Persecutions predicted

Posted on August 21, 2015 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

“Don’t worry if the world hates you. It hated me first. The world would love you if you were worldly. However, you aren’t worldly because I have called you out of the world – this is why the world hates you. Remember my teaching that “A servant is not above his master.” Since they persecuted me, they will persecute you. They will keep your teaching if they kept mine. But anything they do to you will be because of my name, because they don’t know the Father who sent me. They would have been free of sin if I hadn’t come and taught them. But now they know better, they have no excuse. Anyone who hates me also hates God. They would also be free of sin if I hadn’t performed any miracles before them that nobody else had ever done. But now they’ve seen them and they hate me as well as God. But this fulfills the prophecy that says ‘They hated me without reason.'”

JN 15:18-25

Christlike love

Posted on August 21, 2015 by betsybeadhead | 2 Comments

“I have loved you in the same way that the Father has loved me. Abide in my love. You will abide in my love if you follow my instructions, just as how I have remained in the love of my Father and kept his instructions.

I have told you all this so that you may be completely filled with my joy. This is my command of you – love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to sacrifice your life for your friends. If you do what I have commanded then you are my friends. You can no longer be called slaves, because a slave has no idea what his master is doing. I call you friends because I have told you everything the Father has told to me. I chose you – you didn’t choose me. I selected you so that you could go out and produce fruit that lasts, in order that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. My only commandment is that you show love to each other.”

JN 15:9-17

The vine and the branches

Posted on August 21, 2015 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

“I am the true vine, and my Father keeps the vineyard. He removes every branch in me that is not fruitful. He prunes every fruitful branch so it will be even more productive. The teachings I have given you have pruned you already. Be mindful that you remain in me so that I may remain in you. In the same way that a branch can’t produce fruit if it is separated from the vine, you can only produce spiritual fruit if you remain in me.

I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay in me and I in you, you’ll produce an abundance of spiritual fruit. You can’t do anything apart from me. If you are separated from me you’ll be tossed aside to wither. People will gather up these withered branches to burn in a fire. If you stay in me and my teaching stays in you, you can ask for anything and it will be done. It brings glory to my Father for you to prove to be my disciples by producing much spiritual fruit.”

JN 15:1-8

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (and) Jesus’ gift of peace

Posted on August 21, 2015 by betsybeadhead | Leave a comment

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

“In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will. You will live because I live. Then you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am within you. The one who loves me is the one who knows and follows my teaching. The one who loves me is also loved by my Father. I will love him as well and I will reveal myself to him.”

The other Judas said to Jesus, “Lord how are you going to reveal yourself to us but not the world?”

Jesus said “Anyone who loves me follows my teaching. Then my Father will love him and my Father and I will make our home within him. Anyone who doesn’t follow my teachings doesn’t love me. What I’m telling you is not from me. It comes from the Father who sent me. I have told you these things while I’m here with you. But the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name will teach you everything and remind you of what I have told you.”

JN 14:19-26

Jesus’ gift of peace

“I leave you with the gift of my peace. I don’t give gifts to you like the world does. Don’t let your heart be troubled or afraid. You’ve heard me say that I am going away but I’m returning to you. If you love me, you should be overjoyed that I am going to the Father, because the Father surpasses me. I’ve told you this now so you can believe when it happens. I’m not going to speak with you for much longer because the Devil, the ruler of the world, is coming. He has no power over me because nothing of him is within me. Instead, I’m going away to show the world that I love the Father and do as he commands me to do. Now get up – it is time to leave here.”

JN 14:27-31