Thoughts on the Gospel of John (152) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
John 16:1–4

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (152)
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He came from heaven to earth to bring salvation to mankind. The Old Testament prophets had already announced His coming – the coming of the Messiah who would liberate His people and establish His kingdom of peace. Jesus’ disciples have accompanied Him for a long time. They are convinced: Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Son of God.

But now Jesus makes a shattering announcement to His disciples: He is going to die and rise again and return to God the Father in heaven. They, on the other hand, are to remain on earth and will even be persecuted for their faith. Very gently Jesus prepares His disciples for this so that they might not be stumbled and become weak in their faith (chapters 13-17). He will continue to take wonderful care of them.

The religious leaders of the Jews were going to exclude the disciples from the synagogue. They outwardly believed in the one true God, but they rejected the Son of God and persecuted His disciples. In doing so, they proved that they did not really know the true God, who is light and love. Religious persecution and faith in the true God are mutually exclusive. For in Jesus, “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 11:1-13 · John 8:31-47