A Relationship that Leads to Eternal Life

What we saw this past week in chapters 15, 16 and 17 of the John's Gospel is the language of Jesus as He describes the relationship that we are caught up into as disciples and followers of Christ. Jesus has brought us into the inner circle of the relationship He has with the Father and the Spirit. We are no longer servants but friends. He has shared with us the intimate thoughts and desires of the triune persons. As Jesus describes this relationship we realize that we are caught up into the most loving transforming relationship of all.

Think of living in a family that has nothing but acceptance, affirmation, embrace and love for each other. Living in the security of such a relationship transforms the way that we see the world around us. Both the confidence and the courage exist to embrace others in the same way and such an outlook literally changes the environment we live in.  People will desire to join such a community where they can find the same acceptance and embrace.  Thus the challenge for us to stay in such a relationship [remain] so that the community grows as Father so desires.

We now have the same secure confidence to communicate with the Father as Jesus did and does. We have the Spirit who comes and leads us into the truth of the coming kingdom and the desire of the Father and the Son for the creation and its redemption. We can pray with the requests that come from the heart of the Father for the creation. We have found our true humanity and its linked to our relationship with Jesus. We are only truly human when we are in the embrace of the Father and the Son.

As He prepares to leave, He will leave behind the Spirit and the disciples [church] to continue what He started. Although the world does not know the Father, its enough for Jesus that the Spirit and the disciples do. As they carry on the activity of living out their relationship with the Father and Son the world will continue to hear about the Father.

I can't think of anything more wonderful, deep, profound and life changing than this relationship that Jesus offers. It's the relationship that gives us eternal life. It's eternal life that can only be obtained through engaging in such a relationship: so the words of Jesus to His disciples. These are important parting words prior to the next 48 hours that will introduce confusion, turmoil and grief in the heart of the disciples but then surprise, joy and rejoicing when He will appear to them post resurrection and confirm many of the things He had shared with them prior to His passion.

Audio for this past week:

Portico John Lecture - Chapter 15 Part II - Drawn into the Circle

Portico John Lecture Chapter 16 - Drawn into the Circle

Portico John Lecture Chapter 16 Part II Drawn into the Circle

Portico John Lecture Chapter 17 - Jesus Prayer to the Father

Presentations for Class

Here are the presentations for class - Tuesday March 19, 2013

BT0212 Gospel of John - Chapter 14 - 15 and 16

BT0212 Gospel of John - Chapter 17

Week Eight - Lecture on Chapter 13, 14 and 15

As John shifts his writing from focusing on a new era that Jesus introduced in His coming, to showing the extent of His love, what John writes in chapters 13-21 focuses on His passion and the one central point that He specifically hammers on in chapters 13-15: Love.

Given that John records the final words of Jesus [sometimes called the final discourse] prior to His crucifixion and death, it is significant to note what it is that Jesus focuses on as He shares these final words with His disciples. The focus so far is on love; His love for the Father, the Father's love for Him and the Father's and His love for humanity. He gives the disciples an example to follow that speaks of how to love and He gives the Holy Spirit to help His disciples love and remain in His love by keeping His command to love. Jesus could have talked about a lot of things that preoccupy us as followers of Jesus: what will happen in the end, what is heaven like, what about election and predestination, what about tithing, what about keeping the law etc.  Out of all these, He specifically speaks of love.

Because of His love, going to the cross and rising again will bring life to humanity. This life is characterized as eternal - of the age to come. This is what He's come to do. Being lifted up will draw all to Him. People will see the extent of His love on the cross and the world will respond. This love will break through the blindness of those living in the darkness.  This love will continue in God's community through His followers if we love each other.  To think that what will speak the loudest to the world and will cut into the darkness that our lost brothers and sisters live in will be the love that we share with each other because of Christ living in us. The danger is to assume that this is obvious when in reality it is not. If we look at history of Christianity we haven't always been examples of love but rather the opposite. We need the Spirit to help us focus on love above all else.

If you missed this class, listen the lectures and see for yourself:

Portico John Lecture - Chapter 13 - The Extent of His Love

Portico John Lecture - Chapter 13 The Extent of His Love Part II

Portico John Lecture - Chapter 14 Drawn into the Circle

Portico John Lecture - Chapter 15 Drawn into the Circle

Presentations for Class

Here are the presentations for class Tuesday March 5, 2013:

BT0212 Gospel of John Chapter 13

BT0212 Gospel of John - Chapter 14 and 15

Audio for Week Seven Lecture: Chapter 10, 11 and 12

Here are the links for the audio from last week's class:

Portico John Lecture - Chapter Ten The Shepherd and His Flock Part II

Portico John Lecture - Chapter 11 Giving of Life Part I

Portico John Lecture - Chapter 11 Giving of Life Part II

Portico John Lecture - Chapter 12 The King has Come