In Saint John, Chapter 1verse 30, John the Baptist says that Jesus was before him. Yet, since Jesus, John's cousin, was born after John, how is that so?
Well, if Jesus is God, it only makes sense that he was around from the beginning of the creation. In Genesis, chapter 1,verse 26, God said,
"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." One might ask who he was talking to.
Now, this opens the great debate about the plurality of God. Yes, there is only one God. But, apparently, he comes in at least three parts: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Does that mean that the Holy Ghost is God's wife, since Jesus is his son?
Well, we were created in God's image and we were created male and female. Could it be that there is some form of spiritual intercourse? I say,
"Why not?"
It stands to reason that since human beings are social creatures and created in God's image that God would also be a social Being who enjoys the company of others. But, let's leave that for another discussion.
In John 8:57, the Jews said to Jesus, "You're not even fifty years old and you say you've seen Abraham?"
What blasphemy! How dare anyone talk about our precious father Abraham as his equal! Now, for sure they knew Jesus was an imposter. AND he was a Samaritan (insult of insults!) AND he had a devil!
So, what was Jesus' reply to all these accusations? He calmly retorted,
"Verily, verily (truly, truly) I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
Just try, try, try to wrap your brain around that one! He is not making a grammar mistake here. Jesus is putting Abraham decidedly in the past and himself in the present, past and future with one single word, "am".
Praise God! We should get excited about that!
Did the Jews there that day rejoice? Just the opposite. The amazing power of God spoken to those without faith resulted in an explosion of hatred! They wanted to kill him, just as he had predicted. They took up stones to cast at him!
Someone said that what we don't understand, we destroy.
Please don't feel we are picking on the Jews. There are people of every nation who are prone to a lack of faith. It just so happens that at this point in history, the Jews were the bearers of the Light, strictly adhering to the laws of God, and so it was that the Messiah went first to the House of Israel to proclaim his message.
Let's carry on in John 1:
35. Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
(Why is he calling Jesus a lamb? According to the law, the Jews were required to sacrifice a lamb once a year to pay for the sins of their people. That means killing the innocent lamb, shedding its blood as a payment for sin. It may not make sense, but that was the requirement.)
37. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? (Where do you live?)
39. He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40. One of the two which heard John speak and follwed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41. He first findeth his own brother Simon and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
43. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
(Hmmm... it seems Nathanael is type-casting here. How could anything good come out of Nazareth?)
47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou was under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Milk of the Word
For this post, I will let God's Word speak for itself. (Chapter One of John began a few posts ago.)
John 1:
19. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? (Who are you?)
20. And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23. He said, I am THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD, as saith the prophet Esaias.
24. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou, then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
26. John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom ye know not;
27. He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29. The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me.
31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
(Note: John says that Jesus is preferred before him because he was before him. Although John was born before Jesus, he tells us that Jesus was "before" him.
In John, chapter 8, 52 through 58, the Jews said to Jesus, "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him and if I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.)
John 1:
19. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? (Who are you?)
20. And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23. He said, I am THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD, as saith the prophet Esaias.
24. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou, then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
26. John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom ye know not;
27. He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29. The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me.
31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
(Note: John says that Jesus is preferred before him because he was before him. Although John was born before Jesus, he tells us that Jesus was "before" him.
In John, chapter 8, 52 through 58, the Jews said to Jesus, "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him and if I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.)
The Most Amazing Book
When you open the Bible and begin to read, the words jump off the page. Unlike any other book, this book can grip you with a phrase or a mere word. You may be frozen on one verse. You may find a key that you'd searched for your entire life. Here it is, hidden in plain sight, like a jewel lying on the sand. Maybe it has your name on it. It could be a truth that God put there, knowing many years ago that you would find it just today.
In this modern, technological world that is run on money, many of us spend our lives stressed about one thing or another. Sometimes we don't even know what the cause of our stress is. It could be a word, a slip of the tongue from a hasty passer-by or a glance that we interpreted as a slight. It may only be a kind of feeling that seems to hit at a certain time of day or during certain activities. Sometimes that mood will pass quickly and sometimes it may turn into a state of depression that lingers for days. A little black cloud stubbornly hanging overhead.
The pressure and stress pushing us forward continue to do so unabated for days, until we choose to step off the treadmill for a moment, take a breath and try to collect a sane thought. Even that is not easy to do. There's always that nagging feeling that something needs to be done. There's that judging voice saying,
"You are so lazy. What have you accomplished today? Time is money." ...or some such accusation. (We all have that little voice in our head that needs to be brought into submission.)
Therefore, I do realize that to open the Bible and begin to read it is no small task! You will be besieged on every side with good, logical reasons why you don't have time. Then, even as you begin to read, doubts will arise from every quarter. Millions of them. And, the cherry on top is, you will get so drowsy, you may suddenly feel a deep sleep coming on.
In fact, you may discover that it's easier to pick up any other reading material on hand than to try to read the Bible. Why do you suppose that is?
Wouldn't it make sense to say that it's probably because the Bible is a very unique book? It may also make sense to say that the enemy of your soul throws everything he has at you to prevent you from finding out the "goods" on him. He sure doesn't want you to live in victory. He certainly doesn't want you to go around proclaiming the truth to others. That's for sure!
Then again, it has been said, "You are your own worst enemy."
However, once all these obstacles have been overcome and we find ourselves enraptured in the Word of God, there is nothing better than drinking in the powerful words of spiritual life and rebirth that can be found there. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. Just enjoy it.
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby." I Peter 2:2
Earlier in this blog, I included the first 14 verses from the first chapter of John. I hope it amazed you. These words contain the very spirit and life of God and Jesus, who is God. So, let's continue with John Chapter 1:
15. John bare witness of him, and cried saying, This was he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
God decided to show a different side of himself to us by sending Jesus who came in "grace" and "truth".
When Jesus spoke to Pilate, he said,
"Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears my voice."
In this modern, technological world that is run on money, many of us spend our lives stressed about one thing or another. Sometimes we don't even know what the cause of our stress is. It could be a word, a slip of the tongue from a hasty passer-by or a glance that we interpreted as a slight. It may only be a kind of feeling that seems to hit at a certain time of day or during certain activities. Sometimes that mood will pass quickly and sometimes it may turn into a state of depression that lingers for days. A little black cloud stubbornly hanging overhead.
The pressure and stress pushing us forward continue to do so unabated for days, until we choose to step off the treadmill for a moment, take a breath and try to collect a sane thought. Even that is not easy to do. There's always that nagging feeling that something needs to be done. There's that judging voice saying,
"You are so lazy. What have you accomplished today? Time is money." ...or some such accusation. (We all have that little voice in our head that needs to be brought into submission.)
Therefore, I do realize that to open the Bible and begin to read it is no small task! You will be besieged on every side with good, logical reasons why you don't have time. Then, even as you begin to read, doubts will arise from every quarter. Millions of them. And, the cherry on top is, you will get so drowsy, you may suddenly feel a deep sleep coming on.
In fact, you may discover that it's easier to pick up any other reading material on hand than to try to read the Bible. Why do you suppose that is?
Wouldn't it make sense to say that it's probably because the Bible is a very unique book? It may also make sense to say that the enemy of your soul throws everything he has at you to prevent you from finding out the "goods" on him. He sure doesn't want you to live in victory. He certainly doesn't want you to go around proclaiming the truth to others. That's for sure!
Then again, it has been said, "You are your own worst enemy."
However, once all these obstacles have been overcome and we find ourselves enraptured in the Word of God, there is nothing better than drinking in the powerful words of spiritual life and rebirth that can be found there. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. Just enjoy it.
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby." I Peter 2:2
Earlier in this blog, I included the first 14 verses from the first chapter of John. I hope it amazed you. These words contain the very spirit and life of God and Jesus, who is God. So, let's continue with John Chapter 1:
15. John bare witness of him, and cried saying, This was he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
God decided to show a different side of himself to us by sending Jesus who came in "grace" and "truth".
When Jesus spoke to Pilate, he said,
"Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears my voice."
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Is Religion a Private Matter?
When you mention your faith in public, some people will announce that their religion is a private matter that's just between them and God. It's considered to be almost as private as talking about sex. There's even a rule in some circles that the topics to avoid are: religion, sex and politics.
Is our faith in God meant to be kept a secret?
No doubt, the devil would love to keep it secret. But, as Christians, we have a responsibility to share the Gospel. Just as scientists and doctors have a responsibility to divulge their knowledge to mankind, especially when their knowledge can divert an epidemic or warn us of a looming natural disaster, so it is our responsibility to mankind to present the knowledge of salvation.
Would you stand by and watch a toddler run out into the traffic? I hope not. As a responsible human being, it would be instinctual for most of us to intervene. That's our humanity. It's a natural reaction. Most people value life, even the lives of animals.
Isn't our spiritual life of more value than this temporal, carnal existence? Once you have found the salvation of your own soul and the joy of knowing the Lord, isn't it your responsibility to turn others off the path to destruction?
How accountable are we for the destiny of the souls of others? Matthew chapter 10 gives pretty clear instructions of our responsibility as Christians.
"As ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give."
Jesus set the example for us to follow. Not only are we bound to follow, but we are actually bound to be his own slaves. (That's a topic which needs expounding on!) At the end of his mission, he instructed us,
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Not only did Christ set the example, but he died in order to pay off the debt of our sin and then he told us he would be with us every step of the way until the end of the world as we know it. We not only have the blue print but we have the Architect to direct every move we make, if we care to ask him. The Divine Plan given us by God Himself will be successful as we follow it, but not if it's kept a secret.
"Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:15
If you are a Christian who believes that your religion should be kept private, I humbly suggest that you read the book of Acts. The power of God, in the out-pouring of the Holy Ghost, compelled the apostles to witness their faith. They proclaimed their beliefs to the peril of their lives.
"And daily in the temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." Acts 5:42
On the other hand, there are some things we should keep private. We are told that our giving should be in private:
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven..." Matthew 6 verse 1.
Our prayer life is supposed to be private:
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into they closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:5 and 6.
So, although there are some parts of our faith that are meant to be kept private, sharing the Gospel is not one of them. In fact, Jesus told us,
"What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." Matthew 10, verse 27.
Is our faith in God meant to be kept a secret?
No doubt, the devil would love to keep it secret. But, as Christians, we have a responsibility to share the Gospel. Just as scientists and doctors have a responsibility to divulge their knowledge to mankind, especially when their knowledge can divert an epidemic or warn us of a looming natural disaster, so it is our responsibility to mankind to present the knowledge of salvation.
Would you stand by and watch a toddler run out into the traffic? I hope not. As a responsible human being, it would be instinctual for most of us to intervene. That's our humanity. It's a natural reaction. Most people value life, even the lives of animals.
Isn't our spiritual life of more value than this temporal, carnal existence? Once you have found the salvation of your own soul and the joy of knowing the Lord, isn't it your responsibility to turn others off the path to destruction?
How accountable are we for the destiny of the souls of others? Matthew chapter 10 gives pretty clear instructions of our responsibility as Christians.
"As ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give."
Jesus set the example for us to follow. Not only are we bound to follow, but we are actually bound to be his own slaves. (That's a topic which needs expounding on!) At the end of his mission, he instructed us,
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Not only did Christ set the example, but he died in order to pay off the debt of our sin and then he told us he would be with us every step of the way until the end of the world as we know it. We not only have the blue print but we have the Architect to direct every move we make, if we care to ask him. The Divine Plan given us by God Himself will be successful as we follow it, but not if it's kept a secret.
"Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:15
If you are a Christian who believes that your religion should be kept private, I humbly suggest that you read the book of Acts. The power of God, in the out-pouring of the Holy Ghost, compelled the apostles to witness their faith. They proclaimed their beliefs to the peril of their lives.
"And daily in the temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." Acts 5:42
On the other hand, there are some things we should keep private. We are told that our giving should be in private:
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven..." Matthew 6 verse 1.
Our prayer life is supposed to be private:
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into they closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:5 and 6.
So, although there are some parts of our faith that are meant to be kept private, sharing the Gospel is not one of them. In fact, Jesus told us,
"What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." Matthew 10, verse 27.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Who Can You Trust?
These days, it's considered "politically incorrect" to share your faith. To say that Jesus Christ is the only way to God is "biased", "narrow-minded" and "bigoted". Shouldn't we be more tolerant to other faiths? Isn't there more than one way to get to heaven?
If you are a new Christian trying to share your faith, don't let these obstacles hinder or discourage you. Remember that Jesus knows his sheep and they know him and they will follow. If they are his sheep, they will hear his voice.
As for everyone else, just leave them in God's able hands. He will deal with them as he sees fit and perhaps bring them along the path to salvation at a later date (if they live long enough). You are not required to argue to convince anyone to accept the priceless gift of eternal life. If they have a zillion excuses why they don't want to believe in God or Jesus, move on to someone who has been searching for the truth.
The Bible says what it says. It's right there in black and white. If it were not for those words of truth, we could not lay claim to salvation through faith in those words. But, those words were written for our edification so that we might know the truth, even hold it in our hands. If you read it, you'll know in your heart whether it is the Truth.
In J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", Aragorn was trying to encourage Gandalf to have faith that Frodo was getting closer to Mordor to accomplish his mission. It was a stressful time and Gandalf asked,
"Do we know that?" In answer to his wavering, Aragorn put the question to him,
"What does your heart tell you?" It didn't take Gandalf long to know his own heart. He said,
"That Frodo is alive. Yes. Yes, he's alive."
Sometimes all it takes is a moment to listen to your own heart Take time to listen. Maybe it will take you a bit longer than Gandalf to get the answer, but, if you're patient, you will get a clear answer.
I remember the first time after becoming a Christian that I heard mention of the story of Noah's ark. It made me laugh out loud! I thought it was a childish fable, made up to teach children the names of all the animals. But, my laughter was cut short by a stout look of scorn from a nearby elder brother.
"If you're going to believe in the Bible," he said, "you've got to believe it from cover to cover."
It was then that I realized I had a few preconceived ideas of my own that would have to give way to the truth. But, faith grows. It gets stronger, wider and deeper the more we swim in the refreshing water of his Word. Something you think is impossible or even ridiculous today will seem common knowledge tomorrow.
Accepting Jesus as your saviour, master, king and the Lord of your life is just the beginning. Jesus himself said in John 3, verse 3,
"Except a man(/woman) be born again, he(/she) cannot see the kingdom of God." and
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God." John 3:16 to 21 We, as Christian believers, have been given very clear and specific guidelines, put there for our safety by a loving and wise Father Who wants us to stay on the "straight and narrow path" all the way to his Kingdom. It's easy to get side-tracked. There are lots of bullies and liars out to get you when they see the light of joy on your face. There are lots of hands reaching out of the darkness to try to pull you down with them. That's why it's so important to stay in the Word and let the Word live in you.
Stay in the Light and the darkness will flee.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
The Light of the World
Saint John, Chapter 1:
1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made.
4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Like light, Jesus was a mystery. He remains a mystery to us. We can believe in him by faith. Yet, the mystery continues, slowly unfolding itself to us as we walk with him.
He is the Light that gives us spiritual life. He shines in our darkness and we do not comprehend that Light.
Why does He seem to keep up guessing? Why does God seem to enjoy testing our faith? Why not just come right out and lay all His cards on the table so we can see the whole picture and the reason for everything?
I believe the answer is quite simple to our way of understanding (although there are probably multi-purposes from God's perspective, since He usually gets a lot of mileage out of everything). If we already knew all the answers, if the mystery were solved, all the reasons put into our laps, would we be so desperate and needy? Would we need to delve into scripture, search for answers, fall on our knees and compel God?
Maybe we are supposed to be content with walking in the Light, taking one step at a time. Step by step, as we follow, He shows us more and more. It's when we turn our face to the "darkness" that problems arise. Not only do we need to stay in the Light, but we need to let the Light shine through us.
Matthew 5, verse 16 tells us: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (That doesn't mean to go around proclaiming your own goodness, but to give God the glory for whatever you do that's beneficial or helpful.)
Let's continue with John, Chapter 1:
6.There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8. He was in the world and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11. He came unto his own and his own received him not.
12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Here we find the famous verse that many of us have seen on Sunday School walls or Gospel tracts, etc. It's famous for being the verse that leads sinners to salvation. The instructions are simple, just "receive" Jesus. In Greek, the word for believe is to "receive" or "drink in".
Recently I was speaking to a dedicated Muslim about salvation and she matter-of-factly told me that she hoped she would suffer for all of her sins while she was on this earth so that Allah would allow her to go to Heaven when she died. She said if there were any sins left over, she'd have to go to hell to be punished for them.
Yet, for people who cling to that idea, the idea of accepting Jesus as your Saviour is just too easy. They would rather suffer, pay the price in their flesh, have a miserable life and be "holy" while on this earth, in order to enjoy the afterlife! And still, there's no guarantee that they will go to Heaven in the end.
Thank God that Jesus paid the price for us so that we do not need to suffer for our sins! It's an impossible feat to attempt. For one thing, we don't even know what our sins are. God's perfection is so far beyond ours. Many of our attempts at righteousness turn out to be self-righteousness, which stinks!
Back to John 1:
16. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
In these 14 verses, we discover that Jesus is the Word, the Light, the Truth and God. He is God Who was made flesh. He lived among us and even His own people did not receive Him. His half-brothers didn't believe in Him!
Can you imagine if Jesus were your very own brother, living in your house and the whole time, you thought He was just a regular guy? You argued with Him! You insulted Him and mocked Him. In effect, you just treated him like a brother. Then... to find out that the whole time, he was GOD!
1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made.
4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Like light, Jesus was a mystery. He remains a mystery to us. We can believe in him by faith. Yet, the mystery continues, slowly unfolding itself to us as we walk with him.
He is the Light that gives us spiritual life. He shines in our darkness and we do not comprehend that Light.
Why does He seem to keep up guessing? Why does God seem to enjoy testing our faith? Why not just come right out and lay all His cards on the table so we can see the whole picture and the reason for everything?
I believe the answer is quite simple to our way of understanding (although there are probably multi-purposes from God's perspective, since He usually gets a lot of mileage out of everything). If we already knew all the answers, if the mystery were solved, all the reasons put into our laps, would we be so desperate and needy? Would we need to delve into scripture, search for answers, fall on our knees and compel God?
Maybe we are supposed to be content with walking in the Light, taking one step at a time. Step by step, as we follow, He shows us more and more. It's when we turn our face to the "darkness" that problems arise. Not only do we need to stay in the Light, but we need to let the Light shine through us.
Matthew 5, verse 16 tells us: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (That doesn't mean to go around proclaiming your own goodness, but to give God the glory for whatever you do that's beneficial or helpful.)
Let's continue with John, Chapter 1:
6.There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8. He was in the world and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11. He came unto his own and his own received him not.
12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Here we find the famous verse that many of us have seen on Sunday School walls or Gospel tracts, etc. It's famous for being the verse that leads sinners to salvation. The instructions are simple, just "receive" Jesus. In Greek, the word for believe is to "receive" or "drink in".
Recently I was speaking to a dedicated Muslim about salvation and she matter-of-factly told me that she hoped she would suffer for all of her sins while she was on this earth so that Allah would allow her to go to Heaven when she died. She said if there were any sins left over, she'd have to go to hell to be punished for them.
Yet, for people who cling to that idea, the idea of accepting Jesus as your Saviour is just too easy. They would rather suffer, pay the price in their flesh, have a miserable life and be "holy" while on this earth, in order to enjoy the afterlife! And still, there's no guarantee that they will go to Heaven in the end.
Thank God that Jesus paid the price for us so that we do not need to suffer for our sins! It's an impossible feat to attempt. For one thing, we don't even know what our sins are. God's perfection is so far beyond ours. Many of our attempts at righteousness turn out to be self-righteousness, which stinks!
Back to John 1:
16. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
In these 14 verses, we discover that Jesus is the Word, the Light, the Truth and God. He is God Who was made flesh. He lived among us and even His own people did not receive Him. His half-brothers didn't believe in Him!
Can you imagine if Jesus were your very own brother, living in your house and the whole time, you thought He was just a regular guy? You argued with Him! You insulted Him and mocked Him. In effect, you just treated him like a brother. Then... to find out that the whole time, he was GOD!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
The Mystery of Light
Someone once said, "The more we know, the more we know we don't know."
Here's a quote from a book called, "Jesus Today" by Albert Nolan:
"Einstein discovered that light sometimes behaves like a particle and sometimes like a wave. The mechanistic scientists had already decided that light must be a wave and therefore they jumped to the conclusion that there must be some kind of substance in which light waves were moving. They called this hypothetical substance 'ether'.
"Today the scientists tell us that there is no such thing as ether and that light is neither a wave nor a particle. The truth is that our human minds are limited. We cannot understand light; we can only treat it as if it were a wave, and for other purposes as if it were a particle. In fact, it is neither; it is something beyond the human mind and imagination. For us, light is a mystery.
"Light is a form of energy and energy is of course equally mysterious--- although not nearly as mysterious as the atom. When Einstein and numerous other scientists 'opened up' the atom and analyzed its 'contents' into electrons, protons, neutrons, and numerous other 'particles' right down to infinitesimally small quarks, they soon realized that they were not in fact dealing with particles, nor waves, or any other recognizable objects. They were dealing with patterns and relationships. But how can you have patterns and relationships with nothing that is being patterned or related?
"The mystery only deepened when the great physicist Niels Bohr came across the quantum leap. Electrons, which we have to treat as particles moving around in an orbit, sometimes jump from one orbit to another without passing through the space between the two orbits. How is that possible?
"There are any number of other puzzles that defy explanation, not because we do not have enough evidence but because in the subatomic world, the empirical evidence is self-contradictory. There seems to be no logic or rationality down there. It is, to us, a very strange world.
"The latest theory, or way of describing what appears to be happening in the subatomic world, concerns the quantum vacuum. Ninety percent of any atom is empty space, a vacuum. there is nothing there, not even the hypothetical ether. But electrons and all the other 'particles' that seem to be spinning around in the atom emerge out of this nothingness and then disappear again, into it. In the words of the mathematical cosmologist, Brian Swimme, 'elementary particles crop up out of the vacuum itself--- that is the simple and awesome discovery... the base of the universe seethes with creativity.' Further on, he becomes almost mystical about it: 'I use 'all-nourishing abyss' as a way of pointing to this mystery at the base of being.'
"The universe is not what it used to be. It is not a machine. It is a mystery."
The observations quoted above helped me to get a bit better grasp on Genesis, chapter 1, verse 3:
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
The reason that verse has always puzzled me is because it wasn't until verse 15 that God created (what we would deem as) the 'sources' of light. How could there have been light before there was a light source? Yet, according to Genesis, light was the first thing on the earth that God created.
Well, He is God. He doesn't have to follow any rules. It seems that whenever we try to put God in a box, He just breaks out of it, ...or jumps out of it, without breaking the box.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8,9
Here's a quote from a book called, "Jesus Today" by Albert Nolan:
"Einstein discovered that light sometimes behaves like a particle and sometimes like a wave. The mechanistic scientists had already decided that light must be a wave and therefore they jumped to the conclusion that there must be some kind of substance in which light waves were moving. They called this hypothetical substance 'ether'.
"Today the scientists tell us that there is no such thing as ether and that light is neither a wave nor a particle. The truth is that our human minds are limited. We cannot understand light; we can only treat it as if it were a wave, and for other purposes as if it were a particle. In fact, it is neither; it is something beyond the human mind and imagination. For us, light is a mystery.
"Light is a form of energy and energy is of course equally mysterious--- although not nearly as mysterious as the atom. When Einstein and numerous other scientists 'opened up' the atom and analyzed its 'contents' into electrons, protons, neutrons, and numerous other 'particles' right down to infinitesimally small quarks, they soon realized that they were not in fact dealing with particles, nor waves, or any other recognizable objects. They were dealing with patterns and relationships. But how can you have patterns and relationships with nothing that is being patterned or related?
"The mystery only deepened when the great physicist Niels Bohr came across the quantum leap. Electrons, which we have to treat as particles moving around in an orbit, sometimes jump from one orbit to another without passing through the space between the two orbits. How is that possible?
"There are any number of other puzzles that defy explanation, not because we do not have enough evidence but because in the subatomic world, the empirical evidence is self-contradictory. There seems to be no logic or rationality down there. It is, to us, a very strange world.
"The latest theory, or way of describing what appears to be happening in the subatomic world, concerns the quantum vacuum. Ninety percent of any atom is empty space, a vacuum. there is nothing there, not even the hypothetical ether. But electrons and all the other 'particles' that seem to be spinning around in the atom emerge out of this nothingness and then disappear again, into it. In the words of the mathematical cosmologist, Brian Swimme, 'elementary particles crop up out of the vacuum itself--- that is the simple and awesome discovery... the base of the universe seethes with creativity.' Further on, he becomes almost mystical about it: 'I use 'all-nourishing abyss' as a way of pointing to this mystery at the base of being.'
"The universe is not what it used to be. It is not a machine. It is a mystery."
The observations quoted above helped me to get a bit better grasp on Genesis, chapter 1, verse 3:
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
The reason that verse has always puzzled me is because it wasn't until verse 15 that God created (what we would deem as) the 'sources' of light. How could there have been light before there was a light source? Yet, according to Genesis, light was the first thing on the earth that God created.
Well, He is God. He doesn't have to follow any rules. It seems that whenever we try to put God in a box, He just breaks out of it, ...or jumps out of it, without breaking the box.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8,9
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
A Freaky Ghost Story
The story of Jesus' torture, crucifixion and death would make a terrifying ghost story such as the ones boy scouts tell at night in a rain-soaked tent out in the woods. As the creepy rays of the flash-light flicker on the tent poles and across the canvas, a haunting whisper sends a little chill up the spines of the young campers.
"There once was a man who was arrested one night by an army of soldiers. It seemed like they were afraid of the man because they brought lots of swords and staves to take him. When the man asked them who they were looking for, they suddenly were knocked off their feet and fell over backwards! Then, one of the man's friends cut off the ear of one of the soldiers.
"Instead of defending himself or trying to escape, the man picked up the soldier's ear, put it back on the soldier's head and healed it!
"In those days, there was a terrible torture called crucifixion where the prisoner was nailed right through his hands and feet onto two beams of wood crossed together. That's what they wanted to do to him. But, the guy in charge tried to stop this from happening, so he ordered his men to beat the man with "the cat" (a cat-o-nine tails, which is nine strips of leather laced with barbs). He figured if the man got beaten with that, the people would see all the blood and let him go. But he was wrong.
"So, even though the man's body was torn apart from the beating, he had to carry his crucifixion cross all the way through town and up to a hill where the soldiers crucified him. The nails they hammered into his hands were about an inch wide and 8 inches long. There were a lot of people standing around watching and they were moaning because they knew the pain was excruciating.
"At the time of his death, the sky went totally pitch black! It was the middle of the day, but it seemed like night time. A big earthquake shook the whole city and the rocks broke up. Then hundreds of graves opened and a lot of dead people started climbing out of their coffins! They started walking around, talking to people and telling them that the guy they had killed was not guilty. They said he was the Messiah they'd been praying for!
"When they got his body down off the cross, they put it in a cave and some religious leaders had a huge rock rolled in front of it so that he couldn't get out. They even put two guards on either side of the rock just to make sure.
"Yet, three days later, the stone was rolled away and the cave was empty! The man's friends went to look for him in the cave so they could put some ointment on his body, but his body had mysteriously disappeared!
"Then, one of the ladies saw him standing right in front of her! He told her not to touch him because he was on his way to see his father, God. Then, he suddenly vanished again! She went back to tell the others about it, but nobody would believe her until, all of a sudden, the man walked right through the wall into their house! It was pretty spooky, but in a good way.
"For forty days, the man stayed around, teaching people about his father. He even cooked and ate fish and things, so I guess he had some sort of a body that could digest food.
"After forty days or so, his body started to levitate, right when he was talking to a group of people! He started floating straight up! He went so high that he disappeared inside of a cloud! Then two angels which stood by said,
"Why are you standing here gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
"There once was a man who was arrested one night by an army of soldiers. It seemed like they were afraid of the man because they brought lots of swords and staves to take him. When the man asked them who they were looking for, they suddenly were knocked off their feet and fell over backwards! Then, one of the man's friends cut off the ear of one of the soldiers.
"Instead of defending himself or trying to escape, the man picked up the soldier's ear, put it back on the soldier's head and healed it!
"In those days, there was a terrible torture called crucifixion where the prisoner was nailed right through his hands and feet onto two beams of wood crossed together. That's what they wanted to do to him. But, the guy in charge tried to stop this from happening, so he ordered his men to beat the man with "the cat" (a cat-o-nine tails, which is nine strips of leather laced with barbs). He figured if the man got beaten with that, the people would see all the blood and let him go. But he was wrong.
"So, even though the man's body was torn apart from the beating, he had to carry his crucifixion cross all the way through town and up to a hill where the soldiers crucified him. The nails they hammered into his hands were about an inch wide and 8 inches long. There were a lot of people standing around watching and they were moaning because they knew the pain was excruciating.
"At the time of his death, the sky went totally pitch black! It was the middle of the day, but it seemed like night time. A big earthquake shook the whole city and the rocks broke up. Then hundreds of graves opened and a lot of dead people started climbing out of their coffins! They started walking around, talking to people and telling them that the guy they had killed was not guilty. They said he was the Messiah they'd been praying for!
"When they got his body down off the cross, they put it in a cave and some religious leaders had a huge rock rolled in front of it so that he couldn't get out. They even put two guards on either side of the rock just to make sure.
"Yet, three days later, the stone was rolled away and the cave was empty! The man's friends went to look for him in the cave so they could put some ointment on his body, but his body had mysteriously disappeared!
"Then, one of the ladies saw him standing right in front of her! He told her not to touch him because he was on his way to see his father, God. Then, he suddenly vanished again! She went back to tell the others about it, but nobody would believe her until, all of a sudden, the man walked right through the wall into their house! It was pretty spooky, but in a good way.
"For forty days, the man stayed around, teaching people about his father. He even cooked and ate fish and things, so I guess he had some sort of a body that could digest food.
"After forty days or so, his body started to levitate, right when he was talking to a group of people! He started floating straight up! He went so high that he disappeared inside of a cloud! Then two angels which stood by said,
"Why are you standing here gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
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