we do not want to do. Verse 19 tells us that this refers to the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. He could also glorify God in his death just as Jesus did. This tells us we cannot do just what we want to do. “Follow me,” not, “Follow me and sometimes yourself.”

Simon Peter got the message, although it hurt him at first. Later he loved and fed and cared for Jesus’ sheep very well. Sometimes Jesus’ help hurts. It’s because we learn about who we are. But it’s for our good.

When we read Peter’s letters to the early church members, he encouraged them to do what they didn’t want to do and to keep suffering for Jesus and to be shepherds of God’s flock under their care (1 Peter 5:2). It may have been hard to ask that of them, but he did it. He cared for them like a shepherd, as Jesus had directed him. He lived and died to love Jesus and feed his flock. He realized that the call to be a shepherd for Jesus’ sheep was not just for him but all who believe in Jesus. He taught the flock to love Jesus and be shepherds and to deny themselves. He learned and taught other believers to see that people need shepherds. He even died in a way he didn’t want. He was sentenced to die by crucifixion, but he asked that he be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same way his Lord died.

Peter glorified God in this way. Jesus helped peter to glorify God and not himself. Following Jesus is for our whole lives, till the time is up. When we follow Jesus with our whole life we can glorify God. But man’s glory last only as long as the flowers of the field or the grass.

Look at verses 20-23.
[20] Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) [21] When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” [22] Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” [23] Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

The call the follow is personal. We follow based on his love and calling and not based on other people. 

The other disciple is the apostle John. He is the one who witnessed these things and testified to them by writing them down. And his testimony was verified by others. Although Jesus did so many things that the world would not have enough room for all the books to be written, John chose to focus on these events. They shows that he loved so much. God became flesh and came to us so that we could go to him and have eternal life with him. And now he concludes with the call to follow Jesus by loving him and obeying him by feeding his sheep.

This passage shows us that Jesus loved us and calls us, and his love is the same. His love did not change although theirs had faltered. He wants us to accept his love and follow him, caring for his sheep with the same level of his love. When we feed his sheep we can learn of him, love him, and glorify God and be a blessing to others.

This passage reminded me of how great Jesus’ love is, especially when he first called me. Many things have happened in the past twelve years. Many really good, miraculous times and joyful times, many challenges, and I also have made and keep making so many mistakes. I changed a lot. But I learned today that Jesus did not change and his love and calling did not change. So, like Peter, I can accept and rely on his love. The question, “Do you truly love me?” stumped me. Jesus knows that I love him. But it wasn’t really in my heart. What was motivating me a lot lately was just don’t mess up. I don’t want to mess up anymore. So I didn’t want to be a bad example for my children or sheep. But it wasn’t from my love to Jesus. And I just think about all my past mistakes. And yet I also wanted to have time for myself, complaining that I don’t get to do things I want to do, I’m always doing something for someone else. William said that he would rejoin the message rotation from summer time, and I even thought that I could use him as my way to take a break. But 1 Timothy daily bread says to devote yourself to preaching and teaching and not neglect it. So I can’t stop. I thought Jesus changes because I changed, but he is the same. And I changed, but it’s okay because he knows and by feeding his sheep, following him, and loving him, I can learn of him and become more like him, and overcome myself and this world.

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

[Click here for Bible study materials based on this passage.]

Last week we’ve heard shepherd Jim’s message about Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus died on the cross by saying, “it is finished.” But that’s not all. Jesus had to rise from the dead. Today’s passage of Jesus’ resurrection is the ultimate fulfillment of all the prophecies and the laws. The author concluded at verse 31, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” What then is to believe? It is strictly a matter of individual response of one person. Nobody can believe for others. Compared with other gospels, the author John focuses on individuals such as Mary Magdalene and Thomas. Meeting with Jesus changed their lives greatly. What if risen Jesus appeared to you today and what would happen to you? So today I would like to emphasize such personal change after meeting risen Jesus.

Part 1, “Jesus had to rise from the dead” (1-9)
Look at verse 1. “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” The first day of the week refers to Sunday morning. It was so early that it was still dark. In Mark three women are going together to the tomb. But here only one person Mary Magdalene is mentioned. It is because the author wanted to focus on meaningful personal encounter between her and Jesus. Mary had been very grateful to Jesus because Jesus drove the 7 demons out of her. Since then she had been with Jesus and served His ministry. She couldn’t understand Jesus’ crucifixion and people’s great cruelty. She wanted to honor Jesus’ body one more time by anointing it with spices. But when she arrived at the tomb, she found out that the stone had been removed. But the problems was that she assumed the worst. Those days, grave robbers were not uncommon. Her wrong assumption made her further emotionally down. She began to cry again. Mary was under the power of death. Though she loved Jesus so much, she didn’t have resurrection faith that Jesus had to rise from the dead. Look at v. 2. “So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’” This verse shows that a dead Jesus was her last hope. So she had to ask others to locate Jesus’ body.

Look at verses 3-6a. Here we can see detailed description about what happened that day. Peter and the other disciple were running for the tomb. John pointed out he was faster than Peter. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went into the tomb. He agreed that Peter was braver than him. In this way all these are his personal memory of Jesus’ resurrection. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus’ enemies tried to cover-up Jesus’ resurrection by spreading the rumor his disciples came at night and stole the body. But this passage clearly shows us Jesus’ followers were trying to find his body instead of stealing or hiding it.

What then did John and Peter find out inside the tomb? Look at v. 6b-8. “He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.” According to Jewish burial custom there are two coverings: strips of linen covering the entire body and the precious napkin like cloth covering the face as a final step. Here we see the first hard evidence Jesus had risen. What if grave robbers had taken Jesus’ body? They wouldn’t have folded the small facial cloth like waitress. By leaving it neatly, it’s Jesus’ personal way to give his followers the evidence he had to rise from the dead. Here as an illustration let’s think about how to give birth to a butterfly. There is a caterpillar on a tree turning into a beautiful butterfly, during which it undergoes a drastic transformation within a protective hard shell (Chrysalis). It’s compared to Jesus’ resurrection with transformed resurrection body. In contrast, in chapter 11, Lazarus was resurrected with his old “catarpillar type body” still being wrapped up in burial linens and a cloth around his face(11:44) because he didn’t come out like Jesus. In true sense he was being resurscitated rather than resurrected.

According to Luke’s gospel, Peter was still wondering to himself what had happened. But here John pointed out that he believed as the first one in history to do so although it was incomplete based on the scripture(9). At least he had “spearhead” started. His faith was being rooted in his love relationship with Jesus. John called himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John was personally sure that Jesus loved him. He found his identity in Jesus’ love. When John was sure about Jesus’ love he could believe Jesus’ resurrection first. He ended up becoming a powerful witness to defend the gospel message especially when all of his companions left physically.

Part 2, “Go instead to my brothers and tell them” (10-18)
Look at verses 10, 11a. “Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying.” In these verses we find the reason why John’s Gospel identifies Mary Magdalene as the first witness of the Resurrected Jesus Christ. The disciples went back to their homes. They were too afraid to stay too long outside for fear the Jews would arrest them. Simply they didn’t want to be sitting ducks. But Mary didn’t have the same problem. Look at verses 11b-12: “As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.” For some reason she checked out the tomb although few minutes ago the disciples had just thoroughly inspected it. This time she saw two angels sitting where Jesus’ body had been placed. This scene reminds me of the ark of the covenant. Above the ark were figures of two angels(cherubim) with wings outstretched over the atonement cover. Now God had sent his holy angels to meet her. I think these two angels used to be guard angels to block the entrance of the garden of Eden especially the tree of life with a flaming sword back and force since Adam and Eve had committed the sin of disobedience. But thanks to Jesus’ death and resurrection they had been just laid off and they were now assigned newly to be the messengers to relay the great news of resurrection. Instead of revealing themselves to the disciples, they appeared to Mary, who was there in great affection, longing for Jesus more than anything else in the world. Here she represents those who keep looking for Jesus will eventually find him. She is also like our Downey UBF women of faith sitting next to you.

Now look at verses 13,14. “They asked her,’ Woman why are you crying?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him.’ At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.” As soon as she answered to the angels, Jesus came up just behind her, asking “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? Standing before Mary, talking to her now is the very person she was looking for. Nevertheless she cannot recognize Him because her sorrow had blinded her to the resurrected Jesus. But our risen Jesus who knows everything, deeply understood her sorrow and gently approached her. She still assumed he was a kind of corrupted gardener, saying, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him” (15).

Look at verse 16. “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher).” When Jesus called Mary by name, Mary finally recognized Jesus. In an instant Mary’s grief vanished and joy welled up in her soul. Look at verse 17. “Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Here first of all Jesus didn’t want Mary to take hold of him humanly. Jesus was soon returning to His Father to be exalted and glorified as the Son of God. Then Jesus not only comforted her but also helped her to go instead to share such good news. Jesus called the disciples “my brothers”, and he called God, “my Father and your Father, my God and your God” First “My Father, my God.” And then your Father and your God. It means, through His example of obedient death and resurrection, Jesus made his exclusive love relationship with his Father in heaven. Now Mary and the disciples were greatly privileged to come to their Father through Jesus who pioneered the very way to return to their eternal Father. As a new blessed family relationship, they became the precious children of God and dear brothers of Jesus Christ. Jesus saw them as even co-heirs of God’s eternal kingdom. Some of us might come from troubled or dysfunctional families. But in Jesus, all of us become the members of such glorious family. What a wonderful thing to be a part of God’s family. “My Father and your Father” “My God and your God” Jesus our eldest brother made this blessing come true!

Look at verse 18. “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.” Mary was no longer a sorrowful woman. Jesus restored her original position in the Genesis 2 as a helper for men or brothers. In the same way Jesus reveals himself to those who love him and seek him with all their hearts. Jesus turns our sorrow into joy and gives us holy mission.

Part 3, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (19-23)
Look at verse 19. “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’” The disciples were full of fear. They were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who were determined to eliminate Jesus’ influence for good. What was worse, now Jesus’ tomb was empty. The Jews were likely to take action against them. They were scared! They might have called each other using initials. Simon Peter was “SP,”and James and John were “J1 and “J2.” Fear had made them prisoners in a locked room. The devil holds men in slavery through their fear of death. This constant fear of death makes strong young men turn into fearful men. Suddenly, Jesus came and stood among his disciples, even more making them surprise. Jesus is in his resurrected body there is no barriers for him. He said, “Peace be with you!” Jesus’ words were more than a simple greeting. Jesus’ words had deep spiritual meaning. Jesus imparted to them the peace of God that comes from being right with God. When Jesus died on the cross, the huge balance of debt of sin was just paid off. And God raised him up from the dead. “Peace be with you!” Jesus had forgiven them unconditionally. Jesus had cleansed their consciences of guilt and failure. They could stand before God again with assurance of acceptance. They also had peace with each other. After Peter’s denial, Judas’ betrayal, and mass abandonment, they began to lose trust in one another. But now thanks to risen Jesus, they were able to forgive, love and trust one another again. Now fear vanished from their hearts. They gained a great assurance that everything would be alright.

Look at verse 20. “After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” Showing his hands and side indicates that God is not magical in his forgiveness of sins. To forgive our sins, God had to satisfy his justice with a real sacrifice. As a result the Risen Jesus gives us true peace, overflowing joy and eternal life. In their overflowing joy of being united with the Risen Jesus, the disciples were jumping, dancing and praising God. They needed to calm down and listen. Look at v. 21. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you!” Then Jesus told them the main point of his message: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” God sent Jesus as the first missionary to a lost world. Jesus is the most precious, one and only Son of God. But God asked Jesus to take the most costly mission as the Lamb of God. Jesus understood God’s heart and His love. Jesus personally accepted God’s will and obeyed him wholeheartedly. Now, Jesus was sending his beloved disciples into the world. Jesus called them brothers and now sent them into the world to share his meaningful sufferings for world salvation. Here we learn that being Jesus’ disciple is not just for the personal benefit of having peace and joy, but to participate in God’s glorious mission of world salvation.

Look at verses 22-23. “And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’” Here we further learn that God never asked us to do His work without providing us first what we really need. In the beginning, God made man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. To this living man, God had given his mission. However sin destroyed everything. But the Risen Jesus now restores man’s relationship with God and his original mission. Just as Mary resumed her mission to help men, Jesus’ disciples were helped too. The Risen Jesus now breathed upon his disciples and imparted his Spirit. He would no longer be physically present with them. His presence with them is internalized. In and through his empowered disciples Jesus wanted to proclaim the message of forgiveness of sins. Those who accept their message become God’s children, stewards of God’s creation. It is God’s ultimate hope that all men will overcome inner fear, believe, and be forgiven and that his kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven. It is a full restoration of God’s image and His creation purpose. This passage renewed my faith as well. Lately I have been very fearful and lonely. As you knew, my wife missionary Esther had worked hard for the last 12 years as a dentist. But I found one thing that being a dentist is one of hardest jobs for a woman. Every night she suffered from constant pains throughout the body. My heart was broken. I also tried to be a successful real estate investor in order to let her retire early, but due to market downturn I ended up repeating my painful viscious cycle of failure. I was being frustrated and very fearful especially when my first son is becoming a college student. To be honest I was at the crossroad in my life and tempted to go back Korea to resume my career as a Radiologist before reaching 50 years old. I thought that it is an easy way out and make a fortune. But through preparing this message I personally realized that it is not the breakthrough but it is more important to meet Jesus in person and put my trust in the Lord. God wants me to overcome my inner fear, frustration and lack of faith and to become a man of resurrection faith and trust in Him first. May the Lord help me to recover my personal faith fully in Jesus and render glory to Him only. Amen.

Part 4, “My Lord and my God!” (24-31)
We could have finished the passage. But there was one more disciple missing, named Thomas, who was not present with the others when Jesus came. Whenever his name appeared, we need to be alert. The reason is? We will see. First he was a completely different kettle of fish. But Jesus didn’t ignore him at all although Jesus was on a busy schedule to return to his Father in heaven. Truly Jesus is the good shepherd. Thomas’ nick name called Didymus is only shown in the book of John (11:16, 20:24, 21:2). His name means “the twin.” Have you been heard about OCD? I like to diagnose Thomas as OCD patient because OCD is the doubting disease. He needs double check, the twin check. The name itself has to repeat “D” twice. “Di” “Dy”.. As soon as he returned, they told him, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas did not accept it. He said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”’

Thomas is also like a representative for young person in our times. They can’t believe on the basis of others’ testimony or existing facts. Instead, they must see and feel it for themselves. They have lost faith in their parents after experiencing too many broken promises and the trauma of broken families. They have learned that it’s foolish to simply believe what they are being told. So they want to experience life for themselves and reach their conclusions. Look at verse 26. “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’” Jesus came in the same way as he did the first time, and with the same word of blessing. But this time, Jesus was most concerned about one person, Thomas. Look at verse 27. “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’” First of all Jesus was not angry with Thomas. Jesus offered his wounded body for Thomas to see and touch by himself. Jesus was ready to let Thomas put his finger in his nail-marked hands and to put his hand into his side. Jesus was full of grace to Thomas. Praise Jesus!

Likewise to be Bible teachers for this generation, we must learn how to express the love of Jesus until it becomes real to young people. One young man was sick with doubt after his parents divorced, breaking his heart. He began to study the word of God with a Bible teacher who loved him faithfully. He accepted Jesus’ word and knew he should commit his life to Jesus. But in anguish of soul, he gave his Bible teacher hard times by demanding his love and service. His Bible teacher prayed, asking for God’s help. After two years, the young man decided to believe the love of Jesus and committed his life to the work of God.

Look at v. 28. Thomas confessed, “My Lord and my God!” He accepted Jesus as his Lord. He accepted Jesus as his God. In this way he completely surrendered to Jesus by saying, “My Lord and my God!” It is worthwhile to struggle with difficult Bible students to the end, for they may eventually make the greatest confession of faith. They say, “Different strokes for different folks!” Each person is a whole new ball game in a real spiritual world! Each person is different with a unique character, opinion, problem, and desire. Just as our risen Jesus showed us his good example in today’s passage, one to one personal Bible study and shepherding is often the best and the only way to serve them. “My Lord and my God!” In fact Jesus came for one person, myself. Indeed it is what Christianity is all about. Christianity came about through one person at a time. Jesus could have chosen alternatives such as massive evangelism after powerful resurrection but he is the same as the good shepherd to take care of the most challenging sheep like Thomas until he’s being transformed to be a great servant of God. Often times we encounter difficulties and limitations in serving new emerging generation who follow the popular trend of life(fad) infected with sin and go with the mainstream of sin.Thus we wonder if we should look for alternatives. We are tempted to keep up with the Joneses. But nothing is more effective than focusing on profound Bible studies because we have “God breathed scripture” good for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. When God moves one person’s heart through his living word, an ordinary person begins to become fully equipped and truly great before God! Even when God moves the heart, that person leave their home, family, good jobs, and future security boldly, going to all nations as a missionary.

I like to introduce the name of an ordinary American young man “Henry Appenzeller.” When God moved his heart, he became one of three most recognizable American missionaries for Korean evangelization. He came to Korea in 1885 at the age of 27. He devoted himself as a Bible translator. Realizing that the Korean people neglected to use their already available well-crafted writing system, hangeul. Appenzeller became impassioned with providing a well-translated hangeul version of the Bible to the Korean people. He made many tours throughout the country and studied the Korean language five hours a day so that he could preach in Korean. He believed that the Bible was the best piece of literature available to many of his students. Thanks to his pioneering efforts in Korea, the country has achieved a literacy rate of almost 98 percent. Now Korea became the rank number two after America in terms of sending missionaries. On the journey to attend the meeting of Bible translation, he accidentally drowned to death at the age of 44. Recently my zeal and passion for Jesus becomes cool off. But through him and this message, God renewed my spirit. May the Lord help me to serve God thankfully until I may contribute myself to make the gospel message of Jesus known to college students. May God bless America to be a kingdom of priests continually.

Look at v 29. “Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus helped Thomas to develop his faith further. In this world there are two kinds of faith: experienced faith and personal faith. When we prayed for our children, job, marriage, and Bible student or disciple making, we often time became like Thomas asking for tangible outcome. But our wonderful Jesus deeply understood our agony and urgent prayer topics and our individual problem and answered our prayers according to our needs. In this way he graciously allowed us to feel his love in our practical problems and prayers. But that’s not all. Jesus wants each of us to upgrade such experienced faith into the next version that is, wholesome personal faith in Him. We continue to put our trust in Him and His agape love and live a victorious and fruitful life for God’s glory. That is the very life example of our eldest brother Jesus Christ in John’s gospel so far. According to Jesus’ undying love, Thomas became a man of upgrade personal and trusting faith. History proves that with that quality faith he became the only Apostle who went beyond the territory of vast Roman empire to preach the gospel. He ended up obeying Jesus to reach the end of the earth. What an extreme change from a man of doubt to a saint! Praise Jesus who transformed his disciples who were mainly the cowardly and the unbelieving, the destiny of whom are the fiery lake of burning sulfur, into the courageous and the believing for God’s kingdom purpose. Anyone can have hope to restore God’s image fully in Jesus. May the Lord bless each of us to restore God’s purpose fully to be a source of blessing for all nations.

One word) My Lord and my God!

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

[Click here for Bible study materials based on this passage.]

As shepherd Jonathon mentioned in his message last week, our Easter message is covered in three parts. Last week on Easter Sunday we heard the message on the arrest and trial of Jesus. This week we look at the the death of Jesus on the cross, and next week is the resurrection of Jesus.
This weeks passage describes the death of Jesus on the cross. The death of Jesus, brings to completion, the key part of God’s redemption plan for man. Jesus death, paid the price for the sin of mankind. As the time approached, the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “Father the time has come. Glorify your son, that your son my glorify you.” (John 17:1b). Jesus also prayed, “ I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

Through this passage, may God help us to accept through Jesus death on the cross, our sins are forgiven. May God help us to live as servants delivering this message of Jesus death on the cross, to university and college students, helping them to capitalize on this blessed and complete redemption which God has provided through Jesus Christ.

I. Jesus was crucified(16b-27)

Vs. 17, 18, say, “Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull(which is Aramaic is called Golgatha). Here they crucified Jesus and with two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle.” In the first part of John 19, the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on Jesus head, and put a purple robe on him. They struck him in the face and went up to him again and again saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” After Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, the soldiers took charge of him, and Jesus was lead to the place of crucifixion carrying his own cross.
When they arrived at the place of the Skull, they crucified Jesus. In vs. 18, it says that Jesus was crucified with two other men, criminals. In Isaiah 53:12b it says,“because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with transgressors.” Jesus was the sinless Son of God. Yet, he was crucified with two other criminals. Jesus was crucified in the middle with a criminal on each side of him. It appears that the way Jesus crucified with the other criminals, it made him appear as the ring leader. In this way, while being crucified, Jesus was humiliated even more.

Crucifixion is also one of the most agonizing ways to die. These days, when the death penalty is administered , through the use of lethal injection, death occurs within about 15 minutes or so. If someone is hanged, which was used until until recently in Texas, the convicted criminal would die even sooner. Yet, back in the days of the Roman empire, crucifixion was used. In addition to being a method of execution, it was as a way to deter people from a life of crime. When a criminal was crucified, they were affixed or attached to the cross by ropes, nails or a combination of the two. They could be hanging on the cross for hours to more than a day. They were kept on the cross, until their legs could no longer support them. This would cause them do die by suffocation. In the case of this passage, the bodies would have to taken down earlier. So they would break the legs, causing them to die in shock, or by suffocation. According to tradition Jesus hands and feet were nailed to the cross. Then cross was dropped into he hole, and the weight of his body, tore at the nails. His blood flowed down ,slowly as he gasped for air with each breath.

At the top of the cross was fixed a sign, with a title describing their crime, such as, “thief, or murderer.” The sign at the top of Jesus cross the read,“Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews.” When the chief priests saw this, they protested to Pilate. They wanted the sign to say something like, “Jesus of Nazareth who claimed to be the king of the Jews.” Yet, Pilate said to them, “What I have written, I have written.” Last week we heard how Pilate was in a position, where he had to either stand on the side of truth and let Jesus go, or he had to give in to the demands of the Jewish religious leaders. Pilate finally gave into the demand of the Jews. Here it appears that while Jesus was dying on the cross, Pilate gained the courage to take his stand. He had the sign at the top of Jesus cross read, “Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews.” Though a small gesture, God used Pilate to proclaim that Jesus is the king of the Jews.

Look at vs. 23-24, shows the soldiers behavior beneath the cross. They divided up his clothes and cast lots for his garments. These soldiers were selfish, greedy, and childish. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, dying in excruciating pain, they were casting lots to see who among them would get his clothes. Yet, John saw this from the perspective of fulfilling prophecy. Ps. 22;18 says, “
18 “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”

Vs. 25-27 show while the other disciples deserted Jesus, the women who followed Jesus, stayed with him. These women were Jesus’ mother, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. The apostle John was also there. These women were the ones who served and supported Jesus ministry. They shared in Jesus’ joy, his sorrow, glory and pain. While Jesus was at his darkest moment, these woman stayed with him, as he was dying on the cross. When Jesus saw his mother there with the disciple whom he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” To John he said, ‘Here is your mother.” This really shows Jesus heart for fallen mankind. When Jesus was dying, he understood the pain his mother was experiencing, watching her son die. He also understood the pain of his disciple John, who was referred to as the disciple he loved. Many times we experience some kind of small discomfort, such if you have a cold, or in my finger, I have a small splinter that really stings. Its easy for us to think we can’t think of other peoples problems, but only give thought to our own. In my case, I don’t have a job, or money. How can I think of serving campus mission. Yet, when we have faith in Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, we can overcome ourselves, and be truly mindful of the needs of others. In Isaiah 53:4a it says, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,”
II. IT IS FINISHED (28-42)

Look at vs. 28-30. This passage describes the last moments of Jesus life. Taking a look at Mark 15, it tells us that Jesus was crucified at the third hour, which is 9 am our time. Darkness came over the whole land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour, which corresponds to between noon and three in the afternoon. So Jesus was on the cross for about 6 hours. In this passage, from vs. 28, Jesus knowing that everything was finished, to fulfill Scripture, he said, “I am thirsty.” So they soaked a sponge in some wine vinegar, and lifted it to Jesus lips. When Jesus had received the drink, he said, “It is finished.” Then Jesus bowed his head, and gave up his Spirit. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” Jesus meant that his mission as the lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice for mans sins had been completed. God had provided the way for man to be forgiven of his sins was.

Taking a quick glimpse at some points in God’s redemption history, Lets take a look at Gen.3 In Gen. 3, Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden breaking their relationship with God. In Gen. 3:15b , God promised, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” God promised that through the offspring of woman, He would crush the head of Satan. In Gen. 12:3b, when God called Abram, God promised him that all peoples on earth would be blessed through his offspring. Then we see God building the nation of Israel, through the patriarchs, their slavery in Egypt, and the Exodus.. In Exodus, and Leviticus we see the establishment of the tabernacle and the system of offerings, where sin was to be atone for.. God was trying to help his people understand, that sin was not free, but needed to be atoned for. Although this sacrificial system we see in the Old Testament era, was imperfect, it was a shadow of the ultimate sacrifice to come. ]Jesus who came through the line of Abraham, is the perfect and final sacrifice for mans sin. This is why just before he died on the cross Jesus said, “It is finished.” Jesus death on the cross payed for all the past, all present and future sins of mankind. John the Baptist understood this truth, and In John 1:29, when John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Many people, however, may struggle with this simple truth. Some people may feel inadequate. They might feel in their heart, “Oh I haven’t served many bible studies, or ‘Oh I haven’t raised even 1 disciple of Jesus”, or “Oh, I’ve never really helped the poor, or others when they are in need.” People might worry about many things, some of which may be important. Nevertheless, each persons sins were forgiven through Jesus death on the cross. All one has to do to be forgiven of their sins, is to simply accept Jesus death on the cross as paying for their sins.

I myself grew up in the Catholic church. In the catholic church, of course they study the gospels, the Old Testament, the epistles and the whole bible very well. They also have a lot of unique information on the lives of the saints, which is very insightful, inspiring, and interesting. Yet, one thing I remember about the catholic church, is that I always had the feeling that in addition to Jesus death on the cross, there was something else I needed to do in order to be forgiven for my sins. At one point in my catechism class, they gave each of us a scapular, which is kind of a cloth necklace. They taught us that if you die wearing this necklace, you will surely go to heaven. So I kept this scapular on my bedposts, thinking that I would keep it, and start wearing it when I became a senior citizen. That is if I made it to being a senior citizen. Yet, somehow I lost this scapular. In a little bit of distress, a bit later I went to a catholic teacher, and asked if I could get another scapular. Yet, when I asked the teacher about getting another scapular, she didn’t know what I was talking about. So I though, “Oh, you mean that scapular is no longer needed for salvation.” Basically in the Catholic church, the one big thing that troubled me, was trying to find that one thing that needed to be added to crucifixion of Jesus, in order to be forgiven and saved. It seemed that this one thing always changed or was modified, so that you never really knew what it was. I never really knew what that one thing was. This of course is because, there is no other thing that needs to be added to the death of Jesus, for the forgiveness of sins.

Later when I studied the Bible while attending Cal State Long Beach, I finally understood that it is only through Jesus death on the cross, that one can be forgiven of their sins. It isn’t Jesus death combined with something else. When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus in John 3, Jesus said in vs. 3:14,15 “Just at Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” The point from this verse is very simple When we believe in Jesus who died on the cross, we can have eternal life. Through Jesus death on the cross, Jesus completely provided a way for each person to be forgiven of their sins, and to be adopted into the the family of God.

This is the key message that we need to accept for ourselves. This is also the key message that we need to share among the students on all the university and college campuses throughout Southern California and beyond. Students work so hard to somehow make a way for themselves in this society. This is proper and necessary. Yet, more importantly, students need to hear the message, that through Jesus death on the cross, their sins are forgiven, and they can have an eternal dwelling place in heaven. May God give us strength and spirit to continually invite students to bible study, and to a new life as a member of God’s family. Until just recently, I had a job where I was driving all over this country, but I lost that job. Despite not having a job at this time, may God help me to resume campus mission and share the message of Jesus crucifixion with students on our college and university campuses.

Look at vs. 31-37. It was preparation day and the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath. So the Jewish leaders asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. So the soldiers went to the first man and broke his legs and then those of the other. When they came to Jesus, and found that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs. Instead one of the soldiers pierced Jesus side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
In vs. 38-42, we see Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. They didn’t support the decision to have Jesus crucified. Though these two men believed in Jesus, they kept their belief in secret. Now after Jesus’ death, Nicodemus and Joseph came out of the closet to take a stand for Jesus. They asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body so they could provide him a proper burial.

We can take heart from Nicodemus. Many times our bible students leave bible study for one reason or another. We start to think about all of our character flaws, and problems. We despair, thinking the bible study was for nothing. Yet, you never know. Sometime in the future, some of our previous bible students may gain faith, and take a stand on the side of Jesus.(1 Cor. 15:58b)

One Word: It is finished.

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (John 18:37)

[Click here for Bible study materials based on this passage.]

In this passage, we learn who Jesus is and what he came into this world to do. May God help us to open our hearts to accept this message.

Look at verses 28-32:
28 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. 32 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

In the previous passage, we learned that Jesus was arrested by the Jewish religious authorities and put on trial. They wanted to put Jesus to death, but the problem was that they could not execute someone without approval from the Roman government, which ruled over the land. So they brought Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate.

Interestingly, they were unwilling to enter Pilate’s palace because doing so would make them ceremonially unclean and prevent them from eating the Passover feast. They were trying to sentence an innocent man to death; they were about to execute the Christ, which would make them truly unclean. This shows their ignorance and blindness.

Pilate asked them, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” Instead of telling Pilate what the charges were, they said, “If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” They couldn’t bring any formal charges against Jesus because Jesus had not done anything wrong. Pilate could tell that they didn’t have anything substantial to charge Jesus with, so he told them to take care of the matter themselves, but they couldn’t.

Verse 32 says, “This happened so that the words jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.”

Look at verses 33-34:
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

Pilate realized that he had to do something, so he called Jesus and questioned him. His first question was, “Are you the king of the Jews.” This was the main charge they had brought against Jesus that might violate Roman law: they said that Jesus claimed to be the king of the Jews. When Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus could have gotten himself out of trouble by saying, “No.” Instead, Jesus answered with his own question: “Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me?”

In this situation, Pilate was the judge and Jesus was the accused. He should have been afraid of Pilate and answered his questions. Instead, Jesus asked questions of Pilate. The truth is that Jesus is the Judge. Jesus asked Pilate whether the question was his own or whether others talked to him about Jesus. Jesus questioned the sincerity of Pilate’s question. Jesus understood that Pilate was not personally interested in the matter.

PIlate answered Jesus: 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

Pilate was clearly upset. He didn’t want to have anything to do with what he was was a disagreement among the Jews. He wanted them to take care of the matter themselves. He didn’t want to be involved. So he finally asks Jesus, “What is it you have done?” Again, however, Jesus doesn’t answer his question. Look at verse 36:
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

Jesus showed that he was not a victim under the power of corrupt authorities. He is indeed a king, but his kingdom is not of this world. The kingdoms of this world rise and fall. Everything is temporary and unstable. But Jesus’ kingdom is the kingdom of heaven. His kingdom is eternal and perfect. There was nothing that anyone could do to him to take away his kingdom from him or his authority. That’s why Jesus’ servants did not fight to prevent his arrest. His arrest was no threat to his identity as king. Indeed, through his arrest and trial, Jesus was working to expand his kingdom.

The fact that Jesus did not fight injustice done to him in this world because his kingdom is not of this world gives us a lot to think about. We don’t need to fight to secure our place in this world if we are members of Jesus’ kingdom. There is nothing anyone can do to us to take away our status or enjoyment of being citizens of the kingdom of God. In fact, the injustices we face may even ultimately help us to enjoy the kingdom of God more and bring others into it.

How did Pilate respond? Look at verse 37:
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Pilate certainly did not think Jesus was a king, but he was beginning to think that Jesus thought he was a king. Pilate might have thought that Jesus was out of his mind. Jesus answered him, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Jesus did not deny the truth that he was a king, even though this might have helped him to be set free. Instead of denying the truth to save himself, Jesus spoke the truth about who he is. Jesus came into this world to bring us the truth. The truth is that he is the king of kings and lord of lords. Anyone who is seriously interested in the truth will listen to Jesus.

But Pilate was not interested in the truth. Look at verses 38-39:
38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

Pilate asked, “What is truth?” With this question, he implied that there is no such thing as truth or that truth is unknowable. This may sound like a deeply philosophical question, but I think it is an excuse. Many people are eager to believe that there is no truth so that they can do what they want without accountability.

Pilate recognized that there was no basis for a charge against Jesus, but instead of releasing Jesus, he left the question open to the people. He said, “do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” Pilate didn’t take responsibility.

How did the people respond? Look at verse 40:
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

The people asked for Barabbas who was a true criminal.

Look at chapter 19, verses 1-3:
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.

To satisfy the mob, Pilate had Jesus beaten and bloodied and mocked.

Look at verses 4-6:
4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

Pilate brought Jesus out to them and thought they would be satisfied with Jesus’ humiliation and suffering. At the same time, he said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.” It seems that Pilate was implying that the people were causing this injustice to be done to an innocent man, even though it was Pilate himself who had ordered these things be done.

The religious leaders were not satisfied. Look at verses 6-10:
6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7 The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

The religious leaders called for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate refused to have Jesus crucified, but then they said that Jesus must die for claiming to be the Son of God. Pilate was more afraid. He asked Jesus, “Where do you come from,” but Jesus didn’t answer.

Look at verses 11-16:
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

In these verses, we see how Pilate struggled with the truth. He knew Jesus was innocent. He also began to fear that Jesus was not just an ordinary man. At the same time, he feared the wrath of the people; he feared that he might lose his job if things got out of control. Ultimately, he rejected the truth in order to save himself. Here we see a sharp contrast between Jesus who did not save himself but testified to the truth and Pilate who did the opposite.

Through this passage, we see that those who stand on the side of truth listen to Jesus, but those who want to save themselves and their lives in this world more than living by the truth reject Jesus.

In our daily experience, it is not always easy to stand on the side of truth. Standing on the side of truth, however, is to stand on the side of the kingdom of God. We can do so when we remember that Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. There is nothing that this world can do to harm the citizens of the kingdom of God. We should not fear, then, to hold to the truth and to keep Jesus as our king.

One word: stand on the side of truth

Theme: Jesus Came to Call Sinners (Luke 5:32)
When: March 30 – April 1
Where: Pinecrest Christian Conference Center
For Driving Directions, click here.
For a copy of the Conference Agenda, click here.

“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ ” (Luke 5:31-32)

Group Study Questions and Messages (click below to download a copy)
Message #1, on Luke 15:11-32, Alive Again.
Group Study #1, on Luke 5:17-32, Jesus Came to Call Sinners
Group Study #2, on Luke 23:26-49, Father, Forgive ThemMessage Copy
Group Study #3, on Luke 24:1-53, The Christ Will Suffer and Rise
Message Copy

VIDEOS

Alive Again (Luke 15:11-32) from UBF Downey on Vimeo.Message Copy

Life Testimony, by Allan C. from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Life Testimony, by Diana L. from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Father, Forgive Them (Luke 23:26-49) from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Message Copy

Wondrous Love from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Life Testimony, by Juan Perez from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Life Testimony, Debbie T. from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Life Testimony, by Jose Moreno from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Life Testimony, by Roman Acebado from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Life Testimony, by Mercy B. from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Explore the Promised Land (Numbers 13-14) from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

The Christ Will Suffer and Rise, Message on Luke 24, by Daniel Tourn from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Message Copy

Because He Lives from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Bible Testimony on Luke 24, by Chris N. from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Bible Testimony on Luke 24:1-53 from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Bible Testimony on Luke 24, by David Greenfield from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Bible Testimony on Luke 24, by Maggie W. from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

Bible Testimony on Luke 24, by Rossy Guzman from UBF Downey on Vimeo.

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said.” (John 18:5a)

[Click here for Bible study materials based on this passage.]

Identity is important in life. Depending upon who we are we behave differently and the meaning of what we do becomes different. For example, if you are the president of the United States of America you will certainly act differently that if you clean the streets of Downey.

One young man told me a very impressive story that also shows the importance of identity. He is about 20 years old. He had a hard time to overcome his desire to watch pornography. He did everything he could do by praying and reading the bible and attending many conferences. Nothing worked out. Then through God’s divine revelation he realized who he is. “A saint through the blood of Jesus.” When he realized that he is not a sinner (who is bound to sin) anymore but “a saint” (who is bound to be holy) through the blood of Jesus he was able to overcome his lustful desire.

Now in today’s passage two people’s identity are revealed. They are Jesus and Simon Peter. “Who Jesus is” is important because he is the object of our faith. Jesus’ identity is important because our salvation depends on who he is. So we want to learn who Jesus is through today’s passage. My message has two parts. The first part is “I am he” (18:1-14). It deals with Jesus’ identity. The second part is “I am not” (18:15-27). It deals with Simon Peter’s identity.

I. “I am he” (18:1-14)
John 18:1-3 “1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.”
This is the scene of Jesus’ arrest. After Jesus had finished his prayer on the last supper table he left with this disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side of Kidron Valley there was an olive grove and Jesus and his disciples went into it. This olive grove is believed to be the Mount of Gethsemane although Jesus’ prayer on Gethsemane is not recorded in John’s gospel. The number of the detachment of soldiers could be up to even 600 and there were Jewish officials too. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. So many people were armed in order to arrest Jesus and both Jews and Gentiles joined. It looked like they came to arrest the leader of a riot. Now how did Jesus respond in the situation?

Let’s read verses 4-9 responsively.

John 18:4-9 “4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

These verses show who Jesus is. It shows Jesus is God. The original Greek text for the phrase, “I am he,” (ego eimi) shows only “I am”. The phrase “I am” is used 24 times in John’s gospel. Sometimes it is used as an essential part of a sentence like, “I am the bread of life.” And 7 times it is used as a complete sentence. Out of the 7 times, 3 times are shown in today’s passage. Below are the other four times of “I am” in John’s gospel.

John 8:24 “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins.””

John 8:28 “So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.”

John 8:58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

John 13:19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.”

So when Jesus said, “I am he” he was revealing himself as God. To know who Jesus is ultimately important because it determines our salvation. The validity of our faith and salvation depends on who Jesus is. Our whole life of faith is determined according to Jesus’ identity. Not only our salvation and faith but the meaning of what Jesus does changes according to his identity. We will appreciate what he does for us all the more if we know that he is the Creator God who made us.

There is one person who learned Jesus’ identity very dramatically. His name is Thomas.
John 20:26-28 “26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas was a disciple of Jesus. He believed in Jesus and followed him. But in John 20:26-28 he finally believed in Jesus who is his Lord and his God. He truly learned that Jesus is his Lord and his God! Thomas became a true believer of Jesus at that moment.
In the same way we may live as disciples of Jesus. But we may not truly know who Jesus is. Jesus is the only true God. Jesus is God the Son. Jesus is the only Savior. There is no other Savior than Jesus.

Now verse 6 reads, “6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” Why did the soldiers and officials draw back and fall to the ground? Probably they were overwhelmed by Jesus’ divine authority as God. They were probably overwhelmed by some unknown divine influence from Jesus who is God.
Jesus told people who came to arrest him, “If you are looking for me, then let these men go” in order to protect his disciples. Then they were ready to arrest Jesus. But something happened.

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?””

Out of fear and desire to protect Jesus Simon Peter drew a sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. Peter knew he was not match at all against so many soldiers and Jewish officials. But somehow he could not stand still when Jesus was going to be arrested. So he ended up cutting off the right ear of the high priest’s servant. But Jesus commanded Peter, “”Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Jesus did not come into the world to use violence. Jesus came to remove violence among men. So he commanded Peter, “Put your sword away!” Then Jesus said, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” What does the cup mean?

Jesus’ cup was the cup of the new covenant in his blood. Luke 22:20
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Jesus’ cup means suffering and death to take away men’s sin.
“Matthew 26:37-39 “37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.””

Jesus prayed again in Matthew 26:42 “He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” So we can say ‘the cup from the Father’ is the cup of suffering and death to take away all of men’s sin. It is the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. It was the cup of God’s wrath upon the sin of all men. “To drink” means ‘actually taking’.

Jesus was ready to drink the cup from the Father as God the Son and the only Savior. He was ready to go through suffering and death to take away the sin of all peoples on earth. We do not want to go through suffering even for our own obligation as much as possible. Who wants to suffer for others’ weaknesses and sins? But Jesus did even though he is the Creator God.

However, there are people who follow Jesus. About a week ago I read a very impressive story about one missionary to Korea. Her name is Elisabeth J. Shepping (1880~1934). Her Korean name is서서평. She came to Korea in 1912 when she was 32 years old. At that time Korea just lost her nation to Japan and they were in deep sorrow and poverty. To her eyes, Korea was full of troubles and sufferings. Her letter sent to her headquarters 1921 shows the situation of Korean women. “I met more than 500 Korean women. But those who have names were even less than 10. They had to work so hard like slaves for their whole life. They had to obey their husbands. They were condemned when they could not produce children. Sometimes they were sold for their husband who are poor. My joy is to give them names and teach them Korean language.”

She was easily sick but she kept visiting southern part of Korea and Jeju island. Once she started visiting she usually spent one month traveling more than 200 miles. When her horse cannot move she just walked by herself all the way. She served many Korean widows and lepers. In 1929 she met her own mother in America who abandoned one year old Elisabeth J. Shepping to her grandmother. But her own mother rejected her saying that she did not want to see her daughter because her daughter became like a root out of dry ground. Although she did not receive her own mother’s love she became a mother for Korean women. In 1933 she started a march from southern part of Korea to Seoul in order to draw people’s attention for lepers. She started with 50 people but the number became 530 when she arrived in Seoul. So the government was forced to make some facility and that is how the island of ‘lepers’ called “So Rok Do” was created. When she died at the age of 54, many lepers called her “mommy” in her funeral. She died in 1934 out of hunger, hard labor, and disease. All she left was a half blanket, a few coins, and two cups of corn power. She had already given half of her blanket to beggars under a bridge. Her body was offered to medical school for study according to her will. In such a poor country in Korea she lived not as a friend of Koreans but as a Korean for 22 years eating Korea food and wearing Korean sandals.
When I read her story I was so moved. How can a person offer her life so much in sacrifice for strangers in a foreign land where all languages and culture are so foreign to her? What made her suffer so much and even give her whole life for Korean women and lepers who were total strangers? It is none other than Jesus. It is none other than the Creator God who said, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Jesus was living inside of her. Indeed she was a disciple of Jesus.

When Jesus commanded Peter, “”Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” they were ready to arrest Jesus.
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.
So far we learned who Jesus is and what he was ready to do.

II. “I am not” (18:15-27)

This part will teach us who Simon Peter and what he did.
John 18:15-18
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” 18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

Here ‘another disciple’ or ‘this disciple’ or ‘the other disciple’ all refers to the same person. He is John the apostle who is the author of John’s gospel. Simon Peter followed Jesus but he was stopped just outside of the high priest’s courtyard. He barely entered into the high priest’s courtyard by lying and through the help of the other disciple. Because Simon Peter identified himself not as a disciple of Jesus he behaved differently. He identified himself as one of those servants and officials who participated in the arrest of Jesus. Meanwhile the high priest, Annas, questioned Jesus. Annas was a father in law of Caiaphas, but the bible calls him the high priest probably because he still exercised strong influence like the high priest.

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” 22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. 23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Usually, a judge find charging topics from a plaintiff or witnesses. But Annas wanted to find them from Jesus who was a defendant. But Jesus was so confident. He told him very clearly, “20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said. “Jesus did not hide anything. He only spoke the truth. Annas could not find anything against Jesus. So Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas the high priest. The trial of Jesus by Annas shows that Jesus was still in the control of the situation.

Now what happened to Simon Peter when he was standing around a fire with servants and officials?
25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. So Simon Peter’s identity was not a disciple of Jesus and therefore what he did was not the act of a disciple. He stood together with servants and Jewish officials.

How why couldn’t Peter keep his identity? Why did he say, “I am not,” three times despite his great desire to follow Jesus? It is because Peter did not believe what Jesus said.
John 13:37-38 reads, “37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”
Jesus also said to Peter Mark 8:31-35 “31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

Did Peter believe what Jesus said? His action shows he did not believe it. To believe what others say is very challenging to a man. My experience is one example which shows how difficult it is to believe what others say even for a small thing. About a month ago I wanted to have something that I can eat when I am hungry. I was thinking about this and that. The food must be something easy to carry and most of all it should stay long fresh before it is corrupted. Then finally I got the idea. Sweet potato was the answer! It is sweet and it is easy to carry and it is good for health! And you don’t need to cook. You can eat raw. I grew up eating sweet potato in raw. What can I ask more? Yet, when I mentioned about “sweet potatoes” to Maria, she told me that they are easily rotten. Her words came from at least 30 years of experience and I did not have any reason not to believe. She is my wife and she does not have any reason to tell me a lie. In fact all I have is reasons to believe. So I believed it. But my action shows something different. I still bought sweet potato and kept it in a place. For a few days it seems they are okay. Then one day I found that they are all rotten and I had to throw them away. When I bought sweet potatoes this is what I thought, “Well, I believe what she says. But I think it will be okay with me.” I thought that since I am such a special person sweet potatos will behave differently toward me. But they obeyed God’s natural law and did not treat me specially. They all were rotten at their due time. When this happened I realized how hard it is for me to believe what others say even for a small thing. At that moment I realized why sometimes our children want to go through same mistakes which we went through despite our warnings. They are like me. Indeed Simon Peter did not believe Jesus’ word which taught him that Jesus will rise in three days and whoever loses his life for Jesus and for the gospel will save it.

In conclusion, our identity is important because we behave differently according to our identity, and the meaning of what we do becomes different depending upon our identity. Jesus revealed himself as “the only true God” and “the only Savior” when he said, “I am he”. Jesus was ready to drink the cup of suffering and death as the Creator God and Savior. Those who follow Jesus behave in the same way. If we believe what Jesus says in the bible we can follow Jesus.

One word: Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:22-23)

Good morning! This morning we would like to think about God’s purpose in sending Jesus, that is, to build complete unity between God and men, and among men.

The Bible begins with the Garden of Eden and ends with the Garden of Eden. Paradise at the outset and paradise in the end. In Genesis we see the paradise. In Revelation we see the paradise. We live in between the two paradises – we live in the world where the paradise is lost. But God sent Jesus to restore what we had lost. God’s kingdom is a planned. It has a design. In his prayer for all believers today Jesus expressed the essence of the design as “complete unity”. So if we secure it, we have the Perfect Garden restore back to us. Now, the complete unity Jesus prayed for comes with seven factors working together. Let us come and think about what they are:

First, prayer

In the passage we see Jesus finishing his life with prayer. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me…” (21) “Father, I want those you have given me to be where I am…” (24) “Righteous Father…” (25)

Jesus saw there is so much brokenness. He was sorrowful for there are so many divisions. He knew why people are divided. They look at the world. They focus on people too much. They do not focus on God the Father. So Jesus prayed.

In fact in order to build the unity among men he began his ministry with prayer. Then he finishes his ministry with prayer. Prayer is a conversation between God the Father and Jesus himself. In the passage Jesus calls God “Father” or “Righteous Father”.

So today here is my challenge for you and for me: each time you see people getting divided, please make a full stop to what you do. Turn around, go to your own place, and start praying. In praying, leave all of your problems especially the problem of division aside. And offer prayers to God the Father. Remember: when you stop praying, division starts. When you start praying, hope arises – the hope to build a perfect unity. So let us all pray for the perfect unity. Then despite all the differences God will start working among us. He will bring about complete unity. And this is the homework for you and for me.

Second, message

Look v. 20. In this passage Jesus prays for all who believe in Jesus through the message of his disciples. Here, the message refers to the message that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in the Son shall not perish but have eternal life. This was and is the message. It is the message the disciples proclaimed. It is the message we are to proclaim.

People are message oriented. God made man in his image. This tells us that unlike animals or plants, we are controlled by the message. Message determines one’s destiny. If you are controlled by a bad message you become bad. If you go with a good message you become good. So we say some people go by life-giving-script, some death-giving-script. As your script is, so will your life’s destiny be.

God knew this. So he sent Jesus the Son. The Son represents the embodiment of the message from God, especially the message of ‘love’, not any love but the true love, the love that seeks the highest good of one you choose to love. God the Father has this love for the world. To convey this love God sent Jesus. The Apostle John spent time with Jesus. Then he read this message. So at the outset he says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in the Son shall not perish but have eternal life.”

So here is the challenge: What message do you live by? What message system controls you? Is it a life-script or death-script? In my life a lot of bad things happened. I went thorough a lot of abuses. So I am very vulnerable to other people criticizing me. But God had mercy on me. Through John’s gospel message He has been providing me with the message of love, not any love but true love. God also provided me with a wife, a woman of godly love. Despite my many weaknesses, she loves me.

So the message of love builds up the unity. Soon the Spring Conference is coming up. Let us earnestly pray for the messengers. So through their messages all of us would be built up and form a unity of love.

Third, faith

V. 20 reads, “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…” Here we find the third factor that builds up the family, that is, faith.

Think about the expression ‘those who will believe in me through their message…” The object of faith is ‘Jesus Christ’. The contents of the message are Jesus Christ. So we are to believe in a person called Jesus Christ. So we are called to believe in person not in some abstract philosophical ideas or denominational tenets.

It is possible that you perfectly memorize the Bible verses such as John 3:16, but lack faith in Jesus Christ.

Some people trust in his own might, wits, and wisdom. I used to believe in my own fists. Growing up, I was heavily taught, “Oh, you must take care of yourself, for no one but you will take care of you.” But the more I tried me the more I realize that I am NOT trustworthy. I am so weak. I have so many sin problems. My character flaws are so obvious and yet I do not see them. And I know I am not trustworthy. Yet still on so many occasions I rely on me. But if I relied upon myself, I would end up causing divisions. I cannot be united with God the Father much less with fellow brothers and sisters.

So as much as we pray to be united in the Lord, we must stop looking at us but look to Jesus. We must put trust in Jesus and only then we have the hope of forming a perfect unity among us – the vision for ‘all to be one’ just as the Father is in Jesus and Jesus in the Father.’

Fourth, glory

The next factor that is needed for the unity is glory. This glory is not from us, but from God. Look at vs. 22,23. “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity…”

There is a lot of confusion about the meaning of glory. But we can get rid of confusion when we think about what it is for. What is it for? It is for the unity. Before Jesus came to this world, God gave this glory to Jesus. Jesus then gave it to us so that we may be brought to complete unity.

So this glory is the means for us to be brought to complete unity. We see this provision occurring again and again in God’s redemptive history. In case of the Israelites, when Solomon completed building the temple, before the worship began God’s glory filled the temple. Then through the leadership of the priesthood, people could come to worship. Then the unity started arising.

In John’s gospel, John states that God put God’s glory in Jesus Christ. So he says in John 1:14 that we have seen the glory of the Son of God, one and only, full of grace and truth.

Later the Apostle Paul states that we are given the glory of the new covenant. Let us open the Bible to 2Co 3:12-18 responsively. Let us note that Jesus gives the glory only to those who believe and receives Him. And Jesus gives this glory that we be united with God and with men. For this reason in speaking of the glory of the new covenant the Apostle Paul talks about the veil that is drawn in the mind of an unbeliever. He says that when one believes in Jesus this veil is lifted, so one can have a direct access to God the Father of glory and vice versa. Then the transformation takes place. You become a man of grace and truth in an increasing measure. So once an enemy of God becomes a child of God, becoming like Jesus Christ, the Son.

So here is the challenge for you: each time you find it difficult to form a unity with your neighbor, ask God for the glory such as grace and truth, the Spirit of love and power, the spirit of self-discipline, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and much more. However, remember that in Jesus you have already received all that are necessary to be at one with God and with your neighbors. So please check what you’ve already received in the Lord, and then ask God for further assistance.

Fifth, fellowship

Now look at v. 23a. “I in them and you in me…” This expression ‘I in them and you in me” is a repeated theme. In v. 21 it reads, “all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you…” In the past the fellowship between God and men and among men was not possible [or in case of the Israelites limited]. But Jesus made this possible.

We are unholy, God is holy. We have a lot of problems like weaknesses, bad habits, character flaws, and sin problems. But, God the Father is Perfect. Jesus the Son is the Perfect Savior who came to make peace between the Holy Father and unholy sinners and among the smelly sinners. So fellowship becomes possible. As long as we stay in the Lord the fellowship continues. Then there is growth coming up. So in 1John 1 the Apostle John says that thanks to Jesus we came to have this fellowship with our Heavenly Father and His Son. In this fellowship of light we confess our sins. We admit our errors and sin problems. We ask God for help. God who is gracious works to resolve all that cause us divisions.

After the John’s gospel, we pray to study 1 John. There we will come to know more about the importance of the fellowship in the Lord. So here is the homework for you and me: read 1 John especially the first chapter especially 1:1-10.

This fellowship is extremely important. It is an ongoing thing. It should not be on again off again thing. It must be constant. Then you and I can grow up.

Sixth, unity

Next step then is complete unity. Let us look at v. 23, “I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

The word ‘complete’ is truly challenging. But Jesus uses it. In this world it sounds impossible for us to form ‘complete unity’. But God is working towards this goal. So Jesus prays, “they may be brought to complete unity.” The expression ‘brought to’ indicates a process. For example, to buy something like In-and-out Burger, you go to the In-N-Out. You wait in line. Order. Pay for it. Wait for the number to be called. Get the food. Bring the food to your table or car. Then you eat. There is a progress or process for the food to be brought to your stomach!

This unity is called ‘complete’ unity, for God the Father is perfect. Although we are imperfect he will bring us to perfection. For this reason when Jesus came he said, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” In the same way the Apostle Paul said, “Finally brothers, aim for perfection.” So here is the challenge that we overcome Christian mediocrity. We need to go for God’s perfection. As much as Jesus prayed for this, we too must believe and go for it.

Seventh, home-run

Now the final step. Look at v. 24. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

This is a home-run. In a baseball game there is first base, second, third, and the home base. So if you hit the home run you can go around and come back to the home-base.

In a way, our life’s journey in the Lord is like a baseball game. Jesus came to assist us even to hit the home-run and come back home safe. For us he himself set the example – he hit the home run. He is now at home. He is seated at the right hand of God.

A lot of warriors of faith finished their race. The Apostle John is an example and the Apostle Paul is another.

Speaking of this race the Apostle Paul says, “I have run the race. I finished the race.” Then he says, “It is better to be at home with Jesus than in the body.” In v. 24 Jesus is looking for you and me to run the race, finish the race, and be with there he is, and see his glory. When this happens then we will finally and fully realize the full depth, height, breadth and width of the love God has for us.

In conclusion, let us read vs 25-26. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Jesus is the God of perfection. He is Alpha and Omega. He completes what he begins. And while on earth he “completed” what is to come. As the God in whom the beginning and end exist together, in his prayer for all believers, Jesus offered prayers for the wellbeing of all believers – the wellbeing of their lives while they walk in this world but also in the eternity to come. After finishing this prayer, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley. He went to the cross.

One word: complete unity

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name–the name you gave me–so that they may be one as we are one.” (John 17:11)

[Click here for Bible study materials based on this passage.]

In the previous passage we learned of Jesus’ prayer for himself. He prayed to glorify God by revealing God through his death and resurrection. He didn’t view his sufferings and death as a tragedy, but as glory time! By revealing who Jesus really is, that is, the Creator who has glory, he wanted to reveal the Father and give eternal life. I learned to pray to reveal God as the way to glorify him–specifically by obeying him, as Jesus did, though it comes with sufferings, so that people might know God and have eternal life. And this is important to think about in view of today’s passage. Think about the timing of his prayer. It was the night he would be arrested and then suffer and die on a cross. But he didn’t pray, “Just give me one more day!” most might ask for more time even just one more day. This is especially important when we think about the condition of his disciples. Did they look like they were in a good condition where Jesus could leave them? Would you leave them in their current condition? Yet Jesus was resolute to go to the cross even though it means leaving them. He was confident to do it for God’s glory and trusted in God. Why did he do this? He prayed for them.

In today’s passage Jesus continued his prayer by praying for his disciples. Through his prayer we can learn how he provided for his disciples to be protected as they remain in the world, and not only to remain in the world but to be sent into the world just as Jesus and been sent to do God’s work. So we can learn how we can pray for disciples too. Jesus was leaving and going back to the Father. But the disciples were still in the world. Jesus did not pray for them to be taken out of it. What did he do regarding them? He prayed for them. But not for a speedy exit out of the world. No, he prayed that the Father would protect them by the power of his name. This is an important prayer. There will be times when we have to pray for disciples because we cannot be with them and we cannot take them out of the world. That is a reality. Rather than be so stressed, we can pray as Jesus did for he was leaving his disciples in the world and would not be with them physically. Sometimes, I was so stressed for disciples I knew were in worldly environments and I wanted nothing more than to take them out. Then I could feel secure. But the reality is I could not. I can’t believe it, but this year Cari and I are registering our daughter Noah Grace to be in kindergarten. I am scared that now is the time she will learn many bad things like I did in school. But I learned in today’s passage how I can pray for her protection. There are some high schoolers graduating this year and getting ready to go off to college. We can prepare them and pray for them too. We can be effective to help disciples through praying for them as Jesus did.

What then does it mean for them to protected by the power of God’s name? It is not a kind of magic or mystery. There are several practical parts to it. Jesus worked hard for them that he could pray like this. Let’s look at the passage to see what this prayer of protection is about.

First, he revealed God to them.

Look at verse 6. The first part says, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.” In the first place, for the power of his name to protect them, Jesus revealed God to them. Where it says, “I have revealed ‘you,’ ” this word “you” literally is, “your name,” in the original Greek.To protect them by the power of God’s name, Jesus had to reveal God’s name to them. So they came to know who God is. To reveal God’s name is to reveal who God is.

Is this true? In chapter 14, Philip said that they did not know or see the Father! But Jesus told him that he didn’t know that he did know because he knew Jesus. It was shocking. When Jesus revealed himself, he revealed the Father, for the Father is in him. How did he do it? Let’s look at the rest of verse 6 through verse 8.

“[6b] They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. [7] Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. [8] For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.”

He gave them God’s word. We can see that Jesus did not just recite God’s word to them or make them listen to it. He worked with them and taught them so that they “accepted them” and “obeyed” them. So the first step to pray for disciples to be protected by the power of God’s name is to reveal God’s name to them by his word. And this is done through teaching them to accept and obey them.

This is the same way that Jesus commanded his disciples to make disciples of all nations, by “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). We need to have a clear prayer and goal like Jesus when we are with disciples and use our time with them in the best way. Jesus shows us that we need to reveal God to them. Disciples need to know who God is through the word of God that we give them. Our teaching has to be aimed at helping people to accept and obey God’s word that God might be revealed to them.

Do you have this kind of prayer and purpose when you have a Bible study with others? Jesus tells us that by his word God is revealed. We don’t need to look or ask for or expect other, even supernatural things, to reveal God. According to Jesus, we can reveal him by his word. And when we give his word, we do so helping people to know him, and to accept and obey those words.

Of course, many people have read the Bible but didn’t know God. And this might be our case at times. Look again at verses 6-8. Jesus says that he gave them God’s word and they did two things: accepted them and obeyed them. Through accepting and obeying God’s word we can know God. So it’s not enough to just read or study the Bible, but to accept and obey it.

We have to know then how to handle God’s word properly so that he might be revealed in it and people would accept and obey it. It is not easy to say accept and obey. We can’t make anyone do these two things. But we can teach obedience as Jesus said. Not just to know bible passages, but to obey them. It takes his wisdom and help. And when we handle God’s word properly we may present it so that people may accept it. Of course, we have to accept and obey first! Jesus set this example for us.

This comes through discipline and training. In our recent 9 Steps study program, we had this as our focus. I hope all of the members remember this goal we had. We focused on 9 bible passages that revealed Jesus and the meaning of the gospel. As we studied, it was a disciplined study to learn, essentially, how to read the Bible and teach the word to others. The Spring conference messengers are also going through this kind of discipline now as they are preparing their messages. Please pray for them in this way to learn to read and handle the word of God in their respective passages, and so that they may give the word of God and reveal Jesus that all the newcomers God sends might accept and believe and know him and have eternal life. Please pray also that God would send many to us and bless our going out to invite.

Second, the prayer for protection is a prayer for unity.

Look at verse 11 again. “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.”

He prayed for them to be protected so that they may be one. How much should they be one? He says, “as we are one,” meaning, with the same level of unity as Jesus and the Father! Is this possible? Absolutely, that is why Jesus prayed for it! But let’s think about it a little. A husband and wife are called as, two who become one. But is it so easy for a husband and wife to be one not just in name, but as Jesus and the Father are one? Robert and Miriam Fishman have been married for more than 10 years, and just now they keep saying, “Finally, we became one!” And they are very happy! How about between coworkers and brothers and sisters in the Lord? It is in this context that Jesus prays for protection for his disciples. And it tells us that this really is a big issue and not something to regard lightly. Although we are in the Downey chapter, or call each brother or fellowship believer, we have to aim to be one just as Jesus and the Father are one. This is how he prayed for his disciples.

Jesus is addressing a main problem among his disciples: division. We know about this well. There’s my idea and your idea, and my fellowship and your fellowship, etc. But Jesus and the Father didn’t talk like that. In this passage we see that the Father gave Jesus the disciples. “They were yours; you gave them to me” (6). And he has been saying, “All that belongs to the Father is mine” (John 16:15). The Father didn’t withhold anything from Jesus. And now Jesus was giving the disciples back to the Father. Now he prayed, “that they may be one as we are one.”

In what way should they be one? The word “Holy” in “Holy Father” tells us. Jesus used this word to best describe and call to the Father at this time. I believe holiness speaks to true unity. God is holy. He is not a sinner. He is not divisive or double-minded. He is one. The Father and is holy. And to be one Jesus must also be holy. It is through the growing in the Lord’s holiness through his word. How did Jesus do it? Jesus loved and obeyed the Father. This required humbling himself, denying, and giving up his life for the Father. He did everything with the single purpose to love and obey God’s word. Therefore, he set the example for us to be one as well. It is through being one to love and obey God, and loving and serving each other fully. It is through repenting of being double-minded and withholding from each and being self-serving.

Right now, our Friday disciples’ group, for example, is good at being one in throwing birthday parties. We can also pray that they would be one in suffering the Lord and growing in holiness through training in his word and service to God. As we pray for disciples, we also need to pray for unity among them..

While Jesus was with his disciples he protected them. And we should do the same while we are with disciples. But we also need to have the vision of them growing up to Jesus’ level in unity and holiness. It doesn’t mean to baby others, but to train in God’s word as Jesus did. He says in verse 12, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed the destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” Judas rejected Jesus and his word. It was not Jesus’ failure. It fulfilled Scripture.

Look at verse 15. “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”

The “evil one” refers to the Devil. His description as “evil” stands in contrast with the Father who is “holy”. It shows that he is divisive, deceitful and opposed to God. He has no good about him. That Jesus prays like this means that they do need protection from him. Judas let the Devil enter him and be used by him. The Devil is a real enemy who preys on people. Peter warned of the Devil to the early church members, saying, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:18). That may sound scary. How could you leave disciples out like sheep when there is a roaring lion prowling around looking for someone to devour?

As we see in verses 13-14, the world will hate the disciples. He already warned them about this. The evil one may use the hatred of the world and its persecution to devour disciples. He tempts us to be proud and divides in the fellowship. But when they accept and hold to Jesus’ words they can have joy and be secure and not devoured. They can stand firm through the hatred and persecution because Jesus gives them victory through his own victory. It means that when they believe his word and hold to it, they can actually have joy despite hatred. His words will make disciples secure in an insecure environment. They hold the promise of his return and of their reward from him. His word brings hope and this hope brings security and joy to overcome.

Third, the prayer for protection is a prayer for sanctification to send out into the word.

Jesus had in mind to protect them because he was going to send them out into the world, not merely be on the defensive. Let’s first look at verse 17. “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” He prayed for them to be sanctified. Sanctify has the meaning of setting apart as holy or cleaning, just as he used the word clean in chapter 15 with the vine and branch relation. By sanctifying the disciples, they would know how to respond in any situation and proactively do the work of God. And sanctity comes by the truth, to which Jesus says, “your word is truth.” The word of God, which is the truth, sanctifies disciples. A lie makes us dirty and corrupt. But the truth sanctifies, making us clean and set apart for God’s work. The word of God is truth. He teaches us what is right and what is wrong. It corrects, disciplines, rebukes, trains and encourages us in all righteousness so that we may be equipped to do the work of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Recently, we studied the part of the book of Proverbs. Hasn’t this been the theme throughout? The father and teacher in Proverbs taught his sons that the word of God disciplines and trains us in God’s ways so that we would be wise to do what is right, to not to do what is wrong although we may face great temptations, having self-control, and to serve the Lord. But the foolish person is the one who doesn’t let the word of God discipline and train him. He will end up getting devoured by the world and the evil one.

Joseph in the book of Genesis is a good example. He kept God’s word of promise that they would be a blessing to all nations when they obey God. When his master’s wife tried to seduce him and sleep with her, he said that he could not sin against God and ran away from her, although it cost him his job and his freedom and he was thrown in jail for years. God’s word sanctified him and he saved many lives and prepared his family to be a people of God through repentance and faith.

Jesus also was sanctified for them. The words”for them” tell us the meaning of being sanctified here a little more. It means to be in obedience to God all the time. As Jesus said in John 14:31, “but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” He loved the father and obeyed everything he commanded, and he set the example for his disciples. And he sanctified himself for them because he was sending them out into the world! So as we pray for disciples, we pray for them to be sanctified so that they may be sent out into the world as Jesus was sent out and do the work of God.

Look at verse 18. “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” Think about the timing of Jesus’ prayer here. He didn’t wait until his disciples were perfect and fully sanctified before leaving them. We know that they would all desert him when he gets arrested and crucified. And Peter would deny even knowing him the times! Yet it was when they were in this condition he left them! But he did so because he prayed for them. And we need to care for disciples in the same way Jesus did. We can’t expect or wait till someone is fully perfect or sanctified before trusting them or sending them out. When disciples are sanctified, we can trust them although they are left in the world. And we can trust in the power of God’s name which we revealed to them where give them God’s word. It is important to give God’s word which trains and sanctifies us, to pray, and then to send out by faith in God. So we need to keep this direction in giving the word of God as well: to sanctify. It is like the opening of the channel for the power of God’s name to work to protect. And we can pray that God would sanctify them by his word. If even Jesus left with disciples in such a current condition, how about us? What is our faith in God in giving his word and in praying for disciples and sending them out?

In today’s passage we learn how Jesus protected and sent out his disciples: by the word of God and prayer. Through the word of God he revealed God to them. And then he prayed for them. We see how the word of God must go together with prayer. Jesus didn’t just give the word of God by itself. He followed up with prayer. If we want to protect, sanctify and send out disciples, we have to pray. Someone once said that the word of God and prayer go together like french fries and ketchup.

Personally, I learned that of the effectiveness and necessity of praying for disciples and this passage shows how I should pray for them. I was stressed a lot in the past. I really wanted to take disciples out of worldly environments all the time. I wanted to them to also want to get out, but it wasn’t happening. So I have changed my prayer to match Jesus’. Not to take them out of the world, but to protect them by the power of God’s name. And my part is to give them God’s word and pray for them, trusting in God. Disciples belong to God. They are his. And he gives some to us. We have to trust in him by prayer. Disciples really need our help in this way, rather than having all kinds of wrong expectations or demands and burdening them and us.

So let’s pray and give his word by faith in him. Protection through God’s word reveals God, brings unity in holiness, protects from the evil one, and sanctifies to send disciples into the world to do God’s work. I repent based on today’s passage. Jesus sent them disciples into the world do the work, not take them out. I also have to pray not to take them out, but to send them in and do God’s work. And Jesus didn’t sanctify them fully first and then send them. He gave them God’s word and sent them and then prayed for them and then left the world and went back to the Father. May the Lord help each of us to give God’s word and to pray as Jesus did for disciples. Seem times we think that a good job and income or living in a good place will keep us safe and sound. But real protection comes from giving God’s words and praying. May the Lord bless our messengers and invitations to the Spring Bible conference which is on March 30-April 1. May the Lord sanctify us and bring unity to us through us accepting and obeying his word.