Sunday, June 29, 2014

6-29-14 Worth a year’s wage!

                                        John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

          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." 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.

          7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

          9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

NARD = a rare and precious spice imported from Northern India. Nard was a shrub whose leaves and shoots were harvested and taken by caravan to the west.  Sometimes it was mixed with its own roots to increase its weight.  Mary’s gift has no such additives (the cheap version) it is ‘pure nard’.  Nard smelled like gladiolus and had a red color.  It could be used in medicine, in aromatic wines, as a breath scent or as a perfume for clothes and body.  A pound of spice would have been huge and lavish - worth 300 denarii - one year’s wage for a laborer.  Cheaper knock off versions were available. Most Jewish families could not afford to even have such extravagance.  Were they wealthy, was it a family heirloom?  We don’t know.  What we do know is that Mary uses all of it to anoint Jesus from head to toe. Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper (could be the siblings father or where Mary and or Martha lived.), a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar (you broke the seal on the top of an alabaster jar) and poured the perfume on his head. (John’s version does not say she didn’t put it on his head - simply that after pouring it on his feet, she wiped his feet with her hair.) Why else would John just emphasize Mary anointing his feet - we are in John 12 - what happens in John 13?  Jesus washes the disciples…? FEET!  Mary using her hair

was unusual.  The only person who saw a woman’s hair down was her husband.  She is acting with abandon trusting that the close friends gathered will understand her desire to worship the one who brought her brother back from the dead.  She is the first disciple to do what Jesus has not even asked - wash one another’s feet.  This may even be what gave Jesus the idea to wash their feet.

          John points out Judas as the one objecting although the other gospels refer to the disciples objections.  Notice the juxtaposition as he is grabbing information from the future beyond this moment to let us know that Judas in the one who will betray Jesus.  In the midst of Jesus being worshipped there is one there who will be in part responsible for Jesus arrest and crucifixion.  In the midst of worship there are people who would complain and find ways to make it less important than it is.

          Even Mary does not realize that the perfume she was saving for his burial is being used on him in preparation for his burial.  Aren’t there always things you wish you would have done before a loved one passed - GASTRIC BYPASS/my mom.  Jesus gets to experience what Mary intended for his burial while he is living - and so does she.  She now gets to know his pleasure.  Look at what Jesus says according to Mark about Mary’s act: Mark 14:9   I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

          Notice Jesus places in tension our personal worship and devotion to him and our social responsibility.  This is a more global view of what Jesus said at an earlier time to Martha - You want to make a meal - Mary wants to spend time with me - Mary has chosen the better thing.  Now - you want to feed the poor, Mary wants to worship me - Mary has chosen the better thing.  Does that mean we don’t prepare a meal and feed the poor?  No - it means the most important thing in life is our relationship to and actions toward Jesus.  Some think that by their social work they will obtain salvation - NO - we do social work because we have obtained salvation and it honors Jesus.

          This story is the turning point of the entire gospel of John.  Up till now we have had signs that Jesus is the messiah.  His light has been growing more brilliant in the eyes of the people so much so that the next scene is the triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the people hailing him as king.  We reach a fever pitch however as the power of darkness has been growing with equal thrust and the light and the dark are about to collide on a cross just outside the walls of the holy city.  The public miracles and teachings concluded with Lazarus being raised form the dead.  This current scene is the beginning of his passion preparation.  This is now the time when everyone will have to decide if they want to live in the light or continue in the darkness.  At this moment we need to decide.

          What is the nard for today? Someone may suggest new carpet and paint for a dark and tattered sanctuary and another will say - if we can afford that then we should feed the poor or send out another missionary - and the nard has been sold and the person’s way to honor Jesus is vanquished.  A new facility to honor Jesus?  In the mid to late 40’s people gave lavishly to see that this building would be erected to honor Jesus.  Where would our church be today if they had not made that decision and gave such lavish gifts to make it happen?  We would not exist; or be near death.  Where will we be 15 years from now if we - those of us here now don’t begin the process to consider a new facility that will outlive most of us? 

Speaking of facilities Psalm 63:2-4 says   I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I can’t imagine a better picture of worship - but what is that worship worth?

Psalm 63:2-4   I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love [loving kindness] - what does loving kindness mean? Mercy-forgiveness - those are abstract - Hebrews see the words in pictures] (OT checed (kheh'-sed) is a long neck stork’s chicks are told not to go into the thorn bush. When they do she doesn’t yell or remove them - she steps in and plucks out her own breast feathers to soften it - it cost the mother a lot to care for her children - what did it cost God to kheh’sed you? THE CROSS!  What does it cost you to worship him?  Is your worship; like Mary’s; worth a year’s wage?  Or is it more like an hour’s wage - minimum wage at that? - the hour you graciously give on Sunday morning?)  is better than life, my lips will glorify/praise = OT shabach  you. A SHOUT that mars the enemy - and is used in Ps 145:4 One generation will shabach your works to another…SHOUT with faith into the next generation    4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

6-22-14 Lazarus, Come Forth!


Scripture                                               John 11

(1) I am the resurrection and the Life!  He that believes in me, though he were dead yet shall he live!

(2) A certain man had died in the town of (3) Bethany and Lazarus was his name
The Bible says he
(3a) was a man that Jesus loved
And his sisters thought it was a shame
(4) Mary and Martha longed for Jesus' healing touch to come and raise their brother 'Cause they loved that boy so much
But Jesus had a plan not known to any man, that would soon take away their pain.
They waited for Jesus to come and say

(5) Lazarus, Lazarus, (5a) Lazarus come forth

When he died he went to where the saints of God did stay, in the holding place
(6) They lived beyond the tomb
There he saw Elijah, Moses, Samuel, even Ruth And all the others jammed up in a room

He turned around and saw Ol' Gideon standin' by the door
He walked up and said, "Hey brother What's this group here for?"

Well Giddie said, "Well alright this is testimony night. Have a seat man 'cause the meeting is starting soon"
While Mary and Martha, just wanted to see

(7 & a) Lazarus, Lazarus, Lazarus come forth

(8) Moses shook his stick and Said, "Now this meeting come to order.  Can I get a witness for the Lord tonight?"
(9) Abraham kicked it off, Said, "I want y'all to know that I knew him"  He gave a child to my barren wife
(10) Issac waived hi and said, "Hey daddy, I knew him too"
(11) Jacob looked up says "Amen Grandpa, preach it"

(12) Old dignified Solomon Adjusted his robe and said, "I knew him, He made me so smart, I started to teach it"

(13) Ezekiel said, "I knew him As a wheel within a wheel"
(14) Job said, "Man, he healed me When I was almost dead"
(15) Sampson said, "I knew When some Philistines tried to jump me" "I took a donkey jawbone and busted a few heads"
(16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, We knew him in the fiery furnace
(17) Jonah said, "Man, he gave me a second chance"

(18) Daniel cried out I knew him in a hungry den of lions
(19) The Holy Ghost hit King David, He just started to dance.

Lazarus got so excited He shouted Hey I knew him too
Moses put down his stick Said,
(20)  "Hey, who’s the new kid?”
Needless to say the room got real quiet.
(21)

Lazarus said but I knew him in a way you all never did. You see, I walked with him and talked with him

I saw how his teachings awed the crowds
Those famous tears of compassion I could actually see
He used to come over to my house after church And my sisters would make him dinner
And every month I even supported his ministry

You see, I watched him confront the Pharisees
I was there when he fed the five thousand
I heard the people gasp when he healed the lame
You see, I even remember the littlest things, The things that most folks would forget, Like the simple, loving way He just called my name

Up at the grave the stone was rolled away –  With a loud voice Jesus started to say,

(22 & a) Lazarus
You see it just seems like yesterday I could hear that man saying my name

Lazarus
As a matter of a fact it seemed like today

Lazarus
Excuse me brothers I think I hear him calling me now

Lazarus
(23) Jesus

Lazarus, Jesus
Lazarus, Jesus
Lazarus, Jesus
Lazarus, hey Jesus
Lazarus, come forth

Come forth, I command you, come forth
"Lazarus, Lazarus, Lazarus come forth"
Like he was saying sickness be healed
Mountains be moved

(24) "Lazarus come forth. Mary don’t weep, Martha don’t moan; here comes your brother up from the tomb" (25) He that believes in me, though he were dead yet shall he live!

 

1. When did this miracle occur? Winter after Hunnakuh, (John 10:22) and before Passover (John 11:55).
2. Where did the miracle occur? Bethany, east of Jerusalem (11:1).
3. Why does Jesus wait? “When Jesus had heard . . . He stayed two days in the same place” (11:6).
    Our agendas are not God’s.   Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.”
    To show us our unbelief. Martha believed Jesus could stop Lazarus from dying, but not raise him from the dead.
   To testify to outsiders. “Then many of the Jews . . . believed on Him” (11:45).
   To give time for circumstances to develop.  Lazarus was sick; Jesus let the pathology run its course.
   To glorify God. “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God” (11:4).
4. How did Jesus relate to His disciples? A teaching opportunity. “I was glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe” (11:15).
   Jesus waits for a purpose. “Jesus stayed two more days  (11:6).
• Jesus is unafraid. “The Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” (11:8).
   Jesus answers in a parable to get them to think. “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world” (11:9).  a. Sunlight.  b. Spiritual light.
   Jesus answers by theology. “Lazarus sleeps” (11:11, KJV).
Disciples thought sleep was therapy.
      Jesus answers plainly. “Lazarus is dead” (11:14).
   Jesus still has a relationship to Lazarus, even in death.
   Thomas’ doubt is revealed. “Let us also go that we may die with him” (11:16).
-Wescott noted: “Thomas will die for the love which he has, but it will not affect the faith which he has not
5. How does Jesus answer Martha’s disappointment? “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (11:21).
a. Blames Jesus.  (has anyone ever blamed God that someone died? – YES! Even atheist)
   Martha thought Jesus was inferior to God. “Whatever you ask of God, God will give you” (11:22). The word for ask is an inferior asking a superior.
   Martha believed in the principle of resurrection, but not the person. “I know He will rise again in the resurrection” (11:24).

    Jesus’ answer. “I am the resurrection and the life!” (11:25).
6. How does Jesus answer Mary’s discouragement?
   Martha grieved inwardly, but Mary wept outwardly. “The Jews . . . followed her, saying she is going to the tomb to weep there” (11:31).
   Mary is always seen at the feet of Jesus. “Mary fell down at His feet
” (11:32). Our unbelief hurts Jesus. When Jesus saw . . . He groaned in His spirit and was troubled (11:33).
   Jesus weeps with us. “Jesus wept” (11:35).
Why did Jesus weep?
   The ignorance of His disciples.  OR
   He weeps with Martha and Mary.  OR
   The callousness of the Jews (11:46).  OR
   His compassion for Lazarus.
7. What is Jesus’ attitude towards death?
   Remove the hindrance or barriers. “Take away the stone” (11:39).
The Division of Labor:  Man’s job: Remove the stone and take off grave clothes.

                                       God’s job:  Raise the dead and give life.
• Why did Martha not want to open the grave? “Martha said. . . he stinks: for he has been dead four days” (11:39).
a. Repulsive odor.
b. Emotionally upsetting.
c. Sanctity of the body.
d. Not want to have another burial.
• World says seeing is believing, but God says the opposite; believing is seeing. “If you would believe, you would see the glory of God” (11:40).
• Prayer of thanksgiving. “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me” (11:41).
• Why did Jesus yell with a loud voice? “He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth’” (11:43). For the crowd.
• What is the parallel between Lazarus and our new life in Christ?
a. After new life, the grave clothes must be removed. (SIN)
b. We need help from others. (The Church)

 

Because Jesus raised a man to life – the Pharisees wanted to put Jesus to death.  After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead this is what happened according to John 11:45 and following:

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.  "What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.


CONCLUSION

Rom 8:37-39

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


 

 

 

John 11     Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."  5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." 8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"  9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." 12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked.  "Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "Take away the stone," he said.  "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." 40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"  44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.  "What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the Feast at all?" 57 But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

6-15-14 Rex opened the gate and let the dogs out!


John 10:42 “And in that place many believed in Jesus.”

Scripture                                               John 10:1-42

"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.  The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.  The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."   Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

          7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  (the hired hand vs the owner of a business - great thing about the church - you care about your church) "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

          19 At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"  But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"  Can such a man let the dogs out?             mp3   “Who let the dogs out”

STORY of Rex letting the dogs out (compare at end to Jesus letting the dogs in to heaven)

          The importance of understanding the setting:

The gate  -  The watchmen - The pen  -  The sheep  -  The desert  -  The shepherd

          22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. HANUKKUH: Israel’s enemy destroyed their holy place of worship. The Syrian leader sacrificed a pig to Zeus on the

altar on which only sanctified animals were to be sacrificed to YHWH. This was ultra blasphemy. A small group of priests known as the Maccabees organized an army and set about liberating the temple from the Syrians. Having driven them out, they were now left with the task of restoring the temple which meant rebuilding it and most importantly sanctifying it holy to God. Of prime importance was the relighting of the lamp which was to burn “perpetually.”  Jesus is the light of the world - but also a shepherd - the listeners would immediately know his references to Ez 34. And the messiah as a good shepherd. Ezek 34:7-16

   "'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:  As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,  therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.

"'For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

John 10:23  It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."        31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone  me?"   "We are not stoning you for any of these,"  replied  the  Jews,  "but for

blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."  Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came — and the Scripture cannot be broken—what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."  Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

          40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed 41 and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.  

VIDEO:  Bluefishtv - the lost sheep

 

Rex let the dogs out - Jesus lets the sheep in!

·        Jesus is the good shepherd!

·        I am an under-shepherd!

·        You Fathers, are an Oikos shepherd!  You are not an Ez 34 shepherd, rather a Christ-like shepherd - you care for your flock as God cares for you.

Monday, June 9, 2014

6-8-14 Do you have blind faith?


Scripture                                               John 9

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Heb 11:1

Blind = the inability to see.

Faith = described by what it does or what we do with it:

Eph 2:8-9   We are saved by faith.

Rom. 1:17   We live by faith.

Rom. 4:13   We receive righteousness by faith.

Rom. 5:1     We are justified in Christ by faith

Rom. 5:2     We have access to God's grace by faith.

2 Cor. 1:24 We stand firm in our belief by faith.

Gal. 3:14     We receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.

1 Tim. 1:4   We do God's work by faith.

Gal. 5:5       We wait for the return of Christ by faith.

Two stories that describe the difference between blind faith and Hebrews 11 faith

A Story About Faith – The Blind Kind

Imagine you really wanted a new iPad. And what if you just wished as hard as you could that a brand new iPad would magically appear at your doorstep? Say one day, you came home fully expecting to use your new iPad. So much so that you even stopped off at Best Buy to pick up a cool case for it. That whole set-up would be kind of like the idea of a “blind faith”; leaping into the dark, right?  Blind faith is just like blowing out your birthday candles and making a wish. Or, chucking a coin into a wishing well. You’ve got nothing. That’s pretty much the pop culture take on faith.

Another Story About Faith – The Evidence Kind

But now…on the other hand, imagine you went online and bought yourself an iPad! Later, you got a confirmation e-mail saying “thank you for your purchase.” Eventually, you get an e-mail from UPS saying a package is scheduled to be delivered the very next day. The next day, you get an e-mail saying it’s on the truck to your house. You get the tracking number and track this thing at work until it’s scanned as delivered. Maybe your spouse is home and you get a text saying, “Your iPad is here.”  Now as you’re driving home, if you want to pick up a cool case or something, you’ve got a pretty good idea—a hope that isn’t based on some fairy tale—that you are going to be using your new iPad around dinner time.  And you know this, even though you do not actually see your new iPad.   That could be called blind faith but a faith back by evidence.

Which of these 2 stories fits better with Heb 11:1?     Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  #1 story NO  -  #2 story YES

This is the kind of concept we see when we read a story about faith in the Bible: Evidence, that leads to knowledge, that gives you an assurance of things you can’t see. So

 

“blind faith” is like chucking a coin into a fountain. But biblical faith is more like tracking a package.

 

          2000 years ago, some Jews were throwing a coin in the wishing well hoping the messiah would come.  Some were tracking a package but they were tracking it with the wrong delivery company: They were looking for a military leader who would set up his kingdom on earth that people would safely live in. Instead, God delivered the messiah who would conquer our sin condition so that God and His kingdom could live in us.

          That first kind of faith is one where people work hard to live in such a way that they somehow build God’s kingdom - that is a blind faith that will never work.  The second kind is where Jesus worked hard - through shedding his blood on a cross - so he could build his church/kingdom through us.

          One is based on effort and blindly trying to do what is right.  The other is based on the evidence of what Jesus of Nazareth/Heaven did and putting our full assurance and hope in his work.

 

For example, in Jesus' day, the Jewish religious leaders held strictly to the Old Testament laws against working on the Sabbath. Jesus, however, healed people on the Sabbath, just as he would any other day. The Jews were offended by this and reasoned that if Jesus really was the Messiah, he would not go against these religious laws, which they believed to be set up by God.  Also, they thought if Jesus was the Messiah, he should think and behave more like them. However, rather than Jesus condemning the thieves and prostitutes, Jesus hung out with them. Rather than publicly giving honor to the religious leaders and their laws, Jesus spoke harshly against their hypocrisy. Worse, Jesus blatantly told them that he came to give them eternal life, but unless they believed in him, they would die in their sins. He was the visible evidence of God’s presence that the law could never provide.

The prophet Micah predicted the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Isaiah foretold his miraculous birth that a virgin would conceive. The prophet Zechariah foretold his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey and his betrayal for 30 pieces of silver by one of his followers. Isaiah described that "The Lord's anointed will preach the good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted..." David foretold the Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced and the soldiers would cast lots for his clothing. Jesus fulfilled over 300 OT prophecies about the messiah - even the ones about setting up his kingdom - just not as the Jewish leaders interpreted it.  It is said that it would be impossible for any one person, trying from birth to even fulfill as many as 8 of those prophecies.  Ours is not a blind faith, ours is a faith based on evidence.

 

Jesus came to open our eyes - to remove our spiritual blindness.  The proof that he could do this is in the healing of those who were physically blind.  Jesus came to heal the, but not so they could see (there were a lot of blind people Jesus did not heal) he healed them so they and others could see God!  Jesus said to the lame man - “your sins are forgiven” “Only God can forgive sins!  Let me open your eyes and prove - give evidence - that I am God - to the lame man Jesus said - pick up your mat and walk” He wasn’t healed just so he could walk, he was healed so he and others could walk into the presence of God!

 

          John 9

As Jesus went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was.  Others said, "No, he only looks like him."  But he himself insisted, "I am the man." 10 "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded. 11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." 12 "Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said.

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see."  16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath."  (my church attendance - neighbor in need on the Sabbath - which is right? 1 Cor 13 - Livin the love) But others asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.  17 Finally they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened."  The man replied, "He is a prophet."

18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. 19 "Is this your son?" they asked. "Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?" 20 His parents

answered, "We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind.  But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God," they said. "We know this Jesus is a sinner."  25 He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"  26 Then they asked him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"  27 He answered, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"  28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, "You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, (how do they know that? - blind faith) but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from."  30 The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."  34 To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when Jesus found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"  36 "Who is he, sir?  Tell me so that I may believe in him."  37 Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."  (not seen with the eyes but with the heart) 38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.  39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."  40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind too?"  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."  (Not about physical sight - spiritual sight)

 

          John 9 is still taking place at the Feast of tabernacles whose two symbols are water and light.  John 8:12  Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."   Jesus is a healer, certainly of the blind: Luke 4:16-19   He went to Nazareth, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord  is on me,  because he has anointed me  to preach good news  to the

poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Matt 11:4-6  Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

 

Mk 10 Blind Bartimaeus in Jericho,  Matt 9 two blind men in Galilee, Mt 12 a blind man, Mk 8 Blind man of Bethsaida, Matt 21:14 blind man in Jerusalem.  The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.”

          God did not make this man blind to show his glory - he sent Jesus to show his glory.

The pool of Siloam was at the south end of the city - it was the source of the Feast of Tabernacle’s water.  The name Siloam means “sent” the man is sent by Jesus who was sent by God.  The mud and pool did not heal him - Jesus did!!!  By going to the pool, the man showed his faith, he became evidence that the authorities could not argue against and that many blind (spiritually blind) people could see and know that Jesus is truly God!

1 Cor 2:9-16  That is what is meant by the Scriptures which say that no mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord. But we know about these things because God has sent his Spirit to tell us, and his Spirit searches out and shows us all of God’s deepest secrets. No one can really know what anyone else is thinking or what he is really like except that person himself. And no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world’s spirit) to tell us about the wonderful free gifts of grace and blessing that God has given us. In telling you about these gifts we have even used the very words given to us by the Holy Spirit, not words that we as men might choose. So we use the Holy Spirit’s words to explain the Holy Spirit’s facts. But the man who isn’t a Christian can’t understand and can’t accept these thoughts from God, which the Holy Spirit teaches us. They sound foolish to him because only those who have the Holy Spirit within them can understand what the Holy Spirit means. Others just can’t take it in. But the spiritual man has insight into everything, and that bothers and baffles the man of the world, who can’t understand him at all. How could he? For certainly he has never been one to know the Lord’s thoughts, or to discuss them with him, or to move the hands of God by prayer. But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ.