March 12

JOHN 13
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
– John 13:12-20

JOHN 13 DO AS I HAVE DONE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Jesus bowed down to wash his disciples’ feet
He was expecting them to do the same with each other
In God’s kingdom, we are to humble ourselves and be a servant
There is no room for pride and entitlement in his kingdom.

When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he was showing them how different it is in God’s kingdom as compared to the world around them. He explained to them how a servant is never greater than his Master and a messenger than the one who sent him. He was giving them a picture of how the power-hungry world is very different from God’s kingdom. Humility is the key difference in these two warring kingdoms. In the world system, power is what runs it. In God’s system, love is the driving force that brings everything to Himself.
Competition is usually an offshoot of the corrupted world we live in. In God’s economy, there is no room for striving against who is better or best. He sees us all differently but we all have one common thing: we are made all in God’s image. Humility is the solution to combat this power-hungry world. Jesus sampled that humility when he became flesh.

REFLECTION
• Why do you think humility is a novelty in this world we live in?

March 11

JOHN 13
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
– John 13:1-11

JOHN 13 SERVICE IS THE GREATEST ACT OF LOVE
What is the significance of this washing of the feet of the disciples by Jesus? Can you imagine how the roads were during those times? They were not paved like how we have it today. It was dusty and probably some muddy areas where there were potholes. They were not wearing shoes but sandals, so their feet must be dirty. There is usually a waterpot by the door so people can clean their feet before they enter. When Jesus washed their feet, he was role modelling to his disciples that the greater of them would be the one who will serve the others.
According to Luke 22:24-27, after their last meal with the Lord, they were arguing which one of them was the greatest. The act of the washing of their feet was the greatest manifestation of his love for them. Humbly bowing down to their dirty feet to wash them would be looked down upon as a very degrading task to be done. The kingdom of God sees the greatest as the last and least. It was a lesson of humility and love. Are they able to follow that servant heart that Jesus had?

REFLECTION
• Why can’t one be a true follower of Jesus if they cannot be humble and serve?

March 7

JOHN 12
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 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. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. – John 12:20-26

JOHN 12 LED TO THE TRUTH
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When one is led to the truth, one goes against traditions
The lies begin to be exposed and bondages become visible
The truth sets one free and it leads one to the light
Darkness and evil are no longer powerful in one’s life
If you believe in God, you will be given eternity
But obedience and emulating Christ is essential.

In this account, we witness how the unbelieving Greeks were led to seek Jesus after hearing of his signs and power. When some of his disciples made known to Jesus of the Greek seekers, Jesus said “the hour has come.” What did he mean by this? His mission was to bring all people to glorify God and the seeking Gentiles (which includes Greeks) are probably one of the signs that his death is nearing. The coming of those who are outside the Jewish community indicates that his salvation of mankind is almost there.
In verse 24, he explains in metaphor how and why he needs to sacrifice his life. Jesus is comparing the act of a grain of wheat dying in the ground to produce new life to the concept of self-sacrifice and the idea that one must “die” to their own desires in order to complete his purpose of coming on earth.
Then Jesus added the requirements for following him, which involves sacrifice, obedience to his Father’s will and serving him by loving and serving one another.

REFLECTION
• How were you led to the truth? Share if it was a long or short process?

March 6

JOHN 12
9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”– John 12:9-19

JOHN 12 HAIL KING JESUS!
In this account, we see how much following Jesus had after he raised Lazarus from the dead. As a result of such a crowd who wanted to see Jesus at Bethany, the Jewish leaders also plotted to kill Lazarus. What irony it is that they call themselves religious leaders when they act like criminals! Every time there is a threat to their reputation, they would stop it.
The crowds were unstoppable to hail someone like Jesus who had the power to bring back to life the dead. They used palm branches to hail Jesus as king. These people were hungry to be released from the Roman Empire’s enslavement. They thought that Jesus could be their king to save them from the political tyranny that the Romans had on them. It looks like they have no idea what kind of kingdom Jesus represented. They wanted a political leader but that is hardly what Jesus came to save them from.
Ironically, Jesus came sitting on a humble donkey as he entered Jerusalem which was a fulfillment Zechariah 9:9. He didn’t look like any worldly king on earth.

REFLECTION
• Why do you think the crowd hailed Jesus as king?

March 3

JOHN 11
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
– John 11:45-53

JOHN 11 INSECURITIES LEAD TO SCHEMES
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When insecurities set in, schemes are on their way
Envy and low self esteem lead to self-doubt and make us stray
Because of lack of love and understanding of our true image
We easily mistrust our own uniqueness and start to compare
As we liken ourselves with others, we begin to have preferences
These prejudices can lead us to plot against those who are different.

Do you wonder why these Jews were so relentless to plot and have Jesus stopped from his ministry? Verse 48 gives us an answer to this. They were so insecure about their place in society if many will believe Jesus. It would ruin their reputation and would lose the respect and honor they receive from the people before Jesus performed all these signs and began teaching with much authority and power. Their many years of education would be trashed because Jesus didn’t go through all the studies they did. They were very insecure and jealous of the following that Jesus had. The book of James 3:16 explains the offshoot of selfish ambition and jealousy. It leads to disorder and every vile practice. This is what led the Jewish leaders to plot and kill Jesus: jealousy and selfish ambition.

REFLECTION
• What could be the causes of envy, jealousy and insecurities?

March 2

JOHN 11
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” – John 11:38-44

JOHN 11 RAISING THE DEAD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Before the Son of God came and became human
We were all dead in our sins and we were in bondage
If you believe in Christ, you will be raised from the dead
He will resurrect your spirit and you’ll be cleansed from sin
Jesus Christ is the light that leads mankind from darkness
Without him, we will not be free from God’s wrath and anger.

This is the greatest miracle Jesus performed while he was on earth. It is a foreshadowing of his coming victory over death. Notice how he wept before he raised Lazarus in verse 35 when he was deeply moved by Mary’s weeping and also the other Jews. The death of a loved one is one of the most painful events one can ever experience. He loved Lazarus so much and our Lord also experienced the pain of losing a loved one. There were a lot of people in Bethany who witnessed this miracle. They were all mourning for Lazarus’ death. This was the best time to raise Lazarus from the dead. He was already dead for four days and it would make people experience the power of God. This miracle was done so that many would believe and it would also predict Jesus’ coming death. This miracle will also anger the Jewish leaders and instigate their plot to kill him. This was the prelude to his arrest and death on the cross which will lead to his victory over death.

REFLECTION
• What has Jesus raised you from when you became a believer?

March 1

JOHN 11
32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”– John 11:32-37

JOHN 11 COMPASSION FOR THE TROUBLED
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you are in trouble and suffering, do not despair
The Lord Jesus knows every tear and pain you encounter
He has compassion for the troubled and the oppressed
He died so that they can be free and have life abundantly
Just as he loved, we also must show love for others
He wants us to share in each other’s agony and burdens.

When Jesus saw Mary and the other Jews weeping over Lazarus’ death, he was greatly moved, stirred and troubled. We witness Jesus’ compassion and humanity in this account. Lazarus, Mary and Martha were one of his closest friends. He was filled with sorrow for their loss and also wept with them. Jesus did not just weep because he is human, but because he manifests love and compassion and godly sorrow when his people undergo sorrow, pain and suffering. Psalm 56:8 tells us that God is aware and keeps count of every tear that falls from our eyes. He has a record of it. That is how compassionate and full of love the God we serve is.
1 John 4:8 says that whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. Since God loves us tremendously, shouldn’t we all love each other too? Shouldn’t we show compassion to those who are hurting, oppressed and troubled? Jesus gave us a great example of loving concern and deep empathy for those who are undergoing such adversities, losses and miseries. Let us all emulate him.

REFLECTION
• What do you think is the source of apathy in our world today?