The Christian life is in one sense difficult, but in another sense it is simple. It is difficult because we are still sinners living in a cursed world, but it is simple because Jesus boils down the Christian life to two words: “Follow me”
On the evening of that resurrection Sunday, Jesus appeared to the disciples just as He appeared to Mary. What we see is how the disciples moved from grief-stricken cowering in fear to now fixing their gaze on their resurrected Savior. How they move from unbelief to believing as they are filled with peace and joy for the resurrection had changed everything.
After the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, all hope seems lost. The disciples have scattered about, and Jesus’ body lays still in a sealed tomb. Brokenhearted and no doubt discouraged, Mary Magdalene comes to Jesus’ grave 3 days later after the Sabbath to find the tomb unsealed. Confused and in shock, she alerts Peter and John to come see. What the disciples would soon discover is what is recorded as the greatest miracle and event in all of history. They would discover Jesus has risen, and that their faith and salvation through Christ would be assured forevermore!
As we get to the details of the crucifixion, John gives us these details not to amaze us, disgust us, or move us to compassion, but to help us believe. In sense the apostle John acts as a witness climbing into the stand and placing his hand on the Bible, making a solemn oath as an eyewitness with the intentions to cause us to believe, saying “I was there, I saw it with my own eyes. The reason I am telling you is so you will know that Scripture has been fulfilled and will believe on Jesus as the Messiah.”
A dominant theme of Jesus’s trial before Pilate is the kingship of Jesus. The garments the soldiers placed on him and the horrible crown they forced him to wear, the mockery of Pilate presenting Jesus is a weak and harmless king reveals that Jesus is a humble King who rules through his suffering.
In our text today a dominant theme of Jesus’s trial before Pilate is the kingship of Jesus. Four times Pilate publicly refers to Jesus as the “King of the Jews”. When Pilate gives into the people’s wishes and orders Jesus’s execution, he had a sign made that calls Jesus the King of the Jews. Not only does Pilate call Jesus the King, but the soldiers also dress him up and present him as a king in mockery. Why does Pilate continue to use the title “King of the Jews” to describe Jesus? Does Pilate believe Jesus is the prophesied King?
As John writes his account of the cross, he does not focus on human liability, but rather he is showing us every step of the way to the cross is planned and controlled by Jesus. Jesus himself said in John 10:17-18 “I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.” From a human perspective, it seems Jesus is swept to the cross by forces outside his control. John is showing us that Jesus orchestrates every encounter, and every event reveals his sovereign control.
While the weight of all the world’s sin is being placed on the shoulders of Jesus and the cross is waiting for Him, our unity is on His mind. We see the idea of being one is mentioned three times in our text and the purpose of this unity is so that the world may believe Jesus was sent by God the Father and that God the Father loves us as He loves Jesus. What does this unity that is so important to Jesus look like?
The hour has finally arrived. This hour was not just the hour that Jesus was preparing for, but the hour the whole world was anticipating. For the hour was the fulfillment of the promise made in the garden that God would send a rescuer to save humanity from sin. The moment when everything will change, when sinful creatures separated from their creator, can be restored, and enjoy fellowship with him. At the climax of the story, Jesus stops to pray.
The time was drawing near. Jesus would soon breath His last breath as He hung on the cross. This news, though not yet fully understood, was weighting on the disciples. They did not understand what was happening and how this could fit into God’s plan. The moment was full of sorrow and confusion, yet Jesus tells them that their sorrow will turn to joy and that this joy will endure regardless of circumstances. Which makes us wonder how can the darkest, dire, and depressing circumstances turn to joy? What is this joy and what does this joy look like?
Sorrow mingled with fear and anxiety gripped the hearts of the disciples as they looked ahead as Jesus spoke about leaving and the opposition that was waiting for them. In their sorrow Jesus comforted them. He tells them it is for their benefit that He leaves, because He will be sending the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will continue the ministry of Jesus, by exposing the darkness, guiding the disciples into all truth and glorify the Son.
Jesus wanted His disciples to be prepared for everything they would face when He was gone. As Jesus encouraged them to remain in Him, He now warns them of the opposition they would face. The more they remained in Christ, the richer their fellowship will be with the triune God which would propel them into the mission of God that would cause more separation from the world and would lead to opposition.
John 15 contains a beautiful imagery of the vine and branches. This imagery speaks of the union between the believer and Christ. This union originated in Christ’s initiative and is sealed by his death on their behalf. The union is completed by the believer’s response of love and obedience. This is the essence of Christianity – our union with Christ.
As Jesus continued to encourage the hearts of the disciples, he begins to describe the relationship between the triune God and the disciples. This is not a relationship based on reciprocity, nor is it a relationship with no expectations, but rather it is a relationship of mutual love. What we are going to see is that this relationship between the disciples (believers) and Jesus mirrors the relationship among the three persons in the trinity.
The news of His coming departure, the betrayal by one of His own, and Peter’s denial was likely weighing heavy on their hearts. They did not understand what was happening. They had followed Jesus, and they believed Him to be the Messiah, but it seemed that life was not going as they had planned. Yet, Jesus did not leave them hopeless but pointed them to the hope that is found in him. The answer to their troubled hearts was Jesus.
In the darkest hour, Jesus’ focus is on the glory of God. This begs us to ask the question of how do our lives bring glory to God? Jesus calls us to follow Him and lay down our lives in humble service, and He is glorified when we do. Jesus calls us to love another, and He is glorified when the world takes notice. Jesus calls us to fix our eyes on the cross and point the world to the glory of the cross, and He is glorified when the cross is lifted high.
As Jesus prepares the disciples for the reality of his death and the pain of his departure, what will they need? The same thing every generation of disciples need, not an inspirational speech but a deeper understanding and experience of the gospel. This is precisely what Jesus does in his act of humility in washing their feet.
The book of John does not record the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, but many of the same emotions that were expressed in the garden, we will see in our passage. Today, John gives us a glimpse into the heart of Jesus, the reason why He came and the reason for unbelief of the people.
The news of the resurrection of Lazarus was on everyone’s lips, and the question of Jesus’ identity dominated their conversations. When they heard Jesus was coming into the city, they came to meet Him, grabbing their palm branches in hope of salvation, singing the words of Psalm 118, “Lord give salvation now”. Jesus did not avoid the crowd who wanted to make him king, but rather he redirects to what type of king He is, by riding in on a young donkey.
John is showing us how Jesus is being honored by others even though they do not grasp the significance or meaning of what is happening. In this narrative he gives us two pictures between Mary and Judas. Mary is at the feet of Jesus adoring him in love, offering extravagant devotion and anointing him for his burial. Judas sits in condescending arrogance, not only questioning Mary’s action but judging Jesus’ willingness to accept such a gift.