Treasuring Jesus - John 8:31-38

It caught my eye that when Jesus told the Jews that the truth will set them free, they immediately respond that they have NEVER been slaves.  

Sin is like that - it comes with the amazing power of self deception.  "We've never been slaves.  We are sons of Abraham!"  Really?  What about Egypt?  Did ya forget about that 'small' little incident that lasted a mere 400 years? (interesting study on the length of the Hebrew exile - http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2010/07/05/israelites-in-egypt)

Lord, please do not let me get entangled in the self-deceiving web of sin.

Treasuring Jesus - John 8:12-20

When the Phaisees made the statement about Jesus's father, it was intended to be a cruel and cutting comment, no doubt with the intention of getting a rise out of Jesus.  It didn't work.

What about me.  When someone makes an intentionally cutting comment, how do I react?  Can others get me so stirred up that I will sinfully respond.  I should be confident enough in my standing before the LORD, that no ones little jabs can push me out of standing under His grace!

Treasuring Jesus - John 8:1-11

The poor woman used by these horrid Pharisees to set a trap for Christ!  How awful it must have been to stand there before the men, and the people Jesus had been teaching, and above all, Christ himself. Some commentators question whether she was actually even guilty, what Jesus was writing on the ground, or even wether this is the proper location for this story, but that seems to miss out on a major point.

Sometimes moments of shame and utter embarrassment can be those moments when it is most easy for me to see Christ, or they can be those moments where I am so fixated on myself, my feelings, and my guilt that I miss Him completely!

If my sin and guilt can be seen as a frame, it helps me better understand what the Lord desires.  It is not for me to place myself in that frame - even in my sin and guilt it is not all about me.  The purpose of sin and guilt is to help me get the focus off myself and on to Him.  When, in my sin and shame, I see Him as the focus, it doesn't encourage me to sin more, but rather it allows me a chance to experience His love and forgiveness.  When I'm in the center of the frame, I miss the amazing grace and the treasure that is Jesus.

Treasuring Jesus - John 7:40-53

The Jewish leaders are getting more and more frustrated that this "Jesus" person seems to be affecting everyone, including one of their own, Nicodemus. 

The one thing I don't understand is why didn't Nicodemus do more than just say, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"  Why didn't Nicodemus actually stand up for him?

Sadly, that brings me to the real question, Why don't I actually stand up for Him?  Why is it so easy to get all upset about someone's actions in the Bible, when, in truth, I am guilty of the same thing? 

Some hard questions. . .

Treasuring Jesus - John 7:33-39

The people themselves were open to hearing what Christ said about Himself; their problem was in the understanding of their heads.  On the other hand, the Pharisees were not open to what Christ said about Himself, and their problem was in the understanding of their hearts.

Today, it still comes down to the same issue - is it a head problem or a heart problem.  Unfortunately, it is most often my heart.

Lord, thank you for the understanding you have given.  Please grant my heart the desire to follow what my head knows you have commanded.

Treasuring Jesus - John 7:14-31

When Jesus spoke he spoke with he power and authority of the Lord.  He didn't speak much, but what He did speak was true doctrine.

Lord, please give me the wisdom t speak little but what you approve.

Treasuring Jesus - John 7:1-13

It is clear in this passage that Jesus' brothers are mocking Him, and I like how one commentator pointed out another translation of His brothers' taunts to make it even more obvious: 

You can’t be famous when you hide like this! If you’re so great, prove it to the world! (The Living Bible)

The whole situation brought a few things to my mind:

1.  If someone pushes me to do what I don't believe The Lord wants me to do, how do I respond?  Am I willing to wait for God's direction?

2.  If someone pushes me to do thing that the Lord hasn't given me the "okay" on His timing, how do I respond?  Am I willing to wait for God's timing?

As Gill in his Exposition of the Entire Bible says:

Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord; the ways which God prescribes and directs men to walk in are different from theirs; his are holy, theirs unholy; his are plain, theirs crooked; his are ways of light, theirs ways of darkness; his are pleasant, theirs not so, at least in the issue; his lead to life, theirs to death; and therefore there is good reason why they should leave their evil ways, and walk in his.

Lord, help me to seek Your way and wait patiently for Your timing.

Treasuring Jesus - John 6:66-71

After a large group of disciples have left, I  love how Jesus looks at the Twelve and asks them to examine their heart.  Jesus doesn't make assumptions - neither positive or negative.  He asks if they want to go away as well. 

As much as I think that it's neat that Jesus does ask them to consider their commitment, it is Peter's answer that I desire to live my life after. . . 

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? . . . "

When that is the response of my heart, I cam say that I finally "got it"!  I have no other place to go and I desire no other place.  In Christ I have all I ever need.  He  truly has become my all in all!

Lord, help me move to that place where You are all I need.

Treasuring Jesus - John 6:59-65

It is a blessed thing to have commentators to help clarify confusing statements in God's word!  

In today's passage it looks like Jesus is chewing out some of His followers for not understanding what He said, when in actuality they were in trouble for not accepting what he said!  Understanding and acceptance are not the same thing in God's eyes.  When I don't understand what Jesus is saying, He will help to clarify.  When I don't accept what He says I am standing in disobedience.  Big difference! 

In this passage the "hard" part to accept (not understand) is that The Lord and spiritual things must always take first place over EVERYTHING else - including physical food!  When I understand what He is actually saying, I sort of see why they complained. . . and the sad thing is that Christ would have had to have the same response with me. . . 

Thank you, Lord for loving me even when I don't immediately like the "hard" stuff.  And, thank you for not just leaving me where I am.

Treasuring Jesus - John 6:41-51

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him."

Everything about my life - from salvation to daily living - is so NOT about me!  Even this verse states that in salvation I don't "come to Christ", but rather God the Father draws me to the Son.  

Thank you, Father, that you do the drawing and the keeping!

Treasuring Jesus - John 6:35-40

HIS Job

My "job" / responsibility in salvation is given here, and that is to come and believe. Praise the Lord that's the end of my part! After that HE takes over. His part is to:

1. Satisfy my spiritual hunger and thirst.

2. Do the Father's will.

3. Keep me safely until He presents me to the Father.

Seems like a pretty unbalanced list of responsibilities, and I am truly grateful it!


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Treasuring Jesus - John 6:25-34

Why am I seeking the Lord? Is it for what He can do for me, or is it for Him?

Either this group is truly clueless OR they actually think that they can deceive Jesus into giving them what they want. [So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?] Unfortunately, I at times do the same thing, quite convinced that I can get God to do things my way if I ask it right, or cajole Him enough.

Lord, help me to desire to be close to you for the right reasons.






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Treasuring Jesus - John 6:15-24

There may be times when it seems that Jesus is far from me when I truly feel I need Him close. It does not mean He has abandoned me! He is watching me (Mark 6:48), and He is never far away. He has intentionally sent me into a place (Mark 6:45) where I must work past my frustration and learn to trust in Him.


I had forgotten that this was not unfamiliar water for the disciples. Several of them WERE fishermen! And actually, it doesn't seem that the small storm was the issue as much as the fact that they had been rowing all night and were only half-way across. (Mark 6:48) It was in their frustration that Jesus came to help. It's interesting to realize that He could have NOT sent the storm, or that He could have just NOT sent them alone, but He did.. And because He did, they got to experience the amazing! They saw Christ walking on water! Peter himself got to walk on the water! Quite a trade off for an evening of frustration!


Thank you, Lord, that when I feel most frustrated and alone, I can trust in your divine love and care. I can know that you are closer than i can see even if the storm is raging, and that you are just getting me ready to see you do something amazing!!



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Treasuring Jesus - John 6:1-14

The Lord doesn't need my participation to complete His work, but He desires it.


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Treasuring Jesus - John 5:33-47

I show I believe in Christ by doing everything out of love. He acted out of love for the Lord, and therefore I should act out of love for Him.
If I don't, I'm no better than the Pharisees he spoke of in this passage.
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Treasuring Jesus - John 5:18-24

Observations:
Jesus states that He is equal with the Father, yet put Himself under His Father's authority. It is clear that the Jews just don't get it - even with all the signs God has given them through Christ.
Applications:
1. How do I do with the listening and believing to what I am told though the Word?
2. Do I fully give Christ His rightful place?
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