Thirsty / John 4:4-42

In 2001, I spent ten days whining in Quito, Ecuador. I whined about the lack of good, clear, drinkable, Minnesota-10,000-Lakes, Chippewa-Falls-pure water. Water without vicious intestine attacking microbes. Water you aren’t afraid to brush your teeth with. (We take it so for granted!)

My first Spanish: “Agua por favor! MAS agua!”

I think of whining in Quito—that incredible adventure in the Andes—and how I missed so much, focused as I was on the troubles of this temporal plane. I think of the woman at the well—with Messiah Himself standing before her—and how she had trouble understanding an endless water source, earthly wells being what they are.

I hear Jesus saying this morning, as if He were speaking to me, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

I get so distracted with the things of this life. When I am reminded of who He is, as I am with this morning’s passage, I realize how very thirsty I am—thirsty for the gift and thirsty for the Giver.

Lord Jesus, drench me, drown me in that living water. Wash me away in the flood of Your grace… Water, please, El Senor! More Water!

Less Is More

John 3:22 – 4:3

“It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. (3:29-30)

Certainly, these are extraordinary circumstances, as John the Baptist watches his disciples leaving him to follow Jesus. John and Jesus have a special relationship, and their missions are clear. John was born to prepare the way for Jesus, the true Messiah. Still, isn’t it just convicting to hear John so plainly, sincerely, and humbly state the truth, “He must become greater, and I must become less?”

We face John’s challenge, too. In life and in ministry, as we face the crisis of faith that leads us to the brink of salvation, and as we’re faced with the challenges of growing from there onto Christian maturity, we wrestle with it. We find ourselves asking the questions John’s disciples, and I think John, himself, must have faced. Will we hold onto the things that boost our ego? Will we fight to be recognized? Will we pretend we’ve created the blessings in our lives ourselves? Will we compete with others, deluding ourselves into thinking that the success of our ministry is based on us rather than on God? Or will we submit ourselves to our Savior? Can we believe that we’re not what people need, that we’re just the vessel through which they can meet Jesus? Can we let go of our selves and our pride and increasingly discover God at work inside us and among us? And can we rejoice in the great work God is doing without needing to claim responsibility?

Jesus must become greater, and we must become less. Oddly enough, Jesus continually reminds us that when that happens, we become more complete, more joyful, more satisfied, more the person we were designed to be.

Born Again?

John 3:1-21

Have you seen one of those quizzes? I mean the kind that gives a list
of quotations, and you are to tell which ones are from the Bible. For
example, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." From the Bible? No.
Generally attributed to John Wesley. What about those signs along the
highway? "Prepare to meet thy God." From the Bible? Yes, from Amos
4:12. How about "You must be born again"? Here it is in today's
reading. And we must acknowledge that Jesus' words are not for
Nicodemus alone. According to my Bible's footnote on verse 7, the Greek
word for "you" here is plural. That includes me. Born again?

I have discovered many ways in which I am like Nicodemus. Maybe not a
religious leader, but certainly I have lived most of my life trying to
deserve God's love by being an active church member. I was attracted to
Jesus as my "Rabbi" - my Teacher and Example. But, like Nicodemus, I
sought him out "by night," afraid of what others might think. Afraid to
admit the desperate emptiness of my soul. "The wind blows wherever it
wants," but I wanted to keep a tight rein on the work of the Holy
Spirit in me. Nicodemus apparently found it hard to lay aside all the
good works he had been relying upon. "What do you mean?" Give up all I
have ever known about being a true believer? All the points I've
accrued? Start from scratch? Let the Holy Spirit have his way with me?
Completely? And Jesus encourages Nicodemus. I hear him, firmly yet
patiently, as he says, "Don't be surprised . . ." He's speaking to me!
Deetje, you have glimpsed the Kingdom of God. You have had a foretaste
of glory. Have you forgotten to rely upon my Spirit? Enter again. Look
upon the Son of Man being lifted up on the pole. Fix your eyes on me,
the Pioneer and Perfecter of your faith. Believe in me, trust me, cling
to me. Let me fill you with my Spirit once again. Let me restore the
joy of your salvation. Let me soften your heart and draw you out of
darkness into my light.

Deetje Wildes

Wedding at Cana

Remember that Jesus enjoys sharing our joyous times in life.  Vs. 5 -  “Do whatever He tells you to do.”  We need to seek to apply those words to the many experiences of our lives.  Vs. 11 – The first time Jesus revealed His glory.  Vs. 12 – Jesus goes home to spend time with His mother, brothers and disciples.  Note: no mention is made of Joseph.  The traditional belief is that he had died years before this.  Vs. 13 – Passover.  You may want to review this great event in Jewish history (see Exodus 12 and other references).  Remember the innocent lamb was slain.  John 1:29 (said about Jesus), “Behold the Lamb of God…!”  Vs. 23, 24 – People began to trust Him, YET human nature was weak.  Vs. 25 – Jesus knew their hearts THEN and He knows our hearts NOW!  How and what do you feel (both good and also upsetting) because of this truth?

 

Donald E. Pardun

 

The Gospel on Trees

John 1:1-28

One of the WOW!'s for me in reading John chapter 1 again is the revelation that the 2nd Person of the Trinity, Christ the Son, was actively involved in Creation. John wants us to know this. We are to revel in it, but also feel the spiritual travesty when Creation distances or dismisses itself from Christ.

God the Son did not sit on the bench during Genesis 1:1. He was instrumental in creation -- God created everything through him (v.3). He was comprehensive, even exhaustive in the extent of creating -- nothing was created except through him (v.3b). It is He who actually instilled Life into all created things -- The Word gave life to everything that was created (v.4).

Thus, the appalling guilt of not attributing Creation to Christ; of Creation not recognizing its own Creator, the One who gave it life! Don't we feel the common affect of the Fall and shared responsibility for it as we read that Creation not only doesn't recognize Him, but his own people reject rather than receive Him? He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. (vv.10-11)

Does it seem the drive to discover life elsewhere among the stars is subconsciously fueled by desire to dismiss the uniqueness of us, Christ, and His Gospel?! That if I can find some creature that does not need Him, then perhaps nor do I? One of the things I wrestle with when I hear of yet some other globe spinning out there that could possibly incubate life, is that John tells us Christ created ALL. And yet he says it was to this world, to our people, and to my sin and need for rebirth that Jesus came to give life and then give it again. And what could Life possibly be without Him?!

PPaul


Some favorite sage words of saints before:

"The initial step for a soul to come to knowledge of God is contemplation of nature.” Irenaeus

“God writes the Gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” Martin Luther

“The creation is quite like a spacious and splendid house, provided and filled with the most exquisite and the most abundant furnishings. Everything in it tells us of God.” John Calvin

“Now if I believe in God’s Son and remember that He became man, all creatures will appear a hundred times more beautiful to me than before. Then I will properly appreciate the sun, the moon, the star, trees, apples, as I reflect that He is Lord over all things.” Martin Luther

“Some people, in order to discover God, read books. But there is a great book: the very appearance of created things. Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead, He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?” St. Augustine