John 12:1 - 26

Jesus begins preparing for His eventual death and departure from earth.  He spends time with His friends and close associates, teaching them of His imminent separation from them.  As He gives His instructions, many are confused.  Some hail Him as a King, others are dissapointed that He is not a political Deliverer.  Many who come looking for something are often disappointed that Jesus does not fit their definition of what they expect.

John 11:30 - 57

Jesus continues to comfort and instruct the grieving sisters of recently-dead Lazarus.  After four days of mourning, the sisters were convinced that had Jesus been present, His power could have prevented their brother's death.  But remember, Jesus has stated that the illness Lazarus suffered was to bring God glory.  Jesus goes to the mouth of the tomb and calls Lazarus back from the dead!  From this point on, the Jewish religious leaders seek to arrest Jesus and see Him brought to justice.

John 11:1 - 29

How do you respond to life-changing events?  Terminal illness; death; loss of wealth.  Those who followed Jesus saw His response to a life-changing event when His friend, Lazarus, became sick and died.  Jesus actually arranged His travel plans so that He would arrive well after Lazarus' death.  His siblings could not understand why the One with so much power and authority would not be present, but Jesus gives us insight "This sickness is ... for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."  Jesus viewed life-changing events as opportunities for God to be shown in His full splendor.

John 10:24 - 42

Clear proof of His identity was what the religious leaders asked of Jesus.  Jesus, in return, offered them the record of His teachings and actions as proof that He and the Father were one and the same.  The crowd immediately accused Him of blasphemy, but Jesus' response was to ask for one incident in which He did not accurately represent the Father.  His entire life proved the truth of His claims.  The people recognized this (though the rulers did not); and stated that while John - who baptized - never did any miracles, everything he said about Jesus had been proven true.

John 10:1 - 23

Jesus instructs His followers about His purpose and mission by using the illustration of a shepherd.  As the true shepherd, His flock knows Him, follows Him and is blessed by His presence.  Those who claim to be a shepherd, but have no interest for the sheep, prove by their attitude and actions to be merely imposters.  Whose voice are YOU following?

John 9:24 - 41

The blind man healed by Jesus came under extreme scrutiny by the religious leaders of the day.  They questioned the validity of the healing, and even called into question the fact that they didn't know from where this healer had come.  The blind man, showing extreme insight, rightly stated that because of the magnitude of the miracle, how could the Healer come from anywhere other than from God?  The now-seeing man was put out of the temple - he was excluded from the social and religious practices of the community.  Even this did not deter him from worshipping Jesus as the promised Messiah.

John 9:1 - 23

Jesus encounters a blind man while on His travels.  When His followers ask the source of the blindness (his own sin or the sin of his parents) Jesus' response shocks them.  The man's blindness is simply to display how great God is.  When the man's sight is restored, God gets the glory; but the man gets quite a bit of grief from the religious leaders, who think that Jesus is being self-serving.  They threaten to remove anyone who embraces or follows Jesus from worship at the temple.

John 8:28 - 59

The question of ancestry and origin kept cropping up when Jesus spoke.  He often reminded His audience that He was sent from His Father.  Many could not understand or appreciate this information; and often Jesus was questioned about His origin.  Repeatedly, Jesus affirmed that, yes, He WAS divinely sent and on a divine mission.

John 8:1 - 27

Jesus faces a crowd of religious leaders who have supposedly caught a woman in the act of adultery.  They ask Jesus what should be done to her.  Jesus does not initially respond, but eventually suggests that anyone without sin be the first to begin punishing her.  When the accusers leave, Jesus instructs the woman to go her way, and to give up her sin.

As Jesus instructs His followers, He is often misunderstood.  He states He is the light of the world, and will soon leave for a destination unable to be followed.  Those listening are confused, wondering how He could choose a destination that was untracable.  Jesus was not talking about a destination on a map; but a place in eternity.  It IS impossible to follow Jesus, for no one is capable of the perfection He alone has.

John 7:28 - 53

Throughout Jesus' teaching ministry, people were drawn to Him.  His teaching style was so familiar yet so unlike the other teachers of the day, that many were drawn out of curiosity.  The religious leaders continued to seek to squelch His popularity, but even those sent to discourage and arrest Him were left in amazement at His ability to teach 'unlike any other.'  Jesus continued to teach about His being sent by the Father to do the Father's will and work.  Very few truly understood what He meant at the time, though several were able to arrive at the correct conclusion several years later.

John 7:1 - 27

Jesus goes to Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths and teaches.  Many are intrigued and ask about His ability to teach without any formal training.  Jesus' response is that His teaching is proof of the One Who sent Him.  Those who hear His words are hearing the words of the Father in Heaven.

John 6:45 - 71

Jesus continues instructing His followers concerning Himself.  He describes Himself as the Bread of Life; those who partake of Him will never hunger and will live forever.  The followers find this hard to understand, so Jesus tells them that the flesh profits nothing (it's not real flesh that they need to eat!) but that the Holy Spirit gives life.  Because of this, no one can come to Jesus for this life unless God the Father allows it.  This saying was so difficult to accept and understand that many of those who followed Jesus stopped doing so.  His closest followers, called His disciples, pledged that they would stay, knowing that He was indeed the promised Messiah.  Yet, even among that group was one who would eventually betray Jesus.

John 6:22 - 44

Many of the over 5,000 people who experienced the miracle of being fed on the hillside by Jesus continued to follow Him the following day.  Jesus rightly observed that they were seeking to obtain further nourishment and sustenance from His miraculous provision.  He encouraged these folk to seek after a greater supply from God, the true bread that had come down from heaven.  By partaking in that Bread of Life, they would never hunger again.  This appealed to the crowd; but when they discovered that Jesus referred to Himself, they quickly dismissed the notion that God would present His Chosen One in such a person.

John 6:1 - 21

This passage relates the familiar accounts of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and walking on water.  What stands out to me today is the phrase  in verse 6 "He Himself knew what He would do."  I am reminded of the statement made to me one time "Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?"  God is all-knowing, nothing takes Him by surprise.  There is always a plan being followed perfectly.  It doesn't matter what circumstance I may face, be it a hungry crowd or a stormy sea, He has a plan and is already at work in it to show me how powerful He is.  Today, rejoice with me that Jesus, God's Son, knows what He is doing!

John 5:25 - 47

To those looking for a sign or testimony to Jesus' identity, Jesus indicates that there will be no further testimony than what has already been given in the predictions of the prophets and the words of Moses.  There is enough information in those writings to point clearly to the identity of Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah.

John 5:1 - 24

"Do you want to be healed?"  What a question!  To a man that had been paralyzed for 38 years, this must have been a staggering question.  "Of course!" would be the natural response.  What might cause a person to answer "No, not really"?  Doubt, depression, fear of the unknown would all weigh heavy on the mind when contemplating this answer.  The man asked responded "I don't have anyone who can help" and that begins to give us an insight into his mind.  Perhaps he had given up hope.  He DID find healing, though, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth!  Jesus was involved in His work because it served the purposes of His Father - bringing the Father glory.

John 4:31 - 54

Jesus continues to demonstrate His power over all of life's circumstances.  He continues His encounter in Samaria, teaching and ministering in the area of Sychar for several days - all due to the testimony of the woman He met at the well.  The news intrigued many; but once they saw with their own eyes, they were ready to accept that the person speaking in their midst WAS the promised Messiah.  Jesus then continued His travels into Galilee, where he healed the son of a nobleman.  In this instance, Jesus does not even need to be physically near the afflicted person; He merely says the word and healing is provided.  Time, space and disease are no hindrance to Him.

John 4:1 - 30

Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman is a wonderful display of compassion and forgiveness - one that went against many cultural 'norms' of the day.  For a Jewish man to speak with a Samaritan (and a woman, no less) was unthinkable to many, Jesus' followers included.  Yet Jesus uses the opportunity to speak to this individual about her need for a right relationship with the Heavenly Father.  What about you?  Are you willing to go against the flow of society and take a message of forgiveness to those 'undeserving' by your standards?  Is the sense of forgiveness in your own life enough to overcome the fears, prejudices and pariahs that surround you?

John 3:19 - 36

Jesus concludes His conversation with Nicodemus by stating that light drives out darkness.  However, in the world, men prefer the darkness as it is more in line with their evil desires.  The one who comes to Jesus will find that the light of His presence illuminates the wickedness of their evil deeds and highlights the glory of God seen in their good deeds.

The followers of John, the baptizer, ask their teacher about Jesus.  Specifically, they ask about whether or not He is a threat to their work.  John's response is that they should rejoice that Jesus has come.  He will increase in His ministry, while John's would decline.  This is not simply a matter of a fickle audience; it is a sign that God truly has come and that John and Jesus are fulfilling their parts in a divine plan for the salvation of mankind.

John 3:1 - 18

Jesus enters a private discussion with one of the premier religious leaders of the day.  Nicodemus asks Jesus a very insightful question:  how does one enter God's kingdom.  As Jesus explains that a 'new birth' is needed, Nicodemus does not understand the significance of this birth and confuses it with natural childbirth.  Jesus draws the parallel between Moses lifting up a serpent in the wilderness to give physical life to the nation of Israel and the Son of Man being lifted up to give spiritual life to those who would believe.

John 2

John records the first miracle of Jesus as taking place at a wedding in the town of Cana.  When the wine runs out during the celebration, Jesus creates more wine out of water.  He then travels to the temple in Jerusalem and drives out those who are turning the house of worship into a site for business.  Because He knows what people are thinking, He is able to answer wisely in each instance.

John 1:29 - 51

Jesus' public ministry begins with a bold statement by John, the one baptizing - Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!  He declares the division between His followers and others that could be followed; and calls several to His side to begin following Him.  Before long 4 men are numbered among the followers of Jesus.  Philip and Andrew bring folks close to them to the Lord (Nathaniel and Peter) to verify His identity and character.

John 1:1 - 28

John, the writer, introduces us to two figures in the opening chapter of his gospel:  Jesus and John, the baptizer.  John, the baptizer, states that he is not the promised Deliverer from God but was sent to prepare the way for that Deliverer.  Jesus, also referred to as The Word, IS that Messiah (promised one) who lights the world and gives life to those in the world.  Jesus was sent to provide a visual demonstration of God's presence.  No one has seen God, but Jesus has revealed Him to us.  John begins to write so that you might know Who Jesus is.

Luke 24:36 - 53

Jesus appears to His disciples after His death, burial and resurrection.  He confirms to their frightened and perhaps doubting minds that it really is He who stands before them.  He gives them further instruction that helps them understand all that has happened, not only in the past several days, but the past several years while they were together.  Jesus promises to send them further assistance; and then ascends into heaven.  The disciples return to Jerusalem, full of joy and praising God Who does all things well.

Luke 24:1 - 35

The best news of all is found in this passage:  Jesus is not in the tomb, but is risen!  The implications of this statement have far-reaching impact.  Since Jesus is risen as He said He would, the other statements made about Him are also true.  He is the Son of God; He is the promised Messiah; He is the One Who can deliver from sin.  This resurrected Jesus was observed by many (Mary Magdalene, Peter, Joseph, Cleopas - and that is just in this chapter) verifying that He had indeed been raised.  The question remains:  knowing Who Jesus is and what Jesus has already done, how do you respond to Him?

Luke 23:26 - 56

Jesus is led to the place of execution.  While in transit, He offers hope and comfort to those who are lamenting His demise.  Throughout the proceedings, His focus is on others, never Himself.  The crowd mocks Him, asking Jesus to save Himself.  But Jesus does something even better than that:  He dies so that salvation can be offered to all of us!  His body is taken from the site of crucifixion and placed in the tomb of a wealthy ruler (itself a fulfilment of prophecy) and all rest on the Sabbath day.

What We Talk About Here

Wordle.net is a great site that puts into visual perspective what takes importance in a document, essay, or even web site.  Running this blog through its filters produces this result.  I think it is a great visual representation of the blog's focus.  Enjoy. You can click on the image to see it in a larger size.

Luke 23:1 - 25

Put yourself in the shoes of the man named Barabbas.  Thrown in prison for rebellion and murder, you are wakened one morning to hear your name being shouted by an angry mob.  "Give us Barabbas!" followed shortly by "Crucify him!" accompanied by the slow heavy footsteps of the jailor must have given this man quite a fright.  Imagine his shock when the doors are opened and he is told "You may go free by order of the magistrate Pilate."

Now look at the man from Nazareth, Jesus.  Falsely accused, He suffers through three separate trials at the hands of various officials - none of whom can find fault in Him.  When the verdict of "not guilty" is about to be brought in His favor, the Jewish mob calls for His death by Roman means of crucifixion.  In order to prevent a riot in the streets this resolution is adopted.  The passage closes "[Pilate] delivered Jesus to [the mob's] will" but the truth of the matter is that the will of the Almighty was being carried out at that very moment.

Luke 22:47- 71

Jesus is arrested while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.  His followers scatter and chaos ensues.  Peter, so bold just hours ago, begins denying his affiliation with the man from Nazareth.  Others flee into hiding, terrified of what might happen to them.  Jesus is sent to the rulers for a trial.  His abilities are mocked, His origin questioned, and His statements distorted and used against Him.

Luke 22:31 - 46

Jesus tells His followers of His impending death and departure from them.  Meanwhile, they are consumed with determining who will be greatest.  When Jesus retreats to the Mount of Olives to pray, His followers can only sleep; they are unable to assist their Master when it is truly needed.

Luke 22:1 - 30

Jesus enters a period of preparation.  The nation was preparing for Passover; Judas was preparing to betray the One he followed; the other followers were preparing for a kingdom, and trying to obtain the choicest positions; Jesus, however was preparing His followers for what was to come.  He instituted a remembrance ceremony that points to Him as the fulfillment of all that had been promised, and pointed ahead to His return as the Sovereign King.

Luke 21:20 - 38

Jesus continues to discuss the events surrounding the inauguration of His kingdom.  While the descriptions may seem ambiguous, Jesus indicates that there will be those who will be able to discern the approach of the kingdom.  The repeatedly stressed point is to watch and prepare for the coming kingdom.

Congratulations!

May 1 marks the beginning of graduation season for many institutions of higher learning.  One of the blessings of the past several weeks has been the receipt of news that young men and women I love and care for deeply are finishing their college work and are ready to embark on the next stage in their life's journey.

Kara Schmidt will graduate cum laude from Bob Jones University next week with a B.S. in Biology.  Kara plans to continue her education in medical school.  I can't wait to finally meet Dr. Schmidt!

Sandra Kiel will graduate from Golden State Baptist College next week with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.  Sandra, a favorite babysitter to my sons, will excel in any field she chooses to pursue.

Elizabeth Bommarito will graduate this weekend from Corban College.  I must confess that I don't recall her specific major, because Lisa is so talented at all she does.  From amazing design to English studies, Lisa is a graduate ready to make her mark on the world.

David Collett will also graduate this weekend from Corban College with a double major in English Literature and Ministry.  David plans to continue his education in graduate school, honing his skills even sharper to be used effectively in the future.

Kara, Sandra, Elizabeth and David have made their parents extremely pleased by completing the course work set before them.  They have earned their degrees through honesty, hard work and faithful diligence.  The world is waiting - and in desperate need - for thier particular skills and personalities.  I'm thrilled to be able to say "I knew them before they were famous!"  Congratulations, all.