March 19, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in our Lenten readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 30 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Week Jesus Dies
Read Sections 5.36 through 5.37 (pages 166-167)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
When I read of the time that the disciples walked with Jesus, able to ask Him anything and observe His works firsthand I am so moved by what an amazing feeling that must have been for them but Jesus tells us that “I says this because when I go away I will send a helper to you” The Holy Spirit in our lives is that walk with Jesus. The Holy Spirit is His words in our hearts and minds. It is His provision and power interacting in every situation we face. Sad how often we let things disract us from that truth that we have the same direct access to our Father that the disciples had. We wouldn’t ignore Jesus if He was walking alongside us and yet we can tune out the Holy Spirit. Lord I pray that everyday I remember I am walking with you by my side, that i will Iisten to your voice, and that I will watch your work in my life!
5.36 The Work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:4-15) Great points Kelly…I also find it incredible that Jesus tells His disciples that it will be BETTER for them that He leaves. The reality is that Jesus humbled Himself to take on the likeness of man, and in doing so, poured all His deity into a container that in some ways limited Him. Though He miraculously appeared in certain places at certain times and obviously was still fully God, by being found in the form of man, He was not physically WITH His disciples at all times. But, by sending His Spirit, now Jesus could rightfully say that His followers would always have Him with us! Jesus sends the Helper, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to indwell us, to be with us, to give our mortal bodies life, to convict of us sin in our lives and to empower us to obey Christ’s commands. Romans Chapter 8 is a treasure trove of verses that speak to this amazing supernatural reality in the life of a believer. “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). So, if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, know that this very day, you have the absolute power of God dwelling within you. God, through His Spirit, has come and made His home within you. He is ever present, always near, and is witness to all we say, hear, and do. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead “the same in substance, equal in power and glory” to the Father and the Son. May this glorious truth encourage and strengthen us this day!
5.37 Sadness Will Turn Into Happiness (John 16:16-33) Such amazing words of reassurance and comfort here, using metaphors that anyone could understand…and the final words of Jesus here…”I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Thanks be to God!
Yes, Kelly, I was thinking much the same.
We often forget that we have direct access to the Father through the Holy Spirit. So often we (I) wish that Jesus was here physically with us. And He himself told the disciples that this is a better arrangement! It is notable that we have the free will to listen to the HS or not! Although I have been in situations where He is so insistent that I can’t ignore Him. Other times I question whether the voice or thought is Him or not.
“In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world”. Such reassuring words for our daily lives.
“‘Let me assure you, it is better that I go away. I say this because when I go away I will send the Helper to you. But if I did not go, the Helper would not come.'”
What a great thing that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell within us. For He guides us into all truth and gives us the fullest joy possible. He helps us in our weakness and strengthens us in our race of continuance and endurance.
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”(Matthew 24:13)
“‘I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!'”
How reassuring is this? Whenever we are maybe feeling down, we need to ask ourselves, “What do I have to be sad about?” For Jesus died for me, my sins are forgiven by the atoning sacrifice, namely His death on the cross, that only He could carry out! So let us be joyful in all circumstances today and forever!
Praise be to God!
The Life of Jesus 5.36-5.37 and Micah 1-3.
The Life of Jesus 5.36-5.37; John 4-6
Jesus is telling the followers that when He leaves, the Holy Spirit will come and teach us all things even things that will come. The Holy Spirit , Jesus calls Comforter and Spirit of Truth. For He will comfort the believer after Jesus left and comfort through various trials. For the believer will be persecuted for Jesus sake. Jesus tells the followers that they will have tribulation in the world but He has overcome the world. We only need to rest in Him. As far as the Spirit of Truth; He will guide us into all truth. For there is no real truth but His. The statement that people make in our time: ” you have your truth and I have my truth” is a lie from the pit of Hell. The author of confusion is Satan just to try to take away from the real truth. That`s why there are so many false religions and cults in the world. The old lie of Satan. Did God really say? So people won`t find their way to Christ. This is why we need to be grounded in the word of God. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. He is the Saviour. May the Lord bless us as we follow Him.
Amen, Dennis! It is so important that we cling to God’s Truth, as revealed in His Word. The enemy will always attempt to deceive us…”He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is NO truth in him. When he lies, speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
Spending the first 30 years of my life trying to appease God without the spirit of Truth was merely impossible. The law is weak. The spirit is power!! Available to the whole world the fruit of the spirit. To have peace. Joy. Etc. to have the mind of Christ. A deposit guaranteeing eternal life. To live with the Holy Spirit in this life absolutely nothing better!! Feed the Holy Spirit. Don’t quench the spirit. Strive for that daily.!! Are there any more comforting words. Jesus sums up all he had told the apostles with this last statement before praying. You will have trouble in this life. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Who is able to say that but a sovereign God!! Our savior who lives in us!! Our best friend!! How can we worry or have fear!!!
Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit when He goes to the Father and He says that is better, which makes perfect sense. Jesus is one person and can only influence people from the outside, in. The Holy Spirt inhabits the life of all believers in Jesus and works from the inside, out. The reason Jesus must go before the Holy Spirit comes is because Jesus must do the work of salvation first, providing the means of the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in us and making us a temple by taking our sin on His physical body and paying the price for it so we are cleansed of it. And the Holy Sprit will comfort, empower and lead us into all truth as well. We can have the mind of Christ as the Spirit writes God’s word on our hearts, so obedience becomes more of a default than disobedience. How important that we neither grieve Him with sin or quench Him by not following His lead.
And as Jesus seeks to prepare them for His departure, He speaks directly to the sadness and confusion they will suffer at His death, and yet the joy and clarity they will experience at His resurrection. And I love the analogy He uses about childbirth because I have seen that reality played out 4 times. And how awesome it is that we can have that gladness in us all the time because Jesus is within us and we know that He is alive!
Lenten days 29 and 30