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"?
Monday, October 31, 2011
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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