The Gospel of John (6)
Pray Psalm 22.1, 2.
My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;
And in the night season, and am not silent.
Sing 22.1, 2.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
Upon the cross of Calv’ry He suffered ’neath the rod;
alone, He cried out, “Why have You forsaken Me, My God?”
As day to bitter darkness turned, the Savior of the blessed
cried, “Father, answer Me, I pray; restore Me to Your rest!”
Read and meditate on John 1.29-34; 13.31-34.
Preparation
1. How did John identify Jesus?
2. What did Jesus expect as a result of His sacrifice?
Meditation
Jesus has shown, and continues to show us, what discipleship requires. He is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sins of the world and the salvation of His people. His selfless love, concerned only for our wellbeing and God’s glory, is the model we must embrace.
Jesus denied His own privileges and place to come among us for our salvation. He sought us daily until He found and saved us; now He seeks us by His Spirit, that we may be sanctified in His truth (Jn. 17.17). He serves us by His steadfast love and faithfulness, and by the teaching, comforting, empowering, and transforming work of His Spirit. He shepherds us continually, ministers His Word to us faithfully, intercedes for us constantly, and never misses an opportunity to show us His love.
We are ever on the mind of the Lamb of God and in His heart always. Building His Church is His highest priority, for through us He intends to fill all things with Himself (Eph. 1.15-23). He is working to make His love and righteousness known in every place through His Body, and this can only come to pass as we love one another in the same way He loves us.
The witness of our discipleship begins with the self-denying love we show to one another, love like the self-denying, edifying, and transforming love Jesus has for us.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.God’s framework for life—parents, siblings, friends, spouse, children—is all a practice session for how we learn to love others. To learn to love them, as Jesus loves them.
Jesus “shepherds us continually, minsters His Word to us faithfully, intercedes for us constantly, and never misses an opportunity to show us His love.” Surely, we love our own children in this fashion—carefully shepherding them, sharing the Word of God with them, constantly praying for them, and never missing an opportunity to show them love. (Perhaps another relationship has proved this to be true for you.) But the fact is, love is possible, it is just not easily attained. For truly, to contemplate loving others—brothers and sisters in the church, neighbors, and wrong-believers—seems overwhelmingly daunting.
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19.26).
Jesus told His disciples, and is telling us, “By this [this incredible, sacrificial, outlandish, unexpected, often undeserved, impossible love] all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love [My love] for one another” (Jn. 13.35).
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (Jn. 15.12-14).
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.
And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn. 5.2, 3).
The Lamb of God, Who sacrificed Himself for us, demands that we love others.
And by this, He declares, we witness to the world of our commitment to Him.
By loving Him obediently, we love and serve others, as well.
We are His followers, working in His Kingdom, sacrificially loving,
so others will believe that we belong to Him, and so that they may know Him, too.
“What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?
I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.
O LORD, truly I am Your servant…
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and
will call upon the Name of the LORD” (Ps. 116.12-14).
Help me, LORD, to love others as You love them.
Reflection
1. Whom will you love today with the love of Jesus?
2. What sacrifices will be required of you in serving Jesus today?
3. How did Jesus show His love for you as the Lamb of God? How should you respond to that?
It agrees with God’s glory to pardon all who depend on the atoning sacrifice of Christ. He takes away the sin of the world; purchases pardon for all that repent and believe the gospel. This encourages our faith. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on John 1.29-31
Pray Psalm 22.3-8.
Thank Jesus for His suffering and for the atonement He accomplished for you. Call on Him to give you strength to live as His disciple and witness today.
Sing 22.3-8.
(St. Christopher: Beneath the Cross of Jesus)
But You, O God are holy, enthroned on Israel’s praise;
our fathers trusted You and You were faithful all their days.
They cried to You; they trusted You, and never came to shame;
for You delivered them, O God, by Your great holy Name.
Despised by men, the Savior was more a worm than man.
They mocked, “He trusted God, let Him redeem Him if He can!
Let God deliver Him if He indeed delights in Him!”
Thus scorned they Jesus as He died in pain and anguish grim.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our Read Moore podcast takes up the book Understanding the Times to help us in knowing how to live and proclaim the Kingdom. It’s not too late to join us for our twice weekly column, Crosfigell, following the life of Brendan the Navigator, one of the great saints of the 6th century. Our ReVision series, “The Kingdom Economy”, continues to unpack the secrets of the Kingdom. And new in our bookstore, our book, The Ongoing Work of Christ shows us how the book of Acts provides a template and footprint for all who take up the work of building Jesus’ Church.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
