Episode 282 - "Sarah's death - A Model of Faith" - Genesis 22:20-Genesis 23

Gen. 22:20 Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

Gen. 23:1 Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”

Gen. 23:10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” 12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

Gen. 23:17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

Having just finished the remarkable story of Abraham demonstrating he was willing to trust the LORD in offering Isaac up as a sacrifice, the story has to move on. Moses writes a little detail of how his brother, back in his homeland, is having children. Notice the little sidenote that one of the sons, Bethuel, was the father of Rebekah. This is a detail to tip us off that the reader will hear more about Rebekah later on.

The next story is about Sarah's death and burial. She lived to the age of 127 years and died in the land of Canaan. To be clear, the Hittites with whom Abraham barters for the cave were descendants of Heth, who was a son of Canaan. This story is the back-and-forth conversation between Abraham and the residents of the land about Abraham having a place to bury Sarah. They insisted that he just bury his wife. Then Abraham responded that he would like to entreat the owner, Ephron, of a specific cave and pay him full price for the property. Like the men, Ephron suggests that Abraham can just take the cave for nothing. But, he also casually threw out the value of the property as 400 shekels of silver, which Abraham counted out to purchase the cave.

I don’t know that there’s any profound spiritual truth in this story that we need to glean and apply to our lives. I think this story is intended to communicate to the Israelites that Abraham was not a thieving bully. Rather, Abraham acted honorably around the residents in the land when he was living there. I believe it’s possible that Abraham has reason to believe that by him taking a cave to bury Sarah and not purchasing it outright would result in a perceived obligation to later concede to their demands and expectations. Abraham was wise enough to manage the exchange without putting him or Isaac in jeopardy of compromising themselves with these pagans.

Likely, the most important thing is that Sarah has died without receiving the promises made by the LORD to them. Yet, Abraham buries her in the land that he has purchased in faith that the LORD will ultimately fulfill all the promises he has made to them. The author of Hebrews says this of Abraham and Sarah,

“Heb. 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

The point is that the author of Hebrews understood that Abraham and Sarah didn’t expect their death to be the end of the line. God had proved himself faithful to his word and powerful to accomplish anything. That’s a good lesson for us.

Episode 221 - "O death, where is your sting?" - 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

1Cor. 15:50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

1Cor. 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

My immediate thoughts upon reading this section are: first, this is pretty straightforward. Our resurrected bodies will be different because they will be imperishable or immortal. We will live forever in these bodies. The second thought is how moving and encouraging Paul’s words are as he concludes his argument for an actual resurrection from the dead and an explanation of what that will be like. These Christians at Corinth have had their challenges, and Paul has been somewhat like a disciplinary schoolmaster or parent in this letter as he has sought to correct them on various issues. Death is going to be ultimately conquered, and that will happen because of Christ. (v. 56)

But I don’t want to gloss over this because there are important truths that warrant our attention. First of all, God’s kingdom is imperishable. Therefore, it’s reasonable that we will be given imperishable bodies to dwell in and be a part of that kingdom. Note: This has NOT happened yet. This is something that is yet to come. Why is that important? Often, people think that when a loved one dies, they are “dancing with Jesus” or somehow otherwise living the eternal heavenly party. But how can that be if they don’t have a body? It is true that the Scriptures tell us that to be “absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinth. 5:8) So, it seems reasonable that what can be said is that when a believer dies, they are in God’s care. That’s encouraging. But it’s not to that which we are anticipating and longing for. We want Jesus to return and raise us from the dead to life in an imperishable body.

So, what about believers who are still living and haven’t died at this end-of-time event? How can they get resurrected if they haven’t died? Paul addresses that in verses 51-52. When he says, “We shall not all sleep,” he is saying that those who haven’t died will simply be changed instantly. Cool!

This event is precipitated by a trumpet sound. What must it be like for a trumpet sound to be heard around the world? I can’t say how it matters. But it seems like we might want to be aware of this in case we hear a loud or unusual trumpet sound.

In what seems like a victoriously mocking tone, Paul quotes Isaiah 25:8, “Death is swallowed up in victory,” and Hosea 13:14: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” How can you not love Paul’s jubilant confidence in the Lord’s promise of our resurrection?

Paul continues, “The sting of death is sin, and zthe power of sin is the law.” (v. 56) What is his point here? His point is that Christ has atoned for our sins through his death on the cross (See Romans 3:21-26) and has fulfilled the Law (Romans 8:1-4). In other words, there are no loose ends with God’s work through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Paul’s closing thought in light of this is to exhort the Corinthian believers to be faithful and determined in their work serving the Lord. He wants them to be confident in the hope of the resurrection and eternal life and let that confidence motivate their service to the Lord.

Death is not something to look forward to. But we trust that because Christ was raised from the dead and promised to raise us from the dead, it’s going to happen, and we will receive a body that will be imperishable. Let us serve the Lord today in faith that in Christ, the sting of death will be removed.

Episode 134 - "Who are you seeking?" John 20:11-18

John 20:11   But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Talk about a moving event! Let’s recall the context according to John’s gospel. Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early on the third day. John tells us that it was still dark. She discovers the tomb is open and Jesus’ body is not there. 

Let’s put ourselves in Mary’s shoes. She was a woman whom Jesus had cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2). Luke mentions she was one of a group of women who assisted Jesus and his disciples with their needs. (Luke 8:3) Mary was grateful to Jesus. Can you imagine the shock she experienced when she saw the empty tomb? I am sure she was still reeling from the events that unfolded just two days earlier. Now, Jesus’ body was gone. She told the disciples, “They have taken away the Lord and we do not know where they have laid him.” (John 20:2)

After Peter and John ran to check out the tomb, they returned home. It would appear they had done nothing to console Mary. Mary was left weeping. Her emotion had moved from the initial shock or surprise to that of depression. She was weeping near the entrance and saw two angels inside the tomb. Were they there when Peter and John were there what seems to have just been moments earlier? If so, why didn’t the disciples see the angels?

What’s amazing is that she didn’t seem to recognize they were angels. Perhaps as one who had been possessed by seven demons, the experience of having supernatural beings talk to her was not all that unusual. They asked her why she was weeping and her response was “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Her emotion seems to have shifted from shock to deep, personal anguish. 

Having said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. However, she did not recognize him either. Jesus echoed the same question asked by the angels, “Why are you weeping?” He immediately followed this with “Whom are you seeking?” (v.15) The repetition of the question “Why are you weeping?” is intended to get Mary to stop and think about it. I suspect the mystery and confusion of the empty tomb had just reopened the wound of the shock and grief of Jesus’ death. But, Jesus had told his followers what was going to happen. None of them could comprehend fully what he was prophesying until after everything unfolded the way it did. But, Mary’s reaction stands in contrast to Peter and John’s reactions as they emerged from the empty tomb. Perhaps the repetition of this question has a purpose for us as well. Do we see the significance of the empty tomb? Jesus is alive. He has overcome death. As we consider this ourselves, it should remind us that our faith in his resurrection means we should be rejoicing.

Jesus’ follow-up question “Whom are you seeking?” is important for us as well. Who are we seeking? Are we seeking a political leader who we think will make decisions and policies that we like? Are we like the people who ate of the food near the Sea of Galilee and who were seeking a Jesus who they could put over them and manipulate to do what they wanted him to do? Or, are we humbling ourselves before the Son of God who laid down his life to take upon himself the judgment of our sin and who calls us to “drink his blood” and “eat his flesh?”

Mary still didn’t recognize him as he asked these questions. It was then that Jesus said her name, “Mary!” Instantly, she recognized him. At the time I am writing this, my dad has been deceased for 22.5 years. Yet, I know that if he could walk up behind me and say my name, I would immediately recognize his voice. When someone we love and who loves us speaks our name, we recognize it. Mary’s debilitating grief was cured in an instant.

In John 10, Jesus claimed to be the Good Shepherd and said that his sheep hear his voice and follow him. Sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and know their shepherd cares for them. Mary is a prime example of this illustration bearing itself out to be true. The power of Jesus’ voice was greater than all her grief and confusion.

Other than report that Mary calls him Rabboni (Teacher), John doesn’t say directly what Mary did to Jesus. However, Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my father . . . “ (John 20:17) Some translations read, “Do not touch me.” That is possible. But, I think the intent is to tell Mary that she cannot cling to or “hold on” to Jesus as he will soon go to be with the Father. Also, in a matter of days, Jesus would tell his disciple Thomas “put your fingers in the nailprints in my hands” and “put your hand into my side” (John 20:27). There wasn’t something about his body that Jesus needed to prohibit Mary from touching him. Given her devotion to Jesus and overwhelmed with grief in his death, you can imagine why her reaction would be to “cling” to him. Perhaps his message that she cannot cling to him because he is going away to the Father might have been distressing. But, the fact that he was no longer dead, that he knew her name, and that he cared enough to come to her and comfort her was enough. She returned to the disciples not in grief, but in excitement. “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18)

If we take nothing else away from this narrative, remember that Jesus had told people the Son of Man would return and speak and the dead would be raised. (John 5:19-29) Then, in John 11:1-44, Jesus demonstrated that he could do what he promised by calling Lazarus, who had been dead and buried for four days, by name and resurrecting him from the dead. If Jesus can raise himself from the dead as is reported in these gospels, then nothing can stop him from delivering his promises to raise us. In times of trouble and suffering in this life, we can remember that Jesus has conquered death and has an eternal plan and promise for us. That hope does not negate the sorrow we feel today. But, knowing that what is to come is good, perfect, and eternal helps us carry on.

Episode 112 - "The hour has come" - John 17:1-5

John 17:1   When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

One of the running themes throughout this book is the imminent “hour” for Jesus’ to be glorified.  We first encountered this at his first miracle where he turned the water into wine. When his mother informed him the wedding hosts had run out of wine halfway through the wedding, his response was, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4) Later in chapter seven, his antagonists could not arrest him “because his hour had not yet come.” (John 7:30) In John 12:23 Jesus says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” whenever he is informed there were Greeks seeking him. He understood that “the world” seeking him was an indication his “hour” had come. He begins this prayer by acknowledging this truth to his Father. 

It might be easy for someone to think that Jesus was being self-centered by his first request to be glorified. But while leaders and kings are glorified by being lifted in fame, prestige, and power, Jesus’ glorification is being lifted up on a cross to suffer and die. The context further reveals that Jesus knows the Father will be glorified through Him being glorified. This has been Jesus’ attitude and dominant thought throughout his earthly ministry; to glorify the Father. He has glorified the Father by perfect obedience and that obedience will be completed by his sacrificial death on the cross.

He recognized the Father has given him the authority “over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” (John 17:2) This expression by Jesus is consistent with Jesus’ claim to be the Son of Man. In Daniel 7:13-14, “one like a son of man” was given an “everlasting kingdom” and the authority of all people. Jesus has already demonstrated that power by raising Lazarus from the dead and performing miracles never heard of before.

Jesus then explains that eternal life is accessible by knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom God sent. (v. 3) This is perhaps the most important thing we need to understand. Jesus is making it clear that knowing “the only true God” not a god is the way to eternal life. Again, we have a consistent message and repeated message in this book. Jesus had previously said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Jesus then says that he has glorified the Father by doing everything the Father has given him to do on earth. (v. 4) So, he is requesting to return to the position of glory that he had in the presence of the Father “before the world existed.” Sound familiar? Do you remember how the author began this book? “In the beginning, was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) John continues in his prologue by telling his audience more about the Word until it becomes evident that the Word is Jesus Christ. (John 1:17) Before John gets into his narrative about the ministry of Jesus, he prepares us by saying that Jesus was eternally pre-existing with the Father and was involved in the Creation. Now, Jesus himself is supporting that with his own words. 

There will be other wonderful things we will learn in this intercessory prayer of Jesus. But, the priority here is that the Father and Son are glorified. Do we have that as a priority in our life? Do we begin our prayers asking for what we want or asking that God is glorified through whatever He does?

Episode 96 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:1-7

John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus has told his disciples that he is going away and they cannot follow him at this time. In this section, he offers them words of comfort. I believe the message is one that should comfort us as well. Just like Jesus’ group of twelve disciples, we’ve learned what Jesus has taught. We’ve been amazed by his miracles. But, when trials come and when death comes, we can become “troubled.”

Jesus understands their concerns and says, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” In other words, “Don’t worry!” His next statement, “Believe in God; believe also in me” could be translated “Trust in God and trust in me.” He is not suggesting that he is not God. In fact, I would suggest that he is telling them that his word, ability, and intent are equal with God. The disciples, and ourselves, can trust that Jesus’ promises are true and good.

In verses 2-3 Jesus offers a logical argument that it would not make sense for him to tell them he was preparing a place for them if he were not going to come back and take them to that place. It’s a promise which should encourage them that this separation from him will not be forever.

In verse 4, even though Jesus has said he would return to take them to be with him, he says, “And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas’ response makes a lot of sense to me. It sounds like the same kind of statement I’d make. Essentially, he is saying, “We don’t really know where you are going. So, how could we possibly know how to get to this mystery place.”

Jesus answers this question in reverse. He tells them the way first, then the destination. He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The destination is with God and the way to get there is through Jesus. Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “I am a way.” Jesus’ claim to be the exclusive “way” to the Father and Heaven is perhaps one of the single most “offensive” tenets of Christianity. But, that’s what the Scriptures record Jesus saying. This is consistent with Jesus’ earlier claim to be the Good Shepherd. Anyone else trying to get into the place of protection and provision any other way than the door to the sheep pen is a “thief and a robber” and is not welcome. (John 10:1) Any perceived ambiguity with Jesus’ saying, “I am the way and the truth and the life” should be cleared with the qualifying statement, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Have you ever stopped to ask why that is the case? Is God just being mean? The answer lies in the fact that acting contrary to God’s character and law leads to death. We learn this in the early chapter of the Scriptures. Since the first humans violated God’s law, and the rest of humanity are offspring from those first humans, we are all corrupted by their disobedience and we think, speak, and act in keeping with that brokenness ourselves. But, God doesn’t want us to suffer the eternal death that we deserve through our disobedience. So, Jesus the Son of God who “became flesh,” perfectly obeyed the Father and suffered death on our behalf. Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirement for our sin. He was the only one who could do it since he had no sin himself. The question then is how do we appropriate the benefit of his sacrificial death on the cross? If someone offers you a gift and you refuse to accept it, do you have any benefit from the gift? Of course not. You have not received it. Therefore, it does not benefit you at all. The benefit potential of you trusting in Jesus and his death on the cross is that you are made “right” with God and you have been forgiven of your sins. 

Jesus isn’t just the way, and the truth. He is also the life. Jesus conquered death and came back to life and has promised to raise up to eternal life those who have placed their trust in him. The free gift offered to us is eternal life with God and in a relationship with him is no longer corrupted by our rebellious ways. Things will be the way God designed them to be in the beginning of time. Do you want that gift? If not, don’t expect to receive the benefits of the gift if you reject the gift itself.

Episode 87 - "I know that his commandment is eternal life" John 12:44-50

John 12:44   And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Throughout this book, Jesus’ primary antagonists have been the religious leaders. But, in this context which I’ve been covering these past few episodes, many people are ultimately refusing to trust Jesus despite the evidence of the miracles he has worked. Conversely, John adds that some of the leaders did believe in him, but refused to confess it before others because they were more concerned about what others thought over what God thought of them. The picture John gives us with these details is that in Jesus’ life and ministry, there has been ample evidence to demonstrate his identity and authority. Yet people, in general, found a reason to not trust Jesus. 

In this segment, Jesus is concisely expressing God’s message that John has reported to us throughout this book. That message is God’s offer to mankind for eternal life. As he has emphasized before, Jesus reiterates that he came to speak God’s message and gracious offer of eternal life. So, to not trust Jesus is to reject God. To believe Jesus’ works and words is to trust God. Jesus is the “light” that shines into the darkness which we are in by nature. He reveals God’s love and power to give us abundant and eternal life. 

Christian faith is not understanding everything in the Bible perfectly. Faith that leads to eternal life is simply saying, “God - I am trusting you that Jesus is the Way to eternal life.”

In my fifty-seven years of life, I am finding it valuable to reaffirm that trust each day. It’s not that I think that somehow I lost eternal life by something I did or didn’t do. No. I believe when God gave me eternal life it was . . . eternal. What I find is that being reminded of who Jesus is and why he came into this world and simply saying in my mind “I believe that” has a way of helping drive out the darkness of the world around me and how it can so easily impact me when I’m not careful.

Episode 85 - God demonstrated His love toward us - John 12:27-36

John 12:27   “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

In our previous episode, we saw how Jesus recognized that his “hour had come” when he was informed there were Greeks seeking Jesus. Then, he gives a parable to those around him about a grain falling to the earth and dying in order to bring abundant fruit. It becomes clear that he is that grain. He is prophesying about his death. He adds that those who love him will also be willing to forfeit their life in this world for the eternal life he promises. Then he adds that those who do so will be with him in eternity and the Father will honor him. This does not mean that every Christian will be martyred for their faith. It does mean that our perspective toward our life should lead to an attitude of forfeiting our interests in this life to the point that we would die for our faith.

As we read this next section, it’s important to understand that Jesus is saying he is about to die. He asks the question of whether He should ask the Father to save him from this hour. Then, he answers that question himself by saying, “But for this purpose, I have come for this hour.” (v. 27b) He prayerfully speaks “Father, glorify your name.”

In response, a voice from heaven says, “I have glorified it and I will glorify it again.”(v.28) I am inclined to agree with other Bible scholars who suggest that the first time He glorified His name was at the Incarnation; when Jesus was born. Now, He will glorify it again in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus to the Father’s side in Heaven.

This voice was audible to those around him. However, the message appears to have been understood by few if any. Some said that it was thunder. Some believed an angel had spoken to Jesus. I wonder how the author of this book, John, could confidently give us the message. Maybe John heard it clearly. Maybe others heard it clearly too, but their minds did not want to believe at the moment what they had heard. That Jesus tells them the voice was for their own benefit suggests to me that maybe they had all heard it clearly, but they reasoned it away. I wonder how often I might do that. When reading God’s clearly revealed message in the Scriptures, do I let my mind reason away the implication for me?

The next thing Jesus says is, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” (v. 31) That’s a message many people may not want to hear. Not only the idea of judgment but the fact that it is coming “now.” What does this mean? It means that Jesus’ death on the cross is the most significant event in the history of the world. God had judged the world with a flood that we read about in Genesis and spares one man and his family. But, we recall that while God considered him “righteous,” he was not perfect. There are other times that God brings judgment upon people for their rebellion against Him. But, His perfect judgment is brought at the cross upon His own Son Jesus who took the divine justice in our place and then conquered death; the penalty, and the effect of sin. The defeat of the ruler of this world, the devil, was accomplished at the cross of Jesus. As we continue in the Christian Scriptures we learn that God is demonstrating His grace and love toward mankind that others would have a chance to hear the good news of Jesus and also receive the forgiveness of their sin and the hope of eternal life. But, the event of Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection is the single historical event that makes certain the promises Jesus is offering those who forfeit their love of this life.

Verse 32 records Jesus’ words, “ And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” In John 3 we read, “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” Now, Jesus is clearly speaking of himself as the Son of Man. Furthermore, as is recorded in verse 33, he said this to indicate how he was going to die. The people get the message. But, they don’t want to buy into it. They want a Messiah who will deliver them from the Romans oppressors. They don’t want to believe this Messiah will die.

Jesus continues with his message that the light of the world will only be with them a little longer. I had the privilege of taking 10-day backpacking treks with each of my sons in the lower Rocky Mountains. Prior to going out into this rugged backcountry, each group is given very clear rules. One of them is to never hike in the dark. Why? Because it’s dangerous. You can fall down or off a mountain. You can run into a mountain lion or a bear. No one may ever find you. Jesus is saying that if you don’t walk in the light he provides, you will be walking in darkness and will fall into danger of losing the eternal life he offers. 

It seems to me that the challenge from this Scripture is whether we are willing to submit our own ideas, feelings, ambitions, and desires that are natural in this life and follow Jesus. He is the true light that came into the world. When we walk in His light, we are safe eternally regardless of what may happen to us in this life.

Episode 77 - "I am the resurrection and the life . . . " John 11:17-27

John 11:17   Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

In this part of the story, John gives us some important information. First, when Jesus arrives at Bethany, Lazarus had already been dead and buried for four days. The obvious purpose in telling us this is to emphasize that Lazarus is truly dead. There is no chance that he has been barely hanging on. 

The second important point is that Bethany is a near suburb of Jerusalem where Jesus’ enemies recently wanted to stone him. With the news of the death of Lazarus and people coming and going to grieve his loss with his family, the news would likely have spread that Jesus was there. Perhaps they would not dare do something to him at Mary and Martha’s home due to the circumstances. However, they likely would go out to keep an eye on him. 

With these matters established for the setting, Martha hears that Jesus is coming and she goes out to meet him. In my opinion, her words are so “human.” What I mean by that is she knows what Jesus has already done. She knows that he can heal the sick. We need to realize that Martha has great faith and trust in Jesus. But, her faith and understanding have room for growth. Her words to Jesus are, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (v. 21) How many people, perhaps doctors or other medical personal, could you have said that to with regard to a loved one that died? I can’t think of anyone I could or would have said that to. This is an amazing conviction of Martha; that Jesus absolutely could and would have stopped the death of Lazarus. She follows up her veiled complaint with, “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 

What is that? Does she believe Jesus can and will call her brother back to life? I don’t think so. As we’ll soon see, she offers another complaint when Jesus commands for the stone that seals the tomb to be removed. I believe what is happening is that Martha is a grieving sister of the deceased and is disappointed that Jesus had not come in time to prevent Lazarus from dying. Yet, she is also expressing her faith that Jesus is from God and that God listens to him. She is confessing her commitment to Jesus. She just doesn’t understand or believe that what is about to happen, can and will happen. 

Jesus uses this to prepare her (and I would argue everyone else with her and us) by telling her that her brother will rise again. She agrees that she believes he will live again in the resurrection at the end of time. Jesus continues with, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (vv. 25-26) Martha recognized that God listened to Jesus and would give Jesus whatever he asked for. It would be an amazing claim to assert that you had access to authority or power to heal and to raise people from the dead. But, Jesus claims here to be the authority and power. Furthermore, he adds, that whoever believes in him will live even if he dies and that everyone who lives and believes in him will never die. This is a claim that challenges the “best of us” doesn’t it? How can he say that believers in him will never die? We know people who’ve been strong believers in Jesus and yet have died. How can Jesus make this claim? It seems to me that what he is saying is consistent with what he said at first concerning Lazarus when he said, “This illness does not lead to death.” (11:4) He knew that Lazarus would stop breathing and his heart would stop beating. But, he also knew the Father’s will for him to raise up Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus, like Martha and Mary, believed in Jesus and the eternal life that Jesus was promising was something they received when they believed. There is no suggestion that this eternal life was at risk to not happen. This is a bold promise by Jesus that when you believe in him, eternal life is guaranteed regardless of the inevitable event when our bodies stop breathing and our hearts stop beating. John has already recorded Jesus stating that the Son of Man would someday return and speak and the dead would rise. Those who had not believed would be condemned and those who believed would raise to eternal life. The point is that Jesus promise is guaranteed when one believes in him. 

Upon making this claim, Jesus asks Martha if she believes what he just said. She replies, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” Notice that she is accepting what Jesus has told her. It doesn’t mean that she understands everything perfectly. She certainly doesn’t yet comprehend that Jesus is about to bring her brother back to life. But, this is the nature of true faith. We confess to be true and accept what God has revealed about Jesus, even if we don’t quite understand it all. I don’t know about you. But, I think that is exciting and liberating. 

Episode 72 - "No one will snatch them from my hand" John 10:19-30

John 10:19   There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” John 10:22   At that time, the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

We have a little more text this week than I often have, but, I want to focus on one key aspect of Jesus’ words in this section after I mention the context.

Jesus has just claimed to be able to raise himself from the dead after laying down his own life. Understandably, people would have a problem with such a claim. People predictably argued that he was insane or possessed by a demon. But, others rightly questioned whether a demon had the power to open the eyes of a blind person.

So again, they collar him at the temple and insist that he plainly make his claim that he is the Christ. He reiterates what John has recorded him saying earlier, and they need to look at the evidence he’s given them. In other words, don’t just ask me (Jesus) to tell you with words. What does the evidence of my works reveal?

But, Jesus doesn’t stop with this. He tells them outright that they don’t believe because they don’t belong to his flock of sheep. He says that he gives his “sheep” eternal life, and “they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” 

Here is the point I want to make. I realize that some wonderful Christians have different views on the idea of “eternal security.” Eternal security is that if you’ve been saved, you cannot lose your salvation.” I have good Christian friends who don’t believe that. However, you have to deal with this text if you don’t. If Jesus gives you eternal life when you place your trust in Him and you are figuratively “in his hand,” he’s suggesting that he has each believer securely protected in his care and no one (not even you) can take them away from Jesus’ possession. 

If that promise were not enough, he adds that the Father, who gave these sheep to Jesus,  is “greater than all,” and no one can take them from Him. 

What kind of picture does that paint about our security in Jesus? I cannot think of a passage that is more comforting than this promise by Jesus.

I hope that you will not let guilt, shame, failure, or anything else distract you from your joy and peace, knowing that you are safely and firmly in God’s protection if you’ve placed your trust in Jesus.

Episode 57 - "I am the light of the world" - John 8:12-20

John 8:12   Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

I’ve had the privilege to have extended backpacking adventures with each of my sons in the Rocky Mountains. For ten days each, we packed our own food and water, shelter, clothes, and everything we needed to survive and enjoy the trek through beautiful nature. 

Before each journey, the people who were responsible for making sure we were prepared to safely begin and complete the journey gave us rules and advice for that purpose. One of the rules was that we could not hike when it was dark. The reason was that someone might not see the trail or something dangerous and we could fall down a mountain or be attacked by a bear or lion. Furthermore, if someone fell, no one else would be able to see them in order to help them.

It makes sense then that Jesus uses light and darkness as a metaphor for obeying God or disobeying God. Do you remember what John said about Jesus in the opening verses of this book? He said that the Word (Jesus) is “the true light that gives light to every man.” (John 1:9) Jesus is God’s light that, if we walk in that light and follow that light, we can see where we’re going and not run into trouble. John also says that this light of Jesus is available to every man (person). 

This point of Jesus is not random. The context here is still the Feast of Tabernacles which celebrates God’s leading and provision for the Israelites during the Exodus. Already Jesus has claimed, “I am the Bread of Life.” (John 6:48) God had provided bread for the Israelites in the form of manna in the wilderness. But, Jesus pointed out, they still ultimately died. Jesus taught that he was God’s provision of spiritual food for eternal life. Now, he’s teaching the people that just as God led their ancestors at night in a pillar of fire, so he is God’s light to guide us truly to God throughout our life. Again, Jesus invokes the divine name “I am.” This is the second occurrence of this.

The Pharisees attempt to use Jesus’ own point from the Law in John 5 from Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15 that there must be two or three witnesses. They say that his claim is not true because he’s bearing witness about himself. But, Jesus points out again that there are other witnesses that confirm his testimony. Therefore, his claim is validated. What essentially happens here is that these Pharisees are trying to indict Jesus on a charge in order to condemn him. But, he points to the fact that they are indicted on account that they do not know him or his Father. 

It’s possible that their question, “Where is your Father?” may be a form of attack, perhaps insinuating that Jesus was illegitimate. Recall that Jesus, back in chapter five said, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.” (John 5:17) The Jews understood that he was making God his own Father, making himself equal with God. In John 6:41-42, the hostile Jews say, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” I think these Pharisees know exactly what Jesus is claiming. But, they are attacking and refusing to accept anything he has to say. They do not really know Jesus or God the Father. Therefore, they do not have what they need for eternal life.

I think this challenge is not just for the people of Jesus’ day, but for ours as well. When we read the accounts of Jesus’ teachings, do we give an appropriate ear to his claims and judge according to what the other Scriptures teach about God? Do we judge his claims in light of the miracles he worked? Or, do we judge his claims based upon our own reason and self-centered agendas and values?

We need God’s eternal life-giving bread and light.

Episode 54 - Rivers of living water - John 7:37-44

John 7:37   On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.40   When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

Recall that the feast spoken of here is the Feast of Booths (a.k.a. Feast of Tabernacles). John mentions that it was the “last day of the feast, the great day” which has significance in connection with what Jesus is saying. The feast, as I mentioned before, was to remember their ancestors wandering in the wilderness and God’s provision for them. At this feast, there was a ritual with water. Priests poured water on the altar each day and on the last day they did it seven times. You can find scholarly discussions in commentaries as to the various meanings of this ritual. However, I think most significantly it represents God’s miraculous provision of water in that desert area for so long. 

Earlier, Jesus had drawn a connection of himself to the bread that God provided for them in the wilderness. Their ancestors had survived on that bread but ultimately died. Jesus said that he was the true bread from heaven that would give them eternal life. Here, he is telling people at the feast that he is the source of “living water.” This is similar to what he told the woman at the well. 

The translation here I think could be better. To clarify, I understand Jesus saying that he is the source of the living waters. But, it is the one who “drinks Jesus” and believes in him who will receive the living waters flowing within him or her. John explains that this living water ever springing up within the believer is the Holy Spirit would be given to believers after Jesus had been glorified.

Jesus’ words obviously resonated with people as some said that he was surely the Prophet and others claimed that he was the Christ. But still, there were those whose reason over-ruled God’s revelation. They were aware that he had come from Galilee. But, they didn’t bother to investigate his genealogy as both Mary and Joseph can be traced back to David’s lineage. Matthew and Luke both record that he was born in Bethlehem.

It seems to me that our takeaway from this section is that Jesus provides an infinite supply of what we need for the eternal and abundant life that God offers. We need to “consume” Jesus. We need to believe what he did and said and internalize it as much as possible. 

Episode47 - "Eat my flesh and drink my blood" - John 6:52-59

John 6:52   The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

The Bible has some hard things to understand. Jesus’ words in this section  are certainly difficult for those listening. Furthermore, if you read Christian scholars of our current era, you’ll discover there are still differing opinions about this section. 

In our last episode, I pointed out that the people who ate the “miracle food” and had identified Jesus certainly as the Prophet like Moses that was to come, and wanted to make Jesus their king had, like the Israelites during the Exodus from Egypt, started grumbling. In verse 52 they’ve declined even further into arguing amongst themselves about what Jesus is saying. They are clearly moving to a point of rejecting Jesus and his claims. Their question, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” appears rhetorical. Essentially, if they can’t understand with their own reason, they are going to reject it. 

Jesus’ response is to assert that if they do not eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, they “have no life” in them. This is an indication that Jesus is speaking in a manner that is not to be taken in a pure literal sense. Why is that? Because clearly Jesus understands that they are living beings. But, Jesus’ point is that it’s not the true kind of life that he is offering them. Furthermore, the Law prohibited cannibalism and drinking blood. Jesus would not violate the Law.

Then Jesus tells them, “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life . . . “ Once again Jesus made it clear that he is claiming to be the “son of man”; the eschatological figure spoken of in Daniel 7:13 who is led before the Ancient of Days and granted honor and authority and would have an eternal kingdom. Furthermore, he’s saying if you want eternal life and to be in this eternal kingdom, you must eat his flesh and drink his blood. Whoever does that, he says “has eternal life.” Jesus follows that by promising, “I will raise him up on the last day.” That indicates that Jesus is not saying your body won’t physically die. He is saying that even though you will physically die, you still have eternal life and Jesus will raise you up to experience that life for eternity. So, what does he mean by eating or feeding on his flesh and drinking his blood?

In the following verse, he says that his flesh is “true food” and his blood is “true drink.” Some people believe this text is speaking of Lord’s Supper, Communion, Eucharist, or whatever one’s tradition calls it. I don’t want to discount the possible significance this text may have to the Lord’s Supper. But, I’m inclined to think that the primary thing Jesus is communicating to people at this point is that he, Jesus, is the only source of eternal life and that we cannot think of Jesus as a decoration in our home or church. We cannot value him as another person who was a good and helpful teacher with morals. We MUST internalize everything about who he truly is and his purpose as intended by the Father. He is the true Son of God who came down from Heaven and took upon himself the punishment for our sins in order that we could receive  his righteousness upon ourselves and be acceptable before God throughout eternity. The flesh as food and the blood as drink is powerful imagery because it is easy for us to understand how food becomes digested and broken down within our body in order to provide energy and life throughout our whole body. When Jesus is internalized in our lives, it is “true food” and “true drink” for eternal life.

In verse 56, he repeats the phrase “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood” but then continues with “abides in me, and I in him.” That phrase reinforces the notion of feeding on Jesus flesh and drinking his blood is really about internalizing Christ, isn’t it? He abides in us and we abide in him.

Verse 57 provides the reasoning why he can offer eternal life to us. It is because the living Father sent him and he lives because of the Father and we can live if we feed on him. It emphasizes that our hope of eternal life is based upon our faith in the eternally living God who created life and sent “true food” in his Son Jesus.

This last verse of this section explains the “figurative nature” of what he is saying. He says this “bread from heaven” is NOT like the bread their fathers ate. Why? Because they died. The “true bread” sent from Heaven is not something you put in your mouth. So, where does this leave room for our ordinance of the Lord’s Supper? The Lord’s Supper is something Jesus gave us that tangibly reminds us of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. It reminds us of the Incarnation of the Son of God and most of all, it reminds us of the cross. We must feed on these truths and let it be internalized within us.

Episode 46 - The Bread from Heaven Gives Eternal Life - John 6:41-51

John 6:41   So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

If you’ve followed along in this study, you are aware that occasionally I’ve pointed out “evidence” that John, as he writes about Jesus, is frequently pointing us back, directly or indirectly, to the Old Testament (a.k.a. Hebrew Scriptures) to reveal that not only are those Scriptures historical, but they are also a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus. The point is to show through what Jesus says and what he does and the circumstances that unfold have parallels to what has happened before and that these cannot be contrived or coincidental for people to accept them as historical truth and start a new world religion in such a short time as happened with Christianity.

Here again in this passage is evidence of that connection with what God has done before to what is happening at this current time. Remember, that Jesus said, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me because he wrote about me.” Not long after that Jesus, like Moses, was an agent of feeding a large multitude of people in a wilderness area where there was not food readily available. Miracles happened during the Exodus and near the Sea of Galilee with Jesus. These people recognized the significance of what he did just like the Israelites recognized Moses as God’s prophet who God used to part the Red Sea and so many other signs. How did the Israelites respond? In Exodus chapters 15-17 there are seven occurrences that mention how the people “grumbled.” Some texts say they “grumbled against Moses and Aaron.” But, Exodus 16:8 make it clear that they are really grumbling against the Lord.

So, what are these people doing after being miraculously fed by Jesus, proclaiming that he is the Prophet like Moses who is to come, and want to make him their king? They are grumbling. Jesus tells them that he is the bread of life that has come down from heaven. All of a sudden, he is not worth trusting or listening to. Regardless of the revelation that has been given them, they ignore that and reason from their previous limited knowledge of him and they let their pride over rule what God has revealed to them. Knowledge does NOT necessarily lead to acceptance, belief, faith. Faith requires knowledge of God’s revelation. But having that knowledge does not necessarily lead to faith. So, what’s the secret of that knowledge affecting faith? I think Jesus answers that question right here. 

In verse 44, he says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” There is a necessity of God working to open the hearts and minds of people in order to receive His truths. This is what John meant in his prologue when he wrote, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13) Why is this important? It reveals that people don’t just come to God on their own or, in other words, don’t find their own way to heaven. More importantly, it should evoke an attitude of thankfulness that God is drawing us to Him; that he loves and cares about us to give us everything we truly need. It should humble us to realize that we are no better than anyone else; that we somehow have not earned or deserve God’s grace because He has done what we need to be right with him and be made His children.

Jesus pushes against their thinking and their bias. He responds to their so-called knowledge of their ancestors and their desire for food and their request to “give us this bread always” by telling them that the miraculous food their ancestors ate in the wilderness was only adequate for so long. They still died. But, the bread of life that he was offering is his flesh that gives eternal life to those who eat of it and Jesus will raise them up from the dead on the “last day” and they will live forever. That’s an amazing claim. Do you believe that?

Episode 45 - Jesus will not lose anyone who comes to him - John 6:35-40

John 6:35   Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Jesus had just spoken to these people whom he’d miraculously fed. They saw this and they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”  When they come looking for him, Jesus tells them, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” (vv. 33-34) Now, Jesus tells them that he is the “bread of life.” He promises that those who come to him will never hunger or thirst. 

Notice the context is speaking of eternal life. Personally, I believe God is concerned about the physical needs of this life. In Matthew 6:25-33 Jesus taught the people to not worry about what they will eat, drink, or wear. He suggests that if God cares for the birds enough to provide for them, he cares for us as much or more. But, there is something more important than our needs for this life and that is our needs for eternal life. This life is temporary. But, in our text for this episode, Jesus is telling these people that he is the “bread of life.” He is what they really need to consume for eternal life.

Then, Jesus says something that I believe should provide tremendous encouragement to everyone who trusts him. He says (again) that his sole purpose is to do what the Father wants him to do and the Father wants him to lose no one that the Father gives to him. He promises that anyone who comes to him will not be rebuffed and under no circumstances will he lose any whom the Father gives him. Even death itself cannot break the grasp Jesus has on those who trust in him. He promises that those who trust in him and then die, he will “raise up” on the last day. He repeated this promise in verse 40 by saying it’s the Father’s will that everyone who looks upon Jesus and believes in him will have eternal life and Jesus will raise him up. 

This means that everyone who believes in Jesus now has eternal life now. Nothing in this text suggests that we will have eternal life only after we’ve been raised. Those who have placed their trust in Jesus have eternal life at that moment. That’s his promise. He does not deny that people will still die physically. He’s simply saying that our life in Christ is eternal and the full experience of that will result in a resurrection and eternal presence with God. Death cannot undo eternal life. That is good news!

Episode 44 - The True Bread that gives eternal life - John 6:22-34

John 6:22   On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

John 6:25   When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

There is so much here that we could probably write multiple episodes about the response of the people who’ve been miraculously fed. But, let’s see if we can focus on a few important things that we can draw from this section. First of all, remember how these people recognize the significance of Jesus’ miracle of which they had received the benefit. They correctly deduced that Jesus was the prophet like Moses. We also see in verses 22-24 that they’d observed the disciples leave in the boat without Jesus, that Jesus was nowhere to be found where they’d last seen him, and the next day had followed the disciples over to Capernaum. When they arrived they were shocked to find Jesus there and wondered when he’d gotten there. They see things with their eyes. But, the significance of these things is not having the appropriate impact on their lives. Jesus calls them out on this.

In verse 26 he responds to them that they were only following him because they were interested in having their stomachs full. They wanted to make him king because they viewed him more as a free food plan than the God who could give them eternal life. Jesus tells them their priorities need to be set on “food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” Personally, I see this as a clear claim to these people that he is the Son of Man. I would argue that the crowd understands this claim as is evidenced in their response. Essentially, they are saying if you are the Son of Man sent from the Ancient of Days who has been given this eternal kingdom where we are to serve you, tell us what God expects from us; “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (v.28) 

Remember back in chapter five, verses 28-29 Jesus also claimed to be the Son of Man who would someday speak and the dead would rise and he says, “those who have done good to the resurrection of life.” (5:29) I asked the question then if Jesus were suggesting that salvation was by good works. This crowd seems to think it does. But, Jesus’ response in chapter six, verse 29 is “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” You see, this makes it clear that the priority of God for us is not attempting to please God through our own efforts. The most important thing is to believe in Jesus. 

This is the point where they should respond positively. But, instead, they ask for another sign so that they can believe in him. They even suggest what he should do by referring to Moses and the manna in the wilderness. They want more food to put in their mouth. They may believe that he has power to work miracles. But, they really don’t believe he is the Son of God. They want him to be subject to their own desires and not for themselves to be subject to the will of God.

Jesus tells them that it wasn’t Moses who really gave them the bread, but that his Father has sent the true bread that gives life to the world. In a manner reminiscent of the Samaritan woman, they ask him for this true bread. But, do they really want it?

The thing that strikes me most about this section is mankind’s need to not approach God with a spirit of looking to get from God what we want or think we need. We just need to trust that Jesus really is God’s Son who knows best about what we need. It is only by faith in him that we have eternal life and everything we truly need.

Episode 32 - Living water that gives eternal life

John 4:1   Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

John 4:7   A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

Chapter four is yet another story of Jesus having a one-on-one dialogue with another person as he did with Nicodemus. But, you should see some significant differences between their identity and status in society as well as their response to Jesus’ teaching. 

The first six verses give us the scene and set up this story for us. A few observations are:

1. Jesus makes a decision to return to Galilee where he had turned the water into wine and John mentions that he “had to go through Samaria. There were other routes from where he was. So, it’s not like it was the only way to get there. As we’ll see in this story and the rest of the book, the Father has a mission for Jesus and Jesus always obeys the Father.

2. John has clearly attested to Jesus’ divinty. But, he also told us in the prologue that the Word became flesh; meaning human. The fact that John mentions in this story that Jesus was weary from his journey is evidence that Jesus got tired. It’s evidence of his humanity.

3. Finally, the time of day is “the sixth hour.” In the accounting of time of that culture, the sixth hour was noon. Isn’t it interesting that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night? But, this lady will meet Jesus when the sun is highest in the sky and there is light. She will encounter the “true light” that came into the world.

Women going to get water out of a well was not unusual. But, going at noon? It’s more likely that they would come to the well early in the morning or later in the day; at times when it might be cooler. So, maybe she’s coming at a time when she believes no one else will be there. 

But, someone is there.  It is a man and it’s evident to her that he is a Jew. At her surprise, Jesus asks her for a drink of water.  In her response, we learn something about an existing prejudice Jews had toward Samaritans. She asks how it is that he would ask her for a drink. Perhaps she suspects that he wants something more than a drink of water.

My paraphrase of his response to her is, “If you understood what God wants to give you and knew who I am, you would have asked me and I would have given you living water.”  At this point, we can already recognize that Jesus has created the opportunity for dialogue by making a simple request for water. She could have given him some water to drink and continued on her way. But, she couldn’t leave it alone. She had to know why he would talk to her when most Jews would not. He uses the opportunity to turn the discussion to a spiritual direction. He’s talking about the Holy Spirit and eternal life.

She does not understand what he is talking about yet as is evidenced by her pointing out that he does have any means by which to draw water from the well. Furthermore, she challenges him by asking him whether he is greater than their common ancestor Jacob. 

Jesus then explains that the water he can give her is a different kind of water that will spring up from within her providing eternal life and will truly satisfy her “thirst.” 

It seems to me that Nicodemus would have walked away shaking his head in disbelief. The woman did not know anything about Jesus.  There were no signs, as there had been for the Jews, to cause her to want to listen to Jesus more. But, without any of that evidence and still not clear of what he’s offering, she does ask him for the water he is offering. She is saying, “I don’t really get what you’re offering. But, it sounds good and I want it.” 

I am in awe of the simplicity and the passion of her faith, as limited as it may be at this moment. Jesus isn’t finished yet. He will satisfy her parched thirst by the end of this story. 

Before we continue to the next episode, give some thought to the backgrounds and circumstances of both Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman . Maybe think about what our own prejudices might be and whether God has a mission for us in our own virtual Samaria. Ask God to lead us there and to give us the words to speak to those who are thirsty for spiritual truth and hope.

Episode 31 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life

John 3:31-36   He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

The third chapter of John’s gospel has evoked much scholarly discussion over the years regarding where Jesus’ words to Nicodemus end and where the author takes over and subsequently where John the Baptist’s teaching to his disciples ends as well. Is it John the Baptist still speaking in verse 31 or is this John the apostle picking up the point from the Baptizer and explaining the truth more completely for his audience. I am inclined to see this section as the author’s interpretation and explanation of the significance of who Jesus is.

The point in verse 31 there are those who are “earthly.” Nicodemus, John the Baptist, and John the apostle himself are from the earth. But, there is “He who comes from above” and he is superior to all. He understands things of heaven and earth and he “bears witness to what he has seen and heard” (v32), but “no one receives his testimony.” Essentially, the one who knows more and knows truthfully shares the truth. But, as we’ve seen with Nicodemus, the representative ruler of the Jews and teacher of Israel, they have not received Jesus’ teaching even though Nicodemus stated that “we know that you’ve come from God.” 

In verse 33, John speaks of the exception, “Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.” What does that mean? To set one’s seal is to make a uniquely identifying mark on something which signifies the one who initiated or authorized a document or agreement. So, to receive the testimony of the One who came from above is to strongly affirm that you believe God is true. Craig Keener in volume 1 of his two-volume “The Gospel of John: A Commentary” suggests that using this imagery of a seal could mean that this believer becomes a witness as well. (Vol 1, pg. 582) 

Verse 34 explains the reasoning for this assertion; “For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.” The first part of this is explaining that Jesus (the One whom God has sent) utters the words of God. He is not coming with his own agenda or message. The second part is a little confusing. It evokes the question of who is giving the Spirit without measure? Is it God the Father or Jesus the Son? In chapter one John the Baptist saw the Spirit descending and remaining upon Jesus signifying the Father’s identification of Jesus as the one whom John the Baptist was to direct people. Later in this gospel, we see how Jesus will promise to send the Holy Spirit to be with those who trust in him. So, in a sense, they are both “givers” of the Holy Spirit, which is consistent with what we’ve been learning since the opening verse of this book; that the Son is divine and always has been. He is from above. Verse 35 gives us a glimpse at the difference in person between the Father and the Son. “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.” We see oneness in divinity but uniqueness in person. This contributes to the Trinitarian doctrine of the Christian faith; there is only one God, that is three in person. Verse 35 emphasizes the Father’s love toward the Son and gives him all authority. Yet, the Son does not come speaking his own words, but that of the Father. This is a picture of harmony of will between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The message culminates in a reinforcement of mankind’s need to believe in the Son. The one who believes in the Son receives eternal life. However, the one who disobeys (or disbelieves) the Son “shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Why? The point of this text is that if you do not believe the Son, you are not setting your seal that God is true, and therefore, you’re calling God a liar.

Episode 28 - God loved the world

John 3:16-18

16   “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

We have arrived at what is likely the most famous or well-known verses in all of the Bible; at least in the English language. You have likely driven down highways and seen this verse on a billboard. You may even recall watching sporting events where spectators who were sitting in areas frequently captured by television cameras would be holding placards with the reference John 3:16. 

Just because and maybe even especially because it’s so familiar, we should not move past it so quickly. Take the first phrase “For God so loved the world . . . “  for example. This part of the verse is frequently interpreted as a description of quantity; a measure of how much God loved us. However nice that sounds, it is likely more accurate to understand this as an expression of the manner in which God loved the world. In other words, we could paraphrase this as “God loved the world in such a way that he gave his only Son . . . “ Regardless, that phrase is intended to cause its hearers or readers to stop in awe. Ideally, mankind confronted by this reality should be stopped in our tracks at the wonder that God would love any one of us that he would send his only Son into the world to die on our behalf so that we might not perish. If you get nothing else from this blog or podcast episode, I hope this Scripture will have such an effect on you. It should move us to be humbled, to be thankful to God, and to say to God, “God, let the gift of your Son have the effect You desire in me. Help me trust you in all things.”

Notice that the rest of this little section we’re reading speaks of two kinds of people; those who are perishing and those who are given eternal life. This sounds pretty extreme and so it is if you believe this is the truth from God’s Word.

The first part of this that is important to understand is that it’s God’s love, expressed through the giving of His only Son, makes it possible for people to not perish, but be given eternal life. This is important to realize God’s good intention toward mankind. In verse 17, it’s more fully explained by saying, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world.” I’m continually amazed by how many people I meet; religious or not who tend to think that God is always waiting to judge and condemn people for the slightest misstep. The situation, however, is that mankind is already in a judged and condemned condition. How did that happen? That happened back at the beginning of time when the first man and woman who were perfectly created by God, used their God-given wills to choose to disobey God. They brought “darkness” into the world through their disobedience. We are their children and are, therefore, born into this condition of darkness. But, God is saying, “I don’t want you to be there and I’m going to do something about it.” 

Don’t miss the repetition of “the world.” God’s intent is not simply to save the Jews. God’s intent is to save the world; people all over the world regardless of race, ethnicity, etc. 

Do these people need to do anything to not perish and have eternal life? Yes. They have to “believe in him.” Who is him? The answer is God’s only Son Jesus Christ. Think of it this way: Someone can give you a gift. But, you don’t have it unless you accept it. In verse 18, John writes that if you believe you are not condemned. However, everyone who has not believed is already condemned, “because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (v18) 

There are people who want to say that everyone gets to God in their own way or everyone ultimately is saved. But, this verse is in direct contradiction to that kind of thinking. The point is that we all have this problem of “darkness.” We need God’s light in our hearts and minds leading us Him. That light, the true light that came into the world was God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.