Category Archives: Bible Study

JOHN’S GOSPEL…THE ENCOUNTER – 25a

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I have written at length about all the aspects of Jesus’ arrest and trial before the Sanhedrin except His encounter with Pilate. 

“So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected…Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭29‬-‭31‬, ‭33‬-‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Surely, Pilate is to be pitied rather than judged, or is he? He was the Roman governor of Judea, raised a pagan, taught to believe in the evil, capricious panel of gods who ruled over Rome. What did he know of a religion that believed in one true, holy God who ruled over Isreal from heaven, requiring obedience to a substantial set of rules administered by His priesthood? 

Pilate was caught up in a saga he didn’t know how to handle. A Jewish rabbi claiming to be the Son of this holy God, was on trial for blasphemy. Pilate had no interest in the religious squabbles of his subjects but, when it came to the issue of treason against Rome, he pricked up his ears. It was his responsibility to keep these rabble-rousing Jews under control. 

The Jewish authorities had charged Jesus with blasphemy under very flimsy false pretences, but they had no authority to execute Him. They had to bring a charge against Him that rattled the Roman authorities. What better charge than treason since Jesus spoke often of representing another kingdom, albeit an unseen realm over which their God ruled.  

Pilate was rudely awoken to face this dilemma. The sun had hardly risen before an unruly mob, led by members of the Jewish Sanhedrin, half pushing, half dragging a bedraggled, dishevelled man along with them. “Crucify Him!” they demanded. “For what reason?” Pilate retorted. “Of what is He guilty?” 

Notice how the Jewish rulers side-stepped the question. 

“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.””

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Already prejudged and condemned, the Jewish rulers expected Pilate to rubber-stamp their verdict. “Not so fast!” declared Pilate. “What has He done?” Blasphemy would not stick with him but treason was a different matter. Without pressing the Jews for an answer, he questioned Jesus about the verdict. Why had they found him guilty? He, Pilate, was not aware of any uprisings in Jerusalem. 

“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?””

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ reply was equally baffling for a pagan Roman. 

“Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How was he, the Roman governor who had the power to kill or acquit Jesus, supposed to sentence a man to death who was no threat to Rome? Where was the evidence of His incitement to an uprising? Where was this “other place” kingdom of which Jesus spoke? 

To get a plain answer, Pilate made a statement he wanted Jesus to corroborate, to which Jesus replied with even more puzzling words…

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.””

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Surely, how was Pilate, this secular man who, seemingly, had no understanding of or interest in spiritual matters, supposed to order the execution of a man who spoke about truth! What was truth? What did he know about truth? Truth, to him, was irrelevant. He lived by his own beliefs and carried out the orders of Rome without question, whether they were good or bad. 

With a gesture of contempt, Pilate turned on his heels muttering, “What is truth?”, to wash his hands of this matter by giving in to the mob. 

On what grounds was Pilate judged when he stood before this same Jesus in the very realm of which He spoke and over which He now rules? Where once Pilate was the judge and Jesus the condemned, the moment Pilate passed from this life, the tables were turned. What did Jesus say to him? On what grounds was he sent to the place he had chosen in this life? Was it that he had given in to the crucifixion of an innocent man? Was he condemned because he ordered the execution of the Son of God? Was there a place of torment far worse for him than any other person for having had Jesus, the Son of God, killed? 

Strangely enough, no! The verdict was, for Pilate, the same as for every other person who is sentenced to live in eternal darkness, “Guilty, as charged.” The charge?

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“However,” you might say, ”what chance did Pilate have of believing the truth?” The answer is…he had the same chance as every other person on earth who rejects the truth and goes into eternal darkness…

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It’s that simple! He was guilty beyond reasonable doubt. 

It’s not that people don’t know the truth. It’s that it’s inconvenient to know. They don’t want to know because they love the darkness of sin and unbelief rather than the light of truth. All sin, even Pilate’s outrageous injustice, is the fruit of unbelief. So, it’s not the sin that God condemns but the unbelief in the one He sent to tell the truth that will ultimately send them to hell.  

But wait…there’s more!

To be continued…

JOHN’S GOSPEL…THE PRAYER – 24

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“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you…And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began…”

“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 

Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth…”

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬, ‭5‬, ‭9‬, ‭11‬, ‭15‬, ‭17‬, ‭20‬-‭21‬, ‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In a prayer of 26 verses, Jesus makes only three requests, for Himself, for His disciples, and for those who would believe their testimony. The rest of His prayer is fellowship with the Father. 

When we examine the content of Jesus’ requests, we begin to understand what was uppermost on His heart before the cross. 

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you…And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began…”

Finally, the moment has arrived!  This is the moment to which all prophecy pointed and on which all of history pivoted. So much depended on how Jesus would move through this series of events unspoiled by one fragment of sin. If He slipped, sin would disqualify Him from being God’s perfect sacrificial Lamb. 

How would He endure the cross?

What was the issue at stake? Would He perfectly live up to the divine character He carried with Him into His humanity? He would die as a man, but what kind of man? Would He respond or react to the worst injustice and cruelty ever inflicted on a human? Would He be perfectly submitted and obedient to the will of the Father despite all the pressures of an innocent human to the injustice of execution by crucifixion? 

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬

“Father, glorify me…” He depended on the Father to give Him the strength in the moment of His greatest weakness, to be who He was in heaven…perfectly God. Throughout His earthly life, He had been in partnership with the Father, obeying Him and carrying out His will in every detail. Could He pull the same thing off to His final breath? Only if He did, would the great plan of redemption be fulfilled on earth that would reflect all the glory of the Father to the whole earth. 

How did Jesus respond?  

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This plan of salvation, fulfilled by Jesus would confirm Habakkuk’s desire…

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬

How would His disciples  handle the world? 

“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 

Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth…”

How imperative that the disciples, eleven now because number twelve had disqualified himself through treachery, be preserved from the ravages of their own sin nature, aided and abetted by the world and the devil. They needed the armour of truth in their minds and in their lives to protect them against disqualifying themselves from fulfilling their sacred task. 

In Jesus’ prayer for His disciples… (”protect them from “Poneros”, translated “the evil one”) has less to do with devil, and more do with their corruption from the original character God breathed in Adam, that is “morally degenerate”. As in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus was more concerned about what His disciples could do to themselves if they followed the desires of their old corrupt nature, and not about what the devil could do to them. They needed a power within to overcome the ravages of their flesh nature. 

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ third request draws in every person who believes in Him to the end of time. 

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

What was Jesus’s chief concern? Unity! Why unity? Jesus has entrusted a body of truth, contained in a written record called “the Word of God” which contains the message of Jesus, the gospel of salvation. He requires that this deposit be kept intact and delivered, without additions or subtractions, to each succeeding generation. He needs a body of witnesses who will be faithful to His Word, both in living out and delivering the true message. 

In this way, there will be unity among Jesus’ followers. If each individual believer lives within the boundaries of His Word and delivers an intact message, the Holy Spirit, who initiated the unity, will enable God’s people everywhere to preserve the unity. 

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This unity, anchored in the truth revealed in the Word, is the only guarantee that the same message and the same witness to Jesus will be passed on from one generation to the next. Disunity and fragmentation of the church the body of Christ, has happened because faithless people, led by corrupted leaders, have followed human opinion and convenient doctrines rather than the truth. 

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping…If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭3‬, ‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, Jesus’ prayer, spoken to the Father at that moment in time, played out then and continues to play out today in keeping His message intact for the salvation of all who believe and are destined for eternal life. 

JOHN’S GOSPEL…THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THEM – 23b

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“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.”

John 16:12-14 NIV

It was preparation time for the disciples. Jesus would soon leave them. They needed to know what equipment He would give them to carry out their mandate of reaching the world with His message.  A task so enormous needed someone like Him to guide and empower them, and that is exactly who Jesus promised would come. 

Unlike a worldly “locum”, who would fill in temporarily while the CEO was away, Jesus Himself would come to them in the person of His Spirit. He and the Holy Spirit were so closely connected that the Spirit’s presence would be the perfect representative of His person and mission. The Holy Spirit’s work would be to be Jesus in them. 

Jesus is the truth! The same truth that Jesus is, the Holy Spirit is…so Jesus identified Him as the “Spirit of truth”. 

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”

Whatever Jesus said and did the Holy Spirit would say and do. As Jesus only spoke the words of the Gather, so the Holy Spirit would accurately represent Jesus’ words. 

“He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

Similarly, as Jesus continually reflected the Father’s glory, so the Holy Spirit would shine the light on Him. 

Could there ever be a person more fully eligible to take Jesus’ place when He returned to the Father! Did you notice that the role of the Spirit in the disciples was not to give them experiences of any kind but to carry on Jesus’ work of doing the Father’s business. Just as Jesus was about the kingdom of God, so the Holy Spirit would have exactly the same purpose, to establish God’s rule in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus. 

The Holy Spirit would raise the spiritually dead to new life, transfer them into the kingdom of God and transform them into sins of God. 

 “Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV

The Holy Spirit would empower God’s people to overcome the old nature… 

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and reproduce the character of Jesus in His followers…

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Spirit would convince Jesus followers that they are righteous because Jesus represents them to the Father…

“…of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

…and witness that they are no longer slaves of sin but children of God…

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

All this and more is the work of God’s Spirit in the believer for one purpose alone…

“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”…But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭8‬ NIV

All other functions of the Holy Spirit for and in the believer only contribute to this one main purpose…to equip and empower the believer to bear witness that Jesus is the Son of God, and Lord, the supreme authority in God’s kingdom. 

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To be continued…

JOHN’S GOSPEL…THE ADVOCATE FOR THEM – 23a

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“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬-‭11 ‭NIV‬‬

Why did Jesus call the Holy Spirit “the Advocate”? Of all His titles and functions, Jesus chose this title, at this moment, for a reason. 

“The Holy Spirit is called our advocate because he is sent to be a divine helper and defender, much like a lawyer in a court of law. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, or Paraclete, to come alongside believers to intercede for them, guide them, teach them, and comfort them in times of struggle or accusation. He acts as an advocate by defending believers against spiritual accusers, helping them understand God’s will, and reminding them of Jesus’s teachings.” (Source: Google)

Imagine what Jesus’ words of reassurance must have meant to His disciples at that moment! He kept speaking about leaving them. “Why now, Lord?” Just when things were hotting up…the Pharisees were at breaking point, so enraged by this man and His teaching, His miracles, and His exposure of their wicked hearts that their only hope of restoring their image was to get rid of Him…for good.  

The disciples were well aware of the tension between the religious leaders and their Master. They needed Him more than ever at that moment. He was always so…well…in command of every situation.  What would they do without Him?

Even if they didn’t understand what He meant at that moment, what He promised them was exactly what they needed…

First, they had a task to perform that was beyond them to achieve. How could they convince a rotten, corrupted world of people who hated God, did as they pleased, and loved their sin, to surrender themselves to Jesus as Lord? Jesus’ solution…the Holy Spirit! He would argue the case for Jesus internally…in the conscience of the unbeliever.  

“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin…”

Second, they needed an advocate to defend them. Get this! They were going to be left in a very hostile world, without Jesus! Every kind of abuse and accusation would be hurled at them, leaving them emotionally battered and bruised. They would not have the confidence and assurance of Jesus to take on their opponents with the Word, as Jesus did. The Advocate within them would constantly reassure them that, no matter what people may say about them, and even if they fell into sin, in Christ they were righteous. 

“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Although not clear in Jesus’ promise, there are three categories which Jesus addresses…the world of sin, the believer of righteousness, and the devil of judgment. 

Why does the believer need to be convinced of righteousness? It is not the work of the Holy Spirit to accuse believers. The conscience is activated by God’s grace. Where once the conscience was dulled by sin, grace now operates to keep the believer in touch with God’s truth. 

The believer does not need to have his nose rubbed in the dirt. He needs a greater motivation to live righteously, the righteousness of Jesus imputed to him by grace. It is the gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit to keep our hearts aware of who we are in Christ. 

Third, in the war against sin…the struggle against sin in the old nature and the sin the holds unbelievers captive, the disciples needed to know that they fought from victory, not for victory. The devil had already been judged snd now awaits his eternal sentence. 

“And when he comes, he will convict…(the devil)…of the coming judgment.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How significant that Jesus took care of the entire enterprise of the kingdom in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit in His disciples! They were not the cause of its success but the conduits through whom the Holy Spirit would administer the kingdom’s rule. 

What Jesus taught them at that moment would give them the assurance and the impetus to be faithful because, under the Spirit’s guidance and control, they could  not fail.  

JOHN’S GOSPEL…THE SAGA OF THE SEED – 22b

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“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬-‭9 NIV

Fruit exists for one purpose…to protect and nourish the seed. When the fruit falls to the ground, it feeds the seed until the seed takes root and grows. The better the fruit, the stronger and healthier will be the new plant growing from the seed. 

What does the Bible have to say about the nature  of this fruit? Let’s examine a few Scriptures. 

  1. The fruit of lifestyle

Jesus warned…

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“In Matthew 7, “fruit” refers to the observable results and character of a person’s life, which can be used to identify a false prophet. It represents the actions, deeds, and righteous living that flow from a person’s genuine faith, just as a healthy tree naturally produces good fruit. In contrast, the “bad fruit” of a false teacher will be seen in their unrighteous actions and harmful teachings.” (Source: Google)

  1. The fruit of the tongue

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus said that what comes out of the mouth reflects what is in the heart. A branch that is connected to Jesus should speak  what is Jesus’ nature. 

  1. The fruit of the New Covenant

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Why do I call this “the fruit of the New Covenant”? The New Covenant positions the believer in a new relationship with the Father.  We are no longer slaves obligated to obey rules. We are sons, born of God, in-dwelt by His Spirit, and in the process of being transformed into the image of His Son.  

Therefore, our new status is reflected in the attitudes, words, and behaviour that increasingly give evidence of our new nature. Fruit develops slowly and takes time to mature. As God’s children, we cannot expect to bear mature  fruit instantly. However, though yet immature, the fruit that is forming in our character must be recognisable as the character of Jesus. 

  1. The fruit of new life

Seeds are in the fruit. Seeds produce new life. Seeds produce the offspring of the parent plant.  Therefore, to fulfil the fruit’s ultimate purpose, the fruit must reproduce. How does this happen?

Jesus told a story about seeds. 

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭5‬-‭8‬, ‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s Word is the seed that the farmer scatters on the ground. It falls into a variety of soils and reproduces according to its environment. Most of the seed is unproductive because the soil cannot sustain it…but at least one quarter of the seed sown will germinate and grow into daughter plants. 

What is Jesus saying? Our role is to sow the seed because seed has a power-pack of life in itself. It will germinate wherever it falls. We cannot determine how and where it will grow. However, it will only reproduce in good soil. If the seed we sow comes from lives that reflect the nature of our union with Jesus, the new life that grows from the seed will also become a healthy plant like its parent plant. 

So, Jesus concluded, the Father is glorified when the cycle is complete. The fruit we bare depends entirely on the union with Jesus we cultivate in our intimacy with Him. Wherever that seed falls and grows, it will also become a plant just like the vine from which it came. 

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

‭‭John 15:8-9 NIV

  1. The fruit of eternal life

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The final and greatest of all the fruits that grow from the seed of God’s word is the resurrection of our bodies and eternal life. Jesus said that He would be lifted up in death and buried like a seed but, of it dies, this seed would produce many seeds. Since He would rise again as the first-fruits of a great harvest, so we, too, will rise to be part of the full harvest. 

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him… So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭20‬-‭23‬, ‭42‬-‭44‬, ‭48‬-‭49‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a glorious declaration of the  completion to the saga of the seed! From death to eternal life as the seed passes through its various stages.