Month: January 2019

Re:Verse reading–John 9:1-7, 13-41 (day three)

“This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

Yeah, it would be pretty great to witness a big blessing from God, wouldn’t it? And yet, have you really thought it through? What if the blessing came not to you, but to someone else? And what if that someone else was not a person you hold in high regard? And furthermore, what if that blessing didn’t square with your perspective of how God would act? One way to deal with all that is to find a different way to tell the story. That’s exactly what the Pharisees did. Maybe it would be a good idea to sift through the stories you tell yourself and others about God. Are you editing those stories in a way that molds God into a reflection of your own wishes?

Re:Verse reading–John 9:1-7, 13-41 (day two) 

Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. vs. 3

Let’s be clear. Sin has consequences. Sometimes those consequences manifest in physical form. This, however, is not what Jesus is addressing in this passage. Jesus is speaking about circumstance. Let’s face it some folks will always seem to have more, get more, be better than you, but you have an opportunity in whatever circumstance God puts you to give him glory. We may never know the “why” of things, but we can be sure that God is at work. How can we be a part of it? Even in our trials and sufferings, God is at work. Your journey can bring him glory. Through your prayers let me encourage you to ask for the wisdom to know how to use your particular circumstance for kingdom purpose.

Re:Verse reading–John 9:1-7, 13-41 (day one) 

“As He walked along, he SAW a man blind from birth.”- v 1.

There are two miracles in John 9.  Two outcomes of God’s outpoured power.

The second is the one we usually notice.  A man born blind receives physical sight.  He SEES (for the first time).

The previous miracle is the source and start.  Jesus SEES the man.  SEES his suffering with clear eyes.  UNDERSTANDS that pain is never the ultimate story, that all struggles are just opportunities for the unconquered (and unconquerable) glory of God to shine–v 3.  Our Lord SAW the Father at work.  Daily. Determined. Generous.  UNDERSTOOD the grace that invites sinner like us to join Him–v 4.

This week, as you read, will you pray for a third miracle?  That the Lord would open your eyes to see the world with his compassionate vision.

“What do you want Me to do for you?” said Jesus.  “Lord, I want to SEE again”–Luke 18:41.

Re:Verse reading–John 6:52-69 (day seven)

The closer Jesus gets to the cross the smaller the crowds get.  At the point of crucifixion, even His closest disciples deny Jesus.  Judas, one of the twelve, betrays Jesus for silver, and Peter, one of the inner circle, betrays Jesus three times in one night. It is disheartening to see someone drift away from the Christ, but those days come for many.

In our text this week we see crowds not willing to follow Christ into the depth of His teaching: As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” John 6:66-67

May we never drift away from the Christ when life becomes difficult or when His teachings interfere with our creature comforts, instead, let us draw in closer to God seeking Him completely even in spite of ourselves.

Re:Verse reading–John 6:52-69 (day six)

You must be born again…a spring of water welling up to eternal life…If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Jesus had a way with words. So far, Jesus has used the tangible (new birth, water, bread) to make sense of spiritual realities, although no one fully understood him at the time. Even though Jesus rarely went out of his way to explain his metaphors (he did with his disciples), his methods say a lot about his character. Jesus chose words that were relevant, relatable, and meaningful. Yes, these truths were still challenging, but Jesus did not got out of his way to make them so; they are so, by their very nature juxtaposed to a broken world. His words are the kind of words that required presence; being with people in the moment.

That’s a very good method. A good method indeed.

Re:Verse reading–John 6:52-69 (day five)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Jesus makes a deep and profound connection between the Spirit and the Word of God. It is the Spirit that makes us alive through the Word of God. The wisdom, power, and promises found in the scripture are greater than any other faith system or pattern of thought designed to find happiness and meaning.

Are there difficult teachings?  Are there passages that challenge the human heart and mind to think and approach life in a way that seems unnatural (not of the flesh)? YES!  But beyond the seeming confusion and frustration there is enough clarity in the scriptures to bring hope, life, and faith.

Peter didn’t deny the difficulty of Jesus words. He had heard and understood enough of Jesus other words to find life and hope. There is life and eternal truth to be found in the scriptures.  Enough to cling to in times of confusion, difficulty, and uncertainty. 

Re:Verse reading–John 6:52-69 (day four) 

I am grateful for all of my English teachers I had growing up that taught me well.  They taught me about the figure of speech called a metaphor.  A metaphor is a word or phrase that is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.  The Jews must not have understood about metaphors.  Jesus used them often and they never understood what He was talking about.  They wanted to apply the literal meaning to it and then reacted to their misinterpretation.  Jesus will talk about the need to stay in Him in John 15 when He says to abide in Him.  He uses the metaphor of the vine and branches, but does not mean to become a literal vine or branch.

Jesus gives a clue to their lack of understanding in verse 65.  “…no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”  Understanding of God’s Word is dependent on our faith response to God’s drawing.  Having a relationship with God and having the Holy Spirit is like having the secret code breaker manual built in.  “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life…”

Re:Verse reading–John 6:52-69 (day three) 

“He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.”

There’s a certain convenience we find in quoting well-known historical figures. Reaching back through the mists of history for adages and maxims and platitudes lends an air of wisdom and heft to whatever point we’re trying to make. The historical figure can become for us merely a free library of quotations we use for just the right occasion. It’s easy. But Jesus is an actual person who stood upon the ground of a real place and looked into the eyes of each individual around him. He’s not a collection of quotations. We can shape quotations to fit any occasion. The words Jesus spoke, though, are the source of all life. His words will shape us.

Re:Verse reading–John 6:52-69 (day two) 

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. Vs. 68

Simon Peter would spend much of his time with Jesus asking questions, not understanding, or misinterpreting – but he knew who had the words of life. Whether or not he understood them at that time, his faith was absolute. Not every message is easy. Sometimes the truth is shrouded in a mystery of faith, and we are called to walk in humble obedience without having it all figured out for ourselves. Did Jesus know this would happen? Absolutely. Did that change is manner of speech or action? It did not.

Jesus is not calling us to a faith of convenience. One where we only read the stories we can easily explain, and avoid altogether any challenging doctrine. He calls us to confront those tough truths, and believe in the one who uttered them. There will be those who walk away. They will be unwilling to walk with Jesus into the places that call us to think, to act, to trust completely.

This is a new year. It’s not like there is a cosmic goal post the we have crossed, or a galactic turnstile that has clicked off another pass round the sun, but we have declared that this will be the start of a new year. Where will your faith take you? Will you be like Peter and say to the Lord – where else would I go but to you? Will you be like the others who can’t be bothered with the tough stuff? This is not a passive faith. None of us is on the sidelines. Let us all commit to following our savior with complete abandon. Happy New Year!