Keep it real…

John 13:18-30

“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me. ‘Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

 It is possible to sit under Jesus’ teachings, see his miracles, sense his love and presence and still not believe.  And it troubled Jesus deeply.  The hand is outstretched, offering the gift; there are those who rather than take it, will slap the hand and send the gift crashing to the floor.  And the one offering the gift is doing so for the benefit of the other, not to benefit themselves. How sad this is.  Some are only along for the ride…

 But then we hear the voice of the Good Shepherd say, “I know whom I have chosen…”  And with belief in his words, believing him, we are one of the chosen.  “I know whom I have chosen…”  He knows us; we can know him and the one who sent him.  Let our relationship with him deepen and grow.  “Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”  Amen.

“…do as I have done…”

John 13:1-17

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

And supper being ended,the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

 We are told of only one who objected to Jesus’ washing of their feet.  And from that exchange we learn to submit, completely.  We do not determine what will be done nor the extent of it.  Complete submission to the Lord allows him to set the limits.  Washing of feet in a dry, dirty land where walking was the frequent means of getting from one place to another, was a courtesy extended to all who came into a home, occupants and guests alike.  It was often done by a servant of the household providing a service and care to all.  The focus was outward and Jesus came to do more than wash feet.  He came to give up his life for those he loves.

 He says he is setting an example for us.  We are to carry the same attitude and service of concern, courtesy, and care for one another regardless of our position in any relationship.  The principle of equality, oneness, unity is crucial.  Jesus was and is  Teacher and Lord; he points out that no servant rises above their master and no student rises above their  teacher.  We follow his teachings and his example without an attitude of superiority.  God gives to each according to his will, we are to simply be found faithful to his will.  Self so wants to rise up and be bigger and better, demand more.  This can be seen in the play of young children, but it is still present in adults who compete constantly against each other for superior roles, not with each other to grow.  Jesus demonstrates selflessness.  The one who could claim superiority, didn’t need to, he was.  God gives the glory; we serve.  “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” – Jesus

Who rules?

John 12:37-50

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:

             ​​​“Lord, who has believed our report?

              ​​And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?”

​Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

              ​“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,

              ​​Lest they should see with their eyes,

             ​​Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

             ​​So that I should heal them.”

 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.  And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.  I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.  And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.  And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

 When God speaks something is created.  Jesus speaks everlasting life.  He says anyone who hears His words receives light and will not live in darkness.  Jesus says He speaks what God has given him to say; they work together.  So then how can we not hear, receive and declare?  How can one see, believe and not declare because what man thinks is more important than what God thinks?  If one has this much knowledge and understanding, how can one not rather be pleasing God than man?  And how can one hear the words spoken by Christ not keep them?  Christ says he did not come to judge–judgment was already declared…he came to fulfill his assignment which would provide salvation from the consequences of sin.  That judgment was already in place.  However, rejecting Christ leaves one right where we were before Christ; and so judgment comes, not from Christ but from our own rejection of him. 

That rejection includes not keeping his words.  How can one avoid that?  We must know and understand his words and his message.  That comes from study of his life and words.  That comes from asking the Lord for wisdom, asking the Holy Spirit to give understanding.  When Jesus is rejected, we are not only rejecting him but also the one who sent him, God the Father.  When a representative from one country to another is rejected and sent back, the embassy closed, it is not just a rejection of the individual but also of the country who sent them.  “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.”  Mankind or God?  Who carries the weight in our estimation, who do we serve, who rules?  Our choice either condemns us or sets us free.  When we find ourselves asking  what will they think;  lets rephrase to what will God think?

Die and live…

John 12:20-36

Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.  Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.”

Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed,and was hidden from them. 

“We wish to see Jesus.”  “If I am lifted up…I will draw all peoples to myself.”  A request from outside God’s people, and Jesus’ response to draw all people to himself.  The expansion of the kingdom  is seen in the wheat kernel.  Jesus came to earth, to die, to live again giving light to a dark world.  The death of the fallen seed, gave life and produced many more.  And the life continues…Jesus death and resurrection brought light and life,  gave the ability to others to become sons of light.  Continue in the light.  Keep it bright and burning, not only for us to know and see but for those around us to know and see. Darkness creates confusion, lack of direction, loss of orientation and knowledge.  We can walk when we have light; without light we have fear.  God’s Word is a light to our path, a lamp to our feet.  We hide His words in our heart that we might not sin against God. 

Light within and before

It is you we adore

Light shining bright

Dispel the dark of night

Light we trust and know

Guide us as we go

Forward in your love

Flowing through us from above

Filtered vision

John 12:12-19

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

​​​“Hosanna!

​‘​Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’

​​The King of Israel!”

​ Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

​ ​​“Fear not, daughter of Zion;

​​Behold, your King is coming,

​​Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.  For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign.  The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

Looking at events, people, ideas through our filters changes what is to what it appears to be.  The people saw Jesus and used a filter of miracles to determine that he was to be their king.  What that truly meant to them evaporates when opposition comes.  They are participants in a prophecy that even those versed and taught in the scriptures missed until later.  The Pharisees view this event through the filter of jealousy and envy.  …”You see that you are accomplishing nothing.” …another translation puts it this way, ” See, this is  getting us nowhere.” The ‘me’ factor, what is in it for me?  This statement is followed by the comment; “Look, the whole world has gone after Him!”  What prevents us from rejoicing in the success or accolades presented to another?  Children demonstrate this at a very young age.  Praise one and the one standing near by will tell you what they have done.  We must be taught to be glad for another’s achievements, it is learned.  Because of this selfish attitude, those who knew and taught scriptures missed the significance of the event.  We can take heed, when our own selfish desires and filters arise we may be hindered from receiving a blessing from the Lord.  Lord, increase our awareness of our own attitudes toward others.  May we follow you because we love and adore you for who you are not just what you do.  May we develop a relationship that brings us to a place of genuine love for our people that enables us to rejoice in their blessings as well as empathize with them in their sorrow.  May our devotion to you go deeper than the superficial praises given by the crowd.  May our faith in you grow to the point that when opposition comes we can stand firm by your side and not run in fear. When we say. “Bless the Lord!” let it be from the heart with conviction and determination.

Exposé or complaint; critique or judgment

John 12:1-11

Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead,  whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,  “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii  and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.  But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

 We often hear  this same complaint spoken against the church at large.  Perhaps the gifts of some to the church are like the gift shared by Mary, given from their heart , offered to honor and respect our Lord.  Who are we to judge another’s heart?  Who are we to decide for another what they should do with what is theirs in the first place?  Who are we to determine the best use of anything that God  has given to another?  At the root of these judgments do we see the same bitter root that Judas displayed?  We, perhaps, can get into a critical spirit and find ourselves looking at others rather than looking  to our own doings and listening to the voice of the Spirit of God guiding our own actions.   What is the true cause for the judgment?  Did not God call for the jewels, gold, fur and fine linens to adorn His tabernacle?  Were there critics then? Let God judge, we do not know the possible plans He has, and we never need be guilty of hindering His glory.

An act of unselfish love and gratitude is smeared with the judgmental objection of one who had no part in the giving and no right to decide its use.  The cold stings the face and hands, unwrapped skin; recoiling from the bitter onslaught,  cover is desired drawing inward away from the pain.  The beauty of the snow gives way to misery.  Withdrawing to the warmth of the interior, away from the inflicted pain, the thaw of the fire and light is welcome.  Criticism is the cold, and what appeared at first to be an agent of beauty and enjoyment turned bitter.  Escape to the true warmth of a fire lit by the Spirit of God gives comfort and peace.  Let us spread a positive thought to counter the negative we have been made aware of, rather than speak more criticism with no offer of the warmth and love of Christ’s teachings.  It is not enough to only point out the  ways in which we err, Christ followed his truths with acts and teachings that heal, giving opportunity for change.

 The voice in the wilderness exposed sin, then called for repentance and provided a means to change and new life.  If we are to be that voice, follow through with the message that gives the means for change.

Gather together in one …the force that changes

John 11:45-57

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.  If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,  nor do you consider that it is expedient for us  that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”  Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.  Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.  Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

 God moved, He spoke and it came through the opposition!  God cannot be limited; not by our attempts to box him into a form that resembles us.  We were made in His image not the other way around.  We expect good things to come from good people and bad things to come from bad people but sometimes it isn’t so.  God moved upon the face of the earth and all responded.  All forces both those with the potential for good and those with the potential for destruction.  He is not limited even to those who are willing.  He can and often did and does use the unwilling, often without their knowledge.  We who listen for His voice, who look with eyes that are open, and a mind that is renewed can be made aware of His moving on the face of the earth even today. 

God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  We hide His words in our heart  to avoid sinning against Him.  Living by faith as Jesus taught doesn’t  always mean shouting it out to all around us.  Sometimes we, like Christ, might need to go away , to a desert to listen and be taught without interference and distraction.  Living is not a synonym for ‘in your face’ tactics.  It implies a quieter message, a more genuine testimony of the presence of God in our lives.

Those opposing Jesus, prophesied of his eminent death and its purpose; the reuniting of God’s people into one force.  This force moved on the face of the earth and changed it forever.  As we move in God’s plans, according to His will, we will be a part of this move upon the face of the earth; and it will be seen as one force…used by and for God’s purpose.

Through the night, white stuff has fallen erasing the paths and roadways from view.  The plows move about, scraping the ribbons of roadway clear of the sticky white snow and revealing a once hidden pathway to the traveler.  God’s Word can scrape the sticky white stuff the enemy would throw on the ribbons of life’s paths away and the traveler in life can once more move freely about fulfilling God’s will and purpose.

If you believe…you will see

John 11:38-43

Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”  Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”  And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave-clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

“If you believe you will see the glory of God.” All that is necessary is belief. The question has been asked; “What if you really believed that what you believe is really real?”  Jesus says we will see the glory of God.  Glory is:  resplendent beauty or magnificence; state of great splendor, magnificence, or prosperity.  Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/glory>  It is His name, who he is and what he does, a complete realization of existence and  the magnitude of that existence.  He gives life, he raises the dead. This is a life of the physical nature and a life that is spiritual; it is release from the death that comes to the physical and a release from the death grip that can lay hold on the spirit.  We believe in Him, we can go deeper and simply believe him.  When we believe anyone we put our trust in them, in what they say and in what they do.  It is an investment of ourselves given over to another.  We demonstrate our belief through our actions, we do for them, we get to know them on a deeper level than just someone we know of.  If you believe, you will see the glory of God.  Believe, go with God.

How much belief did it take to, “loose him and let him go.”?  May our sharing of our knowledge and understanding of God, who he is and what he does, be the catalyst that will “loose him and let him go”  for any who choose to join us in our knowledge.  If you believe…

Trampling Pearls…

When I share God’s word and message with another, it comes from the deepest part of me, out of love and concern.  It is my belief and my heartfelt understanding.  Its intent is to share what I have found and received with another from love and concern for them.  When what I offer is returned with scorn, when I am accused of judgmentalism and manipulation, when I am told I am pushing my belief upon another and taking the stand that I am right and you are wrong, then what I have offered to another out of love and concern is something precious, something priceless that is being trampled on in the mud.  Often we are in a place where we can recognize the condition of another because we have been there and because we are in tune to the Spirit’s leading.  We do not need to feel attacked or take the negative responses personally.  We have acted out of love; what we shared has been trampled upon; it is time to turn and walk away.  We share the same sadness Christ felt and feels when faced with the same rejection.  We are not greater than he, we stand side by side with him in both the sharing and the suffering.  The sharing does not stop as a result, it simply moves on and those God has chosen will respond.  For those , it is worth it.  There is a lot of love to spread around, for it flows through us from God, the Father of all.  Be found faithful.

Believe…live…

John 11:17-37

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles  away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.  Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

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

Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was  in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

Jesus wept.  Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

 Believe…will live, live and believe…will never die.  Two thoughts presented in Christ’s statement.  The sisters had a foundation of faith laid in Christ.  They believed in Christ, even without knowing the full extent of what He could and would do.  Lazarus held the same faith – he believed and he would live.  The sisters were alive and believing and their faith would not die.  We leave a legacy – our shared faith.  We rise again in Him.  Jesus continues to bring us back to the question: “Do you believe this?”

 Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”