Tag: John

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Seeing Him For Who He Is

John 2:1-11 and SOAP John 2:11

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 2:11

The Elephant in the Room

First things first, let’s address the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’, found in verse 4, where Jesus says to His mother, Mary … “Woman, why are you saying this to me?” Was Jesus being rude to His mother? Absolutely not. Often, despite our best efforts, inflections or intent are lost in the translation of Scripture, as is the case here. According to Gotquestions.org and other trusted commentaries, such as BibleRef.com, the use of this term, “Woman,” in the original Greek would have been understood as a polite and possibly even formal statement. Much like our use of the term ma’am, “woman” is meant to show respect, and is even considered by some to have been an affectionate term. For an example of this – look how Jesus used the same word from the cross – and how different it sounds in this context – when He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son”, referring to His dearly loved disciple in John 19:26-27.

The First Miraculous Sign

Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding where He was a guest. Perhaps it was because His mother had requested it, however, I believe we see the real reason in our focus passage today. It’s here that we read that Jesus revealed His glory (made Himself known) and His disciples believed in Him, (2:11). He would go on to do many more miraculous signs over the course of His ministry, and all of them would be used as a means of proof that He was who He said He was, the One John had been announcing as – The One God Loved … The Lamb of God … The Chosen One … the Son of God …

The Proof Is In The Wine

The outcome of Jesus turning the water into wine was a victorious success as the “disciples believed in Him”. They trusted He was who He said He was – The Son of God. You see the miracles weren’t about Jesus looking amazing or astounding people or gaining popularity among the people. The miraculous signs, as John called them, were meant to make God known. Today, when we glorify God we are making Him known. We are making His Son known and this will always have an impact on the people in our lives – whether they are family, friends, strangers, or neighbors.

What’s this mean for His followers today?

As Mary told the servants in today’s story – we should do whatever He tells us to do. Not only will we be blessed (see verse 9) but we will be making Him known to those watching or listening, or receiving … Working along side Jesus, doing what He tells us to do will always have an impact on those around us – because what is said and done in His name will always make Him known. We should also call to mind what we have read about Him and what we’ve seen or experienced Him do in or through us or those we love – remembering the ‘miraculous signs’ will bolster our faith and secure our hope in Him. 

Father, thank you for the miracles - the miraculous signs through and by You in the Old Testament and Christ in the New. Thank you for those I have experienced in my own life, such as Abi's feet being healed, Annie's cancer being healed, peace in the storms of life, as well as Your perfect timing in more ways than I can count, and Your provisions and making a way when there was no hope ... Thank you for letting us see Him for who He is. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of Your work. May we be quick to do as you say and careful to pay attention to what You do and to make Your works known - so that Your glory might be seen and many many more might believe. In Jesus' Name - So let it be! 
- Me, From the Inside Out 💕

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John’s Testimony: This Is the Son of God

Read John 1:19-42 and SOAP John 1:34

  I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”

John 1:34

John uses a variety of names to identify Jesus to the people in verse 19-42, for instance in the NET version John references Him as Lord (23), The Lamb of God (29, 36), and The Son of God (34). On top of the specific names John also uses several specific references such as “the One – whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie” (27), “the one who takes away the sin of the world!” (29),”a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.” (30), “The One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (33). All of these references are specific to this One Man. They are applicable to Jesus alone.

John had a job to do – a ministry call to fulfill, for he was commissioned before he was even born to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Luke 1:17 and 76), and he did it well. However, he not only tasked with telling people who Jesus was – but he had seen who Jesus was. God gave John an unmistakable sign that left no room for doubt that Jesus was the Chosen One, The true and undeniable Lamb of God.

Every time I read this portion of Scripture, one question pops in my head and convicts my heart. What is my testimony about Jesus? This question is followed by a seemingly endless list of follow-up questions like – Do I know Him well enough to testify about Him? Am I certain enough of who He is that I talk freely and assuredly about Him, where He came from, what He can do, and what He’s done already? I am convinced that if we are to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) we must be able to move beyond simply knowing His name and His birthday, to seeing “who He is” because God has shown us who He is! – We must be able, like John, to say without wavering – “I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God”.

Yes God, may we see the Son through Your eyes, may we watch for and remember the ways you make Him known to us so that in due time we can make Him known to others. May our lips not only name Him but may we point Him out with descriptions that testify to who He really is. In all of this may You be glorified.

Me, From the Inside Out – 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Jesus – The Word and The Creator

Grab your favorite Bible and read John 1:1-18; SOAP: John 1:1-4

In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.

John 1:1-4

John was born and sent by God to be the one who prepared the way for “the Lord”, the Messiah to come, (Luke 1:1-25 and 67-80). While Jesus was not yet with John, we find John introducing Him in the very first verse of John’s Gospel. He doesn’t introduce Him as a baby in a manger or a name at the end of a long line of genealogy – but he boldly proclaims Him as “the Word” … as One being with God in the very beginning – we’re talking Genesis 1:1 beginning – before creation was spoken into being beginning. John not only says that Jesus was with God in the beginning but he introduces Him … as being God and as being used by God in the creation of everything – “Nothing was created except through Him.” The other word John uses to describe Jesus is life – “life that brought light to everyone”. The importance of that last statement, “brought light to everyone”, is made clear in verse 5 where we are told that His light shines in the “darkness” but the darkness does not overcome it. Jesus will explain this part of Himself later in John 8. For now just let John’s description settle over you for a moment – Jesus, the very word of God … with God in the beginning … God Himself … Life and Light. The One, who though He was God, came and took on flesh to offer us the hope of eternal security wasn’t dreamed up when all else failed – He was there in the beginning.

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OUR SECURITY FOR ETERNITY

“One of the biggest and most humbling questions in life is what happens when we die. We long for peace, for certainty to know that, even though our lives on earth will end, there is something more. But how can we know for sure? How can we be certain death is not the end? – The only true answer is found in the Scriptures – the Word of God – and the Book of John is a great place to start … Through the reading of John’s Gospel we can know what it means to have faith in Jesus and what it means to have eternal life. – If you’ve ever had questions about faith – this Bible study is for you – whether you’ve never placed your faith in Jesus or you’ve been walking with Him for more years than you can remember – Our Security for Eternity will deepen your understanding of who Jesus is.”

Come join me for this 6 week journey through John's Gospel. Regardless of how often you've heard it, read it, or studied it I am confident that God's Spirit will make it fresh - for His Word is alive and active and has the power to transform our lives.
Join me for week one of “Our Security for Eternity” from the Gospel of John (March 7 – March 11)

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The Baptism of Jesus Matthew 3:13-17

John had been baptizing those who were repenting and turning to God. Now Jesus comes to be baptized by John. What an honor, right? John, however, understood that Jesus was the Messiah and did not need to repent of anything or turn to God, as was the requirement for baptism (Matthew 3:6). If anything, John understood his own sin and believed he should be baptized by Jesus not the other way around.

Reflection Question:

How did Jesus change John’s mind?

What happens after the baptism is relayed by Matthew in a beautiful picture of words that describe the love, joy, and pleasure that God took in seeing His son baptized – a symbol of being buried in death and raised to life. He also describes a scene of God’s Spirit descending like a dove, which one of my favorite Bible references describes like this:

God the Father immediately responds to Jesus’ baptism in a powerful way. As Jesus emerges from being fully immersed in the water of the Jordan River, the heavens are opened. Jesus sees God the Holy Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and coming to rest on Him.

It’s unclear from the descriptions in the other Gospels whether only Jesus saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descend. This might have been witnessed by everyone present. Or, perhaps it was only perceived by Jesus and John (John 1:32). Luke does specify that the Holy Spirit took solid, bodily form (Luke 3:22). However, the phrase “like a dove” can either refer to the visual appearance of the Spirit, or to the manner in which the Spirit descended. As such, it’s not explicitly clear that the Holy Spirit looked like a literal dove.

Bibleref.com in regard to Matthew 3:16

While John’s experience with Jesus is unique to only him, I am reminded what a privilege it is to serve God/Jesus in any way. I am equally convicted to remember the privilege and have a humble spirit like John, who surrendered to serve/baptizing as Christ requested – knowing, as Jesus told him, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” 

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Everlasting Covenant: (4) Thursday, The Birth of John

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Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:57-80 (S.O.A.P. Luke 1:68, 72-73)

The Birth of John the Baptist

When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son. 58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very merciful to her, everyone rejoiced with her.

59 When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!”

61 “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” 62 So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

65 Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. 66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior[a]
    from the royal line of his servant David,
70 just as he promised
    through his holy prophets long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
    and from all who hate us.
72 He has been merciful to our ancestors
    by remembering his sacred covenant—
73 the covenant he swore with an oath
    to our ancestor Abraham.
74 We have been rescued from our enemies
    so we can serve God without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
    for as long as we live.

76 “And you, my little son,
    will be called the prophet of the Most High,
    because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77 You will tell his people how to find salvation
    through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of God’s tender mercy,
    the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,[b]
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    and to guide us to the path of peace.”

John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.

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Everlasting Covenant: (4) Monday, God’s Messenger Announced

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Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:1-25 (S.O.A.P. Luke 1:25)

Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples.[a] 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.[b] 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,[c] and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

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Bridge to Everlasting Covenant Week 2, Friday

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Question of the Day: According to verse 17, the law was given through Moses, but what was given through Jesus Christ?

Today’s Scripture: John 1:14-18 (S.O.A.P. John 1:14)

So the Word became human[a] and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[b] And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

15 John testified about Him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for He existed long before me.’”

16 From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.[c] 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is Himself God,[d] is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

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Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory

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John 13:1-17

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Today’s Scripture: John 13:1-17 (S.O.A.P. John 13:14-15)

Question of the Day: Why do you think Jesus chose to wash the feet of His disciples?

Washing the Disciples’ Feet – Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that his time[a] had come to depart[b] from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end.[c] 2 The evening meal[d] was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart[e] of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray[f] Jesus.[g] 3 Because Jesus[h] knew that the Father had handed all things over to him,[i] and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 he got up from the meal, removed[j] his outer clothes,[k] took a towel and tied it around himself.[l] 5 He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.[m]

Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter[n] said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash[o] my feet?” 7 Jesus replied,[p] “You do not understand[q] what I am doing now, but you will understand[r] after these things.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!”[s] Jesus replied,[t] “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”[u] 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, wash[v] not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus replied,[w] “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet,[x] but is completely[y] clean.[z] And you disciples[aa] are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 (For Jesus[ab] knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, “Not every one of you is[ac] clean.”)[ad]

 So when Jesus[ae] had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table[af] again and said to them, “Do you understand[ag] what I have done for you? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly,[ah] for that is what I am.[ai] 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example[aj]—you should do just as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the solemn truth,[ak] the slave[al] is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger[am] greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand[an] these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

After Thoughts