John 13:33 - 14:31

Jesus became the supreme sacrifice for each one of us, that we might receive the full remission of our sins. He brought to an end the sacrifice of animals for sins when He gave Himself as the final sacrifice for sins. If only we can comprehend fully what He has done for us our lives would never be the same again - we would consecrate and dedicate ourselves to our Lord Jesus as never before.

In the previous chapter Jesus told His disciples that He was going to die. He made it clear that no one of them could follow Him presently when He said, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward." The disciples became very troubled because of this. But then He said, "Let not your heart be troubled." It is amazing that while the Lord Jesus focused on Calvary, He could still comfort and instruct His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Let us search our lives whether we love our brothers and sisters as Jesus loved us. Be sure that there is no resentment in your heart towards a brother or sister. We Christians should never be disheartened, but always full of joy and have love one to another; that we can't do enough for our brethren, those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ; that we are prepared to lose everything for our brethren in Christ. We should never grow old spiritually but always be full of vitality.

Most importantly, we must care for our brothers and sisters spiritually. We must love one another, guard and build a wall of protection around each other, that the devil doesn't get in in any way. Our love must be complete.

Jesus not only removed the sting of death, sin, but even promised a mansion for each one of us after we passed through the valley of the shadow of death. We should be as Paul when he wrote to the Philippians, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." We should only live to do the will of our Lord and look forward to our day of rest when we can enter our heavenly home. Our focus must be on eternity where we will spend our future. Then the things of the earth will grow strangely dim and the misunderstandings we experience will not grieve us so much.

In order to obtain this life in Jesus we must die to our ways and sacrifice everything. Put everything on the altar. Don't hold anything back but give everything as He gave even His own life. That is the only way. There is no other way. If we want to be His disciples we must take up our cross daily. Our only desire must be that His will be done in our life.

Jesus comforted the disciples when they were troubled and so too should we when we see a brother or sister troubled. Open to them the curtain and show them the beauty of heaven even as Jesus had done.

Is this your life? Are you prepared to let go of your own wishes and everything dear to you so that the next person might also partake of heaven? Are you prepared to lay down your life for the next person so that they might be saved? This is important.

The way of Jesus goes through Calvary. This is the way we must go or perish, no matter what the cost may be. We must die - die to ourselves and our way of doing things. Only the will of our Lord Jesus is important. We must love our brethren as Jesus loved us, so that when the world looks at us they have to admit, "they are disciples of Jesus." There is no other way. The Lord Jesus had to go this way. He had to forsake heaven and die. He had to go to Calvary, because He saw the end of it.
That is what we have to see. No matter how difficult it is, let us be prepared to be the least, the servant of all. What does it matter what I want to do, as long as His will is done in my life? There is no other way to be a true disciple of Jesus.

In verse 23 we read, "Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." See the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ! Dear son and daughter, brother and sister, He promises that the Triune God will have a dwelling place in our heart and lead us in His ways. May none of us refuse Him.

Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." There is no other way. Jesus gave us only one way to reach those mansions, to be with Him in glory. The only way is the way to Calvary, to die, and to rise again. Are you prepared and determined to go this way? May there not be a single one wanting to go another way.