From the monthly archives:

November 2010

John 13:1-17

by Lon on November 25, 2010

Continuing our journey through the book of john

1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”

11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Note how the love of Christ manifested itself in a very physical act of service.

Upon Jesus knowing that all things were put under his power – what was his immediate act of response?  To bend low and wash the feet of those who ought to be ‘beneath’ him.

we often hide our dirtiest spots; and yet that seems to be exactly where Christ longs to minister.

Want the blessing of God?  it might say how in this passage.

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Teen Challenge

by Lon on November 17, 2010

Some of you may recall when some friends from Teen Challenge came to share their powerful stories a while back.

They’ve recently also sent us a list of Current Needs if you were interested in supporting them.

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John 12:37-50

by Lon on November 17, 2010

Continuing our exploration of John’s Gospel of Jesus

37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 “He has blinded their eyes
and deadened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn–and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 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;

43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.45 When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.

46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.

50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Was it God’s fault that people could not see or hear?

It’s fascinating thinking about how John was righting this with the revelation of what Isaiah had witnessed.

It’s also important not to allow the ‘praise from men’ and the ‘praise from God’ to become a dichotomy here.  It doesn’t need to be.  We can fully put our trust and worth in God – and don’t be shocked if you find people praising you – as they did with John the baptist.  Let this be a moment to point others to the living god.

There’s a place for judgment – but Christ clearly states it’s not his role – nor should it be ours.

Think about that last phrase ‘his command leads to eternal life’ – what is ‘his command’ upon your life?

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Justin Hines – Say What You Will

by Lon on November 11, 2010

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Engage – Your life’s work

by Lon on November 11, 2010

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Engage – Passion

by Lon on November 11, 2010

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John 12:20-36

by admin on November 11, 2010

Continuing our journey through John

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast.21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 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.25 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.

26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”

33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.

36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Greeks wanted to see Jesus.  There is nothing in their background that should compel them to want to see Jesus as the Jews did, and yet this was their desire.  How many others might surround us this very day, wanting to see Jesus?

Death brings life.  Even the liveliest thing can’t produce as much life as a life that’s willing to be sacrificed.

Try to make sense or respond to the words love/hate in v25

Is the prince of this world really driven out?

Jesus speaks with a sense of urgency.  We won’t have forever to do the work we ought to do.

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John 12:12-19

by admin on November 4, 2010

Continuing our journey through the book of john

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

13 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!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,

15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”

16 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.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.

19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Sometimes we love Jesus.  We love what he can do for us.  We love being associated with a King.

I wonder what Jesus was thinking when he knew what humanity would also do to him?

This contrast of our adoration and complete un-acknowledgement of him only amplifies our own hypocrisy.

And yet he chooses to love…

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