Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from John 18:15-18 and John 18:25-27.

“Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple.  Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter was standing at the door outside.  So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.  Then the slave-girl who kept the door *said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?”  He *said, “I am not.”  Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves;  and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.

…

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself.  So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”  He denied it, and said, “I am not.”  One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, *said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?”  Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.”  John 18:15-18 and John 18:25-27.

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John’s account of Peter’s denials in today’s Scripture does not contain the details that Matthew’s account of Peter’s denials in Matthew 26:69-75 does.

Matthew may have wanted to emphasize the depth of Peter’s denials and the depth of Peter’s sorrow.  “…  And immediately a rooster crowed.  And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”  And he went out and wept bitterly.”  Matthew 26:74-75.

In comparison, John may have wanted to emphasize God’s forgiveness by not containing the details of Peter’s denials.

(As a side note, this may be all the remarkable if that “other disciple” in today’s Scripture was John.  If so, John would have had the motivation to add more detail considering that he was nearby Peter at the time of Peter’s denials.  We are tempted to make someone else look bad so that we look better in comparison.  But, in sharp contrast, “He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.”  Proverbs 17:9.)

In any event, where or not John was that “other disciple”, today’s Scripture at least causes us to meditate on the following Scriptures which are consistent with such lack of detail by John in his account of Peter’s denials.

“I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin.  Selah.”  Psalm 32:5.

“As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  Psalm 103:12.

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”  Hebrews 10:17.

Today’s devotion comes from John 18:12-24.  Here is a link to this Scripture –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.  Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world;  I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together;  and I spoke nothing in secret.  Why do you question Me?  Question those who have heard what I spoke to them;  they know what I said.”  When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”  Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong;  but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”  So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”  John 18:19-24.

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“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;  if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them,  they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates Me hates My Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin;  but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.  But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’”  John 15:20-25.

“But be on your guard;  for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.  The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.  When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour;  for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.”  Mark 13:9-11.

Today’s devotion comes from John 17:13-19.

“But now I come to You;  and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.  I have given them Your word;  and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them in the truth;  Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.”  John 17:13-19.

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How could Jesus’ words (“these things I have speak in the world”) give the disciples give joy?

Consider that Jesus just told His disciples:  “the world has hated them”.  How could those words give the disciples joy?

Other doctrine just cannot understand how those words about the disciples being “hated” could give the disciples joy, because other doctrine focuses on man and teaches that man gains joy by being nice and polite and kind to others.

But, Reformed Doctrine can understand how those words about the disciples being “hated” could give the disciples joy, because Reformed Doctrine understands that God divides people into two sharply distinct groups:  God’s chosen people (a/k/a God’s elect) and the rest (a/k/a reprobates a/k/a “the world”). 

Although it is good to be nice, polite, and kind to others, such kindness does not insure that one will not be hated:  “the world has hated them (Jesus’ disciples), because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”  Verse 14.

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own;  but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;  if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”  John 15:18-20.

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great;  for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:11.

Reformed Doctrine understands how those words about the disciples being “hated” could give the disciples joy, because Reformed Doctrine understands God’s love, protection, care, and salvation for His elect (even though they may be “hated” by the world).  God does “keep them from the evil one (Satan)”.  See verse 15.  God does “Sanctify them in the truth;  Your word is truth.”  Verse 17.

“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.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you HAVE RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.  As He says also in Hosea,

“I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’
AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’”
“AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’
THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”  Romans 9:22-26.

Today’s devotion comes from John 16:23-27.

“In that day you will not question Me about anything.  Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.  Until now you have asked for nothing in My name;  ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language;  an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.  In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf;  for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.”  John 16:23-27.

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“…  Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.”  Verse 23.

It is easy to read these verses and feel smug and worthy and “name it and claim it” as if we were in an all-you-can-eat buffet line.  We forget the history of the very limited access to God.  But, when we remember the history, it makes us all that more humble and grateful for what Christ did for us.

The veil in the Old Testament in the tabernacle separated the unholy worshipper (including even priests) from the holy God.  There was no approaching God, no direct access to God.  Even priests could not enter the “holy of holies” with the exception that once a year the high priest could enter with limited assigned duties.

“You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil;  and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies.”  Exodus 26:33.

“Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, but into the second (holy of holies), only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.”  Hebrews 9:6-7.

And, this very limited access to God was only available for Jews.  There was absolutely no hope for the Gentiles (non-Gentiles).

“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”  Ephesians 2:11-12.

But, that veil was torn in two from top-to-bottom by God based on the death of Christ and what His death signified.

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.  And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;  and the earth shook and the rocks were split.”  Matthew 27:50.

We now, Jews and Gentiles, God’s elect, have access to God through Christ, and we may approach the throne of God and ask for things from God in Jesus’ name.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.  AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;  for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”  Ephesians 2:13-18.

“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.”  2 Corinthians 3:4.

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  Hebrews 10:19-23.

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16.

Today’s devotion comes from John 16:16-22.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?  Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice;  you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.  Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come;  but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.  Therefore you too have grief now;  but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”  John 16:19-22.

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Jesus prophesied his own death and resurrection in today’s Scripture.  “Therefore you too have grief now;  but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”  Verse 22.

“I will not leave you as orphans;  I will come to you.  After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me;  because I live, you will live also.”  John 14:18-19.

“yet, with respect to the promise of God, he (Abraham) did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.  Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Now not for his sake (Abraham’s sake) only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”  Romans 4:20-24.

“So when it was evening on that day (resurrection day), the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.”  And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side.  The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”  John 20:19-20.

“Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;  but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;  and that believing you may have life in His name.”  John 20:30-31.