Weekly Recap #45 - Part 1 - John 16-21

I've come to a conclusion while reading the Book of John....it's my favorite book in the Bible....well, unless I decide differently by the time I get to Revelation!  Like we said last week....since John had such a close personal relationship with Jesus....his account is just so much more intimate and "real" to me!!!

So....let's finish up the Book of John!!!

Jesus Final Prayer

John 17:1 

Father, the hour has come.  Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.

Jesus Prays for Us

John 17:20

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me thru their message.

As Judas, along with an entire contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards bearing weapons came to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus....He fully realized what was about to happen....so He stepped forward to ask them....

"Who are you looking for?"

Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave....and Jesus healed it (but the healing part wasn't described in the Book of John)

Simon Peter denied Jesus 3 times....just as Jesus told him he would do.

Pilate told the people that Jesus was not guilty of any crime.  Since one prisoner was released each year at Passover, Pilate wanted to release Jesus...but the crowd wanted Barabbas released.  Barabbas was a revolutionary....a violent man who took part in political uprisings.  Pilate had Jesus flogged (even though he knew Jesus had done nothing wrong.....just to go along with the crowd).  The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus' head and put a purple robe on Him.  They mocked Jesus and slapped Him across the face....so much of this is so difficult for me to read!

Pilate told the people to understand clearly that he found Him not guilty.

Crucifixion

The person being crucified normally carried the horizontal beam (the patibulum).  The vertical beam (the staticulum) was kept at the crucifixion site.  Crucifixion was a public execution that took place near major roadways.  They were designed to shock and warn the people.

Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read....

"Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews".  

It was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek so that many people could read it.  The leading priests objected to the sign and asked Pilate to change it to read....

"He said, I am King of the Jews."

Pilate refused and said....

"No, what I have written, I have written."

I remembered the sign was put on the cross....but I didn't remember the rest.  I believe that Pilate truly believed Jesus was who He said He was....but He  chose to just go along with the crowd...:(

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His clothes among the four of them.

While on the cross, Jesus directed John to take care of His mother, Mary.

John was an eyewitness, giving an accurate account of everything that took place.

The first person Jesus appeared to after His resurrection was Mary Magdalene.....

.....A WOMAN!!!

The disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.  Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them and He said....

"Peace be with you".

Jesus breathed on them and said....

"Receive the Holy Spirit."

One of the 12 disciples, Thomas was not with the others when Jesus came.  They told him they had seen the Lord but Thomas said he wouldn't believe until he saw the nail wounds in His hands and put his fingers in them and placed his hand into the wound in his side.  Eight days later, all the disciples were together again with the doors locked....Jesus suddenly appeared telling Thomas to touch His hands and the wound in His side....and Thomas believed!!!

Jesus appeared again to His disciples beside the Sea of Galilee where he grilled fish for them.  Can you imagine Jesus cooking and serving a meal to you?!?!?

Here's the final verse in the book of John....

John 21:25

Jesus also did many other things.  If they were all written down, I supposed the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

But....don't you wish, like I do....that we could know EVERYTHING that He did?!?!?

 In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!