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John 11:45-57

by admin on October 18, 2010

Continuing our journey through John’s Gospel of Jesus

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs.

48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all!

50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover.56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the Feast at all?”

57 But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.

It’s amazing how God was speaking to Caiaphas long before he encountered Jesus.  Could God be speaking to people in unlikely places – from someone who does not yet follow Jesus today?

Jesus for a period stayed away from the public.  We often think we ought to go big and make a splash – but there are times to continue our work beneath the spotlights and the public eye.  How does this impact what you’re working on or towards today?

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John 11:38-44

by Lon on October 8, 2010

Continuing our journey through the book of John

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.

39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.

42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Take away the stone.  What ugly putrid parts of your life, your story, or your circumstances have you been covering up?

Could one of the most astounding things about God be that he might want to enter the most foul of places within our hearts?

Is there something dead within you that Jesus wants to summon alive?

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John 11:17-37

by Lon on September 29, 2010

Continuing our exploration of the gospel of John

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.”29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.

31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Again this passage opens by stressing that Bethany was not that far away, and Jesus could have done something about it.

There are problems, issues, conflicts, pain, in all of our lives – and Jesus is no less capable of doing something about it – but why doesn’t he?

Christians believe that Jesus is God.  We have plenty of solid theological arguments to make the case.  Notice how when Mary refers to God as a separate being Jesus can make requests of, his response is not to make immediate theological corrections.

Jesus wept.  Is it possible that Jesus could be fully able of changing our circumstances, yet doesn’t?  Could it be that it is more in line with his character to join us in our suffering rather than removing our suffering?

Maybe Jesus is not just with us in our Sunday best, but in our very worst and lowest of times?

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John 9:35-41

by Lon on August 23, 2010

Continuing our journey through the gospel of John

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

It’s stories like this that get Jesus into trouble.

Why must he speak in such riddles?  Sometimes there seems to be a circular nature to Jesus’ arguments.  Last will be first, the blind will see… but then the first become last… and those who see are blind.

Maybe it’s not so much the destination, or the permanence of a state, but the dynamics of a living relationship.

Our desire for God leads to knowing him.  But as soon as we think we fully know him, would we still desire to know him more?

The truth of God is a dangerous thing.  Be careful of when your mind races faster than your hearts and your ability to respond to God.

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John 9:13-34

by Lon on August 16, 2010

Continuing our journey through the gospel of john together

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.

15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” 
But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided.

17 Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” 
The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 
18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents.

19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind.21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.”22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.

23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!

29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.

33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

The mud on the eyes would seem a step backwards from regaining vision.  How might this relate to how Jesus is working in your life?  And what might it suggest that the man had to wash his eyes out himself afterwards?

I’m a bit saddened that the story here doesn’t quite capture the emotional reaction of the parents now that their son can see – though that may not be the point of it all.

“One thing I do know.  I was blind but now I see!” – How can anyone dispute a life transformed?  How might we live indisputable lives?

v29-31 It’s fascinating how this blind man, who with my own prejudices, I wouldn’t imagine being very intelligent – has such a profound grasp of the Scriptures.

Do we ever find ourselves, throwing out those who speak truth in our lives?  Could the voice of God possibly be resounding in another person’s life than our own?  What it mean for us to embrace God wherever he speaks – even if we can’t quite hear him ourselves?

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John 9:1-12

by Lon on August 12, 2010

Continuing our journey through the gospel of John

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.

2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 
6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.

7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”

9 Some claimed that he was. 
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” 
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded. 

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. 
“I don’t know,” he said.

Jesus saw a blind man as he walked.  How many blind, destitute, and lonely people to we come across every day, but have failed to even notice?

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me” – notice how he says ‘we’ must do the work, and the level of sacred urgency that ought to be in our lives.

Why go through the theatrics of spitting on mud?  Walking to the pool?

Imagine encountering God and being so transformed people debate whether it is still really you?

Why didn’t Jesus tell him where he was after?  Could there be a wider understanding of what it means to encounter Jesus and follow him here?

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John 8:48-59

by Lon on July 27, 2010

Continuing our journey through the book of John

48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon?possessed?” 
49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.

51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 
52 At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon?possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 
54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.55 Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 
58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

It’s quite the startling mistake to mistake the son of God for someone demon possessed.  Yet it happened to Jesus.  It happens today as we demonize people – we need to be very careful of the accusations we throw.

It’s amazing how fixated Jesus was on bringing God the father glory, what would our lives look like if we did the same?

“before Abraham was born, I am” – Christ is alluding to when God referred to himself as “I am” – the alpha and the omega, the one who was, and is, and is to come – Our Christ is both cosmic and universal while being deeply intimate and personal.

Jesus ran for cover from the pending stoning.  There’s a time to run and a time to stand our ground.  Isn’t it interesting where he had to run from was the ‘temple grounds’?  It’s the religious places that we often need to flee from danger.

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John 8:42-47

by Lon on July 19, 2010

Continuing the story of Jesus according to John

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?

47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

I recently read an article quoting a scientist in reference to a greater cosmic consciousness in the universe and said “Even if it were true I wouldn’t believe it”

While we talk often about despising hypocrisy and seeking truth – there can be times where something in us just doesn’t want truth.

There’s something that goes far beyond what we say and what we do (though it greatly affects both).  At our very core there is something we cannot simply will into existence.  There is a person within us that can only be transformed by it’s maker – and this shapes everything.

To whom do you belong?  What is your maker like?  For what purposes were you fundamentally created?

Maybe there are some things we can hear from God only in the context of belonging to him.

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