WEEKLY DEVOTIONS
How to Use These Devotions
Each devotion reflects the sermon's passage for any given week. So, you may use these:
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to prepare for Sunday (use the devotion before Sunday morning worship), or to reflect back on Sunday (use the devotion after Sunday's worship). Whatever works best for you and your family.
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to foster family worship with your spouse and/or children.
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(parents) to help your children learn about Jesus from God's word, along with the rest of the church! Modify the questions for your children's needs. Or, read the "Learning with the Littles" section.
THE RICHNESS OF CHRIST'S WORK
As we wrap up the series on the Gospel of John, we get to reflect on this eye-witness account that John wrote for us. John stresses twice (John 20:30-31 and John 21:24-25) that this book only scratches the surface of the work of Jesus. At face value, it may seem that John is merely saying that while Jesus was here on earth, he healed more people, made more food appear and delivered more ethical teachings, which were left out (to save ink and papyrus). While that is certainly the truth, John is really talking about something much greater.
In John 20:30, it says, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples.” Here, John is probably talking about visible miracles and the earthly ministry of Christ; but looking to the next verse (verse 31), we read, “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” This tells us something very important about Jesus’ earthly ministry: It’s main purpose was to point us to the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. That is the true work of Jesus. John explains the magnitude of this work in John 21:25. “I suppose that the world itself could not the books that would be written.” If John tried to recall the entire work of Christ, it could not be done.
Our salvation in Jesus Christ is a rich work. It’s an infinite work. If we have it, we truly have the greatest thing. We have our sins forgiven, our nature healed of depravity, our favor from God restored and, most beautifully, adoption into his family as children of the Most High.
REFLECT
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Some other religions and atheists have said that the Gospels do not claim that Jesus is the promised one from the Old Testament. What does John 20:31 have to say about that?
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Why does John say that “we know that his testimony is true” (21:24). What is the rhetorical value in saying this?
LEARNING WITH THE LITTLES
Parents, read John 20:30-31; 21:24–25 with your kids, and say (or paraphrase, to the effect):
The world is big. If you were to walk around the earth once, it would take over 50 million steps! And that’s just one of the many planets occupying our world. But John 21:25 tells us that what Jesus did for us on the cross is so big, that the world could never hold it all! If John were to write enough books to contain it, there wouldn’t be enough space to store them. What we have in Jesus is the biggest, more beautiful and precious thing that we could ever have.
Why Me?
Last week, we read about Peters death foretold by Jesus: “…you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go” (John 21:18). Jesus was telling Peter that he would be martyred. Just imagine how troubling it must have been to hear this! One would almost have to ask, “Why me? Why do I get this kind of death? What about my fellow disciples? Are they to die this way too?”
Our minds are bent on fairness. “That’s not fair” is an oft-heard expression when the treatment of this person is out of proportion with that person. But it goes deeper than that. When we are given a more difficult life than what we consider to be ideal, there tends to be a “why me” attitude in our hearts, even if it’s small. Jesus warns against this in our passage for this week. We see Peters curiosity: “Lord, what about this man?” (verse 21), speaking about John. There is some debate as to whether this is a sinful response, or just innocent wonder. Either way, Jesus takes the opportunity to teach Peter (and anyone graced to listen) another lesson.
Jesus warns him not to have a “why me” attitude about the lot he’s been given. He offers a beautifully simple rationale for combatting this tendency, summed in these words: “What is that to you?” In other words, what does Johns death have to do with Peters charge to live for Christ? It shouldn’t matter. Here’s a question from a different angle that may help us think this through: Who is Jesus to us? Lamentations 3:24 says, “The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.” There it is… Christ is our portion!
We look at what other people have; nice cars, houses, good health, easy lives. That’s their portion. Christians, you have God. The infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth (Westminster Shorter Catechism Q4). If God himself is your portion, you also have the privilege (and duty) to follow him. Jesus trails his “what is that to you” question with a simple command: “Follow me.” You don’t need more stuff because you already have the most you could possibly obtain in Christ. You don’t need to compare your life with another because you have the favor and righteousness of Jesus on you! Therefore, lay aside all the comparisons and fix your eyes on Jesus.
REFLECT
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What do you think Jesus meant by the phrase “until I come” in verse 22?
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How do you think the disciples misunderstanding of what Jesus said (verse 23) may have effected the church during this time?
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Are you willing to follow Jesus no matter what type of life (or death) he has for you? If not, pray that the Lord would give you the love and humility to live and die unto Christ!
PRAYER
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for giving us such riches. You died on the cross to reconcile us to the Father and make us part of your covenant family. Please remind us daily of how magnificent and awesome it is to have you as our portion! Amen.
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
#99, My Song Forever Shall Record
#149, Teach Me O Lord Your Way of Truth
#642, Be Thou My Vision
#524, Thy Works Not Mine O Christ!
LEARNING WITH THE LITTLES
Parents, read the story (John 21:20–23) with your kids, and say—or paraphrase—to the effect:
When we truly follow Jesus, it may mean that our lives on earth will be challenging and disappointing. We still need to love and obey the Lord, even if we don’t get the life we want! Sometimes, we may even see people around us have easier lives than ours. This may cause us to doubt that following Jesus is truly worth it… When this happens, the best thing to do is ask God to make him our biggest desire in life. When God is all we want, we will be most privileged to live for him, even when things are hard!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank you for graciously allowing us to follow you, serve you, worship you and delight in you. Please keep our eyes fixed on Christ during this life, even if our lives and deaths will be difficult. Help us to focus on you instead of the lives of other people and mysteries that are not ours to ponder. Give us strength and faith in our lives from the beginning to the end. We ask these things in the name of your precious son. Amen.
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
#110, Hallelujah Praise Jehovah
#420, At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing
#598, Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah