"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
(Read John 15 and 16)
At the end of John 16, Jesus recaps all He has has said from the beginning of chapter 15 by giving the reason why He has told us "these things". He has told us so that in Him we might have peace. Peace is what Jesus has come to bring, and the peace He brings will come by way of a whole heap of worldly trouble. Still He says, "But take heart! I have overcome the world."
What things do you see in chapters 15 and 16 that bring peace simply because Jesus told them? What consistent theme or themes do you see running through chapters 13-16? What is Jesus' command, and how should we obey that command in this world full of trouble?
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Holy Week #2 - March 26, 2013
"Do not let your hearts be troubled."
(Read John 14:1-31)
I find it interesting in John 12:27, Jesus said, "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason, I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Yet in John 14 Jesus tells His disciples to not let their hearts be troubled, and he says it twice. (see 14:1 and 27)
In order to understand the admonition "Do not let your hearts be troubled" it is important for us to look at what comes after it in verse 1 and before it in verse 27.
In verse 1, the admonition "Do not let your hearts be troubled" is followed by another admonition, "Trust in God; trust also in me." Jesus has been revealing His glory by declaring Himself to be God.
In chapter 14 that revelation and declaration continues. This is the hour for Jesus to be glorified. This is God's plan, and Jesus faces the horror of what is to come with confident trust in God (recall John 12:27). So He admonishes us to do the same: "Trust in God".
In verse 27, Jesus promises to bring peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Jesus came to bring peace, and that peace is accomplished through His humiliation and death so that in resurrection He can bring peace.
So what do you see in chapter 14? What do you think it means when Jesus says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command? (see verse 15) Do you think the verses that precede this statement inform our understanding of Jesus words? Let's share our thoughts as we journey with Jesus along the way ...
(Read John 14:1-31)
I find it interesting in John 12:27, Jesus said, "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason, I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Yet in John 14 Jesus tells His disciples to not let their hearts be troubled, and he says it twice. (see 14:1 and 27)
In order to understand the admonition "Do not let your hearts be troubled" it is important for us to look at what comes after it in verse 1 and before it in verse 27.
In verse 1, the admonition "Do not let your hearts be troubled" is followed by another admonition, "Trust in God; trust also in me." Jesus has been revealing His glory by declaring Himself to be God.
In chapter 14 that revelation and declaration continues. This is the hour for Jesus to be glorified. This is God's plan, and Jesus faces the horror of what is to come with confident trust in God (recall John 12:27). So He admonishes us to do the same: "Trust in God".
In verse 27, Jesus promises to bring peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Jesus came to bring peace, and that peace is accomplished through His humiliation and death so that in resurrection He can bring peace.
So what do you see in chapter 14? What do you think it means when Jesus says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command? (see verse 15) Do you think the verses that precede this statement inform our understanding of Jesus words? Let's share our thoughts as we journey with Jesus along the way ...
Monday, March 25, 2013
Holy week post #1
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men (people) will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)
During holy week we are reading through the second part of John's gospel together. Today we begin in John 13 (Read John 13:1-38). Here Jesus shows the extent of His love to His disciples by serving them.
What stands out to you in this reading? How do you see Jesus revealing more of His glory? Why do you think Jesus gives "a new command"? What does this "new command" mean for those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus? How can we obey this "new command" today?
By this all men (people) will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)
During holy week we are reading through the second part of John's gospel together. Today we begin in John 13 (Read John 13:1-38). Here Jesus shows the extent of His love to His disciples by serving them.
What stands out to you in this reading? How do you see Jesus revealing more of His glory? Why do you think Jesus gives "a new command"? What does this "new command" mean for those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus? How can we obey this "new command" today?
Monday, March 18, 2013
Blog post for the week of March 17, 2013
Think about the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. (Read John 11:1-44)
It is a truly remarkable story, and in this miracle Jesus reveals His greater glory! He reveals that He truly is the Christ, and more than that is the Son of the Living God who came to bring life to all who believe!
And that is the challenge we all have to face. Do we really believe Jesus is WHO He says He is? And if so, how can that belief make a difference in our lives?
Certainly that belief has changed our eternity ("I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." - John 5:24), but what about our everyday lives? How can this belief change our everyday lives?
I am anxious to hear your thoughts, as I too am wrestling with this question along the way ...
It is a truly remarkable story, and in this miracle Jesus reveals His greater glory! He reveals that He truly is the Christ, and more than that is the Son of the Living God who came to bring life to all who believe!
And that is the challenge we all have to face. Do we really believe Jesus is WHO He says He is? And if so, how can that belief make a difference in our lives?
Certainly that belief has changed our eternity ("I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." - John 5:24), but what about our everyday lives? How can this belief change our everyday lives?
I am anxious to hear your thoughts, as I too am wrestling with this question along the way ...
Monday, March 11, 2013
Thoughts for the week of March 10, 2013
Last week I asked if we shine the light of Jesus more through what we say and do, or through who we are? I also said I had my own ideas about that, but before I shared them I wanted to know your thoughts. So what do you think?
In my humble opinion, I believe it is more important that we shine the light of Jesus through who we are than by what we say and do. Of course, who we are will shape what we say and do, and I think that is why I believe who we are is more important.
For example, Paul says in I Corinthians 13:1-3, "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal ... If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." So what we say and what we do mean little if our motivation is anything other than love; true, self-giving love.
And that kind of love comes from a character that is being formed by the Holy Spirit so that we look more and more like every Jesus every day along the way ....
In my humble opinion, I believe it is more important that we shine the light of Jesus through who we are than by what we say and do. Of course, who we are will shape what we say and do, and I think that is why I believe who we are is more important.
For example, Paul says in I Corinthians 13:1-3, "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal ... If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." So what we say and what we do mean little if our motivation is anything other than love; true, self-giving love.
And that kind of love comes from a character that is being formed by the Holy Spirit so that we look more and more like every Jesus every day along the way ....
Monday, March 4, 2013
Thoughts for the week of March 3, 2013
In our journey along the way ... we are called to shine the light of Jesus in this world. He is the light of the world, and by His Holy Spirit at work in us so are we. (See Matthew 5:14-16)
So my question is this? How do we shine that light? Do we shine it most clearly by what we say and do, or by who we are? Or is there a combination of these? What are your thoughts? I have my opinion, but I will reserve it for later this week. For now, let's discuss, as we journey together along the way ....
So my question is this? How do we shine that light? Do we shine it most clearly by what we say and do, or by who we are? Or is there a combination of these? What are your thoughts? I have my opinion, but I will reserve it for later this week. For now, let's discuss, as we journey together along the way ....
Monday, February 25, 2013
The Right Companion
Yesterday we saw that Jesus is the "bread of life" (John 6:35 and 48). He is all we need, all sufficient, to receive God's blessings, and we receive them by faith. I will remain continually struck by the simplicity of it. Jesus says, "The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent." (John 6:29)
Believing God is really all that is needed, but it is believing God via the ONE He has sent. It is all about Jesus!
You see on this journey of life it is all important that we choose the right companion. Those who believe in the ONE (Jesus) that God has sent receive God's promises and all of them are "yes" in Him!
(see also 2 Corinthians 1:20) It is simple, yet so very profound! Believing in the ONE God has sent has implications for every aspect of life.
Believing God's promise fulfilled in Jesus affects every choice we make because believing is also "listening". Remember Deuteronomy 18:15, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you ... you must listen to Him!" Believing is about listening, and listening is about obeying; doing what God says in His word - the words of Spirit and Life (John 6:63) - spoken by Jesus "the Prophet" (see also John 6:14).
What other aspects of believing God's promise in Jesus can you think of that make this statement, simple as it is, also so very profound?
Believing God is really all that is needed, but it is believing God via the ONE He has sent. It is all about Jesus!
You see on this journey of life it is all important that we choose the right companion. Those who believe in the ONE (Jesus) that God has sent receive God's promises and all of them are "yes" in Him!
(see also 2 Corinthians 1:20) It is simple, yet so very profound! Believing in the ONE God has sent has implications for every aspect of life.
Believing God's promise fulfilled in Jesus affects every choice we make because believing is also "listening". Remember Deuteronomy 18:15, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you ... you must listen to Him!" Believing is about listening, and listening is about obeying; doing what God says in His word - the words of Spirit and Life (John 6:63) - spoken by Jesus "the Prophet" (see also John 6:14).
What other aspects of believing God's promise in Jesus can you think of that make this statement, simple as it is, also so very profound?
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