We face a lot of crises nowadays. World epidemic, economic crunch, fake news, racism, polarisation such that people cannot agree to disagree. There is conflict and tension. What would you think is the worst crisis we face?

None of these things.

Peace, love, joy, abiding in Christ. Conflict.

What? Somebody, somewhere, is going to have a real problem with you following Christ.

The result of sin is that we naturally have no relationship with God. The increasing trend in this world is like it says in Psalm 2: “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” That’s a good idea! Who needs the slavery and confinement to obey an arbitrary tyrant?

The problem with that is when we have no bond with God we don’t have bonds with those around us. We want loyalty, we want commitment, and trust.

“Here’s the way to live life to the fullest: find what it is that moves you, and embrace it, join yourself to it, and pursue it to the fullest. That’s how you find satisfaction, that’s how you find meaning, that’s how you find life.”

That statement is wrong. Do you know why?

Jesus is leaving, the disciples are gutted. Jesus is telling them things hard to process. He said He wouldn’t leave them as orphans, but still, they are upset. Jesus knows worse things are coming. Life is going to go upside-down. It’s going to look completely out of control. Jesus is an encourager, and He will encourage His disciples with the Holy Spirit and with the truth.

It is the last night of Jesus’ life. Rather than being depressed or anxious He is talking to His disciples about how things are going to continue. He will continue to work in the world, but it’s in a new way. The world won’t see Him directly, but they will see Him in His disciples.

For this to happen they need help. And Jesus has help all arranged, the fulfilment of the Father’s promise.

Whenever you practice a skill, a sport, an instrument, you generally find you get better. The early days are rough, but if you stick to it and work hard, you find you get better at it. You develop proficiency and a depth of experience that sets you apart. I’m an expert. No brag, just fact.

It doesn’t work like that in Christianity.

Do you know what’s going to happen to you after you die? That’s more important than staying alive because you know you can’t live here forever.

It’s especially important to know where you’re going when you die if you know you are a failure. Where do failures go when they die?

The good news is that we can know where we go when we die.

Jesus gave a new commandment to His disciples. Love one another, even as I have loved you. That extends to laying down one’s life for one’s friends.

It’s common to think two things about love. One is, love, I can do that, I’m cool with that. Two, love everybody? That’s unreasonable. He’s asking too much.

The problem is that we underestimate what love is, and we overestimate ourselves.

Christianity is about getting saved. What are we saved from?

One danger is the wrath of God. Jesus saves by taking the wrath of God upon Himself. If we don’t receive Jesus, we are guilty before God and there is nothing we can do to save ourselves from His righteous wrath against sin.

Another danger to be saved from is the domination of Satan. He has the whole world lying in his grasp. Jesus said now is the ruler of this world cast out. But what if we don’t receive Jesus to save us?