John 2:1-12
English Standard Version (ESV)
There's only about 1,500 things to say about this passage, but I'd like to focus on two. The first being that Jesus uses the jars that are for purification. Now, last night I crawled up on the roof and was cleaning out my gutters in the rain. There was some really interesting stuff that had collected in the gutters -- it's dirt that has filtered down from the roof and sat in water for who knows how long. Nasty stuff -- I washed my hands for a long time after doing that, and the water running off my hands was filthy. Whoever was using these purification jars likely wasn't cleaning gutters, but I doubt that they had the cleanest hands. These jars wouldn't have been clean on the inside, but Jesus opted to use them to provide the finest wine. Jesus redeems them and re-purposes them without changing them. Simply by choosing them, they're made clean for a higher purpose.
Also, Jesus produces a lot of wine -- 180 gallons. That could keep a party going for weeks! When Jesus blesses the party, he does so in abundance, giving them infinitely more than they could ask or imagine.
It's not always easy to trust in Jesus. At times, it feels like supplies are running low and you're uncertain as to where what you need will come from. Things feel scarce. I don't have easy answers, but I trust that ultimately, Jesus redeems us, repurposes us, and provides us with abundance beyond what we can believe.
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Monday, June 17, 2019
John 1:43-51
John 1:43-51
English Standard Version (ESV)
On the internet these days, it's pretty easy to make up your mind and never confront anything (or anyone) who doesn't already agree with your worldview. Once you've picked your people, you can filter your world to only see articles and viewpoints from that perspective. It takes work to find thoughtful pieces that challenge your worldview with intellectual depth.
If Nathanael had Googled "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?", he likely would have found a number of articles talking about bad things that come out of Nazareth. He may never have gone.
Philip issues him an invitation. Philip doesn't try to change his mind or hand him a pamphlet about why he's wrong. Philip trusts that if he can convince Nathanael to enter the presence of Jesus, it'll change his life.
Friends, I believe our evangelism should follow this model. We need to come with a spirit of humility and a willingness to invite others to enter the presence of Jesus. It requires a certain degree of boldness and enough intelligence to convince people to try Jesus, but Jesus is the one who transforms Nathanael, and he'll be the one who transforms the hearts and minds of those for whom you are praying, of those whom you invite.
When Nathanael realized how intimately Jesus already knew him, he worshiped him as King. Nathanael had seen enough, and yet Jesus promised more, because in Jesus there is always more!
English Standard Version (ESV)
On the internet these days, it's pretty easy to make up your mind and never confront anything (or anyone) who doesn't already agree with your worldview. Once you've picked your people, you can filter your world to only see articles and viewpoints from that perspective. It takes work to find thoughtful pieces that challenge your worldview with intellectual depth.
If Nathanael had Googled "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?", he likely would have found a number of articles talking about bad things that come out of Nazareth. He may never have gone.
Philip issues him an invitation. Philip doesn't try to change his mind or hand him a pamphlet about why he's wrong. Philip trusts that if he can convince Nathanael to enter the presence of Jesus, it'll change his life.
Friends, I believe our evangelism should follow this model. We need to come with a spirit of humility and a willingness to invite others to enter the presence of Jesus. It requires a certain degree of boldness and enough intelligence to convince people to try Jesus, but Jesus is the one who transforms Nathanael, and he'll be the one who transforms the hearts and minds of those for whom you are praying, of those whom you invite.
When Nathanael realized how intimately Jesus already knew him, he worshiped him as King. Nathanael had seen enough, and yet Jesus promised more, because in Jesus there is always more!
Thursday, June 13, 2019
John 1:35-42
John 1:35-42
English Standard Version (ESV)
I have a supervisor at work who rarely answers my questions directly. Instead of just answering the question, he takes the time to explain to me the background, and then helps me figure it out for myself. At first, it was frustrating, because I wanted a simple answer. Three years later, I'm grateful, because I've learned a lot more than I would have on my own, and I know how to figure things out for myself now.
Jesus doesn't always give direct answers, either. There are certain questions to which Jesus was very direct, but often, he invited the questioner into a deeper relationship. The two disciples were asking Jesus where he was staying, and rather than a direct answer, Jesus invited him to come and see, to discover more about Jesus, and as a result, he discovered that Jesus is the Messiah. As a result of the invitation, his life was changed.
Jesus has invited us as well. This doesn't mean we'll immediately have easy answers to life's toughest questions, but it means that we'll learn about the purpose of life and the eternal relationship that shapes everything. We'll learn about unconditional love and grace, and we'll discover a peace that passes all understanding.
The answers aren't always what we expect, but the invitation will surpass expectations. Come and see, Jesus says, and those who choose to accept the invitation have a vision that forever alters life.
English Standard Version (ESV)
I have a supervisor at work who rarely answers my questions directly. Instead of just answering the question, he takes the time to explain to me the background, and then helps me figure it out for myself. At first, it was frustrating, because I wanted a simple answer. Three years later, I'm grateful, because I've learned a lot more than I would have on my own, and I know how to figure things out for myself now.
Jesus doesn't always give direct answers, either. There are certain questions to which Jesus was very direct, but often, he invited the questioner into a deeper relationship. The two disciples were asking Jesus where he was staying, and rather than a direct answer, Jesus invited him to come and see, to discover more about Jesus, and as a result, he discovered that Jesus is the Messiah. As a result of the invitation, his life was changed.
Jesus has invited us as well. This doesn't mean we'll immediately have easy answers to life's toughest questions, but it means that we'll learn about the purpose of life and the eternal relationship that shapes everything. We'll learn about unconditional love and grace, and we'll discover a peace that passes all understanding.
The answers aren't always what we expect, but the invitation will surpass expectations. Come and see, Jesus says, and those who choose to accept the invitation have a vision that forever alters life.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
John 1:29-34
John 1:29-34
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's important to note what happens in verse 33. Remember -- all of John's life had been spent preparing to announce the coming of Jesus' ministry. John and Jesus are cousins, and John has been preaching in the wilderness, declaring to all that the Messiah was coming.
And yet, when Jesus shows up and is baptized, we're told that John didn't know Jesus. God was at work, and John didn't see it. It wasn't until God opened John's eyes that John realized what God was doing.
So friends, God is at work around you, but maybe you don't see it. Like John, we're trying to follow God, and Jesus is in our midst, but we don't notice it. We can't tell when Jesus is beside us, calling us. If John the Baptist didn't notice, maybe you can give yourself a break for not noticing either. God is at work, but we notice only when God reveals this to us. So be patient with yourself and trust in God -- God will lead you forward in God's time, not yours.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's important to note what happens in verse 33. Remember -- all of John's life had been spent preparing to announce the coming of Jesus' ministry. John and Jesus are cousins, and John has been preaching in the wilderness, declaring to all that the Messiah was coming.
And yet, when Jesus shows up and is baptized, we're told that John didn't know Jesus. God was at work, and John didn't see it. It wasn't until God opened John's eyes that John realized what God was doing.
So friends, God is at work around you, but maybe you don't see it. Like John, we're trying to follow God, and Jesus is in our midst, but we don't notice it. We can't tell when Jesus is beside us, calling us. If John the Baptist didn't notice, maybe you can give yourself a break for not noticing either. God is at work, but we notice only when God reveals this to us. So be patient with yourself and trust in God -- God will lead you forward in God's time, not yours.
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