Author: Aaron Hufty

Re:Verse passage – John 14: 15-31 (day two)

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. Vs. 27

Not as the world gives. I have a suspicion that when people pray for something such as peace for their lives they have an expectation of a kind of peace they have already seen or conceived. See the problem? That is not what Jesus promises. His peace is not of this world, and therefore will likely not come in the way you expect. That should not discourage you if you are truly seeking some sort of comfort or peace. What it should do is release you from trying to force God’s timing and plan. The first step is to always trust him. Fully. Then he will come in ways you never expected…and always better.

Re:Verse passage – John 13: 1-17 (day two)

If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. vs. 17

“Do you know what I have done to you? vs. 12b

Head and heart knowledge of truth are lived out in application. Jesus has painstakingly gone out of his way in this upper room discourse to educate in words and in deeds what is about to happen, and how the disciples should proceed. There was a very practical response to Jesus’ question: Yes, we understand what you are doing. The proof, however, is in the application. Do you want blessing? The fulfillment of the promise? Then go and do this for others. Find the hurting and bind up their wounds (physical AND spiritual). Seek out the hungry and feed them. Lead and Serve. It must be both. Do you understand what Jesus has done for you? Then go out and do this for others.

Re:Verse passage – John 12:20-37, 42-50 (day two)

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself. vs. 32

What is our job in regards to evangelism? How are we to reveal the deep truths of the gospel to people who don’t know, have never heard, or who are hostile to the church.

Look up. The work has been done for us. Tell the story of Jesus and the cross. He will draw people to him. He has done all that is necessary. Aren’t you grateful for that? The image is so powerfully drawn. Jesus gives the parameters even before the event. He will be lifted up, and we must look to the cross. It is only through the cross. Jesus knew this, and he didn’t want them to miss it, and didn’t want us to miss it either.

Confused? Lift you heads, look to the cross. He will draw all to him.

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 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!

Re:Verse reading–John 5:1-30 (day two) 

“Do you wish to get well?” vs. 6b

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:5

The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them. Isaiah 9:2

“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12

It is the question that comes to us all. Do you want to be well? When we are in darkness, we feel as though we can hide our sin from the world, and even from God. The truth is he still sees, but is also still seeking to shine his light of truth into your life.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come. He has come to make you new. I hope you will take time to read Luke 2 to your family sometime today. Merry Christmas.

Re:Verse reading–John 4:4-30, 39-42 (day two) 

So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. vs. 6b

Have you recovered yet? This question, more than any other, permeates my post-Christmas at First conversations. People are kind to ask, and somewhat understanding of the energy required to present those services every year. I loved reading this verse during this season. John records a very human Jesus who needed rest. Who traveled far, and was indeed tired. We must remember to rest. We must also recognize the sacred nature of work. It is good to work hard. It is a blessing to feel exhausted from a job well done.

That, however, is not the end of the story. Jesus was never too tired to love someone into the faith. Even in our moments of “unplugging” we must recognize the needs of those around us to receive Jesus. One of the old adages for pastors is to be ready “in season and out.” That also means even when we are resting, vacationing, getting away, etc. Never weary of the gospel. Keep Jesus’ love at the front of your mind as you make plans to rest this season.

Re:Verse reading–John 2:1-22 (day two) 

So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. vs. 22

If I had known then what I know now…Have those words ever come from your mouth? Sometimes when we look back on the paths we have taken we wince to think of the choices made or the opportunities squandered. More often we can look backwards and see the wisdom offered by others that seemed foolish at the time becomes much more profound when life experience and our own wisdom builds. (All parents just shouted: AMEN!) John, the disciple Jesus loved, captures this moment early in his gospel account. After clearing the Temple he describes what is to come in his own life and ministry. The other disciples remembered these words and had a clearer understanding after Jesus demonstrated his words through the cross.

There are lessons that can only be taught by time. The point is to treasure the words of Jesus. What you are reading and praying through will, in time, prove a wonderful truth that was there all the time.

Re:Verse reading–John 1:1-18 (day two) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. vs. 10

I marvel at the complexity of this verse. John almost poetically captures that seeming paradox of this Christ. He was indeed flesh and blood. He was also here before imagining. He was with God and himself God before. Before all. Lest you think this baby just a baby John reminds us that this child was the incarnate version of the almighty.

John Donne in his Holy Sonnets also tried to capture the both/and nature of God/baby.

Thou’ hast light in the darke; and shutst in little room, Immensity cloysterd in thy deare womb. 

That image is so powerful to me. The power of the atom. All of creation, all of who God was and is, was put in that small baby. His choice, our gift.

Donne again: ‘Tis time that heart and voice be lifted high, Salvation to all that will is nigh,