Re: Verse reading–John 14:1-14 (day six)
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life”–v 6. There is no “I” in team. It is, therefore, a heads-up to the uniqueness of Christ that He so often makes “I am” statements. Christ is not on anyone else’s “team” (Except the Father’s). He, without the aid of others, claims to be full and comprehensive sufficiency for those who come to Him. He denies that they need anything/anyone else! Consider a human analogy. What if I said something similar to Holly? “Sweetheart, I love you. From this day forward, you do not need anyone else. Not your sons. Not your family or friends. Not at any level. You need never listen to another sermon. I am it! I am what you need.” Would you think me crazy, arrogant or in danger? Yes! Yet, Christ makes this claim without pause or pride. Why? Because He truly is the all-sufficient Son of god. Praise Him!
Author: Don Guthrie
Don Guthrie is the Senior Pastor at FBCSA.
Untroubled Life
Re: Verse reading–John 14:1-14 (day one)
“Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me”–v 1. It is a power I never knew I had! The power to prevent anxiety, the responsibility to stop fear before it washes over my heart and hope. John uses a word (tarasso) which meant, “to stir up, to agitate, to trouble”. He reports the command Christ gave His disciples (and us) to refuse fear, to replace and defeat it by belief. “Believe!” says the Lord. Believe in God! Believe in Christ! Place your full confidence in His sufficiency and wisdom and love. Even when days grow dark or disappointing, don’t wander off from this declaration of trust. “Do not be afraid any longer”, the Lord said to the grieving and anxious synagogue official in Mark 5. “Only believe!” ONLY believe! Allow nothing else into your heart. It is always His message to those who love Him. The result is always peace.
All you need
Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17; 31-38 (day seven)
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands. . .poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet”–v 3, 5. It is a confidence that will change your life. It will do for you what it did for Jesus, make you courageous and humble. It will bring great blessing to you. (see v 17) The Father will give you what you need to do His will! Knowing this truth changes everything! He will “give all things into your hands”. Make them available to you. The world cannot do so. Neither can your own efforts. Only the Father can make this promise, and He makes it only to those who seek Him. “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”—Philippians 4:19. Do you know this truth, dear friend? Do you hold it daily before your heart? Do so and your anxieties will flee away.
The problem is pride
Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17; 31-38 (day six)
“If I, then, have washed your feet, you also ought to was one another’s feet”–v 14. “Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another”–v 34. It is not about feet. It is about pride, about the things that I am willing to do (or avoid or purchase or say) in order to protect my ego. About, the things that I am unwilling to do because they are difficult or unfulfilling. The problem is not that I don’t love people. I do. I just don’t love them more than I love me and therefore NOT like Jesus loved. After a while, I don’t even see the opportunities anymore. I walk right past them so that my tender ego doesn’t feel obligated or guilty. Ego-protected life is not a privilege Jesus gives His followers. Obedience to God comes first, even at the price of my pride. Washing feet illustrates it. The cross proves it.
Love to the end
Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17; 31-38 (day one)
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end”–v 1. It is a strange sentence (in Greek, if not in English). Theologically evocative. The NASV translates it, “He loved the to the end”. End of time? End of His life? The word actually means the end of God’s plan and purpose. “Telios” means finished product or completed project. So, the NIV translates it “He loved them to the full extent”, never surrendering any part of His goal for His people. Hebrews 7:25 uses a form of the same noun. “Therefore, He is able to save to the uttermost (telios–completely, in accordance with all that He planned) those who come to God through him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” Wow! A love that never quits. Never retreats. Never makes concessions. He keeps loving us until His perfect purpose is achieved in us! He loves us to the end.
Disappointed with God
Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day seven)
” ‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died’ “–v 21. She was disappointed with Jesus. You can feel it in her words. Her not-too-disguised question, “Why didn’t you come when I sent for you?” “Why didn’t you hurry?” I’ve been in her same place, asked her same question. But, the issue is larger than schedule. It involves purpose also. “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the GLORY of GOD?”–vs 40. When I am honest, I can see that my ambitions and prayers are often no larger than comfort and safety. God’s purpose and plan is higher. He wants me to see HIS GLORY. And, if this ultimate purpose requires the payment of time and/or struggle, He is willing and gracious to require it of me. Often, we are disappointed with God because we forget how LARGE and GOOD His plans for us are.
Resurrection!
Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day six)
“The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings”–v 44. Lazarus was RESUSCITATED. Jesus would later be RESURRECTED. Huge difference. Lazarus was restored to his old body, returned to a life of limitation and restraint. Witness the grave clothes. He would die again later. Jesus was later raised to a new body with new powers. He would walk through doors, appear and then be gone (John 20). God’s promise to us is RESURRECTION! A miracle of such scope and power only God could do it. The complete destruction of death. Near-death stories that we hear (as miraculous as they seem) are more like what happened to Lazarus. No comparison to what is ahead. New bodies! Death and all of its sad history erased for good. Now and someday. In Christ. “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life”–1 John 5:11-12.
Prevent?
Re: Verse reading–John 11:17-44 (day one)
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”—v 21.
It was as high as she could think. The highest stretch of her imagination. Prevent death! Like a football team using a “prevent” defense. Martha’s hope consisted largely of avoiding the reality. Even the Lord’s reminder of the coming resurrection (v 23) seemed like cold/distant comfort to her. We are often like her. Eat healthy! Exercise! Pray for healing! Avoid death as long as you can! That’s our approach. Jesus has a higher vision. Defeat Death! Restore life! His own resurrection will prove the power to do so. Lazarus’ resuscitation will include all of us in the promise. “An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice and shall come forth. . .to a resurrection of life. . .(or) to a resurrection of judgment”—John 5:28-29. Prevent death? Yes, when possible, but the Lord has a higher goal– defeat it entirely!
HWJL?
Re: Verse reading–John 10:1-21 (day seven)
“I am the good shepherd”–v 14.
He was a brilliant leader, not shy about declaring the truths that govern all leaders. Notice that He didn’t speak any of the trite clichés that are often communicated. He didn’t say that we don’t need a shepherd (that we were semi-autonomous and self-sufficient). He didn’t say that the “church” is always right (that if a person has an official title he/she should be trusted and obeyed without question). He claimed that He was the GOOD shepherd of His people and that all those who come after Him in any capacity of leadership are qualified only in so far as they are like Him in concern and courage. The GOOD shepherd is the standard of measure for all other leaders! “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching”—1 Timothy 5:17. HWJL? How would Jesus lead?
The subject is leadership
Re: Verse reading–John 10:1-21 (day six)
“The THIEF comes only to steal and kill and destroy. . .the HIRED HAND. . .runs away because he cares nothing for the sheep”–v 10, 12.
The subject is leadership. There are many, says Jesus, who claim to lead the people of God (have authority over or responsibility for the sheep) who are not qualified to do so. Either through active selfishness (thieves) or passive cowardice (hired hands) they fail to protect and promote the welfare of God’s people. Not so with Jesus. Not so with the leaders that He calls and sends to us. Unselfish–motivated by love. Courageous–even in a costly fight. God-called leaders exhibit these characteristics. Why do you think Jesus takes the trouble to make this clear? What responsibility do sheep have in recognizing and responding to God-called leadership? Sheep are helpless, but not so helpless that we cannot hear His voice (or not) in the leaders He sends to us. We must discern.