Matthew 5-7 are Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. These three chapters contain so much powerful content! This is our fourth time reading through it, so the teachings ought to be part of our store of “information” about Jesus. The key for us, though, is to take the information and let it transform us by applying it in the power of the Holy Spirit. As you read these three chapters today, select one section, and pray through it asking Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit and let you live it out. For example, it could be Matthew 7:12: Do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Ask Jesus to empower you to treat others as you would want to be treated. Better yet: Ask Jesus to empower you to treat others as He would treat them!
As we return to John 14, we return to one of the most powerful statements Jesus ever made. We find it in John 14:16: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me! The entire chapter contains some of Jesus’ final words to the disciples before His arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. But these words remind us no one but Jesus can lead us to our Heavenly Father. No one but Jesus can give us truth for living, and no one but Jesus gives us the life that is truly life. The word John used for life is “zoe,” which is God’s life. It is different than the typical word the Greeks used for life, which was “bios.” We use the word bios to make our English word, biology. But zoe is the abundant life Jesus told us He came to bring in John 10:10. Here in John 14, He reminded us He doesn’t only have such life to offer us. He is that life!