John 2:1-11 Part I, Obedient Son -- of the Father

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
⁴ “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons^.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

(Here's fair warning....this is a lengthy study post!)
Remember when we began our study of John? We found out that the reason for John's writing his gospel was so others (like us) would believe that Jesus was the Christ, our Savior. All of the things that John would write down would lead us there; he would show us the majesty, the glory, the Sonship of Jesus, in the hope that all would believe.

Verse 11 in this passage reminds us -- that is John's purpose. He would reveal Christ, as He revealed His glory, and many will believe.

Let's dig in!

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”  (verse 4)

I have to admit, when I was younger and a preacher would read this passage, I would have some confused thoughts about these verses. Jesus' response to Mary just didn't hit me right. When I became a mom, even though I'd studied it and thought I understood, it still didn't "sit right." As I've grown older and studied even more, I think I know what was happening here. I pray the Spirit will help me explain -- y'all might already know all about this, but maybe someone will be helped!

I hope I'm not thinking too highly of myself to say this, but I think Jesus knew that it would be a surprising response. And I think that John knew, as he wrote it into his gospel, that it would shock some people. Let's backtrack a minute to the words that were spoken . . . in that era, "woman" as used here, would be like calling someone "ma'am" -- a little bit abrupt, but not disrespectful. So I don't think that Jesus was being brusque, or disrespectful of his earthly parent. However, it truly must have sounded abrupt! And then, the phrase that follows....."ti emoi kai soi"  Did you know that every other time (five times) that we see that phrase in the New Testament, it is spoken by a demon when addressing Christ? Wow!
Each time that Jesus intrudes into a demon's domain, and starts to exert His power where they had been in total control, they say to Him, "What have you to do with us?" (For an example, see Matthew 8:29)  They seem to be telling Him, "I don't want you messing around here. You shouldn't be coming to me in this way...."
So Jesus, being a little abrupt with His mother, says to her, "This is not your place to be calling out my power." It does seem that she told Him about the situation because she expected Him to do something, right? We aren't told in the Scripture exactly what she expected, but we are told that Jesus did not approve.
I think as we dig further, it will seem less like a stiff arm delivered by a football player..... (Grin)

I think a really important clue is that Jesus goes right ahead and takes care of the problem. He works a miracle for the situation. Now, He could have said gently to Mary, "Yes, mother, I know, and I'm going to take care of it."  Well, that's what He did, but not what He said. So we are still left wondering why He spoke in this way. (If we're going to do what mom has in mind, shouldn't we just agree with her and do it? That's the earthly perspective!)
I think the significance of His response is this: Jesus felt a burden to make clear (not just to his mom and brothers, but to all of us) that because of who He was, physical relationships here on earth would not control Him, nor oblige Him. His mortal family would have no special advantage to guide His ministry, nor to receive His salvation.
Jesus was absolutely bound to His Father's will in heaven -- not to anyone on earth. There could be no competition for control in His life and His ministry. Let's look at two verses that speak to this concept:

So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. (John 8:28)
In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:17-19)

So, His power, and His miracles, are not at his mother's disposal - nor anyone else's. He and the Father are one, and They have one will.
We can see here that Jesus had to work against the assumption of His day. In that era, it was supposed that one's physical family came first, so the people would have the idea that his mom and brothers had an inside track to His influence and blessing.
Since the people of the time would think there would be a special spiritual advantage in being the mother of Jesus, or of being His brother, Jesus cut short that assumption, and focused attention not on physical relatives, but spiritual relatives.
Another time that people called to Him when He was speaking in a house, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." And He answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" and indicated that the disciples seated around Him were His family.  (Mark 3:32-34)
He was making His point -- followers, not family, have a saving relationship with Christ.
I believe this is what we are seeing in John's second chapter. "Woman, what does this have to do with me?"  .....Your relationship with me as my mother carries no special weight here. You are a woman, like every other woman, and the Father in heaven determines what miracles I perform....and (the greatest news for all of us) the pathway to my blessings is faith, not family.......
This is huge news for us! It doesn't matter what family we come from. Our heritage may be filled with ungodly people. But that will not keep us from the love and favor of Jesus. We know that faith, not family, makes us His children.
So the first part of our study of this passage brings us comfort and joy -- Jesus' glory is shown by His seemingly radical freedom from family, and His determined allegiance to His Father in heaven.
Show us more of your glory as we study, Lord!

A God for all Seasons, Part II

I'm continuing today with my thoughts on a wonderful book that I've read: Patti Tingen's A God for all Seasons. Yesterday I began to tell you about her chapter for December . . .

In the "winter" that I mentioned, we were dealing with the estrangement of one of our children. Some of you prayed with us for that child's return, and for that I will always be grateful. We were about to be hit again.
We found that another member of our family was suffering from severe health issues. It seemed darker and colder than ever. Patti and her husband had troubles that kept them in a very long "winter" and she describes it this way in the book:

"...nothing can compare to the gut-wrenching process of drawing near, pressing in, and clutching onto God when little else is left. Those are the times when one flicker of flame, one spark of light, one glimmer of hope can bring enough courage to continue on... .....Sometimes our Lord shines through boldly...."

For us, that is very familiar; it was at this time that God moved in our lives and our child began the slow process of gradually opening up and welcoming us back into the life we'd been torn from. Each tentative step was a flicker of hope, a balm to our souls. Those gifts from God brought hope squarely back into our souls. And little by little, step by step, we pieced together the relationship with our child. And we praised God for His mercy, and for knowing how much we could stand, and how much we could handle. The other family member that I mentioned is still ill, but we sometimes see some sparks and flickers there, and we know that with God all things are possible!

I'd like to acquaint you with another of Patti's chapters in this book: May, a time to trust. She writes:

"Only God can make something beautiful and new from our splintered dreams and lost hopes. He can put the pieces of our broken hearts back together again. If only we will let Him. If only we will dare to trust Him one more time."

This rings true for me, too. I ranted and railed and fussed at God, and told Him I just didn't see what good could come from the heartaches. And then, after our child returned, He showed me. He allowed me to minister to someone whose child had walked away from them. He honored me with the opportunity to comfort another aching heart. That was the good. I just had to trust Him.

Just as Patti Tingen says on the back cover of her wonderful book:

"As nature's seasons change, so too do the seasons of our soul. But God's love never changes. He is with us through every season of our lives. Through times of sorrow, times of joy; times of plenty, times of want; times of longing, times of contentment -- God's love never leaves us."

Amen!

I hope that you will consider getting a copy of Patti's book, A God for all Seasons, for your own study. I truly believe that you will be blessed by it, as I was.

Patti Tingen provided me with a link to a trailer for the book, and also a giveaway! Click on those and check them out!

(The author provided me with a copy of the book, but I have provided this review and my thoughts as an honest assessment of the book, and I've not been compensated in any way.)

A God for all Seasons

I'd like to spend today and tomorrow telling you a little about a wonderful book that I have read. I was offered the opportunity to receive a copy of Patti Tingen's A God for all Seasons. I received such a blessing as I read it -- I want to tell you about it.

I saw a review of the book on one of our Bible Study follower's blog -- and it resonated with me. Donna had chosen the month of March to dig into, and had used quotes from A God for all Seasons to illustrate her points.  Donna's thoughts on clinging to God and not letting evil overtake us was something familiar to me, because of a situation our family found ourselves in. I hoped then to get a copy of the book; I was thrilled when Patti offered me the opportunity to read and review it.

The subtitle of the book reads, "Inspiration and Reflection for all Times." That is truly what I found within the pages of Patti's book. Let me explain . . .

I was drawn in by the introduction, as Patti Tingen spoke quite honestly about the seasons that we experience in our lives. Many preachers and laypeople have spoken about how the seasons reflect times in our lives here on earth. Patti carried it one step further, and told how she would use each month to picture a time in our lives and how God would be there for us in each one.

The book begins with winter -- a time that can be beautiful, and can also be quite harsh and depressing. Here is Patti's "Winter" introduction:

"In many ways, winter is a beautiful season. It can also be a very difficult time to endure. The harsh winds, long dark nights and icy temperatures can leave us longing for the light and warmth of spring. Handling the physical aspects of winter is trying enough -- but when we also "winter" spiritually, the darkness can become almost unbearable. This can be especially difficult if our "winter" continues on long past the season's end date on the calendar.
Whether we like it or not, we will continue to have winters -- in one way or another. But there is much we can learn in winter that can't be acquired in any other season. So in spite of the cold, in spite of the darkness, there is reason to not give up. For winter can bring us hope -- it is a chance to renew -- and it can be an occasion to wait.
These are the times of winter."

Patti chose December as her first chapter, and I am so glad that she did. Truly December is a season of joy for those of us who know Christ as our Savior. Yet we also are aware, many of us first-hand, that December and the Christmas holidays can be a time of deep sadness and hopelessness for some. Patti made the point that if Jesus lives in us, the darkness cannot overcome us. She quoted John 1:4-5, which we studied recently:

"The Word gave live to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

Patti wrote:

"Moving from darkness to light can be a difficult process. But only when we have endured the blackest of nights and the darkest of days can we truly appreciate the light. For without the contrast, the brightness and warmth of better days are taken for granted and sorely underappreciated."

I found myself nodding in agreement. Having weathered a "winter" in our lives, my husband and I are far more grateful for the warmth and joy of the spring moments that come into our lives!

I'd like to continue this tomorrow -- I hope you will join me again. 

John 1:47-51 You will see greater things

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
⁴⁸ “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
⁵⁰ Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” ⁵¹ He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

If someone you had never met started talking to others who were standing nearby, about what a great person you were, you’d probably be as curious as Nathaniel, wouldn't you?
Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?"
There are two different Greek words that both mean "to know."  One refers to general knowledge,and the other refers to stronger knowledge, like that of a person who has experienced something first hand, or has personal acquaintance with someone. So, Nathanael wanted to understand how Jesus could know him so well, having never met him before.
Philip and the others probably exchanged knowing glances, for they were certain they knew the reason. They were certain that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah for whom they had waited, and for Him to have this kind of knowledge was just another proof.

It's interesting to see that Jesus says, "I saw you under the fig tree." There are three other times that this phrase is used in the Bible. If you would like to check them out, look at I Kings 4:25, Zechariah 3:10, and Micah 4:4.  Here is one of them for an example:

 During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree. I Kings 4:25

Each time the phrase is used, sitting under the fig tree is a symbol. It's a symbol of a life of peace and blessings, which come from an obedient relationship with God.
It's not such a shocker for us, I guess, because we live in an age of satellites and surveillance! And, we are assured of the Spirit of God living with us each day -- but for Nathanael it was different. He knew now that he was dealing with someone whose knowledge was profound and divine.  So he declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus also told him, "You will see greater things than these." After commending him for being obedient to God, He is calling Nathanael into a deeper relationship.
We know that the more we allow Jesus to be the center of our lives, the more we have of His peace in our hearts.

In the last verse of our passage, Jesus addresses not just Nathanael, but all of those gathered around Him.

"He added, 'I tell you the truth, you (plural) shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'"

The commentaries tell us that Jesus is referring to Genesis 28, which would have been so familiar to His listeners. In that excerpt of the life of Jacob, Jacob was fleeing his brother Esau. He was sleeping outside, and God gave him a comforting dream: a staircase from earth to heaven, with angels going up and down on it. Jesus' words to his followers seem to indicate that He is referring to that passage, and He is saying that He is the staircase.
Jesus is the one through whom we have access to heaven! He bridged the gap for us -- His life was the only one that met the standards of God's law. His cross has bridged the gap between God and sinful humans, and removed the sin-barrier that stood between us and God the Father.
What an amazing thing for Nathanael to consider! No wonder he was taken by surprise. Not only did Jesus demonstrate how well He knew Nathanael, but He also demonstrated that He was the long-awaited Messiah; He was the One who would show us "greater things" and make us fit for heaven!

Friday slowdown

Some people go through life and never seem to be discouraged. Others travel a road of highs and lows, and still others seem to stay on a darker path. Those who are troubled by the illness of depression need our prayers and our encouragement.
Many talented and creative individuals have deep inward struggles in their emotional lives. It is from these struggles that poems and works of art can come, but not without a huge toll on the life of the individual.
Many have found solace in meditating on our Savior, and His grace and love. Truly, that can lift us out of the mire and into contentment. We do not deserve His mercy, and we have not (and cannot) do anything to be worthy of His love, but still He loves us -- faithfully and forever.
For many who suffer with depression, there is not an easy solution out there. There are so many causes for the illness; some are physical causes, and others are hereditary; others still are from traumas in the past. Unlike many other illnesses in this world, there is not a "one size fits all" solution that will take away the pain. But if you suffer from depression, know this -- God has a plan for you -- He will help you through the dark days -- He can give you victory in this area of your life.
Never forget: "all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 is talking about you, if you have at some point welcomed God into your heart and life. You are a born again, blood washed believer, and this is talking about you. You don't need to work to obtain His love, or try to live a "perfect life." Nor do you have to be "worthy" of His love. He gives it freely. He will live in you, and do the work for you. Just trust and see what He will do.

I felt that someone needed to read this. I hope that it will prove to be a blessing. 

John 1:43-46 . . . and we don't get discouraged!

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
⁴⁴ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.

On Monday, we noted that we don't find Christ - He finds us. Yesterday we dug in and studied that after He finds us, we should tell others.
The last thing I would like to show you in this passage is that to be a follower of Jesus means that we will keep on going in spite of some hard knocks.
What was Nathanael's response to Philip? It wasn't very encouraging, was it?  Here was Philip, excited, breathless, passionate about Jesus, and eager to share the good news. He was met by a pretty cynical response. "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
Sometimes when we tell people about Jesus, we are met with one of several responses. The person we tell may be downright rude, and tell us just where they'd like for us to go. They might respond with apathy -- a don't-care attitude, that can really deflate our joyous bubble.  Or they might have "heard it all before" and be cynical, like Nathanael was, here.
Getting a response like this can take a huge chunk out of our self-confidence. It might knock us for a loop and make us wonder if we are doing the right thing. It may make us question if we are the right people to tell other people about our Lord.

But don't get discouraged! Let's see what Philip did . . .
Well, he didn't snap back in a rude way. And he didn't get into an argument about the merits of Nazareth, or even start telling Nathanael about the prophecies and history of Israel.
He just said, "Come and see!"
And when it comes to telling others about Jesus, that is all we need to say.
We can lead them to our Bible, and see what God would have us tell them. Or we can lead them to our church, and let God do the rest.

You see, the best advertisement, if you will, for Christ, is a life that He has changed. Our passion and excitement about what our Lord has done for us can be contagious. Yes, we need to study our Bible so that God can use us when we say, "Come and see!" and open the Scripture to tell someone about Him.
And we need to make sure that we are in a church that will warmly welcome a person when they "Come and see" what God is doing. It will need to be a church that has a sense of excitement about God's plan for reaching others, and it needs to be one that gets involved in reaching out and telling people about His love.

If we are to be disciples like Philip, Andrew, and the others, who made such a difference in their world, it means that we must not lose confidence when our message is not always welcomed.  We must trust that an encounter with God can be life-changing for them, as it was for us.

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!  Psalm 31:24

John 1:43-46 . . . and then we tell others . . .

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
⁴⁴ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.

On Monday, we noted that first, Jesus finds us.
Now we will dig in again, and see what the next step is!

We see that Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. So they all may have been acquainted. Next we see what Philip did when he set out to follow Jesus . . .
Did he sign up for a seminar? No.
Did he wait to be baptized? No.
Did he go to seminary, to learn languages, study Scripture, and learn how to preach a sermon with all of the important points starting with the same letter of the alphabet? No.

All of these are good things in their times, and in certain situations. But the first thing that he did, according to Johns' gospel, was to find Nathanael, and tell him about Jesus!

It's so vitally important in being a disciple of Christ, to simply tell other people about Him!
I think it is wonderful, and encouraging, that Philip didn't have any great learning; he didn't have a set of letters after his name, and yet he was truly effective in being a witness for Jesus.  In his excitement, he overlooked what we discovered on Monday, and blurted out to Nathanael, "We have found Him...!"
Often we may think that we can't tell other people about Jesus because we don't know enough, or we don't have all the answers they may ask. We think that we haven't memorized enough verses, or we might fumble around when we try to tell about how He's changed our lives.

You know what?

None of that really matters. We don't have to be theologians. We don't have to have all the right answers. We don't have to have memorized the "right" verses. We just need to be passionate about Jesus, and He will do the rest! His spirit will guide us!

We simply must tell others, for our hearts are full:

For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, I Peter 3:15

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

And look at this passage in Jeremiah:

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”  Jer 1:7-8

See where I added an underline on the word "youth"? Well, substitute what you will there, whether you think to yourself, "I'm only a layperson" or I've only been saved a short while" or "I haven't had any training" . . .   You see, it doesn't matter -- if you will speak for Him, He will be with you!

First He finds us, and then we tell others!

Prayer requests

Today is the day that we set aside about every other week, to share prayer requests and praises for answered prayers.

C. S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors, and he said, "Prayer does not change God. It changes me." The Lord is faithful and constant, and is loving and wants to hear from me. When I pray, even though my Father already knows what I need, prayer is an opportunity for me to humble myself and tell Him. I also exercise my faith, in turning over my problems to Him, instead of continuing to struggle with them on my own.
I feel a peace and a comfort from Him; it comes from knowing that He is always listening. He will answer my prayer in His timing, and in His way. Even with all of the people and events in this world, I never get put on hold; there is never a busy signal; He never lets me leave a voice message and then listens later. He is there with me as I kneel to pray.

It's an honor for us to be able to pray together. Please leave a comment with requests or praises so that we may share your concerns and your joys.

Let's pray.

I agree with C.S. Lewis. Prayer does not change God, it changes me. I know that the Lord is unchangeable and is constant and constantly wanting to hear and communicate with us. He is always there listening and loving. When I pray, even though I know Heavenly Father already knows what I need, I am grateful for the opportunity to humble myself and ask anyway. When I speak to my Heavenly Father I feel a peace and comfort knowing that He is listening and will answer my prayers in His own due time and way. I am humbled to know that with all of the people and events going on in the world, He knows me personally and takes the time to listen to me, everytime I pray. He does not put me on hold, He does not let the machine pick up and return my call later, He is always there, always listening and always communicating. I know that as I keep myself in the right frame of mind, I will hear and feel and know the answers to my prayers and what it is He would have me do to further is work here on earth. - See more at: http://mormonwoman.org/2010/08/15/a-mormon-womans-thoughts-on-prayer/#sthash.54kJeYKX.dpuf

I agree with C.S. Lewis. Prayer does not change God, it changes me. I know that the Lord is unchangeable and is constant and constantly wanting to hear and communicate with us. He is always there listening and loving. When I pray, even though I know Heavenly Father already knows what I need, I am grateful for the opportunity to humble myself and ask anyway. When I speak to my Heavenly Father I feel a peace and comfort knowing that He is listening and will answer my prayers in His own due time and way. I am humbled to know that with all of the people and events going on in the world, He knows me personally and takes the time to listen to me, everytime I pray. He does not put me on hold, He does not let the machine pick up and return my call later, He is always there, always listening and always communicating. I know that as I keep myself in the right frame of mind, I will hear and feel and know the answers to my prayers and what it is He would have me do to further is work here on earth. - See more at: http://mormonwoman.org/2010/08/15/a-mormon-womans-thoughts-on-prayer/#sthash.54kJeYKX.dpuf

I agree with C.S. Lewis. Prayer does not change God, it changes me. I know that the Lord is unchangeable and is constant and constantly wanting to hear and communicate with us. He is always there listening and loving. When I pray, even though I know Heavenly Father already knows what I need, I am grateful for the opportunity to humble myself and ask anyway. When I speak to my Heavenly Father I feel a peace and comfort knowing that He is listening and will answer my prayers in His own due time and way. I am humbled to know that with all of the people and events going on in the world, He knows me personally and takes the time to listen to me, everytime I pray. He does not put me on hold, He does not let the machine pick up and return my call later, He is always there, always listening and always communicating. I know that as I keep myself in the right frame of mind, I will hear and feel and know the answers to my prayers and what it is He would have me do to further is work here on earth. - See more at: http://mormonwoman.org/2010/08/15/a-mormon-womans-thoughts-on-prayer/#sthash.54kJeYKX.dpuf

John 1:43-46 First He finds us . . .

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
⁴⁴ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.

Have you been to a book shop lately? Perhaps a big, brand name store, or a mom-n-pop type of store? Ever looked at the "self-help" section? The "religious books" section?  You will probably see many, many books that detail the journeys of people who are searching for "the" spiritual life. The answer. The peace. The way.
Often, people spend years and years, perhaps their whole lives, searching. They find a philosopher, and listen for a time. They find a teacher, and sit and absorb the instruction. They find a preacher, and follow him for a while.  They are trying to find someone to follow.
But notice what verse 43 says....."Jesus found Phillip."  You see, Phillip did not find Christ. Christ found Phillip.
If we look in the Bible, from the very first, God is constantly seeking out His people. Remember in Genesis, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit? They realized they were naked, and were embarrassed (and guilty that they had disobeyed God) and so they hid. In verse 8 of the third chapter, God is walking in the garden and looking for them. In verse 9 we read, "But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'"
From the beginning, God has been seeking us out and finding us. So we should not think that we chose God -- He has chosen us!! Paul tells us:

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world…”  Ephesians 1:4

This is an important point to make, because the realization that God has sought and found us, rather than the other way around, is vital in keeping us humble before our Lord.
Once Jesus finds Phillip, he says a very simple, single command: "Follow me."
That means to put Jesus as number one in our lives, for that is what is needed when we become Christians. Phillip feels the call, and is compelled to follow Jesus -- he leaves everything else behind. He leaves his work, his family, his possessions, his ambitions . . . everything else is lower priority when we follow Christ.
We should hold nothing back; we should keep nothing held back for ourselves. You see, Jesus does not give us any "escape clause" when we follow His leadership. It is a commitment that demands our all. That doesn't mean that we won't get it wrong from time to time, and fall short of the ideal, but our commitment to discipleship should always be there.

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8

So first, He finds us ....

Friday Slowdown

This is a simple gospel song, but it fits so well with our studies this week. I hope you enjoy the video that I found of a women's group singing it.

1 I'm gonna live so (live so) God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime! (anytime!)
I'm gonna live so (live so) God can use me anywhere,
Lord, anytime! (anytime!)


2 I'm gonna work so (work so) God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime! (anytime!)
I'm gonna work so (work so)God can use me anywhere,
Lord, anytime! (anytime!)


3 I'm gonna pray so (pray so) God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime! (anytime!)
God can use me anywhere,
Lord, anytime! (anytime!)


4 I'm gonna sing so (sing so) God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime! (anytime!)
I'm gonna sing so (sing so) God can use me anywhere,
Lord, anytime! (anytime!)

John 1:40-42 What skills? Part III

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

I hope that you have enjoyed our study of this passage -- it has fascinated me, and really made me think about things.
I promised yesterday that we'd look at the amazing change in Peter, and look at the "why" of the change.  Because if we can wrap our heads around that change, we can do great things for our Lord, in the way that Peter did -- boldly, confidently.
Let's dig in!

Sometimes we may think that we need more "head knowledge" in order to be better at something, even in our spiritual lives. We may think that in order to accomplish more, we need to study the Bible more, attend church services more, make certain we are in Sunday School, maybe even go to Bible college. "If I learn as much as I can, maybe I will change. I will be able to do more."  Of course, the Bible tells us that all of those things are important:
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15)
But wait a minute . . . if anybody had "head knowledge" it would have been Peter and the disciples. They had spent three years at Jesus' feet and at His side. They'd been taught all the right things, and learned the correct doctrines. But Peter still denied Christ, and nearly gave up on everything, going back to his fishing, his other life skills.

Peter's problem was deeper than that -- and it is a problem that many of us Christians share.  His flaw was this -- when he was faced with a challenge, Peter always responded "I can do all things...."
Notice where the emphasis is? On the "I."

Peter was what some people would call "a man's man." He was bold, a leader, tough and ready for a fight. If he couldn't do it, then it couldn't be done. That was the kind of fellow he was.

You know when Peter's world changed? When he started walking with Jesus. Remember when Peter saw Jesus walking on the water? He must have said to himself, "I can do that!"  So then he said to Jesus, ""Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water." (Matthew 14:28) But then, when he found himself out on the water, with the water lapping around his legs and the wind blowing, then he said to himself, "I can't do this!" and he began to sink. He reached his hand out to Jesus and said, "Lord, save me!"

After that, Jesus told his disciples that he was going to be betrayed, arrested, and more . . . Peter must have been thinking to himself, "I can stop this!" But then Peter found himself alone by the fire, and Jesus was not far away, under arrest. Peter didn't want to be discovered, and thought he might be imprisoned and possibly killed, so he thought to himself,"I can't do this after all!"

The change in Peter happened when he stopped saying, "I can do all things" and started saying, "I can't do all things - by myself. But I can, do all things through Him who gives me strength!" (Phil. 4:13)

When Peter adjusted to the fact that he was a fallible, flawed human like the rest of us (grin) and he allowed Jesus to have His way in his life, then his new life skills could be utilized. God could use him in a mighty way -- and He can use us, too!  We can reach our full potential, just as Peter did, by relying on God to give us our new life skills and the strength to use them!

John 1:40-42 What skills? Part II

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

With all of the skills that we listed yesterday for Simon (Cephas, Peter), we didn't say much about his education (he had little), his people skills (he was rough and abrupt) or about his thoughtfulness before speaking (quite often the length of time between when he thought and when he spoke was measured in microseconds).  He couldn't always be relied upon, either. Does he sound like anyone you know?  Personally, I find that I mirror some of Peter's characteristics!  Not a happy thought.

When Jesus asked Peter, James and John to wait for Him, and to pray while they waited, what did Peter do while Christ agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane? 

He went to sleep.

What did he do when he saw Jesus with Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration? 

Came out with an embarrassingly inappropriate comment.

When Jesus was apprehended and was going to be taken to the leaders in the temple, what did Peter do? 

Pulled out his sword and removed an ear from one of the guards.

And lastly, when Christ was being questioned, and Peter was sitting outside by the fire, what did he do when he was questioned about his relationship with Christ?

He denied Him -- not just once, or even twice, but three times.

He had a chance to use his new life skills. The ones that he had learned during three years of following Jesus. He had an opportunity to boldly declare Jesus as his Savior and master, but he denied his Lord three times, cursing on the third and final time. 
After Christ rose, Peter returned to his fishing. We can suppose that he was riddled with guilt, with self-doubt, and with shame. He may have decided never to resume the work that Jesus had taught and trained him for.
But wait!
About thirty days after that, we see Peter standing in front of a huge crowd, boldly preaching -- one of the most powerful sermons ever verbalized -- over 3,000 souls came to repentance and asked forgiveness for their sins that day!
Shortly after that, we see Peter healing a lame man -- and proclaiming the Lordship, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ!
And after that, he was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. This same man who had been fearful and cowardly was now a lion for God, telling the leaders who wanted to flog and jail him, "We must obey God, rather than man." (Acts 5:29)
Wow!
What a change . . . what an incredible set of new life skills. What had happened to Peter?
We'll talk about this change tomorrow.

John 1:40-42 What skills?

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

There's so much for us in these verses; that's why we've camped out here in this passage again! Let's dig in . . .

We hear a lot today about "life skills."  Think for a moment about life skills that you may have. We can do and be many things, because of our talents and our blessings.
What skills did Simon have?
Well, first of all, we read in the Bible that he was an accomplished fisherman. He knew boats, and he knew nets. He was knowledgeable on the subject of fish, and well acquainted with the sea.  We learn as we read further, that Simon was a "man's man."  He was outspoken and confident, sometimes boisterous and impulsive; he was likable and highly opinionated. He was married, a property owner, and a leader in his community. 
It's interesting that when Andrew brings his brother to Jesus, he doesn't even get the opportunity to say, "This is Simon, my brother."  Simon, in fact, doesn't even say, "Hello, I'm Simon."

Jesus looks at him and says simply, "You are Simon, son of John."  It's as if He was saying to him, "I know who you are, and what you are. I also know your potential; I know what you can be."  And He gives him a new name . . . one that reflects the potential that He sees within Simon.

He calls him Cephas. 

Think about it -- do you recall some other times that God gave people new names?

Abram became Abraham. Jacob was re-named Israel.  In the New Testament, Saul became known as Paul.  At important times in their lives, they received new names.
When Jesus gave Simon a new name, He was saying that He had something important in mind for him. There would be times ahead where he could use his skills. He could fulfill his potential.

The scriptures tell us that when we accept the free gift of salvation, we are given a "new name;" we are called Christians. There will be times ahead where we can use our skills. We can fulfill our potential. 
We'll continue these thoughts tomorrow. I hope you'll join us.

John 1:40-42 The first thing

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

The first thing.

The most important thing.  Priorities. I think that Andrew had it right.

Andrew was never known as a great scholar, a respected teacher, or a powerful person. He was primarily known as "Simon Peter's brother."  But the most important thing that Andrew did, after meeting Jesus himself, was to bring Simon Peter to Christ.
Andrew had met Jesus through the witness of someone he knew - John the Baptist. And he immediately got busy bringing others to Him. He made it top priority; we know that because John writes that the "first thing" Andrew did was to find his brother. 
To me, this means that he had to actively go and look for him. This took some effort. He wasn't standing next to him - Andrew needed to search. And when he did, he told him they'd found the Messiah. He may have blurted out the news as fast as he could; he may have been breathless from his search for Simon. 
He followed up with bringing Simon to Jesus.

As a side note, I think it is wonderful that later on, we see Andrew continuing his ways: in John 6:8, he brings a boy to meet Jesus, and in John 12:20-22, he brings some Greek people to Jesus. 
What an example for us!
God can use us, ordinary people, in extraordinary ways. Our relationships with other people are key to our finding, telling, and bringing people to Jesus. Each of us can be like Andrew by praying for ones that we know need Christ, and then telling them about Him.

Do we have the same excitement and urgency that Andrew showed, as he searched for, and then told his brother about Jesus? How long has it been since we told someone about our Savior?

Friday Slowdown

 We've talked this past week about how we long for a relationship with the Father. I thought this worship song was appropriate for our slowdown today:

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after you
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship you

You alone are my strength, my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship you

You're my friend and you are my brother
Even though you are a king
I love you more than any other
So much more than anything

I want you more than gold or silver,
only you can satisfy.
You alone are the real joygiver
and the apple of my eye.

You alone are my strength, my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship you.

John 1:35-39 What do you want? Part II

³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

Yesterday we studied this passage and noted that Jesus asked the two disciples of John the Baptist, "What do you want?" (Or in some translations, "What do you seek?")  They answered with another question -- "Where are you staying?"  In essence, they wanted to know where He would be, for they wanted to be with Him, near Him.

We also noted that it is possible to have peace; it is possible to have a relationship with Christ, to fill that "hole" inside us, that we are longing to fill. We can have these things right now! If we are new Christians or mature Christians, we can look at the way Jesus answered: "Come and see."

Very simple. Very to the point.
Come and see.
Notice what He did not say . . . He didn't say, "start being a better person." He didn't say, "Come to church every Sunday."  He didn't say, "Study the Bible and understand it all, first."  He didn't even say, "Stop doing this, or that."

All He said was, "Come and see."  It was an invitation to them, and it is an invitation to us: to have a relationship with your creator. It's an invitation to life, and that more abundant!

It will not be life as we have always known it, but it will be life as God intended it to be. You see, God is good, and His plans for us are good.

“I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

And the Psalmist says:

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man that trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the Lord you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:8-10)

This invitation from Christ is simple -- we come with an open heart and we will see Him. We will know Him.

“Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters.” (Isaiah 55:1)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:28-30)

The two disciples accepted this invitation. They gave up everything after that, and followed Him.

As Christians, we need to respond daily to the invitation -- receiving God's love and mercy each day, and living in Him.

Let's listen, and respond to that still, small voice that says, "Come and see."

John 1:35-39 What do you want?

³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

Ever since mankind (or womankind) was created, there has been a pursuit of fulfillment and purpose. We may not realize it, but we all live our lives in search of meaning.

I'd like to focus on the question that Jesus asked the two disciples of John the Baptist -- "What do you want?" 
What are you seeking?
What are you looking for?
What is that one thing that would make you feel whole?

When we are young:
“If I was better at sports . . .”
“If I could just get into that college that I wanted to go to, then . . .”
“When I get out of my parents house, then. . .”
“. . . My life would have more meaning.”

Then, when we are older:
“If only I could get that job that I want, then . . .”
“When I get that promotion and start making more money, then . . .”
“When I get married . . .”
“When I buy my own house . . .”
“ . . . Then my life would be better, then it would have more meaning.”

Oy. Do you think we've missed the boat here?

You see, we can train to be better athletes, we can get into that super college, we can move out on our own, we can get that job, that promotion, that spouse, that house . . . and still something is missing.

Statistics say that there are millions of people today searching for meaning in their lives. And many of those have not yet found the answer, and are suffering from depression.

It's been said that there is a God-shaped whole in every person. That the relationship with our Father is what keeps us searching, and then fulfills that need. 

Jesus asked them, "What are you seeking? What do you want?"  Their answer? "Where are you staying?"  In other words, where are you going to be, for I want to be with you. I want to be near you. 
We were made for a relationship with God, and our hearts will be restless until we find that relationship. Look at this from Psalm 84:

My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out    for the living God.  Psalm 84:2

And here is the response of the living God:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

Have you experienced the rest that is found in Christ Jesus?  Our souls can have the peace that only He gives. Our lives can overflow with mercy and love.

Tomorrow we will look at what Jesus answered.

John 1:29-34 The Lamb

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”


I don't know about you, but after studying these verses, I have a much greater admiration and respect for John the Baptist than I did before! I am amazed at his faith, his courage, his testimony and his humility -- and I'm convicted that I am not doing as good a job in my own life. But I know that with Christ's help, I can be all that He desires me to be, so I'm going to keep studying!

Let's dive right into these verses!

God had been preparing Israel for this moment for hundreds of years. John has confessed to the throngs and to the questioners sent by the Jewish leaders, that Jesus is Lord, that He is far superior to John himself, and now he will give his triumphant finish -- Behold the Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world.
What Jesus had to do, in order to take away the sin of the world, required that He be more than a man. He was the Lord God of Isaiah 40, and He was so great that John the Baptist wasn't worthy to even untie His sandals; and He was before John both in time (John 1:1) and in rank.
Wouldn't you love to have been there? It gives me a chill down my back just to imagine it!

Jesus was able to be the Lamb of God because He was the God-man. The Word became flesh for this reason: to take away the sin of the world. 
In his first letter, John said, "You know that He appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin." (I John 3:5)  He said this because under the law, the lambs that were offered in sacrifice to take away sin were spotless, without any blemish. 

If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish and lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. . . . And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven. (Leviticus 4:32–35)

But as we know, the blood of animals could not really take away sin (see Hebrews 10:4). The law was pointing forward to what would happen someday, in a final sacrifice for sin. And John is saying, "Look! It's happening now, in front of your eyes! God has sent a sinless lamb, to take away sin, once and for all!"
Jesus was holy. He was without sin: no original sin, and no sin in His life. He was God, our holy God, and He was the Lamb who would take away our sins.
John called Him the Lamb, because He came to die. That shocks our sensibilities, doesn't it? It makes us uncomfortable. We don't like to look at that fact for very long. But it is real. It is needful. We must look at it.
He came to die for the Jews, but also for people scattered all over the world. John said this:

 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2)  

Propitiation is just a multi-syllable word that means His death removes the wrath of God. He does it for Jews and for Gentiles:
“By your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe . . . .” (Revelation 5:9).

Let's skip forward to John 3:36:  “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him”

So, John didn't mean that every person in the world is saved -- he means that every person in the world, whether a Jew or a Gentile, will be saved if they believe in Jesus and follow Him. If they believe, then their sin is taken away by the Lamb; God's wrath has been removed.
No one has been excluded.
But we can't do it ourselves. We can't clean up our lives first. The one way to do it is in believing on Jesus as the wonderful Lamb of God.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  John 1:12

All praise to the Lamb!

John 1:19-28 -- Knots

¹⁹ Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. ²⁰ He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
²¹ They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
²² Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
²³ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
²⁴ Now the Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵ questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
²⁶ “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
²⁸ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

What an example!  Courage, humility, and faith . . . let's dig into it!

We have looked on the surface at John, someone who was much misunderstood by the people of his day. He attracted swarms of people who came to satisfy their curiosity, to look on this man who acted so strangely and led such a different life than they did. Some of them were truly attracted by and responded to his message.
But some were sent by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. The leaders were wealthy, powerful men who people feared and respected. To be on their radar meant that you were out of the ordinary. I expect that they felt threatened by his popularity. So on the pretense of finding out more about him, they sent their "minions" to do their dirty work -- to question him about "who he was."
I think most people would have been nervous to have been questioned -- kinda like how people feel when they think their tax returns might be audited in our era. (Grin) But John didn't avoid the questioners or the questions; he "confessed freely."

John (the gospel author) is anxious that we hear the "not" of John's confession; he really adds up the negatives in verses 19 and 20. The first thing that John the Baptist says is "I am NOT the Christ." And he keeps making his point as they fire the questions at him: "Are you Elijah?"  John responds "I am NOT."  "Are you the Prophet?"  John replies, "No."
Finally, in verses 26 and 26, John the Baptist makes his point for sure:
“John answered them, ‘I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

These are the nots (knots) that we must untie in order to be an effective, courageous witness for Christ, just as John the Baptist was. We must show humility as well, and faith. Here is what I mean:  John wanted to hammer home these points -- I am NOT the light, I am NOT the Christ, I am NOT Elijah, and I am NOT worthy to untie the sandals of the Messiah.  I am simply a voice, a witness to the light, the Christ. And He is coming.
Let's check out something else that John said:
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.” The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:38-30)

John is trying to make them understand -- No, I'm not Him. And when He comes, and everyone looks away from me to Him, my job will be fulfilled, and my joy will be complete.
And so, we, too, will feel, when we have given a courageous and humble witness to our Lord, and explained our faith. All attention will turn to Christ, away from us. And our joy will be complete.
We won't begrudge it. We won't pout.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love
and your faithfulness! (Psalms 115:1)

These are the "nots" that we simply must untie, in order to effectively witness for Christ. We must untie the knot of fear, and be courageous. We will need to untie the knot of pride, and be humble. We must untie the knot of faithlessness, and increase our faith and trust in God.
We must decrease, and He must increase. We need to make much less of ourselves than we do of our Savior.

“What we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Friday slowdown

Isaac Watts was a prolific hymn writer, and many of his songs are familiar to us. I found this lovely, heartfelt hymn in one of my searches -- but it appears that this one did not receive a tune.
I was blessed by reading it . . . I hope you are, too.

When God revealed his gracious name,
And changed my mournful state,
My rapture seemed a pleasing dream,
The grace appeared so great.

The world beheld the glorious change,
And did thy hand confess;
My tongue broke out in unknown strains,
And sung surprising grace.

"Great is the work," my neighbors cried,
And owned the power divine;
"Great is the work," my heart replied,
"And be the glory thine."

The Lord can clear the darkest skies,
Can give us day for night;
Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.

Let those that sow in sadness wait
Till the fair harvest come,
They shall confess their sheaves are great,
And shout the blessings home.

Though seed lie buried long in dust,
It shan't deceive their hope;
The precious grain can ne'er be lost,
For grace insures the crop.

New resource page

I wanted to let everyone know that there is a new resource page on our study blog. You'll see that it is called, "Proverbs 31: Not just for married women!"

I hope that it will provide assistance to anyone who would like to study Proverbs chapter 31. All of our posts from that chapter are listed there, with links to whisk you away to read them.

It may be that you'd like to refresh your memory of a certain post, or point someone to one of them to read -- for whatever reason, I'll be honored. I hope they prove helpful.

And should you use them in a study, you do not have to give me credit. I'd like it, if it is a written or printed study, or an internet one, that you mention using my posts, but let's face it -- I have a life to live, and I will probably never know if you do . . .  I have too many things going on in my life to be able to look around and see if my words are being used without credit given! So use and enjoy, and the Lord will cause His word to be productive and glorify Him!

John 1:16-18 God, revealed

¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

We've noticed before that John knows how to pack a lot of theology into a small package . . . this passage is no exception! Let's dive right in!

Notice that in verse 18, John presents us with a possible problem: "No one has ever seen God." Hmmm, I think we remember times that someone has seen His glory, or His works, right? But never really seen all of Him? So God, being invisible to us, has chosen ways to reveal Himself.

In verse 17, we see that He revealed Himself in the law, as given to Moses, before He revealed Himself in Christ. Now, on first glance, we might read that and think that John is using contrast here . . . is he saying that the law is not gracious and truthful? Nope.
I believe that verse 17 is telling us that before the real, the mortal, the fleshly revelation of grace and truth came  (Jesus), that a witness to grace and truth was given in the law.  Clear as mud? Let's look at some other things that John said:

"If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"  John 5:46

We can see that Moses' written words were in harmony with Jesus and the truth about His grace. And in John 3:14, Moses is mentioned doing something that points toward Jesus:

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

So, I believe that John is saying here that Moses gave witness to the grace and truth of God, and that Jesus was the fulfillment -- the true revelation of that grace and truth. That is how, as John said in verse 18, He has "made Him known."
God became human, and revealed His truth and grace to us. He wants us to know Him. And we can know Him by studying and learning more about Jesus.  The psalmist said that he wanted to truly know God --- we can!  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. By knowing more of Him, we know God. His grace -- John says the fullness of His grace -- is revealed to us.

God is not sparing when it comes to grace. He is not stingy. He wants to give us "grace upon grace." What does that mean to us today?
It means that He doesn't just want to fill our heads with "head knowledge" about Him; He wants to give us "heart knowledge" as well. He wants for us to receive and experience that grace and truth.
He can forgive our sins, take away our guilt, help us with our problems and give us strength, hope and joy to walk with Him through each day! 
 

Tuesday -- Prayer Requests

It's been a while since we joined in prayer for the requests that we've shared. I hope you will join me today in asking God to help those that we know of, that need His assistance and mercy.

Please be sure to thank Him for the blessings and answered prayers that He has provided, as well!

If you have a request that you'd like to share, please add a comment below. Let us know of joyful praises, too.

1 John 5:14-15

And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.