John 17:11-19
I have to confess - I'm not very good at figuring out acronyms. Those three to five letters, all capitalized, could mean anything - the possibilities and configurations are mind-boggling to me!
So, it's not surprising that I found myself puzzling out a sticker placed on the rear window of a car in front of me at a stop light. The letters NOTW were written there. More confession- I never figured it out. I asked my daughter if she knew what it meant when we saw the same sticker on another car one day. Sometimes she doubts my sanity, but patiently replied, "Not of This World, Mom".
Hmm... Not of This World.
Jesus is about to leave earth, and He's praying for His disciples. He knows all of them are His, except one - Judas Iscariot, who is about to betray Him. He's given them the Word of God, spoken God's truth to them and patiently taught them with words, and miracles and His example. He's promised He won't leave them alone, but will send the Holy Spirit to continue to guide them in truth (John 16:12-15). We know the religious leaders hated Him, it tells us this many times throughout John. Their hate led to action, Jesus knew He would soon be crucified.
Jesus states a fact - as the world had hated Him, they would also hate His followers. Why? Because
they were Not Of The World! Just like He wasn't!
They were set apart by the truth - the truth of His Word. It wasn't enough to follow the law, though it's important to obey God's Law . Jesus revealed what was in their hearts. "You shall not commit adultery", was written in God's law. Jesus taught that,"whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28) The Truth holds us to a different standard than what is acceptable to the world. Following the Truth is more than a change of what you do - a resolution to be better, if you will - it is a change of heart that leads to a change in what you do.
NOTW, that's what Jesus says about Himself - and us, when we put our faith in Him!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Man of the Year
John 17:1-10
At the end of a year media nominates and chooses a "Man of the Year". Reasons attributed to picking this person may be a great act of charity, tireless research with results that benefit mankind, efforts made to bring world peace, or an honor bestowed based on the position the man holds. The honor and praise of the masses accompany this award.
As Jesus' time on earth nears the end, a conversation with His Father is recorded here in the seventeenth chapter of John. Jesus knows the end is at hand, and how He will die. His thoughts, though, remain on His Father and those God gave Him here on earth - believers that trust what He has told them. He wants God to receive glory; the praise and honor due Him for His attributes and mighty acts.
One of those mighty acts was making a way for humanity to be reconciled to Him. When Adam sinned, that sin changed mankind and our relationship with God forever. The system of sacrifice set up in the Old Testament reminded the people of the price that must be paid for their wrong. That came to an end when Jesus Christ, who lived on earth without ever sinning, died on the cross. His perfect sacrifice fulfilled God's will, that a way should be made for each of us to be restored to Him and to be able to live with Him forever in Heaven when our time on earth is over. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died, was buried and rose again begins our relationship with God.
Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross was a great act of love, it benefits all mankind - restoring us to our Creator, and brings peace to the hearts of all who believe. Whoever "Man of the Year" might be, can he accomplish these things? Our honor and praise belongs to the One who can: Jesus Christ!
At the end of a year media nominates and chooses a "Man of the Year". Reasons attributed to picking this person may be a great act of charity, tireless research with results that benefit mankind, efforts made to bring world peace, or an honor bestowed based on the position the man holds. The honor and praise of the masses accompany this award.
As Jesus' time on earth nears the end, a conversation with His Father is recorded here in the seventeenth chapter of John. Jesus knows the end is at hand, and how He will die. His thoughts, though, remain on His Father and those God gave Him here on earth - believers that trust what He has told them. He wants God to receive glory; the praise and honor due Him for His attributes and mighty acts.
One of those mighty acts was making a way for humanity to be reconciled to Him. When Adam sinned, that sin changed mankind and our relationship with God forever. The system of sacrifice set up in the Old Testament reminded the people of the price that must be paid for their wrong. That came to an end when Jesus Christ, who lived on earth without ever sinning, died on the cross. His perfect sacrifice fulfilled God's will, that a way should be made for each of us to be restored to Him and to be able to live with Him forever in Heaven when our time on earth is over. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died, was buried and rose again begins our relationship with God.
Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross was a great act of love, it benefits all mankind - restoring us to our Creator, and brings peace to the hearts of all who believe. Whoever "Man of the Year" might be, can he accomplish these things? Our honor and praise belongs to the One who can: Jesus Christ!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Sorrow Turned Into Joy
John 16:16-31
It would be easy, reading through John, to shake our heads at these disciples of Jesus! Again and again they fail to get it! Jesus speaks to them, then next we find them murmuring, "What is this He says...?".
Even in the final hours of His life, Christ didn't lose patience with them. With the cross looming ahead, He wasn't anxious, but calmly explained what He meant when He said, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
From our perspective, these words are quite understandable! We know that Jesus was telling them about His death on the cross, and His burial in the tomb - where they wouldn't see Him for a little while. On the third day, the stone closing the tomb would be rolled away, and once again - for a little while they would see Him again. Then He would go home to Heaven, home to the Father, the place we may also call home!
For that "little while" that He was in the tomb the world rejoiced, they were free from the conviction His words of truth brought them. At the same time the disciples were grieving the loss of their Teacher, the Messiah. That sorrow turned to joy, when just three days later, Jesus was resurrected from the dead. The joy they experienced was compared to a woman when she gives birth. During the labor and birthing process a woman may feel as if it is the worst thing she's ever experienced, the pain overwhelming! But once that newborn baby is in her arms something amazing happens, she forgets all but the joy she now feels holding her precious child. This is the great joy that the disciples would have, so wonderful that they would feel that whatever grief they'd known was nothing in comparison to Jesus' resurrection.
The resurrection would bring them into a new relationship with God. The disciples and all believers would now be able to go directly to God to ask for forgiveness, instead of through the priests. Hebrews 10:19-20,22, tells us, "Therefore brethren having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.." Also, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.", further explanation of this new relationship found in 1 John 1:9.
When Jesus explained these things to the disciples, they believed He came from God. The religious leaders did not share this belief, and a time was coming when the believer's would be scattered and persecuted for believing the words of Christ. They would have tribulation. Out of this persecution and scattering many more would come to know Christ, as the believer's shared His story of redemption in places where people hadn't yet heard the Good News.
Christ told them, "I have overcome the world."
And because of that we "can be of good cheer", "have peace", and in Him see our sorrow "turned into joy"!
It would be easy, reading through John, to shake our heads at these disciples of Jesus! Again and again they fail to get it! Jesus speaks to them, then next we find them murmuring, "What is this He says...?".
Even in the final hours of His life, Christ didn't lose patience with them. With the cross looming ahead, He wasn't anxious, but calmly explained what He meant when He said, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."
From our perspective, these words are quite understandable! We know that Jesus was telling them about His death on the cross, and His burial in the tomb - where they wouldn't see Him for a little while. On the third day, the stone closing the tomb would be rolled away, and once again - for a little while they would see Him again. Then He would go home to Heaven, home to the Father, the place we may also call home!
For that "little while" that He was in the tomb the world rejoiced, they were free from the conviction His words of truth brought them. At the same time the disciples were grieving the loss of their Teacher, the Messiah. That sorrow turned to joy, when just three days later, Jesus was resurrected from the dead. The joy they experienced was compared to a woman when she gives birth. During the labor and birthing process a woman may feel as if it is the worst thing she's ever experienced, the pain overwhelming! But once that newborn baby is in her arms something amazing happens, she forgets all but the joy she now feels holding her precious child. This is the great joy that the disciples would have, so wonderful that they would feel that whatever grief they'd known was nothing in comparison to Jesus' resurrection.
The resurrection would bring them into a new relationship with God. The disciples and all believers would now be able to go directly to God to ask for forgiveness, instead of through the priests. Hebrews 10:19-20,22, tells us, "Therefore brethren having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.." Also, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.", further explanation of this new relationship found in 1 John 1:9.
When Jesus explained these things to the disciples, they believed He came from God. The religious leaders did not share this belief, and a time was coming when the believer's would be scattered and persecuted for believing the words of Christ. They would have tribulation. Out of this persecution and scattering many more would come to know Christ, as the believer's shared His story of redemption in places where people hadn't yet heard the Good News.
Christ told them, "I have overcome the world."
And because of that we "can be of good cheer", "have peace", and in Him see our sorrow "turned into joy"!
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