At the end of each year many of us write out a list of New Year’s resolutions we want to practice in the coming year. What do our New Year’s resolutions reveal about us? What do these changes have to do with a Christian who has been saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ? How can we use our New Year’s resolutions as a means to worship Christ?
Jesus says the hour is coming and now is. Worship is not about the right location or the right time; it’s about a genuine, humble exchange between God’s truth, the Holy Spirit and your spirit. God’s invitation to you today is to worship His loving and gracious Son in spirit and in truth. What type of genuine, humble exchange between God’s Truth, the Holy Spirit and your spirit is Jesus inviting you into today?
John is making it clear that it is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives that takes away our frustration of trying to find satisfaction in this world. It’s the Holy Spirit that turns us into people who overflow with life to love others instead of sucking up other people’s life. When we come to Christ, what do we drink? We drink in His promises of real life and the power of the Spirit. This is the living water Jesus offers the Samaritan woman and this is the living water He offers us today. This is how Jesus turns a worldly, sensual adulteress from Samaria into a fountain of life. This is how he takes us and turns us into fountains of life.
Conclusion of John
Summary of John
Every single person is fighting battles, battles that we do not even have a clue about. Their lives look so much better than ours because we don’t know about their struggles and pain. In John 21 we learn something about our calling through Peter’s calling. Our calling is to follow Jesus wherever He leads us, not where He leads the person next to us. What God does with you, he doesn’t necessarily do with others.
I’m so thankful that we have a Savior who raises His hand and says – I will go where your pain and sin is. I volunteer to walk with you and heal you in all that “stuff” that is under lock and key. Not only that, but once you are restored, I want to give you new assignments. In fact, your best assignments are yet to come.
Most of Jesus’ disciples were rugged and worn fisherman by the Sea of Galilee. It’s no surprise that Peter leads six other disciples (Thomas, Nathanael, James, John and two others) back to the Sea of Galilee to fish (21:1-3). It’s here where the Apostle John records once again the great contrast between our own self-effort and the power and provision of our resurrected Savior.
There is testimony.
There is evidence.
There are signs and miracles that make Jesus’ claims irrefutable.
The resurrected Jesus doesn’t leave us in our tears and despair. Jesus has made a way back from this ultimate far off country. He has made a way out of that pit of despair and loneliness, a way back to the Father’s house.
