Alan W. Harris's Blog, page 3

40 – Discovering You’re Not Who You Think You Are

(Inspired by John 18: 12-27)

As Jesus’s disciples fled through the dark, forested hillside, the Roman soldiers roughly arrested Jesus and tied His hands like a criminal. Satisfied that the first part of their orders were completed, the Roman cohort and the temple guards marched the Nazarene down the hill, across the Kidron Valley, and into the sleeping city.
After escaping the pursuing militia, Rock ran into young John and pulled him into the dark shadows of a large rock.
“They took the Teacher, Rock,” John said in anguish, “and we didn’t do anything to stop it!”
“I tried,” Rock said defending himself, “but the Master wouldn’t let me! He made me put away my sword!”
“There were too many of them,” John returned. “He probably saved your life. It turned out like He said. He got taken by His enemies, and we all ran away like cowards!”
“I will not deny Him! I will not forsake Him!” Rock said with passion.
“We have already forsaken Him!” John exclaimed with tears.
“NO!” Rock answered firmly. “We failed Him the first time, but we will not fail Him now! The militia’s gone, so let’s follow the soldiers and find out where they’re taking Him.”
“Yeah!” John agreed. “Maybe we can do something to help Him.”
“Maybe,” Rock answered his friend, “but whether we can or whether we can’t, I will not deny Him…I will not forsake Him! Come on!”
The two disciples followed the soldiers at a distance, staying in the darkest shadows of the night forest. They had to be even more cautious when they crossed the Brook Kidron and reentered the city.
“Where are they going?” John whispered as they hid behind a house corner.
Hazarding a quick peek, Rock turned back to his friend. “They’re heading to the upper city,” he answered.
“Okay, I know where they’re going,” John said confidently. “They’re taking Him to the high priest’s home. It has a really large hall that will hold lots of people. Come with me; I know a quick way there.”
John turned off the main street and rushed through a maze of back streets and alleys. Rock was completely lost when John finally stopped and peered around a corner.
“Look there,” he hissed to his friend.
Trading places with him, Rock glanced down the street. In front of them was the high priest’s palace, all lit up with torches and lamps. Rock saw the soldiers arrive with their prisoner as he watched. “They just got there with the Teacher,” Rock related in a low voice. “I’m going to try to slip up and secretly join the militia when they march in.”
“No—wait!” John hissed, grabbing Rock’s arm. “I can get us in.”
“How?”
“They know me.” John answered with a smile. “My mother’s family has worked for the high priest and his people for many years. Whenever father and mother brought us to Jerusalem, we always stayed here. Every time we came for one of the feasts, we always ate it here.”
“You’re kidding me!” Rock said in disbelief.
“Nope,” John shot back. “Everybody in there knows James and me. As soon as they all get inside, we’ll go up and see who the gatekeeper is tonight. Just let me go first.”
As soon as the thoroughfare in front of the grand house was empty, John slid out into the side street and led the way to the main gate. When John stepped into the light near the front of the entrance, he heard a young female voice call out, “Who’s there, and what is your business with the high priest?”
John stared at the servant girl’s face for a moment, but then he recognized her. “Shira? Is that you?”
“Yes!” the girl answered pleasantly. “Who are you?”
“Surely you remember me. I’m John, the son of Zebedee and Salome.”
“John!” the girl gasped. “Yes, of course, I remember you. You and James used to pull my braids.”
“Yes, well…I’m surprised to see you at the gate tonight.”
“Me too,” the girl returned. “I’m supposed to be in bed, but all the men were sent out with the soldiers.”
“I’m sorry you’re missing your sleep, Shira, but since you know me, can you let me in?”
“Sure,” she answered as she unlocked the gate and swung it open.
As John stepped through, Rock tried to follow, but Shira, not recognizing him, quickly pushed the gate closed.
“It’s okay,” John said quickly. “He’s a friend of mine.”
“Are you sure?” the girl asked as she closely studied Rock’s face. “I’ve seen him before….Aren’t you one of the followers of that teacher they arrested tonight?” Shira asked suspiciously.
“Who me?” Rock answered with a nervous laugh.
“Are you?” the girl pressed.
“No, of course not!” Rock lied, looking the girl straight in the eye.
“He’s okay, Shira,” John persisted. “Just let him in. I’ll vouch for him.”
Reluctantly the servant girl swung open the gate, and John rushed Rock further into the courtyard.
The night was cold, and the soldiers and servants who remained outside were warming themselves from a charcoal fire burning in an iron brazier. John and Rock subtly moved closer to the warmth.
“Since they know me, I’m going to slip inside the house and see what’s happening with the Teacher,” John whispered in Rock’s ear. “I think it’s best if you stay out here.”
Rock nodded his head in agreement.
John had no trouble getting in. One of the servants that he knew informed him that the Nazarene had not been taken to Caiaphas’s grand hall as John had expected. Instead, the prisoner was dragged to a smaller hall near the rear of the large house for Annas to question Him.
Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas and was supposed to be the high priest, but he had crossed the Roman governor and had been replaced by his son-in-law. The Romans recognized Caiaphas, but the Jews still considered Annas to be the legitimate high priest.
When John arrived at Annas’s impromptu court, he heard Jesus responding to questions He had been asked about His disciples and His ministry.
“I have always spoken openly for everyone to hear,” Jesus began. “I have taught in the synagogues and in the temple and wherever crowds of people came together. I spoke nothing in secret. So because I have been completely open with My teaching, why are you questioning Me? Question those who were listening to Me. They know what I said.”
Suddenly one of officers of the temple guards, who was standing beside Jesus, drew back and drove his fist into the side of Jesus’s face. “Is that the way you answer the high priest?” he snarled with contempt.
It upset John to see the abuse, but he was proud to see that Jesus didn’t cower in front of the bully. He turned and faced the officer. “If I have spoken wrongly, then the law says that you are to bear witness of the wrong, not to strike a man simply because you don’t like what he said. If you can’t prove Me wrong, then the law gives you no right to hit Me.”
The officer seemed taken aback at the Teacher’s boldness and confidence.
Annas could tell that intimidation wasn’t working. “I’ve heard enough!” Annas called out. “Send him to Caiaphas!”
The guards jerked Jesus around and dragged Him to the great hall where Caiaphas eagerly waited. John joined the rear of the parade as they left.
To avoid attracting attention, Rock had kept to the outside of the group standing around the fire. After a couple of hours, he began to shiver in the cold, so he moved closer to the source of heat. As he did so, he bumped into a couple of men standing there. “Oh…uh…I’m sorry about that,” Rock said to both. “I beg your pardon.”
“Hey, wait a minute,” one of the two said, taking a closer look at the newcomer. “That’s a pretty strong Galilean accent you got there. You must be one of the Nazarene’s disciples.”
Every eye in the group turned to stare straight at the big fisherman.
“Me?” Rock returned nervously. “No, not me. I don’t even know Him.”
“I’m sure I saw this one in the garden tonight,” another of the men said, walking up closer to Rock. “You guys remember when one of the Nazarene’s followers jerked out a sword and cut poor ol’ Malchus’s ear off?”
Everyone in the circle nodded in agreement.
“Malchus is my cousin,” the man continued, “an’ we was standin’ together. I’m almost positive that this is the scum-suckin’ rascal that did it.”
Panic set in as Rock noticed the men begin to inch towards him. “IT WASN’T ME!” Rock yelled. “I’M NOT THAT GOODIE-GOODIE’S FOLLOWER! I’VE GOT NO INTEREST IN ANYTHING THAT PRISSY PREACHER MAN’S GOT TO SAY!” Then to emphasize his lack of interest in spiritual things, Rock began to curse and swear a blue streak at the men.
Just then the main door of the grand house swung open, and Caiaphas marched out, leading a procession of guards who were shoving a bruised and disheveled Jesus along on their way to the Roman governor. As they passed through the courtyard, Jesus turned and looked into Rock’s eyes. At the same instant Rock heard a rooster crow, and his heart broke.
All the men standing in the courtyard quickly joined the procession and left Rock standing alone by the fire.
John slipped away from the back of the group taking Jesus and ran to his companion. “They’re taking the Teacher to the governor, Rock!” John said urgently. “They are determined to kill Him! Rock?”
The big fisherman’s head was down, and his shoulders were shaking. When John put a hand on his friend’s shoulder, Rock burst into gut-wrenching sobs. “I did it!” he wailed. “Just like He said, I did it all! I stood right here and denied Him! I did it THREE TIMES!”
John patted his friend’s heaving shoulders. “He told us,” John said, trying to comfort Rock. “He said we would all forsake Him. But Rock, He also said that it would be alright…that He would take care of it.”
“THAT’S FINE FOR THE REST OF YOU,” Rock sobbed. “BUT I’M ROCK! I’M SUPPOSED TO BE THE STRONG ONE WHO NEVER FAILS HIM! I PROMISED HIM I WOULD DIE WITH HIM…AND I DENIED HIM!”
“Let’s follow them, Rock,” John pleaded. “Let’s go see if there’s anything we can do to help our Master.”
“NO!” Rock shouted angrily. “HE’S YOUR MASTER, NOT MINE…NOT ANYMORE! I’M NO BETTER THAN JUDAS!” After saying this, the distraught man rushed out of the courtyard and into the night.
John ran to the gate and yelled, “ROCK, DON’T DO THIS! IT ISN’T WHAT HE WANTS!”

By Alan W. Harris

39 – God’s costly Cup

(Inspired by John 18:1-11)

When Jesus completed His special prayer for his followers, He turned and led them to the little garden that was His favorite spot on the Mount of Olives. The burden that He was carrying was almost more than He could bear, and He needed to spend what time He had left talking with His Father about it.
Judas of Kerioth had not hesitated when he rushed away from the disciples’ Passover meal. He quickly made his way through the city to the house of Caiaphas to complete the deal for betraying the Teacher. He was hoping to tell them where to find Jesus, collect his money, and leave. He never wanted to have to see Jesus or any of the others ever again, but Caiaphas had other plans. There would be no mistakes tonight. The guards were ordered to take Judas with them. The traitor was to lead the whole mob of them to the Nazarene and positively identify Him to the officers.
It had taken some time to gather all the troops. Caiaphas wasn’t sure how hard the disciples would fight to protect their Teacher, so he wanted an overwhelming force to be sure the arrest went as planned. That’s why it took so long. The temple guards had been placed on standby that evening, and all leave was canceled. They could be assembled at a moment’s notice. Caiaphas also had gathered a large contingent of street thugs to join his male servants as part of the small army. But that wasn’t enough. Caiaphas had pressed the Roman governor to send a cohort of soldiers to go with them. It was several hours later before the governor approved the soldiers’ participation.
Judas was nodding off to sleep when, in the wee hours of the morning, the fully armed Roman soldiers finally arrived at Caiaphas’s gate. Rubbing his hands together with glee, the chief priest gave the order, and Judas was jerked to the front of the column and ordered to lead them to the Nazarene. When the huge mob arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane carrying torches and clubs, they were quite intimidating.
Jesus spotted them as they approached and began waking up His sleeping disciples. Stepping past His drowsy followers, Jesus confronted Judas and the leaders of the mob. “Who are you looking for?” Jesus asked, looking at Judas.
Without answering, Judas swallowed hard and timidly began pushing back into the crowd.
When Judas didn’t answer the question, the captain of the temple guard spoke up, “Which one of you is Jesus the Nazarene!”
“I AM!” Jesus stated firmly, using the name of God. Immediately power shot forth as the Son of God declared His identity, and all of the mob stumbled backwards and fell to the ground as if shoved by an invisible hand.
There was a stunned, awkward moment as the entire posse hurriedly picked themselves up and tried to find dropped weapons, torches, and helmets. When they were mostly back on their feet, Jesus asked again, “Who is it you’re looking for?”
“Uh…Jesus the Nazarene,” the captain answered more humbly.
“That’s who I said I am,” Jesus returned. “If I’m the One you’re seeking, then leave these others alone.” Jesus gestured to His followers, and the disciples began backing slowly away from the soldiers.
“YOU!” the captain pointed his sword at Judas. The traitor was roughly shoved forward until he was standing in front with the others. “Show us for sure which one of these guys is the Nazarene!”
Looking down at the ground, Judas shuffled forward until he was directly in front of Jesus. Looking into the eyes of the Lord, Judas managed to get out, “Hello, Teacher,” and then kissed Him.
With a look of deep sadness, Jesus stared into the traitor’s eyes and asked, “A kiss, Judas? You’re betraying Me with a kiss?”
Simon, son of John, who everyone in the group knew as Rock, had been upset ever since Jesus had said earlier during the Passover meal that he would deny Jesus three times. As the soldiers and militia arrived to arrest his Master, Rock began repeating to himself the mantra he had uttered hundreds of times that evening, “I will not deny Him! I will not forsake Him!” As he said these words again, trying to build his courage, the fisherman reached behind his back with his left hand and grabbed the handle of the short sword he had hidden underneath his cloak. Yanking out the weapon, he yelled and slashed at the nearest torch-carrying member of the posse.
Malchus was one of Caiaphas’s house servants. He had been ordered out of his bed earlier in the evening and handed a torch. He wasn’t even sure what he was doing with this armed mob in the middle of the night except that he had been ordered to come. He had seen the sudden movement to his right. It wasn’t until the light from the torch he held glinted off the sword’s metal blade that he realized he was in danger. Rock’s sharp weapon swished for his throat. Ducking his head quickly to his left, Malchus managed to drop beneath the deadly sword…mostly. The cutting edge struck the bottom of Malchus’s right ear and sliced it cleanly off. With a sharp cry of pain, Caiaphas’s servant dropped his torch and grasped the bloody stump where his ear had been.
“ENOUGH OF THIS!” Jesus cried out, and everyone froze as the supreme commander of the universe gave His order. Turning to Rock, Jesus said, “Put your sword up. The Father has given Me a cup to drink, and neither you nor anyone else is going to stop Me from drinking it!”
Turning to the injured servant, Jesus stooped down and picked up the severed ear. Without even wiping it off, the Son of God put it back in its place, and Malchus suddenly realized that the pain had stopped. Feeling where the injury had been, the servant was stunned at what he found. There was his ear, exactly where it was supposed to be. His hand was still covered in his own blood, but his ear was in place, and the cut had completely healed. Malchus’s mouth dropped open, and he looked at the Teacher in wonder and amazement.
At this point the leader of the Roman soldiers decided that he had enough of this circus and gave orders for his men to charge forward and make the arrest. Jesus submitted to them. Others in the posse tried to apprehend the Nazarene’s followers, but it was too late. As soon as the Romans had moved against Jesus, His disciples all turned and ran into the darkness.

By Alan W. Harris

38 – Jesus’s Last Gift to Us Before the Cross

(Inspired by John 17:1-26)

Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives, looking across to the city of Jerusalem glowing in the moonlight. The Teacher had just finished encouraging His disciples on this sad night, and now He was contemplating His ministry.
He had spent almost three years revealing to the Jews what their heavenly Father was really like. In the Father’s name He had showed them miracles, wonders, and signs, and still most had rejected Him. Even now they were making their plans to kill Him.
The Teacher looked at His followers. They had been with Him the whole time, had seen it all, and heard every one of His lessons. But after all this, they understood so little and still lacked the genuine faith He tried to instill in them. As Jesus looked lovingly on His broken and weak disciples, He thought of one more thing He could do for them before He faced the horrible sacrifice He was about to make. He would pray for them.
“Well, Father,” Jesus began as He looked up to heaven, “the time has finally come. As I submit to this great plan of Yours, let the world finally see who I really am so that I can show the world who You really are. You gave Me, Your Son, authority over everyone for a specific purpose. There are some people in this world that You have given to Me, and My job is to use My authority to give eternal life to them.
“This life that I will give them is the best life they could ever imagine! It’s the most desirable and the highest form of life, and it lasts forever! It’s a life that they will spend intimately knowing You and Me. The more they learn of Us, the more amazed they will be, and the more like Us they will become! I can’t wait for them to experience it!
“Father, You gave Me the work You wanted Me to do while I was living on the earth, and I did all of it just as You wanted Me to do it. I did all of these things to show them Your power and majesty. Now, Father, I am about to finish Your glorious work of salvation. As I do and reveal to them Your glory, show them My glory in this work! Show them the glory that I had with You before the world began! Let them finally know Who I truly am!
Jesus turned and looked at His disciples. “You took these men out of the world and gave them to Me. I not only taught them Your words, but I also revealed Your very nature to them. Each one of them belonged to You, Father, and You gave them to Me. When I taught these men Your words, they hung on to them. They did not let go of Your words. They believed them and applied them to their lives. Your powerful words have changed these men. They now believe that everything that I have has come from You and that I have come from You.
“Before I leave them, I have some special requests that I want to make to You on their behalf and on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their words. I am not asking You to do these things for those in the world who don’t believe in Me, but for these who do believe because they are Yours, and You gave them to Me. They see who I really am and will tell others!
“I am coming home to You now, Father, but these men will be staying here in this dark and evil world. Since I will not be with them in this world as I have been, they will need lots of help from both of Us. Don’t let them fall back into their worldly, selfish natures. Keep them living their lives in Your righteous nature…the same nature they saw in Me! That’s the only way they can be united together as one like You and I are, Father. May they look at one another through YOUR eyes and relate to each other with YOUR heart!
“While I was living here with them, I kept them in Your nature. I guarded them and made sure that they saw the circumstances of life through Your eyes, Father, and not one of them have been lost except Judas, who ruined and wasted his life as the scripture predicted he would.
“But I’m finally getting to come home to You, Father. The reason I am saying this prayer to You out loud is for My friends here listening to Me. Even as I face what’s coming, I want them to know that I have great joy in what You and I are about to accomplish, and I want My joy to absolutely fill them up when they finally understand.
“I made sure to give My friends Your word, and just as We both knew would happen, the world has hated them. But even being hated by the world is a good thing because it shows them that they are not a part of the world anymore. They have become like Me. I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, Father. They still have great work to do for Us. I’m asking You to keep them out of the power of the evil one.
“I have called them to be like Me. I am not in any way a part of the world, and neither are they. I have given them Your word of truth, Father, and I’m asking You to set each of them apart to reveal Your truth to the whole world. Just like You sent Me into the world, so I am sending them.
“You know what I’m about to do, Father. I’m going to set Myself apart from all others to accomplish Your work of salvation. For this reason, I’m asking You to set them apart to spread Your truth and to complete their part in this great work. But if they are going to accomplish all this, My followers must be united together as one. I am not asking this just for these men here. I want all who believe in Me through their words to be united together as one, just like You and I are one. Divisions will occur in them if they use their own fleshly, selfish minds, but that’s why I’m asking that You would give them Your mind and heart. Father, I want all of My followers, now and forever, to be bound together in perfect unity with You and Me and with each other. They have to, Father! They have to! That’s the only way the world will know that I came from You and that You love them and that You love Me. It’s the only way!
“There’s one more thing I want to ask for, Father. I want all who You have given Me to come to where I’m going to be so that they can be with Me forever. I want them to see the magnificent glory that You have given Me, the glory that I have had with You since before the world was made. Father, when they see the true glory of the One Who loves them with the greatest love imaginable, they will be thrilled and completely filled up with joy!
“I need to close My prayer now, Father. It breaks My heart to say it, but the people who You made in the world don’t know You. But I know You and Your glorious holy nature, and these men here know that You sent Me. In the time that I have been with them, I have revealed to them Who I am and what I am truly like. Because they know Me, they know You too, and they are going to make sure the world knows what We are like and what We have done for them. Because of that, Father, I ask that the love that You have for Me will be in them so that they would know how much We love them and that they will be able to love Us. And lastly, may all of My disciples know that I am in them and that they are always in Me!”

By Alan W. Harris

37 – In Christ Even Our Failures Bring Peace

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(Inspired by John 16:16-33)
There was a lot on Jesus’s mind. He knew that His friend Judas was betraying Him right at that moment and that his treachery would lead Jesus to the cross. The Teacher needed some alone time with His Father in heaven before it all started, so He led the eleven remaining disciples to His favorite spot, the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.
After the warnings Jesus had given them that evening, the disciple’s mood was heavy with sadness. Even so, Jesus would not allow their last few hours together to be ones of silence. There was too much to talk about.
“You’re all still upset because I said I was going away,” Jesus said as they walked.
“Of course we’re upset, Lord,” John spoke up. “None of us want you to go away.”
“When are you going, Master?” Philip asked sadly.
“In just a very short time it will happen, and you won’t see Me,” Jesus answered. “But then a little while after that, you will see Me!”
At those words the disciples were so confused that they stopped and looked at each other.
“What…what did He say?” Simon, who had been walking in the rear, asked.
“I don’t know,” Little James tried to answer. “It was something about not seeing Him but then seeing Him again. I don’t know what that means.”
“Don’t feel bad, Little James,” Andrew said. “None of the rest of us do either.”
“And what does He mean a short time and a little while?” Thomas asked in frustration. “Is that a day…two days…a week? What is He talking about?”
When Jesus realized that His followers weren’t following, He stopped and walked back to them. “Are you wondering what I meant when I said that you wouldn’t see me but would see Me later?” Jesus said with a smile.
The response was eleven nodding heads.
“I’m not going to tell you all the details,” Jesus explained. “It would be too upsetting for you. But here’s the truth—the absolute truth. When it happens, you will be sorrowful and cry bitterly while, at the same time the world will cheer and be glad. But that will not be how it all ends. The bitter sorrow that you’ll feel will suddenly be turned into joy!”
“How can that happen, Lord?” James asked.
“The same way it happens for a woman when she gives birth to a child,” the Teacher responded. “When she’s in labor, there is much sorrow and anguish, but as soon as her baby is born, she has so much joy that she forgets the sorrow. That’s the way it will be for you. Now you have sorrow in your hearts, but I’m going to see you again, and when that happens, you will be so full of joy that no one will ever take it away! And that’s a promise!”
“But, Lord…” Matthew started to ask, but he was cut off when Jesus raised His finger.
“On that day of joy when you see Me again,” Jesus announced, “you will not need to ask Me any questions. You will be asking the Father directly, and He will answer you. I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth. If you ask the Father for anything in My name, that is, for what I want and as I would ask, then He will give it to you.
“You really haven’t prayed like that yet. You are always asking for what you want. But now you are to identify what I want and pray for that. That’s what it means to pray in My name, and when you do that, God will not only answer your prayers, but His answers will absolutely fill you with joy!
“In the past, much that I have told you was in parables or figures of speech. Things are changing now,” Jesus announced.
“What’s changing, Lord?” Rock blurted out in frustration. He had been silent until now because he was still struggling with Jesus’s prophecy about him denying Jesus that very night.
“Soon I won’t be using figurative language any more but will make sure you understand plainly about the Father,” Jesus answered, making eye contact with Rock. “Also, I used to pray to the Father for you because you didn’t know how to pray, but now you do. All of you are now going to begin praying in My name.”
“Yes, in Your name,” Andrew echoed reassuringly.
“Right,” John agreed. “We try to understand Your wants and desires, and when we do we ask the Father for them.”
Yes,” Jesus smiled, “you understand. When you pray like that, in My name, the Father will answer your prayers. You will no longer need Me to pray for you. That’s because the Father loves you!”
“The Father really loves us, Master?” Simon asked.
“Yes, Simon, yes!” Jesus answered with a laugh of joy. “And do you know why? The Father loves you because you love Me and have believed that I came from the Father. The reason I came from the Father and have come into the world is to tell you about the Father. But I’ve been here long enough, so now I am leaving the world and going home to My Father.”
“You’re doing it, Lord!” Philip exclaimed, trying to grasp the significance of what Jesus was saying. “You’re doing it! You’re speaking plainly to us and not using any figures. Master, You know everything…everything! No one needs to question You! That’s why we believe that You came from the Father!”
“Do you now believe?” Jesus asked with a skeptical expression. They all eagerly nodded that they did. “I wish that were true, but the time has almost arrived when all of you will be scattered, running away in fear and leaving Me to face My enemies alone. But it’s okay; I won’t be alone. The Father is with Me.”
Jesus looked around at His heartbroken and crushed disciples and smiled. “I didn’t tell you these things to hurt or disappoint you. I told you about your failures ahead of time so that when they happen, you will know that I already knew about it and will take care of it all. Instead of being destroyed by guilt over your failures, I want you and all of My followers to trust in the Father and in Me and have peace.”
By Alan W. Harris

36 – The Helper is Coming

(Inspired by John 16:1-15)
As Jesus led His disciples along the road up the Mount of Olives on the moonlit night, there seemed to be something ominous hovering over them. A short time earlier the Teacher had announced that He was leaving them, and they weren’t sure why. He had also told them that they would all forsake Him this night, and that had broken their hearts.
“I want you all to know,” Jesus said loud enough for them all to hear, “that things are not going to turn out the way each of you thought they would. The reason I’m telling you all these things before hand is so that when they do occur, you won’t be disheartened and give up.”
“What’s going to happen, Teacher?” Matthew asked nervously, dreading the answer.
“Soon you will be going out to tell others about Me,” Jesus answered, “but those people will not treat you like heroes. Instead they will throw you out of the synagogues. In fact, very soon people will try to kill you, and those who do will think they are serving God.”
“Why, Lord?” John asked, trying to hold back his tears. “Why will they treat us so badly?”
Jesus stopped and turned to look squarely at his young disciple. “Because they don’t know My Father, and they don’t know Me. I want you to understand clearly what’s coming so that when it happens, you will remember that I told you. I want you to be prepared.”
“You never said anything like this before, Lord,” Philip asked with a concerned look. “Why are you telling us all of this NOW?”
“I didn’t tell you these things before,” Jesus answered, “because I was with you, and I have protected you. But now I am going away, and I know you all want to know where I’m going. Let Me tell you once more, I am going to My Father, the One Who sent Me.” After saying these words, the Teacher scanned the heartbroken faces of His followers.
“Look at each of your faces,” Jesus said with a compassionate smile. “I tell you that I’m going home to My Father, and you are filled with sorrow. I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth, My going to the Father is a really good thing for you because, if I don’t leave, then the Helper, the Holy Spirit, will not come to you. But by going back home, I will be able to send the Helper to you. The sadness you feel right now is preventing each of you from comprehending how wonderful it will be to have the Holy Spirit here with you helping you.”
“What will He do, Lord?” Thomas asked curiously.
“He will be with each of you and do everything that I’ve done and so much more!” Jesus answered excitedly. “You know all of those people I told you about who will hate you? Well, the Holy Spirit, when He comes, will convict those people of their sins even though they don’t believe in Me. I won’t be here to show the world what true righteousness looks like, so the Holy Spirit will do that. And He’ll actually do it so well that people will be convicted that they aren’t righteous. That’s when their hearts will open, and you will be able to share My words and My righteousness with them. The Helper will also convict the world about the judgment that’s coming and the judgement that’s already taken place.”
“There has already been a judgement?” Andrew questioned with concern. “Who has been judged?” At this question all of the disciples nervously looked at each other.
“Our enemy,” Jesus answered confidently with a smile. “The ruler of this world has been judged. He has been defeated! And in the next few hours, I will seal his defeat. I have a lot I want to say to you about all that and more, but you have too much to deal with right now.”
“When will You tell us, Teacher?” Little James asked. “We want to know all that You have to say to us!”
“I know you do, Little James,” Jesus returned, “but now is not the time.”
“But when, Lord?”
“When I send you the Helper, the Spirit of truth, He will explain everything to you. He will guide you to all the truth you need to know. And He won’t be just telling you what He wants to say. Everything He hears Me saying, He will speak to you. He will take everything that I have for you and reveal it to you, making sure you understand it. He will even show you My glory.
“What things do You have for us, Master?” Matthew asked with a gleam in his eyes.
The smile on the Master’s face grew broad as He answered. “Everything that the Father has is mine. And when the Helper comes, He’s going to take everything that’s Mine and show it to you…EVERYTHING.”
At these words eleven mouths dropped open.

By Alan W. Harris

35 – The Most Important Thing

(Inspired by John 15: 12-27)
Jesus was aware that His death was only hours away. When He and his disciples had concluded what would be their last Passover meal together, Jesus led them out of the city to go to the nearby Mount of Olives. Before the nightmare began for Him, the Teacher wanted to take some time to share the things He considered most important with his disciples. Jesus had just finished urging them to produce God’s fruit in their lives by remaining closely attached to Him. His mind now went to another critical issue He wanted to teach them, but before He could say anything, Andrew had a question.
“You just told us that we show our love for You when we know and obey your will,” the disciple said. “So what is Your will for us?”
“Yes, Teacher,” Simon the former assassin asked eagerly, “what do You want us to do?”
Jesus stopped and turned to face his friends. They all looked at Him, anxious to hear His instructions for them. “Okay,” He said with a smile, “here are your orders: love each other.”
There was a moment of confused silence. Philip finally asked, “That’s it?”
“No, that’s NOT it,” Jesus answered. “Don’t just love each other. Love each other like I have loved you. The greatest love you can show is to be willing to give your life for your friends. When you make doing My will the most important thing in your life, then you show that you truly love Me and that you are My friends.”
“We do love You, Lord,” John returned, “and we just want to serve You.”
“I hope you all notice that I don’t call you My servants,” Jesus responded. “A servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you My friends because I have always told you everything that I have heard from My Father. And more than that, you didn’t choose Me; I’m the One Who chose you. I specifically selected each one of you to go out for Me and produce the fruit that the Father and I want. The fruit that you will produce for Us will last forever.
“Do you remember how to bear that fruit? You ask for it in My name. That means you ask for what I want, as I would. If you do that, then the Father will give it to you. That’s the fruit! But the most important thing is loving one another.”
“So, Teacher,” Matthew asked, “are you saying that if we just love each other and ask for what You want, then people will join us?”
“Some will,” Jesus returned, “but most will hate you. Don’t be discouraged or upset when they hate you. Just remember that they hated me first. If you want the world to love you, then you need to live like the world does. But because I chose you out of the world so that I could live My life in you and show the world My glory through you, the world hates you.”
As he said these words, even in the moonlight, Jesus could see the sober looks on His followers’ faces. So He added, “Don’t forget what I’ve told you before. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. But there are some who have kept My word. There will be some who keep yours also. Be encouraged by those people because the majority will reject you, though they will actually be rejecting Me.”
“But why, Lord?” Thomas asked in frustration. “Why do people reject You and Your words? They are the words of life!”
“They reject Me and anyone who comes to them in My name because they don’t know the Father Who sent Me. They expect the Father to be like them, but He’s not. I came to show the world what God is really like, and after they saw, they rejected the Father and Me. If I had not come to them, they would have remained ignorant of their wickedness, but now that I’ve come and shown them what the Father in heaven is truly like, they can’t make excuses for their sin anymore. So you see, the person who hates Me is actually hating My father.”
“This is so frustrating, Teacher!” Little James said angrily. “You have given the world the Father’s truth. You preached it. You lived it. You even proved it with Your miracles. Why won’t they believe? Is there no hope for these people?”
“The Father’s plan has not failed, My friend,” Jesus answered with a smiled. “When the Father sent me, He knew who would listen and who would not. The Father even prophesied in the scriptures that some would reject His words. When David wrote, ‘they hated me without a cause,’ he wasn’t talking about his life; he was referring to Mine. But don’t worry about it. The plan is not finished. More truth is coming! As I said, I will be sending you a Helper from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth.”
“What’s He going to do, Lord?” John asked.
“When He comes,” Jesus answered with a smile, “He will tell you and the world the truth about Me. And because you have been with Me from the beginning of My work and have seen it all, you will tell the world the truth about Me as well. Then, Little James, there will be many, many more who will believe, and don’t forget to love them too.”

By Alan W. Harris

34 – The Secret to Producing God’s Fruit

Having finished their last Passover meal together, Jesus led his disciples out of the upper room, down the steps built into the outside of the house, and toward the nearest gate on the east of the city. The streets were empty as the small band made their way out of Jerusalem and across the Kidron Valley. Turning north, Jesus headed toward the Mount of Olives. The moon was bright and made it easy to see the way.
As they walked along in silence, they passed by a vineyard planted on the side of the hill. Jesus stopped beside one of the grape vines and called His disciples to Him. Pointing to the thick, healthy vine, Jesus said, “Come here. As you look at this grape vine, consider this important truth. I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. As the true vine, I produce lots of branches, but some of them produce fruit and some do not. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, the vinedresser takes away.”
This caused the disciples to look at one another with concern.
“Every branch that bears fruit,” Jesus continued, “He prunes so that it will produce even more fruit.”
In the moonlight Jesus could tell by the looks on the faces of His friends that they were concerned by His words. Earlier in the evening Jesus had declared to all of them that they were going to fail Him on this night, and none of them were sure how they fit in this illustration. To reassure them, Jesus said, “It’s going to be okay. I have made you clean and ready for God’s work by telling you the words of life. I have done what I can to set you apart for the Father’s service. Now you must do your part.”
“What’s that, Lord?” John asked.
“Your job is to abide in Me,” Jesus returned. “Remain in Me.”
“But, Lord,” Philip said, “how can we do that? During the Passover You said You were leaving us.”
“I am leaving your physical presence, but you are not to leave Me. You will do this by remembering My words and My teachings. Hang on to them and let them be your life. Just like the branch can’t bear fruit unless it remains attached to the vine, getting all of its nourishment from the vine, even so none of you can bear fruit either unless you remain attached to Me. Don’t forget that I am the vine, you are simply the branches of the vine. But if you remain firmly connected with Me, relying on My words, My teachings, and My desires, that is how I will remain with you. Together we will bear much fruit. If you try to serve the Father apart from Me, I’m telling you right now, you will accomplish nothing. In fact, if anyone does not continue to remain in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up.” At this point Jesus looked down and kicked several of the dead grape branches that had been cut off a few days before. “Then they gather the dried up, useless branches and throw them in the fire, and they’re burned.”
“Lord, we don’t want that to happen to us!” Thomas exclaimed.
“It won’t if you remain in Me and you let My words remain in you,” Jesus returned confidently. “If you stay close to Me and let My words and teachings be the guide for your life, then ask for whatever you want, and it will be done for you.”
“Is that how we bear fruit, Lord?” Matthew asked.
“Yes!” Jesus answered excitedly. “Yes, it is! You remain attached to Me, make My words the guide and pattern for your life, and then when the Helper, My Spirit, makes it clear to you what’s important to the Father and to Me, you start asking, and We will start answering. And you will be bearing fruit! Do you know what happens when you bear God’s fruit? You will glorify My Father, AND you will prove that you are truly My disciples.”
“So You and the Father will be producing the fruit through us. Is that right?” Andrew asked.
“Right,” Jesus returned. “As a branch, your only concern is to remain in the vine and get everything you need from it. It is the vine’s job to produce the fruit.”
Jesus could tell that His followers were encouraged by this, so He added, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Don’t leave My love. Remain in it always.”
“How do we do that?” Simon asked
“Love Me enough to know My words, understand My will, and make them the guide for your lives—that’s how you stay in My love. That’s exactly what I’ve done. I remain in the Father’s love because I love Him enough to let His will always guide My choices and decisions.
“When I let the Father’s words and will guide and direct My life, I am experiencing the greatest life with the greatest purpose and knowing the greatest joy I possibly can. The reason I told you all of these things is so that you will each experience this wonderful life with the Father and Me and that this amazing joy of Mine will fill you up!”

By Alan W. Harris
(Inspired by John 15: 1-11)

33 – Christ’s Response to Our Failures

(Inspired by John 14:7-31)
At this Passover meal, instead of joy, hope, and gladness, Jesus’s disciples were completely crushed. Their Master had just told them that this very night Rock would deny three times that he even knew Jesus and that all the rest of them would forsake Him. When Jesus saw the devastating sorrow that this news caused His followers, the Lord’s calm response was, “Don’t worry about it. You only need to trust in the Father and Me.” Essentially Jesus had just confessed their sins for them before they had even committed them, then He indicated that He and the Father had a plan in place to take care of it all.
Knowing that His closest friends were about to turn their backs on Him, Jesus didn’t urge them to ‘be strong and resist temptation’ or coach them how to not commit the sin. Instead the Lord told them that their biggest concern was to trust in God and in Him. He and the Father would handle everything else, including their failure.
In response to the confused looks on their faces, Jesus said, “The reason you don’t understand is because you don’t really know what the Father and I are capable of. If you knew Me, you would know My Father also. What’s about to happen will reveal the Father to you like never before, so from this point on, you do know the Father and have seen Him.”
“Lord,” Philip spoke up, “all we need is for You to show us the Father.”
Several of the others nodded in agreement.
“How can you say that, Philip?” Jesus answered with hurt in His voice, “Don’t you know Me? We’ve been together for such a long time, and you still don’t know Me?
“Listen, all of you. If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. How can you say, ‘show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? All those times you heard Me teach, it wasn’t My words. They were the Father’s that He gave Me to say. You were hearing the Father speaking. And all those times you saw Me do miracles, you were watching the Father work.
“My friends, there’s not much time left. You must believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. But if that’s too much for you to accept right now, then believe because of the miracles you saw Me do. Greater faith will come later.
“I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth. The person who believes in Me will do the same works that I do. And because I’m going to the Father, my faithful followers will do even greater works.” A few of the disciples began to smile at this news.
“How will we do the great works, Lord?” Matthew asked eagerly.
“Whatever you ask for in My name,* in my nature, as I would ask, I will do for you.”
“You will?” Thomas asked, sharing Matthew’s excitement.
“Yes,” the Lord answered, “of course I will. Asking in My name, in My nature, means you will be seeking My heart, My will, and My desires, then asking for them. I will be excited to grant those requests because the Father will be glorified in the Son. I will do anything you ask for in this way.”
“So you want us to pray for what You want,” Andrew clarified.
“When you seek My will and keep My words,” Jesus answered, “that’s how you show your love for Me.”
“I’m not sure I know how to do that, Lord,” John said honestly.
“Remember that I said you need to trust in Me?” Jesus answered. “Well, I’m not going to leave you alone. When I get to the Father, I’m going to ask Him to send you another Helper, and He will be with you forever.”
“A helper?” Little James** asked. “Who’s that?”
“I’m sending to you the Spirit of truth,” Jesus returned, “but He’s only coming to you. The world can’t receive Him. Their hearts are so full of lies and deceit that they can’t recognize or understand the truth that He is. But you will know Him because He will be in you and will always be with you. You see, I’m not leaving you as orphans. I’m sending My Spirit to you.”
“Lord, this is so confusing,” Thomas said. “Can you tell us what’s going on?”
“I can tell you this,” the Teacher returned. “In just a little while, the world will not see Me anymore. They will think I’m gone for good. But you WILL see Me!” Jesus gave a big smile when He said these last words.
“And when you see Me, remember this—because I live, you will live also! When that day comes, you will no longer doubt. You will know that I am in my Father, you are in Me, and I am in you.
“The person who knows My will and pursues it, making it his will and purpose in life, is the person who loves Me. And the person who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I will also love that person and reveal Myself to him.”
Judas, not the traitor, asked with concern, “Lord, what’s happened? Why are You revealing Yourself to us and not to the world?”
“Anyone who chooses to love Me will keep My word; and the Father and I will love that person enough to come and make Our home with them. We will be intimately close to them forever. But do you remember I said that My words are really the Father’s? The person who doesn’t love Me is not interested in My words. They could care less about the Father or Me. We will only be revealing Ourselves to those who truly love Us.
Jesus could tell by the looks on all of their faces that His followers wanted to ask Him a lot more questions, so He said, “I’ve told you all these things while I’m still with you, and I know there’s a lot you don’t understand, but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, is coming from the Father. The Spirit is like Me, and He will teach you everything you need to know. He will even help you remember all that I said to you. I don’t want you to worry about any of this. And don’t be afraid. I will take care of it all.”
“But why do you have to leave us, Lord?” John asked sadly. “We love You!”
“It will be alright,” the Teacher returned. “I am going away, but I will come back to you.”
Looking around, Jesus could tell that they were not comforted by those words. “If you really loved Me, you would be happy that I’m going to the Father because the Father is greater than I am. The reason I told you all of this ahead of time is so that, when it happens, you will believe. I want your faith to grow.”
“So what else is going to happen?” John asked again.
“The only other thing that I will tell you is that our enemy, the one who rules this evil world, is coming, but he’s of no concern to Me. Everything the Father has told Me to do, I’m going to do, and that is what will show the world that I truly love the Father.”
Looking around the large upper room, Jesus stood up and announced, “Come on. Let’s leave here.”

By Alan W. Harris

(* The Greek word for “name” is onoma and it means “name, the nature of or character of a person.” To pray in Jesus’s name means to pray as He would, to pray what He wants and according to His desires and purposes.)
(* *James the Less.)

32 – The Only Way to God

(Inspired by John 13:31-14:6)
As soon as Jesus sent Judas out from the Passover meal to put his plan of betrayal into action, the Teacher exhaled deeply and gave a smile of relief to His remaining disciples. All of the Lord’s followers noticed the dramatic change. When Judas had been there, the tension and heaviness in the room was palpable, but as soon as he left, everything seemed to change.
“What happened, Lord?” Nathaniel, son of Talmay,* asked. “You were so concerned earlier, but now you seem very relieved. What’s going on?”
“It has started!” Jesus exclaimed. “The true glory of the Son of Man is finally being revealed. And not only Mine, but the glory of My Father is being revealed in Me as well. But it’s even better than that! If God is glorified in Me, then He will also glorify Me in Himself, and He’s doing it right now!”
These words stirred lots of questions. “What does it mean to be glorified, Lord?”
“Will we see it?”
“What’s it look like?”
“Why now?”
“My little children,” Jesus answered, “I am only going to be with you a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, I am also saying to you, ‘Where I’m going you cannot come.’”
“WHAT?” Rock exclaimed.
“I’m giving you a new command,” Jesus continued, ignoring Rock’s response. “My command is that you love each other, but I want you to love each other just like I have loved you. Loving each other will be the identifying mark that shows the world that you are My disciples.”
“Just wait a minute, Lord!” Rock said with concern. “I need to know where you’re going!”
“You can’t follow Me where I am going now,” the Teacher answered, “but you’ll follow later.”
“Lord, why can’t I follow you right now?” Rock asked, sounding desperate. “I…I would give up my life for You!” It seemed to the big fisherman that the eyes of Jesus looked into the depths of his soul.
After a pause the Lord answered, “Would you give up your life for Me, Rock?”
“We all would, Lord!” James said what they all believed.
The Teacher looked around at the sincere faces of His followers and gave a sigh. “Rock,” the Lord said as His eyes returned to His friend, “I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth, a rooster will not crow until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
“Lord!” Rock gasped in shock when he heard the words. The look on the faithful disciple’s face was heartbreaking.
“Master,” John spoke up, “Rock would never…”
“And the rest of you,” Jesus continued, “will all desert Me.”
The best word to describe the followers of Jesus at that moment is crushed. If someone outside their group had said the Teacher’s words, they would have all just laughed it off, but it was Jesus who said it—the Son of God, the King of Israel—and He only spoke truth. They all knew at that moment that if Jesus said it, then it would happen, and it crushed them.
“I know you’re upset,” Jesus said again, “but don’t worry about it. My Father and I will take care of it. All you need to do is to trust in God and trust also in Me.
“I want all of you to be with Me in the place where I am going, but that’s why I need to go first and prepare a place for each of you.”
“You’re going to make a place for us?” Simon asked.
“Yes!” Jesus said with delight. “Where My Father dwells are many mansions, and I am going to make some ready for you and for all who follow after Me. Because I’m telling you about it now, you can know it’s true. After I’m gone, all of you will join Me because you know the way to get there.”
“Lord, we don’t know where you’re going,” Thomas said in frustration. “How can we know the way?”
“But you DO know the way, Thomas,” the Teacher returned. “It’s Me! I am the way! Because you know Me, then you know the way. That’s why you need to trust in Me, because all that you will ever need to get to where I am is found in Me. Do you need patience? Do you need peace, endurance, strength, or courage? I have more than enough for all of My followers. Knowing Me means you not only know the way but also the truth and this wonderful life I’ve been telling you about. I am all of these things. It is not your strength or courage or ability that can accomplish God’s will or bring you to Me. Just trust in Me, and I will provide all that you need. That’s why anyone who wants to come to the Father can only do it through Me.”

By Alan W. Harris

*Nathaniel is believed by many to be the disciple referred to as Bartholomew, and the name Bartholomew means ‘son of Talmay.’

31 – Betrayed by a Friend

(Inspired by John 13:18-30)

Something wasn’t right. The Passover Feast was supposed to be a happy, joyous, and hopeful time, and all of their past celebrations had been…but not this one. This Passover was very different, and they all felt it.
The disciples had been to gatherings with Jesus before, and they knew that parties were always better when Jesus was there. His smile would light up a room, and his booming laugh was contagious. He wasn’t that way now. To the disciples Jesus seemed to be more somber than usual. The few smiles that they saw from Him this night had a sadness behind them. On top of that, the Teacher had just quoted a prophecy of David saying, “He who eats my bread has lifted up his heal against Me.” Then He indicated that this Passover meal was the fulfilment of that prophecy. It was unsettling to all of them, but the person who seemed the most upset by it was Jesus Himself. His brow was deeply furrowed, His eyes were red and glistening, and He seemed on the verge of tears.
Most of the disciples reclined on their left sides in front of the low table in order to reach the food with their right hands. Since Rock was left handed,* he reclined on his right side facing Jesus and young John, who was between him and the Teacher. Rock saw clearly the pain on his Master’s face.
“What’s wrong, Teacher?” he asked with concern.
The Lord looked around the table at the faces of each of his closest and dearest friends before He responded. “I’m telling you the truth—the absolute truth,” Jesus answered, his voice cracking with emotion. “One of you will betray Me.”
Every head snapped up at these words…every head but Judas’s. He kept his eyes down. The disciples began looking at each other, totally at a loss to know which of them He was referring to. “Surely no one in this room would think of doing that to you, Lord,” Thomas said what they all thought.
“He’s already done it,” Jesus answered flatly.
An audible gasp was heard from different ones, and again everyone’s eyes searched the faces of those sitting there. Simon, the former Zealot who had been an assassin, knew the others would think of him with his dark past. He hated his former life, but he, as well as all the others, knew what he was capable of. “Is it me, Lord?” he asked, fearing to hear the response.
A soft look and a faint smile from the Master gave Simon the answer he hoped for.
Seeing that Simon was not the guilty one put fear in the hearts of the others. They each began asking, “Is it me?”
Once again Jesus’s sad eyes scanned the faces of those He loved the most. As His eyes rested on Judas, the traitor swallowed hard, forced a smile and said, “Surely, it’s not me, Lord.”
There was a long pause before Jesus responded, and when He did, no one understood His meaning. “You said it,” the Teacher answered.
Rock secretly gestured to John to get his attention. Leaning forward, Rock whispered, “Ask Him who it is.”
Reclining beside Jesus, John leaned back until his shoulder rested on the Teacher’s chest. Looking up, the young disciple asked in a low voice, “Lord, who is it?”
Showing John the small bite of bread He held in His hand, Jesus whispered back, “It is the person to whom I shall give this bread after I have dipped it.”
The Teacher then dunked the bread in the bowl of salt water that symbolized the tears of Israel and handed it to Judas, the son of Simon of Kerioth. John’s eyes went wide when he saw who had received it and nodded urgently to Rock.
Judas accepted the morsel from the Teacher with a fake smile, not knowing what was going on, but when he saw Jesus, John, and Rock all staring at him, he realized that somehow the Master knew and that his treachery had been exposed. His eyes darted to the door, his only way of escape. He was just getting ready to make a dash for it when Jesus spoke to him.
“Judas, what you are going to do, do it now!”
Not understanding why Jesus was letting him get away, Judas quickly leaped to his feet, snatched up his cloak, and dashed out the door.
It was already dark outside, and there was a chill in the air that caused the traitor to shiver. Pulling his cloak tightly around himself, Judas descended to the empty street and quickly hurried to Caiaphas’s mansion in the upper city.
Back in the upper room, there was more confusion. None of the disciples knew what Jesus had done or why Judas had rushed out so hurriedly. Judas was the one with the money box, so many of them thought the Teacher had sent him to buy something they needed or possibly to give money to some poor soul. Jesus was always doing stuff like that, so the idea made sense.
The funny thing was that, in spite of all the tension that had been in the room seconds before, Jesus seemed suddenly relieved. It was like, as soon as Judas had been sent on his mission, an enormous burden had been lifted off the Master’s shoulders.

By Alan W. Harris

[* In John 18:10 it says that Peter pulled a sword, swung it at the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave would have ducked away from the oncoming blade, therefore the most likely way for that to have happened is for Peter to have swung the sword with his left hand.]