Episode 11: John 12-17 Review: Glory be to Christ
As we round up our season in John 12-17, we take time to reflect on how the Lord has been speaking to us, and what it looks like to continue applying his Word to our hearts as we go from here.
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How has studying this part of John's gospel grown your love for God (Father, Son & Spirit)?
How have these chapters prompted you to love your neighbour more?
Take some time to pray through how the Lord's been at work through these chapters.
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This episode is sponsored by 10ofthose.com.
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The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy.
Sarah: You're listening to the Two Sisters and a Cup of Tea podcast, the Bible Study podcast for everyday life. We're here for a 20 minute burst of Bible chat over a cup of tea and an English style biscuit as we make our way through a Bible book over the course of the season and drive it to our hearts. And this season we've been enjoying John's Gospel Together, focusing on chapters 12 through 17. Whether you've been listening for a while or have just found us, we're so pleased you're here.
Felicity: This season, we've been so very grateful to be partnering with 10ofthose.com as we've been recommending books and resources and telling you how 10ofthose can serve you. And if you've been around here for any length of time, you'll know that we're big fans of Natalie Brand and her joyful, theologically astute heart and mind. This book, From Crimson to White, Finding Gospel Joy at Calvary, is one in which her words sing loud and clear about the joy bringing reality of what Jesus has done on the cross. She writes with verve, passion and theological clarity and I'm really excited to give this book to the women in my church family. As I read it I felt myself move from intellectual assent to what the Bible says about the work of the cross to heart level deep seated joy. Grab your copy at 10ofthose.com
Sarah: Welcome to the final episode of season 16 of Two Sisters and a Cup of Tea. My name is Sarah, I live in the UK, I'm with my sister Felicity who's in the US and today we are reflecting on where we've got to at this point in John’s Gospel. Felicity, there's been so much that's kind of happened. It's weird that it all happened on one night in one kind of moment of time really isn't it? Because I feel like we've been kind of in this for a long time.
Felicity: But I kinda love that, I kind of love this like contained in this room. It's called in kind of all the commentary, the upper room discourse, which is not really words that we use very often is it, but the chat in the room at the top of the stairs between Jesus and the disciples.
Sarah: The chat in the room, yeah yeah.
Felicity: The chat in the room yes love that, but I feel like yeah we've been invited in through where John has taken us, we've been invited into this just profoundly intimate but far-reaching moment. I think that's been one of the big things is just this is a moment in time that actually has implications that go way beyond that and what is said and what is prayed and all those things are just reaching into salvation itself.
Sarah: It's big, it's big. Before we get there though we just wanted to kind of round up reflecting on five years of podcasting and where we've kind of got to. We've been kind of dotting in some reflections throughout this season haven't we? And really as we were just talking now before we pressed record we were just just marvelling really at how thankful we are to still be going and what a gift that it has been to to experience this together and to get to know so many people through this and just the privilege really of partnering with so many others in this journey.
Felicity: Yeah, it really, I think even though you and I are having the conversation together, but it does feel like others have joined the conversation as we've been going along and we've made some genuine. That's true, that's true. We have had guests. We have had guests. But I'm not just talking about the guests. We're very grateful for the guests, I think we've made some friends, some genuine, like-minded partners in gospel things as we've gone along. And I think without these conversations and without pressing record, then some of those friendships would just not be in place now. And so, yeah, we were just really grateful. Every connection, every email we get, every message on social media, all of those things, it feels like just the Lord has gifted us huge things through five years of really just chatting and sipping tea. I've got my tea here, true to form.
Sarah: I think the reality though is that for five years, a lot has changed for us in that time in terms of life situation for us and in terms of all the moving parts of life over five years and just the constancy of us being in the Bible together has been such a gift isn't it and I think the growing as you're saying the growing partnership that we've had with a number of listeners who've been with us from the beginning and as that's grown we're so deeply thankful for everyone and anyone who is listening along and has made this possible and enables it to keep going so thank you from the bottom of our hearts we really are so so grateful. As we get into this final episode of season, we're really just going to bring some reflections on what we've been learning. We are always learners of the Bible, aren't we? We will never stop learning. And actually one of the key things I think it's really helpful to of cut the lens to come to these things with is how has my love for God grown? And how is this spurring us on to love our neighbour? So those kind of the most important commandments in the Bible aren't they? So Felicity I wonder whether we can kick off with that first question, how has this grown your love for God, Father, Son and Spirit? Because here we've got this beautiful, we've had this beautiful triune picture haven't we presented before us. There's many different ways in which our love has grown so give us a snapshot of what that's looked like for you.
Felicity: I, as I just think on that, my mind and my heart just immediately goes to the foot washing and the tender, intimate love and care and the enormity of what is being represented there that Jesus himself would wash his people, that he would do that and that he would serve us and I think we see the picture of it there and as I've mulled on that, meditated on that, prayed into it, I've just felt almost like heart expansion as I've caught sight of our servant king who is on his way to the cross and I'm just, I'm personally blown away I think in ways that maybe, maybe I haven't slowed down enough to really sit in that and maybe the intimacy of this setting, the room at the top of the stairs with a bunch of people, a small, small group, is just really different to the 5,000 on the mountainside. And I think that has really helped me to see it fresh and therefore to love the servanthood of Jesus in the cross all the more.
Sarah: Yeah, really helpful. I think you're right, there's something about the kind of quiet nature of this setting that has really helped us to slow down and just kind of be quiet with them and kind of walking with the disciples with their questions and with everything that's been going on in their minds as they've been wrestling through what it all looks like. I think you're right, it's been powerful, hasn't it, to sit in the quiet with them in this. And that, yeah, the tender heart of Jesus, as I think as we've been seeing all the way through. He's so concerned for them. He's so at every point it seems, he's thinking, okay what does it look like for my words to serve them in this moment? How can I prepare them? How can I love them? I'm deeply troubled in spirit but just so that you're not troubled this is what I'm to tell you. This is what I'm going to tell you to prepare you for what's ahead. And I think just the kind of the loving tenderness of Christ through these chapters has really really struck me. But with that, because we've been seeing so much repetition of all that the Father is, Christ is, all that the Spirit is, Christ is as the Father is, just actually my whole picture, my whole view of God has expanded in his tenderness, in his generosity of giving of Christ, giving of the Spirit to us, and giving his word that we have all we need just abundant generosity from the Father, isn't it? And I think that's just been really cool to just grow in my awe of Him.
Felicity: Yeah, the sufficiency of what we have, of who we have really. And even just as we were in the section that was talking about the giving of another counsellor, that you would know me, that your joy would be complete, that the experience of relationship with God is not, that's not off the table. We're not just talking about know about me. There's an actual, the spirit has made his home in us, we dwell in him and there's a holistic nature to that which is all-encompassing and which I think as we see that and as our vista expands of that, that it makes so much more sense then to run in the way of the Spirit, to be those who abide in the vine and seek to love in the way that Jesus loves. And so I think, yeah, I think the triune glory that we have in these in these verses, I think it captivates me in maybe ways in which I haven't been as captivated before and I'm more inclined towards Jesus as a result.
Sarah: Yeah, and I think as we find it the end of most seasons, it feels like this kind of catapults us into the rest of the Bible looking for His tenderness, looking for His gentleness, looking for His provision, looking for the way that He is like this, because here we've got such a clear revelation of what God is like. And I think that's exciting. It leaves me hungry for more. It leaves me wanting to read the Scriptures more eagerly to see where I'm going to grow in love for Him continually. Let's just talk a bit then about kind of how you've been spurred on to love your neighbour more through what we've been reading as well.
Felicity: It's just inescapable that Jesus commands love again and again. The repetition, just using that repetition tool just gets you to love. Not that it gets you to love, but it takes you to the word love. And so what we're seeing and saying about Jesus and the heart of Christ, that tenderness, that servant-heartedness that's on display here, then as I hear the call to love, that word is fleshed out by the person of Christ as we see him here and I think that has then prompted me to consider what it looks like to love in the way in which Jesus loves in that we seek to serve one another with that heart of just genuine concern, like genuine love for someone. Do I really care? Even I'm bringing someone a meal at church, what is my heart behind that? I'm not just doing the action of serving their needs, but am I genuinely caring for them in that? Am I desiring that they would see the glory of God? Am I desiring that they would keep trusting Jesus even when the world makes it difficult for that to be the case? And I think the desires that we hear from Jesus, and especially as he prays, then I'm encouraged to that those desires would be shaped in me as well and that they would outwork in the way in which I love those around me. And I'm always, we've talked about this a lot, but I'm always challenged as am I really doing that for the people who are right there in front of me? Like my children, my husband, the people who I encounter every day, what does it look like to embody this Christ-like love in ways that maybe I'm not at the moment? Yeah, how about you? Where is it? Where is it hit in that element?
Sarah: I think I've been really struck with the desirability to love like this because the way that it's been talked about here, it's something of blessing. It's something that brings joy. It's something that images our God as we do it. And I think that's desirable, isn't it? I want blessing. I want joy. I want to image my God because he's so attractive. The more that I behold him in the Word, the more I want to become like him and so I think just even that kind of shift of I do want to love like this and this makes it more appealing to give of myself in costly ways because actually the reality is like to love my neighbour as it's been called for here involves obedience and that's not always fun and it's not always kind of, yeah as I want to do in my sinful self but actually obedience leads to joy here and it leads to bearing much fruit in my environment, where I am and that's a really appealing thing isn't it so I think that's been really good for me just to dwell on that.
Felicity: And even to be expectant of that is a thing, isn't it? That Jesus talks about joy and blessing here enough that we then are okay to expect that as a result.
Sarah: Yes, exactly. Not just kind of begrudge the cross-shaped life, which I should be kind of, you know, going down that path. Like, no, actually, this is something to embrace because this is the way that he's gone before us. He's not asking anything that he hasn't already done for us and prepared the way for us. So I think that's just been good to see that. And again, just the kind of reiteration that he's given us all that we need for this life. Like he has prepared us to live as Christians in this world, this side of heaven, he's given us his spirit, he's given us his word. We have this beautiful relationship with the Father and we have this hope of heaven where he desires for us to be with him and just I think just all of that like why would he not then give me the resource and the capacity to love like he loves and to bear the fruit of love in the way that he asks.
Felicity: Yeah, moving on a little bit from that, but really all encompassing of that, as we've been in these chapters, we have heard about God's glory again and again. How have these chapters helped you to understand God's glory more or to catch sight of it more? What's been the experience from that point of view?
Sarah: That it's so bound up with Jesus heading to the cross isn't it? Like we haven't been able to escape that like every mention of glory here has been about the hour, has been about the cross and that really shapes glory because the world's view of glory is splendour, it is majesty, is kind of know magisterial presence, it's all those things isn't it? And actually here it's this shameful death that he's walking towards but that is the topsy-turvy nature of the gospel. And so what kind of glory am I seeking to emulate? What kind of glory am I seeking? Is it cross-shaped or is it of the world? I think that's been a really helpful question for me just to ponder what am I looking for here? Why am looking for something that actually is not of Christ? But yeah, it's really, really helped me as I've been doing my own Bible read through. It's been really, really good to just have this in the back of my mind, like cross shaped glory as I'm looking for God's glory in other parts of scripture. It's been, yeah, it's been a fun kind of thing.
Felicity: Yeah, that's so true and I think taking it just one step further then all that is commanded and all that Jesus prays for and all that we see out work literally from this moment we know the salvation plan is in full motion as the Apostles take this word and even us sitting here right now talking of this word that God is glorified through that and we can trust that that is the case. That that these things that seem really small and really insignificant and, you know, why are we doing it? Why are we pouring ourselves out for even these conversations so that others might hear it? Actually, this is all a part of that topsy-turvy but right and good and glorious way in which God is working. And I think that's very, well, it's just steadying, isn't it? It's reassuring that we're on every time we choose that way, we're choosing the way of glory, we're choosing the way of the cross, which as we heard is grief but then joy. And that is right and good and desirable in that.
Sarah: Yeah, yeah I mean I do feel that we could go on for a long time talking about a lot of this but then I think we said this at the beginning that every verse is kind of laboured over in commentaries now and that what so I think in that sense we're not we're not any different to anyone else here and we will come back. I'm looking forward to the next time I come back to this section and the kind of depth with which we've wrestled through it. I'm looking forward to reaping the benefit of that the next time I come to read it. And I'm also really looking forward to the next section of John's Gospel. It's not going to be for a while, but you know, I'm ready. We will get there. Yeah. Do you want to pray for us, Felicity, as we close?
Felicity: Yeah, we will get there, we will get there. And yeah, I'd love to, I'd love to. Father, we're so grateful for your work through Jesus, through the Spirit, through your very actions, your plans and your purposes and the way in which you are bringing about your glory. We praise you for that and we pray, Father, that we would sit in awe of you. Lord, would you incline our hearts to you more and more, would we be those who love you and love others off the back of this. We pray that you would form in us the heart of Christ that we see so clearly here, that we would be eager for your glory as we go about our everyday lives, as we interact with others, as we interact with you. Lord, please would you shape us and change us and would we be for your honour and your glory and we pray this in your name, amen.
Sarah: Amen. Well, there we go, season 16, that's a wrap. Our newsletter crew are always the first to hear about what's coming up next season, so do click the link in the show notes if you're not already signed up for that. It has been a joy to have you join us this season in John's Gospel, and we will really look forward to being back in your earbuds before too long.
Felicity: We'll see you soon. This episode has been sponsored by 10ofthose.com.
Listener testimonial: Hello, Two Sisters, all the Two Sisters podcast friends around the world and everyone's particular cups of tea. This is Holly Mackel from the Unseriously podcast and I want to tell you about the two biggest reasons I listen to Two Sisters in a Cup of Tea. In fact, how about I introduce you now? It's pretty obvious. I'm reason number one. Wait a minute, I thought you said I was reason number one. Well, how can you be when I am? Well, I'm just feeling all the love here. Ladies, ladies, there's no favouritism here. That’s what brought down everyone in Genesis. We can all love and be loved by the faithful work of two of our favourite other sisters, Felicity and Sarah. But yes, these two sisters under my own roof are the reason why I listen. It's actually the reason why we listen together sometimes, because it matters to me that they hear wise women who love the Lord, open their Bibles and dig in with open hands, curiosity, and a desire to attend carefully to the text. So thanks for your faithful work, please keep going and cheers to two sisters and a cup of tea.
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