2023-08-27

The Secret of John's Victorious Life

(go to Chinese 华文 text)

Introduction:
  • Peter, the one who said he loved Jesus denied Jesus three times.

     ! Luke 22:33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” ... 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.


  • John, the one who always remembers that he is loved by Jesus, could be found at the feet of the cross of Jesus. He was there to hear Jesus' last instructions to take care of Jesus' mother.
  • So, the secret of John's victorious life can be found in "the disciple who Jesus loved". John did not trust his own ability but derived his strength and security from remembering that he was loved by Jesus always. We must learn to trust God and let God lead and care for us. Our duty is to obey and follow Him.
John 13:23 :
  • "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved."

    ! the special bond between Jesus and this particular disciple John.
    It does not mean Jesus loves John more than others, but rather, it is John's appreciation and reception of Jesus' love more than others. Jesus' love is the same but different people receive it differently.

John 19:26 :
  • "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!'"

    ! Jesus entrusted John with the care of his mother. John was the only disciple there. Are we near Jesus for Him to assign tasks to us?

John 20:2 :
  • "So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.'"

    ! John's own name and identity are not as important as "the disciple" loved by Jesus. The value of our being is in Jesus' love for us. We feel valuable when someone loves and cares for us.

John 21:7 :
  • "That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea."

    ! Being close to Jesus enables John to know Him immediately even though Peter has been with Jesus too.

John 21:20 :
  • "Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, 'Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?'"

    ! Peter wanted to know what would happen to John. Jesus told Peter to mind his own business. Jesus had a different plan for John. John had written five books of the Bible, the Gospel of John, 3 Letters of John, and the last book, Revelation. John could not be martyred and was exiled to Patmos to write Revelation. He lived to be about 90+ according to tradition. . 6 AD – c. 100 AD;

Lesson Learned:
  • Our worth is in Jesus' love for us. We need to remind ourselves constantly of this wonderful relationship. It is so easy, in the business of living, to be self-centric and self-reliant. We tend to forget what Jesus said. "Apart from me, you can do nothing" John 15:5. When trouble strikes, remember we shall be OK because we are loved by Jesus. Live a secure and joy-filled life because we are loved by Jesus.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and Jesus' love for us. We are valuable in your sights and so we must live with gratitude and security. We are reminded of Ps 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Thank you for your love for us. It is our worth and our purpose. Praise be to God, our heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and our comforter and guide the Holy Spirit. Amen.



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约翰胜利生活的秘密

简介:

彼得,那个曾说过他爱耶稣的人,三次否认了耶稣。
路加福音22:33 但耶稣对他说:“彼得啊,我告诉你,今天鸡叫以先,你要三次说不认得我。”... 60 彼得说:“你这人啊,我不知道你说的是什么!” 说话之间,鸡就叫了。

约翰,那个始终记得自己被耶稣爱着的人,站在耶稣十字架底下。他在那里听见了耶稣的最后吩咐,要他照顾耶稣的母亲。

因此,约翰胜利生活的秘诀可以在“耶稣所爱的门徒”中找到。约翰不依赖自己的能力,而是从始终记得耶稣爱他中获得力量和安全感。我们必须学会信靠上帝,让上帝引导和照顾我们。我们的职责是顺从并跟随祂。

约翰福音13:23:
“有一个门徒靠着耶稣的怀抱,是耶稣所爱的。”
^ 耶稣和这位门徒约翰之间的特殊联系。这并不意味着耶稣比其他人更爱约翰,而是约翰比其他人更深刻地感受和接受了耶稣的爱。耶稣的爱是一样的,但不同的人以不同的方式接受它。

约翰福音19:26:
“耶稣看见母亲和他所爱的那门徒站在旁边,就对他母亲说:‘妇人,看哪,这是你的儿子!’”
^ 耶稣托付约翰照顾他的母亲。约翰是唯一在那里的门徒。我们是否靠近耶稣,让祂分派任务给我们呢?

约翰福音20:2:
“她就跑去见西门彼得和耶稣所爱的那个门徒,对他们说:‘有人把主从坟墓里挪去了,我们不知道放在哪里。’”
^ 约翰自己的名字和身份并不像被耶稣所爱的“门徒”那样重要。我们的存在价值在于耶稣对我们的爱。当有人爱和关心我们时,我们才感到宝贵。

约翰福音21:7:
“那门徒就是耶稣所爱的,对彼得说:‘是主!’”
^ 靠近耶稣使约翰能够立刻认出祂,即使彼得也曾与耶稣在一起。

约翰福音21:20:
“彼得转过来,看见耶稣所爱的那个门徒跟着,就是在晚餐的时候靠着耶稣胸膛说:‘主啊,卖你的是谁?’”
^ 彼得想知道将会发生什么事情。耶稣告诉彼得管好自己的事情。耶稣为约翰有不同的计划。约翰写了五卷圣经,包括约翰福音、约翰的三封书信,以及最后一卷启示录。约翰没有被殉道,被流放到帕特摩斯写启示录。根据传统,他活到了90岁以上。约公元6年 – 约100年。 

得到的教训:
我们的价值在于耶稣对我们的爱。我们需要不断地提醒自己这段美好的关系。在生活的忙碌中,很容易变得自我中心和自信满满。我们往往忘记了耶稣所说的:“若不常在我里面,你们就不能作什么。”(约翰福音15:5)当困难降临时,记住我们会没事,因为耶稣爱我们。因为被耶稣所爱,过上安全和充满喜乐的生活。

祷告:
天父,感谢您的爱以及耶稣对我们的爱。在您的眼中,我们是宝贵的,因此我们必须怀着感恩和安全感来生活。我们想起诗篇23:4,“我虽然行过死荫的幽谷,也不怕遭害,因为你与我同在。你的杖、你的竿,都安慰我。”感谢您对我们的爱,这是我们的价值和目的。赞美归于上帝,我们的天父,我们的主耶稣基督,以及我们的安慰者和引导圣灵。阿门。

Lim Liat (c) 27-8-23     

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