http://www.esvbible.org/John+20/
On Sunday after the crucifixion, Mary from Magdala went to Jesus' tomb. When she arrived, the stone blocking the entrance had been rolled away, and when she looked inside, she saw Jesus' body was gone. She ran and found Simon Peter and John to tell them what she found. They both ran as fast as they could to the tomb to see for themselves. John arrived first and saw strips of linen on the ground. When Peter arrived, he saw that the linens from Jesus' head were rolled up separately. After John went inside, he believed, though they still didn't know what scripture meant when it said that Jesus would come back to life.
After Peter and John leave, Mary from Magdala stays and cries about what has happened. When she looks up, she sees two angels sitting where Jesus' body had been. They ask her why she is crying, and she tells them that someone has taken the Lord, and she can't find Him. Then, she turns around and sees Jesus, but He is disguised, so she doesn't recognize Him. She thinks He is the gardener and tells Him if He took Jesus' body to tell her where He put it. Jesus simply says Mary's name, and she knows it's Him. He tells her she must go to the disciples and tell them what she has seen, so she does.
Jesus later appears to the disciples even though they had been behind a locked door, and He shows them His hands and His side, so that they truly know it is He. Then He breathes the Holy Spirit into them. He gives them the great commission by sending them as God sent Jesus. He says if they forgive sins then they are forgiven, and if they don't, the sins are not forgiven. He says this to give the apostles authority to know those of false faith who intend harm from those truly seeking forgiveness.
Jesus again enters a locked door to appear to His disciples because Thomas, who wasn't with the others in the last story, didn't believe that Jesus had actually risen from the dead. Thomas said he wan't to put his fingers in the nail holes and his hand in Jesus' side. When Jesus appeared again, He told Thomas to do so, and Thomas believed. Jesus says that Thomas believed because he saw, but blessed are those who believe but didn't see. That is great for us because we live thousands of years later, and it is impossible to see the human version of Christ since He ascended to Heaven. John says Jesus performed many more miracles that John didn't write about because they're written about elsewhere to help us believe that Jesus is the Messiah.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
John 19
http://www.esvbible.org/John+19/
In the beginning, John describes how Pilate had Jesus brutally beaten by the temple guards. While they were doing so, the made a crown of thrones and placed it on His head. Imagine the pain he took on of 39 lashes to the back with whips that had sharp bones and other terrible objects attached and of the thrones digging into His head. At that time, a criminal was beaten in the back 39 times because since there is no major blood vessel in the back, you could survive being whipped there more than anywhere else, and the magic number of the most lashes someone could survive was 39. The guards also placed a purple cloak around Jesus, and at the time, purple was the color of royalty. They mocked Him and called Him the King of the Jews in His crown and cape.
Pilate is again worried about being just, so after He has Jesus beaten, he takes Him back to the Jews to tell them that he again finds Jesus at no fault for anything. But the crowd shouts at Pilate to crucify Jesus. Crucifixion is a very lowly way to die. It's incredibly painful as the final result is you wait nailed to a rough splintery tree until your lungs fill with blood and you drown. Meanwhile, your body is on public display for all to watch you die, and you remain hanging there after you die to be an example to others. Jesus fears the Jews, so he goes back to questioning Jesus. He asks Jesus where He's from. When Jesus doesn't answer, Pilate asks Him if He knows Pilate has the power to free or kill Him. Jesus says he would not have that power if it hadn't been given to Him from God. At this point, Pilate wants to free Jesus more than ever, but the Jews said that Jesus claimed to be a king, and if anyone in the Roman Empire claimed to be a king, he was putting himself above the Emperor. This made Pilate even more afraid, so he tried Jesus in front of the Jews and sent Him off to be crucified.
Jesus is forced to carry His own cross up a hill to where He will die as weak as He was from the beatings. He was crucified between two criminals.Pilate put a sign above Jesus' head that said, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" to mock Him. The chief priest said it should read he claimed to be the king of the Jews, but Pilate refused to change it. He wrote it in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, so all men in that part of the ROman Empire could read it. The soldiers meanwhile divided up Jesus' clothes, but when they got to his cloak, it had no seam, and they didn't want to rip it, so they rolled dice for it. This fulfilled a prophesy from the Old Testament. Jesus looks down and sees his mother, her sister, and Mary of Magdala standing in front of Him with John. He tells Mary, his mother, "Look, here's your son!" And He told John, "Look, here's your mother!" For this reason, many believe that John was one of Jesus' half brothers, and after that, Mary lived the rest of her days with John.
After a while, Jesus says that He is thirsty. He does this so that scripture can be concluded. The guards soak a sponge in a jar of vinegar and wine and lift it up to Jesus. After He finishes drinking, he says, "It is finished!" and promptly dies. After a while longer, the priests ask Pilate to break the men's legs so that they will die and be buried. Since it was the Sabbath approaching and Passover, the priests did not want the bodies to remain on the crosses like they normally would. The guards brok the men's legs who surrounded Jesus, but when they saw that Jesus was dead, they did not break His legs, and another prophecy was fulfilled that said that none of His bones would be broken; however, one guard pierced Jesus' side with his spear and blood and water poured out. This fulfilled another prophecy that said they will look on the one they stabbed. John says that the man who stabbed Jesus is a witness and implies that John interviewed him. John says that he believes and testifies so that we might believe.
A man named Joseph, who was a secret disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate if he could take down Jesus' body, and Pilate allowed it. Nicodemus, who was the Pharisee who came to Jesus in Chapter Three, helped Joseph prepare Jesus' body to be buried. Then, they went to a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried, and that's where they buried Christ.
In the beginning, John describes how Pilate had Jesus brutally beaten by the temple guards. While they were doing so, the made a crown of thrones and placed it on His head. Imagine the pain he took on of 39 lashes to the back with whips that had sharp bones and other terrible objects attached and of the thrones digging into His head. At that time, a criminal was beaten in the back 39 times because since there is no major blood vessel in the back, you could survive being whipped there more than anywhere else, and the magic number of the most lashes someone could survive was 39. The guards also placed a purple cloak around Jesus, and at the time, purple was the color of royalty. They mocked Him and called Him the King of the Jews in His crown and cape.
Pilate is again worried about being just, so after He has Jesus beaten, he takes Him back to the Jews to tell them that he again finds Jesus at no fault for anything. But the crowd shouts at Pilate to crucify Jesus. Crucifixion is a very lowly way to die. It's incredibly painful as the final result is you wait nailed to a rough splintery tree until your lungs fill with blood and you drown. Meanwhile, your body is on public display for all to watch you die, and you remain hanging there after you die to be an example to others. Jesus fears the Jews, so he goes back to questioning Jesus. He asks Jesus where He's from. When Jesus doesn't answer, Pilate asks Him if He knows Pilate has the power to free or kill Him. Jesus says he would not have that power if it hadn't been given to Him from God. At this point, Pilate wants to free Jesus more than ever, but the Jews said that Jesus claimed to be a king, and if anyone in the Roman Empire claimed to be a king, he was putting himself above the Emperor. This made Pilate even more afraid, so he tried Jesus in front of the Jews and sent Him off to be crucified.
Jesus is forced to carry His own cross up a hill to where He will die as weak as He was from the beatings. He was crucified between two criminals.Pilate put a sign above Jesus' head that said, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" to mock Him. The chief priest said it should read he claimed to be the king of the Jews, but Pilate refused to change it. He wrote it in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, so all men in that part of the ROman Empire could read it. The soldiers meanwhile divided up Jesus' clothes, but when they got to his cloak, it had no seam, and they didn't want to rip it, so they rolled dice for it. This fulfilled a prophesy from the Old Testament. Jesus looks down and sees his mother, her sister, and Mary of Magdala standing in front of Him with John. He tells Mary, his mother, "Look, here's your son!" And He told John, "Look, here's your mother!" For this reason, many believe that John was one of Jesus' half brothers, and after that, Mary lived the rest of her days with John.
After a while, Jesus says that He is thirsty. He does this so that scripture can be concluded. The guards soak a sponge in a jar of vinegar and wine and lift it up to Jesus. After He finishes drinking, he says, "It is finished!" and promptly dies. After a while longer, the priests ask Pilate to break the men's legs so that they will die and be buried. Since it was the Sabbath approaching and Passover, the priests did not want the bodies to remain on the crosses like they normally would. The guards brok the men's legs who surrounded Jesus, but when they saw that Jesus was dead, they did not break His legs, and another prophecy was fulfilled that said that none of His bones would be broken; however, one guard pierced Jesus' side with his spear and blood and water poured out. This fulfilled another prophecy that said they will look on the one they stabbed. John says that the man who stabbed Jesus is a witness and implies that John interviewed him. John says that he believes and testifies so that we might believe.
A man named Joseph, who was a secret disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate if he could take down Jesus' body, and Pilate allowed it. Nicodemus, who was the Pharisee who came to Jesus in Chapter Three, helped Joseph prepare Jesus' body to be buried. Then, they went to a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried, and that's where they buried Christ.
John 18
Link: http://www.esvbible.org/John+18/
After Jesus finished His prayer from the last chapter, He goes across the way, and John says that Judas knew the place. Jesus knows His duty, loves us so much, and is so prepared to face what He must do that He goes to a place where He knows the traitor will find Him. When the troops come to arrest Jesus, they have weapons in case they feel they have to take Him by force; however, He greets them very calmly. When they say that they are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, He tells them that He is the one they are looking for, and fell backward. This implies that they did not fall in worship, since that would have caused them to fall forward, but they fell backwards as if they were afraid of His power. When the crowd again says that they are looking for Jesus, He tells them that they have found Him, and that they should let His disciples go since the crowd was not looking for them. Peter quickly pulls out his sword and ends up cutting off one of the guardsmen's ear. Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword. Then, the crowd took Jesus, tied Him up and carried Him off to Annas, the father-in-law of the chief priest who had ordered the guards to arrest Jesus.
Next, John talks about how he (not by name) and Peter were the only tow disciples who followed Jesus to the chief priests. While they were there, Peter was warming himself by the fire with some guards when a woman asks him if he is one of Jesus' disciples, and he says that he is not. This is one of the three times Peter denies Jesus that Jesus had earlier predicted.
Jesus is questioned by Annas, and He tells the chief priest that He has spoken everything in public and synagogues for all to hear; He was not building up anything secretive. He tells them that they should find those who heard Him because they know what He said, and they believe. A guard near by grows angry by this answer and slaps Jesus. Jesus asks what it is that He's done wrong. The chief priest asked Him a question and He spoke the truth. But Annas, not wanting to deal with this situation, hands Jesus, still bound, off to Caiaphas.
While Peter continues to warm himself by the fire, some of the guards ask him if he is one of Jesus' followers, and Peter denies it twice more, and right after the last denial, he hears the rooster. Jesus' prediction came true. Peter denied Jesus tree times before the rooster crowed.
The Jews, still finding Jesus guilty, take Him to Pilate, the governor of the area, because they could not execute anyone since it was Passover. Pilate asks what they are accusing Jesus of, but they only say that if He wasn't guilty, they wouldn't hand Him over. They have no real reason to have Jesus killed because He is sinless, but they want to kill Him, so they hand Him over to Pilate to try Him anyways. By doing so, both the Jews and the gentiles will be responsible for Jesus' death. God didn't want just one group to be responsible, so He made all people responsible. Pilate takes Jesus into the palace and questions Him. When he is finished, Pilate takes Jesus back outside and says he's found nothing wrong with Him. Pilate, however, is a coward and doesn't want to upset the Jews, so he tells them that because it's Passover, he will release to them one of their prisoners, and the crowd tells him to keep Jesus and free a political prisoner named Barbarous.
After Jesus finished His prayer from the last chapter, He goes across the way, and John says that Judas knew the place. Jesus knows His duty, loves us so much, and is so prepared to face what He must do that He goes to a place where He knows the traitor will find Him. When the troops come to arrest Jesus, they have weapons in case they feel they have to take Him by force; however, He greets them very calmly. When they say that they are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, He tells them that He is the one they are looking for, and fell backward. This implies that they did not fall in worship, since that would have caused them to fall forward, but they fell backwards as if they were afraid of His power. When the crowd again says that they are looking for Jesus, He tells them that they have found Him, and that they should let His disciples go since the crowd was not looking for them. Peter quickly pulls out his sword and ends up cutting off one of the guardsmen's ear. Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword. Then, the crowd took Jesus, tied Him up and carried Him off to Annas, the father-in-law of the chief priest who had ordered the guards to arrest Jesus.
Next, John talks about how he (not by name) and Peter were the only tow disciples who followed Jesus to the chief priests. While they were there, Peter was warming himself by the fire with some guards when a woman asks him if he is one of Jesus' disciples, and he says that he is not. This is one of the three times Peter denies Jesus that Jesus had earlier predicted.
Jesus is questioned by Annas, and He tells the chief priest that He has spoken everything in public and synagogues for all to hear; He was not building up anything secretive. He tells them that they should find those who heard Him because they know what He said, and they believe. A guard near by grows angry by this answer and slaps Jesus. Jesus asks what it is that He's done wrong. The chief priest asked Him a question and He spoke the truth. But Annas, not wanting to deal with this situation, hands Jesus, still bound, off to Caiaphas.
While Peter continues to warm himself by the fire, some of the guards ask him if he is one of Jesus' followers, and Peter denies it twice more, and right after the last denial, he hears the rooster. Jesus' prediction came true. Peter denied Jesus tree times before the rooster crowed.
The Jews, still finding Jesus guilty, take Him to Pilate, the governor of the area, because they could not execute anyone since it was Passover. Pilate asks what they are accusing Jesus of, but they only say that if He wasn't guilty, they wouldn't hand Him over. They have no real reason to have Jesus killed because He is sinless, but they want to kill Him, so they hand Him over to Pilate to try Him anyways. By doing so, both the Jews and the gentiles will be responsible for Jesus' death. God didn't want just one group to be responsible, so He made all people responsible. Pilate takes Jesus into the palace and questions Him. When he is finished, Pilate takes Jesus back outside and says he's found nothing wrong with Him. Pilate, however, is a coward and doesn't want to upset the Jews, so he tells them that because it's Passover, he will release to them one of their prisoners, and the crowd tells him to keep Jesus and free a political prisoner named Barbarous.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
John 17
Here you go: http://www.esvbible.org/John+17/
Jesus enters into a time of prayer. He says that He has done the work that God told Him to do. He says that eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ, the one whom He sent. Jesus asks His Father to keep the believers safe because they are Jesus' people, and since everything that belongs to the Son belongs to the Father, they are God's people, too. In addition, God says that the world does not accept His disciples because they do not belong to the world. They belong to the Father and the Son in Heaven. He doesn't want God to remove the believers from the world, only to protect them from the evil one. Jesus prays that God will speak truth to the disciples, and that through that truth, the disciples can speak that truth out into the world. He also prays for all of the future Christians. He prays that we can be united with God. Jesus goes to make this happen on the cross when He wipes away our sins. Sin is what separates us from God, and when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He takes on all of our sin and dies for it, so God can be with us. Finally, Jesus asks that His followers be with Him when our physical bodies die, so that we can go to Heaven and see Jesus in all of His glory. He is about to make all of this possible...
Jesus enters into a time of prayer. He says that He has done the work that God told Him to do. He says that eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ, the one whom He sent. Jesus asks His Father to keep the believers safe because they are Jesus' people, and since everything that belongs to the Son belongs to the Father, they are God's people, too. In addition, God says that the world does not accept His disciples because they do not belong to the world. They belong to the Father and the Son in Heaven. He doesn't want God to remove the believers from the world, only to protect them from the evil one. Jesus prays that God will speak truth to the disciples, and that through that truth, the disciples can speak that truth out into the world. He also prays for all of the future Christians. He prays that we can be united with God. Jesus goes to make this happen on the cross when He wipes away our sins. Sin is what separates us from God, and when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He takes on all of our sin and dies for it, so God can be with us. Finally, Jesus asks that His followers be with Him when our physical bodies die, so that we can go to Heaven and see Jesus in all of His glory. He is about to make all of this possible...
John 16
As usual: http://www.esvbible.org/John+16/
Jesus tells the disciples that He is leaving them, and He tells them that it is for the better because if He doesn't, He can't send the Helper to Earth to guide all those who believe in Him. Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit is super important because Jesus Himself hasn't had time to tell us everything we need to know, and He wouldn't be able to anyway. The Holy Spirit, however, will tell us directly what Jesus has said, and Jesus speaks from the Father. Jesus confuses His disciples when He says He is leaving and coming back. He tells them that they will be sad at first, but they should be joyful because He will have completed His mission on Earth, to take on the sins of the world and die as the blood sacrifice to suffice God's wrath. He compares the feeling they will have to a woman giving birth. She cries out and feels pain while she is in labor, but after she holds her child in her arms, she is full of joy because of the wonderful creation she has just brought into the world. He finishes His talk with them by saying that He has overcome the world. This is a BIG DEAL! Jesus has lived on Earth, as a human. He has experienced the same struggles, the same pains, the same temptations that every one of us has gone through. He came into this world as an infant and lived through every part of life. He took on and defeated all of those challenges. At no point does He ask us to do anything He hasn't done Himself. No other God from any other religion has come to Earth and taken on human form and lived among the people like this. In the end, He even overcomes and defeats death. If He can overcome death, don't you think He can help you overcome your problems?
Jesus tells the disciples that He is leaving them, and He tells them that it is for the better because if He doesn't, He can't send the Helper to Earth to guide all those who believe in Him. Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit is super important because Jesus Himself hasn't had time to tell us everything we need to know, and He wouldn't be able to anyway. The Holy Spirit, however, will tell us directly what Jesus has said, and Jesus speaks from the Father. Jesus confuses His disciples when He says He is leaving and coming back. He tells them that they will be sad at first, but they should be joyful because He will have completed His mission on Earth, to take on the sins of the world and die as the blood sacrifice to suffice God's wrath. He compares the feeling they will have to a woman giving birth. She cries out and feels pain while she is in labor, but after she holds her child in her arms, she is full of joy because of the wonderful creation she has just brought into the world. He finishes His talk with them by saying that He has overcome the world. This is a BIG DEAL! Jesus has lived on Earth, as a human. He has experienced the same struggles, the same pains, the same temptations that every one of us has gone through. He came into this world as an infant and lived through every part of life. He took on and defeated all of those challenges. At no point does He ask us to do anything He hasn't done Himself. No other God from any other religion has come to Earth and taken on human form and lived among the people like this. In the end, He even overcomes and defeats death. If He can overcome death, don't you think He can help you overcome your problems?
John 15
Chapter: http://www.esvbible.org/John+15/
Sorry, I'm a day late on posting these.
Jesus says that He is the true vine, and we as His followers are the branches. God is the gardener and cuts away branches that don't produce fruit and throws them away; however, He prunes the fruit producing branches, so that they may produce even more fruit. If we are reaching people for Jesus, God will help us, and give us what we need to reach even more people. The branches can't produce fruit unless they are connected to the vine to gain their life. What goes slightly unmentioned is the face that the vine needs branches to produce the fruit. God developed the world this way, even though He didn't have to. He designed the world so that we as His followers are a necessary step to reach others in His name. Again, Jesus talks about how if we ask for something in His name, He will grant it to us. Jesus wants us to love because if we love, then we can live in His perfect love. Living in His love will bring us complete joy. It is the only thing that will bring us complete joy. There are so many people out there that are trying to find joy in other things: alcohol, sex, achievements, education, etc. But those things only bring temporary joy. The only way to have full, everlasting joy, is by living in Jesus' love. Jesus calls His followers His friends instead of His servants. He says that servants do not know the will of their masters, but we know the will of Jesus. Finally, He leaves the disciples with a promise: as bad as the world treats Jesus at any given time is how bad they will treat those truly committed to Him at that time. This is a way to check ourselves to see if we are truly committed to Him. Additionally, Jesus shows us again that we should care more for Him than the thoughts of others in this world because this world will fade away, but we have the chance to live forever with Jesus.
Sorry, I'm a day late on posting these.
Jesus says that He is the true vine, and we as His followers are the branches. God is the gardener and cuts away branches that don't produce fruit and throws them away; however, He prunes the fruit producing branches, so that they may produce even more fruit. If we are reaching people for Jesus, God will help us, and give us what we need to reach even more people. The branches can't produce fruit unless they are connected to the vine to gain their life. What goes slightly unmentioned is the face that the vine needs branches to produce the fruit. God developed the world this way, even though He didn't have to. He designed the world so that we as His followers are a necessary step to reach others in His name. Again, Jesus talks about how if we ask for something in His name, He will grant it to us. Jesus wants us to love because if we love, then we can live in His perfect love. Living in His love will bring us complete joy. It is the only thing that will bring us complete joy. There are so many people out there that are trying to find joy in other things: alcohol, sex, achievements, education, etc. But those things only bring temporary joy. The only way to have full, everlasting joy, is by living in Jesus' love. Jesus calls His followers His friends instead of His servants. He says that servants do not know the will of their masters, but we know the will of Jesus. Finally, He leaves the disciples with a promise: as bad as the world treats Jesus at any given time is how bad they will treat those truly committed to Him at that time. This is a way to check ourselves to see if we are truly committed to Him. Additionally, Jesus shows us again that we should care more for Him than the thoughts of others in this world because this world will fade away, but we have the chance to live forever with Jesus.
Friday, September 23, 2011
John 14
http://www.esvbible.org/John+14/
Jesus tells the disciples that His Father's house is very large, and that He is preparing a place for them up there. Then, He will bring them back into His presence because they know the way. When Thomas tells Him they don't know the way, Jesus responds with another famous verse from John. He says that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody gets to the Father without going through Jesus. That's it. There is no other way. You can't do enough good deeds to get to heaven if you don't accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The only way to spend eternity with God is to go through Jesus. Philip just asks Jesus to show them the Father, so the disciples can be satisfied. Jesus says that the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father. Then He continues to say that the Father will do anything we ask in Jesus' name so that the Father will have glory through the son. That's a big deal. If we pray for something to be done in Jesus' name, the Father will do it. So unbelievable! Jesus also takes that opportunity to tell the disciples that He will send the Holy Spirit after Him to guide all people of Jesus. Up until this point, the Holy Spirit has lived in the Ark of the Covenant with the Ten Commandments, and a few other objects from the Old Testament. The Ark lives in the Holy of Holies in the temple. Only the priest is allowed to set foot in there, and if anyone else attempts to do so, they will be killed. It is the place where the priests talk to God. Jesus, however, says that He is going to change this, so that the Holy Spirit will live in each believer. He calls the Holy Spirit a helper who He will have the Father send. He says that the Holy Spirit will guide us and remind us of everything Jesus has ever taught us. As we go through this world, we don't have to do this on our own. The Holy Spirit actually communicates with us when we accept Christ, and He helps us with everything we do.
I'm sorry, but I am going on a weekend retreat with my campus ministry, so I will take notes on my quiet times while I am there, but my next few blog entries may be lacking, and they will all come on Monday.
Jesus tells the disciples that His Father's house is very large, and that He is preparing a place for them up there. Then, He will bring them back into His presence because they know the way. When Thomas tells Him they don't know the way, Jesus responds with another famous verse from John. He says that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody gets to the Father without going through Jesus. That's it. There is no other way. You can't do enough good deeds to get to heaven if you don't accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The only way to spend eternity with God is to go through Jesus. Philip just asks Jesus to show them the Father, so the disciples can be satisfied. Jesus says that the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father. Then He continues to say that the Father will do anything we ask in Jesus' name so that the Father will have glory through the son. That's a big deal. If we pray for something to be done in Jesus' name, the Father will do it. So unbelievable! Jesus also takes that opportunity to tell the disciples that He will send the Holy Spirit after Him to guide all people of Jesus. Up until this point, the Holy Spirit has lived in the Ark of the Covenant with the Ten Commandments, and a few other objects from the Old Testament. The Ark lives in the Holy of Holies in the temple. Only the priest is allowed to set foot in there, and if anyone else attempts to do so, they will be killed. It is the place where the priests talk to God. Jesus, however, says that He is going to change this, so that the Holy Spirit will live in each believer. He calls the Holy Spirit a helper who He will have the Father send. He says that the Holy Spirit will guide us and remind us of everything Jesus has ever taught us. As we go through this world, we don't have to do this on our own. The Holy Spirit actually communicates with us when we accept Christ, and He helps us with everything we do.
I'm sorry, but I am going on a weekend retreat with my campus ministry, so I will take notes on my quiet times while I am there, but my next few blog entries may be lacking, and they will all come on Monday.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
John 13
Here's the chapter as usual: http://www.esvbible.org/John+13/
We have come to the night where Jesus is betrayed. Jesus washes his disciples feet at the beginning of John 13. In this time, it was the job of the slaves to wash the feet of those they served or whoever their master asked them to. The disciples saw Jesus as their master, yet here He was doing the job of a servant. Simon Peter at first refuses to allow Jesus to wash His feet, but Jesus tells Him that if He doesn't wash Peter's feet, Peter won't be a part of Him. So Peter immediately recants what he previously said and asks Jesus to wash not only his feet but also his face and hands. Christ extends His metaphor and says a man who has just bathed only needs his feet cleaned because of the journey home. When we first accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He completely cleanses us, symbolized by the baptism. Then, we are bound to mess up again and sin, but in doing so, we only dirty our feet to be cleaned again by Christ. After He is done, Jesus says that He is setting an example for them, and that if He, their Lord and master, gets on His knees to wash their feet, that they should wash each other's feet. By the perfect, unsinful Lord serving the dirty, sinful men, He is showing that we must serve others to truly live the way Christ has set out for us.
John moves on to tell and story that is a little darker and creepier. Jesus knows that Judas will be the one who betrays Him. He makes a public announcement about it to His disciples, and they are shocked. They immediately begin trying to figure out who the betrayer is. When John refers to "the one whom Jesus loved," he is referring to himself because he never refers to himself by name. Jesus says He will dip the bread in wine and hand it to the one who will betray Him. Then, he dips the bread and hands it to Judas. At that moment, the devil enters Judas, and Jesus tells him to do what he needs to do. This sparks a huge theological debate because in order for Christ's plan to be completed, He needed to be killed. So Judas helped carry out the plan to save mankind, but people often wonder if he did it by his own free will or if he was directed by God to complete the plan. My belief is that the devil thought he could win the human race if he eliminated Jesus because he was unable to see the whole plan in front of him. When Judas leaves, the disciples are confused about why he left and where he went.
Jesus talks about how He is leaving again. He says that He is going to leave the disciples with a new commandment: to LOVE others as Jesus loved them. People should know Jesus' followers by their love. For some reason, that seems to be so lost in today's society. If Jesus called us to love, why did a poll in New York asking a random sample group what the first thing they thought of Christians yield the result that they HATE gays? Why are churches protesting funerals and burning the holy books of other religions? Why do the churches discriminate in Jesus' name when all He wants us to do is spread LOVE in His name? Simon Peter doesn't like that Jesus says that the disciples can't follow Him where He is going, so He tells Jesus that He would die for Him, and Jesus predicts that before the night is done, Peter will deny Him three times.
We have come to the night where Jesus is betrayed. Jesus washes his disciples feet at the beginning of John 13. In this time, it was the job of the slaves to wash the feet of those they served or whoever their master asked them to. The disciples saw Jesus as their master, yet here He was doing the job of a servant. Simon Peter at first refuses to allow Jesus to wash His feet, but Jesus tells Him that if He doesn't wash Peter's feet, Peter won't be a part of Him. So Peter immediately recants what he previously said and asks Jesus to wash not only his feet but also his face and hands. Christ extends His metaphor and says a man who has just bathed only needs his feet cleaned because of the journey home. When we first accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He completely cleanses us, symbolized by the baptism. Then, we are bound to mess up again and sin, but in doing so, we only dirty our feet to be cleaned again by Christ. After He is done, Jesus says that He is setting an example for them, and that if He, their Lord and master, gets on His knees to wash their feet, that they should wash each other's feet. By the perfect, unsinful Lord serving the dirty, sinful men, He is showing that we must serve others to truly live the way Christ has set out for us.
John moves on to tell and story that is a little darker and creepier. Jesus knows that Judas will be the one who betrays Him. He makes a public announcement about it to His disciples, and they are shocked. They immediately begin trying to figure out who the betrayer is. When John refers to "the one whom Jesus loved," he is referring to himself because he never refers to himself by name. Jesus says He will dip the bread in wine and hand it to the one who will betray Him. Then, he dips the bread and hands it to Judas. At that moment, the devil enters Judas, and Jesus tells him to do what he needs to do. This sparks a huge theological debate because in order for Christ's plan to be completed, He needed to be killed. So Judas helped carry out the plan to save mankind, but people often wonder if he did it by his own free will or if he was directed by God to complete the plan. My belief is that the devil thought he could win the human race if he eliminated Jesus because he was unable to see the whole plan in front of him. When Judas leaves, the disciples are confused about why he left and where he went.
Jesus talks about how He is leaving again. He says that He is going to leave the disciples with a new commandment: to LOVE others as Jesus loved them. People should know Jesus' followers by their love. For some reason, that seems to be so lost in today's society. If Jesus called us to love, why did a poll in New York asking a random sample group what the first thing they thought of Christians yield the result that they HATE gays? Why are churches protesting funerals and burning the holy books of other religions? Why do the churches discriminate in Jesus' name when all He wants us to do is spread LOVE in His name? Simon Peter doesn't like that Jesus says that the disciples can't follow Him where He is going, so He tells Jesus that He would die for Him, and Jesus predicts that before the night is done, Peter will deny Him three times.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
John 12 Post
Okay. So I posted the chapter at the beginning of the last post. I hope you enjoyed the video; "Hosanna" is one of my favorite worship songs.
In the beginning of Chapter 12, John writes about how Mary, Lazarus's sister, washes Jesus' feet with an expensive bottle of perfume. Judas, who later betrays Jesus, grows angry at the woman and asks why she didn't sell the perfume and give the money to the poor instead of using it on Jesus' feet. Though what he says to do with the money is a good thing, Judas's intentions are not good. John says that Judas is a thief and carries the disciples moneybag. Jesus tells Judas that Mary is preparing Him to go into the grave because He knows that His time is fast approaching. Additionally, Jesus says that the poor will always be around for people to take care of, but He was only going to be with Him for a short while longer. Today, we need to be able to give up expenses for Christ. Tithing is something very important where people put 10% of what they own in the offering plate on Sundays. This is supposed to be taken into account at the beginning because it all came from God anyways; it shouldn't be something that we do if we feel like we have enough left over. Similarly, money isn't the only expense that we can give over to God. There's time. Do we always spend our time thinking of God? Asking ourselves if God would do this? Doing things that God has called us to do? In the end, the Jews find out where Jesus is, and they set off to kill Him and Lazarus because Lazarus is the reason so many people are leaving the synagogue to follow Jesus. We should set a similar example for those around us. We should be such a testimony to who Jesus is and what He can do that people leave their old lives to follow Him.
Jesus goes into Jerusalem, and when the people find out He is doing so, they crowd around Him and laid palm fronds in front of Him. Today, we call this Palm Sunday, and it is exactly one week before Easter. At this point in the story, Jesus has less than a week to live. The people shout to Jesus: "Hosanna!" which in Hebrew is "Hoshana" and means "please save." The people treated Him like a king because the kings from their past were strong military leaders. They though Jesus had come to defeat Rome and free them. They had no idea how he truly saved them. They also turn on Him very quickly, it's later that week that they are shouting: "Crucify Him!"
Jesus again talks about His death. He says that wheat must be planted and die in order to produce much grain. In the same way, He could at any moment ask the Lord God to take Him away from His time of suffering, but that is not why He came to Earth. Jesus came to Earth for the time of suffering. Jesus says He must be lifted up from Earth, but the people are confused because they thought the Messiah was supposed to stay with them. They did not yet understand the concept of the Holy Spirit. John also says that many people did not believe in Jesus, just as the prophet Isaiah said they wouldn't. Some officials, however, did believe in Him but would never publicly admit it because they didn't want to be thrown out of the synagogue. They were more concerned about what other people thought of them than what God thought of them. Everyone has moments of this. There are even those people who are Christians but never admit it because they are afraid they will lose their friends. Being a Christian isn't the "popular" thing to do. But as Christians, we shouldn't be afraid to stand up about what we believe, we should be proud; however, even Peter has a moment after the crucifixion that He denies Jesus three times. Jesus again says that He didn't come to condemn the world, but save it, and everything that He's said has come from the Father.
In the beginning of Chapter 12, John writes about how Mary, Lazarus's sister, washes Jesus' feet with an expensive bottle of perfume. Judas, who later betrays Jesus, grows angry at the woman and asks why she didn't sell the perfume and give the money to the poor instead of using it on Jesus' feet. Though what he says to do with the money is a good thing, Judas's intentions are not good. John says that Judas is a thief and carries the disciples moneybag. Jesus tells Judas that Mary is preparing Him to go into the grave because He knows that His time is fast approaching. Additionally, Jesus says that the poor will always be around for people to take care of, but He was only going to be with Him for a short while longer. Today, we need to be able to give up expenses for Christ. Tithing is something very important where people put 10% of what they own in the offering plate on Sundays. This is supposed to be taken into account at the beginning because it all came from God anyways; it shouldn't be something that we do if we feel like we have enough left over. Similarly, money isn't the only expense that we can give over to God. There's time. Do we always spend our time thinking of God? Asking ourselves if God would do this? Doing things that God has called us to do? In the end, the Jews find out where Jesus is, and they set off to kill Him and Lazarus because Lazarus is the reason so many people are leaving the synagogue to follow Jesus. We should set a similar example for those around us. We should be such a testimony to who Jesus is and what He can do that people leave their old lives to follow Him.
Jesus goes into Jerusalem, and when the people find out He is doing so, they crowd around Him and laid palm fronds in front of Him. Today, we call this Palm Sunday, and it is exactly one week before Easter. At this point in the story, Jesus has less than a week to live. The people shout to Jesus: "Hosanna!" which in Hebrew is "Hoshana" and means "please save." The people treated Him like a king because the kings from their past were strong military leaders. They though Jesus had come to defeat Rome and free them. They had no idea how he truly saved them. They also turn on Him very quickly, it's later that week that they are shouting: "Crucify Him!"
Jesus again talks about His death. He says that wheat must be planted and die in order to produce much grain. In the same way, He could at any moment ask the Lord God to take Him away from His time of suffering, but that is not why He came to Earth. Jesus came to Earth for the time of suffering. Jesus says He must be lifted up from Earth, but the people are confused because they thought the Messiah was supposed to stay with them. They did not yet understand the concept of the Holy Spirit. John also says that many people did not believe in Jesus, just as the prophet Isaiah said they wouldn't. Some officials, however, did believe in Him but would never publicly admit it because they didn't want to be thrown out of the synagogue. They were more concerned about what other people thought of them than what God thought of them. Everyone has moments of this. There are even those people who are Christians but never admit it because they are afraid they will lose their friends. Being a Christian isn't the "popular" thing to do. But as Christians, we shouldn't be afraid to stand up about what we believe, we should be proud; however, even Peter has a moment after the crucifixion that He denies Jesus three times. Jesus again says that He didn't come to condemn the world, but save it, and everything that He's said has come from the Father.
John 12
Here's the chapter: http://www.esvbible.org/John+12/
Sorry I'm slacking lately, but here is a precursor for what chapter 12 is. I don't think I could say this any better. Brooke Fraser and Hillsong United are incredible! But I will say more about it tomorrow, and I promise I'll catch up to where I'm supposed to be soon.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
John 11
Chapter 11: http://www.esvbible.org/John+11/
In this chapter, as in Chapter 2, Jesus proves that He doesn't have to do anything on anyone's timetable except for God the Father's. When He learned that His friend Lazarus was sick, Jesus went to go see Him even though He knew that the Jews there wanted to kill Him. After first learning of Lazarus's condition, Jesus is concerned and tells the disciples that Lazarus is sick for God's glory; however, it still must have puzzled the disciples that Jesus waited two days before He went to visit Lazarus and his sisters. Thomas, one of the disciples, doesn't trust that Jesus will pull out a victory in this situation, but he is brave and says that the disciples will go and die with Jesus. Lazarus's resurrection is significant because God says that He will raise up anyone who lives in Christ. He starts even while Jesus is alive. When we accept Jesus as of Lord and Savior, He raises up our dead and doomed lives, so that we may have everlasting life. Jesus raised Lazarus as a pre-show of His own resurrection. He also showed that His power wasn't limited to healing the sick and He proved that He was the one in control of life and death.
At this point, the Pharisees decide that it is time to kill Jesus, and the chief priest, Caiaphas, knows that Jesus must die not only for Israel but for all of God's children, so he decides that they must kill Jesus. Although Jesus knows that the cross is His eventual goal, He flees to the countryside because He knows He can't leave until He has finished His work, and His time has come.
In this chapter, as in Chapter 2, Jesus proves that He doesn't have to do anything on anyone's timetable except for God the Father's. When He learned that His friend Lazarus was sick, Jesus went to go see Him even though He knew that the Jews there wanted to kill Him. After first learning of Lazarus's condition, Jesus is concerned and tells the disciples that Lazarus is sick for God's glory; however, it still must have puzzled the disciples that Jesus waited two days before He went to visit Lazarus and his sisters. Thomas, one of the disciples, doesn't trust that Jesus will pull out a victory in this situation, but he is brave and says that the disciples will go and die with Jesus. Lazarus's resurrection is significant because God says that He will raise up anyone who lives in Christ. He starts even while Jesus is alive. When we accept Jesus as of Lord and Savior, He raises up our dead and doomed lives, so that we may have everlasting life. Jesus raised Lazarus as a pre-show of His own resurrection. He also showed that His power wasn't limited to healing the sick and He proved that He was the one in control of life and death.
At this point, the Pharisees decide that it is time to kill Jesus, and the chief priest, Caiaphas, knows that Jesus must die not only for Israel but for all of God's children, so he decides that they must kill Jesus. Although Jesus knows that the cross is His eventual goal, He flees to the countryside because He knows He can't leave until He has finished His work, and His time has come.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
John 10
Here's the next reading: http://www.esvbible.org/John+10/
Jesus calls Himself the shepherd. He says that He is the gatekeeper, and He protects His sheep. He knows them by name, and the sheep know His voice and will come to Him. Any who try to enter not through the gates are thieves and robbers, and the sheep do not know their voices and will run away. We are the sheep in this illustration. Jesus is our protector, and He leads us where we need to go. To put this in prospective, sheep are just about the dumbest creatures on the face of the Earth, and they get lost very easily, but if one does get lost, the shepherd will lead the rest of his flock to a safe place and go to rescue the lost sheep. Jesus says He is the gate for the sheep, and all those before Him were thieves and robbers, and sheep didn't respond to them. We were waiting for our savior. He says that those who enter the sheep pen through Him will be saved. We can only be saved if we go through Jesus Christ. Thieves come to kill and destroy, but Jesus says He cam to give His sheep life with God for all eternity, so they will have everything they need. Jesus goes on saying that He is the good shepherd because the good shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep. He finishes His metaphor by saying that He will lay down His life for His sheep, but He will get it back again because no one can take His life from Him. Jesus has power over even life and death, and can come back to life because He has more power than any force that will try to stop Him.
Later, the Jews come to Jesus and tell Him that if He is the Messiah, he should say it plainly, to which He replies that He has, but they have not listened to Him because they are not His sheep. His sheep know His voice, and He knows who they are. They follow Him, and He gives them eternal life. No one will ever take the away from Him because God is greater than anything else, and Jesus and God are one. This is incredible. If we truly believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, nothing can ever separate us from Him, and He has given us eternal life. But the Jews despised Him for saying that He was the same as God and the Son of God, and they again had rocks to stone Him. Jesus knows this and asks them for which of His good deeds are they planning to stone Him for. They say its not for good deeds but because He dishonors God by calling Himself the Son of God. Jesus responds with scripture and claims that He has spoken true. They try to arrest Him again, but He gets away.
Jesus calls Himself the shepherd. He says that He is the gatekeeper, and He protects His sheep. He knows them by name, and the sheep know His voice and will come to Him. Any who try to enter not through the gates are thieves and robbers, and the sheep do not know their voices and will run away. We are the sheep in this illustration. Jesus is our protector, and He leads us where we need to go. To put this in prospective, sheep are just about the dumbest creatures on the face of the Earth, and they get lost very easily, but if one does get lost, the shepherd will lead the rest of his flock to a safe place and go to rescue the lost sheep. Jesus says He is the gate for the sheep, and all those before Him were thieves and robbers, and sheep didn't respond to them. We were waiting for our savior. He says that those who enter the sheep pen through Him will be saved. We can only be saved if we go through Jesus Christ. Thieves come to kill and destroy, but Jesus says He cam to give His sheep life with God for all eternity, so they will have everything they need. Jesus goes on saying that He is the good shepherd because the good shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep. He finishes His metaphor by saying that He will lay down His life for His sheep, but He will get it back again because no one can take His life from Him. Jesus has power over even life and death, and can come back to life because He has more power than any force that will try to stop Him.
Later, the Jews come to Jesus and tell Him that if He is the Messiah, he should say it plainly, to which He replies that He has, but they have not listened to Him because they are not His sheep. His sheep know His voice, and He knows who they are. They follow Him, and He gives them eternal life. No one will ever take the away from Him because God is greater than anything else, and Jesus and God are one. This is incredible. If we truly believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, nothing can ever separate us from Him, and He has given us eternal life. But the Jews despised Him for saying that He was the same as God and the Son of God, and they again had rocks to stone Him. Jesus knows this and asks them for which of His good deeds are they planning to stone Him for. They say its not for good deeds but because He dishonors God by calling Himself the Son of God. Jesus responds with scripture and claims that He has spoken true. They try to arrest Him again, but He gets away.
John 9
Here's the chapter: http://www.esvbible.org/John+9/
Jesus comes across a blind man and His followers ask Him if the man has sinned or if His parents sinned. Jesus replied that neither sinned, and that the man was born blind so the Lord could show Him what He could do. Then, Jesus proceeds to put dirt and spit on the man's eyes and tells him to wash it off. After the blind man does this, he can see. The man was born blind because God had a plan that Jesus would run across him at that exact moment in order to heal him. Since we know so little about God, it is widely believed that He lives outside of space and time because He created it. If you made played a game of Sims, you created it, and you live outside of their time and space, yet you directly interfere with their lives. You can help them when they need your help, but they do have some independence to do their own tasks. This example is the same as how God is in our lives, but to the next level. He already knows what He will have you do and what you will do to change this course and what independent choices you will make. Further in the story, people who had seen this blind man before see a change in him, and they ask each other if that is truly the same man. When Jesus gives us our sight, we need to live life differently than we had before and than those around us. People should see a difference in us, and say, "Wow! That guy/girl is a Christian. I want to learn more about Jesus, so I can be like him/her." (That was a little cheesy, I know.) The people then call the formerly blind man to testify in front of the Pharisees because Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. He tells the story multiple times, and the Pharisees tell him they know that Jesus is a sinner because He heals on the day of worship. Still, they ask the man who He thinks Jesus is, and the man calls Him a prophet because he has not yet seen all there is to Jesus. When people first begin their walks with Christ, they have to discover Him for themselves a little at a time. The Pharisees finally call up the man's parents to testify, and they say that he truly was born blind. When the Pharisees ask them how he was healed, they are so afraid that they say they do not know, and the man is old enough to answer for himself (at least thirteen years old). Again, they ask the man his story, and like Jesus, he asks the Pharisees why they do not understand what he has told them. He also asks them if they want to be Jesus' disciples TOO. This man has decided to give his life to Jesus. When the Pharisees hear this, they kick him out of the synagogue. Following Jesus has never been the "popular" thing to do. For example, I'm at a college with 35,000 students, and roughly a tenth are predicted to attend some campus ministry or nearby church regularly, yet I am proud to stand up on my faith in Jesus Christ. If you accept Christ, and your friends can't handle that and dump you, you are probably better off because you need friends who will advance your walk, not drag you down. But you have to walk away knowing that those people didn't matter anyway. Later, Jesus finds the man and asks him if he believes in the Son of Man. The healed man replies that if Jesus shows him the Son of Man, he will believe. Jesus says that He is the Son of Man, and the formerly blind man falls to the ground and says he believes. Then, Jesus says that He has come to give the blind sight and take sight from those who can see. This refers to the Jews, like the Pharisees, who believe that Jesus is not the Son of Man. Before He came to Earth, they could see spiritually, but since they do not believe in the one sent by God, they will become spiritually blind upon the resurrection. Then, the gentiles, or the Jews who turn their lives to God after they had given up hope because they who so sinful, were spiritually blind, but now they can see. It doesn't matter if you've committed a sin so bad you can't think of anything worse, you can find grace in Jesus. Jesus associated with the most sinful of men because they knew that they needed to listen, and in the end, they are the one's in heaven now.
Jesus comes across a blind man and His followers ask Him if the man has sinned or if His parents sinned. Jesus replied that neither sinned, and that the man was born blind so the Lord could show Him what He could do. Then, Jesus proceeds to put dirt and spit on the man's eyes and tells him to wash it off. After the blind man does this, he can see. The man was born blind because God had a plan that Jesus would run across him at that exact moment in order to heal him. Since we know so little about God, it is widely believed that He lives outside of space and time because He created it. If you made played a game of Sims, you created it, and you live outside of their time and space, yet you directly interfere with their lives. You can help them when they need your help, but they do have some independence to do their own tasks. This example is the same as how God is in our lives, but to the next level. He already knows what He will have you do and what you will do to change this course and what independent choices you will make. Further in the story, people who had seen this blind man before see a change in him, and they ask each other if that is truly the same man. When Jesus gives us our sight, we need to live life differently than we had before and than those around us. People should see a difference in us, and say, "Wow! That guy/girl is a Christian. I want to learn more about Jesus, so I can be like him/her." (That was a little cheesy, I know.) The people then call the formerly blind man to testify in front of the Pharisees because Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. He tells the story multiple times, and the Pharisees tell him they know that Jesus is a sinner because He heals on the day of worship. Still, they ask the man who He thinks Jesus is, and the man calls Him a prophet because he has not yet seen all there is to Jesus. When people first begin their walks with Christ, they have to discover Him for themselves a little at a time. The Pharisees finally call up the man's parents to testify, and they say that he truly was born blind. When the Pharisees ask them how he was healed, they are so afraid that they say they do not know, and the man is old enough to answer for himself (at least thirteen years old). Again, they ask the man his story, and like Jesus, he asks the Pharisees why they do not understand what he has told them. He also asks them if they want to be Jesus' disciples TOO. This man has decided to give his life to Jesus. When the Pharisees hear this, they kick him out of the synagogue. Following Jesus has never been the "popular" thing to do. For example, I'm at a college with 35,000 students, and roughly a tenth are predicted to attend some campus ministry or nearby church regularly, yet I am proud to stand up on my faith in Jesus Christ. If you accept Christ, and your friends can't handle that and dump you, you are probably better off because you need friends who will advance your walk, not drag you down. But you have to walk away knowing that those people didn't matter anyway. Later, Jesus finds the man and asks him if he believes in the Son of Man. The healed man replies that if Jesus shows him the Son of Man, he will believe. Jesus says that He is the Son of Man, and the formerly blind man falls to the ground and says he believes. Then, Jesus says that He has come to give the blind sight and take sight from those who can see. This refers to the Jews, like the Pharisees, who believe that Jesus is not the Son of Man. Before He came to Earth, they could see spiritually, but since they do not believe in the one sent by God, they will become spiritually blind upon the resurrection. Then, the gentiles, or the Jews who turn their lives to God after they had given up hope because they who so sinful, were spiritually blind, but now they can see. It doesn't matter if you've committed a sin so bad you can't think of anything worse, you can find grace in Jesus. Jesus associated with the most sinful of men because they knew that they needed to listen, and in the end, they are the one's in heaven now.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
John 8
Here's the Chapter: http://www.esvbible.org/John+8/
The first story in John 8 was not originally part of the Bible but was added later and certain Bibles place it in different locations. In the story, the Pharisees bring a woman who has committed adultery in front of Jesus and asks Him what they should do with her. They are trying to trap Him because if He says to stone her, He's going against what He Himself has been going around teaching, but if He says don't stone her, then He is going against the teachings of Moses and the Holy law. This doesn't throw Jesus off at all. Instead, He began drawing on the ground with His finger. What exactly He wrote or drew is a complete mystery and the topic of much theological debate. He tells them, in a famous line, that the person in the crowd who has not sinned may throw the first stone. Meanwhile, He just continues to draw in the sand, and some people believe that He may have been writing out the sins of those in the crowd on the ground because He proved already that He is still all knowing, despite His human form. Jesus proved in saying the well known line that there aren't degrees of sin. All sin is the same to God because all sin ultimately is is separation from God. In the end, all the people leave, and Jesus asks the woman one of His famous rhetorical questions that He uses to make a lesson. He asks if any of them condemned her. She replies that they didn't, and they all left. Jesus then tells the woman that he doesn't condemn her any more than the crowd was able to because forgiveness in the key to Jesus' entire being. Then He tells the woman to go and stop sinning. He knows that command is impossible for any person to successfully complete, but He needs us to at least put forth the effort.
Jesus goes back to talk again with the Pharisees. He again attempts to tell them who He is, and they call Him false because He testifies for Himself. Jesus tells them that the Father has testified for Him, but they are too spiritually blind to see it. He tells the Pharisees, the men most educated in the ways of the Lord that they do not know the Father because if they did, they would love Jesus. Again John mentions that the jews wanted to arrest Jesus but couldn't because it was not His time yet. Again Jesus says He will be leaving and no one there can go with Him. He says this because He will return to God's side in Heaven, but the Pharisees, by refusing to believe in Him condemn themselves to Hell. They still don't understand Him, so He even breaks it down that they will die, but implies that He will not because He comes from above, and He will return there because He is not of this world. He tells them He knows a lot about them and a lot that He could condemn them for, but God is true and doesn't want Jesus to condemn them. In this life we are not to condemn those around us. Jesus says that He can only say what the Father has taught Him, and He can only please the Father. At that moment, many people in the crowd believe in Him, and Jesus tells them that if they believe in Him they are His disciples and the truth will set them free. Today, this is still true, all believers are Jesus' disciples. The crowd tells Jesus that they are not slaves, so they can't be set free. He tells them that anyone who sins is a slave of sin. We have all sinned, so we are all slaves to sin, but we can be freed by Jesus Christ. Jesus again says that if they love God, they should love Him because God sent Him. Then He says that they are children of the devil, and that the devil is a murderer and a liar and doesn't know how to do anything else. And they don't believe Him because He speaks the truth. He mentions for the first time that He is sinless. Nobody can testify anything against Him. He is innocent, which makes His death truly a sacrifice; He had no reason to die, yet He died and took on all of the world's sins: past, present, and future. He speaks again of eternal life, and the Jews say that He is possessed by a demon because everyone, including Abraham and the prophets all dies, so Jesus can't be that special. He says that He doesn't glorify Himself because then His glory would be nothing. Instead, God glorifies Him, but He tells the Jews that they can't see that because they do not know God. He continues by saying He's seen Abraham, and Abraham was glad that He was coming. The crowd thinks this is preposterous and ask Him how he could have seen Abraham when He is not even fifty years old. Jesus tells them that He is the I Am. THIS IS HUGE! That is the name God uses for Himself when Moses asks Him His name. And Jesus calling Himself that is equivalent to Him calling Himself God. This makes the Jews so angry that they pick up stones to throw at Him, but He disappears and sneaks out the back of the temple.
The first story in John 8 was not originally part of the Bible but was added later and certain Bibles place it in different locations. In the story, the Pharisees bring a woman who has committed adultery in front of Jesus and asks Him what they should do with her. They are trying to trap Him because if He says to stone her, He's going against what He Himself has been going around teaching, but if He says don't stone her, then He is going against the teachings of Moses and the Holy law. This doesn't throw Jesus off at all. Instead, He began drawing on the ground with His finger. What exactly He wrote or drew is a complete mystery and the topic of much theological debate. He tells them, in a famous line, that the person in the crowd who has not sinned may throw the first stone. Meanwhile, He just continues to draw in the sand, and some people believe that He may have been writing out the sins of those in the crowd on the ground because He proved already that He is still all knowing, despite His human form. Jesus proved in saying the well known line that there aren't degrees of sin. All sin is the same to God because all sin ultimately is is separation from God. In the end, all the people leave, and Jesus asks the woman one of His famous rhetorical questions that He uses to make a lesson. He asks if any of them condemned her. She replies that they didn't, and they all left. Jesus then tells the woman that he doesn't condemn her any more than the crowd was able to because forgiveness in the key to Jesus' entire being. Then He tells the woman to go and stop sinning. He knows that command is impossible for any person to successfully complete, but He needs us to at least put forth the effort.
Jesus goes back to talk again with the Pharisees. He again attempts to tell them who He is, and they call Him false because He testifies for Himself. Jesus tells them that the Father has testified for Him, but they are too spiritually blind to see it. He tells the Pharisees, the men most educated in the ways of the Lord that they do not know the Father because if they did, they would love Jesus. Again John mentions that the jews wanted to arrest Jesus but couldn't because it was not His time yet. Again Jesus says He will be leaving and no one there can go with Him. He says this because He will return to God's side in Heaven, but the Pharisees, by refusing to believe in Him condemn themselves to Hell. They still don't understand Him, so He even breaks it down that they will die, but implies that He will not because He comes from above, and He will return there because He is not of this world. He tells them He knows a lot about them and a lot that He could condemn them for, but God is true and doesn't want Jesus to condemn them. In this life we are not to condemn those around us. Jesus says that He can only say what the Father has taught Him, and He can only please the Father. At that moment, many people in the crowd believe in Him, and Jesus tells them that if they believe in Him they are His disciples and the truth will set them free. Today, this is still true, all believers are Jesus' disciples. The crowd tells Jesus that they are not slaves, so they can't be set free. He tells them that anyone who sins is a slave of sin. We have all sinned, so we are all slaves to sin, but we can be freed by Jesus Christ. Jesus again says that if they love God, they should love Him because God sent Him. Then He says that they are children of the devil, and that the devil is a murderer and a liar and doesn't know how to do anything else. And they don't believe Him because He speaks the truth. He mentions for the first time that He is sinless. Nobody can testify anything against Him. He is innocent, which makes His death truly a sacrifice; He had no reason to die, yet He died and took on all of the world's sins: past, present, and future. He speaks again of eternal life, and the Jews say that He is possessed by a demon because everyone, including Abraham and the prophets all dies, so Jesus can't be that special. He says that He doesn't glorify Himself because then His glory would be nothing. Instead, God glorifies Him, but He tells the Jews that they can't see that because they do not know God. He continues by saying He's seen Abraham, and Abraham was glad that He was coming. The crowd thinks this is preposterous and ask Him how he could have seen Abraham when He is not even fifty years old. Jesus tells them that He is the I Am. THIS IS HUGE! That is the name God uses for Himself when Moses asks Him His name. And Jesus calling Himself that is equivalent to Him calling Himself God. This makes the Jews so angry that they pick up stones to throw at Him, but He disappears and sneaks out the back of the temple.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
John 7
I didn't get to a second blog posting yesterday, but I'll catch up soon. As usual, here's the chapter: http://www.esvbible.org/John+7/
At the beginning of the chapter, John tells us that even Jesus' own brothers didn't believe in Him. We cant be quite sure if John meant Mary and Joseph's other children, the disciples, or just the other Jews around, but at any rate, Jesus is incredibly unpopular at this point in the story. He goes to a Jewish festival, the Festival of Booths, and listens to what the people sy about Him, and they are pretty divided about whether or not they like Him for the most part, but none of them will speak to freely because they fear the Jewish officials. Halfway through, Jesus begins teaching in the temple, and the people around are amazed. They ask how a man can be so smart if he didn't go to school. Jesus replies that His knowledge is not from Him but from the one who sent Him. He again condemns them for trying to kill Him because they believe He can't possibly be the Messiah because He came from Galilee. John says the Jews tried to arrest Him but couldn't. They were unable to do so because it wasn't time, and no one, no matter how powerful, can interfere with God's plan and timing. Jesus says He'll be around for awhile, but then He's leaving, and no one can go with Him where He is going.He is going to conquer death, but the Jews don't yet understand that, so they are confused as to where He wants to go. Even after all Jesus says and does at the festival, the people are divided about Him, and some continue to want to arrest Him. The Pharisees sent guards to arrest Him, but they came back empty handed because they had never heard a human speak as Jesus had. The Pharisees claim that the crowd is stupid for believing in Jesus so easily, and that they are not educated enough to know the teachings of Moses. Nicodemus is there, and he asks the others how their knowledge of Moses's teachings qualify them to judge people without hearing the other side of the story, but the others discount him because he is also from Galilee and go about their ways.
At the beginning of the chapter, John tells us that even Jesus' own brothers didn't believe in Him. We cant be quite sure if John meant Mary and Joseph's other children, the disciples, or just the other Jews around, but at any rate, Jesus is incredibly unpopular at this point in the story. He goes to a Jewish festival, the Festival of Booths, and listens to what the people sy about Him, and they are pretty divided about whether or not they like Him for the most part, but none of them will speak to freely because they fear the Jewish officials. Halfway through, Jesus begins teaching in the temple, and the people around are amazed. They ask how a man can be so smart if he didn't go to school. Jesus replies that His knowledge is not from Him but from the one who sent Him. He again condemns them for trying to kill Him because they believe He can't possibly be the Messiah because He came from Galilee. John says the Jews tried to arrest Him but couldn't. They were unable to do so because it wasn't time, and no one, no matter how powerful, can interfere with God's plan and timing. Jesus says He'll be around for awhile, but then He's leaving, and no one can go with Him where He is going.He is going to conquer death, but the Jews don't yet understand that, so they are confused as to where He wants to go. Even after all Jesus says and does at the festival, the people are divided about Him, and some continue to want to arrest Him. The Pharisees sent guards to arrest Him, but they came back empty handed because they had never heard a human speak as Jesus had. The Pharisees claim that the crowd is stupid for believing in Jesus so easily, and that they are not educated enough to know the teachings of Moses. Nicodemus is there, and he asks the others how their knowledge of Moses's teachings qualify them to judge people without hearing the other side of the story, but the others discount him because he is also from Galilee and go about their ways.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
John 6
Chapter: http://www.esvbible.org/John+6/
Sorry I was unable to post yesterday! Things got crazy, but I will make two posts by the end of today. First is John 6.
John 6 opens with a well-known story: Jesus feeds five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Not only is this a great miracle, but it is also the only story from Jesus' found in all four of the gospels. John, who usually doesn't write according to the other three does share this story. Now Jesus sees the huge crowd at the beginning of the story, and since the high priests, Roman officials, and other rich people around at the time despised Him, the people in the crowd were probably ordinary, poor people, especially considering where He was; however, He wants to speak to the people, so He goes p to the mountain, which acts as a natural pulpit, and He wants to feed them. The poor are just as loved by God as the rich, and we should copy this in our daily lives. Jesus asks His disciple Phillip where they can buy bread for all the people, and Phillip can only think of the how and determines it would be way to expensive. Jesus really only asks this question to test Phillip's faith because He is never at a loss for what to do. Phillip fails. Andrew, another disciple, finds a boy with five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus says He'll take care of the rest. He first gives thanks for the food, even for as little as there is. then, He Himself distributes the bread as He does with every need and comfort in our lives. It comes from Him through others. Finally, He provided enough for them all to have as much as they wanted, and there was food to spare.
The disciples later set out to sea but are caught in a terrible storm. When Jesus goes out to save them, they are so afraid that they don't recognize Him at first and fear Him. Once they accept Jesus onto the ship, He immediately brings them to safety.
At the beginning of the next part of the chapter, the crowd confirms the miracle of Jesus walking on the sea because there is no boat gone for Him to have used. When the crowd sees that He is gone, they resort to follow Him, just as every person who does not have Him searches far and wide to find Him, even if they don't know that that is what they are doing. They eventually find Him just as all who seek Him will. Jesus knows that while the crowd did follow Him, their intentions were not pure; they did not want to hear his teachings, they wanted Him to feed them. Jesus tells them not to work after things in this world because they mean nothing in the scope of eternity. We should work at heavenly things because wealth, fame, popularity, and all of the shallow things of this world will one day be gone to us, and we need to be preparing things for what lies ahead of us. Jesus tells the people that He is the bread of life, and whoever comes to HIm will never go hungry because He takes care of the one's the Father sends Him. He then foreshadows the last supper when He says they must eat His body and drink His blood. At this time, Jesus had many more than twelve disciples, but they did not like what He told the people they had to do, so all but the twelve returned to the lives they had lived out before they met Him. Many who begin to follow Christ eventually return to the way they lived before because they do not want to live the way Jesus calls us to. In the end of the chapter, Jesus again predicts His death and that one of the twelve will betray Him, and John tells us then that Judas will be the one to do so.
Sorry I was unable to post yesterday! Things got crazy, but I will make two posts by the end of today. First is John 6.
John 6 opens with a well-known story: Jesus feeds five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Not only is this a great miracle, but it is also the only story from Jesus' found in all four of the gospels. John, who usually doesn't write according to the other three does share this story. Now Jesus sees the huge crowd at the beginning of the story, and since the high priests, Roman officials, and other rich people around at the time despised Him, the people in the crowd were probably ordinary, poor people, especially considering where He was; however, He wants to speak to the people, so He goes p to the mountain, which acts as a natural pulpit, and He wants to feed them. The poor are just as loved by God as the rich, and we should copy this in our daily lives. Jesus asks His disciple Phillip where they can buy bread for all the people, and Phillip can only think of the how and determines it would be way to expensive. Jesus really only asks this question to test Phillip's faith because He is never at a loss for what to do. Phillip fails. Andrew, another disciple, finds a boy with five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus says He'll take care of the rest. He first gives thanks for the food, even for as little as there is. then, He Himself distributes the bread as He does with every need and comfort in our lives. It comes from Him through others. Finally, He provided enough for them all to have as much as they wanted, and there was food to spare.
The disciples later set out to sea but are caught in a terrible storm. When Jesus goes out to save them, they are so afraid that they don't recognize Him at first and fear Him. Once they accept Jesus onto the ship, He immediately brings them to safety.
At the beginning of the next part of the chapter, the crowd confirms the miracle of Jesus walking on the sea because there is no boat gone for Him to have used. When the crowd sees that He is gone, they resort to follow Him, just as every person who does not have Him searches far and wide to find Him, even if they don't know that that is what they are doing. They eventually find Him just as all who seek Him will. Jesus knows that while the crowd did follow Him, their intentions were not pure; they did not want to hear his teachings, they wanted Him to feed them. Jesus tells them not to work after things in this world because they mean nothing in the scope of eternity. We should work at heavenly things because wealth, fame, popularity, and all of the shallow things of this world will one day be gone to us, and we need to be preparing things for what lies ahead of us. Jesus tells the people that He is the bread of life, and whoever comes to HIm will never go hungry because He takes care of the one's the Father sends Him. He then foreshadows the last supper when He says they must eat His body and drink His blood. At this time, Jesus had many more than twelve disciples, but they did not like what He told the people they had to do, so all but the twelve returned to the lives they had lived out before they met Him. Many who begin to follow Christ eventually return to the way they lived before because they do not want to live the way Jesus calls us to. In the end of the chapter, Jesus again predicts His death and that one of the twelve will betray Him, and John tells us then that Judas will be the one to do so.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
John 5
Chapter 5: http://www.esvbible.org/John+5/
Jesus travels to a pool called Bethesda. Supposedly, this pool would occasionally be stirred by an angel, and when it was, the first person to climb into the pool would be healed of any ailments, so terminally ill people crowded by this pool. Today, scholars believe that there were hot springs under the pool that caused healing of pain. One man had been sitting there for 38 years, but every time he tried to get into the pool, somebody else beat him to it. When Jesus saw him, He asked the man if he wanted to be healed. The man thinks Jesus is offering to stay with him until the pool is stirred and help him be the first one in. He refuses to believe that there can be any other way that he can be healed. Society has shaped him to believe that something amazing has to happen in order for him to be healed. He doesn't see that Jesus doesn't follow the rules of society. Jesus is limitless. In the same way our imaginations are limited: here is what success is, this is what you must pray for, heaven looks like earthly success. Jesus wants to free our minds to His will and purpose, not that of society. Furthermore, when the Jewish officials discover this man has been healed on the sabbath, they tell him he can't carry his mat on that day. And then they try to find the one who healed him in order to punish him. They can't see that Jesus was there to overturn the Jewish laws as only the Son of God can. Jesus again hints to hell when He later tells the man to stop sinning before something worse happens to him.
In the second part of chapter 5, Jesus tries to make the Jewish officials understand who He is and what He is doing. They grow angrier at Him because He says He is God's son. Jesus tells them not to listen to His own testimony to prove who He is but to listen to the testimony of the Father who has given Him the ability to perform the miracles. He says that the Son can't do anything without the Father and learns from what He's seen the Father do. That is how Jesus has been able to bring life back to people; the Father is the provider of life. At the same time, the Father gave the Son certain responsibilities and powers like the judging of people. Jesus says that one day the dead will hear His voice and be judged. This is a common theme in the New Testament that Jesus sits as a judge in Heaven, and only allow those who truly believed into the City of God. He accuses the Pharisees of praising each other and looking for such praise but not seeking praise from God.
Jesus travels to a pool called Bethesda. Supposedly, this pool would occasionally be stirred by an angel, and when it was, the first person to climb into the pool would be healed of any ailments, so terminally ill people crowded by this pool. Today, scholars believe that there were hot springs under the pool that caused healing of pain. One man had been sitting there for 38 years, but every time he tried to get into the pool, somebody else beat him to it. When Jesus saw him, He asked the man if he wanted to be healed. The man thinks Jesus is offering to stay with him until the pool is stirred and help him be the first one in. He refuses to believe that there can be any other way that he can be healed. Society has shaped him to believe that something amazing has to happen in order for him to be healed. He doesn't see that Jesus doesn't follow the rules of society. Jesus is limitless. In the same way our imaginations are limited: here is what success is, this is what you must pray for, heaven looks like earthly success. Jesus wants to free our minds to His will and purpose, not that of society. Furthermore, when the Jewish officials discover this man has been healed on the sabbath, they tell him he can't carry his mat on that day. And then they try to find the one who healed him in order to punish him. They can't see that Jesus was there to overturn the Jewish laws as only the Son of God can. Jesus again hints to hell when He later tells the man to stop sinning before something worse happens to him.
In the second part of chapter 5, Jesus tries to make the Jewish officials understand who He is and what He is doing. They grow angrier at Him because He says He is God's son. Jesus tells them not to listen to His own testimony to prove who He is but to listen to the testimony of the Father who has given Him the ability to perform the miracles. He says that the Son can't do anything without the Father and learns from what He's seen the Father do. That is how Jesus has been able to bring life back to people; the Father is the provider of life. At the same time, the Father gave the Son certain responsibilities and powers like the judging of people. Jesus says that one day the dead will hear His voice and be judged. This is a common theme in the New Testament that Jesus sits as a judge in Heaven, and only allow those who truly believed into the City of God. He accuses the Pharisees of praising each other and looking for such praise but not seeking praise from God.
John 4
Chapter 5: http://www.esvbible.org/John+4/
Jesus stops at a well because He is tired and the disciples go to get some food. When Jesus sees the woman at the well, He asks her for a drink. She is very confused because Jews did not associate with Samaritans, especially Jewish men and Samaritan women. She knows something out of the ordinary is about to occur. He tells her that if she knew who He was, she would ask Him for the living water. In the same way, if we really know who Jesus is, we would ask Him to come into our hearts and fix it in ways that only He can. He proves that anyone can come to salvation through Him because He goes to the "wrong side of town" and sits with the "wrong type of person;" one who has had five husbands and lives with another man, who she is not married to. Even though He already knew all of those things, He proves what is said in John 3:14 about how He did not come to condemn the world but to save it. Even though Jesus knows about all of the awful things that the woman at the well has done, He doesn't judge her, and He even offers her His salvation. She, like Andrew and Phillip in John 1, immediately begins to tell others about Jesus, and the town comes to hear Him. In the end, they profess that they're faith is now based on seeing Jesus for themselves and not just on what the woman said. We can only tell people of Jesus' great power, but it is up to Him to give them proof enough to place their faith in Him. In addition, it says MANY of the people who geard Him believed in Him, but not ALL. Jesus couldn't even sway the opinions of everyone in the crowd; therefore, if we tell others of what Jesus did as we are supposed to, and they reject us, it shouldn't leave us discouraged.
Jesus returns to the same place where He had turned the water into wine, and when He arrives, a Roman official beseeches Him to come save the official's dyeing son. Jesus says that people need to see miracles and amazing things in order to believe. Then Jesus tells the man to go home, and his son will live. The man believes, and upon his return, his servants tell him his son is alive, and that he recovered at the exact time Jesus told the man that the boy would live. At that moment the official and his whole families became believers. Do we have enough faith in Jesus that when He tells us that He's going to fix something, that it will be done? Do we have that same kind of faith as the official?
Jesus stops at a well because He is tired and the disciples go to get some food. When Jesus sees the woman at the well, He asks her for a drink. She is very confused because Jews did not associate with Samaritans, especially Jewish men and Samaritan women. She knows something out of the ordinary is about to occur. He tells her that if she knew who He was, she would ask Him for the living water. In the same way, if we really know who Jesus is, we would ask Him to come into our hearts and fix it in ways that only He can. He proves that anyone can come to salvation through Him because He goes to the "wrong side of town" and sits with the "wrong type of person;" one who has had five husbands and lives with another man, who she is not married to. Even though He already knew all of those things, He proves what is said in John 3:14 about how He did not come to condemn the world but to save it. Even though Jesus knows about all of the awful things that the woman at the well has done, He doesn't judge her, and He even offers her His salvation. She, like Andrew and Phillip in John 1, immediately begins to tell others about Jesus, and the town comes to hear Him. In the end, they profess that they're faith is now based on seeing Jesus for themselves and not just on what the woman said. We can only tell people of Jesus' great power, but it is up to Him to give them proof enough to place their faith in Him. In addition, it says MANY of the people who geard Him believed in Him, but not ALL. Jesus couldn't even sway the opinions of everyone in the crowd; therefore, if we tell others of what Jesus did as we are supposed to, and they reject us, it shouldn't leave us discouraged.
Jesus returns to the same place where He had turned the water into wine, and when He arrives, a Roman official beseeches Him to come save the official's dyeing son. Jesus says that people need to see miracles and amazing things in order to believe. Then Jesus tells the man to go home, and his son will live. The man believes, and upon his return, his servants tell him his son is alive, and that he recovered at the exact time Jesus told the man that the boy would live. At that moment the official and his whole families became believers. Do we have enough faith in Jesus that when He tells us that He's going to fix something, that it will be done? Do we have that same kind of faith as the official?
Friday, September 9, 2011
John 3
Here's the chapter: http://www.esvbible.org/John+3/
In the first part of John 3, Jesus is speaking with a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Unlike many of the Pharisees who were dead set against Jesus' message from the beginning, Nicodemus asks Jesus about he is doing, even calling him Rabbi (or teacher). He tells Jesus that he has come because Jesus has done great miracles. Nicodemus has seen the miracles and knows them to be true; therefore, we can take these tellings to be more true because here was a man who was educated and inquisitive who had every reason not to believe in them and find faults, but those miracles brought him to Jesus. When Jesus talks about being born again, Nicodemus asks how a man can crawl back into his mother's womb. Nicodemus does not understand that it is not enough to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God because even the demons do that. We must believe that he came to Earth to sacrifice Himself and take on the world's sins, so we can live with our Heavenly Father for all of eternity, and that He rose again on the third day after He was dead and buried. What Jesus said completely overturns Jewish teachings. In the old testament, the Jews were God's chosen people by birth. But Jesus says a flesh and blood birth is not enough to enter the kingdom of Heaven. He says the wind blows where it wants, and people can hear it but not know where it comes from or where it is going. The same is those who can be saved by the Spirit. Anyone can be saved: educated or illiterate, religious or full of sin, young or old, etc. Jesus talks about how He can confirm what He's seen because He is the only one on Earth who has seen Heaven. He grows frustrated and asks how if He has made things simple to learn by using Earthly words, and the people do not understand, how would they understand the Heavenly ways? Jesus references a part in Exodus where the people grumble against God, and he sends a poisonous snake to bite the people, and they would have died except that they confessed their sins and asked for deliverance. God instructed Moses to put the snake on a pole, and all who looked at it would be saved. In the same way, Jesus is lifted up for all to be forgiven if they confess their sins, ask for deliverance, and look on Him. Then the most well known verse, John 3:16. God loved the world that He sent Jesus, His son, to pardon the world of their sins if the people believed in Him. JESUS DID NOT COME TO CONDEMN THE WORLD BUT TO SAVE IT. That is the best news in the Bible. God is willing to forgive you for everything you have done and dispose of all judgements if we believe that His son died for us. But John says that some people don't want to be in the light because they enjoy the darkness of their ways. We all know people who won't come to Christ because they will have to change their ways, and they like their ways.
In the second part of John 3, John the Baptist gives a nice complementing idea to what Jesus told Nicodemus. John says Jesus must increase in importance, while he himself must decrease in importance. And just as Jesus previously said that Jesus is the only one who has seen Heaven, so He is the only one who knows of the Heavenly things. John is amazed that the people have chosen not to believe because God has given Jesus so much of the Spirit that He can perform the miracles. John 3:36 reiterates John 3:16, but adds the counterpoint. All who believe in God will have Eternal Life, but those who do not believe in God will have God's eternal anger. That is what Hell is: separation from God forever.
In the first part of John 3, Jesus is speaking with a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Unlike many of the Pharisees who were dead set against Jesus' message from the beginning, Nicodemus asks Jesus about he is doing, even calling him Rabbi (or teacher). He tells Jesus that he has come because Jesus has done great miracles. Nicodemus has seen the miracles and knows them to be true; therefore, we can take these tellings to be more true because here was a man who was educated and inquisitive who had every reason not to believe in them and find faults, but those miracles brought him to Jesus. When Jesus talks about being born again, Nicodemus asks how a man can crawl back into his mother's womb. Nicodemus does not understand that it is not enough to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God because even the demons do that. We must believe that he came to Earth to sacrifice Himself and take on the world's sins, so we can live with our Heavenly Father for all of eternity, and that He rose again on the third day after He was dead and buried. What Jesus said completely overturns Jewish teachings. In the old testament, the Jews were God's chosen people by birth. But Jesus says a flesh and blood birth is not enough to enter the kingdom of Heaven. He says the wind blows where it wants, and people can hear it but not know where it comes from or where it is going. The same is those who can be saved by the Spirit. Anyone can be saved: educated or illiterate, religious or full of sin, young or old, etc. Jesus talks about how He can confirm what He's seen because He is the only one on Earth who has seen Heaven. He grows frustrated and asks how if He has made things simple to learn by using Earthly words, and the people do not understand, how would they understand the Heavenly ways? Jesus references a part in Exodus where the people grumble against God, and he sends a poisonous snake to bite the people, and they would have died except that they confessed their sins and asked for deliverance. God instructed Moses to put the snake on a pole, and all who looked at it would be saved. In the same way, Jesus is lifted up for all to be forgiven if they confess their sins, ask for deliverance, and look on Him. Then the most well known verse, John 3:16. God loved the world that He sent Jesus, His son, to pardon the world of their sins if the people believed in Him. JESUS DID NOT COME TO CONDEMN THE WORLD BUT TO SAVE IT. That is the best news in the Bible. God is willing to forgive you for everything you have done and dispose of all judgements if we believe that His son died for us. But John says that some people don't want to be in the light because they enjoy the darkness of their ways. We all know people who won't come to Christ because they will have to change their ways, and they like their ways.
In the second part of John 3, John the Baptist gives a nice complementing idea to what Jesus told Nicodemus. John says Jesus must increase in importance, while he himself must decrease in importance. And just as Jesus previously said that Jesus is the only one who has seen Heaven, so He is the only one who knows of the Heavenly things. John is amazed that the people have chosen not to believe because God has given Jesus so much of the Spirit that He can perform the miracles. John 3:36 reiterates John 3:16, but adds the counterpoint. All who believe in God will have Eternal Life, but those who do not believe in God will have God's eternal anger. That is what Hell is: separation from God forever.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
John 2
Here is the site for John Chapter 2: http://www.esvbible.org/John+2/
The chapter starts with "three days later." Three is a common number in the Bible, and here He does his first miracle three days after He chooses His disciples just as he does his last miracle three days after he dies. Jesus performs his first miracle in John 2 when he changes water into wine while he attends a wedding. Jesus' mother comes to Him and says that they have run out of wine. He tries to tell her that it's not time because there was a plan that was already in motion starting with his birth, yet Mary did not listen to Him. Jesus' mother already knew he could do great things, but it took a miracle for the disciples to believe. He was up against immeasurable odds; only He can take water and turn it into the most delectable wine. The wedding planner even calls it the best wine of the wedding. God does things in His time and His way. Things are perfect that way. He didn't care that most of the people were already getting drunk on wine. If He had wanted to, He could have just made cheap wine that would have been served at that time anyway, but He had to prove who He was to the world, a miracle at a time.
Jesus goes to the temple and sees that people are using the sacrifices for redemption as a way to make money. He flies off the handle and sends everyone away. Anger in some situations is good and healthy. When Jesus saw the injustice of the temple high priests basically robbing the people who had to buy a sacrifice by charging large sums of money, he needed to show them that it was wrong. When the people react, they ask Him to show them a miracle to prove Himself. He tells them to tear down the temple and he will rebuild it in three days. They think He is referring to the temple that they are at, but He really predicted His death and resurrection, which He does many times. Those people at the temple are the same ones who would later crucify Him. Again and again Jesus calls them out, and agin and again they miss the point, even the disciples don't understand what he means.
The chapter starts with "three days later." Three is a common number in the Bible, and here He does his first miracle three days after He chooses His disciples just as he does his last miracle three days after he dies. Jesus performs his first miracle in John 2 when he changes water into wine while he attends a wedding. Jesus' mother comes to Him and says that they have run out of wine. He tries to tell her that it's not time because there was a plan that was already in motion starting with his birth, yet Mary did not listen to Him. Jesus' mother already knew he could do great things, but it took a miracle for the disciples to believe. He was up against immeasurable odds; only He can take water and turn it into the most delectable wine. The wedding planner even calls it the best wine of the wedding. God does things in His time and His way. Things are perfect that way. He didn't care that most of the people were already getting drunk on wine. If He had wanted to, He could have just made cheap wine that would have been served at that time anyway, but He had to prove who He was to the world, a miracle at a time.
Jesus goes to the temple and sees that people are using the sacrifices for redemption as a way to make money. He flies off the handle and sends everyone away. Anger in some situations is good and healthy. When Jesus saw the injustice of the temple high priests basically robbing the people who had to buy a sacrifice by charging large sums of money, he needed to show them that it was wrong. When the people react, they ask Him to show them a miracle to prove Himself. He tells them to tear down the temple and he will rebuild it in three days. They think He is referring to the temple that they are at, but He really predicted His death and resurrection, which He does many times. Those people at the temple are the same ones who would later crucify Him. Again and again Jesus calls them out, and agin and again they miss the point, even the disciples don't understand what he means.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
John 1
I decided to start with John because it is often a place that's good for beginning Christians to start, so if anyone is reading this and fits that description, it will work well. Plus, it's a good book, so all can enjoy it. If you don't own a Bible, here is a link to a site for the chapter: http://www.esvbible.org/search/john+1/.
In the first five verses, John refers to Jesus as "the Word." He says that the Word has always been around and has been with God. Everything came into existence because of the Word, and he is the light of humanity. John may have chosen to call Jesus the Word because he communicated with people about God's message. He gave people words about God's message, heaven, the future, and even the past; therefore he is the perfect "Word," and we should listen. Verse 5 is incredibly important because the darkness wants to destroy the light, but it can't.
John continues by talking about John the Baptist who told people that the Messiah was soon to come, and they needed to prepare for his arrival. Then, the Word became flesh. Jesus was a real human being who walked with people and shred in their struggles. He is not some distant being that can't connect with humans. When he left, he allowed a way for all people to become children of God and live with him in heaven.
John the Baptist went into the river to baptize people much like we do today. He says that he baptizes with water, but one greater than him baptizes people in the spirit. Just as now, the water baptism is only a symbol for the spiritual change in the person.
Jesus immediately finds some of his disciples. Andrew follows him and even brings his brother Simon along. Jesus renames Simon Peter (Rock) because He will make Peter the foundation of the church. Later, he finds Phillip and simply says, "Follow me!" and without missing a beat, Phillip follows Jesus. He too finds a friend, Nathanael, and brings him to the Jesus. At first Phillip doubts Jesus, but Jesus tells him that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree moments ago, and Nathanael is amazed. Jesus tells him he will see even more amazing things.
In the first chapter, John talks about people spreading the good news to their friends. If every time you went to church, the church gave you $1000, you would bring all of your friends. Jesus is worth so much more, so shouldn't we all be spreading this amazing news to all those around us? Discipleship and outreach is huge in Christianity.
In the last part of the chapter, Jesus predicts the ascension for the first time when he tells his first disciples that they will see angels take the Son of Man to heaven.
In the first five verses, John refers to Jesus as "the Word." He says that the Word has always been around and has been with God. Everything came into existence because of the Word, and he is the light of humanity. John may have chosen to call Jesus the Word because he communicated with people about God's message. He gave people words about God's message, heaven, the future, and even the past; therefore he is the perfect "Word," and we should listen. Verse 5 is incredibly important because the darkness wants to destroy the light, but it can't.
John continues by talking about John the Baptist who told people that the Messiah was soon to come, and they needed to prepare for his arrival. Then, the Word became flesh. Jesus was a real human being who walked with people and shred in their struggles. He is not some distant being that can't connect with humans. When he left, he allowed a way for all people to become children of God and live with him in heaven.
John the Baptist went into the river to baptize people much like we do today. He says that he baptizes with water, but one greater than him baptizes people in the spirit. Just as now, the water baptism is only a symbol for the spiritual change in the person.
Jesus immediately finds some of his disciples. Andrew follows him and even brings his brother Simon along. Jesus renames Simon Peter (Rock) because He will make Peter the foundation of the church. Later, he finds Phillip and simply says, "Follow me!" and without missing a beat, Phillip follows Jesus. He too finds a friend, Nathanael, and brings him to the Jesus. At first Phillip doubts Jesus, but Jesus tells him that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree moments ago, and Nathanael is amazed. Jesus tells him he will see even more amazing things.
In the first chapter, John talks about people spreading the good news to their friends. If every time you went to church, the church gave you $1000, you would bring all of your friends. Jesus is worth so much more, so shouldn't we all be spreading this amazing news to all those around us? Discipleship and outreach is huge in Christianity.
In the last part of the chapter, Jesus predicts the ascension for the first time when he tells his first disciples that they will see angels take the Son of Man to heaven.
What am I doing?
I feel that God has called me to read through the entire Bible over the course of a little less than the next three years. I will make daily posts about what I read in my quiet time. I will generally read about a chapter a day, but maybe more during Psalms when some of the chapters are shorter. Then, I'll simply share what the Holy Sprit taught me in my reading. I won't read the books in order, but I will g through an entire book before moving on to the next. This is kind of my accountability partner, and although I've already read a couple of the books, I'm going to go back and reread. I hope you enjoy!
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