click here for online Bible John 3:1-21
Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night. He was a Pharisee which means that he was very devout in following the Old Testament Law. He was highly schooled in the scriptures and took his faith very seriously. Paul was a Pharisee. We often use the term Pharisee synonymously with hypocrite. Some of them were hypocrites because they claimed to be zealous for God but were actually in opposition to God’s plan in Jesus. Many Pharisees became Christians. We know about Nicodemus and Paul, but there were others at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. Nicodemus recognized that Jesus was a man of God and wanted to know more. He was drawn to Jesus. Why did he come at night? We can’t say for sure because John didn’t tell us. It might have been to be discreet. Until he found out more, he didn’t want anyone to know he was talking to Jesus. It might have been his only opportunity to speak to Jesus one-on-one privately. We don’t know. But John uses imagery with purpose. In chapter one he presents Jesus as the light from God coming into a world bound in darkness. In his discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus talks about light and darkness (verses 19-21). In John 3:30 Judas leaves the last supper to go betray Jesus. He went out into the dark. Here, Nicodemus is coming from the dark to see Jesus. We also see a progression in Nicodemus. In chapter 3, he comes to Jesus at night. Then in chapter 7, he defuses the Sanhedrin when they want to pass judgment on Jesus. Finally, in chapter 19, he publicly claims Jesus’ body with Joseph and puts him in the tomb.
Jesus didn’t have a canned speech. He interacts with each person according to who they are and where they are at spiritually. Nicodemus knows theology. He knows the scriptures. He lives an upright life. He just needs to have a personal encounter with God. He needs to be born again. Nicodemus lived by the Law to earn God’s favor. He knew that he would be judged by God based on his obedience. Jesus touched him at this point. Verse 16 – salvation comes from faith in Jesus. Verse 17 – Jesus was not there to judge, but to save. Verse 18 – judgment is based on belief in Jesus. Verse 21 – living to please God is not following a list of rules, but coming to Jesus.
When we come into the light, we leave the darkness behind. Being born again means becoming something new. Verse 21 – living by the truth is not accomplishing things for God, but recognizing what God accomplishes through us.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Friday John 2:13-25
Click here for online Bible John 2:13-25
When Jesus entered the temple, he was outraged by the commercialism of the temple area. It had the surface appearance of supporting worship, but was really being driven by profit. The Old Testament Law tells about sacrifices that were to be made at the temple. Bulls, lambs, and doves were all sacrificed at the temple. Anybody who didn’t live in the Jerusalem area would need to buy an animal for sacrifice. The Law also allowed a monetary offering in the place of some sacrifices. The money changers were there to support worshipers with different currencies so they could make a monetary offering or buy an animal. It all sounds very religious.
The problem was that all of those who were engaged in business in the temple were not there out of their dedication to God. They were there to make a profit. The religious leaders (Priests and Levites) who were in charge at the temple were probably getting a cut of the profits.
Jesus was very zealous about the temple. He cared deeply about worship. He was upset by those who profaned worship and drove them out. John says that Jesus’ disciples remembered Psalm 69:9.
Malachi 3:1-4 "See, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you desire-- see, He is coming," says the LORD of Hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner's fire and like cleansing lye. 3 He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. 4 And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD as in days of old and years gone by.
The religious leaders wanted a sign of authority. He told them that the sign was the rebuilding of the temple in three days. He alluded to the resurrection. The resurrection is still THE SIGN. The resurrection is the proof of who Jesus is.
How much do we tolerate in church because we are so accustomed to things that we don’t even recognize when something is contrary to God’s word? Unfortunately we don’t all recognize impropriety at the same time. So when one person says “That’s not right”, the rest of us are offended. Our standard can not be our culture or tradition. It must be the word of God. We must be careful with anything new and ask, “Does this glorify God?” “Is it proper?” We must also be critical of our traditions and ask the same questions.
When Jesus entered the temple, he was outraged by the commercialism of the temple area. It had the surface appearance of supporting worship, but was really being driven by profit. The Old Testament Law tells about sacrifices that were to be made at the temple. Bulls, lambs, and doves were all sacrificed at the temple. Anybody who didn’t live in the Jerusalem area would need to buy an animal for sacrifice. The Law also allowed a monetary offering in the place of some sacrifices. The money changers were there to support worshipers with different currencies so they could make a monetary offering or buy an animal. It all sounds very religious.
The problem was that all of those who were engaged in business in the temple were not there out of their dedication to God. They were there to make a profit. The religious leaders (Priests and Levites) who were in charge at the temple were probably getting a cut of the profits.
Jesus was very zealous about the temple. He cared deeply about worship. He was upset by those who profaned worship and drove them out. John says that Jesus’ disciples remembered Psalm 69:9.
Malachi 3:1-4 "See, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, the Messenger of the covenant you desire-- see, He is coming," says the LORD of Hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will be able to stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner's fire and like cleansing lye. 3 He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. 4 And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD as in days of old and years gone by.
The religious leaders wanted a sign of authority. He told them that the sign was the rebuilding of the temple in three days. He alluded to the resurrection. The resurrection is still THE SIGN. The resurrection is the proof of who Jesus is.
How much do we tolerate in church because we are so accustomed to things that we don’t even recognize when something is contrary to God’s word? Unfortunately we don’t all recognize impropriety at the same time. So when one person says “That’s not right”, the rest of us are offended. Our standard can not be our culture or tradition. It must be the word of God. We must be careful with anything new and ask, “Does this glorify God?” “Is it proper?” We must also be critical of our traditions and ask the same questions.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Thursday John 2:1-12
Click here for online Bible John 2:1-12
Everybody loves a party. A wedding was a big party in Jesus’ time. The wedding celebration could last several days. Mary, the mother of Jesus, seemed to have some responsibility for helping with the wedding feast. They ran out of wine and Mary goes to Jesus with the problem. The implication is that she expects him to do something about it.
His response to her seems troubling to us. He seems kind of rude. He calls her “woman”. If I talked to my mom like that, I’d had gotten smacked. Jesus is not being rude, that’s the way they talked back then. Notice that there are only two places where we see Mary in John’s Gospel, here and at the end. In both places, Jesus calls her “woman.”
I can’t image what it was like for Mary to be the mother of the Son of God. Since he was without sin, he probably wasn’t an unruly kid. But he put the things of God ahead of normal life. In this situation, she has a real problem and she knows that Jesus can do something about it. We often approach God the same way. I have a real problem, and I know that it is within God’s power to do something about it. So I cry out to God, “Please fix my problem!” My attitude should be, “God be glorified through my problem!” I think this is what Jesus is saying to his mom. “My mission as the Son of God is the glory of God.” He tells her, “My hour has not yet come.” Most translations use the word “hour” here. The NIV uses “time.” I can see why translators would use either word. The Greek word “hora” means hour, but it can mean either a literal hour (60 minutes), or a segment of time, or a point in time. Every place where John uses the word, it is used by Jesus in reference to his crucifixion or by John as the narrator in reference to the crucifixion. The one place where it is not used that way is John 19:27. (Then He said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.) That is the other passage where we see Mary. Jesus says several times that his hour has not yet come, but is coming. Then in chapter 12, we see a shift during the final week of Jesus’ life. He says, “The hour has come.”
The point here is the mission. He hasn’t come to fix wine problems, he has come to establish his church and die on a cross. Mary makes a shift from telling Jesus what to do, to trusting him to do whatever is appropriate. She tells the servants to do whatever he says. At that point, Jesus turns the water into wine. The only people who knew about the miracle were the servants and Jesus’ disciples. The miraculous sign displayed his glory to the disciples and they believed in him. He used the problem to further his mission.
Sometimes God fixes our problems in ways that advances his Kingdom. Sometimes, he uses our response to problems to advance his Kingdom. The issue is the Kingdom.
Everybody loves a party. A wedding was a big party in Jesus’ time. The wedding celebration could last several days. Mary, the mother of Jesus, seemed to have some responsibility for helping with the wedding feast. They ran out of wine and Mary goes to Jesus with the problem. The implication is that she expects him to do something about it.
His response to her seems troubling to us. He seems kind of rude. He calls her “woman”. If I talked to my mom like that, I’d had gotten smacked. Jesus is not being rude, that’s the way they talked back then. Notice that there are only two places where we see Mary in John’s Gospel, here and at the end. In both places, Jesus calls her “woman.”
I can’t image what it was like for Mary to be the mother of the Son of God. Since he was without sin, he probably wasn’t an unruly kid. But he put the things of God ahead of normal life. In this situation, she has a real problem and she knows that Jesus can do something about it. We often approach God the same way. I have a real problem, and I know that it is within God’s power to do something about it. So I cry out to God, “Please fix my problem!” My attitude should be, “God be glorified through my problem!” I think this is what Jesus is saying to his mom. “My mission as the Son of God is the glory of God.” He tells her, “My hour has not yet come.” Most translations use the word “hour” here. The NIV uses “time.” I can see why translators would use either word. The Greek word “hora” means hour, but it can mean either a literal hour (60 minutes), or a segment of time, or a point in time. Every place where John uses the word, it is used by Jesus in reference to his crucifixion or by John as the narrator in reference to the crucifixion. The one place where it is not used that way is John 19:27. (Then He said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.) That is the other passage where we see Mary. Jesus says several times that his hour has not yet come, but is coming. Then in chapter 12, we see a shift during the final week of Jesus’ life. He says, “The hour has come.”
The point here is the mission. He hasn’t come to fix wine problems, he has come to establish his church and die on a cross. Mary makes a shift from telling Jesus what to do, to trusting him to do whatever is appropriate. She tells the servants to do whatever he says. At that point, Jesus turns the water into wine. The only people who knew about the miracle were the servants and Jesus’ disciples. The miraculous sign displayed his glory to the disciples and they believed in him. He used the problem to further his mission.
Sometimes God fixes our problems in ways that advances his Kingdom. Sometimes, he uses our response to problems to advance his Kingdom. The issue is the Kingdom.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Wednesday John 1:43-51
click here for an online Bible John 1:43-51
In verse 43, Jesus found Philip. Then in verse 44, Philip said, “We have found the one that Moses wrote about.” Who found who? From our perspective, we find Christ. But, from Christ’s perspective, he finds us. He wasn’t lost. We were lost and he found us. Jesus told three parables in Luke 15 about searching for the lost and the joy of finding them. Remember that Jesus came seeking the lost. That shows how much he cares. Then those who are found are deputized to seek more lost. That is just what Philip does. He goes and tells Nathanael about Jesus. Nathanael responds with doubt. No self-respecting Messiah would come from Nazareth.
Notice that Philip doesn’t try to have a theological debate with Nathanael, he just invites him to come and see. He just lets Jesus show himself.
The apostle John arranges things in his gospel with purpose. Here at the beginning of the gospel, we have a disciple of Jesus responding with doubt. Jesus proves himself and the disciple responds with a proclamation of Jesus as the Son of God. At the end of the gospel, Thomas doubts the resurrection, but Jesus appears to him and Thomas says, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)
The interaction between Jesus and Nathanael is hard for us to understand. Jesus is making a play on words referring back to Jacob (Genesis 28). Remember, Jacob was a deceiver. His name in Hebrew mean usurper. He had an encounter with God in Genesis 28 and named the place Bethel (house of God). He had a dream in which he saw angels going up and down a stairway between heaven and earth. God promised the land to Jacob in that dream. Years later, Jacob had another encounter with God and the Lord renamed him Israel. (Genesis 32:28)
Jesus says that Nathanael is a true descendant of Jacob (Israel), but he is not a man of guile like Jacob. This familiarity confuses Nathanael and he asks how Jesus knows anything about him. Jesus says that he saw Nathanael under the fig tree. Some people interpret this to mean that Jesus is saying that he saw Nathanael as a baby. Maybe, but don’t bet the farm. Nathanael is doubting. If Jesus said, “I saw you as a baby”, I think Nathanael would have dismissed Jesus as a crazy Nazarene. But, look at Nathanel’s reaction to Jesus. This comment immediately convinced him that Jesus was the Son of God and the King of Israel. I believe that Nathanael had some kind of encounter with God and it was under a fig tree. Maybe he had been in the shade of a fig tree and had been reading the Genesis account of Jacob. Whatever it was, it showed Nathanael that Jesus had knowledge that only could be known by God.
Nathanael proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God. Then Jesus basically says, “That ain’t the half of it bubba.” (my paraphrase) He goes back to the Jacob account and inserts himself in it. He essentially says that he is the bridge between heaven and earth and Nathanael will be a witness to it.
So, what do we make of all this? We could focus on the mission of finding the lost.
But, what strikes me today is the revelation of who Jesus is. The closer we get to him the more we realize how much more there is to know about him. Everytime I have a new revelation of Jesus and respond with “Oh wow!”, I get a glimpse of how much more there is. It is Jesus who reveals himself to us. If we will just go and see, we will respond like Nathanael.
In verse 43, Jesus found Philip. Then in verse 44, Philip said, “We have found the one that Moses wrote about.” Who found who? From our perspective, we find Christ. But, from Christ’s perspective, he finds us. He wasn’t lost. We were lost and he found us. Jesus told three parables in Luke 15 about searching for the lost and the joy of finding them. Remember that Jesus came seeking the lost. That shows how much he cares. Then those who are found are deputized to seek more lost. That is just what Philip does. He goes and tells Nathanael about Jesus. Nathanael responds with doubt. No self-respecting Messiah would come from Nazareth.
Notice that Philip doesn’t try to have a theological debate with Nathanael, he just invites him to come and see. He just lets Jesus show himself.
The apostle John arranges things in his gospel with purpose. Here at the beginning of the gospel, we have a disciple of Jesus responding with doubt. Jesus proves himself and the disciple responds with a proclamation of Jesus as the Son of God. At the end of the gospel, Thomas doubts the resurrection, but Jesus appears to him and Thomas says, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28)
The interaction between Jesus and Nathanael is hard for us to understand. Jesus is making a play on words referring back to Jacob (Genesis 28). Remember, Jacob was a deceiver. His name in Hebrew mean usurper. He had an encounter with God in Genesis 28 and named the place Bethel (house of God). He had a dream in which he saw angels going up and down a stairway between heaven and earth. God promised the land to Jacob in that dream. Years later, Jacob had another encounter with God and the Lord renamed him Israel. (Genesis 32:28)
Jesus says that Nathanael is a true descendant of Jacob (Israel), but he is not a man of guile like Jacob. This familiarity confuses Nathanael and he asks how Jesus knows anything about him. Jesus says that he saw Nathanael under the fig tree. Some people interpret this to mean that Jesus is saying that he saw Nathanael as a baby. Maybe, but don’t bet the farm. Nathanael is doubting. If Jesus said, “I saw you as a baby”, I think Nathanael would have dismissed Jesus as a crazy Nazarene. But, look at Nathanel’s reaction to Jesus. This comment immediately convinced him that Jesus was the Son of God and the King of Israel. I believe that Nathanael had some kind of encounter with God and it was under a fig tree. Maybe he had been in the shade of a fig tree and had been reading the Genesis account of Jacob. Whatever it was, it showed Nathanael that Jesus had knowledge that only could be known by God.
Nathanael proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God. Then Jesus basically says, “That ain’t the half of it bubba.” (my paraphrase) He goes back to the Jacob account and inserts himself in it. He essentially says that he is the bridge between heaven and earth and Nathanael will be a witness to it.
So, what do we make of all this? We could focus on the mission of finding the lost.
But, what strikes me today is the revelation of who Jesus is. The closer we get to him the more we realize how much more there is to know about him. Everytime I have a new revelation of Jesus and respond with “Oh wow!”, I get a glimpse of how much more there is. It is Jesus who reveals himself to us. If we will just go and see, we will respond like Nathanael.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Tuesday John 1:29-42
John 1:29-42
An amazing thing happens in verse 37. Two of John’s disciplines leave John and follow Jesus. They do this because of John’s testimony about Jesus. We don’t see John’s reaction to their leaving. I believe that John basically send them to follow Jesus. He had been saying that his purpose was to point to Christ. Then he sees Christ and says to his disciples, “Hey look, there’s the guy I’ve been preaching about. That’s the Son of God. You should follow him.”
He really lived by "I must decrease so that he can increase." He put God's plan ahead of his own ministry. Most of us might say, "So what?" But, how often do we really put our own desires and agendas aside and really follow God. A good bit of what we do in churches is to try to satisfy our own desires and preferences rather that follow Christ. Church splits and church fights are rarely about how to follow Christ, they are usually about me or my program. We can all learn from John. I must decrease, so that Christ might increase.
An amazing thing happens in verse 37. Two of John’s disciplines leave John and follow Jesus. They do this because of John’s testimony about Jesus. We don’t see John’s reaction to their leaving. I believe that John basically send them to follow Jesus. He had been saying that his purpose was to point to Christ. Then he sees Christ and says to his disciples, “Hey look, there’s the guy I’ve been preaching about. That’s the Son of God. You should follow him.”
He really lived by "I must decrease so that he can increase." He put God's plan ahead of his own ministry. Most of us might say, "So what?" But, how often do we really put our own desires and agendas aside and really follow God. A good bit of what we do in churches is to try to satisfy our own desires and preferences rather that follow Christ. Church splits and church fights are rarely about how to follow Christ, they are usually about me or my program. We can all learn from John. I must decrease, so that Christ might increase.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday John 1:19:28
John the Baptist was an interesting character. He is the focus of todays passsage:
John 1:19-28
While John the Baptist is the center of attention, he points others to Christ. He proclaimed a message of repentance. He told people to repent because the Kingdom of God was at hand. The word repent means turn. He told them to turn away from their sinfulness and turn toward Christ. He then baptized those who repented.
Some thoughts from this passage:
1. Have you repented? Have you turned away from your sinfulness and toward Christ? Have you asked God to forgive you of your sin? Have you made Christ the Lord of your life?
2. Have you been baptized? Baptism is the symbol of faith in Christ. Baptism shows others that we have placed our faith in Christ.
3. Do you point others to Christ. John the Baptist was the center of attention for many people. He used the attention to point to Christ. When people give you attention, are you quick to use that attention for evangelism?
It's not about me, it's about Christ.
John 1:19-28
While John the Baptist is the center of attention, he points others to Christ. He proclaimed a message of repentance. He told people to repent because the Kingdom of God was at hand. The word repent means turn. He told them to turn away from their sinfulness and turn toward Christ. He then baptized those who repented.
Some thoughts from this passage:
1. Have you repented? Have you turned away from your sinfulness and toward Christ? Have you asked God to forgive you of your sin? Have you made Christ the Lord of your life?
2. Have you been baptized? Baptism is the symbol of faith in Christ. Baptism shows others that we have placed our faith in Christ.
3. Do you point others to Christ. John the Baptist was the center of attention for many people. He used the attention to point to Christ. When people give you attention, are you quick to use that attention for evangelism?
It's not about me, it's about Christ.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sunday - John 1:1-18 Jesus the Son of God
Welcome to the discussion. Read through the passage for today (John 1:1-18). I have provided a link below that will open a new window with the passage. I have linked to the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). You can shift to another translation if you like or read a variety of translations. I am using the HCSB for daily reading this year.
John 1:1-18
This is one of my favorite passages. It was the first longer passage that I memorized. There is so much packed into these few verses. There is a clear statement of the divinity of Jesus. There is also a clear statement of the humanity of Jesus. The purpose of the ministry of Jesus is presented – those whose receive him are adopted by God.
Remember our purpose in spiritual disciplines. The purpose is to put ourselves in a position to have an encounter with God. Reading the Bible helps us to know about God, but we really want to know God. In verse 18, John tells us that it is Jesus who makes God known.
Jesus is linked to the Word of God. Jesus makes God known. You cannot know God apart from Jesus and you cannot know Jesus apart from the Word of God. As we read the Gospel, remember that our purpose is to know God, to encounter God, and to become more like Him. The purpose is godliness.
How does this passage lead to godliness?
John 1:1-18
This is one of my favorite passages. It was the first longer passage that I memorized. There is so much packed into these few verses. There is a clear statement of the divinity of Jesus. There is also a clear statement of the humanity of Jesus. The purpose of the ministry of Jesus is presented – those whose receive him are adopted by God.
Remember our purpose in spiritual disciplines. The purpose is to put ourselves in a position to have an encounter with God. Reading the Bible helps us to know about God, but we really want to know God. In verse 18, John tells us that it is Jesus who makes God known.
Jesus is linked to the Word of God. Jesus makes God known. You cannot know God apart from Jesus and you cannot know Jesus apart from the Word of God. As we read the Gospel, remember that our purpose is to know God, to encounter God, and to become more like Him. The purpose is godliness.
How does this passage lead to godliness?
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