John 9

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

So these Pharisees just think they know everything.  They really have no faith.  Since they know it all, Jesus tells them then you are accountable for your sins and he will not take them away.

The Pharisees are consistent, they study the bible but they seem to do it almost with an ulterior self focused motive.  The way they act Jesus seems to represent a threat to their way of life rather than the one that will give them eternal life.  I wonder how often I emulate their behavior in my own way?   

I pray for Jesus to keep my eyes open and focused on him and get direction from him.

knut

John 8

7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 

Jesus just stops them in their tracks with his simple words.  No great take but I like this reminder to just keep my mouth shut and even better if I can keep my mind from wasting anytime judging others.  I have my own issues to worry about, I can just taking the judging of others off my plate---he's got this.

Throughout this chapter Jesus must be getting frustrated, he is repeated sharing the message in very clear words that he is God's son, he is what they have all been waiting for per their own studies.  Yet rather than be over joyed at being so fortunate to be in his presence they are looking to pick him off.  No matter what he says he can't get through their thick skulls.  It can imagine the feeling of sadness to the point of getting angry with them.  Listen.  Listen.  Listen.  argggh.

side note:  33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Probably zero biblical importance but I just found the relationship of Abraham to slaves was interesting given our own history of slavery and an Abraham in the USA.

knut

John 7

8 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

No big take away I guess.  But I'm always struggling with why these people that have apparently spent their lives studying the Old Testament work so hard not to believe, to look for reasons to say Jesus is not the messiah in spite of all he had done to reveal himself.  These verses make me think its about losing power.  By knowing more than anyone else about the law they seek to have power over others--be rulers.  

Jesus represents an end to their power which they apparently love more than their own eternal lives.  Seems ridiculous of them.  But do I ever do anything like the Pharisees or rulers?  Well hopefully I don't go as far as trying to have power over others but I probably do prioritize things in my life as I see fit, exercising my power over my own will versus God's will for me.  Less striking than the Pharisees maybe, but ridiculous none the less.

not sure I hit the mark but just some thoughts that flowed.

knut

John 6

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”


We humans are so weak minded.  Here they just watched Jesus feed 5,000 men, which I believe suggests over 10,000 people, from virtually nothing.  Then Jesus says a few words to unveil who he is to them and they start losing their minds arguing about how can he say he is from heaven.  How quickly we forget.  I haven't seen him feed 5,000 but he has made his presence known in our family a few times and yet their are times I have doubts.  Hopefully I'm never grumbling about who Jesus is publicly but still even to grumble inside my head for a second feels weak minded on me.  

I'm thankful for His bread.

knut

Big Week at Knudsen's

Well I've been struggling to catch up since being in Australia.  Things have been pretty busy here and for once its not just work.  We had Luke's graduation party Saturday!  It was a lot of fun but it is so surreal.  I don't think it has set it that I'm about to have a high school graduate.  Today is his last day of school and Friday is the ceremony!

We are really proud of the young man he has become.  He's really matured in the past year and a half.  He's making very good choices.  He's his own person and I love that he has that confidence, so much more than I ever did or maybe even do now.  Its also fun to see him show his faith to others and how he influences his friends through his actions.  We feel very blessed.

I'm not looking forward to him not being in the house everyday, but I am looking forward to watching him spread his wings.

Thanks for this journey that we have been on together through our lives and the past several years in the bible.  These regular conversations and time in the Word are important to me and helping me learn through God's word to be a better dad to our kids.

knut

John 5

7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

This is probably completely off base here.  But, this verse caught my attention this morning.  It strikes me that we always are looking for someone else to help us get where we want to be.  Our society doesn't really foster the mindset of "self".  I don't think that was really the issue here.  but it brought the thought up in my mind.  We have been struggling with one of our kids not taking ownership of the things that happen around them.  I don't think its unusual.  

This verse tells me that our future is in our hands.  We can choose to make the decisions that will carry us in a positive direction.......or not.

tp

John 4

48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

We people are so weak, aren't we?  Jesus says it.  And then the father proves it.  The funny thing is, even though he DID perform signs and wonders right in front of his followers, they didn't always believe.  The challenge is to not "think" our way out of believing.  We need to have child like faith.

have a good weekend.

tp

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?

31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

These two verses are closely related.  Its a frustrating thought to me, to know that I'm from this earth, and therefore have a hard time shaking off its limitations of thought and mindset.  I don't want to be stuck in it.  I think what Jesus is saying in this concept is that without him, its hard for us to ever achieve it.  But, he is above all.  It doesn't say above all the earth.  Its says above all.  In my mind that means he is so far above everything, including the earth. 

tp

John 2

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

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

I can't remember if we talked about this last time through this chapter or not....but, I can just picture this playing out.  Jesus is talking to his buds, over in the corner.  Then Mary comes up and tells him about the wine situation.  He gets an indignant look on his face and says, "what do you want me to do about it."  Without acknowledging the attitude he just gave her.....Mary goes ahead and tells the servants to do whatever he asks.  It makes me laugh.  Its such a mother/son relationship playing out here.  I can almost hear his grown as she comes to him for help.  

tp

John 1

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Seems like a strange verse to pick...but, here's why I did.  
Our Easter service talked a lot about the relationship between the law of Moses, and the gift of Jesus.  It changed the way we interface with God.  When God delivered the law to his people, through Moses....it allowed us to be forgiven for sin by covering our sin with death.  The death came in the animals that were sacrificed.  When Christ died an innocent death, that gave us the allowance to be in God's presence and be covered by the "death" of Christ.  The last death that was needed.  We can now be in the presence of God.  

I know.....nothing new, right?
But, it's nice to correlate messages I hear on Sunday to what is written in the Word.....and to start to remember where they are referenced.

tp

Luke 24

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 

So, this week....I'm asking more questions than answers.  This verse makes me think.  The Messiah had to have this happen to then "enter his glory?"  Hmmm.....wasn't he always in glory?  Or was it his human side that he is referring to here?  Or is he talking about returning to glory once his task was complete?  Not sure.  
Astound me with your philosophical insights!

tp

Luke 23

 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[b]

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

What do you make of this?

It confuses me.

This is the Message's version.  

If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they’ll do with deadwood?”

I understand this one a little better.  He is saying how much worse it would be for a non-righteous person, than it is for him.  He is the living, "green" tree.  The sinful people are the deadwood.....right?

But, I still don't understand the barren women comment.

tp

Luke 22

3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.

I can't remember if I caught this before, or not.  But, this surprised me a little bit.  I'm trying to think of the big picture here.  The long standing struggle that is going on between God and satan......good and evil.  The struggle that man entered into somewhere along the way.  To think that satan had a direct hand in the his ultimate demise, really makes me think.  Did he not know the purpose for Jesus being on the earth?  Did he not see it?  I can understand the disciples being confused and a little in the dark, when it comes to Jesus and his mission...but satan should have known what was at stake.  I'm just sayin'.....