John Chapter 13

A friend of mine recently told me that when he first read the bible he wrote “wow” in his bible every time he read of a miraculous thing Jesus did.  He was amazed!  Looking at this chapter it is miraculous in verse 11 that “Jesus Knew who would betray him” and again talks about the “one who has turned against him in verse 18” and again in verse 21.  It is miraculous in verse 31 that He knew that “the time has come for the Son of Man (Him) to enter into his glory (die)”.   It is miraculous that He knew in verse 33 that the disciples would search for him.  And of course, it is miraculous in verse 38 when He told Peter that “before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me”.  I want to thank my friend for pointing out that healing people, bringing dead people back to life, and His resurrection are not the only miracles that set Jesus apart.

Oh, and if I am trying to hear God speak to me and guide me as I read this chapter, I heard him say “Love each other.  Just as I have loved you.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples”. 

John Chapter 12

Two questions jump off the pages to me in this chapter.  Do I love Jesus?  Or do I love the praise of men?  I don’t like these questions, at least not in the way they are connected together in scripture.  I prefer to answer them separately.  Do I love Jesus?  Yes, of course.  He is my savior.  Do I love the praise of me?  Well yes, maybe a little.  However, it isn’t a problem for me.  Why is it wrong to want the admiration and affection from my friends and colleagues?  I think it might actually help my Christian witness.  I want to have my cake and eat it too, but scripture and Jesus won’t allow it.  These questions require an either or response.

Mary doesn’t have a problem answering these questions.  She loves Jesus extravagantly, and doesn’t seem to care a bit about what people think of her.  Mary takes a 12oz. jar of expensive perfume and pours it over Jesus’s feet.  Judas criticizes her for wasting this money, and I wonder if others at that dinner felt the same way.  Can you imagine taking something that cost a year’s wages and pouring it over feet?  Mary could and did because her love for Jesus had no rival.  It was total and complete.

In verse 42 and 43 we learn that many people believed in Jesus, including Jewish leaders.  However, their answer to these questions were different than Mary’s.  They had a rival to their belief in Jesus.  Scripture says that they loved human praise more than God’s praise and wouldn’t admit their belief in Jesus.  Ouch!  These verses feel a little too personal for me.

Jesus says in verses 25 and 26:  “Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.  Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”  The paradox of scripture is that when we learn to love Jesus completely, and not ourselves, we get real life for eternity in the bargain, and God will honor us.  We can’t please two masters.  Jesus will not have any rivals.  Mary got it right when she lavished Jesus with expensive perfume.

I want to have a love for Jesus like Mary’s.  No rivals, no worries about what other’s think – extravagant love and loyalty to Jesus.  It’s going to require some “heart surgery”.  I know I can’t do it alone, but I’m confident that he who began a good work in me will bring it to completion.

John Chapter 11

The Raising of Lazarus

The thing that stands out the most to me in this passage is the “amount” of faith people had in Jesus and his abilities. Mary, Martha, and the disciples claim to believe and know that Jesus is Lord. So often we say one thing but our actions show something different than what we are saying.

The back and forth conversation with Jesus, “if you had been here then Lazarus wouldn’t have died” is one that is still relevant today. There is nothing that we have done or can do that will change God’s mind. He knows what is going to happen and knows what our actions will be; thus Jesus in verse 4 “it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” Personally this is the most challenging idea for me to wrap my head around. Our circumstances are not a result of how good a Christian we’ve been, because there is never a point to where we can measure up on the good Christian scale. We can never attain that title because, our “measuring stick” is Jesus who was perfect. However, just because we can never be perfect, doesn’t mean we stop trying. I think the most important part to keep in mind is that our relationship with God is a journey. It’s not going to stop and will constantly change and evolve as we grow and learn with him. If we strive for hearts and actions that reflect Jesus, doesn’t that show our faith?

John Chapter 10

The book of John's primary intention was evangelistic. John states his main purpose clearly as “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”   

In John 10 Jesus is using the analogy of comparing himself to the Good Shepherd and his believers as the sheep.  In the Old Testament the concept of “shepherd” symbolized a royal caretaker of God’s people.   In the first illustration Jesus refers to those who enter the sheepfold other than through the gate as a thief or robber.  But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The sheep recognize his voice and come to him and follow him because they know his voice.  In the second illustration, because those who heard him did not understand, He explained to them that He was the gate for the sheep.  All who came before Him were thieves and robbers.  But the true sheep did not listen to them.  He explains that He is the good shepherd, he knows his own sheep and they know him, just as his Father knows him and He knows the Father.  He will sacrifice his life for them voluntarily because this is what his Father commanded.  To me these passages provide the assurance that Jesus knows me just as his Father knows him, and if I know him, he will provide me with a “rich and satisfying life”.  The more I spend time with Him, the more I am able to hear his voice.  He has sacrificed his life for me so I can have a relationship that provides everlasting peace and love and fellowship for all eternity.  

In the second part of the chapter Jesus claims to be the Son of God, but the people did not believe him because they were not his sheep.  Jesus used his evidence of good works and miracles, and the fact that God set him apart and sent him into the world to carry out his work.  The evidence of the miraculous works shows that "the Father is in him and He is in the Father."  To me this just reinforces the fact that God sent Jesus into the world to take away the barriers to my having eternal life as long as I believe, and that God loves me, has a plan for me, and that plan is for good!

May we all spend time with Him so we can hear his voice!

John Chapter 9

This chapter makes me think of how many times I have chosen to be blind. And the longer I stayed blind, the more I didn’t even realize that I was blind

My family came to faith when I was in middle school, and I loved church! But after high school, life changed and I was now out in the world on my own. I made one bad choice after another. By the time I realized what a mess I had made of my life, I was married with 3 children and was a regular substance abuser.  My children were wonderful little humans, but my life and marriage were a mess. I had chosen to be blind, and now my blindness affected the little people whom I loved so much. I had to make a choice—stay blind or choose to see.

I am delighted to say that I chose to see. It was a long hard battle, but I wasn’t alone. One of the first steps I made was to put Jesus first, above everything else. Substances left my life and a new journey began.

It’s been over a decade since the blinders came off, and every day I am grateful that “power of God could be seen” (v3) and for his redeeming love that saved me from a life of blindness. 

John Chapter 8

As he [Jesus] was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

 Jesus’ response revealed his heart for all of us. Jesus, the only one with the right to condemn the woman’s actions showed love and mercy. At the same time reminding the religious leaders of their sinful nature. It is easy to identify with the woman shamed by sin made public. The part of me that could identify with those holding the stones was convicted.

All my life I have been a news junkie, I like to stay informed of the latest world events. I especially love podcasts and talk radio. As of two years ago, my listening habits began to change. I realized I was informed. However, it was also influencing how I viewed others. In my opinion, much of the news had become stone throwing. Who was the latest person or group to get caught in sin? The more salacious, the better, their misdeeds were entertainment for others. Although I didn’t join the stone throwers, through “likes,” “shares,” or forwards, often I participated in my heart.

For me, the inner struggle is the judging of groups I don’t agree with, people I think reject my beliefs or skin color. In reality it’s people who sin differently than I do through lifestyle or group affiliation. I thank God for placing me in situations where my judgments are exposed. Interactions with people very different from me have allowed me to see the stone in my heart and bring me to my knees.

We are called to a higher standard. There are places in all of our hearts that tend to reach for a stone. I praise God softening those spots allowing us the ability to love even our fellow sinner.

17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other[a] because he loved us first.

1 John 4:17-19New Living Translation (NLT)

John Chapter 7

I love this chapter in the book of John as it shows a glimpse of the human side of Jesus. It begins with a conversation between Jesus and His disciples, as they try to coax Him into attending a big Jewish party/festival. Jesus plays it cool and tells them He’s not coming and that they should go ahead without him. 

But then, Jesus decides the party might be too-good-to-miss and snuck out and followed his mates to the festival, albeit out of the public view so that no one would recognize him. Mid way through the festival, Jesus jumps on on stage and starts teaching, sharing truth which then turns to outright rebuking the people over their love of the “law”.  

So much for staying incognito Jesus. lol.  

On the last day of the festival in verse 37, it says that Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!" 

We’ve gone from… in the shadows, to light teaching, then rebuking, all the way to SHOUTING. It makes me wonder why? What would cause Jesus to get so riled up that he jumps on the stage to get the mic? 

The answer is simple: Love and compassion. The festival was full of people believing lies, building their lives upon rules and rituals handed down from religious rulers who sought to control and manipulate them. So Jesus, in His love and compassion couldn’t sit there in the shadows and watch people wither in their souls. He got up and declared the truth to people who would listen and that truth set many of them free. 

I love at the end of this chapter, the Pharisees are mad when the soldiers failed to arrest Jesus because they were mesmerized by his teaching. Then Nicodemus, one of the most respected Pharisees steps up to defend Jesus and is ridiculed by the rest. Footnote: Nicodemus appears later in scripture with Joseph as he tenderly helps wrap and bury the body of Jesus. The truth sets people free!  

As believers we carry this message of truth. I’m remind that I should have the same love and compassion as Jesus did and should boldly share the message of the Gospel so that others my find the freedom and forgiveness that I’ve been given. I hear Jesus’ words echo in my heart “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!”.  

May we lead the thirsty to Jesus!

John Chapter 6

I love this story.  I love the story where Jesus feed the five thousand.  Every time I read this story I feel like I am struck in a different way. This morning I spent some time thinking about the reasons that I love this story so much.  I came up with a few.  

This passage flies in the face of what I think many of us are frequently tempted to feel and believe.  I don’t know about all of you but there are frequently times when I feel like I am ill-equipped to really make a difference.  When I feel like I don’t have the tools, finances, or influence to really make an impact.  Jesus takes the offering of a young boy, “five barley loaves and two fish”, and feeds more than 5,000 people.  In verse 10 it says that there were 5,000 men alone not counting women and children.  Then it says everyone ate as much as they wanted. It was an all you can eat buffet! 

I spent some time thinking about the boy.  I’m sure when he offered his lunch to Jesus, he was not thinking, “How can I impact the world?”  He was simply taking the things he had to offer and humbly giving them to Jesus.  Jesus then took that gift and used it to influence more than 5,000 people.  This boy’s lunch causes thousands of people to turn to Jesus in worship.  Verses 14 and 15, explain that when the people saw the miracle they said, “Surely he is the prophet we have been waiting for.”  The people were ready to make Jesus their king.  When Jesus saw this he slipped away.  

My question is this, “What gifts can I humbly offer to Jesus?” How can I serve him in worship with the things He has given me?  When we feel the temptation to think we have nothing to offer, remember that Jesus took a boy’s lunch and used it to draw over 5,000 towards himself.  Every single one of us is called to be a world changer in and through Christ! 

John Chapter 5

John 5:39-44                                                                                                                                                             You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.41 “Your approval means nothing to me, 42 because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 43 For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. 44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

It’s an amazing and paradoxical reality that one can know the Scriptures, be heavily involved in religious work, and yet neither know nor love God.  Here Jesus calls out the religious leaders for their hypocrisy.  Religion was their disguise.  Instead of humbly dying to themselves, seeking God, and serving others, they used religion as a way to prop up their own ambition, and the agenda of Self – all the while appearing holy and righteous.

Jesus’ own disciples struggled with this early on – vying for position and prestige – arguing over “who was the greatest,” the most important, the most loyal, the most effective, etc.…(Luke 9:46; 22:24).  This has always been a sobering passage for me.  It has served as a measure of accountability that I go to often, checking and examining my motives for why I do what I do.  I’ve been a pastor for 32 years.  Have I done that for His glory or my own?  Have I desired His approval, or the praise of others?  The truth is a mixed bag of honorable and selfish motives.  Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has, and continues to help me sort through them all – teaching me the daily work of ridding myself of Self, and allowing only Christ and His agenda to reign in my heart.  It’s a humbling experience to say the least.  It is also an essential and unavoidable process that each of us should enthusiastically embrace if we desire an authentic relationship with God and our fellow man.  Let your prayers echo David’s desire – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24).

John Chapter 4

John 4 is a very rich chapter packed with the miracles of mercy, grace, and healing.  So much teaching and gleaning surrounds the history of the Samaritan woman at the well, healing the official's son, and an immediately available harvest.  But what caught my attention were the Samaritan people whom the woman at the well reported back to.  After hearing her speak of the Man she had met and how He knew everything about her and what He offered her, they believed in Jesus because of what she had told them.  After inviting Jesus to stay, He lingered for two days.  Then in verse 41, they told the woman, "We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world."  Getting confirmation on something you think is true is exciting and powerful!  First of all, when she returned to tell them her experience, there must have been a change in her spirit and countenance that went along with all the "facts".  I know for sure, because of my own meeting and seeing other's meeting of Jesus, that once someone truly meets this "Man", He changes everything!  When you know He has changed you, so does everyone else around you.  So the people believed in Jesus because of this woman's testimony, but then had the opportunity to hear Him for themselves and was further convinced He was the Savior of the World.  What would that day have been like to hear and see her life changed before your eyes and then to get confirmation from the Truth Himself?