Jewels From John # 29 - No Turning Back

-

No Turning Back

 For the Audio Version of this devotion, click here - No Turning Back

“Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.” John 21:2-3 (NKJV)

The trial, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, was probably one of the most traumatic times for the disciples of Jesus and for all those who loved Him and followed Him closely. After having given up their all, and after having Jesus their Master, live with them, teach them, provide for them, protect them, pray for them and love them for three and half years, the absence of Jesus’ physical presence must have certainly devastated the disciples.

Even though Jesus predicted His death, burial and His rising from the dead on the third day, to His disciples, when all of this actually happened, they were unable to comprehend the full meaning of all that transpired in that period.  In spite of the fact that some of them were eyewitnesses of the empty tomb, the risen Christ Himself appeared to them encouraging them with His peace, and breathed on them the Holy Spirit, (John 20:19-23) there was still a sense of insecurity and aloneness that prompted Peter (who was accompanied by six other disciples) to go back to what he did before he met Jesus.

Have we at times found ourselves in a similar place the disciples were? After having embarked on this journey of following and walking closely with Jesus, loving Him and serving Him, it is possible that we too, when faced with discouragements and hardships, may be tempted to give up. Let’s never lose heart because the risen Lord is with us, and His promise to us in Matthew 28:20, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” still stands sure.

 For those of us who have decided to follow Jesus, may we press on and never give up. May Jesus' words to the one who made excuses to follow Him, serve as a caution.  “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 (NKJV)


For the Audio Version of this devotion, click here - No Turning Back

If you were blessed by this devotion, please share it with others

Esther Collins
Email - thelifetransformingword@gmail.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jewels From John # 8 - No Finger-pointing Please

-
Image
Devotion # 8 No Finger-pointing Please For the Audio Version click here:  No Finger-pointing Please John 8:7 , “So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”(NKJV) Read John 8: 1-11 for the entire account. Jesus was at the temple, early in the morning, teaching people who had come eagerly to hear His words. The Scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman who was caught in the very act of adultery.   Their only aim was to trap Jesus and to check whether He would keep the Old Testament law as given by Moses (Leviticus 20:10), which actually commanded that both the man and the woman be put to death, but for some reason only the woman was brought to Jesus. They thought they were putting Jesus in a spot, as they awaited His verdict.   Strangely, Jesus spoke nothing, but simply bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.   No one knows for sure what He wrote, but
Read more

Jewels From John # 3 - The One Who Perceives But Still Pardons

-
Image
Devotion # 3 The One Who Perceives But Still Pardons Click here for the Audio Version:  The One Who Perceives But Still Pardons The woman of Samaria said, “Come see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” John 4:29 (NKJV) Read John 4: 4-42 for the entire account. The woman of Samaria had no clue whom she would encounter on that eventful afternoon, as she came to draw water from Jacob’s well.   What seemed to be a casual request from Jesus for a drink of water, developed into a very deep dialogue where the Samaritan woman realized who Jesus was, and that He also knew all about her. Initially she must have been shocked when Jesus revealed that He was aware of the 5 husbands she had earlier, and also about the man she was living with, who was not her husband. There must have been something about the way Jesus spoke to her, that caused her not to be embarrassed, scared and withdrawn, but to feel overjoyed at the thought that she h
Read more

Jewels from John # 5 - When We Have No One

-
Image
Devotion # 5 When We Have No One For the Audio Version Click Here:  When We Have No One "The sick man answered, 'Sir, I don't have anyone here to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am trying to get in, somebody else gets there first.'" John 5:7 (NKJV) The pool near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, called Bethesda was a unique place. An angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred the water and whoever stepped in first was healed of whatever infirmity they had. The Bible records that a very large multitude of sick and disabled people were all awaiting their turn. It was here that Jesus met this man who was bed-ridden with an infirmity for 38 long years. Jesus knew everything about the man and his predicament, and asked him a very important question, “Do you want to get well?” His reply was amazing. Not knowing who it was who was asking this question, he replied, “Sir, I have no man…” John 5:7 (KJV). Ther
Read more