John 6: 60-71
There are some things that are hard to understand. Twenty years ago my best friend told me she had leukemia. She was a young mom at the time, her youngest hadn't reached her second birthday. I was a new believer in Christ. A mother with children to raise shouldn't die, I thought, but she did, not long after her diagnosis. My new faith in Christ wavered, it was hard to see His plan and purpose when her precious children were left without the mother that loved them.
Jesus has just told the crowd that's been following Him they would need to eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life (John 6:54). They don't understand that He is speaking in spiritual terms and answer, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Jesus knows they are grumbling about what He has said. It was at this point that, "many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him."
We get to that point sometimes. I know I did after my friend's death. It was hard, and I didn't understand, so I wanted to turn back. But Christ calls us to follow Him even when things don't make sense. It requires trust. We have to believe that He knows what is best, because life isn't one event. It's an intricately woven series of events that make up the whole of God's plan.
Peter was quick to answer when Jesus asked if he too would leave, "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Peter knew there was no one else to turn to. Jesus was life.
God's good in my friend's death hasn't been revealed to me. I may never understand, but as I walk with Him every day He teaches me to trust Him no matter what. And to agree with Peter - where else would I go, who else is there? No one - only Jesus.
Psalm 73:21-26 says it best:
"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You. Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Real Nourishment
John 6:47-59
Do you ever wish you could go back to a simpler time? A time when life wasn't so hectic, and there weren't so many demands placed on your life? I've had those nostalgic moments. They always end with a thump back to reality, though. You see, the times may on the surface look simpler - until I think about cooking a meal. Or having enough water for the day. Or doing laundry - ugh! I'm trying to imagine hauling our clothes outside, heating water, making my own soap, scrubbing the heavy, wet clothes then hanging them on a line, waiting for them to dry, hauling them back in and ironing it all. I'm a little distracted by the sound of my washing machine that required the touch of a few buttons to get going - the reality of now isn't so bad in that light!
Bread for a meal was one of those daunting tasks like laundry. You needed grain. It had to be ground. The dough was made, and if it was leavened you waited for it to rise. Then it had to be cooked - which involved another procedure to get the fuel for the fire. When you were finished and wanted to clean up there was water to be hauled.
When we look at things this way, it's easier to understand why the crowd that followed Jesus wanted Him to feed them every day. It makes it easy to see why the Samaritan woman wanted the living water Jesus told her about.
God knows we have these needs. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink...Is not life more important than food...?"
The answer to His question is yes! A little further in Matthew 6 at verse 35 we read, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Not just seeking the physical bread the crowd was looking for, but seeking the real nourishment we need. It only comes from Him. He tells the crowd in John 6:48 that He is the bread of life. The physical bread they eat will not keep them from dying. Jesus alone can give them eternal life.
His flesh would be sacrificed and His blood poured out at the cross. To unite ourselves with Him in belief provides the nourishment our dying spirit needs. Without Jesus, "you have no life in you".
I'm not going to pretend that this passage of Scripture is clear as day to me. "This is a hard saying ..." according to many of His disciples - and I agree with that. But if we ask God to reveal what He wants us to understand - He will. Keep studying, listening to the Word when it is preached and asking God for wisdom. We can come back to this Scripture again, and if anyone has been given insight - please share!
Do you ever wish you could go back to a simpler time? A time when life wasn't so hectic, and there weren't so many demands placed on your life? I've had those nostalgic moments. They always end with a thump back to reality, though. You see, the times may on the surface look simpler - until I think about cooking a meal. Or having enough water for the day. Or doing laundry - ugh! I'm trying to imagine hauling our clothes outside, heating water, making my own soap, scrubbing the heavy, wet clothes then hanging them on a line, waiting for them to dry, hauling them back in and ironing it all. I'm a little distracted by the sound of my washing machine that required the touch of a few buttons to get going - the reality of now isn't so bad in that light!
Bread for a meal was one of those daunting tasks like laundry. You needed grain. It had to be ground. The dough was made, and if it was leavened you waited for it to rise. Then it had to be cooked - which involved another procedure to get the fuel for the fire. When you were finished and wanted to clean up there was water to be hauled.
When we look at things this way, it's easier to understand why the crowd that followed Jesus wanted Him to feed them every day. It makes it easy to see why the Samaritan woman wanted the living water Jesus told her about.
God knows we have these needs. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink...Is not life more important than food...?"
The answer to His question is yes! A little further in Matthew 6 at verse 35 we read, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Not just seeking the physical bread the crowd was looking for, but seeking the real nourishment we need. It only comes from Him. He tells the crowd in John 6:48 that He is the bread of life. The physical bread they eat will not keep them from dying. Jesus alone can give them eternal life.
His flesh would be sacrificed and His blood poured out at the cross. To unite ourselves with Him in belief provides the nourishment our dying spirit needs. Without Jesus, "you have no life in you".
I'm not going to pretend that this passage of Scripture is clear as day to me. "This is a hard saying ..." according to many of His disciples - and I agree with that. But if we ask God to reveal what He wants us to understand - He will. Keep studying, listening to the Word when it is preached and asking God for wisdom. We can come back to this Scripture again, and if anyone has been given insight - please share!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Misguided
John 6:37-46
For several years I read books written by a popular pastor of a large Christian congregation. His thought-provoking words sounded true and sincere. Not long ago, though, he took a detour from the Word and began teaching that there were many ways to God besides Christ. His influence is significant and I'm concerned for those that were following the man, rather than the Word of God, and may believe his false teaching.
We have in Jesus a firm foundation. He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep. In John 10: 27-28 He tells us, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."
It's when we take our eyes off of Christ and follow something or someone else that we become dissapointed.
Jesus came from heaven to do God's will. It is God's will that all who come to believe in Christ will have eternal life, and it is God who draws us to Christ. On our own we wouldn't believe - remember it says in John 1:10-11, "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him."
The people Jesus is speaking to in John 6:41-42 don't believe He came from heaven. They think He is the Mary and Joseph's son, nothing more. This is the official word from the religious leaders, and the people will suffer from believing these men, rather than what Christ is telling them. Because, He is the only way to eternal life.
There are still those who claim to be shepherds of the people that would lead them away by falsely teaching that Christ was a good man, and nothing more. We must choose between their misguided words, or the words of Christ that proclaim, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
For several years I read books written by a popular pastor of a large Christian congregation. His thought-provoking words sounded true and sincere. Not long ago, though, he took a detour from the Word and began teaching that there were many ways to God besides Christ. His influence is significant and I'm concerned for those that were following the man, rather than the Word of God, and may believe his false teaching.
We have in Jesus a firm foundation. He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep. In John 10: 27-28 He tells us, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."
It's when we take our eyes off of Christ and follow something or someone else that we become dissapointed.
Jesus came from heaven to do God's will. It is God's will that all who come to believe in Christ will have eternal life, and it is God who draws us to Christ. On our own we wouldn't believe - remember it says in John 1:10-11, "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him."
The people Jesus is speaking to in John 6:41-42 don't believe He came from heaven. They think He is the Mary and Joseph's son, nothing more. This is the official word from the religious leaders, and the people will suffer from believing these men, rather than what Christ is telling them. Because, He is the only way to eternal life.
There are still those who claim to be shepherds of the people that would lead them away by falsely teaching that Christ was a good man, and nothing more. We must choose between their misguided words, or the words of Christ that proclaim, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Losing my Patience?
John 6:30-36
I am losing my patience with this crowd! Weren't they part of the miraculous feeding of the five thousand? Here they are asking Jesus, "What miraculous sign then will You give that we may see it and believe You?...Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
The manna - bread - they are referring to was given to the Children of Israel on thier way to the Promised Land. It appeared from heaven each day, except Sabbath, and each gathered enough to meet thier needs for that day. There was never too little, and if you gathered too much it spoiled. It was a picture of God's day by day providence for His people.
Jesus instructs us to ask for bread, "Give us today our daily bread...". He also tells us that we don't need to worry, and say, "...What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." (Matthew 6:32)
So - it's okay to ask God to provide what we need each day, in fact, He already knows about the need and anticipates our request. In asking we acknowledge Him as our Provider.
Now back to the crowd. If there's nothing wrong with asking, what made thier request sound so ridiculous? Well, first of all, if feeding over 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish isn't a miracle, then what is? Yet they have the audacity to ask, "What miraculous sign will You give...?" They weren't satisfied with the bread they received yesterday. They want more. They wanted to be fed every day by God's hand, just like their forefathers. Then they would call it a miracle.
Remember how the forefathers' felt after being fed manna every day? Read Numbers 11. The manna wasn't enough, they wanted meat; one miracle isn't enough - give us more God and we will grumble and complain against You if You don't!
Now I have to re-think my impatience with this bunch - why? Because it hits close to home. I've seen God provide over and again in my life, yet I don't always accept His providence with thanksgiving. The same grumbling and doubt fill my heart when God witholds something I want.
How ridiculous they didn't get it - how ridiculous that I dont!
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22
I am losing my patience with this crowd! Weren't they part of the miraculous feeding of the five thousand? Here they are asking Jesus, "What miraculous sign then will You give that we may see it and believe You?...Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
The manna - bread - they are referring to was given to the Children of Israel on thier way to the Promised Land. It appeared from heaven each day, except Sabbath, and each gathered enough to meet thier needs for that day. There was never too little, and if you gathered too much it spoiled. It was a picture of God's day by day providence for His people.
Jesus instructs us to ask for bread, "Give us today our daily bread...". He also tells us that we don't need to worry, and say, "...What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." (Matthew 6:32)
So - it's okay to ask God to provide what we need each day, in fact, He already knows about the need and anticipates our request. In asking we acknowledge Him as our Provider.
Now back to the crowd. If there's nothing wrong with asking, what made thier request sound so ridiculous? Well, first of all, if feeding over 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish isn't a miracle, then what is? Yet they have the audacity to ask, "What miraculous sign will You give...?" They weren't satisfied with the bread they received yesterday. They want more. They wanted to be fed every day by God's hand, just like their forefathers. Then they would call it a miracle.
Remember how the forefathers' felt after being fed manna every day? Read Numbers 11. The manna wasn't enough, they wanted meat; one miracle isn't enough - give us more God and we will grumble and complain against You if You don't!
Now I have to re-think my impatience with this bunch - why? Because it hits close to home. I've seen God provide over and again in my life, yet I don't always accept His providence with thanksgiving. The same grumbling and doubt fill my heart when God witholds something I want.
How ridiculous they didn't get it - how ridiculous that I dont!
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22
Monday, December 5, 2011
Plans and Purpose
John 6:25-29
Don't we all want to know the reason for our existence? Why we are here, and what we are supposed to be doing while we're here? So we set out on a search for something to give our lives validity; a great career, fame, fortune, fulfilling relationships. Any of these will give us something to do - a goal to reach, will fill our time and maybe our scrapbook. Some might even give us a line or two in a Google search!
Does God have plans for us? Psalm 40:5 says, "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them they would be too many to declare." Yes, He is involved and interested in our life plans.
The crowd that Jesus fed is surprised to find Him across the lake the next day. He knows thier motive for seeking Him out; they were there because He fed them. So He tells them not to, "... work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." So they ask Jesus what action was needed on their part, "... to do the works God requires?"
What does God require of us? We know He has plans, ..."For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11), but how do we know what those plans are - what do they look like in our lives?
"...The work of God is this;" Jesus answered the crowd, "to believe in the One He has sent." God's plan for us is to believe in His Son Jesus, "the One He has sent." In Christ we find our purpose, the plan God has for us. Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10).
We have a reason for being here. God has a plan for our lives. Our existence has meaning and purpose. The Creator of the Universe is interested in you, personally, and what action does He require on your part?
To believe in the One He has sent - Jesus.
Don't we all want to know the reason for our existence? Why we are here, and what we are supposed to be doing while we're here? So we set out on a search for something to give our lives validity; a great career, fame, fortune, fulfilling relationships. Any of these will give us something to do - a goal to reach, will fill our time and maybe our scrapbook. Some might even give us a line or two in a Google search!
Does God have plans for us? Psalm 40:5 says, "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and tell of them they would be too many to declare." Yes, He is involved and interested in our life plans.
The crowd that Jesus fed is surprised to find Him across the lake the next day. He knows thier motive for seeking Him out; they were there because He fed them. So He tells them not to, "... work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." So they ask Jesus what action was needed on their part, "... to do the works God requires?"
What does God require of us? We know He has plans, ..."For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11), but how do we know what those plans are - what do they look like in our lives?
"...The work of God is this;" Jesus answered the crowd, "to believe in the One He has sent." God's plan for us is to believe in His Son Jesus, "the One He has sent." In Christ we find our purpose, the plan God has for us. Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10).
We have a reason for being here. God has a plan for our lives. Our existence has meaning and purpose. The Creator of the Universe is interested in you, personally, and what action does He require on your part?
To believe in the One He has sent - Jesus.
Friday, December 2, 2011
In the Storm
John 6:16-21
Several years ago, when our children were young, we decided to take them snorkling off the coast of Maui at Molokini Crater. We boarded the boat and looked forward to showing them the beautiful fish that lived near the crater. We were settled into our seats enjoying the views when a strong wind came up. The water became choppy, our boat tossed on the waves. Fear and nausea replaced the excitement!
The disciples had left the mountainside and Jesus sent the crowd home. Jesus stayed to pray, the disciples had been instructed to board a ship and head across the lake. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. In Mark 6:48 it tells us that Jesus, "...saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them." Jesus walks out on the lake to their boat, and they are terrified. They don't recognize Him. We are told in Mark 6:49 that, "...they thought He was a ghost."
"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." He tells them. Then He gets into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore they were headed to.
The disciples were battered by the wind, their hard work at the oars wasn't getting them to the shore. Jesus sees exactly what is happening even though He isn't with them. They are obeying His instruction, but His instruction has brought them into storm and trial.
It's interesting that they seem to be trying to tough it out themselves. Several were fishermen, so were probably accustomed to being caught on the water in a storm. When Jesus shows up they are terrified - of Him! They didn't call out to be saved, they didn't even recognize Him. Jesus wasn't put off as we might be, He calms the storm and their fears, bringing them safely to shore.
Our self-sufficiency can't get us through the storms in life. We may think we don't need Christ, that we've made it before and we'll make it again. But we end up stuck in the middle of the lake, winds and waves battering us. Christ knows. He's been watching and knows all about the storm and our weakness. Recognize Him, and have courage, because He is the One that can bring us safely to shore!
Several years ago, when our children were young, we decided to take them snorkling off the coast of Maui at Molokini Crater. We boarded the boat and looked forward to showing them the beautiful fish that lived near the crater. We were settled into our seats enjoying the views when a strong wind came up. The water became choppy, our boat tossed on the waves. Fear and nausea replaced the excitement!
The disciples had left the mountainside and Jesus sent the crowd home. Jesus stayed to pray, the disciples had been instructed to board a ship and head across the lake. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. In Mark 6:48 it tells us that Jesus, "...saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them." Jesus walks out on the lake to their boat, and they are terrified. They don't recognize Him. We are told in Mark 6:49 that, "...they thought He was a ghost."
"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." He tells them. Then He gets into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore they were headed to.
The disciples were battered by the wind, their hard work at the oars wasn't getting them to the shore. Jesus sees exactly what is happening even though He isn't with them. They are obeying His instruction, but His instruction has brought them into storm and trial.
It's interesting that they seem to be trying to tough it out themselves. Several were fishermen, so were probably accustomed to being caught on the water in a storm. When Jesus shows up they are terrified - of Him! They didn't call out to be saved, they didn't even recognize Him. Jesus wasn't put off as we might be, He calms the storm and their fears, bringing them safely to shore.
Our self-sufficiency can't get us through the storms in life. We may think we don't need Christ, that we've made it before and we'll make it again. But we end up stuck in the middle of the lake, winds and waves battering us. Christ knows. He's been watching and knows all about the storm and our weakness. Recognize Him, and have courage, because He is the One that can bring us safely to shore!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Enough - With Leftovers!
John 6:1-15
Jesus has crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee with His disciples. He looks up from his mountainside position and sees a great crowd of people following Him. They are following because He can heal thier physical infirmities. Miraculous healings - the blind could see, lame could walk, lepers were made whole. Jesus was healing the hopeless, and the crowd came to be healed, or witness the healings.
The crowd would also be hungry, Jesus knew, but had little access to food. He turns to His disciple Philip and asks, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" This was a test for Philip. You can almost see him doing the math; "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" he answered. Philip wasn't sure where the bread would come from, but knew the cost of feeding a crowd of this size would be 2/3 of a year's wages.
Andrew, another of the disciples, speaks up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish..." He sees that there are some resources available, but "...how far will they go among so many?"
Jesus simply has the crowd sit down, takes the five loaves and two small fish, and thanks God for what He has provided. When the food was distributed, it was enough for all to eat as much as they wanted. The leftovers were gathered so nothing would be wasted. Twelve baskets were filled.. This, after five thousand men were fed from five loaves of bread and two fish; that count didn't include the women and children who were also fed. Truly a miracle!
Philip calculated what it would cost to feed the crowd, and the figure made it impossible. Andrew found food, but common sense told him it was too little to feed such a large group. Jesus saw the five loaves of bread and two fish and knew that it was plenty with His Father's blessing. He thanked God for what He had provided and started passing it out. He didn't scrimp - each had all they wanted, and there were leftovers.
Are we caught up in the numbers of what it costs to serve? Are we overwhelmed by so much need and so little resources? We should thank God for the blessings we have, knowing He can provide for every need - with leftovers!
Jesus has crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee with His disciples. He looks up from his mountainside position and sees a great crowd of people following Him. They are following because He can heal thier physical infirmities. Miraculous healings - the blind could see, lame could walk, lepers were made whole. Jesus was healing the hopeless, and the crowd came to be healed, or witness the healings.
The crowd would also be hungry, Jesus knew, but had little access to food. He turns to His disciple Philip and asks, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" This was a test for Philip. You can almost see him doing the math; "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" he answered. Philip wasn't sure where the bread would come from, but knew the cost of feeding a crowd of this size would be 2/3 of a year's wages.
Andrew, another of the disciples, speaks up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish..." He sees that there are some resources available, but "...how far will they go among so many?"
Jesus simply has the crowd sit down, takes the five loaves and two small fish, and thanks God for what He has provided. When the food was distributed, it was enough for all to eat as much as they wanted. The leftovers were gathered so nothing would be wasted. Twelve baskets were filled.. This, after five thousand men were fed from five loaves of bread and two fish; that count didn't include the women and children who were also fed. Truly a miracle!
Philip calculated what it would cost to feed the crowd, and the figure made it impossible. Andrew found food, but common sense told him it was too little to feed such a large group. Jesus saw the five loaves of bread and two fish and knew that it was plenty with His Father's blessing. He thanked God for what He had provided and started passing it out. He didn't scrimp - each had all they wanted, and there were leftovers.
Are we caught up in the numbers of what it costs to serve? Are we overwhelmed by so much need and so little resources? We should thank God for the blessings we have, knowing He can provide for every need - with leftovers!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Invisible Clothes or the Truth?
John 5:31-45
In the short story "The Emporer's New Clothes", written by Hans Christian Andersen, two weaver's lead the emporer to believe that they can weave clothing invisible to those who are unfit for thier positions. The emporer likes this idea - those he should be rid of will be revealed. The weavers set to work and in time present their "suit" to the emporer. He looks in the mirror, but lo and behold - the clothing is invisible to him! Afraid to say anything, because he would be revealed as unfit, he parades about in his "new clothes". Those in his court praise the garments that they too are unable to see. It takes a child to declare the truth - the Emporer is indeed naked!
The praise of man might flatter the the one being praised, but it isn't always truth. We hear this person or that being lauded by the media one day - only to have the naked truth of a scandalous life revealed the next.
No wonder Jesus put little value on the praise of men. He knew the heart motives behind that praise. The religious leaders He is speaking to in this Scripture, "accepted praise from one another", but did not have the love of God in their hearts. They refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah God had promised to send them. They chose to praise man, rather than believe the truth staring them in the face.
There is One worthy of our praise - and He is the only one whose praise is worth seeking. Jesus rebukes the religious leaders for making "no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God." To confess Christ may have brought them disgrace, loss of income or position. Praising the men that were ready to kill Christ would allow them to maintain all they held dear in life - even if these men were wrong.
How can we obtain the praise that comes from God? God is pleased when we acknowledge the true state of our lives - we are sinners; and believe that He has provided forgiveness and restoration to Him through Jesus Christ, His Son.
Are we willing to be like the child in the story who confesses the truth? Or will we lie to ourselves for the sake of life's comfort? Jesus gives us the choice.
In the short story "The Emporer's New Clothes", written by Hans Christian Andersen, two weaver's lead the emporer to believe that they can weave clothing invisible to those who are unfit for thier positions. The emporer likes this idea - those he should be rid of will be revealed. The weavers set to work and in time present their "suit" to the emporer. He looks in the mirror, but lo and behold - the clothing is invisible to him! Afraid to say anything, because he would be revealed as unfit, he parades about in his "new clothes". Those in his court praise the garments that they too are unable to see. It takes a child to declare the truth - the Emporer is indeed naked!
The praise of man might flatter the the one being praised, but it isn't always truth. We hear this person or that being lauded by the media one day - only to have the naked truth of a scandalous life revealed the next.
No wonder Jesus put little value on the praise of men. He knew the heart motives behind that praise. The religious leaders He is speaking to in this Scripture, "accepted praise from one another", but did not have the love of God in their hearts. They refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah God had promised to send them. They chose to praise man, rather than believe the truth staring them in the face.
There is One worthy of our praise - and He is the only one whose praise is worth seeking. Jesus rebukes the religious leaders for making "no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God." To confess Christ may have brought them disgrace, loss of income or position. Praising the men that were ready to kill Christ would allow them to maintain all they held dear in life - even if these men were wrong.
How can we obtain the praise that comes from God? God is pleased when we acknowledge the true state of our lives - we are sinners; and believe that He has provided forgiveness and restoration to Him through Jesus Christ, His Son.
Are we willing to be like the child in the story who confesses the truth? Or will we lie to ourselves for the sake of life's comfort? Jesus gives us the choice.
Monday, November 28, 2011
So Right - But Wrong!
John 5:16-30
Have you ever been so very sure that you are right - only to find out you are completely wrong? Sometimes you don't find out right away. You may go along upset at the individual who challenged you for days or weeks, then one day something is revealed to you, and there it is - you were wrong!
The men who became leaders in the Jewish religion studied the Scriptures devotedly; yet, they did not recognize the Messiah when He was standing among them. The Scriptures revealed Him, John the Baptist proclaimed Him, God testified that Jesus was His Son, and Jesus Himself confessed that He and the Father were One. The leaders remained unconvinced.
They were ready to kill Jesus for breaking the Sabbath - death was the proper penalty according to the Scripture (see Exodus 35:2). However, as Jesus pointed out, God was always at His work. We can see this to be true. People are born and die on the Sabbath. The crops continue to grow, rain falls, the sun shines. If the leaders did not see Jesus as Emmanuel, God with us, then we can understand why they believed Jesus was guilty of breaking the law.
In the verses following we find Jesus patiently teaching the men that persecuted and wanted to kill Him. He is giving them instruction on how they can find eternal life. They believe this comes from following the law. Jesus will tell them, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
Eventually we all must decide what we believe about Jesus Christ. We can choose to deny that He is the Messiah. For each one who is so very sure that Christ is not who He claimed to be, a day of revelation is coming. One of those days when suddenly you realize how very wrong you were! "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)
Have you ever been so very sure that you are right - only to find out you are completely wrong? Sometimes you don't find out right away. You may go along upset at the individual who challenged you for days or weeks, then one day something is revealed to you, and there it is - you were wrong!
The men who became leaders in the Jewish religion studied the Scriptures devotedly; yet, they did not recognize the Messiah when He was standing among them. The Scriptures revealed Him, John the Baptist proclaimed Him, God testified that Jesus was His Son, and Jesus Himself confessed that He and the Father were One. The leaders remained unconvinced.
They were ready to kill Jesus for breaking the Sabbath - death was the proper penalty according to the Scripture (see Exodus 35:2). However, as Jesus pointed out, God was always at His work. We can see this to be true. People are born and die on the Sabbath. The crops continue to grow, rain falls, the sun shines. If the leaders did not see Jesus as Emmanuel, God with us, then we can understand why they believed Jesus was guilty of breaking the law.
In the verses following we find Jesus patiently teaching the men that persecuted and wanted to kill Him. He is giving them instruction on how they can find eternal life. They believe this comes from following the law. Jesus will tell them, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
Eventually we all must decide what we believe about Jesus Christ. We can choose to deny that He is the Messiah. For each one who is so very sure that Christ is not who He claimed to be, a day of revelation is coming. One of those days when suddenly you realize how very wrong you were! "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A Law of Compassion
John 5:7-15
Does the man at the pool want to get well?
He doesn't ever answer the question from John 5:6! Instead, he explains why he isn't well yet. No one will carry him to the pool. Others get in front of him when he tries to get there. He's tried, and failed. Getting well is out of his control.
The man is where he needs to be in order to get well, he has tried to get well, and Jesus sees his feeble attempts as the answer. Yes, he wants to get well. Jesus tells him to, "Pick up your mat and walk." The man obeyed.
Imagine for a moment, having lived as an invalid for 38 years, that you are suddenly able to carry the mat you've been lying on and walk. The excitement and freedom you feel is overwhelming! The people you know are stunned by the miracle Christ has performed in your life. Or maybe not...
Hours after I made the decision to follow Christ, the phone rang. The caller proceeded to ridicule the profession of faith in Jesus I had just made that morning. The excitement I'd felt over the miracle Christ had perfomed in my life diminished a tiny bit. Perhaps that's how the invalid felt when he was stopped by the religious leaders for carrying his mat on the Sabbath.
The law being referred to in thier statement, "...the law forbids you to carry your mat." is found in Exodus 20:8. It states, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work..."
Should we obey the commandments that God has given us? Yes, we should. Was Jesus aware of this command when he told the man to carry his mat? Of course. Was it work to heal the invalid? According to the Jewish religious leaders it was. But Jesus advocates acts of compassion on the Sabbath, and reminds these leaders of thier own infraction of this law in Luke 13:15 when he states, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?"
The man, no longer an invalid, was asked the name of the one that healed him, and he didn't know. Later, Jesus finds the man at the temple and warns him to, "Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you." Something worse than being an invalid for 38 years. Sin can cause us to lose our freedom, our health, our peace of mind. Sin can separate us from God eternally.
Jesus cared about the man's physical condition and healed him. He also cared about the man's spiritual condition and took time to find him at the temple and give him instruction.
Obedience to the law is important, but Christ teaches us to temper how we follow the law with compassion.
Does the man at the pool want to get well?
He doesn't ever answer the question from John 5:6! Instead, he explains why he isn't well yet. No one will carry him to the pool. Others get in front of him when he tries to get there. He's tried, and failed. Getting well is out of his control.
The man is where he needs to be in order to get well, he has tried to get well, and Jesus sees his feeble attempts as the answer. Yes, he wants to get well. Jesus tells him to, "Pick up your mat and walk." The man obeyed.
Imagine for a moment, having lived as an invalid for 38 years, that you are suddenly able to carry the mat you've been lying on and walk. The excitement and freedom you feel is overwhelming! The people you know are stunned by the miracle Christ has performed in your life. Or maybe not...
Hours after I made the decision to follow Christ, the phone rang. The caller proceeded to ridicule the profession of faith in Jesus I had just made that morning. The excitement I'd felt over the miracle Christ had perfomed in my life diminished a tiny bit. Perhaps that's how the invalid felt when he was stopped by the religious leaders for carrying his mat on the Sabbath.
The law being referred to in thier statement, "...the law forbids you to carry your mat." is found in Exodus 20:8. It states, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work..."
Should we obey the commandments that God has given us? Yes, we should. Was Jesus aware of this command when he told the man to carry his mat? Of course. Was it work to heal the invalid? According to the Jewish religious leaders it was. But Jesus advocates acts of compassion on the Sabbath, and reminds these leaders of thier own infraction of this law in Luke 13:15 when he states, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?"
The man, no longer an invalid, was asked the name of the one that healed him, and he didn't know. Later, Jesus finds the man at the temple and warns him to, "Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you." Something worse than being an invalid for 38 years. Sin can cause us to lose our freedom, our health, our peace of mind. Sin can separate us from God eternally.
Jesus cared about the man's physical condition and healed him. He also cared about the man's spiritual condition and took time to find him at the temple and give him instruction.
Obedience to the law is important, but Christ teaches us to temper how we follow the law with compassion.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Do You Want to Get Well?
John 5:1-6
Hot Springs, Arkansas - for many years the destination of those seeking the curative powers of the mineral rich, thermal springs found there. In today's Scripture we see a pool in Jerusalem that was credited with healing powers. As the infirm have flocked to Hot Springs, in Jesus' day this pool in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate was filled with disabled people waiting for an opportunity to be healed by the water.
Out of a great number laying in the area Jesus notices one in particular. He makes inquiries about this one, and finds he's been disabled for 38 years. He walks up and asks the invalid, "Do you want to get well?"
The lame, blind and paralyzed are lying all around him. He's been here waiting in the only place he knows to offer healing for someone in his condition. Over time he may have witnessed one or another taken to the water, their life changed when a healing occurred. It's a place of hope for him, but after 38 years, he's most likely come to the conclusion that healing will never come about. Then a stranger walks up and asks, "Do you want to get well?"
For many years I attended church. I was in the right place to hear about the healing power Christ possesses, a place of hope for the spiritual invalid. One Sunday morning as I sat in the pew, people all around, it was as if Jesus singled me out and asked, "Do you want to get well?
Did I want to get well?
I could stay right where I was - comfortable in the sinful life I'd grown callous to, or I could choose to be healed. That's what Jesus offers each of us- healing in the form of forgiveness for the sin that keeps us blind, lame, and paralyzed. An opportunity for a new life filled with His presence. I chose to get well!
You also have a choice. "Do you want to get well?"
"...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
Hot Springs, Arkansas - for many years the destination of those seeking the curative powers of the mineral rich, thermal springs found there. In today's Scripture we see a pool in Jerusalem that was credited with healing powers. As the infirm have flocked to Hot Springs, in Jesus' day this pool in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate was filled with disabled people waiting for an opportunity to be healed by the water.
Out of a great number laying in the area Jesus notices one in particular. He makes inquiries about this one, and finds he's been disabled for 38 years. He walks up and asks the invalid, "Do you want to get well?"
The lame, blind and paralyzed are lying all around him. He's been here waiting in the only place he knows to offer healing for someone in his condition. Over time he may have witnessed one or another taken to the water, their life changed when a healing occurred. It's a place of hope for him, but after 38 years, he's most likely come to the conclusion that healing will never come about. Then a stranger walks up and asks, "Do you want to get well?"
For many years I attended church. I was in the right place to hear about the healing power Christ possesses, a place of hope for the spiritual invalid. One Sunday morning as I sat in the pew, people all around, it was as if Jesus singled me out and asked, "Do you want to get well?
Did I want to get well?
I could stay right where I was - comfortable in the sinful life I'd grown callous to, or I could choose to be healed. That's what Jesus offers each of us- healing in the form of forgiveness for the sin that keeps us blind, lame, and paralyzed. An opportunity for a new life filled with His presence. I chose to get well!
You also have a choice. "Do you want to get well?"
"...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
Thursday, November 17, 2011
See It to Believe It
John 4: 43-54
Did Jesus answer my prayer, or was it my own hard work that landed the promotion? Is my friend feeling better because God intervened, or did the doctor coincidentally find the cure? When I was kind to a person who'd hurt me, was it the result of God leading me to forgive, or my own self-control?
Jesus was welcomed back to Galilee after many had seen all He'd done in Jerusalem at Passover. Immediately a royal official comes to Jesus begging for his son's healing, the son was near death. "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe", Jesus states in John 4:48. He knew their hearts. They weren't going to believe the Scriptures, or His testimony, but the miracles they could see brought them to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
Jesus heals the official's son without seeing him. "You may go. Your son will live." , He tells the man. While the man is still making his way home, servants meet him with the news that his son was living. When he asks the servants what time his son got better, he can see that it was at the exact time that Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." The man and all his household believe.
Daily we bring our requests before Jesus. It's the best place to bring them. Just look at the royal official's son - Jesus was able to heal him without even making a house call. The things that we might call coincidence, hard work, self-control are really present day miracles. God listens to our prayers, and, as He alone knows the end from the beginning, answers them in love with the very best answers. No coincidence - a loving Hand. We may work hard - but who gave us health and opportunity to work? And self-control flies out the window when it really is our self in control and not the presence of God's Holy Spirit leading us!
Jesus knew the people had to see miracles to believe. May He open our eyes to the miracles He performs in our life each day to strengthen our belief!
Did Jesus answer my prayer, or was it my own hard work that landed the promotion? Is my friend feeling better because God intervened, or did the doctor coincidentally find the cure? When I was kind to a person who'd hurt me, was it the result of God leading me to forgive, or my own self-control?
Jesus was welcomed back to Galilee after many had seen all He'd done in Jerusalem at Passover. Immediately a royal official comes to Jesus begging for his son's healing, the son was near death. "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe", Jesus states in John 4:48. He knew their hearts. They weren't going to believe the Scriptures, or His testimony, but the miracles they could see brought them to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
Jesus heals the official's son without seeing him. "You may go. Your son will live." , He tells the man. While the man is still making his way home, servants meet him with the news that his son was living. When he asks the servants what time his son got better, he can see that it was at the exact time that Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." The man and all his household believe.
Daily we bring our requests before Jesus. It's the best place to bring them. Just look at the royal official's son - Jesus was able to heal him without even making a house call. The things that we might call coincidence, hard work, self-control are really present day miracles. God listens to our prayers, and, as He alone knows the end from the beginning, answers them in love with the very best answers. No coincidence - a loving Hand. We may work hard - but who gave us health and opportunity to work? And self-control flies out the window when it really is our self in control and not the presence of God's Holy Spirit leading us!
Jesus knew the people had to see miracles to believe. May He open our eyes to the miracles He performs in our life each day to strengthen our belief!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Basic Needs
John 4:27-42
We need food, water, shelter and clothing. Basic needs to sustain human life. So we get up in the morning and start working to provide for those needs. Perhaps you are also providing for other's needs to be met. Throw in the things you want besides your needs and it gets more complicated, requires more work. Sometimes we get to a point where our lives are consumed by work.
Jesus' disciples are concerned about Jesus need for food and urge Him to, "...eat something." in John 4:31. The Samaritan woman wonders how Jesus will drink from the well, "...you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep." Physical needs that must be attended to. In both situations, though, Jesus is not concerned with the physical. In the case of the Samaritan woman He talks about living water that comes from a "spring of water welling up to eternal life." Jesus answers His disciples concern over food with, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about....My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work."
Yes, meeting physical needs is important. God provided everything man needed in the Garden of Eden. It was sin that turned meeting those needs into a burden. "To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it', "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground,..." Genesis 3:17-19. From that point onward we would toil and sweat for sustenance.
Meeting spiritual needs was the reason Jesus came. We're focused on the physical. He knows that, and uses those needs to reveal our deeper need. our need for Him, and the abundant life He alone provides. We worry about the physical, but He tells us,"...do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25)
Jesus revealed Himself as Messiah to the Samaritan woman. Her response was to leave her water jar and tell the people in town to come and see. The people came, listened to Jesus and many believed.
Yes, there was still water to draw each day for the needs of her household. But can you imagine for a moment, how the woman viewed the well from that day forward? Perhaps the task became less of a burden, and the well a place of praise and thanksgiving for the day she met the Living Water there!
We need food, water, shelter and clothing. Basic needs to sustain human life. So we get up in the morning and start working to provide for those needs. Perhaps you are also providing for other's needs to be met. Throw in the things you want besides your needs and it gets more complicated, requires more work. Sometimes we get to a point where our lives are consumed by work.
Jesus' disciples are concerned about Jesus need for food and urge Him to, "...eat something." in John 4:31. The Samaritan woman wonders how Jesus will drink from the well, "...you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep." Physical needs that must be attended to. In both situations, though, Jesus is not concerned with the physical. In the case of the Samaritan woman He talks about living water that comes from a "spring of water welling up to eternal life." Jesus answers His disciples concern over food with, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about....My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work."
Yes, meeting physical needs is important. God provided everything man needed in the Garden of Eden. It was sin that turned meeting those needs into a burden. "To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it', "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground,..." Genesis 3:17-19. From that point onward we would toil and sweat for sustenance.
Meeting spiritual needs was the reason Jesus came. We're focused on the physical. He knows that, and uses those needs to reveal our deeper need. our need for Him, and the abundant life He alone provides. We worry about the physical, but He tells us,"...do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (Matthew 6:25)
Jesus revealed Himself as Messiah to the Samaritan woman. Her response was to leave her water jar and tell the people in town to come and see. The people came, listened to Jesus and many believed.
Yes, there was still water to draw each day for the needs of her household. But can you imagine for a moment, how the woman viewed the well from that day forward? Perhaps the task became less of a burden, and the well a place of praise and thanksgiving for the day she met the Living Water there!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Exposed!
John 4: 16-26
How easy it is to agree with a sermon that tells us how to meet our physical needs, or gives us a list of rights and wrongs we have no trouble following. It becomes much harder when the sermon reveals sin in our lives, exposing personal rebellion against God's will for us.
The great King David listened carefully to a story of an offense told to him by Nathan the prophet. The story is found in 2 Samuel 12:1-13 and goes like this: There's a rich man with a lot of livestock, and a poor man with one little lamb. The lamb was dear to the poor man. A traveler comes to the rich man, and instead of feeding him from his flock, he goes and takes the poor man's lamb. David is outraged by what this rich man has done to the poor man, and declares, "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." Nathan answers him, "You are the man!" Nathan has just exposed David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah the Hittite, the whole story can be found in 2 Samuel 11. Until Nathan pointed out David's sin, it was easy for him to listen to the story - and even feel righteous anger towards the rich man!
Our Samaritan woman was enjoying her conversation with Jesus. The living water He spoke of was just what she needed to end the drudge of water hauling; so she asks Him to give it to her. And He replies, "Go call your husband and come back." In that sentence she is exposed.
Jesus knows everything about her. Though she will reply that she has no husband, Jesus knew the truth. The man she was now living with was not her husband, and she's had five previous husbands.What she tells Him is the truth, but it doesn't honestly reveal her situation.
She changes the subject to religious obedience - where should she be worshipping? Jesus tells her of a time that's coming when the place won't be an issue. Instead, "...true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit, and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman admits to knowing that, "Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us." Isn't that exactly what Jesus was doing out there by the well? He knows her burden, He knows her physical need, He knows her sin, and most of all He knows her spiritual need.
She needs the Messiah - and Jesus declares to her, "I who speak to you am He."
We may be able to hide our sin from those around us, and even become outraged at someone else's sin. But Jesus knows us inside and out. He's not put off by our feeble attempts to cover up. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
Like the Samaritan woman, we all need the Messiah!
How easy it is to agree with a sermon that tells us how to meet our physical needs, or gives us a list of rights and wrongs we have no trouble following. It becomes much harder when the sermon reveals sin in our lives, exposing personal rebellion against God's will for us.
The great King David listened carefully to a story of an offense told to him by Nathan the prophet. The story is found in 2 Samuel 12:1-13 and goes like this: There's a rich man with a lot of livestock, and a poor man with one little lamb. The lamb was dear to the poor man. A traveler comes to the rich man, and instead of feeding him from his flock, he goes and takes the poor man's lamb. David is outraged by what this rich man has done to the poor man, and declares, "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." Nathan answers him, "You are the man!" Nathan has just exposed David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah the Hittite, the whole story can be found in 2 Samuel 11. Until Nathan pointed out David's sin, it was easy for him to listen to the story - and even feel righteous anger towards the rich man!
Our Samaritan woman was enjoying her conversation with Jesus. The living water He spoke of was just what she needed to end the drudge of water hauling; so she asks Him to give it to her. And He replies, "Go call your husband and come back." In that sentence she is exposed.
Jesus knows everything about her. Though she will reply that she has no husband, Jesus knew the truth. The man she was now living with was not her husband, and she's had five previous husbands.What she tells Him is the truth, but it doesn't honestly reveal her situation.
She changes the subject to religious obedience - where should she be worshipping? Jesus tells her of a time that's coming when the place won't be an issue. Instead, "...true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit, and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The woman admits to knowing that, "Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us." Isn't that exactly what Jesus was doing out there by the well? He knows her burden, He knows her physical need, He knows her sin, and most of all He knows her spiritual need.
She needs the Messiah - and Jesus declares to her, "I who speak to you am He."
We may be able to hide our sin from those around us, and even become outraged at someone else's sin. But Jesus knows us inside and out. He's not put off by our feeble attempts to cover up. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
Like the Samaritan woman, we all need the Messiah!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Need Water?
John 4:10-15
Turn on the faucet at your kitchen sink - water splashes out to wash your hands, fill a cooking pot, or get a drink. The effort required to accomplish this task? Just a flick of the wrist.
My grandmother lived in a home with an old well. There was a pump standing off the back porch. You would place a bucket under the pump spigot and raise and lower the handle until the bucket was filled with water, then carry the bucket - now heavy with water - to the kitchen. A lot more effort required to perform the same tasks!
Both scenarios look easy compared to the effort required for the Samaritan woman to provide water for her household. She needed a jar or bucket that could be lowered into the well, filled with water, pulled back up, then carried to her home. However heavy the vessel was, it was much heavier on the return trip. The task would be completed day in and day out.
Jesus met this woman as she went about the business of getting water. He surprised her by asking for a drink, and now tells her that He can give her living water, the kind that satisfies once and for all, and becomes a "spring of water, welling up to eternal life."
The woman is practical, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?" She understands Him to offer physical water - the kind she hauls out of the well daily. From the same well that Jacob, one of the Patriarchs, had drank from. She asks Jesus if He is "greater than our father Jacob"? You can almost see the puzzled expression on her face as she tries to figure out who Jesus is, and how she can get this "living water".
Jesus knew what the woman needed, to believe in Him as her Messiah. The life giving water He referred to was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that would satisfy her spiritual thirst as she was filled with God's presence in her life.
The woman responds immediately to having her physical need of water supplied, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." She's tired of the heavy burden of carrying her own water.
We can relate. Everyone has burdens and hardships in life. We may wish God would take them all away and give us something that would satisfy our needs once and for all. It may be restored health, a million dollars, a healed relationship - or water that runs from a faucet. Any of those things are great! But God knows the real thirst we have is one that can only be satisfied by Him, through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ!
"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
John 7:37-39
Turn on the faucet at your kitchen sink - water splashes out to wash your hands, fill a cooking pot, or get a drink. The effort required to accomplish this task? Just a flick of the wrist.
My grandmother lived in a home with an old well. There was a pump standing off the back porch. You would place a bucket under the pump spigot and raise and lower the handle until the bucket was filled with water, then carry the bucket - now heavy with water - to the kitchen. A lot more effort required to perform the same tasks!
Both scenarios look easy compared to the effort required for the Samaritan woman to provide water for her household. She needed a jar or bucket that could be lowered into the well, filled with water, pulled back up, then carried to her home. However heavy the vessel was, it was much heavier on the return trip. The task would be completed day in and day out.
Jesus met this woman as she went about the business of getting water. He surprised her by asking for a drink, and now tells her that He can give her living water, the kind that satisfies once and for all, and becomes a "spring of water, welling up to eternal life."
The woman is practical, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?" She understands Him to offer physical water - the kind she hauls out of the well daily. From the same well that Jacob, one of the Patriarchs, had drank from. She asks Jesus if He is "greater than our father Jacob"? You can almost see the puzzled expression on her face as she tries to figure out who Jesus is, and how she can get this "living water".
Jesus knew what the woman needed, to believe in Him as her Messiah. The life giving water He referred to was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that would satisfy her spiritual thirst as she was filled with God's presence in her life.
The woman responds immediately to having her physical need of water supplied, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." She's tired of the heavy burden of carrying her own water.
We can relate. Everyone has burdens and hardships in life. We may wish God would take them all away and give us something that would satisfy our needs once and for all. It may be restored health, a million dollars, a healed relationship - or water that runs from a faucet. Any of those things are great! But God knows the real thirst we have is one that can only be satisfied by Him, through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ!
"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
John 7:37-39
Friday, November 11, 2011
Avoiding Someone?
John 4:1-9
A friend and I were talking about avoiding people the other day. You know who I mean - the ones that stop you as you are trying to dash in and out of the grocery store, and start a long conversation. So you see them and quickly head on to the next aisle. Or you don't pick up the phone when you see thier number. Sometimes you even drop stuff at thier doorstep, then call to say it's there - the "drop and run", I think she called it, and we had a good laugh - because I had recently found something from her on my front porch!
In today's Scripture Jesus leaves Judea and is on His way back to Galilee, which would take Him through Samaria on the direct route. I've read that the Jews had a way to travel all the way around Samaria, even though it took longer, just to avoid the desipised Samaritans. But look at John 4:4, "Now He had to go through Samaria." He had to. Even though He knew the way around.
At around noon He is tired and sits down by Jacob's well in the town of Sychar. A Samaritan woman appears - she needs to draw water out of the well. Imagine her surprise at finding a Jewish man sitting there. Then He asks her for a drink. "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can You ask me for a drink?", she replies. A Jewish man in Samaria willing to speak to a Samaritan woman. Unheard of!
Jesus had to go to through Samaria on His way to Galilee because there was this Samaritan woman He needed to spend some time with. He already knew that she would have questions about religion, the men in her life, and water. It was going to take time to answer those questions, and if He would've taken the path around Samaria He could've avoided the long conversation. The kind my friend and I were talking about avoiding.
The result of His conversation - the conversion of many Samaritans who now believed in Him because of the woman's testimony. (See John 4:39)
What if I, instead of looking at those long conversations as an interruption, saw them as an opportunity to share the love of Christ? That trip to the grocery store takes on a whole new meaning!
Jesus was never too busy too busy to spend time with people, no task I have could ever pass as an excuse for not doing the same. " A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master." Matthew 10:24
A friend and I were talking about avoiding people the other day. You know who I mean - the ones that stop you as you are trying to dash in and out of the grocery store, and start a long conversation. So you see them and quickly head on to the next aisle. Or you don't pick up the phone when you see thier number. Sometimes you even drop stuff at thier doorstep, then call to say it's there - the "drop and run", I think she called it, and we had a good laugh - because I had recently found something from her on my front porch!
In today's Scripture Jesus leaves Judea and is on His way back to Galilee, which would take Him through Samaria on the direct route. I've read that the Jews had a way to travel all the way around Samaria, even though it took longer, just to avoid the desipised Samaritans. But look at John 4:4, "Now He had to go through Samaria." He had to. Even though He knew the way around.
At around noon He is tired and sits down by Jacob's well in the town of Sychar. A Samaritan woman appears - she needs to draw water out of the well. Imagine her surprise at finding a Jewish man sitting there. Then He asks her for a drink. "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can You ask me for a drink?", she replies. A Jewish man in Samaria willing to speak to a Samaritan woman. Unheard of!
Jesus had to go to through Samaria on His way to Galilee because there was this Samaritan woman He needed to spend some time with. He already knew that she would have questions about religion, the men in her life, and water. It was going to take time to answer those questions, and if He would've taken the path around Samaria He could've avoided the long conversation. The kind my friend and I were talking about avoiding.
The result of His conversation - the conversion of many Samaritans who now believed in Him because of the woman's testimony. (See John 4:39)
What if I, instead of looking at those long conversations as an interruption, saw them as an opportunity to share the love of Christ? That trip to the grocery store takes on a whole new meaning!
Jesus was never too busy too busy to spend time with people, no task I have could ever pass as an excuse for not doing the same. " A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master." Matthew 10:24
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
An Example of Obedience
John 3:22-36
God called John the Baptist to "...make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17). It is encouraging to see in this Scripture that John kept on in obedience to God's calling. After the privilege of baptizing Jesus, he didn't rest on that accomplishment, or consider his work finished.
John's disciples are quick to tell him (John 3:26) that there is competition. "...that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan- the one you testified about - well, he is baptizing and everyone is going to him." ( Please look ahead here to John 4:2 where it tells us that it wasn't Jesus baptizing, but His disciples). John's disciples are concerned - everyone is going to Jesus, instead of John.
Did they still think there was a possibility that John was the Messiah? John is quick to remind them, "You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him'."
He tells them, "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice." John the Baptist knew his role - friend of the bridegroom - not the bridegroom. His joy is complete - he's heard the Bridegroom!
John the Baptist was diligent in obeying God's call. He continued to be "...the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord'." Jesus was there, John continued to point the people in His direction. He wasn't defeated by "everyone going" to Jesus because that was the eternal plan and John knew his part in it.
John's life is an example that teaches us to obey God's call, to keep serving diligently, and to always remember our part in the plan - pointing others to Jesus!
God called John the Baptist to "...make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17). It is encouraging to see in this Scripture that John kept on in obedience to God's calling. After the privilege of baptizing Jesus, he didn't rest on that accomplishment, or consider his work finished.
John's disciples are quick to tell him (John 3:26) that there is competition. "...that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan- the one you testified about - well, he is baptizing and everyone is going to him." ( Please look ahead here to John 4:2 where it tells us that it wasn't Jesus baptizing, but His disciples). John's disciples are concerned - everyone is going to Jesus, instead of John.
Did they still think there was a possibility that John was the Messiah? John is quick to remind them, "You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him'."
He tells them, "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice." John the Baptist knew his role - friend of the bridegroom - not the bridegroom. His joy is complete - he's heard the Bridegroom!
John the Baptist was diligent in obeying God's call. He continued to be "...the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord'." Jesus was there, John continued to point the people in His direction. He wasn't defeated by "everyone going" to Jesus because that was the eternal plan and John knew his part in it.
John's life is an example that teaches us to obey God's call, to keep serving diligently, and to always remember our part in the plan - pointing others to Jesus!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
A Light Shining in Darkness
John 3:16-21
When our children were young it wasn't unusual to hear them cry out, terrified, in the night. My husband or I would race to their room and turn on a light, ask what was wrong, and comfort them till they could fall back to sleep. Their reason for waking was most often a bad dream, and waking up in a dark room compounded the fear.
We associate darkness with evil. The cloak of darkness is used by those who would cause harm, it's when they find the victim most vulnerable.
In John 3:19 Jesus shares with Nicodemus that He is the "Light that has come into the world". This Light would shine into the darkness and uncover the evil deeds of mankind. Those doing evil hated and feared the light. Look at who hated Christ while He was on earth - Matthew 26:3 tells us it was the "...chief priests and the elders of the people who assembled in the palace of the high priest" and plotted to arrest and kill Jesus. The religious leaders hated Jesus because He uncovered the wrong they were doing; thier greed, wickedness, refusal to do justice and love God, they were proud and burdened the people by hindering thier understanding of the kingdom of God (see Luke 11:37-53).
The people of the day were victims of this darkness, how terrified they must have been of their leaders. Enter Jesus - the Light that dispelled darkness, and comforted the people with this truth:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
John 3:16-18
When our children were young it wasn't unusual to hear them cry out, terrified, in the night. My husband or I would race to their room and turn on a light, ask what was wrong, and comfort them till they could fall back to sleep. Their reason for waking was most often a bad dream, and waking up in a dark room compounded the fear.
We associate darkness with evil. The cloak of darkness is used by those who would cause harm, it's when they find the victim most vulnerable.
In John 3:19 Jesus shares with Nicodemus that He is the "Light that has come into the world". This Light would shine into the darkness and uncover the evil deeds of mankind. Those doing evil hated and feared the light. Look at who hated Christ while He was on earth - Matthew 26:3 tells us it was the "...chief priests and the elders of the people who assembled in the palace of the high priest" and plotted to arrest and kill Jesus. The religious leaders hated Jesus because He uncovered the wrong they were doing; thier greed, wickedness, refusal to do justice and love God, they were proud and burdened the people by hindering thier understanding of the kingdom of God (see Luke 11:37-53).
The people of the day were victims of this darkness, how terrified they must have been of their leaders. Enter Jesus - the Light that dispelled darkness, and comforted the people with this truth:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
John 3:16-18
Monday, November 7, 2011
First-hand News or Just An Opinion?
John 3:11-15
You're attending a dinner party at a friend's home. The conversation is general, until you hear the name of your hometown spoken at the other end of the table. You listen carefully to see what the speaker is saying - after all, your family is still there and that is where you grew up. Within minutes you realize this person is misinformed. You ask if he's ever been to your birthplace, and he admits he hasn't. You challenge with a "Well where did your information come from then?" " It's the opinion of someone who has studied the area,", he replies. Who knows the truth - you, or the person with no actual experience of the place, just an opinion?
Jesus came from Heaven to live on earth with mankind. He was the One to go to if you wanted to know about Heaven. In John 3:11 he states, " I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony." This is the equivelent of the dinner party guests believing the guy with no actual experience of your hometown over you - a native!
The mentality wasn't unique to the crowd of Jesus' day. Think of those who would deny the existence of Hell. It's a real place according to the Word of God. Yet, some would believe those that only have an opinion, over the words of our all-knowing God.
In John 3:14 Jesus refers to an incident with the Israelites and Moses (found in Numbers 21:4-9). The Israelites were complaining against God and Moses as they went through the desert. God sent venomous snakes that bit the people and many died. The people were sorry for what they had said and asked Moses to pray for the snakes to be removed. Moses prayed, God led him to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who looked up at the snake on the pole, lived. Those who believed that there must be another way besides the one God gave them, died.
This story from the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt into the Promised Land was familiar to Jesus' audience. The story was about to take on a new significance in John 3:15. In His death Jesus would be lifted up on the cross, and anyone that believes in Him will have eternal life. The venomous bite of sin would no longer hold death, but would be overcome by Christ!
So, who do we believe? Someone with only thier own opinion, and no first hand knowledge? Or do we believe Jesus Christ - the One who knows the facts intimately?
You're attending a dinner party at a friend's home. The conversation is general, until you hear the name of your hometown spoken at the other end of the table. You listen carefully to see what the speaker is saying - after all, your family is still there and that is where you grew up. Within minutes you realize this person is misinformed. You ask if he's ever been to your birthplace, and he admits he hasn't. You challenge with a "Well where did your information come from then?" " It's the opinion of someone who has studied the area,", he replies. Who knows the truth - you, or the person with no actual experience of the place, just an opinion?
Jesus came from Heaven to live on earth with mankind. He was the One to go to if you wanted to know about Heaven. In John 3:11 he states, " I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony." This is the equivelent of the dinner party guests believing the guy with no actual experience of your hometown over you - a native!
The mentality wasn't unique to the crowd of Jesus' day. Think of those who would deny the existence of Hell. It's a real place according to the Word of God. Yet, some would believe those that only have an opinion, over the words of our all-knowing God.
In John 3:14 Jesus refers to an incident with the Israelites and Moses (found in Numbers 21:4-9). The Israelites were complaining against God and Moses as they went through the desert. God sent venomous snakes that bit the people and many died. The people were sorry for what they had said and asked Moses to pray for the snakes to be removed. Moses prayed, God led him to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who looked up at the snake on the pole, lived. Those who believed that there must be another way besides the one God gave them, died.
This story from the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt into the Promised Land was familiar to Jesus' audience. The story was about to take on a new significance in John 3:15. In His death Jesus would be lifted up on the cross, and anyone that believes in Him will have eternal life. The venomous bite of sin would no longer hold death, but would be overcome by Christ!
So, who do we believe? Someone with only thier own opinion, and no first hand knowledge? Or do we believe Jesus Christ - the One who knows the facts intimately?
Thursday, November 3, 2011
A Second Time - How?
John 3:1-10
Nicodemus - a man who had everything! Knowledge, power, and according to history - wealth.
A simple conversation with Jesus would quickly show him there was something he lacked; something his knowledge, power and wealth were unable to attain.
John 3:2 tells us that Nicodemus went to see Jesus at night. Perhaps it was the only time he could speak with Jesus privately. He's already discussed Jesus with his colleagues, "...we know you are a teacher who has come from God." He then refers to the miracles that Jesus had performed.
The miracles were powerful signs to those who witnessed them. Back in John 2:11 the miracle just performed revealed Jesus' glory - and the disciples put their faith in him.
Nicodemus wants to talk to Jesus about the miracles.
Have you ever thought you had a situation completely figured out, and so you go to God in prayer and explain to Him exactly what needs to be done so the situation can work out the way you want it to? When God's answer comes, it's completely different than what you've asked for. Why? Because He knows what you really need.
Jesus knew what Nicodemus really needed - something we all need - to be born again. A confounding answer to an inquiry on miracles.
Can you imagine Nicodemus mentally changing gears - "How can a man be born again when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus goes on to explain that, " ...no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." All who are alive have been born in the first respect, those who believe in Christ as their Messiah would be born again in the spirit. Look at John 1:12-13, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, not of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
In John 3:9 Nicodemus asks "How can this be?" Jesus answers "You are Israel's teacher and you do not understand these things?"
Nicodemus - a man lacking something - and what he was missing was standing right in front of him!
Nicodemus - a man who had everything! Knowledge, power, and according to history - wealth.
A simple conversation with Jesus would quickly show him there was something he lacked; something his knowledge, power and wealth were unable to attain.
John 3:2 tells us that Nicodemus went to see Jesus at night. Perhaps it was the only time he could speak with Jesus privately. He's already discussed Jesus with his colleagues, "...we know you are a teacher who has come from God." He then refers to the miracles that Jesus had performed.
The miracles were powerful signs to those who witnessed them. Back in John 2:11 the miracle just performed revealed Jesus' glory - and the disciples put their faith in him.
Nicodemus wants to talk to Jesus about the miracles.
Have you ever thought you had a situation completely figured out, and so you go to God in prayer and explain to Him exactly what needs to be done so the situation can work out the way you want it to? When God's answer comes, it's completely different than what you've asked for. Why? Because He knows what you really need.
Jesus knew what Nicodemus really needed - something we all need - to be born again. A confounding answer to an inquiry on miracles.
Can you imagine Nicodemus mentally changing gears - "How can a man be born again when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus goes on to explain that, " ...no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." All who are alive have been born in the first respect, those who believe in Christ as their Messiah would be born again in the spirit. Look at John 1:12-13, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, not of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
In John 3:9 Nicodemus asks "How can this be?" Jesus answers "You are Israel's teacher and you do not understand these things?"
Nicodemus - a man lacking something - and what he was missing was standing right in front of him!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The Right Picture
Perhaps you grew up with the same picture in your mind of Jesus that I did. The long flowing hair, perfect robes, uplifted eyes and a partial smile on His lips. The art museums I visited in Italy confirmed that this indeed was the way Jesus looked while on earth.
So the scripture today is surprising. The picture we have doesn't reconcile with Christ driving out the money changers and others who had turned the temple into a marketplace. This Christ had zeal for His Father's house, and in that zeal he was turning over tables and using a whip.
While the disciples watched we are told in John 2:17 that they were reminded of the words found in Psalm 69:9, "For zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me." They saw in Jesus fulfillment of Scripture.
The Jews demanded what authority Jesus had for his actions - though if they'd been listening, Jesus clearly stated it was His Father's house (see John 2:16). He was the Son going about the Father's business.
They asked Him for a miraculous sign, and He told them to destroy the Temple - meaning LHimself - and He would raise it in three days. This group took Him literally, though, and thought He was referring to the temple building that had taken 46 years to build. How confounding Jesus' words seemed at that time, but later, after His resurrection, they were recalled by the disciples. Those confusing words became words of hope that gave them reason to believe in the Scriptures.
In the pictures of Jesus I referred to at the beginning, He always looks kind of weak and puny. The picture from today's Scripture, however, shows us authority, and power. One who was not afraid to stand up for what was right. This is the picture I prefer!
"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"
The four living creatures said, "Amen", and the elders fell down and worshiped." Revelation 5:13- 14
So the scripture today is surprising. The picture we have doesn't reconcile with Christ driving out the money changers and others who had turned the temple into a marketplace. This Christ had zeal for His Father's house, and in that zeal he was turning over tables and using a whip.
While the disciples watched we are told in John 2:17 that they were reminded of the words found in Psalm 69:9, "For zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me." They saw in Jesus fulfillment of Scripture.
The Jews demanded what authority Jesus had for his actions - though if they'd been listening, Jesus clearly stated it was His Father's house (see John 2:16). He was the Son going about the Father's business.
They asked Him for a miraculous sign, and He told them to destroy the Temple - meaning LHimself - and He would raise it in three days. This group took Him literally, though, and thought He was referring to the temple building that had taken 46 years to build. How confounding Jesus' words seemed at that time, but later, after His resurrection, they were recalled by the disciples. Those confusing words became words of hope that gave them reason to believe in the Scriptures.
In the pictures of Jesus I referred to at the beginning, He always looks kind of weak and puny. The picture from today's Scripture, however, shows us authority, and power. One who was not afraid to stand up for what was right. This is the picture I prefer!
"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"
The four living creatures said, "Amen", and the elders fell down and worshiped." Revelation 5:13- 14
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Able To Do More Than We Can Imagine!
John 2:1-11
The hardest part of planning for a wedding can be the reception. The bride and groom have control over what they will wear, who will officiate, where the ceremony will take place, but there's one thing they can't completely control - the guests!
If you've ever worked on an event that required a response for attendance, you know this is true. The guests may fail to respond, respond with a "Yes", then change their mind, or reply "No" only to ask a few days before the event if they can come after all. This can make the arrangements with the caterer for food and drink quite challenging! I'm not sure of the invitation protocol for a Jewish wedding, but I can relate to the poor couple that finds themselves without the staple of their celebration here in John 2:1-11.
Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding, his mother, Mary was also there. Sometime during the festivities the wine runs out.
Wine is an important element in the Jewish wedding ceremony. As the bride and groom stand under the wedding canopy a glass of wine is blessed and both drink from it. The wine is symbolic of life - it "...begins as grape juice, goes through fermentation (during which is is sour), but in the end turns into a superior product that brings joy...", and "also symbolizes the overflowing of Divine blessing" as in Psalm 23:5 "...my cup overflows." (www.ohr.edu "The Jewish Wedding Ceremony" by Rabbi Mordechai Becher)
Mary makes Jesus aware of the lack of wine in John 2:3, and in John 2:5 tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. I wonder what was going through her mind - did she know He could perform a miracle that day?
Six stone jars were standing nearby. These were capable of holding 20-30 gallons of water that was normally used in the kitchen and for ceremonial cleansing. They were heavy - cut from a large piece of stone and the water had to be hauled in to fill them. (A picture of this type of jar can be found at www.facingthechallenge.org/stonejars.php).
The water in the stone jars was turned into wine - better than the best wine the host had previously offered. This was the first of Jesus' miraculous signs, revealing His glory and providing his disciples an opportunity to put their faith in Him.
We can't control events in our future. We can plan, and work, but the results belong to God. The bride, groom and thier families may have thought they'd provided all that was necessary for the celebration of the wedding, then ran out of wine. Jesus knows our needs and provides for us even better than we are capable of ourselves!
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
The hardest part of planning for a wedding can be the reception. The bride and groom have control over what they will wear, who will officiate, where the ceremony will take place, but there's one thing they can't completely control - the guests!
If you've ever worked on an event that required a response for attendance, you know this is true. The guests may fail to respond, respond with a "Yes", then change their mind, or reply "No" only to ask a few days before the event if they can come after all. This can make the arrangements with the caterer for food and drink quite challenging! I'm not sure of the invitation protocol for a Jewish wedding, but I can relate to the poor couple that finds themselves without the staple of their celebration here in John 2:1-11.
Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding, his mother, Mary was also there. Sometime during the festivities the wine runs out.
Wine is an important element in the Jewish wedding ceremony. As the bride and groom stand under the wedding canopy a glass of wine is blessed and both drink from it. The wine is symbolic of life - it "...begins as grape juice, goes through fermentation (during which is is sour), but in the end turns into a superior product that brings joy...", and "also symbolizes the overflowing of Divine blessing" as in Psalm 23:5 "...my cup overflows." (www.ohr.edu "The Jewish Wedding Ceremony" by Rabbi Mordechai Becher)
Mary makes Jesus aware of the lack of wine in John 2:3, and in John 2:5 tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. I wonder what was going through her mind - did she know He could perform a miracle that day?
Six stone jars were standing nearby. These were capable of holding 20-30 gallons of water that was normally used in the kitchen and for ceremonial cleansing. They were heavy - cut from a large piece of stone and the water had to be hauled in to fill them. (A picture of this type of jar can be found at www.facingthechallenge.org/stonejars.php).
The water in the stone jars was turned into wine - better than the best wine the host had previously offered. This was the first of Jesus' miraculous signs, revealing His glory and providing his disciples an opportunity to put their faith in Him.
We can't control events in our future. We can plan, and work, but the results belong to God. The bride, groom and thier families may have thought they'd provided all that was necessary for the celebration of the wedding, then ran out of wine. Jesus knows our needs and provides for us even better than we are capable of ourselves!
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Monday, October 31, 2011
Follow Me
John 1:43-51
Whatever you are doing right now, imagine a knock at your door. You go to open it, and find Jesus standing in front of you. He says two words: " Follow me".
When Simon Peter and Andrew heard these words they were casting their fishing nets into a lake. (see Matthew 4:18-20) Jesus said "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men". The men followed immediately!
James and John were in a boat with their father Zebedee when Jesus called to them. They immediately left the boat and their father to follow Him.
Now we come to Philip in John 1:43. The other four men dropped everything and immediately followed. Philip left to find Nathanael. He gives Nathanael the good news - "We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." As you read on you'll see that Nathanael was a little skeptical about Philip's claim. It was only when Jesus appeared and spoke to Nathanael personally that he believed.
Jesus finds each of us, and calls "Follow me." How will we answer His call?
Will we need to leave our career behind to follow immediately, like Simon Peter and Andrew? Or will we need to get out of the boat, leaving family to obey Jesus' call as in the case of James and John? Philip left to tell someone else about Jesus, Nathanael had to see for himself before he believed.
How will you respond when Jesus calls "Follow me"?
Whatever you are doing right now, imagine a knock at your door. You go to open it, and find Jesus standing in front of you. He says two words: " Follow me".
When Simon Peter and Andrew heard these words they were casting their fishing nets into a lake. (see Matthew 4:18-20) Jesus said "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men". The men followed immediately!
James and John were in a boat with their father Zebedee when Jesus called to them. They immediately left the boat and their father to follow Him.
Now we come to Philip in John 1:43. The other four men dropped everything and immediately followed. Philip left to find Nathanael. He gives Nathanael the good news - "We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." As you read on you'll see that Nathanael was a little skeptical about Philip's claim. It was only when Jesus appeared and spoke to Nathanael personally that he believed.
Jesus finds each of us, and calls "Follow me." How will we answer His call?
Will we need to leave our career behind to follow immediately, like Simon Peter and Andrew? Or will we need to get out of the boat, leaving family to obey Jesus' call as in the case of James and John? Philip left to tell someone else about Jesus, Nathanael had to see for himself before he believed.
How will you respond when Jesus calls "Follow me"?
Friday, October 28, 2011
A New Teacher
John 1:35-42
"Look, the Lamb of God!", John told two of his disciples when Jesus was passing by. They may have heard him refer to Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!", earlier, when Jesus came to be baptized.
These men understood what it meant to sacrifice a lamb. In thier day lambs, goats, bulls, and doves were sacrificed in the manner commanded by God in the book of Leviticus. One reason they were sacrificed was as an offering for sin - individual, and as a nation.
John introduced his disciples to Jesus, the Messiah. John already knew who Jesus was - we saw that in yesterday's scripture, but Jesus was still a stranger to the disciples. If they were listening, the disciples were getting another piece of information; Jesus wasn't coming as a King, that time - He would be a sacrifice for sin. Like the lamb in the temple.
John's disciples leave and follow Jesus. From John they had learned about repentance from sin, now they would follow Christ. They would become disciples, imitators, learners of Christ. I wonder what John thought as he watched them go?
John the Baptist gives us a clear picture of our purpose - glorifying God by sharing the truth about Jesus Christ - the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world!
"Look, the Lamb of God!", John told two of his disciples when Jesus was passing by. They may have heard him refer to Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!", earlier, when Jesus came to be baptized.
These men understood what it meant to sacrifice a lamb. In thier day lambs, goats, bulls, and doves were sacrificed in the manner commanded by God in the book of Leviticus. One reason they were sacrificed was as an offering for sin - individual, and as a nation.
John introduced his disciples to Jesus, the Messiah. John already knew who Jesus was - we saw that in yesterday's scripture, but Jesus was still a stranger to the disciples. If they were listening, the disciples were getting another piece of information; Jesus wasn't coming as a King, that time - He would be a sacrifice for sin. Like the lamb in the temple.
John's disciples leave and follow Jesus. From John they had learned about repentance from sin, now they would follow Christ. They would become disciples, imitators, learners of Christ. I wonder what John thought as he watched them go?
John the Baptist gives us a clear picture of our purpose - glorifying God by sharing the truth about Jesus Christ - the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Comfort or Obedience
John 1:29-34
Have you ever wondered what John the Baptist's elderly parents thought about thier son? His father was a priest, he and his wife "...were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly."(Luke 1:6). John grew up in a godly home then left for the desert to eat locusts and honey, wear clothes made of camel hair. He preached repentence for sins and baptized in the Jordan river. Surely, in that day, his lifestyle was considered radical by the religious community. Why, today his behavior might seem radical to the religious community!
We are a people of comfort. Living in the desert would be hot and dusty, and just thinking about wearing a camel hair tunic in the sun makes me itch! For most of us this lifestyle would fall out of our comfort zone. So why did John choose to live this way?
The answer may be found in John 1:32-33 "...I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me...". God called (sent) John the Baptist to go into the desert, preach repentance and baptize people. He was there in obedience to God. The dust, heat, scratchy clothing, and locusts didn't get in the way of doing God's will. Lack of comfort didn't stop him from obeying.
As the result of his willingness, John the Baptist was given the privilege of announcing Jesus Christ as the "Lamb who takes away the sin of the world." , baptizing Jesus, and seeing the Spirit descend like a dove and light on Christ. He was one of the first to know that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.
This scripture shows me the necessity of getting past my own comfort zone. It made all the difference in John's life and I think he would've agreed with Paul when he wrote Romans 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
I'm hoping that doesn't include locusts!
Have you ever wondered what John the Baptist's elderly parents thought about thier son? His father was a priest, he and his wife "...were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly."(Luke 1:6). John grew up in a godly home then left for the desert to eat locusts and honey, wear clothes made of camel hair. He preached repentence for sins and baptized in the Jordan river. Surely, in that day, his lifestyle was considered radical by the religious community. Why, today his behavior might seem radical to the religious community!
We are a people of comfort. Living in the desert would be hot and dusty, and just thinking about wearing a camel hair tunic in the sun makes me itch! For most of us this lifestyle would fall out of our comfort zone. So why did John choose to live this way?
The answer may be found in John 1:32-33 "...I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me...". God called (sent) John the Baptist to go into the desert, preach repentance and baptize people. He was there in obedience to God. The dust, heat, scratchy clothing, and locusts didn't get in the way of doing God's will. Lack of comfort didn't stop him from obeying.
As the result of his willingness, John the Baptist was given the privilege of announcing Jesus Christ as the "Lamb who takes away the sin of the world." , baptizing Jesus, and seeing the Spirit descend like a dove and light on Christ. He was one of the first to know that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.
This scripture shows me the necessity of getting past my own comfort zone. It made all the difference in John's life and I think he would've agreed with Paul when he wrote Romans 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
I'm hoping that doesn't include locusts!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
It's Not Me!
John 1:19-28
Your friend calls to share a problem. You listen carefully, with all the appropriate "oh no's", and "you poor thing's" interjected into the telling. Then the moment comes when they stop to ask "What do you think I should do?" If you are like me you may dive right in giving them what you believe are all the right answers - guaranteed to produce the results they are looking for!
In John 1: 19 the priests and Levites come to John the Baptist to ask him who he was. He is quick to tell them that he is not the Christ! Then they ask him if he is Elijah or the prophet - his answer is no to both questions. Finally they ask "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?". John the Baptist uses scripture from Isaiah to explain who he is: " I am the voice of the one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " So what exactly was he doing? Luke 3:3 tells us John went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, getting people ready for the ministry of Christ on earth. He clearly states in Luke 3:16, that one more powerful than he was coming - one that would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist had a following, people thought he might be the Christ, or at least a great prophet. He could've dispensed advice and teaching based on what he thought to be good and true. Look closely though at what he does instead - he turns people to the scripture for answers, and he always takes the attention from himself to point them to Christ.
There's a lesson here for us - like there always is when we read the Word! When people come to us for help with thier problems, are we giving them answers from scripture? Are we pointing them to Christ?
This scripture reminds me to proceed cautiously with advice, carefully weighing my words with God's Word. And always, always pointing them to Christ so that He is glorified by the good He alone can do in our lives!
Your friend calls to share a problem. You listen carefully, with all the appropriate "oh no's", and "you poor thing's" interjected into the telling. Then the moment comes when they stop to ask "What do you think I should do?" If you are like me you may dive right in giving them what you believe are all the right answers - guaranteed to produce the results they are looking for!
In John 1: 19 the priests and Levites come to John the Baptist to ask him who he was. He is quick to tell them that he is not the Christ! Then they ask him if he is Elijah or the prophet - his answer is no to both questions. Finally they ask "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?". John the Baptist uses scripture from Isaiah to explain who he is: " I am the voice of the one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " So what exactly was he doing? Luke 3:3 tells us John went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, getting people ready for the ministry of Christ on earth. He clearly states in Luke 3:16, that one more powerful than he was coming - one that would baptize them with the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist had a following, people thought he might be the Christ, or at least a great prophet. He could've dispensed advice and teaching based on what he thought to be good and true. Look closely though at what he does instead - he turns people to the scripture for answers, and he always takes the attention from himself to point them to Christ.
There's a lesson here for us - like there always is when we read the Word! When people come to us for help with thier problems, are we giving them answers from scripture? Are we pointing them to Christ?
This scripture reminds me to proceed cautiously with advice, carefully weighing my words with God's Word. And always, always pointing them to Christ so that He is glorified by the good He alone can do in our lives!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
We Didn't Recognize Him
John 1:10-17
Do you know the person who designed and built the home you are living in? I must confess - if the one who carefully drew out the plans for my home showed up at the door, he or she would be a stranger. I wouldn't recognize them until we were introduced, even though I was living in the home that they were intimately familiar with.
In John 1:10 we read that "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him." Standing before them was the One who breathed life into thier bodies - and they didn't recognize Him. Psalm 139:13 tells us "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Completely familiar with us, but to our eyes a stranger.
We have to be introduced. That introduction can take place while reading the Bible, through a sermon, by the witness of one who is already a follower of Christ - or in Paul's case by a blinding light on the road to Damascus!
Once we are introduced and make the decision to believe in Him, John 1:12 tells us "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God." Not strangers any longer - but family!
Do you know the person who designed and built the home you are living in? I must confess - if the one who carefully drew out the plans for my home showed up at the door, he or she would be a stranger. I wouldn't recognize them until we were introduced, even though I was living in the home that they were intimately familiar with.
In John 1:10 we read that "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him." Standing before them was the One who breathed life into thier bodies - and they didn't recognize Him. Psalm 139:13 tells us "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Completely familiar with us, but to our eyes a stranger.
We have to be introduced. That introduction can take place while reading the Bible, through a sermon, by the witness of one who is already a follower of Christ - or in Paul's case by a blinding light on the road to Damascus!
Once we are introduced and make the decision to believe in Him, John 1:12 tells us "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God." Not strangers any longer - but family!
Monday, October 24, 2011
The Light Shines in the Darkness
John 1:1-10
Early morning in the desert - my favorite time of day! The town we live in encourages residents to use little lighting outside at night - both from a conservation standpoint and to allow the nocturnal animals an undisturbed habitat as they go about thier nightly business. So our neighborhood is still dark in the early morning. Out on the horizon, though, there is just the beginning of an orange outline. You see palm trees and mountains edged at the top by its glow. A separation of light and dark.
While I read the above verses in John this morning my immediate reaction was thanksgiving. God was responsible for all the early morning beauty I was witnessing!
Then, as I read on, and watched that beautiful orange glow in the East become brighter it gave insight to the words in John 1:9 ; "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." That beautiful light - our sun- gives light to us each day as it reaches into our world. It dispels darkness and gives clarity to our earthly surroundings, bringing them into focus from the shadows of night.
In a similar way the arrival of Jesus Christ on earth brought light into the darkness of the human heart. His great love reaches into the shadowy places with bright rays of forgiviness and hope for all that believe in Him. Just like the benefits of the sun, the light of His salvation is available to everyone!
Thank you God for bringing such Light into our darkness!
Early morning in the desert - my favorite time of day! The town we live in encourages residents to use little lighting outside at night - both from a conservation standpoint and to allow the nocturnal animals an undisturbed habitat as they go about thier nightly business. So our neighborhood is still dark in the early morning. Out on the horizon, though, there is just the beginning of an orange outline. You see palm trees and mountains edged at the top by its glow. A separation of light and dark.
While I read the above verses in John this morning my immediate reaction was thanksgiving. God was responsible for all the early morning beauty I was witnessing!
Then, as I read on, and watched that beautiful orange glow in the East become brighter it gave insight to the words in John 1:9 ; "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." That beautiful light - our sun- gives light to us each day as it reaches into our world. It dispels darkness and gives clarity to our earthly surroundings, bringing them into focus from the shadows of night.
In a similar way the arrival of Jesus Christ on earth brought light into the darkness of the human heart. His great love reaches into the shadowy places with bright rays of forgiviness and hope for all that believe in Him. Just like the benefits of the sun, the light of His salvation is available to everyone!
Thank you God for bringing such Light into our darkness!
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