Making a List…….

Will you read this for me?

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&note_id=471396216851

John 9:1-12 – Not knowing I’m blind…

John 9:1-12

1.As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3. “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6. Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9. Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10. “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded. 11. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12. “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.

This is a record of another of Jesus’ miracles – and further proof that he is who he claims to be. Not only to the Jews that were around him then, but to us now as well.

Jesus and his disciples encounter a man who had been blind from birth.  The Jews of that day, believed that trouble and problems like this came from the sin of the person or of their direct ancestors.  The disciples wanted to know who had sinned, the man or his parents, and caused this man to be blind.

It reminds me of the story of Job in the Old Testament.  Job was going through everything satan was throwing at him and his friends were convinced that it was Job’s sin that had brought the problems to him.

I think as humans, we want things to be explained easily. Black and white. This or that.  Sometimes, it’s just not that way, I guess.  I’d like to be pompous and think that I would have not been like the disciples – wanting to know who’s sin caused the blindness, but instead, offered the man help.   But really – who am I kidding?  I would have been just as smug as they were.

I love Jesus. He’s just cool. He’s always got the words we need to hear and the actions we need to see.

Instead of theology, he deals with humanity.  It’s not about the why with Jesus. The way I see Jesus acting in John so far, it’s all about the action.

3. “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

It wasn’t sin that caused this condition. It just is.  And because it is, Jesus is able to use it to glorify God.  He continues by telling the disciples, “There’s work to do and WE need to do it.”

Take a look at verse 4.  WE must do the work.  Jesus is not wanting to do the work alone. He is inviting them, and I think, US to do the work with him.

Now – I am not exactly sure what Jesus is meaning about “As long as it is day,” and the rest of that when we will not be able to work. So…If there is someone super smart (or even marginally smart) please explain it to me.  I’d love to grasp the meaning.

I guess what is important though, is that I have been invited by Christ to share the work with him. Also important… There is a time coming when we will not be able to work, to lead people to Jesus, to tell them about him, to act kindly…

Jesus makes mud and puts it on this man’s eyes and tells him to go wash.  He could have healed him any way he wanted to, and why he chose to make mud to put on his eyes, I don’t understand.  But that’s what happened, so I’ll go with it.

The man does as told and is healed.  There turns out to be a debate among those who know this man.  Some are sure it is him and that he has been healed. Others see him, and notice that this man has sight and quickly assume that it must just be someone who looks like the man they used to see sitting and begging.

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

For the blind man it was simple.  He did what he was told and was healed because of it.  I want to be more like that.  But I think before I can be there, I need to realize (like the blind man had) that I have condition that I can not cure alone.  I also need to realize that I have nothing to lose by obeying Jesus.

I know it sounds un-christian to say, but really…. I have tried all of my ways to fix myself and my problems and most of them have not worked or they have made matters worse.

So, If I try it Jesus’ way what do I have to lose?  Nothing.

If I try it his way and it works, what can I gain? Everything.

What about you?  What are the things you could improve on by obeying?  I know I have a list…

John 8:48-59 – I AM……

48. The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49. “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52. At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.

So, the discussion with the unbelieving Jews continues.  The conversation has broken down to the point that the Jews are out of original ideas and rebuttals to Jesus and his claims.  Instead of trying to understand and believe who he really is, they devolve into name calling and insults by implying that Christ is a demon-possessed Samaritan.

It seems to me that Jesus dismissed this insult by brushing it off and moving back to the topic at hand:  His relationship to God and the fact that the Jews are not seeing him for who he is and what he came for.   Jesus – again – tries to make it clear to them, by speaking about spiritual things.  “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”   Christ is speaking of spiritual death, but the Jews – again – take this spiritual statement and take it as physical.  They start talking about Abraham and the prophets of the Old Testament.  In the minds of the Jews, they know the prophets and Abraham died a physical death, so they are angry that Christ would claim to not only be equal, but greater than Abraham.

Christ was not interested in being equal to Abraham.  That is not what he came for.  Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t remember Abraham ever healing anyone. I don’t recall and can not find in scripture where Abraham preformed miracles.  The Jews, in verse 53, asked a very important question, “Who do you think you are?”

54. Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.

Jesus was not here to gain glory for himself, but to bring people into relationship with God.  God was glorifying Christ.  He is/was the Son of God.  In v.54  Jesus tells them again that they do not know God, but he does know him.  He also adds that if he were to deny knowing God, he would be a liar, like them.  He was there to do God will and to keep his word.

Jesus continues the discussion by telling them that, “Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”  I’ll admit, I don’t know what he meant by “seeing my day,” so if anyone has any thoughts, I’d love to hear them.

AGAIN…..the Jews can not break their thoughts away from the physical world and question Christ. “You’re not even 50 years old, an you are claiming to have known Abraham?!?!” (my paraphrase)

Over and over and over, Jesus had been making claims to who he was – The Son of God. Over and over the Jews had been dismissing these claims and implying that Christ was crazy and/or demon possessed.  But here, in v.58, Jesus turns it up a notch – v. 58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

From what I read, when Jesus used “I am” there he was referring to himself as Deity.  Much like when Moses asked God’s name at the burning bush in Exodus 3. There, God replied “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “

Jesus came out and said it as clearly, I think, as he could have. “I AM”

59. At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Who do we say He is?  What is our response?

John 8:37-47 – Let’s Get Ready To RUMMMMBLE!

37. I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you do what you have heard from your father. ” 39. “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do the things Abraham did. 40. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41. You are doing the things your own father does.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” 42. Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46. Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?47. He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

In my last post, I had written that Jesus was talking to the people who had put his faith in him.

For any of you who know me, this will come as no surprise – but I could have been wrong.  I don’t know.   From what I read other places, Jesus is still teaching at the Feast of the Tabernacles.  I would assume that there are all kinds of people around Jesus at this point. There would be people who believed in him wanting to learn more, people who hated Jesus and people who had not made a decision either way.

Maybe Jesus is switching up who he is talking to. I have to assume that, since in the verses before this he is talking about what being a true disciple looked like. And now – in these next verses, Jesus is talking to people who have satan as their father.  (if you notice, I did not capitalize satan’s name.  That is the grammatical equivalent of giving him the middle finger)

There was quite a debate about the lineage of some in the crowd. They were very proud of the fact that they were descendants of Abraham. And I would agree – That would be really cool to claim. I guess they though so too. But instead of being worthy of it and trying to live like he lived, they rested on their haunches and lived lives very much in contrast to the life Abraham lived.  As they claim Abraham as their father, Jesus lets them know how they are not living like that is true. Instead, Jesus tells them, they are living like they are descendants of the devil.

43. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

WOW…..Can you imagine?  I can not.  Imagine having a huge group of today’s Christians and spiritual leaders gathered together and having someone come tell them that that they are children of satan.  That is almost the same thing that is happening here.  Today’s spiritual leaders, in western culture, don’t have the same power that these men had, so the effect it lost a bit.  The men Jesus was saying this to were very influential men.  It would almost be like walking into the President’s office and peeing on his shoes.

Jesus is there telling them the truth as clearly as he can and they refuse to believe him. Instead their hearts are listening to the “father of lies” – satan.

Jesus asks them – already knowing the answer – “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?”  He knows who he is, and he knows that they will not be able to find him guilty of anything.  Jesus answers his own question – The reason they do not chose to believe what he is saying is because they do not belong to God.

I guess the practical application to all of this is: In what areas of my life am I not listening to God?

In what ways could you listen more to God?

2nd Chances – A diversion from John.

In 1979, I was 8 years old.  That year, my dad, who was not a man of wealth, by any means, decided he wanted to have a new truck. I can not prove it, but I would imagine that he had to scrimp and save and sacrifice to do it.  He went to the local Chevy dealership and ordered himself a brand-spankin’ new C-10 short-wide step-side. Brown with a white tool box and big pimped out mirrors on the side. No air conditioning and a am/fm/cassette player.  My dad was a very practical man and this was a very practical truck.

My dad drove this truck for ever, it seemed.  During that time, he worked out of town a lot. He worked for Bell Telephone and spent a lot of time in Shamrock, Borger, and Pampa. He would leave on Sunday afternoons, work out of town all week and drive back in on Friday evenings to spend the weekends with us.

In 1993 – 17 years ago – dad sold the truck and moved on to a newer model.  As far as I can remember, this was the only new car my dad had owned until much later in life.

After dad sold the truck, we saw it all over town. I would call and tell him I saw it, or he would call me.  It was always a fun time to see it still driving around.  Even after dad got cancer, we would call and report truck sightings to each other.

Dad passed away in March of this year.

About 2 weeks after he died, I was picking up the boys from school, just like always.  And there it was.  The truck.  It’s an unmistakable truck.  I could spot it out of 1000 easily.  there was a new addition to the truck this time, though.  It had a “for sale” sign in it.

I almost killed myself trying to get a close enough view of the number, but couldn’t get it.  Luck would have it though that, a few days later, I spotted it again.  It was parked in front of a house less than a half mile from the house I grew up in. I was running late to where I was going, but at least I knew where to find it. So over the next week or two, I kept meaning to go by and get the number off of it so I could call about it.

Lots of talking about it was happening at my house.  My very fist car was a ’66 Mustang and I was considering buying another one.  But now that I knew the truck was for sale, I had to choose. There was no way I had the time or resources to take on 2 project cars.

The choice was easy.

A friend of mine, who I had talked to about the truck, was out one day and stopped and got the phone number for me.

I called the number, already knowing all I needed to know about the truck.  But I asked the man who answered to tell me about it.

He told me a story that lasted for 20 minutes. He talked in detail about the man he bought the truck from, how fairly he treated him and how kind he was.  He told me the story of how he ordered the truck new from the factory, just the way he wanted it.  He told me how much he had loved that truck.  I just let him talk.  I listened with a smile on my face and tears rolling down my face.  After he finished, I told him I was pretty sure I knew the man he bought the truck from.  He sounded very surprised. “How do you know him?”, he asked.   “Roger Stephens was my dad.” I replied.    He was stunned.

After more talking and looking and thinking and reminiscing and phone calls, I bought that truck yesterday.  I couldn’t be happier.

This has nothing to do with what I normally blog about, but I just wanted to tell the story.

John 8:31-36 – Slaves or Free men?

John 8:31-36 NIV
31. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33. They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus is speaking to those Jews who have put their faith in him. In today’s vernacular,  this would be considered a message that was not “seeker friendly.”  Jesus was talking to those who had already made a decision to follow Him.   So I have to assume that Jesus is directing this at me as well, since I have put my faith in Him.

NIV  “31. If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
KJV “31. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free .
MSG  “31. If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. 32. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.”

All three of these versions of the Bible use different wording, but what I get from each of them is the idea that it is a process. Not something to be done once.  Being a believer is not something that I am able to just claim and then continuing to live how ever I see fit.  Look at the KJV’s words – “If you continue in my word…”   That makes it sound like something that has to actively and continuously happen.  It’s the same with the Message – “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you…”  Same thing….. it is a continual process.

I’m usually not one to read the KJV just because the language is more difficult to follow, but in this instance, I like how it says it. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free .”  If you continue in my word…  I always think of “the Word” as the Bible. So reading the verses in the KJV reminds me that if I continue reading the Bible, then I will learn to be more of a disciple because I will learn more of the truth.

Back to the people that Jesus was talking to.  As Jews who had never been in captivity, they were confused by Jesus telling them that they would be “free”.  Jesus had to explain to them that he was not speaking of physical bondage, but instead spiritual.  When we sin, we become bond servants to that sin. In my opinion, this is why Christ was telling them to continue in his word. I see it as a choice of walking down one of two paths, sin or freedom.

Jesus makes it clear in the last part of these verses. “Now a slave (to sin) has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free (from sin), you will be free indeed.” (parentheses mine).

I want to be free.  I just have to keep picking my path.

John 8:12-30 – “Who are you?”

In Jon 8:12-30, we find Jesus still at the Feast of the Tabernacles.  And, again, using the things that are happening around him to teach his message.

From what I read, during part of the Feast there would be lamps lit that would illuminate the Temple and the surrounding courts.  Using this as a teaching opportunity, Jesus tells the crowd, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

This brings the Pharisees up to argue. Old Testament Law required that 2 or more witnesses were required to validate a claim.  Being that Jesus is the only person that they can see speaking, they challenge his ability to make such a claim.  Jesus comes back at them full force by telling them that it is His Father who is also witness to Him and that since they do not know his Father, then they do not know him either.

This is a slap in the Pharisees faces, since they are the most educated and ‘wise’ in matters of the Old Testament Law and were responsible for upholding God’s teachings and teaching others about God. For Jesus to tell them, “”You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” is quite a kick in the teeth.

Verses 15 and 16 point back a little to my last post.  Jesus had not come to to judge, He had come to offer salvation.  He had the ability to judge, and would have judged perfectly, but was more interested in bringing people into salvation.

Verse 20 is another one of those times that I would have like to have been around.

20. He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

I go back again to wondering how that happened, and I won’t speculate too much,  but you should know I lean towards a Star Wars type force field.

In verses 21-24,  Jesus is repeating himself and elaborating more on who he is, I think, help them understand.  It’s likely I would have been in that group.  One of the ones who had to hear it more than once and in many different ways.

21. Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” 22. This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself ? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” 23. But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins.”

One of the commentaries I read while writing this lead me to believe that the Pharisees were mocking Jesus with the comment about Jesus killing himself. Apparently, suicide in that day was a deplorable crime and only a dirty rotten pagan would do that.  So instead of trying to debate Jesus with logic, the Pharisees, resort to hurling insults at him.

Ignoring the insults and the thinly veiled accusation that he was a blasphemous pagan, Jesus continues by trying to explain to everyone again, His grand position – and their own.  “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins.” I’m not sure how he could be more clear on this point.    I will die in my sins if I don’t believe Christ is who and what he claims to be.

What exactly is Jesus claiming in these verses?  Yes, I think he is claiming to be my savior. But I also think he is trying to point out to me that instead of walking in darkness, I can walk in his light?  That sounds like some “church talk” to me…… What does it really mean?  I don’t have all the answers, so you can stop reading if you are expecting to find them next.  So far, I believe it means I don’t have to try so hard. I can just trust him to show me the right way. I think it means I don’t have to live under the guilt of my sin anymore, and that I can, instead just let go of it all and know he has it covered.  I know James talks about not sinning more so grace can be more evident – and that is not what I mean to imply.  but the fact of the matter is this: I AM going to continue to sin.  I can try as hard as I would like and I will still sin.  But how nice is it that I don’t have to be burdened with the guilt of that sin once I put my trust in Christ?  How beautiful is it that I have my sin paid for?  If I am not spending time trying to impress God/Christ with how good I am AND spending time worrying about guilt from sins past, doesn’t that free me up to be grateful and, out of gracefulness, strive to know him better? I know I need to repent of my sin when I do sin, and I need to try not to sin. But when I do, Isn’t it great that he frees me from it?

Verse 24 tells me that if I do not believe in Christ, I will die in my sin. So, is it safe to assume that if I DO believe in Christ and his claims I will have the opposite?  What is that? I won’t die in my sin?  What will I have then?  Is it that Jesus is offering life apart from sin? I think so.  Not sinless, but apart from sin.  I’m still having trouble warping my mind around it.

// that was a long rabbit chasing on my part……forgive me.  Back to the verses.

Verse 25-30….

25. “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been claiming all along,” Jesus replied.  26. “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” 27. They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” 30. Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

“Who are you?” they ask….. It’s like they are confused – or amazed…maybe both.  Jesus answers them honestly and plainly, “Just what I have been claiming all along,”  From the way I read the next few verses, most of them didn’t fully understand, but some of them were beginning to be willing to put their faith in Jesus.

Jesus also foreshadows his upcoming crucifixion and I wonder what they thought when they heard him talk about being “lifted up.” He also assures those listening that he is not alone.  The one who sent him, his Father, is with him – and that he is doing what is pleasing to God.

///  Today was a huge chunk of scripture.  What did I miss?  What meant something to you?  Let us hear it.