Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)

Continuing with his series on the gospel of John, minister Aaron Hill directs listeners' attention to Jesus' conversation with His disciples at what has become known as the Last Supper. Jesus tells Judas to go do what he must. He tells Peter that he will betray Him. He tells His disciples that they cannot follow where He is going. He tells them to love one another. Jesus is the only perfect sacrifice, because Jesus embodies a perfect love! No one loves like Jesus.

To be honest, most people would rather be served than to serve. Sometimes profit becomes more valued than people. Sometimes power is more attractive than service. We think service is below us, yet Jesus, though having more power than any of us, came down to serve us. As minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the Gospel of John, he references John 13 and the scene depicted there of Jesus washing His disciples feet. He is beginning His farewell speech to them, and He teaches them an important lesson: to be great, people must make themselves servants of others just as Christ gave up His throne in heaven to become a servant and give us eternal salvation. To His disciples then and now He says, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:17). He cleanses us and sends us out to serve.

In this week's lesson, Minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John by wrapping up chapter 12. At this point, Jesus has done many signs and wonders, and yet many of the Jews cannot believe in Him. It's not just that they do not; they cannot. Why? How can this be? John records as Jesus quotes from Isaiah. Isaiah tells of a rebellious people. Their hearts have become hard, but God works through Israel's rebellion to bring about salvation through Christ. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Jesus tells his disciples in John 12:23 that “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” As minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John, he reminds listeners that Jesus’ glorification doesn’t look like what his followers then or even now see as glorification. They nor we expect what Jesus says will be done to Him; that He will be glorified by submitting to a cruel death. After all, He is the Son of God, the Messiah. He could have come with fire, lightning, and thunder, wiping out all who stood in opposition to Him. That was the kind of power His audience expected of their Messiah. Yet, Jesus went to the cross, a place that shows weakness, not power. Only God could use the cross as a means to glory, so how does Jesus on the cross glorify God? It glorifies God as just; what is wrong must be righted. It glorifies God as loving; Jesus willingly going to the cross show His great love for us. For us, glory and power mean being lifted up and celebrated by the world, but Jesus chose to be lifted up on a cross, enduring pain, suffering, and death so that we as His followers might live.

John the Baptist said of Jesus in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” He understood Jesus’ role. Jewish leaders of the day weren’t as accepting. As they watched people turning to Jesus, they feared a loss of their influence and power. They plotted to kill both Lazarus and Jesus to maintain their status, not realizing Jesus didn’t operate in the ways of the world. They sought power within their hierarchal leadership structure, but Jesus came as a servant. As he continues his series on the gospel of John, Minister Aaron Hill tells us that Jesus told His disciples in John 12:23 that the hour had come that the Son of Man would be glorified. The Pharisees were willing to kill to keep their power; Jesus was willing to die to offer salvation to the whole world. His glorification looked like pain; it looked like suffering; it looked like weakness, but without Jesus’ glorification, there is no salvation. There is no life. Our lives are nothing without a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Heels over head. We've mostly heard the expression as "head over heels," but in the thirteen hundreds, "heels over head" just meant that a thing was upside down. In minister Aaron Hill's sermon today, "heels over head" takes on a different meaning. John 12:1-8 recounts the story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet will an expensive perfume and then drying them with her hair. As a woman's hair was considered her crowning glory in that culture, Mary was demonstrating that even Jesus' feet were greater than her head, than herself. She shows an affection toward Jesus that shows how much she values Him; however, Judas doesn't see Jesus' value. When he points out that the perfume could have been sold for a great deal of money to help the poor, John comments that, in reality, Judas was the money keeper and had been known to have helped himself to the money bag. Judas covets the cost of the perfume in the name of charity. Mary uses the costly perfume to anoint Jesus in preparation for His burial. She shows that He is worth everything to her. Is Jesus worth that to us? Is He worth ALL to us?

Most if not all of us have sat with doctors and talked to them about our pain levels. Whether our pain was at a three or a ten, we've probably experienced pain of one kind or another. Minister Aaron Hill reminds us that God, too, has experienced pain. Jesus went through torturous pain on the cross. Continuing his series on the gospel of John, Hill continues in chapter 11 following the resurrection of Lazarus. The Jews are concerned that so many are believing on Jesus. They fear they are in danger of losing their influence and position if that continues, so they plot to murder Him, not realizing that Jesus has not come to Jerusalem just to observe the Passover with a sacrifice. He has come to be the sacrifice, a sacrifice that would save not only the Jews of His own nation but also the peoples outside of Israel, the Gentile nations. He subjects Himself to a painful death on a cross to save the world.

Jesus told His followers, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” God allows us to go through pain, yet He is always with us in that pain. Minister Aaron Hill continues in John 11 as He finishes the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus arrives after Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. Mary and Martha are both sure that their brother would not have died if Jesus had been there. Jesus, however, doesn't reprimand them. He doesn't invalidate their pain. He mourns with them. The Jews are there to comfort the family, but Jesus offers them something better. He always offers something better. He is there to glorify God and bring people to belief. The resurrection of Lazarus reveals the glory of God. We can't stop death, but there is One who can raise our bodies to everlasting life: Jesus Christ.

God is loving, but sometimes God allows us to go through pain. Continuing his series on the gospel of John, minister Aaron Hill discusses the account of Lazarus’ death from John 11. Some might question why Jesus allowed Lazarus to die. He didn’t have to be in Bethany to heal him, yet He chose not to go. Why is that? Others may ask why He didn’t go directly to Bethany when he learned Lazarus was sick. He could have done that, too, but he didn’t. Why? Sometimes God doesn’t do what He can do. In the case of Lazarus, He waits before He goes. He waits until His friend dies. He waits so that He can bring glory to God.

Minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John as he proceeds through chapter 10. Sometime between chapter 7 and chapter 10, two months have passed. The Jews are now celebrating the Feast of Dedication, what we know today as Hanukkah. They are celebrating freedom, but they aren't really free. They are subjects of Rome. They are wondering if Jesus is really the Messiah. They know Jesus is unique because no one has ever said what He says or done what He does. Yet, they don't recognize Jesus because He is not the kind of Messiah they are looking for. Jesus has plainly declared himself to be the Christ, but they don't believe Him. Jesus declares that His sheep hear His voice, and He has the sheep in His hands to give them life. At the same time, the Jews have stones in their hands to try to take His life. Many voices pull us in many different directions, but it is important that we focus on the voice of the shepherd, the keeper of the sheep.

Minister Aaron Hill begins his lesson today in John 10 and focuses on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus is outwardly focused on His "sheep," those who will be saved. He is calling them to save them not just for eternity but for abundant life. Jesus is the one true shepherd, and He gives up all for His sheep to the point of death. However, He does more than just die for them; He takes up His life again for them! His sheep recognize His voice and they follow Him. Sometimes sheep might not understand, but they trust their shepherd and follow Him. The question then becomes this: Will we follow Jesus as the Shepherd of our souls and accept the abundant life that He offers?

When halftime comes in a ballgame, and the team is not performing as expected, the coach has to address what has gone wrong and get the players back on the right track. In much the same way, the author of Hebrews pauses in chapter 6 to get the Christians he addresses back on track. Guest minister Robert Peek uses Hebrews 6:9-12 to show how the letter writer addresses the problems occurring in that church and to illustrate how the same message applies to us.The author of the letter to the Hebrews go back to doing what they were doing when they first became Christians, to go back to doing what worked for them then, to practice those things that increased their faith and bore fruit. Then he admonishes them to go back to showing the love they had for their brothers and sisters and for each other before they began to suffer persecution. Finally, he reminds them to remember the assurance, the confidence, the certainty that we are right with God and that our salvation is secure. All these actions are what coincide with having salvation; they help us finish the course and win the race. Let’s allow these words of encouragement to get us back in the game with renewed faith in action.

In the story of the blind man whom Jesus heals in John 9, Minister Aaron Hill discusses how God can have a purpose in even the most difficult of situations in life. The blind man has no hope, yet God has a purpose for him. God can change circumstances, and that’s exactly what He does in the life of this man who was born blind. Change, however, can create opposition, and it does in the case of the blind man. The religious elite reject him. His own family refuses to stand up for him, and he suffers persecution because he has turned to Jesus. Listen to see how a man who begins this story not even knowing who Jesus is comes to the point of falling down to worship Jesus.

As Minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John, we learn how the Jews did not honor Jesus because they didn't believe He was Who He said He was. They dishonored the Father because they dishonored His Son Jesus. Jesus, however, didn't seek glory from them or from any human being. It is good that He has invited us into His kingdom, but we don't add anything to His glory by accepting the invitation. Jesus tells the Jews that "if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death" (John 8:51) In John 11:25, Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." In Christ death has no power over us! Hold onto His message!

In John 8, the Pharisees are persistent in their questioning of Jesus, and Jesus is blunt in His responses to them. He wants them to believe, and He makes it clear that anyone who is in unbelief is under the thumb of the devil. As minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John, he explains that being under Satan's influence is not just a Jewish problem. It's a human problem. It was not just a first century problem. It applies in the 21st century as well. Jesus' message to His audience then also applies to His hearers today. Now as then, Jesus says to His listeners who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

One of the core doctrines of Christianity is belief in the divinity of Jesus. Minister Aaron Hill continues through his series on the gospel of John in the last part of chapter eight and notes that though belief in Jesus' divinity is required of Christians, understanding how Jesus is at once divine and human is not a requirement. We don't have to understand. Lack of Understanding shouldn't keep us from belief. We only have earthly knowledge, and our belief comes through faith in Him. He bluntly declares to the Pharisees who question Him, "unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). If we do not believe, we will die in our sins. It is not necessary to understand all things about Jesus to believe in and follow Him. Why not start the journey today?

When we try to walk without light, we can find our path determined by what we blindly follow. We grab onto anything of substance when we cannot see. Minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John in chapter 8, verse 12, in which Jesus declares that He is the light. John follows three themes throughout the book: light, bread, and water. Interestingly, and no doubt intentionally, these three elements are also found in Exodus as Moses leads the children of Israel through the wilderness. The pillar of fire is the light they follow. Manna is the bread they eat, and on more than one occasion, God, though Moses, provides them with water. Jesus is the light of the world. He declares Himself the True Light, and the True Light gives light to everyone. In response, we will either go to it, or we'll flee from it. Which way will we choose?

Guest minister Robert Peek expounds on the book of I John and what John had to say to the church to which he was writing. The Christians to which he wrote were being influenced by gnostic teachers, teachers who were changing the way they view Jesus. The gnostics were affecting the way the Christians there viewed Christ, the way they behaved, and the way they treated each other. It was a different culture and a different time, but might we not learn from their mistakes and apply them to our current culture? Listen to hear what the Christians in John's day faced and ponder similar issues we may face in the world of our time.

As he continues the series on the gospel of John, Aaron Hill discusses a familiar passage, John 8:1-11. Though it is familiar, it is a text that is not found in most ancient manuscripts and so is excluded from many translations. While some may or may not believe it is a reliable part of the gospel of John, the text does teach important principals. The Pharisees bring a woman to Jesus. They report that she has been caught in the act of adultery. They say that the law says that she should be stoned, and they want to know what Jesus has to say about it. Their intentions are to trap Jesus so they can declare that He does not keep the Law. Jesus doesn’t fall for their trick, however. He responds that whoever is in the group who has not sinned should throw the first stone. They gradually drift away, leaving the woman alone with Jesus, who tells her to go and stop sinning since no one has condemned her. He shows grace to her. He knows that the Law highlights the need for grace, but the Pharisees don’t get the purpose of the Law. They don’t understand that they have been talking to the Lawgiver! Neither we nor they can justify ourselves or save ourselves. Jesus Himself was the only One in the group that day who had a right to throw stones, yet He offered the woman grace. Whether this short passage should or should not be included in the New Testament, it teaches an important principle: we deserve condemnation, but Jesus has offered us grace if we will accept it.