"To know Him, to know Him is life..."

Continuing with this thought of getting to know Christ Jesus in a greater measure, I would like to quote some verses from Chapters 15 and 16 of the Gospel of John. They include these words, "these things I have spoken to you" and I challenge each to read and meditate on the whole scenarios that lead up to them. It is the Holy Spirit who opens up the Scriptures to us as we come to 'know Him' in a greater measure. For we know that Jesus Himself has told us, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things..." John 14:26

John 15:11
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."

Jesus has been speaking of the true vine, the vinedresser and the branches. He tells His disciples, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING." Vs. 5  (My emphasis)

He goes on to tell them of the consequence of not abiding in Him -- as a branch he is thrown away. Read what happens to that branch. Vs. 6 But of those who abide in Him, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." Vs. 7-8

Look again at Vs. 11, These words were spoken -- WHY?
"...that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may to made full."

Do we know this joy? It is not dependent on circumstances! It is knowing Christ Jesus!

John 16:1,
"These things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling."

Jesus has given them His commandment to love one another, then he goes on to tell them that the world will hate them because of Him. He tells them, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:19 And, "...If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you..." Vs. 20 "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue..." 16:2 "And these things they will do, because they have not known the Father, or Me." Vs. 3

Again Jesus reminds them of the coming of the Holy Spirit, "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me." John 15:26

John 16:33,
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

1 John 5:4-5 says,
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Our wonderful Lord and Savior has made every provision for us to live in the world. He has given us HIS joy, HIS peace and HIS light to keep us from stumbling. It is He who has overcome the world! As we abide in Him and He in us we are overcomers.

Great is our Lord Jesus Christ and greatly to be praised! He is worthy of all honor and glory. Praise His name forever. Amen