Jesus still has many things to say

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 15:18-16:15.    Much of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in believer’s lives is warranted by this statement:  “I still have many things to say” (16:12). 

He said some of those things through the inspired Scriptures.

Believers gather regularly to hear more words from the Lord.  He prompts some believers to tell others what he has to say.  Friends encourage one another, and when they do, it is Jesus speaking those encouraging words to them and through them.

When the time is right, Jesus speaks to us.

LORD, open our ears to listen to you speaking.  Open our hearts to allow you to speak through us.

Posted in Bible, encouragement, Jesus Christ | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Jesus: the true vine

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 15:1-17.   If I wanted to talk about predestination and election, this passage provides a good proof-text.  Jesus told his disciples that they did not choose him, but he chose them (16).  If I wanted to talk about free-will, this passage would also be helpful, because it emphasizes proving one’s relationship with Christ by bearing fruit (8.).  But what does this passage teach about Jesus?

  1. He is the source of our ministry.  Our fruit is not our own work, but comes from the fact that we abide in (are attached to) him.  If there were no vine, there would be no fruit.  The most beautiful looking branch apart from (detached from) the vine is only good to fuel a fire.
  2. He is the source of our love for one another.  He commanded us to love one another as he has loved us (12) – and that love sent him to the cross.
  3. He is the source of all answered prayer.  His choice and his grace gives us the relationship with the Father that leads to answered prayer.

LORD, thank you for the awesome Vine we are attached to.  Help us to hang on!

  1.  
Posted in dependence upon God, faithfulness, Jesus Christ | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus left parting gifts

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 14.   In some cultures it is appropriate for someone to give gifts when they return to friends they have departed from.  In the Philippines, it is like that.  Whenever Penny and I returned from a trip to Manila or the States, our Filipino friends expected us to have a gift for them.  They called it pasalubong. 

Jesus spoke of returning to his friends – the disciples – and, by definition, us as well.  He is not content to just promise us gifts upon his return.  He does promise to prepare a place for us and bring it (the Holy City) with him when he returns.  But Jesus also gave the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to teach us and remind us of what he has taught.  He also promised answered prayer.  He has left many parting gifts.

LORD, thank you for your parting gifts, and for the promise of your return.

Posted in Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, prayer, second coming | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus went where no one else could go

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 13.  In this chapter, Jesus revealed to his disciples that he was going to go away – someplace his disciples would not be able to go.  He was talking about heaven.   He went to heaven at his ascension.

He was not talking about how he died.  All the disciples except John  would join him in a martyr’s death.   He was not talking about hell.  He went to Hades – the unconscious state of the dead, and was raised back to life on the third day.

But Jesus death was different.   He went to Hades – died – as a complete innocent.  His death was different because he alone – of all people – did not have to die.  All of us die because of sin.  He died because of love.  He demonstrated that love when he washed his disciples’ feet.  Because he died for us, he washed us too.

LORD, thank you for going to the cross to die for us. It was a place where no one else could go.

Posted in atonement, Jesus Christ, sleep of death | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus: the light we had for a little while

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 12:20-50.   All through John’s Gospel Jesus is described as a light.  In this passage, the temporary nature of that light is emphasized.  He came into a world of darkness and shone briefly.  He urged the planet to:

“Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (35-36).

The light has left us, but he is returning.  He left his words – the commands and explanations in the Gospels – to give us light in this present darkness.

LORD, may we walk according to your light, and so become sons of light.

Posted in discipleship, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, truth, witness | Tagged | Leave a comment

following Jesus

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 11:55-12:19.   There are many who count themselves as followers of Jesus.  The question is “Why are you following him?”

  1. Judas followed him for the occasional dip into the moneybag. Do you follow Jesus for financial gain?
  2. Mary followed Jesus because she loved him and devoted herself to him. Her love for Jesus was extravagant. 
  3. The crowd followed Jesus because they were looking for a miracle.  Would you follow Jesus if you saw no miracles?
  4. The chief priests and Pharisees pursued Jesus in order to get rid of him.  Is your Jesus tucked up inside a box for you to do with him what you will?

LORD, we choose to follow Jesus as Mary did – with a heart of extravagant worship.

Posted in discipleship, Jesus Christ, love, worship | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Jesus: the resurrection and the life

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 11:1-54.    This magnificent story from the life of Jesus has much to teach us about reality.

  1. Death is real.  It is not some mysterious departure into another world.  Death for Lazarus was a cold, hard, unconscious sleep in the tomb.  If it were not for Jesus, he would never see life again.
  2. The resurrection is real.   When Jesus said that he is the resurrection and the life, he admitted that the event (resurrection day) is a real event in history, and he revealed that he is the one who will make it happen.  Those dead who are in him he will raise (25).  Those living who are in him (at that time) will never die (26).
  3. Your choice is real.  Some turned turned to Christ when they saw him raise Lazarus (45).  Others chose to turn against him (46).  What choice have you made?

LORD, thank you for the reality of Jesus, the resurrection and the life. We choose to follow him.

Posted in discipleship, Jesus Christ, resurrection, sleep of death | Tagged | Leave a comment

believing in Jesus’ works

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn  10:19-42.    Lots of people struggle with what Jesus said about himself.  I, personally, have come to the conclusion that Jesus is the very God the Son  that the doctrine of the trinity defines.  Some good friends of mine are not so comfortable with this doctrine.  I am convinced that they know Jesus, and that he has accepted them into his sheepfold. 

The most important thing to believe about Jesus is what he did.  He urged his opponents to “believe the works, that (they) may know and understand that the Father is in (him) and (he) in the Father.”  Jesus’ miracles attested to his authority as God’s Son.  His death on the cross was the definitive work that only he could do  — to save us from our sins.

LORD, we believe in you, and we trust ourselves to your saving grace.  Help us not to make our lack of understanding a reason to doubt.

Posted in atonement, Jesus Christ, miracles | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus: the true Shepherd

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 10:1-18.   Many of us aspire to be shepherds – to lead people to God and to safety from this dangerous world they were born into.  There is nothing wrong with such aspirations, as long as we are clear that we are no one’s Savior.  Only Jesus is the door of the sheep.  If we claim to lead people, and do not lead them to Christ – we are thieves and robbers.  We are stealing people from Christ.

The reason is that God has appointed Christ as the Good Shepherd.  Jesus has proven his qualification by literally giving his life for us – as only a true shepherd would do.

LORD, for the leaders among us, may you keep us focused on bringing people to you – and not winning them to ourselves.

Posted in Jesus Christ, leadership | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus: the true light

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 9.   The Pharisees of Jesus’ day believed that they had received light through the writings of Moses.  they had codified a system of spiritual teaching that explained the world around them, and helped them to understand it.  Jesus came into this world and shattered their illusion.  He healed a blind man by his grace alone – even before the man knew who he was.  What’s more – he did it on the Sabbath, further throwing a monkey wrench into the the spiritual system that the Pharisees held to.

We often hold firmly to beliefs and belief systems and assume that they are giving us light.  The true light that came into the world is not a theological system. It is Jesus.  We need to be careful not to confuse the two.

LORD, forgive us for holding so firmly to our doctrines that we do not give you room to surprise us with our grace.

Posted in dependence upon God, discipleship, Jesus Christ, truth | Tagged | Leave a comment