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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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