Thu, 14 May 2026 09:43:31 -0400WeeblyThu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/you-have-his-gift-of-peace-1425-31You have His Gift of Peace (14:25-31)

"Shalom"—peace—is a precious word to the Jewish people. It signifies far more than the mere absence of war or pain. "Shalom" is wholeness, completeness, health, security, and even prosperity in the best sense. When you’re in God’s peace, there’s joy and contentment. However, God’s peace is not the “peace” the world provides

Resources are the foundation for the world’s peace. Relationships are the foundation for God’s peace. To be right with God means to enjoy the peace of God. The world depends upon personal ability; the Christian depends upon spiritual adequacy in Christ. Peace is what you hope for or work for in the world, but to the Christian, it is God's wonderful gift received by faith. Unsaved people rejoice in peace when there is no trouble. Christians rejoice in peace even in trials because of the presence of power, the Holy Spirit.

The people of the world walk by sight and depend on the externals, but the Christians walk by faith and depend on the eternals. The Spirit of God teaches us the Word and leads us (not drags us!) into the truth. He also reminds us of what He has taught us so that we can trust the Word of God in the difficult times of life. The Spirit communicates His peace to us through the Word (John 14:27), His love (John 15:9-10), and His joy (John 15:11). If this message fails to comfort a troubled heart, nothing else will!

Jesus again assured them they would see Him again (John 14:28). Why celebrate His return to the Father? Because our great High Priest is now in heaven and His intercessory ministry is on our behalf (Heb. 2:17-18; 4:14-16). We have the Spirit within us, the Savior above us, and the Word before us! What enormous resources for peace!

John 14:30–31 names two of our formidable spiritual enemies: the world and the devil. Jesus has overcome the world and the devil (John 12:31), and the devil has no hold on Him. There is no part of Jesus Christ where the devil can crawl in. Because we are “in Christ," Satan has no foothold in the believer's life unless we give him one. If we yield to the “peace of God” (through the Holy Spirit), neither Satan nor the world can trouble our hearts.

Jesus’ statement “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28) was not a denial of His own deity or His equality with God, for then He would have been contradicting Himself (John 10:30). When Jesus was on earth, He was voluntarily limited by having a human body. He willingly laid aside the independent exercise of His divine attributes and surrendered Himself to the Father. In that sense the Father was greater than the Son. Of course all the Son had laid aside was restored to Him again when He returned to heaven (John 17:1, 5).

Jesus demonstrated His love for the Father (and for the world) by going to the cross willingly. He didn't hide or run away. He willingly gave up His life. It is possible that He and the disciples left the Upper Room at this point (John 14:31), and thus what Jesus said from then on was spoken on the way to the garden. Or, maybe, they had gotten up from the table and lingered a little as He taught them. As they walked that night through the vineyards, they easily visualized the allegory of the vine.

His own perfect peace assures us that He alone can indeed give us peace. Jesus is Master of the situation, and He helps us to take control of our lives as we surrender to Him and receive His legacy of peace.]]>Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/we-embrace-the-fathers-love-1419-24We Embrace the Father’s Love (14:19–24)

“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Spirit] which is given unto us.” (Rom. 5:5). Orphans may feel unwanted and unloved, but our Father bestows His love upon us. Jesus spoke of a threefold manifestation of the love of God.

There was a previous revelation to the disciples (vv. 19–20). John 14:19 focuses on His resurrection and post-resurrection appearances to His disciples and other believers. The world saw Jesus last when Joseph and Nicodemus took Him down off the cross and laid Him in a tomb. He will come in power and magnificent glory to judge lost sinners when He comes the next time.

John 14:20 particularly emphasizes the coming Spirit at Pentecost and the unity of the believers with their Lord. Jesus ascended to heaven as the exalted Head of the church (Eph. 1:19–23). Then He sent forth His Spirit so that the members of the body might be united to their Head in a living union. Of course believers today did not see Jesus after His resurrection or His ascension, but we are joined to Him by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

There is a present revelation of Himself to believers (vv. 21, 23–24). Count the number of times love is repeated. If we love and obey His Word, the Father and Son will share their love and make their home in us. The word translated “abode” in John 14:23 means “make our home” and is related to “mansions” in John 14:2.

The moment the sinner trusts Christ, he is born again, and the Spirit at once enters his body and bears witness that he is a child of God.  The Spirit is here and will not go away. But the deeper the believer gives himself to the Father, loves the Word, prays, and obeys, the deeper is the relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit. Salvation means we are going to heaven, but submission means heaven comes to us!

This truth is illustrated in the experiences of Abraham and Lot, recorded in Genesis 18 and 19. Jesus and the two angels came to Abraham’s tent and felt right at home. They even shared a meal, and Jesus had a private conversation with Abraham. But our Lord did not go to Sodom to see Lot because He did not feel at home there. However, He sent the two angels instead.

Our experience of God should deepen and deepen, and it will as we surrender to the Spirit of truth and let Him teach and lead us. If we love God and obey Him, day by day He will reveal His love to us in a more profound way.

There is a future revelation at the return of Jesus Christ (v. 19). Judas (not Iscariot) recalled that Jesus had said He would not reveal Himself to the world (John 14:22). But this appeared to contradict other things He had said, such as is recorded in Matthew 24:30. The question he asked was, 'What has happened that you are not going to show yourself to the world anymore?' Has the plan of God been changed?'

He could not show Himself to His own people, for they had rejected Him. Actually, it was mercy that He did not reveal Himself to the world, for that would have been judgment. He has revealed Himself to His church and left the church in the world as a witness of God’s love. He is waiting patiently. He is still granting lost sinners an opportunity to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:1-10). And He shall return one day (Rev. 1:7), and the world shall see Him.

One of the best ways to soothe a troubled heart is to bathe it in the love of God. When you feel like an 'orphan,' let the Spirit of God show you God’s love in a more profound way. “Little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul,” said Charles Spurgeon. Then your heart can become a “heaven on earth” as you have fellowship with and worship the Lord.]]>Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/we-have-the-spirit-john-1416-18"Comfort": We Have the Spirit (John 14:16–18)

In His Upper Room message, Jesus had a great deal to say about the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit of God, we cannot live the Christian life as God intends. We must know who the Holy Spirit is, what He does, and how He does it.

Our Lord gave two special names to the Holy Spirit: “another Comforter" and “the Spirit of truth.” The Greek word translated “Comforter” is "parakletos," and it is used only by John (14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; 1 John 2:1). It means “summoned to help.” The Holy Spirit does not work for us or against us, but in us and through us.

The word "comfort" in English comes from two Latin words meaning “with strength.” We tend to think of “comfort” as soothing someone, comforting him or her, and this interpretation is, to some extent, correct. But real comfort provides us the strength to face life with courage and to keep going. It does not relieve us of responsibility or make it easy for us to surrender. Think of the Holy Spirit as "the Encourager," and that is a good choice. In 1 John 2:1, the word "parakletos" is translated as "advocate." An advocate is someone who supports you in court and argues your case.

The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Truth" and is associated with Jesus, the Truth, and the Word of God, which is the truth (John 14:6; 17:17). The Spirit inspired the Word and enlightens it so that we may understand it. Later in this message, Jesus will describe the ministry of the Holy Spirit to teach. Because He is the “Spirit of truth,” the Holy Spirit cannot lie or be associated with falsehood. He never leads us to do anything against the Word of God, for again, God’s Word is truth.

If we desire the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we must seek to glorify Christ, and we must make much of the Word of God. If you compare Ephesians 5:18—6:9 with Colossians 3:16—4:1, you will see that both passages describe the same kind of Christian life—joyful, thankful, and submissive. Being Filled with the Spirit is the same as being controlled by the Word. The Spirit of truth leads us into the will and work of God through the Word of truth.

The Holy Spirit lives in the believer. He is a gift from the Father in response to the Son’s prayer. Jesus had led, protected, and taught His disciples during His earthly ministry, but now He was going away. Then the Spirit of God would come to them, live in them, and take the place of their Master. Jesus called the Spirit “another Comforter.” The Greek word translated “another” means “another of the same kind.” The Spirit of God is not different from the Son of God, for both are God. The Spirit of God had been with the disciples in the person of Jesus Christ. Now He would live in them.

Of course the Spirit of God had been on the earth before. He empowered Old Testament men and women to do the work of God. But in the Old Testament Age, the Spirit of God would come upon people and then leave them. God’s Spirit departed from King Saul (1 Sam. 16:14; 18:12), and David, confessing his sin, asked that the Spirit would not be taken from him (Ps. 51:11). When the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost, He was given to God’s people to be with them always. We may indeed grieve the Spirit, but He will not leave us.

We treat the Holy Spirit as we treat the Lord Jesus Christ. The believer’s body is the temple of the Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19–20), and what he or she does with that body affects the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit wrote the Word of God, and the way we treat the Bible is the way we treat the Spirit of God and the Son of God.

The world cannot receive the Spirit because the world walks by “sight” and not by faith. Moreover, the world knoweth not Jesus Christ, and you know not the Spirit except through the Son. The world rejected Jesus Christ, and the Spirit’s presence in this world is an indictment of it.
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The word translated as "comfortless" in John 14:18 means "orphans." We are not alone, abandoned, helpless, or hopeless! Why should we feel like orphans when the Spirit is with us wherever we go? No need for a troubled heart when you have the very Spirit of God living in you!]]>Mon, 11 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/you-are-privileged-to-pray-1412-15You Are Privileged to Pray (14:12–15)
I have seen a plaque in many homes that asks, "Why worry when you can pray?" One of the best cures for worry is prayer.

But if God is to answer our prayers and provide us peace in our hearts, there are certain conditions we must fulfill. The fulfillment of these conditions is a blessing in itself!

We are to pray in faith (v. 12). This verse is a promise that we have to claim, and claiming it is by faith. The double use of “verily” makes this announcement sound all the more solemn. It is an encouragement that Jesus did go back to the Father, for there He intercedes for us. This intercessory work He will speak of more later in His discourse.

The "greater works" would apply first to the apostles who were given the power to perform special miracles as credentials of their office (Rom. 15:18-19; Heb. 2:3-4). These miracles were greater in scope and quantity, but not in quality, for “the servant is not greater than his lord” (John 13:16). Peter preached one sermon, and three thousand sinners were converted in one day! The fact that common people performed these signs only added to their wonder and brought great glory to God (Acts 5:13–16).

Now, of course, these “greater things” are not done by the believer himself; it is God working in and through the believer: “And the Lord working with them” (Mark 16:20). "For it is God which worketh in you" (Phil. 2:13). Faith and works must always go together. This is because it is faith that releases the power of God in our lives.

Prayer works by means of love and obedience. “If I regard [see and approve] iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18).

We don’t obey the Lord simply because we want our prayers answered as if we were children right before Christmas. We obey Him because we love Him, and the more we obey Him, the more we experience His love. To “keep” His commandments means to love them, cherish them, protect them, and obey them; “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

Believed-in prayer is a wonderful balm for an aching heart. Meditate on Philippians 4:6–7—and put it into practice!

We are to pray in the name of Christ (vv 13-14). This is not a “magic formula” we automatically attach to our prayer requests, ensuring God will answer. To ask the Father anything in Jesus’ name is to ask what Jesus would ask, what would please Him, and what would glorify Him by carrying on His work. When a friend says to you, “You may use my name!” he is giving you a remarkable privilege as well as a tremendous responsibility.

The “whatsoever” of John 14:13 is qualified by all that God has revealed in His Word about prayer; so also the “anything” of John 14:14. God is not giving us a carte blanche; it is “in My name” that is the controlling factor. Knowing the name of God means understanding who He is and what He wants to do. God answers prayer to glorify His name; therefore, prayer must be according to His will (1 John 5:14–15). The first petition in the model prayer of the Lord is, “Hallowed be thy name” (Matt. 6:9). Every request made in God’s name shall glorify God’s name.

We must pray in loving obedience (v. 15). When you love someone, you respect their name and would never use it in a disparaging fashion. The important theme of love, appearing fifty-six times as a verb or noun, is significant in the gospel of John.]]>Sun, 10 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/you-know-the-father-147-11You Know the Father (14:7-11)

We don’t have to wait until we get into heaven to know the Father. Today, we can know Him and tap into the spiritual resources we need to carry on when the days are tough.

To “know” the Father, what does this term mean? The word "know" occurs 141 times in John’s gospel, but it does not always mean the same thing. In fact, John distinguishes 4 “levels” of knowing. The lowest level is just knowing a fact. The next level is to understand the truth of that fact. But you can know the fact and know the truth behind it and still be lost in your sins. The third level brings in the idea of relationship: “to know” means “to believe in a person and become related to him or her.” This is how 'know' is used in John 17:3. The words "to know" are used in Scripture for the most intimate relationship between man and wife (Gen. 4:1).

The fourth use of "know" means "to have a deeper relationship with a person, a deeper communion." It was this level Paul was referring to when he wrote, “That I may know him” (Phil. 3:10). Jesus will describe this deeper relationship in John 14:19-23, so we’ll reserve comment until we get to that section.

When Jesus said that knowing Him and seeing Him was the same as knowing and seeing the Father, He was claiming to be God. From now on they would know more and more about the Father, even though Jesus was leaving them.

I like Philip’s desire to know the Father. He had traveled far since that day Jesus found him and called him (John 1:43-45). Every believer has a strong desire to know God better. We read and study the Word of God so that we might better know the God of the Word.

The Greek construction of the question in John 14:10 indicates the Lord expected a "yes" answer from Philip; he did believe that Jesus was in the Father and the Father in Him. In that case, Philip should have known that the words of Jesus and His works came from the Father and revealed Him. But in the Word we do see Him and His works. Today’s believers have not seen the Lord Jesus in the flesh (1 Peter 1:8). Throughout John’s gospel, it is clear that you cannot separate Christ’s words from His works. Both come from the Father and tell us about the Father.

The “believe” in John 14:10 is singular, for Jesus was speaking to Philip, but in John 14:11 it is plural, and He speaks to all of the disciples. Both are in the tense of “continue believing.” Grow your faith!

Jesus Christ revealed to us the Father and Maker of the universe. We can know Him. Why should our hearts be troubled when the Father and Governor of the universe is our own Father?

Our Father is the Lord of heaven and earth (Luke 10:21). For He is in control. Troubled hearts need not be troubled.]]>Sat, 09 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/you-will-go-to-heavenYou Will Go to Heaven 13:36-14:6 

Jesus did not rebuke Peter for asking Him where He was going, but His answer was quite cryptic. One day Peter would “follow” Jesus to the cross (John 21:18–19; 2 Peter 1:12–15) and then would follow Him to heaven. Tradition has it that Peter was crucified but desired to be crucified upside down because he did not consider himself worthy to die as his Master had died.

Almost as if to make Peter feel like a hero, Jesus said that He Himself was about to become a casualty. The message shocked Peter, but it stunned the rest of the disciples too. For after all if brave Peter denied the Lord, what hope was there for the rest of them? And then Jesus gave His message to calm their troubled hearts.

Jesus says heaven is a real place. It is not a product of psychedelic mind seeking “pie in the sky by and by,” nor is it a figment of religious imagination. Heaven is where God lives and where Jesus sits today at the right hand of the Father. Heaven is a kingdom (2 Peter 1:11), an inheritance (1 Peter 1:4), a country (Heb. 11:16), a city (Heb. 11:16), and a home (John 14:2).

The word "Father" is found fifty-three times in John 13-17. The Son of God says heaven is His, my Father’s house. It is “home” for the children of God! 

The Greek word "mone" is translated as “mansions” in John 14:2 and “abode” in John 14:23. It simply means “rooms, abiding places,” so we shouldn’t be thinking in terms of manor houses. It is a pity that some unbiblical songs have promoted the error that faithful Christians will have beautiful mansions in glory, whereas worldly saints will have to be satisfied with little cottages or even shacks. Jesus Christ is now making ready places for all true believers, and every place will be beautiful. Jesus was a carpenter when He was here on earth (Mark 6:3). He is back in glory, but He is now building a church on earth and a home for that church in heaven.

John 14:3 is a certain promise of the Lord’s return for His own. Some will go to heaven through the valley of the shadow of death, but those alive when Jesus returns will never experience death (John 11:25–26). They will be transformed to be like Christ and go to heaven (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Heaven is the Father’s house, so it must be a place of love and joy. When the apostle John tried to describe heaven, he nearly ran out of pictures and comparisons (Revelation 21-22)! At last he listed the things that would not be there. Death, sorrow, crying, pain, night, etc. What a lovely home it will be, and we will enjoy it forever!

Thomas’ question showed how greatly he wanted to be with Jesus (see John 11:16), and this required him to know where the Master was going and how he himself would get there. The Lord stressed that He was going to the Father, that He was the only way to the Father. Heaven is a real place, a loving place, and a hidden place. Not everyone will go to heaven, but only those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ (see Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:4–6).

Jesus does not only teach the way or show the way; He is the way. One of the early designations of the Christian faith was “the Way” (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). Our Lord's saying, "No man cometh unto the Father but by Me," wipes out any other suggested way to heaven—good works, religious ceremonies, costly gifts, etc. There is only one way, and that is Jesus Christ.

How would this promise of going to heaven quiet the troubled hearts of the disciples? The knowledge of a heavenly home at the end of life’s journey enables us to meet with joy the obstacles and conflicts that come to us on the way. It was this assurance that even encouraged our Lord, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" (Heb. 12:2). Paul had this truth in mind when he wrote, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).]]>Fri, 08 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/heart-diseaseHEART DISEASE - Introduction
John 13:36-14:31

This section begins and ends with our Lord's loving admonition, “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1, 27). It’s no wonder the apostles were upset. After all, Jesus had said that one of them was a traitor, and then He had warned Peter that he would deny his Lord three times. Peter was self-assured, convinced that he could not only follow his Lord but also die with and for Him. Alas, Peter did not know his heart, and we do not really know our hearts, except one thing: that they are easily troubled.

But perhaps the heaviest blow of all was the realization that Jesus was going to leave them (John 13:33). Where would He go? Could they follow Him? How were they to arrive where He was going? Some of the questions tossed back and forth in their conversation at the table were perplexing, rumbling around in their minds and hearts.

How did Jesus comfort their troubled hearts? He would give to them six glorious promises to lay hold of, promises that we today may claim and so enjoy untroubled hearts. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you can claim each and all of these assurances.]]>Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/hypocrisy-jesus-judas-1318-35-part-2-of-2Hypocrisy: Jesus & Judas (13:18–35)—part 2 of 2

"And it was night” is a small phrase of John’s, but it makes a giant impact when you remember that light and darkness are important spiritual images in his gospel. Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12), but Judas rejected Jesus and went out into darkness; for Judas, it was still night. Those who do evil hate the light (John 3:18–21). Judas did not heed our Lord’s warning in John 12:25–26, and lost sinners today do not heed it either. Lost sinners are people who will go where Judas went unless they repent and trust the Savior.

As soon as Judas had left, the air cleared, and Jesus started teaching His disciples, preparing them for His crucifixion and His eventual return to heaven. It was after Judas had gone that He instituted the Lord's Supper, something that Judas, as an unbeliever, could not share. Judas was out in the night, under the control of the prince of darkness, Satan, but Jesus was in the light, giving love and truth to His beloved disciples. What a difference!

Now the theme changes; it is presently the glory of God (John 13:31-35). From the human perspective, the death of Christ was a dastardly deed of unspeakable suffering and humiliation, but from the divine perspective, it was the revelation of the glory of God. The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified” (John 12:23). The title “Son of man” occurs twelve times in this gospel, and this one in John 12:31 is the last occurrence. This title is Messianic in Daniel 7:13, and Jesus sometimes used it thus (Matt. 26:64).

What did glorifying the Father mean for Jesus? He tells us in His prayer, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). This is how we all glorify God: by faithfully doing what He calls us to do. In our Lord's case, the Father's will was for the Son to die for lost sinners, be raised from the dead, and ascend into heaven. The Son glorified the Father, and the Father glorified the Son (John 17:1, 5)

There would be a time when the Son would be glorified in these disciples (John 17:10), but they could not follow Him then. Peter boasted that he would follow the Lord even to death (Luke 22:33), but alas, he denied Him three times.

Jesus told the Jews on two occasions that they would try to locate Him but would not be able to find Him or follow Him (John 7:33–36; 8:21–24). Note that He said to the unbelieving Jews that they would not be able to find Him, but He did not say this to His disciples. The believing disciples would see Him after His resurrection (John 14:1–3), and someday they would go to be with Him. But during His suffering and death, it was important that they refrain from trying to follow Him.

I have heard eloquent sermons on the sin of Peter, who “followed afar off” (Luke 22:54), and the emphasis was that he should have followed closer. The simple fact is he should not have followed at all! The statement in John 13:33 is proof enough, and when you add Matthew 26:31 (quoted from Zech. 13:7) and our Lord’s words in John 18:8, the evidence is conclusive. Peter did not listen to the warning, and it got him into trouble.

The disciples’ task was to love one another as Christ had loved them. In the hours to come, they would surely need this love, when their Master would be taken from them and their brave spokesman, Peter, would fail Him and them. They would all fail, and their only bond would be their love for Christ and one another.

In John 1-12, the word "love" is used only twelve times, but in John 13-21, it is used forty-four times! It is the key word in Christ’s farewell sermon to His disciples and a burden in His high priestly prayer (John 17:26). The word "new" does not mean “new in time,” for love has been important to God’s people even from Old Testament times (see Leviticus 19:18). It is 'new in experience, new.' It’s the opposite of “worn out.” The death of Christ on the cross would provide a new meaning and power to love (John 15:13). But the Holy Spirit would bring a new power to love in their lives.

Love is the bookend of this section: Jesus’ love for His own (John 13:1) and the love of the disciples for each other. Love is the true evidence that we belong to Jesus Christ. “See how they love one another?” the pagans said of the Christians, quoted by the church leader Tertullian (AD 155–220). And how do we show that love? The only way we can do what Jesus did is to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16). And the way to begin is to get down and wash each other’s feet in sacrificial service.]]>Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/hypocrisy-jesus-judas-1318-35-part-1-of-2Hypocrisy: Jesus & Judas (13:18–35)—part 1 of 2

Now a dark shadow came over the scene as Jesus confronted the traitor Judas. It is noteworthy that Judas was no true believer but a hypocrite. He never believed in Jesus (John 6:64–71), he had not been washed all over (John 13:10–11), and he was not one of the elect whom the Father gave to the Son (John 13:18; 17:12). How near to salvation a man may stand and yet be forever lost! Judas was also the group’s treasurer (John 12:6) and was certainly highly regarded by his fellow disciples.

At this hour, Jesus had two great concerns: to fulfill the Word of God (John 13:18-30) and to magnify the glory of God (John 13:31-35).

It was a quotation from scripture, the 41st Psalm, the ninth verse: "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." When David wrote the psalm, he was probably thinking of his counselor Ahithophel, who became a traitor and joined Absalom’s rebellion (see 2 Sam. 15—17). Both Judas and Ahithophel commit suicide by hanging themselves (2 Sam. 17:23; Matt. 27:3–10; Acts 1:18), which is significant. But Judas did not kill himself to fulfill prophecy, because such an act would make God the author of his sin. Judas made his own choices, and those choices brought to pass the Word of God.

Jesus was worried that Judas' betrayal would not shake the faith of His disciples. This is why He linked it to the Word of God: When the disciples saw all of these events fulfilled, it would build their faith (see John 8:28). Judas had been disloyal, but Jesus expected them to be loyal to Him and His cause. He was, after all, God the Son, sent by God the Father. They were ambassadors in the name of Christ, and to receive them was to receive the Father and the Son. What a privilege to be ambassadors for the King!

The amazing thing is that the others at the table with Jesus did not know Judas was a traitor and an unbeliever. The Savior whom He betrayed guarded Judas until the last moment of that treachery. Had Jesus revealed what He knew about Judas in public, the men would have probably turned on him. Think what Peter did to Malchus when the soldiers came to take away Jesus (Jn. 18:10)!

Jesus knew from the beginning what Judas would do (John 6:64), but He didn’t make him do it. Judas had the same spiritual privileges as the other disciples, but they helped him little. The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay. Our Lord said a lot about money, and He gave a lot of warning about covetousness, but Judas continued to be a thief and steal from the treasury. Despite all our Lord’s warning about unbelief, Judas went on rejecting. Jesus even washed Judas’ feet! But his unyielding heart would not change.

Earlier Jesus had mentioned a betrayer (John 6:70), but the disciples did not pay attention. Now when He spoke openly about it at the table, His disciples were perplexed.

Peter looked at John, who was closest to Jesus at the table, and asked him to ask who the traitor was. The Lord’s answer to John was certainly not heard by all the men; indeed they were talking among themselves about who might be the traitor (Luke 22:23). When Jesus broke the bread and offered it to Judas, people considered it a gesture of love and honor. Indeed, Judas sat in the place of honor so that our Lord's actions were viewed in that light. He was giving Judas a special honor. No wonder, after Judas had gone out of the room, the disciples argued over who was the greatest (Luke 22:24–30).

This was no small shock to John, but before he could say or do anything, Jesus sent Judas on his way. Judas had Satan in him, but it was Jesus who was in charge. He lived by the Father's timetable and wanted to do what was written in the Word. As Judas was the treasurer, it was natural for the disciples to conclude that the Lord had sent him on a special errand. Judas had hypocritically feigned concern for the poor (John 12:4–6), so he may have been on an errand of mercy to help the poor.

Remember Judas knew what he was doing, and he did it on purpose.  He had already met with the Jewish religious leaders and come to an agreement to lead them to Jesus in such a way as to cause no public disturbance (Luke 21:37-22:6). He heard the Lord say, “The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born.” (Matt. 26:24). But he continued in his treachery and unbelief.]]>Tue, 05 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.churchfocusministries.com/todays-bible-study/happiness-jesus-and-his-disciples-1312-17Happiness: Jesus and His Disciples (13:12-17)

John 13:17 is the key. "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." The order is important: humbleness, holiness, and then happiness. Happiness is the by-product of a life lived in the will of God. When we serve others humbly, walk in God’s paths of holiness, and do what He tells us to do, then we will enjoy happiness.

Jesus asked the disciples if they understood what He had done. He was doubtful that they did, so He explained: He had taught them a lesson of humble service, an example for them to follow. The world believes happiness comes from others ministering to us, but true joy comes when we minister to others in the name of Christ. Happiness is something the world is constantly searching for, but that's like chasing after a shadow; it's always just beyond reach.

Jesus was their Master and therefore had the authority to command their service. No! But He waited on them! He indeed offered them a real Christian ministry. For more than one occasion in the past three years He had taught them lessons in humility and service, and now He had demonstrated the lesson to them. Perhaps the disciples recalled His lesson about the child (Matt. 18:1-6) or His rebuke to James and John when they asked for thrones (Matt. 20:20-28). Now everything made sense.

The servant is not greater than his master; if the master becomes a slave, where does that leave the servant? As good as the master! Our Lord didn’t push us down by becoming a servant: He lifted us up! He paid tribute to sacrifice and service. Remember that the Romans had no use for humility and the Greeks despised manual work. Jesus combined these two when He washed the disciples' feet.

But the knowing of this truth is not enough; James 1:22-27 stresses that the blessing is in doing the Word, not in hearing it. To study this section in John's gospel can move us emotionally or enlighten us intellectually, but it cannot bless us spiritually until we do what Jesus told us to do. Obedience is the only road to lasting happiness.

Keep these lessons in their proper order: humility, holiness, and happiness. Submit to the Father, keep your life clean, and serve others. This is God’s plan for real spiritual happiness.]]>