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Would you go?

Today’s Reading : John 7
In the 7^th Chapter of John, John setups an interesting scene: there is a festival in Judea and Jesus’s brothers and relatives are urging him to go to the festival, but he refuses to go and participate. The Feast of the Tabernacles, is the seventh and final feast of the Jewish tradition, it’s a big deal. This is the feast of the harvest and ends the High Holidays of the Jewish celebration. It is symbolic to the tabernacles or huts that the Israelites used in the desert during their forty-year reflection. Upon researching further into the feast, this is linked to one of Jesus’s earlier miracles in John 5: 1-17. It was at this very feast probably a couple of years earlier, were Jesus finds a man at the pool called Bethesda and have the man pick-up his mat and walk. The Jews are upset at the man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath. So the Jews are looking of him and want to persecute him for performing miracles on the Sabbath and for preaching the Scripture. The question is “Would you go somewhere knowing that there are people waiting to persecute you?”

Lord thank you for always being able to perform miracles everyday and thank you for ministering to us daily with the Holy Spirit. I praise you for everything and having all authority. Amen

Alone Time

John chapter 6 is 71 verses filled with many truths that are vital to our daily Christian walk. In this chapter, Jesus miraculously feeds 5000 (possibly up to 20,000, since only the men are counted), He walks on water, and He discusses being the “Bread of Life”.

I would like to focus on verse 15:
“Jesus saw that they were ready to take him by force and make him king, so he went higher into the hills alone.”

After the people had seen Jesus heal the lame man in Chapter 5 and then here in Chapter 6, see Him feed the 5000+ from 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, they wanted to follow Him. The people were enamored by the miraculous things they saw Him do. They were amazed because they thought He could be useful to them also. He could heal their diseases, feed them, and provide for what they might need.
Is this what we see Jesus for in our life?
Do we follow Him and pray prayers for what we think we need and what He can provide?
The people were focused on what Jesus could provide, not that He was the creator of these miracles. The people were so impressed with Jesus and what He could do for them that they wanted to make Him King.

With all this excitement and people following Him, Jesus needed some time away from the crowds, so He went up into the mountains alone. He has been separated from His Father whom He longs to fellowship with. Can you imagine being the Son of God, yet physically separated from God, your Father?
I have been separated from my husband for the past two weeks as He is in China on a work trip. I have longed for the sound of His voice and his help and encouragement while he is gone. Jesus must have felt this longing x100 when He went to be alone with God. Sometimes we forget that Jesus suffered weariness just as we do. He was able to slip away from this huge crowd that wanted His miracles and be with His Father.

Do we take the time to escape all the business of our day to spend time with the Father? Do we get alone with Him and thank Him for our blessings and ask Him to direct our paths according to His wisdom? Or, are we like the followers in this passage and follow Him to get what we think we need and want?

Let us Love Jesus for Who He Is…The Christ that came to die on the cross for our sins. He came so that we might have life. All He asks is that we BELIEVE. Verse 29 says, Jesus told them, “This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent.”

Do we use Him for what He can provide us or do we LOVE Him?

Why are you reading this blog?

Today’s reading: John 5

John chapter 5 has been an interesting, and convicting study for me this week. In this chapter, Jesus makes a very direct claim of who he is and the authority he has been given by his father.

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (John 5:19-23 New International Version).

Jesus’ words in verses 19-23 (above) are in response to the Jewish leaders who were challenging his authority. But they are also life changing to us today. I don’t think we can passively read these verses. Jesus isn’t saying he a rabbi, a teacher, or just a good man. His claims are way more significant than that. He calls God his own Father AND he asserts equality with him. How do you react to this? What are you personally doing with these verses? Do you believe Jesus is who he says he is? Do you believe he is the way? Read the second half of verse 23 again –

“Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (John 5:19-23 New International Version).

How long have you been reading our Bible Journal blog? May I probe a little more and ask why? Why are you are reading the Bible Journal? What are doing with messages that our team faithfully posts every day? It is my prayer that you are following the Bible Journal in order to better know Jesus Christ and faithfully him; that you are using it as a tool to help change your heart to look like his.

Learning more about the Bible and what it says is important. Ephesians 4:14 tells us knowing God’s word helps us guard against false teaching. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14). But, if we simply use our knowledge of the Bible to puff ourselves up, we are just like the Jewish leaders in John 5. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life (John 5:39-40).

Knowing the Bible doesn’t glorify God. Knowing the scriptures isn’t the same as loving Jesus. The more we study God’s word, the more acutely aware of our sins we should become. Thus, our gratitude and love for Jesus should be growing everyday. It is only through him that we have a way to God.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Today, would you evaluate your motives? If you need to, would you ask God to change your heart?

In spirit and in truth

What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth?

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)

Today’s reading: John 4

Jesus explained that God is spirit, and the Bible teaches us that Jesus is “the Truth”. The Old Testament has the law, then Jesus Christ gives us grace and truth.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

I think of worshiping in spirit as an emotional state; coming from the heart. Without having emotional investment in the worship, I’m just going through the motions.

Worshiping emotionally with passion but with no truth, I have missed the point. I’m pretty emotional when it comes to viewing a beautiful sunset or eating tacos, but if I worship the sunset or the tacos, my worship is in vain; it is worship without truth.

Two weeks from today we’ll cover John 18 but I wanted to share this verse ahead of time as it ties into today’s theme:

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37)

I also take this “truth” another way in that when we seek truth, seeking God’s will, seeking to be shown our sins with a repentant heart, we are worshiping in truth, we seek to listen to his voice.

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” (John 4:25-26)

Had the woman been drinking some of that well water at the moment Jesus proclaimed himself as the messiah, don’t you think she would have spit the water out in a dramatic fashion? In my mind that’s exactly what happened, although I have no proof. Adding this to my list of questions for Jesus.

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” (John 4:39)

He knows all I’ve ever done, and if I am willing to listen to Him, he’ll tell me all I’ve ever done. At the end of my life he’ll also show me everything I’ve ever done; sins upon sins piled high like a garbage dump outside a big city reeking stench and attracting the lowest of creation. Fortunately along with this embarrassment, my death sentence will be pardoned by the man, the Son who will say “he’s with me”.

Unlike me, Jesus listens unconditionally, and if I confess what he already knows to be true, and I repent in spirit and in truth, he will forgive me of all of my sinful past and present. Focusing on me at the center I see no sin, but with a humbled heart, seeking his truth for earnest repentance, he shows me my many sins. An entangled mess that no man can sort on his own.

Perhaps the reader will believe based upon my testimony, but then come to know him more richly when hearing for himself or herself.

And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:41-42)

Call out to him in spirit and in truth; believe because of his word, he will listen and respond, and you will know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.

Simple Truth

I grew up in a Christian home and have been going to the same church ever since I was in preschool. I feel that I have always known about Jesus and that I have always had faith in Him, even if that faith was literally “childlike” faith in my earliest years.

However, I went through an odd time in junior high when, for some reason, I became inexplicably afraid that something could take my salvation away from me. I don’t know how to explain this time in my life in any other way besides this; I was completely scared that someday, down the road in my life, I’d do something to mess up enough that God would give up on me. I can still remember my parents speaking truth over my life during that season of unexplained fear, reminding me that I could be sure that my salvation was secure and showing me Scriptures to help me remember that. After a time, that fear faded, but today’s reading in John 3 reassures my heart still, and I hope it speaks to your heart today, too. John 3:16-21 says,

¹⁶For 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. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. ²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

When we read John 3, I think we often focus so much on the ever so popular verse of John 3:16. As incredible as that verse is, please don’t miss verse 18 today. Whether one has been a Christian for one year or for 50 years, it is always so good (and often, so needed) to be reminded that nothing could ever take away tGod’s love for us or the salvation He has freely given to us. That’s why I love verse 18… it puts those old fears and little thoughts to rest, and it reminds me in such plain language that whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned. It’s such a simple statement, but it is filled with the truth that our lives are to be centered around as Christians: We believe in Jesus, so we are not condemned. Incredible.

The simplicity of this precious truth also reminds me also how simple telling someone else about Jesus can be. I often overcomplicate doing this in my mind, and I psych myself out of sharing about Jesus when I feel a nudge to. Today’s reminder of how simple the Gospel truly is takes some of that burden off, for sure.

Today, rest in the fact that no matter who you are or where you are, no matter what you have done recently and no matter what you did decades ago, if you are in Christ, you are not condemned. And let that truth stir your heart to share this unbelievable fact with others in your life in the same way Jesus shared it here in John 3: Simply.

Non Sibi

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. – John 2:23-25

v24 has been referenced as sighting God’s omniscience, but within the context of 23-25 it brings forth, what I think to be, a very important distinction between people who pursue God for His stuff and those that love God because He first loved us.

God knows us and often better than we know ourselves. God knows and can separate those who are just after His “stuff” from those who love Him. The beginning of v24 says He did not entrust Himself to them. Some believe this to mean He did not reveal the saving grace of the Gospel to them. If so, could this be because even after witnessing the miracles, they did not love Him but their love for themselves remained? That when they witnessed the power of God they only saw a great opportunity for themselves? I can not say but the warning here is clear, God knows the heart of man and trusts Himself to those He chooses accordingly.

God, would you help us let go our life and follow you? trusting in you completely? Letting go our plans and never considering You in how You can help us achieve what we want, but instead, how we can serve You? Would you do this LORD? Would you be gentle with us please LORD? but do what you will. We trust you with our lives. Amen.

Non Sibi

Image: The Marriage Feast at Cana by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Heart Alignment

John 1

Where do we begin?
Every story has a beginning, and the manner in which John begins the narrative of Jesus’ life is captivating to me, especially in light of the other Gospels. Matthew and Luke begin with Jesus’ earthly lineages. Mark begins his account with John preparing the way for Jesus. But John – John begins his story with a 14-verse poem that echoes the creation narrative and traces Jesus’ divine lineage to the very beginning of all things.

In the beginning was the Word… It’s not simply a “word” strung together with a few letters or syllables, but it’s the Word – the logos, the reason, the plan, the cause, the declaration. The Word is the divine pulse of the universe. It is life. It is the light of all light. It is that which darkness cannot overcome. And the Word became flesh. How’s that for a birth story?

Whereas Matthew and Luke tell of Jesus’ more relatable humanity in their opening lines, John’s account of His divinity has been almost mind-blowing to me as I’ve sat and dwelled on it for a while. It’s difficult for me to put in words, but it’s as if everything that is beautiful, and pure, and holy, and radiant, and light, and life-giving, and… love, is wrapped up in and radiates the Word.

Until recently, I rarely caught a glimpse of the full magnitude and gravity of Jesus’ divinity, and I’m sure I still don’t fully comprehend it now. But even the smallest notion of the fullness of His divinity paints His life, death, and resurrection in an entirely different and brighter light.

Have you ever thought about it, I mean, really thought about it? Have you ever tried to wrap your mind around pure unadulterated love? Around the fact that darkness can never overcome light? Around everything that is good and holy and sacred in this world? Around the essence of life itself and everything that is life-giving? Around the actual logos of creation?

When I dwell on Jesus’ divinity, choosing to follow him becomes much more than a prayer, and much deeper than a ceremony or ritual. It becomes a matter of aligning my heart and my life with He who is everything good and holy, at the expense of all else.

He is the reason. He is life. He is the light. And yet it’s still a daily struggle to abandon all and follow Him. ~ Jeremy Helmer

Today’s Bible Journal is written by one of my good friends and brothers in Christ Jeremey Helmer. God Is Good! He is Life! He is our Light! Amen

The Gospel of John

Good morning Monday readers! How did I get so lucky to get to introduce not one but two of our gospel authors this year? I’m very excited for all of us to dive into John’s words in this Easter season. God’s timing couldn’t be more perfect for us! The apostle John wrote his Gospel around 85 AD after the destruction of Jerusalem and before his exile to the island of Patmos. John’s Gospels are different from the three previous synoptic Gospels in that over 90 percent of its material is unique. Rather than focusing on miracles, parables and the public words of Jesus, the Gospel of John emphasizes the identity of Jesus as the Son of God. Research suggests that the most likely place of writing was Ephesus.

John’s main purpose in writing his gospel is to prove Jesus’ true identity as the Son of God. In fact, he reveals Jesus’ deity to us in the very first verse:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…” John 1:1

How many times have you breezed over those words in your reading? I know I have! John gives us the plot line to one of the best true stories ever told in verse one! Together with the Gospel of Matthew, John provides what I think is the most compelling proof of Jesus as the messiah. I’m not afraid to admit that there have been times in my journey with Christ that I have doubted power of Jesus. The Gospel of John is an opportunity for us as Christ followers to truly walk with Him and see the Messiah that John knew. Chapter 2 reveals the seven messianic signs beginning with the wedding at Cana. In Chapter 6 we hear his first of seven “I am” phrases:

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and who believes in my shall not thirst.” John 6:35

John goes on to reveal Jesus through six more powerful “I am” statements throughout his Gospel:

“I am the light of the world”

“I am the door of the sheep”

“I am the good shepherd”

“I am the resurrection and the life”

“I am the way, the truth, the life”

“I am the true vine”

Of course what comes at the end of this beautiful and powerful writing is the death and resurrection of Jesus. I invite you go deep in your study of this last Gospel. I know that we will all find evidence of our Savior there. Perhaps more than any other writing about Jesus, it will be painful. When we allow ourselves to calm the voices of this world in order to enter His, we’ll see Jesus for the man and Messiah he truly is. We’ll see and hear his closest disciples betray him. We’ll have the opportunity to see ourselves as disciples and understand how we betray him with our everyday sins. We’ll also have the opportunity for redemption in Him.

May you be blessed by this season of quiet, intentional study of the Gospel of John.

Remember

Take a minute to re-read Luke 24:13-35, paying attention to the loss of hope that the Christ-followers were experiencing. I believe that their experience is not unique

We go through life with our eyes closed. It’s our attempt to shield ourselves from the pain, from anything that might steal our hope. When we engage in conversations about it, the longing for a full life again arises. Our hearts burn for it. Yet, we fail recognize life because we are focused only on death. We look for what might help us overcome the darkness. Money, power, fame, sex. We will try anything. Nothing works. It doesn’t work because the leap from death to life is not about what, it’s about who. Many of us figured that out a long time ago. Unfortunately, our current circumstances have us again wandering in the dark, living in despair.

What will cause us to remember hope? How can we recall the hope that we once carried, the hope that we chose in submission through baptism? We must again remember death. Jesus death, specifically. This is the death that restores life. Nothing else can. Will you join me today in remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made for us? The followers in today’s story remembered Life when Jesus broke bread with them. We now call it communion. Jesus promises that he will honor our attempt to remember. We will recognize that we have a savior and salvation is ours. Life.

Courage

Luke 23

What emotions arise in you when you read of Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and burial in Luke 23? Although I know it was part of God’s plan and Jesus willingly gave His life for you and me, anger at the Council, Pontius Pilate, and the people yelling “Crucify Him!” is one feeling that is stirred up in me often times.

Today though, let’s focus on the courage shown in Luke 23, instead of the cowardly actions of the Council, Pontius Pilate, and the people. The first act of courage we see is shown by Jesus. I had a Sunday school teacher growing up who would cry nearly every time he spoke of Jesus’ death. In my young age and immaturity, I did not understand why this moved him so much. Now older, and maybe a tad bit wiser, I think about the sacrifice, pain felt, and courage shown by Jesus to justify not what He had done, but because of what I have done, and it can move me to tears often, too. Watching The Passion of Christ movie really helps to grasp this. If you have not seen this movie, I strongly suggest you do.

The second act of courage in Luke 23 is that of one of the two criminals being crucified next to Jesus. While the people below and the other criminal being crucified mocked Jesus telling Him to save Himself if He truly was the Christ, this criminal stepped up with great courage. He was willing to be different and asked Jesus in Luke 23:42 to “remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Although we don’t know his name, we are assured that Jesus does. He says in Luke 23:43, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” This is also a good reminder for each one of us and to others we love that need to know Jesus that regardless of what sins we have done and no matter how many times we’ve committed them, anyone can be saved if they believe in Jesus and ask for forgiveness, even in the last seconds of their life. It is never too late.

The last act of courage we see is that of Joseph of Arimathea who went to Pilate in Luke 23:52 and asked for Jesus’ body to give him a proper burial. Had he not just seen what they did to Jesus and the contempt they had for Him? But greater than that, we are told in Luke 23:50 that He was a member of the Council…the same group that had Jesus arrested and just asked Pilate to kill Jesus. However, Luke 23:51 tells us that he was “looking for the Kingdom of God” and that he “had not consented to their decision and action.” Wow…talk about showing courage and a willingness to stand up for what you believe is right!

As I reflect on this, I ask myself the following questions. Am I looking for the Kingdom of God like Joseph of Arimathea? Am I willing to take a stand, despite criticism for doing so, like the criminal on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him in paradise despite mocking from the other criminal and likely the people below? Am I willing to be different and live the type of life we are called to live as the Bible instructs us? Or am I conforming to what the world tells me is right? Although I can never be perfect like Jesus, am I striving to be more like Him daily and following His example? Am I like the criminal who gave His life to Jesus? Am I like Joseph of Arimathea who was willing to be different, not only risking his reputation, but potentially his life? Or unintentionally and unbeknownst to me, am I more like one in the crowd yelling “Crucify Him?” I do know one thing is for sure, I am forever and immeasurably grateful for Jesus’ love, mercy, forgiveness, and saving grace!