Jesus: light, freedom, life

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 8.    The contrast that is seen throughout this chapter is between those who follow Jesus and those who have rejected him.

  1. Those who reject Jesus are walking in darkness and following their father, the devil.  Those who accept Jesus are living in the light and can understand his words.
  2. Those who reject Jesus are in bondage to evil.  Those who accept Jesus have been set free by the truth.
  3. Those who reject Jesus will seek to put him to death. They are living merely to die.  Those who accept Jesus will never really see death.  Their eternal lives are secured by his.

LORD, this day we choose your light, not darkness.  We want your freedom, not Satan’s chains.  We want eternal life.  For all these things, we place our trust in you.

Posted in conditional immortality, Jesus Christ, trust, truth | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus: the Galilean Prophet

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 7.    Jesus grew up in Nazareth in the region of Galilee.  He had made his headquarters in Galilee for most of his public ministry.  As the time came closer to the public revelation of his Messiahship, he decides to go to Jerusalem to attend a Jewish feast.

The people are mixed in their assessment of Jesus.  On the one hand, they were impressed with his teaching, and marveled at his wisdom.  On the other hand, he was pre-judged because he was a Galilean, and EVERYBODY KNOWS that the Messiah was going to come from Bethlehem IN JUDEA, not Nazareth in Galilee.  When Nicodemus dared to suggest that people should actually listen to Jesus before judging, they replied “are you from Galilee too?” (52).

LORD, open our hearts to receive your word from your servants, no matter where they come from.

Posted in Jesus Christ, judgment, prejudice | Tagged | 1 Comment

Jesus: the Bread of Life

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 6:22-71.    Even non-believers in this generation do not seem to have any problem with Jesus calling himself the bread of life.  It was not so in first century Galilee.  The Jews were insulted that a mere man would dare to equate himself with the miracle of Manna in the wilderness.  They grumbled and left.  A few loaves and fish were not worth putting up with such heresy.

That hard saying (60) was even problematic to many of the disciples – that is – followers of Jesus.  Because of this, many of them “turned back and no longer walked with him” (66).

Jesus asked the Twelve if they, too, wanted to go away.  Peter replied that they did not intend to leave him.  He is the Holy One of God who has the words of eternal life (68-69).  That is what Jesus meant by calling himself the Bread of Life.  God sent him like Manna in the wilderness. Those who believe in him are sustained now and will be resurrected on the last day (40,44,54). 

LORD, we choose to feast upon your Manna from heaven.  Give us more of Jesus.

Posted in eternal life, Jesus Christ, resurrection | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus makes the difference

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 6:1-21.    Reading through this very familiar passage again, I was struck by the difference Jesus made in these two incidents narrated.

  1. If Jesus had not been there, the disciples would never have thought to provide food for the 5000.
  2. If Jesus had not strolled by as the disciples were rowing, the crossing of the sea of Galilee would have been just another trip.

Do you have Jesus in your life? He makes all the difference.

LORD, shatter our expectations. Make the difference in our lives.

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

Jesus: Liar, Lunatic or Lord?

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschrist John 5:19-47.  Those were the three options that C. S. Lewis suggested in his book Mere Christianity.  Look at what Jesus said about himself. If what he said is untrue – and he knew it – he was a liar.  If what he says about himself is untrue – but he didn’t know it – he was delusional.  If what he says about himself is true, then…

  1. He does what God does (19, 36).
  2. He can raise the dead (21,25,29).
  3. He will judge the world (22,30).
  4. He grants eternal life (24,40).

In other words, he is the Lord and Savior of mankind. Who is he to you?

LORD, thank you for sending your only Son to save us from our sins, and to raise us to eternal life at his return.

Posted in Jesus Christ, resurrection, second coming | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus and the desperate men

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 4:43-5:18.  All around us there are people leading quiet lives of desperation.  Jesus met with two such men in today’s passage.  He made a difference in their lives. 

  1. An official in Capernaum was desperate to save his son’s life (4:46).
  2. An invalid desperately needed to be restored to health (5:5-7).

For every person like that – who reaches out to Jesus in time of need – there are hundreds who cannot – because they do not know of Jesus.  Who will tell them about the one who can make a difference in their current crisis – and eternal destiny?

LORD, bring desperate people into our lives – and show us how to tell them about the one who can bring hope and healing to them.

Posted in evangelism, Jesus Christ, miracles, witness | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Jesus and the skeptical woman

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 4:1-42.  She had not had an easy life; things did not go her way.  One could not blame her for being a bit skeptical when that Jewish prophet came into town.  She expected him to have nothing to do with her.  But Jesus had a way of surprising people.  He asked her for a drink of water.  That’s all it took to get her thinking about the Gospel. 

Jesus described salvation as a gift of grace – that he aws able and willing to give.  Before long, that skeptic from Samaria had the whole town of Sychar interested in what Jesus had to offer.

LORD, there are many skeptics that we meet every day.  Help us to show them Jesus – who has an answer to their doubts, and a gift they all need.

Posted in discernment, grace, Jesus Christ | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus and the prophet

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 3:22-36.  The prophet John (the Baptist) understood his place in God’s plan for his generation.  He was the forerunner to the Messiah – the friend of the Bridegroom who rejoicerd to hear his voice.  Now it was time for the friend to fall into the background and allow the spotlight to rest upon the Bridegroom himself.

The other John (who wrote this Gospel) explains it this way: the prophet bears witness to what he has seen and heard. That witness points his followers to Jesus.  But Jesus came from heaven.  He also bears witness to what he has seen and heard – in heaven.  Only those who believe in the Son will have eternal life.

LORD, make us Christo-centric.  May our joy be in Christ, and our hope in his destiny.  May we decrease, so that he may increase.

Posted in commitment, discernment, hope, Jesus Christ, joy | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus and the teacher

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 3:1-21.  Jesus called Nicodemus “the teacher of Israel” (19).  That title reflected back on what Nicodemus had called him – a teacher come from God (2).

At that point in his life, Nicodemus could be called a success. He probably felt that he had as good a chance as anyone of getting on God’s good side – and earning his salvation.

Jesus pops that balloon very quickly. He said “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.”  That day the teacher learned another lesson.  He discovered that God does not save those who do their best, but he does save those who choose his best: his only Son.  Even “good” people like Nicodemus  need to run to the Savior.

LORD, forgive us for thinking that you save us for doing our best. We welcome your new birth from your Holy Spirit.

Posted in dependence upon God, grace, Jesus Christ, works | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jesus–a lasting impression

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 2.   Three times in this chapter John points out that Jesus leaves a lasting impression on his disciples:

  1. They saw him turn water into wine at Cana and believed in him (11).
  2. They saw him overturn the money tables in his Father’s temple, and remembered what the Bible had predicted about him (17).
  3. They heard him predict that he would raise up a destroyed temple after three days – they would remember that at his resurrection (22)_.

LORD, may we never forget the impact that Jesus has had on our lives.  May we remember him  in all that we do.

Posted in Jesus Christ | Tagged | 1 Comment