What we love is demonstrated in how we spend our time. In this life, faithful discipleship means prioritizing Christ over all.

John is writing to show us belief in practice. Real belief in Christ is a submission of our hearts and minds to Him.

Belief in Jesus requires a response, not just mental assent. Faith is not a static thing, and requires obedience.

We are created in the image of God and bear a conscience to remind us of the law of God. All have sinned and must answer for it, but Christ died and rose to free us from condemnation.

All that Jesus said when alive was validated by the resurrection. John writes so we may boldly believe that He is our living hope.

The Scriptures reveal the truth about God. John wants us to understand the reality of the resurrection; and to understand it, we must first understand the reality of Christ's death.

Without the cross, there is no forgiveness and reconciliation, no Church, and no victory over sin and death. But the good news is that Jesus Christ died for our sins.

Governmental authority comes from God, and He is the only one who delegates authority. As believers, we are to show honour to those who rule, and to the ultimate King - Jesus Christ.

Jesus is king of all, but everyone must decide whether they will believe and submit to this truth. In John 19, we see Pilate confronted with Jesus' claims about Himself.

Governments rise and governments fall, but the kingdom of our Lord endures forever. In John 18, we see the glory of Jesus shine in his trial by Pilate.

The contrast between Peter and Jesus is the contrast between a sinful disciple, and a perfect Savior. But even while Peter was failing, Jesus was going to the cross for his sins.

As our love for God is strengthened, so is our obedience. We can only love whom we know - and in John 18, we gain further glimpses of God's glorious nature.

In John 17, Jesus prays that all believers would have unity, even as God has unity in Himself. This unity is based upon our relationship with God, and flows out into our relationship with others.

God is at work building His Church, the gathered body of believers. The world will oppose this work, but believers can have joy in progressive sanctification.

Joy is not bound by circumstance, though happiness is. True joy begins and ends with God. It is an abiding feeling of peace, comfort and delight that flows from the Holy Spirit as we confidently trust in God's Word.

Disappointment can be a powerful emotion. When Jesus said He was going to leave the disciples, they were filled with dread, and so He reminded them of their belonging to Him.

Christ intercedes for His saints before the Father, because they belong to Him. In John 17, Jesus prayed aloud for His disciples to encourage them - because they belonged to God.

Jesus prayed aloud to the Father so His disciples would see their closeness. Nowhere else do we see such intimacy as in John 17.

The disciples' courage was based on His death and resurrection - and we live today in light of this same truth. Courage is trusting God no matter what happens in our lives.

We can too easily trust things that fail us, like material possessions or intellect. We experience anxiety and fear in these circumstances, but Christ promises His disciples that it doesn't have to be this way - we can have a lasting joy.