My momma and I always review the Sunday School lessons before she goes to teach. She has the little kids at Majority Baptist Church in my home town of Spartanburg. All age groups from babies to seniors cover the same material just at different levels. The last month's focus on the Gospel of John has been interesting. (The information below is paraphrased and quoted from the Nelson Study Bible, a must-have for those seeking faith and understanding.)

Continued from Part 1

In Chapter 13 before the Feast of Passover Jesus began to wash His disciples' feet. He knew that His hour was near. Simon Peter wanted Jesus to wash his head and hands too. But Jesus replied that washing the feet implies that the person is already clean. "And you are clean, but not all of you." A veiled shot at Judas Iscariot. Next during supper, Jesus puts it on the table and says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Peter then asked John to ask Jesus, who is it? Jesus dipped a piece of bread and handed it to Judas Iscariot and said, "What you do, do quickly." Judas Iscariot, embarrassed and angry, immediately breaks out.

Jesus then gives the first new commandment since Moses came off the mountain. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Followers of Christ don't hate. Period.

The supper conversation continues in Chapter 14. Jesus explicitly stated, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." The disciples are confused. Jesus has dropped some heavy things on them: He is about to leave them, He is going to be betrayed, He is going to be denied, He is the way, He is the Father, etc. Then He throws in some prophecy. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."

This is deep. Imagine sitting at the table with the One who is His Father and the way, the One who raised the dead, and hearing that you, a mere mortal, are expected to do greater works. Jesus saw that while his work on Earth was basically confined to Palestine, the apostles would preach everywhere and with His spirit bring about the conversion of the world.

In Chapter 15 he makes it clearer. "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes that it may bear more fruit... I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them onto the fire, and they are burned."

How's that for a garden analogy? If you are connected to Jesus, the true vine, you will bear fruit and receive tending by Him to be continually fruitful. Grape vines must be tended and pruned to remain productive. Branches that don't bear are cut and discarded to conserve energy for fruit production. Branches that produce this year must be pruned to produce large flavorful clusters again next year. Grape vines flower and fruit on last year's wood, so pruning this year directs energy away from rank growth and into future production. (Apparently, Jesus knows alot about gardening and wine. I'm just striving to be like.)

After more lessons at the Last Supper, the story picks up in Chapter 18 in the garden of Gethsemane were He is arrested. To find out how this harrowing tale of love, faith, betrayal, politics, and violence concludes visit your local church over the next few weeks and read the Gospels. But now I have got to run; it is time to call my momma and discuss today's lesson (First Epistle of John, Chapter2).