John 20:29-31

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.