The Gospel of John: John 7:37-53

John 7:37-53

Title: Jesus is the Living Water.

Analysis:

                Now it was the last day of the feast and Christ makes one final call to the people proclaiming once again that salvation is through Him alone. This declaration in verses 37-38 says, “If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” The Lord called to the people using the same illustration as when He spoke to the woman at the well (4:10). Offering to them that as the Christ, He will bring quench their spiritual thirst.

                The people once again became divided over Christ and argue amongst themselves whether or not Jesus is the Christ. The unbelieving crowd says in verse 42, “Has not the scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” In a tragic proclamation, the crowds do not even realize that Jesus was from the line of David and was indeed born in Bethlehem. Instead they believed Him to be from Galilee. These unbelieving people had taken the time to know the prophecies of Christ, but had never looked into His very lineage and birthplace. They lacked interest in the Messianic proof of Christ and rather speculated in their own minds whether or not to believe in Him. Because of this there was another division in the crowd towards Jesus. Some wanted to seize Him, but because His time had not yet come, no one laid hands on Him.

                Not only were the crowds ignorant of Christ, but the real ignorance lay within the religious leaders. Even the officers who were told to arrest Jesus did not bring Him back to the religious leaders saying in verse 46, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” The religious are furious with their soldiers mockingly asking them if they had been led astray and telling them that the crowd is accursed for listening to Christ.

                John, in a remarkable way, inserts the words of Nicodemus, one of the major religious leaders of the day. He was the man, who had come to Jesus by night earlier, and John shows us that unlike the other religious elite, he had not closed his mind to Christ. Instead quite the opposite is true and he speaks in the Lords favour in verse 51 saying, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing does it?” Angered by the report of the officers and the claims of Christ, the other religious men mockingly question him wondering whether he ‘is from Galilee as well’.

                Utterly blinded were both the people and the religious leaders to Christ that they rejected Him without even looking to see whether or not he was actually born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the line of David the King. Instead they rejected Him as Lord, because their hearts were hardened to a Messiah who could save them from their sins.          

Response:

                As John has been writing His gospel about Jesus he has continued to give proofs that Jesus truly was from God and was the long awaited Messiah King of Israel. As I studied this passage I realized that there are so many people who are still divided over Christ today. These people must be instructed to know who Jesus really is. They should be showed that their unbelief is wrong and that Jesus Christ is truly the Saviour of the World. As we know it is our responsibility to go and make disciples for Christ. Teaching them what He taught and explaining to them that He is the Saviour of their souls, if they repent and put their trust fully in Him. 

The Gospel of John: John 5:1-18

John 5:1-18

Title: Christ heals the Paralytic on the Sabbath.

Analysis:

                John now quickly transitions from Jesus being in Galilee to now back in Jerusalem for the feast of the Jews. As we have seen in this gospel so far; we will continue to see the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. First he was believed in at Samaria (4:7-42), then he was doubted to be the Messiah in Galilee (4:43-54), and finally he will be persecuted by the religious elite while in Jerusalem (5:16-18) and ultimately rejected and hated by them (7:20-52).In our passage today we see the Sign of the Saviour (5:1-9), the Resentment of the Religious (5:10-15), and the Scheme to Slay (5:16-18).

                Jesus, who had now arrived in Jerusalem came with His disciples to the pool of Bethesda, a place where those who were lame, blind, withered, and sick stayed. Jesus singles out a man from among the crowd, one who had been there ill for 38 years. The Lord observes him lying there and asks the man, “Do you wish to get well?” (vs. 6). To us this question seems almost laughable giving the fact that the man had been ill for almost four decades. But our Lord had a greater motivation for asking the question. He was looking for faith in the man and he finds it.

The man does not respond sharply or mockingly of Jesus question but rather explains his reason as to why he was not healed. Jesus sees his sincerity and opens His mouth again to speak to the man saying, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” With a word, the Lord commands and heals this man in a supernatural display of His divine nature and relationship with God. The cure is immediate (vs. 9) and those who saw it were amazed by Jesus works.

                Although this healing was amazing John quickly switches gears in the end of verse 9 saying, “It was the Sabbath on that day.” With these words the mood changes dramatically and one can almost hear the approaching footsteps of the Pharisees as they come to us in verse 10.

Instantly the religious elite saw the man who was healed carrying his pallet and confronted him. They bring to his attention not an O.T. law that was given by God but rather one of the many Oral traditions kept by the Pharisees and Sadducees. A rule they had created, saying it was not permissible for a man to carry his pallet on the Sabbath. Rebuking Him they then ask who it was who made him well but the man did not know. Jesus then finds the man in the temple not much later and reveals to him that He is the Christ. The man then lets the Jewish leaders know it was the Lord who made him well.   

                We now come to the third section of this narrative by John and see the hatred that the Religious leaders had for Jesus the Christ. Immediately after hearing that it was Jesus who healed the man on the Sabbath they plotted against Him. The Lord answers their persecution by saying in verse 17, “My Father is working until now and I Myself am working.”  Enraged that he was not only breaking the Sabbath but also calling God His own Father, the Jews plot against the Saviour as to how they might destroy Him. Jesus proclaimed boldly by making Himself equal with God and the religious leaders hated Him for this. Jesus does not back down from this challenge but rather, as we will see in the next few sections, Jesus begins to prove to the Religious leaders His equality with God. This was the purpose that He came to this earth, so that we might know that He is the light and all who come to the Father must go through Him.   

 

Blessings,

              Lucas C.

The Gospel of John

For the Next Semester in School, now that I have started College, I will be doing a verse by verse analysis of the Gospel of John and Book of Acts. I have decided to share these here on the blog. Hope you enjoy reading them and learning more about the life and works of our great and Glorious Saviour!

 

John 1:1-18

 

Title: The Manifestation of Jesus Christ

 

                This is the passage that introduces the book of John and the main character of this book to us. This character is Jesus Christ; the Word became flesh, the Son of God. Verses 1-3 show us how both God and the Word work in harmony as the Word was, “…in the beginning with God, and was God.” There is a closeness that speaks to the Word and God being the same, and having the same nature.

Just as we know God created all things, “In the beginning…” (Gen 1:1) The Word was also a worker in the event of creation. The Word, and God himself have not only created all things but are the source of everything including life, and light. This life speaks both to a physical sense of life but also the spiritual and eternal life that is granted through Jesus Christ. The light that has come into the world is definitely the gospel, and all Biblical truth. This truth has not been understood by the darkness and the spiritually dark world we live in. Although it is not understood the light will continue to shine and will not be put out by the power darkness holds in this earth.

                John now takes a dramatic shift in his flow of thought and begins to speak of John the Baptist. John was a herald of Jesus Christ who came to proclaim that the light was coming into the world. John was sent by God to be this witness. He testified about this light not being the light himself but rather proclaiming that the light was going to come soon.

                Jesus, who is the true light, came physically into the world. Even while being the creator of this world, the world did not acknowledge Him as such. Even the Jewish nation, who were his chosen people did not believe in him or recognize him as the Messiah. Because of their unbelief they rejected Him. But even amongst the unbelievers, some came to receive Him and He granted them the right to be the children of God. These people were born again by God.

                We now come to one of the most bold and direct statements concerning the incarnation of Jesus Christ in vs. 14. It says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” The supernatural second person of the God-head condescended to earth to take on mortal flesh. In this flesh we were given a glimpse of the greatness of the glory of God. While on earth, Christ’s glory was shown majestically in the transfiguration, resurrection, and ascension.     

                John spoke of Christ by literally calling out and proclaiming that Christ was higher than himself because He existed before him. This statement is astounding as John would have been born 6 months prior to Christ, so John confirms that Christ must be from God. This would explain how he could have existed before John.

                Because of the incarnation of Jesus, we have received abundant grace that was unmerited by our own efforts. For even if the Law of Moses convicts us of sin, Jesus Christ has made peace for us through God the Father. God the Father has been seen by no one but Jesus Christ the mediator between God and man; the one begotten by the Father, who has come to earth to explain who He is to us.

 

Personal Response:

                This entire passage speaks of Jesus Christ, the Son of God coming into this world. Verse 14 specifically says, “The world became flesh and dwelt among us…” John is saying that God himself, the creator of the universe came to this earth. As I think about what I know about God and why he came to this earth, I cannot help but realize that I must completely submit to his will in my life. Especially as a Christian, I must realize that Christ is not only my Saviour but also my Lord. He has supreme Lordship, and rule over me and I must obey what His word commands. I need to be submissive to all that Jesus teaches in his word allowing myself to be molded and shaped into His image. Even in areas that may not seem important, I must make Christ Lord over in my life. I have a responsibility to honour Him and also a desire. May I be completely submitted to His Lordship so that I will bring Him honour all the days of my life.     

 

Blessings,

Lucas C.

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed...

In 1980 a young man from Rwanda was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face certain death. He refused to renounce Christ, and he was killed on the spot. The night before he had written the following commitment which was found in his room:

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made- I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”

Sports - For God's Glory

In our world today there are millions and millions of athletes. From professional to casual, people everywhere take part in team and individual sports. Athletics is a massive industry that brings in millions, even billions of dollars every year. Over 219 million Americans watched the 2012 London Olympics alone! People watch sporting events daily through their TV, computer, or phone. Some events are world-wide like the Olympics, others take center stage depending on popularity or culture.

What I'm going to talk about today is my love for sports and how I can, as a Christian, use my sports to the glory of God. Compared to major sporting events that are televised worldwide, the team that I play for is much less popular. Ever since I was a kid, hockey has always been my favourite sport to play. Although I do enjoy playing other sports, hockey always stood out as my best. Growing up my sisters and I spent hours and hours playing street hockey with the neighbourhood kids. As I got older, it changed from street hockey to ice hockey. I first started on the ice at 13 and this is my fifth year. During that time of playing hockey, the Lord worked in my life and drew me unto Himself. At the age of 15 I put my complete trust in Christ as the saviour of my life. He was now my Lord over everything that I did. Colossians 1:18 says, "...so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything."
Early on in my Christian life I realized that Christ is to be first place in all that I do, even sports.
Just like any other young man, I am passionate about sports and have lots of competitiveness in me when I get playing. As a Christian, to be able to realise how to make Christ, first place in my sports I had to have an understanding of what Christ had given me.

1. A Thankfulness for the Abilities that I have.
When one becomes a Christian, he starts to see things so much differently than before. Since I love to play hockey and have enjoyed it, I realise the need to be thankful to my God for giving me the ability to play this sport. We read a very familiar verse in 1 Corinthians 10:31, it says, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." By taking this verse seriously, I can be thankful to the Lord for even the most common things that He has given me. First off, the Lord has given me a healthy body be able to perform the functions needed for the sport. He has given me legs to skate, arms to stickhandle and shoot a puck, and eyes and ears to see and hear what I need to do for the game. For myself, this is a way that I can give glory and honour to God in the sport I play. I don't deserve life from God, for it was my sin that nailed His Son to the tree! What grace he has given to us as humans to do earthly activities that bring joy to us. The least we can do is give the glory back to Him.

2. A Good Attitude in the Way I Play.
Another way that I can bring glory to God when I play sports, is to have a good attitude! Since I was  a little boy, I have been taught by my parents to have a good attitude about things. Having a good attitude really stems from my first point about being thankful. Whether winning or loosing, my attitude should be one that pleases God. There should be no reason to become angry, frustrated or out of control during a hockey game. I think of C.J. Mahaney's booklet titled, "Don't waste Your Sports". As a Christian I can't waste the opportunity I have while playing even a hockey game to give glory to my king and be a witness to others of my love for God.

3. A Humble Heart.
The most important way, I think, to give God glory in my sports is to have a humble heart. Humility is something that all of us struggle with. Especially in a sporting event we can become proud as to what we have done or can do. I know for I fact that I have been proud many times. I am reminded by the Lord though to keep a humble heart and give Him the well-deserved praise. To remind myself of this, I set aside a time before my game to pray, and ask the Lord to keep me humble and honouring to Him.

Right now, I play in a Christian Hockey league called CCJHL. It is a blessing to have a good environment and to make some good friends. To be able to enjoy the sport, and give glory to God is a privilege that I have a Christian. As I continue to play, I hope to be a witness to others of my love for God in my words, attitudes, and actions.
These points don't only apply to sports, but I shared them because they help me greatly to be a man who gives my God glory even in the, 'unimportant things' in life. As Christians, we sometimes think, How could you actually give God glory by eating, drinking, or playing a hockey game? Well, you can! Think of what the Lord has done for you, have a thankful humble heart, and most of all praise Him for the work of salvation in your heart. He has given us endless joy and blessings, let us as His slaves, give glory back to Him. You never know, God may bless you in ways you couldn't have imagined.

2012-2013 CCJHL Champions!

Blessings,
       Lucas C.

35 Reasons not to Sin

35 Reasons Not to Sin:
1. Because a little sin leads to more sin.
2. Because my sin invites the discipline of God.
3. Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.
4. Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.
5. Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.
6. Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.
7. Because I am doing what I do not have to do.
8. Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.
9. Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.
10. Because my sin saddens the godly.
11. Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.
12. Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.
13. Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.
14. Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.
15. Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.
16. Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.
17. Because my sin may influence others to sin.
18. Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.
19. Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.
20. Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.
21. Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.
22. Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.
23. Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.
24. Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.
25. Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.
26. Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.
27. Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.
28. Because my sin is adultery with the world.
29. Because, though forgiven, I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.
30. Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.
31. Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.
32. Because to sin is not to love Christ.
33. Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to believe.
34. Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it and His turning of it to good use, never because it is worth anything on it's own.
35. Because I promised God He would be Lord of my life.

(Taken from TheRebelution.com)

 

Blessings,

       Lucas C.