S – This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master^, is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father

John 15:12–15 CSB

O – Commentary:

This is my commandment: Love each other: See 13:34. • Jesus demonstrated his love by sacrificing his life at the cross.

15:14–16 Both Abraham and Moses were called friends of God (Exod 33:11; 2 Chr 20:7; Isa 41:8; Jas 2:23). This is the highest relationship possible between God and a person. Jesus chooses his friends (15:16), who demonstrate their friendship by obeying him.

15:15 The disciples of a rabbi were considered his servants or slaves. Jesus elevated his followers to a higher relationship as his friends

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – In our relationship with Christ, we are elevated to “friends” of God.  The fact that God sees us as someone to have a relationship with is astounding.  We are not just followers – He has a plan, a purpose and he shares that with us.  He demonstrated how deeply he desires relationship with us when Jesus died on the cross.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Lord of all.  Thank you for loving us enough to call us friends.  We love you too.  We accept that Christ is the son of God and obey your Word.

S – “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful

 John 14:27 CSB

O – Commentary:

In New Testament times the normal way to say good-bye was Peace (šālôm in Heb.). In His death Jesus provided a legacy for His disciples: My peace I give you. They would have “peace with God” (Rom. 5:1) because their sins were forgiven and the “peace of God” (Phil. 4:7) would guard their lives. The world is unable to give this kind of peace. Fear of death (Heb. 2:14–15) and fear of the future are removed as Jesus’ followers trust in Him. Thus they need not be troubled (cf. John 11:33; 13:21; 14:1).

“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – When we have a relationship with God, fear takes on new meaning.  Without God, fear has unlimited possibilities for fulfillment.  When we have a relationship with God, faith, trust and hope has unlimited possibilities that defeat the fear.  God wins!  

R – Heavenly Father, you are Holy and the One, true God.  Thank you for meeting us in our fear with your hope and unlimited ability to accomplish what you desire in us.  Help us to step toward you in courage and not towards fear.  We trust you today.

S – Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. ⁴ So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself

John 13:3–4 CSB

O – Commentrary:

Jesus’ removing his outer garments to serve them would also appear as a sign of great humility before them.

By so serving, Jesus prefigures his death as the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 on behalf of the many. Jesus’ milieu celebrated honor and feared shame. Unlike most elite men in Greco-Roman society, Judaism valued humility; but like other societies, it also upheld societal roles. Jesus overturns even positions of social status. Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi (about a.d. 220) was said to be so humble that he would do anything for others—except relinquish his superior position; seating according to rank was crucial. Jesus goes beyond even this…Jesus’ act violates cultural status boundaries so thoroughly (see comment on 13:3–5) that Peter finds it unthinkable.

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – One of my favorite moment in the Bible – Jesus knows God gives him all authority over everything and the first thing he does is serve.  What a great reminder for us that all of us are called to serve.  As you progress through the crucifixion story, understand that Jesus has all authority.  He never called down angels or spiritual forces to stop the physical attack on his body.  His actions that started in serving ended in total sacrifice of his entire life.  What a picture for us.

A – Heavenly Father, you the sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world.  Thank you for your love for us so great that you would serve and sacrifice for us.  We do not deserve it.  We love you.

S – Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name.”^, 

Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again

John 12:27–28 CSB

O – Commentary:

my soul is deeply troubled: John used the same term (Greek tarassō) to describe Jesus’ strong emotion of agony before Lazarus’ tomb (11:33; also 13:21). When Jesus stood before death, he could not be impassive. Jesus experienced genuine anguish, yet he remained strong in obedience to the Father’s will (5:19–23; 6:37; 8:29, 38; 14:31).

12:28 a voice spoke from heaven: Cp. Matt 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35. • God had already brought glory to himself when Christ entered the world (1:14) and through Jesus’ work, which showed God’s power to the world. • I will do so again: The final display of glory would come at the cross (see 12:23; 17:1). In John, the cross is an event of glory as Christ was “lifted up” (12:32) and glorified there. Jesus was prepared for crucifixion like a king coming to his coronation; the cross was like a throne (see 19:19–22), and he was buried like royalty. Jesus’ time of glorification included the entire sequence from arrest through resurrection.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – When we are going through hard times, do we recognize that our obedience to God’s will glorifies Him?  It is truly a struggle.  Jesus stepped toward the “pain box.”  We must be willing to do that as well if our obedience will bring glory to God.

R – Heavenly Father, you will, ways and thoughts are higher than ours.  None of us enjoy moving in or towards pain.  We put our faith and trust in you that you will be glorified when it seems the toughest.

S – When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled. ³⁴ “Where have you put him?” he asked. 

“Lord,” they told him, “come and see.” 

³⁵ Jesus wept

 John 11:33–35 CSB

O – Commentary:

Deeply moved may either be translated “groaned” or more likely “angered.” The Greek word enebrimēsato (from embrimaomai) seems to connote anger or sternness…Why was Jesus angry? Some have argued that He was angry because of the people’s unbelief or hypocritical wailing. But this seems foreign to the context. A better explanation is that Jesus was angry at the tyranny of Satan who had brought sorrow and death to people through sin (cf. 8:44; Heb. 2:14–15). Also Jesus was troubled (etaraxen, lit., “stirred” or “agitated,” like the pool water in John 5:7… This disturbance was because of His conflict with sin, death, and Satan…Jesus’ weeping differed from that of the people. His quiet shedding of tears (edakrysen) differed from their loud wailing (klaiontas, v. 33). His weeping was over the tragic consequences of sin

“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Interesting to see how Jesus’ emotions comes into this situation.  Jesus loves Lazarus and his sisters so there would be a sadness. Yet, he knows that the dead man will be brought back to life.  His emotions over the hypocrisy and how the the devil is manipulating the situation is consistent with all of his teaching in temple.  Jesus is discerning the spiritual environment in real time.  We need to do this as well and express our emotions in a healthy way.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Jehovah Rapha, our healer.  We invite your Holy Spirit to show us how to process and express our emotions in a healthy way.  You created us with them.  Give us understanding and wisdom in using them.

S – But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.
John 10:16 CSB

O – Commentary:
The other sheep … not of this flock refers to Gentiles who would believe. His coming death would bring them also to the Father. They too will listen to My voice. Jesus continues to save people as they hear His voice in the Scriptures. Acts 18:9–11 illustrates how this works out in the history of the church. “I have many people in this city” (i.e., Corinth), the Lord told Paul. One flock and one Shepherd speaks of the church with believers from Jewish and Gentile “sheep pens” in one body with Christ as Head
, “John,” (https://ref.ly/logosres/bkc?ref=Bible.Jn10.16&off=7&ctx=10%3a16.+~The+other+sheep+%E2%80%A6+not+of+this+flo) in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Jesus moved a lot of paradigm in his lifetime and ministry. The idea that the Gentiles could have a relationship with God was one of the big ones. God was still the God of Israel but also the non Jews. The church today exists because of God’s love for all mankind and Jesus’ willingness to implement a way for all to be in relationship with Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God of all. Thank you for you love that covers all mankind. We are grateful that you chose all of us to have relationship with you each day. We step towards you in gratitude and love.

S – This is an amazing thing!” the man told them. “You don’t know where he is from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to him. 32 Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.” 
John 9:30–33 CSB

O – Commentary:
The beggar proceeded to teach them since they admitted ignorance of Jesus’ origin. The irony is strong for the reader knows His origin (1:14, 18). According to the beggar’s logic, this miracle was notable and unique. He said that no one had ever heard of … a man born blind receiving sight. He reasoned that God grants not the requests of sinners but those of the righteous (cf. Elijah, James 5:16–18). Therefore this Man, he said, is from God. Otherwise He could do no miracles.
 E “John,” (https://ref.ly/logosres/bkc?ref=Bible.Jn9.30-33&off=9&ctx=9%3a30%E2%80%9333.+~The+beggar+proceeded+to+teach+t) in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The Bible talks about how the “foolish will confound the wise.”  This passage illustrates this.  The learned teachers of the Jewish faith could not fathom the simplicity of God using Jesus to do a miracle. Or, they didn’t want to believe it so they rationalized it away.  This happens today.  We overcomplicate situations that God is working in our lives.  Or, we don’t like the results and choos to not see God’s involvement.  We need child like faith that sees what God is doing, step towards it and give him all the glory.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you for all that you do in our lives.  Help us move toward you in trust and faith even when we don’t understand.  You are working for our good and we believe in you.

S – Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12 CSB

O – Commentary:

Jesus … said, I am the Light of the world (cf. 1:4, 9; 12:35, 46). The world is in darkness, a symbol of evil, sin, and ignorance (Isa. 9:2; Matt. 4:16; 27:45; John 3:19). “Light” in the Bible is a symbol of God and His holiness (Acts 9:3; 1 John 1:5). Jesus is “the Light,” not merely a light or another light among many lights. He is the only Light, “the true Light” (John 1:9), for the whole world. When Jesus said, Whoever follows Me, He meant whoever believes and obeys Him (cf. 10:4–5, 27; 12:26; 21:19–20, 22). Jesus was speaking of salvation

“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The darkness is there everyday.  It was there before God created light.  Yet, any element of light dispels and defeats the darkness.  Jesus’ love, character and blood defeats all forms of darkness.  When we walk in a relationship with Him, we navigate the darkness of sin with victory and confidence that God defeated the darkness from the beginning and still does today.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Light of the world.  Thank you for giving us victory over any darkness that comes against us.  We choose our relationship with you as a foundation for our day.  We choose to put our faith and trust in you.

S – As he was teaching in the temple, Jesus cried out, “You know me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on my own, but the one who sent me is true. You don’t know him; ²⁹ I know him because I am from him, and he sent me.” 

John 7:28–29 CSB

O – Commentary:

He responded to their supposed knowledge of Him (7:27) with irony. He is from the Father. God is true (“reliable”; cf. v. 18; 8:26) and had sent Jesus. Whereas His enemies did not know Jesus or God (1:18; cf. Matt. 11:27), Jesus knows the Father because of His origin (John 1:1, 14, 18) and divine mission.

“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Jesus asserts who sent him and that God is true.  Later, when he says, “I am the truth, the way and the life,” it assigns the unity with God and that he is indeed the messiah.  What we decide about Jesus today is the foundation of our relationship with God.  Each of us has an opportunity to choose him as our Lord and savior.  Will we do that or will he remain a historical figure without spiritual impact to our lives?

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy and worthy of all praise.  We accept that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.  We recognize that he was God who came in the form of a man.  We are grateful for the price he paid on the cross for our sins and that we can have relationship with you.  Thank you, God.

S – What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked. 

²⁹ Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.” 

John 6:28–29 CSB

O – Commentary:

The people recognized that Jesus was saying God had a requirement for them. They would do God’s requirement if He would inform them what it was. They believed that they could please God and thus obtain eternal life by doing good works (cf. Rom. 10:2–4).

6:29. Jesus’ response to their question was a flat contradiction of their thinking. They could not please God by doing good works. There is only one work of God, that is, one thing God requires. They need to put their trust in the One the Father has sent. Because of their sin people cannot please God by doing good works for salvation (Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:5). God demands that people recognize their inability to save themselves and receive His gift

“John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Could it be that simple – believer in the one who God sent?  Yes! And it is true today.  Salvation comes when someone believe that Jesus Christ can save them from their sins and is the bridge to a relationship with God.  People think they need to “do” more to be godly.  Instead, God is more about “being” in relationship with him.  

R – Heavenly Father, you alone are the one, true God.  Salvation come in believing that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  Empower us to confident in that action as the way to you.  Our other actions should come from a desire to know you more.