This weekend we celebrate the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Approximately half the world knows the story of how Jesus died and rose again. (Sadly, there is still half our world that has not even had a chance to reject Him because they have not even heard of Him. That is what missions and CTEN is all about.) But what happened to the other apostles? How and where did they die? ** Continue reading
Category Archives: John
I wish I knew WWJD
Luke 9:51-56
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. (Samaritans and Jews disliked each other based on their religious pasts. Samaritans felt true worship should be at a location in Samaria so anyone going to Jerusalem was not welcome.) When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.
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While I love the idea behind the WWJD concept (in every situation ask yourself “What Would Jesus Do?” and then do that) I find it interesting that the very men who walked with Him, talked with Him and lived with Him were often clueless as to what He was going to do. James and John were following a Biblical precedent of calling fire down on those who oppose the Lord (2 Kings 2:12-14) but they were rebuked for their suggestion. Perhaps they asked, “WWJD when a town insulted Him and would not let Him stay there?” and, based on Scriptural precedent, they decided He would destroy these evil people. They accurately understood the Word of God but they totally missed the Heart of God. Continue reading
We should obey Mary
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was surely a wonderful young woman. God chose her as a special vessel to bring His Son into the world and to raise Him as a boy. There are those who venerate her beyond what Scripture teaches but in my zeal to keep Jesus as the only way to the Father – not by obedience to the church, not by keeping the law, not by any other name than the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12) – I must be sure I do not denigrate the mother of our Lord, or for that matter, any other follower of Jesus.
I have decided a great way to bridge the gap between my view and those who overly venerate, perhaps even worship Mary, is to just encourage them to do what I do and “Obey Mary.” Continue reading
Jesus was rude to Mary
Luke 8:19-21 – Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
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What kind of son would not even help his family get through the crowd to be able to talk to Him? Sounds pretty rude and inconsiderate, doesn’t it. But this didn’t come as a surprise to the original readers. They knew something that Luke doesn’t record here. We have to go to Mark for the surprising explanation. Continue reading
Pain: Evidence God has plans for you
Individuals that God uses in a special way are often put through deeper and more difficult trials than others. We see this throughout Scripture. You cannot name a single individual used greatly by God that did not face fire, opposition, sickness, hardship, persecution and testing. In fact, you often see a correlation between the depth of their despair and the height to which God uses them after they have been proven by the testing. The deeper the pit the higher the mountaintop to follow. This is counterintuitive to our way of thinking (and, sadly, also counter to much of what today is proclaimed as “gospel”). Why would a loving God not treat His children better?
A Great Idea for Christmas
Gather the kids and read the Christmas story.
Here it is in chronological order.
If you have young listeners be sure to choose an easier to understand version like The New International Version or New Living Translation. If you have really small, or impatient listeners, read only the sections listed in bold.
A tradition we enjoyed when the children were small was to have them use the pieces of a non-breakable nativity set to act out the action while Dad read. (See the video below to see that this does not have to be some high and holy experience. Have fun with it.)
Print this out and store it with your decorations and you’ll be ready to do it again next year.
Have fun and a Merry Christmas.
THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR
John 1:1- 5, 14 (Eternal Word made flesh)
Luke 1:5-25 (Zechariah’s vision)
Luke 1:26-56 (Mary’s vision and trip)
Matthew 1:18-25 (Joseph’s first dream)
Luke 2:1-20 (Bethlehem & Shepherds)
Matthew 2:1-12 (Magi)
Matthew 2:13-23 (To Egypt and Nazareth)
Want to see how this works?
Jonathan dug up an old home movie of one of our Christmas readings while we lived in Guatemala, Central America.
Check it out here.
I’d kill for Jesus!
[HOME]
John 18:10
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
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Some time earlier, during their last meal together, Peter boasted that even though the other disciples might all abandon Jesus, he was willing to die for Him. Evidently he was sincere. Here we see Peter was certainly willing to kill for Him. (Remember, Peter was a fisherman, not a swordsman. Certainly he was attempting to kill the man but was only able to clip an ear.) But the disciples were outnumbered and out armed so Peter’s attack could have led to his death, too. Apparently Peter was willing to die for Jesus.
But Jesus put a stop to Peter’s attack. The Lord was more interested in Peter living for Him than Peter dying for Him. Peter failed the ‘living’ test though and denied the Lord three times. Continue reading
Not sure I believe this. Do you?
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
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Apart from Jesus I can do nothing? I’m not sure I believe this verse. At least I often don’t act like I do. I act more like I believe “I can do this but if God blesses it it will be so much better.” So I ask for His help.
When I “help” someone they do most of the work and I just provide the little extra to put them over the top. When I ask God to help me or bless what I am doing, at least in my mind, there is an implied “I can and am going to do this but, God, it will be wonderful if You give it that little extra to put it over the top and make it great.” God becomes the icing on the cake rather than the essential vine. Continue reading
Go away Jesus.
John 16:7
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
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While it is great to have the Holy Spirit in my life my natural inclination is to disagree with Jesus’ statement here, that it is better for Him to go so the Holy Spirit can come. After all, if Jesus was walking with me, I could see him, touch Him, talk with Him and clearly hear His response (even though his disciples often had no idea what His answers meant, at least they knew they were hearing Him clearly). So why is it better for us that Jesus is now with the Father and the Holy Spirit is with us? Continue reading
We’ll Outperform Jesus?
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
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Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. What could Jesus be talking about when He says we will do greater works than He did? What could be greater than raising a man from the dead?