Breakfast With Dad

Colossians 2:9-7

2012-02-21T07:29:00.000-08:00

Colossians 2:9-7 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

When Paul wrote his pastoral letters, he desired these nascent churches to comprehend fully the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He struggled for their growth in Christ, for these believers' roots to grow deep in the faith they had accepted when they received Christ Jesus as Lord. His holy aim and firm resolve was that these new Christians might not waver but remain well-grounded in understanding by faith they were founded IN CHRIST as new creatures, collectively known as the body of Christ. Because of his former life, Paul understood the dangers of religion outside of the power of the cross and the cleansing blood of Jesus. He knew how easily the flesh becomes subtly distracted and begins mixing law with grace by returning to old patterns and worldly methods, trying to build a relationship with God based on works instead of God's unmerited favor. He desired to affirm these babies in Christ because if they began to turn from the truth of Christ's work in them, they might leave the purity of the new covenant, the gospel of faith in Christ alone and look for security in religious ceremonies, sacred days, and righteous works based on human efforts. He wanted them to know beyond any doubt the grace and mercy given to them through Christ remained powerful enough to save their souls for all eternity. He was a loving spiritual father with a passion for these dearly beloved brothers and sisters, even those he had not met personally. Yet he did not want to come across as a righteous judge. We see this love in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica: You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

Paul's heart welled up within him with a vision for this church, this people of God gathered together in Colosse in Jesus' name. He encouraged these beginners in Christ to be united in love, to develop a oneness in attitude, purpose, and action for the benefit of the community of Christ. He wanted these new Christians to understand their position, purpose, and privilege as members of the living body of Christ. They weren't outside of Christ praying for his blessing or for some type of special visitation from God that might set them apart for some future service. No, Paul cried out with a missionary zeal to these converts, describing what he saw with spiritual eyes for the Colossian church as he told them not be led astray by any fine-sounding arguments. He wanted them to know they were IN CHRIST, FILLED WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT. Paul struggled in prayer for them because he knew the wolves of dissension lay in wait to scatter the flock and to devour the weak ones. He knew the evil one, the deceiver, would try to lead some astray if they did not understand and walk in their position in Christ. He knew these Gentile believers came directly out of complete darkness into the light. Paul understood the powers of evil would not easily release their hold on the newly saved. Peter was writing to Christians when he encouraged the church: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1Peter 5:8-9) Paul wanted these believers to know he was contending for them, believing for their spiritual success through the wondrous power of the cross. He was saying even though he was absent from them, he was there in the spirit, confident in who Christ was in them, seeing them strong in the faith. Therefore, he encourages them to serve Christ in his body, the church, strengthened in the faith as they had learned to do, overflowing with thankfulness.

Today, many people gather on Sunday mornings as observers of events planned to please God and to comfort people, and others take part as casual participants in spiritual exercises that do not translate into their everyday walking about lives. Modern-day christianity in some instances has adopted the philosophy that sitting in a pew, singing a few songs, and listening to an engaging sermon is the epitome of worship. We who are IN CHRIST were not meant to sit in some building, worshipping Christ, independent of each other. As surely as we are in that building, we are IN CHRIST, AN INTEGRAL LIVING PART OF HIS BODY, CALLED TO FUNCTION, CALLED TO SERVE, TO LIVE OUT THAT CALLING. We are the pancreas, the colon, the little toe of a body. When the body works as it should, the Bible says, we grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16) If we view ourselves as merely sitting with a group of people, going through the exercise of worship, our attitude is completely wrong. We are not students of a historical Christ, what He did a long time ago. We are not bemoaning what He has not done. We are not spectators of the paid performers who are the church staff: we are his body, necessary to each other. If we don't function IN CHRIST as Paul instructs, we will not have the joy, peace, and love that will cure the ills of the world. Paul commended the Colossians for their orderliness and firmness of faith as they functioned for the benefit Christ. When the body of Christ squeezes itself into that building to sing, worship, listen, testify and provide for each member as we ought, then the body is rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith. May the Spirit grow our roots down deep in you, Lord!

Colossians 1:24-29

2012-02-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

Colossians 1:24-29 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness — the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

The fullness of the gospel, the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, remains God's redemption plan through his Son, Jesus, sent to die and to rise again for a lost people. As Paul wrote: If we have been united with him [Christ] like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (Romans 6:5-7) Following this transformation, we are forever known as the NEWBORN, children of the living God. As human beings, we are born in the flesh into a world of sin. Outside of Christ, people live unto themselves, serve their own needs. Yet a time comes when all must pay the penalty for sin, the sin of Adam: rebellion against God. With our sins before us as cards placed on a table, they do not line up in our favor: we lose. But for all who know the Lord, Jesus is the trump card. As King of Kings, He trumped all the cards that condemned us with his sacrifice at the cross. Jesus foretold the efficacious power of his blood at the last supper when he drank from the cup, saying, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:28) His words were not understood then, but the New Testament church went forth to change the world because Christ's atoning sacrifice wiped away every condemning sin forever as He cleared the table of every shred of damning evidence, fulfilling God's requirements for sin. The writer of Hebrews describes the priests offering sacrifices exactly as God had ordained because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Yet when Jesus became our high priest, He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. After He arose from the dead, his work was finished for all time. Jesus Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. . .Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. (See Hebrews 9:12-28) He who knew no sin bore our sin that He might rise victoriously over sin and death so we might live with him. THE MYSTERY: HE IN US; WE IN HIM. This is the great plan: redemption, freedom, adoption, eternal life with Father God.

Now, we who are born again through Christ are vitally essential to everything He does on this earth. Through us He changes lives permanently for all eternity. As new creatures in Christ encapsulated by him and his mission, we are his bond-slaves, created in his image with the Holy Spirit directing our lives. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, we willingly submit to our Lord and not to our flesh. Out of love, we desire to function in the body of Christ. Paul wrote all his letters to churches or believers, yet he spoke of many failings common to the flesh. He told the Galatians: You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:13-15) Obviously, some of them struggled in those areas to the point he thought they were using their freedom as license to serve their flesh, and he feared they might destroy each other in the process. For a believer, keeping in step with the Spirit while walking in the sun/Son is our inheritance. The light of heaven shines in our hearts. The warmth of the Spirit not only abides in our souls but rests upon our faces. Because the Son is not only in our hearts but within our total being, life changes: everything is more vivid. Paul told the Corinthian church the god of this age blinds minds so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. He said he was not preaching himself. He wanted them to know the same God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” because this same God made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 4:4-6) Everyone has a last day on Earth when our loved ones either receive the news of our death or they gather around us, counting the breaths until we expire. Then, we will no longer feel the warmth of sun on this side of the veil separating us from our eternal home. But Praise the Lord, we will never know a moment outside of the warmth of the Son's loving presence, the light of heaven.

My friend, today is the day of faith: God always works in the now. We know faith pleases God fully. Enjoy this day while you still have life and breath, the ability to walk in the sunlight and the privilege to live life fully by faith in the resurrection power of the Son of God who gave himself for you. Realize with joy that today is the day of the Lord. Today is the day you can do something on this side of the veil. If you are wasting your time complaining, arguing, criticizing, faultfinding, worrying, daydreaming, procrastinating, fixing others, working for things of no eternal value, ignoring God's voice, feeling sorry for yourself, comparing your life with someone else's, looking for recognition, holding a grudge, waiting for an apology, lying in bed, watching TV, sitting around doing nothing, why not try something different? Do something new that is entirely for someone else's benefit--bless someone else, expecting nothing in return. You will rejoice in the Lord. Do not let the enemy of your soul who is a liar and a thief take away the sun/Son, the warmth of heaven in your life. Lift up your head, look around you and see the meadow rich before you in velvet green, full of opportunities. This is your time to live IN CHRIST by faith. This is YOUR TIME to be an ambassador for Christ. This is your time to enjoy every breath you take, as one born of God serving him in fulness of joy. Jesus says, I have given them the glory that you gave me (SONSHIP), that they may be one as we are one: I IN THEM AND YOU IN ME. (John I7:22-23) Paul knew who he was IN CHRIST. Even though he experienced many difficulties in his life, he never quit running across that meadow, seeking the lost, testifying of Christ, remaining in the sun/Son, pressing on with his eyes on Jesus, using every breath for Christ, rejoicing in the hope and joy set before him. Therefore he could say, We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Likewise, by faith we can dedicate our energy to revealing Christ and his good works to the world that many might come into perfection as sons and daughters of the Most High.

Colossians 1:21-23

2012-02-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

Colossians 1:21-23 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

As a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (Romans 1:1), Paul constantly proclaimed the Good News to all who would hear. Rather than tearing down the church by merely listing their faults, Paul focussed more on the total sufficiency of Christ and the completeness of God's grace gifts to bring a lost creation into relationship with him through his beloved Son. In today's verses, he tells the Colossians, even though they were alienated from God and were enemies of their creator, God conceived an amazing eternal plan: creating children of God, making them righteous, holy in his sight, by the blood of his only begotten Son. Paul emphasizes their new position in and through Jesus Christ: born again, made perfect, without blemish--holy before the Abba Father's eyes. Through him [Jesus Christ] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3) Jesus created children of God, a new creation from a fallen race. Paul will not preach any other gospel or allow any false doctrine to share the spotlight. He says this is the gospel that you have heard. To satisfy the wrath of God on all sin and unrighteousness, Jesus willingly suffered agony and shame, endured the cross, and went to the grave dependent upon the Holy Spirit to raise him victoriously to eternal life. Now, ALL who have faith in Christ's death and resurrection receive the reward of eternal life as adopted members of his family. As joint heirs with Christ, we also receive power from on high that we might be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. We put on the full armor of God that through Christ we might defeat the devil’s schemes. (See Ephesians 6) When Paul wrote his encouragements, exhortations, and corrections to the various churches, he believed in them so confidently, he could pen the words while under house arrest, in chains, or facing death. He gave Timothy sound advice when he told him to keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist. . .. (2 Timothy 4:5)

Paul's saw the church of the living God joyfully going forward by power of the Spirit, sacrificially doing the work of the Lord. Therefore, he reminds the Colossians they were once alienated from God. . .enemies. Since the fall of mankind, an innate spirit of rebellion, the desire to rule, to reign, and to replace God as the highest authority in creation has motivated humans. In the Old Testament account of people trying to build a great tower, when God surveyed what they were doing, He knew the intent of their hearts. He knew they wanted to usurp his power and authority, so he separated them. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” (Genesis 11:6-7) Clearly, God believed separation was necessary to prevent these people from carrying out their evil desire to be gods, to know what God knows, perhaps even create life. In our age, through the universal language of the computer, people have broken through barriers thought impossible only a few years ago. Computers provide almost instantaneous access to retrieve all the information ever printed on any subject in seconds and minutes. Within a brief period, we can electronically contact and connect the brightest minds in the world to discuss a problem or to explore and to expand the boundaries of knowledge in any area. Consequently, mankind is handling the basic elements of life, reality, and the universe to a degree that boggles an average person's understanding and intellect. What is consciousness? What causes aging, sickness, death? We have found new particles traveling faster than light, undermining our previous understanding of time. Some believe we are close to the frontiers of time travel and parallel universes--knocking on heaven's door. Fallen man wants to know what God knows--to be as He is Who needs a righteous God if we can be as He is on our own? Some religions claim after death we will reach the metaphysical heights of ruling as gods with our own universe and planets. As Isaiah proclaimed long ago, We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) Individually and collectively human beings have wandered far from God, each turning toward the way of the world for our answers, rejecting God's supremacy and his salvation plan. The Bible says, There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 16:25)

Paul asks these new converts, "Have you forgotten you were born far from God: you are enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior?" Paul often contrasts flesh and spirit. Writing to Timothy, he says, Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. . .Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Then he warns of the last days when people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. (2 Timothy 2:19 & 22, & 3:2-5) We all see the enemies of God. We encounter hateful, spiteful, rude, unthankful, lying, untrustworthy, and faithless people. Sadly, we see those traits in ourselves when we stray from the Lord, go our way. Rebellion against God leads to death, now and in the life to come. Jesus is the Way. We say it again: the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all! God loves sinners! Jesus is the Good Shepherd: He loves and cares for his sheep. He bore the penalty to ransom us from sin and death to live eternally with him. He hides and protects us inside himself as the ever-flowing fountain of his blood cleanses us. Jesus made us holy in God's eyes: he has reconciled you (us) by Christ’s physical body through death to present you (us) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Since Jesus perpetually washes away our sins, God no longer has a case against us. WE ARE PERFECT FOREVER BECAUSE HE IS PERFECT. God sees us as He sees his son, with great pleasure. What angel could have thought of such a great redemption plan: The unredeemable created anew at the hands of Jesus the Creator! He not only died so we could live, He gives us his robe of righteousness. We have freedom, protection, right standing with Father God forever. As blood-bought children of the Most-high God, we come boldly to the throne of grace, knowing we have a glorious inheritance through Christ our Lord. Hold fast to the TRUTH dear ones. Rejoice in your salvation. Let your light shine: loving, forgiving, comforting, encouraging, serving, and growing where God has planted you to bring forth a harvest of the fruit of the Spirit. God has bountifully blessed you with grace gifts. May we share his hope, love, peace, joy, and salvation plan today. Precious partakers of this meal, be established and firm, continuing in the faith as servants of the Lord, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

Colossians 1:15-20

2012-01-28T09:54:00.000-08:00

Colossians 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

After reassuring the Colossians of his joy and confidence in their work for God's kingdom and his continual prayers for their successful ministry as servants of the Lord, Paul points to the total sufficiency of Jesus Christ the Son of God as the express image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Paul has heard that some of the believers are straying into false doctrines such as the worship of angels. He forcefully instructs them that Jesus created all things in heaven and on earth, in the invisible and the visible realm. He emphasizes God placed his Son as the head over all creation, including the church, that in everything he might have the supremacy. Paul takes this opportunity to ask this body of believers if they have forgotten that God reconciled the entire world to himself through the death of his precious Son, that it pleased the Father to make sinful mankind holy and clean through the shed blood of his Son, allowing Jesus to present a fallen people to him as heirs of his mercy and grace. In just a few sentences, we see the miracle of grace described succinctly for the church at Colosse and for us: Jesus our Emmanuel, God with us, made a way for freedom from sin and eternal fellowship with God where there was no way, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Since Jesus is the creator of all things, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, Paul concludes through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is in control. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Jesus is the center of existence, the Alpha and the Omega, the bright and morning star, the Light of the World, the Dayspring of eternal life. We who are IN CHRIST are not simply part of a religion: we are IN LIFE, for He is the creator of all life. In Christ we are enveloped within his righteousness, brought into harmony with God. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:12-14) As a result of this new birth, this new creation, we are no longer enemies of God because of our unrighteousness with our carnal spirits at war with God's spirt. We are at peace with God, adopted into his family as his beloved children empowered to live in harmony with his plans and his will. Paul wrote to the Romans and spoke of the prophecies concerning how the Gentiles would receive the message of salvation, that one would spring up from the Root of Jesse and the Gentiles would hope in him. Therefore, Paul declared: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (See Romans 15:7-12) That same Holy Spirit is our hope today as we trust in God and walk in the peace and grace of our dear Savior who has provided such an amazing position of life and victory for the church.

When God created mankind, He created Adam and Eve to walk with him. When sin entered the scene and they were tempted and fell from that perfect state, their days were numbered. In our human flesh, we are of the linage of Adam, and our days are numbered. Adam and Eve's sin produced death; our sins outside of Christ produce death. That is the way of the flesh. The Bible calls Jesus the second Adam: He became the giver of life. Although the Bible says the wages of sin is death, it goes on to say the gift of God is eternal life through Christ our Lord. When John the Baptist was born, his father regained his voice, so he could tell the people the baby was to be called John. As part of an amazing prophesy, Zacharias declares, And thou, child [John], shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring [Jesus] from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:76-79 KJV) Jesus made an open show of the mankind's bondage to Adam's sinful nature by living a perfect life. The perfect Son of God became the perfect sacrificial Lamb for our sins. His death substituted for our death. He bore the wrath of God for our inclination to go astray and our inability to keep the Law. The first Adam left us an inheritance of sin. Jesus, the second Adam, left us a glorious inheritance of redemption and life everlasting. A sinful Adam produced death: a righteous Christ produced a new creation, cleansed and made holy, clothed in the royal robes of his righteousness. When we feel we have not lived up to our inheritance or when the enemy tempts us and we stumble, we sometimes lose sight of the truth of who Christ is; and we forget God's plan is for us to escape from guilt, shame, and condemnation. Remember, the Word is your sword: use it! There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) WALK IN HIM TODAY. You are reconciled: JESUS IS YOUR PEACE! Amen.

Colossians 1:9-14

2012-01-23T10:17:00.000-08:00

Colossians 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

After rejoicing in the Colossians' understanding of God's grace in all its truth because they learned the word of truth from Epaphras, Paul moves on in today's passage to share his constant prayer for these believers for God to reveal the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. He does not imply he prays these prayers that they might escape suffering or trials by prospering physically and financially, free from any spiritual demands. Instead, he says, prayers go up in their behalf "that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light." He reminds them they are servants, called by the Lord to bear good fruit by growing in him, finding their strength through the power and might of the Holy Spirit. With this strength, he prays they will run the race faithfully with fortitude as patient and joyful children of God, giving thanks to their heavenly Father who has adopted them into his family, bringing them from the bondage of darkness into the kingdom of the Son where all who trust in the Lord are forgiven and made free from sin. This is the inheritance of the saints--an eternal birthright of the redeemed that does not decay. Peter understood this inheritance when he wrote: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:3-7)

Modern-day believers sometimes want to ignore the countless scriptures that clearly state we are sojourners in this world, people passing through, not permanent citizens of this world. Ignoring the full gospel, we adopt a faith that mixes the American dream with pop psychology, self-help ideas, and a selfish desire to have all we can get. Then we call our me-first lifestyle God's blessing, forgetting much of what Jesus said when He walked on this Earth about taking up the cross and following him. We sing, "I surrender all," while accumulating all we can for ourselves and giving a little bit of our time, energy, and resources to the kingdom of God. We serve God in the good times of plenty when things go well and the blessings outweigh the trials; but when we face chronic illness, financial reversals, huge disappointments, heartbreaking betrayals, or prolonged hardships, our hearts so easily turn to stone and suddenly we blame God. For Christians the age-old enigmas remains: Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do hardworking believers suddenly lose their jobs and search unsuccessfully for months for another one? Why do Christian couples remain childless when nonbelievers have children they do not even appreciate or nurture? Why do faithful Christians die young or face one difficulty after another while so many ungodly folks live seemingly long and prosperous lives? Why do people seem to forget about the needs of others as they become more successful in life? Why do the wealthy give a smaller percentage of their money to the work of the Lord while the poor give generously out of their need? We could pose countless why questions such as these. The prophet Jeremiah said, You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? (Jeremiah 12:1) Soon after the flood, God said evil was in man's heart continually.

When we read Jesus' words, He does not address the social injustices of his time, but He does address the heart: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Matthew 15:8) Neither does the Apostle Paul deal with these earthly problems to any extent. Paul rarely speaks of his own hardships except to let believers know he suffered for the sake of the gospel, encouraging them to rejoice in their trials. He repeats this often, saying at one point, "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have." (Philippians 1:29-30) He held little interest in this transitory life other than telling people to live for Christ. Focussing on the celestial world rather than the terrestrial, Paul declares those who are not IN CHRIST remain in spiritual darkness. He says if we dwell in the kingdom of the Son, we are alive through the cross of Christ, and we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Understanding these basic truths of the spiritual world by the power of the Holy Spirit, we must remember who we are and why we live and have our being. With this spiritual wisdom and understanding, we can say with the saints of the ages what Paul wrote to the church when he taught grace: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) With the knowledge we are SAVED BY FAITH, alive IN CHRIST, and strengthen by HIS GLORIOUS POWER, we should not become bogged down with the enigmas of life. We should live JOYFULLY in the Truth of the SPIRIT. We should live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way. By faith we should bear fruit in every good work, grow in the knowledge of God, be strong in his power, run with great endurance and patience, give thanks to the Father for bringing us into the kingdom of light. Yes, life IS hard to understand sometimes, especially when we are experiencing adverse circumstances and when our hearts break in times of great sorrow and pain. But God is on the throne! He never leaves us, never forsakes us. He comforts us with a mother's loving kindness and tender mercies. The purpose of life is to know, love and serve him and to live for him and with him forever. He has rescued us! Rejoice! Amen!

Colossians 1:3-8

2012-01-18T09:12:00.000-08:00

Colossians 1:3-8 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints — the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.

Although Paul writes to the church at Colosse in a pastoral role, we should remember his "dear fellow servant," Epaphras, actually first shared the gospel message with the Colossians. As a new believer, probably saved in Ephesus, Epaphras was not content to remain under the teaching of Paul. He returned to his hometown as a missionary to a predominantly Gentile population, explicitly preaching that God sent Jesus of Nazareth to suffer and to die for all who would believe in him as the propitiation for their sins and the Way to life eternal. He brought this simple message that Christ's life, death, and resurrection was the ultimate Good News! Paul says he has heard of their faith in Christ Jesus and compliments the Colossians for placing their trust in the Lord, receiving forgiveness of their sins, and understanding the message they have received. He encourages them with the thought that this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. He begins with comforting remarks because as a spiritual father, he also writes this letter with some words of correction in mind that will be easier to express if he first shares his sincere love for the church. He does not want anyone to doubt his thankfulness for this body of believers or his appreciation for the work of his brother and fellow laborer, Epaphras. No matter the difficulties Paul encounters, his letters to the churches, speak of his love for the people and his great joy in their faith. He rejoices in the fruit of the church and expresses himself as a loving father might speak to his children who had worked diligently and done well yet needed instruction. He might say: "I am proud of you, but beware of the pitfalls surrounding you. Keep on the right track, and I know you are going to make it. I believe in your commitment to Christ our Lord!" Through the unction of the Holy Spirit, Paul knew nothing was going to stop the Good News!

Christ said He had to go away that He might send the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit remained faithful to the New Testament church--so diligent, so constant, shining the Light of the gospel forth into the darkness. God does such amazingly wondrous deeds in such remarkable ways through mere human beings through the power of Christ in us. No wonder the angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:10-14) This is the message Paul reiterates for the church in Colosse; this remains the only sure and true foundation for all of us who have placed our trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus is the Good News: the Plan of God, the Grace of God, the Mercy of God, the Peace of God. He is God's perfect covenant--freedom from sin, restoration, adoption, life eternal. He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Colossians 1:15) Therefore, the message we carry to the world is not an alternative lifestyle, not a list of rules or regulations: we offer Jesus, Messiah, Lord of All. Of course, this message sounds too simple for the world; sometimes, sadly, the message remains too simple for Christians.

For the believer, the message must always be: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

As Epaphras went forth with a fire burning in his soul to spread the message of Christ to his people and produced faith and love in the hearts of those entrusted into his care, may we remember Christ's call: Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men. (Mark 1:17) As followers of Christ, we should walk by faith, presenting God's agenda, reflecting his likeness, sharing his love. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8) We too should show forth the Good News: the Plan, the Grace, the Mercy, the Peace. We should not have to talk so much about the cross of Christ as to have it revealed in and through us by the Holy Spirit as we extend Christ to others through our daily service and sacrifices. As we know so well, this kind of love is a struggle for every believer. It is hard for us to give up our lives for others. It is hard even in our speech to give up our negative, judgmental talk. We can spot the faults in someone else so much easier than our own mistakes. That is human nature. The flesh wants first place or at least an important place where we are recognized for how important or successful or hardworking we are. Jesus took our place and went to the cross where He humbly prayed, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." We might have said, "Father, look at all I am doing, and no one even appreciates me."

Colossians 1:1-2

2012-01-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

Colossians 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Paul begins by introducing himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, bringing God's grace and peace. He understood God's plan for him as an apostle, starting and fathering churches as the Holy Spirit led him from place to place. In this role Paul did not prosper according to human standards; instead, he faced setbacks, persecutions, and imprisonment. Writing to the church at Philippi about his struggles, he declared, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Although he said he would rather be with Christ, he wanted to live, "so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." He asks the church to follow his example: Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. . .For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. He asks them to have the same attitude as Christ who did not go his own way but went to the cross, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Paul ends with this final plea: Do all these things without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. He said he did not want his labor to be in vain, but added even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. (See Philippians Chapters 1 & 2)

As with countless believers across time, Paul's life after his conversion was poured out as a drink offering on the altar. His life was an epistle for the world to read. Every generation has examined Paul's writings and his life: countless believers have feasted upon his words, growing in grace and the knowledge of the Lord through the anointing and inspiration of the Holy Spirit because Paul said yes to God and did not fall back when faced with terrible hardships and suffering. The churches Paul fathered multiplied exponentially through the millenniums. Paul admitted at times his suffering was so great he longed to be with God rather than to complete his role; yet he did not forsake his Lord or his calling because of these problems, fears, or anxieties. He emphatically proclaimed,. . .we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLB) Even in chains, he encouraged men and women in their faith and continued to teach gospel truths: We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins. (Colossians 1:11-14) Paul understood his role in the church, knew no other life would satisfy him, and rejoiced in the perfect will of God. All believers must know God's will and follow the Holy Spirit's call.

Dad has a story his likes to tell about God's will: After I gave my life to the Lord in my early teens, I felt a strong call from the Holy Spirit that I should be a teacher in the public schools. Such a thought terrified me, for I was a young man who stuttered in his early years and remained reluctant to speak out in a group or perform in front of people. How could I become a teacher if I was afraid to give a speech in front of an English class? I never gave a speech throughout high school: rather than speak in front of my classmates, I willingly accepted a failing grade. Since this fear remained with me during college, I postponed the speech class required for educational majors until my senior year when I had no choice but to sign up for the class. We gave four different kinds of speeches during that quarter. I miraculously survived all of them without embarrassing myself or dying of a heart attack. Surprisingly, my professor considered me as having "exceptional talent" in giving speeches. After the last class, she asked me to stay behind for a few minutes because she had something "important" to tell me. Of course, I just wanted to leave that building for good, but I stayed to listen to her. She shared that she thought I was a "gifted speaker" and went on to say she wanted to work with me and to help me "enter speech contests around the world." I told her I would think about it, but I never darkened the doors of that building again.

Although that professor's words sounded absurd to me and the thought of entering speaking contests brought abject fear to my heart; her words also brought confidence to me as I realized later what a great miracle God had performed in taking a fearful stuttering young boy who would rather fail than make a speech and turning him into a speaker who could stand in front of a group and even impress the instructor. What a mighty God we serve! God saw me through that difficult hurdle and many others. Eventually I became an award winning teacher. At first I found it difficult to imagine God could use a public school teacher effectively. My first principal stopped me short one day. He called me into his office, lecturing me forcefully: If you want to be a minister, go out and minister; but you are a teacher, that is what we expect of you. He spoke the truth. Teaching was my calling, and I needed to bring God in the classroom through my actions and deeds, not so much words. So for thirty years I did just that, and I feel I accomplished God's will for my life. Not all of it was easy. At times I thought of quitting and doing something more spiritual. But I was called to be a teacher, to serve as God's hand extended wherever I was. I was to teach for the glory of God and that is exactly what I did. My wife kept many letters I received through the years from parents and students, telling me how much they loved my class, how much they learned, how much they appreciated me. We would pray for my students. I would lay hands on the desks when the classroom was empty and ask God to touch broken hearts and to heal wounded spirits. I also had many opportunities on the side to share Christ's love because when you let Christ shine through you, people see the light, are attracted to the light, want what you have. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) Amen!

John 20:29-31

2011-12-31T13:01:00.000-08:00

John 20:29-31 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

As we conclude our breakfasts at John's table, we take the liberty of paraphrasing his final remarks: these breakfasts were written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. On our in-depth journey through John's account of Christ's life, we approached each scripture asking the same Spirit that quickened John to anoint our minds and to inspire our words with resurrection light and life. As we wrote, we asked God to use us as his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 KJV), for we know in the natural, as God told the prophet Isaiah, our thoughts are not his thoughts and our ways are not his ways. (See Isaiah 55) Every time we read the breakfasts together, we marvel at the finished products the Holy Spirit brings forth because WE ARE FED, WE ARE NOURISHED BY THE LORD. Just as many of you have written to tell us that God feeds you through the teaching, our spirits are lifted up as we sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus through the inspiration of the Word. As the Word seeps into our souls and expands our relationship with Jesus, making us more aware, more alive, more conscious of Christ in us our hope of glory, we better take advantage of our freedom in Christ. The freedom is ours, the inheritance is ours, the work is finished; but we must walk in the truth and experience our position as members of God's family. As we teach all of you through the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Lord holds us accountable, and we are privileged to walk in the light of the revelations of God as He fulfills his promise: I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Hebrews 8:10)

As with many of you, we have faced difficult struggles in our lives. Particularly with mom's health in the past few years but actually throughout our married life, we have experienced numerous difficulties. In all these situations, we have kept in mind Peter's words: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12) No matter what trial or daunting situation we faced ourselves or in raising our five children, we have persevered and triumphed by faith through the ever-present glorious help and mighty power of the Lord. His precious word, his true wisdom, his constant comfort, and never-ending sustenance have seen us through these years. Mom said recently in our 48 years together, she could not remember a year where there was not some serious setback, but God has been with us through it all. She loves to speak the Word of faith hidden in her heart, the Word that lifts her up when she is weak and weary in body as she has been these last few years. When people ask her how she is at church, she answers, "I am strong in the Lord and the power of his might, and nothing else really matters." That is not a trite religious comeback or a clever response. That remains her statement of faith, a place upon which to stand, a rock, a foundation--Jesus Christ. She knows in herself she may be weak, weary, walking by faith, not by sight; but she can do all things through Christ who is strengthening her right then, right that very moment, while she is speaking those words. She is not holding the Rock Christ Jesus: He is holding her; and Jesus never fails! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! She can declare: I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:25 KJV)

We do not want to boast in our weaknesses, except to declare what Paul professed when he prayed three times and asked God to take away his thorn in the flesh. God said: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul did not drawn back in depression and defeat; he did not say that must mean my work is done because I am disabled--let someone else do this difficult job God had asked me to do. No, he said: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (See 2 Corinthians 12:7-10) With this same firmness Paul writes in Acts that he served the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations despite persecutions and unfair treatment. He ignored everything else for the sake of the gospel because of his burning desire: that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (See Acts 20:19-24) The modern-day church seems to have lost some of this vigor for finishing well regardless of our human situation, to persevere for the cause of Christ.

Dearly beloved, we remind you of the Christ we discovered on this journey. John brought a consistent message: Jesus is the beginning, the end, and everything in between. God sent his Son--the Light and the Life--to save the world and to set an example for us to follow: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4) Jesus shared the Father's love and light wherever He went in a dark world. His words were not understood even when He spoke clearly: For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. . .For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:33 & 40) Yet despite the doubts and fears of his closest followers and the sin and rebellion of a lost creation, Jesus endured the cross to bear the sins of all mankind, offering himself as a spotless Lamb, slain from the foundation of the earth for all who would call upon his name. We face a new year tomorrow, a new beginning as our modern society looks at reality. Before we look forward, what a wonderful time to look back at the many views we have of Jesus: his enduring love of the people He came to redeem, his unyielding obedience to the Father He loved, and the glorious hope He offers those who will take up the cross and follow him. Rejoice dear ones: Christ has done it, we are free! When people celebrate the New Year, we have greater cause for rejoicing than anyone, for the Good News of the Ages remains the goods news of 2012: And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11, 12) God bless all of you richly in the New Year in the mighty power of the risen Lord! We thank God for each of you.

John 20:18-20

2011-12-23T10:35:00.000-08:00

John 20:18-20 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples' first instinct was positive upon hearing Mary tell them, "I have seen the Lord!" They came together. However, rather than finding total comfort and peace from her encounter with Jesus, their hearts and minds strayed to temporal realities; they remained inside a locked room for fear of the Jews. When Jesus came and stood among them, He did what He continues to do until this day, He brought peace to the room, saying, "Peace be with you!" When Paul describes God's marvelous grace gifts to the church at Ephesus, he tells them we were all dead in our transgressions and sins, but because of his great love for us and sweet mercies, God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Furthermore, He tore down every wall of separation, making all people, Jew and Gentile alike one in Christ because Jesus

himself is our peace. . .

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (See Ephesians 2:5-18) Consequently, Christ not only offered his disciples his peace on that momentous day; He offered them hope, power, and authority. He showed them his hands and his side, the identifying marks of his death. When they rejoiced, again He blessed them with peace, but He added, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Already the focus is outward rather than merely inward upon the inhabitants of the closed environment of this locked room formerly full of fear. In similar fashion, in the midst of explaining grace to the Ephesians, Paul exhorted them: we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. There IS a harvest field.

Jesus breathed upon his beloved followers, promising, If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. Oblivious to what his friends, seemingly deaf to their account of Christ's words and actions when He came to them, Thomas who was absent from this event suddenly decides the rest of the group are all unreliable witnesses, liars. He declares he will not believe unless he personally touches Christ's nail-scared hands and pierced side. A week later, still behind locked doors, the disciples gather; and Jesus appears, again blessing them with his peace. He allows Thomas to examine his wounds; then He speaks directly to Thomas' unbelieving heart: Stop doubting and believe. This exhortation rings through the ages to every believer, every man or woman who draws back or waits in a locked room for concrete evidence of the risen Lord. If we fail to believe Christ rose from the grave in power and authority over sin and death, we are bound to our old ways, our old habits and inclinations, our doubts and anxieties. If we believe Christ is alive, in the room, we are loosed by the authority of his shed blood, by the Holy Spirit power of the resurrected One. His work at the cross and his victory in setting the captives free brings eternal life to us now and forever. His resurrection provides proof we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; we experience the reality of a "born again" life; we will pass from this life into eternal life with him. We are sons and daughters of the Most High. Through Christ and the indwelling Holy Sprit we can stop doubting and believe. Jesus said, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36)

When Paul discusses the resurrection with the Corinthian church, he declares, if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. He says outside of Christ rising from the dead, we do not possess a sure testimony or a true hope for the future. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. He went on to say that he faced death every day for the sake of the cross, and that would be foolishness if there were no resurrection. In fact, he says if he were doing such things for mere human reasons, he would not gain anything. As he rightly concludes: "If the dead are not raised, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.'" (See 1 Corinthians15:16 -32) Just as our only hope for eternal life is through Christ, our only hope for victory in this life is through trusting in Christ's total sufficiency now. Thomas said he had to touch Jesus to believe. Jesus allowed Thomas to do just that, and then Thomas cried out, “My Lord and my God!” Today, every person has faith choices: doors open to those who believe; doors close for those who do not believe. When Peter and John were arrested for healing a lame person and asked by what power or name they did such an act, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12) Because Christ arose, Peter and John received the Spirit and went forth in Jesus' name. This Christmas weekend, Jesus sends us forth as his new creation, saying, Peace be with you!

John 20:10-17

2011-12-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

John 20:10-17 Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

The angels and Jesus asked Mary, why are you crying? Why is your heart so stressed, so burdened, so overwhelmed by Jesus' disappearance. Of course the angels and Jesus knew why she was crying: her tears represented her heartfelt desperation over the absence of Christ's body. This deceased Jesus could do nothing for her now, but she loved him; and in Jewish tradition she revered his body, felt concern over someone removing it from the tomb. As with Joseph and Nicodemus, the account of how people reacted at the empty tomb reveals their love and loyalty to Jesus. Mary loved him so much she could not bear the thought that his body might be neglected or desecrated by some grave robbers. Her love was palpable, everlasting, and uncompromising: Christ's death had not changed her love towards him. But with natural eyes, she did not readily recognize him when she first saw him and He spoke to her: she did not realize that it was Jesus. She was looking for corpse, a shrouded body, not a living being. Does our love radiate the same loyalty and unfailing constancy for Jesus or do we love him for what He can do for us and then draw back from him when we think He has failed us or neglected us in some way?

American Christians lead such a secular existence filled with so many material blessings, so many things, we do well to undergo a spiritual inventory. We do well to search our hearts, asking the Holy Spirit to shine the gospel light on our lives. Surely we will cry out with the psalmist: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) So often our love and our passion for God remains situational and fleeting. When we need something, we come to the Lord or we attend church, seeking the help and fellowship of believers. When a prayer is answered and God graces our lives with a miracle, we shout joyfully and rejoice in our good fortune often pointing to how much we prayed for this awesome happening. But during the lean times of pain, sorrow, sickness, and struggle; we sometimes wander afar, casting aside God and those who would stand with us to comfort, help, and sustain us through the valleys. God seeks a people who will say with Job: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. (Job 13:15) Conditional love tells us to look at what's going on instead of walking by faith and trusting God. A person of faith does not say: "What can God do for me or my family?" God's servant says: "What does God want my family to do for him?" Sometimes people come to the Lord in times of great trouble, such as a war. Foxhole prayers have saved many a soldier: "Lord, if you get me out of this war alive, I will serve you forever." Some of those foot soldiers remembered their promises; others forgot the Lord spared their lives and went right on with their worldly pursuits. Unfortunately, such prayers lead a person to constantly bargaining with God, treating him like a machine rather than Lord of our lives. Rather than fully surrendering to him, giving ourselves completely and wholeheartedly, we try to make deals, saying, "If you give me this, Lord, then I will give you that." God is not in the business of making deals. He seeks sons and daughters to take up the cross and follow Jesus.

If we love God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our might, we will say, "I love you Lord. I want to serve you with my life, please only you. Not my will but yours be done." That is the love Mary evidenced for Jesus. Such love stands the test of time. We all die someday. The time will come when the Creator of all things and the controller of all time will say, "Next." Our turn will come as we pass through the throes of death. Will our love for God say, "Your will, not mine," or will our fleshly self hold on to seeds of bitterness and anger, unforgiveness and criticism because we held onto our selfishness and rage; we kept shame and quilt alive instead of nailing everything to the cross? When it is our time to fly away on eagle's wings to be with our blessed Lord, we do not want to be encumbered by anything, by any weights from this sinful world. The godly love overflowing from our hearts should be palpable, everlasting, and uncompromising. No other love will endure the trials and vicissitudes of life. Without a doubt, the angels and Jesus knew why Mary was crying. They knew Mary's strong and enduring love for Jesus; they knew the overwhelming circumstances that morning, but they also knew no thieves had taken away her Lord. Jesus was not going to abandon Mary that morning. When He said, “Mary,” the song of heaven broke forth in her spirit. When she recognized him, she knew the lover of her soul was with her. Jesus comforted her that morning, but He also spoke words of faith to her that would forever comfort her soul: Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Tell them that I am going home to my father and God, and tell them that I am going home to their Father and God, and that someday they will be with me forever. These words changed Mary and Christ's followers' lives forever. If we truly believe them today, none of us will ever be the same. For Christ went to his Father that his Father might be OUR FATHER.

John 20:1-9

2011-12-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

John 20:1-9 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Today's verses show that Jesus' closest friends and followers did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. They lacked spiritual eyes to see what was in front of them, just as they did not comprehend fully the words and works of Jesus when He walked and talked with them, teaching and instructing them in God's truth, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of the promised Messiah. We have seen this throughout our study of John. The gospel writers share numerous instances where a lack of faith or actual unbelief in the disciples' hearts kept them from recognizing Christ for who He was. Jesus fed the 5000 with five loaves and two fishes; afterwards, they picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish; yet when Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him in a boat and a storm rose up, they reacted as fearful children. When Jesus came walking toward them on the water, first the disciples exhibited terror, thinking he was a ghost; finally, when the winds obeyed his commands, they were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. (See Mark 6:41-52) In Matthew's account, Peter is brave enough to say, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” But after getting out of the boat and taking steps toward Jesus' outstretched hand, when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (See Matthew 14:22-28) Even though Jesus clearly said He would rise again, we see his beloved companions astonished that the dead body of Jesus had disappeared from the tomb.

On several occasions, Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” He understood humans could not understand spiritual realities but needed their natural ears opened by the Holy Spirit to his words of life. The Holy Spirit had not come yet to dwell within them, giving them spiritual discernment of the truth of his message. As Jesus had said: When the Counselor [the Holy Spirit] comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. They had been in the presence of God's Son, but they still did not understand. Jesus had to go away to send the Holy Spirit. He explained, "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." (John 15:26 &16:7) After the resurrection, Jesus would reveal himself to many. When the Holy Spirit brought Christ's words to their remembrance, they would realize a phenomenon beyond their wildest imagination: they would begin to understand the riches of their inheritance and the provisions represented by that empty tomb. The reality that the Jesus who had walked among them, that the One they saw suffer and die upon the cross, was raised incorruptible by the Spirit of God as Lord and Savior of all would change their lives. The good news He lived and died and rose again for all mankind would soon become the centerpiece of the gospel message. Messiah had come to bring God's grace covenant to a fallen creation. This good news spread across the known world, bringing restoration, healing, hope, and redemption to all who trusted in the shed blood of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We must realize Jesus' death created temporary turmoil for people who gave up all to follow him. They had faced ridicule, persecution, and alienation from family and friends for their allegiance to this insignificant Jesus of Nazareth. Unbelievers viewed him at best as a false prophet, conjuring miracles; at worst as a deceiver, calling himself God. Truly his chosen ones did not expect their Master to die the shameful death of a criminal, not the Jesus who healed the sick and raised the dead, not the Jesus who showed compassion on outcasts and sinners, not the Jesus they hoped would establish a new kingdom. Surely He would deliver the people suffering under the powerful Roman Empire and a corrupt religious system. They had heard Jesus speak of freedom and utter harsh words toward the religious elite: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed." "
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."
(Luke 4:18 & Matthew 23:13) Where was this Jesus they had chosen to follow?

However, when they met the risen Lord and received the power of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, they went forth as a mighty army of the Lord, building a foundation of faith for us, often at the cost of their lives. They carried the cross of Jesus that we might know Christ did not shed his blood for us to spend the majority of our time and resources pleasing ourselves by building our own kingdoms on things that do not last, satisfying our selfish desires. He came to save lost sheep without a Shepherd, saying, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. . .My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:9-11 & 27-28) Christ's sheep see and believe; they listen and obey; they spread the good news and never die!

Note: Sorry the kitchen has been closed so often and open so rarely. Mom's second eye surgery Nov. 1st resulted in a focussing problem--new glasses this week have made a big difference for her. We are praising the Lord for notable improvement in her speech and balance--remarkable answers to prayer. However, worsening health complications with other lupus issues required seeing new specialists, trying new meds, and undergoing tests. We are still awaiting some of those results and appreciate your prayer support. We find the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. We walk by faith and not by sight because faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. We are blessed!

John 19:38-42

2011-11-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

John 19:38-42 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Following the death of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, two wealthy and important members of Jewish society, openly and willingly put their reputations on the line by asking for the body of Christ, taking it away, and preparing Christ's earthly remains for burial out of their love for him. Even though society now considered this man they carefully wrapped in strips of fine linen and anointed with fragrant myrrh and aloes as a criminal, they were willing to spend a significant amount of money on this extravagant fabric and these expensive spices to prepare Jesus' body for entombment. This scene reveals clearly their great respect and reverence for a teacher, a friend, and perhaps a Messiah who could no longer instruct or offer comfort and help or do anything for them, except maybe to besmirch their reputations in the community, especially among the Jewish elite. But Joseph and Nicodemus obviously were men of God who realized Jesus had influenced them with his obedience to God, touched them with his words, graced them with his goodness, and changed them forever. They were not going to abandon him to an unclean burial, lacking the traditional ceremony and the loving hands of friends to fulfill the customs of the day. They tenderly prepared his bruised body, lavished his wounded side and his pierced brow with tender care, and laid him in a new tomb in a garden where no one had been buried before. This was their love offering, the best they could give to the memory of the Jesus they loved. No amount of doubt, fear, or concern for self-preservation could have kept them from completing their assignment. They had seen Jesus crucified, and they knew the time for secrecy was past; they had to bury him.

As human beings with our emotional ups and downs and our spiritual highs and lows, we sometimes retreat from Jesus or stumble in our faith walk depending upon how we feel or what happens. We act as if Jesus is dead to us because things are not working out or our problems seem too big for him to handle because He has not answered our prayers as we think they should be answered. Perhaps we or someone we love or care about is too sick, we are too far in debt, we are too burdened down with obsessive compulsions, we are too overwhelmed with implacable family problems, or maybe we have made such a mess out of our lives we can't see a way out no matter what happens. There is no end to the list of difficulties we could name. Joseph and Nicodemus did not retreat when they faced impossible odds. They incurred the cost of burial, knowing Jesus was the fallen leader of a totally lost cause with a ruined reputation whose followers were scattered; and He had no power or resources of any kind to help them anymore. Certainly, they knew no more profound words of wisdom, no more insightful parables, no more loving touches or miraculous healings would emanate from his dead body. Yet wonder of wonders, they loved him, they cherished him, and they would not let his body be buried without their tender touches and careful burial ministrations. They literally put everything on the line for this dead Jesus: money, reputation, status, their lives. They were all in for a Jesus who could not help them anymore. Something about this man Jesus got hold of their hearts, and they said, "We will follow you, Jesus of Nazareth, even in death." They had begun to question, to seek, to want to know what He meant when He said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man [on the cross], then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” (John 8:28-29)

Who is Jesus today? Is He the answer man, fulfilling all our requests like a giant computer in the sky? Is He the giver of all things good, all we want and all we need, who hands out presents willy nilly as a Holy Santa Claus, checking off our wish lists because we have been so good and we deserve all the things we ask him to send our way? Do we stop to remember that He is the Son of God, the Holy One, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the One we worship and adore whether we feel him in our lives or not, whether we are on a mountaintop or in a valley because He alone is worthy? He alone rescued us from the miry clay and set our feet upon a rock and put a new song in our hearts when we were without hope. Faith steps far beyond human circumstances, and faith always transcends finite powers of human reasoning. By faith we know Jesus is not dead regardless of our inconsistent feelings or fleshly assumptions. Every new creature in Christ cries out to all the world: "Jesus lives because He lives in me! I was blind but now I see!" Jesus is actually the breath behind our voices. John says, The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. Jesus is that light, that breath of life. Whether we recognize him or acknowledge him, Jesus is that light, that breath, that fulfillment of all that we could not do through our own limited abilities or strength.

When Paul spoke of salvation through faith rather than the law, he showed Christ fulfilled the law: “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13) For Christians, as with Joseph and Nicodemus, we bear an everlasting love for our Lord, whether we feel him or not, our love endures, perseveres by faith, even in those times of insecurity or doubt when we wonder whether we will ever again experience the emotional highs or the exultant sense of power and authority we felt in some previous experience. We know by faith in God's Word Jesus is alive and He reigns forever. He lives in us through the power of the Holy Spirit, and we have victory over all things through him. Joseph and Nicodemus did not even realize Jesus would be alive in three days because if they had, they would not have prepared his body in such a manner. But God did not allow Jesus to suffer corruption in the grave. In truth, the Jesus of death Joseph and Nicodemus prepared for burial was the Jesus of eternal life, THE LAMB OF GOD, THE GRACE GIFT OF GOD WHO ROSE AGAIN IN TRIUMPH. May we receive that gift with grace and thankfulness today, knowing He is near, and He is all we need.

John 19:31-37

2011-11-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

John 19:31-37 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

John's simple narrative of the treatment of the bodies on the crosses on the day of Preparation reveals the participants in the crucifixion of Jesus again fulfilling Old Testament scriptures pertaining to the death of the only begotten Son of God. When John the Baptist spoke of him, he knew he was preparing the way for One who was greater than he was, who was coming to do a mighty work for God the Father. John said, "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." When John saw the Spirit come upon Jesus as a dove, he declared, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (See John Chapter One) Now we see the broken body of this same Jesus Christ who walked on Earth among men and women, setting captives free and bringing peace to troubled hearts, offered up as the ultimate and perfect Passover Lamb for the sins of all people. Yet He experiences death without the soldiers breaking his legs just as the scriptures foretold by decreeing that no bone of the Passover lamb should ever be broken: In one house it [the offering] shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones. (Exodus 12:46) They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. (Numbers 9:12) As with the Jewish Passover lambs, Jesus offered himself to God unblemished, in every way perfect, holy, and in right standing with his heavenly Father. Pontius Pilate said he found no fault in him. Jesus fully paid the penalty for sin. Upon Christ's death the dividing partition, that huge wall of separation between God and mankind, tumbled to the ground just as the temple veil was rent into two pieces as we gained access into the Holy of Holies through the precious blood of the Lamb. No longer would men and women have to remain outside of God's holy presence because of his righteous wrath upon sin.

Now, because of the blood of the Lamb of God spilt on the cross, all who called upon the name of Jesus and trusted in his saving grace could enter boldly into God's presence and call him Abba Father. The true Passover Lamb made it possible for mere men to be the temple of God, inhabited by God's Spirit. The Lamb of God took away our sins so that we might be the very essence, the impression, of God's presence on Earth. Many gospel songs have captured the heart of this miraculous life-changing event. We should not merely sing "He Arose" on Easter. "Up from the grave He arose"; and because He arose, we rise also from all sin and darkness; and we have victory over sin and death forever and ever. He "arose the Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with his saints to reign." This is the truth of the gospel. Yet so often we are downcast and discouraged. "He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!" Christ's death was not a victory for the world of sin and darkness. He arose, and because He lives, we live forever. Yes, we live challenging lives, full of distractions, stony places, trials, temptations, and even pitfalls along our paths. But we are not supposed to be taken aback by such events because Jesus warned his disciples they would face troubles and promised to send the Holy Spirit to help them, saying, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me." Christ's followers sorrowed in his death; yet they had hope, a promise from Christ for a better day. He had gone on to speak of glorious things to come: The Helper, the Spirit of Truth, who would come from the Father. Jesus told them "He will bear witness of Me, and you will bear witness also." (John 15:18-21 & 26-27)

We have that glorious hope, that blessed hope through the risen Christ and the power of the resident Holy Spirit. As believers we have every reason to rejoice and to give thanks. The Word is full of reminders, rich and overflowing with light and love, water and food for our thirsty and hungry souls. The Bible shows us we are the redeemed in Christ. We must choose to walk in our inheritance, according to the abundance He has provided for each of his co-heirs regardless of our earthly situation. God does not force us to enter into the Promised Land: we always have a faith choice. We can look at the giants or see the land of milk and honey. Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they (children of Israel) did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. . . It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. . .Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:1-2, 6-10, & 14-16) CHRIST IS THE LAMB OF GOD: our Lamb, our sacrifice, our shelter, our rest, all we need right now. We pray each of you enter in that rest by faith today.

John 19:23-30

2011-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

John 19:23-30 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” So this is what the soldiers did. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

As John looks back in time through the anointing of the Holy Spirit to recount his memory of the crucifixion of his Lord, his description of Christ's death takes on a simplicity. From the moment we hear the people cry, "We have no king but Caesar," until we hear the Son of the Living God cry out, "It is finished," we read very few words, no parables, not discourses or long debates, no detailed accounts of the import or the impact of the situation. John shows us the last moments quickly as the soldiers took charge and Jesus, carrying his own cross. . .went to the place of the Skull where they crucified him. As we saw in our last study, Pilate prepared a sign to fasten to the cross, reading: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Now all the characters in the final moments stand at the foot of the cross in a tableau as John describes what they did, how they acted as Jesus drew his last breaths on this earth. Soldiers divide his garments. Three women, all named Mary, stand near the cross. When Jesus sees his mother, He commits her into John's care, showing that even in the midst of the agony of his death, Jesus exemplifies a servant's heart and models lovingkindness for those witnessing his suffering. Later, realizing He has done all He needs to do, Jesus thirsts and receives a sponge soaked with wine vinegar on a stalk from a hyssop plant, fulfilling these Old Testament prophecies: My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. (Psalms 22:15 & 69:21) Finally in the most effective use of understatement ever penned, John writes: When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

It is finished! Wonderful words of life, hope, peace, and victory for all who would call upon the name of the Son of God who had just given all for God's beloved sons and daughters that they might find eternal life. Christ's death and his resurrection through the power of the Holy Spirit opened wide the door for every man, woman, and child to find eternal life. Jesus said those words trusting in the Father's love and in the fulfillment of scripture as well: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10 KJV) We all memorize scriptures as children in Sunday School or we hear this word preached: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17) But do we realize what these words mean: the power and authority behind the words, the cost to the Godhead. Christ's life, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection fulfilled the plan of God, confirmed Old Testament scriptures regarding the Messiah who would suffer and die to redeem mankind. Jesus' redemptive work on the cross satisfied God's anger and judgment against sin. He paid the penalty of death for all people for all time. Man, originally created in the image of God, would not merely be restored to walking in the garden with God as his created beings. Through the blood of the Lamb, all who received Christ would literally be adopted into God's family as sons and daughters, joint heirs with Christ, partakers of his life and love. With the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers now have a wellspring of living water flowing from our innermost being. As we choose light and love in Christ our old lives are finished and we have new life, new water to quench our thirsty souls and new water overflowing in a dry and thirsty land where others thirst for water that satisfies forever.

Today we know for certain, IT IS FINISHED. We no longer have to display the anger, pain, sorrow without hope, and the viciousness of the flesh that demands an eye for any eye, a tooth for a tooth, and the "I will get even no matter how long it takes" mentality of the world in which we live. We can become as Christ, servants of the world with genuine love and forgiveness in our hearts. Jesus made that possible for each of us by shedding his blood and sending the Spirit of Truth to abide in our hearts, filling us with the fruit of the Spirit that we might show the world we are Christians by our love. As Jesus was dying on a cruel cross between two criminals, He could have done and said so many things. He could have judged the world for its sins and wicked deeds, but He did not. He cried out, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Then when the criminal at his side said, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom, Jesus said, "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:33 &42-43 KJV) As always, Jesus was doing the work of his Father, listening to the Holy Spirit's voice, loving the unlovely, holding forth mercy and grace, reminding the people God is slow to anger and quick to forgive, full of tender mercies for a fallen people, not willing that any should perish. When we receive God in all his fullness, yielding to his will and not our own, the Spirit leads us into all truth. He shows us the nature of God. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4) This is the perfect will of God; this is his plan, his purpose, his design. We are his workmanship, his beloved, his chosen ones. Rejoice, the battle is over: Christ has won!

John 19:16-22

2011-11-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

John 19:16-22 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others — one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

We have seen Christ take the final steps to Golgotha quickly. No jury of his peers debates his fate; no governor ponders long a pardon to free him from an undeserved death on a cross between two criminals. When Jesus tells Pilate he has no power over him except what is given to him from above, Pilate tries to free Jesus. But when Pilate hears the people say, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar," he sits down on his judge's seat and says, "Here is your king." The people do not see a king before them: they shout, "Take him away! Crucify him!" When Pilate asks if he should crucify their king, the chief priests declare, "We have no king but Caesar." Now almost as if he must make a statement contrary to the evidence at hand, Pilate commands that a notice be prepared in three languages that all might know and be fastened to the cross where Jesus will suffer and die, a proclamation he refuses to change even when the chief priests protest yet again. Pilate posts the powerful words: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. How the words must have angered those who cried out against that notice. Pilate may have wanted to ease his conscience a bit or he may have had a sense of wanting to show his authority in the situation by standing firm, saying almost as a prophet, “What I have written, I have written.” Human motivations matter little in eternity except as they line up with the plan and the will of God. What mattered then and remains of eternal significance is that God had the last word. He spoke last as He always does: Behold, my Son; Behold, the Lamb; Behold, THE KING OF THE JEWS! Jesus faced the cross, but He faced it as He was, as the King of kings!

At times believers face trials: difficult circumstances may momentarily dim our focus or draw us away from the Lord or make us wonder why events happen as they do. During the ups and downs of living, we must remember who is in control, where we are heading, and why we are alive. If we read the Bible, countless scriptures tell us life is difficult; regardless, we have a higher purpose than earthly satisfaction and carefree living. We act surprised by trials, but Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Peter wrote to the church: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:12-14) Under house arrest, Paul told the church to rejoice always and not to focus on earthly things. As he said, Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:8-11) If we are totally cast down and despairing over the trials and struggles of daily living, we need to practice the presence of Jesus. In him is fullness of joy, peace, and all we need to overcome.

We do sorrow and grieve, yet we do not despair as do the rest [of the world] who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13) We know Jesus overcame when He went to the cross for us. We have a King who paid a tremendous price that we might have eternal life: his name is Jesus. We are reminded of his faithfulness in little and large situations. Over the past months, we have struggled with Mom's illnesses and the added stress of PTSD. This past week, her second cataract surgery went well. She is seeing better than she has in years; working at the computer today without making the letters large. This is a tremendous blessing! But other than Mom learning coping and processing methods, God has not taken away the daily pressures of dealing with PTSD. She still has flashbacks that torment her when she is awake and asleep. God has provided a wonderful Christian counselor, and Mom relies upon the Word and the blessed Holy Spirit (the Wonderful Counselor); but God has allowed this affliction to remain. She often describes this disorder as the feeling of losing her essential self and continually drowning with the water lapping at her chin. She knows she is making progress but often feels as if she is treading water rather than making progress toward a distant shore. BUT ALL OF THE TIME, JESUS IS THERE. The tormenters speak lies, BUT JESUS HAS THE LAST WORD, and He says: "I am with you, Jacqueline. I am above you, below you, beside you, behind you. I cover you, hover over you. You can trust me: I will never leave you or forsake you. You will not perish. You will not drown in the deep waters. I will bear you up on eagle's wings. I am the God who heals you; I am your Healer. I am your Strength, your Song, your Joy, your Peace, your Everything, Enough. Abide in me: I am your Dwelling Place, your Shelter in the time of storm." He is always speaking, but we have to believe that He has the words of life, the final words, for He is the King of kings!

John 19:13-16

2011-10-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

John 19:13-16 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

Throughout the proceedings leading up to Christ's death, Pilate's actions and words provide a picture of a powerful man in conflict with a people he rules and a man he little understands. From his initial contact, Pilate does not want to involve himself in the matter. When he asks about the charges against Jesus, he tells the Jews, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” When Pilate does question Jesus, they engage in a philosophical discussion on truth with Pilate allowing Jesus freedom to speak of his kingdom and the reason for his birth. Finally he tells the people, “I find no basis for a charge against him [Jesus]," and Pilate says perhaps half seriously and half mockingly to irritate the religious leaders, Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” (See John 18:34, 38 & 39) Nonetheless, whatever his reasons, representing Jesus as their king would have enraged this angry crowd. The Jewish elite and those who followed them forcefully responded, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” They were not going to accept Jesus even in derision as king, for Jesus and his teachings were an anathema to the Jewish leaders who sought his death. Even on the day of Preparation of Passover Week, they felt so threatened by Jesus, their hearts were full of rage. They would not believe God sent Jesus to usher in the long awaited new covenant: “The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

If Jesus came from God as He said, the Jewish leaders knew their preferred place, their role in the religious activities and culture, would change dramatically or possibly disappear. Jesus spoke of a kingdom established in the hearts of men, a kingdom of righteousness through faith and service to God. His kingdom necessitated a born-again experience: new wine in new bottles. If the old life with its intrinsically important and meaningful Jewish rituals passed away and Jesus established a new order or a new kingdom, where would that leave the Levitical priesthood and the present leadership of the Jewish people? If new life came through a personal spiritual experience and this experience led to a new form of worship, what about the old ways of worshipping God? If a new covenant truly came forth from this man Jesus to replace the old ways and He was the promised Messiah, then scripture would be fulfilled: God's words would no longer merely exist on tablets of stone and holy scrolls but would be found in the hearts of men. Flesh and blood would be cleansed and made holy by the shed blood of the Lamb of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Men and women would be the new temple, God's dwelling place. When Solomon built the Temple, the glory of the LORD filled the temple; and God said, I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. He also warned them of his wrath if they disobeyed him how the people would speak of the disaster He would bring upon them. (See 2 Chronicles chapter 7) Knowing the wickedness of their own hearts that they kept the law outwardly while inwardly they were far from God, the Jewish elite could not allow this man Jesus to exist. If He was the promised One, He would turn their world of preference upside down. They were not ready to trade their decorated robes for the robes of humble servants. They enjoyed sitting at the head table and receiving homage and the praise of men. They would not consider a kingdom built upon humility, contriteness, kindness, forgiveness, and love. This, the Jewish leaders could not accept. They cried: Take him away! Crucify him! In reality, they said, "We have no king but OURSELVES. We serve ourselves."

At times we are guilty of making Jesus into our own image. We ask him to construct our lives as we want them, not to change them and make them according to his perfect will. Is He the Jesus we see in the manger scenes with light brown hair and blue eyes, the Jesus we want to fix all our problems and to take away all our weaknesses? Have you ever thought of how many people right now are asking Jesus for something or telling him what He needs to do, like little chicks begging their mother to drop the worm from her beak? Is this our religious life, our worship, our sacrifice of praise to him? Are we really praying: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven? Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13) Do we really want God's will to be done in our lives if He turns our world upside down? The Jewish leaders did not want Jesus in their lives because they knew Jesus intended to turn their lives 180 degrees. They did not want this commitment, this loss of control. They had good reason to fear what He might do because they had a lot to lose; yet they had so much to gain. They were not ready to lose their position of prestige and preference, control over their personal lives. Are we ready? When things do not work right in our lives, when our prayers for security and well-being hit a blank wall, are we ready to yield control and to allow God to change our lives drastically? When hard times come do we stop seeking God's presence, reading the Word, praying, worshipping, gathering together. Do we begin to ostracize Jesus from our personal lives. Are we saying in our hearts: Take him away! If so, we are saying, “We have no king but Caesar." Jesus does not turn away from you. He is waiting and watching, loving you just the same, all of the time. Reach out to him today. God loves you with an everlasting love. His mercies are new every morning, fresh TODAY!

John 19:7-12

2011-10-24T12:12:00.001-07:00

John 19:7-12 The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

The account of Christ's crucifixion reveals the essence of God's unfathomable love for his fallen creation: God's hands of mercy allow wicked men to bind Jesus; take him before Pilate; choose him for death over Barabbas; humiliate, scorn, and beat him. God's hands led Jesus to the slaughter to make a way where there was no way for mankind's redemption at greater cost to the godhead than we can comprehend. Neither the Jews nor the Romans killed Jesus. The ineffectiveness of Christ's earthly mission did not result in his demise. Father God gave his Son to save sinners. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9) Jesus in total obedience to his Father made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he (Jesus) humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:7-8) Our human understanding of love falls short: we do not understand God's love. We do not hold long in our hearts what know to be true: God is light. God is love. (1 John 1:5 & 4:8) Because of his great love for us, while we were lovers of the darkness and haters of his love, He was loving us and planning to send the Light of Heaven into this dark world. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10) God did not love us for what we were doing or what we could do: He loved us because He made us in his image and said it was very good! He longed not only to restore fellowship with his creation, but to adopt us into his family as his beloved children. We know the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:5-6 KJV) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1) This is grace love, God's love.

Through the eons of time, Father God held redemption close to his heart. The promised Messiah spoken of in numerous Old Testament prophesies stood willing as the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world (Revelation 13: 8) to go when the Father set his grace plan in motion. For example, Psalm 22 begins by foreshadowing Christ's agony on the cross and ends with his victory over sin for all people: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him — those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn — for he has done it. (Verses 1 &28-31) Likewise we see a clear foreshadowing of Christ's atonement when Isaiah sees the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Knowing he is unclean, Isaiah says, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” A seraph touches his lips with a live coal from the altar, saying, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then Isaiah says in faith: I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (See Isaiah 6:1-8) We see a loving God continually seeking lost sheep, needing a Shepherd: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day." (Ezekiel 34:11-12)

Outside of God's mercy, mankind stands guilty for Christ's death, for we all have sinned, gone our own way, set upon doing our own will. Pilate, a powerful Roman ruler with soldiers to command, thought he reigned over the affairs of men on that day. The ultimate power did not lie in his hands: Pilate could not restrain treacherous mankind. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." God's will encompassed the circumstances involving Pilate and everyone else. Yes, specific people and groups stood guilty of creating or taking part in situations and choices leading to Christ's death. They represent the players on the stage of life: Pilate, religious leaders, scribes, teachers of the Law, sarcastic soldiers, even the onlookers; but all of these persons were instruments in the hands of the God of the universe who ultimately controlled each scene, the entire tableau. He knew how they would choose and used their choices for his divine purposes. God's eternal will was done that day. For the joy that was set before him of seeing creation restored to fellowship with the Father, Jesus endured the cross because of God's great love for us. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, willingly bore the weight of our sin and shame that we might walk uprightly as sons and daughters of the Most High God. Now He is set down at the right hand of the throne of God, making intercession for us, perfecting us through the power of the Holy Spirit. (See Hebrews 12) Had God desired to stop the events of that day, He could have stayed the execution of his precious Son. He could have stretched forth his hand and said: Enough! But the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5) allowed his lovely Son to go to his death on the cross because the story had a power ending. Up from the grave Christ arose! He arose in victory because God is Light and Love! Salvation remains his eternal grace gift. Walk in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit today, standing tall and strong through faith in him. Let his strength be your strength; let his love be your love. He is Lord of All; let him be Lord of YOU!

John 19:1-6

2011-10-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

John 19:1-6 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

The day Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged represented an ignominious day for the King of kings and Lord of lords. Thinking they would mock Jesus because He called himself King of the Jews, the pagan Roman soldiers dressed the Son of God in a purple robe, the robe or garment of a royal personage, one deserving special homage and worthy of praise. They formed a crown for his head by twisting painful thorns into a rustic diadem to press upon his tender brow. Perhaps they thought parading Jesus before the Jewish people attired as a king in derision of the Israelite faith and calling out again and again, Hail, king of the Jews would reinforce upon the Jews the power of the Roman Empire. Maybe they wanted to remind these people crying out for blood that only Caesar held the power of life and death in the world as they knew it. Only he possessed principality authority in their land, never a Jew, not ever a Jew. How the religious leaders and Pharisees must have chafed against this irreligious behavior and show of power, but they would not have been able to speak out against the soldiers' behavior or anything else the Romans decided to do. But they could appeal to Pilate to fulfill their cruel plan: As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him [Jesus], they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!"

Pilate introduced Jesus as THE MAN. But Jesus was not the man, He was THE SON OF GOD, the KING OF KINGS. Looking at this scene, we see the chief priests and officials stung by the Romans' cavalier and demeaning reactions. We hear them cry out for Christ's death, totally ignoring Pilate's assessment: I find no basis for a charge against him [Jesus]. To these religious leaders entrusted with caring for God's chosen people, Jesus represented a threat to their position. His words, teachings, and miracles undermined their respect and authority in the Jewish community. Perhaps they instinctively knew and rightfully feared the complete implementation of a new covenant meant the end to the priesthood as they knew it. Their vocation and purpose for living would no longer have meaning or set them apart from others in the community if people believing in Christ completely undermined their position. Men might no longer try to win their favor or come to the temple to serve God if the kingdom of God could be found within people as Jesus was saying. Religious symbols and activities might be put aside if these things were a shadow of what was to come, and Jesus was the fulfillment of that shadow. If men and women could enter the kingdom of God by faith in Jesus, then what would happen to the whole established religious order represented by the many laws and ordinances the teachers of the law studied and explained to the people daily in the temple courts? What about this salvation plan and the Counselor Jesus said He was going to send after He went away? Far too many unanswered questions and too many uncertainties existed for those who had been in power so long to lay down their power at the feet of Jesus and to surrender to him. In fear of what they did not understand or comprehend, they said, Crucify! Crucify!

When Pilate asks him if He is the king of the Jews, Jesus says, Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me? Jesus goes on to say, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. Without argument, Pilate quickly concedes, You are a king, then! Jesus follows with further heresy according to Jewish Law: You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. But Pilate does not truly believe Jesus is a king or he would not have had him beaten; he would not have said, Here is the man! You take him and crucify him. No, Jesus was not the man: not a man that any mere human soldier or any Roman ruler possessed the power to mock or to curse or to pass judgment upon him without falling down dead unless God stayed his mighty hand of retribution. Jesus, the Word made flesh, was and is and always shall be God: the God who walked on Earth in human form: born of a woman; tested in all ways as we are, yet without sin. He was willing to die a most cruel death that all might live forevermore. Standing before the people a true king, the Most High King of all kings, Jesus defends not himself but places himself in God's hands and faces his destiny.

To the ungodly, the unknowing, this scene might appear as the nadir, the midnight hour, of Jesus' existence as they watch his demise draw nigh. But in the heavenly realm, on that day a mighty host prepares for a day of rejoicing as Father God sees the zenith of his greatest victory soon to appear in the sunrise of an empty tomb. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Christ will rise victoriously from the grave, bringing light and life to the people who sit in darkness in triumph over sin and death. Satan will topple in defeat, his grip on man forever loosened. Christ is ready. The time has come for the perfect Lamb of God to offer up his own life as a sacrifice for all. Jesus knows He will arise from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through his death and resurrection all people will find new life. Mankind will shout the victory throughout the ages: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? (1 Corinthians 15:54b-55) No, Jesus is not the man: He is God's beloved Son who will die and rise again. The works He did on Earth no man could do: the work He will do at the cross no man could ever do. That was established before time began. He lives; therefore, we live also: now and forever. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:13-15) Praise the God of our salvation: praise him all you saints of the Lord!

John 18:33-40

2011-10-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

John 18:33-40 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

What is truth? Using the Large Hadron Collider, researchers at the CERN nuclear research center in Switzerland recently discovered a sub-atomic particle that travels faster than light. Some say this "truth" negates many of our ideas about the physical world, placing in question Einstein's theory of relativity and well-established ideas about quantum physics and reality itself. Of course all of this is out of our league, yet it does remind us "truth" provides a slippery topic when it comes to human standards of interpretation. Even the finest minds with the keenest understanding of the substance of what we think of as the essence of all living things cannot agree upon this subject. Jesus says, I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Faced with one so honest and true, Pilate asks, What is truth? Then he rightly tells the Jews, based on the truth before me, I find no basis for a charge against him. The Christ who stands before Pilate definitely speaks of the "truth" of existence itself. Jesus knows his teaching, his miracles, his presence alone in the midst of people manifested his divine nature, his supernatural calling, and God's anointing upon his life to everyone He met, to everyone He touched and to all who touched him. This same Jesus who is now a captive was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (John 1:10-11)

Jesus explains to Pilate how his kingdom differs from the nature of the world Pilate sees around him. In Christ's kingdom, THE KING OF KINGS reigns: the giver of all life dwells forever. The Bible says, In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:4-5) This Truth never dies, never passes away. Yes, Jesus is life, He is existence: his kingdom lasts forever. He alone stands in purity. Here is the One spoken of in the Psalms and again in the New Testament: Jesus, the One who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. (Psalm 32:2, 1 Peter 2:22) Christ alone will wear the royal robe of God's holy righteousness. Jesus Christ, sent from the Father in his likeness with the light and life of his nature in human form, brought salvation into being as God planned since the beginning of creation. Standing before mere men who dare to judge him, Jesus knows just as He created all things, He will create new life in every new child of God who accepts God's salvation plan. He not only controls the three dimensions of our earthly reality, He controls all the dimensions of every reality. He who spoke the sub-atomic particles into existence will speak life eternal into every person who answers his call. Jesus reveals perfect truth to Pilate: "All who listen to me will align themselves on the side of truth, on the side of absolute reality, on the side of incontrovertible facts that none can deny. They will know I AM LIGHT AND LIFE and without me nothing exists; for everything is my handiwork. Because I live, they will live also." Recognizing he is in the presence of someone far greater than himself, Pilate simply says, Do you want me to release "the king of the Jews"? Blind and deaf, the people cry, No, not him! Give us Barabbas!

Jesus exposes Pilate to the Truth. My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. Christ's kingdom remains in another place. The scientists of our world perform experiments to find another dimension where perhaps unheard of insights into human existence will unfold before the eyes of mankind. Maybe these scientists will come close to knocking on the door of heaven with their explorations into the inner workings of sub-atomic forces. What we do know for certain is Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” (Matthew 17:20-21) Therefore, we who are IN CHRIST have his kingdom within us. We sit in the heavenly realm as new creatures in Christ Jesus awaiting the fullness of our inheritance. How all this works out in the world of physics and dimensions, we do not know; but we know the blood of Christ frees us from bondage to sin and faith sustains us now with real joy, carrying us victoriously to where God exists to live with him for all eternity. We know who we are as believers IN CHRIST, adopted into the family of God, hidden with Christ in God, kept strong and made holy through the powerful working of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, we have confidence God hears our prayers, sees our tears, and knows exactly how to meet our needs. We know Jesus never leaves us or forsake us because He is faithful and true to remain with us every moment of our lives. When He sent his apostles to make disciples of all nations, He promised, surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (See Matthew 28:19-20) Surely, we rejoice with great joy even when we face trials, troubles, sorrows or sicknesses because this world is not our final destination. Our loving heavenly Father has not and will not abandon his beloved Son and his joint-heirs: the church. Daily the Spirit reminds us, it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10) As his prized workmanship, we work for him until he calls us home, knowing God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. . .by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-4 & 6 NKJV) So whether we are weary or full of energy, confused or sure of our next steps, we have confidence in Christ our Lord today--his Word is true! The same Jesus who stood confident in the Truth before Pilate stands before YOU today. We want each of you to know, as surely as a sub-atomic particle goes faster than light, your position IN CHRIST and in eternity is more real than that earthy reality, for Jesus is the light, the life! He is THE KING, YOUR KING: King of kings and Lord of lords, forever and ever. Amen! Bow down before him; arise and shine for his light is the Light of the World!

John 18:28-32

2011-10-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

John 18:28-32 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law. “But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

Jesus continues his journey through the valley of suffering, knowing his pathway ends in death. We see him now in the hands of sinful men. God's glorious pronouncement on the Mount of Transfiguration no longer resounds in the people's ears: This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! (Matthew 17:5) A thirst for execution replaces the exaltations from the mouths of the crowd who spread their cloaks before Jesus when He entered Jerusalem triumphantly with people shouting, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! (Mark 11:9) Instead of blessing Christ as they did such as short time ago because they believed He would reestablish the kingdom of their father David and restore power to God's chosen ones, the people now bring him before Pilate as a criminal to face the judgment of death at the hands of this Roman ruler. They cannot exact such a punishment under their own Jewish law. Soon the sound waves will carry a harsh noise across the land as the people of God gathered before Pilate all call out repeatedly, Crucify him! Kill him, strike him down, even though you find no fault in him. (See Mark 27) Jesus the perfect Son of God will go to the cross as an innocent lamb, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) In silent fortitude and total obedience, Jesus will travel to hang on a cruel cross on Golgotha to do the will of the Father. He will fulfill the plan formed in the heart of God from the beginning of time to save sinners and to bring them into fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Who brought Jesus to be judged, to be killed? The religious elite decided Jesus deserved death. The outwardly pious, self-satisfied rulers from the temple courts brought Jesus to Pilate that He might be crucified. They hated Jesus and his teaching because He represented a threat to their standing in the community, their authority as the head of the Jewish religion and their place in the established culture. His presence brought light into the world directly from God, light that exposed the darkness in their souls and the lack of true spirituality in their motivations and dealings. Jesus was harsh in his judgments of these leaders throughout his ministry. He warned his disciples: Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1) Once when Jesus was speaking to the crowds, He told them to obey the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees but not to follow their example because they did not practice what they preached. Jesus expressed displeasure with these leaders because God gave them holy responsibilities; yet they settled for less: You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. (Matthew Chapters 22 and 23) He rightly discerned they loved the praises of men more than the praises of God. On this awful night in the hands of evil men, Jesus could have condemned every person in his presence to death. Instead Jesus foresaw a new and better way to eviscerate sin's death grip on God's creation: the cross beckoned him onward. God chose Jesus, his perfect grace gift to mankind. Love so amazing, so freely given to all who believe!

With his divinity set aside, Jesus knew his journey to the cross would fulfill many Old Testament prophecies including these precious words: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him [Christ Jesus] the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Knowing those He died to save would reject him, knowing his closest companions would not understand what He was doing until the Holy Spirit enlightened their hearts and minds, Christ died for the ungodly. A loving and merciful God manifested His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6 & 8) While we were yet rejecting him and turning from him, God placed the sins of all people on Jesus, for all creation was birthed with an inclination to do wrong, to follow the paths we choose, and to think we do not have to give an account to anyone including God. Nonetheless, Jesus allows the soldiers to take him away to stand before Pilate where He purposes to endure the cross that his death, burial, and resurrection might turn the world upside down. No longer will sin and death hold mankind captive to the grave as the just punishment for sin.

We know Christ's perfect sacrifice brings mercy and grace. Jesus, Light of the world, shines HIS LIGHT and LIFE upon all who call upon his name through the power of his cleansing blood, bringing new life to a fallen creation without hope of restoration. Pilate's meeting with the Jews on this early morning was not the beginning of eternal darkness. No, never: this day was the dawning of a new day of light and life forevermore! God's light always exposes the foolish inclinations of wayward human beings. His light reveals a critical spirit, a judgmental mindset, a pharisaical attitude, a gossipy approach to communicating--all cloaked in the guise of religion. Christ's presence exposes our lack of loving kindness and tender mercies toward our brothers and sisters in Christ and to those less fortunate or to those who have stumbled in the darkness and lost their way. Jesus said, Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. He went on to explain that we try to take specks of sawdust out of the eyes of our brothers and sisters when we have huge planks in our own eyes. (See Matthew 7:1-5) Paul gives a long list of instructions to the church at Ephesus about how to walk in Christ, how to grow up in the faith. He says, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8) Jesus stood there in the morning ready to take a difficult walk that we who were once darkness might walk as children of light! Let's be light!

John 18:12-18

2011-10-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

John 18:12-18 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

John 18:25-27 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

The story of Peter's failure to associate himself with Jesus when threatened by the crowd and his repeated refusal to acknowledge his close relationship with Christ offers a quintessential example of God's unending grace towards humankind. Peter's abysmal fall from grace encourages and helps all of the rest of us when we are weak. We can know God's mercy extends to us even when we face our worst moment of weakness and stand before him without any merit of our own or any right to ask him to accept us or to grant us favor ever again. When our own fears of what is happening around us cause us to cringe in a dark corner and the weaknesses of the flesh blind our eyes or overwhelm our faith and fidelity to Jesus, we can think of Peter denying his precious Lord, saying, "I am not one of his disciples." We can look at a bold man of faith brought to total weakness and the end of himself. We can see Peter with nothing left to hold onto and no power of his own to help him rise to the occasion to speak the words He should have said. When Jesus was with him and asked him who he thought Jesus was, he boldly and rightly replied, Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus called Peter a rock, and his confession of faith was building material for the church of the living God. Yet with Jesus facing imprisonment and death, and Peter standing outside the High Priest's courtyard unsure of what might happen, Peter had no sure answer, no hope, no voice. Nonetheless, we see God's unmerited grace covering Peter at his moment of weakness and poured out upon all who would answer God's call all the way to the cross and to the end of the age.

From the Old Testament to the New, we see a God who is slow to anger and quick to forgive, who is full of mercy and grace, who does not reward us according to what we deserve but according to his loving kindness, extending from everlasting to everlasting. We see this amazing grace manifested toward Abraham when out of fear for his life he gave his wife away, first to Pharaoh and then to Abimelech. Yet God remains faithful to Abraham and blesses him greatly, making him the father of many nations in spite of his fleshly failings, human faults, and inclinations to trust in his own solutions and devices. David was a man after God's own heart; yet many times he erred greatly and displeased God, making huge mistakes, judgment errors that caused great harm to people he loved. God brought him to task for these sins but also showed mercy upon him. Not fully understanding what was happening at the time of Christ's arrest, Peter must have felt great sorrow and shame when he failed so miserably in this time of testing. He might have been thinking of the Patriarchs or the Psalms, crying out, O LORD, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you. (Psalm 41:4) Earlier that night, Peter alone was willing to defend Jesus by using a sword. As a member of the intimate three Jesus kept close to him, Peter was privileged to see the transfiguration. He was present when God said, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (Mark 9:7) With James and John he witnessed Jesus raise Jairus' daughter from the dead. Jesus assigned these same three men the wonderful yet heady responsibility of praying for him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Although they failed Jesus by falling asleep, Peter was always one of Christ's most trusted and closest friends. With such a special relationship, Peter and everyone else surely assumed nothing could have made him deny Christ. But he did. Human beings often fall down when we rely upon ourselves. WE FAIL WHEN WE TRUST IN OUR OWN STRENGTH, BUT GOD HAD A PLAN FOR PETER AND FOR ALL WHO WOULD CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

Seeing Jesus led away, Peter momentarily lost his ability to stand tall. He doubted whether God was in control of the circumstances and feared the evil maelstrom of events might catch him if he confessed Jesus as Lord. Fear trumped his relationship with Jesus. Fear without a vibrant faith and confidence in God's presence and power does that. Problems and troubles on every side can blind us to what we know to be true if we take our eyes off Jesus or we think He has gone away. When we lose a job or relationships fail or disasters come upon us are we willing say, "Yes, I am one of his disciples." Or do we react as Peter and huddle close to the fire away from everyone else, trying to pretend God does not exist or that He has no place in our lives? Yet soon after that night, the same Peter who denied Christ went to the upper room on the Day of Pentecost to wait as Jesus said, for the gift my Father promised. He was not drawing back depressed over failing his Lord; he was waiting to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit came in power and authority, this same Peter preached with such divine unction and anointing about three thousand were added to their number that day. (See Acts chapters 1-2) In hard times believers do not draw back: we press in; we press on by faith. We declare the truth with the saints of all the ages: Our God lives! We say with Job: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. (Job 19:25) We say with Paul: If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:31 & 35)

Faced with troubles, as God's faithful servants: we read our Bibles, attend church, pray fervently for others (more than for ourselves), and help wherever God sends us. When floods of adversity strike, we remain steadfast because Peter's story reminds us God remains faithful and true. He redeemed us, saved us, lifted us from the miry clay according to his immeasurable and glorious grace. He does not turn from us, for He intends to fulfill in us his perfect unchangeable will: perfecting the work He has started in us. As dear children, we do not fear the courtyard, for He who is in us is greater than the one (or anything or anyone) who is in the world. We overcome through the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:1-4) Rejoice dearly beloved and be exceedingly glad! You have a reason to shout praises to the Lord. You have a reason to live. Yes, this life is hard, and it often becomes harder. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28)

John 18:8-11

2011-10-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

John 18:8-11 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Jesus knew Peter willingly risked his life as he bravely drew his sword against unbeatable odds; yet He also knew the act was not the perfect will of the Holy Father. Therefore, Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Billy Graham at age of 93 said, "The Bible says that God has a reason for keeping us here; if He didn't, He would take us to Heaven far sooner." The question remains: Can each of us drink the cup God gives us? Do we willingly accept God's plans or do we react as Peter when Jesus foretold a traumatic end to his life? During the third time Christ appeared to his disciples after He arose from the dead, He asks Peter repeatedly: Do you love me? When Peter says he does, Jesus tells him to feed and care for his sheep. Peter was hurt because Jesus kept questioning him and says, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Ignoring Peter's hurt feelings, Jesus does not defend his questioning but simply says, Feed my sheep. Then He adds the heart of his message to Peter that day: I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Understanding these words, Peter knows instantly Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which [he] would glorify God. The same Peter who moments earlier vehemently professed his undying love for Jesus now begins to count the cost, to question this calling. Seeing another disciple, Peter justifiably asks, What about him? But Jesus does not let Peter examine anyone else's life that day. He says don't look around you Peter; look at ME. If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to YOU? You must follow ME. Keep your eyes on me, your focus on me. Don't worry about John's life; you must drink the cup fully that God has prepared for you and you alone. (See John 21:15-23) Jesus knew that every one of his followers would have to choose to drink the cup.

Do we question God's plans by pointing to someone else, asking, Lord, what about him? What about John, the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper? Is he going to experience pain in his later years? Is he going to be led to a place where he does not want to go? Will he walk up a lonely hill to hang upon a cross upside down as tradition tells us the Spirit-led Peter chose to do when he faced death because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as his precious Lord? One day James and John approached Jesus boldly requesting, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Without hesitation, Jesus asked what they wanted. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. Jesus knew they did not have spiritual eyes to look ahead. They lacked complete comprehension of taking up the cross and following him, of dying to themselves and rising in newness of life with him. He says: “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” James and John said they could embrace the call of Christ on their lives. They looked forward by faith to a better day, a new and living way with Christ as their head and the Spirit within them. They may not have understood his words fully, but they would persevere and trust the One who said, Follow me. Later James surrendered his life as the first martyr. John lived into his nineties, longer than all the disciples, but he watched all those he loved face persecution and death. Banished to the penal island of Patmos, he wrote amazing letters of love; and while in the Spirit on the Lord's day, God gave him visions that touch, change, and enrich believers' lives to this day. Jesus lost none of those the Father gave him except Judas, as through the same power that raised Christ from the dead, they said, "Yes, Lord we will drink the cup you drink, follow you where you lead for the glory of the living God!"

When they came to arrest Jesus, Peter tried to do good by defending him from these malefactors. He would have died that day to protect his Lord, but his efforts ran counter to God's perfect will. Although Peter did not intend to circumvent the will of God by cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant, Peter erred. Jesus rebuked him before healing the servant's ear to correct this mistake. How many times do we try to do what is best for us without stopping to seek the perfect will of God? How often do we make decisions on where to go, what to buy, how to live, what to say, and so on based on our human desires and inclinations, our own intellect and wisdom rather than taking time to seek the will of God. Oftentimes, we pridefully convince ourselves we do not need to seek God's will. Surely it is a good thing to be healthy and prosperous with strong relationships and a happy life with no problems. But when things begin to deteriorate or trials and tribulations come along, our human tendency is to try through natural means and fleshly efforts to fix things ourselves and to lean heavily upon logical answers that make sense to us without seeking counsel from the Holy Spirit--the Great Counselor who has all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. This usually leads to more complications and a cascade of increasingly more complicated and difficult situations until finally in desperation we fall before the Lord, crying out with the psalmist: O Lord, don't hold back your tender mercies from me! My only hope is in your faithfulness. Otherwise I perish, for problems far too big for me to solve are piled higher than my head. (Psalms 40:11-12a LB) Thankfully, God is slow to anger and quick to forgive.

Is everything bad or evil that happens to us God's plan or will? No, but He is in control; He knows everything: the beginning and the ending. We can trust him in all things, seek him at all times, thank him in all situations because He is Lord of ALL. Many verses in the Bible confirm this belief: we have shared them often in these breakfasts. Paul did not tell the church, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1 Thessalonians 5:18) because the Holy Spirit wants us to become masochistic martyrs who enjoy painful situations. No, we give thanks always because we have the victory through Christ our Lord who overcame everything for us through the cross. The cross was a painful, horrendous experience--not something we would wish on anyone--yet it was God's perfect redemption plan for humanity to send his only begotten Son to suffer and to die that all might live. The cross set us free through the efficacious blood of Jesus: free to live; free to dance, sing, and shout praises to our God for all eternity. Consequently, we trust God to see us through whatever comes our way on this earthly journey because we know when the road turns horribly rough and full of sharp curves or it seems we have fallen into a deep pit, He remains faithful--ready to lead and to guide. Through Christ and his finished work, we have power to walk the walk, to drink the cup. As we wait patiently upon him, listen to his voice, and learn of him; his truth and wisdom see us through anything and everything as He lifts us up out of the miry clay because He does not lose any of those the Father gives to him. He comforts us, gives us what we need, and shows us the way when we walk in the Spirit instead of following the old ways of our selfish desires because the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

(James 3:17-18)
Bless you, beloved of God. Put away your swords. The victory is yours!

John 18:1-7

2011-09-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

John 18:1-7 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Since first breaking bread with his disciples at the Passover meal, Jesus' actions and his words pointed continually toward this moment, the time when He would no longer walk freely among the people. No more would He escape arrest by slipping into the crowd. All along, He knew the time was drawing nigh, even before the passover meal, John records these words: Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. As Jesus gives them a new command, saying: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another; He also tells them He will be with them only a little longer. (See John 13:1 & 33-34) Then when He sees their troubled hearts, He tells them not to fear because He is going to prepare a place for them that they might be with him there. When their anxiety continues, as He knew it would; He lets them know He will not merely show them the way or make a way to the Father: He is the way and the truth and the life; no one approaches the Father except through the Son. Finally, Jesus questions his disciples lack of faith when they ask him to show them the Father, asking them if they have forgotten all He has said and done among them. After all this, He asks, Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Again He says, I am going to the Father, but He gives them a tremendous promise. He tells them they will do greater things than He has done to bring glory to the Father. He promises the Holy Spirit who will abide within: If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. (See John 14:1-6, 9-10, & 11-17) Throughout all of Christ's words to his much-loved followers, his message consistently states and restates his love and the love of the Father--one love for a lost world. Yet He also reminds them to follow, to listen and to obey. This message is a message to us.

Now the moment of his arrest arrives, and Jesus has left his time of prayer to the Father and crossed the Kidron Valley to an olive grove, a place where oil originates, cooking oil, eating oil, anointing oil. This is a place where death begins for Christ and the possibility of eternal life for all people takes a sharp upwards turn. Judas the betrayer followed Jesus there with his band of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They carried torches, lanterns and weapons. Since Judas knew Jesus and his disciples represented no military threat, they did not need to mount a sneak attack under protection of darkness to catch Jesus and his "soldiers" unaware. Perhaps they came at night because they feared the reaction of those who followed Jesus. Perhaps they in the dark because they loved darkness more than light and John wanted that recorded because of Jesus said: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (John 3:16-10) Here we see Christ's words played out on the world's stage, with each real life actor playing his part: choosing the darkness or the light, death or life. We see this every day of our lives.

Jesus asks these night-time marauders, Who is it you want? When they answer, Jesus of Nazareth, He simply says, I am He. In the presence of the glory of the Lord, the I Am, the beginning and the end; they drew back and fell to the ground. They could not have remained standing had they tried with all their might. Jesus understood their purposes, the evil intentions of their hearts. The Holy Spirit revealed all wisdom, knowledge, and truth to Christ as He walked this earth. Jesus did not need mere men to tell him anything. He was looking ahead to the cross, the resurrection, and the joy set before him: victory over the world, the flesh and the devil. He knew this small group of soldiers and religious leaders had no power over him except what God yielded to them according to his divine plan. Jesus looked ahead to a day John describes in his vision in Revelation. John writes: I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." (Revelation 21:2-4 & 6) For this, Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” Today, He says, What is it you want in your life, my daughter, my son? What is it you seek? I am He, the Alpha and the Omega, the Way, your way. Follow me, and old things will pass away and all things will become new. May we listen, live, and walk in the light of his love!

John 17:24-26

2011-09-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

John 17:24-26 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Jesus prays to the Father for his disciples' ministry on Earth and for their position in the family of God. Then He expands the vision to include God's salvation plan for all who will believe as we read in the last breakfast when He said, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their (the disciples') message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. Jesus explains this unity shows how God sent Jesus because He loved the world even as He loved his Son from the beginning of time. As Jesus walked this Earth, He showered the love of the Father on his followers and all who called upon him as Lord that they might be one as the Father and the Son are one. As Jesus said: I in them and you in me. (See John 17:20-23) In today's verses, Jesus explains the inexplicable, the exceeding abundantly marvelous aspects of God's redemption plan. As this plan unfolds throughout his prayer, He utters words we find hard to comprehend even now: Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Just as He will soon offer himself as the propitiation for the sins of all people for all time, Jesus speaks words of light and life in the presence of his dearly beloved. He desires to open their eyes and ears to their hope for the future. He knows the disciples will answer the call to action when the Holy Spirit comes upon them after his death and resurrection and reminds them of all He told them and empowers them to go forth with this message. "Hear me!" He says from his heart of love. He wants them to understand his prayer: "I know the Father. He knows me and sent me; for we are one. I introduced you to him and will make your love relationship with him secure forever; for I am alive in you through his love, and I have shown him to you through my life and my words."

Through Christ, we see the triune God is inseparable. Jesus and the Father are one in everything, all they do: You are in me and I am in you. The Spirit, Breath of God, intrinsically binds all the Father and Son do in Heaven and on Earth. When the women found an empty tomb after Christ arose from the grave, the news spread quickly. Astounded and upset, the chief priests paid the soldiers who guarded the tomb a large sum of money to say, His [Christ's] disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep. (Matthew 28:12-13) Such lies did not thwart God's plan then, and they do not stop a move of God now when people listen to God and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. After the resurrection when the disciples obeyed Jesus' instruction to go to a mountain in Galilee and wait, they saw him and worshipped him there in truth and power. His words that day came forth as clearly as when they heard his prayer to the Father on their behalf before He went to the cross. We know beyond any doubt when they saw and heard the resurrected Christ, they remembered his words. They recalled his passionate pleas to Father God for their protection by the power of his name, for a full measure of joy, for complete unity, and for the love of the Father given before the creation of the world.

When Jesus met them on the mountain, He would give very important instructions: a divine commission for all who would follow after him. He would not tell them to go back to their fishing or to resume tax collecting or to do whatever they might like to take up for self-satisfaction and contentment as new creatures in him set free from the strongholds of the enemy. He would not say, "Seek self-fulfillment as the happiest people on Earth, rejoicing because I am sending you back to your hometowns to relax and to enjoy peace and harmony with no more problems or stress." No! He said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20) And we know He said this with the same passion as when He spoke with the wealthy young man who asked how to inherit eternal life. Jesus loved this fellow and looked upon him with compassion; yet knowing his heart, He said, One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me. But he [the man] was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:21-22 NKJV) Something else other than God was his treasure, his lifeline, and his source. Following Christ has to be Everything!

As Christians, we experience the love of the Father for the Son that Jesus describes so fervently. We do not represent ourselves before the Father: we come in Christ's name, through his atoning sacrifice, clothed in his robes of righteousness. The Father loves and accepts Jesus his perfect beloved Son: therefore, He accepts those hidden with Christ through the cross. Jesus alone paid our way into the Father's house, forever. We are now with the Father because Christ is the Way, and his blood covers our sins. His resurrection from the grave stands for all time as our resurrection because his word is true: 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. (John 11:25-26) As resurrected beings, we show forth the nature of Christ to others. No longer citizens of this world, we look for the world to come while serving Christ here. Alive unto Christ, we no longer function as mere finite beings. That life belongs to the unbeliever, the unrighteous pagan who has not tasted the good things of God. We are created in the image of God, cleansed by the precious blood of the Lamb, and perfected day by day by the loving Holy Spirit. If that were not so, we would stumble in the darkness and perish in our sins. In Christ, we ask the Spirit to help us to listen and to obey as Paul encouraged the church in Philippi: Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. . . (Philippians 2:14-16) All that Jesus did fulfilled the Father's plan, revealing God's heart of love that we might have the fulness of God revealed in us just as Christ prayed to the Father. Today, rest in the knowledge that God, the Father, loves you with an everlasting love in Jesus' name. Go forth in by faith, believing in God's grace and mercy; and make disciples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

John 17:20-23

2011-09-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

John 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

As Christ expands his prayer for his disciples to include those who will believe in [him] through their message, He reveals the Father's plan to save all people. He has asked the Father to protect [the disciples] from the evil one; now He makes clear, as He has on other occasions, the inclusiveness of his loving kindness and tender mercies: My prayer is not for them alone. Lest his disciples think Christ is setting up a hierarchy with a chosen few at the top to rule in his name; Jesus prays for all who will believe in his message. He lets the disciples know this is the Word of Life they will impart to the world as He tells Father God: I have given them the glory that you gave me, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. Later on through the unction of the Spirit, Paul will also speak of Christ's sacrifice for all people and this ministry of reconciliation, assigned first to the apostles and then to the entire body: For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. . .Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 & 17-19) Jesus asks the Father for the mantle of oneness He wore on Earth to fall upon his ambassadors of love that the world may believe that you have sent me. Again we see the repetition of his words as He says: May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jesus prayed for unity for the disciples and unity for those who would accept their message, so they would know that God loved them even as He loved his only begotten Son. The essence of Christianity remains unchangeable: faith in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross makes us eternally alive through the power of the Holy Spirit, acceptable to God forever. Christ's shed blood as the perfect Lamb ushers us into his family where we bear his name and share in his inheritance despite our former condition as prisoners to sin and death. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7) Through Christ, we come to know the Father, to believe the truth of the Word that they are one; consequently, we are NOW the Children of God, full of his grace and glory, standing in his perfection. Knowing all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), we do not come through our own good deeds or human attainments. We walk by faith because Christ's righteousness is our righteousness, his perfection replaces our imperfection. We tell a world lost in sin, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. . .But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:1 & 5-6) We do not look to people, traditions of men, or institutions for hope or for validation. Christ alone presents us blameless, HOLY, and acceptable to God!

Faith expressing itself through love takes on as many forms as there are members in the body of Christ. Everyone speaks of love; yet our actions and reactions often negate our words. Believers sometimes engage in foolish talk and spew outright vitriol at people or groups with whom we disagree or want to attack without apology. Did someone decide to blot out, Let your gentleness be known to all men (Philippians 4:5) because we can no longer agree to disagree peaceably? Are we feasting on God's Word or bitter fruit? John wrote, test the spirits to see whether they are from God. . .love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:1 &7-12) The Bible is consistent from the Old to the New Testament on loving our neighbors as ourselves. A neighbor is whoever God sends our way. Do we love our enemies, those who take advantage, hate or abuse us? Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18) LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman. (Psalm 15:1-3) We have received so much and have so much to give in return.

Jesus said: You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48) Though debased, humiliated, tortured, and forsaken; Christ died with loving words on his lips: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) Some believers shake their fists in the air, write angry letters, and utter all manner of evil against duly elected officials, knowing full well the Bible says honor those in authority. We seem to care more about ourselves than the poor and the needy, and we speak horrendous words against the alien in our midst when our forbearers all came from somewhere else. The LORD told his chosen people: Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt. If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you (Exodus 22:22-23 and 23: 2 & 9; Leviticus 25:35) Countless scriptures confirm God is love. Therefore, Paul writes, Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32) Yes, this is a strong breakfast, dearly beloved: strong food for strong soldiers of the cross.

John 17:13-16

2011-09-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

John 17:13-16 I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

When Jesus, by the unction of the Holy Spirit, emphasizes an idea by saying it more than once in a brief time period, we should take note. He says, the world hates them because they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. Twenty-one words later, He repeats this phrase: surely the Father did not lose track. By talking to the Father, Jesus informs his beloved followers: This world is not your home: you are strangers in a foreign land. This describes your existence because you are not of the world any more than I am of the world. He does not ask the Father to deliver them from the world but to protect them from the evil one and to sanctify them by the truth, his Word! Jesus offers himself as the only Way to the Father, for He is the One who declared: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6) At the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus completely fulfills the words of John the Baptist as he ushered in Christ's mission: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. . .For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14:17) Jesus says what He must say while He is with his disciples that they might go forth with in the power of the Holy Spirit with the full measure of all the joy He has in him within them. He knows they are unprepared for the hatred they will face. Jesus knows they will overcome only through the power the Father has to bestow upon them as He fulfills his plan to take his the grace and truth to a fallen world in need of a Savior.

Christ's prayer to the Father should stir our hearts anew today as we ask ourselves: Are we truly in the world BUT not of the world? Do our actions and reactions, our words and activities, our time commitments and loyalties testify to that reality? Do our friends, relatives, and co-workers know we have a blessed hope burning in our hearts as we look for the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ? (Titus 2:13) Jesus, the Son of God, did not bring the Word of God: He is the Word. The Everlasting Word, the personification of the Father who was with God from the beginning, emptied himself and walked among human beings to reveal completely the divine nature and true perfection our Holy Father who loved us from the foundation of the World. Jesus, the man, demonstrated and expressed the truth of God (his reality, nature, and existence) by his words and his works, by always listening to the Father's voice and doing the Father's will. God sent the Son not only to forgive sin, which would have been beyond human imagination indeed; but also to bring us into an amazing faith relationship with him through Christ. God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He [Jesus] is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His [God's] nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He [Jesus] had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
(Hebrews 1:1-4 NASB)

Faith in our risen Lord, the truth personified, sets us free from sin and death, allowing us to share our freedom with others since He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. (1 Peter 2:24 NASB) Jesus said, So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36) We were not meant to clasp our deliverance and adoption into God's family as a secret. We should shout from the housetops: I AM FREE! Our spirits are no longer totally subject to carnal thinking and the evil dictates of this world any more than Jesus was of this world while He lived here. Jesus listened to and obeyed the Father's voice in dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we wonder at the many complaints of American Christians as we overflow with blessings and benefits, even in our worst calamities. Under house arrest in Rome, Paul wrote: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3) Paul arrived in chains in the city where he had hoped to move freely as an apostle; yet his letters overflow with joyful praises and encouragements to hear the truth and to walk as believers risen with Christ. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4) Despite any temporary trials, WE WHO ARE IN CHRIST LIVE NOW AND FOREVER BECAUSE HE LIVES. As Christ truly sanctified himself to the Father, by his grace we should shine for him as living testimonies that God's Word is truth! We may stumble, but we should quickly arise, for we are not helpless or blind. As Paul told the Corinthians, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. (1 Corinthians 9:26) We must stand fast as committed children of God, sold-out to him, not wishy-washy, not faint-hearted. In truth we pledge: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

John 17:1-12

2011-09-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

John 17:1-12 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name — the name you gave me — so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

As Jesus continues speaking to the Father, he actually speaks to his disciples, restating obvious realities: He tells the Father what the Father most certainly knows, for He designed the plan and controls every element of Christ's existence. He does not require a reminder from the Son that everything Jesus received came from him. Father God knows Jesus gave people his words and they accepted them, knowing with certainty that Jesus came from God. Therefore, they believed God sent him. He knows everything Jesus is going to say about his disciples because Jesus and the Father are one, and God is omniscient, knows the beginning and the end: so why is Jesus praying this way at this time? He prays for the benefit of his disciples, the ones He is preparing for service. He wants them to realize the depth of his relationship with Father God and by extension, the depth of his relationship and his abiding love for them: I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. He is committing his beloved ones into the Father's hands and establishing the oneness between them and him: Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name — the name you gave me — so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.

Jesus name means Savior, God with us. When Mary was found to be with child by the power of the Holy Spirit, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream to reassure him, saying, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21) As Jesus asks the Father to protect his dear disciples, his words clearly reveal his mission to bring those who accept and follow him into oneness with God through the efficacy of his name: Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13) Only Judas did not accept Jesus as the Son of God. He must have at least viewed Jesus as a good man, a miracle worker, or a prophet. Maybe he followed him as a chance to success or power in this life; whatever his reasons, he did not follow Jesus as his Lord. How could anyone sell the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver? Three years with Jesus did not open Judas' eyes to the divinity of Christ; yet he cared enough to experience bitter remorse and to take his own life after his terrible deed. After Jesus' death, resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost, the disciples experienced the fruit of Christ's loving prayer of commitment to the Father. We see them performing miracles, doing good works, and the phrase in the name of Jesus appears 13 times attached to their actions in Acts alone. One of our favorites: Then Peter said: Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. (Acts 3:6)

Far removed from the days of Christ, we still must believe in Jesus alone as our Way: our Way to peace and harmony with God and victory in our lives. Jesus alone is perfect, divine, holy, set apart, high and lifted up, at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us, as the gatekeeper to God's domain. Jesus revealed God's power, wisdom, and knowledge to the disciples. Eleven of them believed Jesus was from the Father: they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. They accepted Jesus' words: He knew the Father. However, in their fleshly state, without the promised fulness of the indwelling Holy Spirit, they lacked full awareness and complete understanding of the way of salvation, the cross, and the resurrection. After Pentecost, the Spirit opened their blind eyes to understand Christ's sacrifice on the cross, the price He paid for them that they might come alive in him with victory over sin and death, to arise in newness of life forevermore: HIS NEW CREATION! While Jesus was on Earth, He was the apostles' umbrella of protection. As He obeyed the Father completely, they were under his wing. Subsequent to the cross and the resurrection, the apostles came under the auspices of the Holy Spirit with amazing freedom from captivity to their former defeating fleshly weaknesses. The Holy Spirit lead his followers through their journey on Earth as they yielded to God's call. Under the Spirit's authority, we are no longer limited by our human abilities: we have power and authority through Christ in us by the power of the Holy Spirit to grow in grace in him, to come alive to serve him.

Do we struggle with insecurities, inclinations to do wrong; do we face trials, temptations? Yes! Does this mean God does not help us or protect us? No! He never leaves us, never forsakes us; we have an eternal everlasting protection; nothing can ever take that away. Jesus lost none of his disciples except Judas, who chose death over life. Storms of life happen to the just and the unjust: Jesus is in the boat. He is with us and the still small voice constantly guides us. All the disciples came under persecution for their faith. All but John probably lost their lives through acts of violence against them. Yet they could say with James, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4) And if we truly understood Christ's meaning when He said do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4), we would worry less about chance and happenstance, the cares of life, and be much more concerned about the Father's business, the ripe harvest field, hurting people in need of our help. We must believe the memory verses we quote and feed upon them as the bread of life, trusting the LORD with all our hearts, leaning not on our own understanding as in all our ways we acknowledge Him. Then He would be more free to direct our paths. We pray this in the powerful and precious name of Jesus. May He abundantly bless you today and perfect the good work He has begun in you, for we who are IN CHRIST ARE NOW ONE WITH GOD because of the Spirit's work in us!

John 17:1-5

2011-09-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

John 17:1-5 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

In the days before his death, Jesus has been building a strong foundation of faith in his disciples' hearts. He tells them several times not to be afraid. Jesus says He is going to prepare a place for them and in his Father’s house are many rooms. When they ask where He is going, He says, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. He shows them the way to live victoriously through faith as the way to the Father: If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He tells them He will send the Holy Spirit to give them power and authority over sin, to bring all that He has taught them to fruition in their lives, and to fill them with resurrection life: When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. Jesus came to glorify the Father by bringing many children to his household. Therefore, He also tells them He understands they expected him to rule and reign as head of an earthly kingdom giving them positions of power in the present age, but He came as a sacrificial lamb to offer himself for the sins of all mankind. And He asks his disciples to forsake all else and to follow him to the cross, to become his love servants, soldier of the cross who would face tribulations for the sake of the gospel: They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. He knows they will leave him for a little while at the time of his death because they lack strength in themselves to resist the evil one, so He warns them ahead of time. They cannot believe such events will happen, and even though He is frustrated with them at times, He comforts them, saying: But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (Re-read John chapters 14-16 for these scriptures.)

Now in the last moments before He goes away, Jesus turns his face to the Father, the One He serves, the One He loves above all else, the One He obeys and gives all his allegiance to in all He says and does, saying, Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. All who believe in Jesus up to this very day believe in the Father God as Creator of all things, and all who believe in Jesus as the Christ have eternal life because Christ obeyed the Father. Just as Jesus turned to the Father and sought his will, so do we. We look to the Father, for where else would we go for the words of life? HE IS OUR LIFE: He gave us life THROUGH THE SON. The salvation message starts and ends with the Father who sent his only begotten Son that just as Jesus said: he (Jesus) might give eternal life to all those you (God) have given him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Jesus received authority from Father God over all men SO that WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM might have eternal life. No man can have eternal life with the Father outside of Christ's redemptive work on the cross. Faith in Jesus and his fulfillment of God's new covenant with his creation makes us one with the Father and unites us with Christ in his death and resurrection. As his blood-bought children, we are adopted into God's family; subsequently, we cry Abba Father, and as children of God we accept his holy calling upon our lives. We gladly yield to his will and follow him.

All who believe in Jesus as their Savior find assurance in God as their Father. Since He is our Father, we have confidence He hears and answers our prayers and petitions in the name of his Son. Jesus is glorified in the presence of God because the Father honors his salvation work and accepts his sacrifice for all sin forever. Many scriptures confirm this relationship. We have read Christ's own confirming words throughout John, but we find evidence of our security in Christ throughout the Bible. We often point people who are struggling to Romans, especially chapter eight. People often quote, There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, but to make those words our own, we must also believe: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:1 & 35-39) As Mom likes to say, "We know what a conqueror is, but through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit alive in us, we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS!" That puts us in the category of radical faith, sold-out believing, no whining, no but's added, no questions or doubts attached: I have decided to follow Jesus, and I am not turning back. I am going to say to God, "May my life glorify you!" I am going to pray this prayer in faith by the power of the Spirit at work in me: Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21) Bless you beloved of God!

John 16:29-33

2011-08-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

John 16:29-33 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “You believe at last!” Jesus answered. “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Ironically, the disciples retained doubts concerning Jesus after sitting at his feet, hearing him teach wondrous truths, perform marvelous miracles, and seeing a great crowd as they took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” (John 12:12) These same men had seen others believe from the beginning. They had witnessed while he [Jesus] was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, [and] many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. Later, after Jesus' amazing interaction with the woman at the well, Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony. . .And because of his words many more became believers. (John 4:39 &41) Jesus touched people in the highest places: Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. (John 12:42) Regardless of his disciples' persistent unbelief, Jesus still felt compassion for his chosen ones. Not only did He prepare them for his departure, He spoke honestly and convincingly of the realities of human existence: In this world you will have trouble. Every person who has ever existed experiences difficulties, trials, and problems in this world. Christians as well as unbelievers face hardships and troubles no matter how much they pray or how closely they walk with God. Jesus, the Son of God, clearly said: YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE. Peter wrote: Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. (1 Peter 4:12) Through faith in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul declared, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35)

The question for every believer remains not whether trials will come but how we will face these storms of life? Are we going to remain strong in our faith, praising God for his presence and strength or will we weaken and fall away as Jesus predicted for his disciples: You will leave me all alone? A strong commitment to Christ requires an informed belief in who we are and intentionality: we cannot wait until the floods comes to build our houses upon the rock Christ Jesus. We can't wait until gale force winds batter our ships of life to have Christ as the anchor for our souls. When we halt between two opinions, we are double-minded, inconsistent, lacking power in our lives. We all need to come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. (Ephesians 4:13-15) On the cross, Jesus cried out: “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” — which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) On the cross with the weight of the sin of all mankind, Jesus felt forsaken; yet we know God never left his side. Hear David's prophecy concerning Christ recounted: I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. . .Seeing what was ahead, he (David) spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. (Acts 2:25-28 & 31) We who are IN CHRIST experience doubts and fears, but we are not orphans: God is always with us no matter of the depth of our problems or the intensity of our doubts or fears.

Hardships and difficulties can drain a person. We sometimes look for support and do not find it from people we thought would help us: they let us down or fail to keep their promises. Unsaved friends and relatives might chose a rough time in our lives to point out that our Christianity does not seem to pay off: "Where is that God you serve: why isn't He coming to your aid? You cannot even save yourself from trouble: why tell us about your close relationship with God? How has He benefitted you? You claim God's presence, but you are mired in the same vicissitudes and trials of life that I am. When it floods, your house floods just as ours does. Where's the special benefit of serving your God?" The world deserves an answer. The Bible says we must always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1 Peter 3:15) And our hope is a blessed and glorious hope in a risen Savior who promised never to leave us or to forsake us. If you read all of the New Testament, you will find many scriptures on suffering and trials, and many scriptures on faith, hope, peace, and joy in the Lord. As Christ felt He was alone at the cross, we sometimes feel abandoned or alienated; however, when we stop to listen to the Holy Spirit, we know we are not alone. We know Christ paid the price so we would never have to be alone in the universe. Yet Jesus did have to experience the pain of separation, the pain of death for us HE WAS ALONE IN THE GRAVE, DEPENDENT UPON THE SPIRIT TO LIFT HIM UP IN VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH! But by faith, Jesus put his hope and trust in his Father God, Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. REGARDLESS OF HIS EMOTIONS, HIS STRESS, HIS TROUBLE; HE KNEW THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS WITH HIM AND WOULD NOT FORSAKE HIM. We have good news to share!

When Jesus was baptized in water by John as a sign to unbelievers, the Holy Spirit came upon him and was always with him, never left him. The same Holy Spirit never leaves us. The Spirit, the earnest of our inheritance, is the still small voice that leads us through every trial, every dark hour. In our greatest moment of despair, when our hearts are most desperate, He says, "My daughter, my son, listen to me, I am here. I am with you always: you are not alone. I will see you through to the end. Rejoice! The battle is over: rest in me." When the prospect of death faces us, his voice will lead us as we rise on eagle's wings, headed home to the father, never again to know pain, suffering or sorrow; no more tears, hurt, confusion, rejection, or anything else Satan throws our way. The Spirit will remind us our trip over Jordan is only the shadow of death, not death itself. Right now, we are pilgrims and strangers on a journey, rejoicing with great joy because we are bound for a heavenly city made by God for those who have their minds set upon arriving there. He will lead us where our flesh could never have gone without him, for we are clothed in his righteousness. This was the promise to Jesus and this is HIS PROMISE TO EACH OF US. The answer to serving God is that the resurrection morning is ours: some golden daybreak we will be filled with his presence, taken to the place prepared for us. Therefore, whether we struggle or not in this world, our hope is in Jesus Christ and his resurrection power, not in ourselves. Because He lives, we live also, now and forever. For sure, we know that we are never alone in our times of trouble, for He does not forsake his own. Even when we take our last breath on this earth, He will be there, for we are IN HIM AND HE IS IN US. GOD HIMSELF IS OUR PORTION, AND WE WILL NEVER BE ALONE. Amen!

John 16: 22-28

2011-08-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

John 16: 22-28 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

In our previous breakfast, we saw Christ's compassion for his dear friends' present situation and for what was coming as He said, Now is your time of grief. Yet He went right on to say, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In today's verses, He wants them to understand in a deeper and fuller sense some of the wonderful realities of the new day his death and resurrection will achieve for all people. He wants them to have a glimpse of the power and authority they will have through his name. As long as Jesus was with his disciples, He served as an intermediator between them and God. He petitioned the Father not only for their concerns, but other people's as well. He touched, fed, and healed many; He significantly impacted the lives of thousands as He walked this Earth. As John said following his first miracle of turning the water into wine, This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (John 2:11) As they trusted him, He taught them about God and the kingdom of Heaven. Nonetheless, for the disciples to know anything about God, they had to ask Jesus; for He alone had been with the Father, knew the Father intimately. Jesus knew He must go away for the fullness of God's plan to come to fruition. Yet He also knew that even his disciples did not understand fully his relationship with God and the need for them to be able to have a new covenant with God, the power that He was going to provide for them through his death and resurrection.

Jesus repeatedly told his followers and the religious leaders who sought to defeat him that he came to do the will of the Father and did only what the Father told him to do, for He and the Father were one. We have heard Jesus say words such as these throughout our study: No one has seen the Father except the one [Jesus] who is from God; only he has seen the Father. (John 6:46) We have also seen Jesus' frustration with his disciples' lack of faith such as when He speaks of going to prepare a place for them and says, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. Thomas says we don't know where you are going or how to get there, and Philip says if you would just show us the Father then we would believe. Jesus answers: Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. (See John 14:1-11) Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, the disciples lacked understanding, lacked the ability to discern righty the words of Jesus even when He was in their presence.

Now when Jesus says, I have been speaking figuratively, [but] a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language, He is telling the disciples that when He returns after the resurrection, they will receive power through the Holy Spirit to petition the Father directly in his name. (See Acts 1:8) They will no longer need to ask Jesus in person for answers to their questions about God and spiritual concerns, for they will have authority in JESUS' NAME to go directly to the Father. The Spirit of God will be the interlocutor, the transmitter of this ongoing conversation between the Father and his beloved adopted children. All of this heavenly conversation will transpire through the name of Jesus, by HIS AUTHORITY, for He has won the victory for us. He alone has given us access to the Father. Jesus is the gate to the Father: there is no other way to right standing and fellowship with God the Father except through faith in Jesus Christ. We enter into that Gate through faith, knowing the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed us and made us righteous, holy and completely acceptable to God. Our requests are always made in HIS NAME, the precious, lovely name: Jesus.

Christ alone gives us the right to call God our ABBA FATHER. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul writes so beautifully: And being found in appearance as a man, he [Jesus] humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8-11) No other name, no other philosophy, no other theology, only faith in HIS SON pleases Father God. No other idea gives us access to The Beginning and The End, The Alpha and Omega. If we stray from the sheepfold of the Lamb of God, we lose access to the Father God. As blood-bought born again believers, beloved of God, we come confidently to the throne of grace with all that we are and all that we will ever be, saying, "Here I am, just as I am." We lay our petitions before God through Jesus our Savior, believing in his sacrifice, believing in his Word, giving all to him. He says: I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. As born again believers, we surrender all at the cross, and we rest in God's loving kindness and tender mercy, for we know Jesus said, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. Today, believe in your heart: the Father himself loves ME because I love Jesus and believe that He came from God for ME.

Breakfasts have been slow in coming and we pray our lives settle down a bit now. We appreciate those who have sent us encouraging words. Mom has had a lot of tests and appointments with specialists lately and some hard days as well as good days in the Lord. She is going to have an evaluation at the University of Washington for diagnosis of a possible neuromuscular disease. She rejoices every day in the strength of the Lord and appreciates your love and prayer support. Surely blessing He has blessed us and will bless each of you for your patience and kindness!

John 16:16-22

2011-08-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

John 16:16-22 “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Jesus continues teaching and preparing his beloved disciples, predicting his eminent departure and death followed by his joyful return. He has spoken of these events on numerous occasions, yet the disciples fail to understand his words or to comprehend his meaning. They view Jesus as Messiah sent from God, anointed with great power to heal the lame, give sight to blind eyes, control nature itself by calming stormy seas, even raise the dead. How could this same Jesus, the Christ, who says He knows the Father and does all in the name of his Father, face such an ignoble end and confess susceptibility to death at the hands of mere men? The disciples reveal mental and spiritual confusion because they are thinking on earthly things, not on heavenly things. Their minds have not been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit; therefore, they talk among themselves, not wanting to question him: What does he mean. . . What does he mean. . .? Jesus, knows they do not understand, always knew they did not understand throughout his ministry. His frustration comes forth immediately after the miracles of feeding the five thousand and the four thousand when He meets a group of Pharisees who demand: Give us a miraculous sign from heaven to prove yourself. He sighs in deep anguish at such unbelief, refuses to give another sign, and gets back in the boat, warning the disciples: Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. Yet they are so clueless and unaware of what just happened, they think He refers to the fact they have no bread to eat in the boat. Jesus cries out what He must felt so often on the road to the cross as He obeys his Father's will that all might live and ever die: Why are you so worried about having no food? Won’t you ever learn or understand? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear? Don’t you remember anything at all? What about the five thousand men I fed with five loaves of bread? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward? Twelve,” they said. And when I fed the four thousand with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up? Seven,” they said. Don’t you understand even yet?” he asked them. (See Mark 8:11-21 NLT)

Jesus never lost sight of the goal set before him that He would drink the cup fully for the sins of all; yet his heart was now toward his disciples who would follow after him, taking the gospel message to the ends of the earth. By drinking the cup prepared for him, He would deliver the kingdom of God to all people for all time by bridging the terrible gulf that separated God from his creation. Through Christ's death on the cross, his shed blood and subsequent resurrection, God would birth a new people forever called the Redeemed, the Ransomed adopted sons and daughters of the Most High God, co-heirs with his Only Begotten Son. This newborn generation IN CHRIST, known as members of God's family, bought by the precious blood of Jesus, would possess eternal life with the Father. As a result, just as Christ listened to the Father and yielded to the Holy Spirit, so would the newly born in Christ after the Spirit came upon them at Pentecost. Realizing they were purchased through the death of Christ on a rugged cross, the newly born children of God would grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord; they would understand how greatly the Father loved them and be ready to go out as the army of the Lord with the same fervor as the early church when they faced persecution and hardship, accepting the Spirit's call regardless of life's circumstances. When Paul and Barnabas faced rejection and turned to the Gentile world, the Lord said, I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. (Acts 13:47) Believing that, they made religious history. Later after extreme hardship upon hardship, Paul could say, Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58

Jesus knows his disciples will weep and mourn on the dark ominous day of his death; their disconsolate hearts will find no joy in his earthly demise. Even as He tries to explain events ahead of time, without the indwelling Holy Spirit, their natural minds cannot fully comprehend what is to come--his glorious resurrection from the dead with joy unspeakable and full of glory when their hearts and minds will open by the Spirit to a new kingdom of light, and they will see the birthing of sons and daughters to live forevermore with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. No longer will the sins of mankind require the shedding of the blood of bulls and goats to offer temporary sacrifices to placate the wrath of God. Because of Christ's work on the cross, all who call upon the name of Jesus will enter into the family of God and find acceptance by a holy and loving God. The blood of bulls and goats could not do this: Christ's blood alone cleanses and cleanses again. Therefore, his holiness becomes our holiness, his perfection becomes our perfection. No longer aliens or enemies of God, in Christ we belong to God, forever His children: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6) Nothing and no one can take away our joy, for we are even now at home with the Father, sitting in heavenly places because God lifted us up into the highest places of honor with Christ when He raised him from the grave and won the victory over death. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6-7) Brothers and sisters, God is for YOU; never against you; never turns his back on you. You are not alone in the universe. Jesus says, I will see you again and you will rejoice! Amen! Hallelujah!

John 16:12-15

2011-08-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

John 16:12-15 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

When Jesus declared, All that belongs to the Father is mine, he spoke truths beyond his followers' grasp. Sometimes we fail to understand that all that is in the Father is in Jesus. Jesus embodies the fulness of the triune God: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:9-10) When the Spirit reveals Jesus in us, He manifests the likeness of the Father to the world. The Bible says, No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us — even eternal life. (1 John 2:23-25) When we know Christ as Lord by accepting his grace and mercy, we know the Father. Consequently, we have power and influence with the FATHER, and we have eternal life now and forever because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to abide with us. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Romans 8:10-11) Because of Christ's redemptive work and the Spirit within us, we can declare today without hesitation: You have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:4) Our finite minds think of heavenly streets of gold; yet we sometimes experience difficulty comprehending our adoption as sons and daughters of the Most High. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1) We must walk in the this glorious freedom as a reality that we might be ambassadors of the gospel.

Jesus went on to say the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you, pointing to the final outcome of his sacrifice at Calvary, that God would literally welcome Christ's followers and all who would call upon the name of Jesus into his very family with all the rights of sons and daughters. When Paul explained this mystery, he said since we are no longer fearful slaves to sin, we are now led by the Spirit; therefore, we have received the Spirit of sonship. And by him
we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
(Romans 8:14-17) As part of God's family, we joyfully reveal Christ to the world. If our flesh dominates our lives, we frustrate the grace of God and prevent his perfect will from bringing forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness He has planned for each of us. We live beneath our privileges a members of a royal family with a heavenly mission and divine assignments. As adopted members of the family of God, we must be about our Father's business, doing as Jesus did, going about doing good, listening to that still small voice. Before his death Jesus said, But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. He was referring to his death on the cross, but He went on to say, When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12: 32 &44-46) As sons and daughters we must flee darkness and walk in the freedom of Christ, spreading his light abroad!

The Bible is clear on discipleship and consistent service to the One who gave everything that we might walk in victory, free from sin and death. Christ's death made us able to breathe the sweet clean air of redemption and forgiveness; able to look to a city whose builder and maker is God; able to envision a better day where there will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more dying; only inexpressible JOY for all eternity, praising our Lord forevermore! Do we hear an AMEN? Can anyone shout HALLELUJAH? Walking in the Spirit does not come natural to the fleshly nature. If it did, we would not have much of the New Testament. The Holy Spirit would not have used Paul, Peter, John, and James to write all those letter of exhortation, encouragement, teaching, and yes a great deal of correction. And they were writing mostly to believers, and often to those who had walked and talked with Jesus. We learn by practicing the presence of Jesus, by walking in the Spirit and keeping in step with the Spirit. We can't do it alone: Paul told the church in Galatia: So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Then he described the harvest God seeks when we yield to the Spirit and trust totally in his sufficiency in us. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-18 &22-25) This is how we change our talk, improve our walk, love more, get angry less, let Jesus shine through more, and come out of the corner into the center of every room where we abide, sharing the good news that Jesus lives and wants to change the hearts of hurting people. All that belongs to the Father is ours! Glory to God in the highest!

John 16:5-11

2011-08-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

John 16:5-11 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

The Spirit came to reveal Jesus Christ, God's plan of righteousness and forgiveness of sin for all people. For twenty centuries the Spirit has made Jesus the primary figure in world history, even our calendar reflects Christ's imprint on the world and the conscience of all people. The very name of Jesus convicts people of sin, but many use his name as a curse, even in non-Christian nations. The lovely name of Jesus pours from the mouths of millions every day as a curse, perfunctorily escaping people's lips without the individuals realizing their alliance with the dark side, the world of Satan and his demons who hate Christ and all He represents. On the other hand, millions who know Christ as Savior and Lord speak his name reverently and praise him because we know that name stands for our precious Lord who loved us and humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8-11) Since Satan chose to exalt himself above God and thought himself higher than God, the forces of good and evil have contended for the souls of men and women, and a battle has raged in the spirit world; but Jesus viewed the prince of this world as already condemned. In Christ's mind as He spoke to his disciples, He had already won the victory over sin and death, already fought the battle, already drunk the mixture from the hyssop plant and said, “It is finished,” and in total submission, bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30) Regardless of the devil's battle against Christ's name, Jesus knew ahead of time He would not waver on the way to the cross, allowing his blood to flow freely from his riven side that forevermore whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:15-16)

Jesus tells the disciples the heart of his mission, the perfect plan of God for mankind: Don't despair, don't grieve unnecessarily over my death as awful as this appears to your troubled human hearts. I have a wonderful surprise for you. The mighty Counselor is coming to do amazing works such as you have never seen, and I will send him to you after I go to my Father! He wanted to stir their hearts with joy that He would make a way for "whosoever will" to attain free access into the presence of a holy God through the name of Jesus by his sacrifice on the cross and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that Jesus would trust to raise him from the dead. This is the Spirit of life, light, guidance and comfort we trust in today, the Spirit we read of in countless passages in God's Word that give us great confidence and hope for overcoming our fleshly sinful nature: You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Romans 8:9-11)

The Spirit did not come merely to convince the world as a whole of sin and unrighteousness, but He came to help us in our personal lives as well. He is the indwelling Spirit of God: our ADVOCATE, HELPER, HEALER, ENCOURAGER, TEACHER, COMFORTER, COUNSELOR PAR EXCELLENCE! There is no one better, no not one. His indwelling presence separates us from the world and its anti-Christ spirit, wayward inclinations, and rebellious nature. He represents God's seal of approval, the down payment or the assurance of eternal life for each of us. If we read on in the Romans 8 passage, we find this hope and guidance. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (verses 13-17) Mom was sharing with a friend yesterday concerning a difficult problem, "We can do this. Nothing is too hard for God." That is what the Spirit says to us when we listen to the voice of God speaking faith to our inner ears.

The Spirit of God provides intimacy, personal communication, and direction as He speaks to each of us who has an ear to hear as if we have his undivided attention all of the time. The Holy Spirit cares about the smallest, most insignificant parts of our earthly walk: He is God's love revealed in a still small inner voice abiding within every believer. Through the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus spoke to crowds of people and to his disciples as a group; yet he talked directly to specific individuals He called forth. He knew the details of their lives, understood their weaknesses and their longings. He described Peter's last days on Earth. He revealed He had other plans for John. He knew Nathaniel's thoughts. He told a woman how many husbands she had and that she was not married to the one with whom she lived. Jesus met the needs of the individual as well as the group. God through his Spirit can be in many places at the same time. God the Holy Spirit ministers to the innermost parts of men and women where no one else can touch, heal, deliver, restore, set free, redeem, and bring the light and love of Jesus our Savior and Lord. Jesus expressed tremendous excitement over the prospect of sending such a gift to his beloved disciples and those who would come to him. Today Jesus looks to each one of us with great affection saying, "I love YOU! I made you: I know your name, who you are: who you mean to be and who you are when you fail. I am so pleased with you. I have enveloped you with my unconditional love. In my love you are perfect, lacking nothing. I make your home a garden of my love as you trust in me. I have sent you the Counselor. Listen to his voice and live in his joy today, listen and live!"

John 16:1-4

2011-08-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

John 16:1-4 “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.

As Jesus continues the important work of preparing his disciples for his departure, He becomes more serious, telling them they will face trials and suffering for the sake of knowing him and serving God. Evil men who do not know God as Lord and who do not want to hear the gospel message will hate Christ's followers just as they have hated him. He tells them these events will happen because He wants them to be prepared: He does not want them to go astray because they are caught off guard. He wants them to remember his words and his precious promises, to retain the hope He has set before them again and again that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He wants them to know He is sending the Comforter to make this real to them that they might know and understand He will never leave them or forsake them, for He will be with them in Spirit and in truth. Unfortunately, many modern-day believers have not signed up for this type of fully committed Christianity. Our oldest son Jeff wrote a song where one of the lines says, "Sugar-coated Jesus, ain't that neat; being a Christian never tasted so sweet." We sometimes think following Christ means we just say a few words about him being Lord of our lives. Then we go on living pretty much as we did before we met him except that we might attend church, read the Bible occasionally, and pray when we have a need. As Paul warned Timothy, such a weak relationship with the Lord provides a form of godliness; but our sinful actions and choices are constantly denying its power, leaving us with little authority over sin and little evidence Christ is Lord of our lives. People searching for God want to see a difference between us and the world. If we hide our light under a bushel, we might appear really cool and with it to our unsaved friends, but they are not drawn to the Christ in us. Assuredly, if we fail to develop intimacy with Christ, we will not want to die for him: that is WAY TOO MUCH COMMITMENT.

This lukewarm attitude toward faith incapsulates Christianity for many American believers. We would rather read articles about Beyonce or Justin Bieber in "People Magazine" or wait with great anticipation for the winner on the latest talent show on TV than to pray for and try to help find answers for the starving children in Somalia. (Mom took those names off a magazine cover in the doctor's office this morning.) We want it all and we feel entitled. "Ease up old man and old lady--don't take life so seriously. The times they are a changing. Don't you know God loves us, and we are sinners saved by grace." Christianity and life eternal sounds like a good deal and it is. We give Jesus a cozy corner in our basket of goodies but no more than a corner. We will not give him everything and don't expect us to change too much or too fast, if at all. We will not surrender our lives at the cross of Christ because we want control of our destiny and our plans for the future. When we feel pressured by the vicissitudes and the hardships of life, we throw temper tantrums, carry on, curse, retreat, and quite often we blame God even though we have given him far less than our best. We place him close to last as a priority in life but rail against him first. "Where is this God who supposedly loves me? Why did He allow this awful thing to happen to me? God has failed me!" We shake our fists and pose faithless questions in times of trouble. What if we actually suffered without any hope of release as the sick, poor, and forsaken families, widows, and orphan children and babies are suffering right now in countries ravaged by war and destruction? What if we were thrown out in the streets naked and alone, exposed to unbelievable torment, and left for dead? Would Christ be expecting too much to ask us to endure to the end with only the promise of a future reward? He paid the price that we might take up the cross and follow him in glorious victory, rejoicing with great joy because we are washed in the blood of the Lamb and will reign with him forever, singing praises to the King of Kings for all eternity.

What a promise Jesus held out to the disciples: They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. How many of us would have remained when He said people will say your death will be a service to the one and only God. How many of us would have stepped back, saying, "I'm not sure there is much of a future in this Jesus movement: maybe I will just wait for another Messiah. Perhaps there is one who will promise a life of ease, who will answer every prayer instead of talking about deprivation and trials." None of us knows how we might have responded had we been in the circle surrounding Christ that day, but we do know that Jesus always did what the Father told him, always said what the Father told him to say. [Jesus] said, I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24-25) Today Mom is struggling with serious health issues, including probable back surgery, with potentially dire consequences. The devil does not like these breakfasts, seems to work overtime to curtail them. We are expecting a miracle; yet regardless of what happens in the natural: we are determined, committed, and will not be denied. As Mom says, "As long as there is breath, there is hope in the Lord! We may be weak in the natural, but we are strong in the Lord and the power of his might and nothing else really matters." He is our Messiah, our Strength, our Healer, our Provider, our Rock, our Joy, our Sufficiency, all we will ever need--Our Everything. We will continue to write until we can write no more. Nothing will persuade us otherwise, absolutely nothing. Jesus asked us to endure to the end, to fight the good fight, to live for him as long as He gives us life! He gave everything for us: how can we do less?

John 15:26-27

2011-08-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

John 15:26-27 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

After confirming the truth He would be hated and rejected by those He came to save, Jesus goes on to repeat what He has been teaching in preparation for his departure, the coming of the Holy Spirit. By saying that when the Counselor came, the Spirit would come from the Father and the Spirit of truth goes out from the Father, Jesus revealed and confirmed basic truths about the Holy Spirit of God. First, Jesus was stating the Holy Spirit resides with the Father; consequently, He is an integral part of the Godhead. Secondly Jesus says, God planned to send the Holy Spirit to testify of the Son, to reveal the divine nature of Christ to us and through us. Thirdly, by testifying of Christ our hope of glory, the Holy Spirit provides divine insight into God's nature because Jesus is the exact representation of the Father. The Spirit's assignment is to reveal God to us by revealing the Son is God in human form. By knowing Jesus Christ, we know God and his love for us. Many scriptures testify to this reality such as the picture we see in Hebrews where we read the description of the Spirit of God coming upon the prophets of old; then in the fullness of time, God sends his Son, whom the Spirit raises from the grave to reign on high. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-5) The Holy Spirit is the one who makes these truths a reality in the hearts of all believers for all time.

The Spirit knows the resurrected Christ, the Holy One who is high and lifted up, whose train fills the temple. The disciples also knew Jesus, the Son of Man, who walked among them. They knew him as Master and Lord; they knew him as friend. They were willing to answer his call, to leave everything and to follow him: As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-19) They knew Jesus' basic human nature and his acts of kindness: love for the poor, the needy, the sick, the hungry, and the distressed. They knew his desires, his habits, his way of life. They observed his dependence upon the Father, yet often said they did not understand his words or why He behaved as He did. But his charismatic personality and the Spirit burning within him attracted them, bound them to him, called them forward and onward. At times they faltered, but they did not turn back because they signed on to follow him regardless of the cost. But it was becoming hard for them now that He was talking about his death and sending them on a mission they did not expect. So He is telling them He will send the Holy Spirit with the mission to fulfill their beloved Lord in their lives. And we know, just as the Spirit's mission was to reveal Jesus as the Son of God to the disciples and all who would believe on Christ's name, He would soon tell the disciples: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Their mission was to share the good news of Jesus. The Christ they walked and talked with for over three years did not die and remain in a dark tomb. He won the victory through the power of the Holy Spirit. Emboldened by that mighty force, they traveled from place to place, telling the people of God's mercy and grace and a loving Jesus who gave everything that all might live. All but John accepted martyrdom for that cause--that's the love of the Father revealed through the Son by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of his sons and daughters.

Our privilege and responsibility today remains the great commission of Christ to go out into our world and to spread the news that Christ has come. The light has come and dispelled the darkness. Peace goodwill toward all men and women has come to Earth to reconcile a sinful and wayward people to a forgiving and merciful God who loves them with an everlasting and unfailing love. When we try to make our mission anything else, we err: we lose our way, and we fail miserably. If people know more about our own goodness and our life experiences than they know about God and his nature that He is slow to anger and quick to forgive, that He loves unconditionally and holds out his arms of love and waits for his lost sheep to return to his sheepfold, we have failed to honor his clear instructions. When we spend most of our time together talking about our successes and failures rather than about Jesus and his bountiful blessings and abundant supply, we miss the mark. When everyone knows more about our troubles, sicknesses, and concerns than about the magnificent love of God and his amazing delivering power from sin, we have lost track of the gospel message. When our exploits are magnified rather than Christ's total victory over sin and death, we have taken our eyes off Jesus the Bright Morning Star, the light of Heaven, Redeemer, Savior, Lord of All. Our human nature is constantly battling the will of the Father. God's will is to "hear ye him," not us. We are easily let astray by a fleshly will that wants attention, wants to be heard, needs affirmations, seeks acceptance. God wants to meet all those needs; and He will as we hide in him, yield to him completely. But we must hearken to the voice of the Holy Spirit. We must sit down beside Jesus of Nazareth, for He alone has hope and healing, peace and joy. He holds redemption and release in his hands; He alone can make life worth living. All the rest is just straw and stubble, grass that blows away in the wind and will not last for eternity. Listen carefully: the Spirit is testifying of Jesus, speaking directly in your ear. We who have tasted the sweet redeeming grace of God must share that sweet fruit with the world.

John 15:22-25

2011-08-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

John 15:22-25 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

Jesus performed so many miraculous deeds that when John finishes his account of Christ's life, he writes: Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. He raised the dead, healed the lame, opened blind eyes, delivered demon oppressed, cleansed lepers, fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes, and even controlled the environment; yet regardless of all of these marvelous deeds performed for all to see, the Jewish people in general would not believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Lamb of God. As Jesus declared early in his ministry after saying that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life, He observed: Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-19) Their final assessment of the One who came to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin resounds to this day: “Crucify him!” Pilate, desiring to find favor with the Jews, accommodated their hateful indictment, cleansed his hands of the matter, and allowed Jesus to die on a cross of shame. When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:23-25) How foolish to think that such a simple act could wash away such shame, such sorrow and pain.

Earlier in his ministry, Jesus told a story about a beggar Lazarus who lay covered with sores at the gate of a rich man, longing to eat the crumbs that fell from his table. When both men died, the rich man went to hell where he was in torment while the angels carried Lazarus to the comfort of Abraham. In this well-known story, the rich man first looks up and sees Lazarus far away by Abraham's side and begs Abraham to let Lazarus come and touch his tongue with cool water. When he learns a great chasm as has been fixed and he is facing the results of the life his lived on Earth, he says, Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment. Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them." The rich man continues to argue, saying no, that is not enough: "If someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent." Abraham's answer to the rich man in hell is the quintessential point Christ is making by telling this story: He [Abraham] said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." (See Luke 16:21-31) Even if someone came from the dead to tell the rich man's five brothers of the terrible consequences of living a lavish, selfish lifestyle without any thought of others, his siblings would not listen to that resurrected man. They would think him a fool, a heretic, or a madman. In this tale, Jesus illustrated the mindset of a stiff-necked people, the hardness of heart of the unredeemed. He foretold the story of the Jewish people and their hatred of Jesus, the state of sinful man. Even though Christ was raised from the dead, the Jewish nation never turned towards Jesus as Lord and Savior. As Jesus quoted from their Law, "They hated me without reason."

Today, the hearts of unregenerate men and women remains much the same: They hated [Jesus] without reason. Our worldly conversations, the television programs, and the movies are full of curses and rants against the one who gave his all that all might live. The name above all names is disrespected, used in vain, and vilified so often that most people would not even notice anymore or think it strange. Jesus Christ as a curse comes out of the mouth so quickly, so easily: Satan must rejoice. The Father's heart must sorrow greatly. But our mission remains clearcut: Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. (Mark 16:15) Messiah has come. As the angels proclaimed: Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11) As awesome as miracles are, we do not need another miracle to believe or to have faith in God. Jesus is the Christ: He came from heaven to Earth to live as a human that He might be tempted in all ways, yet He lived a perfect life that He might offer himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. He willingly went to the cross and died a painful death. God sent the Holy Spirit to raise him victoriously from the grave in all power and authority to reign forevermore. He has won the victory for us now and for all eternity. We have a reason to live, a mission. Now hear this: Jesus lives. He lives in us and He wants to live in every man, woman, and child who will accept him into their lives. He alone has seen the Father. He alone knows the Father's heart of love towards us. He has the power through the Holy Spirit to change us into his perfect, holy children, by his sacrifice so that we might be present with him forevermore. Glory to God, Glory to God Forever!

John 15:18-21

2011-08-04T07:38:00.000-07:00

John 15:18-21 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: "No servant is greater than his master." If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.

People who do not know the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob sometimes treat committed Christians as aliens, worthy of scorn, isolation, and worse. Consequently, they might ignore, ridicule, or even physically attack a Christian without provocation simply because they despise the idea that believers love God and give their lives to him. Non-believers may tolerate Christians in their circle of friends as long as they do not feel threatened. However, if Christians become overly evangelistic, walls of separation, anger, and hostility often result because Satan does not want the Good News going forth to penetrate the darkness. Unsaved teenagers, for example, may gossip, lie, cheat, curse, bully, commit sexual immorality, and do all manner of evil; yet tolerance abounds in our modern society--kids will be kids. But if born-again students in a local high school start a Bible study during lunch or bow their heads over their meals or share their testimonies openly or write scriptures on friendship networking sites or include favorite Bible verses below their names in their yearbooks, suddenly there's an outcry. "These fanatics are forcing their religion on their friends. We demand separation of church and state. Don't you know faith is personal, and you should keep yours to yourself? How rude to make others feel uncomfortable by talking about God and that kind of stuff. What makes you so holy and righteous anyway: you're no better than anyone else? Who made you God?" Only they include a lot of vulgarity: filthy words that should embarrass them, language that belongs to their their god who would like to stamp out all faith so that scarcely will faith be found. Schools can teach every major religion including witchcraft and call it cultural studies, but sharing Christian faith is supposedly a dangerous threat to the peace and tranquility of a wayward people who do not want to be disturbed by those who belong to Jesus and the One who sent him.

The world will accept people who view Christ as a wise man or even a prophet, but they will not easily tolerate people following Jesus as Lord of their lives. Such a faith diametrically opposes the desires of the sinful flesh and provides a striking contrast--there is a difference between those who follow Christ and those who do not because believers yield control of their lives to the Lord. We surrender all. The world says: I will do it my way! As the prophet said: All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. But the Lord has laid on him [Jesus] the iniquities of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) The Bible clearly states that whether Jew or Gentile, we are all lost in sin: There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:10-18 NKJV also see Psalm 140) No rebellious soul wanted to hear those words when Paul reminded the church at Rome of these truths. If we stubbornly resist the voice of God today and harden our hearts, we will not want to hear these words either because they remain true. To believe in Christ as Lord means repenting of the old and saying yes to the new. For the fleshly man or woman this kind of teaching cannot be tolerated.

In all fairness, the attitudes and actions of believers can also provoke ill-will or animosity against the cause of Christ. Sometimes critical and judgmental individuals project a self-righteousness attitude that they are God's chosen ones who deserve the best of everything. We cause harm by our lack of concern for others, our hardheartedness or unforgiving attitudes, our bitterness and resentment toward people with opinions or ideas that differ from our own. We see ugly scenes on the news with Christians waving signs and shouting epithets against people or our elected officials when the Bible tells us to pray for others and to honor those who govern us. James reminded the church God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, saying, Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10) If we want to make a difference in this world for Jesus, the world must see a difference in us. We can't spend all our time seeking things and expect to convince people we are "servants." Neither can we invest our passion into vitriolic fights with human weapons of warfare. Paul told the Corinthian church we do not live by the standards of this world: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthian 10:3-4) If you live exactly like the world, they will see every weakness you have, every opinionated statement and hypocritical act. They will look for you to fail, want you to fail. When you go out, go in the power of the Holy Spirit, not in your own power. They will still hate you because the love of Christ in you will expose the sin within them. They will not understand why you go the second mile or why you stop to help a Samaritan or pay for his hospital bills. But with Christ in you and the Holy Spirit as Comforter and Guide, you will not fail! The battle has been won! You won't fit in, and you may face some pain along the way. But you will know who sent you, you will know where you are going, you won't ever be alone, and you'll see lost sheep come home!

John 15: 9-17

2011-08-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

John 15: 9-17 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

As Jesus teaches his disciples on love, He uses the now familiar technique of repetition we have seen throughout his ministry: Remain in my love; if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love; I remain in his [the Father's] love; Love each other as I have loved you; and there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. His admonitions on love remain at the core of his final interactions with his disciples. And just in case He has not made himself clear on this subject, He resoundingly states: This is my command: Love each other. Christ is not offering a few nice thoughts for their consideration or sharing some good ideas to ponder over lunch. Jesus did not say, when people treat you with proper respect, then you should do likewise or when others give you the honor you deserve, honor them in return or as others love you, you should love them. NO! That is loving others as the world loves, with conditions or strings attached. That is sharing your love with an expectation of receiving something in return. Many parents love their children with those expectations: I take care of you, and I expect you to honor me. I put a roof over your head, feed and clothe you; so it's my way or the highway. Human beings expect reciprocity. I'll scratch your back; and somewhere along the line, I expect you to scratch mine. We find it hard to love unreservedly, wholeheartedly, and unconditionally, expecting nothing in return. After the prodigal son squandered everything, the father was waiting for him, looking for him, and rejoiced when he saw him afar off, before he could say a word!

Faithful love seems lacking in our world. When love leaves the room, what remains is not a pretty sight. The human condition minus the love of God results in anger, bitterness, and strife. Friends, families, and co-workers so often do not treat each other as they want to be treated. We complain, gossip, find fault, spread rumors, tear down, build walls of separation--and the nations rage. Rather that find areas of agreement and pray for each other, we focus on each other's shortcomings, faults, mistakes, and weaknesses. Jesus said, By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. (John 13:35) When Christians lose sight of the love of God in Christ Jesus, we become dangerous, capable of great damage, and even perpetrate lasting harm because we hurt people who are looking for answers and seeking love that heals and satisfies the deepest longings of the human soul. We see in the Word how people in the early church sometimes quarreled and fought among themselves over little things: fleshly arguments required mending or egos got in the way of the advancement of the gospel. The Holy Spirit used Paul, Peter, James, and John to teach, correct, and admonish people just as we all need reminders today to listen to the Lord and to remain in his love, that we might live a life of love, just as Christ loved us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2) So often we can quote the scriptures, we have heard the sermons, but we have lost sight of the realities of God's tender mercies in our daily lives. Peter was not sharing a clever figure of speech when he warned believers the enemy searches the periphery of our lives, looking for holes in the fence, weak spots left unguarded because we have strayed from the safety of riches of the Lord's grace. We must remember it is for freedom Christ has made us free; therefore, through him we must choose to be self-controlled and alert. We can resist the devil even though he prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. (See Galatians 5:1, 1 Peter 5:8, & 1 John 4:4) Where is the harvest of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives? Where is love?

We have confidence in Christ because of what He has done and what we know to be true in his Word. In the Old Testament the psalmist wrote: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11) Now as Spirit-led Christians, full of the love of Jesus with his power motivating and sustaining us, that Word comes alive; and the enemy can no longer condemn us or cause us to condemn others. Christ fulfilled the old covenant that we could never keep and established a new and better way, that we might come boldly to receive his kindness and grace because God commended his own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8 ASV) Before we could answer his call or do anything for him, Christ said, "Take advantage of me: I love you as the Father has loved me. I laid down my life for you and gave myself for you by paying the price for you in full." He told the thief on the cross, "Today, you will be with me in Paradise--not later after you have time to try to earn a place with me." That is the love the Father has lavished on us through the Son. We are on God's team, and He sealed the bargain with Christ's shed blood and the power of the Holy Spirit for all eternity. Jesus says, "Nothing you can ever do could make me love you less or more. You are mine: I am yours--FOREVER!" Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because, through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you [every single one of us] free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2) How incredibly audacious that we should let anything keep us from accepting such a marvelous free gift or that we should think any wrong done against us great enough to hold against another human being when God has redeemed us and made us his very own! How can we not forgive as we have been forgiven? Such love, such wondrous love!

Dear Ones,

We just returned from an awesome time of fellowship with the Bursch Clan at a family reunion where we were so incredibly blessed to share in God's gracious outpouring of love! We just want to thank God for this opportunity. Mom (Jacqueline)

John 15:1-8

2011-07-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Jesus' words clearly teach us a fruitful Christian will experience pruning in life. For the Spirit to harvest fruit from our lives, times of pruning are necessary that we might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3) Pain, disappointment, frustration, and even feelings of loss, uncertainty, confusion, and doubt remain inherent in spiritual growth because the Lord prunes us that we might be even more fruitful. He wants less of us and more of him. Our human will strives for success, achievements, to be all we can be in life. We constantly relive our accomplishments, thinking of the high points and the accolades: the blue ribbons on the wall; the plaque for winning the spelling bee in third grade; that straight A report card; the picture with the prom queen senior year; the positive job performance analysis with no but's attached. We want recognition so we seek meaning through work, experiences, and events. We seek affirmation by meeting our own expectations or the expectations of others and do not handle losses or trials well. We want to go from victory to victory, from point A to C in a straight line with no detours. People facing life's struggles sometimes ask us for prayer and counsel. After a few moments, they often share their successes, tell about the important people they have known, their many accomplishments, and all their high points. Then they despair or express hopelessness or bitterness over their current situations. You can hear: "Woe is me; how could God treat me this way?" They feel entitled to continued prosperity and fruitfulness. Pruning is nowhere on their list of accomplishments: loss is not part of their agenda.

As believers, we carry our natural tendency to strive into our Christian walk. Our need to be important and noticed by others does not help us function well in the body of Christ where we are called to serve. When we ask God to make us the biggest tree in the orchard and to let us bear the most fruit for our own motives, we are as James and John asking Jesus, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Then they request boldly: “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” Jesus says,“You don’t know what you are asking.” And He asks them, “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” When they innocently answer they can, He tells them they will indeed drink of the same cup He drinks and be baptized with the same baptism, but only the Father can grant what they have asked, for the honors they seek belong to those for whom they have been prepared. Drinking that cup for James meant he would be the first of the disciples to die; and for John, he would watch everyone he loved give all in death for the sake of the gospel. God's will means surrender to him. We rejoice as a small fruitful tree in the corner of a forsaken garden exactly where God plants us, sharing the good news of the gospel, crying out as John the Baptist to the lost, Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. (Luke 3:8) We trust the Master Gardener as He looks to prune what we think are our powerfully long, beautifully impressive branches as they reflect his light. We do not want to experience the pain of pruning when we cannot see the end result. But the Gardener looks at the tree and says, "I see wasted energy put into sustaining those branches and that imposing height. I will prune this beloved tree so the energy will be spent in developing abundant fruit for me." The natural inclination of the tree is to prosper by extending its presence on Earth, by not having any restrictions to its growth, its energy. The natural gardener's will is for more fruit for the present, but the heavenly Father seeks eternal fruit, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. (Ephesians 5:9)

After James and John asked Jesus to give them what they wanted, He did not chastise them; He merely taught them spiritual truths they did not understand but would come to understand as they yielded control to him, took up the cross, died to themselves, and gave everything by the Spirit's power. If pruning were easy, we would all want to be pruned. Christians are not bad people; they want God's will for their lives. But pruning is dying to the self and coming alive to spiritual realities by literally giving up control of our own lives. When we are crucified with Christ and lay down our lives completely, we agree to go where He sends us, to do what He asks us to do, to grow where we are planted. We experience pain, struggles, hurts, and sorrows in that process that extend beyond our human coping abilities. In these circumstances, the struggles of life sometimes seem too much to bear: we grow weary, think our hearts and minds will faint or we will die in the desert places without water or sustenance. As a tree of righteousness, the pruning seems too drastic; but God is perfecting us; and He never makes mistakes. We are being pruned for much fruit, abundant fruit that love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11) Those who endure to the end will see God. After Jesus answered James and John, He said to the twelve, Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:43-45) He prunes us for that calling. We say, "Yes, Master, prune my life."

John 14:28-31

2011-07-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

John 14:28-31 You heard me say, "I am going away and I am coming back to you." If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. Come now; let us leave.

Attempting to calm his disciples fears and anxieties, Jesus instructs as a parent might lovingly teach an immature or forgetful child. "You heard me,

He says, I have been telling you for some time I am going away. You are not listening carefully; you don't have ears to hear." They did not want to "hear" his words. They wanted another message. They sought another proclamation; they expected a King and a kingdom now. Just as He had done before, He spoke God's plan to them; yet they lacked understanding of his words, the depths of his meaning. He had just promised them the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who would teach them all things. He said, Do not let your hearts be troubled, yet He could see trouble in their eyes, feel fear emanating from their hearts and minds. He knew them, felt their sadness over his departure. He was not sharing some new revelation; but his message sounded strange to their natural ears. They could not "hear" him just as He had predicted all along. Christ was not straying from the path He had walked from the beginning of his earthy ministry. Jesus consistently proclaimed God's salvation plan from his earliest interactions with them. When Jesus asks Peter, Who do you say I am? and Peter declares,

The Christ of God, Jesus immediately says, The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teacher of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Luke 9:20-22) After telling Nicodemus he must be born again, Jesus says, No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:13-14)

He repeated this message on numerous occasions; they did not comprehend his words.

Jesus warned his disciples: The prince of this world is coming. The time was now: Jesus Messiah, Lamb of God must journey to the cross. He would face betrayal at the hands of sinful man; his precious followers would experience shame, suffering, and sorrow. Jesus was not angry with them: He loved them. He did not expect more than they could give. We studied earlier incidents where the disciples failed to understand events in Christ's ministry. When Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and a great crowd greeted him shouting Hosanna, John writes, At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. Even then Jesus knew the people came because of the miracles. He tells his disciples to look beyond the surface, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:16 &23-26) Now He speaks lovingly, knowing they lack the power to resist the whirlwind of evil forces ahead as they witness their beloved Master persecuted, mocked, and crucified on a cruel cross. He tells them Satan has no power over him before this terrible cataclysm transpires, so when it happens, they might believe in the Father. Nonetheless, He knows in that dark hour when Beelzebub, the prince of demons, temporarily has his way, they will not remember what He told them because the Spirit has not yet come.

Today, is your heart troubled, are you afraid, are you grieving, do you lack hope? Look up: Your Redeemer lives, your Deliverer is here! Even the disciples, those who walked with Jesus throughout his entire ministry, could not overcome the prince of this world and the powers of darkness through their own strength without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. They could not even remember the amazing insights, the wonderful truths, and the divine revelations Jesus shared with them until they gathered together in one place, in agreement, earnestly waiting for what Jesus promised them. Then just as He said, the Comforter came in all power and authority in a mighty manifestation so magnificent that none would ever doubt and that all might believe: Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:3-4) Jesus spoke truth to his disciples while He was with them. He said the Father would send the Holy Spirit as a gift in the name of the Son to teach them all things and to remind them of what Jesus told them, to empower them, to enable them, to guide them. This is our inheritance, brothers and sisters. If we do not walk in that reality, we live far beneath our privileges as sons and daughters of our Father God. Let not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Jesus says, "The evil one had no hold on me, and he has NO HOLD ON YOU! I PAID THE PRICE." After Pentecost, they remembered: they turned the world upside down! WE MUST REMEMBER AND LIVE!