During the last day of the festival, Jesus continued to call for people to believe. There was a wide mix of responses to him.
click here for an online Bible John 7:37-8:1
Some recognized that Jesus was a man of God. They thought that he was the prophet of God. Others recognized the truth. They said that he was the Christ (the Messiah). Others said that he couldn’t be the Christ because the scriptures say that the Christ would come from Bethlehem, from the family of David. I have to sympathize with this group. They were trying to make judgments based on scripture. Actually, Jesus was from David’s family and he was born in Bethlehem. Most of the people that John mentions are struggling with belief. They know that there is something about Jesus, but they are having trouble coming to grips with it.
Even the temple guards had trouble. When they came back to the religious leaders without Jesus, their excuse was that “no one ever spoke like this man.” They saw something in Jesus too.
It was the religious leaders who had made up their minds. There was no reason for the guards to doubt. None of the religious leaders believed in Jesus, so that settled things. Nicodemus put things on hold. He knew that Jesus was from God, but he wasn’t ready to publicly support Jesus.
We save our harshest criticism for the Pharisees. Their problem was that religion got in the way of faith. We have to be careful not to fall into the same trap. Our faith in Christ and our confidence in the Bible must drive our religion, not the other way around.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Friday John 7:25-36
Jesus continued to teach in the temple area and captured the attention of many people.
click here for an online Bible John 7:25-36
The religious leaders wanted to kill him. They thought they were protecting God’s reputation. Some people are like that now. They’ve got God figured out and they know what is right and wrong. Anything that comes along that doesn’t fit their model of God must be stamped out quickly. Don’t confuse me with the facts, I already know the answer.
Some people must have been from Missouri, because they had a real “show me” attitude about things. They couldn’t accept Jesus based on the evidence, they had to analyze things. Mica 5:2 says that the Messiah will come from Bethlehem but his origin is from antiquity. We know Jesus is from Nazareth, so we are not convinced. By the way, if the authorities want to kill this guy, why aren’t they doing it? And furthermore, he is talking about going someplace that we don’t know and we can’t go there. What is he talking about? He had better make more sense before I consider following him.
This is a common problem for people. God’s plan doesn’t make sense to them. How could a loving God condemn people who never had the chance to hear about Christ? That doesn’t make sense to me. I refuse to believe. The conquest of Canaan by the Israelites could never have been commanded by God. That doesn’t make sense to me. I refuse to believe. I can’t pick on people like that too much, I was one of them. I believed in science. Religion was for the weak-minded. The gospel didn’t make sense to me.
There was another group - those who believed. They pointed out that Jesus had performed enough miracles already to prove who he was. Would anybody expect the Messiah to perform more or bigger miracles than Jesus already had? What more could you want? Jesus says some confusing things, but we believe based on the evidence. I am happy to say that I am in this group now. I came to faith not by figuring God out and approving of his plan. I came to faith through the evidence of Jesus – his death and resurrection. Now I believe him, not because I understand it, but because he said it. I will try my best to understand it and apply it to my life.
click here for an online Bible John 7:25-36
The religious leaders wanted to kill him. They thought they were protecting God’s reputation. Some people are like that now. They’ve got God figured out and they know what is right and wrong. Anything that comes along that doesn’t fit their model of God must be stamped out quickly. Don’t confuse me with the facts, I already know the answer.
Some people must have been from Missouri, because they had a real “show me” attitude about things. They couldn’t accept Jesus based on the evidence, they had to analyze things. Mica 5:2 says that the Messiah will come from Bethlehem but his origin is from antiquity. We know Jesus is from Nazareth, so we are not convinced. By the way, if the authorities want to kill this guy, why aren’t they doing it? And furthermore, he is talking about going someplace that we don’t know and we can’t go there. What is he talking about? He had better make more sense before I consider following him.
This is a common problem for people. God’s plan doesn’t make sense to them. How could a loving God condemn people who never had the chance to hear about Christ? That doesn’t make sense to me. I refuse to believe. The conquest of Canaan by the Israelites could never have been commanded by God. That doesn’t make sense to me. I refuse to believe. I can’t pick on people like that too much, I was one of them. I believed in science. Religion was for the weak-minded. The gospel didn’t make sense to me.
There was another group - those who believed. They pointed out that Jesus had performed enough miracles already to prove who he was. Would anybody expect the Messiah to perform more or bigger miracles than Jesus already had? What more could you want? Jesus says some confusing things, but we believe based on the evidence. I am happy to say that I am in this group now. I came to faith not by figuring God out and approving of his plan. I came to faith through the evidence of Jesus – his death and resurrection. Now I believe him, not because I understand it, but because he said it. I will try my best to understand it and apply it to my life.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thursday John 7:1-24
Jesus went to the feast of Tabernacles secretly, but didn’t stay undercover for long.
click here for an online Bible John 7:1-24
Even Jesus’ siblings did not believe in him. They suggested that he go to Jerusalem and perform some miracle there. That would be the best place to draw a crowd. Jesus wasn’t looking for a crowd, he was looking for believers.
The religious leaders were still looking to kill Jesus because he violated the Sabbath by healing the lame man and claimed to be the Son of God. There was a lot of buzz about Jesus but it seems that most of it was wrong. Some thought he was just a good man while other thought that he was a deceiver. The leaders thought he was a blasphemer.
Even though the religious leaders sought to kill him, Jesus went up to Jerusalem and started teaching in the temple. He criticized them for saying that he broke the Sabbath when they conduct circumcisions on the Sabbath. He said, “Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.” I think what he meant was don’t judge based on what appears to be right to you, but judge according to what God says.
How often do we make judgments based on our opinions or experience rather than what God says? I do it. We all do it. The Pharisees did it. They thought they were protecting God’s honor, but they were really protecting their tradition. When I see something new or unfamiliar, and I react negatively, I have to catch myself and ask, “Is this reaction based on my opinion or God’s word?” I have to be careful to not confuse ‘like and dislike’ with ‘right and wrong’.
click here for an online Bible John 7:1-24
Even Jesus’ siblings did not believe in him. They suggested that he go to Jerusalem and perform some miracle there. That would be the best place to draw a crowd. Jesus wasn’t looking for a crowd, he was looking for believers.
The religious leaders were still looking to kill Jesus because he violated the Sabbath by healing the lame man and claimed to be the Son of God. There was a lot of buzz about Jesus but it seems that most of it was wrong. Some thought he was just a good man while other thought that he was a deceiver. The leaders thought he was a blasphemer.
Even though the religious leaders sought to kill him, Jesus went up to Jerusalem and started teaching in the temple. He criticized them for saying that he broke the Sabbath when they conduct circumcisions on the Sabbath. He said, “Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.” I think what he meant was don’t judge based on what appears to be right to you, but judge according to what God says.
How often do we make judgments based on our opinions or experience rather than what God says? I do it. We all do it. The Pharisees did it. They thought they were protecting God’s honor, but they were really protecting their tradition. When I see something new or unfamiliar, and I react negatively, I have to catch myself and ask, “Is this reaction based on my opinion or God’s word?” I have to be careful to not confuse ‘like and dislike’ with ‘right and wrong’.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Wednesday John 6:60-71
The people in the crowd following Jesus were faced with a decision of whether or not to follow Jesus.
click here for an online Bible John 6:60-71
Jesus told the crowd some tough things. He said that they had to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Verse 60 basically sums it up, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?” Jesus asks, “Does this offend you?” Then he gives some more hard teaching. The result is many of his followers leave him.
He asks the twelve disciples if they are leaving too. Peter answers for the group, “Where would we go? You have the words of life.”
Jesus makes it clear. He is not looking for a crowd. He is looking for believers. Those that left were not believers. Those who stayed were believers. The unbelievers could not accept the teaching of Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t submit his plan to us for our approval. He gives us instructions and expects us to follow. If we are believers, we should accept his instructions and obey. Later in Chapter 14, Jesus says, “If you love me you will obey my commandments.”
My job as a believer is to know Christ and know him as well as I can. I also need to know his word and apply it to my life.
click here for an online Bible John 6:60-71
Jesus told the crowd some tough things. He said that they had to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Verse 60 basically sums it up, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?” Jesus asks, “Does this offend you?” Then he gives some more hard teaching. The result is many of his followers leave him.
He asks the twelve disciples if they are leaving too. Peter answers for the group, “Where would we go? You have the words of life.”
Jesus makes it clear. He is not looking for a crowd. He is looking for believers. Those that left were not believers. Those who stayed were believers. The unbelievers could not accept the teaching of Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t submit his plan to us for our approval. He gives us instructions and expects us to follow. If we are believers, we should accept his instructions and obey. Later in Chapter 14, Jesus says, “If you love me you will obey my commandments.”
My job as a believer is to know Christ and know him as well as I can. I also need to know his word and apply it to my life.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Tuesday John 6:22-59
In today’s passage, the crowd that saw the miraculous feeding of the 5000, follow Jesus across the lake and want more signs. Jesus tells them more than they can handle.
click here for an online Bible John 6:22-59
Feeding the 5000 was quite a miracle. Many people believed in Jesus after the feeding. Others were still just curious or there for the show. A group followed Jesus looking for more miracles. They were impressed by the bread that Jesus produced and asked for more. Jesus told them to stop seeking physical bread and instead seek spiritual bread. They said they would like some of the bread of life. Jesus told them that he was the bread of life. They don’t get it. They still are looking for bread to eat.
I have always wondered why Jesus chose the words that he used. Why did he say that they had to eat his flesh and drink his blood. In hindsight we know he is talking about the crucifixion and that we have to receive forgiveness through his death. Why did he say eat my flesh and drink my blood? We have to be careful saying more than the Bible tells us, but I suspect that since they could not accept the plain truth (follow me – I am the way to God) that Jesus gave them more truth but in a more difficult way.
The gospel is pretty simple. But some people can’t accept a simple gospel, they have to make it more complicated. Lucky for me I’m a simple guy. If God said so, then that’s good enough for me. If I have trouble understanding his truth I believe that the problem is on my end.
click here for an online Bible John 6:22-59
Feeding the 5000 was quite a miracle. Many people believed in Jesus after the feeding. Others were still just curious or there for the show. A group followed Jesus looking for more miracles. They were impressed by the bread that Jesus produced and asked for more. Jesus told them to stop seeking physical bread and instead seek spiritual bread. They said they would like some of the bread of life. Jesus told them that he was the bread of life. They don’t get it. They still are looking for bread to eat.
I have always wondered why Jesus chose the words that he used. Why did he say that they had to eat his flesh and drink his blood. In hindsight we know he is talking about the crucifixion and that we have to receive forgiveness through his death. Why did he say eat my flesh and drink my blood? We have to be careful saying more than the Bible tells us, but I suspect that since they could not accept the plain truth (follow me – I am the way to God) that Jesus gave them more truth but in a more difficult way.
The gospel is pretty simple. But some people can’t accept a simple gospel, they have to make it more complicated. Lucky for me I’m a simple guy. If God said so, then that’s good enough for me. If I have trouble understanding his truth I believe that the problem is on my end.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday John 6:1-21
In today’s passage, Jesus performs two miracles. He feeds the five thousand and walks on water.
click here for an online Bible John 6:1-21
Jesus has already gathered a crowd. There were over 5000 people there. He fed them in a miraculous way for a purpose. Notice that John tells us why the people were there. They were following Jesus because of the healings that he had performed. Some were there out of curiosity. Some were there hoping for something, maybe their own healing. Some were probably just there because it was the place to be. As a result of the miraculous feeding, they believe that he is the prophet that they had been waiting for. The people are ready to name him king, so he leaves them. He didn’t just want a crowd. He didn’t want to be the king. He wanted them to believe.
He walked on the water for the benefit of his disciples. He showed them more of his authority over nature. Initially, they were afraid. Can’t say that I blame them. We tend to interpret things based on what we know. This miracle was beyond anything they had experienced or even dreamed.
Too often, we spend our time and energy trying to understand God. That’s fine to a certain extent, but we have to come to grips with the fact that God is beyond our understanding. The good news is that we don’t have to fully understand God in order to know him. God reveals himself so that we can know him.
I spend a lot of time trying to understand God’s plan. What I should be doing is trying to know God better. Just as Jesus revealed himself to the people on the mountain and he revealed himself to his disciples on the lake, he reveals himself to us. He wants us to know him. And we can know him. He reveals himself through his word, through prayer, and through his church.
click here for an online Bible John 6:1-21
Jesus has already gathered a crowd. There were over 5000 people there. He fed them in a miraculous way for a purpose. Notice that John tells us why the people were there. They were following Jesus because of the healings that he had performed. Some were there out of curiosity. Some were there hoping for something, maybe their own healing. Some were probably just there because it was the place to be. As a result of the miraculous feeding, they believe that he is the prophet that they had been waiting for. The people are ready to name him king, so he leaves them. He didn’t just want a crowd. He didn’t want to be the king. He wanted them to believe.
He walked on the water for the benefit of his disciples. He showed them more of his authority over nature. Initially, they were afraid. Can’t say that I blame them. We tend to interpret things based on what we know. This miracle was beyond anything they had experienced or even dreamed.
Too often, we spend our time and energy trying to understand God. That’s fine to a certain extent, but we have to come to grips with the fact that God is beyond our understanding. The good news is that we don’t have to fully understand God in order to know him. God reveals himself so that we can know him.
I spend a lot of time trying to understand God’s plan. What I should be doing is trying to know God better. Just as Jesus revealed himself to the people on the mountain and he revealed himself to his disciples on the lake, he reveals himself to us. He wants us to know him. And we can know him. He reveals himself through his word, through prayer, and through his church.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Sunday John 5:31-47
Jesus is still speaking to the religious leaders who are upset that he healed a man on the Sabbath and he claims to be the Son of God.
click here for an online Bible John 5:31-47
Jesus raises a good question. Why should we believe him? Maybe because John the Baptist said we should. Even Jesus said that’s not enough. He said that we can believe because the testimony about him is from God. Nicodemus recognized that. He said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.” The gospel of John speaks of the signs performed by Jesus. The signs prove that he is from God. The final sign, his resurrection, proves that his message is true.
We have a faith that is not blind faith. There is evidence for Christianity.
Notice what Jesus says about the scripture. He tells the people that they have been looking to the scripture for eternal life. They believed that they could receive eternal life by following the Law of the Old Testament. Jesus said that the Law just shows that we are sinners in need of a savior.
I am so thankful that Jesus stepped in as the savior so we don’t have to try to be good enough for God.
click here for an online Bible John 5:31-47
Jesus raises a good question. Why should we believe him? Maybe because John the Baptist said we should. Even Jesus said that’s not enough. He said that we can believe because the testimony about him is from God. Nicodemus recognized that. He said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.” The gospel of John speaks of the signs performed by Jesus. The signs prove that he is from God. The final sign, his resurrection, proves that his message is true.
We have a faith that is not blind faith. There is evidence for Christianity.
Notice what Jesus says about the scripture. He tells the people that they have been looking to the scripture for eternal life. They believed that they could receive eternal life by following the Law of the Old Testament. Jesus said that the Law just shows that we are sinners in need of a savior.
I am so thankful that Jesus stepped in as the savior so we don’t have to try to be good enough for God.
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