Day21 Chapter 21 (John)

I did it.... A chapter a day...I enjoyed it... its been fun... And I think I will continue.
John 21 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, and its not just because its a fishing story. But I like to imagine the scene ... Jesus is cooking a breakfast of fish over a campfire. I would imagine that some of the guys are busy dealing with the huge catch of fish. And some are attracted to the heat of the fire, and the aroma of fresh cooking fish. But soon all are milling around and eating. When they are done eating, Jesus nonchalantly asks Peter "do you love me more than these?". Jesus motions towards the fish as He asks the question.

Peter likely laughed as he answered, "You know that I love you". I think he laughed because it doesn't seem a serious question. Of course He loved Jesus more than the fish.

Perhaps other conversations are taking place. I think Jesus waited a few minutes. Then... almost as if He hadn't asked, Jesus asked Peter the same question again. And Peters response is identical... but his tone is different. His reply to Jesus is said sincerly this time. There was no laughter as he replied. Peter likely looks at Jesus trying to guage a reaction. But Jesus, wasn't looking at Peter... He was just staring into the dying embers of the fire.

A few minutes later..... Jesus asks the question a 3rd time. Suddenly, Peter remembers that he denied knowing Jesus 3 times. He is hurt thinking that Jesus doesnt believe him. He has already told Jesus twice that he loves Him. Tears start to well up in Peter's eyes. His voice is full of emotion as he replies "Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you."

This was the confession of faith and love that Jesus wanted to hear from Peter. It was said thoughtfully and with commitment. And that is also what Jesus wants to hear from us. Can we say honestly "Lord, you know all things, you KNOW that I love you!"

The following verses contain more of that fascinating conversation Jesus and Peter. There is more to this great story... But I will end it now with that question from Jesus "..(your name), do you love me?"

Day 20 Chapter 20 (John)

v15 Jesus appears to Mary but she does not recognize Him.
v16 Jesus just says her name..."Mary"...And Mary knows it is Jesus.
Is it possible that Jesus has called your name, and you didn't recognize Him? It is not too late to answer Him. Jesus was crucified and paid the price for our sins. And now He has rose from the grave, and is calling your name. Jesus does know your name... And He wants to add your name to the Book of Life.
Perhaps you can consider what Jesus did for you... And consider that now He is calling your name...and respond to Him like Thomas did...
v28 "My Lord and My God"

Chapter 19 Day 19

Isn't it almost humorous that Pilate said to Jesus, "Don't you realise I have power...?" If Only Pilate knew, he would have fallen on his knees in worship to the King of Kings. But instead Jesus stood there knowing the horror he would endure. He was beaten with a whip. He was punched, slapped and mocked. He had thorns rammed into his head. He had nails driven through his hands and feet. He was spat on. He was stripped in front of friends and his mom. It wasn't Pilate who had the power... and it wasn't the phariseee's or the mob. The one who had the real power was Jesus, but he chose to endure every blow... every wound... every insult for me. He did it for me!!
"IT IS FINISHED"... And he lowered His head and died. What was finished? Jesus had completed the work He had come to earth for. His purpose was to die in my place.
But the story isn't over... This had all happened on Friday... But Sunday was coming

Day 18 Chapter 18

Judas leads a "detachment of soldiers, and some officials... and the pharisees". They come to arrest "Jesus of Nazareth". I think they said "of Nazareth" to identify the correct person, but I wonder if it wasn't also a put down. It seems that Nazareth was held with contempt. In John 1, Nathaniel says scornfully "Nazareth, can anything good come from there?". The soldiers came to arrest a peasant from the small and insignificant town of Nazareth. But instead, they were met by Majesty. When Jesus said, "I am He", they drew back and fell to the ground!!!!!
With Christ in us, we have His power available to us. We never should be weak and cowardly.
And... how about that soldier by the name of Malchus. Can you imagine the stories he told his grandkids? (Lets hope that Malchus did accept Christ as his Saviour). Malchus would tell how Jesus spoke and the whole detachment of soldiers fell to the ground. He would tell how one of Jesus's men chopped his ear off, and Jesus tenderly restored it (see book of Luke). I wonder if he had a scar to show his kids and grandkids.

Day 17 CHAPTER 17

This whole chapter is Jesus praying,,,V.20 - 26, Jesus is praying for people that are believers. There are many themes carried over from one chapter to the next, but it strikes me that now Jesus is praying for oneness, for unity, of believers. Again a very similar verse to the previous chapter when Jesus prays for "complete unity...then the world may know that you sent me"
I'm sure there is a much deeper need / importance of this unity between believers than what exists today. But... what and how??
v.24 " Father, I want those you have given me, to be with me where I am"..... Isn't that the words of a dad praying for his kids? And aren't those the words we pray for our best friends?
(I'm brain dead tonite... can't complete any thoughts)
Hey... 17 days in a row... This could be habit forming!

Day 16 Chapter 16 (John)

WHAT???
Do you think the disciples had the slightest clue that Jesus was serious when he said in v.2 "The hour is coming when those who kill you...". At this point, I don't think the disciples were prepared to die for Jesus... but that was all about to change. The disciples were about to be so radically transfomed by their belief in Christ that they would change the world... and in the process they really woulod be killed. Here is what happened:
Andrew Was hung on a cross spread eagled.
James (brother of John)was beheaded
James (brother of Jesus)Thrown from a pinnacle of the temple then beaten to death with a club
Thaddeus also called Jude, was shot to death with arrows.
Matthew was crucified.
Nathaniel also called Bartholomew, was skinned alive, then beheaded.
Peter was hung upside down on a cross.
Philip hung upside down on a piller.
Thomas had a lance rammed through his body
John the Baptist (not a disciple) was beheaded by herod
Paul beheaded
Jesus... you are the resurrection, and the life. Let me not be afraid of words of men, knowing that the disciples proclaimed you even to their death.

Day 15 Chapter 15 John

In this chapter, once again we have Jesus talking about love. v.13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14. You are my friends if you do what I command you."
The greatest expression of love anyone can make, is that they give their own life willingly, so that someone else may live. Jesus knew that He was about to do that. Perhaps we can imagine it like this..... We are standing in a court room. Not just any court... This is the courtroom of the final judgement. God is now our judge. We have committed sins and rebelled against God at different times during our life. The penalty is death. Our own righteousness before a Holy God is as filthy rags. We will be setenced to an eternity of weeping and knashing of teeth. But then... Jesus steps in. He is our advocate. Jesus says "This person is a friend. I layed down my life and I paid the penalty of death". And now... because of what Jesus did, we stand before the judge blameless....And, we hear the words, 'Enter into the kingdom"
But notice... in v.14 and elsewhere in this chapter, that even though Jesus paid the price, we still have a responsibility. We do have a responsibility to follow Jesus's commands. And in v5 we are to be attached to Jesus just as a branch is to the main vine. And we are to be a fruitful branch.
Lord Jesus... I want to be a fruitful branch. I don't want to be a dead branch that is pruned and thrown into the fire. Help me to honor you today .... and to be fruitful.

Day 14 Chapter 14 John

"Don't you know me Philip?" Jesus asked? (v.9)
A daughter visiting her mom with dementia uses those same words: "Don't you know me, mom?" The words express the pain of a person who wants to be known, or wants to be remembered. Philip was a dedicated follower of Jesus, even though he didn't still didn't know that Jesus was God in the flesh. It was only after the ressurection that Philip truely knew Jesus.
Philip, according to some historical accounts, was crucified upside down for telling people about Jesus, whom he knew. Perhaps it is true that when he was about to be crucified, Philip said he was not worthy to die the in the same manner as Christ. He was then nailed to a cross upside down.
Do we know Jesus that well? Do we know Jesus well enough to admit it in a crowd? To share Him with a friend? I think the better we know Jesus, the more we want to tell others. If we arent talking about Jesus, we might want to listen as he calls our name and says "Don't you know me?"

Day 13 Chapter 13

Suppose.... You are a student and the professor offers to wash your feet. He know that you have walked a long distance to come to school...Your feet are dusty and tired, and maybe even smelly. Our pride would likely insist that we aren't going to remove our shoes. The professor insists that he wants to serve us.
I'm not sure that is a proper analogy of Jesus washing the disciples feet....but, He was being a servent. Jesus tells us that He is doing this as an example "you should do as I have done for you". I dont know that Jesus wants us washing the feet of others literally, but He certainly wants us to humble ourselves and serve other christians. v.16 "servents are not greater than their master". I wonder if myself, and many others don't operate as if we are on a social ladder. We associate, and seek approval from leaders, but we largely ignore the shy introverts, the young student, the single mom etc. As if to hammer home that point Jesus says in v.34&35, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must also love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Day 12 Chaper 12

The story is getting exciting! So many things are happening...prophecies are being fulfilled, and we get the sense that something big is going to happen. (v23 "the hour has come") If we didn't already know that events culminate in the crucifixion, could we imagine that would happen? I don't think so... I think we would be like Jesus's friends, the disciples and other believers. Jesus was telling them (v33) but they couldn't believe that the Messiah would be crucified.
One of the things from this chapter is that we clearly see Jesus the human. In v27 Jesus says "My soul has become troubled....", as he knew the crucifixion was getting closer.
In v44-46 we see Jesus as God, "....he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me...".
For a thought that applies to me from this chapter... v42,43 "...(they)believed in Him but...were not confessing Him...for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God."
May I always keep this verse in mind, that I am to seek His approval.

Day 11 Chapter 11

"LAZARUS, COME OUT" Can you imagine the scene when Jesus spoke those words in a loud voice? Can you imagine yourself being there and feeling the goose bumps on your skin? But then... a couple seconds pass... silence... Would we be expecting the dead man to appear?

One of the intriguing things about this chapter is v. 4 "it is for God's glory that God's Son may be glorified through it"

We see here that Jesus could have healed Lazarus from sickness, but he chose not to. Even though Jesus loved Lazarus and that family, He chose to let Lazarus suffer and die. There was a purpose being served that no one could see or imagine.

We need to understand that Jesus may not answer our prayers the way we think is best... And we need to understand that Christ can be honored through any circumstance.

Please watch this short video as an example of how God can be glorified in any circumstance.

http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/?p=363

Day 10 Chapter 10 (John)

v42 "And in that place many believed in Jesus"
John had prepared the people for the Messiah... and when Jesus came, they believed.
How can I help prepare people to meet Jesus?

Its interesting that for several chapters in a row now, Jesus has made claims on who he was. The pharisees were getting more and more agitated. Again they tried to seize Jesus... but again unsuccesfully. Also, its interesting that Jesus keeps telling people about His death and ressurection. Because the pharisees understood his claims it would have been very important to them to ensure that after Jesus was crucified, his grave remained undisturbed. But as we know...the Good Shepard did lay down his life for us... And He did take it up again.

Day 9 Chapter 9 (John)

Tender words from Jesus in v. 35 to 37. Jesus had sought and found the 'blind' man. His physical blindness had already been healed. And now Jesus healed the spiritual blindness. v 38 " the man said 'Lord I believe' and he worshipped Him". Wow... This is one of the very first christians.!! Someday, we will get to meet this fellow.
One of the interesting things about this chapter is who Jesus engages with in conversation. The pharisee's wanted to engage Jesus... but His answers to them are more harsh, and often scornful. I wonder if my efforts to talk about Jesus can't be better directed. I should be like Jesus and seek out those who are hurting, and seek out those who are open.
But the harsh words Jesus uses... (see previous chapter "you belong to your father, the devil"), Wooeee, What am I to do with that? Am I to be confrontational like that also? Any suggestions?

Day 8 Chapter 8 (John)

I blew it today. My thought from yesterday was wondering if I could finf one person to say a word to about Jesus... The very last thing today, another trucker came and told me a sad tale of losing everything he had very recently... But he still had his family. DUHHH... BRETT... You missed your opportunity! It was only after we went our seperate ways that I remembered the challenge to myself.
But..... I did read Ch. 8 today. I will pick verse 20 "because his hour had not come". The same phrase is in Chapter 7. The jews wanted to capture Jesus.... But they couldn't, because God's timing was not yet.
We need not ever fear... and never wory. We need to realise that nothing can harm us unless God allows it. God is always in control. I need to daily surrender my fears and worries to Him. He knows the Big Picture. I just need to trust and obey, for there's no other way.

Day 8 Chapter 8 (John)

I blew it today.... My thought from yesterday was wondering if

Day 7 Chapter 7

V. 7 Jesus says that the world does not like him, because he points out their evil deeds.
WOW!!! But, aren't christians supposed to avoid talking about sin. Aren't we to shy away from topics that are sensitive? Absolutely not!! We are to be like Him. Although we are to be politically correct sometimes... We must keep in mind that we are not trying to offend. Our purpose should always be to bring others to Christ. Can I find just one person today to say a word about Jesus.

Day 6 Chapter 6

v. 11 Jesus gave thanks. I wonder just how Jesus gave thanks. Did he demand attention from the crowd and say a prayer that all could hear? Or, did Jesus just say a silent prayer? Or perhaps Jesus just gave thanks with His disciples. I don't think it was a silent prayer.
I'm pretty sure that the prayer was sincere. Jesus knew the Father very very well didnt He? When we give thanks before our meals ... are we thanking Someone that we know very well? Or are we quickly reciting well worn words? Lets remember to be sincere. After all, we are talking to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords who has blessed us. And, we are also talking to the One who loved me so much that He deliberatly... knowingly and with purpose picked Judas as his disciple. (v 70) Surely I can pause long enough before I eat to say a sincere thanks.

Day 6 Chapter 6

V 11 Jesus gave thanks. Shouldn't we? Prayer before meals is somehat of a ritual... But, don't you think that if Jesus gave thanks, that we should also..... and in a meaningful way?

Day 5 John 5

Can anyone really understand everything Jesus is saying in this chapter? To me... I think I get it... No, I don't get it.. ha. The relationship of Jesus the Son and God the father is a mystery. But, in any case, we do see that the Jewish religious leaders did understand that Jesus was claiming to be equal to God. ... And they rejected Him. Sad.
I'm not sure, but possibly there is something to be learned from the fact the Jesus Himself did not convince everyone. I wonder if any of these same people later came to accept that Jesus truly was the Messiah they had been waiting for. (Does anyone know? Is there any mention of this?) I recently heard that a non believer on average has about 22 presentations of Christ to them before they believe in Him as their Saviour. I'm not sure if thats true, but in any case..... Our lives and our words should be a testimony to those we meet. We don't need to save them ourselves... thats what Christ does. But we do need to be good ambassadors for Jesus. We need to be one of those 22 times that someone gets a glimpse of Jesus.

Day 4 Chapter 4

I wonder how important verses and songs are that we learn as children. Today, on the radio, I heard a preacher repeat the words to a song he had learned as a child. He said that even though the theology in the song wasn't perfect, it still instilled in him the sense that a christian should have a positive outlook on life. Often, I notice myself humming the words to one of the songs that I had learned in Sunday school. As I read chapter 4 of John, I found myself attempting to sing one of those old songs;
"Like the woman at the well
I was seeking;
For things that could not satisfy.
And, then, I heard my Saviour calling
'drink from this cup, that never shall run dry'

Take my cup Lord
Fill it up Lord
Come and quench this yearning of my soul.
Bread of Heaven,
Fill me till I want no more
Take my cup, fill it up, and make me whole"

Wow... Now that I compare that little song to the story in the Bible, I think it does a good job of getting accross the message. And, it has stuck with me. Its important that Gods word is in our hearts...and in our minds.
Other thoughts
V39 "many... believed in Him because of the womans testimony"
The woman certainly would not have had all the answers... she didn't know theology.... But, she had met Jesus. She told people about her encounter with the messiah. Thats what we need do... We need tell people that, we too, have have met Jesus.
Am I excited enough about knowing Jesus, that I 'bother' to tell anyone? (shame on me for all the opportunities that I miss)

Day 1... John 1

Lets get started..... If you are like me, there are days when I'm so busy navigating through my day, that God's word takes a backseat. Well, someone has challenged me to read one chapter per day from the book of John and post comments. I would like to challenge you as well... In 21 days we will have completed the Book of John. If You want to join in that would be great. Together we can form the habit of spending daily time in God's Word. (And post your own devotional thoughts please!)
So... Day 1 I did it! I read John 1. Now the difficult part..... forming a thought (ha). Wow, there is so much happening in that chapter. I'm sure you could do a daily devotional for each verse. But, I will pick verse 3 "All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him, nothing came into being, that has come into being".
Jesus... created. And, Jesus created me. On this Easter Sunday, I need to reflect on the fact that He, who created me, loves me so much he took my sin... to Calvary. The creator of the universe
could have called 10,000 angels to save Him from the cross. But, He chose to die in my place. It reminds me of the words from a hymn, "How can it be... that thou my God should die for me?"