Wednesday :: October 17 :: John 3
Happy Birthday to my pappy! 68 years old!
Jesus uses such great word analogies. Here he is telling Nicodemus about being "born again." This is a picture that we can all understand. We've all be born into this world ... now Jesus is speaking in those common ground terms regarding being born into the spiritual.

Nicodemus gets nailed with the "you are a leader but you don't understand what I'm saying" comment by Jesus. That had to hurt but I also think it challenged him to step up to the plate a little. Too often, I think we are afraid to speak truth to people because we are afraid of hurting their feelings. Jesus cuts right to the chase with his comments to people all the time. He does it with love and with concern for who they are - but he doesn't attempt to be PC at all! And what's coolest is that out of Nicodemus's question, comes one of our most beloved verses within the entire Bible in John 3:16.

Consider these different translations of the John 3:16-17:
NLT: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."
MESSAGE: "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again."
AMPLIFIED: For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
17For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
CONTEMP. ENGLISH VER: "God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. 17God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!"




Tuesday :: October 16 :: John 2
I think if Corbin ever looks at Tammy and says, "Dear woman," she'd come uncorked! haha The last time we saw Mary, she was a timid but faithful teen aged mother-to-be. Now, 30 years later, she's a "know what she wants" confident mid-40 year old women. Don't mess with her!

Interesting observation: After his first miracle, the scriptures record that Jesus' disciples but their faith in him. (11). Isn't it funny that we have to see to believe. It appears to be the way that God made us.

I love to see Christ's anger in the temple. But his anger isn't about stuff that I get upset about. It's about his love for the Temple and God's Holy place. Tells me a couple of things ... God loves the church and he demands integrity (right motives).




Monday :: October 15 :: John 1
I read a little bit about the purpose that the Apostle John wrote this Gospel account. It appears that from his language, he was appealing to both greeks and jews (in other words, to build up believers and to reach out to non-believers). This is great thinking for our churches as well. In what we do and in how we do it, we should be thinking about ways to build up AND reach out!

John had a great understanding of the privileges of walking with God. He understood the blessing of being called a "child of God." He saw the pain of our Lord first-hand as the only disciple present at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. He has seen the greatest example of holiness first hand - and he has seen what the world thinks of holiness first hand as well.

vv 26: John is questioned about why he baptizes if he admits that he is not the Christ, Elijah nor a prophet. His answer is a classic non-answer. He really never answers the question in my opinion. He is clear about his position in this process - he is nothing compared to the One and Only (18).

When John first sees Jesus, he speaks as if he doesn't know him at all. That's interesting from the standpoint that they are first cousins. It's not impossible but it's an interesting observation. There is also a glimpse into John's "pre-baptism ministry" when he says "the one who sent me to baptize ..." Was he mentored by someone? Did an angel visit him? Did God the Father tell him? Makes me wonder.

John the Baptist loses two disciples the next day. One of them is Andrew but the other isn't identified (from what I can tell). Andrew tells his brother Simon (called Peter after meeting Jesus) and then Jesus calls Philip who then gets his brother named Nathanael. All four of these guys are from one town - Bethsaida. Seeing how Jesus calls these members of the same family makes me think about how somethings operate in our world - you know in getting a job or anything - it's not in what you know but it's in WHO you know. Seems that Jesus even understood this principle and used it.

LONG chapter!