“ What does Jesus mean when He says, “I am the true vine”? A vine is a climbing plant that produces grapes as its fruit. Also known as a grapevine, it has been a staple in Israel’s agriculture since ancient times, including Jesus’ time. The wine produced from these grapevines are integral to many areas of Jewish life, such as weddings (John 2:1-10), festivals, and religious ceremonies.  By declaring Himself as the true vine, Jesus declares Himself to be the true life-giver.  When wine is omitted from a Jewish wedding, the wedding can still go on, albeit less merrily.  However, when Jesus is omitted from a person’s life, that soul will not survive (John 15:4-6).  For our spiritual sustenance, we need to stay connected to our true vine – how? It all boils down to what we do with Jesus’ words.  Do we allow Jesus to prune us with His words by removing the sins and weaknesses that are exposed (John 15:2-3)? Do we bear more fruit of the Spirit by obeying His commandments (John 15:2b, 10; Galatians 5:22-23)?  And finally, do we abide in A life of connection with our true vine is a life full of joy (John 15:11).  It is a life full of the assurance that Jesus will grant us whatever we ask of Him in prayer, because we always do what pleases Him (John 15: 7, 16; 1 John 3:22).  It is a life full of the enduring love of Jesus, who calls us His friends and wants to reveal His will to us while empowering us with the Holy Spirit to act upon it (John 15:10, 15, 26-27).  May we stay connected with Jesus, our true vine. Amen. 🍇   [1]

Through the exposure of Judas’ betrayal and the prediction of Peter’s denial, Jesus has made it plain to the disciples that His departure was at hand. To prepare them for the trial ahead, Jesus repeatedly reassures them that He will not leave them alone, but that He will come to them again. Similarly, Jesus — through His love — shows us that we will not be left alone in this uncertain and volatile world. There is a desire to always be near to the person you love. Jesus talks about preparing a place in God’s kingdom for us, and where He is, we will be too. This expresses Jesus’s deep love for believers. If we believe that Jesus is the way, He comforts us by stating that there is no need for our hearts to feel troubled because He is the Way, the Truth and the One who can grant us eternal life.  The promise of the precious Holy Spirit displays Jesus’s love for us. The Holy Spirit not only abides with us forever, but teaches us all things and brings to our remembrance all things that Jesus has told us. The Holy Spirit given to us is special; the world cannot receive Him because they do not know Him — but because we do, He will dwell in us and be with us.  It is also out of Jesus’s love that we have His commandments. His commandments are given to the precious and for our own good. On our part, our love for Christ motivates us to keep His commandments, so that we may reign with Him.  How much can listening to our favourite music, delighting in the hobbies we enjoy doing, talking to our closest ones — truly fill up that void within us? Another spring of love from Jesus is the gift of His peace, a kind of peace that even the most exciting things in the world cannot offer.  In life, we are indeed weakened by many things. However, the life we share with God now is a fulfilment of John 14. When we are united to Jesus through love, there is nothing that can take away the hope we have.

It is often said that things done and said right before death hold immense weight and importance. John chapter 13 records this exact instance for the man who had the most important job to do: Jesus. The key event recorded in the first part of John 13 is Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. This event teaches us the humility that one ought to have as a servant of God. Jesus, the master, played the role of a servant for His disciples, teaching us that when we are put in leadership positions in the Church, our purpose is to serve others and not lord over them. However, this occasion holds more significance than just a lesson on humility. The chapter begins saying Jesus “knew that his hour had come”. Jesus needed to complete a few important things before He died for all of mankind’s sins and amongst these few things was this sacrament of Footwashing. When Peter did not understand what Jesus was doing, Jesus explained that if He did not wash him, Peter would have no part with Him (verse 8). The footwashing conducted here had the purpose of providing a part with Jesus and Peter’s reaction to Jesus’ words show us just how important footwashing really is. The initial reaction that Peter had to Jesus washing his feet actually draws out more reflection points for us. Initially, Peter refused to let Jesus wash his feet because in his view, his master should never wash his feet. Peter was so confident in his own judgement, so much so that he forgot that he was disregarding what Jesus wanted. Today, in our lives, are we like this as well? Do we unknowingly trust more in our judgement of situations and things instead of trusting in God’s will and process? The last thing Jesus leaves His disciples with in this chapter is His new commandment to love one another as He had loved them (verse 34). It seems strange that Jesus called this a new commandment since the commandment of love has always been there, since old testament times. However, this new commandment gives this love a new reference point: Jesus. It sets a new standard to not just love others as ourselves, but to love others unconditionally and sacrificially just like Jesus. This new commandment of love is also further explained to be the mark of the disciples of Jesus for all to see. In our lives today, this is still the case. Our love for others should be apparent and should show others the true meaning of being a Christian.

“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” This is not the first time Jesus said this.  Before His transfiguration, Jesus said a similar message to His disciples. He said: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)  This statement calls us to reflect on our values system. Which do we value more – our lives in this world, or Jesus? This statement also highlights the serious consequence of having the wrong values system. Value this world, and we die. Value Christ, and we live – forever.  Consider the people in John 12 who had wrong values systems.  The Pharisees and other Jewish leaders, who valued the honour of man (John 12:42-43; 5:44).  The crowd, who valued their freedom and expected Jesus to be a physical king who will fulfil their wish of freeing them from Roman rule (12:12-13, 34; 6:15).  Judas, who valued wealth and eventually betrayed Jesus (12:4-6).   Blinded by their wrong values, these people could not see and accept Jesus as their spiritual King who would heal their souls (12:39-40). Consequently, they remained dead in their sins.  Furthermore, by the time Judas came to his senses and realised what he had given up, it was too late. All he had left, was unbearable regret (Matthew 27:3-5). Mary, who valued anointing Jesus in time, more than her worldly future (John 12:3).  As per Jewish customs at that time, Mary could have been reserving that costly spikenard oil for various reasons – beauty treatment for marriage, self-medication for ailments, emergency funds for household crises. Yet, instead of saving it for her future, Mary chose to spend it all on Jesus, there and then.  And Mary could not have picked a better time, because later when other women wanted to do the same, it was too late – Jesus no longer needed their anointing (Luke 23:55 – 24:3).    Speaking of Jesus, let us not forget how He valued the will of the Father above His own will (John 12:27; Matthew 26:39, 42), resulting in the salvation of many, including generations to come (John 12:24).  Hate our sinful desires; Love the fruit of the Spirit.  Hate a life entrenched in this world; Love a life hidden in Christ.  Reject living for ourselves; Embrace living for Christ, while we still have Amen.

Death is both a mystery and a fact of life. Having lost loved ones, most of us are no stranger to it, the reality of it, at the very least. Death is one of the few once in a lifetime experiences, perhaps the only experience impossible to live to tell. So, the tale of one’s death is entrusted to the living. Have we given proper thought, then, about the life we, sooner or later, will leave behind? Will we be remembered? If so, how? If not, why? Do the remains of our death accurately depict a life well led? Why go to great lengths, make great strides, hoping either matters? How is being remembered any good to the dead? Is it not man’s all to keep his fear in God and His commandments to the end? God through Paul reminds us that our present lives and bodies are His temple, temporary tangible dwelling places for His Holy Spirit. Knowing this alone, are we not compelled to preserve our bodies and souls in securing God’s constant abidance and be used as living testaments of God? Is this not also the conclusion of the matter? “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” – Romans 14: 7-8 As death inconspicuously looms over matters of this life, let us never overlook or lose sight, but always look to matters beyond. God-willing, our life and death point the living to glorious skies.

What is our role in the fold of God? The earlier portion of John Chapter 10 largely illustrates a scene in the pastures. Sheep are known only to follow the voice of their shepherd. They are also highly social animals who will run from what frightens them and band together in large groups for protection. We know the church of the last days will face many trials and persecutions (cf. John 15:18-21, 2 Timothy 4:3, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Revelation 16:13-16). Being a part of the church, the flock of God, do we show care and concern for the body of Christ? When members face dangers or trials, what is our reaction?  When the fold is in danger, like the sheep of the field, we ought to band together in the unity of faith to face the trial together, for if one part suffers, every part suffers with it (1 Corinthians 12:26). When we have schisms within the fold, let us esteem others better than ourselves, having the same love and being of one accord (Philippians 2:1-4). Jesus talks about Him being the door of the sheep and the good shepherd in verses 9 and 11 respectively. Verses 11 and 13 contrast between a good shepherd and a hireling; the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep, but the hireling flees because he does not care about the sheep (v13). Being the older ones of the flock, do we manifest the love of Christ through our actions to tend to the younger sheep as shepherds? Our Lord Himself has commanded us to look after His fold, just as He had commanded Peter to feed His lambs, tend His sheep and feed His sheep (cf. John 21:15-17). Whether we are serving as sheep or shepherds, every one of us has a role to play in the unity of the flock. In all things, we need to put on the love of Christ and patiently oversee the growth of the lambs, the sheep and the fold. Let us heed the commands of God so that we will be given our due rewards when we return to our heavenly home. "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away." (1 Peter 5:2-4)

When reading the Bible, a really edifying exercise to do is to underline key words and phrases, or any repeated themes. If you tried to do this for this chapter (like I once did), your Bible will be filled with markings, because words like "blind", "see", "eyes", etc. repeat so much throughout this chapter. The key event in John Chapter 9 is a man born blind being healed by Jesus. Jesus passed by the blind man, anointed his eyes with the clay, and asked the man to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam. The blind man obeyed, and came back seeing. Yet, this only takes up a few verses in this chapter. The rest of the chapter focuses on the spiritual eyes of the man slowly being opened. When asked by others how his eyes were opened, the blind man first referred to Jesus as "a Man called Jesus" (John 9:8-12). Then, when questioned by the unbelieving Jews who accused Jesus of being a sinner, he first responds with "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." (John 9:24-25). Yet, when furthered questioned, he gave a very powerful answer, proclaiming his faith: "The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvellous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”" John 9:30-33 NKJV This resulted in him being cast out by the Pharisees. This "casting out" is not just being asked to leave the synagogue, but rather being excommunicated and no longer having anything to do with the Jews. We then see the love and compassion of Jesus: Upon hearing that he was cast out, Jesus went to find him. "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshipped Him." John 9:35-38 NKJV Here, the spiritual eyes of the initially blind man are fully opened. He sought to believe in the Son of God, and when Jesus revealed Himself to him, he again proclaimed his belief and worshipped. The opening of the man's physical eyes only spanned a few verses, today's chapter details the gradual opening of his spiritual eyes. We may not be physically blind today, but are our spiritual eyes open? Do we truly recognise Jesus as our Lord and bow the knee to worship Him?

In John 8, the controversy around Jesus deepens, with several exchanges between Jesus and the unbelieving Jews, and starkly different responses to Jesus’ words - believing in Him (v30) and trying to stone Him (v59). Let us reflect on the words of Jesus to the Jews and our own responses as we read them. Does this episode cause us to raise our eyebrows? Do we question why Jesus forgave this woman of her adultery and wonder if adultery is not really a mortal sin after all? Sometimes when we read the Bible, we focus on the legality or technicalities, and miss the main message. What did Jesus tell the woman? That what she had done was alright? No! Jesus says to her, “go and sin no more”. If we focus on the boundaries of what is sin or what is forgivable, we miss the fact that all of us are in sin, and Jesus calls us to repentance, not to use liberty as a cloak for vice. In fact, this is the same mistake the accusers in this episode made. Being so obsessed with finding fault with Jesus, they forgot the purpose of the law they were claiming to uphold - righteousness and justice. In fact, what they were doing - conspiring to find fault with a blameless man - Jesus - was something the law condemned! Only when Jesus told them, “he who is without sin”, did they realize their folly. When we read the Bible today, let us read with humility and purity of heart, lest we read our own intentions into God’s word and deceive ourselves. When we read v12-59, it may feel like Jesus is purposely not answering them plainly, or is being very abrasive - calling the Jews the children of the devil, as compared to his gentler responses to others. Does this also raise questions within us? Do we think to ourselves that perhaps Jesus should have said something else, or phrased His words differently, so that maybe more people would be convinced and believe Him? And once again, a deeper reflection on the passage gives me some insights for self-reflection. v30 tells us that many believed in Him after hearing His words. Why did these Jews believe and not disbelieve? Did they already have some prior prejudice to accept or reject Jesus? In fact, unlike us, Jesus already knows the hearts of men (John 2:24-25). And the Jews that were questioning Him actually already knew and understood who Jesus was saying He was. They had seen the great miracles He performed that no one else could. And yet they hardened their hearts and rejected Him as their Messiah. When they asked “Who are You?” or “Where is Your Father?” It was not out of curiosity or a genuine desire for the truth. They were looking for ways to accuse Jesus of some fault to put Him to death. Jesus did not need to play their game and answer them plainly, because to those who did not harden their hearts, His message that He was the Messiah was clear as day. In fact, to those who were truly ignorant, Jesus had no problem telling them clearly who He was. An example of this is the man born blind in the next chapter (John 9:35-38). Our hearts determine our response to Jesus’ words. It can open to be transformed by His words, to truly go and sin no more. But if we harden our hearts, it can close our eyes even to great miracles so that we fail to see God’s grace. Let us open our hearts with humility to see the will of God for us today.