Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day  30 | THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE HOLY SPIRIT

John 14:16-17, 26-27
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive … But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Jesus promised His followers (including us) that the Holy Spirit would be coming (after Jesus ascended into heaven). Jesus also taught that the Holy Spirit would:

1. Be with us FOREVER
 
The Amplified Bible further defines the roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives:  Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor,  Strengthener, and Standby. And unlike Jesus who was with the disciples for a bit more than three years, God’s Holy Spirit will be with us forever! We need the Holy  Spirit to help us live the Christian life.

2. Teach us all things  

Have you discovered yet, that you don’t KNOW it all? The Spirit will help us continue to learn about God.

3. Bring to our minds the things Jesus taught and said

I find that the Lord (though the Spirit) brings verses to mind when I need them. When I’m writing, preaching, or talking to someone, God’s Word comes to mind – via the Spirit.

4. Give us PEACE

The Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter” for a reason. This world is NOT our final home and we’re NOT in heaven yet! Thus, the Spirit can remind us that HEAVEN is up ahead and can give us PEACE that passes all understanding, EVEN when we’re in the midst of a storm. He gives us “perfect peace” (Shalom Shalom), as it says in Isaiah 26:3. That is ours through the Spirit of God.

Prayer: LORD, thank you for this marvelous gift of the Spirit of God and all He does in my life. Help me to never grieve or quench His work in me. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day  29 | JESUS AND THE FATHER ARE ONE

JESUS AND THE FATHER ARE ONE

John 14:8-11
“Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me.’” (NKJV)

Admittedly, the concept of the Trinity is challenging. It is beyond anything we know in the natural. And yet, even though the word “trinity” is not found in the Bible, it is taught throughout.

In this instance, after Jesus has told them, “in my Father’s house are many mansions,” and getting them focused on heaven, Philip asks to see the Father.

Jesus answers, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father (because) I am in the Father and the Father is in me.”
 
Again, nothing in our experience compares to that. Thus, it’s a struggle to understand.
There are other things in the Bible that are also challenging for we humans to understand (how about “everlasting life” as nothing we know on planet earth lasts forever – not even products with a “lifetime guarantee” Ha!).

Verses like Genesis 1:26 allude to our triune God too: “Then God said, ‘Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness.’”  Note the word GOD here in Hebrew is “Elohim,” which is the plural of “Eloah,” which means (non-plural) God. Note too, “us” and “our.”
 
In these verses in John, Jesus is speaking the truth… “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.”

Prayer: LORD, although I don’t fully grasp it, I believe you are ONE God yet three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. Thank YOU for all that you do for me. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day  28 | THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE

THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE

John 14:5-6
“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’”

After telling His disciples about heaven, which He is preparing for them, Jesus answers “doubting” Thomas’ question with one of the most important statements in the entire New Testament: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

We are living today in a broken world that has a totally messed up opinion about something so essential as TRUTH.  Pontus Pilate asked that critically important question to Jesus at his trial: “What is truth?”

To some people today for whom “TRUTH” means whatever they want it to be, concept of absolute truth (truths that are TRUE independently of whether you acknowledge it or not) is wrong and undesirable.

Thus when Jesus claims to be THE way, THE truth, and THE life (NOT “A way” or “A truth”); people then and people today who are without Christ, disagree and even detest His statement.  They consider it narrow-minded, bigoted, out-of-date, non-inclusive, and “hate speech.”

As Jesus warned the multitude in the Sermon on the Mount: “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. Beware of false prophets.”  (Matthew 7:13-15)

In John 17, Jesus is praying to His Father and prayed: “Your WORD is truth.”  He also prayed, “sanctify them with the truth.”  He was asking the Father to “set us apart” for special use, to make us holy.

Prayer: LORD, thank You for being “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” and that I have come to know you as Lord and Savior.  Help me to help others understand that your offer is open to all who will call on the name of the LORD. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day  27 | LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED

John 14:1-3
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (NKJV)

Picture this: Jesus has predicted his own death (John 12), and now he and the disciples are in the upper room. They've just had the Passover meal together; Judas shocked them all by leaving as Jesus identified him as the betrayer; Jesus washes their feet and also tells Peter that he will deny him (Jesus) three times.

Now Jesus knows that his followers are troubled by it all and so seeks to comfort them by telling them about heaven… the place prepared by Jesus himself for them to come to when done with this earthly life.

With all the people around us today, the evil, the ugly, the broken, it's sometimes hard to imagine heaven, and yet that is precisely what Jesus is telling his disciples to do – picture heaven.

When I talk about heaven, I like to think back to the Garden in Genesis. How beautiful, serene, lush, glorious, and peaceful it must have been. Although there are some beautiful spots here and there, today's world doesn't hold a candle to the creation of Genesis or to the same beauty we can look forward to in heaven!

Jesus Himself is going to prepare that place, and as we learned in John 1:3, “All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him, not even one thing was made that has come into being.” So, if things were AMAZING in Genesis (before sin entered), and the same Builder is preparing heaven, then we have a LOT for which to look forward!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the comfort that these words from You to your followers – then and now – provide. I'm looking forward to eternity in heaven with you! Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day  26 | A NEW COMMANDMENT

A NEW COMMANDMENT

John 13:33-35
“Where I am going, you cannot come, so now I say to you.  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (NKJV)

These words were spoken by Jesus to His disciples at the “last supper” just hours before He was arrested, tried, and crucified. Thus, He says, “Where I am going, you cannot come.”

Earlier, when Jesus was asked by a legal Pharisee trying to trip him up: “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?” (and keep in mind there were 613 Jewish commandments in the Law). Jesus answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Now, as his earthly ministry is nearing the end, Jesus says, “So now I say to you.  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Have you ever lost a loved one? Remember the loss and grief you felt? Remember how much close friends and family meant as you got through it? Well, Jesus knew his followers would soon be grieving too, as he would soon be gone, thus one reason he gave this command.

Part of what we learn here from Jesus is that we, Followers of Jesus, need one another. Not just in times of loss, but all the time. That’s why there’s no substitute for worshiping together with other believers and being there for one another during tough times, good times, and the in-between times. We are to “weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who are rejoicing.”

Prayer: LORD, thank You for thinking of everything. Thank you for this command for us to LOVE one another. Help me make that love of my brothers and sisters in Christ a lifestyle, thus showing that I am one of your disciples. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day  25 | WHEN I AM LIFTED UP

WHEN I AM LIFTED UP

John 12:23-24, 32
“Jesus replied, ‘Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.  I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.’”

The last half of the book of John deals with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

These words from Jesus occurred just after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the back of a young colt riding over palm branches and the crowds yelling “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13)

Jesus was again trying to prepare his followers for what would happen to him. He had done so before, but no one understood.

Here, Jesus gives the illustration of a kernel of wheat and what it must do to produce an entire stalk of wheat which is part of a plentiful harvest. Jesus was telling them that what was going to happen to him would produce a plentiful harvest – of believers who followed Jesus.

It’s easy to criticize Jesus’ disciples for not “getting it” when Jesus told them of what was coming. The crowds too, hoped that Jesus was the new, mighty “King of Israel” and would help kick the Romans out so that Israel could again be in charge.

Jesus, though – the Son of God – was on a mission. And that mission included needing to die (like a kernel of wheat), planted (like in the grave) and then, as in verse 32: “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

Jesus was preparing his followers for his coming death, burial, and resurrection.
 
Prayer: LORD, it’s always been easier for me to see your hand at work as I look at things that have happened. For these disciples, I can understand how difficult it must have been to comprehend what Jesus was trying to tell them. But I want to thank You again for ALL that you did. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 24 | MARY ANOINTS JESUS’ FEET

MARY ANOINTS JESUS’ FEET

John 12:3
“Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (NAS)

This dinner party – which included Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Jesus, and the disciples – occurred during the week before the crucifixion of Jesus. Of course, only Jesus knew the exact timing of that, and the focus for all who were there was on the annual upcoming celebration of Passover.

This particular action by Mary occurred during supper. It wasn’t unusual to wash the feet of guests or perhaps put on a drop of oil when guests entered, but it was highly unusual to do so during the meal itself. And then to use the VERY costly perfume of pure nard and then to wipe with her hair was unheard of.

Mary’s gift was incredibly generous. She used a great quantity of the costly perfume that was often used in trade. Judas (the disciple’s greedy treasurer at the time) believed this perfume to be worth 300 denarii, which was about a year’s wages for the average worker back then.

Additionally, women letting their hair down in public was not proper, but Mary does that here using her hair to wipe Jesus’ feet.

So what can we learn from this story?

First, there is nothing we can give our Lord that is too much. He deserves it all.

Next, letting down her hair in public showed she didn’t care about the reaction of others. She loved her Lord and showed that love in a beautiful and touching way.

Spurgeon puts it this way: “You must sit at his feet, or you will never anoint them; he must pour his divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon Him.”

Prayer: LORD, thank You for all you have done for me. I don’t always show it, but I am thankful. Amen.
 

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day  23 | JESUS WEPT

JESUS WEPT

John 11:32-36
“Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, ‘See how He loved him!’" (NAS)

This story is about Lazarus' death, a close friend of Jesus and the brother of Mary and Martha.

Have you been there… lost a loved one or close friend?
 
Also, in this chapter, we read “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.’” (John 11:25-26)

So, the question is… since Jesus is God in the flesh and just told them that "He who believes in me will never die," why did he weep?
 
Because by weeping at this time and place, Jesus shows us that:
=>He was God, but also truly man.
=>That there are times when there is no shame in tears.
=>That He was not ashamed of His humanity.
=>That He was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3)
=>That Jesus identified with others in their sorrow.
=>And that Jesus loves people.

The famous preacher CH Spurgeon wrote: "Sometimes we are told that if we really believed that our friends would rise again, and that they are safe and happy even now, we could not weep. Why not? Jesus did. There cannot be any error in following where Jesus leads the way."
 
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being fully God and fully man too. It is comforting to know that you experienced what we experience, and thus You see what we're going through. Help me, guide me, lead me. I put my trust in you. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 22 | NEVER PERISH

NEVER PERISH

John 10:14, 27-30
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Have you ever felt insecure? I mean, is there anything in your life that you can depend on 100%?
 
As we continue to read here in John, Jesus continues to teach that HE is the “Good Shepherd” (a perfect illustration for the 1st century). A good human shepherd, back then, would know his sheep and they would know him. He knew which of his sheep were timid or bold, fast eaters or slow, considerate of others or all in for themselves.

On the other hand, the sheep would recognize their shepherd; his voice, his smell, his appearance, his rod and staff. And because they KNEW and trusted their shepherd, they followed him.

Psalm 23 talks about this too: “The Lord is my shepherd … He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters, He restores my soul.”

Back to John 10, Jesus is teaching about the security of His sheep. “…eternal life … never perish … no one will snatch them out of my hand ….”
 
Let me say to you that is the kind of relationship Jesus wants to have with YOU too. It’s not an “iffy” kind of thing, but one that is personal, secure, and everlasting.

Trust Him.  Receive Him.  Listen to His voice. Follow Him.
 
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being MY Shepherd. Help me get better at listening for your voice and then following You and forgive me for all the times I haven’t. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 21 | THE GOOD SHEPHERD

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

John 10:10-11
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (NKJV)

In the sheep-farming business of Jesus’ day, there were three groups: thieves who wanted to steal sheep and get something for nothing, “hirelings” (hired-hands) who were only there for the pay and ran away from any danger, and the good shepherds who truly cared for their sheep.

These verses also speak into the bigger picture of the world from the “In the beginning” of Genesis 1:1. Since that time, there has been an ongoing battle between God and Satan. It’s important to know that they are NOT equal. Only God is God and unlimited, whereas Satan is a fallen created angel with limitations.  However, for now, Satan is alive and well on planet earth and is trying “to steal, to kill and to destroy” anything and anybody. (Think: sickness, disease, evil – all from Satan.)

Jesus, however, has come that we might have LIFE and have it more abundantly!

Jesus goes on to state that HE is the good shepherd – His fourth “I am” statement – and that the “good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
 
Isaiah the prophet said: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” (Isaiah 53:6)

WE are the sheep, and Jesus gave His life for us so that we might – if we choose – have everlasting life.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Thus, why Jesus came to earth: to become our “Good Shepherd,” to give His life for we (dumb) sheep so that we might be born again and have eternal LIFE with God our Heavenly Father.

Prayer: LORD, thank you for being such a Good Shepherd for me. I admit that I need your shepherding every day and am thankful for the abundant and everlasting life you have provided me. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 20 | JESUS – THE DOOR

JESUS – THE DOOR

John 10:1-9
“‘Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.  But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them meant. So Jesus said to them again, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.’” (NAS)

In this “I am” statement, Jesus is the DOOR.

The imagery of sheep and pasture is foreign to us in the 21st century, but back then, the shepherd would use a sheep pen to keep the sheep protected at night. That pen had a door (or “gate”) on the entrance where the shepherd would usually spend the night.

Shepherds KNEW their sheep, talked to them, and even gave each a name. The sheep knew their shepherd’s voice and trusted him to keep them safe and meet their needs.
 
Jesus was teaching that HE is the DOOR for us. He offers salvation and pasture to all who choose to walk through the Door.

Prayer: Lord, you are the Door to my life. I know your voice and trust in You.  Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 19 | JESUS AND THE BLIND MAN

JESUS AND THE BLIND MAN

John 9:1,25,35
“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. (Jesus said) ‘As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’”
“He (the blind man) replied (to the Pharisees), ‘Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!’”
“Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’  ‘Who is he, sir?’ the man asked. ‘Tell me so that I may believe in him.’  Jesus said, ‘You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.’  Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him.” (NIV)

Have you ever seen a miracle? Maybe it’s easier if I ask, have you ever had a prayer answered?

John 9 is the story of Jesus healing a man born blind at birth. Of all our five senses, sight is the most highly valued. Yet this man had never had it.

Jesus though is walking along and sees the blind man and desires for the works of God to be seen. Thus, Jesus makes a little mud, puts it on his eyes, and tells the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man does (which took faith), and he sees!

True to their religious character, the Pharisees are unbelieving and mostly upset that Jesus did this on the Sabbath. (Legalists – like the Pharisees – are always concerned chiefly about the letter of the law, not the spirit.)

The result was a seeing man, who worshipped the Living Savior, Jesus the Christ.

Prayer: LORD, thank You for all you’ve done for me. All the answered prayers—all the comfort, peace, and love you provide. But mostly, that I am one of your children. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 18 | JESUS DECLARES HIMSELF GOD

JESUS DECLARES HIMSELF GOD

John 8:51, 58-59
“‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.’”
“Jesus said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am.’ Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (KJV)
 
Throughout the book of John, we find Jesus trying to tell those who would listen WHO He was. And He was the Son of God… God in the flesh.

Some today claim that Jesus never called himself God. That is not true, and these verses today clearly show that He did.

First, a critical Bible note: Whenever you read Jesus saying, “Verily verily,” it means PAY ATTENTION… this is important!

So, here Jesus says: “Verily Verily” and then teaches that listening to His words and following Him will result in eternal life (“never see (spiritual) death”).

Then another “Verily Verily,” and here Jesus declares himself to be Yahweh, the name God pronounced of Himself when speaking to Moses. Yahweh – YHWH (there are no vowels in Hebrew) – could be translated as “I Am who I Am” or “I will be what I will be” or even “I Am the One who is.”  This tells us about God’s self-sufficiency and self-existence.

Thus, when Jesus tells the Jews: “Before Abraham was, I AM,” they knew exactly what He was saying: that He was God.

To the Jews, this was blasphemy and subject to immediate death; thus, they “picked up stones to stone Him,” but Jesus (being God) simply walked out and left the area.

I find it healthy not to get too “casual” in my attitude towards Jesus. Let us never forget that HE IS GOD… along with the Father and the Spirit.

 Thankfully, God loves us!

Prayer: LORD, thank You for your love, care, and plan of salvation, which included me! You are Yahweh, the great I am. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 17 | THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE

THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE

John 8:31-32
“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (NAS)

Everyone I know enjoys freedom. Freedom of movement, freedom in what they eat, their clothing, where they live, go to church, watch on TV and on and on. I don’t know anyone who prefers being told by someone else what they can and can’t do in all areas of life.

However, the Jews of Jesus’ time were in a type of bondage. They were bound to the Jewish laws (all 613), which were inflexible. They were taught to believe that God would smile on them IF they kept ALL of the commandments.

Jesus came, in part, to set His people free… which was why He was hated by the religious rulers of the time. They were in control, had power, and liked it. (The other part is He came for us Gentiles [non-Jews] too!)

So, Jesus came and claimed to be the long-awaited Jewish Messiah and many Jews believed in Him.

Then Jesus adds – “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.” (John 8:31 AMP)

And then John 8:32 continues “And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” (AMP)

A genuine believer holds fast, obeys, and practices Jesus’ teaching.
 
This 21st century has become a time when TRUTH is under heavy attack. More and more people believe in “my truth” – which means whatever they want – instead of objective, absolute Truth. They are living in darkness and are bound by it.

Thankfully, we who know Jesus have THE Truth, which can truly set us free.

Prayer: LORD, I want to know you better. I want to follow you more closely. I want to enjoy your Truth which will set me free. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 16 | JESUS – THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

JESUS – THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

John 8:12
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (NKJV)

 After Jesus’ encounter with an adulterous woman, in which he concluded: “go and sin no more,” Jesus continued to teach those nearby about who He really was.

In this, the second “I am” statement, Jesus compares himself with light.

Earlier in this book, John wrote: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

This phrase, “I am the light of the world,” highlights Jesus’ role as the Messiah (or Christ in the Greek) and the Son of the Living God.

In Isaiah 60:19-20, the prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be a light for God’s people as well as for the entire world: “For the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light.”

When Jesus said: “He who follows me,” He was referring to someone who follows Him with ALL his heart, not half-heartedly. Someone who thirsts after the light and does not want to walk in darkness.

Today, we appear to be living in increasing darkness. Every week, some new decision is being made by those in power, which is baffling and wrong – according to the Word of God – and leading us, as a people, deeper into darkness.
 
Thankfully, we followers of Jesus have access to the Word of God and the Spirit of God and can pray and ask the Lord to continue to be a “lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path.” (Ps 119:105)

Prayer: LORD, we need Your light today… perhaps more than ever in our lives. Show us how to walk wisely in our foolish world and point others to the Light as You lead. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 15 | THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

John 7:37-39
“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

This event took place during the annual seven-day Feast of Booths (aka “Tabernacles”) which occurred in October as the Jews celebrated and gave thanks for the harvest.   The Pharisees were already plotting to have Jesus arrested (for making himself equal with God), and thus the passage reads: “On the last day.”

If you were being sought by a group who wanted you arrested and killed, would you have shown up where they were and shouted out to the crowd as Jesus did?

Well, Jesus did… and said: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”

These three words – thirst, come and drink – summarize the Gospel invitation. The thirsty soul feels a need, then comes to the Savior and drinks.

Then Jesus goes on to say – as he did with the woman at the well – that belief in Him would provide “living water” for one’s soul. No one fully understood the depth of Jesus’ comments at this time, but Jesus was talking about the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit at the Day of Pentecost, which we read about in Acts chapter 2.

Today, we followers of Jesus have the Holy Spirit – the living water – within us. We need never thirst for the Lord as He is with us always.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for this marvelous promise – to meet the thirsty needs of our souls. You have provided a way for all of us thirsty people to come and drink, and you have provided Living Water, the Holy Spirit, who resides with us forever. Thank You, Amen.
 

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 14 | JESUS – THE BREAD OF LIFE

JESUS – THE BREAD OF LIFE

John 6:35,37
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the Bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me, I will never drive away.’”

Compared to us in the 21st century, the people living in Jesus’ time were simple. Therefore, talks about bread, hunger, and thirst would immediately relate to those folks.

Even though we’re not living in an agrarian society, can you see the picture that Jesus is painting with his words?

Of Biblical import is that this is the first of the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus recorded in the book of John.  Jesus is talking very plainly about WHO He is.   (A side note: When asked His name by Moses, God answered: “I Am.”  Jesus is purposely using that term too.)

Bread – especially back then – was essential for life. This is much like when Jesus offered the woman at the well “Living Water.” Jesus is here telling His listeners that HE is THE essential element for life. Then He says: “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Note the two terms: “come” and “believe.”  We must COME to Jesus and BELIEVE in Jesus. Even back in John 3:16, we read, “whosoever believes in Him shall never perish.“ Believing in His Name, His forgiveness, grace, love, and cleansing is part 1. But the verb COME indicates a need to DO something too… to act, move, and in some way follow Jesus as Lord.

Then we have the promise: “ALL those the Father gives me will come to me; whoever comes to me, I will never drive away.”

I find this a very reassuring statement from our Lord. He says that our relationship with Him is solid and permanent and will last into eternity.

Prayer: LORD, thank You for being the Bread that we all need. Thank You for the relationship we can have in You – that will last eternally. Amen.
 

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 13 | JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE-THOUSAND

JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE-THOUSAND

John 6:5-14
“Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, ‘Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?’ He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.
Philip replied,’ Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!’  Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. ‘There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?’  
‘Tell everyone to sit down,’ Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.
After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, ‘Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.’ So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.  
When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, ‘Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!’”   (NLT)

This fourth sign recorded in John – and the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels – was told by John to demonstrate that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. This miracle demonstrated the creativity and power of Jesus, and I find the abundance of the bread serves as an excellent prelude to John’s following message from Jesus: “I am the bread of life.”

Prayer: LORD, thank You for this miracle. It is incredible, but then so are You – the Messiah and the Son of the Living God. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 12 | ETERNAL LIFE

ETERNAL LIFE

John 5:21-24
“For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.  Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

Yesterday we talked about Jesus’ healing of the lame man by the pool of Bethesda, which made the Jewish leaders angry. They didn’t care about the man, just their man-made rules.

So, Jesus continues to agitate them by pointing out their hypocrisy and then making it clear that He is the Son of God and thus equal with the Father. Further, that He (the Son) has been given the power to judge others.

Many struggle with the theological concept of “the Trinity,” where God is one (yes, He is), but also that He is three persons – Father, Son, and Spirit. In this fifth chapter of John verses 11-47, Jesus Christ declares His deity in five incredible statements.

Jesus Christ says – and then explains – that He is equal with God:
1) In His person (vv. 17-18)
2) In His works (vv. 19-20)
3) In His power and sovereignty (v. 21)
4) In His judgments (v. 22)
5) In His honor (v. 23)

In verse 24, Jesus again explains His desire for all to have eternal life. “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

Prayer: Lord, YOU are God. You came in the flesh, but You are God, and I believe in You – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 11 | THE LAME MAN

THE LAME MAN

John 5:5-6
“Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. Jesus, upon seeing this man lying there and knowing that he had already been in that condition for a long time, said to him, ‘Do you want to get well?’”  (NASB)

Are you facing a problem? Have you been waiting for an answer for a LONG time?
Well, this story is about a man who had a problem for 38 years. When Jesus sees the man, he asks him a simple Yes or No question: “Do you want to get well?” And the man answers by telling him ALL the reasons he couldn’t get well.

Sometimes we too are like this man. We have a problem. We would like to see things in our lives changed, but we have essentially given up for one reason or the other. Perhaps the problem seems insurmountable. Maybe we tried a time or two or five but haven’t seen results and give up.
 
We live today in an “instant” culture. We can text someone in two seconds and often expect a reply in less than ten. We have microwave ovens, instant-on TVs, and on and on.

But sometimes – I’ve learned – that even after I take something to the LORD that I would like to see changed… waiting is involved.  (And that waiting is challenging and counter-cultural.)

Jesus, who loved this man, didn’t want to see him hurting any longer, so He miraculously heals him. (Now, the religious folks were all upset because Jesus healed on the Sabbath… but that was their problem!)  

Our LORD wants to meet your needs too. But we have to make our requests to Him humbly, base them on Scriptural promises, and then wait for His perfect timing.
 
Prayer: Lord, help me pray sincerely about my needs and then learn to wait for your perfect timing. You know the Big Picture better than me, and I trust you. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 10 | JESUS HEALS A ROYAL OFFICIAL'S SON

JESUS HEALS A ROYAL OFFICIAL'S SON

John 4:46-47
“Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.” (NLT)

Jesus' reputation as a miracle worker was spreading.

This desperate official makes a long trip (over a day's journey) to come and see Jesus. Once there, the official implores him to heal his son, who is at the point of death. He is begging Jesus for a miracle.

What would you do if your child was at the point of death? I'm sure this official had access to the best remedies of the time, but obviously nothing has worked thus far.

On the one hand, it must have been difficult for this Roman official to have to humble himself and reach out to Jesus – this traveling Jewish Rabbi – but he didn't care how it looked. He was frantic about his son.

"‘Go,’ Jesus replied, ‘your son will live.’ The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” (Verse 50, NLT)

The official's servants met him as he was traveling home and confirmed that his son had been healed.

“Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he and his whole household believed.” (Verse 53, NLT)

For readers of the Scriptures in the 21st century, keep in mind that Jesus – God in the flesh – is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. His power has not decreased, and ultimately, the LORD wants us all to believe and be saved.

PRAYER: LORD, thank You that I can have my sins forgiven, become a child of God, and have a real relationship with You that will last an eternity.   Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 09 | LIVING WATER AND CHANGED LIVES

LIVING WATER AND CHANGED LIVES

John 4:10
“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.’” (NLT)

The story is this… as Jesus and his disciples were going to Galilee, they passed through Samaria.  And Jews and Samaritans did NOT co-mingle.  Jesus is sitting by the water well as his disciples have gone to town to buy food.  A Samaritan woman comes to the well to draw water, and Jesus asks: “Please give me a drink” (V7).  Not a big deal to us, but for a Jew to talk to a Samaritan… it was!

Jesus explains: (v14) – “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”

They talk some more and then Jesus – being God in the flesh – tells her things about herself that He should not have known. She is intrigued, and asks for this “living water.”

Then the Samaritan woman leaves her waterpot, goes back to town, and says: (vs. 29) – “‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?’ So the people came streaming from the village to see him.”

“Now from that city, many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all the things that I have done.’”  (Verse 39)

This story is about a simple meeting, a believing woman who excitedly shares with others, and many lives changed as they believe in Jesus the Promised Messiah.
 
Prayer: LORD, many around me do not believe in You. Help me to know when to speak about You and what to say. Everyone needs You and I know that You are not wanting anyone to perish but all come to know You as Savior and Lord. Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 08 | WHY JESUS CAME

WHY JESUS CAME

John 3:17-18
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (NKJV)

Here we are, 2000 years after Jesus walked the earth, and some are still debating WHO He was and why He came and wondering if it matters.

Many push away from God because of all the “thou shalt nots” that they perceive churches talk about incessantly. Those same folks shy away from anything having to do with Jesus, too, though most will admit he seemed to be a good teacher.
 
No one likes to be condemned and told he is wrong about anything. (To say nothing of using the word “sin” in a sentence.)
 
But Jesus clearly did NOT come to condemn: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world.”
 
Why? Because the world and everyone on it have already been condemned. We have ALL sinned and missed the perfection mark, which our perfect God requires.

You see, God is perfect, and our sins (which we all have) have no place in heaven with a perfect God. Thus, God had a Plan B. 2 Peter 3:9 teaches us: “God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

The choice is clear: Either we believe in the Son of God or choose not to.

“Whoever believes in him (the Son of God) is not condemned.” Those who don’t… are.

And what’s the price for being condemned? Eternal separation from God.

Prayer: God, thank You for Your love and Your amazing plan through Your Son Jesus that I might have life eternal with YOU.  

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 07 | FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

John 3:14-16
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (NKJV)

Continuing from yesterday’s discussion between Nicodemus and Jesus… Jesus takes Nicodemus back to the Old Testament and Moses in the wilderness and saves the people from deadly snake bites (by doing what God told him). Then, Jesus makes the parallel as to why HE came to earth.

The explicit promise here in verse 15 is: “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  Then to make sure we all understand, it is repeated in the familiar John 3:16 verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
 
Books have been written on just this one verse. Father God loved us – the world He made – SO MUCH that he could not bear to see us unforgiven, without hope, and perishing. So, He sends His one and only Son – Jesus – to earth on a mission to provide what we need to receive everlasting life.

Verse 14 again… “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
 
Jesus is talking here about when Moses lifted up a symbol of the serpent upon a pole and when those Israelites who the deadly snakes had bitten looked upon it, they would be healed. Jesus, too, is eventually lifted up on a pole (crucified), and “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Prayer: LORD, thank You again for sending Your one and only Son to earth for our benefit. We don’t deserve it, but I am grateful that I can have everlasting life through believing in Him.  Amen.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of John
Day 06 | BEING BORN AGAIN

BEING BORN AGAIN

John 3:1-3
“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’  Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” (NKJV)

Although the Pharisees as a group did not believe Jesus was the Messiah – and eventually got him crucified – Nicodemus (and another Pharisee… Joseph of Arimathea) were intrigued and seriously considering Jesus’ claims about his identity. So here, Nicodemus comes to Jesus (secretly at night so as not to be seen by the other Pharisees the night) and makes a statement to Jesus about “these signs that you do.”  Jesus though – being God in the flesh – sees through that statement to the REAL intent of Nicodemus’ visit.

Jesus answers him directly saying “…unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This statement by Jesus raises all kinds of questions for Nicodemus, including the obvious: “How can a man be born when he is old?” (Verse 4)

The concept of being “born again” is an odd concept for all of us; but Jesus goes on to tell him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (that’s our natural physical birth) AND the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Verses 6-7)

This statement gets to the heart of what we are as human beings. The short answer is that we are a spirit, have a soul, and live in a body. Nicodemus’ spirit needed to be “born again,” as do ours.

Prayer: LORD, thank You for providing a way for me to enter the Kingdom of God. I am so thankful for all that you did to accomplish that. Amen.