Here is a link to last week’s series, Upside down.
John 14 is one of those chapter’s in the Bible that you can picture Jesus in your mind’s eye talking to his disciples in a peaceful setting as if there is no trouble on the horizon.
This is such a defining passage for committed believers because we know there was trouble on the horizon.
Jesus was mere days and steps from the cross in Jerusalem. The disciples faced doubts and fears before taking on the world. With courage and faith by the Spirit of God, they persevered and served Jesus—all but Judas.
This section of scripture would be ideally suited for a dad, a papa, or an uncle to sit and read and discuss with pre-teens or teens in their world.
Really anyone could benefit. But kids are on my heart lately as their world grows so dark and morally threatening.
Kids who are grappling with the decision of wholeheartedly following Christ or choosing to take the bait of their world, their friends, and the lures of their ambitions in another direction. Not necessarily sinful directions, mind you. But any direction away from Jesus is other than God’s plan.
So, this week, Seed Basket issues a challenge to parents, teachers, pastors and other adult believers. Sit with the children in your world. Introduce them to the better way. No preaching, high-strung emotion or bribery. None of that works and Jesus doesn’t do that. He gives choices. Romans 2:4
Read this beautiful passage. Do it as a group. Togetherness is a strength all its own. Talk about how Jesus helped Thomas, Thaddeus and Philip.
Then model bold belief for the children in front of you. This world is being very intrusive and pushy. Give your kids the wisdom from God’s Word to make the better choice that leads to life.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me.
Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
Judas (Thaddeus, not Judas Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?”
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
By the way, the word believe appears seven times in the scripture this week, bringing our total in 14 weeks to eighty-eight uses of the word, Believe.
John 14:1 (X’s 2), 10, 11 (x’s2), 12, 29
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the Gospel of peace to their world!
Isaiah 52:7
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 