How Do You Know? John 10:22-11:16

One of the children asked years ago, “Mom, how do you know Jesus is who he says he is?” My answer at the time wasn’t deep. “I just know. The Bible says so and I believe it.” That was a good enough answer for the child. (Ahh… Life was so simple then! )

This morning’s passage raises the question again. The Jews demanded, “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly,” and Jesus answered, “I have already told you…” His miracles speak for him. The weight of prophecy fulfilled testifies on his behalf. And he says, clearly, “The Father and I are one.”

How do you know Jesus is the miracle-working, prophecy-fulfilling, Messiah? If someone asked you today, how would you answer? Have you witnessed miracles? Believed what others have told you? Believed the testimony of your own changed heart?

Jesus told the Jews, “But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.” Did you hear the Shepherd's voice and sense your own “sheepness”? What made you decide to believe?

Or maybe you are asking the question this morning—How can I be sure? What will it take for him to prove himself to you? What will it take for you to believe? What more can he say? What more can he do?

How do I know Jesus is who he says he is—my God, my Shepherd, my Messiah? He tells me so and I choose to believe him. It’s that simple. Ahh...

"I need no other argument, I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me."

"No Other Plea" by Lidie H. Edmunds

Our Good Shepherd

John 9:35 – 10:21

In each of the other Gospels, we have witnessed Jesus’ determination and commitment to His purpose of salvation, with words like Luke’s, “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Here, in John, we see it again, as Jesus explains in verse 18, “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily.” Many descriptions of Jesus’ death, in television movies or in the news media, show Him as the victim of politics, as if He died almost by accident. But Scripture clearly teaches that He knew what He was doing.

In today’s reading, Jesus describes Himself both as our shepherd and a gate. He is our Shepherd. He knows us, and we recognize Him. His voice offers us direction and security. When we follow Him we are cared for and provided for. The sheep near us, who don’t know or belong to Him, scatter in fear and confusion when they hear His voice, looking for another shepherd to follow. And He is the gate. Later in John, Jesus will declare, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Jesus laid down His life for us, voluntarily, to protect us from the attack of the evil one and to rescue us from the destruction that is sure to come if we follow other shepherds or if we wander off on our own. He is the only Shepherd, Leader, Savior, or Lord that gave up His life in our place, so that we might experience life to the full.

I don’t know exactly what it feels like to be a sheep, but I can accept that I’m prone to wander like one. I need a Good Shepherd who not only guides me but also lays down His life and exchanges it for mine. Jesus is our hope, our salvation, our protector, and our God. Let us follow him without hesitation, into adventures known only by Him and into a life forever characterized by His forgiveness, filled with His presence, and overflowing with His love.

Now I Can See

John 9:1-34

I think about the blind man's mother and father, back when they were
young, anticipating the birth of their child. Was it their first? I
feel their joy as they received a son into their lives. How long did
they hold him in their arms before discovering he was blind? Their
delight mingled with devastation. Were they cursed by God? Neighbors
talked in whispers, couldn't help but wonder what dreadful sin had
caused this catastrophe. Did anyone have compassion and try to comfort
them? Was it hard to love a son who brought them such disgrace?

Surely they did their best to raise this child. They helped their
toddler learn to walk. Perhaps they protected him too much, but they
taught him to navigate on his own. They attempted to describe to their
son a world he could not see. But the feeling of guilt and shame never
left. What did we do, that he should be born blind? The boy couldn't
attend synagogue school with all the other boys. The parents held on to
the community of faith as their only hope of salvation, despite the
shunning.

Now, they are faced with a dilemma. They are afraid of the Jewish
leaders. They can't openly rejoice in this unexpected miracle - the
work of God displayed in the life of their son. Afraid of being put out
of the synagogue, they hold their tongues.

It's at this point that I ask myself, how often do I see the work of
God displayed and remain silent? Do I cling to what feels safe? Too
often, I say the acceptable thing rather than speak the name of Jesus.
Right now, is there a risk I'm afraid to take? Lord, make me more bold.

Bold. Like the man born blind. Bold enough to leave his old way of
life. Bold enough to believe and obey. Bold enough to stand up to his
interrogators.

I recall John Newton's words: "I once was lost but now am found; was
blind, but now I see." I, too, was blind from birth.

Deetje Wildes

Spiritual Darkness

This is rather heavy material to read and understand isn’t it?  The last verse we read yesterday said these words of Jesus, “…There is no room in your hearts for my message.”  John 8:37.  Well, what about each of us?  Have we made room in our lives for Him…really?  Before going on, state some evidence of such in your own life.  Jesus continues to teach them and us.  Jesus and the Father are One.  Vs. 38 – He also said to the people that there was scant evidence that they were the children of God by their actions, behavior and beliefs.  Jesus is making it clear that people live in spiritual darkness and in unbelief because _________________.  Vs. 44 – Jesus said, “Your real father is the devil.  Wow!  Consider the spiritual darkness of the people to whom Jesus was speaking then.  Also, consider how true is that of people today?  Jesus said, The Father will glorify the Son.  Remember and appreciate (even though our knowledge is so limited) that Christians believe in the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  A confirmation student wrote in a paper she submitted to me, “Believing in something you can’t explain isn’t foolishness, its faith!”

 

Donald E. Pardun

 

John 8:21-37

Good Day,

 

The leading Jews of that day are doing their best to get rid of Jesus.  In this next altercation with them Jesus is very firm and plain to them, yet there is strong gospel dripping from His seemingly harsh words to them.  Jesus begins by saying that he is going away; this is the very thing the leading Jews were hoping for, but on their terms not on Jesus’ terms.  Jesus goes on to say that unless they believe in Him, they will die in their sins.  That sounds pretty harsh doesn’t it.  That is not a kind thing for Jesus to say, right?  Well, how do we feel when our doctor tells us we will die of our sickness unless we receive medical treatment?  We are very grateful to our doctor and for those who did painstaking research to attain a cure for our disease.  When Jesus uses the word “unless”, He is holding out the gospel to them.  They are staring right at the cure for their disease of sin which leads to eternal death.  Verse 30 says that many who heard Jesus teachings believed.  Yet we know that many didn’t believe as well.

 

Our reading closes with Jesus saying that some of them are trying to kill Jesus because there is no room in their hearts for Jesus or more literally, “because my word finds no room in you.”  Let us remain in Jesus’ word and teaching.  Let us pray that God’s Word finds room in us.  Let us hold fast to the cure for our souls.  Thank you Jesus, for your indescribable gift.

 

Grace and Peace,

 

Pastor Adam

 

Light of the World

John 8:1-20

Jesus said I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. (John 8:12)

This morning I am driving my mother home to Minnesota, and will return to the blog when I return, but the great curiosity that grabbed my attention as I read this morning was recalling the quite different description of Jesus as light in John's prologue to his Gospel. In John 1:4-5 he wrote his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (or has not understood it).

So what's the difference? Can you help? How is it that Jesus as light can be described so differently, have such different effect?...

PPaul


Monday Eve PS: Thanks to all of you for your good insights!

I, too, pondered this passage while driving today , and my mind came to rest upon the phrase from 8:12, If you follow me. It seems, as others noted, that our personal positioning in relationship to the light makes all the difference. Having been a 'driving' day for me, an illustration from it. If I am caught in the light as when staring into glaring high beams of an oncoming car, (or as when the Jews dragging the woman before Jesus are found out to be only different from her in that she was caught in her adultery), then that light is an offending, bothersome light. Some never understand it. But if that light having exposed me now reveals Him, I may come to see that this light not only shines ON me, but FOR me. If I follow this Light, it will surely guide my way, preserve my life, and lead me home.