Author: coachdkeith

He loves us still…

John 13:31-38

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

The last days of Jesus are days of continuous teaching and revelation for the Disciples. As Jesus nets His death, He begins to let those closest to Him learn about themselves. Many of them show betrayal, doubt, fear, and in this case they deny even knowing Him. Yet Jesus continues to teach.

The examples of humanity demonstrated through His speaking to the Disciples are incredibly revealing. They stress the all too important fact that regardless of what we do, we belong to Him who created us. We are His beloved. We are His treasures. Love demonstrated unconditionally through not only the forgiveness of sin, but the free and unearned gift of salvation.

Through these verses, we are able to see ourselves reflected through them. It brings to light just how amazing the recent murders of 21 Christians through public beheading actually is. Many people, including the closest people to Jesus, denounce Him. They said that they did not know Him. Yet the 21 that died for their belief in Jesus Christmas did not, even when given the chance to unordered to save their lives.

As believers, we must sound the bell. We must spread the word. Jesus is coming, and in these last of days, it is our directive to share the Good News that Jesus Saves. Speak His name today. Speak the name of Jesus Christ. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Jesus paid it all.

John 13:18-30

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned[a] against me.’[b]

19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Prophecy would be fulfilled through this act. Judah would turn against Jesus out of greed. But…before you point fingers, there us a reason we hear of this happening. Jesus loved Judas, ad He loves us. And just like Judas, there are times when we betray Him and choose our own selfish desires rather than what Jesus wants us to choose or do. Lastly, guess what? Jesus stills loves us.

I don’t say this to condone the action of Judas, or to say that somehow sin is OK. What I mean is that if Jesus came to die for us. If Jesus cane to lay down His life so that sins are forgiven. If Jesus took all of our sin upon His shoulders and took them to the grave. Don’t you think He included the sin of Judas also? Or by some weird means of qualification that sin did not get forgiven?

There is no selection process for sin people. Think of the ugliest most horrible sin you can imagine…got it? Ok, now…when a person gives their life to Jesus, that sin is forgiven. Yes it is. Wiped clean by the blood of Jesus. Jesus did not come to judge, He came to deliver and to save. He did that.

If you believe that God sent His only son to earth to carry your sins to the grave on the cross. If you believe that Jesus cane back from the dead, rose into Heaven and will come again to judge all of mankind. If you believe those true events that occurred on this earth, your sins are forgiven and you are saved. At that point, there is no limit to how He will use you to make this world better. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

We have been called to serve…

John 13:1-17
1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus came to serve, not to be served. It is repeated time and time again throughout the Gospels. We are to follow His example. But, boy is it hard.

By the way, I fail daily at this. I’m sure many do, and that I am not alone. I won’t let that fact hold me back though. I will preach the good news and the forgiveness of our daily failures. As we all should as well.

The act of washing another’s feet is pure service to another. An act of showing that others are first, and that it is our job to serve all people. As hard as that is sometimes, such as on the highway as you drive, it is important that we try and try again. Small acts become big acts in the eyes of our Father.

Jesus served us. He forgave us through His own death on the cross. The ultimate service was bestowed upon us through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

It so for this very reason that we live…

John 12:20-36 (NIV )

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[g] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

It is for the trial that we live. The happiness, anger, frustrations, or any feelings that you have are just that…feelings. The trial itself is the reason you are here. People will turn to you and focus their attention on you, and when they, God will be glorified.

Jesus knew this, and He was telling us this. We just need to listen to Him and begin to realize that suffering is only temporary, life is eternal with God.

Step into the light and live forever. Run from darkness and into the light. God has His arms open as He waits for you.

Amen
DK