In the Beginning: the Book of John in lesson form by Sean Lawrence

In the Beginning

The Book of John the complete Gospel of John provided in lesson form

by Sean A. Lawrence 1

Preface John’s Gospel is a profoundly mystical book, sometimes surprising in its style and non-traditional content. Though at times appearing to embrace Gnosticism, it establishes its author’s legitimacy as an eyewitness and disciple by displaying detailed knowledge of the events he chose to include. While believed to have been written as late as 85-90 A.D. it is the latest of all of the eyewitness accounts, including those of the Apostle Paul. While authorship is commonly attributed to John the “Beloved Disciple,” scholars question this because of the periodic use of a third person narrative style, and its disconnect from the other 3 gospels referred to as synoptic or “similar.” This does not detract from its content whatsoever. “Nowhere is Jesus’ glory more splendid than in the Fourth Gospel. Nor is his humanity more human than anywhere else – right down to the account of his death and resurrection. And nowhere else does the Son of man, clothed by God with all power, descend more deeply, realistically, and scandalously into human flesh.” -- The Gospel of John by Herman Ridderbos

Acknowledgements All thanks, praise and glory go to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who literally saved my life. I give extra credit to my wife, Rebecca, who works harder than most allowing me to do projects like this. She believes in my ministries and says it’s ok to do what God calls me to. We have come a long way from our days in Greenville with an inflatable bed, one chair and a TV, haven’t we! Because God works in minute, strange, and miraculous ways there is not one individual I have crossed paths with who should not be included in this list; however, space is limited: John, Lois, Steve and Michael Matthews; Mom and Dad Lawrence; daughters Brooks, Katherin and Ashley Siobhan; Jack Poirier; Scott & Jeri Lewis; my many congregations, Bible studies, and Christ-following friends over the years like Belinda, Victoria, Lauren, Beth, Joe, Rodney, Glenn and Jeff; Mike Richmond; Pastor Tara, Pastor Rob, Pastor Carrie, Pastor Ed, Pastor Gary and both Pastors named Chuck; Doug Campbell; Gary Rollstin; brothers Kevin & Keenan; Jack Reeder, Mrs. Kroger, Mrs. Ruby & Mrs. Porter; Alan Capasso; Mom & Dad Hammaker; Tim Lawrence; Arno Froese and Midnight Call Ministries; Jerry Morton, Bill Morse and Tom Macy; Aunt Pat and Uncle Jim, Aunt Phyl and Aunt Bea ...

Note: Unless otherwise indicated all Scriptural passages are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible hardcover © 2010 by Holman Bible Publishers, and online versions using websites e-Sword and theWord. 2

In the Beginning

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 1:1-5[HCSB]) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

hile we generally consider Genesis 1:1 to be the first verse in the Bible, the “chronological” version* uses John 1:1 as the first verse, since its wording and context precede Genesis accounts. Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. Supporting John’s writings as more than coincidental texts, we consider the following in which Jesus makes no apologies as He takes on the mandate and language which God Himself uses to announce Himself to Moses: Exodus 3:14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” John 8:56-58 Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day; he saw it and rejoiced.” The Jews replied, “You aren’t 50 years old yet, and You’ve seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus isn’t just pre-existing with God, He is God! As such Jesus is worthy of all honor, glory and praise as the pre-existent Light that shone in the darkness before lights were formed. All things were created by Him, for Him, through Him and with Him. Jesus is the author of life itself which He gives and takes at His pleasure. On the cross He gave up His life; at the resurrection He took up His life and takes up all believers with Him.

* Reese Chronological Bible: This edition is probably the most finely-detailed effort to present the Scriptures in chronological order, according to both the historical position of the narrative (it starts with John 1:1) and the chronological authorship of its books.

In the Fourth Gospel Jesus is at the center of a deep and mysterious theology: the incarnate Son defeats that which separates God the Father and His children: sin. John’s sole purpose throughout is to present Jesus as the eternal Word made flesh, and to express the nature of a Triune Godhead. Note: As “the Word” Jesus is the only face of God that humanity has ever gazed upon. 3

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 1:6-18[HCSB]) 6 There was a man named John who was sent from God. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. 12 But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning Him and exclaimed, “This was the One of whom I said, ‘The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He existed before me.) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son — the One who is at the Father’s side — He has revealed Him.

A man named John

ohn the Baptist was that man; and he was also the cousin of Jesus, probably second or third, but a cousin, nonetheless. His mother Elizabeth and Mary’s were cousins; Elizabeth had also received a special gift of childbirth from the Lord. John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb upon the presence of Jesus in Mary’s. John, himself, was on a mission to glorify Jesus from the womb … to bear witness to Him, before either man was born in the flesh. In spirit and in truth, the die had been set before either man was conceived. In the same way as John we are not the light, but we testify to the Light. Our whole purpose as disciple-makers is to testify that the Light is Jesus. We shine brightly; we are cities on hills and beacons in the valleys; we are lights unto the paths of others and we can rightly say that we are “glow in the dark people.” We do not glow on our own but as dim planets that reflect the Light of the Son. We must understand that many will cover their eyes or turn away from the Light altogether. John the Baptist was, himself, beheaded. There is a movement underway in England called Sunday Assemblies at which attendees are asked “to check God at the door.” Britons generally claim that they are not a Christian country and boast 3 out of 4 not being “religious.” That, by the way, is code for being an unbeliever. I suspect this movement will gain traction in the United States and elsewhere. As believers we are to bear witness to the identity of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Lord. What does it mean “to bear witness?” The use of the phrase refers to legal proceedings and means to “testify” under oath. Even though we have all denied Jesus at various times in our lives, He never denied us. It’s now time to stand up and testify as witnesses for the defense. The prosecution (Satan) is betting we will be “no shows.” Bear witness in this way: “This is the One I told you about. Jesus is God.” Lift up His name at all times and in all places. Love one another and gather “two or three at a time” for in that way we bear witness to His presence.

I am not the Messiah

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 1:19-27[HCSB]) 19 This is John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you? ” 20 He did not refuse to answer, but he declared: “I am not the Messiah.” 21 “What then? ” they asked him. “Are you Elijah? ” “I am not,” he said. “Are you the Prophet? ” “No,” he answered. 22 “Who are you, then? ” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself? ” 23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord — just as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet? ” 26 “I baptize with water,” John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know Him. 27 He is the One coming after me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.” Note: use of Tyndale NLT Life Application Study Bible notes

ohn sets the tone for all that is to come: he doesn’t begin with genealogies, or with the annunciation of the virgin birth: He focuses on the timelessness of Jesus as Logos and then allows John the Baptist to establish that he is not a resurrected prophet or a god, but a humble servant of the Messiah whose arrival was imminent. He further redirects the attention of the Pharisees by using the cultural trick of “heralding” which was a Roman custom. The ploy, it was hoped, would sow the seeds of curiosity by creating an atmosphere of anticipation. But understand, John was coming out of the wilderness an ascetic, looking like a crazy man, wearing camel hair clothing, and was thought to be the resurrection of Elijah, the prophet Isaiah, or even the Messiah Himself; and he was baptizing Jews, not Gentiles, as was the Hebrew tradition. One wonders if Jesus, being heralded by such an unusual individual, would be taken any more seriously. What do you think the Pharisees and the people really expected? Luke tells us from the recollections of eyewitnesses that John the Baptist came eating locusts and honey appearing wild-eyed, while Jesus came eating and drinking with sinners … the implication was that Jesus drank excessively with the wrong people. Both were thought to be “off the hook” in the eyes of the Orthodox Jews of the day. In this way it is John who uses Mark’s narrative, the recollections of Peter. Both writers extract Scripture from Isaiah 40:3 to herald the coming Christ which is completed in 40:1-11. But John the Baptist goes much further than heralding Christ; he deifies Him! He even declares himself unworthy “to untie Jesus’ sandal strap.” The Pharisees missed the point altogether, however. They wanted to know who John was, while John was desperately attempting to gather ears and hearts for Jesus. John is not setting the stage for himself, but the entrance of the Messiah, who will be both servant to the cross and Master of it. 5

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 1:28-34[HCSB]) 28 All this happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t know Him, but I came baptizing with water so He might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I watched the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him. 33 I didn’t know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on — He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God! ”7

He is the Son of God

ohn the Baptist is the first proclaimer of the Good News, which is Jesus the Christ. He came eating locusts and honey fresh out of the wilderness calling all men to repent in preparation for the Messiah and the new kingdom. John’s sole purpose was to glorify Jesus, and it began in the womb as we are told in the Gospel of Luke. John leapt in the presence of Jesus, even though both were unborn. Our sole purpose, as well, is to glorify Jesus. Good works are only good if done in His name. We might also do well to consider what John says, as it is a humble response to God and to service. He says, “After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because he existed before me.” All believers and nonbelievers alike should allow this to echo within their souls. It provides perspective and grounding in a world increasingly marked by chaos and turmoil. John was a revealer, and in real terms this presentation of Jesus was a revelation no less important than when the veil of the Temple was torn at the crucifixion. This presentation of Jesus as Christ and Savior was indeed an apocalyptic event. One of historic consequence. In modern vernacular this was a “game changer.” Nothing would ever be the same, and we should be deeply grateful. God tells each one of us who Jesus is either by the way of direct spiritual intervention, the testimony of another individual, or through technology itself. In this way we have all been presented with Jesus. Do we accept Him and follow Him as rabbi, or do we walk back into our old lives as disillusioned as before? Pretend for a moment that you are on the banks of the River Jordan, at Bethany, and John is presenting Jesus to you; how will you choose? Will you choose to follow the Son of God?

You will be “The Rock”

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 1:35-42[HCSB]) 35 Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God! ” 37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following Him, He asked them, “What are you looking for? ” They said to Him, “* Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are You staying? ”

f one should ask, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” wouldn’t it be satisfying to hear, “In his heart, and her heart, but most certainly in your heart.” But, I digress. If someone pointed out “the Lamb of God” to us today, the only followers would be law enforcement and maybe a handful of the curious. This seems to have been the case early on in the Christian* movement. The curious and the Pharisees were undoubtedly the most abundant group of onlookers. Jesus asked those following Him, “What are you looking for?” It is probably wise to ask those who are in our churches and missional groups the same question. It seems obvious enough that those with us would be seeking Jesus, but we may surprised. As we discover later in John’s Gospel, the Disciples themselves exclaim, “It is hard to do this …” after listening to Jesus spell out what is actually required of them in literal and spiritual terms.

39 “Come and you’ll see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day. It was about 10 in the morning.2

So, consider Simon Peter, who was not the first follower, and appeared to be one of the least prepared for the journey. He was a successful fisherman, and knew something about the politics of the day. And, he knew enough about his Jewish faith to be a real danger to himself and others.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah! ”29 (which means “Anointed One”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus.

Yet, this coarse, and marginally faithful individual is called out by Jesus to be Cephas or “the Rock.”

When Jesus saw him, He said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called * Cephas” (which means “Rock”).

Who are we called to be, and are we willing to give our lives for Jesus? Peter said, “Yes, Lord!, and paid the ultimate price.

* The term “Christian” was not used until about 65 A.D in Antioch, Syria. Where Peter ministered.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

((John 1:43-51 [HCSB]) 43 The next day He decided to leave for Galilee. Jesus found Philip and told him, “Follow Me! ” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth! ” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? ” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered. 47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, “Here is a true Israelite; no deceit is in him.” 48 “How do you know me? ” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. 49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! ” 50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe only because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then He said, “ I assure you: You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Can anything good come out of (

t intrigues me that Jesus was not put off by Nathanael’s comment, which was undoubtedly a form of local prejudice. Instead, Jesus was refreshed by someone “calling it as he saw it,” not hiding behind pretense, office or protocol. This approach can be used for all truth seekers, realizing everyone comes from a small town. Being inquisitive and humble in the name of Jesus is the beginning of wisdom, I believe. This is why Jesus said, “Here is a true Israelite; no deceit is in him.” Are we true to our Godly nature, and is there no deceit in us? Are we true to our Lord; do we share our unbridled passion as followers of Jesus Christ? Will you drop everything and follow Him? Deceit means a trick or falseness. We must always be aware that deceit itself is a subtle signal that we are already honoring darkness, and not the light. We must be at all times repentant, free of unholiness, free of trickery, and bent in the direction of the cross. We must know that God knows our hearts, deceit and all. Jesus not only physically saw Nathanael, but spiritually “saw” him in the way God knew each of us before we were knitted in the womb … In the same way Peter said “You are the Messiah the Son of the living God!” in Matthew 16:16, Nathanael affirms “You are the Son of God.” John’s mission is to leave us absolutely no doubt as to the true identity of Jesus. The story of Philip and Nathanael is a perfect example of this narrative at work. And for his belief, our protagonist is rewarded. He will see greater things. Note 1: the customary practice was a disciple taking the initiative, not the rabbi. Note 2: the expression “the Law and the Prophets” was a common reference to the Old Testament in its entirety.

The time is now

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 2:1-11[HCSB]) 1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman? ” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever He tells you,” His mother told the servants. 6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.” And they did. 9 When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from — though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

ur passage about the finest wine being left until “now” is a strong statement about God’s timing for Jesus Christ Himself. In Jesus He kept the finest wine (His only Son) until an appropriate moment, and then gave Him to the world: His blood a covenant. While the world is drunk on itself, and enamored with all of its acquisitions (having consumed the inferior wine), God has poured out His Son (the fine wine) at just the right time: the “now” is truly “in this church age,” but sadly many of the most inebriated on the inferior product cannot taste the fine wine of salvation. We are told time and time again in the New and Old Testaments to stay sober and vigilant so that opportunity does not pass us by in our drunken state. (see Luke 21:34) Of course this passage also refers to the condition of religion at that time of Christ’s ministry, when Judaism needed to be revived and transformed in the worst way; but it also speaks directly to our own spiritual condition today. We who believe also struggle against the convenience of religion and church. Do we wait until we have run out of the inferior wine and then seek a miracle? Or do we make ourselves part of the solution by emulating the fine wine? Note: being sober and awake is also literal.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 2:13-22 [HCSB]) 13 The Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple complex He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and He also found the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords, He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a marketplace! ” 17 And His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for Your house will consume Me. 18 So the Jews replied to Him, “What sign of authority will You show us for doing these things? ” 19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days.” 20 Therefore the Jews said, “This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days? ” 21 But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.

My Father’s House

here is a lot of discussion about what the church is, and is not, these days. The church being referring to in this lesson is a spinoff of the Roman government under Constantine in the 4th century. Most of us know it as the institutional church of the post war era. Another critical issue, of course, is whether we do, in fact, make the churches we attend places of commerce: maybe not selling animals for sacrifice or lending money for that purpose, but using our holy places for purposes other than teaching Scripture and proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior. What about the non-profit status, denominations hosting festivals where beer and wine are served, or promoting an atmosphere more like a high-end entertainment venue than a sanctuary? What about a McDonald’s or Subway restaurant in the church complex? What about book stores and gift shops where sacred items are sold for profit? We don’t like to admit that we have made our churches, especially seeker churches, an extension of our own corporate culture with all of the amenities … but we have. In Europe, especially Britain, an alternative, a backlash of sorts, is being explored: churches are vacant and being re-inhabited by “godless meetings” where secular excitement is conducted at a fever pitch. This is the ultimate rebellion against an irrelevant church. All this to say … we must be on guard to protect our own “tents of meeting” from becoming marketplaces. It is no secret that we are a grace-based body existing in a currency-driven world. We offer true freedom in a world where everything is literally bought and sold. What would we do to increase profits and attendance? What is the burden (or burdens) that a congregation bears for such materialistic practices?

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 3:1-8[HCSB]) 1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Him at night and said, “ Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “ I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 “But how can anyone be born when he is old? ” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born? ” 5 Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

There was a man from the Pharisees

icodemus’ meeting with Jesus under the cover of darkness is an incident that sparks both intrigue and misunderstanding. The nighttime meeting between the Rabbi and His pupil suggests a clandestine alliance, and overtones of discontent within the Sanhedrin, itself. Additionally, there have always been questions surrounding their dialogue, especially as it pertained to being “born again.” Of course this is not about being reborn physically from a mother’s womb, but spiritually from the womb of God’s Spirit and boundless grace. Spiritual change is the goal, not a public display of immersion which can be like praying in public, and is its own reward. In verse 6 Jesus makes the distinction. While Jesus affirms both physical baptism (immersion) and spiritual renewal (repentance), His primary emphasis is upon the newness of one’s spirit. In both the Hebrew and the Greek the same word is used for spirit and wind, or breath. It is the word “pneuma” in the Greek and “ruach” in the Hebrew. While the wind’s origin is invisible, its effects can be observed; it is the same of those born of the Spirit. (Holman Study Bible, pg 1808) Jesus then asks Nichodemus to take the next steps and believe in Him as “the Son of Man,” tying His arrival on the current religious scene to messianic prophecy which was well-understood to all Pharisees and studied Jews. I believe that there is also the implication that if he were truly a reborn believer, he might come to see his teacher in the light of day and not under the cover of darkness.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 3:14-21[HCSB]) 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. 16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. 19 “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Serious Red Letter stuff

ithout a doubt Jesus’ own words are the best understanding of His intention for us. If you really want to know what Jesus did or said read the Gospels and keep an open heart and a keen eye. Do not let yourself be deceived. By that I mean to prevent us from deceiving ourselves for the benefit of our convenience. There is a very key word used in 3:17 which, I believe, is generally overlooked (intentionally) because it puts the onus back on each believer to decide for himself. The key word is “might.” Why is this so critical? It is critical because it does not say that Jesus would do this, but that He might. In essence He is saying that He will not override our own decision-making because He is a God of grace. By the way, I have not found a translation consensus that disagrees with this wording, or wording like it. And yes, the King James 1611 version uses the same language. In this way our salvation is predicated on our desire to be saved. This establishes a true covenant. People love darkness because it literally covers a multitude of sins. It is a choice to seek the Light in the same way it is a choice to flip the switch in a darkened room … unless you like falling over chairs and cracking your shins on coffee tables (to use the metaphor). This sounds really obvious, I know, but we make the craziest decisions, and come up with the most twisted rationale, to put off changing our current predicament. You might say this isn’t true, but you might be wrong. And, finally, why the reference to snakes and Jesus? It is a reminder that Jesus was lifted up to save us from our sin in the same way the serpent was lifted up by Moses to save those who had been bitten.* * see Numbers 21:8

Above all

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 3:27-36 [HCSB])

he One who comes from above is above all. This One is our Jesus.

With Jesus as our point of reference, let’s break this down into a bite-sized theology:

27 John responded, “No one can receive a single thing unless it’s given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

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31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true. 34 For God sent Him, and He speaks God’s words, since He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

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No one can receive a single thing unless it’s given to him from heaven. He who has the bride is the groom; the groom’s friend stands by, listens for him, and rejoices at the sound of his voice. He must increase, but we must decrease. The One who comes from above (or from heaven, from the Father) is above all. No one accepted the testimony of the One from above. The one who does accept the testimony affirms that God is true. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not believe will not have eternal life. God’s wrath (righteous judgment) remains on Him.

What we have in the book of John is affirmation that Jesus is indeed the Son of God; but we also have the foundation for a “progressive theology.” This term progressive does not mean new or improved, but that it builds upon itself illustrating steps from acceptance to belief and then to eternal consequence (salvation, or maybe more accurately transformation). In this passage John the Baptist’s witness is the example used to illustrate this progress toward, and culminating in, eternal consequence: we have either the gift of grace or the continued wrath of God. The reality of our personal struggle is not lost on God, and suggests He knows the difficulty we have in rejoicing in one another’s blessing. So that no individual or congregation might boast, considering themselves “above,” He offers His gift to all.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

((John 4:1-6[HCSB]) 1 When Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard He was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), 3 He left Judea and went again to Galilee. 4 He had to travel through Samaria, 5 so He came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, worn out from His journey, sat down at the well. It was about six in the evening.

Jesus steps out of the way

reface: This lesson is being used as both a bridge forward to address the “woman at the well,” and a reference to the previous lesson #7 to support the understanding that real baptism transforms in the spiritual, and not in the physical. This, as you may remember, was the subject of Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus under the cover of darkness. Jesus intentionally avoided competition with John the Baptist and did not feed into the interests of the Pharisees and their agenda-laden discourse. A key point in support of this is that Jesus’ disciples (John the Baptist being one of them, by definition) were indeed baptizing; but not Jesus. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Jesus ever baptized with water. This helps us more clearly appreciate what was at the center of the nocturnal teaching between Jesus and Nicodemus. Jesus does not discount the usefulness of water baptism, but makes transparent the doctrine of true baptism being a change in the condition of one’s spirit, not simply washing off the exterior of the body. He makes this abundantly stark in Luke 11:39 putting the Pharisees on notice that He knows their hearts … that they were very adept at ceremonially washing the outside, but neglected the inside where the real darkness resides. At this time John reflects on Jesus setting out with His Disciples to Galilee, leaving John the Baptist to his work, and makes His way through Samaria to a place where there was greater need. The greater need in this case was the spiritual condition of a lowly Samaritan woman. There would be other more appropriate times for doing theological battle with the Pharisees and the scribes. We should go where we are called, and where there is a simple need, as opposed to engaging in intellectual jousting in an effort to knock someone off their high horse. Jesus is quite capable of defending Himself.

At the well

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 4:7-24[HCSB]) It was about six in the evening.

orship in spirit and truth. As we discuss the passage let us consider what it means to worship in spirit and truth,* which is often glossed over I think, because we get so engrossed in Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. “Give Me a drink,” Jesus said to her, 8 for His disciples had gone into town to buy food. 9 “How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? ” she asked Him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.” 11 “Sir,” said the woman, “You don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do You get this ‘living water’? 12 You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are You? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.”

Jesus prophesies to the woman and holds her accountable for her lifestyle, which she accepts from Him. Note that He did not condemn her, but allowed her own conscience to weigh heavily upon her. In this manner the woman could confront her sin as there was no public condemnation from Jesus. Instead He offers her living water which is the spiritual equivalent of a new beginning, a second chance at life.

13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again — ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.” 19 “Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, yet you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”



Jesus also offers this woman something special, which he avoided so effectively in other circumstances: He confirms that He is the Messiah, the Christ. Key points:    

Jew and Samaritan can be one. Jesus’ well is deep; in Him the living water flows for all eternity. Salvation is from the Jews, but not only for them; Gentiles can be grafted in. An hour is coming, and it has arrived. Worship will not be in Jerusalem but in spirit and truth.

*Spirit and truth refers to the appropriate worship of Jesus Christ as an outpouring of faith, not ceremony: God is spirit and Jesus is truth. Worship is no longer a legal matter. (Matthew Henry’s Commentary)

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 4:31-38[HCSB]) 31 In the meantime the disciples kept urging Him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But He said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” 33 The disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought Him something to eat?” 34 “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work,” Jesus told them. 35 “Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest. 36 The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so the sower and reaper can rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor.”

Sow, Reap and Sow again

his is probably the most basic life lesson we will ever learn: True to form Jesus keeps it real and practical. I have also investigated the implications of sowing and reaping, and what next steps we rarely explore. Yes, we reap what we sow; but it is also true that we sow again, and we reap again, as a natural result of our harvests. If we are not careful we are likely to sow the seeds of the previous harvest. This is metaphorical and literal, spiritual and physical. The question will always be, “after sowing and reaping your personal harvest, how will you now sow? Will you sow the same seed or something different? Will you sow the same seed in a new place expecting a different crop, or will you sow seeds of a new variety … a harvest that honors God and feeds men?” There are so many choices, and just as many consequences. It is our ability to choose that makes a life worth living. If there were no compelling outcomes, and no significant challenges, would living really be worth it; would God be honored in it? Paul in Romans 5 says not. In this manner the spiritual seeds we have planted grow and nourish in the same way the true food and living water of Jesus Christ satisfies. If we sow wisely there will be bountiful harvests to reap, and Jesus tells us that we will rejoice together in heaven. This answers a question that had remained unanswered for me: “will we know the impact of the seeds we have planted?” The answer is yes, but not necessarily in this lifetime. In Christ we also reap what we did not sow. We harvest a crop that feeds the body, mind, soul and spirit even though we have sown seeds of thistles and thorns. We are given the bread that is our Lord’s body for sustenance, and given drink that is His blood to quench our thirst. We live because of Him buried and resurrected. We live because He lives, not because we planted anything wonderful to harvest..

Hearing for ourselves

In the Beginning: The Book of John ((John 4:39-45[HCSB]) 39 Now many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 Therefore, when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of what He said. 42 And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.” 43 After two days He left there for Galilee. 44 Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 When they entered Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him because they had seen everything He did in Jerusalem during the festival. For they also had gone to the festival.

can’t say often enough how important it is to hear the voice of Jesus in our own hearts. We can hear others preach and teach, but until we know Him, and hear Him speak, real change doesn’t take place. When our hearts are convicted, and Jesus speaks to us in the Spirit of salvation, we hear His words and feel His calling in a brand new way. I think what the other Samaritans heard was that “still small voice” that fills up our souls with passion and purpose, and a new-found conscience. In sacred terms we call this conviction. Yes, a response to God’s voice is where “the peace that passes all understanding” takes root. Though all will hear His voice, few will take Him to heart. Part two of this passage is particularly interesting because of its traditional meaning: it maintains the theme of the maligned prophet. Jesus refers broadly to prophets not being accepted historically by Israel because what they generally had to say was convicting and foreboding. Rarely does one like to hear difficult truths. Thematically Matthew 13:57 and Luke 4:24 expand on this. It becomes clear when we consider that those of us who have been saved may return to our own hometowns and families as “unwanted prophets.” Suppose our personal credibility is tainted because of what people think we are (or were) rather than the individuals we have become? It always goes to credibility. Consider that Jesus was not simply distasteful and inconvenient to the Jews, but actually offended the people He preached to. Luke tells us that those gathered in the synagogue at Nazareth tried to throw Him off a cliff, but could not; Jesus walked back through the crowd unable to be touched. When we do what is unconventional it may not be accepted at first; in fact those we are trying to help may turn against us. Remember the cross …

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 4:46-54[HCSB]) 46 Then He went again to Cana of Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. There was a certain royal official whose son was ill at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and pleaded with Him to come down and heal his son, for he was about to die. 48 Jesus told him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” 49 “Sir,” the official said to Him, “come down before my boy dies! ” 50 “Go,” Jesus told him, “your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and departed. 51 While he was still going down, his slaves met him saying that his boy was alive. 52 He asked them at what time he got better. “Yester-day at seven in the morning the fever left him,” they answered. 53 The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” Then he himself believed, along with his whole household. 54 This, therefore, was the second sign Jesus performed after He came from Judea to Galilee.*

The second sign

t is not said, but I wonder if this official had heard about Jesus’ ability to turn water into wine and took a chance that He might be able to save his son? It is unlikely that this man knew Jesus as more than a rabbi with special powers. What would we do, and whom would we seek, in our desperation? If the son had not been healed I wonder if the man would have still believed … I doubt it. This is why Jesus said, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will not believe.” This is a lesson about faith, and not about healing, as it may first appear. Jesus knew all of this would be written down and transmitted to the whole body of believers. As such, He is making a case for believing with or without miracles to underpin our faith. Knowing that while many will find their strength, albeit temporarily, in the miraculous answers to prayer, far greater numbers will fall away when prayer is not “answered in the affirmative.” How many testimonies have you heard that began with, “I was a strong believer until …,” which almost always continues with a tale of hurt and disappointment because God either did not step in and save a dying relative or prevent a wrong from occurring? I think it is a universal response to what we cannot understand nor control. The hardest thing a believer will ever do is to continue to believe in the mercy and grace of God in Jesus Christ through the good, the bad, the hurt and the joy … but more importantly … when life is on course and there is nothing to report. There is a profound beauty and peace when we believe simply because we find life richer and more abundant in God’s presence, rather than when we are at our highest high or our lowest low.

This is the second sign in Cana though there were probably others in the interim.

The Third Sign

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 5:1-8[HCSB]) 1 After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five colonnades. 3 Within these lay a large number of the sick — blind, lame, and paralyzed [ — waiting for the moving of the water, 4 because an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water. Then the first one who got in after the water was stirred up recovered from whatever ailment he had]. 5 One man was there who had been sick for 38 years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well? ”

sking whether someone wants to get well may seem to be begging the obvious. But consider how many of us have made being sick a lifestyle. Jesus may have also been implying the same companion question, “Do you want to remain sick and disabled?” It is a fair question. Sickness often becomes what we know and can best relate to. We are very good at it. Maybe the first one to get up and step in the water at Bethsaida was also the most willing to be set on a healthy course. In healing there always has to be intention and passion on the part of the individual to be healed. It has been said before, but I will reiterate: God can do anything though He will not often override our freewill. Healing, like any covenant must be a two-way street. There must be the ability of the One to heal, and the other to be healed. If not, it just won’t work! Physical healing is, under even the most gracious circumstances, relatively rare. It is the spiritual aspect of healing that must be our focus, for it alone is eternal.

7 “Sir,” the sick man answered, “I don’t have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.”

When the crippled man tells Jesus there isn’t a man there to help him into the pool, Jesus tells him to get up and walk. I think this speaks volumes into what we are to be about doing if we are to get well, recover, or experience healing of any kind: we are to get up and walk, to begin the journey right where we are stuck. Staying where we have always been only guarantees that nothing will ever change, and that we will remain in the same place God found us. All real and lasting change begins with a total reliance upon Jesus Christ. Unless we change, nothing changes.

8 “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk! ” 9 Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk.

So it seems that we must have a desire to get into a place of healing. When Jesus asks the man if he wants to get well, I believe we could all answer, “maybe,” as we reflect upon our personal sin. Are we willing to do whatever it takes? Do we really want to get well; to pick up our mats and walk again?

Something worse

In the Beginning: The Book of John

((John 5:9-18[HCSB])

esus’ thinly cloaked warning about sinning after intervention is also at the heart of what He told the woman who was dragged to the gates of the city to be stoned for her indiscretions:

9 Now that day was the Sabbath, 10 so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It’s illegal for you to pick up your mat.”

John 8:10-11 When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ” “No one, Lord”, she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

11 He replied, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”

I interpret this to mean that Jesus is making clear the consequences of certain choices and warns against them if we truly wish to see different results. This is not a startling revelation, just a point of view we do not generally associate with the mandate from a traditional pulpit. We know it is not humanly possible to go and “sin no more.” However, it is very clear to each of us that if we continue our sinful behavior something worse will undoubtedly happen. All of us being amateur odds makers, we know that the law of averages works against us (not for us) the longer we persist in any given activity.

12 “Who is this man who told you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’? ” they asked. 13 But the man who was cured did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 After this, Jesus found him in the * temple complex and said to him, “See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” 15 The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” 18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill Him: Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

So, what is the real violation here? It is not simply healing a man that stirs the ire of the Pharisees; it is Jesus’ continued bending and breaking of legalities by which He relentlessly mocks the religious establishment in Jerusalem. This is not an issue of faith in any way, shape or form. Note in verse 16 that this Sabbath healing wasn’t an isolated incident; Jesus was evidently doing many more things that were ruffling feathers, and He was highly intentional about it! What we must take away from this is the fact that for all that we do (or do not do) there are specific outcomes. As individuals with freewill, we are allowed be healed, and to be on our way, no matter the day of the week. But will we repent, and then tell our communities that “Jesus made us well?”

The will of Him who sent Me

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 5:19-30[HCSB]) 19 Then Jesus replied, “ I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. 21 And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to anyone He wants to. 22 The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. 25 “I assure you: An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted to the Son to have life in Himself. 27 And He has granted Him the right to pass judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come out — those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment. 30 “I can do nothing on My own. I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

e all know that this kind of thinking requires a complete overhaul. To do the will of another contradicts our cultural sense of independence and selfreliance. We hear in one ear “Thy will be done” and in the other ear, “My will be done.” It is a confusing and mixed set of messages. Most of us, early on, synthesize this and conclude that the will of God is a reflection of the will of self. That works for a while, but it cannot save us when we have really made a mess of things. That is when most of us shift gears: when we discover that we do not have the resources to save ourselves or others. What are some key points to keep us sane and grounded in a “me first” world? Consider: I. “The Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing. II. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. III. … an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. IV. … He has granted Him the right to pass judgment, because He is the Son of Man. V. … all who are in the graves will come out—those who have done good things to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked, to the resurrection of judgment. VI. I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” The good news here is that God is giving us all a “heads up” so that we are fully aware of His intentions, and the incredible opportunity to choose the condition and location of our eternity. This is an unparalleled blessing from a God who is willing to give back ... even to those who participated in the violent death of His beloved Son. While we eternal Word made flesh. As “the Word” Jesus is the only face of God that humanity has ever gazed upon. 21

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 5:31-38 [HCSB]) 31 “If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid. 32 There is Another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony He gives about Me is valid. 33 You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 I don’t receive man’s testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a time you were willing to enjoy his light. 36 “But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about Me that the Father has sent Me. 37 The Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have not heard His voice at any time, and you haven’t seen His form. 38 You don’t have His word living in you, because you don’t believe the One He sent. 39 You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me. 40 And you are not willing to come to Me so that you may have life.

The Living Word

esus sets a precedent that we all should consider as we assert the authority associated with our individual and community calling. He says that He does not testify about Himself … in other words, He does not “toot his own horn.” He allows the truth of His actions to speak for itself. Better yet, He takes no credit whatsoever for His testimony, telling us that testifying about oneself is invalid. He honors only the testimony of the prophet John, and the Father. Why would Jesus allow the testimony of others to speak more loudly than His own words or actions? Firstly, it harks back to Jewish law and the witness of at least two others, and secondly, it suggests that we should not be self-promoting. We are to let our lives speak the loudest! Such testimony, and its accompanying credibility, can only occur over time, asserted in Spirit and in Truth. By this I mean to say one’s works must always be evidenced by the work of the Holy Spirit and they must honor Jesus who is Himself the Way, Truth and Life. Jesus is always the best and most humble example of His own gospel. As such we should strive to be, and to do, as He did. In this passage there are four witnesses to Jesus, all of whom have great authority: Jesus Himself, The Father, The Holy Spirit and the prophet John. In this scenario there are more than enough witnesses, and more than enough evidence, to suggest indisputable truth in a court of law … truth beyond the shadow of any doubt. Are there enough witnesses, and ample evidence to compel you to believe? If you were on a grand jury would you be able to convict Jesus of being God given the witnesses and the evidence presented? Have you considered that it is not Jesus on trial in this passage, but the world itself?

How can we believe?

In the Beginning: The Book of John ((John 5:41-47[HCSB]) 41 “I do not accept glory from men, 42 but I know you — that you have no love for God within you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, yet you don’t accept Me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe? While accepting glory from one another, you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God. 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. 47 But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe My words? ”

imple acceptance of Jesus is our only avenue to salvation.

When Jesus is talking about “believing Moses” we have to consider the context of what that meant in the time and place of Jesus’ ministry. And … how, you might ask, did Moses write about Jesus? 1.) The context was a land under the traditional covering of Yahweh [God] and whose tradition was steeped in the inerrant Scripture of the Torah from which all laws and culture were drawn. Jesus is equating Himself with the primary author and prophet of the Hebrew faith. Jesus is the new Moses. 2.) How Moses wrote about Jesus is in the way he wrote about God Himself. Jesus is stating that not only is He “on par” with the Father, but that He is the Father. That alone was a blasphemy worthy of being stoned to death for under Jewish law. Deuteronomy 18:15-19 says: 15 “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. 16 This is what you requested from the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, ‘Let us not continue to hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire any longer, so that we will not die! ’ 17 Then the LORD said to me, ‘They have spoken well. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. 19 I will hold accountable whoever does not listen to My words that he speaks in My name ...”

In the Beginning: The Book of John

((John 6:1-10 [HCSB]) 1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 And a huge crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was performing by healing the sick. 3 So Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near. 5 Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread so these people can eat? ” 6 He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do. 7 Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish — but what are they for so many? ” 10 Then Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.”

So little bread, so many people 19

This is the fourth sign.

hat is fascinating, if we read this passage closely, is the motivation of the people that were following Jesus. The prevalence of illness and disability seems to be a theme that makes Galilee, two thousand years ago, very similar to the times we are living in. What motivates us has not changed significantly over the millennia: “And a huge crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was healing the sick.” The reason that the crowd was unusually large was because of the people who were assembling themselves for the Passover festival in and around Jerusalem. Yet, Jesus knows that within any group seeking entertainment and personal relief, there are those who have a genuine heart for God. Those are the individuals He ministers to in the larger context of the “five thousand.” Jesus took advantage of the crowds of festival-goers to have the infrequent opportunity afforded by a mass audience. This is a phenomenon that we take for granted today. If we keep in mind that John’s primary goal is to remind us of Jesus’ identity as Messiah, then we begin to see that Philip’s question goes to a more deeply theological place. The answer to the disciple’s seemingly mundane question is that Jesus Himself is the bread of life, and He alone will sustain the believer in the way that manna sustained those in exodus from Egypt. We can also assume that when Jesus asked the crowd to be seated during the feeding, that He may have also intended to teach while they ate. What is the real meal miracle?

Note: How much is two hundred denarii? If a single denarius is 1 day’s working wage, then it appears that it would have taken the equivalent of about 7 to 8 months wages to feed the crowd.

The real miracle

In the Beginning: The Book of John 19 (John 6:10b-15[HCSB]) There was plenty of grass in that place, so they sat down. The men numbered about 5,000. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were seated — so also with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they were full, He told His disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they collected them and filled 12 baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, “This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world! ” 15 Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.

f, as it is asserted, there were more than 15,000 individuals assembled to hear Jesus, then there was far more food required than the disciples could have purchased at one time, even if they had the available resources and time to do so. So, there was indeed a miracle performed that day; but what exactly was the miracle that occurred one spring day on the cool grassy shores of the Sea of Galilee? Was it Christ multiplying the loaves and fishes Himself, or was it the sharing of personal belongings which provided more than enough to eat for each man, woman, and child? Was it the gift of giving itself that provided such abundance? I am not attempting to rewrite, or to reinterpret what the author of John and the others have written, but to try and better appreciate the true nature of our miraculous God and Savior. Our Thanksgiving tradition gives us an annual glimpse into the miracle of feeding the 5000. For a brief time we gather and share what we have with those who have enough, and those who have little. The math tells us that if we pool our resources all will have more than enough if the abundance is distributed evenly and consumed wisely. The “Law of Divine Abundance” suggests that there is more than enough for each man, woman, and child (worldwide) if we do not hoard out of fear or make goods scarce for the sake of profit. It should be noted that this same event is found in Matthew chapter 14, and is repeated to Gentiles numbering 4000 in chapter 16. Jesus felt incredible compassion for His followers. In His compassion what was the practical knowledge He wanted them to take away from the experience … one that we can practice today since fishes and loaves are still not produced without the use of nets and ovens? Sheep feeding themselves is miraculous. 25

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 6:16-25[HCSB]) 16 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 Then a high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. 19 After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid! ” 21 Then they were willing to take Him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading. 22 The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea knew there had been only one boat. They also knew that Jesus had not boarded the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had gone off alone. 23 Some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord gave thanks. 24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

The Fifth sign: walking on water

ow would you react if you had rowed a long distance, in this case half-way across the sea, and then saw someone walking effortlessly toward you? What if it was after nightfall in rough waters, and it was hard to see? Would you be afraid, resentful, awestruck? Some of these? All of these? Then you can probably imagine what might have been going through the Disciples’ heads as they watched Jesus walking toward them on the water described as, “a churning sea,” by Scripture. Do keep in mind that it is not clear that the Disciples were aware that the figure coming toward them was Jesus. He had not come with the group, and it is unlikely they assumed He would walk to them, because … if you recall … after teaching the hungry crowd, Jesus had “withdrawn” to a place of solitude to presumably pray and regain His strength in the Lord. Also a fact to consider: the Sea of Galilee was about 6 or 7 miles across in the direction they were rowing toward Capernaum, so they had only rowed part way; it was not close enough for a man to have easily swum to them. In verse 20 Jesus says, “It is I …” which harks back to God in Exodus 3:14 saying to the Israelites, “I AM WHO I AM.” Jesus is an expert at being both a surprise, and a stabilizing force! As God, and as man, He is both unexpected and wondrous in His mercy and His methods; as an anchor He is the One who not only calms the storm, but is the One who walks on the churning waters of our lives to reassure us, and to reach us. If Jesus is our lighthouse when the seas churn, then how much more is He when they are calm?

25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “ Rabbi, when did You get here? ”

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 6:26-34[HCSB]) 26 Jesus answered, “ I assure you: You are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal of approval on Him.” 28 “What can we do to perform the works of God? ” they asked. 29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God — that you believe in the One He has sent.” 30 “What sign then are You going to do so we may see and believe You? ” they asked. “What are You going to perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” 32 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the real bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Shot through the heart

y apologies to Jon Bon Jovi and the band. But, it is absolutely true that Jesus’ words go right to, and through, the heart. They are as arrows of conviction and admonition. This occurs even today, as it must have for many of the crowd that followed Jesus in ancient Israel. Verse 6:26 is so pertinent that it is still painful. The real pain, especially from the Jesus perspective, is when people want the bread but want little to do with the baker. People are quick to cozy up to the church, and even Jesus, if it means a meal. This need is real in the present day; yet, the meal is only the beginning for the believer. For the rebellious it is another dead end. So … how do we get beyond immediate needs and begin to consider seriously one’s eternity? Two things are clear: I can’t do it for you. You can’t do it for me. Once again it comes right down to personal belief; a desire that borders on desperation, for the peace that passes all of man’s understanding. This attraction is initiated by God, but must always be consummated between the individual and God. Methodists call this prevenient grace. It is the Spirit at work. Always through Jesus to God in the Spirit! 29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God — that you believe in the One He has sent.” In the context of the language Jesus saying that He “assures” suggests that what He is saying is true, and can be depended upon as One who has inherent Godly authority, i.e. linking Moses, Exodus and Passover to Himself. The reference to Psalm 78:23-29 is clearly recognizable. Yet the “other side” of God’s righteous judgment regarding the behavior of His children is also observed in the passage from Psalm 78. Of course, we want the bread that nourishes always, but do we truly consider what that will require of us?

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 6:35-40[HCSB]) 35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again. 36 But as I told you, you’ve seen Me, and yet you do not believe. 37 Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me but should raise them up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

The Bread of Life

o one who comes to the Messiah will ever be hungry again. His body and His blood are sufficient. His grace is sufficient. This is our faith! What is the bread of life? What does it look like and what does it taste like? The bread of life is the body of Jesus Christ Himself which was broken for us so that we might avoid death and eternity without God. The bread of life looks like Jesus, for it is Him however we see Him; but it also is a loaf or a wafer … whatever we use as a symbol to remember that it is Jesus who is God and our salvation. So, the bread of life is a representation of all that is God in His infinite mercy. The bread of life tastes like manna, a sweetness; it also tastes satisfying like peace; it tastes savory like reconciliation; it tastes tart like admonishment; it tastes dense like abundance; thick like honey; it tastes fresh like freedom and crisp like autumn air. In the end, the bread of life is completely and undeniably spiritual. While we may laud and list its attributes, it is the way we know it to be in our hearts, and not in our stomachs. It truly satisfies! The bread of life tastes like the will of God. How does it taste to you? Are there unpleasant foretastes or aftertastes? It is an acquired taste? Can it be repulsive to the unrepentant sinner? Can you get used to it like some have become used to black coffee or asparagus? The answer is “yes” but you have to set aside your preconceived notions. The will of God and the Bread of Life taste like nothing we can imagine or describe. They also taste like everything that satisfies and completes. This is the body of Christ. Eat and be satisfied.

By God

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 6:41-51[HCSB]) 41 Therefore the Jews started complaining about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’? ” 43 Jesus answered them, “Stop complaining among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to Me — 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God. He has seen the Father. 47 “I assure you: Anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

esus sites Isaiah 54:13

Then all your children will be taught by the Lord, their prosperity will be great, and you will be established on a foundation of righteousness. Jesus is simultaneously voicing His frustration and His authority. In a very human and understandable manner Jesus responds to the complaints while asserting His own authority as “His Father’s Sent One.” “Complaints” in this scenario can be understood as demeaning or derisive language intended to challenge or defame Jesus’ character; and which originated with the Jewish religious power structure. Jesus quotes from the prophecy of Isaiah indicating that believers will be taught by God, not by the pious or the elite. In that way He put the Pharisees in a place of professional conflict by recognizing God as sole authority, and not simply those with traditional academic or institutional pedigrees. This is no less true today as many men and women offer their interpretation of the Word and gather many followers. It is not wrong to listen closely to persons called to teach and to lead, but it is wrong to place them above God assuming that only they can speak the truth. God alone speaks truth not distorted by the flesh.

Only Jesus is our salvation; only He has seen the face of God. He is the only One.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 6:52-60[HCSB]) 52 At that, the Jews argued among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat? ” 53 So Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54 Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, 55 because My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. 56 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood lives in Me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna your fathers ate — and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 He said these things while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 60 Therefore, when many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard! Who can accept it? ”

This teaching is hard

his passage precedes many of Jesus’ disciples deserting Him. At the end of this lesson in verse 6:60 we read: Therefore, when many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard! Who can accept it? ” Jesus is using what will be the Passover sacrament to make clear that it is the literal sacrifice of Himself which will be the path to salvation; and that the language is not a metaphor or allegory. There are 3 issues at play that all hearers must accept to believe and to understand: One must believe that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was imminent, literal, and was required to redeem all believers. This passage was not an allusion to pagan rites of human sacrifice, nor was it an invitation to cannibalism. The belief that such a personal sacrifice inexorably connects Jesus to Moses, the exodus of the Jews, the fulfillment of messianic prophecy, and that such a sacrifice is life-giving as was the manna in the desert at a time of great hunger. I don’t believe that such language is hard to accept, but that the concept is very hard to understand, or in contemporary terms, “hard to wrap our minds around.” It is much the same as accepting, rather than completely understanding, the paradox of the Holy Trinity. Intellect can easily become the enemy of acceptance. Jesus asks us to first believe; to take Him at His word.

Does this offend?

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 6:61-71[HCSB]) 61 Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were complaining about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who would not believe and the one who would betray Him.) 65 He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted to him by the Father.” 66 From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him. 67 Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you? ” 68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God! ”

esus was checking the strength and loyalty of His disciples’ belief in the moments immediately following a very graphic and controversial teaching. He goes on to say that while it is true that flesh and blood are important, especially regarding total sacrifice, in the final analysis following Him is altogether a spiritual matter. There is also an underlying theme which suggests a test or a sorting out … the kind of test most of us deal with every day: do we take Him, all of Him, at His word and remain faithful even if what we hear sounds exceedingly strange to our ears? In Jewish understanding “flesh and blood” comprises the whole person, so Jesus is saying that one cannot believe and only take part of Him. True believers must be prepared to take all of Him, and accept all that He might require of them. To illustrate how difficult this is, consider that most of the Disciples probably swore at one time or another that they would never desert Jesus. Peter and Thomas made oaths to never abandon Him, even to die with Him. Both were eventually martyred, though at the time of their declaration of faith they did not completely understand the gravity of such an oath. Even though Jesus knows all things, and clearly understands how everything will end, He wants to know our hearts and will allow for our freewill. More than anything God wants a relationship. He wants us close.

70 Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is the Devil! ” 71 He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray Him. 31

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 7:1-9[HCSB]) 1 After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since He did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill Him. 2 The Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 so His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea so Your disciples can see Your works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 (For not even His brothers believed in Him.) 6 Jesus told them, “My time has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it does hate Me because I testify about it — that its deeds are evil. 8 Go up to the festival yourselves. I’m not going up to the festival yet, because My time has not yet fully come.” 9 After He had said these things, He stayed in Galilee.

Timing is everything

t is evident that Jesus own family thought He was seeking a certain level of public fame and following. It is unlikely that they were unaware of His anointed position, or oblivious to His real nature, since they grew up together; yet, like the times when the crowds could not lay hands on Him and He passed right through their midst, He was biding His time, and hearts were only allowed to understand what was necessary for them at the time. This also may have been a protective move on God’s part to take the family out of harm’s way. It is clear that Jesus was waiting for a very specific window of time to go to Jerusalem, knowing that what He would set in motion could not be reversed. However, what He says about “our time” is worth spending some of our own lesson time on: “our time” to act, and to go to our designated places as missionaries, is now. We must not always assume that we are to wait on Jesus, but to respond to our individual calling [in the present] as it applies to each one based on specific gifting and purpose. Also, know that while Jesus may not have accompanied His brothers physically, He was always with them in Spirit as He is with us until the end of the age. Our time is now, and Jesus’ time is soon enough. He will come to us again when the time is right, and the Father is glorified.

Note: When the term “the Jews” is used it is almost always a reference to Jewish authority, such as the Sanhedrin and the Temple Priests; it does not refer broadly to the nation of Israel.

A secret journey

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 7:10-17[HCSB]) 10 After His brothers had gone up to the festival, then He also went up, not openly but secretly. 11 The Jews were looking for Him at the festival and saying, “Where is He? ” 12 And there was a lot of discussion about Him among the crowds. Some were saying, “He’s a good man.” Others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He’s deceiving the people.” 13 Still, nobody was talking publicly about Him because they feared the Jews. 14 When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple complex and began to teach. 15 Then the Jews were amazed and said, “How does He know the Scriptures, since He hasn’t been trained? ” 16 Jesus answered them, “My teaching isn’t Mine but is from the One who sent Me. 17 If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand whether the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own.

Note: The Festival of Tabernacles is also referred to as the Festival of Booths when Jewish believers lived temporarily in booths, or small remote dwellings, to observe the mem-

hy did Jesus do this “on the sly?” Was He trying to be deceptive and operating covertly? Would it surprise us if we knew that Jesus was not forthcoming in every detail? Would we be able to trust Him if He didn’t tell us everything He had planned? What about being faithful? Why, at times, do we intentionally leave others “out of the loop” when we plan? Isn’t it potentially to protect them, and ourselves, and to operate more freely to achieve an objective? Jesus was a real man operating in the day-to-day of a real culture inhabited by real human beings with questionable political agendas. And … He was contending with the natural and the supernatural as He did so. He was excruciatingly practical, and He did not deceive anyone, let alone Himself. He is the one who gave this sage advice: “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. There-fore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves. (see Matthew 10:16) If we want to understand Jesus we have to take all of Him, not “cherry pick” His message and His acts. Accept all of Him. So, in the end, Jesus never forces anyone to believe; He always leaves the question uncomfortably in the lap of the unbeliever. But He tells them (and us) that if they want to know the truth all they have to do is “knock and the door will be opened.” Jesus claims only to be the humble messenger, not taking the place of God, but delivering God’s message with His authority. If we are willing to believe, then doors will be opened and questions answered. Knowing that Jesus is Messiah, and trusting Him, answers every question and fulfills every prophecy. Trust Him.

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 7:18-27[HCSB]) 18 The one who speaks for himself seeks his own glory. But He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. 19 Didn’t Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law! Why do you want to kill Me? ” 20 “You have a demon! ” the crowd responded. “Who wants to kill You?” 21 “I did one work, and you are all amazed,” Jesus answered. 22 “Consider this: Moses has given you circumcision — not that it comes from Moses but from the fathers — and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses won’t be broken, are you angry at Me because I made a man entirely well on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”

You have a demon!

o, when we don’t want to hear the truth we say things like, “You have a demon” or “You are evil.” That gives us an excuse to distance ourselves in a way that seems to suggest that we are using our discernment … but that is also a lie! What we are really saying is that the truth is evil to us because it conflicts with our personal interests or expectations. Jesus is very clear in telling us that the truth is not just uncomfortable, but that it is downright painful. However, as we know, pain also suggests we are actually feeling something; it is a signal which warns us that we should attend to that which is causing the discomfort. Paul complained about the thorn in his flesh and God said it would remain to showcase His strength. If we do the right things as we are called in Christ (being like Him) we will not always be well thought of; and our methods may be called into question. We must do what we are led to do, and it must be in God’s time with His anointing. As with the Jewish leaders, we may be questioned by those in our own community who think us misguided or worse. We might even be accused of doing the will of the enemy if we persist. Fall back on Jesus’ own words: “Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.” Holy ones will be known by their holiness, and wisdom by her children.

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Isn’t this the man they want to kill? 26 Yet, look! He’s speaking publicly and they’re saying nothing to Him. Can it be true 34

You know Me!

In the Beginning: The Book of John ((John 7:28-36[HCSB]) 28 As He was teaching in the temple complex, Jesus cried out, “You know Me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on My own, but the One who sent Me is true. You don’t know Him; 29 I know Him because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” 30 Then they tried to seize Him. Yet no one laid a hand on Him because His hour had not yet come. 31 However, many from the crowd believed in Him and said, “When the Messiah comes, He won’t perform more signs than this man has done, will He? ” 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple police to arrest Him. 33 Then Jesus said, “I am only with you for a short time. Then I’m going to the One who sent Me. 34 You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 Then the Jews said to one another, “Where does He intend to go so we won’t find Him? He doesn’t intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, does He? 36 What is this remark He made: ‘You will look for Me, and you will not find Me; and where I am, you

here was a growing sense, I am sure, that maybe Jesus was exactly who and what He claimed to be. As with any group of religious thinkers there is no way to effectively make the whole assembly clones of one another. Yet those who believed, as it is today, are in a distinct minority … they are a peculiar few. Note: within the organized Jewish religious fraternities like the Sanhedrin and the Temple Priesthood there were two distinct mindsets: one camp believed that the Messiah would come from an unknown place while another camp believed the origin of the Messiah was foretold. Jesus was taking advantage of this division when He taunted all of them with His words, “You know Me and you know where I am from. Yet I have not come on My own, but the One who sent Me is true. You don’t know Him; I know Him because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” I am convinced that we must set aside the words of secular, or even well-meaning religious authority, and explore the very words of Jesus. We will need the support of those who have devoted their lives to such things, but in the end there is no substitute for the very words of Jesus to convict our hearts with a Spirit that penetrates our whole being like a great sword … one that cuts through the outer layers of our being and exposes our very spirit to His own. And never forget that we are phenomenally blessed to have the words of Jesus, and to also know the outcome of His prophetic words. In their day the authorities and the disciples could not have known this truth in the way that we do.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

((John 7:37-44[HCSB]) 37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” 39 He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been received because Jesus had not yet been glorified. 40 When some from the crowd heard these words, they said, “This really is the Prophet! ” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah! ” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does He? 42 Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David’s offspring and from the town of Bethlehem, where David once lived? ” 43 So a division occurred among the crowd because of Him. 44 Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

Galilee?

esus is both the prophet and the Messiah. And, by the way, He is not from Galilee but Bethlehem. We know this; but those who were experiencing Jesus in real time did not have the benefit of looking back in the way John does in his Gospel. In Scripture we are blessed to know the answers that Jesus seeks, and the intent of the incredible statements that He makes. Our God is a “both/and” God which is how we can adequately address the paradoxical nature of God being both man and God, both One and Three, both now and forever. God is calling His people: those who have ears to hear, to recognize His voice, and come to Him. He does this as the festival-goers are preparing to conclude their activities and return to their homes. Liken that scenario to today: a time when we are reaching a fever pitch in our activities, our technologies and our evil, and are preparing to go home. God in the manifestation of The Son says, “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” We are His sheep and we recognize His voice … the voice of the Good Shepherd. If we follow our Jesus we will be full of living water and it will flow out of us in an endless stream. We call Him Messiah, and others simply call Him a good man, or one of many paths to the Creator. A division is occurring among the crowds, even among tribes of believers!

None from Galilee

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 7:45-53[HCSB]) 45 Then the temple police came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why haven’t you brought Him? ” 46 The police answered, “No man ever spoke like this! ” 47 Then the Pharisees responded to them: “Are you fooled too? 48 Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd, which doesn’t know the law, is accursed! ” 50 Nicodemus — the one who came to Him previously, being one of them — said to them, 51 “Our law doesn’t judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it? ” 52 “You aren’t from Galilee too, are you? ” they replied. “Investigate and you will see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” 53 [So each one went to his house … ]

o man ever spoke like Jesus! Even though He was considered a nobody from nowhere, He commanded the crowd’s undivided attention. Today we would say that the evidence was undeniable and Jesus’ authority beyond questioning. Yet, there was a persistence of denial and condescension as the priests and Temple guards demeaned the crowds for following the charismatic Christ. To further justify their wrong thinking the authorities satisfied themselves with the false knowledge that no one of consequence ever came from an out-of-the-way place like Galilee. This, however, was an over generalization as Jonah, Nahum, and possibly Elijah hailed from Galilee. Knowing the truth, it is interesting how quickly even we can dismiss it when challenged. We revert to our opinions, sticking to our stories, ignoring facts, and exerting our secular authority to get what we want when we are challenged in a persistent manner. This can quickly become vicious when we are in a “protect mode” regarding authority, lifestyle, material & money. We see how the conversation turns prejudicial and nasty when Nicodemus attempts to defend Jesus by suggesting a fair evaluation of His presumed guilt. The Pharisees suggest that maybe he (Nicodemus) is also from Galilee. This ploy is one that turns the tables and puts the supporter of any unpopular individual or group immediately on the defensive. It is simply an inference of “guilt by association.” Jesus calls us to be “guilty” by association, and to loudly proclaim, “He is Messiah!”

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 8:1-11[HCSB]) 1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say? ” 6 They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “* Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ” 11 “No one, Lord,” she answered.

Grace is different

he Law says: a woman caught in adultery must be put to death Deuteronomy 22:22. Of course it also says that the man must die; though it appears that the authorities had grown to overlook this aspect of the Law. Grace says: neither do I condemn you. However, your sin itself condemns you. Stop sinning like this if you want to have peace. Yes, grace is different but its peculiarity does not absolve any of us of accountability or personal responsibility. Unlike the Law, grace is transformative and illustrates just how God loves and protects His children. This healthy and dynamic parental model shows a God Who is no longer wrathful; yet He still jealously protects His small and vulnerable nation. In grace, God never steps away from Who He is. In fact, in Christ we see His fullness. The hallmark, or prime aspect, of His perfect nature is now fully developed in Christ as reconciler. The images of both Lamb of God and Good Shepherd again demonstrate His fullness and the mystery of a “both/and” Creator God. Just as Jesus intervened with the woman at the well, which was a moment of private conviction, Jesus as God offers the woman to be stoned to death, and each of us, hope in a new direction for our lives; as such we are fully responsible for the direction we take, and while we are called to make it public, He never ever leaves our side. In His fullness God does not condemn: He loves us even to the cross. That is our hope!

“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

No more darkness

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 8:12-20[HCSB]) 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself. Your testimony is not valid.” 14 “Even if I testify about Myself,” Jesus replied, “My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You judge by human standards.5 I judge no one. 16 And if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent Me judge together. 17 Even in your law it is written that the witness of two men is valid. 18 I am the One who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” 19 Then they asked Him, “Where is Your Father? ” “You know neither Me nor My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would also know My Father.” 20 He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple complex. But no one seized Him, because His hour had not come.

esus is more than a flashlight in the darkness … He is the Light itself, the origin of it. The darkness cannot overcome Him. His spiritual batteries will never lose their charge. In this way we never have to remain in spiritual darkness … if we believe in Him and rely fully on Him. All we must do is seek His Spirit, and His wisdom, and the lights are on all over the house! No amount of darkness can put out the Light which is Jesus Christ. When Jesus told the Pharisees this “good news,” their concerns were only heightened because God Himself was defined as being Light and Breath. In Greek, phos and pneuma. In verses 14-18 He leaves no doubt in the minds of His contemporaries, or in ours, that He is equating Himself directly with God. He says that only He knows where He is going or where He is from; that He has the authority to judge as God judges; and that because He is God in Son, Spirit and Father, He can bear witness unto Himself. No one else could make such a claim, and back it up, then or now. Jesus said all of this and no one laid a hand on Him, even though He was in the Temple complex, out in the open with nowhere to hide. I believe that the authorities were literally awestruck by His presence, and by His words, stripped of their capacity to respond. This is what we mean when we say, “Our God is an awesome God.”

In the Beginning: The Book of John

((John 8:21-29 [HCSB]) 21 Then He said to them again, “I’m going away; you will look for Me, and you will die in your sin. Where I’m going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’? ” 23 “You are from below,” He told them, “I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” 25 “Who are You? ” they questioned. “Precisely what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. 26 “I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the One who sent Me is true, and what I have heard from Him — these things I tell the world.” 27 They did not know He was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own. But just as the Father taught Me, I say these things. 29 The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”

The One who sent Me

esus is continuing to tell the authorities that they simply do not know Him. For the most part the Jewish leadership did not understand that Jesus was anything more than a radicalized cult leader. The continued discourse we have recorded in the Book of John did nothing to clarify His position. In many ways it fueled the belief that He was politically motivated. In truth, Jesus was spiritually driven to begin the separation of the wheat from the chaff. He seized upon the common, often illiterate Israelite, to follow Him and set upon the religious leadership of the Jews to illustrate their ignorance of the important aspects of the faith: brotherly love, a servant heart, a humble nature, etc. Obviously, recognizing the signs of the coming Messiah was a real sticking point for Jesus, especially when it came to the Pharisees, Scribes and Temple Priests. They should have known! And yet, if you and I are challenged in our own authority and knowledge, how graciously do we handle it? Do we not get defensive and attempt to justify our position; or do we gladly accept the error of our ways? This may sound like a broken record to many of you, but realize that Jesus rarely glorified Himself. He always pointed to God the Father, and based His authority on what the Father taught Him, and did through Him. Verses 28 & 29 are explicit. For example: “But just as the Father taught Me, I say these things.” Just as Jesus is the Light of the world, God is called “The Father of Lights.” This is a mystery to us, but we trust Jesus, and we take it on faith.

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 8:30-41[HCSB]) 30 As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “We are descendant of Abraham,” they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’? ” 34 Jesus responded, “ I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. 36 Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill Me because My word is not welcome among you. 38 I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father; therefore, you do what you have heard from your father.” 39 “Our father is Abraham! ” they replied. “If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did. 40 But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! 41 You’re doing what your father does.”

What is the truth?

n the movie, A Few Good Men, Jack Nicholson when cross examined, tells Tom Cruise, “You can’t handle the truth!”

Not many of us can handle the truth and far fewer are set free by it. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” It doesn’t get any more specific than that! However, most of us want a relative truth tailored to our individual needs; in other words we want to be a god, not worship one. Jesus defines freedom as being released from the bondage of sin by Him and through Him. If the Son (who remains in the house as Master and Lord, i.e. eldest Son) sets you free, then you are truly are free. It is the same as being set free by the Father, the owner of the house. This is a spiritual condition and may not mean physical freedom. Paul was keenly aware of this reality as he was imprisoned in Rome and declared his freedom though he was in physical bondage. Ephesians 6:20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should. Jesus is also rebuking the Jews who believed Him by telling them that being a child of Abraham is not enough to justify them in God’s eyes. For all of this to line up one must believe that Jesus is Christ, that He indeed dwells with the Father spiritually, and that He and His words fulfill all Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah. It is an “all or nothing proposition.” All truth is in Jesus.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 8:42-51[HCSB]) 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn’t come on My own, but He sent Me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Who among you can convict Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why don’t you believe Me? 47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.” 48 The Jews responded to Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You’re a Samaritan and have a demon? ” 49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor My Father and you dishonor Me. 50 I do not seek My glory; the One who seeks it also judges. 51 I assure you: If anyone keeps My word, he will never see death — ever! ”

Never see death

esus knows the hearts of men … and secretly understands that the one thing men fear the most is the end of life, especially an end where there is no hope for a new beginning. I do not believe that Jesus would dwell on this subject if it were not an issue of eternal consequence. For the believers listening, there would not be an end; that is to say they would never taste a permanent death or disconnect from the Spirit of God. Adding gravity, Jesus appears to equate the hearts of Jewish leaders with the heart of Cain who was guided by the Devil to kill his own brother. This killing of Able was seen as a foretelling of religious authorities killing Jesus, who as a Jew Himself was their own “brother.” Verses 43 & 47 seem to sum up the core of the problem: that the religious leadership were unable, and indeed unwilling, to “have the eyes that see and the ears that hear.” This constant reminder of the wrong path that the religious authorities were on did nothing to endear Him to any of His opponents or detractors. And it is a fine line between conviction and judgment. It seemed that Jesus, at times, may have confused the two. He did not! He can we know where the line is drawn? Speaking the truth is no gain for us, and all gain for the glory of God. That is the truth!

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 8:52-59[HCSB]) 52 Then

the Jews said, “Now we

know You have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death — ever! ’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham who died? Even the prophets died. Who do You pretend to be? ” 54 “If I glorify Myself,” Jesus answered, “My glory is nothing. My Father — you say about Him, ‘He is our God’ — He is the One who glorifies Me. 55 You’ve never known Him, but I know Him. If I were to say I don’t know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day; he saw it and rejoiced.” 57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t 50 years old yet, and You’ve seen Abraham? ” 58 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.” 59 At that, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple complex.

Tell them I AM

his is wise advice from God Himself:

“If I glorify Myself,” Jesus answered, “My glory is nothing.” As such, if we glorify ourselves our glory is nothing. It is hollow and self-serving. Jesus is defying all rules of space, time and physicality by claiming that before all things of consequence, in fact before all things, He existed. In the minds of the Jewish leadership this would leave only 2 options: He is God or He is a demon. Verse 53 tells us that they would rather have believed He was pretending. In this passage Jesus assures His listeners that He is God, that before Abraham was, He already existed. This echoes a declaration in God’s own words from Exodus: Exodus 3:13-15 Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, ‘What is His name? ’ what should I tell them? ” God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: Yahweh, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation. There is always a direct and traceable connection from Jesus to God’s commands and activities in the Old Testament. Jesus is that connection: He is God, He is prophet, and He is grace personified.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 9:1-12[HCSB]) 1 As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples questioned Him: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? ” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. 4 We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After He said these things He spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 7 “Go,” He told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who formerly had seen him as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the man who sat begging? ” 9 Some said, “He’s the one.” “No,” others were saying, “but he looks like him.” He kept saying, “I’m the one! ” 10 Therefore they asked him, “Then how were your eyes opened? ” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So when I went and washed I received my sight.” 12 “Where is He? ” they asked. “I don’t know,” he said.

The sixth sign

ow often, have we assigned high and inappropriate value to events or signs in an effort to explain the unexplainable? Have you ever wondered what a person might have done to deserve deformity or disability? In the ancient world it was commonplace to assume that one’s suffering could be traced back to specific sin. Sadly, this cause and effect religious perspective creates a serpentine trail of superstition and fear rather than glorifying God. While we know better, we really do get caught up in the notion that God is waiting “in the wings” to punish us. The Disciples’ response to the blind man’s disability is a stark example of religion without the benefit of grace. The blind man may as well represent each one of us who have not, before our salvation, been able to clearly see the Light which is Christ. In fact, many of us have become “ok” with the darkness, and remain there until we are jolted out of our complacency. In Genesis 1:4 we are told that “God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.” The purpose of darkness is to bear witness to the Light whether it wants to bear witness or not. Since darkness, and hence evil, cannot overcome the Light it has no choice but to be its creative antithesis, its mirror. Kneading mud, like kneading dough, was prohibited on the Sabbath as were 39 classes of work. Yet, our God is a healer of even the blind, and He dares to do so whenever it glorifies Himself, not when it is convenient. Jesus tells us to go and wash (be purified) and we too will see the Light.

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 9:13-18[HCSB]) 13 They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. 14 The day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes was a Sabbath. 15 So again the Pharisees asked him how he received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” he told them. “I washed and I can see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He doesn’t keep the Sabbath! ” But others were saying, “How can a sinful man perform such signs? ” And there was a division among them. 17 Again they asked the blind man, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes? ” “He’s a prophet,” he said. 18 The Jews did not believe this about him — that he was blind and received sight — until they summoned the parents of the one who had received his sight.

Kneading mud is forbidden

s the previous lesson ended we learned that there were 39 classes of work that were forbidden on the Sabbath. One of these was kneading dough for bread, which included kneading mud by virtue of its similarity. Questions: Does the “letter of the Law” stand in the way of goodness and acts of mercy? Was making mud from dust and spittle really a class of work, or an excuse to persecute Jesus? Why would any Law intended to protect God’s people be used to prevent miracles and blessing, especially those directed to the unfortunate? If the man, who was blind from birth, could now see, and there were other witnesses, why did the Pharisees need the witness of his parents? Have you ever been so “dead set” against an individual or an idea that nothing they do, even good things, can change your opinion of them, their organization or their affiliates? These questions may seem rhetorical, or even condescending, because the answers are obvious to us today. Yet, we know that God’s ways are not always made known to man. Therefore, it is vitally important that we accept certain mysteries on faith and trust Him. We do this because we know that His ways are higher and better. Isaiah 55:9 makes this clear: “For as heaven is higher than earth,

Note: even hardened hearts serve God’s purpose. Examples are Pharaoh, Samson, Pharisees, and the nation of Israel itself … even you and me, if we are honest.

so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 9:19-27[HCSB]) 19 They asked them, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? How then does he now see? ” 20 “We know this is our son and that he was born blind,” his parents answered. 21 “But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he’s of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him as Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue. 23 This is why his parents said, “He’s of age; ask him.” 24 So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner! ” 25 He answered, “Whether or not He’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see! ” 26 Then they asked him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes? ” 27 “I already told you,” he said, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t want to

Ask me

f we have personal testimonies then it is no coincidence, and should be no surprise, that we might be asked to speak of them in order to support our faith experiences and ultimately to glorify God. The parents of the blind man healed by Jesus, out of fear and possibly confusion, deferred to their son … the one who was healed. We, on the other hand, speak clearly and openly of our personal victories by the full authority of the Holy Spirit. 25 He answered, “Whether or not He’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see! ” Being healed carried no political baggage for the healed blind man. The one thing, and only thing, he knew was that he was once blind, but now he could see. He could not have cared less about the adversarial relationship between Jesus and the Jewish authorities. For us, if a church does not explicitly honor Jesus Christ first, we can look elsewhere; Jews in the first century did not have alternatives to their synagogues. 27 “I already told you,” he said, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t want to become His disciples too, do you? ” While the blind man regained his sight, Jesus condemned the Pharisees for losing theirs. The authorities may have been looking for reasons to persecute Jesus, but the healed man was having no part of it! Lesson: We should not speculate about the cause of a person’s suffering but realize that even evil can contribute to the greater glory of God. ~ from the HCSB Study Bible pg 1824

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 9:28-41[HCSB]) 28 They ridiculed him: “You’re that man’s disciple, but we’re Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But this man — we don’t know where He’s from! ” 30 “This is an amazing thing,” the man told them. “You don’t know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes! 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. 32 Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He wouldn’t be able to do anything.” 34 “You were born entirely in sin,” they replied, “and are you trying to teach us? ” Then they threw him out. 35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, He found him and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man? ” 36 “Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him? ” he asked. 37 Jesus answered, “You have seen Him; in fact, He is the One speaking with you.” 38 “I believe, Lord! ” he said, and he worshiped Him. 39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and asked Him, “We aren’t blind too, are we? ” 41 “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see’ — your sin remains.

Real blindness

e are pious and important, so how did you get healed. You have done nothing to deserve it!

Such was the dialogue between the healed man and the established religious authorities. So not to appear to be standing in judgement, anyone who has had their personal belief system and their authority challenged knows how trying it is when someone who doesn’t fit the mold begins to preach. Most of us would assume, at least in the flesh, that those with greater knowledge and experience are the best equipped to receive God’s blessing. Not necessarily … The Gospels tell us that those who admit their spiritual blindness are humbled and more likely to repent than those who feel entitled. This probably ties back to Psalm 51:2-5 where the writer admits his rebellion and “sees” his wrongdoing with extraordinary clarity. Being conscious of our sin means that there is new hope in Jesus Christ, who can take our sin away. We are no longer blind, because we see the way to salvation, to the cross. It must be understood that spiritual blindness is a conscious denial of the truth which is Jesus; it is a choice we make, not an inevitable outcome. Without Jesus we are blinded to truth; yet as quickly as we accept Him as Savior, the scales fall from our own eyes and we can see beyond the darkness of our former lives. True sight is a condition of the spirit, and not a condition of the flesh. Physically blind people can see perfectly in “the mind’s eye.”

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 10:1-10[HCSB]) 1 “I assure you: Anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The doorkeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus gave them this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them. 7 So Jesus said again, “I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Being Sheep

e often hear about sheep in rather unflattering terms, but they have an important story to tell. Far from being stupid, they are reliant upon their shepherd. As believers we say this is essential for abundant living. We can benefit from the simple model Jesus presents if, just for just a moment, we take self out of the equation and listen closely to our Shepherd’s voice. The Good Shepherd:

1. Enters the sheep pen only by the gate –Jesus is the door by which His sheep enter and are protected from harm. The gatekeeper knows the Good Shepherd. 2. Knows His sheep by name, calls them, and leads them out—they go out and find pasture and are saved from destruction. 3. The sheep recognize His voice—all others are thieves and robbers who have come to steal, kill and destroy. 4. He goes ahead of the sheep which follow Him—they are confident that they are safe and led away from places of darkness,the valleys … see Psalm 23. 5. He protects His sheep from predators—they are saved by Him and find green pastures. They have life and have it in abundance. Wolves are driven out. 6. The sheep never follow strangers; they run away— the sheep instinctively know the gentle voice of love, safety, and protection. All sheep know this voice, and if they are lost He finds them. Sheep are not foolish or stupid. On the contrary, they gravitate to the voice of strength and protection, peace and abundance. Smart sheep!

In the Beginning:

Being sheep Pt.II (Gentiles)

The Book of John (John 10:11-18[HCSB]) 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.”

he Good Shepherd not only takes care of His flock, He also is willing to lay down His life for them. He (Jesus) is also aware of other sheep (Gentiles) who do not have a shepherd that will protect them; so He is commanded by His Father (God) to bring them into a safe place (the Body of Christ/the Church), as well. Jesus tells His followers that they need to beware of the hired man (a deceiver who is temporary and has no vested interest in the flock) because he will run away at the first sign of danger. In our hearts most of us know who Jesus is; we know that serving Him is a lighter yoke, and that He can be trusted. That being said, it is surprisingly easy to convince ourselves to follow those who may look and act like shepherds, but are not. These individuals do not truly speak of the Holy Spirit or in the Holy Spirit. They are antichrists. Beware the shepherd who is hired and not called. This person has accepted a job; a paycheck is his reward. Glamour and charisma are no substitutes for the glorification of Jesus. Shepherds like this will promise the sheep greener pastures, but at the first sign of a wolf they flee. In our heart of hearts you and I know who cares for us because they are consistent in their walk, and they always speak of Jesus first and self, second. This is modeled after Jesus who unfailingly spoke of the Father first and then Himself. If the pronoun “I” or “We” precedes most phrases or conversations, beware of what motivates this individual or this group. Jesus lays down His life for all of the sheep who hear His voice and follow Him; even black sheep.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 10:19-30[HCSB]) 19 Again a division took place among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and He’s crazy! Why do you listen to Him? ” 21 Others were saying, “These aren’t the words of someone demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? ” 22 Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 Jesus was walking in the temple complex in Solomon’s Colonnade 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and asked, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in My Father’s name testify about Me. 26 But you don’t believe because you are not My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish — ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.” Note: the timing of “winter” is a reference to December.

Again a division

he “division” referred to in verse 19 did not take place among believers themselves, who were persecuted by Rome and simply looking for hope; but among those who were the Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, and the other Jewish authorities. It appears that they were secretly, and sometimes openly, at odds. And as Nicodemus’ night visit suggests, some believed Jesus to be more than an iterant rabbi. Referencing verses 20-21, it is understood from OT Scripture that demons cannot give sight to the blind, only God can perform such miracles; darkness can, however, blind those with sight. See Psalms 146:8 and Exodus 4:11. Jesus’ healing of the blind lends its own credibility to His assertion in verses 25-28. It is strange how those who receive Jesus are utterly transformed, and those who do not cannot possibly understand the transformation. There are times when Calvinism seems like the easiest explanation since the very spirit of the believer is either burdened for Jesus or it is not. As “free” as freewill is, it is the most difficult and demanding decision-making we will ever face as individuals, or as a body. I think that as obvious as Jesus’ voice is to His sheep, the real challenge is to, indeed, be a sheep and follow the Shepherd every day. Believing is more than casual commitment or periodic emotional outburst. It is the response of a soul to its source; a true desperation for a personal relationship with our Creator God. Sheep who quit listening fall astray, and are often drowned under their own wooly weight.

In the Beginning: The Book of John ((John 11:9-16[HCSB]) 9 “Aren’t there 12 hours in a day? ” Jesus answered. “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 If anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him.” 11 He said this, and then He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen * asleep, but I’m on My way to wake him up.” 12 Then the disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.” 13 Jesus, however, was speaking about his death, but they thought He was speaking about natural sleep. 14 So Jesus then told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. 15 I’m glad for you that I wasn’t there so that you may believe. But let’s go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (called “Twin”) said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go so that we may die with Him.”

There is enough time in the day

eginning this week’s passage Jesus responds to a pertinent question posed to Him by a disciple at the end of the previous lesson: “why are you going back to a place they want to stone you?” I am sure none of them expected an answer exploring light and dark. Yet, Jesus affirms that He knows exactly what He is doing, and that He is not walking in darkness lest even He should stumble. Jesus also reassures His followers that He is not going blindly back into a place of danger without taking the necessary precautions. This is sage advice that we should all consider when we feel drawn to places that are dangerous both spiritually and physically. It is not that we should live a life of little contest, but that we should be calculating and very aware of our surroundings (sly as foxes). Notice also that Jesus uses the metaphor of light on multiple levels: daylight and “Son” light. Jesus goes on to suggest that even the death of Lazarus has a purpose, as does His own delay in travel. In this way He defends His decision to die, as well. Lazarus’ death and resurrection foreshadows the death and resurrection of Jesus Himself. Thomas, who may be as emotionally zealous as Peter, is apparently caught up in his own grief and proclaims to his friends that they might as well have died with Lazarus. There is evidence that Lazarus was a benefactor and a friend to the fledgling sect. We may imagine Jesus turning away from His disciples for just a moment and smiling at Thomas’ reckless abandon, knowing full well that later he would be in hiding and would require physical proof to believe his own eyes.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 11:17-27[HCSB]) 17 When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem (about two miles away). 19 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. 20 As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.” 23 “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her. 24 Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die — ever. Do you believe this? ” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told Him, “I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”

Belief in the midst of pain

ary and Martha lost a brother. They had friends to comfort them, but what they truly yearned for was the comfort of Jesus. While we understand that Mary and Martha were sisters, and that Lazarus was their brother, maybe it is instructional to look at the differences between the two women. Of the two, Mary was the more devout of the two, more emotive, yet less outspoken and outgoing. She chose to speak more clearly with her actions such as sitting at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:38-42) falling at His feet (John 11:32) and pouring fragrant oil on His head during Passover (Matthew 26:6-13 and in Mark & John). Martha was the more dominant sister, more verbal, less patient, more industrious, and quick to say what was on her mind. She was more likely to be concerned about preparations and hospitality. (Luke 10:38-42 & John 11:21-27). Neither woman was better than the other, as they were loved by Jesus for exactly who they were. Mary and Martha were just like brothers and sisters anywhere at any time … one more dominant, one more emotional, one more practical, one more artistic, and so forth. However, it is interesting that both the authors of Scripture, and Biblical commentary, tend to paint a more favorable picture of Mary than Martha. The reason for this is fairly straight forward I think: in a walk of faith, the more tender and devout are the ones that appear to embody more of what we see as “faithful.” It may also be the trait we are less inclined to as a species. The best solution: attempt to bring together people with a variety of personalities, skills and gifts so that communities are both sustainable and caring.

Jesus wept

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 11:28-35[HCSB]) 28 Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him. 30 Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met Him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. So they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there. 32 When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died! ” 33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry2 in His spirit and deeply moved. 34 “Where have you put him? ” He asked. “Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.”

his is the shortest verse in the Bible and the most profound. It speaks for itself, and for the depth of Jesus’ own humanity, even as He remained fully God. We can be assured that God weeps for us in our individual tragedies, and in our collective atrocities. God is grieved and saddened by our sin condition. Further we see that in our pain Jesus is saddened, even angered within Himself. If it were possible, I believe Jesus would take away all of our pain and wipe out every one of our transgressions again and again because they create such a heavy heart in Him. Our sin burdens not just you and me, but Jesus Himself! But know that Jesus has done this already on the cross. Until He returns we are now the ones who wipe away the tears and comfort those who mourn. Jesus feels our pain as personal grief, and He is at the side of every believer when there is tragedy and loss of life. He is there before rescue, EMT, fire or law enforcement arrives. He is there as the Holy Spirit in our despair to hold us until we can regain our composure and mourn in the arms of our communities. About Lazarus: Lazarus physically died presumably of old age or maybe an illness. Nonetheless, he was dead for 4 days when Jesus finally arrived. Note that Jesus’ delay, in the end, does not thwart His purpose. The purpose for Jesus’ delay, then and now, is the glorification of the Father. What ensues is a miracle of resurrection of a physically dead body. This again foretells Jesus’ own death and resurrection, proving that He is God and has the power to back up His claims.

35 Jesus wept.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 11:36-44[HCSB]) 36 So the Jews said, “See how He loved him! ” 37 But some of them said, “Couldn’t He who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying? ” 38 Then Jesus, angry in Himself again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 “Remove the stone,” Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told Him, “Lord, he’s already decaying. It’s been four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? ” 41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You heard Me. 42 I know that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so they may believe You sent Me.” 43 After He said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out! ” 44 The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him and let him go.”

The Seventh sign

hose who asked the question in verses 36 & 37 had a valid point, at least on the surface. The problem with a superficial understanding is that we do not see the purpose of what is going on behind the scenes. Case in point: while this was about resurrecting a dear friend, the sign itself had nothing to do with Lazarus. It was a foreshadowing of the death and resurrection of Jesus Himself. The purpose is always to glorify God and to give Him the praise only He deserves. Jesus grieved for His mourning friends, but I am sure that the inevitable symbolism was never lost on Him. It would only be a short time until He would be persecuted, crucified and also resurrected. Resurrection, as we now know, comes at a very steep price. And while the price for the believer is already paid by Jesus, we must always remember that He paid for it with His own life … real flesh crucified and real blood shed. For all “who might believe,” the individual resurrection into eternal life also comes at a personal price. This price is a commitment to Jesus Christ, and all of that which accompanies it, in a world that is becoming less and less forgiving. First, we must believe that we will see the glory of God. Faith is critical. Without it there is no next step. Secondly, we must live our lives confident that Jesus is enough, and that in Him and with Him, we are protected from harm. There is nothing bigger, or more powerful, than our God! Our God can raise the dead and he can build universes; and yet he is a God who weeps for His children. We have been decaying in the flesh for much longer than four days, yet we can also be raised to a new life. If we only trust Him Jesus says, “Remove the stone; child come out! Didn’t I tell you that you would see the glory of God?” Thank you Lord for hearing my heart cry out …

The consequences

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 11:45-53[HCSB]) 45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what He did believed in Him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do since this man does many signs? 48 If we let Him continue in this way, everyone will believe in Him! Then the Romans will come and remove both our place and our nation.” 49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! 50 You’re not considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God. 53 So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.

here were to be grave consequences for the Son of Man. The chain of events that culminated in the miraculous raising of Lazarus proved to be the beginning of the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. While it is unlikely that we will be crucified openly for our beliefs in the immediate future, it is very likely that the current persecution and marginalizing of Christ followers will continue, and indeed increase. There are many, I am sure, who would like to be rid of Christians because they pose a direct threat to chaos and anarchy. Anarchy may masquerade as law and chaos may disguise itself as order. But the truth is this: The person of Jesus Christ will weigh heavy on the hearts of men in these ending times, and many will respond in anger, disappointment and outright hatred. The Devil may be the author of darkness and confusion, but it is we that are his scribes. Prophetically in verse 48: “If we let Him continue in this way, everyone will believe in Him,” suggested that Jewish authority understood the power of the Messiah Jesus, but that their hearts were hardened against Him so that the will of the Father might prevail. This purpose is exposed in verse 52: “and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God.” In this age we will again see the scattered children of God united to glorify the Son.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 11:54-57[HCSB]) 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but departed from there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim. And He stayed there with the disciples. 55 The Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before the Passover. 56 They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple complex: “What do you think? He won’t come to the festival, will He? ” 57 The chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it so they could arrest Him.

Jesus prepares …

nowing that the Jewish leaders were already plotting to have one man die that the nation should not perish, Jesus retreated and prepared Himself for the end of His physical life, and the beginning of God’s unending grace. What had been a war of words between Our Lord and the authorities was quickly was coming to a head in the wake of Lazarus’ resurrection. Jesus ministry would require the agony of the cross, so His complete preparation was absolutely critical. Accomplishing this as God was one thing; accomplishing it as a man was something else altogether. What Jesus was preparing to do would, as we now know, change everything. There are obvious similarities that this episode shares with the wilderness experience He encountered immediately after His baptism. Again, we have Jesus entering into a time of retreat to an outlying area to gather strength for what lay ahead. He would again be tested by the Devil; what had begun across the Jordan River 3 years earlier would conclude on the cross. (It would be less than two weeks before Jesus rode openly into Jerusalem to fanfare, praises, and the waving of palm branches by His followers. So, there was very little time to prepare for a final victory over death and sin!) What we also learn from this passage is that everyone sought Jesus … some to kill Him, some to follow Him, and others to simply observe Him. Men still seek him, the wise and the otherwise. It is ironic that Caiaphas and his cronies, the chief priests and Pharisees -- these mortal authority figures -- actually believed that they could put to death the One who could raise the dead. Consider the arrogance and the foolishness. *

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 12:1-8[HCSB]) 1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil — pure and expensive nard — anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray Him), said, 5 “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor? ” 6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it. 7 Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” Note: 300 denarii would have been roughly equivalent to a worker’s average yearly wage, or about $20,000. * Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 also tells us that all of our striving is vanity, chasing the wind, unless it has a Godly purpose.

Anointed by Mary

his was no ordinary anointing and neither was the care given to cleanup. While we are all generally aware that this was another prophetic act representing the care of a dead body in the tomb, the sheer cost, volume, and inappropriateness is extraordinary: We are talking about a pound (16 liquid ounces) of fragrant oil that was worth about $20,000 dollars lavished on Jesus and then wiped up with a woman’s hair. Use of a woman’s hair, let down in that manner, is considered provocative, even seductive, in Middle Eastern culture to this day. I highly doubt that Judas was the only one wondering why! He alone had the nerve to ask the question everyone else had on their minds. In this way he served a divine purpose, though John refers to him as a thief and condemns his motivation. Jesus, again attempting to prepare His disciples, took the opportunity to defend Mary’s actions and to make clear His limited time among them. Jesus, being the poorest of the poor Himself (in secular terms) was making clear that money and possessions were of no value unless used for a purpose. Biblically we know that hoarding serves neither the rich nor the poor. Luke reminds us of this in his Gospel 12:1620,* and Jesus makes a public declaration of it through Mary’s act of devotion on the eve of His own crucifixion. Giving more than enough is only the beginning.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 12:9-16 [HCSB]) 9 Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there. They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead. 10 Therefore the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also 11 because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus. 12 The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One — the King of Israel! ” * 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: 15 Fear no more, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.* 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

* Psalm 118:26 (verse 13) * Zechariah 9:9 (verse 15)

Kill Lazarus, too?

esus gave everyone an equal opportunity to find fault with Him. He did not make people hate more than they already hated, nor fear more than they already feared, but He did galvanize those against Him in a way that guaranteed His journey to the cross. He became a spiritual lightning rod which undoubtedly worked in Lazarus’ favor. The Seventh sign had not only put Jesus in danger, but Lazarus was as well; though there is no evidence that Lazarus was ever apprehended or punished. He remained, however, living proof of the supernatural power of Jesus. It was now painfully clear to the religious elite that Jesus was no ordinary magician or seer. What He did went far beyond mere showmanship … and there were witnesses! This miracle of raising the dead openly refuted the belief of the Sadducees that there was no resurrection. If Jesus had not been on their radar before this event, He certainly was afterward. The mold was set, the course was charted, and Jesus was no longer denying prophecy or avoiding praises. By riding into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt, He fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah (putting the Pharisees on notice) and was even lauded from the Psalms of King David. The mantle of the Messiah was placed upon Him as though it were conferred by David Himself. There was no turning back. John says that while the Disciples did not yet understand the things Jesus did, in retrospect they could see that everything he had told them had come true. We can assume that this was a revelation to John, as well.

The World has gone after Him

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 12:17-28 [HCSB]) 17 Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify. 18 This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look — the world has gone after Him! ” 20 Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 “I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop. 25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

wish I could say that the world had “gone after Jesus” in the way the Pharisees had originally meant it. In the beginning I am sure it seemed as though the world itself was bent in the direction of Jesus, especially as the Jewish leadership felt its religious control slipping away. But, the reality was (and is) that the world has gone after Him in a very different and malicious way: to kill Him as an enemy of the faith, not to honor Him as Savior. And …the world is still going after Him, attempting to stamp Him out. The remnant of true believers is also being systematically isolated as the newest objectionable minority. Yet, Jesus tells His disciples that unless grain falls to the ground and is placed underfoot it can never grow up to produce a large crop. How can this be? It is the plan that will bring about the end of this world and will usher in “a new heaven and a new earth.” Jesus says:          

The hour has come. Grain must die to reproduce itself. If anyone loses this life they will keep eternal life. To follow Me means to serve Me. To serve is sacred, and God will honor it. Now My soul is troubled. What should I say – save Me from this? Why did I come to this hour? I came to glorify the Father. Father, be glorified in Me.

Whatever we do must lift up the Son in this hour.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 12:29-36[HCSB]) 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him. 30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for Me, but for you. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.” 33 He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die. 34 Then the crowd replied to Him, “We have heard from the scripture that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man? ” 35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.

All people to Myself

his message might easily be misinterpreted if it were not for the context of the passage. John makes clear that Jesus is signifying His death, and not the arbitrary inclusion of unbelievers. “Father, glorify Your name.” This proclamation is God’s method, in the person of the physical Jesus, to present the gospel message in a mighty way that leaves no room in the heart for misunderstanding. Why then would the hearers even suggest that it was thunder (a typical belief of God speaking in that ancient culture) or even an angel if it were not so? It is interesting that Jesus didn’t let the crowds dwell on questions that were trivial, or those which attempted to derail His message: He breezed right by verse 34, as John records it, and proceeded to prophesy about His own impending death. I believe that our Lord is saying to us, in this age, as our own lives wane, “Don’t get hung up on the details of legalistic thinking, but be aware that your time is short. Walk in the Light and avoid the darkness. Believe in the light and you will become sons of light; and you will know where you are going in this life and in the next life.” Jesus puts a lot of information on believers’ plates. Yet, in the spirit, and in truth, we are able to digest all that God feeds us.

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 12:36-41[HCSB]) 37 Even though He had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him. 38 But this was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said: Lord, who has believed our message? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to? 39 This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said: 40 He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they would not see with their eyes or understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I would heal them. 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him.

Still, unbelief prevails. Why?

od has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts. And this is why predestination and the formality of Calvinism can be very hard to resist. It seems to make perfect sense. Have you ever asked yourself why people don’t throw themselves into Jesus with complete abandon? Knowing what true believers discover about personal healing, and never wanting to go back to the old ways, it is difficult to comprehend why anyone would choose otherwise … or even want to resist the possibility of a better life. So, ask yourself this: How might a hardened heart honor God and further His purpose? One way is to show that victory can be, and has been, achieved over rebellion, hatred, self-indulgence, and the will of the unbeliever. In our hopelessness there is always hope in Jesus Christ as Savior. It is our choice. The hardened heart in this instance from Isaiah, as explained in The Nelson Study Bible, is not an arbitrary thing, but more akin to hardening of the arteries: after many years of unhealthy behavior, and lack of medical attention: a physical heart attack is the inevitable consequence. Similarly, over time, with repeated rejection, the heart is hardened to a point that there are real spiritual consequences. This is not God’s fault, but the net result of unhealthy lifestyles. Again, choices … not predestination! The best lesson to take away from John, as well as from the other Gospels & Letters, is that the New Testament, and even Jesus Himself, does not exist in a vacuum. God can do anything, anywhere, and anytime, if we open our hearts to Him!

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 12:42-50 [HCSB]) 42 Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in Me believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me. 45 And the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects Me and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as his judge: The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak. 50 I know that His command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

The Mission

ohn could be very critical in his narrative (his accounts of Judas are scathing) so when he tells us that some of the rulers believed in Jesus it must be taken at face value. However, like many “Christian atheists” today, they loved the praise from men more than the praise from God. (vs. 43) In this context of belief, unbelief, God’s will and His own death, Jesus decides to make His mission as transparent as humanly possible: 1. Those who believe in Jesus also believe in God, the One who sent Him. Those who reject Jesus also reject God, who sent Him. 2. Jesus comes as a Light in the darkness, so that those who believe will not remain in a dark place without God. 3. Those who hear Jesus’ words, and decide not to believe and repent, will not be judged by Him for He does not execute judgment. For, Jesus came to save the world, i.e. those who might believe. 4. Jesus’ own words will ultimately both convict and judge. The believer and the unbeliever are to be judged by their belief in Jesus because He is God, and each one who listens has ears to hear. 5. The last day is today, or any day that marks the end of our time, and seals our decision for or against Jesus as Lord and Savior. Believe.

Foot washing: Servant leadership

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 13:1-11[HCSB]) 1 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 Now by the time of supper, the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. 4 So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. 5 Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet? ” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t understand now, but afterward you will know.” 8 “You will never wash my feet — ever! ” Peter said. Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him. This is why He said, “You are not all clean.”

esus put into practice everything He preached. I am convinced that if anyone goes into leadership it should never be out of a need to exert authority, but out of a servant heart. This applies to both sacred and secular positions of influence. Furthermore, He tells us to wash one another’s feet. As believers we know without question that there is only one Lord; yet even He did not “Lord it” over His followers. In a win-lose culture this is what we have lost! Jesus’ own life is the statement that condemns the hearer … the betrayer in all of us. He says that to be with Him all must be washed, and that the feet represent the whole person. This is symbolic of our need for periodic spiritual cleansing: daily confession and the knowledge of forgiveness. However, the act of washing, even by Jesus, could not wash away Judas’ spiritual darkness. He was determined to consort with the enemy. Judas’ act of betrayal, though ordained by God, still required his consent. He was not a pawn. Peter, being Peter, was “all or nothing” on the subject. He still saw foot washing as a work of Jewish tradition, and not an act of grace. This adherence to strict legal interpretation would haunt him for many years. The Book of Acts, chapters 10 and 11, tells us that it was not until about 41 A.D. that Peter was shown a more loving approach to the Law. To address our own sin it is prudent to confess and to be “for Jesus and never against anyone.” Love your neighbor.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 13:12-20[HCSB]) 12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you. 16 “I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats My bread has raised his heel against Me. 19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I assure you: Whoever receives anyone I send receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

All the While

s Jesus spells out what is to come so that (hopefully) the Disciples will remember and believe, He is also detailing His own relationship with the Father. This is a wonderful message about serving and not needing to be the center of attention. Sidebar: There are many who have claimed to be supporting freedom of religion and doing God’s will these days, but what becomes clear is that those individuals are receiving their 15 minutes of fame. If we follow the news feeds it become obvious that Jesus is not the motivation. If anything is wrong with our faith, and truly antiChristian, this is it! What are the teaching points in this monologue from Jesus at His last meal with His closest friends?       

Jesus has given us an example that we should do just as He has done. Jesus tells us “before it happens” so that we can believe Him. A slave is never greater than his master. A messenger is never greater than the one who sent him. The one who eats with Jesus is also the one who is against Him. Whoever receives those who Jesus sent receives Him. Whoever receives Jesus receives the Father.

Our belief in Jesus is simple enough, but it is a complicated relationship; add to this steadfast and faithful living, and you have a very tall order. This is extremely hard to do for even the most resolute among us. No wonder the Disciples were confused and overwhelmed by Jesus’ words and actions. Even at His last meal, at a time of incredible stress, Jesus directs all attention to the Father. If Jesus honors the Father, what is our mission?

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 13:21-30 [HCSB]) 21 When Jesus had said this, He was troubled in His spirit and testified, “I assure you: One of you will betray Me! ” 22 The disciples started looking at one another — uncertain which one He was speaking about. 23 One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about. 25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, who is it? ” 26 Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.” When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. 27 After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Therefore Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.” 28 None of those reclining at the table knew why He told him this. 29 Since Judas kept the moneybag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 After receiving the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night. The Nelson Study Bible 40B

And it was Night

or Judas, and many more that have chosen the darkness, they are going out into the night … a real and perpetual darkness. Have you ever been feeling depressed, and even when you went outside in the sunshine, things did not seem any brighter? On the contrary, the contrast was even more depressing? This must have been the suffocating spiritual darkness Judas knew when he went out to give Jesus over to the authorities: he went out into the literal night time in complete spiritual darkness. There must have been a terrible foreboding, especially knowing that Jesus was aware of the plan, having ushered him out and away from his friends. How completely and utterly alone he must have felt ... Even Jesus was troubled by the unfolding of events: deeply and emotionally stirred by the prospect of His own death and the betrayal of an associate.* This suggests that our Lord was not ok with all of it, even though it was ordained by His Father, and required (even for the likes of Judas). Jesus was not a robot who went to the cross without concern or reservation; He was very human and understood well the concept of physical pain. We note in verse 30 that Satan entered Judas after he had eaten a piece of bread dipped in oil or wine, offered by Jesus Himself. In eating the bread Judas seemed to trigger a rite of unholy communion … an invitation to possession by the Devil. It seems that Satan requires an individual to be complicit with him; his work requires a willing accomplice. Many will go into the night … maybe most. And yet, Jesus comes bearing Light . Choose wisely.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 13:31-38[HCSB]) 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once. 33 “Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ so now I tell you. 34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Peter’s denial predicted

hen Judas went out Jesus spoke into the immediacy of the events to follow; how they would accelerate to their conclusion more rapidly than anyone could have imagined. This because all of the necessary elements were in place for the cross to lift up and glorify Jesus: That night and the ensuing day would see the ministry of Jesus come to fruition in an alarming, though openly prophesied, sequence. In this way, today, “Judas has gone out,” and all of the elements are in place for a quickened and deliberate drive toward the second coming of Jesus to lift up His bride the universal Church. The question on Jesus lips for us who claim His Church is the same as it was for Peter, “Will you lay down your life for Me?” While there is no record in John of his response, Peter must have been incredulous at what he heard … because what Jesus told him was that he would completely disown his Lord:

36 “Lord,” Simon Peter said to Him, “where are You going? ”

Not just deny his association with Him, but to separate himself from Jesus not once but three times.

Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

See 1 Corinthians 10:12 as offered up by Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

37 “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You! ” 38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. Note: The most secure are commonly the least safe; and those most shamefully betray their own weakness that most confidently presume upon their own strength. (pg 893) Our strength must be in Jesus and Him alone.

Except through Me

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 14:1-6[HCSB]) 1 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.”3 5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way? ” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

here is so much information here about the true identity of God that most either miss it or ignore it, treating the passage as a platitude but not as hard fact. Glossing over this passage in John has a purpose that, for the moment, circumvents the stark reality and buys the reader some time … but not much time. It becomes clear in very short order that either Jesus is telling the truth or He is a liar. Addressing both pathways have a similar effect: one is faced with the dilemma of a man either delusional or God Himself! Choosing the former allows us to return to our old behaviors for a time; the latter prevents us from successfully reentering the old life with our previous abandon. So if no one comes to the Father except through (by) Jesus, then what about those who do not believe or refuse to accept this simple solution? If we refuse to take Jesus at His word, then we are in agreement that:    

Our hearts will be troubled; The Father’s House does not exist; Jesus is not preparing a place for us; He is not coming back.

We cannot accept only the parts we like; so if it is an “all or nothing proposition” which side do you choose? With Him or without?

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 14:7-14[HCSB]) 7 “If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” 8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves. 12 “ I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

Because He is the Way, Truth & Life

esus gives all of the credit and glory to God the Father, but it is clear that the Disciples do not get it. The concept did not sink in for most of them until long after Jesus ascended to heaven. I can imagine some of the conversations among them, in whispers of course: “Do you think He really is God?” “He says so, but sometimes I wonder; isn’t God going to stomp the Romans into the dust? I’m afraid that our Rabbi is going to die the next time He raids the Temple, and we will be on our own.” I know, Philip, I just don’t feel very brave right now. Sometimes I don’t think He truly understands our problems.” Even today it is hard for people to wrap their minds around the concept of Jesus being God and Spirit. Most folks see Jesus as Jesus: a guy who lived somewhere in or around Israel, and died a long time ago on a cross. He was a great leader, a fantastic teacher, and had some pretty awesome things to say to people who were into prostitution and tax collecting. But, to say that He was (is) God is a step that requires more faith than most are able to marshal. I send this lesson out to those among us who are unbelievers. Are you willing to give “Jesus as God” a shot? Are you willing to see what changes might come out of such a belief? This is not about religion, it is about faith. Set aside what you think you know, and find Jesus … then ask for God’s strength to conquer your unbelief! Mark 9:23-24 Then Jesus said to him, “… Everything is possible to the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the [possessed] boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”

Counselor, Spirit of Truth

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 14:15-22[HCSB]) 15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. 19 “In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world? ”

n answer to Judas’ question at the end of this passage: the Holy Spirit will be revealed to the world through believers like you and like me. It is our lifestyle that will speak loudest. If we live in the way we believe we will not be able to deny Jesus because our very lives will proclaim Him in the same way in Luke 19:40 He tells the Pharisees that if He were to silence His disciples the stones themselves would cry out. What does Jesus tell His Disciples? ~ If you love Me you will keep my commands which are love God, neighbor and self. These are at the core of the Christian transformation. ~ I am not leaving you; I am actually coming for you in the Holy Spirit as Counselor. The Trinity is revealed for the first time in verses 16 & 17. We still have trouble wrapping our minds around that concept so it is best to take it on faith rather than analyzing it. ~ We will see Jesus even though He is not physically with us. How? We are in Him and He is in us … literally. The Holy Spirit can be at all places and at all times to encourage and guide believers. Jesus as a physical being had limitations that the Holy Spirit does not. ~ If we love Jesus we are loved by God Himself. This accompanies Jesus’ reference to Himself as Way, Truth and Life in John 14:6. He is the Good Shepherd and the Gateway. ~ If we love Jesus he will reveal Himself to us. How will He do this? Through fulfilled prophecy; by conviction of the heart; by the love of others within the community of believers.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 14:23-31[HCSB]) 23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me. 25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit — the Father will send Him in My name — will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. 27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. 28 You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31 On the contrary, I am going away so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do.

How the world will know: Peace

ow will the world not know? That is what Judas (not Iscariot) was driving at in lesson #67. How, Jesus, will you not tell the whole world? The Disciple surmised that Jesus would only tell His closest friends; and he secretly wondered how anyone could keep that to himself. We know that Judas misunderstood what Jesus said. It is not possible to keep the Messiah to oneself if one is truly a “Christ-follower.” The Holy Spirit will help each believer in getting the Word out. Jesus goes on to explain that the Word is no one individual’s property or exclusive domain: it is God’s, and that He was leaving His own Holy Spirit behind to council and to guide. They were not to be afraid. In this particular passage Jesus continues to detail the concept of the Holy Spirit, though I doubt any of His followers truly understood what He meant until the day of Pentecost in that secluded upper room. The Holy Ghost will:    

Come to us as Jesus “goes away” (ascends) to be with the Father; Remain until Jesus returns to reclaim His church (His bride at the rapture); Teach all things and remind us of everything He taught (think conscience); Give us peace in ways that the world cannot (wellbeing, not easy street) .

Jesus reassures us:     

Not to be fearful or troubled; He is not really leaving us; That we should rejoice, not mourn; The “ruler of the world” is coming, but he has no power over Jesus; That He is doing what the Father (God) has commanded Him to do.

This is the gospel, the good news. Yet, so many are troubled. Why?

I AM the True Vine

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 15:1-8 [HCSB]) 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

Restore us, God of Hosts; look on us with favor, and we will be saved. 8 You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared a place for it; it took root and filled the land. –Psalm 80:7-9 Jesus claims to be the true vine which, if He is indeed God, then He is fulfilling prophecy as the Messiah in no uncertain terms. To that point: in over 5000 years only Jesus has fulfilled all of the prophesies required of the Son of God … the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ! The vine is Israel, and the True Vine is Jesus. Even Genesis speaks clearly in Joseph’s story about Jesus. Dreams and signs reveal Jesus as Lord in all places and at all times. 9 So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: “In my dream there was a vine in front of me. 10 On the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” –Genesis 40:9-11 Jesus is the vine and we, as believers, are the branches. As in Joseph’s interpretation of the chief cup-bearer’s dream, the true vine must be in place for budding, flowering and fruiting. Wonderful fruit is borne of the One True Vine, while false fruit, darkened fruit, is born of the false vines; and their fruit will ultimately wither on the vines which bore them. God is glorified when we produce spiritual fruit in the name of Jesus. This is our “branch theology.”

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 15:9-17[HCSB]) 9 “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. 11 “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 17 This is what I command you: Love one another.

Not slaves, but friends

atthew 22:37-40 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two Commands.” (See Deuterononmy 6:5) Jesus goes further in this proclamation of love by declaring that we are no longer slaves, but friends of the Master because of His incredible love. We have been freed because we have been given Jesus who shows us what God is doing (vs. 15). We are told that a true slave has no idea what the master is up to, and is never taken into the master’s confidence. Yet, as believers, we know that Jesus is what God does! To make Himself even more difficult to resist, Jesus tells His followers that they [we] did not choose Him, but that like Peter, John and the other “fishers of men,” He chose us. While this may smack of Calvinism at a glance, I believe that what Jesus is trying to convey is this: He chose us all that we might be made worthy if we are indeed willing to believe. Jesus chose to die for everyone; it’s true. But only those who accept the gift of the cross can be truly “redeemed,” and are willing to make the right choice. This is free will; it is accomplished by the Spirit., but the choice is ours I believe the evidence for this grace is not in any doctrine, but in a walk that remains directed over time by, for, and in, the truth of who Jesus is. Jesus is God! Anything less is false doctrine. This is where sheep and goats are separated into their respective herds. And what defines a believer? Loving one another, says Jesus. But first there is a love of God and of self. Every outcome that is good depends upon this! In this we are free to emulate the Master who we know as friend.

Persecution is not New

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 15:18-25[HCSB]) 18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours. 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of My name, because they don’t know the One who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 The one who hates Me also hates My Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their scripture might be fulfilled: They hated Me for no reason. *

Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me, are powerful. Though I did not steal, I must repay. ~ Psalm 69:4 As we experience all that we have become familiar with in this world –terror, fear, hatred, obsession with all things material, and evil incarnate—we must be aware that the “beginning of the end” was always meant to come about in this manner, and at this time in our history. Jesus was speaking to you and me as surely as He was speaking to His Disciples over 2000 years ago. Jesus makes clear that it is one thing to not have heard the good news, or never to have known His name; but having heard and having known, we [all] are convicted of our sin and are now fully accountable for it. In this way we do, indeed, “know better.” There is simply no excuse for unbelief. And, there is no excuse for rejecting the only One who can save us. And yet, the backlash is considerable, especially from the unrepentant sinners, but also from Christians who behave like proper atheists … The theme of unrighteous persecution connects seamlessly forward to 1 Peter (do not be surprised when being treated unjustly; make sure it is for having done the right thing) and backward to Psalms (I did not steal, but must now repay; My enemies are powerful and many). Again, we are reminded that picking up our own crosses every day, as Christ followers, will not be without a steep price. Our Master is also our best friend. He is God.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 15:26-27[HCSB]) 26 “When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father — He will testify about Me. 27 You also will testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Spirit of Truth

he Counselor is here!

In the Holy Spirit we are moved to testify about our relationship with Jesus. We may not always do it eloquently or without hesitation, but, take heart, it is not we who are testifying. So, what is the Holy Spirit ,and what is Its true purpose in the absence of Jesus? The Holy Spirit, also referred to as the Paraclete, means “counselor,” or parakletos in the Greek. This is a word unique to John’s Gospel. John, viewing the faith in retrospect, would have understood the true nature of how the Spirit worked in the lives of the disciples; and he would have used a characteristic word to describe Its true nature as one of Three Persons (Manifestations) of the Trinity. The beauty of the Holy Spirit is that It lives within each believer. Though Jesus lived physically with His disciples, in His absence (and until His return), He left behind His Spirit, His gift from God which is literally God Himself. In this way Jesus manifests the true nature of the Father in every place a believer works, plays, witnesses and worships. To entrust such as gift to us means that Jesus trusts us with Himself. It is an awesome responsibility, and one we should never take lightly! Jesus lived with us, died for us, and now He lives within the heart of each believer! Lastly, a profound statement from Jesus as we close chapter 15: “You also will testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” True believers have never, ever, been without a Savior. Our faith is no accident. It is neither fate nor destiny. All are called, but a believer has answered the call. That individual has said yes to Jesus and yes to life.

World convicted

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 16:1-11[HCSB]) 1 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or Me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you may remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 “But now I am going away to Him who sent Me, and not one of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going? ’ 6 Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you. 8 When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; 11 and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

o many do not know the Father or the Son. So many do not want to know the Father or the Son!

At one point I thought that the reason people did not turn to Jesus was because they simply did not know Him, that they had not been introduced. It turns out that many do not want to know Him. Why?

1) People have enough challenges without the additional burden of being the follower of an unpopular leader.

2) The belief that the proper response to global terror is not love at all, but more artillery and a one world coalition.

3) Convicted hearts do not always respond positively to being called out, or cornered, especially in an age where there are so many faith alternatives. Those who want to believe will come; those who have an enmity against God, especially in the person of Jesus Christ, will reject Him. Part of this rebellion is a function of individual maturity, while the other aspect is recorded as prophecy in the Gospel of Matthew 24:1-14 regarding the “end of days.” Hearts will grow cold and lawlessness will multiply … The Holy Spirit, the Counselor, will be, and already is, acting as a spirit of discernment judging the sin of unbelief against the perfection and righteousness of Jesus Himself. All are being judged including the ruler of this world; Jesus left that He might one day return for His disciples. One day soon.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 16:12-19[HCSB]) 12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is Mine. This is why I told you that He takes from what is Mine and will declare it to you. 16 “A little while and you will no longer see Me; again a little while and you will see Me.” 17 Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this He tells us: ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’? ” 18 They said, “What is this He is saying, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what He’s talking about! ” 19 Jesus knew they wanted to question Him, so He said to them, “Are you asking one another about what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me; again a little while and you will see Me’?

You will see Me in a little while

chose to repeat verse 16 in the lesson title because it is so reassuring. In the Holman Bible this begins a set of passages entitled “Sorrow turned to Joy.” Nothing could be more appropriate than joy, especially on the heels of the previous lesson which had an overtly negative vibe. And while one commentary has set forth the notion that Jesus coming back “in a little while” meant He would be resurrected soon after being crucified, I see it another way. The great hope in this declaration was not meant only for His disciples of that time, but also for His disciples of this time. Nothing is more hopeful in these dark days than knowing that Jesus will be back “in a little while.” In this way the Holy Spirit is prophesying … doing exactly what Jesus said the Spirit would do in verses 13 & 14: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.” Therefore, if we are hearing the truth and speaking the truth, it is the truth that comes from Jesus Himself [by the Spirit]! How this is interpreted has a great deal to do with an individual’s relationship with Jesus. In my case it is a message of hope in a hopeless age; and it is certainty in an age of doubt and distrust. Take heart, little flock! Jesus will be back in just a little while …

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 16:20-28[HCSB]) 20 “ I assure you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. 21 When a woman is in labor she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. 22 So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will rob you of your joy. 23 In that day you will not ask Me anything. “I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25 “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in My name. I am not telling you that I will make requests to the Father on your behalf. 27 For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

The world Rejoices in Jesus’ death

his is out and out prophecy for the Disciples then, and for us, in these troubled times:

Matthew 24:3-8 While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age? ” Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the * Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines1 and earthquakes in various places. All these events are the beginning of birth pains…” Jesus also makes clear the diametric opposition that is occurring between the value system of the world and that of “the Way.” This signals the time of the end, but it is not the end. I am convinced that in our lifetime we will suffer outward persecution, and that we will be in much the same position that Christians were in during the first 300 years prior to Constantine’s “rescue” of the faith. This time, however, there will be no rescue by worldly powers, but by Jesus Himself. This is what we refer to as the rapture … and yes, it is pre-tribulation. Jesus spoke in figurative language, metaphor and parable, but His plain words are His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection. And, when we ask for things, ask in the currency of the spirit, and not for the things the world values. Those treasures will be of no value in heaven.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 16:29-33[HCSB]) 29 “Ah! ” His disciples said. “Now You’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language. 30 Now we know that You know everything and don’t need anyone to question You. By this we believe that You came from God.” 31 Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe? 32 Look: An hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Speaking in plain Language

othing could be more plain, or to the point, than Jesus’ declaration that He has conquered the world! He is, as prophesied, the Warrior King, the Messiah, the Lion of Judah, the Heir of David’s bloodline! He is Emmanuel, God with us! It is clear that, in retrospect, Jesus not only conquered Rome, He transformed it! Oh, but that’s not all: He says that while we will have peace in His words, we, like Him, will suffer in this world. He tells us to be courageous: remember, small flock, He has left with us a Spirit of council, of truth, and of infallible guidance, in His absence. Jesus was not alone at the end of His earthly ministry and neither are we. We, as Christ followers, are always in the presence of the Father because the Holy Spirit is with us and lives within us. If there is a Christmas message worth sending this year, it is this: “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” The Disciples did not fully understand what Jesus was referring to in His “plain speaking” because they thought they would be strong enough to weather any storm of persecution. However, they, like ourselves, could not fully appreciate what it meant to be scattered until they were scattered and under true persecution. That time of persecution is now upon us. We know which way the wind blows. The trial of true believers has already begun in the coliseum of public opinion. We are considered, once again, a sect that is beyond the pale, outside the norm … judgmental and intolerant. While we cannot change perception we must not provide cause to support it. Let the Spirit speak.

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 17:1-5[HCSB]) 1 Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, 2 for You gave Him authority over all flesh; so He may give eternal life to all You have given Him. 3 This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent — Jesus Christ. 4 I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.

Jesus prays for Himself This is the beginning of a 3 part prayer, a poetic tryptic, in which Jesus prays for Himself, His Disciples and for All Believers. In this prayer for Himself He speaks as the man, Jesus, but also as God praying for the man, Jesus. It is yet another confirmation of the triune nature of our God. These prayers are beautiful in their language and message. Jesus remains consistent in His desire to honor and glorify the Father; He also intercedes with the Father on behalf of the Twelve, and for all believers then, now and forever. In this prayer set we are all justified as disciples and believers. However, there is not a segment for those who have rejected Him. In this way it is clear that acceptance and rejection have their price. Verse 5 echoes John 1:1-2 which identifies Jesus as the Logos, the preexistent One who was with God in the beginning before time was time. In this way there is also an echo we hear emanating from Genesis 1:26 in which the Trinity commits Itself to “making man in Our image.” In the Book of John the author takes particular care to lift up Jesus as Messiah and Lord while keeping Him very real and ever-present to each believer. He does this by recounting consistently, and believably, the words and character of our Savior.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 17:6-12[HCSB]) 6 I have revealed Your name

to the men You gave Me from the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they know that all things

You have given to Me are from You, 8 because the words that You gave Me, I have given them. They have received them and have known for certain that I came from You. They have believed that You sent Me. 9 I pray

for them. I am not praying for the world but for those You have given Me, because they are Yours. 10 Everything I have is Yours, and everything You have is Mine, and I have been glorified in them.

Jesus prays for His Disciples Part I

his prayer petitions God Himself with a level of confidence and assurance that I doubt the Disciples believed they deserved. But Jesus knew their hearts, and despite their failures, He saw them as worthy and worth dying for … even if these were the only disciples ever to keep His word. I believe that Jesus feels the same way about each of us who have come to believe. I say that because of verses 9 & 10. Those who were given and gave themselves over, as Jesus prays, were always God’s. All that was ever required was repentance and a willingness to believe. (Note: faith arises out of a willingness to believe, not the other way around). By the time Jesus prayed this prayer for His followers, by His own words, He was no longer in the world. He was already coming back to God, to heaven, to His rightful place as God’s right hand, the first Adam, the heir of all and all. We are … 

11 I am no longer in the world, but

they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are one.

  

Aware of exactly who Jesus is. Prayed for. Protected by the name of God. Not lost.

12 While I was with them, I was

Believers know their Savior and their God; and Jesus knows this. Because of this knowledge, we cannot say that we do not know Him.

protecting them by Your name that You have given Me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture may be fulfilled.

While this may be at times inconvenient, it is reassuring to be aware that God Himself knows us individually, cares for us, and is very concerned for our personal safety.

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 17:13-19[HCSB]) 13 Now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy completed in them. 14 I have given them Your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. 15 I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 I sanctify Myself for them, so they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Jesus prays for His Disciples Part II

e know from the first part of the prayer that we are on God’s heart … and now we know why. Jesus did not intend to take us out of the world, but equipped us with Himself so that we could withstand the assault of the world. The creation is not evil, but there is evil residing in the hearts of men and women who do not acknowledge God as Father and Jesus as Savior. There is simply no gray area here. As much as we would like to meet the world half way, we as the sanctified, cannot be of it even though we are in it “up to our eyeballs,” so to speak. This prayer sounds very familiar and it should. I am convinced that the similarities to The Lord’s Prayer are intentional (see Matthew’s Gospel chapter 6:9etc.) What does it mean to be sanctified? The Holman Dictionary states simply: Sanctification is the process of being made holy resulting in a changed lifestyle for the believer. Other words we also use are consecrate, purify, save and anoint. All refer to being set aside for a particular purpose. We are made holy and set aside by the very truth of Jesus’ identity: John 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one come to the Father except through Me” Jesus is our best example. If anyone wants to know what to do they should observe the life of Jesus and attempt to follow Him by picking up their own crosses. This is hard to do.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 17:20-26[HCSB]) 20 I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. 21 May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. 22 I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. 23 I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Jesus prays for All Believers

esus concludes with a prayer not only for the disciples, and the Apostles, but also for those who believe by their word. This is why we consider ourselves the faithful and the believer, blessed by Jesus Himself. Jesus knew that if those who were with Him needed support and the reassurance of prayer, then we who have come along at the end of the church age will need His prayer even more. In these ending days the only witness is our faith; and as frail and as flawed as it is, it is what keeps up together and safe. Our faith is what saves our souls and honors Jesus every day. It is not our perfection that saves us, it is His perfection that saved us while we were still sinners (See Romans 5). And while we are abiding in the world Jesus prays that we will be one in community as He and the Father are one with the Spirit. I do believe that He is referring to the church as we understand it, being one, reflecting His glory, bearing witness to His teaching, and being a sanctuary and refuge for all true believers.

24 Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.

As I consider our witness, it is clear that the world knows the name of Jesus. So it is our commission to be witnesses to the world, not to save it! The world knows the name of the Savior and has rejected it in favor of a watered down version of the truth.

25 Righteous Father! The world has not known You. However, I have known You, and these have known that You sent Me. 26 I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so the love You have loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.

Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” The world says, “I can have it my way; the truth is relative: anyone who believes in God regardless of form is going to heaven; and, life is meaningless.” Beware the false gospel of this age. Only the truth of Jesus will set you free.

I Am He

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 18:1-9[HCSB]) 1 After Jesus had said these things, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it. 2 Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 So Judas took a company of soldiers and some temple police from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, went out and said to them, “Who is it you’re looking for?” 5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they answered. “I am He,” Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them. 6 When He told them, “I am He,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. 7 Then He asked them again, “Who is it you’re looking for?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” they said. 8 “I told you I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for Me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the words He had said: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”

fter Jesus had prayed for Himself, His Disciples, and for all believers, He set out across the Kidron Valley toward the Mount of Olives where Our Lord positioned Himself and His followers for the arrival of Judas and his entourage. Of course the Disciples had no idea that the events which were unfolding that very evening would alter the direction of their lives forever. Yet, it is clear that Jesus was spiritually prepared, and not one bit surprised (see verse 4). Even in the other gospels’ recollection of fervent prayer and sweating blood droplets it is clear that Jesus knew exactly what was about to befall Him and His trusted friends. Imagine all of the men settling in for an evening with Jesus; most were expecting continued teaching, and undoubtedly an explanation of the lessons and prayers they had heard over the previous couple of days. Instead of their rabbi’s calming voice there is the cacophony of animated voices, the drumming of hurried feet, and the unmistakable flickering of torches through the trees. All of the indicators spelling trouble … serious trouble … in the darkness. Jesus, in John’s narrative, diffuses the situation by taking the preemptive step of announcing Himself to the crowd using the familiar “I am He,” three times. This calls attention to Himself, but is also a familiar claim to divinity* which bears its own evidence when those assembled step away from Him and fall to the ground. *Exodus 3:14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” Jesus loses not one for He is the Good Shepherd. “He is Who He Is” and cannot do otherwise.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 18:10-16 [HCSB]) 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. (The slave’s name was Malchus.) 11 At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Sheathe your sword! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given Me? ” 12 Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish temple police arrested Jesus and tied Him up. 13 First they led Him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was advantageous that one man should die for the people. 15 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

Peter strikes Malchus

eter is Peter. Jesus is Jesus, and cleans up yet another of Peter’s messes by healing the slave’s severed ear on the Mount of Olives. Since little is recorded about the other disciples’ activities we should conclude that Peter’s decisive actions tell us something important about him for the purpose of better understanding his character as a source of strength and direction for the fledgling church. Peter’s imperfect acts showcase Jesus’ perfect love. None are lost that believe on Him. 1.) Jesus never let Peter’s actions overshadow His own ministry. While Jesus remained open to His disciple’s concerns, He was undeterred. And, while Peter was undoubtedly the true zealot among the Twelve he could never hold a candle to Jesus as the classic revolutionary! 2.) In verse 14 Caiaphas’ own words were recounted as prophetic … prophecy that he was obviously unaware of: “That it would be advantageous that one man should die for the people.” This clearly overshadows anything Pilate or Herod may have prophesied that day because it was uttered by a faithful Jew, was clearly messianic, and it foreshadowed the struggle of a people after God’s own heart … a nation which crucified its own king. 3.) We know that at the core of the accusations against Jesus were issues of theology only. Political tinder would be added later. 4.) Peter, ever-determined, followed Jesus with another disciple, presumed to be John, the one Jesus loved. This is an intriguing third person reference, one which echoes Mark placing himself on the Mount of Olives in his own gospel. Peter was about to learn the truth of Jesus’ words.

The downward spiral

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 18:17-24 [HCSB]) 17 Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you? ” “I am not! ” he said. 18 Now the slaves and the temple police had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself. 19 The high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching. 20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple complex, where all the Jews congregate, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. 21 Why do you question Me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.” 22 When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest? ”

f you were asked, “Do you believe in Jesus? Do you know Him?” How would you respond? In the safety of church it would undoubtedly be a resounding “Yes, I love Jesus!” However, if you were in Iraq or Afghanistan, you might think twice before you answered. We are all motivated by personal survival; Peter, without thinking, was saving his own hide. We know that he was immediately convicted in his heart by the Holy Spirit, but it did not deter him from 2 more identical transgressions. I can hear him cursing himself for his weakness. It is hard to overcome our hesitation because of fear. How long does it take us to get things right? For me it took the best part of 30 years to say “no” to drugs and alcohol; and even today I am far from perfect. Far from perfect … Contrast that to Jesus, our Savior. He quickly speaks up and challenges His accusers: 23 “If I have spoken wrongly, give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit Me?” And, as we know, there are severe consequences. In following Jesus we will probably behave like we always have for awhile, but in time, there is reason to believe that we will respond more like Jesus, and … less like our old selves. When, and if, we stand up for our belief in Jesus Christ, do not be surprised if our bravado is met with skepticism or outright contempt. There is good reason why our faith is treated with disbelief. We are like disciples of old who are more likely to desert our Lord than to support Him. We are not that different than our predecessors, Peter, Judas and Thomas.

23 “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit Me? ” 24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 18:25-32 [HCSB]) 25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you? ” He denied it and said, “I am not! ” 26 One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden? ” 27 Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed. 28 Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover. 29 Then Pilate came out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man? ” 30 They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed Him over to you.” 31 So Pilate told them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law.” “It’s not legal for us to put anyone to death,” the Jews declared. 32 They said this so that Jesus’ words might be fulfilled signifying what kind of death He was going to die.

Rounds two and three

rom this we should take away the understanding, and the reassurance, that all of what takes place in Scripture fulfills prophecy and serves to glorify God. Encourage one another. Nothing is without Godly purpose … nothing! However, do not confuse this with every miniscule act “happening for a reason” so that we might dodge personal accountability. Those are excuses for our behavior, not reasons. Note: Peter was the one who opened his mouth and denied Jesus even though it was prophesied. Things happen as consequences of our actions; they should be treated as such and learned from. To illustrate grace, even the cataclysmic failure of Peter contained within it the opportunity for atonement and redemption by Jesus when He appeared to His Disciples on the shores of Galilee for breakfast after the resurrection. We must see ourselves as worthy of redemption, at all times, even though we all fall miserably short of glorifying our Savior. I say this because I struggle frequently with a spirit of unworthiness and heaviness. We all do. What we can learn from the trial, and Pilate’s actions, goes directly to the reality of a system of laws that enshrines punishment, and one that can be manipulated by the powerful. This is the way of the world and the way of the flesh. So be it. Our God is the God of ALL things! What we can learn from Jesus is the reality of grace, and the eternal power of salvation. Only grace truly rewards; one can never manipulate God, and His love for us. In the person of Jesus Christ He is the Lion and the Lamb. He rules with a steady hand! He is fiercely protective of His children … even the most wayward of them. He is the Father of Lights.

Truth

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 18:33-38 [HCSB]) 33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews? ” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me? ” 35 “I’m not a Jew, am I? ” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done? ” 36 “My kingdom is not of this * world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.”6 37 “You are a king then? ” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”

re you the King of the Jews? You are the King of the Jews. This is an interesting word play because if one transposes two words Pilate is making a statement, not asking a question. Jesus caught this and cornered Pilate who was indeed ruthless, but smart enough to know he was not dealing with an ordinary criminal. In John’s recollection of Jesus’ conversation with Pilate there is a drilling down, and a linguistic dance, that should seem very familiar to believer and unbeliever alike: “What is truth?” We often couch it in the familiar, “What is the meaning of life.” This suggests that we know in our hearts that there is more to living than rugged individualism and collecting stuff . Why then does the Holy Spirit compel each of us to ask the same question? Because it is embedded in each one of us deep in our individual DNA … because we are made in God’s spiritual image. It is the same mechanism that compels an adopted child to seek out his or her biological parents. We all want to know what truth is and where it resides. Most of us will spend our whole lives tracking down Jesus and His Father, trying to understand them and struggling with the relationship. Paul tells us that this creates strength, and character, and ultimately hope. And this hope is not misplaced. (See Romans 5:1-8, etc.) What Jesus says to Pilate we might well use in our own commission of the Gospel: “I was born for this!” Yes, we were born for this.

38 “What is truth? ” said Pilate.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 18:38b-40; 19:1-4 [HCSB]) 38b After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds for charging Him. 39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews? ” 40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas! ” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. 2 The soldiers also twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and threw a purple robe around Him. 3 And they repeatedly came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews! ” and were slapping His face. 4 Pilate went outside again and said to them, “Look, I’m bringing Him outside to you to let you know I find no grounds for charging Him.”

Barabbas was not the revolutionary

he scene with Barabbas is a foretelling of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Jesus takes the place of a criminal, a revolutionary, a sinner. But the real revolutionary was not Barabbas; a real revolutionary does the unpredictable, the unimaginable, and often the unpopular and unconventional. What is the definition of revolutionary? 1 a : of, relating to, or constituting a revolution <revolutionary war>

b : tending to or promoting revolution c : constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change <a revolutionary new product> In this way, and by definition, Jesus is far and away the more authentic revolutionary. His means are nonviolent and His heart is pure. Overthrowing an existing regime by violence is the conventional method; overthrow by persistent sedition or by engaging in a relentless “inside job” is far more unconventional. One may ask, “How is Jesus different than any other social activist?” How is He any different than Gandhi or Martin Luther King? 1.) 2.) 3.) 4.)

He is God. He preceded them all. He laid down His life; it was not taken from Him. He was resurrected, and continued His ministry for 40 days. Let me repeat … He rose from the dead AND it was chronicled.

This is how we treat our God: we flog, crown with thorns, slap and ridicule Him. Yes, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Here is the man

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 19:5-11 [HCSB]) 5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man! ” 6 When the chief priests and the temple police saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify! ” Pilate responded, “Take Him and crucify Him yourselves, for I find no grounds for charging Him.” 7 “We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law He must die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. 9 He went back into the * headquarters and asked Jesus, “Where are You from? ” But Jesus did not give him an answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You? ” 11 “You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater

e may not scream “Crucify! Crucify!” but we do crucify Him by our behavior whenever we sin, and whenever we are unrepentant. These are sins of omission. Omitting honesty and repentance prevents spiritual growth. We have laws, too, and are creating new ones with increasing frequency; laws can be and should be beneficial, however, many of our laws are nothing more than amendments intended to legitimize what was once unthinkable. There are many who would like to see Jesus, or at least the memory of Him, killed off, because He presents a very inconvenient and difficult challenge to anyone whose heart is convicted by sin, though unwilling to change. Pilate was certainly convicted, and his wife more so (see Matthew 27:19), but he was in no position to do anything that would jeopardize his standing as provincial governor and “friend of Caesar.” Pilate’s life was in the balance, and he knew it; and not unlike us, in the end, he was more interested in his own flesh than his eternal soul. This is why Pilate is such an attractive antihero. We can relate to his choices. But we have to understand that all of this was preordained so that Jesus could become the Lamb of God and the sacrifice for all. This is why Jesus makes it clear that regardless of the choices made by Pilate, Herod or the Sanhedrin, the Authority by Whom this was unfolding would not, and could not, be deterred: “You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. Our choices never deter God.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 19:12-17 [HCSB]) 12 From that moment Pilate made every effort to release Him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar! ” 13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s bench in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Hebrew Gabbatha). 14 It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about six in the morning. Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king! ” 15 But they shouted, “Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him! ” Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king? ” “We have no king but Caesar! ” the chief priests answered. 16 So then, because of them, he handed Him over to be crucified. Therefore they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying His own cross, He went out to what is called Skull Place, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.

Here is your king

s mentioned in the last lesson, Pilate was more afraid of losing the favor of Caesar than he was his soul. It is doubtful that Pilate, in his classical polytheistic faith, even considered the soul important. It was more likely he was concerned about fate and karma, and he certainly detected bad karma in the way an innocent man was being railroaded by his own people. In Pilate’s offering up of Jesus to the crowd, he was using sarcasm to (hopefully) make his point that Jesus was a man to be pitied in his current pathetic state, not crucified. Temple leadership did not acquiesce. They were adamant that Jesus was neither king nor messiah. [Rewind to 1052 B.C.] After the Old Testament passage when Israel demanded Saul be crowned king, and God was abandoned by His people (1 Samuel 8:4-9), one can only imagine how the Father must have felt when His chosen people once again paid homage to Caesar, a god made of flesh and blood … Pledging allegiance to Caesar was an easy way to leverage Pilate. However, there were other reasons to apply pressure to the Governor. He was vulnerable, the Pharisees were jealous and were pressed for time. Even though Hollywood has often painted Pilate as sympathetic, and the Sanhedrin as vicious and evil, all had the same freewill that you and I have. Poor choices were made, and yet God was glorified! God always wins! In our sin we have all condemned our Savior to not only a violent death, but the added insult of carrying his own cross to Golgotha. That would be comparable to having a man carry a shovel to the cemetery so that he could dig his own grave prior to being executed. Are we shovel carriers or cross bearers?

Pilate writes the truth

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 19:18-24 [HCSB]) 18 There they crucified Him and two others with Him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate also had a sign lettered and put on the cross. The inscription was: JESUS THE NAZARENE THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’ ” 22 Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.” 23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” They did this to fulfill the Scripture that says: They divided My clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for My clothing. And this is what the soldiers did.

ilate once asked “What is truth?” (see lesson 85) and then inscribed it above the crucified Christ. He had his answer! I believe that Pilate, like the rich young man in Matthew 19:21, knew in his heart that there was a specific path to peace but was unwilling to go the distance for it. We are no different. In the current age, we tend to look only at immediate needs and material consequences; Pilate and the rich young man were looking at their feet, measuring each step by gain and loss, gauging their immediate survivability. In our own culture we run up against a similar “short sightedness.” We talk endlessly about 401k’s and wealth management, tallying our effectiveness by the number, while very little serious conversation takes place about the longer term positive (and eternal) consequences of a sound faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is undoubtedly the most controversial decision anyone of us will ever make. And it does not matter what language we use, our King truly is Jesus! He presides over all that we do. A plaque does not need to be nailed to a cross for such an assertion to be true; Truth is its own best evidence … In Christ things as simple as a tunic remain undivided. In Christ broken lives are made whole. Lambs prepared during the Passover in Exodus had no broken bones nor were Jesus’ bones broken at the crucifixion. Prevenient grace urges us to accept not just the attractive or convenient parts of Scripture, but all of who Jesus claims to be: Jesus was not just a moral teacher or a charismatic rabbi; He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 19:25-30 [HCSB]) 25 Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and * Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the* disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, “* Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. 28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, He said, “I’m thirsty! ” 29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on hyssop8 and held it up to His mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished! ” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Finishing is the beginning

ood wine began the end; sour wine and hyssop began a new beginning.

Something bad begets something good. Even in the tragic there is victory; and in the fatal there is the finale. In this way God is always good; and as a consequence, our faith is never misplaced. Life out of death: death is new life. John does not offer nearly as much detail of the crucifixion, or the events leading up to it, as do the other (Synoptic) gospels. This measured from the release of Barabbas until Jesus gives up His ghost and His death is confirmed – (this is approximate). John offers up what reads like a very sparse 20 verses, whereas Matthew uses 29 verses, and Mark’s narrative requires 35 verses as does Luke’s. Even on the cross, and under supernatural duress, Jesus honors His mother as instructed by His religion. John becomes her son and her caretaker ... because … by this time Mary would have been widowed, had no expectation of income, and would have probably been in her early 50’s: three strikes. Mary’s hope, like our own, depended upon her son. Our hope has always depended upon her Son, our God.

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 19:31-37 [HCSB]) 31 Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special9 day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with Him. 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of His bones will be broken. 37 Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the One they pierced.

The One they pierced

ierced but not broken … to fulfill prophecy.

Psalm 34:19-20 (see vs. 33 & 36) 19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all. 20 He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken. Zechariah 12:10-20 (see vs. 34 & 37) 10 “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn. One of the most important passages, however, is verse 35 in which the author (presumably John, the one Jesus loved) is clear that these events are true and that this is something he is willing to declare as a testimony; additionally he reiterates that he knows he is telling the truth. This would suggest that he is cognizant and not being carried away by emotion or storytelling. He is relaying this series of events factually and scientifically so that those who come after will have the truth to rely upon. He is providing this information as “an expert witness.” I have said it before and will say it again: there has never been a suitable prosecution of these events proving them fictitious. Even the Shroud of Turin bears out the facts of the case going so far as to show the “blood and the water” which collected on the cloth our Lord was buried in. The stains at the side of the oxidized image have been verified as blood and water, human bodily fluids. What truth do you accept?

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 19:38-42 [HCSB]) 38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus — but secretly because of his fear of the Jews — asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. 39 Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. 40 Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

The burial

ohn relays the crucifixion matter-of-factly, though with sufficient detail. He does not dwell on the death, but quickly moves on to the burial and to what one would believe is the most critical element of Jesus’ mission: resurrection! It is key that two of His disciples within the existing power structure in Jerusalem make a way for the body to be buried and protected. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus come together secretly (though one wonders how secretive it might have been since there were evidently witnesses and it was not yet under the cover of darkness. Nonetheless, in keeping with Jewish tradition the men provide 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes (consisting of sandalwood and other aromatics) to embalm the body so as to cover the inevitable smell of decay. Note: if they had really understood Jesus’ words, none of this would have been necessary because the body would not decay but would be restored! The Synoptic gospels place Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene at the tomb, also. I would not have been surprised that the women would have also helped with the body. For the men to handle a corpse on the eve of the Sabbath, and more importantly the Passover, this passage illustrates a significant parting with convention, and the men’s passionate devotion to Jesus as their rabbi. I believe this treatment of the burial has the same intended effect as Mary Magdalene discovering the risen Christ on Sunday. Both show a breaking with tradition and a new definition of the roles of men and women within the church. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 “If anyone is found guilty of an offense deserving the death penalty and is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 20:1-10 [HCSB]) 1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him! ” 3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw, and believed. 9 For they still did not understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went home again.

Mary discovers an empty tomb

he initial belief, and greatest fear, of Mary Magdalene was that the body of her mentor and friend had been either moved or stolen. Ahmadi Muslims specifically believe that Jesus went to India to continue to preach to the Twelve Tribes, and that His tomb is there. Other Islamic sects, while not that specific in their understanding, do hold to the notion that Jesus did not die on the cross. Gnostic Christians also believe, in extreme cases, that Jesus was not crucified on the cross, but that a phantom, or some celestial apparition, took His place. This false doctrine is called Docetism. If the belief in an overarching conspiracy (one recorded as promoting the theft of Jesus’ body by the authorities in the conclusion of Matthew) holds true, then everyone lied openly; however, that position also presumes that the truth was also well known. If all held to complete falsehood (knowing the truth) then lie was never believed and the truth survived in secret. Now we call that secret truth Christianity. This is why the truth of Christianity has been railed against but never successfully debunked! Peter and John had a competitive foot race to the open tomb only to discover what Mary Magdalene already knew to her astonishment: there was no corpse in the tomb. Interesting to note that John outruns Peter, enters the tomb, and believes … believes but does not yet understand. This is a mystery. And yes, there is an open reference to the Shroud of Turin and the Sudarium (or face covering). Be willing to believe even if you do not yet understand.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 20:11-17 [HCSB]) 11 But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying. 13 They said to her, “* Woman, why are you crying? ” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? ” Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to Him in * Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”2 — which means “Teacher.” 17 “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father — to My God and your God.”

Are we also looking for Jesus? What is your empty tomb experience? Where have you looked for Jesus, and He was not to be found there? Have you ever been to a spiritual retreat and you could not find Jesus there? Have you ever attended a new up-and-comingchurch hoping to reboot your faith, and you could not find Jesus there? Have you ever purchased the latest bestseller by a mega church pastor, and you could not find Jesus there? Have you ever attended a home group, or hosted one, and you could not find Jesus there? Are we are looking in the wrong places for Jesus? Often we look first in empty tombs, and not at our side, where He promised He would always be in the Spirit of Truth. And, while it is never wrong to seek Him in these places we will never find Him unless we first believe that He is the One who is at our side. Our relationship must be with a God who is with us at all times in all places, with all people … our Emmanuel. It is clear that Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus even though He was standing beside her. She was blinded by her grief and, yes, she did not expect to see Him alive. She thought He was the caretaker since gardeners usually worked early in the morning. Are we so grieved in our circumstances that we cannot see, or hear Jesus, even though He is right there beside us all day, every day? Do not let your grief blind you.

Sent and sending

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 20:18-23 [HCSB]) 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord! ” And she told them what He had said to her. 19 In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the * Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you! ” 20 Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 After saying this, He breathed on them and said,4 “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

as Jesus ever appeared to you in the spirit through “closed doors” and shone brightly through all of the sin in your life? I am sure that, as true believers, we all have been blessed by at least one such break through. Our salvation requires it. God will not just stroll around in the wings of our lives if we have truly called upon Him. Furthermore I know that you and I have clearly heard Him say, “Peace to you.” In those moments all was well with us for a time because we allowed God full control. This happens more frequently than we may be aware of, but we do not recognize it as such because we are conditioned only to see Jesus in Church or in the company of other Christians. However, our God is an unexpected God. Musician Rich Mullins, author of “Awesome God,” called Him a wild man. Think about this: Where and when have we seen our Lord? How has he touched us and worked in our lives? Which changes in our lives can only be attributed to Jesus and none other? And this: How is it that you and I know Jesus is real and not just a figment of a story teller’s imagination? Where in our lives did Jesus show us His scars and present Himself as the only reality that is real? Or this: Try to remember the time when God literally breathed the Holy Spirit into our lives and nothing was ever the same again. May God bless you and protect you; may God make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May God look with favor on you and give you peace. –Numbers 6:24-26 Our God is an unexpected God …

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 20:24-29 [HCSB]) 24 But one of the Twelve, Thomas (called “Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord! ” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe! ” 26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you! ” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.” 28 Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God! ” 29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed.5 Those who believe without seeing are blessed.”

To doubt and to believe

o fully believe we must overcome doubt and unbelief. To be challenged and to believe is a far stronger position than to believe and never to have been sufficiently challenged. While Thomas (and the others) had the benefit of seeing and believing we must live by faith having not physically seen our risen Lord. Jesus has a special message to those of us who believe and have not seen in verse 29: Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.” It is indeed a special kind of blessing to take anything on faith, and faith alone, and thus be thoroughly committed come “hell or high water.” Jesus knew how difficult this would be for us in the flesh which is why He did not leave us without leaving the Holy Spirit behind, with us and within us, as teacher, counselor, admonisher and guide. In this way no challenge is met alone and without Christ Jesus! One intriguing aspect of John’s recollection is the fact that Thomas was literally out of town for a period of at least a week, maybe more, before venturing back to Jerusalem. We do not know where he went, but we can be certain that he was in hiding. Reading closely the narrative suggests that all the Disciples were living in fear and under the radar. Thomas was not the only one with doubts; he was the only one who had the guts to say it to Jesus’ face. I like that about Thomas. You should, too. Like Peter, once Thomas had a clear sense of direction he was just about impossible to derail even if it meant personal harm. The Disciples witnessed something that day, behind locked doors, which was very real and compelled them to risk their lives. Events like these are the best evidence to justify our belief that Jesus lived with us and that our faith is rational. Jesus lived, He died, He lives!.

There is more …

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 20:30-31 [HCSB]) 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.

hat we have in the Gospel narratives is simply a CliffsNotes version of Jesus’ ministry … the high points if you will. There must have been so many more acts and miracles that occurred among just a few nameless locals or in out-of-the-way places. In fact it has been said that 99% of God’s work goes unnoticed and unrecorded because it is unremarkable. That should give us all confidence that God is also working in lives like our own. We are so dialed into our entertainment-based culture that we have come to assume that God isn’t interested unless we capture headlines or receive an audience with the Pope. Far from the likes of clearing the Temple, our God is far more often a subtle, though sublimely majestic God. In this way He remains mysterious, and just beyond our understanding. No mystery = God in a box. Mystery = anticipation & hope. John reveals in this passage his own motivation for the gospel bearing his name: 1.) that we might believe Jesus is Messiah, 2.) that we might believe Jesus is the Son of God, 3.) that we might, believing, have life in His name. Note: the slight alteration of context (might verses may) suggests a reduced possibility of an outcome as found in John 3:17. Freewill always produces a remnant and not the response of the masses.

In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 21:1-9 [HCSB]) 1 After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know it was Jesus. 5 “Men,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you? ” “No,” they answered. 6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. 7 Therefore the disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord! ” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around him4 (for he was stripped) and plunged into the sea. 8 But since they were not far from land (about 100 yards5 away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread.

A miracle at daybreak

esus appeared a minimum of eleven times after the resurrection which were attested to by witnesses numbering in the hundreds. Seven Christ-followers went out in the boat to catch fish, and all night long they caught nothing. Fishing is, of course, not always a predictable enterprise, and it was known that the Sea of Galilee was overfished and had begun to yield less in certain locations: The fishing was indeed dismal, they all were bone-tired; the day already looked unproductive. However, at sunrise a figure beckoned them from the shoreline. As with Mary Magdalene at the tomb, the men did not recognize Jesus at first. I have wondered how He must have appeared to them from the distance of a football field. Did he glow? Did He stand out on the shoreline in some peculiar and supernatural way? There is at least one extra-canonical gospel that says Jesus appeared in various forms to people as they needed to see Him. What must they have thought when asked about their catch for the night? Was the stranger mocking them, somehow aware of their bad luck, knowing that there would be no fish for them to sell at the morning market? Yet the fishermen’s obedience was remarkably intact; they responded immediately by recasting their nets as directed; and their nets were filled to bursting with a very specific number of fish. John recognizes Jesus first, and it is Peter who clothes himself and swims to shore dragging the full net. While John’s Gospel is the only one to recount the story of breakfast on the beach, Luke tells how Jesus ate fish in the presence of His Disciples to prove that he was not an apparition, but a resurrected being with physical properties.

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Breakfast with Jesus

In the Beginning: The Book of John (John 21:10-14 [HCSB]) 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. 11 So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish — 153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You? ” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared7 to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.

esus appears to the Disciples a third time and does something very mundane: He invites them to breakfast on the seashore bright and early in the morning. How wonderfully God-like to do the practical thing. Flat bread and fish would have been the standard fare as John tells us in verse 13. Tilapia, a fish we are probably serving at our own supper tables, may very well have been what Jesus served since it is indigenous to that area even today. Theologically, the language that Jesus uses, when he offers His followers bread, seems reminiscent of the Last Supper. We find a familiar tone suggesting the prospect of redemption. No matter the mistakes, spiritual status was renewed around a fire on the shores of the Sea of Galilee at sunrise. What a beautiful image. What hope! “Take and eat; this is My body. What once was broken is now made whole. Take and eat and be made whole again.” (my interpretation; this is not Scriptural) I think it is worth repeating that when Jesus appeared to His Disciples and others, after His resurrection, He was not a phantom or an apparition. Jesus “appeared” as a living being breathing and eating … totally alive! What we are to take away from this passage, and others like it is simple. We are to accept specific references to Jesus and His earthly ministry as literal: 153 fish in a net is literally the number of fish the net held, and is not symbolic. Jesus and His miraculous ministry before and after the resurrection are not narrative license or metaphor. They recount God’s gift to us in the person of Jesus Christ, and yes they are absolutely supernatural. John provides a literal account to illustrate the reality of God in the flesh.

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In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 21:15-17 [HCSB]) 15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, 8

son of John, do you love Me more than these? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Feed My lambs,” He told him. 16 A

second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

Peter restored

ver a second charcoal fire Peter is redeemed. Glory be to God the Father who loves us as His own!

“Peter, do you love Me more [than these]?” Presumably, our Lord was referring to his companions (not the fish). And, it was a fair question since they all were bound by both faith and by vocation. We might ask the same thing today regarding an avowed Christian’s love of job, position or money … or if Jesus is still his or her first and only love. 3 times Peter affirms his Lord, and each time he responds with, “Lord, you know I love you,” one more sin of denial is systematically atoned for: finally erased 3 minus 3 = 0. First: Feed My lambs.

“Shepherd My sheep,” He told him.

Second: Shepherd My sheep.

17 He

asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me? ” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.” “Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.

Third: Feed My sheep. Theologically, this is the affirmation of Peter’s calling. This is when his life took a sharp turn from fisherman to evangelist. It is at this time that he is transformed from an impetuous disciple into “Petra” the rock. Upon rocks like these the church would be built with Jesus as Cornerstone. Peter came face to face with the One he would serve, and service has a price. Peter would discover that the price for redemption and Christ-following would be steep … very steep indeed. Feeding sheep can be a blood sport, just ask Jesus … ask Him on the cross. Peter’s later writings make this clear.

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When you were young

In the Beginning: The Book of John ((John 21:18-23 [HCSB]) 18 “ I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” 19 He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, He told him, “Follow Me! ” 20 So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them. That disciple was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray You? ” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord — what about him? ” 22 “If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.” 23 So this report spread to the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? ”

nding is beginning. This is the second time Peter was called from the nets into service. (see John 1:35-42)

But with this redemption of Peter’s is the caveat found in verse 18. This is problematic for Peter, and for those of us who wrangle over the cost associated with believing. How is it that we will “tie our own belts when we are young, but when old we will stretch out our hands and be led where we do not wish to go?” We talk today of persecution though most of us will never be faced with crucifixion or torture. Is it possible that persecution in the ending times will be less like being crucified upside down and more like erosion of our faith one layer after another over long periods of time in the way a river full of grit grinds its way down through the bedrock? Peter would say this: (1Peter 3:17 [HCSB]) “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” There will come a time when doing good in the name of Jesus will be looked upon as bad behavior and thus punishable. Recent legislation, and anti-Christian sentiment, suggests that the time of persecution is now. So, Jesus asks Peter to follow Him; Peter asks about John, as well. The equivalent of, “Who me, just me? What about John; isn’t he coming too?” Jesus replies that, “I am talking to you now, Peter; it is My business when and how I call your friend to serve. What is that to you?” When Jesus beckons us to follow, we follow.

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In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 21:24-25 [HCSB]) 24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.

More, much more

his is essentially a two-part epilogue by John in which he offers a narrative in support of his personal experience as a Disciple; and he makes the case for Jesus’ as Creator using specific events, times and locations. He takes one postion, and one position only, as he follows Jesus throughout His ministry and beyond the cross. The author begins with poetic language which describes “time before time” when Jesus dwelt with God before and beyond all things and ends with Peter’s redemption. In this way John’s story begins early and ends late. As the last living witness, even later than Paul and Peter, we would expect a longer and wider view of Jesus’ ministry; and an awareness that could only be the result of living through the whole of the first century with a truly Christian world view. Part I (verse 24) is given as though in court while Part II (verse 25) suggests that there was far more material to choose from, but that the author was careful and very selective … or so says Tyndale’s Life Application Study Bible. I prefer to read part II as a forward looking statement about the extra-canonical support that would be discovered to buttress the credibility of existing faith documents, especially those considered Canon by the Council of Nicaea, and by the bishops of Constantine and Rome. Also consider these: The Gospel of Thomas codex, the Nag Hammadi Library & the Dead Sea Scrolls; they are just a few of the better known collections of texts that support the authenticity of our faith; and I believe add to it. The world could not, and cannot, contain all that might be written concerning our God. He is a big, big God, bigger than our world and bigger than any book or collection of manuscripts! John did a stellar job of wrapping mere words around a mystery, keeping it mysterious, and affording us a glimpse into the domain of the mystical and the supernatural. … all in everyday language. This is the first-hand account of our Lord and Savior by the blessed “Disciple that Jesus loved.” 104

In the Beginning: The Book of John

afterward within the context of the lives of ordinary believers. There is very little said about church as a location, and much said about the body of followers or disciples. As well, the hope that John transmits is like nothing else in the Bible. It is palpable. Consider these passages:

The Author’s Perspective

he words that come to mind every time I consider the Book of John are hope and then truth! John’s unique and mystical narrative quality, couched in the mystery of a God Who is both personal and beyond comprehension, gives us perspective on the supernatural as God’s only natural state. This is our new norm.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day…” (John 6:54)

As we all know by now, John was truly bent in the direction of proclaiming Jesus as God to the point of obsession. And because of this fact it is not lost on us that Jesus was more than just a man to John. In a similar way John is more than just a writer; he was a documentarian, an historian and probably the first theologian with the exception of Paul.

"The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7) “"I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) "I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am." ( John 8:58)

The mystical quality that I tend to harp on, as the single-most identifiable element of the Gospel, is more often the language and the concrete imagery. It is more than a metaphor; John presents the supernatural as a real and immediate physical reality. Unlike the Gnostics, he does not suggest that Jesus is a phantom, a dualistic entity, nor does he suggest that Jesus requires some “special knowledge” as an entre into the fold.

In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2) “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life …” (John 14:6)

How can anyone square this with what we thought we knew about Jesus, our faith, or our God? There is no precedent Biblically, or in our hermeneutics, to account for John’s fresh and captivating language. Hope and truth are at the core of every passage in John’s Gospel. I am grateful for this divergent revelation.

The mystical aspect of the narrative is John’s treatment of the supernatural as perfectly “everyday” truth and well 105

Memorable passages from the Book of John John 1:1–2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:51 Then He said, "I assure you: You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." John 2:16 He told those who were selling doves, "Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!" John 2:19-20 Jesus answered, "Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days." Therefore the Jews said, "This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?" John 3:16–18 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 4:14 "But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again--ever!” John 4:23–24 “But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. " God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 5:35 “John was a burning and shining lamp, and for an hour you were willing to enjoy his light.” John 5:43 “I have come in My Father's name, yet you don't accept Me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.”

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Memorable passages from the Book of John John 6:9 "There's a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish--but what are they for so many?" Then Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, numbering about 5,000. John 6:54â&#x20AC;&#x201C;57 Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, because My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood lives in Me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. John 7:34 " You will look for Me, and you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come." John 7:50â&#x20AC;&#x201C;52 Nicodemus--the one who came to Him previously, being one of them --said to them, "Our law doesn't judge a man before it hears from him and knows what he's doing, does it?" "You aren't from Galilee too, are you?" they replied. "Search and see: no prophet arises from Galilee." John 8:7 When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, "The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again: "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:36 Therefore if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am." John 9:25-27 He answered, "Whether or not He's a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!" Then they asked him, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" "I already told you," he said, "and you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't want to become His disciples too, do you?"

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Memorable passages from the Book of John John 9:40-41 Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and asked Him, "We aren't blind too, are we?" "If you were blind," Jesus told them, "you wouldn't have sin. But now that you say, 'We see'--your sin remains.â&#x20AC;? John 10:14-16 " "I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.â&#x20AC;? John 10:30 " The Father and I are one." John 11:11 He said this, and then He told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I'm on My way to wake him up." John 11:25-26 " Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. "Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die--ever. Do you believe this?" John 11:35 Jesus wept. John 12:3 Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil--pure and expensive nard-anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil John 12:8 " For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me." John 12:25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 13:4-5 So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.

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Memorable passages from the Book of John John 13:34-35 "I give you a new commandment: that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 14:6 " Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:25 –26 "I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” John 15:12-14 This is My commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. John 15:18 "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you.” John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father-the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father--He will testify about Me. John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. John 16:20 "I assure you: You will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.” John 16:32–33 Look: An hour is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered each to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have suffering. But take courage! I have conquered the world."

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Memorable passages from the Book of John John 17:5 “Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.” John 17:15-16 I am not praying that You take them out of the world, but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:20-21 I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so that the world may believe You sent Me.” John 17:26 “I made Your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and that I may be in them.” John 18:5 –6 "Jesus the Nazarene," they answered. "I am He," Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them. When He told them, "I am He," they stepped back and fell to the ground. John 18:20 " "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus answered him . "I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple complex, where all the Jews congregate, and I haven't spoken anything in secret.” John 18:37 "You are a king then?" Pilate asked. "You say that I'm a king," Jesus replied. "I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice." John 19:11 "You would have no authority over Me at all," Jesus answered him, "if it hadn't been given you from above. This is why the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin." John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" Then bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.

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Memorable passages from the Book of John John 20:3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. John 20:15 "Woman," Jesus said to her, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" John 20:27â&#x20AC;&#x201C;29 Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don't be an unbeliever, but a believer." Thomas responded to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who believe without seeing." John 20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. John 21:12 "Come and have breakfast," Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" because they knew it was the Lord. John 21:16 A second time He asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" "Yes, Lord," he said to Him, "You know that I love You." "Shepherd My sheep," He told him. John 21:18 "I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don't want to go." John 21:24-25 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written. 111

All passages are Holman Translation unless otherwise stated

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About the author: Sean grew up in Troy, Ohio, the oldest of three brothers. Work and travel have taken him to Maryland, New Mexico, everywhere in between, and then back to Ohio. An avid concert & documentary photographer, he says that the most important decision he ever made was turning his life over to Jesus Christ after spending decades actively addicted. Running from the truth did not work for Jonah, and it did not work for Sean, either. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I AM God.” This passage has kept the author reasonably sane during the most insane times in his life. He knows that that there are those who would argue that point. Today Sean, Rebecca, and their five cats, live in Middletown, Ohio. They attend The Gathering : a United Methodist urban missional church, where he teaches and serves, as well as continuing to write weekly lessons for email distribution. As an ordained minister, with Loving God Fellowship (a church without walls) he serves “wherever two or three are gathered“ using his gifts of teaching and photography as ministries to bless and to give back. Copyright 114 2016