Ridge Haven

05/12/2026

Where is Jesus?
John 19:17:19 reads, “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Like you, I’ve read this many times. Many times, I’ve “read over” important words. Read it again slowly and try to catch what I mean.
Did you see it? Let me point out what I’m referring to. It is found in “where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. “
Where was Jesus when He was crucified? Was He not between two others, one on either side, and Jesus in the CENTER”? There’s my point, Jesus at the center of life, even in death. Jesus was in the center of humanity, in the center of history, and, most importantly, in the center of redemption. Now for the big question. Where is Jesus in your life? Is He in the center? Is Jesus the “hub” by which everything else turns? I think a misconception about churchgoers is that Jesus was to be more than just a “part” of your life. Jesus wants to be the center of your life. When Jesus is the center of our lives, everything we do “centers” upon Him. How we live. How we talk. What we do and don’t do all centers upon Jesus. Jesus was/is the center of God’s plan for salvation. Our question to ponder must be asked this way. “Is Jesus truly the center of my life”?
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05/11/2026

How’s it going?
Ever wonder how many times this question is asked? The question is usually followed with something like, “good” or “okay”. More tiimes that not, the answer isn’t really truthful. It might be that the answer requires a follow-up question, “What makes it okay, or good? Now think of how many times you’ve been asked, “How are you”? What did you answer? Something like,” I'm okay,” when in truth, you were not okay. When we are asked, “How is it going, or how are you” perhaps we should consider Psalm 12:22, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth”. Or Ephesians 4:25, “So stop telling lies, Let us tell our neighbors the truth, fo we are all parts of the same body.” I realize when questions come such as, “How are you, or how is it going”? The person asking really doesn’t want to know; it’s simply a kind of greeting. Consider what if the question was really sincere. What if the person truly cared about you and what was going on in your life? Consider also an answer, such as “Good or Okay”. More often than not, we are not okay; we simply do not wish to share our wounds, hurts, thoughts with someone who is just passing the time of day. I suggest we each, the one asking the question and the one answering, be truthful. Let’s slow it down and generally care and trust one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11a tells us, “So encourage each other and build each other up”. Also, Hebrews 3:13 encourages us, “You must warn each other every day, while it is still 'today', so that none of you will be deceived by sina nd hardened against God.” Now comes the most important part about asking such questions. We must express genuine care, and we must hold the answer in confidence. It could be that one of the reasons a truthful answer isn’t given is that the person responding has found their response circulating throughout the community. So now they are very guarded. Let’s think of it this way. When a person shares details of their life, that is a matter of the heart; they are sharing their heart. They are trusting you to “hold their heart” in love, not dash it to the ground by spreading gossip. Ephesians 4:3 is good advice. “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”
https://www.facebook.com/RidgeHavenRetreat
Ever wonder how many times this question is asked? The question is usually followed with something like “good” or “okay”. More tiimes that not, the answer isn’t really truthful. It might be that the answer requires a follow-up question, “What makes it okay, or good? Now think of how many times you’ve been asked, “How are you”? What did you answer? Something like,” I'm okay,” when in truth, you were not okay. When we are asked, “How is it going, or how are you” perhaps we should consider Psalm 12:22, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth”. Or Ephesians 4:25, “So stop telling lies, Let us tell our neighbors the truth, fo we are all parts of the same body.” I realize when questions come such as, “How are you, or how is it going”? The person asking really doesn’t want to know; it’s simply a kind of greeting. Consider what if the question was really sincere. What if the person truly cared about you and what was going on in your life? Consider also an answer, such as “Good or Okay”. More often than not, we are not okay; we simply do not wish to share our wounds, hurts, thoughts with someone who is just passing the time of day. I suggest we each, the one asking the question and the one answering, be truthful. Let’s slow it down and generally care and trust one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11a tells us, “So encourage each other and build each other up”. Also, Hebrews 3:13 encourages us, “You must warn each other every day, while it is still 'today', so that none of you will be deceived by sina nd hardened against God.” Now comes the most important part about asking such questions. We must express genuine care, and we must hold the answer in confidence. It could be that one of the reasons a truthful answer isn’t given is that the person responding has found their response circulating throughout the community. So now they are very guarded. Let’s think of it this way. When a person shares details of their life, that is a matter of the heart; they are sharing their heart. They are trusting you to “hold their heart” in love, not dash it to the ground by spreading gossip. Ephesians 4:3 is good advice. “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”

Devotions are reflection upon my life's study, reading, and time with God. Credits are given as I

05/09/2026

Service
I learned early in ministry that many people think there are two groups, servants and lay people. Servants are those in full-time ministry, such as pastors and evangelists. Lay people are those who attend worship, are ushers, teach Sunday School, or attend board meetings. The Bible makes it clear there are no such distinctions. Psalm 100:1-3 reads, “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Read this passage again. Do you see any division? Aren't all Believers called to service? Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Check it out. Let me paraphrase: Believers are God’s workmanship, who are created in Christ to do good work, which God has prepared for us to do. Notice, nowhere in this does it suggest that some are to work on this and others are to work on that, in service to God? It’s true that Believers are given different gifts of service, yet ALL are called to exercise their gift in service to God. There is no “level” or “status” of service. We ALL are called to serve God, with the talents, gifts, and graces God has given to us. We are not called to serve ourselves. IF there is a capital “I,” it is in reference to the “I” as in the I AM, not I as in me. When we serve God, there is joy in the work. Yes, sometimes it is work, and sometimes the work is difficult. Yet, when we look back, there is joy in a “job” done to the best of our ability, regardless of its level of perfection. God calls us to be servants so we can each invest our lives in an eternally valuable purpose. Ultimately, that is for salvation and disciple of others. ALL for the Glory of God! Part of our service may seem small to us, but it is huge in God’s eyes. Our limitations may seem large, yet the Christ in us is more than able to complete whatever we are called to do. We are not qualified based on performance or station in life. We are qualified based on faithfulness. Let each of us, therefore, serve God with eagerness and joy.
https://www.facebook.com/RidgeHavenRetreat
Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Read this passage again. Do you see any division? Aren't all Believers called to service? Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Check it out. Let me paraphrase: Believers are God’s workmanship, who are created in Christ to do good work, which God has prepared for us to do. Notice, nowhere in this does it suggest that some are to work on this and others are to work on that, in service to God? It’s true that Believers are given different gifts of service, yet ALL are called to exercise their gift in service to God. There is no “level” or “status” of service. We ALL are called to serve God, with the talents, gifts, and graces God has given to us. We are not called to serve ourselves. IF there is a capital “I,” it is in reference to the “I” as in the I AM, not I as in me. When we serve God, there is joy in the work. Yes, sometimes it is work, and sometimes the work is difficult. Yet, when we look back, there is joy in a “job” done to the best of our ability, regardless of its level of perfection. God calls us to be servants so we can each invest our lives in an eternally valuable purpose. Ultimately, that is for salvation and disciple of others. ALL for the Glory of God! Part of our service may seem small to us, but it is huge in God’s eyes. Our limitations may seem large, yet the Christ in us is more than able to complete whatever we are called to do. We are not qualified based on performance or station in life. We are qualified based on faithfulness. Let each of us, therefore, serve God with eagerness and joy.

Devotions are reflection upon my life's study, reading, and time with God. Credits are given as I

05/08/2026

Running from God. Have you ever run from God? Was there ever a time in your life when you didn’t want to do what you “knew” God was calling you to do? That time came for me when I heard God calling me into pastoral ministry. Becoming a pastor was not my goal in life. If I were to retire at 50, I would need to have made a significant amount of money. A pastor’s salary would not offer that possibility. Trying to “out-smart” God (yeah, pretty dumb), I decided to open a Christian bookstore. After a year, I was broke. Still, I thought there was surely a way to side-step the issue. So I became a “lay-minister,” filling in for pastors who were on vacation or attending conferences. That sort of worked, yet that nagging of the Holy Spirit was relentless. In Jonah 1:1-3, there’s a similar story. “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” Jonah knew what God told him to do, yet like me, and perhaps you at some point, Jonah refused and ran. Now, Jonah must have been where German/Irish, originated. You know, “hard headed”! God did give up on Jonah, perhaps thinking a few days in the belly of a fish would help him see the light. It didn’t, and even the fish couldn’t stand Jonah, so it spat Jonah out. Did I mention Jonah was a slow learner? Even time in the belly of a fish didn’t convince Jonah he should obey God. So Jonah sat on the beach under a little shade tree. I think God must have been getting pretty tired of Jonah’s disobedience, because He removed his shade tree. Even then, it took time for Jonah to concede and do what God had told him to do in the first place. Reluctantly, Jonah went to Niniveh, preached the Word of God, and brought the salvation of God to many. I cannot be too hard on Jonah, because I’ve been Jonah. I, too, tried to run from God, only to find it didn’t work. I can say that when I “finally “ surrendered, God gave me peace and an assurance that I was doing what I was called to do. Let me ask again. Have you ran from God? Are you running now? Has God spoken to your heart, calling you to do something you really don’t want to do? What is on your heart at this moment, that is God’s calling to you? May I offer a little advice? Give it up and find peace in obedience. Don’t be Jonah, or Julius. Turn to God and experience His peace.
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Devotions are reflection upon my life's study, reading, and time with God. Credits are given as I

05/07/2026

God’s Will/My will
As we grow in this world and try to balance following God and living life, it’s easy to think there are two separate parts. There is God’s Will and my will. Or, there is the Spiritual and the secular, and the best we can do is find some balance. God’s Word shows us a different perspective. In Micah 6:8, we’re told, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Our culture wants us to believe we can do great things without God. Scripture tells us just the opposite. People may point to great accomplishments that seem to have been achieved without God’s intervention. There are architectural, art, philosophy, and so forth that have been accomplished by people without connection to God. Satan’s tatics has always been one of deception. The Bible (God’s Word to us) tells us something entirely different. By His life, Jesus demonstrated that God’s Way and Our Way are to be one. In other words, we are not to try to live in two worlds. As Jesus illustrated, we are to give our will, our way, over to God, preferring to do His Will. It means learning and leaning on the strength of God’s Holy Spirit, and His wisdom and will. This means being fully aware that we will fail without God’s active presence. That we “choose” obedience and submission to God over our desires, wants, and wishes. As we walk with God, we will see His hand in our works and give Him praise and thanksgiving. As children of God, we are to live daily in full reliance upon the Holy Spirit to give us direction, counsel, wisdom, and warnings. What does God require of us? “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
As we grow in this world and try to balance following God and living life, it’s easy to think there are two separate parts. There is God’s Will and my will. Or, there is the Spiritual and the secular, and the best we can do is find some balance. God’s Word shows us a different perspective. In Micah 6:8, we’re told, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Our culture wants us to believe we can do great things without God. Scripture tells us just the opposite. People may point to great accomplishments that seem to have been achieved without God’s intervention. There are architectural, art, philosophical, and so forth that have been accomplished by people without connection to God. Satan’s tatics has always been one of deception. The Bible (God’s Word to us) tells us something entirely different. By His life, Jesus demonstrated that God’s Way and Our Way are to be one. In other words, we are not to try to live in two worlds. As Jesus illustrated, we are to give our will, our way, over to God, preferring to do His Will. It means learning and leaning on the strength of God’s Holy Spirit, and His wisdom and will. This means being fully aware that we will fail without God’s active presence. That we “choose” obedience and submission to God over our desires, wants, and wishes. As we walk with God, we will see His hand in our works and give Him praise and thanksgiving. As children of God, we are to live daily in full reliance upon the Holy Spirit to give us direction, counsel, wisdom, and warnings. What does God require of us? “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Devotions are reflection upon my life's study, reading, and time with God. Credits are given as I

05/06/2026

Paul
Was Paul a “self-appointed” apostle? There are some people who think he was. The word apostolos means “one who is sent.” Paul was not self-sent, but Christ sent him, which is why his letters have divine authority. In Acts 9:15, we see that Christ instructed Ananias to have no fear in meeting with Paul. Referring to Paul, God said, “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” God Himself bears witness that Paul was a true apostle. And the same Spirit who worked powerfully in Peter and John also empowered Paul. false teachers tried to discredit Paul, he pointed to the evidence of the Spirit’s power: “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:12). Scripture itself affirms his apostleship and divine commission directly from Jesus Christ. “Paul, an apostle, not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead, (Galatians 1:1). Paul calls himself a “servant of Christ Jesus through a dispensation of God” (Romans 1:1). Anyone claiming Paul is a false prophet, not appointed by God, is walking on thin ice. They would not be attacking a man; they would be questioning the very Word of God. Jesus said, “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Luke 10:16). At his conversion, it is clear to me that Paul is sent by Christ. Paul wrote nearly half of the New Testament, which centers upon Jesus calling all who follow live in obedience to Jesus. To reject Paul and his teaching is to reject his Spirit-breathed writings, and also to reject Christ’s very voice speaking through them.
Was Paul a “self-appointed” apostle? There are some people who think he was. The word apostolos means “one who is sent.” Paul was not self-sent, but Christ sent him, which is why his letters have divine authority. In Acts 9:15, we see that Christ instructed Ananias to have no fear in meeting with Paul. Referring to Paul, God said, “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” God Himself bears witness that Paul was a true apostle. And the same Spirit who worked powerfully in Peter and John also empowered Paul. false teachers tried to discredit Paul, he pointed to the evidence of the Spirit’s power: “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:12). Scripture itself affirms his apostleship and divine commission directly from Jesus Christ. “Paul, an apostle, not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead, (Galatians 1:1). Paul calls himself a “servant of Christ Jesus through a dispensation of God” (Romans 1:1). Anyone claiming Paul is a false prophet, not appointed by God, is walking on thin ice. They would not be attacking a man; they would be questioning the very Word of God. Jesus said, “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Luke 10:16). At his conversion, it is clear to me that Paul is sent by Christ. Paul wrote nearly half of the New Testament, which centers on Jesus calling all who follow to live in obedience to Jesus. To reject Paul and his teaching is to reject his Spirit-breathed writings, and also to reject Christ’s very voice speaking through them.em.

05/05/2026

Walking Wisely
Paul did a lot of teaching to help people grow in Jesus Christ, as well as to live wisely following God’s plan. In Ephesians 5:15-17, Paul gives instructions about making godly choices. Paul writes, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Let’s break it down.
“See then that you walk circumspectly,(wisely)”. To me, this means we must be deliberate in guarding ourselves, else we’ll do what seems to come naturally. We are broken people, living in a broken world. The way of the world is not the way of God. Yet unless we are careful, we will fall into thinking as the world thinks and doing as the world does. If Paul were speaking to us today, he might say, “Wise up”, don’t follow the world.
Next, Paul instructs us to redeem or “Make the most of our time”. God has numbered our days. God has also entrusted us with the time and opportunities to participate in His plan. Unfortunately, there are many temptations to do other things. It is easy to “kill time” or squander our time away. We can also waste our energy on things that really do not matter much in the long run. Let’s be sure to start every day with God, asking for wisdom on what we should do.
Lastly, Paul says, “Understand what the will of the Lord is.” Basically, we are called to be the persons God created us to be. More often than not, we need to stop comparing ourselves to other people. God created each of us to be unique, with gifts and abilities others do not have. God has specifically “things” for us to carry out. We each have a mission and are called to work at that according to the ability God has given. It is for this reason that we should evaluate what we are about. How we spend our time and resources.
God wants us to “walk” with Him, wisely. By doing so, we will find joy that nothing else can give. God has promised marvelous benefits in His Word. These promises are as sure today as they were when Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus.
https://www.facebook.com/RidgeHavenRetreat
Lastly, Paul says, “Understand what the will of the Lord is.” Basically, we are called to be the persons God created us to be. More often than not, we need to stop comparing ourselves to other people. God created each of us to be unique, with gifts and abilities others do not have. God has specifically “things” for us to carry out. We each have a mission and are called to work at that according to the ability God has given us. It is for this reason that we should evaluate what we are about. How we spend our time and resources.

Devotions are reflection upon my life's study, reading, and time with God. Credits are given as I

05/04/2026

In John 14:6, Jesus said, “ Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” What did He mean by this? Or, to ask in a different way, “How is Jesus the Truth”? In our modern day, it is difficult to determine the difference between truth and opinion. One would think it would be easy, yet so many times the lines become vague. We once looked to the news, but now we realize that it can be tainted with opinions. More often than not, we fail to get the whole story, leaving us to discern what is true and what is opinion. More than 2000 years ago, Jesus proclaimed, I AM the way, the truth, and the life. Being “The Way”, Jesus was telling us that finding the path to God would come by knowing Him, in a personal way. But what did Jesus mean by saying, He is the truth? Jesus is not only teaching “truth”, but He declares He is the truth. By being The Way to God, Jesus opens up the realization that He is the embodiment of Divine Truth. This means He is the full representation of God’s will, God’s character, being truth. In John chapter 14, we can see how Jesus relayed God’s Word accurately and acted in perfect alignment with God’s Will. In a manner of speaking, I could say, Jesus was the ambassador of God, declaring God’s truths. This is demonstrated by Jesus being continually in relationship with the Father, which was one of unity and submission. Also, Jesus followed His Father’s instructions and did what was pleasing to God. He did this as a human being, not equating Himself to be God, even though He was/is. Because of these things, or this quality of life, Jesus was able to assure the disciples of inner peace and spiritual support, even during difficult and confusing times. This would be true before and after His crucifixion and resurrection. In John 16:13, Jesus introduced “The Spirit of Truth”. He said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all TRUTH; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” So while Jesus would be taken from them, the Holy Spirit would be given to them, so they could continue to walk/live in truth. Earlier, Jesus had taught that true freedom could only come by knowing and remaining in His Word, because His Word was God’s Truth. Remember, Jesus did not speak by His own authority, but rather He spoke what God gave Him to speak. He continued to speak what God gave Him, with boldness even in the face of death. To understand Jesus as Truth is to understand ( much as it is humanly possible) God’s redemptive plan. Contrary to what many think, Jesus did not come to challenge earthly authority, but rather to establish a divine order and justice. Jesus as TRUTH set his disciples free and invited them to reflect His truth, in love, obedience, and with spiritual transformation. His truth does the same for all who follow Jesus, submitting to Him as Lord and Savior.
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” What did He mean by this? Or, to ask in a different way, “How is Jesus the Truth”? In our modern day, it is difficult to determine the difference between truth and opinion. One would think it would be easy, yet so many times the lines become vague. We once looked to the news, but now we realize that it can be tainted with opinions. More often than not, we fail to get the whole story, leaving us to discern what is true and what is opinion. More than 2000 years ago, Jesus proclaimed, I AM the way, the truth, and the life. Being “The Way”, Jesus was telling us that finding the path to God would come by knowing Him, in a personal way. But what did Jesus mean by saying, He is the truth? Jesus is not only teaching “truth”, but He declares He is the truth. By being The Way to God, Jesus opens up the realization that He is the embodiment of Divine Truth. This means He is the full representation of God’s will, God’s character, being truth. In John chapter 14, we can see how Jesus relayed God’s Word accurately and acted in perfect alignment with God’s Will. In a manner of speaking, I could say, Jesus was the ambassador of God, declaring God’s truths. This is demonstrated by Jesus being continually in relationship with the Father, which was one of unity and submission. Also, Jesus followed His Father’s instructions and did what was pleasing to God. He did this as a human being, not equating Himself to be God, even though He was/is. Because of these things, or this quality of life, Jesus was able to assure the disciples of inner peace and spiritual support, even during difficult and confusing times. This would be true before and after His crucifixion and resurrection. In John 16:13, Jesus introduced “The Spirit of Truth”. He said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all TRUTH; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” So while Jesus would be taken from them, the Holy Spirit would be given to them, so they could continue to walk/live in truth. Earlier, Jesus had taught that true freedom could only come by knowing and remaining in His Word, because His Word was God’s Truth. Remember, Jesus did not speak by His own authority, but rather He spoke what God gave Him to speak. He continued to speak what God gave Him, with boldness even in the face of death. To understand Jesus as Truth is to understand ( much as it is humanly possible) God’s redemptive plan. Contrary to what many think, Jesus did not come to challenge earthly authority, but rather to establish a divine order and justice. Jesus as TRUTH set his disciples free and invited them to reflect His truth, in love, obedience, and with spiritual transformation. His truth does the same for all who follow Jesus, submitting to Him as Lord and Savior.
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” What did He mean by this? Or, to ask in a different way, “How is Jesus the Truth”? In our modern day, it is difficult to determine the difference between truth and opinion. One would think it would be easy, yet so many times the lines become vague. We once looked to the news, now we realize that can be tainted with opinions. More often than not, we fail to get the whole story, leaving us to discern what is true and what is opinion. More than 2000 years ago, Jesus proclaimed, I AM the way, the truth, and the life. Being “The Way”, Jesus was telling us that finding the path to God would come by knowing Him, in a personal way. But what did Jesus mean by saying, He is the truth? Jesus is not only teaching “truth”, but He declares He is the truth. By being The Way to God, Jesus opens up the realization that He is the embodiment of Divine Truth. This means He is the full representation of God’s will, God’s character, being truth. In John chapter 14, we can see how Jesus relayed God’s Word accurately and acted in perfect alignment with God’s Will. In a manner of speaking, I could say, Jesus was the ambassador of God, declaring God’s truths. This is demonstrated by Jesus being continually in relationship with the Father, which was one of unity and submission. Also, Jesus followed His Father’s instructions and did what was pleasing to God. He did this as a human being, not equating Himself to be God, even though He was/is. Because of these things, or this quality of life, Jesus was able to assure the disciples of inner peace and spiritual support, even during difficult and confusing times. This would be true before and after His crucifixion and resurrection. In John 16:13, Jesus introduced “The Spirit of Truth”. He said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all TRUTH; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” So while Jesus would be taken from them, the Holy Spirit would be given to them, so they could continue to walk/live in truth. Earlier, Jesus had taught that true freedom could only come by knowing and remaining in His Word, because His Word was God’s Truth. Remember, Jesus did not speak by His own authority, but rather He spoke what God gave Him to speak. He continued to speak what God gave Him, with boldness even in the face of death. To understand Jesus as Truth is to understand ( much as it is humanly possible) God’s redemptive plan. Contrary to what many think, Jesus did not come to challenge earthly authority, but rather to establish a divine order and justice. Jesus as TRUTH set his disciples free and invited them to reflect His truth, in love, obedience, and with spiritual transformation. His truth does the same for all who follow Jesus, submitting to Him as Lord and Savior.