If John’s gospel were a typical biography, all we’d have left at the end would be a few final words about Jesus. Instead, we find something anything but typical. The story doesn’t end; it begins anew. We find a new hope, a new dawn, a new day, an entirely new era.
In verses 1-11, we see Jesus, the true vine. In verses 12-17, we see Jesus, the true friend. We need both, and he is both. He’s the vine who will grow us and sustain us, and he’s the friend who will be with us and for us, bearing fruit in us and through us, for his glory and our joy.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem showed the deliberate steps he took to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies of the Messianic King.
There are ultimately only two responses to Jesus. Fall at his feet in worship or pick up stones to kill him.
Left before Jesus, the only one who really could condemn her, she finds a rock she didn’t expect to receive—the rock that will be struck for her, the cornerstone that becomes a new foundation for her life. If she found that, you can too.
There is right now a city that needs to be fed, and there is a Christ who can feed them. He wants to do it through you. Will you let him? Or do you have some really good objection to why it just can’t happen? Will you be Philip and Andrew? Or will you be the little boy?
Jesus is signifying the newness he’s bringing into the world by showing that his newness is good because it’s aged in the oldness of the gospel promises.
Christmas is God telling us that our most desperate need is fulfilled in Jesus. That’s why it’s merry and bright. That’s why it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
We can get so bogged down in the day-to-day details, but in Colossians 3:22-4:1 Paul lifts us up and shows us what Jesus thinks about our work.
In our passage today, Paul exhorts us to put on the new clothes of the gospel to live out a gospel culture. It all starts with where we find our identity. Because we are in Christ, we have his characteristics. This is not something we achieve; it is something God gives. Because we are new people, we have new clothes to wear, which display our new nature and lead to a new community.
True spirituality is not a negative reality but a positive one. Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” God’s desire is not our continued enslavement to this world or the powers of this world but rather freedom in Christ to live as we were made to live.
When we see Jesus, it’s easy to see wrong theology. But when we take our eyes off Jesus, all kinds of wrong things can slip into our minds and find a home there. What these Colossians needed, and what we need, is a big vision of the glorious Jesus. We need to see how sufficient he really is. We do not need anything else. Jesus is enough. When we start thinking something else is better, something else is needed, we need to come back and stare at Jesus.
Nothing happens in our lives that is not a result of God working in our lives. The events of Ruth 2 are proof.
The very place where you see yourself as most undeserving is the very place at which Jesus’ cross says to you, “Come to me.” You say, “But when does his welcome end?” The cross says, “Never.” Jesus has the final word with us. His salvation is not temporary. His sacrifice is not for a limited time. This is a permanent deal.
This passage takes us deep into God’s grace. It tells us the good news that God is for us, not against us. Now, he has every reason to be against us. We have sinned and rebelled and turned away from him. But what is his response? In the face of our weakness and sin, God’s response in the cleansing blood of Christ is an open door to heaven by prayer. He could slam the door of his throne room. He has every right to. Instead, he calls us to come boldly before him with all our needs, promising his throne of grace is never closed.
Words have immense power. We can use words to create a culture of safety and trust and love, to nurture and build a radiant culture, or we can use words to burn it all down.
There is an expiration date on all this world’s brokenness, on all our brokenness. Christmas guarantees it. Pottersville will be no more. Bedford Falls will be restored. All your deepest, craziest hopes for love and peace and joy are yours right now in this baby boy, Jesus, Immanuel.
