Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone;

but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it,

and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

After raising Lazarus, on the day when the crowd cried out: “Hosanna!”, Jesus speaks about loving and hating one’s life (or soul), about saving or losing it and about eternity. Chapter 12 describes the reaction to the raising of Lazarus. The reaction was “Hosanna!” shouted in praise of Jesus by people in a procession. “Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.” (v.9-11) During the procession, the crowd that had seen Jesus call Lazarus back to life bore witness to it.

These words were spoken in Bethany before Jesus raised Lazarus who had been dead four days. Lazarus’ death was preceded by an illness. Jesus and the apostles were not in Judaea at the time. Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, sent word to Jesus: “Lord, he whom You love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Two days later, Jesus said: “Let us go to Judaea again. Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said: “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well.” Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought He meant natural sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly: “Lazarus is dead.” When Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about an hour away, and many Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him. Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” This was followed by the words which we are going to repeat seven times a day for a period of two weeks.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;

neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

In chapter 10 of John’s Gospel, Jesus says: “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

Who is a shepherd, a bishop or priest, after the example of Christ? Which of the bishops or priests cares in the first place to feed the sheep entrusted to him with sound doctrine? Which of these shepherds is ready to give his life for the sheep? Many of them are no true shepherds but mere hirelings. Jesus emphasizes that His sheep hear His voice. They will never follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. Jesus repeats several times that He is the Good Shepherd, and knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. He gives His sheep eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of His hand. The Father has given them to Him, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. In His dialogue with the Jews, Jesus stresses His Divinity, saying: “I and My Father are one.” (v. 30) What was the response to those words?

Jesus heard they had ejected him, and when he found him he said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of man?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

Chapter nine of John’s Gospel describes in detail the event relating to the healing of the blind man and the spiteful reaction of the religious leaders – the Pharisees and the scribes. The event begins as follows: Jesus and the Apostles met a man in Jerusalem who was blind from birth. The Apostles obviously felt sorry for the young man and asked Jesus an interesting question: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” And He added: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

“Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’”

In chapter eight, the scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery and asked a hypocritical question with the intention of compromising Him. Jesus said to them: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And then He said to the woman: “Go and sin no more!” (v.11) Jesus says about Himself: “I am the light of the world.” (v.12) He speaks about His divine nature and about His heavenly Father (v.18-19).

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (v.31)

The Jews slandered Jesus, saying that He had a demon (vv. 48 and 52). And when Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM”, they took up stones to throw at Him (v.57-59). They were well aware that saying this, He openly declared His divine nature and communion with the Father (Jn 10:30-31).

“‘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.”

On the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus came to Jerusalem despite the fact that the Jews sought to kill Him. They even sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. But when the guards heard Him talk, they failed to carry out the order. And when the chief priests and Pharisees asked them: “Why have you not brought Him?”, the guards answered: “No man ever spoke like this Man.” (Jn 7:46) Jesus appears to be the Messiah (v.28-32), and the Church hierarchy refused to accept it. It was for this reason that He was crucified in the end. Jesus speaks here about the living water and about the Spirit. We are going to repeat these words for two weeks in our prayer stops.

Jn 6:54-56: “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

Chapter six of the Gospel of John describes the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, when Jesus fed five thousand people and twelve baskets were filled with leftovers. Then Jesus departed to a deserted place by Himself and prayed there. The Apostles went over the sea in a boat and Jesus was walking on the sea. On the next day, the people who had eaten of the loaves and been filled came to Jesus and He spoke about the bread from heaven. He said: “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” And then: “I am the living bread. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. If any man eats of this bread, he shall not die.” He also said (v.53): “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.”

Jn 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

Whenever Jesus meant to emphasize a certain important truth, he introduced it with the words: “Amen, amen, I say to you”, or “Truly, truly, I say to you”. It is similar to the words of a judge claiming authority when he delivers a verdict on behalf of the nation. What important truth concerning each of us is Jesus going to say? He speaks about eternal life, death and judgment. These are very serious things, existential and unavoidable. The first truth relates to the present time and eternal life. Jesus says: “has eternal life”. The second truth relates to the future: “shall not come into judgment”. And the third truth relates to the past: “has passed from death into life”.

Jn 4:23: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”

Jesus points out those who worship God in Spirit and truth. What does it mean to worship God in Spirit? It means that a Christian must first receive the Holy Spirit. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Rom 8:9) “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” (1Cor 12:3) So if we have received Jesus Christ and become children of God, we must also receive the Holy Spirit by faith like the Apostles. Jesus says: “When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you shall be My witnesses.” (Acts 1:8) If we witness to Jesus, through the power of the Spirit people can receive the saving faith and be saved.

Jn 3:16: “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.”

You can apply this verse to yourself. For God so loved Andrew that He gave His only begotten Son, that Andrew who believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. God loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son who suffered the most extreme suffering and shameful death on the cross for you and your sins. Could God show His love for you more? How much do you love Him in return? How much do you love the Heavenly Father and how much do you love Jesus Christ who sacrificed His life for your sake?

Jn 1:11-12: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

Jesus is true God. He was born in a humble stable in Bethlehem. His own did not receive Him. The priests, the then theologians, did not receive Him. Simple folk, the apostles, received Him. As many as received Him and believed in His name have become children of God. This is an important truth. To become a child of God, one must receive Jesus and believe in His name.

Rom 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,

or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

Who is God? What is God’s love? We can perceive it by our reason too. God is the Creator of all things visible and invisible. He created me as well. He knows me; He gave me the Spirit of life and earthly life through natural parents. He wants me to be perfectly happy for all eternity. He delivered up His only begotten Son to shameful death for my sake. He wants me to receive His love. The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. There is also human love, which has its strongest expression in the relationship between a mother and child. God’s love is eternal. “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isa 49:15) God keeps you in His mind. He loves you more than you love yourself. When will God’s love for you end? After a year? After twenty years, fifty years? Never! God’s love for you is eternal. Before God created the universe, He kept you in His mind and loved you. His love never ceases. Unfortunately, to those who reject God it causes eternal torment.

Rom 8:33: “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”

(29 Sept-13 Oct 2013)

Rom 8:34: “Who will condemn? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

(13 Oct-27 Oct 2013)

The question is who will accuse God’s elect. We can be accused by demons, by people, by our conscience or by God. Everyone who commits an offence is liable to a just punishment. “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23) But it is God who justifies.

Rom 8:31: “If God is for us…” – the consequence is: “…who can be against us?”

I can personally realize this truth if I use “me” instead of “us”.

What to do if I want God to be “for me” and not against me? I need to repent. It means to come out of darkness into the light. Christ is the Light. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.” (1Jn 1:7)

Through Christ the way is open for us to the Heavenly Father. However, this way is not open for liberal Christians who question Jesus’ redemptive death on the cross and speak misleadingly about the Christ of history and the Christ of faith.

The word of prophecy spoken to Ezekiel in the Babylonian captivity is relevant to the current situation in Ukraine: “And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned.” (36:23) “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. … I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. …you shall be My people, and I will be your God. … Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. … Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” (v. 25-36)

Rom 8:27   “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

The power of God working through prayer is conditioned by the working of the Spirit of God. Therefore every Christian must not only receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit like the Apostles on the day of Pentecost but also allow His power to work in him and to make him a true witness of Christ. This is what Jesus Himself desires (cf. Acts 1:8).