John 3:9-15

John 3:9-15

Nicodemus replied and said to Him, “How are these things powerful enough to become?”  Jesus replied and said to him, “You are a teacher of Israel and you do not know these things?  Amen, amen.  I say to you, we speak about that which we have known and we testify about that which we have seen.  And you all do not receive our testimony.  If we spoke to you about earthly things and you do not believe, if then I should speak to you about heavenly things how will you all believe?  And no one has ascended to heaven except the one who descended out of heaven: the Son of Man.  And just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, thus it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up in order that all the ones who believe in Him should have eternal life.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As Jesus talks with Nicodemus, one of the things to which Jesus points to is that the disciple must submit to the disciple maker.  Jesus tells Nicodemus quite clearly in John 3:11 that He and His disciples have been speaking truth.  They are not hiding anything!  The problem is that the Jewish leaders are not submitting.  They are not even willing to listen, much less hear!  Because they want to be in charge and they want to mandate what should and should not be said, they are unwilling to even recognize the authority that Jesus and His followers are using to speak.  This is a common problem with us in modernity as well.  We want to be our own masters.  We often do not want to listen fully to that which God is saying.  In fact, we often do not embrace that which is spoken plainly in our midst.  How then can we possible hear the deeper meaning of discipleship if we will not listen to the plain?

Why is submission so difficult?  Why is it easier to listen to those people who are saying what we want them to say rather than those who call for submission so that a part of who we are can change?  Religiously speaking, what example can you give of a people who do not truly listen that that which is plainly spoken before them?

Second Thought:

Along these same lines, we must also be open to hearing.  It is one thing to know the need to submit and listen, but it is another thing to actually do it.  The idea that Nicodemus struggles with so much is this idea of new birth.  But what is surprising is that this is not a new idea to Jesus and His followers!  Read Psalm 51:10, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 18:31, and Ezekiel 36:26.  In those passages and the context around those versus we gather in an understanding that God has been about creating a new spirit within His followers for a long time!  If we even look back into the story of the Patriarchs, how many name changes to we see?  Abram becomes Abraham, Sarai becomes Sarah, and Jacob becomes Israel.  Our God is fundamentally about taking us as flawed human beings and creating a new spirit within us.  The problem is not that God had changed; the problem is that the Jewish leaders are not open to hearing about it.  Again, how true is this about each of us?  Am I truly open to hearing about how God needs me to have a new spirit?  Am I truly open to hearing about what God wants to do within me?  Or am I really only open to hearing those voices of people who validate my already pre-existing thoughts and patterns?

Why is change so difficult?  Why do we not want to hear about God creating a new spirit within us?  Why do we cling to the fleshly creation rather than embrace being born again in the Spirit?

Third Thought:

Towards the end of this passage, Jesus also speaks about the Son of Man being lifted up in the wilderness.  I think Jesus has a double meaning here.  The phrase Jesus uses about where the Son of Man is to be lifted up is ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ (en te eremo, the title of my other blog).  This literally means, “in the wilderness.”  It is the exact description of the place where John the Baptizer was teaching.  I believe the hidden message here is that Jesus is speaking about the Son of Man being lifted up – testified to – by John the Baptizer.  Metaphorically speaking, we as Christians living in this fallen world are also called to lift up Christ in the wilderness (ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ).  I believe this is a hidden teaching that is often overlooked.

Of course, then there is also the common understanding of this passage.  The Son of Man will be lifted up on a cross.  The cross, an implement of destruction and death, will become an implement upon which Jesus Christ is glorified.  Through the death of Jesus Christ as He is lifted up, we can truly know forgiveness and salvation.

What do you think of this double-meaning of Jesus being lifted up?  Do you believe your sins were forgiven when the Son of Man was lifted up?  Do you continue to lift up Jesus Christ in the midst of the wilderness of the world in which we live?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 3:16-21

John 3:1-8

John 3:1-8

And there was a man out of the Pharisees, Nicodemus is the name for him, a ruler of the Jews.  This one came to Him in the night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we have known that you have come from God and you are a teacher.  For nobody is powerful enough to do these signs that you do except that God should be with him.”  And Jesus answered after saying to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you.  Except that he should be born from above he is not powerful enough to see the kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be powerful enough to be born while being old?  He is not powerful enough to enter into the womb of his mother a second time and to be born?”  Jesus replied, “Amen, amen.  I say to you, unless he should be born out of water and the Spirit he is not powerful enough to enter into the Kingdom of God.  That which has been born out of the flesh is flesh.  And that which has been born out of the Spirit is Spirit.  You should not be amazed that I said to you that it is necessary for you to be born from above.  The wind blows wherever it desires and you hear its sound.  But you do not know from where it comes and to where it goes.  It is the same with all the ones who have been born out of the Spirit.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Let’s make sure we understand Nicodemus.  He was a ruler of the Jews.  That’s John’s way of saying that he was a member of the Sanhedrin – the elite of the elite among religious Jews.  He comes to Jesus at night.  Clearly he comes at night because he was afraid of what the other Jewish leaders might think about him when he goes to Jesus.  He was also a Pharisee.  That meant that he held the Law in very high regard.  He would have been a master of the Law and he would have been a master of ordering his life in such a way that he could obediently keep the Law from a public perception.  Finally, he acknowledges Jesus power.  He confesses that they know that Jesus came from God.  He is willing to submit and listen to Jesus.  This is no anonymous visitor that comes to Jesus.  This would be like a member of the United States Senate coming to Jesus or a member of a denominational administration coming to Jesus.  This is someone who should know what is going on and who knows the consequences for doing what he is doing.  This is a bold step, and I find it very understandable why he comes under the cover of night in the beginning.

How does it make you feel to realize that Jesus gave access not only to the poor, the orphans, and the widows, but also to those who typically are painted as his adversaries and opponents?  What does it mean to you to realize that even the elite of the elite needed to come to Jesus?

Second Thought:

Let’s also not miss the fact that Nicodemus comes to Jesus.  Here we have another example of a person in Jesus’ life that takes initiative and comes to Him.  Just like John and Andrew who follow Jesus before Jesus speaks directly to them in John 1:37-38, Nicodemus also initiates with Jesus.  Nicodemus isn’t invited by Jesus, Nicodemus takes the initiative.  Nicodemus seeks out Jesus, not the other way around.  I think this is really poignant.  God sent Christ so that anyone could have access to salvation through the blood of Christ.  That fact is still true today.  God has made the first grand step and offered salvation to all.  But we must receive it.  The offer is there, we must receive.  We must act.  In speaking with Nicodemus, Jesus is showing us that he is willing to disciple anyone from any class or social strata.  But again we see that the disciple must demonstrate to the disciple-maker that they have the internal commitment to become that disciple.  Nicodemus comes to Jesus and Jesus begins to disciple him.

How does this spin our culture on its head?  Do you think we as Christians are more comfortable being “invited in” rather than being “told to pursue?”  Why is it important for a discipleship culture to believe and value an “I need to pursue” understanding of discipleship instead of a “by-invitational-only” understanding of discipleship?  When you think about your own spiritual growth, do you grow more often when you pursue God or when you passively sit and wait for God to teach you?

Third Thought:

If we look at what Jesus says to Nicodemus, we get a powerful teaching.  Jesus tells Nicodemus that unless he is “born again” or “born from above” or “have another birth” then he does not have the power to see the Kingdom of God.  Don’t miss Jesus’ blunt point.  Even the religious elite will not be with God without the Spirit of God dwelling intimately within them.  As Paul says in Ephesians 1:13-14, the Holy Spirit is our guarantor of eternal life.  Everyone is born once.  Out of them, some people may say they believe God exists.  But only those who humble themselves, submit to God, and become born again through the very real presence of God’s Spirit within us will know the Kingdom of God.

Is the Holy Spirit within you?  How do you know?  If not, is it important for you to receive the Holy Spirit?  What will you proactively do to truly draw close to God and live with His Spirit?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 3:9-15

John 2:23-25

John 2:23-25

And when He was in Jerusalem in the Passover Feast, many believed in His name while seeing the signs that He was doing.  But Jesus Himself did not entrust Himself to them because He knew all people and that He has no need in order that a witness should come regarding mankind, for He was knowing what was in mankind.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We’ll start small and build ourselves into the deep points at the end.  For a beginning, though, notice simply that Jesus was at the temple for Passover.  He was obedient.  Passover was a time for celebration and remembering how God delivers us.  It is a time to focus on God and worship Him.  This is exactly what we see Jesus doing here.  It is a simple point, but He is obedient.

In what ways are you obedient to God – even in the small things?  How does your obedience make you feel?

Second Thought:

Jesus knew what was in mankind.  On one level, John is saying that Jesus is God, He knows all things.  Jesus is absolutely sharing the omnipotence and omniscience that God possesses.  He knows everything.  On the other hand, John is making a claim that Jesus is also fully human.  He knows what lies within mankind because He Himself was mankind.  He doesn’t need a witness to tell Him what being a human is like, He already knows what being a human is like.  He knows our weakness, our failings, our temptations, our pride, our self-centeredness.  He knows.

Why is this an important dynamic to understand with respect to the God-made-Man?  Why is it helpful to know that this God with whom we are in relationship has personally experienced what it is like to be human?

Third Thought:

The fact that Jesus knows humanity is not all good, though.  Jesus did not entrust Himself to those who believed because they saw the signs that He was doing.  He knows what happens to people like that.  They are impressed with the show and amazed with the power.  But they’ve not truly bought in.  We should learn the lesson from Jesus.  We should be wary of people who are impressed by external things.  We should be wary of people who are impressed by grand buildings, or large numbers, or mind-blowing speakers.  What is important is internal change – internal humbleness and devotion to submitting to God.  That is what should impress us.  Jesus knows that those who are impressed by the external things will be easily swayed to turn away against Him when the grand nature of the outward things fades.

What impresses you?  What impresses you spiritually?  Are these questions different?  Should they be?  What kind of character must Jesus have had to not be impressed by those who believed because the saw the great things He was doing?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 3:1-8

John 2:13-22

John 2:13-22

And the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus ascended into Jerusalem.  And He found in the temple the ones who sell cattle, sheep, and doves and the money changers who sat there.  And after making a whip out of rope, He drove everyone out of the temple also with the sheep and the cows and He scattered the coins of the money changers and He overturned the tables.  And to the ones who sold doves He said, “Carry these things away from here.  Do not make the house of my Father a house of economic business.”  His disciples remembered that it is having been written, “Zeal for Your house will completely consume me.”  Therefore the Jews replied and said to Him, “What sign do you do for us because you do these things?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”  Therefore the Jews said, “Even in forty-six years this temple was built, and you in three days will raise it up?”  But that one was speaking of the temple of His body.  Therefore when He was being raised out of the dead His disciples remembered that He said this thing and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus spoke.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Do not make my Father’s house a place of economic gain.  It’s such a simple and basic message.  The temple is to be a place to worship God.  There is no higher priority than worshipping God.  Financial arrangements can be done elsewhere.  Worldly socialization can be done elsewhere.  Business planning can be done elsewhere.  There is one top priority for the house of God, and that is worshipping the Father.  Jesus is completely consumed by the assertion of this reality.

When you go to your place of worship, is the worship of God your top priority?  What often takes over that place of priority?

Second Thought:

The Jews ask for a sign.  They see Him acting in all kinds of authority and power and they really don’t want to get in His way.  Who wants to step in front of what appears to be a crazy madman on the loose?  But on the other hand, they need to do something to keep control of the temple.  So they attempt to speak to Jesus.  They ask for a sign.  What’s neat is that Jesus doesn’t scold them here.  He gives them the sign!  He tells them that when His temple is destroyed then it will not stay destroyed for any more than three days.  He gives them the truth.  Of course, they don’t realize it.  They don’t grasp it.  Even when they kill Him and He is raised into new life they reject it.  When Jesus teaches publically, it is usually confusing and through a parable.  Only the faithful will do what it takes to maneuver through the parable and gain understanding.  Everyone else will fail to grasp it, fail to inquire more deeply, and go back to their life apart from God.  Here is another great example of how Jesus teaches in parable in the world and only speaks plainly to His disciples.

Are you like the Jewish leaders?  When you come across something you don’t understand, do you pursue understanding or just let it go over your head?  What things should you pursue?  How do you know the difference?

Third Thought:

 I love the ending of this passage.  John doesn’t keep Jesus’ death a secret for a reason, even though we’re only in chapter 2 of his letter – not even 1/10 into his writing.  He tells us that it was when Jesus died that things made sense to the disciples.  Well, to be more precise when Jesus was raised into life after He died.  God’s power is so completely awesome that we quite frankly don’t often get it until after it’s done and we sit back and say, “Whoa, I don’t believe that just happened the way that it did.”  Even the small things frequently work out this way.  So often we as Christians operate under a “We need to plan it out and then work the plan” mentality.  With God, it usually is best to take on a “I’m going to prepare myself the best I can to be ready to see and understand God’s hand at work after He’s done working” mentality.  We need to be ready to do our part in what God is doing.  But quite frankly we don’t usually fully understand our part until after the fact and after God has already worked.

Do you agree with this point?  In what way can this point be very scary?  In what way can this point be quite comforting?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 2:23-25

John 2:1-12

John 2:1-12

And by the third day a wedding became in Cana of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there.  And Jesus and His disciples were also being invited into the wedding.  And after lacking wine the mother of Jesus says to Him, “They do not have wine.”  And Jesus said to her, “What is it to me and you, woman?  My hour is not yet come.”  His mother says to the servants, “Do anything He says to you.”  And there were six stone water jars resting there according to the purification rites of the Jews – each while holding about twenty or thirty gallons.  Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars of water.”  And they filled them up as far as the brim.  And he says to them, “Now draw some out and carry it to the head steward.”  And they carried it.  And when the head steward tasted the water after becoming wine and he had not known from where it came – and the servants who drew the water had known – the head steward called the bridegroom and says to him, “All mankind sets out the good wine first and whenever they should be drinking freely the inferior is set out.  You have retained the good wine until now.”  Jesus did this first of the signs in Cana of Galilee and He revealed His glory and His disciples believed in Him.  After this He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples went down into Capernaum and they stayed there not many days.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Here we have the great wedding feast.  This is often called Jesus’ first miracle, although technically this is in error because John never once uses the word “miracle.”  Instead John uses the word “sign.”  Anyway, the wedding runs out of wine – perhaps because Jesus brought along some unexpected disciples – and all of a sudden Mary gets Him involved.  Jesus makes a great claim here.  He says, “What is it to me and you?”  In other words, Jesus is saying that the problem is not inherently His or His mother’s to fix.  Then, Jesus says, “My hour is not yet come.”  This is Jesus beginning to demonstrate to His mother that He is no longer under her authority but under the authority of the Father.  In two quick comments, Jesus has told His mother that His identity now comes from the Father and not from Mary.  I love Mary’s response.  She simply turns to the servants and says, “Do what He tells you.”  She trusts Jesus.  She knows that He will do the right thing, whatever it is.  Here in this story we get a glimpse of the human mother of Jesus changing in order to become the submitted follower of God.  What a beautiful portrait of the God-Man and a submitted follower.

How would you have responded to Jesus in this instance?  Do you think this matter really necessitated the involvement of Jesus?  What does it show us about Jesus that He is willing to solve non-critical issues such as running out of wine?

Second Thought:

My second point is going to be a quick one because my other points are long.  Jesus asks the servants to fill up the water jars and the servants fill them up completely to the top.  What a demonstration of the fullness of God’s power.  When God comes into one’s life, He comes in fully and completely.

Where is God fully present in your life?  How do you know?

Third Thought:

 There is a pretty neat point that we can get out of the Greek with regard to what the steward says about the good and inferior wine.  Many translations talk about the inferior wine coming out after the people have become drunk.  The teaching there is one of deception, which is to say that after people are drunk then you can bring out the cheap wine when nobody knows the difference.  The Greek supports that reading, but it is not the only reading that the Greek supports. 

The verb can also mean “to drink freely.”  It is out of this translation that I think we can get a rich teaching.  I believe the head steward is making a point of theological economy.  I believe the steward is speaking about using the good wine during the beginning when the important toasts and celebratory actions would take place.  Then, when people should be drinking freely – as in people can drink because they are thirsty rather than because there is a purpose to the drink – most people serve inferior wine.  What’s the point?  The head steward is saying that most people save special wine for special occasions and use mundane wine for mundane occasions.  Without knowing the source of the wine, the head steward then unknowingly confesses that when Jesus is around, even the mundane is filled with specialness.  Jesus – God – makes special the mundane times of life.  That’s an amazing point that typically isn’t brought out in the study of this passage because of the way people focus on translating the verb in a manner implying “drunkenness” rather than “drinking freely.”

Do you believe every occasion is a special occasion in Jesus?  How does this live out in your life?  How does this not live out in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 2:13-22

John 1:43-51

John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to depart into Galilee and He finds Philip.  And Jesus says to him, “Follow me.”  And Philip was from Bethsaida, out of the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip finds Nathaniel and says to him, “We have found Him whom Moses and the prophets wrote in the Law: Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”  And Nathaniel said to him, “Is anything good powerful enough to come out of Nazareth?”  And Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  Jesus saw Nathaniel while coming to Him and He said regarding him, “Behold!  An Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”  Nathaniel said to Him, “From where do you know me?  Jesus answered and said to him, “I saw you before Philip called you while being under a fig tree.”  Nathaniel answered to Him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God.  You are the King of Israel.”  Jesus replied and said to him, “Do you believe because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree?  You will see greater than these things!”  And He says to him, “Truly, truly I say to you, you will see heaven having opened and the angels of God while ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Immediately in this story we are reminded of the lesson we learned yesterday.  Disciples of Jesus Christ bring others to meet Christ.  No sooner does Philip meet Jesus than he turns around and goes to find Nathaniel.  Meeting Christ is exciting.  Meeting Christ is catching!

How is your relationship with Jesus catching?  With whom could you share Christ?

Second Thought:

When Nathaniel meets Jesus there are some really neat things that happen.  First, note how it is that Philip gets Nathaniel to come.  Philip imitates Jesus by saying “Come and see.”  Our greatest moments are in imitation of Christ!  Second, Jesus looks to Nathaniel and makes a comment about how there is not deceit within him.  This could be a reference to Jacob, especially with the comment that Jesus makes at the end of this passage about angels ascending and descending in a vision not too unlike Jacob ’s ladder.  See Genesis 28:10-17.  When Nathaniel questions how Jesus knows him, he reveals what Nathaniel has been doing.  Here we get the second great lesson from this point.  When we meet Christ, He already knows us.  He knows who we are.  He knows what we’ve been doing.  In fact, when we meet Christ we meet the only person who knows us better than we know ourselves.

How do you imitate Christ?  What does Christ know about you?  Why is this important?

Third Thought:

Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man in a reference to Jacob.  This is a neat point.  In Genesis, Jacob is the last patriarch to be the sole generational heir to God’s promises.  Abraham, well technically Sarah, gave birth to one son: Isaac.  Isaac gave birth to two sons, but only Jacob was a son of promise.  It is Jacob’s sons who branch out the one man of promise into the twelve tribes of Israel.  Thus, Jacob is the last single link to God’s promise.  Jacob is the last single link between Abraham and the nation of Israel.  What Christ is saying here is that He is like Jacob.  He is the single link.  The only difference is that Jacob is the link between us and God.  Jesus is the ladder that can bring us into the presence of God.

How is Jesus your link to God?  What does that mean to you? 

Passage for Tomorrow: John 2:1-12

John 1:35-42

John 1:35-42

On the next day, John had again been standing with his two disciples and after looking at Jesus while he walked by he says, “Behold!  The lamb of God!”  And his two disciples heard while he said this and they followed Jesus.  And after Jesus was being turned around and after watching while they followed Him, He says to them, “What do you all seek?”  And they said to Him, “Rabbi,” – that which is said while being translated as teacher – “Where are you staying?”  He says to them, “Come and see.”  Therefore they came and saw where He stays and they stayed with Him that day for it was the tenth hour.  One out of the two that heard from John and who followed Him was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter.  He first finds his own brother Simon and says to him, “We have found the Messiah” – that is translated Christ.  He led him to Jesus.  After observing him Jesus said, “You are Simon son of John.  You will be called Cephas” – which means Peter.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Notice that Andrew and a second disciple follow Jesus well before they are a part of His “in crowd.”  For the record, church tradition holds that this second disciple with Andrew is John the Gospel writer.  Andrew and John follow Jesus before they have any official interaction with Jesus.  They are curious.  They want to know more.  They don’t need Jesus to invite them in; they follow out of their own curiosity.  Yes, eventually Jesus does invite them to “Come and see.”  But that only happens after Jesus notices them following Him around in the first place.

Are you naturally curious about Jesus?  Do you seek out people who can teach you more?  When you look around you, do you see people who are actively seeking out Jesus or people who are passively waiting to be invited in?

Second Thought:

In this passage we see what being a disciple of Jesus is all about.  John the Baptizer leads Andrew and John to Jesus.  Andrew leads his brother Simon (Peter) to Jesus.  Tomorrow we’ll hear another story about this to reinforce this point.  What is the very first thing we hear about disciples doing?  Disciples open avenues for other people to come to Jesus.  It is our primary goal in life.  It is our fundamental goal in life.  It is what drives us.  It should be our identity.

Honestly, how many people do you know who are “in the church” and who are leading other people to Christ?  What conclusion can we reach about the modern church’s understanding of being a disciple of Jesus compared to the early disciples?

Third Thought:

I am always amazed at Jesus when I hear about His first interaction with Peter.  Jesus looks at Simon and immediately names him Peter (Greek) or Cephas (Aramaic).  Both of those names mean “rock.”  Jesus looks at Peter and sees a rock.  On one hand, rocks are hard and difficult to penetrate.  Sometimes when I look at Peter’s progression as a follower of Jesus and all the mistakes he makes I cannot help but wonder if Jesus had this understanding of a rock in mind.  But the greater understanding is that when Jesus looked at Peter He saw someone upon whom He could build.  Peter had what it takes to become a firm foundation.  Peter had the character upon which Jesus could build faith.  Even so, it would take Jesus three years of intimate training to get Peter to the point of beginning to lead.  It would take Peter even more years before he would truly be a competent leader.  Even in all of this, Peter would have his difficulties – after all Galatians 2:11-14 tells us that Peter and Paul even had their differences!  When Jesus looks at Peter, He sees what Peter will become, not what he currently is.  That is what it means to see through the eyes of God.

Why can this perspective on Peter be inspiring?  What can we learn from Jesus’ willingness to mold and shape Peter over the years?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 1:43-51

John 1:29-34

John 1:29-34

The next day he sees Jesus while coming to him and he says, “Behold!  The lamb of God who lifts up and carries away the sin of the world.  This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who became ahead of me because he was before me.’  And I had not known Him, but in order that he should be revealed to Israel because of this I came while baptizing in water.”  And John testified while saying, “I have observed the Spirit while descending as a dove out of heaven and it remained upon Him.  And I had not known Him, but the one who sent me to baptize in water – that one said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit while descending and while remaining upon Him – that one is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and I have testified that this one is the Son of God.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

John tells us about Jesus from the very beginning.  Jesus – the Word of God – is the one who lifts up and carries away the sin of the world.  What an incredible identity!  However, there is a sincere truth here that we should pause and recognize.  Jesus Christ is the one who lifts up and carries away the sin of the world.  It is not even within my identity to lift up and carry away my sin.  I cannot save myself.  I cannot make myself sin-free.  I cannot do it, but fortunately Christ can and already has.  It is absolutely within His identity to lift up and carry away the sin of the world.  It is who He is.

How does it feel to know that Christ was sent for the purpose of removing your sin?  How does this truth live out in your life?

Second Thought:

The second thing that we can glean from this passage is that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus.  However, John goes one step further.  It is Jesus that baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  Again, this is important for us to understand.  The Holy Spirit is proof of our salvation.  See Ephesians 1:13-14 or Romans 8:9.  But the Holy Spirit is not something that I can give to anyone.  It is Jesus who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.  When Jesus dwells with us, it is He who imparts the Holy Spirit within us.

Why is it important to understand that it is Christ and not me – or you – who imparts the Holy Spirit upon others?  What happens when we think we have the power to impart the Holy Spirit upon other people?

Third Thought:

What does John do when he spots Jesus?  He testifies about Him.  He tells the world about Jesus.  He points people to Jesus.  That is the call of the follower.  We are to point to Jesus and not to ourselves, our passions, our desires, our hobbies.  True followers point people to the thing that they are following.

To what do you point people?  What does this say about you?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 1:35-42

John 1:19-28

John 1:19-28

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews out of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites in order that they should ask him, “Who are you?”  And he confessed, and did not deny, and he confessed that “I am not the Christ.”  And they asked him, “What, then?  Are you Elijah?”  And he says, “I am not.”  “Are you the prophet?”  And he answered, “No.”  Therefore, they said to him, “Who are you?  In order that we should give an answer to the ones who sent us?  What do you say about yourself?”  He said, “I am a voice while crying out in the wilderness.  ‘Make straight the way of the Lord!’  Just as Isaiah the prophet said.”  And they were being sent out of the Pharisees.  And they asked him and they said to him, “Therefore, why do you baptize if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the prophet?”  John answered to them while saying, “I baptize in water.  In our midst has stood one that you have not known, the one who comes after me of whom I am not worthy enough in order that I should untie the strap of His sandal.  These things were taking place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Some of the Levites and the priests come out to John under orders from the Pharisees.  They don’t come looking to listen to John.  This is a business trip for them.  This is a fact-finding mission.  In fact, it’s worse than that.  They are looking to find a means to incriminate John.  They aren’t seeking God, they are obeying orders.  There is a legitimate lesson within these verses.  When we forget to look for God, His messengers can be right in front of us and we can miss their truth even though it is plain as day.  Even people who are well versed in religion and who have memorized all of scripture can miss God’s hand at work right before their own faces when we forget to continue to look for God.  Knowledge is no replacement for humbleness and submission to God.

Why do human beings so easily place trust in their own understanding?  How are you guilty of missing God’s hand at work in your midst?

Second Thought:

One of the coolest parts of this passage that usually gets overlooked is the innocent wordplay that John says when the priests come out to question him.  The priests ask John a laundry list of questions about his identity.  In one of the replies he says, “I am not.”  It is easy to see why this is overlooked.  However, remember what God says to Abraham when He identifies himself.  See Exodus 3:14.  God says, “I am who I am.”  From that point on, God’s most powerful name in scripture is “I am.”  Look at God’s name in contrast to John’s declaration.  “I am” and “I am not.”  John is humbling himself before God.  He knows his role, and his role is not him being God.  His role is not about him being the center of the universe.  Quite simply, when John puts his world together, “he is not” at the center.  Many people live life as though they are god at the center of the universe.  John the Baptizer knows the difference.

How do you live your life?  While you likely do not mentally equate yourself to God, do you ever live like it?

Third Thought:

We see another sense of true humbleness in John.  When asked about his baptism, he didn’t give any false hope.  John says, “My baptism is only water.”  Instead, John points to Jesus, who can truly save us.  What an incredible model for true godly living!  It isn’t my baptism that saves me.  It isn’t my righteous works that save me.  It isn’t those rare times when I do the right thing that save me.  Rather, it is Jesus Christ who saves me.  What kind of follower of Jesus Christ would point to anything other than Jesus Christ?

Who saves you?  How do you truly know whether you are saved or not?  When people ask you about baptism, what is your answer?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 1:29-34

John 1:14-18

John 1:14-18

And the Word became flesh and dwelt in us, and we saw His glory – a glory as one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John testified regarding Him and has cried out while saying, “This one was about whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me has become before me because He was earlier than me.’”  For even we all received grace upon grace out of His fullness.  For the law was being given through Moses; grace and truth became through Jesus Christ.  Nobody has seen God at any time; the one and only God – who is in the bosom of the Father – He has made Him known.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

It is in this passage that John first identifies the Word of God as Jesus Christ.  It is here in these verses that John tells us that the Word became flesh in order to dwell among us.  We know that God’s Word is life to us.  We know that we were created through God’s Word – literally through His breath.  Now we can identify God’s Word as Jesus Christ, Word made flesh.  John has waited this long to solidify his teaching that Jesus is our life.  John begins this story reminding us that this truth is found as early in the Bible as the first chapter of Genesis.  At the end of this story, we’ll get another example of how it is that Jesus is our life.

What does it really mean to claim that Jesus is God?  What does it mean to say that Jesus is the Word of God, God made flesh?

Second Thought:

Look at the words that are associated with respect to Jesus.  Glory.  One and Only.  Grace.  Truth.  Fullness.  All of these words bring us to the realization that God is in Christ and Christ is complete.  It is through Jesus that grace and truth comes to us.  This will be the theme of John’s Gospel.  It will be a story of God’s unfolding grace and truth in every miracle that Jesus performs and every teaching that Jesus gives His disciples.

What is your favorite story about how Christ puts God’s grace on display?  How would you describe Christ’s fullness to others?

Third Thought:

John 1:18 is a little confusing, but it contains a really neat truth.  Nobody has seen God.  We know this truth.  In fact, at times this is the most frustrating truth that God’s followers face.  How many times do we assert that life would be easier if we could just see God?  Yet we cannot see God.  However, John’s point in this verse is that while we cannot see God, Jesus has made God known.  We can see God through Jesus.  Jesus came so that we can actually visibly see the behavior of a God that we cannot otherwise see with our eyes.

Do you think about Jesus’ coming to the world as putting God on display?  In what specific stories can you see the character of God in Jesus Christ?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 1:19-28

John 1:6-13

John 1:6-13

A man came, he had been sent from God, and his name was John.  He came into a testimony in order that he should testify about the light in order that all should believe through him.  That one was not the light, but in order that he should testify regarding the light.  The true light, which gives light to all mankind, was coming into the world.  It was in the world, and the world became through it, and the world did not know it.  It came into its own, and its own did not receive it.  And as many as did receive it, He gave to them the authority to become children of God – to the ones who believe into His name, who are neither out of blood nor out of a will of the flesh nor out of a will of a man but they were born out of God.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In John we see the first prototype of the Gospel.  John came having been sent by God.  He came so that he should testify about what God was doing in the world.  He came so that people would believe through his testimony.  They would be saved by Christ, but it would be through his testimony that people would believe.  So it is with us.  The world is still saved by Christ.  But the world comes to believe through our testimony.  There is no higher calling than being a testimony to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Are you a person who gives testimony to the world about what God is doing?  Who listens to your testimony?

Second Thought:

The world did not know Christ.  The world still does not know Christ.  Little has changed in the world in a few thousand years.  The world continues to search for its own passions rather than looking to God.  Rather than receive the truth about how we can only be complete in God, the world searches for completion in other things.

With what does the world tempt you?  When is it difficult for you to remember that your joy is found in God and not in the things of this world?

Third Thought:

There were some who did receive God’s Word.  What’s interesting is that the Bible tells us what defines the family of God.  True family is not blood related.  True family is not those who share the same worldly passion, hobbies, or interests.  True family is not those who follow the same people.  True family is those who are born out of God.  True family is those who consider God their Father and who pursue their identity in Him.

Who are your spiritual family?  Who are the people around you who pursue an identity from God?  What identity has the Father given to you?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 1:14-18

John 1:1-5

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and God was the Word.  This was in the beginning with God.  All things became through it, and apart from it not one thing came into being.  In it was life, and the life was the light of mankind.  And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not gain control over it.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

God created through His Word.  This is a very interesting point.  Remember that in Genesis 1, the Bible tells us that “God said.”  The act of creation was a vocal command, not an intellectual effort or a fruit of His labor.  God spoke and it happened.  This is yet another thing that separates us from God.  Who among us can cause things to come into being just by speaking?  When we create, we think of an intellectual act or an act of physical effort.  Yet, it is when we speak into the lives of others that we are most like our Creator.  Our greatest ability to imitate God comes when we allow Him to create within others through speaking truth into their lives.

How does this understanding of creating help you understand the importance of discipleship?  How does this help you understand the power of words?

Second Thought:

In these verses we hear that the light shone into the darkness and the darkness did not gain control over it.  The word used in the Greek can mean “gain control” or “defeat” or “overcome.”  Figuratively, it can also mean “understand.”  If we look at the story of God and humanity, we can understand that there has always been a remnant of people faithful to God’s ways.  The darkness of the world could never completely gain control of God’s work in the world.  If we look into the life of Christ, neither the darkness of the world nor Satan could gain control of Christ.  In the world after Christ, the darkness of the world has not been able to completely gain control of His church.  The Word of God is the life of all people and the darkness cannot gain control of it.

What does it say to you that God’s remnant has always existed?  What does it say about the power of God that His work cannot be overcome?

Third Thought:

Before anyone gets upset that I’ve changed the pronouns in this text from “Him” to “it,” let me talk about that choice.  Clearly John teaches that Jesus is the Word of God.  That teaching will come in John 1:9 and the following verses.  However, I believe the emphasis John is trying to get us to see in these beginning verses is that life comes through God’s Word and only God’s Word.  In Genesis, God breathed life into us.  Literally, our life came from out of His breath – His utterance.  That Word is absolutely Jesus Christ, but we’ll get to that tomorrow.  For today, it is enough to focus that our life comes through the Word of God.

What is life to you?  Do you live as though your life comes from the Word of God?  What things that are of the world do you live for that are not of the Word of God?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 1:6-13

Romans 16:24-27

Romans 16:24-27

And to the one who is powerful enough to strengthen you all according to my Gospel and to the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept quiet from the beginning of time, but now after being revealed through the prophetic writings according to the command of the eternal God into the obedience of faith after having been made known into all the nations: to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory into the ages, amen!

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

These words comprise a doxology.  A doxology is short time of giving praise.  Paul ends his great theological treatise by focusing people upon God.  This is how it should be.  Life is not about my eloquent speech or my flowing ability to write.  Life is about leading people to give praise and glory to God.  Any gift that I bring to the table is a gift that was first given to me by God.  If I do anything well, it should be to the glory and praise of God.

How well do you give glory to God?  How well do other people give glory to God through what you do?  How well do you allow other people to inspire you to give glory to God?  What is it that prevents us from giving the glory to God, who truly deserves it?

Second Thought:

Paul reminds us that it is God who is the one who is powerful enough to strengthen us.  Note that it isn’t Paul.  Nor is it Apollos.  Nor is it Peter.  It is God who strengthens us.  It is God who empowers us.  It is God who reaches down into our life and gives us life and strength.  But it is not just God who acts here and now.  It is God who has been acting all throughout time.  It is God who was bringing forth salvation for all of history.  The story from Adam and Eve to Abraham to David to the exile was all leading up to Christ.  It is this same God who has been working throughout the ages!  We do not serve a God who dies or who is temporary.  We serve a powerful God who acts beyond the scope of time!  God is not dead!

How does it make you feel to hear Paul remind us that the same God we worship is also the God that the people worshipped long ago?  What does it mean to you that God is beyond the scope of time?  How does this make God powerful and capable of fulfilling His promises?

Third Thought:

At the end of this text we also hear Paul remind us that the point of it all was to bring faithful obedience to all people – even the Gentiles.  God wants a relationship with all of us.  But that relationship is about obedience and faithfulness.  God is powerful.  It is He that gives us identity and authority.  It is He that gives us power and to whom we should obey.  Any of us can be in that relationship; we simply must humble ourselves before Him.

Are you in a relationship with God?  Who around you might God be calling you to invite into that relationship?  How great is God that He invites all people?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 1:1-4

Romans 16:17-23

Romans 16:17-23

Brothers and sisters, I appeal to you all to watch out for the ones who cause dissention and offense against the teaching that you all learned.  Have nothing to do with them.  For the ones such as these do not serve our Lord Christ but the gratification of their own bodies.  And through their smooth speech and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.  For your obedience is known to all, therefore I rejoice over you all.  And I desire you all to be wise in the good things and innocent in evil.  And in a short time the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all.  Timothy my coworker greets you, as do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater – my kinsmen.  I, Tertius, the one who wrote this letter greet you all in the Lord.  Gaius, my host and the host of all the church, greets you.  Erastus, the city treasurer, and Quartus, the brother, greet you all.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

At the close of this letter, once more Paul encourages the people of Rome to stay away from those who like to cause dissension among the believers.  In fact, Paul tells them to have nothing to do with them. Literally, Paul says to shun them.  Paul knows that the Romans are going strong in the faith.   He even says their obedience is known to all.  He wants nothing to get in the way of their faith and their faithfulness.  For Paul, doing God’s will takes utmost priority – even above tolerating disruptive people.  We should let nothing interfere with our calling.  Obedience to God is a higher calling than tolerance, especially when it involves people who use flattery and smooth speech to interfere with the work of God.

Who do you know that likes to cause dissension and offense?  Is such offense intentional?  When might it be wise to take Paul’s advice here about staying away from those who cause offense and dissension?

Second Thought:

Paul then tells us to be wise with respect to good things while being innocent with respect to evil.  Of course, none of us can be free of sin.  But we can avoid pursuing sinfulness.  We can chase after good rather than pursuing evil.  In so doing, Satan will be crushed underneath our feet.  As we focus on God and His ways we turn from Satan and his deception.

To what good has God called you?  What evil could you avoid and thus be more innocent than you currently are?  Is it inspiring to think of God crushing Satan under your feet?

Third Thought:

Finally, those with Paul join in sending their greetings to the church in Rome.  Here we see the connectedness of the believers.  Paul has already greeted those in Rome.  He knew them.  Paul also knows that those in Rome would know his companions.  Faith should inspire one another.

Whose faith inspires you whether you know them personally or simply have heard of their faith?  Do you find it easy to be inspired by others in faith?  Do find it easy to connect to other spiritual people just through their testimony?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 16:24-27