Join us as we give a quick review of the last year’s study in the book of John.
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #46: The Mission Continues (John 21:1-25)
I still remember one of the most often repeated phrases I heard after Hurricane Michael was: “I just can’t wait for things to get back to normal”. It was an understandable sentiment. Whenever we go through times and circumstances that push us out of our regular patterns in life, as when life is hard and confusing, we just want to get back to something familiar so we can try and reorient ourselves. It’s a typical response.
We’re going to be reading about Jesus’ disciples doing just that as come to the final chapter in our study of the Gospel of John this Sunday. We’ll be reading John 21:1-25. Peter and six other disciples don’t quite know what to do with themselves after all of the events that unfolded in Jesus’ execution and then mind-blowing resurrection. They probably had hoped that the skies would rain fire and Rome collapse in a blaze…but none of that stuff happened. Instead, life seemed to just go on and Jesus only seemed to pop in on them sporadically, and I’m sure it all felt really surreal. It makes sense to me that they wanted to get back to what they knew how to do, fishing.
However, now that Jesus is on the loose, things done under their own initiative seem to result in frustration (v3). Have you ever experienced that? Have you ever not known what God is up to and so in exasperation just decided to go back to old habits and patterns you had before meeting Christ? What were the results, and what can we learn from that?
Jesus’ interaction with Peter is, to me, one of the most moving scenes in all of the Gospels. What significance do you see in Jesus inviting Peter to confess his love for Jesus three times? How could this interaction provide a sense of closure to Peter? What can that tell us about our own failures and Jesus’ intent?
Jesus doesn’t just let Peter say words, he commissions him with a way of demonstrating his love for Christ. How does Jesus indicate a love for him is revealed? Is it something we can do in isolation, and if not, what does that tell us about our Christian priorities?
Jesus finishes his instruction to Peter by commanding him to follow. What does it mean to you to follow Jesus? What does it look like for a 21st Century American Christian?
I’ve really loved this gospel. We’ll have one more study after this Sunday where we wrap up all the themes we discovered. I hope it’s not the last time you visit this gospel…we barely scratched the surface of it. I truly hope you go there often, and go looking for Jesus in those words.
I hope you can join us this Sunday at 10 AM!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #45: A Very Present Jesus (John 20:19-30)
This Sunday we’re going to be reading John 20:19-31, which finishes up the chapter. This chapter brings us to the end of the Book of Glory, with only the epilogue (ch 21) remaining. In this chapter we’ll be reading about Jesus’ appearance to the rest of the disciples and to Thomas – and we’ll be considering the ramifications of the risen Christ in the midst of his followers.
Jesus shows up in the middle of a locked room. He is obviously present in a new kind of physicality, one that is not hindered by normal obstacles. Think about that locked door and the symbolism of it. What kind of doors do we lock in life…and how effective are they in keeping Jesus out?
The first thing out of Jesus’ mouth is the common greeting: Shalom. It means peace, wholeness, stability of life. John is using this event to convey the meaning of Christ’s presence, which is with us still – and how his presence brings with it wholeness and fullness of life. In what ways have you found stability, wholeness and well being in the presence of Christ?
Jesus commissions his followers to do the same thing he’d been doing. That would be unthinkable if he didn’t follow it up by giving the Holy Spirit to empower us for such a task. How can we start developing habits of following the Holy Spirit’s lead to do good and help the oppressed in this world?
V23 is a strange command. Whole ecclesiological frameworks have developed around the way people interpret what Jesus says here. There’s a conservative interpretation that I’m persuaded by (I’ll share it Sunday) – what do YOU think he’s saying?
The account of Thomas is awesome to me. I love that dude. Do you think Tommy was doubting Jesus, or the testimony of the other disciples? How did Jesus interact with Tom: rebuke, anger, irritation, compassion, care…? What was the first thing he said to him? Do you think that Jesus is angered by our questions or honest skepticism? Do you believe that doubt and sincere searching is debilitating to faith, or can it actually encourage and enhance faith? How might Jesus’ interaction with Thomas inform your view?
I hope you can join us this Sunday, I think we’ll have a lot of good stuff to chew on!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #44: A New Creation (John 20:1-18)
The creation account in Genesis begins in the dark: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”. God intervened and spoke light, order and life.
All of that went wrong when a man and a woman stood in a garden and rejected God’s rule. As a result, darkness, chaos and death again captivated the scene.
The gospel of John echoes a lot of those themes in his account of Jesus, and maybe none more so than in the section we’ve come to in our study of John. We’re going to be reading John 20:1-18 this Sunday, the account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
The main purpose of John’s gospel, as he explained in chapter one, is to let us know that all that Jesus did and taught was revealing what God is like and what God is up to – and here in his resurrection we see it in full bloom: redemption; new creation….RESURRECTION!
As you read this account, put yourself in the place of Peter and the DWJL (the disciple whom Jesus loved) – how do you think you would have reacted to Mary’s news? What would you think was going on initially?
V9 says Pete and the DWJL returned to their own home (literally, to themselves). What ways do we turn back to ourselves when we go through dark and confusing times?
Mary was inconsolable. She was on task: find the corpse of Jesus and get it re-buried. She was so miserable and fixated on that problem that she didn’t even realize the solution to her dilemma was standing right in front of her. What can that tell us about how we perceive our troubles – how should resurrection and new creation affect our expectations?
Jesus and Mary are pictured standing in a garden – what does this harken back to? What is this image revealing to us about what has happened in Christ’s resurrection?
If I asked you who the first evangelist, ambassador, teacher and missionary of the gospel was…who would you say? I know who v 18 says it was.
This is the landing place that all of John’s gospel has been leading us to – I really hope you can join us this Sunday as we dig in and explore this passage together!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #43: The New Normal (John 19:31-42)
This Sunday we are going to continue our study in the book of John chapter 19 verses 31-42. These verses are exciting because the Old Testament has been laying bricks on a road that led to this very moment. John has been adding to that by continuing to pave the way with every story and detail he has included in the gospel.
What we find in these verses is a continuation of John wasting no words or adding unnecessary information. There are so many connections to the Old Testament that are linked in this section of verses alone. There are several notes that mention different prophecies being fulfilled, but even beyond that we see a wide variety of stories coming to fulfillment.
In remembering that every word is included for a reason, what do we notice with the time of year that the crucifixion takes place? Do we see significance in that? What about the landscape of the area where the tomb is located? What Old Testament stories come to mind in reading the scenery that is mentioned? What about the fact that both blood and water flow out of Jesus when the spear is thrust into his side? What stories does Jesus mention about his blood? What times does Jesus mention offering water to people?
These should be the most depressing verses found in the Bible, but they’re not. Hope, fulfillment, a plan to make things right, and the inability to fail are written all over this story. We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00AM as we study these verses and find the hope that overflows from these words and into our hearts.
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #42: It Is Finished (John 19:16-30)
I love it when I’m able to finish a project. I just recently finished up a book cover illustration for a friend of mine, and I experienced a great sense of satisfaction (as well as relief) that the artwork was acceptable. There is something wonderful about bringing a project or a mission to it’s proper close. That being said, I find it so hard to relate those feelings to what I read about when Jesus brings his project to a close, in the passage we’ll be reading this Sunday.
We’ll be reading John 19: 16-30 – it’s the account of Jesus’ crucifixion. It’s not pretty. It’s painful and hurtful and tugs at the heart. There is nothing about it on the surface that indicates victory or success, and yet, at the end of this section Jesus announces “it is finished”. It is an expression of accomplishment.
The question we’ll be asking is: WHAT was finished? Jesus doesn’t say, and neither does John, at least on the surface.
I know that the entire New Testament is fairly dedicated to answering that question, so it’s not as though we are left in the dark. But as far as THIS passage goes, I believe the seeds for the New Testament’s theological garden are planted in John’s account of Jesus’ death.
I’ll give you a hint, and let you parse it out yourself. John identifies the kind of branch they use to offer Jesus sour wine – it’s hyssop. What is significant about that, and how would John use that to interpret what is happening to Jesus?
Jesus tells John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) to look after his mother – to take her in as his own mother – changing the dynamic of their relationship there at the foot of the cross. What could that tell us about what Jesus accomplished on the cross?
Pilate put an inscription above Jesus’ cross which read “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” – it was written in the three dominant languages of the known world. Pilate meant it as an insult, but what if God conscripted his mockery to make an announcement? How would this multinational/multicultural declaration of kingship help us interpret what Jesus finished on the cross?
There’s a lot for us to unpack in this text! I hope you’ll join us as we dig into it together!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #41: God's Powerful Purposes (John 19:1-16a)
We’re only a little over a week from Christmas – and we’re also almost done with our study in the Gospel of John. I know that oftentimes I use this week to teach on Christmas themes, but I just feel the section we’re in demands we continue…at least one more week. Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, and we’ll be doing our annual Christmas Eve service during our morning service (make a note!) – so this Sunday we’ll be continuing our John series with the second part of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. We’ll be reading ch 19:1-16a.
My hope is that your Christmas is a joyful time of celebration. I know, though, for many this is a time that simply reinforces the difficulties life has already dished out. That’s one reason I wanted to stick with this passage in John.
Much like the first part of Pilate’s interrogation, the Kingship of Jesus is largely in view. Pilate allows his soldiers to abuse Jesus, and they do so by making him a parody of a king – placing a crown of thorns on his head. It was meant to mimic the wreath crown worn by Caesar – but for those of us who know the biblical narrative, it’s a stunning call back to the beginning of the Bible. For reference, read Gen 3 . Jesus wearing that crown speaks of Him carrying something away on our behalf – and based on Genesis 3, what is it?
Pilate tries to release Jesus but the religious leaders won’t be persuaded – and in the further exchange between he and Jesus, we are given a revelation about who really has the power in this whole scenario (v11). That’s something to really keep in mind.
Things looked dire, even despairing for Jesus and his followers – and yet, through it all, God had not lost control of the situation, in fact, He was using it to accomplish His purposes for humanity and the world. It’s just a good reminder that no matter how dark our days (or holidays) may seem, nothing is going to thwart God’s intention to redeem! Romans 8:31-39 has some encouraging things to say about that!
I think this will be a reassuring text for us to study this Sunday – I hope you can join us!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #40: What Kind of King? (John 18:28-40)
At Christmastime we celebrate the birth of Jesus – and that is something that forces a question in most of our minds: why was Jesus born? Most Evangelicals would likely respond that He was born so he could die for our sins and bring us salvation. Jesus, however, actually gives us the answer as to why he was born in the text we’ll be reading this Sunday. We’ll be reading the account of Jesus before Pilate in our study of the Gospel of John, ch 18:28-40.
Pilate was the Roman governor over Judea. History recalls him as a cruel, petty, common-born politician, and I think the gospel accounts of him back that notion up.
When Pilate interrogates Jesus, he is only interested in one thing: is Jesus claiming to be a rival king to Caesar. If so, it will warrant his death. Jesus, as he so often does, turns the tables on this interrogation, so that Pilate is forced to make decisions and provide answers, and he clearly has no interest in doing that.
In the back and forth, Jesus provides some very important revelations as to the nature of God’s Kingdom, the sort of King Jesus is, the mission that he was on and in the last few verses of the section, the way in which the power of God’s Kingdom is revealed.
Jesus declares to Pilate that His Kingdom isn’t from, or like the kingdoms of this world’s system. Then he describes the difference in v36. How do you understand what he’s saying, and how might that be applied in our present day world?
Why do you suppose Jesus never says “yes, I am a King”? How would Pilate define a king? Would Jesus fit that definition?
When Jesus says that the reason he was born was to testify to the truth, what truth do you think he’s talking about?
Pilate offers to release a prisoner in honor of the Passover, so he offers a choice between Jesus, whom he describes as their king, and Barabbas, a lestes, brigand or revolutionary (as the NLT translates it). He wouldn’t have been a Roman prisoner if he hadn’t been guilty of some sort of insurrection activity. Here he is, the one guilty of the very crime Jesus is accused, and innocent, of. Jesus takes the place of the guilty, and the guilty one goes free. It becomes a microcosmic picture of the power of God’s Kingdom. How would you describe that power, and how might it be more powerful than the war-engines of Rome?
This is going to be an important study – I hope you can join us this Sunday!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #39: Hearts Revealed In A Crisis (John 1:1-28)
At Christmastime we celebrate the birth of Jesus – and that is something that forces a question in most of our minds: why was Jesus born? Most Evangelicals would likely respond that He was born so he could die for our sins and bring us salvation. Jesus, however, actually gives us the answer as to why he was born in the text we’ll be reading this Sunday. We’ll be reading the account of Jesus before Pilate in our study of the Gospel of John, ch 18:28-40.
Pilate was the Roman governor over Judea. History recalls him as a cruel, petty, common-born politician, and I think the gospel accounts of him back that notion up.
When Pilate interrogates Jesus, he is only interested in one thing: is Jesus claiming to be a rival king to Caesar. If so, it will warrant his death. Jesus, as he so often does, turns the tables on this interrogation, so that Pilate is forced to make decisions and provide answers, and he clearly has no interest in doing that.
In the back and forth, Jesus provides some very important revelations as to the nature of God’s Kingdom, the sort of King Jesus is, the mission that he was on and in the last few verses of the section, the way in which the power of God’s Kingdom is revealed.
Jesus declares to Pilate that His Kingdom isn’t from, or like the kingdoms of this world’s system. Then he describes the difference in v36. How do you understand what he’s saying, and how might that be applied in our present day world?
Why do you suppose Jesus never says “yes, I am a King”? How would Pilate define a king? Would Jesus fit that definition?
When Jesus says that the reason he was born was to testify to the truth, what truth do you think he’s talking about?
Pilate offers to release a prisoner in honor of the Passover, so he offers a choice between Jesus, whom he describes as their king, and Barabbas, a lestes, brigand or revolutionary (as the NLT translates it). He wouldn’t have been a Roman prisoner if he hadn’t been guilty of some sort of insurrection activity. Here he is, the one guilty of the very crime Jesus is accused, and innocent, of. Jesus takes the place of the guilty, and the guilty one goes free. It becomes a microcosmic picture of the power of God’s Kingdom. How would you describe that power, and how might it be more powerful than the war-engines of Rome?
This is going to be an important study – I hope you can join us this Sunday!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #38: Purpose Revealed In Prayer (John 17:1-26)
Prayers can come in all shapes and sizes. Obviously the prayer in the picture above is a joke, but I have to admit that it is not far off from some of the prayers I have prayed myself.
This Sunday we will be reading what is known as the “Farewell Prayer” or the “Priestly Prayer” found in John 17:1-26. By far this is the longest recorded prayer that Jesus has in any of the four gospels. This prayer represents the last words before the religious leaders and Judas arrive to arrest Jesus. Jesus chose to use those precious moments to pray for the disciples who are with him to the end.
Let’s put ourselves in the sandals of Jesus. If you knew that you were about to suffer, what would you pray for? Who would you be praying for? What would you ask God to help you with?
If you do read these verses ahead of time, I encourage you to note the way that Jesus addresses God in this prayer. Is he referring to God as King, Lord, or something else entirely? What are his choice of words meant to teach us about our relationship with God?
We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00AM for our study in the book of John. Let’s see what we can learn from these verses and let’s see what Jesus wants us to hear as He journeys towards the cross.
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow
John #37: Searching For Jesus In The Suffering (John 16:16-33)
This Sunday we will be reading John 16:16-33, where Jesus tells the disciples about the difficulties they will soon face. However, instead of leaving it as a bleak warning about what is to come, Jesus offers encouragement along with the warning. Jesus tells the disciples they can ask God for help in Jesus’ name, He promises abundant joy, and He assures them of his ability to help. Jesus knows that we will face many trials and sorrows, but he encourages us to hold on and to believe that He is powerful enough to make things right.
Does anyone else feel a sense of relief when they are able to acknowledge that life is hard?
There can be a pressure, especially in our culture, that everything should look perfect once we become a Christian. Certainly, there are many things in my life that are exponentially better than they were before I knew Christ, but that doesn’t mean that Christians are exempt from feeling pain.
Jesus tells us over and over, including in the verses we read this Sunday, that life is going to have challenges. It’s going to have many moments that are really hard to get through.
Wow. This Wonderwhat post is depressing.
I know! I’m sorry! My point is, if we can stick with this blog post long enough, and stick with the verses, we will find a promise of restoration. Jesus encourages us to hold on. He sees us. He knows this is hard for us, and He has promised to rescue us.
Which leaves us, in whatever situation we may find ourselves, wondering if we can trust that Jesus will rescue us? Can we trust that He does hear our prayers? Can we believe that He will redeem our suffering? Can we hold on, in steadfast faith, believing that Jesus has the power to set things right?
No one can answer those questions for us. We are all faced with the challenge of answering these questions for ourselves. We may even find that our answers fluctuate depending on our current circumstances.
We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00AM for our study in the book of John. Let’s see what we can learn from these verses and let’s see what Jesus wants us to hear as He journeys towards the cross.
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #36: Between World and Spirit (John 15:18-16:15
I heard someone tell a story from his boot-camp days in the military. He said that one day a new recruit got off the bus with water skis and a fishing rod under his arms. Apparently, the recruiting officer told him that the boot camp was on an island (which was true), and that people could ski and fish (which was also true, if by “people” he didn’t mean the recruit, but civilians if they were allowed on the island). The recruit soon found out that skiing and fishing were not on his drill instructor’s agenda – and had he known what really awaited him on that island, he never would have gone.
Sometimes people evangelize people like that recruiter – promising that if we follow Jesus we’ll have out best life now, with plenty of fun and nary a tear….but Jesus didn’t play those kinds of games with us. He wanted us to be prepared for what a life of following him would mean.
We’re going to be reading John 15:18-16:15 this Sunday and Jesus will make just that sort of warning.
The book of Acts plays out Jesus’ prediction here – and the first 300 years of the church’s history is one of cyclical persecution. To this day you can track how Christians are persecuted and hated all over the world through organizations like Voice of the Martyrs, so I think its safe to say that Jesus wasn’t being paranoid in his predictions.
In all fairness, we have to acknowledge the many times in history that the church has been guilty of promoting it’s own brand of persecution against people of other religions or those they have deemed sinners. There is no excuse for it and it is a blight on our history, all we can do is mourn such folly. The Gospel is the final victim of that sort of stupidity.
Nevertheless, the church’s mistakes don’t diminish the reality of social conflict that comes with following Jesus – and it was sort of promised to us by him.
In this passage, in light of the world’s system rejecting the gospel, ch 15:26-27 tells us God’s response and what our intended response is supposed to be. Is it back out of the world? Is it give up and leave them to themselves? Is it to get angry and fight back? What is the response of God and his church to rejection and hatred?
Chapter 16 outlines how the Holy Spirit will interact with this world and with us. Do you get the picture of human ingenuity spreading the gospel… or something else? What picture do you see? Who does Jesus say will lead us into all truth? How would you understand your role, or the church’s role in this activity of God’s Spirit?
I hope this will be a challenging, albeit sobering study this Sunday! Hope to see you there!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #35: Vine and Branches (John 15:1-17)
This Sunday we’ll be looking at another, very likely familiar, passage from the Gospel of John. We’ll be reading John 15:1-17, Jesus’ famous discourse on the Vine and branches.
In our study last week, we considered how Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come and live in us. In this section we’ll be reversing that, and we’ll consider how we are called to live in Christ. Jesus employs a metaphor that is pretty straightforward to understand the principle of, but a little more tricky to identify how to apply it.
Before digging in to that application, it’s really important that we ground this text within the larger scope of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament as we’ve called it). Read Psalm 80, Jeremiah 2 and 12, as well as Ezekiel 15, 17 and 19. Also Hosea 5…oh, and don’t forget Isaiah 5. (I linked a few of them…I’ll leave you to look up the rest) The thing is, a grapevine or a vineyard was often employed by the Hebrew prophets to describe Israel and her connection to God.
What might it mean that Jesus is now applying that same metaphor to himself, even identifying himself as the true vine? How might that help us understand how his word pruned his disciples? Does that shed any light on v6, where Jesus warns about not remaining in him. Clearly, Jesus intends a shift in perspective about who God’s covenant people are.
On a more localized level, we can apply this metaphor to our own lives. Still, how do you understand the idea of remaining in Jesus? What do think the practical meaning of bearing fruit is?
Note that v12 and v17 bracket everything Jesus talks about with a repetition of the command he gave back in ch 13. In fact, v9-17 have a repeated word, what is it? How does Jesus describe love in v13? Does this give us any indication as to what a fruitful life might look like?
While this may be a familiar passage, I really believe we can discover a lot in Jesus’ words to us. I’m looking forward to digging into this together – hope you can join us!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #34: Our Closest Friend (John 14:15-31)
Over the years I’ve heard people wish again and again that they could have been alive during the days that Jesus walked the earth. Often this desire is expressed when facing something perplexing about our faith, and the assumption is, if I could just see Jesus and ask him I wouldn’t be confused right now.
That, however, is flawed thinking. One consistent element of all the Gospel accounts is the confusion and misunderstanding Jesus’ disciples experienced. There’s no evidence given in the Gospels that Jesus’ disciples had an easier time of believing than we do. In actuality, maybe just the opposite. Those who were closest to him were so unsure about him that betrayal and denial were still ready options. When push came to shove their lack of certitude about him made it easier for all of them to run and hide rather than stand with him in his arrest.
One could argue that they didn’t start taking shape as solid believers until after he wasn’t with them physically. That’s something to really ponder for a while, isn’t it?
The reason for that may be found in the passage we’ll be reading this Sunday, John 14:15-31.
Notice that Jesus doesn’t say “If you keep my commandments I’ll love you”. The only “if” of this statement is connected to our love for him. Obeying isn’t a condition required in order to be loved…it’s a symptom of a condition of love. How does living by Christ’s teachings reveal love?
Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit to us in this passage. Jesus seems to indicate that our journey with him will be that much more stable because he’s sent the Holy Spirit in his stead. Now, instead of being with the Holy Spirit as he’s operated through Jesus, he will be in us, guiding, teaching and helping us on our way. That indicates a quantum leap in our journey. Think of it – a 24 / 7 Counselor and Friend within us, available to us at all times. He will teach us and guide us and empower us. What of life’s puzzles and dilemmas do you bring to the Helper? How has His presence in you provided guidance for your life?
Just as he’s about to be arrested and crucified – with the launch of the church in view with all of the persecution and turmoil it has faced throughout history – Jesus says he will leave us with peace. How can we understand what he’s saying? How can we be peaceful even when there is turmoil surrounding us?
The characteristics of this relationship with God are profound. God IN us manifests in our lives as love, discovery and peace. For as much as I’d really like to see Jesus, I still think we’re better off where we are right now.
This should prove to be an interesting (albeit heady) exploration this Sunday. Hope to see you there!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #33: Assurance In Adversity (John 14:1-14)
How hard or how easy is it for you to live this encouragement out in real life? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by a troubled world or your own difficulties? Have you ever found yourself frustrated by verses like the one above because, try as you may to believe, your troubles seem relentless? I know I certainly have.
We’re going to be reading John 14:1-14 this Sunday, where Jesus issues the directions quoted above. It is couched in the section commonly called “Jesus’ farewell address to his disciples”. Judas has gone out to betray Jesus to the authorities and Jesus has made it clear that he will soon be gone from them. All in all, the evening has really turned into a bummer. Can you imagine the distress and confusion that is beginning to mount in the midst of this group?
So Jesus gives direction – truth to calm their troubled hearts. His encouragement isn’t given in a promise to make all the troubles go away – but rather, in providing a fresh perspective from which to view the looming wave of adversity.
This section is interesting because it contains three familiar passages that have often been isolated and often misperceived. Something we’ll take a look at as we go on Sunday.
Jesus’ first encouragement is a promise about his Father’s big, big house, with lots and lots of room (if you were a Christian youth in the 90’s, you’re welcome for the ear worm that should be playing in your head right about now). We mostly take this as a picture of heaven, which I think the idea may include, but it has more a sense of the bigger picture of redemption, which is unfolding right now in our lives. How does thinking about the way that God redeems broken things provide a sense of encouragement and assurance in times of trouble?
This section also contains another of Jesus’ clear self-identifications as being united with God the Father. To see Jesus is to see what God is like. To trust in Jesus is to find the way home to God. Jesus actually promotes an intentional trust; “DON’T let your hearts be troubled” – don’t live there, don’t form your identity from your difficulties. Instead, we’re called to trust Jesus in an act of our will. What are some ways we can intentionally trust Jesus when all hell is breaking loose? Can you identify ways in which that intentional trust would promote assurance in your heart?
V13-14 are problematic verses in this section, in that they have inspired a certain level of materialism within one section of the church which tends to leverage Jesus’ words to name and claim good fortune for themselves. What might it mean to ask for something in Jesus’ name? Is that a magic incantation, or the html tag needed to close a heavenly code….or something else entirely? If someone requested something at your workplace in your name, what would that mean? How might the promise of Jesus’ authority on earth bring us assurance in times of difficulty?
I’m looking forward to exploring these verses together – I hope you can join us!
Click here for a pdf version of the teaching slideshow.
John #32: The Great Distinctive (John 13:18-38)
When a person has on a garnet and gold shirt with a feathered spear emblazoned on the chest, you can get a pretty good idea what college team they root for come football season. Same thing when someone stretches their arms out front, right arm over left and begins moving the arms up and down, you can easily guess what reptilian mascot they pull for. People’s loyalties will often have identifiable distinctives.
But what about a loyalty to Jesus? How can people tell that a person is committed to Him? Some believe that they have to be outspoken about their moral convictions and fight every impure aberration they encounter in order to demonstrate that they are, indeed, a Christian.
Some people are so zealous they could be described as being “in your face” about their faith – all in an attempt to be identified as belonging to Christ. Did Jesus give us any clues about how we could be recognized as his disciples, his followers?
The answer is yes. He told us very clearly, with words that are both ridiculously easy to understand and ridiculously hard to do.
We’re going to be reading John 13:18-38 this Sunday, finishing up the chapter. In this section we have three points – 1) a betrayal is forecast and the betrayer identified, 2) Jesus gives a new commandment, and 3) Jesus forecasts Peter’s denial. Jesus’ command is sandwiched between two revelations of faithlessness – which I believe is intentional to provide a contrast for his command.
When Jesus revealed that someone would betray him, what were the disciples uncertain about? Did they show any predisposition to assume Judas was the betrayer? It seems like Judas blended in with the gang quite well – so with that in mind, how much do you think an outward show of conformity has to do with rightly representing Jesus?
When Jesus told them all he was leaving to a place they couldn’t follow, Pete zealously announced that he would go anywhere – he would die for Jesus. Jesus had some disconcerting news for him about events that would happen later that night. How much did outspoken zeal have to do with rightly representing Jesus?
V34-35 – what did Jesus say would be the identifiable distinctive of his followers? Is this romantic love, or sentimental love, or something else? How easy or hard is it for you to love people who are unlovely – those who’ve hurt you or offended you? How does loving people like Jesus loves us help us understand the process of loving others? This will be a challenging, albeit, hope-filled study – and I hope you can join us for it this Sunday at 10 am!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #31: Redemptive Love (John 13:1-17)
Imagine you’ve been asked to a dinner party for the small company you work for. As you’re waiting for dinner to be served and people are sitting and chatting, your boss has quietly gone to the corner of the room and stripped down to his underwear and with a jug of bottled water, starts going down the line of guests and begins washing their feet.
Besides being the basis for a huge lawsuit – how would something like that make you feel? Would it unnerve you? Would you protest this action?
We’re going to be reading John 13:1-17 this Sunday, and the events described above sort of play out in our text. Sometimes we pass this strange display off as a cultural thing, something that everyone was accustomed to – but there is no evidence that supports that assumption. Actually, just the opposite. Foot washing happened, but by and large, guests at a home would wash their own feet. Jewish servants were not even required to do this sort of humiliating and intimate thing. Only gentile slaves were known to do something like this.
John sets the stage for this event by saying that Jesus had become aware that all things were in his hands…that is, he wielded the supreme authority of God. So, with that knowledge, what was the first thing Jesus did with those hands?
I don’t have a lot of questions to prod you with this week – just that image to ponder. If Jesus is our greatest revelation of God…who IS God as we see him on display in this section? What is this God asking of us, based on the last part of the passage?
This is humbling, challenging and potentially life-altering stuff. Hope to see you this Sunday.
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #30: Famous Last Words (John 12:44-50)
This Sunday we will be reading John 12:44-50, which contains the very last thing Jesus says to the crowds during his three year ministry before the cross. After this, Jesus’ words will be reserved for the disciples, the religious leadership, and the people who watch him as he is crucified. Various crowds have been following Jesus for the last three years, and he has but a few moments to speak to them for the last time.
Up to this point in the story, Jesus has proven himself through miracles, healing, wisdom, and compassion. If it were me, I would be tempted to tell Jesus not to waste anymore time trying to explain who He is. I would say, if they don’t get it by now, they are not going to get it. Thankfully, Jesus is better than that. Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t give up that easily.
With only a few moments left, what do you think Jesus will say to these crowds? Do you think Jesus will retract any of his previous statements? Or do you think that Jesus will reinforce them?
I’ve been thinking about this a lot as I have been preparing my teaching this week. If this was my last time speaking, what would I want to say? What would I want people to walk away believing? Is it really possible to change someone’s mind with just a few words? And how do we make those words count?
We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00AM for our study in the book of John 12:44-50. Let’s see what we can learn from these few verses and let’s see what Jesus wants us to hear before he journeys towards the cross.
Click here for a pdf version of the teaching slideshow.
John #29: A Misperceived Glory (John 12:27-43)
Have you ever heard an audible voice from heaven giving you direction? I never have – though I know people who have had that type of experience. I used to think that if I could just hear God shouting out of the clouds letting me know he was there that I would never doubt again.
We’re going to see from our passage this Sunday that its really not that simple. Well be reading John 12:27-43. This passage includes a supernatural event like I described above, but it certainly doesn’t have the result one would expect.
As we read this passage let’s consider the reactions of the people towards Jesus. I believe there are some pitfalls we can observe and try to sidestep in our own journey to discover more of God and his ways.
For one thing – there were three distinct reactions to the voice from heaven. One, of course, was John who obviously heard the voice of God clearly enough to record for us what the voice said. What were the other two reactions? What do you suppose made the difference in what people heard in that sound from the sky? I find it interesting that there is often so much ambiguity when we encounter the divine. I think if a person is determined to do so, they can always find a way to rationalize what others perceive as a supernatural event. God seems intent on moving in such a way that he’s easily hidden if someone is determined not to see him. I also think there’s a bit of heart-testing in that ambiguity. How open minded are you when it comes to God encounters?
The other thing that I notice in v34-36 is a doctrinal barrier. In v34, the people don’t actually say “it’s written in the Scriptures“…what do they say instead? How would you explain their problem with Jesus and their understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures? How well do you know the doctrines that you hold to as non-negotiables? What are your doctrinal convictions based on – what is written, or what you’ve learned? In what ways could God get obscured by our doctrines. How can we be faithful to our convictions and still be open minded?
Finally, the last verse of this section (v43) is very telling. How can loving the praise or glory that comes from men (that is, the validation and affirmation that we crave so deeply) end up interfering with our loyalty to God? What measures can we take to prevent that from happening in our own experiences?
Should be an interesting study – hope to see you then!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
John #28: The Image of Triumph (John 12:12-26)
After many successful dodges of the authorities, and many hush, hush miracles, this week we’ll see Jesus boldy riding into Jerusalem to claim his throne as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We’ll be picking up in our text this week covering John 12:12-26. We’ll be covering a segment of scripture known as the triumphal entry.
The surprising thing is Jesus doesn’t ride in to town on a majestic war horse dressed for battle, he rides in on a lowly donkey clothed like the poor. What might this suggest about the Kingdom of God? What might it mean for us his loyal subjects?
We see the crowds hailing Jesus as Lord and savior, hoping for a conquering King to finally free them from Roman oppression. Just when they expect to hear a battle cry from their hero, he says something completely opposite. In vs 23-24 He gives a cryptic analogy about a seed dying, and producing many more seeds filled with that same potential. It hearkens back to the garden of Eden. In the garden, the serpent sowed a seed of doubt in Eve’s heart regarding God’s goodness and His intentions for mankind. That seed grew doubt in her mind that led to death, spiritually and physically for all of humanity. In our text this week Jesus offers another seed, his very life offered on our behalf to restore all that was lost in the garden. What does the image of Jesus on the cross reveal about God’s heart for humanity? What difference does the depth of his love for you make in your daily life?
He goes on to explain that a love for our own life in this world will again produce death but that a hate for it will result in life renewed and eternal. The key to this is the phrase “in this world”. Of course he doesn’t want us to hate the life He’s given us. The hyperbole he employs emphasizes his point that nothing “this world” or its systems have to offer should be more important to us than our commitment to Christ. A stark contrast to the commitment to self permeating our society.
The choices we face today are the same ones they faced in the garden. Go our way or go God’s way. At some point we have to realize that Father knows best.
Does the pursuit of possessions or positions (circumstances) dominate your daily life? Do you wake up each day in hopes of being one step closer to that happiness you’ve always dreamed of? What priority does the pursuit of holiness hold for you?
Jesus invites us to follow him to the cross, to embrace a life of sacrificial love, that reveals his unsurpassable love for our neighbors and all of mankind. He says that in portraying his image into this world, we’ll find that full and purposeful life that our heart is truly longing for.
Have you ever experienced a let down or a low after working so hard in pursuit of a possession or position? Does knowing the temporal nature of what this world offers help to dull the draw towards them?
Our last verse holds a remarkable promise. vs 26 says that those who serve Jesus will be honored by the Father. The word honored means valued or prized. Does the thought of being valuable to God, mattering much to the King of the universe inspire different priorities in your life?
It should be a challenging and promising study this week. Hope to see you there!
Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.