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John 8:31-41

by Lon on July 14, 2010

Continuing our journey through John

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.

38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.” 

39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. 
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do the things Abraham did.40 As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.

41 You are doing the things your own father does.” 
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

This is a profound passage.

How will we know if we are his disciples?  If we hold to his teaching.

THEN we will ‘know the truth’.  The truth isn’t a statement memorized, it’s a life lived and practiced.

How can we be free?  Many of us delude ourselves into thinking we’re living free lives when we’re not.  The Jews had been physically enslaved a multitude of times, let alone enslaved by their own sins, yet they could not see it.

It’s not enough to simply acknowledge God, or to even declare him as Father (which is quite an amazing and remarkable thing to realize), yet as we’ll see in the next passage – What is this Father God of yours like? Jesus and the Jews were talking about different fathers in this passage.

What is your Father like?

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John 8:12-30

by Lon on July 5, 2010

Continuing our journey through the gospel of John

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” 
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come. 

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” 

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” 
23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be , you will indeed die in your sins.” 

25 “Who are you?” they asked. 
“Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied.

26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 
27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, 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.29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

Don’t want to walk in darkness?  Follow Christ.

Jesus affirms two parts of our triune god here has he distinguishes himself and the Father as unique beings in some sense.  More importantly though, all that we need to know about God can be found in Christ himself.  ”If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

What does it mean to not only die, but to die in your sins?

What does it mean to have ‘lifted up the Son of Man” ?

What if our every action was to the pleasure of God?

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John 7:25-44

by Lon on June 15, 2010

Continuing our online exploration of the gospel of John

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ?

27 But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” 
28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him,

29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” 
30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

31 Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, “When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?” 

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him. 
33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me.

34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 
35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?” 
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. 

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” 

41 Others said, “He is the Christ.” 
Still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee?42 Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.

44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

This passage is loaded with tension.

There are questions of who Christ is.

There are men who want to seize by force, yet it seems something divine disables them.

There is faith and doubt.

There is a continuous play on words, re-framing of how people view things.

What do you do with a Christ like this?  One loaded with questions, metaphors, and mysteries?  It’s easy to sign a statement of beliefs, but what about believing in a living, breathing moving target like Jesus?

What does it mean to believe in Christ?  What does it mean for him to be our Christ?

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John 7:18-24

by Lon on June 10, 2010

Continuing our journey through the gospel of John

14 Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.

15 The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?”
16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.17 If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”

20 “You are demon?possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all astonished.22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child on the Sabbath.23 Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?

24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”

We often break one law for another.  It’s easy to criticize others.  It’s easy to stand back and make judgments on how others live life, do ministry, seek god, express themselves, etc.

We often judge people by their actions, yet long for them to judge us by our intentions – rather than the other way around.

It takes much more time to understand another person’s story.  It’s much more difficult to love them regardless of how much you disagree.

But if we could sum up the scriptures to a word, would ‘love’ not be one of them?  Are there ways we as a community could practice unconditionally loving one another and celebrate our differences?

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John 7:1-13

by Lon on May 29, 2010

Continuing our journey through the gospel of John

1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near,3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do.4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”

5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 
6 Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.8 You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.”

9 Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. 
10 However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.

11 Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, “Where is that man?” 

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” 
Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”

13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews.

Jesus stayed away from those who were trying to kill him.  Clearly there is a time for martyrdom, and a time to live another day.

Jesus’ brothers knew of his miraculous powers, and wanted others to see it displayed, yet did not quite ‘believe in him’

People during those times did not speak publicly about Jesus out of fear.  They didn’t even feel safe raising questions of who Jesus could possibly be.  At Mosaic we try to create a space for both beliefs and questions, yet sometimes I wonder if there is still a sense of fear of sharing.

Why might this be?

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John 6:60-71

by Lon on May 20, 2010

Continuing our journey through the gospel of john

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” 

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” 
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”

71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

Following Jesus is hard.  He never said it would be easy, but it would lead to life as we do so.

What offends you about Jesus?  What do you have difficultly believing and living out?  Because if Christ is really calling us to transformation, then there will undoubtedly be challenges for every one of us.

Many people saw and heard and experienced the wonders of Christ in person and still turned away.  What assurances do you have to continue your pursuit of the way, the truth, and the life?

What alternatives to Christ might you go to?  or do you already go to?

Following Jesus is hard.

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John 6:25-59 – Jesus the Bread of Life

by Lon on May 10, 2010

Continuing our journey through the gospel of John

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 
26 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 
30 So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?

31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 
32 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” 
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

40 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.” 
41 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 
43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered.44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.48 I am the bread of life.49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 

52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 
53 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.”

59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Is Jesus right?  The people pursued him because of the food he provided and not the miraculous?  Maybe it has to do with the proximity of Jesus.  These people were impacted by Christ not by some distant sign, but because their own growling physical hunger was satiated by Christ.

While we often talk about how our ‘works’ is a sign of our belief, Jesus also turns it the other way around here and declares that our very work is to believe.

Jesus comes out in the open here and declares himself the bread of life.  The argument of whether Jesus was a liar, lunatic, or Lord comes front and center here.

I love the idea of being ‘taught by god’ as well.  When were you last ‘taught by god’?  Not second hand through some other teaching, but by the spirit of God himself?

What does it mean for us to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ today?  And I don’t mean communion on Sunday.

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John 6:16-24 – Jesus walks on water

by Lon on May 3, 2010

Continuing our journey through the gospel of John.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. 
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Jesus consoled the disciples not to ‘be afraid’.  The miraculous can be scary.  It’s also interesting how the text says after that the disciples were ‘willing’ to take Jesus into the boat.  Otherwise they were so scared they may not have allowed him aboard?

The crowd was particularly aware of where Jesus had been.  They noticed the boats, they noticed when he wasn’t around.  How often are we aware of the presence and movements of Christ?  And when he’s moved, will we get in our boats and do all that we can to pursue him?

Could this mean leaving our jobs?  Reconnecting with an old friend?  Devoting more time in the Scriptures?  Living in faith?  Taking actions towards justice?  What does it mean to you to be aware of Christ and to follow him?

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