Rob McFarlane

We have been reading through the Gospel of John over 21 days at River Church. It has been an exciting adventure going through 21 Days with John. I have been posting a quick thought every day from my reading. 

Today’s reading is John 21 and I saw two things I would like to share with you. In John 21:20 John refers to himself as "the disciple who Jesus loved". He then tells us it is himself he is talking about in John 21:24. This is an amazing way to see yourself - as a recipient of Jesus love. To say "I am one who Jesus loves" is saying I do not deserve his great love for me. Like John says later in 1 John 4:19 "we love him, because he first loved us". 

In closing this series of posts a final thought from John 20 and 21. In John 20:31 we see the purpose of the Gospel of John is "that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name". The best thing that could happen from all these posts is that someone (perhaps it is you) gives their life to Jesus! John 20:30 says "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book".

John 21:25 says "Jesus did many other things as well, If every one of them where written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written". If you have not done 21 Days with John please follow our example at River Church. It has been a wonderful experience reading through the Gospel of John over the past 21 days. 

My prayer for today is "Thank you Jesus for the Gospel of John. I ask that people encounter Jesus as a result of these posts on 21 Days with John. Thank you that I am a disciple who Jesus loves".

We are reading through the Gospel of John over 21 days at River Church. We are calling this 21 Days with John. I am posting a quick thought every day from my reading.

In John 20 we see Jesus rise from the dead. This event is received with great joy by Jesus disciples except for one. In John 20:24-29 we see Thomas who did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. It seems Thomas was a person who always saw "the glass half empty" as we can see from John 11:16. Thomas had the attitude of "I will only believe it when I see it" as seen in John 20:25. That is where we get the phrase "a doubting Thomas". A week later in John 20:26-28 we see Jesus appears to Thomas and encourages him to touch and see that he really has risen from the dead. It is interesting that Jesus did not rebuke Thomas. As a result Thomas responded to Jesus saying in John 20:28 "My Lord and My God!"

There are times we have to be patient with people who are like doubting Thomas until they can see more evidence that Jesus is alive. However, in John 20:29 we see Jesus say to Thomas "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed". Jesus says we are blessed if we believe him before we have all the answers. He wants us like 2 Corinthians 5:7 says "to walk by faith not by sight". Remember that Hebrews 11:6 says "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him".

My prayer for today is "Thank you Jesus that you have risen and are alive today. Thank you that you reveal yourself to people today. Help me to be one who has a faith that pleases you. Help me to be patient with people who are like doubting Thomas".

We are reading through the Gospel of John over 21 days at River Church. We are calling this 21 Days with John. I am posting a quick thought every day from my reading. Today's reading is John 19 where we read about Jesus crucifixion, death and burial.Today, I would like just to share one thought with you.

In John 19:30 on the cross Jesus says "It is finished!". Notice he does not say "I am finished" but rather "it is finished". In the original language this phrase Jesus used can be translated "paid in full". It was a term used in accounting when someone had paid a debt in full. It was also used when a person had served a full prison sentence and was released. Jesus was saying "I have paid the debt of sin in full so people can be released from prison and be free!"

Jesus paid the price in full for our sin and made it possible for us to have a right relationship with God through his death on the cross. There are many verses in the Bible that talk about this but one of my favourites is 2 Corinthians 5:21 that says "God made him who had no sin to become sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God in Christ." Jesus death on the cross was a demonstration of God's love. As John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". Another verse is Romans 5:8 that says "But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us".

My prayer for today is "Thank you Jesus that you paid the price for sin in full on the cross. Thank you that you have made it possible for us to receive forgiveness and have a right relationship with God. Please give me an opportunity today to share this good news with others today".

We are reading through the Gospel of John over 21 days at River Church. We are calling this 21 Days with John. I am posting a quick thought every day from my reading. Today we are looking at John 18.

In John 18 we see Jesus betrayed by Judas, arrested and face a trial. We see Jesus brought before the High Priest and Pilate. During this process we see Peter deny Jesus three times in John 18:15-18 and John 18:25-27. This was exactly as Jesus had predicted in John 13:37-38. How many times have we had good intentions to serve Jesus yet under pressure have made the wrong choice just like Peter did? Peter wanted to stand up for Jesus but ended up denying him (John 18:10).

But this is not the end of the story! In fact Jesus later restores Peter in John 21:15-17 and uses Peter as a key leader in the early Church. Jesus is a restorer and forgiver. Jesus has a plan for our lives. You may have had good intentions yet failed when it came to the crunch. Jesus restored Peter and used him to lead others and wants to do the same with us today. Like John tells us later in 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness".

My prayer for today "Thank you Jesus that you are merciful and kind. Thank you that you forgive us when we confess our sins to you. Thank you that no matter what mistakes we have made you still have a plan to use us for your glory."

When we read John 13, 14, 15 and 16 we get to see what it would have been like listening to Jesus teach. Jesus has spoken about love, fruitfulness and how he is the only way we can relate to God. Jesus also has introduced us to the person and work of the Holy Spirit. These chapters are so full and can be visited again and again for fresh insights. Then in John 17 we see Jesus praying for his disciples. Today I would like to share things from this prayer.

Jesus not only prayed for his disciples, but also is praying for us today. We see in John 17:20 "My prayer is not for them (his disciples) alone. I pray for those who will believe because of their message". Jesus is still praying for us today and I am sure in a similar way (Romans 8:34).

In John 17:3 Jesus says "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent". "Eternal life" here is not only life that goes on forever but also life as God intended it to be - full of peace, joy and purpose. Jesus is praying that we would know God and experience life as God intended as a result of a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We can experience more of this life by growing in our relationship with God. Jesus prayer for us as believers today is recorded in John 17:20-26. We see Jesus pray that we may be one in relationship with him.

We also see Jesus pray that there would be unity and love in our relationships with each other. The purpose we see in John 17:21 is "so the world may believe that you sent me". We can impact the world around us if we continue to grow in our relationship with God and walk in love and unity with each other.

My prayer for today is "Thank you Jesus that you prayed for us in John 17. We want to know you more and experience more of your life. Please help us at River Church grow in our relationship with you and walk in love and unity so that those in our life world may know about Jesus".

We are reading through the Gospel of John over 21 days at River Church. I am posting a quick thought every day from my reading. Today we are looking at John 16. In John 16:7-15 Jesus tells us about the work of the Holy Spirit. I saw three things in this passage that I would like to share with you.

In John 16:8,13,14 Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit as "he". The Holy Spirit is a person not just an experience. We can experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit but we must remember he is the third person of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14). Jesus introduces us to the Holy Spirit in John 14:26, John 15:26 and John 16:7 as the comforter, counsellor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener and standby.

In John 16:8 Jesus tells us that "the Holy Spirit will convict us of sin, righteousness and judgement". By conviction of sin the Holy Spirit shows us we are sinners in need of a Saviour. By conviction of righteousness the Holy Spirit draws us into a right relationship with God through Jesus. By conviction of judgement the Holy Spirit shows us we will each have to give an account to God for our lives.

Then in John 16:12-15 Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit will guide us and lead us into all truth. The Holy Spirit leads us as children of God in our everyday lives (Romans 8:14). The Holy Spirit also leads us as we spend time reading the Bible. It is so exciting when you are reading your Bible or praying and the Holy Spirit reveals things to you. Like Jesus said in John 16:13-14 "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you".

(There is so much more in the Bible about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Today we are just looking at what Jesus said in John 16 but if you are interested you can also read Acts 1:4-5 and Acts 1:8 to read about how Jesus promised to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and empower us to be effective witnesses for him. We see in Acts 2:38-39 that this is still available for us today.)

My prayer for today is "Thank you Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit to be our helper. Please convict us of sin, draw us into relationship with you and lead us into all truth. Please reveal more of Jesus to us during this 21 Days with John".

In John 15 Jesus reveals himself to us with another “I am” statement. In John 15:1 he says “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener” and then again in John 15:5 he says “I am the vine and you are the branches”. We see three things about this relationship and bearing fruit in John 15.

Jesus says in John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last”. He continues in John 15:8 that “God will receive glory when we bear much fruit”. We see that Jesus wants us to bear much and lasting fruit. Jesus tells us how we become fruitful.

In John 15:4-5 we are told to “remain in him” and that we “can’t bear fruit apart from him”. We need to be in a vital relationship with Jesus if we are to bear much and lasting fruit. Only by including Jesus in our lives, relationships and decisions will they bear much and lasting fruit.

Then in John 15:2 Jesus tells us that “every branch that bears he prunes so it will be more fruitful”. There are times when God will cut things back in our lives so we grow and become more fruitful. We must learn to trust God when we are going through seasons of pruning knowing He wants us to grow and be more fruitful. God know what is best for us.

My prayer for today is “Thank you Jesus that you want me to bear much and lasting fruit. Please help me to remain in a vital relationship with you. Please give me perspective during times of pruning in my life. I want you to receive the glory for fruit in my life.”

We are reading through the Gospel of John over 21 days at River Church. We are calling this 21 Days with John. I am posting a quick thought every day from my reading. I saw two different things in John 14 that I would like to share with you today.

In John 14:6 Jesus tells us “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. Jesus says the only way we can have a relationship with God is through him. This is also seen elsewhere in the Bible for example Acts 4:12 and 1 Timothy 2:5. The Gospel is the most important message in the whole world. It is that we can have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Then in John 14:26 Jesus introduces us to the Holy Spirit. I love the way the Amplified Bible puts John 14:26 “But the Comforter (Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you”. We have the Holy Spirit to help us grow in our relationship with God. We have been provided a way to have a living relationship with God. Jesus is the only way we can have a relationship with God. The Holy Spirit has been given to lead us into a deeper relationship with God. This wonderful relationship is available to you and me today.

My prayer for today is “Thank you Jesus that you are the way, the truth and the life and that I can have a relationship with God through you. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who leads us into a deeper relationship with you. Please give me opportunities to share this good news with others”.

We are reading through the Gospel of John over 21 days at River Church. We are calling this 21 Days with John. I am posting a quick thought every day from my reading. Today I would like to share two things I saw in John 13.

In John 13:3-17 we see Jesus washing his disciples feet. Washing of feet was part of the culture of the day. It was a task assigned to the least important person in the group. Jesus who knew as John 13:3 says “that the Father had put all things under his power” demonstrated that being a leader is being a servant. Jesus tells us in John 13:13-15 that he has “set us an example that we should do as he did”. We lead others by serving them.

Then Jesus commands us in John 13:35 “a new command I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”. We are commanded to follow Jesus example of love towards each other. He tells us that people will know we are his disciples because of our love for one another.

We see that being servant and showing love are the hallmarks of a true disciple of Jesus. We can influence the world around us by serving and showing God’s love. What an amazing example Jesus set and a wonderful way for us to live. Let us be a true disciple of Jesus in our families, with our friends and at River Church.

My prayer for today is “Thank you Jesus for your amazing example of servant leadership and love. Thank you for the opportunities you give me every day to demonstrate your love and serve others. Please help me to follow your example today”.

We are reading through the Gospel of John over 21 days at River Church. We are calling this 21 Days with John. I will be posting a quick thought every day from my reading.

In John 12 we see intimate worship and expressive praise for Jesus. In John 12:3 "Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume". This was an act of intimate worship. We see that she was criticised for her extravagant act of worship but Jesus said in John 12:7 to "leave her alone". Like Jesus said in John 4:23-24 "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth".

Then in John 12:12-13 we see a crowd of people giving Jesus loud expressive praise. We see a celebration in John 12:13 "They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!". This praise of Jesus frustrated the Pharisees who said in John 12:19 "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" People are drawn to Jesus in an atmosphere of expressive praise. At River Church let us be those who are expressive in our praise for Jesus. Let us spare no expense in our worship of Jesus. He alone is worthy!

My prayer for today is "Jesus, I want to be one who praises you with all my heart. I want to be one who worships God in spirit and truth. Only you Jesus are worthy!"