May 29
John 18:1-24
When you wake up in the morning do you primarily think about what you need to accomplish, or how you can serve others? Is your focus on yourself, or on other people? Keep these questions in mind as you read John 18. After an exhausting night which included a meal and intense prayer, a mob came to arrest Jesus. If Jesus’ mindset was selfpreservation he could have fled or denied his identity, but instead, since his focus was on serving the world, he openly acknowledged that “I am he.” Notice the power in his voice. When he spoke, the crowd fell to the ground. The same voice that spoke the world into existence spoke into the darkness with power. Yet despite this power, Jesus’ understanding of his mission gave him a willingness to be arrested. Jesus’ mindset was not about himself but about serving others.
Notice the clear contrast with Peter. When Peter is asked if he is Jesus’ disciple, he denies it. He is worried that he might be arrested, so with a focus on himself, he claims to not even know Jesus. With a self-centered mindset, he finds himself lying, denying his Savior, and separating himself from Jesus. Similarly, when we put ourselves first, we will always drift away from truth and God. .Therefore, we are to remember Christ’s love and sacrifice, openly acknowledge him, and conform to his life.
Father God, thank you that out of a love for me, Jesus was willing to walk in obedience to the end. Help me to live out of a commitment to you and a love for others. Amen.
How can you live focused more on Christ than yourself?
When you wake up in the morning do you primarily think about what you need to accomplish, or how you can serve others? Is your focus on yourself, or on other people? Keep these questions in mind as you read John 18. After an exhausting night which included a meal and intense prayer, a mob came to arrest Jesus. If Jesus’ mindset was selfpreservation he could have fled or denied his identity, but instead, since his focus was on serving the world, he openly acknowledged that “I am he.” Notice the power in his voice. When he spoke, the crowd fell to the ground. The same voice that spoke the world into existence spoke into the darkness with power. Yet despite this power, Jesus’ understanding of his mission gave him a willingness to be arrested. Jesus’ mindset was not about himself but about serving others.
Notice the clear contrast with Peter. When Peter is asked if he is Jesus’ disciple, he denies it. He is worried that he might be arrested, so with a focus on himself, he claims to not even know Jesus. With a self-centered mindset, he finds himself lying, denying his Savior, and separating himself from Jesus. Similarly, when we put ourselves first, we will always drift away from truth and God. .Therefore, we are to remember Christ’s love and sacrifice, openly acknowledge him, and conform to his life.
Father God, thank you that out of a love for me, Jesus was willing to walk in obedience to the end. Help me to live out of a commitment to you and a love for others. Amen.
How can you live focused more on Christ than yourself?
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