Author: Scott Lane

Re:Verse passage – John 12:20-37, 42-50 (day five) Jesus had hard but honest words for the Greeks.  Same honest and hard words for us.  The christian life is difficult, counter cultural and counter intuitive.  The illustrations He chooses are not the feel-good pictures that would be considered market friendly-  dying like a grain of wheat, hating our life in this world, following Jesus on a path to suffering, and becoming a servant. However, these pictures are not the end of the story.  Jesus also has glorious promises for those that will die, devalue their own life, follow, and serve.  They will bear fruit, find eternal life, be near and close to Jesus, and will be honored by God.

What we learn is that the christian life is not easy, but it is productive,  intertwined with the presence and power of Jesus, and eternal.  Anyone want to live that kind of life (now and in eternity)?

Re:Verse reading–John 9:1-7, 13-41 (day five) Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him…  John‬ ‭9:35‬ ‭

It may be the sweetest part of this interaction with Jesus, the second encounter  between Jesus and the man who was formerly blind. The first interaction resulted in physical healing, courage, and boldness. That encounter also caused stress, trouble, and conflict. The scripture says “they put him out”.  Do you sometimes feel it too?  See John 15.  “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”

So in the midst of the difficulty and isolation Jesus finds him (again).  Sound familiar? “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”Psalm 46:1   “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Maybe an encounter with the Living God (again) is just what we need today. Whatever the need or circumstance, ask Him to come near and find you to continue that work in your heart and mind!

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 passage – John 5:1-24 (day five) When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” John 5:6 

Same remarkable facet of the nature of Jesus we read in John 4 last week- the knowledge of Jesus. Come meet the man who told me all the things that I had done. Jesus knew the paralytic perfectly well. Jesus knew the woman perfectly well. Jesus knows each of us perfectly well. There is no occasion for Him to discover more about us.  No need to better understand us. No information lacking to diagnose us.  He already knows it all. And He acts perfectly with all His knowledge and understanding.  With wisdom and grace, Jesus questions, challenges, convicts, convinces, encourages, and empowers. 

This should fill us with awe, so that we sin not; with courage, so that we fear not; with delight, so that we mourn not. -Spurgeon. 

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

“So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?””

The woman at the well had an encounter with Jesus that radically reshaped heart and life. Her priority of getting water was now not as important (left her waterpot) as telling others about Jesus. She began inviting others to investigate Jesus actually being the Christ. Don’t overlook the fact that she was now engaging people that she previously was trying to avoid (came alone in the afternoon). She had a new burden for others to encounter Jesus like she had. She had been set free from the sins that had held her captive and had defined her. They were now a small part of the larger story of the grace and power of Christ. 

Has your heart changed like this?  An encounter with Jesus through the Holy Spirit will cause it. 

 Re:Verse reading–John 3:1-21 (day five)

I still remember the words of a college professor, “If you never understand how lost you were, you’ll never appreciate how saved you are.”  Jesus’ words in John 3 sound similar. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:17-18

We are ALL already condemned. Lost. Separated from God. That’s where we start from. A place of non-belief. We don’t move from a neutral  indifferent place in our hearts to God or away from God. We ALL start away from God, already condemned. That’s how lost we were. But when we trust and believe in Jesus, we are no longer condemned. How safe and saved is that?  We should celebrate even more, God’s love, grace, and generous gift.

Re:Verse reading–John 2:1-22 (day five) And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 

Why the harsh words to his mother?  Especially since Jesus was going to do what she had asked. It points to a deeper question, “Why does God give us what we ask for?”  Is it because we asked? Kind of.  More specifically, it is because we asked for the right thing (God’s will). Jesus was clearly stating that God is not like a genie in a bottle- granting us whatever we ask. Do you see the danger?  For us?  For others? He is protecting (pride/ego) and also teaching (a bigger/better perspective) to look and ask for God’s will.  “The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.”  Does this perspective sound familiar? ‘Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Re:Verse reading–John 1:1-18 (day five) 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory,” John‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭

When you study religions and compare them to Christianity, there are important questions that show the differences.  What are the holy writings?  How is salvation accomplished?  How was the world created?  The most crucial question that must be answered is, “Who is Jesus?”

John leaves no doubt about the answer from the beginning of his gospel. Jesus is fully divine and fully human. Jesus is preexistent with God. Jesus is God. Jesus became a human.

Each of these statements is vitally important to the gospel message. How would you answer this crucial question, “Who do you say that I am?”