Personal Note + "Jesus And The Beloved Apostle"

Today we come to the end of the Gospel of John, and I think it’s the most beautiful and perfect ending possible. We have been studying John since January 1, and I’m going to miss it.

I believe John’s Gospel is one of the greatest works of art that world has ever known, as is fitting because John is writing, in his old age, about the most important thing that has ever happened: the Incarnation.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ”

— John 1:14

We’ve been studying John’s Gospel for six months, but of course it really needs to be studied over the course of a lifetime. It took John a lifetime to write it, so to speak, and so it shouldn’t surprise us that this beautiful Gospel rewards those who pore over it for decades.

I have loved studying John’s Gospel with you all, and I hope that these past six months of study have helped you become more alive, which, after all, was John’s goal in writing to begin with:

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

— John 20:30-31

---

A Chapter in My Life Comes to a Close

As we read the final verses of this Gospel, verses that are some of my favorite in the entire scripture, we will see that John draws the entire account to a close in the most perfect way possible.

Today, in a way, I am also drawing to a close three years of teaching ministry at Asbury. I began my ministry at Asbury on August 1, 2022, and we started right off by studying Genesis. Since that time, I have written daily commentary for almost every weekday of the last three years (with some summer months being an exception). If I can be honest, looking back over the scripture reading guides that I’ve published, the sermons that I have preached, and the Bible studies that I have taught, I have a sense of pride and accomplishment. If you were willing to dig into what we have been providing these past three years, you will have grown tremendously in both your knowledge of the Bible and—most importantly—your love for God’s word.

That said, these scripture reading guides and daily commentaries are extremely draining to write. The reason this stuff is so hard is because I don’t know anything! So, I have to read and read and read to come to understand how this verse, this passage, this chapter, fits into the larger whole from which it is a part. Then, I have to strip everything away to write something that will help ordinary people like you and me both learn something from that day’s passage and then see how it matters to our lives, with the goal of helping us love and trust the Lord more each day. The amount of work it takes to do that well is many times greater than you’d think. And, on top of that, there is always another deadline looming.

All this is to say, despite my pride in the work that I have created, I’m also really tired. So, for the first time since the pandemic, I am going to be taking time off this summer without the intention of creating something while I am away. In previous summers, I’ve had a deadline to meet, and so I’ve worked even when away. But these days I’m sensing that I just can’t keep this relentless pace up any more. So, I won’t.

This fall, we have some really fun things planned, but the daily Bible readings will look a bit different. Stay tuned.

In the mean time, I personally am going to continue my practice—a practice I started in April 2020, during the pandemic—of reading one psalm a day, every day. I’m not going to be writing or providing commentary on these daily psalms (though if you search my blog you’ll find a lot there already), but I would like you to read along with me.

Today, Friday, June 13, I’m reading Psalm 46, one of my FAVORITES. Tomorrow will be Psalm 47, Sunday will be Psalm 48, etc.

To help you stay current, I’m attaching here a file that provides my current psalm schedule.

Daily Psalm Reading Plan - Summer 2025

I am really looking forward to being away, but I’m also looking forward to being back with you all when I return. Among other things, my new book is coming out in October! (Pre-order it here.)

Keep pressing on. The best still lies ahead.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

— Philippians 3:13-14

Every breath is proof:
God’s not done yet.

With love,
AF

---

John 21:20-25

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?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

---

After hearing from Jesus a prediction of how he would die, Peter then gestures to the beloved disciple and asks, “What will happen to him?”

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?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” [John 21:20–21].

Jesus’s reply is perfect. He says, “His fate is his fate—all you need to worry about is being faithful to what I have put in front of you.”

22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” [John 21:22].

Now, as a result of Jesus’s words—“What if I told you he would never die, Peter?”—and presumably because of the amazing longevity of the beloved disciple, there were rumors in the early church that the beloved disciple was not going to die. (According to church tradition, John outlived all the other apostles.)

John is anonymous in the Gospel, but his identity was clearly known in the church community to which he belonged. So, after we get the fascinating detail about how the rumor grew that John wouldn’t die before the Second Coming, we get a subtle correction:

23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” [John 21:23].

That is, Jesus didn’t say that the beloved disciple wouldn’t die—He just said to Peter, “If I said he wouldn’t die, how would that matter to you, Peter?”

And then, finally, we learn that all along we have been reading the testimony of the beloved disciple!

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these thing s, and we know that his testimony is true [ John 21:24].

What v. 24 tells us is that the reason the Gospel was treasured was because it came from an eyewitness that everyone knew and trusted. And then, this time for real, the Gospel draws to a close with a perfectly sweet little final verse:

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written [John 21:25].

The end.

Jesus And Peter

John 21:15-19

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

---

In his first 20 chapters, John has told us what we need to know about Jesus. Now, in the epilogue, John is telling us about the disciples because he wants us to understand the mission of the early church. He focuses first on Peter, the chief shepherd and leader, and then on the beloved disciple, the chief witness and author.

Jesus gestures to the other disciples and puts a question to Peter, gets a reply, and then gives a command:

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs” [John 21:15].

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and here He appoints Peter to carry on His shepherding ministry. Peter is a pastor.

But Jesus puts a similar question to Peter two more times:

16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17a He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” [John 21:16–17a].

Why the three questions? Because on Good Friday, Peter had denied Jesus three times:

17b Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep [John 21:17b].

And then Jesus gives Peter a specific prediction about his future:

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19a (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God) [John 21:18–19a].

As John parenthetically explains, Jesus is here speaking of crucifixion—being “dressed” and “carried where you do not want to go.”

Peter’s job is to shepherd the other followers of Jesus, but that job will cost Peter everything, just as it cost Jesus everything.

But after such a sobering prediction, Jesus tells Peter to follow Him anyway:

19b And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me” [John 21:19b].

And the remarkable fact is

Peter did it.

The Epilogue

John 21:1-14

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 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. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

---

I believe that the Gospel of John is one of the greatest works of art in all human history. Its first twenty chapters are a masterpiece. And the conclusion that John gives us at the end of chapter twenty—after the resurrection, the greatest thing that has ever happened—after Jesus calls Mary by name, and she turns and knows—after Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on the disciples—after Jesus shows Thomas His scarred hands and side—the conclusion that John gives us after all of that is just perfect:

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name [John 20:30–31].

The screen finally fades fully to black. We finally exhale, deeply moved. We shift in our seats, slowly stand and stretch, and silently begin to make our way out of the theater. We don’t want to say anything and ruin the moment, so we walk single file down the stairs at the end of the row. The credits begin to roll.

And then, when we least expect it, the screen lights up again and the story continues!

John chapter 20 seems to end on the perfect note, but John is a peerless artist and what happens next is beyond perfection.

There is another chapter—an epilogue.

With John 20:30–31, nothing more needs to be said about Jesus. His story is complete, and we have all we need to know to believe in Him.

But John knows there is more to be said about the church and its mission, and that is the purpose of his beautiful epilogue in chapter 21.

Jesus told Thomas, “blessed are those who have not yet seen and yet have believed” (20:29). How is that going to be possible? How will people believe without having seen Jesus in the flesh? Through the testimony of the church.

Chapter 21 is about not about Jesus so much as it is about the disciples—specifically Peter and the beloved disciple—each of whom will play a crucial role in the early church as it begins its mission of telling people about Jesus.

At some future point, sometime in the weeks following the resurrection, seven of the disciples are fishing on the Sea of Galilee. (Seven is the number of fullness.)

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing [John 21:2–3].

After a fruitless night, the dawn begins to break, and something extraordinary happens:

4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish [John 21:4–6].

Earlier in the Gospel, Jesus had taught “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Here, after the miraculous catch of fish, the beloved disciple judges with right judgment and he is able to see Jesus:

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. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off [John 21:7–8].

Peter, who has an impetuous character, is so excited and overwhelmed that he puts on his outer garment and jumps in the water. As he struggles to shore, the other six disciples struggle to pull the boat and their heavy net to shore.

Jesus has breakfast there waiting for them:

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread [John 21:9].

The charcoal fire is a subtle reminder of the charcoal fire by which Peter warmed himself on the night he denied Jesus. But Jesus isn’t yet through with Peter—He has more for him to do.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn [John 21:10–11].

There were 153 fish—one of those startling eyewitness details. Way back when He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus had promised His disciples a rich harvest:

35b Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest [John 4:35b].

Here, Jesus is teaching Peter about the harvest He has planned for him. The church has a mission—to bring people to faith in Jesus—and Peter will be the chief shepherd.

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead [John 21:12–14].

Jesus is no ghost, but a living man who eats and drinks with His disciples.

The Screen Fades To Black

John 20:30-31

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

---

The Gospel of John is the work of a lifetime. John has spent decades considering the meaning of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and his Gospel is the mature reflection of an old, wise man. John’s Gospel is different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, in that John relates fewer events and incidents in the life of Jesus, but he spends more time with them. One might say that John has chosen to focus on quality over quantity.

John also is a true artist in that he prefers to show instead of tell. What I mean is that John arranges his narrative to lead the reader to the truth, but he rarely comes out and specifically states his point—he is much more subtle than that.

Here, at the very end of the Gospel, as the screen fades to black, John tells us why he has written what he has written: to enable belief in Jesus.

John admits that he could have added a lot more:

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book… [John 20:30].

But that what he has chosen to recount in the preceding twenty chapters is sufficient for his readers to come to faith in Jesus. And that faith is a particular faith, not in Jesus as a good teacher or religious sage, but as the Messiah of Israel, the Son of God:

31a these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God [John 20:31a].

And the result of belief in this Jesus is life!

31b and that by believing you may have life in his name [John 20:31b].

As the screen fades to black, verses 30-31 appear, and they are perfect:

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name [John 20:30–31].

After all we have experienced as we have lived with John’s remarkable Gospel, those words—words that make up John’s purpose statement—seem to make the perfect ending. Those two simple verses bring this peerless work of art to a close, and, they bring with them a sense of satisfaction: Jesus brings life, and we believe. We have all we need to know about Jesus. What else is there for John to say?

Imagine we have just sat through the greatest movie we’ve ever seen. We are almost breathless as the screen fades completely to black and we shift in our seats, slowly stand and stretch, and silently begin to make our way out of the theater.

And then something amazing happens….

(We’ll talk about it tomorrow.)

Thomas The Blessed

John 20:24-29

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

---

When Jesus appeared to the other disciples on Easter Sunday, He showed them His hands and His side:

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord [John 20:19–20].

So, when Thomas insists on seeing Jesus’s scars, he is not asking for something that the others haven’t received.

Eight days later—on the second Sunday after Easter—Jesus appears to Thomas (who this time is with the others, too) and gives him the proof he was seeking.

Thomas then becomes the first person in the Gospel to declare what we the readers have known from the beginning (remember John 1:1), namely that Jesus is God.

Thomas declares:

28 “My Lord and my God!” [John 20:28].

This would be a fitting place to end the Gospel—a neat bookend at the end of chapter 20 to what we began with in chapter 1—a declaration of Jesus’s identity as God.

This would be a fitting end to the Gospel…but what John has planned is so much better!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Jesus has sent the apostles to be His representatives, to testify to Him. They have done that, and all of us who have come after that first generation are blessed by believing in Jesus because of their testimony: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Breath

John 20:19-23

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

---

In His farewell words on Thursday evening, Jesus had told them that He would see them again:

16 A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” [John 16:16].

And

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you [John 16:22].

Now, the resurrected Jesus, who, as it were, lives now according to heavenly rules, and so can come and go as He pleases, appears to them to commission them.

21b “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” [John 20:21b].

As he told Pontius Pilate, Jesus was sent from the Father to bear witness to the truth:

37b For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth [John 18:37b].

Now, the disciples are sent with the same mission—to testify to the truth of the love of God and to the life for all who believe in Jesus. What is astounding is that He is sending as His witnesses the very men who abandoned Him!

He then breathes on the disciples. In Greek (and in Hebrew) the same word means breath and wind and spirit. When Jesus breathes on them here, He proves that He is alive and breathing, but He also empowers them with the Holy Spirit.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” [John 20:22].

The last time God has breathed in the Bible is in Genesis chapter 2 and the creation of Adam. Now, for the second time God is said to breathe. The Spirit, the Advocate, the Helper, will enable the disciples to carry on the ministry of Jesus.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld” [John 20:23].

In other words, they are to represent Jesus and preach that forgiveness is available for all who repent, turn from their sin, and believe in Jesus.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
What a heavy responsibility Jesus gives to His church—to represent Him to the world.

"Mary"

John 20:11-18

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

---

This is a poignant scene, with Mary inconsolable in the garden by the tomb, assuming that “they” had taken away the body of Jesus.

When Jesus approaches her, she does not recognize Him, presumably because the resurrected Jesus looks like Himself and at the same time unlike Himself.

It is not until He calls her by name that Mary finally “sees.” It’s at the sound of the voice of the Lord that she knows the truth.

This recalls what Jesus previously taught:

10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them [John 10:1–6].

QUESTION OF THE DAY
Jesus is the good shepherd who calls His own by name, and they respond to His voice. Is there an unbeliever you know that needs to hear from Jesus? Pray for that person today.

P.S. What Mary finds far exceeds that which she was seeking.

Eyewitness Testimony To The Resurrection

John 20:1-10

20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 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.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

---

These ten verses have the marks of eyewitness testimony all over them:

• Mary Magdalene’s confusion, such that she doesn’t even look inside the tomb before running to Peter and to the beloved disciple;

• The irrelevant detail of the two disciples running to the tomb, but the beloved disciple getting there first;

• The fact that the beloved disciple had to stoop down to look inside the low tomb, but that Peter was the one who actually entered it;

• The strange note of the “folded” (literally, “wrapped up” or “rolled up”) facecloth.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
This really happened, and the Gospels contain the testimony of eyewitnesses to the empty tomb.

The Nobility of Joseph And Nicodemus

John 19:38-42

38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventyfive pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

---

Sundown Friday is fast approaching, and because that Saturday was not just a normal Sabbath day, but a “high day” (i.e., Passover—see 19:31), Joseph and Nicodemus have to work quickly to at least get Jesus laid in a tomb before the holiday begins. Fortunately, Joseph owns a tomb very close by the site of the crucifixion, and so they rush to get Jesus’s body laid there. (The reason the women come back so early on Sunday morning is to finish the job of properly preparing the corpse for burial.)

This is the first mention John makes of Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus has been mentioned twice previously. The amount of spices Nicodemus brings is astounding—100 lbs.!—and the expense must have been immense.

It is important that the tomb is a brand new, empty tomb, so that no one can claim that somehow there was a mix-up with the body.

QUESTION OF THE DAY
Nicodemus and Joseph are both fearful of the Jews, and yet they do something brave and noble anyway. I wonder how often a brave action, done in spite of fear, is much more important than we can possibly know at the time?

Jesus's Side Is Pierced

John 19:31-37

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

---

In chapter 1, Andrew and an unnamed disciple (John, but because he has not yet met Jesus in the narrative he just leaves himself anonymous) hear John the Baptist describe Jesus as “the Lamb of God.”

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother [John 1:35–40].

For the next 19 chapters, we read about what Jesus said and did as John works his Gospel to its shocking climax—the Crucifixion of the Son of God. At the cross, John is the only male disciple present when the soldiers take Jesus’s body down from the cross:

33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced” [John 19:33–37].

That little scriptural reference “not one of his bones will be broken” is a quotation from the Book of Exodus, specifically the place where the Israelites are given instructions about how to prepare the Passover lamb:

46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones [Exodus 12:46].

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
So, when John makes sure to tell us that none of Jesus’s bones were broken and then quotes from the Book of Exodus, what is he telling us? Namely that Jesus is the ultimate Lamb of God, the ultimate sacrifice! Note that John tells us that without telling us. What John heard John the Baptist say way back in chapter 1 now finally has its payoff in chapter 19.

Why Was Jesus Thirsty?

John 19:28-30

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

---

What is Jesus thirsty for? The anonymous bystanders (“they”— soldiers, the women, onlookers) interpret Jesus to be speaking of His literal thirst.

Perhaps, however, Jesus was desperate for God and, using the language of the psalms, was speaking of that desperation:

42 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?” [Psalm 42:1–3].

And

63 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water [Psalm 63:1].

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
In v. 30, the verb translated here “gave up His spirit” literally means “handed over.” So, in one last act of agency, Jesus, whose life was not taken but who lays it down on His own accord (see John 10:18) hands over His spirit to the Father.

Mary Watches Her Son Die

John 19:23-27

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

---

Remember that John the author has slyly written himself into the story at key points as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” to remind his readers that he was an eyewitness to some of the most crucial events he relates. Here, it appears that John is apparently the only male disciple who was an eyewitness of the Crucifixion:

25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home [John 19:25–27].

QUESTION OF THE DAY
What must it have been like for Mary to watch the crucifixion of Jesus?

Pontius Pilate, The First Evangelist

John 19:16b-22

16b So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

---

The Gospels spend an inordinate amount of time recounting events from the last week of Jesus’s life. It’s as if the narratives slow way down and zoom in to make sure we see everything we need to say. That said, however, it is striking how matter of fact they are when it comes to the crucifixion. It’s almost as if it’s too horrible to recount. For example, look at John’s account:

18a There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them [John 19:18a].

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Pontius Pilate is the first evangelist. He is trying to mock and show his disdain both for Jesus and the Jews who wanted to have Him killed, but nevertheless he testifies to the truth:

19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’” [John 19:19].

The Enthronement of Jesus

John 19:1-16a

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

---

John’s Gospel has been filled with irony from the very beginning, but perhaps the greatest moments of irony take place during the passion of Jesus.

Pilate, a pagan unbeliever, repeatedly and mockingly calls Jesus “King.” We know that Jesus is the King of Israel (see 1:49), but the Jewish leaders resent Pilate calling Jesus that. So, you have the truth ironically being spoken by the very man who refuses to believe in truth.

Then, Jesus is being prepared for His “enthronement” on the cross by the soldiers. They plait a crown of thorns and wrap a purple robe around His shoulders. He is “dressed” as a king. They “worship” Him by striking Him and saying “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then Pilate presents Him to the mob and shouts “Behold the man!” Each action is John’s way of showing us the mystery of the Gospel, in that the one who was truly King gave up His kingship to free people from slavery.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Pontius Pilate willingly crucified an innocent man.

Pilate The Philosopher

John 18:28-40

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

---

Note the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders: they refuse to enter a Gentile residence so as not to render themselves ceremonially unclean as they prepare for the Passover, while at the same time they are conspiring to have an innocent man put to death.

Jesus tells Pilate that his kingship is not from this world. (What we the readers know is that it is from heaven.)

Jesus has often spoken about truth.

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [John 8:31-32]

47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” [John 8:47]

26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [John 10:26-27]

When Pilate asks his cynical question “What is truth?” he shows that he is not part of Jesus and therefore does not hear his voice.

Thought for the Day
In John 18:37, Jesus gives one of the clearest statements in all of the Bible as to why he came: “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.”

The Charcoal Fire

John 18:12-27

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

---

Peter famously denies Jesus three times in total on the night of Jesus’s arrest. It’s a heartbreaking scene, and one that John will return to in chapter 21, when there is another mention of a “charcoal fire.”

Peter denies Jesus three times, and after the Resurrection, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” That threefold question must have brought about a poignant moment when Peter realizes that his denial is both known by Jesus and forgiven by Jesus. And to make sure that we make the connection between the threefold denial and the threefold question, John includes that little detail that would have been easy for him to leave out: “a charcoal fire.”

QUESTION OF THE DAY
Peter was one of the leaders of the early church. Why was it important to the early Christians that their leader’s denial of Jesus was retold? Why not just leave that part out to make Peter look good?

500 Roman Soldiers Knocked Flat!

John 18:1-11

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

---

The reason Judas’s betrayal is so important is because the authorities are not able to grab Jesus in broad daylight, in front of the crowds. Judas has already slipped away from the rest of the disciples, and now he brings the soldiers back to Jesus so they can arrest Him.

The Greek word translated here as “band” of soldiers is literally the word for cohort, a technical term that means one tenth of a legion. A Roman legion was about 5,000 men, so a cohort would number about 500 soldiers. It is a huge number!

The reason the entire group that has come to arrest Jesus falls to the ground is because of how Jesus identifies Himself. When they say they are looking for “Jesus of Nazareth,” Jesus replies, “I am he.” Or, in Greek, He literally says:

“I AM.” (He says something similar in 8:58: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”)

It’s a divine revelation, and the power of the disclosure knocks flat an ntire Roman cohort!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Jesus chooses to let Himself be captured rather fight back. The reason He came was to die.

P.S. Look at how Jesus protects the disciples, so that only He gets arrested and not them:

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one” [John 18:8–9].

The Shepherd's Prayer

John 17:1-26

17 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

---

This long prayer is the culminating speech in the entire Gospel of John. It is often called “The High Priestly Prayer” because Jesus is praying for all His people, interceding for them before the Father, just as the high priest would have done in the temple. Alternatively, you might think of it as “the shepherd’s prayer,” as Jesus is here praying for His people like the good shepherd He is.

Some observations:

• Jesus defines eternal life as knowing God (v. 3). This is the only place in the entire Bible where “eternal life” is specifically defined.
• Knowing Jesus is knowing God, and vice versa.
• The church will face trouble, but also the church will be protected from the devil through its faith—the church will be persecuted, but those who abide in Jesus cannot be taken from Him.
• Jesus asks that the church be unified in the same way as the Father and the Son are unified (v. 11). Unity in the church is important.
• Jesus is praying for all future disciples who will come to faith through the work of His church (v.20). (This future “harvest” of new disciples will be described in John 21, the epilogue to the Gospel of John.)

Throughout, Jesus speaks with deep trinitarian language. For example:

22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me [John 17:22–23].

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Salvation is living in the life of God. The Son brings the church into the love He receives from the Father; the Father pours out on the church the love He has for the Son; the Spirit is the love they share.

My Favorite Bible Verse?

John 16:25-33

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

---

John 16:33 is perhaps my favorite verse in the entire Bible, because it sums up the entire biblical message:

1. Things will be hard.
2. But don’t worry, because Jesus wins.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The Greek verb translated here in v. 33 as “overcome” is the verb nike, from which the shoe company got its name. Every time you see a pair of Nikes, therefore, you should remember this verse!

Like A Woman In Labor

John 16:16-24

16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

---

Jesus, as is His way, says something cryptic, meant to get the disciples thinking:

16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” [John 16:16].

The disciples are confused:

17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about” [John 16:17–18].

Jesus knows their confusion, and He supplies an explanation:

19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you [John 16:19–22].

He is foretelling the crucifixion and the resurrection: for a time, the disciples will no longer see Jesus and they will grieve, but their pain will be for a purpose. Like a woman in labor who cries in pain during childbirth but who afterwards is overjoyed when she sees the baby, the disciples will know that their grief will be worth it when they see Him again after the resurrection.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
I love how Jesus ends this passage:

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you [John 16:22].

In other words, when the good thing finally arrives, there is no way it will ever be taken away from us.