Russ Hiebert

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled…

Our joy is far more impressive to those around us than what we preach or teach. John the Baptist joyfully exclaimed that Jesus, as he walked by, was the Lamb of God and immediately two of his own disciples left and followed Jesus.

This last chapter of 2 Samuel teaches us that God uses even Man’s failure to demonstrate his surpassing grace.

As the leader of Israel, King David is compelled to respond to Saul’s earlier crimes against the Gibeonites as well as the request to avoid risky personal combat.