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'.....