October 11 / John 11:28-44

John 11:28-44

Dear RTB’ers,

Lazarus, part 2. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” (v. 39a) It’s a simple request by Jesus, yet He is met with opposition from the person who just a few verses earlier had proclaimed Him the Messiah: Martha … said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” (v. 39b) And from Jesus, a simple response, Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? (v. 40)

It’s not me inside the tomb, but I wonder if there are things in my life that I’ve put under a seal and not let anyone see them – not even God! Like I can hide things from God? So if I’ve got something buried and He tells me to open up, would I resist with my excuses? Take away the stone. It’s a simple request…

Blessings.

See also:

October 10 / John 11:1-27

John 11:1-27

Dear RTB’ers,

Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead – His greatest miracle. We all know the story, so I’ll post just a couple of side comments. First, Thomas: So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (v. 16) Thomas is often known as “Doubting Thomas” because of his refusal to believe in Jesus’ Resurrection until he saw Him himself: “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25b) Thomas seems to be anything but doubtful in today’s reading!!

Second, Martha: “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, Who is coming into the world.” (v. 27b) This is the same Martha who complained to the Lord about her sister not helping with the housework: “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” (Luke 10:40b) Yet in today’s reading Martha’s profession of faith is as strong a statement as that of any other person that we read in the gospels. You are the Christ!!

Two people, each speaking words that are not consistent with how we typically view them. Makes me wonder about my own preconceived notions that I have of other people…

Blessings.

See also:

October 9 / John 10:22-42

John 10:22-42

Dear RTB’ers,

The following verses have always been confusing to me: Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came, … do you say of Him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (vv. 34-36) The STS note helps clarify, “Even the judges of Israel, acting as God’s representatives, were called ‘gods’”. Jesus is saying that the Old Testament prophets and rulers were called ‘gods’, and the works that He is doing are much greater than what they did. If they are called ‘gods’, then why not Him? Does that help clarify? Or is my understanding more confusing or even misguided?

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (vv. 27-28) Jesus speaks three assurances to His followers – eternal life, never perish, security in His hand. Although (seemingly) in descending order, these assurances should be encouraging to each of us, the level to which Jesus watches over us and protects us. I heard a preacher once expounding on these verses. He was particularly strong on the last assurance, that no one will snatch them out of My hand. His comment: “We ARE His Hand!” Yes, encouraging!!

Blessings.

See also:

October 8 / John 10:1-21

John 10:1-21

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, the Good Shepherd… And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (v. 16) So, who are the “other sheep”? To whom was Jesus referring? …to people in the crowd who said that He had a demon? (John 10:20) …to the scribes and Pharisees who were constantly challenging Him? …to Samaritans or Gentiles? Who did He have in mind?

Beyond that, what is He saying to us today? Who are the “other sheep” in today’s world? Would Jesus be referring to people in other worldwide religions – Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists…? …or within Christianity, members of other sects, other denominations? …or very locally, our family, friends, neighbors? A suggestion was made to me at Sunday’s RTB gathering that I often think too deeply about Jesus’ words, trying to understand Him in detail, when I should just get the gist of what He is saying and move on. So, to rewrite Alfred, Lord Tennyson, “The Charge of the Light Brigade” (1854), “Mine is not to reason why, mine is but to do or die.” Just do it!

Blessings.

See also:

October 7 / John 9

John 9

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, Jesus’s healing of a man born blind. Carol told me a few years back that she had learned in one of her studies that healing a person born blind was one of the signs that the Jews expected of the Messiah. So we read this today and my thoughts run again to how the Pharisees could fail to believe in Jesus. They charged Him with breaking the Sabbath when something far greater had occurred! They even brought in the man’s parents – were they trying to discredit the miracle? Putting myself into this story, I find that I would surely have sought to follow Him more fully! Aside from bringing Lazarus from the dead (and two other raisings) I find this to be Jesus’ greatest miracle.

My Study Bible summarized the man’s progress toward Jesus quite nicely. He viewed Him first as “…a man (John 9:11), to a prophet (John 9:17), to one who might be followed by disciples (John 9:27,) to one from God (John 9:33), to one who was properly to be worshiped (John 9:38).” A very nice progression…

Although I have never been blind, I do tend to “claim” this one verse: One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. (v. 25b) Yes, I was blind to my own sinful self, dutifully following Jesus’ “second commandment” and ignoring the first: …to love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength (Mark 12:30). Yes, I was spiritually blind, but now I see.

Blessings.

See also:

October 6 / John 8:30-59

John 8:30-59

Dear RTB’ers,

We had some good discussions at our RTB gathering yesterday, one of which focused on John’s gospel, where the point was made that his gospel is more about Jesus’ words than about His actions. Yes, we see dramatic miracles in John’s gospel (Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana; His healing of a man born blind (tomorrow’s reading); His bringing Lazarus back from the dead), but there are probably more of Jesus’ words compared to text or narrative in John’s gospel than in any of the Synoptics. Today’s reading is a perfect example of that, of Jesus in conversation with the Jews.

Beginning with verse 12, the entire chapter is one conversation, with Jesus’ words angering the Jews enough in the end that they are ready to stone Him. He has strong words for them, You are of your father, the devil… (v. 44) and a divine claim for Himself, …before Abraham was, I am. The dynamic of the conversation is interesting. At one point we see some Jews in the crowd believing His words (v. 30), but then He offends those same people as He continues the conversation. No doubt He is speaking words that are completely foreign to their hearing, but it also seems to be the case that their pride keeps them from truly listening to Him. How would I have felt if I were in that crowd? I think I would have felt more confusion than anger. I would have been especially confused of this “Father” of whom He speaks. I would have known of Joseph, his earthly father, but He seems to speak of God being His Father. He would leave me confused!

Thankfully, this side of the Cross (as I have said before) His words are more clear to me, but I remain sympathetic to His first-century listeners!

Blessings.

See also:

October 5 / John 7:53-8:29

John 7:53-8:29

Dear RTB’ers,

Another late post… Blame it on our RTB gathering, a wonderful time together talking and laughing – quite a bit of laughing, actually! If you are reading along with us, you owe it to yourself to join our next RTB gathering, on Sunday, November. We have some great discussions – a wonderful time of fellowship together!

Today, the woman caught in adultery… And we all wonder, it takes two, what about the man? As was said in our RTB discussion, we’ll never have all the answers! We just have to go with what is written. In this incident the scribes and the Pharisees thought that they had Jesus trapped. If He said to forget the charge and let her go, He would be going against the Law, but if He said to stone her, He would be going against the Roman authorities – the only body that could authorize capital punishment. As always, Jesus wins the day!

Jesus speaking: And He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him. (v. 29) It struck me that I could edit this verse a bit and claim a wonderful promise: “He who called me is with me. He has not left me alone, and I seek to do things that are in His will.” Jesus told us later in John’s gospel that He would not leave us alone (John 14:18), but that He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever… (John 14:16b). We have that Holy Spirit. Jesus was not alone; neither are we.

Blessings.

See also:

October 4 / John 7:25-52

John 7:25-52

Dear RTB’ers,

Interesting dynamics in today’s reading… The chief priests and the Pharisees send temple officers to arrest Jesus (John 7:32). These officers fail in their task, presumably on the basis of their belief in Jesus’ words (John 7:45-46). But the crowd around Jesus was also split – many believed in Him (John 7:31), but others wanted Him arrested (John 7:44). It’s a repeat of my post from yesterday – people split over Jesus.

Two other items stand out for me. First, …as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (v. 39b) This verse has always intrigued me. Many scholars and commentators hold that this verse saw “completion” at Pentecost, following Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension. It has made me wonder whether Jesus and the Holy Spirit could not co-exist on earth together? A good item for discussion tomorrow…!

Second, Nicodemus (John 7:50-52). We had earlier met Nicodemus in John 3:1-21, coming to visit Jesus at night. We’ll see him again in John 19:39, bringing spices for Jesus’ burial. Today he brings up a point of defense against the Pharisees judging Jesus, but is quickly chastised by them. He is a prominent figure in the TV series, The Chosen, especially earlier episodes, and is venerated as a saint in many Christian denominations.

Blessings.

See also:

October 3 / John 7:1-24

John 7:1-24

Dear RTB’ers,

John gives us a clearer picture of the crowd’s emotions toward Jesus than do the Synoptics: And there was much muttering about Him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, He is leading the people astray.” (v. 12) Two thousand years later the crowds are still split, not only politically, but also spiritually. I can imagine the difficulty that people in Methodist churches had when they voted for or against leaving the Methodist denomination (especially those across the highway from our church). To follow break-away leaders or to stay behind…? Some twenty years earlier, churches in our own denomination had split from the Episcopal Church following decisions that came out of the 2003 General Convention. Back in Jesus’ time, no doubt many faithful Jews were choosing to follow their Sanhedrin leaders, while other faithful Jews were intrigued by this new voice, Jesus. But saying that Jesus had a demon (John 7:20), I think that was too much!

Blessings.

See also:

October 2 / John 6:41-71

John 6:41-71

Dear RTB’ers,

Jesus is speaking to the Jews (and to His disciples) in the synagogue in Capernaum: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh. (v. 51) And His listeners (including His disciples) are confused: The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” When many of His disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (vv. 52, 60) When I put myself back into this first-century setting, I am in substantial agreement with the Jews and His disciples – Jesus’ words would be completely confusing to me! Eating someone’s body? What is He talking about?? His flesh?? Strange!!

Although His words are strange to this first-century crowd, Peter gets beyond his confusion and speaks words that have been quoted probably billions of times over the years: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (v. 68b) When I quote this verse, I tend to insert the word “alone”, as in You [alone] have words of eternal life. It doesn’t change the meaning at all, but it does make it stronger for me and anyone with whom I am speaking. Yes, Jesus, alone, speaks words of eternal life. Today, tomorrow, forever!!

Blessings.

See also: