Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from John 12:20-26.

“Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast;  these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  Philip *came and *told Andrew;  Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus.  And Jesus *answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone;  but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.  If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me;  and where I am, there My servant will be also;  if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”  John 12:20-26.

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“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone;  but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.”  Verses 24-25.

Who wants to die?!  Who wants to lose his life?!  Who wants to hate his life?!

These are difficult statements upon which to meditate.  But, there are Scriptures that can help us understand these statements by Jesus.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.

“For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ;  and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:19-21.

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  for he who has died is freed from sin.”  Romans 6:4-7.

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:24.

“But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:6.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:25.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  Galatians 6:8.

Today’s devotion comes from John 12:9-19.

“The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there;  and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.  But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also;  because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.

On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “HOSANNA!  BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.”  Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it;  as it is written, “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION;  BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.”  These things His disciples did not understand at the first;  but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.  So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.  For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.  So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good;  look, the world has gone after Him.”  John 12:9-19.

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“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with salvation,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  Zechariah 9:9.

There were three signs for the Jews mentioned in today’s Scripture, namely, that Jesus was mounted on a donkey’s colt, that there was such a joyous reception of Jesus by the crowd, and that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

But, God’s elect “Shout in triumph”, not because there were such signs, but rather, because God chose them, the elect, for salvation and that Jesus was endowed with salvation to save each one of them, God’s elect.

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”  Luke 10:19-20.

“For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;  but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:22-24.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.  It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13-15.

Today’s devotion comes from John 12:1-8.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://reformeddoctrine.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=16978&action=edit

“Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair;  and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, *said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?”  Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.  Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.  For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”  John 12:3-8.

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Jesus was on a mission “to die for the nation” and others.  See John 11:51-52.

Mary’s extravagant act of pouring very costly perfume on Jesus encouraged Jesus to continue going forward with this mission.  Mary’s act honored Jesus, Jesus’ mission, and prepared Jesus’ body for burial, all with the effect of filling the room with the exclamation that there would be glory and overpowering sweet fragrance of life even in Jesus’ death.

In contrast, we remember Peter’s words which discouraged Jesus to continue going forward with this mission.  “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord!  This shall never happen to You.”  Matthew 16:22.

But, notice the sharpness of Jesus’ response to Peter.  But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to Me;  for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”  Matthew 16:23.

Are we going to be a stepping stone like Mary or a stumbling block like Peter?

Does our action fill the room with the fragrance of encouragement or does our action take the wind out of the sails? 

There are all kinds of different good things that we can do.  But, there is only one best thing for each of us to do.  If we get distracted and spend too much of our time and energy on all kinds of different good things that we can do, then the best thing that only we can and should do may not get done. 

It is so easy to drift away from our mission.  It is so important to stay focused, devoted, and stay on track to what is best.  We must set our mind on God’s interests, not man’s interests.

“For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

But, there is hope!

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.

Today’s devotion comes from John 11:38-46.

“So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, *came to the tomb.  Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.  Jesus *said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, *said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”  Jesus *said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”  So they removed the stone.  Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  I knew that You always hear Me;  but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”  When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”  The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth.  Jesus *said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.  But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.”  John 11:38-46.

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Everyone saw what Jesus had done.  But, only some believed in Jesus.  See the last two verses of today’s Scripture (verses 45-46).

“Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.”  Verse 45.

“But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.”  Verse 46.

Those who went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done were not credited with belief, because they did not believe that God had sent Jesus.  We notice the words of Jesus:  “I knew that You always hear Me;  but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”  Verse 42.

Just merely observing what Jesus had done is not belief.  “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope;  for who hopes for what he already sees?”  Romans 8:24.  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1.

Many believe that Jesus is a good teacher, even a prophet.

Many believe that Jesus did some miracles.  Those who went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done did not deny that Jesus performed a miracle.

But, those who truly believed in Jesus had to believe more about Jesus.  In today’s Scripture, we learned that they had to believe that God sent Him.  In other words, they had to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God as Martha had confessed earlier in the chapter.  “She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord;  I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”  John 11:27.

Consider what the Belgic Confession states about what we confess about Jesus Christ.

Article 10:  That Jesus Christ is true and eternal God.

We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his divine nature, is the only begotten Son of God, begotten from eternity, not made nor created (for then he should be a creature), but co-essential and co-eternal with the Father, the express image of his person, and the brightness of his glory, equal unto him in all things.  He is the Son of God, not only from the time that he assumed our nature, but from all eternity, as these testimonies, when compared together, teach us.  Moses saith, that God created the world;  and John saith, that all things were made by that Word, which he calleth God.  And the apostle saith, that God make the worlds by his Son;  likewise, that God created all things by Jesus Christ.  Therefore it must needs follow, that he, who is called God, the Word, the Son, and Jesus Christ, did exist at that time, when all things were created by him.  Therefore the prophet Micah saith, His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.  And the apostle:  He hath neither beginning of days, nor end of life.  He therefore is that true, eternal, and almighty God, whom we invoke, worship and serve.

“And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.  He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.”  John 12:44-45.

Today’s devotion comes from John 11:28-37.

“When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”  And when she heard it, she *got up quickly and was coming to Him.

Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.  Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.  Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?”  They *said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”  Jesus wept.  So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”  But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”  John 11:28-37.

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At first consideration, the reaction of Mary and the reaction of some of the Jews seemed similar.  They both did not understand why Jesus Who loved Lazarus so much allowed him to die.  Compare the following two verses.

“Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Verse 32.

“But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”  Verse 37.

But, when we study their reactions in more depth, we notice the difference.  Mary’s reaction addressed Jesus as “Lord” and was primarily a confession of faith in Jesus’ power.  The reaction of some of the Jews was primarily an accusation based on their lack of faith in Jesus’ goodness.

The Heidelberg Catechism helps us have the proper attitude when we experience apparently bad things that we do not understand why God allowed them to happen to us.

Q. 28.  What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things?

A.  That we may be patient in adversity;  thankful in prosperity;  and that in all things which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from His love;  since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.  Heidelberg Catechism.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.”  Proverbs 3:5.

Today’s devotion comes from John 11:1-15.  Here is a link to this Scripture  –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11&version=NASB

“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.  It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”  But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.  …  So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe;  but let us go to him.”  John 11:1-6 and 14-15.

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Lazarus got sick.

“But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”   Verse 4.

Jesus delayed going to Lazarus’ home, so Lazarus would be dead by the time Jesus arrived.  But, Jesus knew that His miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead would build their faith more than “merely” healing Lazarus of his sickness.

“and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe;  but let us go to him.”  Verse 15.

When apparently bad things happen to us, we should remember God’s Word that God causes all things to work for our good and that God gives us sufficient grace to handle the bad news.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake;  for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”  1 Peter 1:6-7.

Today’s devotion comes from John 10:31-42.  Here is a link to this Scripture  –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.  Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father;  for which of them are you stoning Me?”  The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy;  and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”  Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?  If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?  If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;  but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”  John 10:31-38.

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“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also;  and greater works than these he will do;  because I go to the Father.  Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”  John 14:12-14.

Consider what the Canons of Dordt and the following Scriptures state in part about God’s work in His elect which causes them to do good works.

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man; he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. ”  John 15:5.

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”  John 15:16.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.”  Matthew 7:17.