Category: John - Jethro TOOLS

Christmas Time: Explained

12/24/2025

John 1:1-8
We are now into the Christmas season. Your mind and your calendar may be full with all the things that you need to accomplish between now and December 25. In our busyness we often forget or neglect the real meaning of Christmas, Jesus born as Savior of the world. The cradle does not exist without the cross. However, the Christmas story begins before the cradle. As John begins the fourth book in the New Testament he highlights six essential truths about Jesus the savior born in the manger. John opens the first chapter by explaining that Jesus is God’s personal communication to us (1). Second, he explains the preexistence of Jesus in the beginning (1). Thirdly, John explains that Jesus is God (1-2), who fourthly gives life (3-4). Fifth, John explains the opposition of the darkness and evil to the light and truth of God’s communication of Jesus as Savior (5). This finally leads John to explain his role as a messenger who declares that belief in Jesus is essential (6-8). God designed and planned to personally reveal Himself to mankind through Jesus. John writes these things so that we, his audience, may believe that Jesus is the Savior and by believing we may have life in His name (John 20:30-31). This message is true for the audience of John’s day and for us today. Has the power of God displayed to us through Jesus overcome your darkness? Belief in Jesus is essential for life in Him. It is only through belief in Him as savior that we find our true purpose in life. We have been designed to reveal His greatness and light to people lost in a dark world in need of the light and life found only in Jesus. May the joy of Jesus fill you with His message. May the light of Jesus guide you as you daily walk with Him. He came to give His life so we can have true life by believing in Him.

For More See JOHN

New Life New Future

11/16/2025

John 14:1-7
Forever together, this is the thought forms the desire and plan for a wedding. Love motivates a young couple to begin thinking about the future and the celebratory start to that relationship called a wedding. In different cultures the process that moves toward the wedding will look different. When we look at the Bible and see a wedding we must realize that there are differences between now and then. In Jesus day the husband would make a promise to his future bride that he would come back for her. In the mean time he would go and build a house attached to his fathers house. When the house was completed the husband would return for his bride and take her to his fathers house for the wedding and its celebration. In John 14 Jesus speaks with His disciples regarding His departure. They are deeply troubled (1) but He reminds them that He will prepare a place at His fathers house for them (2) so that one day He will come back and bring them to be with Him (3). Jesus is using the cultural example of a wedding to explain the spiritual truth of the future for those who believe in Him. The only way to become part of God’s family is through a relationship with Jesus, His son. While waiting for His return those who believe have the joy of telling others of their wonderful savior. Do you know Jesus as your savior? Have you placed your faith in Him as your only savior? Jesus tells His followers, and us today, that belief in Him is the only way to gain entrance into heaven, His fathers house (6). Belief in His salvation is essential in order to be included in God’s family for all eternity. Each of us must answer the question, What will you do with Jesus? How we answer will determine our future for all eternity. Will you spend life with Him or separate from Him?

For More See JOHN

Supremacy of Faith

5/11/2025

Hebrews 11:1-3
Have you ever been on a trust walk? The idea is simple. One person covers their eyes with a blindfold and the other person leads them in, around and under obstacles of varying degrees of difficulty. The question that is asked the blindfolded individual is, “Do you trust me?” A wise person will select a faithful and reliable person before attempting this activity. The deeper question is, why is faith difficult? For starters we want to know what is know what is ahead before making a commitment. In a way we lift the blindfold, take a quick look, formulate a plan, then drop the blindfold and follow. In John 20:24-25 we see Thomas doubting the reports that Jesus is alive. He basically says, “I need to see Jesus and touch him or I will not believe.” The following verses record Jesus appearing to the disciples again. This time He turns to Thomas challenging his unbelief (27). To see and believe is one thing, but to believing without seeing, that is completely different (29). Faith is difficult because we like to see what is ahead so we can plan appropriately. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is “being convinced of what we do not see.” Like a blindfolded game participant we must have complete calmness that the one leading us will accurately provide directions. Yet, along with that calm assurance in the leader, we must be convinced that what they tell us is accurate. Just like the game, faith is to affect every area of our life. Faith changes the thinking in our head from doubts to belief. Faith challenges our heart to find Christ completely reliable, and that will change our action to willingly do what we are told. In a blindfolded game of trust many will freeze in fear. In life God calls us to confident assured faith in Him that does not lift the blindfold.

For More See HEBREWS

Foundation of Beliefs

4/27/2025

John 1:1-16
Growing up in the North, earthquakes were frequent occurrences. Dishes would rattle in the kitchen and you would feel the house lurch and bump. This all happened because the of movement in the ground. At a much later date, I lived in the South where the ground moved because of the water content in the soil. In the rainy season the ground would swell, but without water the ground would shrink. In both locations homes needed to have good foundations or else the structure would fail because of the ground movement. A well built house must be tied to a well built foundation. Like a house our lives need to be built on something solid. A house that has a weak foundation will crack and not be usable if it is not repaired. In the same way our lives are built upon what we believe. If our beliefs are weak then our actions will be weak and ineffective. There are five core beliefs that we must hold if we profess a saving faith in Jesus. Scripture teaches us that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone for God’s glory alone. The Bible provides an accurate witness pointing to Christ as Savior (2 Timothy 3:14-17). Grace is God’s process of giving salvation (Titus 3:4-7). Faith is God’s work enabling the reception of salvation (Romans 1:16-17). True belief is centered on Christ as the only source of salvation (Romans 3:22). This leaves God’s glory as the goal of all who are saved (1 Corinthians 10:31). The problem is that it is easy to say that we are involved in the Christian life and yet not live the Christian life. God wants us to not only know what we believe but act on our beliefs. Our actions will prove what we truly believe. So what do you believe? Our beliefs will affect the way we live.

For More See JOHN

Belief in One

4/13/2025

Luke 23:26-48
Good news and bad news are on the opposite spectrum. The doctor calls and says the health report is not good, or you get a call about the birth of a grandchild. We enjoy the good, but our life is build around the bad. Our brain has a way of paying attention to what is bad and looking for a solution out of the predicament. Very simply we become people that want to find the good in the midst of the bad. God has intentionally created us to be searchers. Why are we like that? We are born into a broken world as people needing answers to life and we spend a lifetime working to provide those answers. We think, read, and search for God’s good in the bad. In the crucifixion of Jesus we see the bad news play out. Some mourned (27-28) while rulers and soldiers mocked Jesus (35-37) as he was placed on a cross between two thieves (32-33). The bad news and the reality of death seemed hopeless. Yet Luke records the change that occurred in one of the thieves , the centurion and even the crowd. God was at work bringing His good out of the worst bad that could ever happen. 1 Peter 3:18 states that, “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God.” The broken world of Jesus day contained people looking for something better. The centurion found a righteous man in the midst of corruption and death (47). The thief found new life at the end of his own life (42-43). God even worked in the crowd to change their thinking (48). The good news is that Jesus has taken the bad news of our sin for us. Our broken world can only show us more brokenness and death, yet Jesus came to be the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Belief in Jesus is good news for a broken world.

For More See LUKE

The Disciple's Passion

2/9/2025

Matthew 22:34-40
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. With that, our thoughts are drawn to what we love, who we love, and how we might show that love. Love is the root of a passionate expression. We can say that we love ice cream, sports, coffee or someone, but there is always an expression of that love. In its simplest form passion is doing what we love and loving what we do. Being a person of passion is expressing the strong excited response that is based on the deeper sense of love. If there is not a connection that attracts then there will not be the action based on the attraction. The Bible lays out God’s passionate connection for all humanity in John 3:16. God loved the world so much that He gave Jesus, His only Son, to be our savior from sin. Love is the motivation for the extreme action of God’s passion. The passion displayed in the action proves the reality of the love. In Matthew 22 Jesus was asked to identify the greatest command in the law (36). In response He says, love God and people (37-39). Jesus came and displayed God’s love to us so we can display His love to others. The good news of God’s love drove His passionate display of love. Our display of love for others is to be based on our understanding and acceptance of God’s love passionately displayed for all the world to see. That is life changing love, the kind of love that God wants His committed followers to display to others. On our own we do not have the capability to accurately display God’s love. Yet, as disciples of Jesus, we are graciously given the ability to love because we have experienced God’s love (1 John 4:19). Are we actively displaying our love for God and others as God has loved us?

For More See MATTHEW or 1 JOHN or DISCIPLESHIP

The Disciple's Connection

1/12/2025

John 15:1-8
The garden this past summer produced a bumper crop of sunflowers. In fact one was over sixteen feet tall. However, large objects like that do not handle the force of wind very well. Examining the garden after a bit of strong wind revealed sunflower damage. Several plants were down. Upon further inspection we saw that two of the sunflowers had broken stalks and were wilting because they lost their connection to the roots and the life giving nutrients supplied to them. The plants with the broken stalks were beyond repair. They wilted, died and had to be removed. Just as the connection to the roots is essential for a sunflower to grow so also the disciple must remain connected to Christ to grow. In John 15 Jesus tells His disciples that he is the true life giving vine (1). Spiritual growth and fruitfulness are only found though our connection to Christ as our savior. That connection is formed as we trust in Christ’s sacrificial payment of our sin. However, Jesus does not end the conversation with saving faith. He challenges the disciples to a growing faith that is spiritually productive (4). The production of faith and true spiritual life is never found through individual effort. Jesus says that apart from Him there is no life and no fruit (5). The challenge that Jesus leaves His disciples, and us, is to allow His power to flow through us to produce His results and His praise (8). God desires that we have fruitful spiritual lives known for righteousness, giving, serving, and witnessing. That can only be accomplished through a relationship with Christ as we are connected to Him as savior. That connection is maintained through time in the word, prayer, fellowship and worship. Are we connected to Christ? Remember, just like a sunflower, it is not how tall you grow, but that you remain connected.

For More See JOHN or DISCIPLESHIP

The Gift

12/15/2024

Isaiah 9:3-7
Gift giving is on our minds at this time of year. At times we all struggle to determine what to give that certain someone. If you ask others for advice on what to give, you may hear a wide range of answers including something to eat, something to wear, something to do, or even time with you. Helpful as that list of suggestions may be, we are still left scratching our heads, puzzled by what to give. Perhaps we need to simplify the process. Rather than thinking about what to give the other person, it might be better to think like the other person. Once we begin to think of a great gift from the receivers perspective we will see what they need and value most, then give accordingly. That is exactly what God has done for us. In Isaiah 9 we see that God clearly understands us as people and gives us exactly what we need. Isaiah, under God’s direction, records God’s promise that a child will be born and a son will be given (6). God is making a grand announcement proclaiming what He will do for us. This simple verse describes the human side of a child being born and also the divine side of God giving His son. What is this? This is God, through Isaiah, building in the people the belief that God will come and live with man as God with us, Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). The rest of Isaiah 9:6 goes on to describe how this gift from God is exactly what lost and sinful humanity needs. At Christmas our gift giving is a very small imitation of the gift of Jesus himself, that has been given to us. God knew exactly what we needed and gave His Son to forgive us, restore us and give us new life (John 3:16). In Jesus, God has given the perfect gift of salvation that we have deeply desired.

For More See ISAIAH or CHRISTMAS

Acceptance

3/18/2024

John 3:1-21
Have you ever wanted to get to know someone but were afraid to talk to them when others were around? In John 3 we see that Nicodemus was a religious leader with serious questions for Jesus. So, he arranged to met with Jesus at night, asking questions that people still ponder today. He began with a general statement regarding what people in the community were saying about Jesus. He then moved too much deeper questions in response to the truth that Jesus presented. His perspective about Jesus was challenged (2-3). His beliefs about Jesus and salvation were confronted (4-8). Through this, Jesus desired that Nicodemus would believe that He was the promised savior as predicted in the scriptures (9-15). The conversation concludes as Jesus emphasized that a new life is only the result of God’s transforming power (16-21). As we read this conversation we often miss what Jesus was modeling for us. Jesus was willing to take the time to meet with Nicodemus. From there He started with what Nicodemus knew and challenged his understanding of the truth. Jesus made sure that the truth was presented in such a way that it would lead to beliefs being challenged and to salvation. Today, we can do the same in our conversations with others. We can only tell others of the truth of the gospel if we know it by experience. Let us ask God to open the conversations and relationships so we can tell others of Jesus and point them to salvation in Him alone. Like Nicodemus, our acceptance by God is not found through what we know about Him or the things we do. We must come to God on His terms through Jesus our savior. In that, God begins a visible transformative process, moving us from spiritual darkness to spiritual light (21). Like Nicodemus, what we know will affect what we believe, and what we believe will affect the way we live.

For more see JOHN or EASTER

Service: What Must I Do?

3/10/2024

Matthew 26:6-16
The other day my yard was invaded by a bunch of kids, and I enjoyed every minute of it. We started with games like tug of war, and ended with a big fire. The definition of a fire is a spark that ignites oxygen and fuel. On a cold day the warmth of a fire is nice. But, have you noticed that a fire on a warm day also draws you in? Why? What is it about a fire that attracts us? The movement of the flame is intriguing; the light from the flame is illuminating; the warmth of the flame is inviting. Is that not also true about Jesus? What He does in our world is intriguing. The truth of His words illuminate the darkness of our lives, and His presence invites us into the warmth of a relationship with Him. Like a fire we see that Mary was repeatedly drawn into a relationship with Jesus her Savior. She sat at Jesus feet, listening to Jesus, while Martha made the meal (Luke 10:38-42). She bowed down at Jesus feet, grieving the death of her brother Lazarus (John 11:28-32). Now, at the meal with the disciples, she worships at the feet of Jesus (Matthew 26:6-16; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8). Mary willingly gave her most valued possession in service to Christ. She had a passion to be with, to worship and to serve Jesus, her Savior. In much the same way our love and worship for Jesus should fill the air around us like Mary’s perfume. Do we have that same passion to be with Jesus and sit at His feet and serve Him? We can sit at Jesus feet by spending time listening to His word, responding in prayer and doing what honors Him. Mary’s love for Jesus, and faith in Him, filled the room. Like a fire, may our faith in our Savior draw others into the warmth of His love for them.

Fore more see MATTHEW or EASTER

What is the Church?

1/28/2024

Matthew 16:13-20
“Throw the rocks into the woods and listen to the music they make… rock music!” We all groaned at the joke that our gym teacher had just made. It all started as the weather began to warm, the rocks began to show up and our Jr. High teacher who was also the track coach saw a need. The problem that needed to be addressed was that the gravel running track around the school was full of rocks that would cause tripping or twisted ankle hazards for the track team. His simple solution was to get each and every gym glass outside to throw rocks into the woods and thus clean the track for the runners. However, multiple rocks making multiple thuds is not music in any form. Yet, often we think of the church in that way. We look at what the church does and use that to define what the church is. The function of the church can never define the church. Instead the church finds its source in who God is as one who has a passion for people (Luke 19:10) and a desire for true worshipers (John 4:23-34). Out of that passion and purpose God created something new through the new promise given in the blood of Christ to create a new community of worshipers who are connected through belief in Christ and under the direction of the Spirit. A proper understanding of who God is leads to a correct definition of the church. This in turn directs the function of the church, one that has a passion to whole heartedly follow and worship God. In Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus states that He will build His church (18). Many people have misapplied this passage to historical or present day people. Notice however that Jesus words are a reference to Himself and His action of building His church. Still today we struggle with the idea that our actions are what build a church. In doing so we define the church by what the church does rather than by who the church is founded on. It is just like saying that rocks make music. When we believe that our actions build the church that is not music to God’s ears… it is just a dull thud, like rocks falling in the woods.

For more see MATTHEW or QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Reproducing Growth

1/10/2024

2 Timothy 2:1-2
Have you ever replanted trees? A number of years ago I dug up several trees from the woods and planted them along the road in front of the house for shade and privacy. Even though the trees were no taller than myself, the dirt on the roots made them almost too heavy to lift. With a bit of fertilizer and a lot of water the trees took root in their new location and started to thrive. There was noticeable growth each year, and now it is hard to imagine that I moved those trees. They are twenty to thirty feet tall and they look fantastic. Everywhere we look in life there is change because of growth. When there is no growth that shows that there is a problem. If you examine a tree that does not grow you will discover an infestation of disease, rot or predators. The same is true in our spiritual lives. If we are not growing we are plateaued or worse stagnate and in decline. Paul challenges Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-2 to take what he has learned and pass it on to others. Basically, he is saying, duplicate yourself in the lives of others and help others grow. This is the result of a personal and powerful relationship that Paul had with Timothy as a mentor. Timothy gleaned much from Paul. Now as a result of the changes and growth in his own life he was responsible to intentionally go and reproduce what he has learned and seen in the lives of others who would be able to do the same. This is not something that Timothy does in his own strength. It is a natural process of being connected to Jesus, growing spiritually and producing fruit (John 15:5). We can have a very bad habit of believing that our faith is only our own. However, just like a tree we are planted to grow and reproduce. If we do not grow into maturity and reproduce we have become stagnant and stunted or dead spiritually. Christ’s purpose in saving us is to grow us, mature us, and use us to grow others.

For more see 2 TIMOTHY or DISCIPLESHIP

Invitation to Discipleship

6/11/2023

John 1:35-51
There is an old joke that talks about two brothers, Pete and RePete. One day they were walking across a bridge and Pete fell off the bridge and into the water. Who was left? Well, the obvious answer is RePete. So the story is told again and again until the hearer finally understands that it is never ending. Repetition is the fastest way to learn, but for some of us it may take a little more than others. Scientific research on repetition backs up what we know to be true from life experience. The more we repeat something accurately the easier it is to remember how do it correctly. A simple test of this is meeting someone for the first time. The more you repeat their name in that initial conversation the easier it will be to remember it. This idea of repetition is not lost on Jesus and His first disciples. In John chapter 1 we see repetition practiced by Andrew and Philip. First of all, John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as God’s promised savior and Andrew then turned to follow Jesus. From his time with Jesus, Andrew then went and found his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus (40-42). Secondly, we see on a separate occasion that Jesus told Philip to follow Him. Philip responded by finding Nathanael and telling him to come and see Jesus (44-46). These men displayed an excitement of personally discovering Jesus, God’s promised savior from sin. They repeated what they knew about Jesus and responded appropriately by bringing others to Jesus. They did not do anything special. You see, a disciple simply repeats what the master has taught and modeled by simply inviting others to follow. For us today, our response should be no different. Yet, often we incorrectly believe that we are not qualified, and thus not capable of telling others of Jesus. However, all it takes is a simple invitation … Come and See.

For more see JOHN or INVITATION SERIES

Why Evangelize?

3/12/2023

2 Corinthians 5:14-21
One day a man who had not been feeling well went to see the doctor. After an examination and tests the doctor sent the man home, promising to call him with the results. The next day the doctor called and said, “Well I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” The man thought for a moment and asked for the good news. The doctor replied, “Good news is that you have 24 hours to live.” Confused, the patient asked, “If that was the good news what is the bad news?” “Well,” the doctor said, “the bad news is that I should have called you yesterday.” In a similar manner we, as believers in Jesus, often have a problem when it comes to telling others about Him. Often we turn the truth of scripture into a hammer and try to beat people into belief in Jesus. Then, on the other extreme, we take grace too far and it turns into friendship with no message proclaiming Christ. John 1:14 & 17 record that Jesus was full of grace and truth. He did not back away from the truth and He did not neglect to use grace. Jesus came full of grace and truth, and we should be the same. We need to speak the truth with words of grace so others will see Jesus in our message of evangelism. We need to live the truth with actions of grace so others will see Jesus in our method of evangelism. In Acts 4:12, Peter is speaks of Jesus saying, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Christ’s love for us on the cross compels us to act on our belief of Him as savior, and serve as His messenger of good news (2 Corinthians 5:14-21) to those living with the bad news of sin.

For more see 2 CORINTHIANS or DISCIPLESHIP

Jesus Role as Priest

12/22/2022

John 17
Have you ever gone to a doctor and felt like they did not listen or care? You probably walked out and looked for another doctor. We expect doctors to have our best interest in mind. They are giving us advice and researched opinions regarding our health. They have the job of making us better. Similarly, Jesus as a priest is deeply concerned about the spiritual health of people. A priest will offer sacrifices for sin, guide in true worship and help restore mankind to God. In John 17 we see Jesus express a passionate interest in His disciples and other future believers in Him. He is requesting that the Father guide, protect and unify His disciples. He desires that His followers accept His gift of salvation and know that they are kept securely in that salvation by the Father. He also seeks their transformation through the revealed word of God so they will share the greatness of Him with others. Jesus, as priest, is the one who seeks God’s best for mankind. This Christmas I hope that you grow in your joy knowing that Jesus came to save us, change us and cure us from the sickness of sin.

For more see JOHN or PROPHET, PRIEST & KING

Jesus Role as Prophet

12/22/2022

John 1:1-18
I remember going off to college and my Mom telling me to write each week. Well… That never happened because it took too much time. I had to get paper, compose my thoughts, and then walk to the post office to mail it. A phone call was so much easier. However, it was funny how much there was to talk about when I went home for Christmas. Communication in person is always more personal, relatable and believable. Throughout the Old Testament God used various prophets to communicate with His people. The prophet is a messenger who delivers a message, a corrector who points out what is wrong, and a teacher who tells the right way to live. As savior, Jesus, fulfills the role of divine prophet. In the Gospel of John we see that God planned to send Jesus as the perfect way to communicate to people who God is, the need for Him and God’s solution of salvation. This Christmas message communicated through Jesus calls us to listen to God’s Word, believe God’s truth and accept God’s grace. Jesus was the messenger who communicated God’s message to man-kind. This Christmas I hope that you hear God’s message of love, truth and grace communicated through Jesus.

for more see JOHN or PROPHET, PRIEST & KING

Christmas & Illumination

12/18/2022

John 1:4-9
I grew up in an era when the Christmas lights were the size of your thumb. They were the kind that you had to watch carefully because they would get hot and produce enough heat to start a dry Christmas tree on fire. As the years progressed my family replaced those with strings of smaller lights that were less dangerous. It was a real treat when we got the little lights that would flash on and off. It sure added a dimension to the tree that the old big bulbs never could. Still, to this day, I truly enjoy watching the colorful lights dance around the tree and reflect their light off the ornaments hanging on the tree. As I look at the twinkling lights on the tree they remind me of the light that Jesus Christ has brought into the world. Isaiah 8:19-22 speaks of the spiritual darkness and sin of the people. Yet, as we move into the next verses, Isaiah gives hope to the sinful people. A Savior will come for those surrounded by the gloom of sin (Isaiah 9:1-7). This darkness of sin leads to separation from God and others. Even the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20) and the wisemen (Matthew 2:1-12), in the Christmas story, were considered outsiders and not acceptable. Yet Jesus came to show His grace and acceptance of all who turn to Him for salvation. It is His power that transforms our lives. Just as a strand of Christmas lights can never produce light on their own unless plugged in. Likewise we who follow Christ are only able to live a new life through His transforming power that enlightens and enables us (John 8:12). Jesus is the Savior for sinners and the Savior that offers salvation to all. He saves us so we can walk a transformed life by His power and display His light to others.

For more see JOHN or SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas & Invitation

12/11/2022

John 3:16
What do you do with that unwanted gift that you will never use? The best option is to return it to the store and exchange it for some item you really want. The exact numbers of post Christmas returns are not in for this year, but based on previous years, retailers expect about 55 percent of shoppers to exchange or return an unwanted gift. What is the problem? Why so many returns? The issue is the giver and the ability to fully know the one receiving the gift. With all the returns some stores turn to post holiday sales to move the unwanted merchandise. But have you thought about the time when the giver got the perfect gift for everyone? God did just that at Christmas. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” God is the perfect giver who gives with a purpose to display His love to a world full of people that have no idea what real love is. God gave His one and only Son at Christmas as a personal gift for every one. This gift and His sacrifice in our place for our sin provides new life now and eternal life for the rest of time for all who believe in Jesus. The gift is given freely by God with the all the benefits of life and not death. The only requirement is belief in Jesus as the Son of God who has come to save us from our sin. Do you believe that Jesus is God’s gift for you? When we understand the greatness of this gift we not only treasure it but also tell others about it. It is the gift that we can continually give away and never lose. It is the best gift that we will never return.

For more see JOHN or SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS

Harvest Time

8/14/2022

John 4:1-42
During the cool days of spring I get out and turn over the soil in the garden, add fertilizer, and imagine the crops that will be grown. There are the standard sweet carrots, luscious green lettuce, deep red tomatoes, as well as beans, onions, peppers, herbs, and squash. All of these will add special flavors to the dinner table in the months to come. However, between turning the soil over in the spring, and harvesting in the fall, there is quite a bit of work. Seeds need to be planted, then transplanted and protected. For the plants to flourish and produce a crop weeds must be pulled plus fertilizer and water added at the right time. The beginning of a garden always starts with the end in mind, the harvest. The gardener will always work to see the crops produce. In John 4 Jesus spends time in anticipation of a spiritual harvest and then calls on his disciples to respond. John records that it begins at a well (6) while the disciples went into the city for food. As Jesus waited, a woman came to get water (7). In the process of talking, Jesus turned the conversation from the daily physical need of water to the woman’s deep spiritual need of salvation (13-14). In doing so Jesus was willing to cross cultural barriers in order to communicate the message of salvation. He helped her to see her needs and challenged her spiritually, which she found uncomfortable (17-20). As the disciples returned (27), the woman then left her water jar, to go back to the city and tell others of Jesus (28-29). Jesus challenged the disciples to see the people as a spiritual harvest (34). The end result is that the community was changed (41-42). The same can happen today as we serve our Savior in the spiritual harvest in our communities.

For more see JOHN

Do You Love Me?

4/24/2022

John 21:15-19
For about two weeks we have had a stray dog wandering through our neighborhood. It seems most likely that he has been dropped off and abandoned by his previous owner. In researching his breed it seems like he is deeply loyal to one owner and is very aloof or distant from strangers. That is why it is so hard to get close to him to even toss him some food. If you think about it from the dog’s perspective, he was abandoned by the one that he loved and now he is running from those who want to catch him and show him love. Love is an interesting subject. We need it and want it and yet we often run from it. In John 21 Jesus has a deeply intimate and yet public conversation with Peter who had previously denied Him publicly three times. In verses 15-19 Jesus questions Peter three times about his love. In these verses Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Each time Peter responds affirming that in fact he does love Jesus. The central point of these questions from God is to get Peter to make that affirmation. Each time Peter reaffirms his love for Jesus he is given a job to serve and display God’s love to others. Jesus was not about to discard Peter because of his failure. Instead, Jesus sought to restore and reconcile Peter to a life of intentional service for God’s church. Today, like Peter, following Jesus is based on Christ’s call and not on how we feel. We may feel very unworthy and undeserving, yet Jesus calls us to follow Him. Our service for God must be based on our love for Him. Loving actions without the compassion and grace of Jesus as our foundation lack depth and a connection with Jesus. Just like Peter we can hear Jesus ask us, “Do you love me?”

For more see QUESTIONS FROM GOD

Ahhh.... Christmas

12/23/2020

John 1:1-13; John 20:31
Ahhhh… Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year…. The other year we were in downtown Chicago and decided to walk through the Christmas Market. It was suppose to be fun and relaxing but instead it turned into an extreme practice of patience as we battled wall to wall people and claustrophobia. After taking 30 minutes to walk like penguins bounced about like a pinball we finally made it out of the compacted crowd. Ahhh… Relief at last! Then out of the corner of my eye I saw something and pulled my wife saying we really need to see this after what we just experienced. Before us was a life size Nativity scene. We paused, pondered and praised God for the proclamation of the truth of Christmas displayed in the midst of chaos. Proclaming and presenting Jesus as the Savior of the world is the message of our text today. Ahhh… Reality. John writes so that we may believe that Jesus is the Savior and by believing we may have life in His name.

For more see Christmas