Jesus continued teaching at the meal,
“If you love me, you will keep my commands;”
First of these is to believe He is real;
That He died for your sins, in heav’n’s door stands!
He wants you to turn from sin and repent,
To make an hundred eighty degree turn;
From worldly pursuits in this life relent;
Lay up treasures above, man’s gold spurn!
No matter the cost, love one another,
Like He loves us, who believe in His name;
Return love for hatred from your brother,
As He loved the world, who hated He came!
Whoever hears His commands and obeys,
Jesus loves him, and does so all his days!
Scripture Quoted: John 14:15, 21-22 (NIV)
“ ‘If you love me, you will obey what I command.’ “
“ ‘Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.’ “
Commentary on: John 14:15, 21-22 (NIV)
Finally, here is the short and concise answer to the primary question asked in the heading of my blogsite, “How can you remain in the love of Jesus Christ?” It has taken 544 blogs and almost two years to reach. The answer is to follow or obey the commands Jesus made in His 3-year ministry. First, you must learn what His commands of us were, Since they are in the Bible, especially the New Testament, you must read and study the Bible, or be told the commands by your church attendance. Also, since the commands are couched in spiritual language, which, if you have been reading these quoted scriptures, you have found is difficult to comprehend, the first thing you need to do is to give your heart to Jesus in belief that He is really the Son of God. If you truly believe, you will be indwelled by the Holy Spirit, who will help you to understand the meaning of spiritual terminology. That is why attendance in church is important. If you attend sermons, and, even better, Bible study classes, you will begin to learn the commands of Jesus and how to obey them.
Of course, if you are a believer, which you can be by doing what Romans 10:9 says: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”, you will remain in Jesus’ love forever without obeying His other commands. No one can keep all of the divine commands, because no one on earth is perfect and without sin. Everyone of us is “saved” and eligible to enter heaven when we die only through and because of the righteousness of Jesus. So some of us keep more of His commands than others do; that doesn’t mean they who keep more are any better than those who keep fewer. The best of us are sinful, but because of our belief that Jesus is the Messiah or Christ, we are saved. Of course, if a man or woman doesn’t believe in Jesus, he or she is not saved, but condemned to an everlasting torment in hell.
You know what, though? The more you learn about Jesus, the more you will love Him; you will wonder why you neglected Him so long.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Jesus' "Father" Is Jews' Elohim (J55)
Among them so long, why was God not known?
Was Jesus abstruse, His meaning concealed?
In the miracles was not God’s pow’r shown?
Who but God could fade at will, unrevealed?
“After this, you know God, and have seen Him.”
Who can read minds and hearts of men but He?
Who could His “Father” be but “Elohim”?
“I am in the Father, and He is in me!”
“He who believes in me will do great things;
Whatever you ask of me, I will do;
Asking in my name by you always brings
Glory to my Father, because of you!”
“Show us the Father, Lord,” Philip had said;
His request to all this evidence led!
Scripture Quoted: John 14:9-14 (NIV)
“Jesus answered, ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Commentary on: John 14:5-14 (NIV)
This passage of Scripture is extremely significant to the believer. If you have read earlier quoted Scriptures or the Bible itself, you have discovered that the language is “scriptural”; it is not easily understood as if you are reading a novel or the newspaper. In fact, if you are not yet a believer, you may not comprehend it at all, and you may scoff at my translation of it. It is true, however; every claim and statement in the Bible is inspired by God, and it is all true. This particular passage began when Jesus told His apostles at the Thursday evening Passover meal that they knew who His Father was and had seen Him. Jesus never called Himself or His Father “God”; that three-letter word is our American term for the supreme Being that made the universe. The Jews, part of or the audience in almost every situation for Jesus, didn’t use “God”; in fact the name for God to them was considered too sacred for them to ever use in speech. When written and translated into our language it was “Elohim”, “Yahweh”, or “Jehovah”. Jesus always called Him “Father” when speaking to them. Jesus could have said that He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are one, because they are. Yet, for this span of time that Jesus was on the earth, God multiplied Himself mysteriously so that He could be both Jesus and the Father at the same time.
Now we come to a mystery that no one can explain. There is only ONE God; Christians and Jews are what is called “monotheistic”. But this one God has revealed Himself as three persons—God the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit. They are equal; we read of them as three persons in the Bible; but each one is God. When we believers get to heaven after we die on the earth, we will see, talk with, and worship only one person, God. Jesus, the historical man that said these things, was the Son of the Father, but He and the Father were one; Jesus, the only name by which we can be accepted into heaven, clothed in His righteousness, not ours, is God Himself! He is the Jews’ Elohim, and they rejected Him. Don’t you make the same mistake!
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Was Jesus abstruse, His meaning concealed?
In the miracles was not God’s pow’r shown?
Who but God could fade at will, unrevealed?
“After this, you know God, and have seen Him.”
Who can read minds and hearts of men but He?
Who could His “Father” be but “Elohim”?
“I am in the Father, and He is in me!”
“He who believes in me will do great things;
Whatever you ask of me, I will do;
Asking in my name by you always brings
Glory to my Father, because of you!”
“Show us the Father, Lord,” Philip had said;
His request to all this evidence led!
Scripture Quoted: John 14:9-14 (NIV)
“Jesus answered, ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say,
This passage of Scripture is extremely significant to the believer. If you have read earlier quoted Scriptures or the Bible itself, you have discovered that the language is “scriptural”; it is not easily understood as if you are reading a novel or the newspaper. In fact, if you are not yet a believer, you may not comprehend it at all, and you may scoff at my translation of it. It is true, however; every claim and statement in the Bible is inspired by God, and it is all true. This particular passage began when Jesus told His apostles at the Thursday evening Passover meal that they knew who His Father was and had seen Him. Jesus never called Himself or His Father “God”; that three-letter word is our American term for the supreme Being that made the universe. The Jews, part of or the audience in almost every situation for Jesus, didn’t use “God”; in fact the name for God to them was considered too sacred for them to ever use in speech. When written and translated into our language it was “Elohim”, “Yahweh”, or “Jehovah”. Jesus always called Him “Father” when speaking to them. Jesus could have said that He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are one, because they are. Yet, for this span of time that Jesus was on the earth, God multiplied Himself mysteriously so that He could be both Jesus and the Father at the same time.
Now we come to a mystery that no one can explain. There is only ONE God; Christians and Jews are what is called “monotheistic”. But this one God has revealed Himself as three persons—God the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit. They are equal; we read of them as three persons in the Bible; but each one is God. When we believers get to heaven after we die on the earth, we will see, talk with, and worship only one person, God. Jesus, the historical man that said these things, was the Son of the Father, but He and the Father were one; Jesus, the only name by which we can be accepted into heaven, clothed in His righteousness, not ours, is God Himself! He is the Jews’ Elohim, and they rejected Him. Don’t you make the same mistake!
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Jesus Is The Only Way To Heaven (J54)
From mouths of TV/film idols come lies,
Proclaiming, “All religions to heav’n lead;
‘One-way’ bigots who boast, ‘Ours win the prize’,
Are false, dogmatic, and racist indeed!”
Satan, father of lies, has captured them;
Error remains error, though all believe;
God is truth; not one falsehood comes from Him;
Truth is still truth, e’en if all disbelieve!
Jesus is God; all that He said is true;
He said, “I am the way, the truth, the life;
No one enters heaven, Gentile or Jew,
But by me;” though other paths foment strife!
Our Constitution gives all faiths respect,
But it does not hold all to be correct!
Scripture Quoted: John 14:5-7 (NIV)
“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’ “
Scripture Quoted: Acts 4:12 (NIV)
“ ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’ “ [Peter, speaking to the Sanhedrin]
Commentary on: John 14:5-7, Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Yes, I am a “one-way” commentator, hoping you will adopt my belief. Look how boldly Peter told the religious “big shots” of Israel that Jesus was the only name given to men by which they can be saved. Jesus told His apostles that in John 14:6. By "the way" He meant how a person could be saved. The “one way” to salvation claim is not an approved statement in today’s politically correct, postmodernistic society. The general public in the USA and other developed nations has adopted a guiding philosophy that applauds diversity and shuns all absolute truths. It condemns religious faith (especially Christian) that advocates a particular belief system that does not change with the winds of public opinion. Postmodernism has been adopted by modern scholars, government officers, media, and educators; it is promoted especially by popular television, film, and music stars that have come under Satan’s influence and promote themselves as religious gurus. The devil knows that these celebrities have enslaved the hearts and minds of many people, and he pushes such delusions as a means of obstructing God’s efforts to win their hearts.
John, the author of the book we are currently studying, wrote in an epistle, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world…comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17) Dear friends, I stand by the words of Jesus and His apostles John and Peter. The only way to receive eternal life is to believe in Jesus as Lord. The greatest obstacle to salvation in life today, I believe, is the “world”—by which I mean entertainment media, technological innovations, and sports extravaganzas, to list a few. Are you obsessed by any of these, such as television programs, movies, football games, Ipods, texting cell phones, computers, etc? Do any of these absorb great chunks of your time and money? How much time is left over for God?
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Proclaiming, “All religions to heav’n lead;
‘One-way’ bigots who boast, ‘Ours win the prize’,
Are false, dogmatic, and racist indeed!”
Satan, father of lies, has captured them;
Error remains error, though all believe;
God is truth; not one falsehood comes from Him;
Truth is still truth, e’en if all disbelieve!
Jesus is God; all that He said is true;
He said, “I am the way, the truth, the life;
No one enters heaven, Gentile or Jew,
But by me;” though other paths foment strife!
Our Constitution gives all faiths respect,
But it does not hold all to be correct!
Scripture Quoted: John 14:5-7 (NIV)
“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’ “
Scripture Quoted: Acts 4:12 (NIV)
“ ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’ “ [Peter, speaking to the Sanhedrin]
Commentary on: John 14:5-7, Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Yes, I am a “one-way” commentator, hoping you will adopt my belief. Look how boldly Peter told the religious “big shots” of Israel that Jesus was the only name given to men by which they can be saved. Jesus told His apostles that in John 14:6. By "the way" He meant how a person could be saved. The “one way” to salvation claim is not an approved statement in today’s politically correct, postmodernistic society. The general public in the USA and other developed nations has adopted a guiding philosophy that applauds diversity and shuns all absolute truths. It condemns religious faith (especially Christian) that advocates a particular belief system that does not change with the winds of public opinion. Postmodernism has been adopted by modern scholars, government officers, media, and educators; it is promoted especially by popular television, film, and music stars that have come under Satan’s influence and promote themselves as religious gurus. The devil knows that these celebrities have enslaved the hearts and minds of many people, and he pushes such delusions as a means of obstructing God’s efforts to win their hearts.
John, the author of the book we are currently studying, wrote in an epistle, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world…comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:15-17) Dear friends, I stand by the words of Jesus and His apostles John and Peter. The only way to receive eternal life is to believe in Jesus as Lord. The greatest obstacle to salvation in life today, I believe, is the “world”—by which I mean entertainment media, technological innovations, and sports extravaganzas, to list a few. Are you obsessed by any of these, such as television programs, movies, football games, Ipods, texting cell phones, computers, etc? Do any of these absorb great chunks of your time and money? How much time is left over for God?
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Friday, September 24, 2010
Jesus Comforts The Apostles (J53)
“Let not your hearts be troubled;” Christ said
To the apostles; “trust in God and me;
There is room for all who to me are led;
I would have told you, if it’s not to be!
I go to prepare ev’ryone a place,
And I will return! Mine will come to me;
You will be where I am, and see my face;
We’ll be together for eternity!
You know the Way to where I am going,
For you have truly believed on my name;
I would that all men knew what you’re knowing;
That is the reason to the earth I came!
To comfort them, these promises were said,
For Jesus knew what trials lay ahead!
Commentary on: John 14:1-4 (NIV)
Jesus knew that His remaining eleven apostles were shocked and disturbed after learning that one of their number would betray Him. He also knew the grim events that were about to envelop them. To comfort them, He made some beautiful and astounding promises.
In spiritual language, which usually meant that they would not correctly grasp His meaning, He tried to assuage their apprehensions about His leaving them. He told them they knew the way to where He was going, meaning they knew the “good news” of the gospel and for that reason, would also go to be with Him. They had heard Him tell the Jews repeatedly that they needed to believe that He had been sent from God—that He was the Messiah, meaning the Christ. Knowing and believing this was the Way to heaven for all people on earth, and the apostles certainly knew it. Further, He said there were rooms enough in His Father’s “house” (heaven) for all, and He was going to “prepare” them a place, where they could be together always.
Most importantly, He told them He was coming back to the earth for them. He was referring to His Second Coming, which will signal the end of the age (but not necessarily the end of the world). At this time He will resurrect every believer that has died, and give each an imperishable body (See 1 Corinthians 15:42-43 and the following verses). The believers still living will be “raptured” (levitated) up to meet Him in the sky; their bodies will be changed in the “twinkling of an eye” to undying spiritual bodies. All the saved will be with Him for eternity!
Jesus knew that Judas was en route to the Sanhedrin to lead the guards to Him. The little group was still at their Passover meal in the upper room. They would remain there for a few more hours while Jesus continued to teach them. Later they would leave the upper room and walk to the garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus would go off alone to pray to His Father. The arresting delegation would arrive there after midnight. He would be tried and sentenced to death in an illegal trial before daylight.
"For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
To the apostles; “trust in God and me;
There is room for all who to me are led;
I would have told you, if it’s not to be!
I go to prepare ev’ryone a place,
And I will return! Mine will come to me;
You will be where I am, and see my face;
We’ll be together for eternity!
You know the Way to where I am going,
For you have truly believed on my name;
I would that all men knew what you’re knowing;
That is the reason to the earth I came!
To comfort them, these promises were said,
For Jesus knew what trials lay ahead!
Commentary on: John 14:1-4 (NIV)
Jesus knew that His remaining eleven apostles were shocked and disturbed after learning that one of their number would betray Him. He also knew the grim events that were about to envelop them. To comfort them, He made some beautiful and astounding promises.
In spiritual language, which usually meant that they would not correctly grasp His meaning, He tried to assuage their apprehensions about His leaving them. He told them they knew the way to where He was going, meaning they knew the “good news” of the gospel and for that reason, would also go to be with Him. They had heard Him tell the Jews repeatedly that they needed to believe that He had been sent from God—that He was the Messiah, meaning the Christ. Knowing and believing this was the Way to heaven for all people on earth, and the apostles certainly knew it. Further, He said there were rooms enough in His Father’s “house” (heaven) for all, and He was going to “prepare” them a place, where they could be together always.
Most importantly, He told them He was coming back to the earth for them. He was referring to His Second Coming, which will signal the end of the age (but not necessarily the end of the world). At this time He will resurrect every believer that has died, and give each an imperishable body (See 1 Corinthians 15:42-43 and the following verses). The believers still living will be “raptured” (levitated) up to meet Him in the sky; their bodies will be changed in the “twinkling of an eye” to undying spiritual bodies. All the saved will be with Him for eternity!
Jesus knew that Judas was en route to the Sanhedrin to lead the guards to Him. The little group was still at their Passover meal in the upper room. They would remain there for a few more hours while Jesus continued to teach them. Later they would leave the upper room and walk to the garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus would go off alone to pray to His Father. The arresting delegation would arrive there after midnight. He would be tried and sentenced to death in an illegal trial before daylight.
"For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Love One Another, That All May Know (J52)
When Judas left, “Now I am glorified,”
Jesus said, “and God is glorified, too;
Soon I go to where you cannot abide;
You will look for me, but I will see you!
Love one another, as I have loved you,
That you’re my disciples, the world will know;
I give you this command, one that is new.”
Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where will you go?
I will lay down my life to follow you!”
“I tell you, this night, before the cock crow,
Three times you’ll swear that I you never knew,
Yet for me you’d really let your life go?”
Jesus knew a prophecy* on the matter:
“Strike the shepherd; the sheep shall scatter”!
*Zechariah 13:7
Scripture Quoted: John 13:33-35 (NIV)
“ ‘My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now. Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Commentary on: John 13:31-38 (NIV)
After Judas left the Passover meal on Thursday evening, Jesus began teaching His remaining eleven apostles many things, for He had only a few hours left with them before His arrest by the Sanhedrin. When that moment came deep into the night, His trial and crucifixion with its horrible suffering would quickly follow. He would lie dead in a borrowed tomb by 6 p.m. the next day, Passover Friday. He told them that now He was glorified. His mission for which He was sent was successful, the minutes ticking away exactly as planned before the beginning of time. By “glorified” He meant that all authority and power as King of the Kingdom of God, Lord of the universe, and God Himself were now His. Jesus would no longer be Jesus of Nazareth after His death, burial and resurrection but Christ and Creator of the world. He was going back to heaven, where He had been with God from the beginning. His disciples could not go there yet—they had their own suffering to complete on earth—but He could see them and promised to accompany them everywhere. In their hands He was leaving the care and building of the Kingdom of God by telling all people in the world that salvation was available to all.
He gave them a new commandment: Love one another. Every Christian believer is to display love for all other believers. Doing so will be the best way to attract others to believe. Through the past and today, the members of churches have done a poor job of keeping this command. There is internal bickering and brawls that tend to repel new believers. Mahatma Gandhi said he would be a Christian if he hadn’t met so many of them! Yet, it remains the best way to attract the non-believers, and a believer should try his best to love his or her brothers and sisters.
He also predicted Simon Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed next morning. Impetuous Peter vehemently claimed that He would follow Jesus even if it cost him his life. Jesus answered his claim by sorrowfully telling him that he would deny knowing the Savior when accosted outside the house where He was being tried; he would deny Him three times. The prophet Zechariah (in 13:7 of his O.T. book) had predicted that when the “shepherd” is stricken, the “sheep” would be scattered. When Jesus was arrested, the apostles fled.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Jesus said, “and God is glorified, too;
Soon I go to where you cannot abide;
You will look for me, but I will see you!
Love one another, as I have loved you,
That you’re my disciples, the world will know;
I give you this command, one that is new.”
Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where will you go?
I will lay down my life to follow you!”
“I tell you, this night, before the cock crow,
Three times you’ll swear that I you never knew,
Yet for me you’d really let your life go?”
Jesus knew a prophecy* on the matter:
“Strike the shepherd; the sheep shall scatter”!
*Zechariah 13:7
Scripture Quoted: John 13:33-35 (NIV)
“ ‘My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now. Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Commentary on: John 13:31-38 (NIV)
After Judas left the Passover meal on Thursday evening, Jesus began teaching His remaining eleven apostles many things, for He had only a few hours left with them before His arrest by the Sanhedrin. When that moment came deep into the night, His trial and crucifixion with its horrible suffering would quickly follow. He would lie dead in a borrowed tomb by 6 p.m. the next day, Passover Friday. He told them that now He was glorified. His mission for which He was sent was successful, the minutes ticking away exactly as planned before the beginning of time. By “glorified” He meant that all authority and power as King of the Kingdom of God, Lord of the universe, and God Himself were now His. Jesus would no longer be Jesus of Nazareth after His death, burial and resurrection but Christ and Creator of the world. He was going back to heaven, where He had been with God from the beginning. His disciples could not go there yet—they had their own suffering to complete on earth—but He could see them and promised to accompany them everywhere. In their hands He was leaving the care and building of the Kingdom of God by telling all people in the world that salvation was available to all.
He gave them a new commandment: Love one another. Every Christian believer is to display love for all other believers. Doing so will be the best way to attract others to believe. Through the past and today, the members of churches have done a poor job of keeping this command. There is internal bickering and brawls that tend to repel new believers. Mahatma Gandhi said he would be a Christian if he hadn’t met so many of them! Yet, it remains the best way to attract the non-believers, and a believer should try his best to love his or her brothers and sisters.
He also predicted Simon Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed next morning. Impetuous Peter vehemently claimed that He would follow Jesus even if it cost him his life. Jesus answered his claim by sorrowfully telling him that he would deny knowing the Savior when accosted outside the house where He was being tried; he would deny Him three times. The prophet Zechariah (in 13:7 of his O.T. book) had predicted that when the “shepherd” is stricken, the “sheep” would be scattered. When Jesus was arrested, the apostles fled.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Monday, September 20, 2010
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal (J51)
“I am telling you this ahead of time,
So that you will know for sure I am He;
I know you; I chose you, and you are mine,
But one of you this night will betray me!”
The one Jesus loved asked, “Lord, who is it?”
“He who takes this dipped bread; he is the one.”
Judas took the dipped bread, and out he lit,
To lead the guards where to arrest God’s Son!
The apostles did not yet understand,
For Judas had the bag, and might be sent
To pay the bill. Jesus’ death was at hand,
And they knew not of this night’s grim events!
Satan entered Judas; he took the bread;
“What you do, do quickly,” the Savior said!
Scripture Quoted: John 13:21-27 (NIV)
“After he said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.’ His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved [meaning the author himself—John], was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, ‘Ask him which one he meant.’ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ Then dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” [Brackets added]
Commentary on: John 13:18-30 (NIV)
John, the youngest apostle, refers to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved”. Of course, Jesus loved them all, but He did seem to have a special affection for John, the brother of James, and son of Zebedee; he is the author of the gospel we are now studying. We will see in Chapter 21 a bit of jealousy on the part of Simon Peter for John. The other apostles may have felt it, too, for there seemed to be a rumor among them that Jesus favored John and was going to allow him to live until Jesus’ Second Coming to earth. Of course, it was not true, but John did live longer than any of the others. His gospel was circulated first in 90 A. D., 58 years after this Thursday in 32 on the eve of the crucifixion. He died in about 100 A. D., a martyr like all the others, a prisoner of the Romans on the island of Patmos. He wrote his three epistles and the book of Revelation in his last years in prison. He was 95 or older when he died.
Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him, even when He chose him as an apostle. Like Lucifer, whose pride was necessary to introduce evil into the world so that man would be free to choose between good and evil, Judas was essential to the mission for which Jesus was sent to the earth; how else was Jesus to be arrested and His many followers not know it and riot unless one of the Twelve apostles betray Him by leading the guards to Him at night when He would be alone? Judas was an important link to Jesus’ atonement for sin at the planned time and place; that’s why Jesus chose him in the first place. when you are God, and you know everything and are following a plan conceived before time began, you have to do some seemingly unwise things.
It is amazing that the apostles could not identify the traitor after Jesus had told them what He did. Perhaps He used His divine power to blind them to the actual reality; otherwise, Simon Peter or someone else may have resorted to violence to prevent the betrayal. Judas was the only one who left the meal. He reappeared late that night at the head of a bunch of priests and temple guards to arrest Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus had been praying alone, while the disciples had dozed behind Him.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him would not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
So that you will know for sure I am He;
I know you; I chose you, and you are mine,
But one of you this night will betray me!”
The one Jesus loved asked, “Lord, who is it?”
“He who takes this dipped bread; he is the one.”
Judas took the dipped bread, and out he lit,
To lead the guards where to arrest God’s Son!
The apostles did not yet understand,
For Judas had the bag, and might be sent
To pay the bill. Jesus’ death was at hand,
And they knew not of this night’s grim events!
Satan entered Judas; he took the bread;
“What you do, do quickly,” the Savior said!
Scripture Quoted: John 13:21-27 (NIV)
“After he said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.’ His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved [meaning the author himself—John], was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, ‘Ask him which one he meant.’ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ Then dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” [Brackets added]
Commentary on: John 13:18-30 (NIV)
John, the youngest apostle, refers to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved”. Of course, Jesus loved them all, but He did seem to have a special affection for John, the brother of James, and son of Zebedee; he is the author of the gospel we are now studying. We will see in Chapter 21 a bit of jealousy on the part of Simon Peter for John. The other apostles may have felt it, too, for there seemed to be a rumor among them that Jesus favored John and was going to allow him to live until Jesus’ Second Coming to earth. Of course, it was not true, but John did live longer than any of the others. His gospel was circulated first in 90 A. D., 58 years after this Thursday in 32 on the eve of the crucifixion. He died in about 100 A. D., a martyr like all the others, a prisoner of the Romans on the island of Patmos. He wrote his three epistles and the book of Revelation in his last years in prison. He was 95 or older when he died.
Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him, even when He chose him as an apostle. Like Lucifer, whose pride was necessary to introduce evil into the world so that man would be free to choose between good and evil, Judas was essential to the mission for which Jesus was sent to the earth; how else was Jesus to be arrested and His many followers not know it and riot unless one of the Twelve apostles betray Him by leading the guards to Him at night when He would be alone? Judas was an important link to Jesus’ atonement for sin at the planned time and place; that’s why Jesus chose him in the first place. when you are God, and you know everything and are following a plan conceived before time began, you have to do some seemingly unwise things.
It is amazing that the apostles could not identify the traitor after Jesus had told them what He did. Perhaps He used His divine power to blind them to the actual reality; otherwise, Simon Peter or someone else may have resorted to violence to prevent the betrayal. Judas was the only one who left the meal. He reappeared late that night at the head of a bunch of priests and temple guards to arrest Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus had been praying alone, while the disciples had dozed behind Him.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him would not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Jesus Washes The Apostles' Feet (J50)
They gathered for the Passover meal;
Jesus began to wash apostles’ feet;
Peter watched with shame he could not conceal;
His turn came; the Son’s eyes he could not meet!
“Are you to wash my feet?” was his demand;
“You do not realize now what I do,”
Jesus replied; "later, you’ll understand.”
“Never! Lord, my feet won’t be washed by you!”
“Lest I do, you have no part with your Lord,”
Said the Son. “Then wash all the rest of me,”
Simon Peter said, in humble accord.
A servant’s master’s no greater than he!
Jesus did this to show the love of one
For another of all who love the Son!
Scripture Quoted: John 13:1-6 (NIV)
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to his Father. Having loved his own that were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel wrapped around him.”
Commentary on: John 13:1-17 (NIV)
A few Christian churches, even today, make the foot-washing by members of each other a ritual; perhaps a sacrament. However, most theologians believe that Jesus did not intend this. Jews of that time customarily wore sandals without socks. All roads were dusty; even the temple floor was dusty ground. Thus, their feet were always covered with dust. When people came indoors, where the floors were also packed earth, they usually removed their sandals at the door, where there was customarily a pitcher of water, basins, and towels for the cleaning of their feet. Remember, they ate meals reclining on the floor around a very low table on which food was placed. Everyone’s bare feet were also extended outward and at an equal height with the food. When a pair of feet that was dirty mingled with the food, it was not an appetizing sight. Our custom is to dine sitting in chairs with feet out of sight and in shoes, so the washing of our feet today is not as essential or done as in that time. I believe Jesus was giving the apostles an example of how things were done in the Kingdom of God. The master is not greater than the servant, and Christians are to love one another—enough to wash each other’s feet or any duty whatever.
Simon Peter, the chief apostle, was also the one most likely to be impetuous and put his foot in his mouth. He considered it improper for Jesus to wash anyone’s feet and declined to let Jesus wash his feet, until he learned that he would “have no part” with Him if he did not. This was early Thursday evening; Jesus would be arrested that very night and condemned to death by daylight Friday. Peter was about to make the biggest mistake of his life by denying that he knew Jesus when confronted during the “kangaroo court” that the Sanhedrin called a trial.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him would not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Jesus began to wash apostles’ feet;
Peter watched with shame he could not conceal;
His turn came; the Son’s eyes he could not meet!
“Are you to wash my feet?” was his demand;
“You do not realize now what I do,”
Jesus replied; "later, you’ll understand.”
“Never! Lord, my feet won’t be washed by you!”
“Lest I do, you have no part with your Lord,”
Said the Son. “Then wash all the rest of me,”
Simon Peter said, in humble accord.
A servant’s master’s no greater than he!
Jesus did this to show the love of one
For another of all who love the Son!
Scripture Quoted: John 13:1-6 (NIV)
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to his Father. Having loved his own that were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel wrapped around him.”
Commentary on: John 13:1-17 (NIV)
A few Christian churches, even today, make the foot-washing by members of each other a ritual; perhaps a sacrament. However, most theologians believe that Jesus did not intend this. Jews of that time customarily wore sandals without socks. All roads were dusty; even the temple floor was dusty ground. Thus, their feet were always covered with dust. When people came indoors, where the floors were also packed earth, they usually removed their sandals at the door, where there was customarily a pitcher of water, basins, and towels for the cleaning of their feet. Remember, they ate meals reclining on the floor around a very low table on which food was placed. Everyone’s bare feet were also extended outward and at an equal height with the food. When a pair of feet that was dirty mingled with the food, it was not an appetizing sight. Our custom is to dine sitting in chairs with feet out of sight and in shoes, so the washing of our feet today is not as essential or done as in that time. I believe Jesus was giving the apostles an example of how things were done in the Kingdom of God. The master is not greater than the servant, and Christians are to love one another—enough to wash each other’s feet or any duty whatever.
Simon Peter, the chief apostle, was also the one most likely to be impetuous and put his foot in his mouth. He considered it improper for Jesus to wash anyone’s feet and declined to let Jesus wash his feet, until he learned that he would “have no part” with Him if he did not. This was early Thursday evening; Jesus would be arrested that very night and condemned to death by daylight Friday. Peter was about to make the biggest mistake of his life by denying that he knew Jesus when confronted during the “kangaroo court” that the Sanhedrin called a trial.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him would not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Jesus Grieves Over Jews' Unbelief (J49)
Monday through Thursday of Passover week,
Jesus taught the gospel to temple Jews;
Acceptance of Him as Lord He did seek;
Despite miraculous signs, they refused!
He cried, “I came to the world as a Light,
That those who see me, see Him who sent me;
He who believes is no longer in night,
But has everlasting life, and can see!
I didn’t come to judge, but save, the world;
He who sent me told me what words to say;
The ones who reject me to death are hurled—
These words will condemn them at the last day!
I have not spoken of my own accord,
But my Father’s, who anointed me Lord!
Scripture Quoted: John 12:39-43 (NIV)
“For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere [Isaiah 6:9-10], ‘He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understood with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.’ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 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; for they loved the praise of men more than praise from God.” [Brackets added]
Commentary on: John 12:37-50 (NIV)
The Israelites from the time they left slavery in Egypt throughout their history were obstinate and disobedient to God. They offended Him so much that He told Isaiah the prophet that He was blinding, deafening, and dulling their spiritual understanding (See Isaiah 6:9-10). This was 700 years before the birth of Jesus. They are still calloused today, 2700 years later. The prophet Zechariah (See Zech. 12:10 and following) says that when Jesus Christ returns to earth for the Second time, He will pour out grace on Israel, and they will mourn for rejecting and killing Jesus. The sad thing is that millions upon millions of Jews have died without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The chief priests decided it would be better that Jesus die than that the whole nation be slain by the Romans. They didn’t know it at the time, but God punished them by allowing Roman general Titus to destroy Jerusalem in 70 A.D., just 38 years later. Over one million Jews were slain, and 300,000 went into slavery. The “one man” died, and so did the nation!
A few of those leaders who did believe in Jesus as Lord but were too frightened of being ejected from the synagogue may have “come out” and were saved later, but their reluctance to speak up sent most of them to hell. For a believer to be saved, he must not be afraid to confess his belief in public. A person who dies with a secret belief in Jesus as Lord may not be saved. No human being can make that decision; God knows what’s in the heart, and He is the judge. Matthew 10:33 says that whoever disowns Jesus before men, He will disown before the Father.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Jesus taught the gospel to temple Jews;
Acceptance of Him as Lord He did seek;
Despite miraculous signs, they refused!
He cried, “I came to the world as a Light,
That those who see me, see Him who sent me;
He who believes is no longer in night,
But has everlasting life, and can see!
I didn’t come to judge, but save, the world;
He who sent me told me what words to say;
The ones who reject me to death are hurled—
These words will condemn them at the last day!
I have not spoken of my own accord,
But my Father’s, who anointed me Lord!
Scripture Quoted: John 12:39-43 (NIV)
“For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere [Isaiah 6:9-10], ‘He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understood with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.’ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 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; for they loved the praise of men more than praise from God.” [Brackets added]
Commentary on: John 12:37-50 (NIV)
The Israelites from the time they left slavery in Egypt throughout their history were obstinate and disobedient to God. They offended Him so much that He told Isaiah the prophet that He was blinding, deafening, and dulling their spiritual understanding (See Isaiah 6:9-10). This was 700 years before the birth of Jesus. They are still calloused today, 2700 years later. The prophet Zechariah (See Zech. 12:10 and following) says that when Jesus Christ returns to earth for the Second time, He will pour out grace on Israel, and they will mourn for rejecting and killing Jesus. The sad thing is that millions upon millions of Jews have died without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The chief priests decided it would be better that Jesus die than that the whole nation be slain by the Romans. They didn’t know it at the time, but God punished them by allowing Roman general Titus to destroy Jerusalem in 70 A.D., just 38 years later. Over one million Jews were slain, and 300,000 went into slavery. The “one man” died, and so did the nation!
A few of those leaders who did believe in Jesus as Lord but were too frightened of being ejected from the synagogue may have “come out” and were saved later, but their reluctance to speak up sent most of them to hell. For a believer to be saved, he must not be afraid to confess his belief in public. A person who dies with a secret belief in Jesus as Lord may not be saved. No human being can make that decision; God knows what’s in the heart, and He is the judge. Matthew 10:33 says that whoever disowns Jesus before men, He will disown before the Father.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Jesus Speaks Of His Death (J48)
“Don’t love this world’s life, or it you will lose;
Hate this world’s life; you’ll gain eternal life,”
Jesus taught Greeks, as well as temple Jews,
During the last week of His earthly strife!
“To be lifted up is the Son of Man;
Should I ask my Father this trial to spare?
No! The very reason I’m in this land
Is to die for sin so men may heav’n share!
Lifted up, I will draw all men to me;
My Father’ll be glorified by the cross.”
A voice from heaven spoke and did agree,
“I’ve been glorified before; you’ll add gloss!”
Jesus advised, “Walk while you have the Light;
I won’t be here long; then it will be night!”
Scripture Quoted: John 12:27-28, 32 (NIV)
“ ‘Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say,? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ “ “ ‘But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.’ “
Commentary on: John 12:20-36 (NIV)
The term “Greeks” here means Greek Jews who have come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast; it possibly means ethnic Jews who live in Jerusalem, but who speak Greek. When Alexander the Great conquered the world (including Judea), he had all his conquered nations learn to speak Greek. The Septuagint is the name of the Hebrew Bible translated into Greek. Jews who spoke Greek had their own synagogues; some forgot their Jewish language. Since at Passover thousands of Jews came from all over the Roman Empire to Jerusalem, the city was very crowded.
When Jesus used the term “lifted up”, He had three distinct meanings in mind. First and foremost, He was referring to Friday when He would be lifted up on a Roman cross in crucifixion. Second, He was alluding to the future when churches would use crosses as spires, making the cross a symbol that brings Jesus to the minds of lost people when they see it. Third, He was referring to His resurrection from the grave after death and His ascension from the Mount of Olives to heaven, where today He sits on the right hand of His Father. It even refers to the sermons and devotionals that “lift the name” of Jesus to a lost world. This is another example of spiritual language that worldly people have difficulting understanding.
Being human, Jesus was troubled in His mind about the cruel suffering He would have to undergo on Friday. He was musing aloud when he asked the rhetorical question of whether He should ask His Father to spare Him the coming trial. He always told His Father “not my will, but yours, be done”. The use of “light” to refer to Himself is another spiritual word. “Light” means to live in the knowledge and fellowship of Jesus; “darkness” means to live in the world ignorant of the gospel and the teachings of Jesus. He thought of Himself leaving earth as light leaving the world in darkness; however, one reason He came was to bring the good news of the gospel and have it preached throughout the world. In that sense, the “light” will never leave the world, although false religions and other Satanic forces have tried to extinguish it.
The Bible has a lot to say about how Christians should not love this world or anything in it. If we love the things of this world, we are apt to spend our lives in them, thus ignoring the God who created it, thus breaking the First Commandmentm which is ro love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. If you do that, nothing in the world will ever be more important to you than God.
"For God so loved rhe world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not die, but have everlasting life," (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Hate this world’s life; you’ll gain eternal life,”
Jesus taught Greeks, as well as temple Jews,
During the last week of His earthly strife!
“To be lifted up is the Son of Man;
Should I ask my Father this trial to spare?
No! The very reason I’m in this land
Is to die for sin so men may heav’n share!
Lifted up, I will draw all men to me;
My Father’ll be glorified by the cross.”
A voice from heaven spoke and did agree,
“I’ve been glorified before; you’ll add gloss!”
Jesus advised, “Walk while you have the Light;
I won’t be here long; then it will be night!”
Scripture Quoted: John 12:27-28, 32 (NIV)
“ ‘Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say,
The term “Greeks” here means Greek Jews who have come to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast; it possibly means ethnic Jews who live in Jerusalem, but who speak Greek. When Alexander the Great conquered the world (including Judea), he had all his conquered nations learn to speak Greek. The Septuagint is the name of the Hebrew Bible translated into Greek. Jews who spoke Greek had their own synagogues; some forgot their Jewish language. Since at Passover thousands of Jews came from all over the Roman Empire to Jerusalem, the city was very crowded.
When Jesus used the term “lifted up”, He had three distinct meanings in mind. First and foremost, He was referring to Friday when He would be lifted up on a Roman cross in crucifixion. Second, He was alluding to the future when churches would use crosses as spires, making the cross a symbol that brings Jesus to the minds of lost people when they see it. Third, He was referring to His resurrection from the grave after death and His ascension from the Mount of Olives to heaven, where today He sits on the right hand of His Father. It even refers to the sermons and devotionals that “lift the name” of Jesus to a lost world. This is another example of spiritual language that worldly people have difficulting understanding.
Being human, Jesus was troubled in His mind about the cruel suffering He would have to undergo on Friday. He was musing aloud when he asked the rhetorical question of whether He should ask His Father to spare Him the coming trial. He always told His Father “not my will, but yours, be done”. The use of “light” to refer to Himself is another spiritual word. “Light” means to live in the knowledge and fellowship of Jesus; “darkness” means to live in the world ignorant of the gospel and the teachings of Jesus. He thought of Himself leaving earth as light leaving the world in darkness; however, one reason He came was to bring the good news of the gospel and have it preached throughout the world. In that sense, the “light” will never leave the world, although false religions and other Satanic forces have tried to extinguish it.
The Bible has a lot to say about how Christians should not love this world or anything in it. If we love the things of this world, we are apt to spend our lives in them, thus ignoring the God who created it, thus breaking the First Commandmentm which is ro love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. If you do that, nothing in the world will ever be more important to you than God.
"For God so loved rhe world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not die, but have everlasting life," (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Jesus Claims His Throne (J47)
Since King David, no Jew had dared to ride
Into Jerusalem; he’d walk, or crawl;
That honor was saved; it was prophesied
For the Christ, who on an ass would enthrall!
On Passover’s first day, the Savior came;
Riding a donkey’s colt, He made His claim;
“Glory to Him who comes in God’s great name!”
The Jews welcomed Him with shouts of acclaim!
Pharisees gnashed their teeth and tore their clothes;
“Now, would you look at that insult to God?”
They shouted in pain to one another;
“Shall we ne’er rid Judea of this clod?
The people believe, and call him brother!”
They dared not arrest Him, fearing uproar,
Needing a traitor to settle the score!
Scripture Quoted: John 12:16-19 (NIV)
“At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 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. Many people, because they heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!’ “
Commentary on: John 12:12-19 (NIV)
Passover was the greatest Feast celebrated by the Jews and attracted the largest number of devout Jews from all over the Roman Empire. It lasted seven days. Jesus rode into Zion (another name for Jerusalem) on Sunday; He would be betrayed by Judas and arrested late Thursday night, crucified and buried on Friday, and resurrected on the next Sunday. This ride on a donkey’s colt into the city was His boldest action. It instantly revealed His claim to be the Christ and King of Israel. The donkey was not considered inferior; rather, it was a custom begun by David, who rode a mule. No one rode a horse or chariot into Jerusalem, except enemies.
After the raising of Lazarus from the dead, Jesus was at the zenith of His popularity; had He been of a warlike or worldly nature, the majority of the common people would have been responsive to His leadership, and the Pharisees knew it. They and the priests were His deadly enemies—their status and that of the temple itself depended upon keeping down insurgency and rioting, which the Jewish people were notoriously apt to do any time. For that reason they could not take a chance on arresting Jesus in public, amid crowds of people. They needed someone who could lead them to Him at night in a secluded place. Judas Iscariot was the traitor; Jesus knew he was when He called him to be an apostle. Some have said that Judas was a zealot—an idealist who wanted Jesus to lead a rebellion against the Romans; however, Jesus taught peace, gentleness, and humility.
The “glorification” of Jesus Christ did not occur until after His resurrection and ascension, when He was glorified by His Father in heaven and seated on the throne at His right hand. The full realization of who Jesus was (God) and all that was prophesied about Him in the Old Testament did not come to them until after He left them.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not die but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Into Jerusalem; he’d walk, or crawl;
That honor was saved; it was prophesied
For the Christ, who on an ass would enthrall!
On Passover’s first day, the Savior came;
Riding a donkey’s colt, He made His claim;
“Glory to Him who comes in God’s great name!”
The Jews welcomed Him with shouts of acclaim!
Pharisees gnashed their teeth and tore their clothes;
“Now, would you look at that insult to God?”
They shouted in pain to one another;
“Shall we ne’er rid Judea of this clod?
The people believe, and call him brother!”
They dared not arrest Him, fearing uproar,
Needing a traitor to settle the score!
Scripture Quoted: John 12:16-19 (NIV)
“At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 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. Many people, because they heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!’ “
Commentary on: John 12:12-19 (NIV)
Passover was the greatest Feast celebrated by the Jews and attracted the largest number of devout Jews from all over the Roman Empire. It lasted seven days. Jesus rode into Zion (another name for Jerusalem) on Sunday; He would be betrayed by Judas and arrested late Thursday night, crucified and buried on Friday, and resurrected on the next Sunday. This ride on a donkey’s colt into the city was His boldest action. It instantly revealed His claim to be the Christ and King of Israel. The donkey was not considered inferior; rather, it was a custom begun by David, who rode a mule. No one rode a horse or chariot into Jerusalem, except enemies.
After the raising of Lazarus from the dead, Jesus was at the zenith of His popularity; had He been of a warlike or worldly nature, the majority of the common people would have been responsive to His leadership, and the Pharisees knew it. They and the priests were His deadly enemies—their status and that of the temple itself depended upon keeping down insurgency and rioting, which the Jewish people were notoriously apt to do any time. For that reason they could not take a chance on arresting Jesus in public, amid crowds of people. They needed someone who could lead them to Him at night in a secluded place. Judas Iscariot was the traitor; Jesus knew he was when He called him to be an apostle. Some have said that Judas was a zealot—an idealist who wanted Jesus to lead a rebellion against the Romans; however, Jesus taught peace, gentleness, and humility.
The “glorification” of Jesus Christ did not occur until after His resurrection and ascension, when He was glorified by His Father in heaven and seated on the throne at His right hand. The full realization of who Jesus was (God) and all that was prophesied about Him in the Old Testament did not come to them until after He left them.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not die but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Mary Anoints Jesus (J46)
A feast in Jesus’ honor was given
By Lazarus, whom He’d raised from the dead;
Jesus had returned, for He was driven,
His task to complete, on the cross of dread!
Mary poured out on His feet rich perfume;
She massaged them with her own precious hair;
Judas rebuked her for the nard consumed,
“It could have assuaged the poor’s despair!”
But Jesus said, “The poor’s always with you,
And I shall not be with you forever.”
Judas kept the bag, and helped himself, too;
He cared not for the poor but was clever!
Living, Lazarus brought many to belief;
Jews planned his death, too, for their plight’s relief!
Scripture Quoted: John 12:7-11 (NIV)
“ ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.’ Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.“
Commentary on: John 12:1-11 (NIV)
Six days before Passover Friday (that is, the Saturday before), Jesus and His disciples had returned to Bethany. Jesus knew that the time for His crucifixion was inexorably close. He went to the home of friends—Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. He intended to stay with them the few days left until His arrest. He knew He was safe from arrest there and in public places during the day because the Pharisees would not risk causing a riot, which would happen if He were intercepted in the presence of large numbers of His followers.
Mary had a special platonic love for Jesus, both as a human male and as the Son of God, and He probably had special love for her. Of course, He would never have thought of her in a sexual sense, nor would she of Him. But, at a dinner she and her family gave in His honor, she came and poured a pint of pure nard perfume on His feet, and wiped them with her hair. The Jewish custom was to sit sideways or reclining on the floor around a very low table on which the food was served. The front door was open to allow anyone not a guest to come in and stand around the guests and their food at such feasts. A large number of Jews came inside because of Jesus and Lazarus, the man He had raised from the dead. His bare feet were exposed within easy reach of Mary. It was a loving thing to do, the kind of thing that all people should have done in honor of their divine Creator.
Judas Iscariot, an apostle of the twelve and keeper of the “bag”, or treasurer, rebuked her on the ground that the nard, a very expensive perfume, should not have been so wasted. The Bible is 100% true, and the text says Judas not only took money from the bag for his own use, but also that he did not care for helping the poor. Of course, Jesus knew everything Judas thought and did; He knew that Judas would lead the temple guards to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane late on the coming Thursday night. He answered Judas strongly (for Him), saying “Leave her alone”.
The chief priests, thinking more like Mafia bosses than priests of God, saw how the Jews by the hundreds were flocking to believe in Jesus on account of seeing the live Lazarus, plotted to kill Lazarus, too, so that they could spread the word that Jesus was a hoax.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not die but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
By Lazarus, whom He’d raised from the dead;
Jesus had returned, for He was driven,
His task to complete, on the cross of dread!
Mary poured out on His feet rich perfume;
She massaged them with her own precious hair;
Judas rebuked her for the nard consumed,
“It could have assuaged the poor’s despair!”
But Jesus said, “The poor’s always with you,
And I shall not be with you forever.”
Judas kept the bag, and helped himself, too;
He cared not for the poor but was clever!
Living, Lazarus brought many to belief;
Jews planned his death, too, for their plight’s relief!
Scripture Quoted: John 12:7-11 (NIV)
“ ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.’ Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.“
Commentary on: John 12:1-11 (NIV)
Six days before Passover Friday (that is, the Saturday before), Jesus and His disciples had returned to Bethany. Jesus knew that the time for His crucifixion was inexorably close. He went to the home of friends—Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. He intended to stay with them the few days left until His arrest. He knew He was safe from arrest there and in public places during the day because the Pharisees would not risk causing a riot, which would happen if He were intercepted in the presence of large numbers of His followers.
Mary had a special platonic love for Jesus, both as a human male and as the Son of God, and He probably had special love for her. Of course, He would never have thought of her in a sexual sense, nor would she of Him. But, at a dinner she and her family gave in His honor, she came and poured a pint of pure nard perfume on His feet, and wiped them with her hair. The Jewish custom was to sit sideways or reclining on the floor around a very low table on which the food was served. The front door was open to allow anyone not a guest to come in and stand around the guests and their food at such feasts. A large number of Jews came inside because of Jesus and Lazarus, the man He had raised from the dead. His bare feet were exposed within easy reach of Mary. It was a loving thing to do, the kind of thing that all people should have done in honor of their divine Creator.
Judas Iscariot, an apostle of the twelve and keeper of the “bag”, or treasurer, rebuked her on the ground that the nard, a very expensive perfume, should not have been so wasted. The Bible is 100% true, and the text says Judas not only took money from the bag for his own use, but also that he did not care for helping the poor. Of course, Jesus knew everything Judas thought and did; He knew that Judas would lead the temple guards to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane late on the coming Thursday night. He answered Judas strongly (for Him), saying “Leave her alone”.
The chief priests, thinking more like Mafia bosses than priests of God, saw how the Jews by the hundreds were flocking to believe in Jesus on account of seeing the live Lazarus, plotted to kill Lazarus, too, so that they could spread the word that Jesus was a hoax.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not die but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Jews Decide Jesus Must Die (J45)
Romans allowed the Sanhedrin to rule,
So long as they owned the people’s support;
Jews feared that Jesus was winning the duel;
They grew desperate to preserve their court!
High priest Caiaphas said, “There’s just one way;
Jesus must die! It’s better that one die,
Than for Romans the whole nation slay,
Or be chained rowing their warships to ply!”
He knew not that he spoke the will of God—
As high priest that year, he had prophesized—
Not just for the nation Hebrews trod;
For all mankind who believed, Jesus died!
They ordered that He be detained on sight;
The time had come for Jews to snuff the Light!
Scripture Quoted: John 11:47-53 (NIV)
"Then the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation!’ Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not realize it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.’ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus woukd die for the Jewush nation, and not obly for that nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they planned to take his life.”
Commentary on: John 11:45-57 (NIV)
John writes that the high priest Caiaphas did not realize that he was speaking prophecy for God when he said that Jesus must die. That’s what God had intended in His “master plan” before He created anything. Jesus did not die though only for the Jewish nation; He died for all the people of the world, so that whoever believed in Jesus would be saved. Prophecy was the job of the high priest, no matter how evil he happened to be. The Romans were the conquerors of the small nation of Judea; they allowed the Sanhedrin to continue as the high court of Jewish religious matters. If it so happened that Jesus became the leader of a majority of the people, the Romans would abolish the Sanhedrin; these Pharisees and priests would have their places taken from them. They feared mass rioting and brutal retribution by Roman soldiers. They came to the decision that Jesus must die for the sake of their selfish status and perhaps the common people’s safety.
News of the “resurrection” of Lazarus had reached the temple on the same day, and the Sanhedrin met immediately. They gave orders that Jesus was to be arrested on sight, and for His whereabouts to be reported by anyone that saw Him. It was just a short few weeks before the ill-fated Passover (or Peshach) Feast, therefore Jesus quit teaching in public. He and His disciples went to a village near the southern desert named Ephraim. Jews had a requirement that each had to be ritually cleansed at the temple before the week of Passover, and they were already gathering in Jerusalem. Jesus was the main topic of conversation; everyone wondered if He would show Himself at the Feast. In the blogs coming up, we shall see what happened in Jerusalem at this particular Passover celebration and the Pentecost that followed 50 days later that turned the world upside down.
The Sanhedrin decided to kill one man (Jesus) to “save the nation”, but their decision actually brought on the perishing of the nation. In 70 A. D., just 38 years later, God caused the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and the nation. Under Titus the Romans killed more than a million Jews, sold 300,000 into slavery in foreign nations for one penny each, plowed the land of Judea up and sowed it with salt, and cut down all the trees along the Jordan River—all as punishment for their killing of Jesus.
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
So long as they owned the people’s support;
Jews feared that Jesus was winning the duel;
They grew desperate to preserve their court!
High priest Caiaphas said, “There’s just one way;
Jesus must die! It’s better that one die,
Than for Romans the whole nation slay,
Or be chained rowing their warships to ply!”
He knew not that he spoke the will of God—
As high priest that year, he had prophesized—
Not just for the nation Hebrews trod;
For all mankind who believed, Jesus died!
They ordered that He be detained on sight;
The time had come for Jews to snuff the Light!
Scripture Quoted: John 11:47-53 (NIV)
"Then the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation!’ Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not realize it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.’ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus woukd die for the Jewush nation, and not obly for that nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they planned to take his life.”
Commentary on: John 11:45-57 (NIV)
John writes that the high priest Caiaphas did not realize that he was speaking prophecy for God when he said that Jesus must die. That’s what God had intended in His “master plan” before He created anything. Jesus did not die though only for the Jewish nation; He died for all the people of the world, so that whoever believed in Jesus would be saved. Prophecy was the job of the high priest, no matter how evil he happened to be. The Romans were the conquerors of the small nation of Judea; they allowed the Sanhedrin to continue as the high court of Jewish religious matters. If it so happened that Jesus became the leader of a majority of the people, the Romans would abolish the Sanhedrin; these Pharisees and priests would have their places taken from them. They feared mass rioting and brutal retribution by Roman soldiers. They came to the decision that Jesus must die for the sake of their selfish status and perhaps the common people’s safety.
News of the “resurrection” of Lazarus had reached the temple on the same day, and the Sanhedrin met immediately. They gave orders that Jesus was to be arrested on sight, and for His whereabouts to be reported by anyone that saw Him. It was just a short few weeks before the ill-fated Passover (or Peshach) Feast, therefore Jesus quit teaching in public. He and His disciples went to a village near the southern desert named Ephraim. Jews had a requirement that each had to be ritually cleansed at the temple before the week of Passover, and they were already gathering in Jerusalem. Jesus was the main topic of conversation; everyone wondered if He would show Himself at the Feast. In the blogs coming up, we shall see what happened in Jerusalem at this particular Passover celebration and the Pentecost that followed 50 days later that turned the world upside down.
The Sanhedrin decided to kill one man (Jesus) to “save the nation”, but their decision actually brought on the perishing of the nation. In 70 A. D., just 38 years later, God caused the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and the nation. Under Titus the Romans killed more than a million Jews, sold 300,000 into slavery in foreign nations for one penny each, plowed the land of Judea up and sowed it with salt, and cut down all the trees along the Jordan River—all as punishment for their killing of Jesus.
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Lazarus Brought From Death To Life (J44)
Word of what might happen spread like lightning,
And a huge throng was waiting at the cave
That served as the tomb, suspense heightening,
To see if Lazarus Jesus could save!
Jesus said, “Roll away the entrance stone.”
Martha gasped, “But, Lord! It has been four days!”
“If you believe, the odor will be gone.”
Men moved the stone; He gave His Father praise,
“Thank you for hearing me; I had no doubt;
I said it that these watching might believe.
Lazarus! In the name of God! Come out!”
A sight that men’s minds could hardly conceive—
Out walked Lazarus, bound from toe to head
In white linen strips, come back from the dead!
Scripture Quoted: John 11:40-44 (NIV)
“Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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.’ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ 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.’ “
Commentary on: John 11:38-44
Is there anything Jesus was unable to do? “Nothing is impossible to God” (See Genesis 18:14). Jesus was fully man, and He was fully God, even while He lived among men. He came to live as a man for the purpose of giving Himself up as the sacrificial lamb that paid for the sins of all mankind. He did this so that some could escape condemnation—only those who sincerely believe in Him as Lord; the ones who will not believe are still condemned to an eternal life of torment.
This raising of Lazarus from the dead to live again was Jesus’ seventh and last miraculous sign selected by John to include in his gospel book of the Bible. The ones he chose each makes a case for the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth, none providing stronger evidence than this one. Those who were in the audience and saw Lazarus walk out, still wrapped in burial linens, mostly believed in Jesus from that time forward. When Jesus was resurrected from the dead Himself on Easter Sunday (a few short weeks later), stayed on earth 40 days and appeared to more than 500 people who knew and recognized Him, in a new body that still possessed the scars—completely healed—it sealed the belief of the apostles and hundreds of Jews who zealously spread Christianity over the known world. Today more than 2 billion living human beings happily believe that the same Jesus that brought Lazarus from the tomb alive was God, not to mention the billions more that have believed and died!
As for Mary and Martha, the sight of their walking brother ended their grief and brought joy back into their lives. They had not fully understood that Jesus intended to bring him back to life, but when they saw it, they never had any doubt that they had hosted God in their home many times. Martha’s worrying about the natural odor that might be released was unnecessary. If Jesus could restore Lazarus to life, He certainly would have no difficulty destroying the smell of putrefaction. The miracle had already happened inside the tomb when Jesus thanked His Father before calling for the man to come out. This was not a resurrection like that of Jesus, because Lazarus died again at his appointed time. Jesus is alive today and will be forever. His (Jesus') was the first resurrection; that of all dead believers will be next.
"That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
And a huge throng was waiting at the cave
That served as the tomb, suspense heightening,
To see if Lazarus Jesus could save!
Jesus said, “Roll away the entrance stone.”
Martha gasped, “But, Lord! It has been four days!”
“If you believe, the odor will be gone.”
Men moved the stone; He gave His Father praise,
“Thank you for hearing me; I had no doubt;
I said it that these watching might believe.
Lazarus! In the name of God! Come out!”
A sight that men’s minds could hardly conceive—
Out walked Lazarus, bound from toe to head
In white linen strips, come back from the dead!
Scripture Quoted: John 11:40-44 (NIV)
“Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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.’ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ 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.’ “
Commentary on: John 11:38-44
Is there anything Jesus was unable to do? “Nothing is impossible to God” (See Genesis 18:14). Jesus was fully man, and He was fully God, even while He lived among men. He came to live as a man for the purpose of giving Himself up as the sacrificial lamb that paid for the sins of all mankind. He did this so that some could escape condemnation—only those who sincerely believe in Him as Lord; the ones who will not believe are still condemned to an eternal life of torment.
This raising of Lazarus from the dead to live again was Jesus’ seventh and last miraculous sign selected by John to include in his gospel book of the Bible. The ones he chose each makes a case for the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth, none providing stronger evidence than this one. Those who were in the audience and saw Lazarus walk out, still wrapped in burial linens, mostly believed in Jesus from that time forward. When Jesus was resurrected from the dead Himself on Easter Sunday (a few short weeks later), stayed on earth 40 days and appeared to more than 500 people who knew and recognized Him, in a new body that still possessed the scars—completely healed—it sealed the belief of the apostles and hundreds of Jews who zealously spread Christianity over the known world. Today more than 2 billion living human beings happily believe that the same Jesus that brought Lazarus from the tomb alive was God, not to mention the billions more that have believed and died!
As for Mary and Martha, the sight of their walking brother ended their grief and brought joy back into their lives. They had not fully understood that Jesus intended to bring him back to life, but when they saw it, they never had any doubt that they had hosted God in their home many times. Martha’s worrying about the natural odor that might be released was unnecessary. If Jesus could restore Lazarus to life, He certainly would have no difficulty destroying the smell of putrefaction. The miracle had already happened inside the tomb when Jesus thanked His Father before calling for the man to come out. This was not a resurrection like that of Jesus, because Lazarus died again at his appointed time. Jesus is alive today and will be forever. His (Jesus') was the first resurrection; that of all dead believers will be next.
"That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Jesus Wept (J43)
Mary and Martha were deep in mourning;
Lazarus had lain in the tomb four days;
When Christ neared the house where grief was storming,
Martha met Him first while still on His way.
“Lord, if you’d been here, he would not have died,
But I know that whate’er you ask, God will give,”
The woman in mingled grief and hope cried!
Jesus said, “Again, your brother shall live!”
She went and told Mary, “He asked for you.”
Mary left quickly, and fell at His feet,
Weeping; the friends with her were crying, too;
He was moved in spirit, and troubled deep!
In the annals of God where peaks are kept,
It must be recorded that Jesus wept!
Scripture Quoted: John 11:20-27 (NIV)
“When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. ‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha answered, ‘I know 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 will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she told him, ‘I believe that you are the Christ [meaning Messiah], the Son of God, who was to come into the world.’ “ [Brackets added]
Commentary: John 11:17-37 (NIV)
Some ungodly individuals have written and made a movie about a supposed sexual or erotic love affair between Mary and Jesus based on her actions in Mark 14:3, here, and certain other reports not included in the Bible. Some Christian women in that day and since may have loved Jesus erotically, being confused about the agape love that the Savior showed to them while He was on earth or contained in the Bible today. Make no mistake about this: Jesus loved Mary with agape love that was platonic, even though she might have felt erotic about Him.
When He told Martha her brother would rise again, she did not understand that He intended to bring him back to life immediately, after four days in the tomb. By saying “even now’, though, she revealed her hope that He would work some kind of miracle. However, when He said an individual who believed in Him would never die, He was using spiritual language again. “Will never die” does not mean that there will not be a physical death of the body; we will all suffer physical death, unless Christ returns the Second time while we still live in the body. The soul will never die; it will go from the body at death immediately to Jesus Christ, to be kept with Him until He returns. At that time our dead and disintegrated bodies will be resurrected imperishable and rejoin our souls that have been kept by Christ; living believers at that time will have new bodies in the “twinkling of an eye” (See 1 Corinthians 15).
Jesus of Nazareth was fully human and fully God. Lazarus, Mary and Martha were believers in His divinity, but they were also human friends at whose home He had stayed while teaching in Jerusalem. This man Jesus, though He was also God and had a universal perspective on the world, was a human being who could weep at the sadness. of His friends. Jesus wept.
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Lazarus had lain in the tomb four days;
When Christ neared the house where grief was storming,
Martha met Him first while still on His way.
“Lord, if you’d been here, he would not have died,
But I know that whate’er you ask, God will give,”
The woman in mingled grief and hope cried!
Jesus said, “Again, your brother shall live!”
She went and told Mary, “He asked for you.”
Mary left quickly, and fell at His feet,
Weeping; the friends with her were crying, too;
He was moved in spirit, and troubled deep!
In the annals of God where peaks are kept,
It must be recorded that Jesus wept!
Scripture Quoted: John 11:20-27 (NIV)
“When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. ‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha answered, ‘I know 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 will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she told him, ‘I believe that you are the Christ [meaning Messiah], the Son of God, who was to come into the world.’ “ [Brackets added]
Commentary: John 11:17-37 (NIV)
Some ungodly individuals have written and made a movie about a supposed sexual or erotic love affair between Mary and Jesus based on her actions in Mark 14:3, here, and certain other reports not included in the Bible. Some Christian women in that day and since may have loved Jesus erotically, being confused about the agape love that the Savior showed to them while He was on earth or contained in the Bible today. Make no mistake about this: Jesus loved Mary with agape love that was platonic, even though she might have felt erotic about Him.
When He told Martha her brother would rise again, she did not understand that He intended to bring him back to life immediately, after four days in the tomb. By saying “even now’, though, she revealed her hope that He would work some kind of miracle. However, when He said an individual who believed in Him would never die, He was using spiritual language again. “Will never die” does not mean that there will not be a physical death of the body; we will all suffer physical death, unless Christ returns the Second time while we still live in the body. The soul will never die; it will go from the body at death immediately to Jesus Christ, to be kept with Him until He returns. At that time our dead and disintegrated bodies will be resurrected imperishable and rejoin our souls that have been kept by Christ; living believers at that time will have new bodies in the “twinkling of an eye” (See 1 Corinthians 15).
Jesus of Nazareth was fully human and fully God. Lazarus, Mary and Martha were believers in His divinity, but they were also human friends at whose home He had stayed while teaching in Jerusalem. This man Jesus, though He was also God and had a universal perspective on the world, was a human being who could weep at the sadness. of His friends. Jesus wept.
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Illness Of Lazarus (J42)
Word came to Jesus that His friend was sick,
Lazarus, at whose home He often stayed;
Sisters Mary and Martha pled, “Come quick,”
But two days more, where He was, He delayed!
“This illness will not end in death,” He told
The ones sent, that the sisters ease their grief;
“It is come for God’s glory to unfold,
And, in the Son, for more to have belief!”
He told His disciples when the time had come
“Let us go up to Judah, where there is need,”
But they said, “Not there, Lord! You escaped from
Those Jews before; they have your death decreed!”
Thomas said to the others, “Let us go,
That we may die with the Savior, also!”
Scripture Quoted John 11:9-14 (NIV)
“Jesus announced, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.’ After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’ His disciples replied, ‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.’ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, that you may believe.’ “
Commentary on John 11:1-16 (NIV)
It seems cruel of Jesus not to drop everything and rush to answer the plea of Lazarus’ sisters, but it was His intention to raise him from the dead, for the glory of God and that more people, even His disciples, would deepen their beliefs in Him as being divine. Since John included only seven of the hundreds of miracles done by Jesus, the raising of Lazarus after he had been dead four days at Bethany, a village less than two miles from the temple, would attract the attention of all Judea, and be fitting for the seventh and last miraculous sign in the book. To help Mary and Martha wait until He came, He did send them word that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death, but given His manner of speaking spiritually, His message was little consolation to the sisters.
His statement in verses 9 and 10 (quoted above) is a good example of the spiritual language that is impossible for the “natural” (without the Holy Spirit) man to decipher; it is difficult for most Christians to grasp its meaning. In Jesus’ mind, His mission of dying on the Passover was always uppermost; by “daylight” He means the time left before that dying day; by “night” He means after His death. He was telling His disciples that it was perfectly safe for Him to go to Judea before the time of His death, for He would employ divine power if necessary to avoid premature arrest.
His disciples had been with Him on the several occasions when His claiming to be sent from God and that “I and my Father are one”; they had seen the anger of the Pharisees boil over until they began picking up stones to throw at Him and kill Him; they were reluctant to go back to the temple area. Bethany was so close to the temple that Jesus was sure to attract the attention of the Pharisees. Yet, it was at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha that Jesus and the disciples had stayed on several of the visits to Jerusalem. These were human friends of Jesus; He had to go. Some modern film writers have mistakenly interpreted Mary's actions toward Jesus as "eros" or sexual love between them, and made a movie about it; that is falsehood.
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Lazarus, at whose home He often stayed;
Sisters Mary and Martha pled, “Come quick,”
But two days more, where He was, He delayed!
“This illness will not end in death,” He told
The ones sent, that the sisters ease their grief;
“It is come for God’s glory to unfold,
And, in the Son, for more to have belief!”
He told His disciples when the time had come
“Let us go up to Judah, where there is need,”
But they said, “Not there, Lord! You escaped from
Those Jews before; they have your death decreed!”
Thomas said to the others, “Let us go,
That we may die with the Savior, also!”
Scripture Quoted John 11:9-14 (NIV)
“Jesus announced, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.’ After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’ His disciples replied, ‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.’ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, that you may believe.’ “
Commentary on John 11:1-16 (NIV)
It seems cruel of Jesus not to drop everything and rush to answer the plea of Lazarus’ sisters, but it was His intention to raise him from the dead, for the glory of God and that more people, even His disciples, would deepen their beliefs in Him as being divine. Since John included only seven of the hundreds of miracles done by Jesus, the raising of Lazarus after he had been dead four days at Bethany, a village less than two miles from the temple, would attract the attention of all Judea, and be fitting for the seventh and last miraculous sign in the book. To help Mary and Martha wait until He came, He did send them word that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death, but given His manner of speaking spiritually, His message was little consolation to the sisters.
His statement in verses 9 and 10 (quoted above) is a good example of the spiritual language that is impossible for the “natural” (without the Holy Spirit) man to decipher; it is difficult for most Christians to grasp its meaning. In Jesus’ mind, His mission of dying on the Passover was always uppermost; by “daylight” He means the time left before that dying day; by “night” He means after His death. He was telling His disciples that it was perfectly safe for Him to go to Judea before the time of His death, for He would employ divine power if necessary to avoid premature arrest.
His disciples had been with Him on the several occasions when His claiming to be sent from God and that “I and my Father are one”; they had seen the anger of the Pharisees boil over until they began picking up stones to throw at Him and kill Him; they were reluctant to go back to the temple area. Bethany was so close to the temple that Jesus was sure to attract the attention of the Pharisees. Yet, it was at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha that Jesus and the disciples had stayed on several of the visits to Jerusalem. These were human friends of Jesus; He had to go. Some modern film writers have mistakenly interpreted Mary's actions toward Jesus as "eros" or sexual love between them, and made a movie about it; that is falsehood.
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Unbelief Of The Jews (J41)
There came another Feast time, and the Jews
Gathered around him in the temple court,
Saying, “Tell us plainly the hoped-for news:
Are you the Christ, or of us making sport?”
“I have told you, but you do not believe;
The miracles I have done in God’s name
Speak for me; you’re not my sheep—you’d receive
The truth; the Father and I are the same!
I give to my sheep free eternal life—
They shall never die; no one can snatch them
From my Father’s hand, no matter the strife!”
Again, the Jews picked up stones to kill Him.
They said, “A mere man, claiming to be God?”
Unseen, He slipped away, new paths to trod!
Scripture Quoted: John 10:37-38 (NIV)
“ ‘Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may understand that my Father is in me, and I in the Father.’ “
Commentary on: John 10:22-42 (NIV)
Jesus makes three very significant statements in the Scripture quoted. The first is that people then, as well as now, should believe that He is Lord because of the miracles He did; second, He states that He and the Father are one; in plain language, Jesus is God; and third (which is not quoted, but is contained in the text), once an individual is saved by believing, he or she cannot be lost again!
He knew He was speaking in spiritual terminology that the Jews could not decipher, but John had described six very public miracles: 1, Changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana; 2, Feeding five thousand people on five small biscuits and two sardines; 3, Walking over three miles on water out to the disciples’ boat; 4, Healing the royal official’s son from a distance of 60 miles; 5, Healing the crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath; and 6, Opening the eyes so he could see of the man blind from birth, also on the Sabbath. He had done many more miracles that John does not mention, but these six should be enough to convince the Jews or anyone else that He was the Lord, no matter what strange words He used.
He also tells the world that He and the Father are one being. This brings us to the Trinity: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit. This is a mystery that man cannot explain, but we know that there is only ONE God; so Jesus Christ (meaning Jesus the Messiah) is the one God Himself! How fortunate were the people of that time and in that little country, that they could “gather around” God Himself and talk with Him; how foolish were those who did not believe! They heard His words; they saw the miracles; what else would it take to make them believe? What will it take to make these millions of American people, these billions of this world’s people, to turn to Jesus and from their computers, television sets, Blackberrys and Ipods to a Savior that offers them eternal life?
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
Gathered around him in the temple court,
Saying, “Tell us plainly the hoped-for news:
Are you the Christ, or of us making sport?”
“I have told you, but you do not believe;
The miracles I have done in God’s name
Speak for me; you’re not my sheep—you’d receive
The truth; the Father and I are the same!
I give to my sheep free eternal life—
They shall never die; no one can snatch them
From my Father’s hand, no matter the strife!”
Again, the Jews picked up stones to kill Him.
They said, “A mere man, claiming to be God?”
Unseen, He slipped away, new paths to trod!
Scripture Quoted: John 10:37-38 (NIV)
“ ‘Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may understand that my Father is in me, and I in the Father.’ “
Commentary on: John 10:22-42 (NIV)
Jesus makes three very significant statements in the Scripture quoted. The first is that people then, as well as now, should believe that He is Lord because of the miracles He did; second, He states that He and the Father are one; in plain language, Jesus is God; and third (which is not quoted, but is contained in the text), once an individual is saved by believing, he or she cannot be lost again!
He knew He was speaking in spiritual terminology that the Jews could not decipher, but John had described six very public miracles: 1, Changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana; 2, Feeding five thousand people on five small biscuits and two sardines; 3, Walking over three miles on water out to the disciples’ boat; 4, Healing the royal official’s son from a distance of 60 miles; 5, Healing the crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath; and 6, Opening the eyes so he could see of the man blind from birth, also on the Sabbath. He had done many more miracles that John does not mention, but these six should be enough to convince the Jews or anyone else that He was the Lord, no matter what strange words He used.
He also tells the world that He and the Father are one being. This brings us to the Trinity: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit. This is a mystery that man cannot explain, but we know that there is only ONE God; so Jesus Christ (meaning Jesus the Messiah) is the one God Himself! How fortunate were the people of that time and in that little country, that they could “gather around” God Himself and talk with Him; how foolish were those who did not believe! They heard His words; they saw the miracles; what else would it take to make them believe? What will it take to make these millions of American people, these billions of this world’s people, to turn to Jesus and from their computers, television sets, Blackberrys and Ipods to a Savior that offers them eternal life?
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
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