I love football, especially my Denver Broncos.

Like a lot of sports, football has a period during the game called "half-time." It's where the players and coaches go back to the locker room and huddle and set strategy for the second half of the game to either put it away or figure out a way to win.

Yesterday was my 40th birthday. I spent the evening with family who welcomed me to this new decade of life.

The past six to twelve months have been turbulent at times and also the best of my life yet thus far. I was laid off last year. I was trying to go back to work for a former employer and manager, but instead God lead me to a competitor. The job has been a struggle and for a long time I wasn't sure I made the right decision. Yesterday morning I found out that that former employer was just acquired. I know what that usually means: layoffs. And so it would seem that I needed to thank God for unanswered prayers.

And yet, as I enter this new phase of my life, I'm trying to stand back and go into "half-time." I need to get back into that locker room with God and let Him tell me what He wants me to do in the second half. He has been putting things on my heart that I have forgotten about. He also allowed me--and maybe pushed me into--a few things that would seem to be practice for something yet future in my life.

My wife has a book by Billy Graham called Day by Day with Billy Graham which are little daily devotionals. She handed it to me yesterday morning and told me to read the one for that day, my birthday, April 22.

Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. --Philippians 4:6 (TLB).

Historians will probably call our era "the age of anxiety." Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us. When we make anything else our goal, frustration and defeat are inevitable. Though we have less to worry about than our previous generations, we have more worry. Though we have it easier than our forefathers, we have more uneasiness. Though we have less real cause for anxiety than our predecessors, we are inwardly more anxious. Calloused hands were the badge of the pioneer, but a furrowed brow is the insignia of modern man. God has never promised to remove all our troubles, problems, and difficulties. In fact, sometimes I think the truly committed Christian is in conflict with the society around him more than any other person. Society is going in one direction, and the Christian is going in the opposite direction. This brings about friction and conflict. But God has promised, in the midst of trouble and conflict, a genuine peace, a sense of assurance and security, that the worldly person never knows.

May He Increase!

I'm sure most of you know what Philippians 4:6 says.

In case you don't, it says:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. --Philippians 4:6.

I like the translation of this verse that I heard recently:

"Worry about nothing, pray about everything, and give thanks for anything."

I like that, a lot. The only problem is, a lot of times, it's a lot harder than we think. I've had to remind myself lately that worrying is a sin. Did you realize that?

How many times did Jesus command us "do not worry?"

• Matthew 6:31
• Matthew 6:34
• Matthew 10:19
• Mark 13:11
• Luke 12:11
• Luke 12:22

Just to list a few. I guess "do not worry" means, well, "do not worry."

How often do we view our worrying in direct violation of His commandment?

May He Increase!

Job's friend Bildad, the "voice of tradition," accused Job of being a sinner and that is why he is suffering so. We looked at this last time.

Two of my favorite chapters in Job are next. We'll look at Job's reply to Bildad. What's so exciting is that Job asks questions that can only be fulfilled in the coming of the Meshiach: Jesus!

The Book of Job - Part VII: Job answers Bildad

Then Job answered, "In truth I know that this is so; but how can a man be in the right before God?" --Job 9:1-2.

Job starts by saying that he acknowledges some of what Bildad said. He then asks the first of several pivotal questions: "How can a man be in the right before God?" Answer: on your own, through your own righteousness, you cannot!

"If one wished to dispute with Him, he could not answer Him once in a thousand times. Wise in heart and mighty in strength, who has defied Him without harm?" --Job 9:3-4.

Many have tried to defy God. If never works in the end. Whether in this life or the next, you'll have to answer for that yourself if you don't have the Savior. Job wants answers to his questions, but he wants God to answer him.

"It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, when He overturns them in His anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun not to shine, and sets a seal upon the stars; who alone stretches out the heavens and tramples down the waves of the sea." --Job 9:5-8.

In these majestic passages, Job describes his knowledge of who God is as Creator and Master of the Universe. And while God is both, and deserving of our awe and worship, Job has yet to experience God's mercy, care, and tenderness.

"Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south; who does great things, unfathomable, and wondrous works without number." --Job 9:9-10.

Here Job describes the constellations that are still with us today.

"Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him." --Job 9:11.

Job correctly describes God here as a spirit; the spirit that created all things.

"Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, 'What are you doing?' God will not turn back His anger; beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab. How then can I answer Him, and choose my words before Him?" --Job 9:12-14.

"Rahab" was a mythological monster subdued by the pagan god Marduk. Job here is using a figurative expression for pride. Moreover, I think the problem today is that we--human beings in general--have lost a healthy respect for who God is. I think we take Him much too lightly and esteem Him not as we should. One day, the world will have a wake up call when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

"For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice." --Job 9:15-16.

Here is another hint of the role Jesus plays in the life of a believer. Though we may say we are righteous, we are guilty before God. Jesus takes upon Himself our sin and imputes His righteousness to us. Since Job is living on the other side of the cross, Job can't believe that God is listening to him.

"For He bruises me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause. He will not allow me to get my breath, but saturates me with bitterness. If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?" --Job 9:17-19.

In the first verse, Job incorrectly ascribes his suffering to God. Again, this is because he was not privy to the conversations between God and Satan as we, the readers, were. He then goes on to ask how would it be possible for him to plead his case before Almighty God. The questions are more rhetorical than inquisitive.

"Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty." --Job 9:20.

Here is another pivotal verse. Although Job acknowledges that he would not be able to stand before God, he has and will hold to the position that he's really not a bad guy. It's almost the same thing as saying: "But I'm a good person." Even though God does have a high opinion of Job, Job acknowledges that if he were to stand before God, God would find something in his character that he's not aware of and God will declare him guilty.

"I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life." --Job 9:21.

Job here is making a claim to being innocent by appealing to his unjust suffering and that he doesn't even want to live anymore.

"It is all one; therefore I say, 'He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.' If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?" --Job 9:22-24.

Job accuses God of being unfair and unjust. He asks the question "if it's not God that has caused this, who did?" The answer is really Satan. But Job doesn't know that at this point.

"Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away, they see no good. They slip by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops on its prey. Though I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,' I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me." --Job 9:25-28.

He says that even if he tries to forget everything that has happened, gets happy and tries to be cheerful, He knows that God will still condemn him.

"I am accounted wicked, why then should I toil in vain? If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, yet You would plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes would abhor me." --Job 9:29-31.

Job has come to conclusion that God has declared him guilty. Even if he tries to "get clean" on his own, God would still send him into the pit and even his own clothes would hate him.

Job cries out for Jesus (he just doesn't know it)

"For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, that we may go to court together. There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both." --Job 9:32-33.

From the depths of his soul, Job cries out for a mediator between God and himself. At this point in time, there is no true mediator that understands the deep longing and need for a Savior. Jesus is the answer to the question Job seeks. Jesus is our mediator. Jesus is our High Priest that offers Himself as sacrifice to pay for our sins! (1 Timothy 2:5).

At this point in history, there was no priesthood yet. The law hadn't been given yet. There were rudimentary offerings and sacrifices, but no God-given procedures to cover the sins of the people, the Mosaic law.

"Let Him remove His rod from me, and let not dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him; but I am not like that in myself. I loathe my own life; I will give full vent to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul." --Job 9:34-10:1.

Since Job has no mediator and no viable way to plead his case, he is going to simple cry out in his bitterness, pain, and humiliation. Now, he will really get worked up about his situation.

"I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; let me know why You contend with me.'" --Job 10:2.

Before the book of Job is finished, God will answer this question. We all would do well to pay attention to the answer.

"'Is it right for You indeed to oppress, to reject the labor of Your hands, and to look favorably on the schemes of the wicked?'" --Job 10:3.

Job is puzzled by his suffering (a good guy) while the wicked (the bad guy) don't appear to be suffering. This is a question that all of us have wrestled with at one time or another.

"'Have You eyes of flesh? Or do You see as a man sees?'" --Job 10:4.

He wants to know if God really can understand ("see") his plight. The answer has always been "yes." Even more so for us who live on this side of the cross. We have the benefit now of God coming to earth in the flesh to experience life as we experience it. God does know what you are going through and feels the pain you do. He understands your problems better than you ever could.

"'Are Your days as the days of a mortal, or Your years as man's years, that You should seek for my guilt and search after my sin? According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty, yet there is no deliverance from Your hand.'" --Job 10:5-7.

Like the defendant at a trial, Job now gets on the stand to begin to defend himself. In "The Shawshank Redemption," there was a running joke among the inmates when new arrivals would ask "what you in for?" The answer was "we're all innocent here." The character Andy Dufresne was framed and falsely imprisoned. He suffered for many years in that prison. Assuming he was a real person, would he be righteous before God? No, he wouldn't because we are all sinners.

The lesson that Job needs to be taught (at least one of them) is humility. We are starting to see some prideful statements being made by Job and that is a problem in God's eyes.

"'Your hands fashioned and made me altogether, and would You destroy me? Remember now, that You have made me as clay; and would You turn me into dust again? Did You not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese; clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews?'" --Job 10:8-11.

Job is describing the wondrous care and love God shows us while we are in the womb of our mother.

"'You have granted me life and lovingkindness; and Your care has preserved my spirit. Yet these things You have concealed in Your heart; I know that this is within You: if I sin, then You would take note of me, and would not acquit me of my guilt. If I am wicked, woe to me! And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head. I am sated with disgrace and conscious of my misery. Should my head be lifted up, You would hunt me like a lion; and again You would show Your power against me." --Job 10:12-16.

He acknowledges God's lovingkindness and care toward him. However, he says that God is quick to find his sin and his faults. He describes God as someone who is always ready to find you out; to find the bad in you.

"'You renew Your witnesses against me and increase Your anger toward me; hardship after hardship is with me. Why then have you brought me out of the womb? Would that I had died and no eye had seen me! I should have been as though I had not been, carried from womb to tomb.'" --Job 10:17-19.

Here ends the long statement that Job says he would say to God that began back in 10:2. Job again says that he wishes he had not been born or still-born "womb to tomb."

"Would He not let my few days alone? Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer before I go--and I shall not return--to the land of darkness and deep shadow, the land of utter gloom as darkness itself, of deep shadow without order, and which shines as the darkness." --Job 10:20-22.

Job wants God to leave him alone so he can "have a little cheer" before he dies. From the sweeping and majestic descriptions of God's might and power as Creator, Job now goes back into the dark place of gloom and doom.

We're starting to see what's behind the curtain in Job's life. We're starting to see some weeds growing in Job's life that God needs to root out. So often, pain, trials, and suffering are God's way of pruning away the dead branches from our lives so new growth can spring up.

Next time we'll see Zophar's first talk with Job. He is the last of Job's three friends and he is "the legalist."

May He Increase!

Today begins my final week for my current employer. This is the first job I've had where I know for sure I'll be out of work on a certain day. At my last job I had no warning. Sure, the signs were there but I had no idea that I was going to be axed.

And yet, God is working through all of this. Truly. Two years ago, when I got laid off, He moved in a big, unforeseen way to take care of us. Should I expect God to do the same exact thing this time? Absolutely not. Just as Jesus did not heal anyone the exact same way, God can take care of us however He choses to. He's God and I'm not!

I mentioned how God answered my prayer to speak to me. Well, it didn't stop after Friday! In fact, so many things are coming together it's hard for me to remember them all. I would like to write some of them down here as a memorial to God's faithfulness, just as I did on Friday.

• A former coworker of mine--not a Christian to the best of my knowledge, but has read the Bible and studied it--sent me a Facebook message about job openings in Southern California. He lives in Denver. The job openings were for one of the local churches in my area. The church is the same one that is attended by the president of the company I just submitted a résumé to! My coworker said that he didn't know why he was doing a search for church jobs in my area. I know why: it's the Lord!
• My wife woke up Sunday with Philippians on her heart. Guess what one of the passages were that our pastor spoke of later at church?

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." --Philippians 4:11-13. (Emphasis mine.)

• The rest of the sermon was on generosity, based on 2 Corinthians 8. The majority of the sermon was either conviction for how we have been handling our finances during this difficult time, or it was encouragement for this difficult time. We were reminded yet again of Jesus' words:

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." --Matthew 6:31-34.

• I also heard a podcast last week from Chuck Missler retelling some of the financial nightmares that he and his family encountered. He was talking about how he used to drive down the mountain from where they lived every day to go to work. Each car he'd pass on the way down was a "way out" for him: all he needed to do was drive into one. He had a huge life insurance policy that would have taken care of his family if he just got out of the picture. He was suicidal. Then one morning he realized that God is who He says He is, or He's not.

Chuck's statement resonated with me. God is who He says He is, or He's not. If I believe that He will never fail me nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:8), then why should I fear? He knows me, understands me, and loves me more than I can imagine. He knows my every thought and my every step. He will guide me in the way I should go.

May He Increase!

I don't care much for the "think positive thoughts" thing. What I mean to say is, the practice of attempting to think "happy thoughts" all the time to bring about some result.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying the opposite: that we are to dwell on negativity.

I heard an old message comparing the mind to a field of soil. If you have a field of soil you can plant whatever you want in it. If you want to plant corn, you can plant corn. If you want wheat, you plant that. If you want beautiful and fragrant flowers, you plant those. If you want to plant dangerous plants like poison ivy or deadly nightshade, you plant those items. The point is, the soil doesn't care what you put into it. As long as you plant something, fertilize it, water it, and tend to it, the thing you planted will grow. Make sense?

Now, think of your mind. Your mind doesn't care what you put into it. You can fill it with the Word of God and that truth will take root. You can plant seeds of desiring to help others and those will grow. Or, you can fill your mind with ugly things like malice, lies, pornography, foul language, and all sorts of evil and those things will manifest and take root. Contrast someone like Billy Graham or Mother Teresa to a Jeffrey Dahmer or Osama bin Laden. One side has filled their minds with love and the others with hatred.

I had heard this message years ago but I suppose it wasn't until now that it really sunk in. All my life I've tended to focus on the negative side of things. I remember a high school friend of mine called me a pessimist one time and it bothered me because I never realized it.

Ultimately, it's a heart condition. Jesus talked about this in Mark.

"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." --Mark 7:21-23.

Wow. What a list. Jesus is speaking of the heart, but to the Jews of the time, the heart and the mind were connected. Next time someone says, "yeah, but he/she has a good heart," remember the words of Jesus.

Back to PMA, or "positive mental attitude." I believe God has the true version of what PMA is supposed to be. It's not some contrivance or some trite response to circumstances. No, it's a divine formula of things we are to meditate on at all times.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. --Philippians 4:8.

There it is. Of course, we are to meditate on all of scripture. But if we want a manageable list of things to focus on mind on, here they are. This is God's version of a positive mental attitude.

May He Increase!

I heard a message today partially on Philippians 4. It comes at a poignant time in my life as this month I'm facing a salary reduction as a cost-cutting measure at my "tent making trade." Part of me is concerned because I know it's going to be painful. But then part of me is putting it in God's hands as that is where it should be.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. --Philippians 4:4-5.

Several months ago, I did a study on this and the following verses in Philippians as part of post on President Obama. While circumstances haven't changed that drastically for our country or my family since that time, the subject is still timely. The first and most crucial thing we can do is rejoice in the Lord always. Paul says "rejoice" twice. That's the key. Everything else that follows flows from our rejoicing in the Lord and our worship of Him.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. --Philippians 4:6.

As I mentioned in that previous post, so many times we only quote the first part of that verse: "Be anxious for nothing." That's not as it should be because it's not the complete thought. It begs the question: "how!" How? In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, we need to let our requests be made known to God. Pay close attention to that verse. It's not a matter of complaining to God, but thanking God for the circumstances in which we are making our requests known to Him! Again, it's praise and worship!

Now that we get the complete thought, watch what Paul says will happen:

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. --Philippians 4:7.

What is this peace of God? It defies explanation! It's supernatural. If we do what it says in verses 4-6, this supernatural peace of God will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. If we are praising God and making our requests made known to God, they He will guard our hearts and our minds which causes us to not be anxious!

This really means that we need to be humble in the sight of God and seek His will for our lives, not ours!

...and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. --1 Peter 5:5-7.

I just love 1 Peter 5:7. This verse simply humbles me to know that the Creator of the Universe wants me to cast my anxiety on Him. Why? Because He cares for you and me! If He is telling us to cast our cares upon Him, why would you keep them? Why, oh why, must I continue to think I can handle things without Him? Why would I continue holding on to all these worries when He is telling me to give them to Him? Does that even make sense? Sounds like insanity to me. At the very least/worst it's pride.

May we keep these verses clearly in mind when our worries come rumbling up to the surface, seeking to rob our joy in Christ Jesus.

May He Increase!

At some point on Wednesday, April 9, 32 A.D., Judas Iscariot made a deal with the chief priests to betray Jesus. The chief priests repeatedly tried to arrest Jesus but there was always a crowd around or Jesus alluded them miraculously. And now Judas, having secured thirty pieces of silver as a price on the head of the Creator of Universe, was now seeking his own opportunity to betray Jesus.

The Passion of the King: The Passover

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples."'" The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. --Matthew 26-17-20.

It sometimes amazes me that the disciples never could put it all together. First, Jesus told them on Sunday to bring Him a donkey that was tied up in a certain place and even told them what to say if anyone would question them. Now today, He tells them to arrange the Passover with a certain man who will know why they are asking. Did they not see that only God, or at the very least, a prophet could have described such things in detail before they occur?

John's gospel sets the stage of this evening in a little more detail.

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. --John 13:1-5.

Although we are just at the beginning of Jesus' Passion, this passage describes how He will get through the next 24 hours.

1. He knew His hour had come to depart from this world back to the Father. John 13:1.
2. He knew that the Father had given all things into His hands. John 13:3.
3. He knew that He had come forth from God. John 13:3.
4. He knew He was going back to God. John 13:3.

After Jesus finishes washing the disciples' feet--John 13:6-17--Jesus sets the stage to put the spotlight on Judas.

"I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against me.' From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He." --John 13:18-19.

Here Jesus is subtlety announcing there is a betrayer in their midst. He is also telling them directly that He will tell them everything that is going to happen so that when the next series of events happen "[they] may believe that I am He." This phrase "I am He" is the the name of the voice of the burning bush, the ineffable name of God as from Exodus 3:14. Jesus will use this again in the garden later this evening.

We pick up the narrative in Matthew now.

As they were eating, He said, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me." Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord?" And He answered, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. The Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." --Matthew 26:21-24.

This passage is quite interesting in its application. Jesus clearly states that He is fulfilling prophecy "just as it is written of Him." Prophecy comes from God who know the beginning and the end. But look how Jesus ends the thought: "...woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!" Here Jesus seems to acknowledge Judas' free will choice to betray Him.

And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself." --Matthew 26:25.

So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night. --John 13:30.

In this series of events, the gospels each have a slightly different take. John's gospel says that Jesus took the bread and dipped it and gave it to Judas. After Judas took it, John's gospel clearly states:

"...Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." --John 13:27.

John adds that the other disciples figured that Judas was going out to buy additional things for the Passover or to give money to the poor "because Judas had the money box," John 13:28.

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." --Matthew 26:26-29.

This is the Last Supper instituted formally by Christ. It should be noted that Jesus was bodily present there that evening when He spoke these words. The Bible does not indicate in any of the four Gospels that the bread was changed into His body. What is clear by the accounts is that the bread and the wine were representative of His body and His blood that He will be sacrificing as part of a new covenant. They are elements of a body that He lived in during a sinless life. Therefore, Jesus is fully qualified and capable to be the bearer of our sins as our High Priest.

What follows at this point are Jesus' messages from the Upper Room as found in John 14-16. It is a long passage that I encourage you to read through. Below is an outline:

1. Concerning Heaven: Jesus here states "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." --John 14:6.
2. Concerning the Holy Spirit: Jesus reassures them that He will send the Holy Spirit to them. He also says, "If anyone love Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me." --John 14:23-24.
3. Concerning Peace: Jesus tells the disciples to rejoice that He returns to the Father. "I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me." --John 14:30-31.
4. Concerning Fruitfulness: In this passage, Jesus speaks about Him being the vine and we the branches, "...apart from [Him] you can do nothing." --John 15:5
5. Concerning the world: Jesus reminds us that if the world hates you (as a Christian), the world hated Him first. An interesting series of verses that I have forgotten about are: "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well." --John 15:22-24.
6. Concerning the Holy Spirit: Jesus again brings the teaching back to the Holy Spirit, right after He speaks about the world hating [us]. "...it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me." --John 16:7-9.
7. Concerning His Return: Half way through this portion of the narrative, the disciples finally tell Jesus that they "know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God." --John 16:30. Jesus then tells them that the hour has come when they will be scattered and will leave Him. But Jesus says He is not alone "because the Father is with Me." --John 16:32.

John chapter 17 is a prayer that Jesus prays as our High Priest. Jesus prays for His own glorification, the believer's protection, sanctification, unity, and the ultimate glorification of believers. At its core, it is an intercessory prayer by Jesus on behalf of those who will form the church. That's you and I!

After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. --Matthew 26:30.

The hymn was most likely Psalm 115-118 which is the traditional Passover Hallel. At this point, Jesus and the disciples leave the comforts of the Upper Room and set out into the darkness for the Garden of Gethsemane. Along the way, the following dialog takes place.

Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.' But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too. --Matthew 26:31-35.

In Chuck Missler's audio lesson, The Agony of Love, he points out that we always fail in our strongest suit or strength. It goes counter to what you'd expect. You'd think we'd fail in our weakest suit. Peter's strongest attribute was courage. We see glimpses of it here, with him asserting he would die for Jesus. We will also see flashes of it in the garden shortly. But where does Peter fail, and fail miserably? By not being courageous enough!

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." --Matthew 26:36.

The Passion of the King: The Garden of Gethsemane

The word Gethsemane means "oil press." It's a place where crushing takes place. It's another perfect example of how every place name in the Bible has some sort of significance. Jesus left eight of the disciples at this point as sort of a guard over where they were. In the next passage, we will see Jesus taking Peter and James and John with Him a little further into the garden.

And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done." Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!" --Matthew 26:37-46.

Jesus prays three times for God to find another way to deal with our sin problem. Three times Jesus asks God the Father that if there is another way for us to come to God and deal with our sin, "let's do it," effectively. If there was any way to God but through Jesus Christ and the cross, then Jesus' prayer wasn't answered.

We pick up the narrative in John's gospel now.

Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. --John 18:2-3.

This is the familiar scene we've seen in movies where the soldiers show up to arrest Jesus. Most recently, this was seen in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. In that movie, only a few of the temple guards show up to arrest Jesus. The reality is that not only did the temple guard come, but the Jewish authorities had also received a Roman cohort to be there. You might miss what this scene probably looked like in reality. A Roman cohort is 300-600 soldiers! More than likely, they were intending on arresting Jesus and the eleven disciples. Why else would they have sent 300+ soldiers to arrest one man?

In spite of this large group of soldiers, Jesus boldly takes command of the situation.

So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. --John 18:4-5.

Jesus' response, "I am He" is literally translated "I AM." Is is the "I am that I am," or in Hebrew, אהיה אשר אהיהr pronounced "Ehyeh asher ehyeh." The ineffable name of God. The voice of the burning bush. The Creator of the Universe!

So when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. --John 18:6.

I personally don't believe this is falling down in worship. Remember that the majority of the personnel there are 300 pagan, Roman soldiers. No, I believe that this is Jesus asserting His divinity. This, I believe is a demonstration of Philippians 2:10:

...so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

I believe that they had no choice or ability to stand in the presence of the I AM.

Therefore He again asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way," to fulfill the word which He spoke, "Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one." --John 18:7-9.

Still not convinced of Jesus' authority and in charge of everything happening here? Jesus is commanding 300 Roman soldiers to let His disciples go! Jesus isn't afraid or out of control in this situation. He calmly and assertively demonstrates His authority. Further, we see His shepherd's heart for His sheep. He's protecting them to the last.

A side note here for which I need to give credit to Chuck Missler for the observation. If you look up John 18:9 in your Bible, you might assume that John is quoting a fulfillment from the Old Testament. However, when John says "to fulfill the word which He spoke" John is referring to his gospel! John is, in essence quoting John 17:12 and putting his own gospel on par with the rest of the New Testament!

Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?" --John 17:10-11.

Luke records Jesus healing Malchus' ear in Luke 22:51. That is the last miracle Jesus would perform during His earthly ministry.

Tomorrow we will look at Jesus' six Jewish and six Roman trials leading up to the cross.

May He Increase!

Today we inaugurate the 44th President of the United States.

President Barack Obama takes office in the midst of very difficult times for the United States of America. We are in some of the worst financial troubles this country has seen in almost 100 years. We face numerous international crises and threats and internally, there are many challenges that await him.

I was having a conversation with a brother in Christ yesterday before Sunday service. We were talking about how when we start to grow in our prayer life, we begin to realize just how much there is to pray for. You start to move past yourself, your family, and other immediate needs and concerns and start to see that we have our broader communities to pray for: our local governments, our state, country and our world. You begin to see more and more issues to pray for and then when you finish those, you think of more. It's enough to make you feel overwhelmed at times. It's easy to get caught up in all of it and that's just what the enemy wants you to do.

Paul reminds us to rejoice! In uncertain times as we are living in, it's very easy to forget to rejoice about anything sometimes. But Paul says,

Rejoice in the Lord, always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. --Philippians 4:4-5.

When we get caught up in all these things going on, we need to rejoice that the Lord is near! And remember, He is a lot bigger than any of our problems. So, remembering to rejoice, that the Lord is near,

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the the peace of God which surpasses all comphrension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. --Philippians 4:6-7.

Frequently, Philippians 4:6 gets quoted, "Be anxious for nothing." But I think it's a disservice to forget about verses 4 and 5 which instruct us to first rejoice that God is near. When you realize that God is near, you can "be anxious for nothing."

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. --Philippians 4:8-9.

President Obama is coming into office on the dreams and hopes of many Americans. Regardless of whether you voted for him or not, he will need all the prayers of God's people for the Lord to direct him, for the Lord to protect him and his family, and that God's will be done through his presidency. May Almighty God make him a great a president. May He Increase!