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Daily Devotions

John

John 
Day 
Day 199

Review with new and deeper insights

Text: John 14 : 12 - 31

REVIEW WITH NEW AND DEEPER INSIGHTS

Jesus had many things on His mind as He conversed with His Disciples. He wanted to go over many things that He had already taught them. Even as He reviewed what He had already taught them, He would add new insights so that the Disciples could have a more profound comprehension of the truths that they had been given.

What a Master-Teacher Jesus was! He reviewed many topics, and yet even as He spoke, the thoughts He communicated seemed so new and fresh!

THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS

How should the Disciples regard the teachings of Jesus? That was an important topic to bring up. Were His teachings just “another view”? Yes, He taught differently from the scribes and the Pharisees, but were His teachings just mere astute observations?

Jesus settled this matter once and for all with this statement.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:15

Jesus did a truly marvelous thing in this statement. He combined two elements and made them into an inseparable unit.

1. THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS ARE COMMANDMENTS!

The Disciples, being Jews, were brought up to have the highest regard for the Scriptures! The Hebrew Scriptures were their sacred Law! From the earliest age, the Jews were taught to have the highest regard for the Law. Familiar were the words of Moses to all Jews,

“Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and judgments
which I teach you to observe, that you may live…

You shall not add to the word which I command you,
nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments
of the Lord your God which I command you.”
Deuteronomy 4:1-2

When Jesus made this statement about His teachings to be regarded as “commandments” He was in fact placing His Word on par with the Hebrew Scriptures! He was adding to the commandments of God! He had every right to do so, for He was the Lord!

On another occasion, Jesus said,


“Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:35

2. LOVE FOR JESUS

Jesus tied in another thought – that of love for Him. Let us take time to recall what Moses wrote about loving God.


“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God,
the Lord is One!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today
shall be in your heart.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-6

What was Jesus saying to His Disciples? He was asking that His Disciples love Him as they would love God. He was asking them to regard His teachings as on par with the Hebrew Scriptures! There was no mistaking the import of this statement!

The Disciples must not think that Jesus was just a brilliant teacher of the Scriptures. He did not just come to correct wrong teachings and practices perpetuated by the scribes and Pharisees. He came to do all that of course, but there was more!

He came as the very Word of God. He was the Living Word! Thus all that He taught must be carefully kept in their hearts. They must seek to comprehend all that they had been taught, not just as profound teachings, but as if they were commandments from the Father Himself!

Jesus had just spoken about this just a while ago. He said,


“Do you not believe that I am in the Father,
and the Father in Me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak
on My own authority;
but the Father who dwells in Me…”
John 14:10

“KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS”

What a statement Jesus gave to His Disciples! Yes, the teachings that He gave them were deep and profound! Nevertheless, they were to keep them in their hearts. Three things may be highlighted as we ponder over the word “keep”.

1. Comprehension

Naturally, the first challenge is to comprehend all that Jesus taught! Words that are not fully comprehended would serve no purpose.

2. Imprinted

The Disciples were challenged to hide the Words of Jesus in their hearts. They would have to memorize all that they had been taught.

3. Practice

They were of course expected to practise what they believed!