March 17

JOHN 14
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. – John 14:8-14

JOHN 14 ASK WHAT GLORIFIES THE FATHER
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you pray, ask for anything that is lined up with truth
You are glorifying your Father in heaven when you do
If you ask for something that gratifies only your wants
You may not receive it for it won’t always be good for you
Your Father in heaven knows what is best for your growth
As a good father, he will not let anything hinder His love.

In this conversation between Philip and Jesus, we see how our minds can hinder our ability to see and discern. It sounds like Jesus was a little bit sad that after all those years he had been teaching them, they still do not get it. Of course, everything that happened was according to the plan of God. We will always be limited in our comprehension of the mind of God. I think Jesus wanted them to listen more with their hearts and follow and do what they heard. Doubts and unbelief can hamper our ability to act out our faith. Jesus also reassured his disciples of the generosity of his Father. He told them that if they ask anything in his name, it will be given to them by the Father. Many of us do not ask. “Asking” is the humble act of going to God for our needs. Some of us think since God knows our needs so what’s the point of asking. Some of us think he is a genie who’ll grant us our wishes and wants as we demand or command him to do so.

REFLECTION
• What does the book of James say about asking in chapter 4?

March 15

JOHN 13
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. – John 13:36-38

JOHN 13 CONFRONTING THE SIN OF DENIAL
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you have a role and responsibility and deny it
Are you not showing unfaithfulness and idolatry?
When you dismiss and deny giving love to others
Are you not depriving love to your sisters and brothers?
To dismiss someone’s value, abandon or neglect caring for others
Are clear manifestations that you live for yourself only.

Jesus knew each one of us, especially his disciple Peter. He cautioned Peter by foretelling him that he will deny him three times before the rooster crows. It was a response to Peter’s highly emotional reaction to what Jesus said about laying down his life.
Let us have a character sketch of Peter based on some bible verses such as Matthew `6:22-23. When Jesus predicted his suffering and death, Peter reacted that he won’t let it happen. This verse shows Peter’s impulsiveness and how quickly he reacted to his own idea instead of accepting what Jesus said. In John 13:6, we witness again another personality of Peter. He is assertive and quick to protest when Jesus begins to wash his feet. He has this grandiose act of making sure his intentions were loud and clear. In John 18:10-11, we witness again another impulse reaction to protect Jesus with violence when he drew his sword and struck a servant of the high priest. In these following verses in John 18:15-19, we see his weakness in faith when he denied Jesus for fear of being arrested. But there is a positive trait of Peter in John 21:7 when he jumped out of the water to meet Jesus. He exhibited much enthusiasm, courage, faith and eagerness to be with Jesus.

REFLECTION
• What do you think are some reasons why people deny someone or something?

March 12

JOHN 13
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
– John 13:12-20

JOHN 13 DO AS I HAVE DONE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Jesus bowed down to wash his disciples’ feet
He was expecting them to do the same with each other
In God’s kingdom, we are to humble ourselves and be a servant
There is no room for pride and entitlement in his kingdom.

When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he was showing them how different it is in God’s kingdom as compared to the world around them. He explained to them how a servant is never greater than his Master and a messenger than the one who sent him. He was giving them a picture of how the power-hungry world is very different from God’s kingdom. Humility is the key difference in these two warring kingdoms. In the world system, power is what runs it. In God’s system, love is the driving force that brings everything to Himself.
Competition is usually an offshoot of the corrupted world we live in. In God’s economy, there is no room for striving against who is better or best. He sees us all differently but we all have one common thing: we are made all in God’s image. Humility is the solution to combat this power-hungry world. Jesus sampled that humility when he became flesh.

REFLECTION
• Why do you think humility is a novelty in this world we live in?

March 11

JOHN 13
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
– John 13:1-11

JOHN 13 SERVICE IS THE GREATEST ACT OF LOVE
What is the significance of this washing of the feet of the disciples by Jesus? Can you imagine how the roads were during those times? They were not paved like how we have it today. It was dusty and probably some muddy areas where there were potholes. They were not wearing shoes but sandals, so their feet must be dirty. There is usually a waterpot by the door so people can clean their feet before they enter. When Jesus washed their feet, he was role modelling to his disciples that the greater of them would be the one who will serve the others.
According to Luke 22:24-27, after their last meal with the Lord, they were arguing which one of them was the greatest. The act of the washing of their feet was the greatest manifestation of his love for them. Humbly bowing down to their dirty feet to wash them would be looked down upon as a very degrading task to be done. The kingdom of God sees the greatest as the last and least. It was a lesson of humility and love. Are they able to follow that servant heart that Jesus had?

REFLECTION
• Why can’t one be a true follower of Jesus if they cannot be humble and serve?

March 7

JOHN 12
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. – John 12:20-26

JOHN 12 LED TO THE TRUTH
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When one is led to the truth, one goes against traditions
The lies begin to be exposed and bondages become visible
The truth sets one free and it leads one to the light
Darkness and evil are no longer powerful in one’s life
If you believe in God, you will be given eternity
But obedience and emulating Christ is essential.

In this account, we witness how the unbelieving Greeks were led to seek Jesus after hearing of his signs and power. When some of his disciples made known to Jesus of the Greek seekers, Jesus said “the hour has come.” What did he mean by this? His mission was to bring all people to glorify God and the seeking Gentiles (which includes Greeks) are probably one of the signs that his death is nearing. The coming of those who are outside the Jewish community indicates that his salvation of mankind is almost there.
In verse 24, he explains in metaphor how and why he needs to sacrifice his life. Jesus is comparing the act of a grain of wheat dying in the ground to produce new life to the concept of self-sacrifice and the idea that one must “die” to their own desires in order to complete his purpose of coming on earth.
Then Jesus added the requirements for following him, which involves sacrifice, obedience to his Father’s will and serving him by loving and serving one another.

REFLECTION
• How were you led to the truth? Share if it was a long or short process?

March 6

JOHN 12
9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”– John 12:9-19

JOHN 12 HAIL KING JESUS!
In this account, we see how much following Jesus had after he raised Lazarus from the dead. As a result of such a crowd who wanted to see Jesus at Bethany, the Jewish leaders also plotted to kill Lazarus. What irony it is that they call themselves religious leaders when they act like criminals! Every time there is a threat to their reputation, they would stop it.
The crowds were unstoppable to hail someone like Jesus who had the power to bring back to life the dead. They used palm branches to hail Jesus as king. These people were hungry to be released from the Roman Empire’s enslavement. They thought that Jesus could be their king to save them from the political tyranny that the Romans had on them. It looks like they have no idea what kind of kingdom Jesus represented. They wanted a political leader but that is hardly what Jesus came to save them from.
Ironically, Jesus came sitting on a humble donkey as he entered Jerusalem which was a fulfillment Zechariah 9:9. He didn’t look like any worldly king on earth.

REFLECTION
• Why do you think the crowd hailed Jesus as king?