Jesus makes an astounding statement in John 6:40: "For this is the will of My Father, that every one who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." NASB. Later in v. 44 He explains how this can happen: "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day."
My attention was drawn to the phrase "beholds the Son". He was speaking to the same multitude of well over 5000 who had just eaten from the miraculous provision of food Jesus provided. Didn't every one "see" Jesus?
Looking into the Greek word translated as "beholds" helps us understand the meaning. "Theoreo" is a word not used of an indifferent spectator, but of one who looks at a thing with interest and for a purpose; would be used of a general officially reviewing or inspecting his army.
Notice in John 6:40, beholding precedes believing. Verse 44 talks about the Father who draws us to the Son.
We are in the season of Christmas. Many see the pictures of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. Sometimes we see pictures of shepherds. An angel of the Lord brought astounding news . Here is how Luke records the event, including the response of the shepherds.
From The Message: Luke 2:8-18
An Event for Everyone
8-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed." [bold added]
The shepherds responded by telling everyone the message the angels had said about Jesus. That message was the Gospel or Good News. Good news of a Savior and Master.
How about you? What do you "see" when you "look at Jesus"? A good man? A prophet of God?
My next blog will talk about what Jesus said about Himself and why He came to earth.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Symphony or Solo
SERVANTHOOD: SYMPHONY OR SOLO?
A symphony brings together many musicians from diverse backgrounds who must work together to produce music that is faithful to the composer. Each individual in the symphony must play his instrument according to the way the music is written and be under direction of the conductor. Symphony participants are part of the whole. They perform to please the conductor while remaining faithful to the way the music was written.
A solo, on the other hand, is an individual performer. This person may sing in a manner distinctive and without any outside direction. They may sing to please themselves, in a manner they choose.
I have been meditating on a fresh aspect of the Advent Season. The first advent I mean. When the One who is the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Eternal Son, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God.. became flesh and dwelled among us. The morally perfect Jesus, who is prophet, priest and king. Savior, Lord, Redeemer. God’s Servant, the Branch. And much more!
Let’s focus on “God’s Servant”.
How did this perfect man live? What does He expect of us?
Philippians chapter two gives some aspects of how Jesus became a servant.
Philippians 2:3-8 NLT says “Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; [He laid aside his mighty power and glory.] He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. Greek: and was born in the likeness of men and was found in appearance as a man.” And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.”
What did Jesus say of Himself? Three times in John’s Gospel Jesus said He did only the will of the Father. John
Look here at the main points of “servant”.
- Live unselfish life
- Don’t try and “impress” others
- Be humble
- Think of others as better than self
- Think about others’ affairs, show genuine interest in their lives
- Don’t demand your rights. Surrender them to God.
- Live as a “slave”
- Obey God. Seek His will. Do ONLY His will.
What does Jesus expect of His followers? Matthew 16:24-25 says: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
I think we can conclude that this life style is more like being part of a symphony than doing a solo. :) Have this attitude… humility... What does this look like?
We all live in families or must interact with others in the workplace or school. There are many things in life that are NOT fun or do not give us personal satisfaction. There are times when others really need our help. Here is what a servant looks like.
- When someone needs your help, ask them HOW they want you to help. Do the job to please THEM. Not to just get it done or to do it “YOUR WAY”. You may need to learn “flexibility”.
- Volunteer to do the job NO
- Respond in love. Overlook sins. Bless and not curse. Never revile another person. Forgive fully, as you wish Christ to forgive you! Let it go.
- Remember, it is the LORD God you serve He will reward you.
This
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Thursday, December 4, 2008
SONGS OF THE SEASON
Join us Friday night 7 p.m. Central Time for a time of enjoying some songs of Advent. Yesterday we talked about God using prophecy to foretell the coming of the One who would redeem or ransom those who are separated from God.
As we look at the words to an old Advent Hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, we see how prophecy is used in song. The Gospel is also clearly presented in this hymn.
Here is a link where you can see the words, learn the melody and see a reproduction of the painting showing Isaiah writing of the birth of Christ.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomocom.htm
Here are the words:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse,
freeThine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
O come, Thou Day-spring,
come and cheerOur spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
The title comes from the well known Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel is Hebrew for “God with us.”
Jesse is the father of David, the second king of Israel. The LORD spoke to King David that after David's death God would raise up a seed [descendant] after David. God would establish the throne of the kingdom of this man forever. God would be His father, He would be a Son to God. See 2 Samuel 7:12-14; Isaiah 9:7 and 11:1.
John the Baptist's father, Zachariah, sang in prophecy: “The dayspring from on high has visited us.” Luke 1:78. Why did He visit? " Luke 1:77-78 says: "To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, The dayspring from on high has visited us."
Isaiah 22:22 says “The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder,” which in turn refers to Isaiah 9:6 “The government shall be upon His shoulder.”
Haggai prophesied: "And I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts." chapter 2:7
Isaiah 9:6 writes of the coming Prince of Peace.
We see the Gospel in this hymn as we notice the ransom or rescue of a people lost and dead in their transgressions. Held captive to the forces of evil and satan. Christ, both the wisdom of God and the power of God, came from heaven [on high] to be incarnated as "God with us". God who is morally pure and perfect came as Son of God, Son of Man [from seed of David] by the Holy Spirit of God and a virgin woman. Born sinless, Christ lived a sin-free life and was a willing sacrifice to take upon His own flesh the full wrath of God against all who have sinned and thus are destined to the fires of hell. This includes ALL mankind. The Law, given on Sinai, was unable to ransom those held captive to satan's power. Jesus is a perfect and a WILLING sacrifice --fully God, fully man, so is supreme over all animal sacrifices. For all who cry out for the mercy of God, repent from their sins and turn in complete surrender and trust in Christ as their ransom payment, they will experience joy of being delivered from the depths of hell and the tyranny of satan into the Kingdom ruled by the King of Peace.
This hymn also causes us to look forward to the second Advent of Christ when as King He will " bind in one the hearts of all mankind and bid our sad divisions cease."
How about you, my friend? Do you have peace with God? Turn in trust and repentance and experience the joy of your salvation.
As we look at the words to an old Advent Hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, we see how prophecy is used in song. The Gospel is also clearly presented in this hymn.
Here is a link where you can see the words, learn the melody and see a reproduction of the painting showing Isaiah writing of the birth of Christ.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomocom.htm
Here are the words:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse,
freeThine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
O come, Thou Day-spring,
come and cheerOur spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
The title comes from the well known Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Immanuel is Hebrew for “God with us.”
Jesse is the father of David, the second king of Israel. The LORD spoke to King David that after David's death God would raise up a seed [descendant] after David. God would establish the throne of the kingdom of this man forever. God would be His father, He would be a Son to God. See 2 Samuel 7:12-14; Isaiah 9:7 and 11:1.
John the Baptist's father, Zachariah, sang in prophecy: “The dayspring from on high has visited us.” Luke 1:78. Why did He visit? " Luke 1:77-78 says: "To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, The dayspring from on high has visited us."
Isaiah 22:22 says “The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder,” which in turn refers to Isaiah 9:6 “The government shall be upon His shoulder.”
Haggai prophesied: "And I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts." chapter 2:7
Isaiah 9:6 writes of the coming Prince of Peace.
We see the Gospel in this hymn as we notice the ransom or rescue of a people lost and dead in their transgressions. Held captive to the forces of evil and satan. Christ, both the wisdom of God and the power of God, came from heaven [on high] to be incarnated as "God with us". God who is morally pure and perfect came as Son of God, Son of Man [from seed of David] by the Holy Spirit of God and a virgin woman. Born sinless, Christ lived a sin-free life and was a willing sacrifice to take upon His own flesh the full wrath of God against all who have sinned and thus are destined to the fires of hell. This includes ALL mankind. The Law, given on Sinai, was unable to ransom those held captive to satan's power. Jesus is a perfect and a WILLING sacrifice --fully God, fully man, so is supreme over all animal sacrifices. For all who cry out for the mercy of God, repent from their sins and turn in complete surrender and trust in Christ as their ransom payment, they will experience joy of being delivered from the depths of hell and the tyranny of satan into the Kingdom ruled by the King of Peace.
This hymn also causes us to look forward to the second Advent of Christ when as King He will " bind in one the hearts of all mankind and bid our sad divisions cease."
How about you, my friend? Do you have peace with God? Turn in trust and repentance and experience the joy of your salvation.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Who is He?
Luke 7 records a couple of miracles that Jesus performed. Next we hear of John the Baptist sending some messengers and asking a strange question. "Are You the One who is coming, or do we look for one who is different?".. v. 19. As we read on Jesus gives a rather unusual reply, but one which John would readily understand.
Here was Jesus's reply. See if you recognize any parts similar to what we read yesterday. "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me." Luke 7:22-23 KJV
Why didn't Jesus just say to John: "John, you baptized Me and heard God say: This is my Son. Of course I am God come in the flesh" ?
God chose to use prophecy to authenticate the Messiah. Had Jesus come as God in all of His power, Jesus would have come with Justice and not grace. As sinners, all would have been consumed with His holy wrath against sin. So we see that Isaiah's prophecy of many years before Jesus was born was indeed fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus, the Messiah.
Next post we will look and discover: Who is blind? deaf? lame? mute?
Here was Jesus's reply. See if you recognize any parts similar to what we read yesterday. "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is [he], whosoever shall not be offended in me." Luke 7:22-23 KJV
Why didn't Jesus just say to John: "John, you baptized Me and heard God say: This is my Son. Of course I am God come in the flesh" ?
God chose to use prophecy to authenticate the Messiah. Had Jesus come as God in all of His power, Jesus would have come with Justice and not grace. As sinners, all would have been consumed with His holy wrath against sin. So we see that Isaiah's prophecy of many years before Jesus was born was indeed fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus, the Messiah.
Next post we will look and discover: Who is blind? deaf? lame? mute?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Advent Season
I have been reading about Advent. Advent means "to come". Yesterday we talked about reaching our destination. Being on the right road.
Here are some verses from Isaiah. Chapter 1:27 NASB
"Zion will be redeemed with justice and her repentant ones with righteousness."
"Repentant ones" can mean penitent or returnees. A returnee is someone who is returning to a place. Redemption or to redeem means to "buy back". To make a payment. But how will this redemption take place? With justice and with righteousness. Look now at Isaiah chapter 35 NLT which tells about the future restoration of Zion.
Hope for Restoration
1 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God.
3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.
4 Say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”
5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.
6 The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland.
7 The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived.
8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.
9 Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it.
10 Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness."
Who do you think the He is in verse 4 and 5? He is coming to save His people. To redeem by His own righteousness. He will be someone who is just. We have a hint.. At His advent, He will do these things: He gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, the ability to walk and leap like a deer to the lame, and voice to express great joy to those who are mute.
These will travel on the Highway of Holiness. They are traveling to Zion, the place of God's presence. They will reach the right destination by being on the right road, the road that is righteous and morally perfect and pure. The One who comes to redeem will provide this Way.
Tomorrow we will identify the One who Comes to Redeem His people.
Here are some verses from Isaiah. Chapter 1:27 NASB
"Zion will be redeemed with justice and her repentant ones with righteousness."
"Repentant ones" can mean penitent or returnees. A returnee is someone who is returning to a place. Redemption or to redeem means to "buy back". To make a payment. But how will this redemption take place? With justice and with righteousness. Look now at Isaiah chapter 35 NLT which tells about the future restoration of Zion.
Hope for Restoration
1 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God.
3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.
4 Say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”
5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.
6 The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland.
7 The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived.
8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.
9 Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it.
10 Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness."
Who do you think the He is in verse 4 and 5? He is coming to save His people. To redeem by His own righteousness. He will be someone who is just. We have a hint.. At His advent, He will do these things: He gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, the ability to walk and leap like a deer to the lame, and voice to express great joy to those who are mute.
These will travel on the Highway of Holiness. They are traveling to Zion, the place of God's presence. They will reach the right destination by being on the right road, the road that is righteous and morally perfect and pure. The One who comes to redeem will provide this Way.
Tomorrow we will identify the One who Comes to Redeem His people.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Reaching Your Planned Destination
I moved to Arizona over 35 years ago. I still remember my first visit to the Grand Canyon. A friend of mine from work who moved here from back east was excited to go. She told me she thought she would see Indians and pioneers in a wagon train along the way. :) As I recall the trip, I knew we must travel north and assumed that once we hit old Route 66 we would be there. Or at least very close. I mean Route 66 was a famous highway. Widely traveled from the East to West of the US. What a surprise to find we still had a lot of driving past Route 66. In fact had we gone on Route 66, we would have ended up in California or New Mexico!
There is a canyon there somewhere? I can't see too clearly.
So what is the point? That I didn't look at the map too closely? Or maybe not at all?
The point is about something a bit more serious. Have you noticed that many on the road of life are not taking much thought about how to reach their final destination? I mean "eternity". When asked, most say, yes, of course I wish to go to heaven! But are they on the right road? The Bible says there is only one way.. only one road to heaven. Are YOU on the right road? Here is what Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 7:13-14 NLT “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
What do you think about these words? Pretty frightening, yes? My blog is called Winds of Change.. I can assure you that if you make a visit to the Grand Canyon, you will see why I wear a headscarf. The wind will be blowing and it changes direction quite often. We are living in times of serious problems worldwide. The winds are changing. I hope to put on some information each time I blog about what YOU can do to prepare for these changes. For those on the road to life, these will be very exciting times. For others, I hope you will check out some of the links I put up. They will give you information you will need about how YOU can enter God's Kingdom. How you can be sure you will reach your planned destination.
There is a canyon there somewhere? I can't see too clearly.So what is the point? That I didn't look at the map too closely? Or maybe not at all?
The point is about something a bit more serious. Have you noticed that many on the road of life are not taking much thought about how to reach their final destination? I mean "eternity". When asked, most say, yes, of course I wish to go to heaven! But are they on the right road? The Bible says there is only one way.. only one road to heaven. Are YOU on the right road? Here is what Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 7:13-14 NLT “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
What do you think about these words? Pretty frightening, yes? My blog is called Winds of Change.. I can assure you that if you make a visit to the Grand Canyon, you will see why I wear a headscarf. The wind will be blowing and it changes direction quite often. We are living in times of serious problems worldwide. The winds are changing. I hope to put on some information each time I blog about what YOU can do to prepare for these changes. For those on the road to life, these will be very exciting times. For others, I hope you will check out some of the links I put up. They will give you information you will need about how YOU can enter God's Kingdom. How you can be sure you will reach your planned destination.
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