John 13 Service and Betrayal

Here we find one of the most popular acts of service that Jesus does throughout His time here on earth.  It is both a symbolical picture for us and an incredible example of Jesus’ call for us.  Jesus calls us to change serve as He did, so let us not simply glance over this story without some meditation.  Take a moment and pause.  Consider what it was like for each disciple to have his feet washed then watch his friends get their feet washed by their master teacher.  Think about what Judas was thinking.  Consider the conversation with Peter and the way he desired wholehearted devotion to the Lord.  Also, consider what it was like for Jesus.  In their culture, this was the lowest position of a servant, yet He went and did it out of love.  What does it mean for you to give your life in service for those around you like Jesus did?  How might you serve those in your dorm, or living in your house?  How about those in your class or hear at Cal? 

 

This chapter also has some incredible contrasts.  In between Jesus sending Judas out to betray Him and announcing that Peter was going to deny Him three times, He gives a new commandment.  A commandment calling His disciples to love like Him.  We talked about this at our Unity Retreat, so maybe you want to go and look at your notes, or simply reflect on what Jesus does in the following chapters.  His love goes forward despite those around Him who let Him down.  May we live lives of love as we walk through Cal no matter what things happen around us because we rely on Christ’s love for us?  What might happen if STAND starts to live daily lives of service with the love pouring from Christ to the students of Cal?

John 12 On the way to the cross.

This chapter is full of little pictures of Christ helping people see that He is about to go to the cross.  They did not grasp what they were about to see, but later they would recognize that Jesus was saying all along.  Jesus came for the purpose of saving the world though through His teaching many did not give Him the time of day, or they were so caught up in their evil desires that they could not grasp what He was saying.  Judas for example in the first section here contrasted with Mary was focused on Jesus as to what he could gain from Him.  Sometimes we follow Jesus because we look good in certain respects or selfishly get some gain from it.  Then we become solely focused on the stuff we can get from Jesus rather than Jesus Himself.  Mary here received much love from Jesus and her response was to love Jesus back not with the goal of getting more back, but with the desire to glorify Him.  Jesus constantly spoke about loving and caring for the poor, so He is not going against that here in verse eight.  Rather Jesus is pointing to Himself as the one who we should all seek to love first.  So often we try to live our Christian lives by doing some task or being involved in some action.  While these are good, they must be out of response to what Jesus has done for us, rather than a tool we use to try to earn His love.  I think of Matthew 6:33 as I read this passage.  May we not become focused on anything that might distract us from glorifying Jesus.

John 11 addition…

I wanted to also mention from verse 49 and following the intriguing statement of Caiaphas.  He is making a clear statement thinking that by Jesus’ death the people will be saved from Him, when in truth His death will save people to Him.  God used this member of the party plotting to kill Jesus to prophesy the extent of Jesus purpose on earth.  Praise be to God

John 11 What are you waiting for God?

How often do we get upset, stress out or impatient as we wait for something we desire to come along?  Whether it’s a job, a summer opportunity a special someone in our life, or the healing of a loved one, we desire God to move on our timetable.  Verses 4-6 are extremely challenging as they show Jesus is on a schedule that is focused on bringing glory to God.  Jesus love for Mary, Martha and Lazarus did not change this focus.   Later he used this to help them make a significant change in their thinking.  Martha looks to the time when Lazarus will be resurrected from the dead (vs. 24) with hope, but Jesus turns her thinking to consider that He is that resurrection and life.  We look for hope, happiness, joy, significance, peace, love and life in so many things that can ultimately only be found in Jesus. 

 

As we move throughout our day, let us rejoice in the fact that Christ has given us life, and now let us take off the grave clothes that are wrapped around us and be free in Him.  (vs. 44)

John 10 Full life…

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  I loved this verse as I grew up, because it always seemed like Jesus was giving us something greater than the boring life I was living, but I never was quite sure what He meant by it.  A couple of years ago as I wrestled with this I started to understand that “worship” meant a lot more than simply singing music.  I worship in whatever I am doing if I am directing it to the glory of God.  Today as I skied was an act of worship as I rested from my normal work and trusted God that He was in control even though I was not working.  I will continue to grow and understand how God gives fullness to life by giving meaning to all areas.  For example, your academics when placed in Jesus’ hands is far more important than simply a grade to get through school.  It now becomes something that I do as worship for Him.  My life is full because I see all that I do, whether relationships with friends, my job, my studies, my free time all being cared about and transformed by God.  May it be our prayer to give our whole lives to God and not let the thief do anything to it.

John 9 Getting lost in Theology

Someone once said that all theology(thinking about God) should be practical theology, meaning if it does not matter in life, what does it matter?  God must impact our life daily, but sometimes Christians get so off trying to act and talk spiritually that we ignore the core of God’s love.  Jesus comes walking along with His disciples and they decide to hold a “theological” conversation about a blind man sitting on the side of the road.  First of all imagine if you were the blind guy hearing these guys discuss your sin.  Sometimes we as Christians try to explain the issues of the world without engaging with the people of them.  I heard Erwin McManus once describe the problem in this passage is that the disciples wanted to hold a theological discussion about this poor guys blindness when right next to them in the person of Jesus they have the cure.  Yes we must think deeply about God, but let us not overlook God simply to think about Him.  The blind man says it well to the religious leaders, I don’t know who he was, but I do know that I was blind but now I see.  He did not shy away from what God had done in his life and later when he met Jesus he was ready to follow because his life had been infected with Christ’s love and power.

John 8 God-man Hugh?

It is an important note just before the beginning of this chapter of the recognition of that from chapter seven verse 53 through verse eleven are not found in the earliest of manuscripts.  This means that it is possible that these are not true, but when reading the whole of Scripture, this also seems like something that Jesus would do as He did not condemn this woman, but showed her grace.  It reminds me of John 3:17 that we had read earlier.  “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 

 

The rest of this chapter talks all about Jesus’ relationship with the Father.  It is such a fascinating thing and one that we can get a glimpse of understanding, but also will never fully grasp.  I am fascinated by the way both Jesus and the Father look to bring glory on the other instead of selfishly trying to gain the glory for them.  This is the perfect picture of a pure relationship without selfish intent.  It is so opposite the way most of us go through life.  Jesus is always directing the glory to His Father while knowing that His Father will glorify Him.  Imagine what it would be like if we did not worry about getting credit for our good actions and just focused on giving all the credit to Jesus.  How freeing that would be. 

 

At the end of this chapter Jesus says, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was,  I am.”  This is one of Jesus’ declarations that He is God.  He is referring to when Moses asked God what to tell the Israelites when they asked, “Who sent him?” and God responded, tell them “I am” sent you.  Now some people like to question if Jesus was really trying to claim to be God here, but I would say that it is quite clear because of the reaction of the religious leaders.  They did not have any question that Jesus was making a claim for deity because they were ready to kill Him because of it.  Jesus was either completely confident it was true, or He had a death wish. 

 

We may never fully grasp the incredible thing of God taking on the nature of man to come and commune with us, but we should definitely rejoice in it.

John 7 The Controversy has Begun

As we look back on Jesus’ days here on earth, there is really no way we can deny that He challenged the way people viewed God.  Since He was claiming to be God, and we can’t deny this because of the way some took offense to it, we must receive this as true.  We can also recognize how a statement like this rocked the world of those in Jesus’ day.  Can you imagine someone showing up at STAND tonight and saying, “I’m God?”  It would freak us out.  One thing that I’ve been challenged to do as things are said to me that make me feel uneasy or concerned is to ask myself why.  Why am I feeling uncomfortable?  Is it because what is being said is against Scripture and I need to blow it off, or is it correct and simply challenging my preferred way of living?  So often I think we use say something is theologically wrong when we just don’t want to change.  I think this is the case with those people who were so bothered by Jesus.  It is so easier to follow a law than follow a person.  As you think through this passage, consider trying to follow Jesus this day instead of simplifying Him down to a set number of rules.

John 6 The source of Life, Forever Life

Jesus turns to Philip and asks, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”  Wouldn’t you respond the same way Philip did.  Then along comes the half hopeful Andrew with a small boys lunch.  I don’t know about you, but I can think of my lunch in elementary school, and even though I ate a lot, it would never have fed my class let alone 5,000 hungry men.  This story truly sets up the whole of the chapter as Jesus points us to the truth that He is the source of life.  Lately, I have been trying to lose some weight and in my effort I noticed that I often over eat at certain meals just because I don’t trust that something is coming for my next meal even though I have never gone hungry in my life.  As we read this passage about Jesus being the Bread of Life, we must recognize that He is reliable every day and we need to trust Him.  As He says in verse 29, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”  These are words that are far beyond just the truth that Jesus will provide for us daily, but they point that He will provide for us for eternity.  God gives us the ability to believe so that we can enjoy this life and the life to come.  May we go forth today growing in the dependence upon Jesus that He is the source for our every need.  

John 5 So what’s the big deal?

In this passage Jesus directs a man to pick up his mat and walk on the Sabbath.  Doesn’t seem like such a big deal for us, but to the religious leaders of the day, this was a big no can do.  Jesus directed this man to go against the law.  Now of course if you were the man, you would probably have listened to Jesus too since He just gave you the ability to walk.  Imagine this guys dilemma on one side he has the religious leaders yelling at him to put down his mat, and on the other side he has the one who has healed him telling him to carry it.  I don’t think the major point is whether we should carry our bed on the Sabbath or not, but rather who are we listening to.  I often struggle with listening to the criticism of those around me instead of what Jesus has called me to do.  I think one of satan’s ploys for hurting Christians is by consistently causing us to question our calling by Christ.  Jesus spends the rest of the chapter telling the people of His position and authority.  This man saw the power of Jesus in His life and allowed it to direct His ways.  May we do the same.

John 4 In a world of ipods and cell phones

We walk around campus everyday and see people listening to their music, or talking to a friend on their cell phone all while being oblivious to the world around them.  Jesus here puts Himself in an unusual place for a Jewish man, and is aware of those around Him.  He strikes up a conversation with a woman and she plays along.  I am intrigued how aware Jesus is, and how often I just brush by the needy people around me.  Jesus kept His eyes and ears open and interacted with this sinful woman so that she can take a step closer to knowing Him.  Jesus shows us a lot simply by moving close to a person even though He does not know her and she does not know Him.  So often Christians say, “I show Jesus’ love through my actions.”  Well in this circumstance Jesus did not take any action, but showed love to this woman through His words.  God was aware enough to both send us His Son and His Word for us to know Him that we might join Him in helping others know Him as well.  In her town, this woman had to be viewed as the farthest from God, yet she met Jesus and started to invite all who could hear to see Him.  May we do the same for those around Cal we feel are far from God.

 

Later we see an incredible miracle of Jesus healing a boy from far off.  I’d like to point out the way the father believes first the word of Jesus and later believed again after hearing of his son’s recovery.  This father is constantly growing in his belief.  We must be on the lookout to see the way God moves around us and in our lives.  This helps us to expand our faith.

 

 

John 3 What does born again really mean?

I can’t tell you how many times that I have heard the question with a puzzled look, “Are you born again?  What does that mean?”  I often tell people this story of Nicodemus’ same struggle to understand it.  We can give people a lot of clues(as Tim Keller describes in “Reason for God”) for Christianity, but the bottom line is that it comes through faith in a God that we can not totally grasp.  I find comfort in verse 8 where John gives a picture of the Holy Spirit being like the wind.  We can see the effects of God, but we cannot really understand everything about God. 

 

 Now, this passage also contains probably the most common reference in Scripture of John 3:16.  I say the most common reference because I really wonder how many people actually know what it says.  Take a minute and pray for the opportunity to share this incredible love with a friend in the next week.  Pray for your Circle of 3(Three non-Christian friends you are seeking to be intentional about praying for and initiate conversations with the hope of introducing them into a relationship with Jesus.)  Also, don’t read verse 16 without dwelling on 17.  We are saved through Jesus.  This is incredible that though we deserved a bashing he did not give it to you, but took it onto Himself.  Praise be to God for this incredible love.

 

Lastly, looking at how John the Baptist, who was the show before Jesus shows up, turns all the attention over to Jesus.  Bob Long, President of CCO’s Board said to me once, “Isn’t great the glory that goes to God when people don’t care who gets the credit.”  John shows this, by pointing those around him to Jesus.  May we do the same with our lives.

John 2 Three stories of belief

Here in John 2 people are just starting to get to know Jesus when his mother calls him out.  He probably does not give a, “awe mom,”  but he does seem resistant.  He goes on to do this first miracle.  Now I am not a beer drinker, but it is interesting to me in our culture that Jesus’ first miracle has to do with an alcoholic beverage, and he apparently makes it a good one.  Of course, wine was the normal drink in the day, and I’m sure Jesus was not promoting getting drunk, but Jesus was a part if this party.  He was where the people where.  I there can be a lot to consider how Jesus used the dirty jars for making the sweetest tasting wine.  It points to how Jesus transforms my life in order to make me pure through His work on the cross.

 

The second story fascinates me.  Often people use this story to critique how they should act inside a church building, and rightfully so, but I think for this reading we can consider something much more personal.  It is described that our body is the temple of God.  So how do we react when we have things in our life that are taking the focus off of God.  Do we get pissed off when sin is a continual presence in our lives or do we just describe it as a “struggle,” without attacking it?  The grace of God through Jesus’ work on the cross is vital to remember that it moves in our personal temple to remove those things that are sabotaging our relationship with Him. 

 

Three times in this passage we are told that people saw what Jesus did and believed.  May we believe as we see the wonderful work of Jesus in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

John Chapter 1

I am glad you decided to join us as we take this adventure to fellowship with God by engaging His Word.  Here are some thoughts from me after reading this first chapter.  I invite you to put the things that stick out through this journey of reading the book of John over the next 21 days.

 

When I first ever read the first chapter of John, I was really confused because I wondered why does the John, the author, address Jesus as “the word?”  Why doesn’t he just call Jesus by his name?   As I consider this I ask the reverse question that is why does he call Jesus the word?   Well,  I think this has to do with Jesus role in the world, and also it brings insight into the way the Word, the Bible, plays in our life.  First of all think about how the world was created by the spoken word of God.  This is a fascinating connection because since God used words to create the world, He is also using the Word to restore the world back to Himself. 

 

We can also make another connection between the Bible being God’s Holy Word and Jesus being described as the word.  Jesus is both God and man who made his dwelling among us.  Well, God’s Word is totally inspired by God through man.  As we go on this adventure the next month reading God’s Word, realize that in many ways you are meeting with God directly.  As I think of this it makes me shutter as well as get a buzz in my heart that I am not reading the Bible, simply to learn about God, or hear stories of Jesus, but rather when I read His Word I get to meet with God Himself.  See this journey of reading His Word less as a time of devotions to show your dedication to Christianity, but rather a fellowship time with your Father. 

 

The key point to this first chapter and the verse that sets up the whole book is verse 14.  As one version puts it, “God moved into the neighborhood.”  Think about God moving into Carter Hall and living here at Cal.  HELLO!  Crazy thought isn’t it.  That’s the kind of God we serve.  The kind who John the Baptist(who is not the John who wrote the book) can say I’m not worthy to untie his sandals, yet He willing to come into our neighborhood. 

 

I look forward to going on this journey with you.  Please post thoughts and let’s take this journey as a community.