Behind closed doors with his disciples and just before the Last Supper, John records some remarkable things about Jesus which led him to act accordingly. Jesus knew that he had come from God and was returning to God, so he proceeded to take the place of a servant and wash the feet of the disciples. This act of humbling himself would not be the end however. He humbled himself even further by submitting to death upon the cross. In washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus showed that the nature of true Christian ministry is always clothed with a towel and carries a basin – reflecting the nature of him who came ‘not to be served, but to serve’.
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‘That crucial moment and turning point’ (John 12:20-50)
After some Greek men sought an audience with Jesus, He then began to speak openly about his imminent death. He spoke of it in terms of a seed that dies and in dying brings forth fruit and of being ‘lifted up’ as so drawing all types of men to himself. The Greek men were serious, persistent and believing, unlike the Jews whom Jesus then denounced for their stubborn unbelief. The death of Jesus continues to demand a response from people. Either we come seeking Him as Saviour in faith or we will end up facing Him as Judge.
‘At the table with a man who was dead and a man who soon would be’ (John 11:45-12:11)
Following the raising of Lazarus, a dinner was held at his home at which Jesus was present. The dinner would have been interesting to be at – for there was a man who had been dead sitting next to a mean who would soon be dead. At this dinner, Lazarus’ sister Mary showed her gratitude to Jesus by an extravagant gift of perfume upon his feet, while Judas was revealed to be far more interested in the money he could have got from the perfume. Meanwhile the Jewish authorities continued to reject Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God and so determined to put Jesus and Lazarus to death – in order to get rid of the evidence that would support this claim.
‘In the face of death’ (John 11:1-44)
In John 11, when his friend Lazarus falls ill, it seems strange that Jesus does not go to heal him immediately. Jesus is confident in his father and knows the glory will go to him. For us, we see that in the face of death, though God might feel distant (1-16), Jesus draws near to us (17-37) and conquers death (38-44). So even as we face death now, we can grieve with hope in Christ.
‘Comfort and affliction in the fullest measure’ (John 10:19-42)
After claiming to be the ‘Good Shepherd’ who loves and dies for His sheep, Jesus went on to speak about the eternal security of His sheep. Because He is God and by His death saves His sheep completely, he can say that none of His sheep will be lost. Such truths are of great comfort to the believer, but also should cause discomfort to those who do not believe. If there is no salvation outside of Jesus, then no man or woman can have any hope of eternal security without belonging to Him.
‘The True and Good Shepherd of the sheep” (John 10:1-18)
After healing the man born blind in chapter 9, the conversation that Jesus had with the Pharisees centred upon the imagery of shepherds and sheep. The Pharisees’ actions in throwing out the man proved that they were not shepherds of God’s people. Jesus, however, claimed to be the one who truly loves the sheep by laying down his life for them. There is only one Good Shepherd who saves all who come to Him in faith. There is no other way of entering into the Kingdom of God.
‘Healed eyes and hardened hearts’ (John 9:1-41)
After declaring that he was the ‘light of the world’ in chapter 8, Jesus then illustrated this by means of healing the man born blind in chapter 9. Though the man received his sight and his spiritual sight, the miracle not only confirmed Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah, but also revealed the hardened state of the hearts of the Pharisees who could only dismiss the miracle on the grounds that it had been done on a Sabbath. In doing so, they ignored the testimony of the formerly blind man which was, ‘I only know that I was blind, but now I can see’.
‘Hot topics – straight from the mouth of Jesus’ (John 8:31-59)
In John 8:31-59 Jesus was unafraid to speak openly about His claims to the Pharisees even though it cut across their understanding of truth. In a long debate between Jesus and the Pharisees, Jesus made some very significant claims as to His divinity, especially claiming to have lived long before Abraham, and that though the Pharisees claimed to be descended from Abraham, this did not make them right with God. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus not by the process of birth.
‘When the Light confronted the darkness’ (John 8:12-30)
In John 8:12-30, Jesus claimed to be ‘The Light of the world’. In doing so, He made clear his identity as the Messiah, pointed out the darkness that lived in the hearts of those who refused to believe in Him, and encouraged those who believe him to follow Him in the light He gives. Jesus also taught that His disciples are also ‘the light of the world’ who are in the world to reflect His light to many who walk in darkness.
‘Righteousness received by grace’ (John 8:1-11)
Russ Grinter brings our attention to the day they brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus with the intent on having her stoned to death. This put Jesus into a trap. Releasing her without judgement would mean he was soft on sin. However to condemn her would have been inconsistent with his purpose. Instead, Jesus chose to forgive her and pay for her sins himself and told her to ‘sin no more’. Where the Law demands our judgement, Jesus gives grace that completely covers the sins of the guilty.