A. A Disciple must die to temporal desires to follow Christ to glory

24  "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25  "He who loves his life/soul will lose it, and he who hates his life/soul in this world will keep it for eternal life.

26  "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

B. Adversity is overcome by focusing on our purpose and glory

27 "Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

28  "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."

C. If we fail to consistently respond to the Light we will wander off into darkness

35  Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36  "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. 37  But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,

D. We must choose the temporal praise of men or the eternal praise of God

42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43  for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

E. Our response to Jesus’ words determines our destiny (eternity)

44  Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45  "And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46  "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47  "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48  "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him——the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49  "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50  "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."

F. God’s kind of love expresses itself in serving the needs of others

13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2  And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4  rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 13  "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14  "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15  "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16  "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17  "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

G. Our love for each other is God’s drawing card to Himself

13:34  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35  "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

H. Our intentions do not automatically become reality

37  Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake." 38  Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. What the three most difficult things about following Christ as a disciple? What helps?

2. Why do some wander off into darkness instead of walking in the light?

3. How can we more consistently follow Christ’s example in serving others? What makes us not want to serve?

4. Do you think people know we are Christ’s disciples by our love for each other?

5. Why don’t we follow through on our intentions?  How can we make more of our resolutions become realities?