2 Timothy 2:15

JESUS AND THE FATHER ARE ONE

2008-02-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 14:8-21

In the previous verses Jesus gave a promise that He will return. In these verses Jesus is give us two more promises:
Promise of answered prayer: Ask in Jesus name and it will be done. It is by the authority of Jesus that our prayers are listened to and answered. Jesus takes our prayers and presents them to the Father. (See also John 15:16)
Promise of a helper: I will not leave you orphans, but give you a helper, the Spirit of Truth. One who will abide with us and be in us.
Why can Jesus make these promises? Because He is one with the Father. He is the evidence that God exists and if you, Philip, do not believe my words than believe my works. But what is more amazing: His works will increase:
1) He will represent us before the Father with our prayers.
2) He will help us keep His commandments through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.
3) He will bring all of us, chosen in Him, into eternal life.
4) He discloses Himself to us and those whom He loves will be loved by the Father as His own possession.
THANK YOU MOST GRACIOUS AND LOVING FATHER FOR YOUR SON, WHO IS ONE WITH YOU AND CAN BE FULLY TRUSTED, LOVED AND BELIEVED. HIS WORKS ARE MARVELOUS! AMEN

JESUS, THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

2008-02-04T11:18:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 14:1-1-7

1-7) Jesus continues His discourse with His disciples in this chapter. His emphasis here: don't be troubled, don't worry, don't be scared, don't lose heart! BELIEVE IN THE GOD AND IN ME! You have a place in heaven, a place that I am preparing for you and I will return to receive you to Myself. What good news and encouraging words!
Jesus Himself is going to prepare that place for us. What is about to take place on the cross is just a beginning to the wonderful resurrection when Jesus returns to the Father and believers, through Him, are able to enter into the very abode of God. In the Old Testament, God dwelt among His people in the tabernacle or temple, but only the High Priest one day a year could enter into the very presence of God, the Holy of Holies. Now through Jesus we can not only enter into the very presence of God, but abide, make it our home. The old way was good and a shadow of what was to come, but the new way is much better.
The best news is that He is coming again. Right now we spiritually abide in Christ and God, but there will come a time when we will also physically abide in the presence of Jesus and the Heavenly Father. Best of all it is forever!
Where is the evidence, you may ask as Thomas did? Look at Me, Thomas, I am the Way the Truth and the Life. I am the evidence!
FATHER, IT IS BECAUSE OF JESUS THAT WE CAN HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY. HELP US KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED UPON HIM, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH. AMEN

WHAT I LEARNED FROM CHAPTER 13

2008-01-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

TIME OF REFLECTION:
The Book of John gives us a portrait of Jesus as God/Diety. In Chapter 13 this theme is very important to notice.
For it is only God:
1) Who can serve with a pure motive. (Washing the disciples feet)
2) Who knows the heart and mind of man. (the purpose and plan of Judas)
3) Who has authority over Satan's plan. (v27-31)
4) Who institutes the New Commandment, which is a new aspect of the Old Commandment (see Lev. 19:18) (v33-34)
5) Who knows the future. (Peter is told that he would deny Jesus)
6) Who is love and through Him we can love others. (washing another's feet and loving one another)
WHAT DID YOU REFLECT ON THIS CHAPTER? FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOU GAVE YOURSELF TO REDEEM FOR YOURSELF A PEOPLE. AMEN

THE LAST SUPPER

2008-01-09T13:32:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 13:21-38

21-30) The time has come for the last supper with the disciples. He has washed their feet, is now sending Judas on his way to do his evil deed, and has come to the greatest work for which Jesus has been called to do. Judas is here signaled out as the betrayer by our Lord, yet the disciples seem ignorant of what was happening. It isn't until the crucifixion that the full realization of Judas' act penetrates their minds.

31-38) In His death the Father will be glorified (v31). In the resurrection and exaltation the Father will glorify Christ and make valid all His claims. In verse 33Jesus addresses the disciples as little children, not to belittle them, but to show the intimate kindness and love that He has for them. How do we continue to show that love now? Verse 35, by loving one another! Our mutual love would be the strongest possible argument for the Christian faith.
FATHER, HELP US TO LOVE WHEN IT IS HARD TO LOVE. LOVE THROUGH US. AMEN

THE GREATEST GIFT TO GIVE IS JESUS! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2007-12-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

OUR YOUNGEST GRANDSON, ABE!

2007-12-05T12:58:00.000-08:00

SERVANTHOOD

2007-12-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 13:1-20

Here is a picture of the Hands of God reaching down and washing the dirty feet of the disciples. There are two Greek Words for washing, 1) nipto which donates "washing of the feet and hands," 2)louo which denotes a "complete washing." "In speaking to Peter, Jesus used both nipto and louo to convey these two different kinds of washings. The two washings, one initial and the other continual, are very important to the Christian life...According to customs of those times, once a person had "bathed" his body, he needed only to "wash" his feet before partaking of a meal. Jesus was going around to all the disciples washing their feet until Peter protested. In His response to Peter, Jesus appropriately used both words, in order to advance a precious truth; as he who has been "bathed" needs only to "wash" his feet daily, so he who has been "bathed" by the Lord, needs only to "wash" himself day by day from the filth and defilement which he accumulates by his contact with the world. All the disciples except Judas, the betrayer, had been cleansed by Jesus. This cleansing probably indicates the washing of regeneration through Jesus' Spirit and word (John 15:3; Titus 3:5; Eph. 5:25-26). All true believers have received the same cleansing." (Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words.) He who is greatest among you will be willing to serve others in the same manner as Jesus did. This calls for discipling and point others to Jesus who "washes away" the defilement of the world they live in, whether it be the complete washing through salvation or through daily washing as a believer.
What is the key to Servanthood? HUMILITY - willing to humble yourself and obey God.

1) A true servant does not wait to be asked - there is a sensitivity to the needs of others and volunters to serve.

2) A true servant does not critize others for not serving.

3) A true servant serves without expectation of a blessing in return - content with the joy of giving.

4) A true servant learns to receive as well as give.

5) A true servant IS willing to serve those who will reject them. (See Col. 3:22-24)

6) A true servant lets the Lord choose who is to be served.

FATHER THANK YOU THAT WE CAN SERVE OTHERS, BECAUSE YOU SERVE US! AMEN

WHY DID THEY NOT BELIEVE HIM?

2007-11-26T13:17:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 12:37-50

37-43) Quote from Isaiah 53:1. Isaiah 53 is a prophecy about Jesus and His death on the cross. John was reminding the readers of what had been prophesied and yet the Jews did not listen or believe; a fulfillment of prophecy. The second quote, Isaiah 6:10, is the vision Isaiah had of God on His throne. Isaiah heard the call of God, but Isaiah was to realize that the people would not listen and will refuse to see. For this cause, because they have refused to believe the Old Testament, they are also now doomed not to believe in Jesus. v. 41 gives a look into some who did believe, but kept it to themselves in fear of the rulers of their day. Why? Because they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

44-50) HEAR JESUS CRY! BELIEVE IN ME! The Jews did not believe the fathers and the prophets and now they were gulty of not believing Jesus. The cause and effect here is if you reject Him, you will be judged. The very Word that they refused to believe well be there judge on the last day. Jesus spoke with authority: He was given commandment of what to speak and the commandment is eternal life, therefore He spoke just as God had commanded Him.

FATHER, MAY WE HEAR YOUR WORDS AND DRAW THEM TO OUR HEARTS IN BELIEF. HELP US TO HERE THE CRY OF JESUS TO BELIEVE UPON HIM FOR ETERMAL LIFE. AMEN.

WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD!

2007-11-16T09:13:00.000-08:00

JESUS ANSWERS HIS CRITICS

2007-11-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 12:16-36

16-28) Was Jesus really doing good?
Jesus' response: The hour is coming when the Son will be glorified, but first He must die just as a seed first dies and than bears much fruit. His goodness will be shown for what it is, bearing the fruit of salvation to many. His act of dying open the door for us as believers to enter into the very presence of God. As we follow Him the word spreads and the church grows. (Compare Gen. 15:5, the promise to Abraham with Rev. 7:9, the raptured church) Jesus' death was the purpose of His coming and the Father's name was to be glorified.
Notice in v28 the response from the Father: "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." God is faithful and true to His word!

29-33) Where did that voice come from?
Jesus' response: The voice was for their sake. Judgment has come! The cross is the condemnation, the judgment upon those who reject it. The cross is also the basis for the ultimate victory over Satan. He being lifted up will draw all men to Himself. Draw means to draw by inward power, lead, impel, in other words, Jesus, by moral and spiritual influence will win over to Himself the hearts of all. He has the ability and the power to draw all to Him, but not all will come.

34-36) Who is this Son of Man?
Jesus' response: He contrast light and darkness Cause: walk in the light, Effect: darkness will not overtake you; Cause: walk in darkness, Effect: know not where you are going. QUOTE: "The reference to "light" recalls 8:12, where Jesus identified himself as the Light of the world, and expecially 3:19-21, where the judgment consists of the Light (i.e. Jesus) coming into the world and provoking a response from men to come either to the light or shrink back into darkness. Here the same imagery is amplified, because we are reminded that Light is in the world only for a limited time (i.e. there is a limited time in which to repond to the light, or as here, by "walking in that light."). Those who refuse or delay will be "overtaken" by the darkness, which is coming after the light is taken away. The person who tries to walk in the darness is unable to see and thus "does not know where he is going." (The Bible Knowledge Key Word Study)

ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM

2007-10-31T17:32:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 12:12-15

12-15) What did the multitude do when they heard that Jesus was coming? Compare their cries with Psalm 118:22-29.
v. 22 - the stone "Christ" which the builders (Israel) rejected has become the chief corner stone. (Upon His death He will build His church, Matt. 16:18)
v. 24 - this is the day that the Lord has made. This is the day of Jesus' death where He takes upon Himself the sins of the world.
v. 26 - blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Jesus came to do the will of the Father and to glorify Him who sits on the throne.
v. 27 - The Lord has given us light, prepare the altar. The light of the world had just ridden through the gates as a humble servant, for He came to die for our sin.
v. 28-29 - give thanks, the Lord is good and His loving kindness is everlasting. The New Covenant is an everlasting covenant that can never be broken. The Old Covenant is a progression of revelations given by God, picturing the Lord Jesus Christ. The Messiah now is bringing in the New Covenant and has ridden into His city Jerusalem ready to do the one thing that only He could do. "He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21)

FATHER, THANK YOU THAT JESUS WAS WILLING NOT ONLY TO DIE FOR US BUT TO DIE TO HIS OWN WILL AND SOUGHT TO ONLY FULFILL YOUR WILL. THANK YOU THAT HE WAS OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, SO THAT WE CAN CLOTHE OURSELVES IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ENTER INTO YOUR THRONE ROOM OF GRACE. AMEN!

DRAMATIC PRESENTATION AT THE HOLY LAND EXPERIENCE

2007-08-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

JESUS IS ANOINTED

2007-08-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 12:1-11

1-2) SETTING: Bethany at the house of Lazarus. six days before the Passover. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Mary, Martha, Lazarus and the disciples.
3) Mary is here anointing Jesus' feet with very costly fragrant oil, "NARD": "...a extremely fragrant oil made from the root and head...of the nard plant...from northern India. Because this had to be imported it was enormously expensive." (The Bible Knowledge Key Word Study) This perfume filled the room with its fragrance and filled Judas' heart with greed and contempt.
(4-8) Who was Judas? Judas is only mentioned one time before this event, see 6:71, but from now on he will be mentioned 8 times. His surname is Iscariot and he was from Kerioth (see Joshua 15:25). He is always listed last whent he disciples names are mentioned and was evil from the beginning but his evil emanated in John 13:27 where he betrays our Lord. His motive is uncertain, other than he was in bondage to the devil himself. How does Jesus handle Judas in v.7? Jesus comes first above all things - even the poor.
9-11) Why did the multitude come to see Jesus? How did the chief priest respond and what was their concern?
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOU HAD ANOINTED YOUR SON TO COME IN THE FORM OF A MAN TO DIE FOR ALL. MAY WE BE AS MARY, "FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF FAITH, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS DESPISING THE SHAME AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD." (HEB. 12:2)

PRAISE GOD! THE TOMB IS EMPTY! (Picture taken at The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Fl.

2007-08-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

ONLY GOD CAN RAISE THE DEAD!

2007-08-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 11

SETTING: Lazarus is sick and Jesus is sent for by Mary and Martha. Because Jesus delays, Lazarus dies.

REASON FOR THIS EVENT: Bring glory to God and Jesus. Jesus' delay in going did not mean He did not love Lazarus, but He was waiting for the right time so that He can glorify God in raising Lazarus from the dead. Proving again that He is God.

9-10) Jesus uses the analogy of light (day) and dark (night) as an example of those who believe and those who refuse to believe. If we abide in Him we are in the light and will not stumble, but if we do not abide in Him we walk in darkness and stumble. Jesus is the stumbling stone that people stumble over when they refuse to believe and be obedient to His Word. (See I Peter 2:6-10)

21-27) DIALOGUE BETWEEN JESUS AND MARTHA
MARTHA: Knew that Jesus could heal the sick
JESUS: Lazarus will rise again.
MARTHA: Knew Lazarus would rise on last day.
JESUS: I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. (WHAT A WONDERFUL PROMISE!)
MARTHA: Believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, the one who comes into the world.

28-36) JESUS SHOWS HIS COMPASSION Jesus was struck by the grief of Mary and the Jews. So much so that Jesus also wept. His compassion even though He knew what was about to happen is very comforting. Even the Jews saw that Jesus held much love for Lazarus, but Jesus weeping went beyond Lazarus. He wept for the suffering that people endure here on earth. He understands our grief and He grieves with us.

37-46) Lazarus is raised from the dead! THE REACTION? Some believed, but some rain to tell the chief priests and Pharisees. (Probably hoping for some kind of a reward.)

47-53)CHIEF PRIEST AND PHARISEES CALL A MEETING! Caiaphas speech is prophetic. Caiaphas hardly realized the full meaning of his own words. He was simply expressing the thought of a polictical collaboration with Rome - yet his words expressed the central doctine of the Chrisitan faith - Jesus' true mission, to die for the salvation of people and the nation of Israel. (The nation's salvation will take place at the second coming.)

54-57) JESUS CLOSES OUT HIS PUBLICE MINISTRY! The third Passover is coming and they are looking for HIm. He is now going to prepare His disciples for His death and departure.

FATHER, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN YOU WILL COME BACK AND RAISE ALL BELIEVERS FROM THE GRAVE TO ETERNITY WITH YOU. AMEN

OPA AND MIKAH HAVING FUN AT THE ZOO!

2007-07-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

I AM THE SON OF GOD

2007-07-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

READ 10:31-42

31-39) Why did the Jews want to stone Jesus? For blasphemy and making Himself out to be God. Jesus used the Scriptures to prove them wrong. Psalm 82:6 (v.34 "I SAID, YOU ARE GODS"), gods here means judges. These judges were called "gods" because they brought forth the Word of God, they had a quasi-divine function. Jesus, who is the Word incarnate, the one who the Father sanctioned and sent into the world, has every right to call Himself God. (Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words) Quote from Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: "Jesus argued that it was not blasphemous to call Himself the "Son of God" when, in fact, He was the One the Father consecreated and sent into the world. Furthermore, on occasions God had called the judges of Israel "gods," inasmuch as they were His agents of God. If God called them "gods," why was it blasphemous for Jesus, the One consecrated by the Father and sent into the world, to say "I am God's Son." The Jews could not argue against this because it stands written in "the Scriptures." But Jesus was greater than those men who received messages from God, for He Himself was the very message from God to represent Him, the Son of God came from heaven as the consecrated one, dedicated to do God's will one earth."

40-42) Jesus leaves Jerusalem and goes to the place where John was baptizing. The people there realized that all that John the Baptist had said about Jesus was true and many believed.

ABUNDANT LIFE

2007-07-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

READ 10:1-30

ENEMIES OF JESUS CHRIST
1-10a) There are enemies who wish to pull people away from the truth or confuse the message of the truth.
1)Their method is defective (v.1), instead of entering through the door, which is Jesus Christ, they seek to come in through "some other way." These deceivers become thieves and a robbers.
2)Their message is deceptive(v.5). A true believer will seek to know and follow the voice of the Lord. A deceiver, according to 2 John 7, is one who does not acknowledge Jesus Christ and is against Him. We as believers are to flee from the deceiver.
3)Finally their motive is destructive (v.10a). They come to steal, kill and destroy.

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ABUNDANT LIFE
15-16,10b) Where the deceivers want to steal, kill and destroy, (v.10a) Jesus came to give His life for His sheep, (v.15,17). Where the deceivers would leave you when things get difficult, (v.12-13), Jesus came to sanctify our life by being our anchor and unify us as one with Him, (v.16). Where the deceivers cannot satisfy, (v.8a), Jesus came to satisfy completely, (v.10b).

THIEF/ROBBER/HIRELING
Counterfeit doors
Comes to steal, kill, destroy
Not a shepherd
Not an owner of the sheep, hireling
Face of danger - leaves the sheep
Not concerned about the sheep

JESUS/GOOD SHEPHERD
Door of the sheep
Enter through Jesus=Salvation
Go in and out and find pasture
(freedom, safety, sustenance)
Have life abundantly
Good Shepherd/lays down life
Knows the sheep/sheep knows Him
One flock under One Shepherd

17-30) Because of what Jesus has done we can know with certainty that we have abundant life. We possess it, (v.10b) and no one will snatch us out of His hand, (v.27-30) In the light of this truth, we can live our lives with our heads held high and our confidence assured.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR JESUS CHRIST WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US AND THAT WE ARE SAFE AND SECURE IN HIS LOVING ARMS. ANCHORed FOREVER, NEVER TO BE SEPARATED. AMEN

2007-07-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

All together at Easter - 4 Generations

2007-07-07T07:00:00.001-07:00

READ JOHN 9:8-41

Answer the Questions as you read. Get a sense of what this story is all about: Believing in Jesus or believing in a religion.

8-12) 1. Who is the man questioned by?

13-16) 2. To whom was the former blind man taken?
3. On what day did Jesus perform this miracle?
4. What was the Pharisees objection?
5. What were some others saying?
6. What was the result of their discussion?

17-23) 7. What did the blind man believe about Jesus?
8. How did the Jews respond?
9. What were the parents afraid of?

24-29 10. How did the Jews question the former blind man the second time?
11. How did the man answer?
12. What was the Jew's hang-up about this man's healing?

30-33)14. What are the main points of this man's teaching?

34) 15. How did the Jews respond to him?

35-38) The physical healing of the blind man now becomes a spiritually healing as well. Praise God that his eyes were open, not only to see the earth, but also to see his Savior. His example is one we can all learn from, believing in the truth no matter what the cost.

39-41) Jesus teaches here about judgment (Judgment does not contradict that Jesus came into the world to save, remember back in John 1:5, 10-11 and Romans 1:16-19)
Cause: those who do not see Effect: they may see
Cause: those who see Effect: may become blind (the become here does not mean that they were not blind before, but that their already blind state is fulfilled, it is an aorist tense which states a fact and in this case that fact can be changed by belief in Jesus.) Jesus is telling the Jews that if they were to admit that they were blind, that would not be in sin, but the fact that they do not admit their blindness they are sinning. The Pharisees' insistense that they could see made their sin willfil. We are all born blind spiritually and when we meet Jesus we either believe in Him and the blinders are removed or we reject Him and the blinders are tighted.
FATHER, HOW INCREDIBLE ARE YOU WAYS AND HOW MERCIFUL IS YOUR DESIRE FOR ALL TO COME TO BELIEF IN YOUR SON. MAY YOU CONTINUE TO OPEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND. FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, AMEN.

JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD-OPENING THE EYES OF THE BLIND

2007-06-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 9:1-7

1-2) Who sinned that this man should be blind? Does God punish us with illness when we sin? This was a common enough belief among Jews in Jesus day. "...the disciples assumed the sin must have been in the part of his parents or during his time in the womb. Song Rabbah 1:41 (a later rabbinic work) states that when a pregnant woman worshiped in a pagan temple, the unborn child also committed idolatry. This is one example of how in rabbinic Jewish thought, an unborn child was capable of sinning." (The Bible Knowledge Key Word Study) They had forgotten what God had said in Ezekiel 18:20, "...The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." Only God knows with certainty why some babies are born with defects. It is not our role to assign blame where blame is not applicable.

3-5) The purpose of the blindness of this man is so that the works of God would be displayed in him. Who sinned is not the issue here. The truth here was that Jesus is the light of the world. All of us are born spiritually blind. We are not sinners because we sin, we are sinners because we are born with a sin nature. Proving that we are in need of a Savior. Jesus is that one and only savior who can open the eyes of the blind.

6-7) Jesus applied clay to the eyes of the blind man and than tells him to go wash the clay off. The man believed Jesus' Word and did as commanded, coming back seeing.
FATHER, IN CHRIST WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRUST AND OBEY YOU JUST LIKE THIS MAN WHO WAS BORN BLIND. THANK YOU FOR A MOST COMPASSIONATE AND LOVING SAVIOR. AMEN.

LISA, CHRIS, MIKAH, AND GAVYN: A TRIP TOTHE ZOO!

2007-06-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

"I AM"

2007-06-15T06:08:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 8:48-59

48-59) The "I AM" denotes absolute eternal existence, not simply existence prior to Abraham. It is a claim to be YHWH of the O.T.. That the Jews understood the significance of this clam is clear from their reation to the supposed blasphemy.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT JESUS IS TRULY WHO HE SAYS HE IS. LET US NOT DISHONOR HIM BY THINKING THAT HE IS ANYTHING LESS THAN GOD. AMEN

JESUS IS OUR FREEDOM

2007-06-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 8:20-47

20) No one could take Jesus, arrest Him or do anything to Him unless He or the Father allowed it. Praise to the Father that He is Sovereign!

21-30) Unbelievers are walking dead men. These Jews were headed to destruction, if they do not believe in Him. Not only where they blind to the truth, but had a bad case of hearing lose. "Who are you?" they asked. Jesus had been telling them all along who He was. Jesus had even been spoken of ever since the beginning of creation; the Old Testament had pointed to Him. He speaks later in the chapter (v. 56-58) that before Abraham was born. "I Am."

31-47) Freedom! Is this not what so many people long for? The cause of true freedom is to abide in Him and the effect is that we become His disciples, we will know the truth and that truth will set us free. Ravi Zacharias, in his book Deliver Us From Evil, says, "Our grand privilege is to know Him, to bring our lives into conformity with truth that leads us to that coherence within...In a world increasingly enslaved by error and alienation, how wonderful to be freed by the truth to His peace. The Scriptures tell us that the enemy of our souls is the father of all lies. He will do anything to keep us from coming to the truth, because it is the most valuable thing in the world and leads us to the source of all truth to God Himself."
Jesus shows his listeners that truth and freedom come from Him.
1) v.34-38 You are enslaved to sin and only through Jesus can you be release from that bondage.
2) v.39-40 Abraham believed in Jesus (the seed to come), he did not seek to kill Him in unbelief. (See Hebrews 11:17-19).
3) v.41-47 They were not listening to His Words. If they knew God they would love Jesus, but as a consequence of not listening to Jesus, nor the father and prophets of old, but listening to the father of lies, the devil, they do not hear God's words.
God's Word is reality; the object of a Christian's faith. The Christian's work is to trust in the rality of His Word, because what He has said will be accomplish!
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT YOUR WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH. AMEN

JESUS IS THE TRUTH

2007-06-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 8:12-18

12) Cause: Jesus is the Light
Effect: Whoever follows Him is not walking in darkness but in the light.

13-18) The Pharisees try to turn the tables on Jesus. He had accused them of bearing false witness and now they say that He is the only witness He has and His witness is untrue.
Jesus' answer: 1) Even if He was bearing witness of Himself, His witness would still be true, because He has come from the Father, 2) His judgment is true because He has not done it alone, but is in complete harmony with the Father, 3) The law requires the testimony of two men (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). Because Jesus and the Father are ONE and could do nothing apart from each other (see John 5:19-20) they both are witnesses. Other witnesses mentioned by Jesus is in Chapter 5:31-40 1) John the Baptist, 2) His works, 3) and the Scriptures.

Twice in verse 15 Jesus talks about judging. He says that He does not judge anyone, yet in verse 16, if He did judge His judgment is true because His judgment is the same as the Father's. The first coming of Jesus was to provide the way of salvation and when He returns then will the judgment come because today is the day to make a decision. Will you believe Him or not? (See John 5:22-29)
SWEET SAVIOR, THE WORLD OFFERS NOTHING BUT DECEPTION AND FALSE HOPE. THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR WORD WE CAN KNOW TRUTH AND AS IT SAYS IN JOHN 8:32 THAT TRUTH WILL SET US FREE. AMEN.

GOD COULD HAVE NOT GIVEN ME MORE PRECISOUS AND LOVING DAUGHTERS!

2007-05-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

JESUS OUR FORGIVENESS

2007-05-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 8:1-11

1-11) SETTING: Jesus, people who were coming to Him, and scribes which held various important offices in the public affairs of the nation, acted as secretaries of state, whose business it was to prepare and issue decrees in the name of the king. (Today's Dictionary of the Bible) Also there were the Pharisees and the woman caught in adultery.
THE ACCUSATION: This woman had been caught in the very act of adultery. If caught in the very act, where is the man? To legitimize their claim they refered to the Law of Moses. (See Lev. 20:10)
How did they interpret the Law? "Stone such a woman!"
What does the Law actually say? Put to death both the man and the woman (how they were to put to death is not spoken of)
Was the accusation based on truth? NO!
Why were these rulers saying these things to Jesus? To test Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. This was their true motive. (see v.6)
JESUS REACTION: Jesus calls them on their bluff and exposes their guilt, their sin, being a false witness and testing Jesus. It was the older ones who saw the wisdom of Jesus' comment and the rest followed suit. Jesus then showed the woman that forgiveness was from God. "Forgiveness really is a divine attribute, for it is only God who can forgive sins. Forgiveness is an act of God, releasing sinners from judgment and freeing them from the divine penalty of their sin - death." (Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words) (See Hebrews 2:14-15 and I John 3:8-9)
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS, FOR WITHOUT IT WE WOULD STILL BE IN OUR TRESPASSES AND SINS. AMEN.

ENJOYED A VISIT FROM MY DAD AND STEP-MOM THIS SPRING

2007-05-26T12:54:00.000-07:00

WHO IS HE?

2007-05-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 7:40-53

40) The multitudes were thinking about the prophet that Moses had predicted in Dt. 18:15. "However, in their theology, they believed the prophet was not the same individual as the Messiah (cf. Jn. 1:19-21)" (The Feasts of the Lord)

41-43) "Some believed He was claiming to be the Messiah - and, of a truth, He was. However, still others debated this notion with, "Has not the Scripture said that the Christ [the Messiah] comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was? . . . These were ignorant that Jesus was, in reality, a descendant of David, and that His birthplace was Bethlehem. So John recorded, "there was a division among the people because of Him." (The Feasts of the Lord)

44-53) QUOTE: "In the wake of these disturbing events the religious leadership called an emergency security meeting. it was a meeting of the chief priests, those twenty-four priests who were head over the twenty-four divisions of the priesthood (I Cor. 24:1-19). They were aristocratic Sadduccees who controlled the Temple worship. Also present were the Pharisees. They were the perpetuators of the oral extra biblical traditions within Israel. They controlled the synagogue worship. These two groups, usually at great odds over theology and engaged in religious power struggles, were united in their hatred of Jesus. "They summoned the officers to give an account as to why they had not arrested Jesus. The officers were Levites who patrolled the Temple compound and enforced Temple law. They were the security force, the Temple guard, who responsibility it would have been to arrest Jesus for interrupting the service. A few days earlier, the officers had been commanded to arrest Jesus (Jn. 7:14, 30-32), but now they had missed the perfect occasion to do so. The officers, too, had been stunned by His statement, for they answereed in their defense, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" (Jn. 7:46). After being rebuked in great rage, the officers were sent away." (The Feasts of the Lord)
I HAVE QUOTED MUCH THIS TIME FROM THE BOOK THE FEASTS OF THE LORD BY KEVIN HOWARD AND MARVIN ROSENTHAL. AN EXCELLENT BOOK AND WELL WORTH READING.

FINDING JESUS

2007-05-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 7:32-39

32-39) Chief Priests and Pharisees represent the ruling council, the Sanhedrin. The officers were Temple police. SETTING: Jesus is avoiding getting arrested at this point because His hour has not yet come, v.30. It was not time for Him to be arrested, Jesus was in full control of His life. No one could arrest Him, nor kill Him untIl the time was right as called by the Father. In these verses Jesus announces that He is going somewhere. (The Jews think He is going to the dispersion among the Greeks. These were Jewish People, "...not living in Palestine, but "dispersed" or scattered among the Gentiles...they were referred to as "Greeks" here." (The Bible Knowledge Key Word Study) The reality of what Jesus was telling these Jewish authorities was that they would die in their sins and so could not come to be with Him in heaven. A sad commentary for these Jewish leaders! (See also John 6:65)

37-39) On the last day of the feast, the eighth day, Jesus cries out to the crowd.
QUOTE: "The year was somewhere around A.D. 30. It was Hoshana Rabbah, the last day, the great day of the Feast of Tabernaciles. The bright morning sun was almost too warm as the throngs crowded the Temple courts for the Hoshana Rabbah service. As the people intently watched the priest conduct the service, a loud voice rang out from the crowd. The priests glared in consternation, and the people whipped around in great surprise to see who dared interrupt the service. They say a young Galilean in His early thirties, the one whom many held to be a great rabbi, a prophet, or even the Messiah. He boomed: "If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (Jn 37-38; cf. Jn. 4:14). In other words, He said: I am the answer to your prayers, I am the Messiah. I can save you now so that you will never thirst for salvation again." (From the book The Feasts of the Lord)

From here a spirited debate broke out among the people and we will look at this debate next time.
O ADONAI, TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO ENTER YOUR GATES AND GIVE THANKS IN YOUR COURTS IS A BLESSING BEYOND MEASURE. AMEN

TWO YOUNGEST GRANDCHILDREN (GAVYN AND ABE) ENJOYING A MEAL TOGETHER

2007-05-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

IS HE THE CHRIST?

2007-05-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 7:12-31

12-14) The multitudes were grumbling among themselves with conflicting views of who Jesus was. Some thought of Him as a good man, upright, honorable, free from guile, particularly from a desire to corrupt the people, for they had seen an assemblage of corruption within the Jewish leadership and Jesus did not seem to associated Himself with these Jewish leaders. Others saw Him as one who would lead people astray, to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive. In their eyes He was just another man who would in the end fall into corruption.

15-19) Mystery - Where did Jesus get His education? He came from Nazareth, a carpenter's son, no formal education. In the eyes of the Jews He, ". . . was not a disciple of a particular rabbi (cf. Paul in Acts 22:3) and lacked advanced instruction in the Mosaic Law under a recognized rabbi. Ironically, when the Jewish leaders came face to face with the Word-become-flesh--they treated him as an untaught, unlearned person without the formal qualifications to be a teacher." (The Bible Knowledge Key Word Study)
Jesus' answer: He was speaking for God, if He was speaking for Himself alone He would be seeking His own glory and not that of God's, who is true and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Cause: Willing to do His will
Effect: Know from where the teaching comes from.
Anyone who does God's will will be able to judge the authority of Jesus' teaching. Moses had given them the Law and yet they did not carry out the Law, meet its demand.
Why were they seeking to kill Jesus who is meeting the demands of the Law and they were not?

20-25) Jesus is being accused of acting and speaking as though He were mad. He was possessed by a demon.
Jesus' answer: Jesus points out that if circumcision is allowed on the Sabbath (Lev. 12:3), should not also a deed of mercy? (John 5:5-9) You dare to judge? Don't judge by outward appearances alone, but with righteous judgment (render to each his due; and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, in other words judgment is given without prejudice or partiality.)

26-31) The crowds of people were questioning as to the authenticity of Jesus, is He the Messiah, the Christ? He had performed many signs and that was proof that He could be the Messiah, but John is emphasizing here that true belief is not in signs, but in the fact that Jesus came from the Father. Jesus said, "You know me from where I came from, Nazareth, but I am more than a mere man, I am sent from God, who is true. Who better to explain God or to express the truth than Jesus
O MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE, THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR SON. IT IS THROUGH HIM THAT WE CAN TRUELY COME TO KNOW YOU. AMEN

MY TIME HAS NOT YET COME!

2007-04-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 7:3-11

3-9) These brothers are Jesus' actual brothers born to Mary and Joseph (Matt. 12:46; 13:55-56) Why did the brothers want Jesus to go to Jerusalem? To publicly show Himself off with more signs and wonders? Where they truely believing in Him as Savior or as an earthly king who would rally the people to overthrow the Roman Government? The answer was in Jesus' response. His time has not yet come. He was looking for the cross, while they were looking at the world. Jesus came to expose the evil of the world and to bring the way of salvation from it.

10-11) Jesus does go to Jerusalem, but in secret. "In secret" (krypto) means privately or in private. When Jesus does get to Jerusalem (v.14), he makes no attempt to remain hidden (in fact he makes himself quite conspicuous). This suggests the phrase "in secret" here does not mean "covertly," but that Jesus did not accompany the main body of pilgrims going to Jerusalem for the feast perhaps to avoid a premature "triumphal entry" scene. (Information taken from the Bible Knowledge Key Word Study)
FATHER, WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE A SAVIOR WHO IS NOT INTERESTED IN SATISFING THE EVIL OF THE WORLD, BUT IN BEING OBEDIENT TO YOU. AMEN

COMING SOON!

2007-04-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

What a blessed time our family had these past few weeks at our house. Now that they have all returned to their respective homes and things have quieted down here at empty-nestville I will be back with more of the John study.

Let us take time to pray for the people envolved at Virginia Tech! Instead of asking why, lets ask God to show us how we can help people understand that God was there. I personally am looking forward to hearing great stories of His love and encouragement during this difficult time.

May God bless you all,
Jean 2 Timothy 2:15

THE WHOLE FAMILY WILL BE TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE RESURRECITON OF OUR LORD! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS AS WELL!

2007-03-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

FEAST OF TABERNACLES (BOOTHS)

2007-03-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 7:1-2

Jesus is walking in Galilee, staying away from Judea for the time being, for they (the Jews) were attempting to kill Him. They would have never succeeded in killing Him for His time has not yet come!

Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) (The following information is taken from the book, The Feast of the Lord by Kevin Howard and marvin Rosenthal)
1) Meaning: All Israelites were required to dwell in tabernacles or booths during the holiday. It was an annual reminder of God's provision during the 40 years wilderness sojourn when Israel had lived in similar shelters. The feast was a joyous occasion, commenorating God's past provision in the wilderness and His present provision with the completion of the harvest.
2) Time: Autumn of the year, late September to mid-October.
3) Record: The people were to live in booths and rejoice before the Lord with branches (Lev. 23:33-43), daily sacrificial offerings (Num. 29:12-39), and the Law was to be read publicly in the Sabbatical year (Dt. 31:10-13)
4) Importance: 1) People were to travel to Jerusalem for this feast and brought their tithes and offerings, 2) great number of required sacrifices were offered. "Each day one goat, fourteen lambs, two rams, and a number of bullocks (thirteen on the first day, decreasing by one each day)." Also offered were meal offerings (flour and oil) and drink offerings (wine), 3) this week long feast was, "...viewed with great awe, for it was during the Feast of Tabernacles that Solomon dedicated the newly built Temple to the Lord. At that ancient observance of Tabernacles (2 Cor. 5:3), the Shekinah glory of the Lord descended from Heaven to light the fire on the altar and fill the Holy of Holies. (I Ki. 8:2; 2 Chr. 7:1-10)."
FATHER, THE ONE WHO PROVIDES, HELP US TO REMEMBER EACH DAY THAT ALL OUR PROVISION FOR LIFE IS IN YOUR SON. AMEN

JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE

2007-03-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 6:41-71

41-42) What is the Jew's complaint? Jesus claim to be the bread from heaven, yet they knew His father and mother here on earth. How can He be from heaven? Their problem was they had an earthly perspective and not a heavenly perspective.

43-47) These verses demonstrate the spiritual blindness of the Jews. They had been taught by God from the prophets, the Father had been drawing their people for centuries from His Word and yet they refused to believe. (the quote (v.45) is from Isa. 54:13)

48-71) These Jews were blinded to the truth. Read Hosea 4:4-10 and notice that the people were stumbling over true knowledge. QUOTE: (from Holman Treasury of Key Words) "The Hebrew word kasha, "to stumble," to stagger," "to reel," or "to totter," can also mean "to be feeble" or "to cause to stumble." Failing to continue on a true path, to be sidetracked, or to find offense and turn away from a true path is the root idea. Israel in Hosea's day was sidetracked by their morally culpable refusal to know God the way they should have...A person was openly rebelling against God if he or she did not recognize the true knowledge of God that He had made known. Because of Israel's refusal to know God, He Himself put a stumbling block in their way - His divine judgement (Jer. 20:11). The rebellious people, because of their attitude, "stumbled" kashal over that which was to light their path (Hos. 14:9). Malachi warned that the false teaching of the priest, the spirutal leaders of the people, was also causing God's people to stumble. But God was also ready to help the unrighteous person who turned from his or her wicked ways, assuring them that they would not fall (Ezek. 33:12)."
These Jews were leaders who were in spiritual blindness, refusing to come to the true knowledge of the right path, and were also a stumbling block for the people. Jesus was showing them what the right path was, Himself. This is what Jesus is pointing out throughout the rest of the chapter.
1) You must come to Jesus on God's terms. Not on their terms, not on the terms of an earthly leader.
2) The way of salvation is in God's Word, we are to seek it and allow God to teach us THE WAY.
3) We don't personally see the Father, but come to Him through His Word and through Jesus Christ, His Son. Jesus is the revelation of the Father.
4) Manna in the wilderness came from heaven, but was temporary and could not save for all eternity, but Jesus can, He is the true bread of life.
5) Jesus gives them a real jolt. He talks about eating His flesh. It was abhorrence for a Jew to become some kind of cannibal. Again they were thinging only in the earthly terms not the spiritual truth. "What they failed to see was that the "eating" meant personal appropriation by faith, rather than the consuming of physical food." (The Bible Knowledge Key Word Study) (See John 6:63)
FATHER, THE ONE WHO HOLDS THE RIGHT PATH, GIVE US BOLDNESS TO SPEAK YOUR TRUTH AND GIVE US DISCERNMENT NOT TO STUMBLE OR CAUSE ANOTHER TO STUMBLE. AMEN

GRANDAUGHTER GAVYN WILL TURN ONE TOMORROW!

2007-03-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

WORK OF GOD? BELIEVE IN JESUS

2007-03-08T14:19:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 6:28-40

28-29) What is the work of God? Believe in Jesus whom God has sent! "And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us." (I John 3:23)

30-40) Sign? O.T. had manna from heaven (Exodus 16), what sign could Jesus give them in order that they could believe?
JESUS HIMSELF WAS THE SIGN: It was not Moses who gave the bread, but God Himself and now He has given a better bread from heaven, Jesus Christ. This bread gives life to the world, yet there is a condition, you must believe. It is an individual appropriation, no one can believe for you. Come and believe in Him and you will never hunger or thirst. What is the benefit to knowing Jesus as the bread of life?
1) Will not be cast out from the presences of God and Jesus.
2) Will never be lost to Jesus.
3) Receiving eternal life.
4) Raise up on the last day.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR JESUS WHO IS THE TRUE BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN AND WHO NOURISHES THE SOUL FOR ALL ETERNITY. AMEN

CROSSING THE SEA

2007-02-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 6:16-27

16-23) The disciples got into a boat to cross the sea. John does not tell us why, but Mark does, they were told to by Jesus to get in the boat and go across to the other side of the sea from Bethsaida (Mk. 6:45). John is telling us that they were headed for Capernaum.
STORM: As evening came strong winds erupt about 3-4 miles out and they see Jesus walking toward them. (Mark tells us that Jesus was intending to walk by them. Mk. 6:48-50 and Matthew records that this is the time when Peter walks on water. Mt. 14:24-33) The emphasis in John's gospel is not on the disciples, but on the multitudes and Jesus teaching on being the Bread of Life.
The multitudes had seen the disciples leave, but Jesus had not gone with them. He stayed to dismiss the multitudes and then go off by Himself. The next day the multitudes notice that Jesus in no longer with them and some how figured out that Jesus was on the other side of the sea with the disciples. They immediately get into their boats and follow.
The multitudes wanted to know how Jesus got to Capernaum, but Jesus exposed to them the real reason why they followed Him. They were hungry and wanted to be fed. Jesus' instructs them to not work for food that is perishable, but for the food that is imperishable. What kind of food is imperishable?
1) It endures to eternal life.
2) Son of Man gives it.
3) Sealed by God through Jesus (Sealed means to confirm, authenticate, place beyond doubt; to prove by one's tesimony to a person that he is what he professes to be.) In other words Jesus is truely who He says He is and you can trust Him explicitly.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR JESUS WHO IS THE BREAD OF LIFE AND IN HIM WE CAN PLACE OUR TRUST WITHOUT FAIL. AMEN.

FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND

2007-02-19T08:46:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 6:1-15
The theme of this chapter is that Jesus is the Bread of Life. First we will look at the feeding of the 5,000.

1-9) SETTING: Answer the question below.
Where are they?
What was the time period?
Who was there?
Why was the great multitdue there?
What is Jesus' test for the disciples?
What was the disciples answer to the problem?
10) JESUS SOLUTION:
Jesus has the people sit down (people here is the GK word "anthropos" designating "human beings", male and female), but then it says the men (GK word "aner" designating "a male")sat down. We know from this narrative that there were 5,000 men who had followed Jesus to this Galilean setting. How many women and children is unknown. It is a blessing that Jesus recognized that there were woman and children there and included them in the blessing of the food. He had all the people sit down, it was the custom of those days for the men to sit first and eat and the women served, then ate, but Jesus served them all with the help of His disciples. What a glorious Saviour we have!
11-13) MIRACLE:
Jesus gives thanks for the loaves and fishes and they are distributed so that all could eat as much as they wanted and were filled.
How many baskets were left over? 12 baskets filled with fragments. God the Father does not hold back in giving abundantly. Look up the following verses, what do you learn? Exodus 34:6-7; Isaiah 55:6-12; Jeremiah 33:6-9; Eph. 3:20-21; I Tim. 1:12-15; I Peter 1:3-5.
14-15) REACTION OF THE CROWD:
They called Him a prophet who was to come into the world. The belief in the Prophet comes from Deut. 18:15 and was a popular eschatological personage, but they were believing in Him as a deliverer, but in the wrong way. They wanted a physcial king who would overthrow the Roman Government, in like manner that Moses delivered the Jewish people from the Egyptian Government, not a Savior who would save them from their sins.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR YOU ABUNDANT GIVING. NOT ONLY IS JESUS THE WATER OF LIFE WHERE OUR SPIRITUAL THIRST IS QUENCHED FOR ALL TIMES, BUT HIS IS ALSO THE BREAD OF LIFE AND OUR SPIRITUAL HUNGER IS ALSO QUENCHED FOR ALL TIMES. AMEN

CORRECTING A MISTAKE!

2007-02-15T09:16:00.000-08:00

TO ALL WHO READ THIS BLOG!

I have to correct a mistake I made in Chapter 5. I had thought that the feast of the Jews that Jesus went to Jerusalem for was the 2nd Passover. It is not. It is not known what feast this was, but the 2nd Passover is mentioned in Chapter 6. Sorry for this mistake, I also have to be a good Berean (Acts 17:11) and check my own work with the truth of the Bible.

Chapter 6 is coming soon!

CONFRONTING UNBELIEVE

2007-02-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 5:31-47

Jesus' works are a witness to who He is, but that alone does not make His witness true.
31-36) John's witness: his work to prepare the way for Jesus bore witness that Jesus is true. The Father's witness: He who had sent Jesus bore witness of who Jesus is, "...for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish...bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me."(v.36) Jesus is affirming that God is participating in His works and He was sent by God with complete authority of God. "The statement "You have neither heard his voice nor seen his 'form'" recalls Num. 12:8 (the Greek text of John is virtually identical to the OT Greek translation of Num. 12). This refers to God's "form," or outward appearance ("seen him face to face," CEV,NLT). The statement fits the general point made in John that Jesus is the outward and visible revelation of the Father (1:18;14:9)" (The Bible Knowledge Key Word Study)

38-47)The Unbeliever's Guilt
A) Do not believe His word. They search the scriptures which bear witness of Him, yet refuse to come to Him.
B) Do not love God, but look for glory in man. Glory comes from one source and one source only, God, the Father.
C) Refused to believe the writings of Moses, who wrote of Jesus. If they did not believe Moses, how will they believe the words of Jesus?
The Old Testament and the New Testament complement each other and are parts of a whole. You cannot understand one without the other.
FATHER, JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO YOU AND THE WITNESS TO HIS WORTH IS ABUNDANT. HELP US WHEN OUR BELIEVE WEAKENS, KEEP US ANCHOR IN JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. AMEN.

ONLY JESUS SETS US FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN

2007-01-29T10:42:00.000-08:00

JESUS - THE RIGHTFUL JUDGE

2007-01-29T10:22:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 5:24-30

John had just related a story of Jesus healing a man who had been weak and afflicted for 38 years. This man tried to get healing through human means and the help of human friends, but to no avail. As the Lord of the Sabbath and having complete authority equal with the Father, Jesus heals this man physically. Jesus also warned this man that physical healing is wonderful there is a need for spiritually healing to make his life complete. Now in the following verses Jesus will speak on the spiritual healing that a man must come to in order to receive eternal life.
24) What is salvation? CAUSE: hear His Word and believe the God who sent Jesus EFFECT: eternal life, no judgment, pass from death into life.
25-29) "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart..." (Heb. 3:15) Here Jesus gives a prophesy about a time that is yet future where the opportunity to accept spiritual healing will come to an end. For an hour is coming when all will hear His voice and will arise, some to resurrection of life and others to the resurrection of judgment. It is through Jesus that we are accepted by the Father into etermal life, for the Father, "...gave Him all authority to execute judgement, because He is the Son of Man." He went to the cross to die for the sins of the world, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no man comes to the Father except through Him. (See John 14:6)
30) His judgment is in complete compliance with the Father, for Jesus does not seek His own will, but He seeks the will of the Father.
FATHER, HELP US TO BE MINDFUL THAT ONLY JESUS CAN BRING SPIRITUAL HEALING AND THAT THE WORLD IS RIPE FOR THE HARVEST. AMEN

EQUALITY WITH THE FATHER

2007-01-23T09:43:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 5:19-23

God reveals Himself to people of every time period and culture; through nature and the historical events of history. In John 5 He is revealing truth through His Son and they (the Jews) were not accepting this most gracious gift, because He claimed to be equal with the Father. Making a simple list (v. 19-23) of all that we learn about the Father gives us a picture of why Jesus is worthy to know!
THE FATHER:
1) Both Father and Son work in 100% equality. Everything the Father does, the Son does and vice versa. They both are Self-existent, neither are depend on anything outside of Himself.
2) The Father loves the Son. The idea in v. 20-21 is that God has done some remarkable things in the past, but you have not seen anything yet. Jesus (God's beloved Son) will do the ultimate work so that we will marvel. What is this great work? That the Father raises the dead. What is the result of this great work? That life is given through the Son. Eternal life to whom the Son wishes (to whom He has purposed). Both the Father and the Son are Omniscience (All-knowing), nothing takes the Father or Jesus by surprise, this has all been planned since the foundation of the world. (See I Peter 1:20-21)
3) The Father has given all judement to the Son. It is Jesus who holds the key to the kingdom. It is through Him salvation takes place. (See John 14:6) Why has the Father done this? (v.23) To honor both the Son and the Father. Both are Ominpotence (all-powerful) It was not weakness that caused the Father and the Son to accomplish this great work; bringing salvation to a dying world. It was done with great power by a Holy, Righteous, Merciful and Loving Diety. Why is Jesus worthy to know? Because He brings credibility and honor to the Father and because, "...God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8)
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF JESUS WHO IS EQUAL WITH YOU IN ALL WAYS. HE HAS BROUGHT HONOR TO THE DIETY OF THE GODHEAD AND GIVEN THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LIFE TO ALL WHO WILL BELIEVE. AMEN

JESUS, LORD OF THE SABBATH

2007-01-18T08:05:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 5:9b-18

9b) SABBATH: Means "seven." It is in conjuction with God's 7th day of Creation (Gen. 2:2)where God had completed the Creation and rested. The Sabbath day was and still is on Saturday for the Jews. It was a day set aside by God as a day of rest from work (See Ex. 20:9-11). By the time Jesus walked on Earth the Sabbath had been perverted by the Jewish leaders with many restrictions. They had complicated it with rules and regulations far beyond what God had commanded. Making the Sabbath Day more of a burden than a day of rest. When the Sabbath rest is spoken of in the New Testament it is not refering to the day (Saturday), but to a spiritual Sabbath, a redemptive rest. It is a perpetual Sabbath resting IN Christ. (See Col. 2:16-17 and Heb. 4:9-10)
10-13) These verses show the characteristic of how bad a burden the Sabbath Day had become to the people. The Jews, confronting this man who was healed, were not animated by his being healed and walking, but that he was carrying his pallet on the Sabbath. The fact that they were still in the pool area is an idication that they probably saw the healing or had become aware of it through other people. Jesus had been able to slip away because of the crowd that had accumulated.
14) Jesus finds the man in the temple and warns him to not sin anymore so that nothing worse will come upon him. What could be worse than an illness lasting 38 years? Loss of life and facing God's judgment! Warren Wiersbe put it best in his book, The Bible Exposition Commentary. "It is not easy to understand the relationship between this man and Jesus. There is no evidence that he believed on Christ and was converted, yet we cannot say that he was opposed to the Saviour. In fact, he did not even know who it was that healed him until Jesus met him in the temple. No doubt the man went there to give thanks to God and to offer the appropriate sacrifices. It seems strange that the man did not actively seek a closer relationship with the One who healed him, but more than one person has gratefully accepted the gift and ignored the Giver."
15-18) Why this man went and told the Jews is unknown, but the reaction of the Jews expresses to us the attitude of their hearts. They were without mercy; only wrapped up in laws and traditions. They were blind to the teachings and mercy of Jesus. They loved the darkness and did not comprehend the light. They persecuted their merciful Savior and sought to have Him killed. Jesus did not fear their persecution or threats but mercifully confronts their unbelief, which we will look at in the next session.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT I CAN REST IN CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK! HE IS THE LORD OF THE SABBATH! AMEN

REMEMBER THOSE SWEET DAYS OF SUMMER?

2007-01-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

JESUS, THE LORD OF THE SABBATH

2007-01-08T12:37:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 5:1-9

1) After the events of Chapter 4, Jesus goes up to Jerusalem and His minstry is being narrowed down to just a few men. "Between chapters 4&5 of John, Jesus ministered throughout Galilee, especially in Capternum. He had been calling certain men to follow Him, but it wasn't until after this trip to Jerusalem (5:1) that He chose His 12 disciples from among them." (Tyndale handbook of Bible Charts and Maps)
Jesus was going to Jerusalem for Passover. This is the 2nd Passover mentioned in the Book of John. (1st Passover, 2:13) One year has progressed by this point. At the first Passover, Jesus cleansed the Temple, but at this Passover He will show the need for our hearts to be cleansed. (This will be shown as we continue into Chapter 5 but first I want to give you some insight into the Passover and the healing.)
What is Passover? The following information about Passover is taken from the book, The Feasts of the Lord by Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal.
A)TIME: Observed each year on the 14th day of the Hebrew month, Nisan. (March/April)
B)RECORD: The lamb was the core requisite for Passover (Ex. 12; 34:25; Deut. 16:1-7) Passover and the lamb was used interchangeably, one could not exist without the other. Three symbolic foods were to be eaten: the lamb (depicting innocence), matzah (unleavened bread was to be eaten representing purity of the sacrifice since leaven was often a symbol of sin (1 Cor. 5:6-8), and bitter herbs (reminder of the suffering of the lamb). (Ex. 12:8)
C)IMPORTANCE: 1) There was only one Passover, when the Lord passed through the land in judgment. All other observances are memorials commemorating an occasion. 2) Oldest religious feast of the world and still observed by the Jews today. 3) Passover was so important that God allowed those who could not observe it on the proper day to observe it 30 days later.
D)SERVICE: Observed as a memorial forever (Ex12:14)
2-9) In this particular Passover, done on a Sabbath day (5:9b), Jesus heals a sick man.
A) SETTING: In Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate. The Sheep Gate is by the Temple area. The pool was a reservoir of water with five porches. "The excavations of a pool near the Sheep Gate have uncovered five porticoes or covered colonnades, confirming the accuracy of the description given here in the Fourth Gospel." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck)
B) SUPERSTITION: An angel from the Lord would come down at certain times and stir the water. The first one in was healed. This sick man had been hoping for a miracle for 38 years.
C) TRUTH: Jesus, accessing the situation, knew that the man had been in this hopeless state for a long time. Jesus chooses to show mercy, the same kind of mercy He has shown to us sinners who are in a hopeless state without Him, "While we are yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6) Undeserved mercy! What did Jesus ask the sick man? "Do you want to be well?" The man anwered, "There was no one to help me to become well." Wow, what a statement, for standing before him was the God of the Universe, the one who could make him well! Jesus said to him, "Arise, take up your pallet, and walk."
D) MIRACLE: Immediately! The man was healed. 38 years of muscles that would not have worked anymore. Not only did he arise, but also he picked up his pallet and walked! Complete and total instant ability to move his body! This was an instantaneous healing, occuring without any perceptable duration of time! "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou doest take thought of him?" (Ps. 8:3-4a)
THANK THE FATHER THAT CAN WE SERVE AND KNOW HIM, WHO CARES FOR US!

AN AMAZING WOMAN!

2007-01-02T12:02:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 4:39-54

39) Amazing isn't it? Here was a scorned, sinful woman who shared the truth of Jesus with the people of her village. ("Men" in v.28 is the Greek word "anthropos" which designates a "human being" regardless of sex, so she was speaking to all the villagers, male and female) She was changed on the inside, she openly confessed her sins, told who Jesus was and she shared even in the face of possible opposition. (Does this not sound like the spiritual food that Jesus spoke of to the disciples, obedience and responsibility in v. 34?) God continues this wonderful story by opening up the ears of the people and many listened to her and believed. Although we are not privy to her name, she is forever stamped in Biblical history along with other women of faith, like Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, and Esther of the Old Testament and Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary Magdalene, Phoebe, Priscilla, Junias, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Euodia, Syntyche, and the daughters of Philip of the New Testament.

40-42) THEY BELIEVED: The Greek Word for believe here is "pisteuo" and means to "exercise faith in, put one's trust in." Look at what they said in v.42, they believed Him to be the Savior of the world. Nicodemus saw Jesus as a good teacher sent from God, Jesus showed him that he must be born again and believe the Word. The Pharisees and many of the Jews saw Him as an imposter demanding to know from where He got His authoity to do what He did. (Many will not believe) The Disciples, at this time, were unsure of exactly who Jesus was, but yet were attracted to Him and were willing to follow Him. (They were willing to believe, but were a bit skeptical) The Samaritans got it right they believed Jesus as the Savior of the world. These outcasts, who a good Jew would not even walk on the same side of the street with, believed that Jesus was the Messiah not just for the Jews, but for all peoples.

43-45) In these verses Jesus enters Galilee, for He was not honored in Judea. The Galileans received Him, but there reception was with the wrong attitude. They were looking for more signs and wonders. John is teaching us in this chapter that belief in the Word takes precedent over signs and wonders and John uses an example from an event that took place in Galilee.

46-54) Jesus meets with a Royal Official from Capernaum who has a dying son. This official asks for healing. Connect this event with the women at the well. The woman at the well came to faith by believing Jesus' word and so did the people of her village, but the Galilians received Him because of His signs and wonders alone, which can not change the heart. The Royal official received the word from Jesus that his son was healed and he went home to witness the sign and wonder of his son's healing. The message here is that signs and wonders are proof that the Word, which came first, is true.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT WE CAN BELIEVE YOUR WORD AND IT IS A LAMP UNTO OUR FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO OUR PATH! AMEN

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2006-12-30T11:49:00.001-08:00

THE WORLD IS RIPE FOR THE HARVEST!

2006-12-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 4:31-38

31-33) The disciples try to bring the events that they had witnessed back to earth. They wanted to bring the conversation back to a the comfort zone of phuscial food, but Jesus uses the opportunity to teach them a lesson about the harvest of spiritual food.
34) What is the food Jesus talks about?
First of all OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER
Second is the RESPONSIBILITY TO FINISH THE TASK
35-38) There are three very important words that we will take the time to look at:
1) HARVEST: In earthly terms the harvest comes but once a year and at a certain time of the year, but the spiritual harvest is year round, 24/7! (See 2 Timothy 4:1-5)
2) REAPING: When you reap you are 1) receiving wages, and 2) gathering fruit for life eternal. Jesus is saying that this woman, in winning over a far greater number of the Samaritans to the kingdom of God, will enjoy the fruits of the work, so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
3) SOWING: Jesus implanted into the woman's heart a seed and she in turn has gone out and sowed seeds into the hearts of the people of her village. Jesus had sent the disciples into the village with spiritual food to give, but what they did was buy physical food that would perish. The woman at the well went into the village with the same spiritual food and came back reaping the harvest and brought that harvest to Jesus, so that the One who sowed and the one who reaped would rejoice together.
FATHER, WE ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A NEW YEAR AND THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN IS RIPE FOR THE HARVEST. LET US BE LIKE THE WOMEN AT THE WELL, OBEDIENT AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TASK THAT WE ARE GIVEN TO DO. AMEN

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE DELISLE FAMILY

2006-12-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

WOMAN AT THE WELL!

2006-12-21T13:06:00.002-08:00

READ JOHN 4:1-30

1-6) SETTING: Jesus, wearied from His travels, sits down to rest. The sixth hour means around noon and the disciples had apparently left Him to go into the village for food. Jesus is sitting beside a well built many years before by Jacob and the woman enters.
7-15) LIVING WATER: Jesus gave the woman an option. Take the water from the well that only satisfies for a time or the water that He has to offer that is for all eternity.
God is often referenced as a life giving water that satisfies forever:
Old Testament: Ps. 36:8-9; 42:1-2 Rivers of delight; thirst for God.
Isaiah 55:1 free
Jeremiah 2:13; 17:13, fountain of living water, instead of a cracked
cistern that holds no water or a dry and dusty grave.
New Testament: John 7:37 come to Jesus and be satisfied
Rev. 7:17 water of life
Rev. 21:6 water of life without cost
Rev. 22:1 river of the water of life coming from the throne of God
and of the Lamb.
16-19) PROPHET: This woman realized that Jesus had supernatural powers since He had knowledge of her past and her present life. Jesus was a Jewish stranger and could not have had the access to this information by normal means.
20-24) WORSHIP: The woman was worried that Jesus was out of His place. He should have been in Jerusalem if He was a prophet. Jesus directed her to believe Him, believe His words!
1) There is coming an hour when the Temple will be no longer needed for worship. The worship of the Father will not need a localized place, a time when you will be able to worship wherever you are.
2) True worshipers are those who worship the Father in spirit and in truth. To worship in spirit and in truth is to worship according to fact and according to His Divine Nature as opposite to what is imperfect, defective, frail and uncertain. The Old Testament sacrificial system was good, but temporary, imperfect and defective. It could not save forever, sins had to be atoned for year after year. BUT, Jesus said, there will come a time when true worshipers (THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH) will worship the Father in spirit and in truth and the Father seeks to be His worshipers. Did you see that last part of v.23? Our Father longs to be worshiped by you and it will be without defect, imperfections, or uncertainty!
25-26) MESSIAH: There had developed over the years, with the study of scripture, an expactation of the an anointed one, a specific individual. (It is believed that this readlly developed over the intertestamental period.) This woman understood that when this Messiah came He would explain all things to them. Jesus says, "I who speak to you am He!" She gets excited!
27-30) A FLAMING EVANGELIST: The disciples must have seen something unusual going on, more than Jesus speaking to a Samaritan Woman, but something miraculous. Did you notice that they were speechless? This woman went out and shared with all the people of the city and they were so intrigued that they went to see Him for themselves.
FATHER, MAY WE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT WE HAD WHEN WE FIRST MEET JESUS AND REALIZED THAT HE WAS OUR SAVIOR! AMEN

GRANDAUGHTER GRACE!

2006-12-19T11:57:00.000-08:00

CHAPTER 4!!

2006-12-19T11:45:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 4:1-4

1-4) Jesus leaves the area of Judea and heads for Galilee, but has to travel through a place called Samaria.
SAMARIA: Captial of the northern kingdom of Israel. (After Solomon died the kingdom split into two areas, the northern kingdom (10 tribes) and the southern kingdom (2 tribes). The northern kingdom was called Israel and the sourthern kingdom was caleed Judea. Assyrians captured Samaria in 722 BC. "Its people were exiled to Syria, Assyria and Babylonia, and replaced by colonists from different parts of the Assyrian empire. When Samaria fell, the kingdom of Israel ceased to exist, and the whole area (not just the city) became know as Samaria." (Information found in Nelson's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Bible)
JESUS' TIME: The Samaritan area was despised and hated by Orthodox Jews. Jesus' decision of passing through the area was a surprise to his disciples, as well as the women He meets at the well as we will see in the next segment, for a true Jew would avoid going through Samaria at all cost.
HELP ME FATHER TO REMEMBER THAT ALL PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR YOUR WORD, NOT JUST A SELECT FEW.

PURIFICATION IS THROUGH JESUS

2006-12-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

READ 22-36

22) Jesus spends time with His disciples to teach them in the Judean wilderness.
23-26) John is still baptizing and is still being questioned by the Jewish authorities, asking about Jesus right to baptize and purfication.
Purification - a symbol of moral cleansing under the Law. (See Ex. 19:10;29:4; Lev. 16:4,24; Num. 8:6-7)
27-36) John's answer:
1) Changed position: John had receive a work from God, but now that work was to be finished and John was to decrease while Jesus was to increase. John does not regret this position change for he says in v. 29, "my joy has been made full."
2) Bridegroom is Superior: Jesus is from above and is above all, John is earthly. As the bridegroom, Christ must occupy the prominent place, John the Baptist's place was as a friend and he participated in the joy of the bridegroom.
3) If you receive His Witness - can set your seal on this: 1) God is true, 2) He (Jesus, sent by God) speaks the Words of God, 3) Jesus gives the Spirit without measure, 4) Father loves the Son and gives all things in His hand, 5) We who believe have eternal life.
4) If you do not receive His witness - not see life and the wrath of God abides on you.
LORD JESUS, THANK YOU FOR CLEANSING US THROUGH YOUR BLOOD AND GIVING US THE TRUTH OF GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, A LOVE BEYOND MEASURE AND ETERNITY WITH YOU. AMEN

ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS

2006-12-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 3:9-21
9) Nicodemus continues to question Jesus: How can these things be? These things refer to what Jesus had just told Nicodemus about being born of the water and the Spirit.
10-21) Jesus answers: You are a teacher of Israel and you don't understand these things?
Jesus was not telling Nicodemus anything that had not been revealed in the Old Testament through the fathers and the prophets. Look up the following verses and write down all that you learn about water and the Spirit.
WATER: Numbers 8:5-7, Amos 5:24, Jer. 2:13;17:13
SPIRIT: Isa. 11:2;42:1;59:21, Ezekiel 59:4, Jer. 31:34
These are just a few verses that declare the cleansing of water and the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was challenging Nicodemus to take what he knew of the Old Testament and put it together with the fact that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Nicodemus if you cannot believe the earthly things, then how can you believe the heavenly things? The way of salvation, Nicodemus, is this:
v.13-15 Cross - Son of Man must be lifted up in the same manner as the serpent was lifted up in the time of Moses.
v.16-17 Etermal Life: through the Son, who was sent by God.
v.18a Believe in Jesus: not judged
v.18b Not believe in Jesus: judged already (born condemned, only way out is through Jesus)
v.19 Judgment: light has come into the world, but men have refused that light and preferred the darkness.
v.19-21 Deeds is applied to conduct of men, measured by the standard of religion and righteousness, whether bad and become exposed, a non-believer (v.20), or good and manifested as from God, a believer (v.21) Practice truth means to act uprightly in a continuous or repeated action. Comes to the Light means to committ one self to Jesus and enter into fellowship with Him. Wrought in God means that believers works are from God.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT JESUS HAS COME AND THROUGH HIM WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE! AMEN

END OF A LONG AFTERNOON OF PICNICING AND HIKING

2006-11-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

MUST BE BORN OF THE SPIRIT

2006-11-27T08:02:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 3:1-8
1) Who was Nicodemus?
He was a member of the Sanhedrin: means "a sitting together" or "a council." It denotes supreme judicial and administrative council of the Jews. First instituted by Moses. Composed of 70 men (Num. 11:16-17)
He was also a Pharisee. (Following information taken from Nelson's Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Bible and Today's Dictionary of the Bible.)
a) Pharisee's were a strict religious sect, whose origin is uncertain.
b) They were ordinary people, not priests.
c) They kept close to God's law and were constantly updating the traditions and customs to fit new circumstances.
d) They produced the Talmud, which became the authoritative interpretation of the written Law.
e) Their error was to attempt to construct a "hedge" around the Law to keep Jews from violating it, but this became a man-made method for obtaining righteousness.
f) Their rivals were the Sadducees, another religious sect, not mentioned in the Book of John, who denied the existence of the resurrection and of angels. Both groups were at odds with each other until Jesus came, then they put aside their differences and joined forces to stop Jesus.
2) Nicodemus' problem - putting things into perspective with earthly eyes. He acknowledges that Jesus was sent from God, the signs were proof of that, but only as a mere teacher. He sees the signs, but does not see his Messiah.
3) Jesus' answer - You have to have a Spiritual rebirth. If you are not born-again by the Spirit you will not enter the Kingdom of God. (Nicodemus you can not see Me (Jesus) and why I came if you are not born-again.)
4) Nicodemus' question - How can I be reborn? Can I enter my mother's womb again? He is thinking again of earthly things and the solution, according to him, is impossible.
5) Jesus' answer - Unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. Water is indicative to an inward cleansing, not to water baptism (which is an outward manifestation of the inward cleansing). The Spirit is in reference to the Holy Spirit. The water and the Spirit are both connected to the restoration of Israel under the New Covenant. (See Isa. 44:3-5; Ezek. 36:25-27) God is referred to in the Old Testament as the "living water." (See Jer. 2:13; 17:13) Jesus mentions in the New Testament that He is the "living water." We will be looking at this in more depth in Chapter 5 with the Woman at the well.
6)Born of the flesh = you are flesh (See John 1:13; 1 Cor. 15:50)
Born of the Spirit = you are spirit (See John 1:32-33, in like manner the Spirit comes upon us, comes and dwells, manifested upon our souls for God's productive use.)
7-8) The Wind used here is the same Greek word as Spirit and means a movement of air. We can not see the wind, but have physical evidences of its presence, like the blowing of the leaves. We do not see the Holy Spirit, but the evidence of its presence is that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Rom. 8:16)
PRAISE GOD JESUS CAME TO CLEANSE AND DWELL WITHIN HIS PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN, "ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE." (Ps. 100:4a)

CLEANING OUT THE TEMPLE

2006-11-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 2:12-25
12) Jesus and His family, including the disciples, travel to Capernaum. Perhaps for preparation for their trip to Jerusalem. Capernaum was a larger town than Cana.
13) 1st Passover. (See Exodus 12:11-14) Passover is a memorial feast to celebrate God's mercy in passing over the first born in Egypt. Jesus is the everlasting Passover Lamb and the memorial we keep in remembrance of Him is Communion.
14-22) Scene at the Temple.
1) Main Character: Jesus Himself - shows righteous anger at the immoral conduct in the Temple. It was prophesied that there was One who would come who would refine and purify. (Zechariah 14:21; Mal. 3:1-3)
2) Merchants - those who did the selling of animals. Their rational was to help travelers, but corruption was the norm. Scandalous procedures were put into effect to profit from the sale of sacrificial animals.
3) Moneychangers - Temple dues had to be paid and in a certain coinage, so a profit was made by charging a higher percentage for changing the coins.
4) Jews - probably leaders of the Temple, they questioned Jesus' authority to do what He did. They demanded a sign! As if Jesus' driving out the moneychangers and merchants was not sign enough. Jesus said, "You want a sign? OK, I'll give you a sign. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Bible Knowledge Commentary says: "The Jews - either the Jewish authorities or the merchants - demanded some proof for His right to challenge the existing order...Jesus gives a veiled saying. He desired that His hearers ponder the saying in order to perceive its significance." The Jews did not get it.
5) Disciples - THEY GOT IT! As Jesus was taking righteous judgment in the temple the disciples remembered (v.17) Psalm 69:9. Then after the resurrection (v.22) the disciples looked back at the incident and believed the Scriptures and what Jesus had spoken to them, it became clear that Jesus was talking about Himself and that He is the New Temple, never to be destroyed.
23=25) Jesus did many other signs, that were not recorded by John, so that many believed in His name. If you stop at v. 23 you would think perhaps these were believing in Jesus unto salvation, but v. 24-25 tells a different story. (See also John 4:48) Jesus did not need anyone to "bear witness" of the sinfulness of man. They were seeking for the miraculous and not the One who performed those miracles, they were wanting the quick fix to problems and not willing to put their trust in a long-suffering Savior, they looking for a accommodating teacher, not a Holy Teacher, and they were look for an earthly king, not a Heavenly King. Jesus understood the nature, character, and the conduct of men.
THE LORD IS OUR SANCIFIED DWELLING PLACE. IT IS IN HIM THAT WE FIND PEACE, LOVE, HOPE, AND MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT.

SWEET COUSINS!

2006-11-07T13:13:00.000-08:00

BEGINNING OF SIGNS

2006-11-07T12:44:00.001-08:00

READ JOHN 2:1-11

1-2) John does not give his readers the event of Jesus' temptation, but skips to the wedding in Cana of Galilee.
3-5) There is a dialogue with Jesus and His mother. Mary was laying the responsibility upon Jesus to refurbish the wine at a wedding that they and the disciples were invited to. Let's put Jesus' response to His mother in todays language, "Dear Mother, what do I have to do with this wedding? It is not my responsibility. My time of taking responsibility for the people of this earth has not yet come." She was laying the responsibility of the provision of satisfying what was lacking. He was to later die on the cross for sinners to satisfy the lack of a Savior. Jesus did not come to satisfy temporarily with earthly things, but to satisfy permanently with spiritual things. She ignores His answer and out of grace and honor and a love toward His mother, He fulfills her request.
6-10) Jesus turns water into wine. What did this show about Jesus Himself?
1) Jesus is God, only God could have done the changing of water to wine instantly.
2) Jesus is the Creator - John 1:3: the water and wine did not come into being without Jesus.
3) Jesus in the New Covenant - the waterpots were used for the custom of purfication, Law, but Jesus is now the New Covenant. See Matt. 26:27-29, the old, under the Law, was good, but the new is better.
11) The sign authenticates who Jesus is. Jesus through this miracle manifested His glory. Stuart Briscoe says in his book The Fullness of Christ, "To have made wine from water was a glorious achievement, but to have made a superlative quality of wine, as the manager of the feast said He did, was to demonstrate a superlative abundance and fullness of glory. He was full of glory." Jesus is the glory that has come into the world, go back to John 1:14,16, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth...For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace."
WE RECEIVE FROM JESUS GRACE UPON GRACE, BLESSING UPON BLESSING, LOVE UPON LOVE. JESUS IS FAR SUPERIOR AS THE NEW AND BETTER COVENANT!

JESUS FROM HEAVEN ABOVE

2006-10-30T13:55:00.000-08:00

READ JOHN 1:35-51

35-51) Followers of John the Baptist now turn to Jesus
1) The first two to follow are Andrew and John, than came Peter and than Nathanael.
2) There are three things that determines the thinking of these disciples about Jesus at this time. v.38) Where are you staying? v.45) Son of Joseph, the carpenter?, and v.46) What good thing comes out of Nazareth?
3) They wanted to know His background. Ravi Zacharias, in his book Jesus Among Other Gods says, "...in the East, the home is the defining cultural indicator. Everything that determines who you are and what your future bodes is tied into your heritage and your social standing. Absolutely everything."
4) Ravi Zacharias goes on to say, "How in the name of reason could the answer to the hopes and dreams of Israel, in search of the Messiah, come from a city of such low esteem and from a family of such modest professional status? The best way for them to find out whether He could really be who John described Him to be was to follow Him to His house--to the earthly address of the One who claimed to be the Son of God."
5) Jesus shows them in v.51 that He is not from earth, but from heaven above. He gives them a picture of the heavens opening up and the Angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man. Again I will quote Ravi Zacharias, "Whether the disciples fully understood it or not, a thundering message was given when Jesus spoke those words to Nathanael. He staked a claim. Were they aware that the Lord who fashioned the heavens and the earth was standing beside them? Angelic hosts attended His abode...The word abode immediately brings to mind the concepts of residing and of boundaries, neither of which is a fitting term for One who is without beginning and is Omnipresent. Jacob found out that God's presence to bless could transform any location into the house of God. (Here Mr. Zacharias is speaking of Jacob and his vision of the Angels ascending and descending the stairway in Gen 28:13 and Jacob says in v. 16-17 "Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it...How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.") Now the disciples learned the same. They were inclined to judge Jesus by His earthly father, Joseph the carpenter. They were trying to measure His worth by His earthly home, Nazareth. He opened up to them the truth that any earthly setting at which He is present becomes the gateway to heaven. What comfort this must have brought them."
WHAT COMFORT IT IS FOR US TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS ABODE IN US IS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT! THERE IS CONSTANT COMMUNICATION GOING ON BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH, BETWEEN THE SAVED SINNER AND THE RISEN SAVIOR!

OPA HAVING FUN WITH GRANDAUGHTER GAVYN

2006-10-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

THE REVEALING OF JESUS

2006-10-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 1:29-24

John the Baptist bore witness of Jesus as:
29) 1) Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
A) He was predicted according to Isaiah 53:7
B) He was the perfect sacrifice according to 1 Peter 1:14-19
C) He is the perfect redeemer according to Rev. 5:1-6,9
D) He is the perfect deliverer according to Rev. 7:9-17
E) He is the perfect King according to Rev. 22:1-5
30) 2) Eternal; existing before John.
31) 3) Manifested to Israel - manifest means to make something clear or abundant/giving Israel a clear understanding that Jesus was the Messiah, the One that they were longing and looking for.
32-33) 4) Anointed by God - the Spirit descending was the sign to John that this truly was the Christ, the Messiah and that this One will baptize in the Holy Spirit.
34) 5) The Son of God - the title that indicates Christ's deity.
HE IS GOD, ETERNAL KING, RIGHTEOUS REDEEMER AND DELIVERER OF THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM.

JOHN THE BAPTIST IS QUESTIONED BY THE JEWS

2006-10-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 1:19-28

19-21) Why did the Jews ask John if he was the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet?
In the Old Testament the Christ or Messiah is referenced as the Anointed One. (See Isaiah 61:1) Prophets, Priests, and Kings were considered as anointed by God and Jesus is all three; Prophet, Priest and King. Is John the Baptist the Anointed One. John's answer? NO!
In the Old Testament Elijah was a Prophet who was to return to earth. (See Malachi 4:5) Is John the Baptist Elijah? John's answer? NO!
In the Old Testament the prophet was mentioned by Moses as the one who will come in the future, "...a prophet like me from among you." (See Deut. 18:15) Is John the Baptist this prophet? John's answer? NO!
22-24) If are not the Christ, the Prophet, Elijah, than John who are you?
John's answer? "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord!" (See Isaiah 40:3)
MAKE STRAIGHT means to make level or plain
THE WAY means to remove the hindrances to the journey.
When making a road trip, the way to get to your destination is planned out. You check the correct highways to take and perhaps you check to make sure there are no road blocks or construction that would hinder your way. You want to have a clear understanding of how to successfully complete you trip. John was doing the same thing here. He was preparing the way for the Lord to come without any hindrances for the people to realize that Jesus is the Anointed One, the True Messiah.
25-28) But John, why is it that you are baptizing if you are not the Prophet, Elijah, ro the Christ?
John's answer? I baptise in water, but the One who comes after me is much greater than me. Let me express this farther, I am unworthy to untie the sandal of this man. He is among you, yet you do not know Him.
HE IS AMONG YOU, DO YOU KNOW HIM?

Mikah's favorite food - PIZZA!

2006-10-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

THE WITNESS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

2006-10-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 1:15=18

15-16) What did John Witness? 1) One greater than himself that has come, 2) One who existed before him, 3) One who gives fullness (abundance), and 4) One who gives grace for grace (the richest abundance of grace).
17) In the Old Testament the believers were saved by faith through the sacrificial system - it was temporary (Hebrews 9:18-28) Having the Law, given by Moses, was good, but Jesus was better.
Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. The far better grace is Jesus' sacrificial offering which is permanent and binding. (See Romans 3:24-26; Gal. 3:24-29; Hebrews 10:4-14).
Definitions taken from Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
TRUTH - as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of His purpose through Christ, and respecting the duties of man (absolute). (In other words truth is the reality of God fully seen in Jesus and the work He has done on the cross. It also constitutes the responsiblity of man, who can come to the Father only through Jesus. See John 14:6)
GRACE - through pity for sinful men Christ left His state of blessedness with God in heaven and voluntarily underwent the hardship and miseries of human life and by His suffering and death procured salvation for mankind.
18) It is Jesus who has the knowledge to explain God, "...THE WORD WAS WITH GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD. HE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD." John 1:1-2. (See also John 6:46; Col. 1:15)
IN THIS WORLD THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTE TRUTHS, BUT AS A BELIEVER WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD AND CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S ABSOLUTE TRUTH: PEOPLE ARE LOST AND IN NEED OF A SAVIOR AND THAT SAVIOR IS JESUS CHRIST.

OUR NEWEST GRANDSON ABRAHAM COLE

2006-10-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

2006-10-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

I know we are taking a long time to go through Chapter One, but isn't it exciting. Don't miss all that God is telling us in this fantastic chapter. Meditate upon it, think about the truth of God's precious Word. So far we have learned that Jesus is the Word, He is the Creator, He is the Light and now we will look at the fact that He has come to earth in flesh.

READ JOHN 1:14

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Something new has happened about the Word - it became flesh, it took on humanity and that human flesh came to dwell among us.
Last time God dwelt among His people was in the Tabernacle and than the Temple. (See Exodus 40:34; I Kings 8:10-11; 2 Chron. 5:13-14)
That cloud that so embraced and saturated the Tabernacle and than the Temple left at the Babylonian Captivity in 586 B.C. (see Ezekiel 10-11).
WE BEHELD HIS GLORY - The glory of the Lord returns in Jesus Christ, the only begotten from the Father. He is the incarnation, one of a kind human being, full of grace and truth. "Through the pity of the sins of mankind Jesus left His state of blessedness with God in Heaven and voluntarily underwent the hardshps and miseries of human life, and by his sufferings and death procured salvation for mankind." (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament)
THE GLORY OF GOD HAS NOT LEFT AGAIN WHEN JESUS ASCENDED TO THE FATHER AFTER THE RESURRECTION. FOR WE AS BELIEVERS ARE NOW THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD AND THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT THE GLORY OF GOD RESIDES IN US. AWESOME ISN'T IT!

THE LIGHT

2006-09-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 1:9-11
9) Jesus the True Messiah is the True Light. (review John 1:4-5) The light that was promised, see Isaiah 42:6-7.
Purpose of the Light: to come into the world and enlighten every man (spiritual enlightment) Enlighten means to shed light upon, to bring light, to instruct. Only He can make clear to every individual the meaning and purpose of his or her life. (Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament) Enlighten is in the present tense so that no matter what century men or women live in it is effective.
Cause > True Light
Effect > Two fold
1) Many did not receive Him (to reject and withhold obedience.)
2) Many did receive Him (accept or acknowledge one to be such as He professes to be, not to reject and withhold obedience.)
Cause > those who receive Him
Effect > right to become children of God/Believe in His name (to commit one's self trustfully to the name of Jesus means you are born of God (Spiritual rebirth)
COMMIT ONE'S SELF TO JESUS! FOR HE IS THE LIGHT THAT GIVES PURPOSE AND MEANING TO YOUR LIFE!

Sweet treat at the end of a fun day!

2006-09-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

WITNESS TO THE LIGHT

2006-09-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 1:6-8
v.6-8) Who was this earthly witness?
He was a man, with the name of John and he was sent by God (with Divine authority) He was there as a witness which means that he was to affirm what one has seen or heard. In John's case he was to affirm Jesus and who He is. His job was to bare witnes of the light. Why? So that all might believe through him. This John described here is John the Baptist. One of the people that John the Baptist witnessed to was John the Disciple, the writer of the book we are studying.
John the Disciple became a witness also and took on the job of writing a phenomenal book, The Gospel of John. I would like to take this time to share with you this remarkable man.
"The disciple that Jesus love." Who better to write the intimate words of Jesus and prove His equality with God than John the beloved? John had a very close and personal relationship with Jesus and was with Him from the beginning of His ministry to the very end. John, one of the followers of John the Baptist, was there when Jesus was announced as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." He watched as Jesus was baptized and followed him for the next three years. he was also there when Jesus died and was commissioned with the task of taking care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He was one of the first of the disciples to hear that Jesus had risen and ran to the tomb.
John loved Jesus with such a deep love that John was careful to leave his name out of the gospel all together. He did this to emphasis his remarkable Savior who came with a powerful message. He even downplayed his love for Jesus; pushing forward instead that it was Jesus who love John.
SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE OF WHO JOHN THE DISCIPLE WAS.
A. Mark 3:17 - brother of James, son of Zebedee.
B. Mark 1:19-20 - wealthy fisherman, had servants. (Left father and wealth to follow Jesus.)
C. Luke 5:9-11 - partners with Peter.
D. Matthew 17:1; 26:37 - part of Jesus' inner group.
E. John 18:15 - known by the High Priest.
F. John 19:26-27 - given responsibility of Jesus' mother, owed own home.
G. John 20:2 - first to hear of resurrection.
H. Acts 3:1; 4:13 - man of prayer, uneducated, untrained. (does not mean that John could not read or write, but possibly talking about spiritual training for service in the Temple.)
I. Acts 15:6/Gal. 2:9 - leader/pillar of the Church. (John was Bishop or Pastor to the Church in Ephesus. Wrote the Gospel of John AD90-100)
J. Rev. 1:9 - persecuted/sent to island of Patmos. (Only disciple that did not suffer martyrdom, he died AD100)
PURPOSE FOR WRITING: John 20:30-31, "Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples; which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
JOHN TOOK UP THE GAUNTLET FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST. ARE YOU CONTINUING THAT TRADITION; BEING A WITNESS FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?

John 1:3-5

2006-09-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 1:3-5
v.3) All things came into being by Him > COMPLETED ACT
Apart from Him nothing came into being > COMPLETE AUTHORITY
Nothing was created without Jesus' knowledge or ability.
He created > knew all about everything that came into existence.
He created > completely understood the ramifications.
He created > fully agreed with all that was brought forth.
v.4) CAUSE > He is life EFFECT > Life was the light of men.
Jesus created and He was in full control of that creation for He brought life from NOTHING and gave it meaning.
He created life because He is life, so He is the One who sustains that life.
v.5) Light means illuminating power (it's the idea of the saving truth embodied in Christ. It is through His love that His saving truth has been imported to man.)
Darkness means darkness (it's the idea of men choosing to be ignorant of the light and divine things.)
Comprehend means to make something one's own by appropriation. (it's the idea of people would rather associate with wickedness and its resultant misery than come to the light.)
JOHN'S GOSPEL PORTRAYS JESUS WHO STANDS OUT AS THE LIGHT. DON'T SHUN FROM THE LIGHT, BUT REACH OUT TO IT AND ENJOY ITS BRILLANCE.

John 1:1-2

2006-09-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

READ JOHN 1:1-2
v.1) "In the beginning." Where else in Scripture do we find these words?
Gen. 1:1 - God created the world - "Let there be..."
I John 1:1 - "What was from the beginning..."
God's creative act was the beginning of the universe and the Word proves that, for it was spoken and the world came into being from NOTHING!
WORD - (Logos) means the essential Word, wisdom and power in union with God.
Beginning starts at Creation, but yet goes farther back - eternal in its extence. For the Word was already eternal in God and proceeded out from God to Creation. Cause > Word of God. Effect > Creation of the World.

v.2) He? Who is the He in this verse?
Mark 2:2 - He was speaking the Word to them.
Rev. 19:13 - His name is "The Word of God."
Jesus is the Word and spoke the Word - the living Word. (All other religious books; i.e. Koran, Book of Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Christian Science, are dead words, they cannot bring life to anyone or satisfy.)
Jesus was in the beginning with God - since He is the Word, it would only be natural that He is eternal. Since He is God - only natural that He would be the Sovereign Creator.
GOD IS COMMUNICATION TO US THROUGH HIS WORD! ARE WE LISTENING?

The Whole Gang

2006-09-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

2006-09-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

September 16, 2006 Overview of Book of John

2006-09-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

READ THROUGH THE BOOK OF JOHN.

Often people will ask the question, "Who is Jesus?" But have you ever thought as to the, "Why is Jesus?" Let me clarify this a bit: Why is Jesus called the Word? If He had all power of God why did He come as a human? Why were the disciples attracted to Him? Why was His teaching so radical and spoken with authority? Why was there such a mystery about Him? Why did people reject Him? I coulD probably think of a dozen more why questions, but I think you get the point.
The Book of John is a treasure trove of answers to my above questions and more. It will be a study of great emphasis upon Jesus Himself. The why questions are answered; of His power, His teaching, His ministry, His salvation, and His resurrection.

CHAPTER ONE: The Word has come into the world. John starts out his book with power and that power is immense. Jesus came in humble beginnings, as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, but John relates that the baby came with all the power of the Word and that Word became, "flesh and dwelt among us."

CHAPTER TWO: Turning water into wine was a minor detail for this Creator who had created the heavens and the earth. A greater feat will be accomplished in the future and that is to raise up His body, the Temple, in three days time. We find in this chapter that Jesus is the New Covenant and the New Temple that has come into the world as Redeemer and King.

CHAPTER THREE: Nicodemus was struggling with the why questions. He knew that Jesus had come from God, because Jesus' teaching and signs proved that, but Nicodemus did not understand why. Here in this chpater we have a wonderful teaching by our Lord Himself; you must be reborn spiritually to enter the kingdom of God. John the Baptist in the final verse of this chapter compliments Jesus teaching by adding that a spiritual rebirth is a belief in the Son.

CHAPTER FOUR - SIX: Jesus is the living water, as the woman at the well found out. She had gone to the well with a bucket and left filled with that living water. He is the sustainer of life, for He has power over illness, both spiritual and physical. he has power over the Sabbath, and He has the power to execute judgment.

CHAPTER SEVEN: Jesus was a mystery not only for the disciples, but especially for those who would reject Him. They struggled with the motives behind His teachings and His actions. They struggled with His education, with were He was from, and they struggled with who he was: a good teacher, a prophet, or the Christ?

CHAPTER EIGHT - TWENT-ONE: The rest of John gives us a clear and profound picture of Jesus and why He is relevant to us. He came to be our forgiveness. He came to bring the truth. He came to give us freedom. He came to be our light. He came to be our Good Shepherd. He came to show us that He has power over death and is the rightful ruler. He came to be our blessing; we are to abide in Him and He in us. He came as our True Vine and to give us the New Commandment. He came with a promise of a helper, the Holy Spirit. He came to overcome the world and to pray for us. He came to die, but most important of all He came to be resurrected, so that we know Him as our eternal life.