John 13

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.


Today's chapter is a very familiar one.  I have random thoughts flowing.  Jesus is showing us how to be a servant leader something we can take with us in our jobs and others spheres of influence.  He's showing us we need to help each other live a life that honors God, help keep each other clean.  He's demonstrating how to create accountability.  Using a small group of peers to not a big public forum to identify a sin one of them is committing not to belittle them but to get the issue on the table so it can be addressed and others can be a support network to help the individual.

maybe not the right thoughts but those are my thoughts this morning.

knut

John 12

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^[b]” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

this caught my attention. the rest of the story is fairly familiar, and its corroborated in the other gospels...but this is the first time I've read this.
Judas was the keeper of the money for Jesus and the disciples.  I suppose that meant that he was the one that secured food and lodging for them.  He would probably be sent out on his own to take care of things like that.  In the end, it was his greed that betrayed Jesus.  It shows the power of money and the desire for wealth and what it can do to the human heart.  Here is a guy who is living everyday with Jesus...seeing all th wonderful things he does.  Hearing him first hand, his new perspective, how to sucessfully have a relationship with the father.....and all he can focus on is the money bag!
ouch!

John 11

35 Jesus wept.


Not sure why but this just caught me today. So I did some research and found there is s lot written on the shortest verse in the English translation (not all translations--one thing I learned) of the bible.  What I learned is there are a lot of different opinions on why Jesus wept and people can write a mountain of material on 2 words.

So then I said, well why do I need someone else to tell me what it means?  I can use the brain God gave me and try to discern myself and through asking  him.

So my take, he wept not because of death which he knew he would reverse.  But he wept because he loves us and seeing Mary and Martha in so much pain from the loss of their brother truly touched his heart and the fact that he was truly experiencing all that a human experiences brought him to tears.

just my .02

knut

John 10

33 The Jews said, “We’re not stoning you for anything good you did, but for what you said—this blasphemy of calling yourself God.”

So continuing the theme, it is interesting to me that the Jews do not want to believe in Jesus.  Isn't this who they are waiting for and if so why can they not see that it is him?

I think God is speaking to me and trying to teach me right now.  These questions are coming into my head the past couple days.  Then this morning I couldn't sleep, which often happens and I turn on the TV in the middle of the night and put on Friends or some movie I've seen a thousand times to help shut my mind down and fall back asleep.  The last 3 nights when this happened I decide I would try something different.  I would pray, read and finally I have also turned to YouTube and just play popular sermons.  I thought this was a better alternative to my usual TV habit.

This morning my random sermon was a guy talking about a sick woman he knew who wanted to learn more about who Jesus is, but this woman was a Jew.  She was curious about Jesus but she told this Pastor we don't believe in him so basically not to blab all your New Testament stuff.

So he said 'how about I tell you about Jesus but only use materials we both agree on from the Old Testament or the Koran?'  She was fine with that so apparently over several days maybe weeks he met with her in the hospital and read and talked to her about what the bible/koran said about the when and where the messiah would come to us.  Then he read scripture that said how the messiah's life would end.  Then he found where it said when the 2nd temple would be destroyed after the messiah had risen.

Then he asked her questions about the temple destruction timing.  Then he said so if all this is true, if not Jesus who is the messiah?  if not Jesus who?  She said I think I'm starting to believe.  She called her mom and told her I'm starting to believe in Jesus, her mom said we don't believe in Jesus.  She explained what she had learned from the Old Testament/Koran that matched Jesus and she asked her mom is there any reason we shouldn't believe Jesus is the Messiah.  Her mom said...No.

So without any use of the New Testament, God through this man was able to lead a Jewish family to Jesus.

This story really hit me not just because it was a great story but because it was hitting on the question in my head yesterday and then God sends me a 'random' sermon to hear right on the topic when I search on best sermons.  The one I clicked on to watch didn't even have a title to lead me to what it was about, it just looked like a young guy that would not be fire and brimstone but just good to listen too.

sorry I'm rambling, but God just amazed me again!
knut

John 9

22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 

I was reading in bed the other night and actually read a few chapters ahead.  Nothing really stuck out at me in this chapter as I've read and heard the reading of the blind man story many times.  

As I re-read it this morning the actions of the Pharisees trying everything they can to make sure they can say Jesus is not who he says he is, I was wondering why?  Wouldn't they be excited by the fact that they are living during the time the Messiah has come?  Had they become drunk with their own power and afraid to lose it?  What motivates them?

really just questions not insights today, what do you think?

knut

john 8

 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

This is pretty condemning to read.  I often say I don't know when God is talking to me and when its my own voice.  You pointed out the same thing yesterday.  This tells me that if I truly know God and belong to him I would have no problem hearing Him and following his direction.  But I am a sinner and therefore my line of communication has static caused by the devil.  The closer I get to God the shorter my line of communication the less opportunity for the devil to insert his static.

knut

John 7

39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

And now because we believe and Jesus has died and risen we do have the Spirit living in us.  I don't find that I think of the Spirit enough.  Lately though we at our church have been talking about how the Spirit is really on the move in Westview our church.  It is and it is such a different feeling than we have had at Westview in years.  There is an enthusiasm and desire and willingness to do God's work, very action oriented.  I love it!

I want to make sure I am listening to the nudges from the Spirit, I think I often have blinders on.  I think I am getting direction often that I miss, I pray that becomes a thing of the past and that I truly become Spirit lead.

Amen

John 6

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

I'm interested in why Jesus wanted all the extra pieces picked up.  I have a theory.  It isn't anything crazy.  But, I think there are 2 things here.  First; I think Jesus wanted the disciples to see that there was more left over than what they started with.  There probably was only a small percentage of the people that really knew and saw what was happening.   It was important that the 12 saw it.  The second; I think its important to not waste Jesus' miracles.  The food was from the divine, and therefore shouldn't wind up on the grass rotting.  There isn't a time when Jesus performed something miraculous and it wasn't fully utilized. 

There is a LOT in these chapters.  I could go on anad on about these stories.  Its fun.

John 5

Again loaded with good stuff.
But, I'm going to overlook the more obvious things to write about.

I love how Jesus operates and talks to the people, including the religious leaders.  I struggle everyday to keep my mind on God's mission.  Honestly, every 10 minutes I slip up.  I quickly revert back to selfish thoughts, and selfish desires.  But, when Jesus talks I always get the sense that he is operating on God's mission.  The people accusing him of wrong-doing sound so petty and small.  Jesus seems SSSOOOO grand. 
I can see Jesus slowly gliding through the people at the pool, hoping to be healed.  He quickly talks to the man, heals him, and then moves on.  He isn't waiting for accolades or anything.  That's not what he's about. 

I continue to be in awe of Jesus.

tp

John 4

23-24 “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”


Our small group is studying a book called worship based prayer.  Its talking about seeking the face of God in prayer--getting away from prayer lists but truly trying to recognize truths about God's greatness.  I have to admit I've been challenged to understand what the book means about seeking the face of God today's chapter is touching on it for me though I'm still not all the way there.  

Do I worship God with my very being my full spirit?  I don't think I do, I feel more calculated and thoughtful not truly just letting my inner feelings flow.  But I think I have had moments when I have done as this chapter suggests and those moments have been emotional and impactful.  The noise and thoughts of daily life are absent in those moments.  I think this kind of worship and connection is what God wants from me and I want it too.  not just on an occasional Sunday morning either.

knut

John 3

 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 

This is one of those very familiar parts of the bible and reveals the way we to salvation of being reborn.  The verse above just sparked my imagination.  What amazing things will we see in heaven that we have no concept of today?  Its interesting to think of Jesus separating what he knows and only speaking about things that are on earth that those he is speaking to know.  

The world and universe are so big, yet they are only what we know imagine what the a first moment in heaven will be like---that will be an exciting moment!

knut

John 2

4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.


Today struck me seeing not only how Jesus knew who he was and what was in store for him but also his perfect knowledge of who each person was....and is.

He knows exactly who I am and He died to save me from my own sins.  Pretty powerful thought that the God of all creation, that God written about in the words 2000 years ago, knows and loves little me sitting here on my couch in Grimes IA.  Whom shall I fear?

knut

John 1

 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.


I just love the start of John.  The knowledge that Jesus was the Word and He was there in the beginning  and that out of him we all came is such a powerful and also comforting thought for me. 

I've been under some extreme stress at work the last few weeks in my job that I started 5mo ago, and there is just something about reading these words that gives me piece.  It just helps make all my work concerns feel so small knowing how big He is and that He is with me.  I love you Jesus!

Have a blessed weekend!
Knut

ps--I just needed a break from the OT but we need to head back into it.  We only have Revelation and John left in the NT.

Jeremiah 50-51

51:64 Then say, ‘So will Babylon sink to rise no more because of the disaster I will bring on her. And her people will fall.’”

The words of Jeremiah end here.

Well I spent the last two days on these two chapters and all I can say is pheeeww.  So Babylon is going down, that I know.  From the research I did there are many who say that the prophecy is yet to be fulfilled.  There is so much in these chapters and in Jeremiah in general that I think requires more research than I am able to do or even fully understand.

So its difficult for me to draw any great insights other than unrepentant disobedience of God's direction has eternal consequences that none of us should want to experience.

knut

Jeremiah 49

Jeremiah 49:39 NIV
“Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come,” declares the Lord.

This chapter continues to share prophecy towards several countries of its time.  The pattern of disobedience leading to destructionis a clear lesson.

He also promises restoration, it seems like an illustration of His Grace.  It doesn't suggest any action required by those people of Elam or other countries that destruction is promised as well as being restored.

just an observation--I'm sure an educated theologian may cringe at my suggestion.  I also have read the Elam has not yet been restored and this it is in the region of Iran.  Its all interesting, but I think we have to be careful in trying to read into what this might mean or how the actions going on in today's world relate to God's word.  I don't think we can crack the code and know how the middle east will sort itself out.

knut

Jeremiah 47-48

48:46 Woe to you, Moab!

    The people of Chemosh are destroyed;
your sons are taken into exile
    and your daughters into captivity.

47 “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab
    in days to come,”
declares the Lord.

Here ends the judgment on Moab.

More prophesy of destruction in these two chapters.  Its hard to stay engaged as it feels very repetitive.  

I did a little research on Moab.  He was the son of Lot and Lot's oldest daughter.  Not that good can't come out of bad situations but i found it interesting how this kingdom with the lineage from this relationship rose up worshiping the god they called Chemosh and became labelled the people of Chemosh--ultimately the were completely broken down and destroyed by God.  He does promise restoration which does not appear too have happened today--so maybe this restoration is the ultimate restoration for those few in Moab that probably were followers of God?

I'm sure there is much more to be learned but it seems there is a lot of research and time to be invested to better understand context of the day.  the slog continues. :)

knut

Jeremiah 45-46

45:5 Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’”


I know this statement was directed to Baruch, but I think there is an element for us as well.  Time and effort focused on bringing great things to myself is a waste.

He goes on in 46:27 “Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant;
    do not be dismayed, Israel.
I will surely save you out of a distant place,
    your descendants from the land of their exile.

He saves his servants, not those serving themselves.

knut

Jeremiah 43-44

44 4 Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!’


I didn't take much new from today's chapters but I just was sensing the exasperation in His efforts to teach them a lesson.   I keep telling you what I want very clearly and you keep ignoring and disobeying my direct instructions...what else do you want me to do??  I think I've had this conversation with my kids...come on just do what I ask, do you want me to yell at you??!!!

Why is it so difficult for us to follow God's clear directions for us?  I'm not sure, but I'm sure it is difficult for ALL of us.

knut