Category: Believe in Jesus and Live

Whatever & Wherever

Re: Verse reading–John 20:10-31  (day five)
John 20:28    Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”   Profound statement.  Revolutionary words.  Do they sound familiar?  John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

What we need to remember is that Thomas spoke those words days after the Resurrection.  The words in John 1:1 were penned some 60 years later.

There is great hope in understanding the sequence of these verses.  Thomas, in the midst of doubt, fear, stress, tension, and grief is able to gain a new and supernaturally revealed insight into the nature and character of Jesus.  God was working in Thomas’ heart and mind.

So, whatever the circumstances, tensions, doubts, and fears we face, the hope of God’s continued work in the human heart and mind are possible to the soul that would seek, ask and knock. (see Luke 11).  Will you spend time in prayer and reading/searching the scriptures?  God is at work in whatever and wherever!!

That You May Believe

Re: Verse reading–John 20:10-31  (day four)
It was the ultimate goal of John when he wrote his gospel…verse 31, “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”  It should be the goal of every believer to give this same witness to everyone we have contact with.  Why should this be our goal?  Just to have numbers to boast of?  No…it is like one beggar telling another beggar, where to find bread.  When Jesus breathed on the disciples so they received the Holy Spirit, they were a new creature.  They had a new perspective of life…they had new goals…they had a new love for others.  The same gift is ours!  John was bold in his witness and we should be the same.  Fear of man, lack of love, or disobedience may hinder our witness to others.  Ask God to remove any barriers in your life and to use you to lead others to Christ.

Knowledge

Re: Verse reading–John 20:10-31  (day three)

“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.”  The truth claim that John presents is not one that is testable with litmus paper.  We don’t have a test tube for ascertaining the existence of liberty or love or patience—or the existence of historical events like the Civil War or the resurrection of Jesus—and yet we can know the reality of these ideas and occurrences through trustworthy witnesses who have established their credibility in the community of men and women.  John says to us: “I saw these things.  Hear me out.  Listen to what I learned about the person of Jesus—his character, mind, and mission.”  Get to know Jesus through these witnesses.  By their record you can come to faith.  And then you can come to knowledge.

Whom Do You Seek?

Re: Verse reading–John 20:10-31  (day two)
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” vs. 15

Mary came to the tomb with a purpose. She had a job to do and although she was emotionally a wreck, the body of Jesus needed to be cared for. As she walked towards the tomb she undoubtedly recounted with each step the sights and sounds of the past week. She likely had an horrific image of Jesus dying in front of her eyes. But she also thought of the promises, the wonder, the beauty of this man that was now gone. None of that mattered now, she had a job to do. It’s what you do for those who have died. So focused was Mary that she almost missed the miracle. When the body was gone her fear blinded her to what was right before her.

The frightening thing about this passage, for me, is that each of us can be so hyper-intent on doing good or finishing a task that we can miss the miracle. So, I suppose, that’s the point. What are we really seeking? Do you expect the Savior in the unexpected places and circumstances? Are you willing to set aside all your plans, as well-intentioned as they may be, and seek Jesus? It didn’t take long for Mary, but take care that we don’t miss him when he calls our name.

Angel question

Re: Verse reading–John 20:10-31  (day one) 
“As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot”–v 12.

It was a shock to them.  Not at all what they expected.  Angels, sitting majestically in the empty tomb at the foot and head where the body of Jesus had been just hours before, watching with amazement as Mary wept.  Tears???   The first disciples had come and gone, still very discouraged.  “They did not understand the Scripture”, says John 20:9.  Mary was equally blind to the work of God.  She wept.  Grief?  Confusion?  Exhaustion?  Whatever it was, it was a puzzle to the angels.  “Why are you crying?” they say in v 13.  Why aren’t you excited?  Why aren’t you filled with hope?  Good question, for her and for us.  Why are WE crying?  Not even angels have an answer for that question.

Finish!

Re: Verse reading–John 19:28-42 (day seven)
“It is finished”–v 28.  Jesus is the full revelation of God.  He is also the full revelation of man.  If we see who God is by looking at Christ, we also see who we will be.  See 1 John 3:2.  The new Adam.  The first-fruits of a restored race!  “I gave you an example”, said Jesus in John 13.  Our task is to imitate His pattern, follow Him, do what He did.  By doing so, we discover our true selves!  One category of Christ’s character is to finish God’s assigned task.  Do you know people who once committed themselves to follow Christ, but who now are far away, cold, distracted and disinterested?  Sadly, so do I.  Who among us doesn’t feel this soul danger?   “They had no firm root in themselves, but were only temporary” reports the Bible of some who joyfully received Christ early–Mark 4:16.  No argument, Christ finished His work.  Those who follow Him do the same.

Asking for help

Re: Verse reading–John 19:28-42 (day six) 
“Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty’ “–v 28.  No words describe the humility of Jesus.  After hours of abuse and ridicule, His pride does not prevent Him from asking for help from the guards standing nearby.  I am certain that I would not reacted the same way.  I would have been furious and stoic.  I would have refused to make myself vulnerable, to risk further rejection.  But Jesus needed a drink in order for his testimony to be heard.  He wanted to shout “It is finished” with a loud voice.  To do so, He needed to ask for help.  Are we too proud to do the same?  Do we sometimes pretend to “have it all together” at great cost to the task that God has given us to do?  “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient, even to death on the cross”– Philippians 2:8.  The most amazing evidence of His humility?  He was willing to ask for help.

Living in Tension

Re: Verse reading–John 19:28-42 (day five)
John 19 “And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” Luke 9 58  “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

In Luke Jesus says the phrase “lay His head”.  John uses the phrase “Jesus bowed His head”.  Same Greek words in both verses.  No doubt John remembers Jesus’ words in Luke as He taught about the sacrifice and realities of knowing and following Jesus on the earth.  Mission and Ministry are more important than earthly comforts and treasures.

John observes that Jesus found the place that He did not have during His life on earth, when He gave up His life.  Culture and earthly desires fly in the face a soul that loves the Lord and yearns for Heaven. We live constantly in this tension- To embrace the mission and journey on earth, and also to be in a place of ultimate peace and rest.  Jesus models the perfect pattern for holding onto both ends of this rope.

Testimony

Re: Verse reading—John 19:28-42 (day three)
“The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true.”  The testimony of the church is that the Bible is the written word of God, infallible and trustworthy.  But the Bible didn’t just drop in from heaven.  Rather, “men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”  That is to say, it came to us through the eyes, ears, and minds of human beings.  It’s for human beings because it’s by human beings.  It’s what they heard.  It’s what they saw.  It’s what they knew.  It’s the truth.  The glory of the sovereign, triune God’s creative, redemptive work of unspeakable grace got written in a way that human beings can read it and understand it and find salvation through it.  The Bible: the mysteries of heaven revealed through a voice we recognize as one of our own.  Trust it.

The Last Word

Re: Verse reading–John 19:28-42 (day two) 

Complete, finished. It is no coincidence that scripture records seven statements of Christ on the cross. Seven is the number of perfection, of completion. When Jesus uttered these words, it did not carry the weight of agony that he had cried earlier when he said “why have you forsaken me?” No, indeed, when the Savior of mankind uttered “It is finished”, he was unilaterally declaring that the goal of his incarnation was now completed. All the prophecy that had been written about the Messiah was now fulfilled. He came divinely, lived and suffered perfectly, and now the task was complete. With as much anguish as his previous thoughts carried, this word was one of absolute victory. Thanks be to God!