Episode 179 - "You have countless guides in Christ, but not many fathers" - 1 Corinthians 4:8-21

1Cor. 4:8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

1Cor. 4:14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

It’s not too often I handle this much text of Scripture within one episode. However, it seems best to include verses 14-21 because they help us understand what Paul intends in verses 8-13.

Notice in verse 8, Paul begins two statements with “Already.” “Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!” What? Is that true? Does this sound consistent with anything that Paul has already said? Would there be a problem if they had become rich and had all they wanted? The problem that Paul has been addressing is the arrogance demonstrated by some who act as though they are more important than others. As we will see in the context, it appears some of these people have believed the kingdom of God has already come and are acting like kings over others.

Paul is using sarcasm here. Paul’s use and repetition of “already” reveals a feigned surprise that the kingdom of God had arrived, and somehow, he missed it. He follows these “already” statements with, “Without us you have become kings!” If I could paraphrase Paul’s message, I believe he is saying something like, “Wow! Imagine that! God forgot to include his apostles in the news of the kingdom of God. If only God would have allowed us apostles in on the privileges you amazing Corinthians have attained, we could be rulers too. Instead, God has chosen to consider his divinely called apostles as worthless and expendable people to be entertainment, like those who are sent to fight lions in the Roman Colleseum. Lucky you! But we are nothing but scum.” (My summary paraphrase of verses 8-13)

Do you see the ridiculousness of this? Paul’s point in saying these things is for the Corinthians to see the ridiculousness of their arrogance and to stop their delusional ideas.

If that’s the case, isn’t Paul being mean? The context helps enlighten us. Paul lays off the sarcasm to explain: “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.” (v. 14) Paul loves these people. He’s invested much time and energy into their lives, and he’s just trying to get their attention by showing them that their self-elevation over others has no merit or value.

He continues to explain they have had “countless guides in Christ but not many fathers.” (v. 15) Paul reminded them that he had become their father through the gospel. His point to them is that he’s not just a person who was a teacher. He has a deep concern for their spiritual well-being. He is reminding them of this in the hope that it evokes the desired result of them coming to their senses.

In verses 16-17, he encourages them to follow the ways he taught them, not only in words but by example. He’d sent Timothy to them to help them and remind them of Paul’s example.

Paul understands there are some who are defiantly arrogant and think Paul won’t do anything about it. But he assured them he would come to them to find out and, by implication, expose the arrogant talkers. Paul says, “For the kingdom of God does not exist in talk, but in power.” (v. 20) Paul intends to reveal these arrogant talkers have no divine power with their words. He asks them whether he should come to discipline or demonstrate gentleness. (v. 21)

I couldn’t help but be stopped by the words in verse 15: “You’ve had countless guides in Christ but not many fathers.” I can’t help but wonder if that’s a problem we have in our churches in the twenty-first century. We have books and lots of people who will tell us something about God, but there are not enough people willing to lovingly lead others by example in following Christ.

Prayer: Lord - Help us lead others in a walk of faith, not just by words, but by example in humility.

Episode 174 - "God gives the growth" - 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

1Cor. 3:1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

1Cor. 3:5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

Someone close to me had made a mess of his life through substance abuse. When we connected again sometime after I’d started seminary, he wanted to talk to me about my own spiritual journey. It became apparent that some of his “friends” who’d lived a similar lifestyle had a “religious experience,” and their lives radically changed. This person wanted that same kind of experience. He wanted a quick fix to his own life. While this does sometimes happen that people make rapid, drastic changes in their life, this is not normal. Paul uses the imagery of natural human growth for spiritual growth. You start out as a baby, and you grow over time.

Jesus’ disciples were with him for approximately three years and still struggled with their faith in Jesus. Even after the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost and we see their courage and faith shine at times, Peter, “the rock,” was sometimes more like quicksand that shifted easily. (See Galatians 2:11-13)

The believers in Corinth are no different. While Paul commended them for their faith in the opening verses of chapter 1, saying that they had every spiritual gift, it becomes quickly clear that Paul is not saying that they are the epitome of righteous living. They’ve got a lot of growing up to do in their faith. This is the reason he is writing this letter. He calls them out on their need to grow up and become more mature in their faith. He likens them to children who have not matured to the point where they can eat solid foods. This is quite direct. But it’s important they get this.

What is the fundamental issue that reveals their spiritual immaturity? His answer is “jealousy and strife.” (v. 3) This explains what is going on with the competition between them of who was identifying with Paul, Apollos, or someone else. They could not and would not put away these silly arguments to be unified in Christ and seek to build up others instead of alienating and insulting them. Paul has said they haven’t matured at all since he was with them, and he says now at the end of verse 3, “are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” From my understanding of the Greek text, Paul is rhetorically asking them, “Aren’t you just being worldly like the rest of humanity?” The expectation is that Christians should (ultimately) think, act, and speak differently than most people around us.

Paul then exposes the problem with the basis of their arguments. He asks, “What is Apollos? What is Paul?” The point is, do they really think these men are anything greater than other men? Paul answers his own question. He says, “We are servants who brought you a message from the Lord as the Lord has directed each one of us.” (My paraphrase v. 5) Paul continues by explaining the limitations of each one. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (v. 6)

There is a memory verse for you. That is a truth that every one of us can easily remember and, with great difficulty, can put into regular practice. It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking too highly of ourselves. Rather, we need to remember the Lord has an assignment for each of us, just like he did Paul and Apollos, and we cannot think of ourselves more highly than anyone else because we are human. It’s God who does the real work. We are just messengers and servants. But God chooses to use us in his wonderful plan.

Paul repeats in verse 7 that it’s “God who gives the growth.” Then, in verse 8 Paul says, “each will receive his wages according to his labor.” There is some promise of reward for our service in ministry.

Finally, in verse 9, Paul says, “We are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” Don’t miss what Paul is doing here. He’s bringing his indictment on their spiritual immaturity to the light of God’s purpose for them. He’s saying, “God is working on you. He wants to build you up. You’ve got to stop living like the world and let God do his work in your life.”

Prayer: Father in Heaven - We ask that you shine the light on the issues in our life that are inhibiting our growing up in the faith as you so purpose.

Episode 131 - Secret Disciples - John 19:38-42

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Here is a small section of John’s gospel which, on the surface, doesn’t appear to have much to offer us. However, as we’ve seen through this entire book, John doesn’t include details for no reason whatsoever. So, what do we have here?

First, Jesus is dead. Second, Two named men are spoken of who attend to Jesus’ body for burial. We already know that others have been there during the crucifixion. I find it difficult to believe that there were no other people around to assist these men. I would even imagine that his mother Mary was still present along with John since he was a witness to these details and had just been given the responsibility of caring for Jesus’ mother. But, these two men are named. Third, despite the late hour nearing the beginning of the Sabbath, great expense and care is taken to prepare his body for burial. 

Who are these men that John deems it important to highlight their actions at this moment? The first is a man named Joseph. As far as I know, he was never mentioned previously during Jesus’ ministry. John tells us he was from Arimathea. Little is known with certainty about this town. However, scholars seem to generally concur that it was most likely the hometown of the prophet Samuel, “Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim” (1 Sam. 1:1) Perhaps John’s purpose in mentioning this is because it qualified to his audience exactly who this was. Perhaps John’s motive is to suggest of measure of honor upon Joseph through that association. These are purely my guesses. But, all four gospels mention Joseph and give us more detail about him. Matthew tells us that Joseph was “rich” and that he was a “disciple of Jesus.” (Matt. 27:57) The mention that he was “rich” is supported in verse 60 when Matthew tells us that the new tomb near where Jesus was laid was Joseph’s. He had made this or had paid to have it made near Jerusalem. Mark informs us that he was “a respected member of the council” (Sanhedrin) and “was also himself looking for the kingdom of God.” (Mark 15:43) Luke adds that Joseph was “a good and righteous man.” (Luke 23:50) 

The other man mentioned is Nicodemus. In case we’ve forgotten who that is, John reminds us it was Nicodemus “who earlier had come to Jesus by night.” (John 19:39 referring to John 3:1-15) If you recall, Nicodemus was a member of the Pharisees. Through his own words, Nicodemus’ confesses they recognized Jesus was “a teacher come from God.” (John 3:2) Yet, the Pharisees later cast out the man who had been born blind, given his sight by Jesus, and said regarding Jesus, “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:33-34)

What is going on here? It’s entirely possible that these two men, both from groups of religious leaders are simply trying to be consistent with their religious convictions and properly bury a fellow Jew. But, when we look at the evidence from the other gospels and within John’s own book, the motivations of these men are more righteous than simply adhering to religious obligations. 

Joseph had been a secret follower of Jesus because of his fear of the other Jewish leaders. Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night, suggesting that the timing was out of the same kind of fear. While the narrative of Nicodemus’ first encounter with Jesus does not end with Nicodemus becoming any more committed to Jesus and less fearful of the reaction of his peers, John indicates to us in chapter seven that Nicodemus essentially defends Jesus among his peers. “50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (John 7:50-51) Now after Jesus has died, Nicodemus shows up in the daylight with costly materials to prepare his body for burial. 

Both of these men are prepared to make themselves ritually unclean right before the Sabbath by handling the body of a dead man and, apparently accept any criticism or persecution that might be directed at them by their peers. 

While the associations of these men were often portrayed as Jesus’ enemies, they are being brought to light as men who are moving away from that identity to one of commitment to Jesus. It would seem that John is suggesting that these two men have become or are becoming true followers of Jesus. 

I would suggest that what we can learn from this is that we cannot judge people based upon their associations and identity we see at the moment. God is at work in His way and His own timing to lead people to Jesus. Conversely, there may be some in our own religious or social context that appear to be followers of Jesus who might abandon Christ at the first sign of conflict or persecution. We need to pray the Lord will keep us faithful to Him at all times and that we will show grace and mercy to others that the Lord may bring them to committed faith in Jesus.

Episode 106 - Our Advocate, the Holy Spirit - John 15:26-27

John 15:26   “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

In the previous chapter of this book, Jesus made two promises of sending the “parakletos” which is translated in the English Standard Version as “Helper.” Jesus explained in John 14:17 that this is the “Spirit of Truth.” Shortly after in John 14:26 and following he qualifies this “Helper” as the Holy Spirit; the third person of the Trinity. I had also noted that the Greek word “parakletos” could be translated as “Advocate.” I argued that this word better communicates the role of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus explains that the Advocate will always be with Jesus’ disciples. 

I don’t know about you, but I like being with the people I love and who love me. To me, Jesus’ assurance the Holy Spirit would always be with us reminds us that God’s love is always with us. Because of that love, we can understand why he advocates for us. 

Jesus also says in 14:26 that this Advocate “will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” It’s important to understand this promise within its context. One has no grounds to argue that we do not need to study the Bible because the Holy Spirit will teach us everything we need to know. If this were the case, why would Jesus have called these disciples to live and hang out with him for a few years? Why didn’t He just send the Holy Spirit upon them if everything they needed to know would just be put into them by the Holy Spirit? The answer lies in the second part of that promise. Jesus told them the Holy Spirit would remind them of what Jesus had taught them. 

In this brief section in view today, Jesus repeats that this Advocate is the Spirit of truth. I love that Jesus repeats this. In this world of not knowing who to believe for anything, we can trust that God wants to reveal His truth to us by the Spirit of truth who will always be with us. Jesus explains that the first and most important truth the Advocate will communicate is concerning Jesus; “he will bear witness about me.” (v. 26) Then he adds, “And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (v. 27) This is why Jesus called these first disciples to follow him and be with him for a few years. In following Jesus, they got to hear his teaching and watch him work the miracles he performed. Whenever the Spirit came, He would take all of that teaching and experience they had with Jesus and teach them by helping them understand the significance of Jesus’ words and works. It was God’s will for them to witness Jesus and learn his teaching (which came from the Father) but for the Holy Spirit to form the deeper understanding and significance of it all. The first and foremost thing I believe they grasped was that this Jesus, this amazing guy they had been following the past few years, was truly God. 

As a side note, I believe it was this awareness that led John the Apostle to not directly name himself in this book and to also magnify the work of John the Baptist who said of Jesus, “He must increase. But, I must decrease.” I think John the Apostle spent the rest of his life in wonder and awe of Jesus, pondering why Jesus chose him.  John does not want to highlight himself in his own account of Jesus’ ministry. So, he speaks of himself simply as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” 

The fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would bear witness concerning him and that the disciples would also bear witness first came in Acts 2 at the Feast of Pentecost. Read that and ask yourself if these people seem different than they did less than two months earlier when they were running away from Jesus and denying him.

The important lesson I believe we can learn is that while we do not get the privilege of seeing Jesus with our physical eyes and listen to him speak with our ears, we do get the privilege of “listening” and “observing”  him through the Scriptures. We also have the witnesses that were with him. So,  the Spirit of truth, our Advocate who is always with us, can illumine our understanding of Jesus’ words and actions so that it will help us have the same kind of wonder and awe that God has chosen us to be with Him. Then, we should bear witness to others so they can believe.

Do you know what the Bible calls this? Faith.

Episode 105 - "The world will hate you" - John 15:18-25

John 15:18   “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy building relationships and getting to know people, and I do not want conflict with anyone. Realistically, I know that people who live in destructive and violent ways will be offensive to me, and my inclination is to avoid them. 

But Jesus is revealing to his disciples a principle that applies to us as well, and that is Jesus’ disciples will be hated by those who hate him. These people may be religious, and they may believe in a god or gods. They may share some of the same views that we do and, from an outward perspective, appear to be “good people,” meaning that they may not be violent toward their spouse or children, and they do things that we acknowledge are “good.” These people’s lifestyles and actions do not naturally push us away from engaging them in a relationship. These are the people we do not want to hate us. But, this warning from Jesus informs us that at least some of them will. 

Why is that? Jesus said, “I chose you out of this world.” (v. 19) I spoke of this briefly in the last episode because, in verse 16, Jesus told his disciples that they did not choose him, but he chose them for bearing fruit. The vital thing to consider is that God knows who you are and intentionally calls you to faith because He has a specific purpose for your life. The essential purpose is to be the voice of that message of Jesus and God’s love for the world that others might come to faith and enjoy the privilege of God’s purpose for their life. 

The problem and conflict with this is that “men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.” (John 3:19) Even though Jesus as God’s true Light came into the world to expose humankind’s problem with evil, some people don’t want to go out of that darkness and into the Light of Jesus. Suppose we have responded to God’s Light and acknowledged that we are identifying and following that Light, trusting that God alone addresses our darkness problem. In that case, those who want to remain in the darkness will do everything they can to avoid or extinguish any glimmer of that Light that approaches them. They perceive the Light as a threat to their life and desires, and they oppose it. They hate it. The concept that Jesus could be the only source of Light from God attacks their pride, and they refuse to let that go. 

An example of this is the religious leaders who cast out the man born blind but given his sight by Jesus. They were upset with the fact that Jesus worked this miracle. But, when the man’s spiritual sight caused him to recognize that Jesus was from God, they had to get rid of him because it threatened their pride and self-righteousness. 

Twice in this section (vv. 22 and 24) Jesus says, “They would not have been guilty of sin.” I’m probably splitting hairs on the translation of this, and I may be wrong. But the Greek text says, “Sin they would not have.” I’m highlighting this because I think some clarification is in order. I do not believe Jesus is saying that there were sinless people until Jesus came and worked his miracles. This book has already made it evident that the people in this world are in darkness. Darkness is the metaphor describing the sinful, evil state into which we are born because this condition began with Adam and Eve’s rebellion and continues to this day. We need Jesus to “choose us out of this world” (of darkness) into his Kingdom of Light (Truth). 

The Law made it clear what was right and wrong, and people violated that Law. They were guilty of sin. But, the most evident truth of God came into the world when the Son of God, Jesus the Christ was born.  He spoke the words of God and performed the miracles of God.  He also took upon himself the penalty of the sins of the world by dying on the cross, and then conquering death itself. His resurrection gives hope to those who have turned in faith in Jesus for eternal life with God. Rejecting that Truth and Light is the sin that is unpardonable and people who commit that sin will not be forgiven. 

It’s easy for some to read that and see it in a negative light. But, if you stop and think about it, God has not left humanity to “figure it out on his own.” God has patiently and continuously revealed His grace and mercy and truth throughout time to testify to humankind that He wants to be in a relationship with humanity. Still, they need to trust Him by faith. The most powerful and perfect way of doing this was by coming into this earth Himself and revealing His grace, mercy, goodness, and truth through Jesus.

When we see it this way, is there any reason we would not be obsessed with abiding in Jesus, staying close as possible to the True Vine by giving him thanks and seeking to follow his words, and accepting that those who want to remain in darkness will hate us?

Episode 95 - Would you lay down your life for Jesus? - John 13:36-38

John 13:36   Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

There are three primary things that jump out to me in this short segment of John’s narrative. John turns from Jesus talking with his disciples to personal interaction with Peter. Peter is clearly distressed at Jesus’ words that he is going away and they cannot follow him. 

The first thing is that Jesus gives Peter a little more information, “you will follow afterward.” (v. 36) In our previous episode, I suggested that the destination Jesus is going where they cannot follow is first, the cross followed by the grave, and then to the Father in Heaven. Why can they not suffer and die with him now and be with him in heaven? The reason is that he has a mission for them. Jesus wants them to teach others what he taught them so that more people would become followers of Jesus. So, when Jesus says, “you will follow afterward,” it suggests that Peter will suffer and die on a cross in the future. Later Jesus will apparently make this more clear to Peter (John 21:18). But first, Peter will need to follow the Lord in obedience and fulfill God’s purpose and mission for him. 

The second thing that jumps out to me is Peter’s assertion that he is willing to lay down his life for Jesus. (v. 37) Peter thinks he tough. Peter thinks that he is fully able on his own power and wisdom to make things right for Jesus. Peter doesn’t have a clue. I wonder how often we do that. How often do we think we understand what is best for God instead of trusting that God knows what is best for us?

Finally, after Peter makes this assertion that he will die for Jesus, Jesus reveals to him “the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” (v.38) In other words, before the break of dawn, Peter’s self-proclaimed total allegiance to Jesus will be completely shattered and Jesus tells him this. Can you imagine what Peter felt like when Jesus told him this? It must have felt like a punch in the gut. It must have hurt. Peter may have even experienced anger that Jesus would so strongly suggest he would do that. But, this was the same Peter who told Jesus, “You alone have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Was Peter experiencing fear and insecurity wondering how this might possibly happen? It must have been extremely unsettling. In spite of Jesus stating this as fact, Jesus has not disowned Peter. On the contrary, he’s already said, “you will follow afterward.” 

Jesus has a purpose and mission even for Peter who would deny that he knew Jesus at the most critical hour. I find great encouragement that Jesus knows where we are at. He understands our weaknesses. Yet he never abandons us. He has a purpose for us. Will we, by his grace, accept that he knows what is good and right and desire for him to enable us for the mission of sharing the good news of Jesus to others?

Episode 94 - "You must love one another as I have loved you" - John 13:33-35

33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus, addressing his disciples as “little children,” was not demeaning to these adult followers. It was a manner with which a rabbi would have addressed his students. This is similar to Proverbs where the sage addresses his recipient as “My child” or “My son.” The “son” is not necessarily the biological or adoptive parent of the one to whom he is imparting wisdom. In fact, as we read the Proverbs, each of us is “the son” who needs to learn the wisdom shared. This address from Jesus to his disciples is affectionate but authoritative. It reminds them that he is their teacher and he is about to teach them something important and they need to pay attention. 

He tells them that he will only be with them a little while longer before he goes away. Furthermore, they will not be able to follow him. They didn’t understand it then and, as we’ll see, Peter does not want to accept this as certain. But, they would not be able to follow him to the cross, to the grave, or back to the Father in heaven. Why is that? 

Jesus explains the reason. He intends for them to remain for the purpose that the world recognizes that they are Jesus’ disciples. Why is that important? Clearly, the Father wants the world to understand his love for mankind. The world cannot thwart God expressing His love toward mankind. His disciples would be so impacted by Jesus that they would risk their own lives to carry on this message from the Father through the Son to the world. How were they supposed to do that?

Jesus told them they must show the same kind of love toward each other that he was showing to them. What did that kind of love look like? He had just given them the example of washing each other’s feet. But, he was about to take it much farther by laying down his life for the sins of the world. These men could not lay down their lives for others’ sins. But, Jesus was telling them that their attitudes and actions would need to become such that they would even lay down their lives for the interest of others. That is the kind of love Jesus said would cause the world to take notice and they would understand that these were disciples of Jesus. The implication of this is that Jesus was planning on his disciples making an impact upon the world by drawing others to faith in Jesus through this kind of love. This principle continues to this day and the command to love others with the same kind of love Jesus showed applies to us. 

As I reflect on this, I think to myself how great it is to love others and how wonderful a privilege it is to tell others about the good news of Jesus. But, if I honestly ask myself if I want to love other believers with that sacrificial kind of love that Christ showed me, I can easily think of people who I don’t want to love that deeply. This is why we need to remember Jesus. Each of us needs to be reminded of the quality and depth of his love and that he wants us to show that to others. 

Episode 59 - Abide in Jesus' words and find freedom - John 8:31-33

John 8:31   So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Think about some of the people Jesus has interacted with as recorded in this book. We’ve read about the Pharisees and other religious leaders who “know that he is from God,” but refuse to accept his word. There were people who witnessed him work miracles and some declared that Jesus was the Prophet like Moses; only to turn away from him when he taught them they needed to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Finally, the disciples who he had called were asked if they were going to leave as well. But, Peter’s response spoke for them when he said, “Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

In this section, John records that Jesus is speaking to the Jews that had just believed in him. It’s important to note because by the end of their conversation they will accuse Jesus of having a demon and will try to stone him to death. 

The focus of this lesson is that Jesus tells them how they can gain three benefits that are associated with each other. The first is that they can be true disciples of Jesus. This means that if they truly believe in who he is and what he teaches, they can learn from him and become more like him. In pursuing being a true disciple, they receive the second benefit and that is they will know the truth. This is something we desire in our society today isn’t it. We do not know who to believe because we recognize that different people and organizations do not always tell the truth. This truth has to do with the truth about God. Becoming a learner of Jesus helps us understand the truth about God. Finally, Jesus says that “the truth will set you free.” Sounds good. But, how do we become a true disciple and know the truth and receive the kind of freedom this truth provides? The answer is to “abide” in Jesus’ word. 

What does it mean to abide in Jesus' word? It means to remain and continue in his teaching. This means that we cannot pick and choose the sayings of Jesus that we like and disregard the ones that confuse or offend us. We cannot follow some of Jesus’ teachings. Like those early few disciples, we must decide to follow Jesus regardless of our confusion or not liking something he taught because we know that he has the words of eternal life. 

But, even this saying offends these “believers” doesn’t it? They immediately argue from pride in their heritage as Jews. They claim that they are Abraham’s descendants and have never been a slave to anyone. In other words, they don’t believe they need to be freed from anything. But, this is not true. They were under the control of the Roman Empire. They did not have true independence and liberty. They had what the Roman government allowed. 

This is not the kind of freedom Jesus was talking about. As we’ll see in the next lesson. He is telling them about the control and enslaving power of sin. That is more powerful and dangerous than any other kind of enslavement. 

Jesus’ simple and clear message that we need to abide in his word should be liberating in itself. It tells us that we need to be reading his word and praying for his help in abiding in it. We can trust that his word is truthful and it brings us freedom in Christ.

Episode 34 - Doing God's will nourishes and sustains us

John 4:27-42

4:27   Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

4:31   Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

4:39   Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Now that the disciples have returned from the town with food, there are two stories going on within the greater story of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well. I could easily split this section up. But, I think it’s valuable to see how these two stories relate to each other.

The first part is Jesus’ interaction with his disciples when they’ve returned and are shocked to find him speaking with her. The second is what happens with the woman after Jesus reveals to her that he is the Messiah (the Christ). Concerning the disciples, even though they are shocked, they seem to have the sense to keep their mouths shut. They are about to get an important lesson. But, they have no clue as to what that might be. 

John mentions that the woman left her jar at the well. What’s the point of that? It quickly becomes apparent. She wanted to waste no time going to tell people in her community about Jesus and it’s obvious she intended to return to the well with or without other people. This woman who has had no apparent, previous knowledge of Jesus has come to believe his claim that he is the Christ. She immediately becomes a witness to that. The question is, “Will people believe her?” Understand that this woman is among the most marginalized of all people in that culture. She is a Samaritan. She is a woman. And, she is a woman with a reputation for sleeping around. In all likelihood, what is known about the culture, many people would not give her the time of day or trust what she has to say. Yet, here she is claiming to have found the Christ. Who would possibly buy that? Hold that thought. 

Returning to the disciples and Jesus, they are encouraging him to eat some food they’ve brought.  He responds that he has food that they do not know about. Similar to the Samaritan woman who thought Jesus was offering her literal water from a well, the disciples don’t immediately understand that Jesus is speaking in terms of a spiritual food that sustains him and that food is “to do the will of the Father.” If we learn nothing else from this text, we should learn that our priority in our life should be to do God’s will. God is the One who provides everything we need. Doing what He wants us to do nourishes and sustains us. 

When Jesus moves into the illustration of harvesting and tells them to lift up their eyes, what do you think they saw? I suspect they saw the people from the town beginning to come out to Jesus. He is not giving them a lesson in agriculture. He’s teaching them about doing God’s will and sharing the Good News of Jesus with others. We call this evangelism and discipleship. They are about to spend a few days with these Samaritan people and they will witness Jesus teach them and they will likely participate in answering questions and testifying themselves what they have witnessed about Jesus.

Let’s return to the woman who has told the people of the town that she’s met this man who has told her “everything she’s done,” we might expect them to disregard her because of her reputation. But, John tells us in verse 39, “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.” What!? The Jews who have seen him work miracles have refused to believe him. But, now this woman who had no previous knowledge of Jesus has come to faith in everything he has told her. So, what does she do? She just tells others and many of them believe because of her words; a woman whom they would not normally trust. What is happening here? Perhaps it is people being born from above. God has sent His Spirit to move them to respond and they’ve trusted in Jesus. 

This should tell us that evangelism is not something that we can only do if we’ve had a seminary degree or some special training. Why? Because the result is not based upon our intelligence or skills. It’s based upon the truth of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. We are not responsible for the results. We just need to bear witness of Jesus and trust that God will bring people to him. Some will not believe him even if they see miracles. But, that is not our problem. Let us be nourished by telling others about Jesus.