Seven Miracles - Pt 19

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14-18 ESV).

Jesus has himself done the works of God. John gives us this hint of the message in this gospel in the first chapter. Our reading today is from that portion of the book revealing this for us. That’s what the blind man saw. That’s what the Pharisees did not see, which is why this chapter ends with blindness just like it began, only of a worse kind. You certainly don’t need to wear religious robes to have this kind of blindness! The common phrase “the blind leading the blind” comes to mind at this point. We have much of that in our current culture. We see it plainly as things unfold toward blasphemy and worship. One of the keys is how Jesus uses mud to heal the blind man. There are two reasons for this. One is explicit in the text, and the other seems implied. First, Jesus did it because it was against the law to do it on the Sabbath, at least against the Pharisee’s understanding of the law; and, he meant to unleash the controversy that would bring out both the blasphemy and the worship (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:19). The mud-making is explicitly connected with the Sabbath and the Pharisees. They had developed many applications of the prohibition of work on the Sabbath, and one of them was the kneading of dough. And the word for mud or clay here is the same as the word of dough. Jesus had broken the law against kneading dough, or clay, or mud. I believe Jesus is being very intentional. He is undeniably showing that he was “Lord of the Sabbath” (cf. Matthew 12:8). He defines the Sabbath. To show what the point of Sabbath rest is. The point of Sabbath rest is healing. The whole point of Sabbath rest is that we are helpless and God creates, God sustains, God heals, we don’t. What day could be better for God incarnate to find a broken man and heal him, to give this man and his parents rest from all the struggles of blindness? The purpose of the Sabbath is to give God-exalting blessing to broken and weary humans. And he did it on the Sabbath to trigger this controversy that goes on for 41 verses. Hearts are exposed in this controversy. And not just exposed. Hearts are shaped. Faith doesn’t just get revealed; faith gets strengthened. This blind man becomes clearer and clearer about who Jesus is. And he becomes stronger and stronger in his courage in defending Jesus against very dangerous adversaries. That’s the first reason for the mud. It was on the Sabbath and would unleash a firestorm for the sake of truth and faith and worship. We would do well to listen to that and imitate this genuine worship. Determine to stop following “the crowd.” Follow Jesus!

Seven Miracles - Pt 18

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:1-7 ESV).

As we look at the miracle itself, we must observe that it sets the stage for everything else in this chapter. Jesus has already answered their question about why the man was born blind. It was so that the works of God would be manifest. That answer in itself is difficult for us to fathom. After all, we find fault with the thought that an unborn child could have done anything so wrong as to deserve a life of blindness, especially in that world. The key is in our understanding of the eternal purpose and plan of God. This man’s blindness was not punishment for any wrongdoing. This will lead to Jesus’ continued teaching of the work of the Cross. Jesus also says, “We must work the works of him who sent me” (v. 4); and, then Jesus himself made the mud and healed him. So the stage is set for this seminal moment when they question who Jesus is. It is a part of learning how to respond to Him, who says God’s work is going to be shown here, and then does the work himself. It is a bold statement of his divinity. The controversy that follows is all designed by God to show how the person and work of Jesus leads some to blasphemy and some to worship. The blasphemy is recalled by John later in the chapter: “So for the second time, they [the Pharisees] called the man who had been blind and said to him, ‘Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner’” (v. 24). So, we see this all too familiar dichotomy where God gets glory when you call Jesus a sinner. It is so strange to think in these terms. Can we really be glorifying God when you are demonizing Jesus? Certainly that must be blasphemy. However, we must understand this in the context of the ultimate purpose of God to lead the Jewish religious leaders to completely reject Jesus ultimately resulting in His death on the cross. But that was not the only response to the healing of this blind man. There is also worship. It’s the climax of the story. The last thing the man does in this text before he disappears from the story is worship Jesus. In the other six places in this gospel where the word “worship” (Greek proskuneō) is used, it means really “worship,” not just “fall down.” That is the correct response for us today. We’ll see more of this principle tomorrow. Today, worship Him. He has indeed healed us!

Seven Miracles - Pt 17

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:1-7 ESV).

We come to the sixth miracle of Jesus with our reading today. The conversation at the beginning of this account is important to note. Jesus sees a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples ask about the cause of the blindness. Jesus turns the question around and says, in effect, human causes are not decisive in explaining things. Divine purposes are decisive. The reason causes are not the ultimate explanation for things is that God is not ultimately a responder but ultimately a planner. In other words, when God ordains that something happen, God is not, at the bottom, responding to human causes; rather He is, at bottom, planning a purpose. The implication of this is profound. No matter what mess we’re in or what pain we are experiencing, the causes are not decisive in explaining it. What is decisive in explaining it is God’s purpose. Jesus says, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (v. 3). And if you are born again, God’s purpose for our pain will be a good purpose. It will be worth everything we must endure (cf. Romans 8:28). Of course, none of this will make sense, or be helpful, if God himself, and the glory of his incomparable works, is not your greatest treasure. When Jesus says, the purpose of this blindness is “that the works of God might be displayed in him,” he assumes the manifestation of the works of God, has a value that outweighs years and years of blindness, both for the man and his parents. In order to embrace that, we have to value the manifestation of the works of God more than we value seeing. Indeed more than we value life itself. We see this in the Psalms: “Your steadfast love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). And, later, Jesus said to the prisoners in Smyrna, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Being loved by God, and being with God forever, is better than having eyes and better than being alive in this world. If we don’t believe that, then saying that God has wise and good purposes in all our losses will not be much comfort. But if we do believe it, not only will God’s purposes comfort us and strengthen us, but they will make us able to patiently, and gently help others through their times of darkness.

Seven Miracles - Pt 16

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. (John 6:16-21 ESV).

Jesus did not come into the world mainly to deliver us from the sufferings of this present age, but to deliver us from the wrath to come (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:10). He came not to give us an easy life now, but an eternal life later. So, when the crowd wanted to make him their king (v. 15), Jesus left them and went into the mountain. Our reading tells us what happened that evening. It was quite revealing. It takes us to our fifth miracle in John’s Gospel. Jesus walks on the water. This miracle actually clarifies the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this miracle of Jesus, and the disciples being rescued from the wind and landing strangely safe at their desired haven, is that nothing is made of it in the rest of the Gospel. We are in the middle of chapter 6, and the entire chapter is devoted to unfolding the implications of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. So that miracle gets a whole chapter of attention and explanation. This miracle gets none. John is not telling this miracle as a way of setting the stage for a long dialogue about Jesus’ ability to walk on water. Instead this miracle is embedded in the story of the feeding of the five thousand. This miracle in John’s mind served that story. John is telling the short and amazing incident of Jesus’ walking on the water to clarify or underline something in the story about the loaves and fish. Jesus is showing something to the disciples, and to us, that underlines the point of the feeding of the five thousand. Remember what Jesus told the disciples when the five thousand had eaten their “fill.” Jesus told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost” (v. 12). John then says they gathered up “twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten” (v. 13). It’s no mere coincidence that there are twelve. Jesus calls his disciples “the Twelve” (vv 67-70). Jesus was showing them that when you serve him and all you have to give is given he will take care of you. When it seems you have no strength left, no reserve to call upon, he will always be enough for you. The more you satisfy others, the more he will be your satisfaction. The more you give life to others, the more he will be life to you. That is certainly a message I need more and more!

Seven Miracles - Pt 15

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (John 6:10-14 ESV).

Today we begin with the fourth miracle in John’s Gospel known as the “Feeding of the Multitude.” The story recounts Jesus taking the five barley loaves and a few fish, giving thanks to God, and then feeding five thousand people with them. It should be noted at the outset that the amount of food Jesus uses is of no importance. It happens here to be no more than a small lunch for the little boy. The “loaves” are no more than biscuit size and the fish are no more than minnow size. The miracle is not in the multiplication of these elements; the ultimate point of the miracle was to show Jesus as the Bread of heaven. The point was not mainly that Jesus gives bread to satisfy our stomachs, but that he is bread to satisfy our souls. It is interesting that the people were blind to this truth. Jesus admonishes them: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (v. 26). Even at the end of our reading today when they wanted to make Jesus their king, they believed on him as a great source of prosperity, but not as a great Savior from sin. They certainly didn’t and not as a great Treasure in himself. You may remember me writing in one of the devotionals dealing with the first miracle that Jesus is not a “divine vending machine.” Again John emphasizes this truth by asserting that Jesus did not come into the world just to give bread, but to be bread. He did not come to be the fast food solution for our physical hunger, but to be the all-satisfying bread for our souls. Certainly he cares about our physical needs, but he ultimately cares more about our eternal lives. The day of resurrection is coming when he will give us bodies like his glorious body, and when “he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). It should not be surprising that the Apostle Paul declares, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). We would do well to maintain such a future focus. Our redemption is drawing ever closer, even when we are hungry. Bread today does not guarantee the real bread of our Savior. Don’t settle for any less than eternal life!

Seven Miracles - Pt 14

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. (Romans 8:22-24 ESV).

The implications of this miracle go even further than we have seen so far. All of us are moved with the sheer numbers of diseases and disabilities that we deal with today. Jesus walked into a huge “multitude of invalids” and he heals one man, just one. Then he disappears before that man can even know who he was. He leaves hundreds of invalids behind unhealed. Then he finds the man in a less conspicuous place and puts all the focus on holiness. Here’s the point. In the first coming of the Son of God into the world, we receive foretastes of his healing power. The full healing of all his people and all their diseases and disabilities awaits the second coming of Christ. And the aim of these foretastes, which we receive now, is to call us to faith and holiness. Most people who suffer from disabilities in this life will have them to the day they die. And all of us, until Jesus comes again, will die of something. Here and there, some are healed. We believe in miracles. But even though Jesus had all the power to heal, he did not usher in the final day of perfect wholeness. His ministry points to that day. But while this age of groaning lasts, healing is the exception, not the rule. And that is not because we are weak in faith. But Jesus left hundreds unhealed at the pool of Bethesda. And he told the one man he did heal, who had not even believed on him, to wake up. I am pursuing your holiness. The main issue in this age till Jesus comes back is that we meet him in our brokenness, and receive the power of his forgiveness to pursue holiness. In this calling to faith and holiness, the disabled often run faster and farther than many of us who have our legs and arms. And in the mentally disabled, we simply don’t know how far they are running. Perhaps farther than we think. Jesus knows. Jesus knows everything. And he is compassionate. And he is sovereign. To know that is to know peace. For now, I pray that the Lord may open your eyes to know Jesus personally, as one who knows you, and has compassion on you, and is sovereign over your body and your soul, and the one who has come with saving and healing power first for the sake of your holiness, and then finally for the sake of your everlasting health.

Seven Miracles - Pt 13

Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. (John 5:1-9 ESV).

As we come to the close of this “sign,” John says something that feels abrupt. He says, “Now that day was the Sabbath” (v. 9). It’s so easy to miss this insertion. We are all thinking about how magnificent Jesus is, and how happy the healed man must be. And then John says: “It happened on the Sabbath.” I’m naturally drawn to thoughts about how this will lead to a discussion on the things we are now obligated to do. Perhaps this is what the story is really all about. Perhaps we now come to the conflict over the things we are allowed to do on the Sabbath. Possibly this is the place John is going to shift from the glory of Jesus to the ground rules of the Sabbath. After all, surely there is something that must be done on our part to receive such an incredible gift of healing. The Sabbath issue is raised, but it’s raised in a way that amazingly keeps the focus on the glory of Jesus. Jesus knows what he has done. He healed a man on the Sabbath and told him to carry his bed as a sign and celebration that he is whole. He knows this will create conflict. Conflict in the ministry of Jesus is the furnace where the steel of his identity is forged. In the fires of conflict, his glory is made to shine. We see it in our reading today. Now notice what is most remarkable here. Jesus healed and disappeared before the man could find out who he was. He didn’t even know who healed him. Does this mean Jesus had no intention of dealing with this man’s soul? Was he content just to do a random miracle and leave the man in ignorance as to where it came from? Of course not! We see that clearly when Jesus found the man later at the Temple. It was not the man who found Jesus. We shouldn’t miss the impact of Jesus’ instructions to him. Jesus said, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” Jesus had no intention of walking away from this man and leaving him with nothing more than a healed body. The reason we are healed is to point to his power and glory. This is done through the change in our lives. His love for us is our motivation for righteous living. It is not the penalty of the Law!

Seven Miracles - Pt 12

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. (John 5:1-9 ESV).

So far we have seen that his knowledge of us is complete and his compassion toward us is great. Now we see that his power is immediate and sovereign (vv. 8–9). John recalls, “Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” The words “at once” signify the immediacy of Jesus’ power. When he speaks, diseased muscles and bones obey. And they obey “at once.” This is John declaring the sovereign power of Jesus the same way he did in the way the official’s son was healed at exactly the seventh hour fifteen miles away when Jesus said the words (cf. John 4:52-59). This truth cannot be understated. The power of Jesus is more than enough to conquer every circumstance of our lives. At this point we might be tempted to simply say, “So what?” We have seen John detail the complete knowledge, the heartfelt compassion, and the sovereign power of Jesus. Of what use is this knowledge when we find ourselves in so much pain from the circumstance of our life. Well, the answer is that this is how you get to know Jesus. This is how you build a relationship with Jesus. You meet him here in his word. And you speak to him. You tell him what you think and feel about his knowledge and compassion and power. You ask him to shape your thinking and your feeling around this sight of his glory. Then you walk out of your encounter with him, into the day and live in the fellowship of this Jesus. It is not an imaginary one. It is not a self-made one. It is the real, living Jesus revealed with absolute authority in the words of his apostle. So, for those who are in the midst of a crushing experience of life, return to your knowledge of Jesus. Renew your relationship with him through prayer and the reading of the Scripture. I know from my personal experience that when I focus on that I am always encouraged. It is in that moment that I feel contentment. It is in that moment when I know immediate peace, even if my body continues toward death. He is your great friend and brother. Sit with him for a bit!

Seven Miracles - Pt 11

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. (John 5:1-9 ESV).

The second characteristic of Jesus we see is the compassion of Jesus (vv. 6-8). This is one of the other things we know that makes his knowledge of us more precious. Jesus chooses to go to this pool. He did not have to. It didn’t sneak up on him. He didn’t stumble by. He knew what he was doing. He was going to this pool the same way he went to Samaria to find the woman at the well, and the same way he went to sign-seeking, prophet-dishonoring Galilee to find a kingly official who had a sick son. Jesus moves toward need, not comfort, toward sinners, not the self-righteous. Notice that when he asks the sick man, “Do you want to be healed?” what the man said was not, “Yes.” Instead, he explains his tragic situation. Jesus asks no more questions. In response to that description of his sorrows, Jesus acts. He simply commands the healing of his body: “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” We’ll look at the power shown in this command later; however, we should miss the simplicity of his will being performed at his mere speech. It is another way John points us to Jesus as Creator. He is never seen as anything “less” that God. He certainly is human, but it is the full divinity of God in humanity. This gives him the perfect ability to empathize with us. That brings me great comfort in my circumstances! We can also see that this healing is not a response to anything religious or faithful about the man. It looks like Jesus healed him simply because his situation was so miserable for so long. In other words, it looks like it came from Jesus’ compassion, not the man’s faith or righteousness. At least nine times in the gospels the writers say Jesus was moved with compassion or pity. So, not only does Jesus know you perfectly, but he is easily moved by the misery you feel. We cannot ignore that his solutions are not always what we want; but that’s not owing to his heartlessness. He is not heartless. He is compassionate to us in our misery. He is a sympathetic High Priest for those whom he has called into his life.

Seven Miracles - Pt 10

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. (John 5:1-9 ESV).

First, let’s look at his knowledge. John recalls for us: “When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time” (v. 6). Jesus knew this man’s situation without having to be told. Thirty-eight years he had been paralyzed and unable to walk, and perhaps all of that time he had been brought here to the pool to wait, ever hoping for some kind of miracle. Jesus knew his situation. I have found that while many believers have no doubt about the omniscience of Jesus, they do not understand what difference it makes. We know God knows us, and that he knows our situation. It has not somehow escaped his attention that we are suffering. Yet, we inevitably do not make the connection between his knowledge and our deliverance. I might have been in that position had I been this man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. After all, he had been faithful in his belief that God could heal him. If he could somehow just get into the waters when “the water is stirred up” he believed he could be healed. However, he didn’t believe he had any chance of that good outcome since so many others pushed him aside. It was not what he believed, but what he doubted that crippled him. He doubted God’s timing. This seems to be my own failure at times of difficulty. I believe in God’s ultimate good in my life. However, I have a hard time seeing that at work in my immediate life. That is a failure to really know Jesus. When you know Jesus, you know a person who knows you perfectly. He knows everything about you, inside and out, and all you have ever felt or thought or done. David declares, “You discern my thoughts from afar. . . . Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether” (Psalms 139:2-4). This ought to give us a great deal of encouragement and peace in the circumstances that challenge us. This truth about Jesus is foundational to our contentment. Anxiety has a hard time gaining any traction in our lives when we root ourselves in his promise that he is presently working everything to our good (cf. Romans 8:28). Thirty-eight years was no more than the blink of an eye once the man was healed! Your healing is near too!

Seven Miracles - Pt 9

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. (John 5:1-9 ESV).

Today we begin to look at the third miracle (sign) in John’s Gospel. We should be careful to understand the setting. There are three basic observations we should understand. First, Jesus is in Jerusalem again, and he makes a point to go to a pool where people with diseases and disabilities wait for the troubling of the waters, because healings happen in this pool. Jesus walks in among this crowd of people. Second, we notice that there is no verse 4 in the ESV (or the NIV, or the NASB). But it’s there in the old Authorized King James version. Here it seems that somewhere along the way, a copyist drew a marginal note of explanation into the actual text. Verse 7 begs for an explanation. It says, “The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.’” It seems like only a few were healed (or maybe only one), when the water was “stirred up,” and if you were too slow, you missed out. So verse 4 in the King James explains (you can see it in your footnote): it says that the invalids were “waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water; whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.” That helps make sense out of verse 7 where the man says he can’t get to the pool in time. Of course, this explanation may be exactly right. The fact that Jesus worked is essential to the story. The third observation in these first verses is that there was a multitude of people in these five colonnades. Jesus did not even stay around for the man to find out who it was who healed him. This will be very important later. Now, in the last few verses of our reading we see the focus is on the revelation of Jesus. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. It seems to me that John is showing us something about Jesus’ knowledge, his compassion, and his power. These same things are available to us today! In the next three days we’ll look at each in more detail.

Seven Miracles - Pt 8

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. (John 4:50-54 ESV).

Well, let’s come to the conclusion of our look into the second miracle of Jesus. We should notice the overwhelming grace and power of Jesus. After all, this is exactly what John wants us to see in his healing of the official’s son. He wants to help us overcome these blinding impulses and see the grace and the power, the mercy and the might of Jesus as he heals the dying boy. Here are some specifics to ponder and be encouraged with: First, Jesus is gracious. You should not overlook the grace of it. He heals this child in a very unbelieving atmosphere. The first thing he says to the official when he pleads for his son is, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe” (verse 48). Jesus does not commend the man or the people around him. He is provoked at the sign-seeking false faith that abounds in Galilee. And in that context, he gives the free gift of healing. And he gives the gift to a man he’s never met, who has attachments in some way probably with the court of wicked Herod Antipas, and who says nothing about the person or the power of Jesus. He just wants him to come. In other words, when Jesus decided to heal this boy, it was grace. He was not looking at anyone’s merit or desert. It was a free, gracious gift. Second, Jesus is powerful. John wants us to see not only the grace of the healing, but the power of it. The boy was dying of a fever. The power of Jesus to heal is seen in the fact that he did it with a mere word. He simply said, “Go, your son will live” (verse 50). And at that one word, the physical chemistry of a boy’s body changed. The power is seen in that distance was not hindrance. The boy was 15 miles away in Capernaum. He could have been 15,000 miles away. It would not have mattered. When Jesus speaks with authority, there are no spatial limitations to his power. And the power of his healing is seen in the fact that it was immediate. At the very moment Jesus spoke, it was done. Third, we see his glory. A dying boy healed with a word, over distance, at once. Such is the power of Jesus. We beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. And from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. May the Lord remove all pride, all entitlement, all blinding familiarity, and reveal to us the glory of the grace and power of Christ.

Seven Miracles - Pt 7

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. (John 4:50-54 ESV).

There is another point I want us to revisit before we move to the third miracle in John’s account. We must not forget the purpose of the “signs.” John is showing us the greatness of Christ by this astonishing miracle; but as a part of that, John wants to help us overcome obstacles to seeing the glory of Christ in the text. The way he does this is by showing us the kinds of things that keep people from honoring Christ. We should take note of two things that prevent us from seeing the glory of Christ. These are subtle, internal impulses we are tempted to give prominence in our lives that are very destructive. 1. First, there is the danger of the pride of attachment to someone special. It is a kind of vicarious sense of importance. The people could say that this great miracle-worker grew up in their town. This makes them want for him to do his miracles. So they “honor” him in that way. They don’t see the glory of humble service. They don’t feel the need for his grace. They use him. His power and fame feeds their pride. And so they don’t honor him for who he is, even though they think they are. This impulse is very much alive today and can infect us and keep us from knowing Christ the way he really is. We can be attached to a church, or a movement, or a music style, or a person, or a ministry in a way that starts to feed our ego. And when that happens, it becomes harder and harder to see Christ for who he really is—the one who saves by grace alone, and who calls us to lowliness and servanthood. 2. A second impulse that may be in us is a sense of entitlement. If he is “our Savior” instead of “the Savior” then we get special concessions. This mindset is still with us and creeps into our souls. If you ever start to feel entitled in yourself to the blessings of Christ, you are falling away from grace. A sense of deservedness or entitlement will keep us from knowing Christ. 3. And third, almost the opposite of the first two (but that’s how devious and subtle sin is) is a sense of over-familiarity with Jesus. This man is one of us. We know Him. He becomes ordinary. We are so familiar with the Bible and with Jesus, that it can’t shock us. He can’t do anything that overwhelms our thoughts. He becomes too familiar. We must guard against these three impulses in our own souls. The first two (the pride of attachment and a sense of entitlement) minimize his grace. And the third (over-familiarity) minimizes his power!

Seven Miracles - Pt 6

The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. (John 4:49-53 ESV).

Jesus does not address the man only. He addresses the whole group he has been talking about, the whole region of his own hometown. And now he says explicitly what we’ve seen earlier. He says they are sign-seekers, “wonder-worshipers.” We can call it belief, but it’s not the kind that unites us as one who sees and treasures Jesus the Son of God full of grace and truth. In fact, it dishonors Him. The official is different though. It seems to me that Jesus is testing him. The official is asking for a miracle for his dying son in a time when people love to see miracles. And he seems to be asking for the same reason any unbelieving person would love to see a miracle. He has a health need; he wants Jesus to fix it. This is the typical attitude of the unbeliever. Unbelievers don’t love God; they use God. So Jesus bluntly says to the man, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe” (v. 48). He doesn’t even comment on it. He simply repeats his request. Jesus discerns the man’s heart and Jesus simply gives him a gift. Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” John says, “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.” What is remarkable about this is that the man had asked Jesus to come with him. But when Jesus simply spoke, “Go; your son will live,” the man obeyed without a question. He believed and went. He did not insist on seeing the miracle. He did not complain that Jesus would not come with him. And amazingly, he simply left, John says, believing. I’m inclined to think that in that moment of seeing Jesus speak so sovereignly in spite of his accusations, something awakened in the man. He saw something more than a miracle-worker. Then the next day we get the confirmation of the healing at the very hour when Jesus spoke the day before. And the confirmation reestablishes the man’s faith, and his household believes also. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they told him when it happened. The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household (verses 51–53). His faith was affirmed! Yours can be too. Believe, regardless of your circumstance!

Seven Miracles - Pt 5

So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” After the two days he departed for Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. (John 4:40-45 ESV).

Our second miracle is introduced to us with a strange prologue. This is especially true in light of what the apostle tells us just after the first miracle. He says, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11 ESV). The people you would think would welcome Him with open arms simply couldn’t care less. Yet, when Jesus gets to Samaria, an area where he shouldn’t have been accepted at all, he was received with overwhelming reception. And, the focus was not on his miracle-working power, but on his word (v. 42). It seems strange to us; however, it was not strange to Jesus. It was part of the plan from the beginning. He intends to keep offering himself to his own, and overall his own will not receive him. This will in the end get him killed, which is why he came. There was some acceptance in Galilee. They “believed,” John says, but this was not a kind of faith that Jesus accepted. It was simply an excitement with his miracles, not what they pointed to, namely, his beauty and glory as the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the things that the Samaritans saw, even though the emphasis there didn’t fall on miracles, but on his word. That little revelation ought to challenge us today. All too often we worship only when we are motivated by the “show.” That is merely false faith. Another illustration of this kind of false faith, or superficial “welcoming” or “receiving” of Jesus, is his brothers (cf. John 7:3-5). They believed he could do miracles. And they were eager for him to show these miracles to the world. But John says, “even his brothers did not believe on him” (v. 5). Oh, they think they are receiving him, just like the people in Galilee think they are welcoming Jesus, but they don’t understand him. They don’t have eyes to see. And so they don’t honor him, even though they make much of him as a miracle-worker. This sets the stage for the healing of the official’s son, the second miracle in John’s Gospel. We will see Jesus make a strong statement of indictment against being “sign-seekers.” That is a word for us today. We must be the kinds of believers that merely turn to Jesus when we need a miracle. He is not some cosmic vending machine dispensing what we want, when we want it!

Seven Miracles - Pt 4

When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2:9-11 ESV).

The third revelation in this first miracle is the glory of an All-Providing Bridegroom. Look at our reading again. This is the last of the recording of the miracle. If we go to the end of the gospel we would see the last thing that John says about Jesus is that he is the bridegroom who has the bride, his growing band of disciples. And, the first miracle Jesus does is to complete what the bridegroom at a wedding could not do. We should remember that the groom was finally responsible for the wine as his wedding. Which means it was his shortcoming that let the wedding run out of wine. Isn’t it interesting that John includes this little side note found in verse 9: “When the master of the feast [not the groom but the head waiter] tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom [now you see who is really in charge of the wine] and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’” And of course, the point is: No, he didn’t. He let the wine run out. That’s the way it is with grooms on this earth. All husbands fail to be all that we ought to be. But quietly, omnipotently, Jesus plays the role of the perfect, all-providing Bridegroom. Out of water comes wine, better than any husband could provide. It is a clear example of glory overflowing with grace. In each of these three manifestations of glory that we have seen over the past few days — obedient Son, ultimate Purifier, all-providing Bridegroom — We also see this overflowing with grace. From his fullness, we receive grace upon grace. As the obedient Son of God, he is not swayed by family ties, not Mary’s and not ours. He is swayed by those who shun their “pedigrees” and trust his grace. As the ultimate Purifier, he is not moved by religious ritual. He replaced all Old Testament ritual once for all with his own blood. There is one way to be pure before God, the hardest way for him and the easiest way for us. It is the washing of our robes in the blood of the Lamb. And we simply come by faith. And as the all-providing Bridegroom, he never, never, never fails to give us what we need. The life-giving wine of his death in our place never runs out. He is the perfect, all-providing husband to his church. Just WOW! And this is only the first of the seven signs!

Seven Miracles - Pt 3

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine. (John 2:1-5 ESV).

Jesus also shows the glory of an “Ultimate Purifier.” This is easily seen in that Jesus chooses to use water jars that were appointed for “purification,” not for drinking, when he performs his miracle and fills them with wine. And the reason is that he means to point to his own death as the ultimate purification for sins that would nullify and replace the Jewish purification rituals. Also, when Jesus tells his mother that “my hour has not yet come,” he is pointing to his death. This is the time that sin would ultimately be forgiven and sinners redeemed. This is the time of true purification. His hour is the hour of his death when he will die for sinners and make purification for sins. John explains this later in his first letter (cf. 1 John 1:7). Here John says, “the blood of Jesus his Son purifies us from all sin.” The verb is katharizei which corresponds to the word katharismon in John 2:6). Jesus goes ahead with the miracle as a means of giving them a “sign” of things to come. It is as if he is saying, “No, the climactic hour of my death is not yet here, but I will give you a sign of my death. I will give you an acted out parable of my death and what it will mean.” He then tells the servants to fill the purification jars with water. These were not used for drinking. They were used for bathing—for purifying. So it seems that Jesus wants to say that this is what “my hour” will be like: “I will take the purification rituals of Israel and replace them with a decisively new way of purification, namely, with my blood.” And keep in mind that Jesus said, “My blood is true drink” (John 6:55). So the second way that Jesus manifests his glory in this story is by giving a sign, an acted out parable of how his own death, his own blood, his hour will be the final, decisive, ultimate purification for sins. There is no ritual any more for cleansing. There is one way to be clean before God. John says it plainly in Revelation 7:14: “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” The glory of Jesus is that he alone, once and for all, made purification for sins. You don’t turn to ritual. You turn to Jesus. This is the wonder of the work of God in Jesus. What we could never do, Jesus did… what we could never deserve, Jesus gave freely to us. The Law was never intended to redeem. That was always the work of Jesus. And, it has now been accomplished!

Seven Miracles - Pt 2

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:1-5 ESV).

Yesterday we saw that there are three revelations of the glory of Jesus in this first miracle John records; it is the glory of an obedient Son. The key is to see that Jesus is exalting his Sonship to his heavenly Father above his sonship to his earthly mother. So when I call him an obedient Son I mean the Son of his heavenly Father, not the son of his earthly mother. No doubt he was obedient to his earthly mother, but that is not the point here. In fact, I think Jesus’ words are intentionally chosen to reveal a radical allegiance to God’s will above his mother’s will, and above all human attachments and affections. Our reading is clear at that point. On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” That is a surprising response. I think Jesus knew it would be surprising when he said it, and John knew it would be when he recorded it. There was nothing cultural that says a man can’t call his mother by the title “Mother.” But Jesus says, “Woman.” His response isn’t disrespectful, but it is abrupt. It may be like calling her “Ma’am” in some contexts today. This seems brusque not only because Jesus calls her “Woman,” or “Ma’am,” but also because he says, “What does this have to do with me?” That phrase (ti emoi kai soi) is used five other times in the New Testament, and every time it is spoken by a demon to Jesus. When Jesus intrudes in their domain and starts to exert power where they were in control, they say, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God?” (Matthew 8:29). The gist of this phrase seems to be: “I don’t want you pressing in here. You shouldn’t be coming to me like this. This is not your affair.” So Jesus is doubly abrupt with his mother: He calls her “Woman,” and he says, “This is not your place to be calling out my power.” It does seem that his mother expected him to do something. We are not told what she expected, but we are told that Jesus did not approve of what she said. What makes this so significant is that Jesus goes right ahead and takes care of the problem by doing a miracle. So he could have said very gently, “Yes, Mother, I know. I’ll take care of it immediately.” That’s what he did, but that’s not what he said. Jesus felt a burden to make clear that because of who he was, physical relationships on earth would not control him or oblige him. His mother and his physical family would have no special advantage to guide his ministry. And his mother and physical family would have no special advantage. This is especially relevant in view of the popularity of the “name it and claim it” theology of our day. His miracles are not at his mother’s disposal, or anyone else’s. He is entirely in the will and purpose of his heavenly Father. He and the Father are one, and they have one will. We would do well to remember that truth when we pray. Jesus is under no obligation to work at our will. And, further, when we understand that our will is the least trustworthy of all, we then can experience the peace of resting in his good pleasure and purpose. That is not only demonstrated by obedience but faith!

Seven Miracles - Pt 1

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2:6-11 ESV).

The Gospel of John is unique. John begins in a different place historically and continues to use a different approach to conveying the truth of God’s redemptive plan in Jesus. He also has unique content compared to the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). A part of that unique content is the use of seven miracles to clearly portray Jesus as God and Redeemer. In the next few days we’ll look at each of these in some detail. My hope and prayer is that this will have huge effects in the way you see this great gift of God. When God gives us eyes to see the glory of Jesus, his beauty and greatness and worth, that seeing is the laser beam, as it were, along which great grace streams into our lives. It takes us to a place where we can have the grace to love, the grace to rejoice, and grace to possess our eternal life now. You should not miss the last verse in our reading today. John recalls, “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” So here John puts the focus again on seeing the glory of Christ. His disciples saw his glory, and they believed on him. The glory of Jesus is the key component in our faith. So, John puts a great premium in helping his readers to see Jesus’ glory as it is revealed in his works. And he wants us to receive the grace of believing. So it would be perfectly in accord with John’s intention if we ask, “What is the glory of Christ revealed in this story of the wedding of Cana?” I see at least three answers: the glory of an obedient Son; the glory of an ultimate Purifier; and, the glory of an all-providing Bridegroom. I will spend more time on each of these in the coming days. However, today I hope you will recognize these positions and the difference they can make in your daily life.

A Story of Redemption

And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years. (Judges 4:1-3 ESV).

I love the authenticity of the Bible. It can never be said that the Bible only recounts to good stories. In fact, if you read any of the Old Testament, you are struck with the unadulterated truth, whether it is flattering or not. And, the Bible contains its share of “R rated” stories. Our reading today telling the story of Deborah, Barak, and Jael is one of those stories. It is the repetitive cycle found throughout Judges. God’s people become rebellious and sin; they suffer, this time by the oppression of the wicked King Jabin and his military leader Sisera. They cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness and he provides a “judge” who comes to deliver them from their predicament. In this instance, the wisdom of God's plan to save his people comes from Deborah, a prophetess in Israel. She instructs Barak to gather 10,000 powerful Israelite warriors at Mt Tabor and fight Sisera and his 900 iron-plated chariots. When Barak leads his men into battle the Lord brings a heavy rain that leaves Sisera and his chariots stuck in the mud! With defeat looming, Sisera flees the battlefield and finds hospitality in the tent of an ordinary woman - Jael (her name means "mountain goat"). Sisera had a reputation as an evil man. When he falls asleep, Jael takes the opportunity to quietly approach him with a mallet and a tent peg. With "callous efficiency", she drives the peg through his skull, pinning his head to the dirt floor. An ordinary woman with two ordinary elements, a tent peg and mallet, led to the death of Sisera and freedom for the people of God. This short story gives us a unique perspective of the story of redemption. It is an illustration of God redeeming his people from sin and death. The Apostle Paul says that the cross of Christ reveals the wisdom of God. While some see Christ crucified as foolishness, Christians see the wisdom of God at Calvary because it is at the cross where God remains holy by punishing sin, but also reveals his grace by forgiving sinners (cf. 1 Corinthians 1). Moreover, the cross reveals the power of God. When God seemed at his weakest, in human flesh, beaten, tortured, and nailed to a wooden cross, he was actually defeating sin and death. To borrow a phrase from the English theologian John Owen, the death of death occurred in the death of Christ. In other words, God used the death of his only Son to powerfully conquer death and give eternal life to his people. Finally, our redemption occurs in an ordinary and mundane manner. Jesus Christ was born to an unwed teenage mother, raised in a small town, worked for years making tables and chairs, lived without a home, and was crucified between two common criminals on a cross. Yet, it is through his life, death, and resurrection that you have the gift of forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life.

God is Love

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:12-16 ESV).

You may have heard the old saying “Familiarity breeds contempt.” It conveys the idea that we tend to take things for granted, having little value for what we believe we can have at any time. Many have learned the folly of the danger of familiarity once the object of it is lost. God’s love is like that. If we were to ever lose it, we’d be in such a terrible condition. To have known life and then lose it would be the worst of conditions. Thankfully that is not a possibility. It is not possible because the character of God is love. He simply is love. It is the constant we may rest in as we navigate this world of change and instability. One of the most familiar phrases is found in the most beloved of Scripture: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). We see it so often on placards at sporting events, on tee-shirts, and hear it from evangelists and pastors that it becomes the religious version of Charlie Brown’s teacher (“Wahn, wahn, wahn, wahn, wahn”). The danger for us is that whenever we hear the declaration that God loves us, we tend to discount it to the point of denying its truth. I cannot deny the temptation to take God’s love for granted. In fact, I sometimes doubt it. Life has a way of happening to the extreme. As I find myself plodding along in circumstances that are so difficult that I can barely put one foot in front of the other with no prospect of relief I sometimes wonder “Does God really love me?” Is this God’s definition of love? The answer is no. This is not the definition of God’s love for me. Jesus laid his life down for me; he died in my place. That is the real definition of God’s love. God loves you and He loves me, not just for today, but for eternity. It’s just so familiar that I don’t value it the way I would if He were suddenly capable of withdrawing His love, and decided to because I’m such a sinner. Whether times are good or bad; whether life is easy or hard; whether we’re experiencing success or failure, health or sickness; whether we remember or forget, God’s whole character is love! That’s GREAT news!

God is Faithful

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 ESV).

God is faithful to make a way for us. It is true that sin and death do not go away quietly or easily when we are born again. In fact, we know from the Scripture that they will only go down swinging to the last. However, in the Last Day, but they will go down nonetheless (cf. Revelation 20:10-15). They will be destroyed once and for all because God is faithful. The Apostle Paul wants us to understand this principle clearly. Our reading today declares that God’s faithfulness overcomes every obstacle and circumstance. It is almost easy to come to this truth when facing our temptations; however, when we consider the finality and reality of death, we typically come to the conclusion that no one escapes that. Death always seems to win. Well, that’s fine and good, you might say. The good news is that we don’t merely win over death; we don’t simply escape it narrowly. We conquer it. We do so because God has made a way through this life in his faithfulness to keep his promise to redeem us. The resurrection proves this truth. It was Jesus first and then the rest of us to follow. It’s almost football season again. This year will certainly look different for Texas A&M. We have a new staff, new philosophy, and an entirely new playbook defensively and offensively. Our hopes are high, even though we are scheduled to play the number one and number two teams in the nation in our first four games. Will A&M win those games? It is certainly a lofty expectation. The variables are many; and, the odds are against it. As believers we don’t need to consider the variables or the odds. It has already been accomplished. The “score” has already been settled. We’re just waiting for the final whistle! And remember, we don’t merely escape; we win! Conquering is better than mere escape. And this is the promise of God, first with the rainbow promise and then with the crimson blood of Christ. God has made a way out, through faith, to remove the sting of death and conquer hell forever. He did it by His grace in His Son Jesus Christ who conquered death as incontrovertible evidence that God is faithful. When I begin to wonder if I can make it, all I need to do is remember what God has already done. The empty tomb is the absolute proof of His faithfulness!

God is Able

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:8-11 ESV). Today I am going to begin to single out a few words that describe our God. The first one I’ve chosen is “able.” God is able. “Able” is really an adjective. In fact, the dictionary says it is an indicator meaning “having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something.” Some of the synonyms are: “intelligent, clever, talented, skillful, skilled, accomplished, gifted; proficient, apt, good, adroit, adept.”

You may remember that a few weeks ago found me in the hospital having angioplasty performed to alleviate blockages in the arteries of my heart. I’m told that the doctor was a bit surprised that I had not had a significant heart attack prior to the procedure. While I had some symptoms, there was no indication from any of the tests that there was any real danger. Of course the symptoms were a bit scary for my family. They had me on a very tight leash and practically inactive. Well, I am doing significantly better. In fact, I’m back in the shop and doing some things I haven’t been able to do for quite some time. As you can see from the picture, I’m even able to climb on the roof and do some work there! I really didn’t have permission to climb on the roof, but I was able. It is amazing how much satisfaction I felt when I got up there and put the roof decking on. That brings me to this incredible declaration in our reading today. The apostle simple says, “God is able to make all grace abound to you.” This broad statement about the nature and power of God reaches into every experience of our lives. While the context is the financial circumstances of the believers in Corinth, it extends much further than that. Paul simply declares there is nothing God cannot do in and for us. He says God has this ability “so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” It is always more than we need and designed to allow us to “abound.” It might not always feel that way, but the truth remains. What is it that you feel you simply cannot overcome? What is happening in your life that gives you feelings of inadequacies? God is able. He is intelligent, clever, talented, skillful, skilled, accomplished, gifted, proficient, apt, good, adroit, and adept enough to make you abound! Trust Him!

Parenting with Hope

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. (Micah 5:2-5 ESV).

This week has already been filled with parents who have reached a point in their lives where they have seriously questioned their decision to have children. Parents who are dealing with some very difficult behavioral issues; parents who are wrestling with the relational choices of their near adult children; and, parents who simply feel as though they are failing their children completely are just a few of the issues I have encountered this week. And, it’s only Wednesday! I am often brought back to the basic principle of parenting with hope. My response is both simple at first glance and complex in application. Simply put, when everything seems to be imploding in your family you look to the Lord. You cry out to the Lord with two very deep convictions. One is that you are a sinner and that you don’t deserve anything from God. We have not been perfect parents. We have sinned. And we are not foolish or naïve. We know we have also been sinned against. But everything in our flesh wants to think about that. Only the Holy Spirit can make us see our own sin. Only the Holy Spirit can make us feel our own guilt. That’s one deep conviction. The other is that there is no God like our God, who pardons iniquity and passes over transgression, and relents from anger, and delights in steadfast love. We must be just as deeply convinced of this as we are that we have sinned against our spouse and that we have sinned against our children, and that in all this we have sinned against God. These two principles are crucial. They work together, each making the depth of the other possible. If you don’t feel your sin and guilt, you won’t go deep with the pardon of God. But it works the other way, and this is crucial in families: If you don’t know the depths of God’s pardon, you won’t go deep with your own sin. These two deep convictions produce the posture of brokenhearted boldness. And that’s the posture for parenting with hope in the worst of times. Broken for our sin in the vortex of being sinned against, and bold because, “Who is a pardoning God like you!” And for Christians both halves of this posture are grounded and intensified by knowing Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. So if you are parenting in the worst of times, or want to get ready for parenting in the worst of times, or simply want hope in the worst of times, look at Micah and look at Jesus and take this posture: brokenness because of your sin, and boldness because of Christ. Then in the power of the Holy Spirit, set your heart on being the best imperfect parent you can be — for Jesus’ sake.

I Feel fine

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:5-10).

Some very interesting things have happened the last two days. Yesterday, a good friend came over so that I could help him build a hunting blind for him and his two boys. They are all tall guys. Even though the boys, twins, are just 13 they are boy taller and bigger than I am. He is 6’ 4”. So, that necessitated building something a bit more elaborate and durable than I might have done otherwise. You can see the picture of the “prototype” at the left. We got a good bit of it done yesterday; however, working outside in Texas at this time of the year is not an activity for me any longer. It was another August day of temperatures over 1000. He is younger and stronger, and a great deal of help, but the heat and the work took its toll. I was pretty tired last night! My first thoughts were of how easily I could have done that day’s work twenty years ago. That ultimately led me to bemoan the fact that I simply cannot do what I used to do; and, that led to thoughts of how getting older may not be such a blessing after all. I dismissed that thought relatively quickly. I know that’s not true. Then the second thing happened. This morning, Kyle, my oldest son, sent me an article written by John Piper. He sends me stuff from time to time. This one was timed exquisitely. You can find the article at https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/no-maverick-cells-in-me. I hope you spend the extra time to read it this morning. From Piper’s recounting of his experience there were a lot of my own memories that came back to me. In 2014 I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer. It too was a result of a routine exam. At the same time the cardiologists diagnosed a severe case of Atrial Fibrilation. That resulted in two major surgeries six months apart. Cancer first, then the heart. Well, it was an interesting time in my life. It would have been easy for me to have wondered what I had done wrong that God would “allow” such a thing to happen to me. It would have been easy to ask “Why?” I would have been no less wrong in asking that question. It’s simply the wrong question. “Who?” is always the right question in the face of all our circumstances. The right answer is always “God.” I love the way Piper says “there are no maverick cells” that cause cancer. It is a very good interpretation of our reading today. “God has not destined us to wrath, but to obtain salvation.” Whatever we face today or tomorrow is merely God’s means of bring us to that final redemption. Piper says he has learned to respond to other’s questions of how he’s doing by saying “I feel fine”; rather than “I’m fine.” Yep, whether I live or die, I feel fine! God is in charge and whatever the path He has given me, it will end with my final redemption and eternal life!

The Other Side - Pt 4

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-4 ESV).

The last thought about “The Other Side” is that we will see Jesus. It will be nothing short of amazing to finally see, with our own eyes, the risen, glorified, incarnate Christ in heaven. Truly, this will be one of the most glorious parts of heaven. The one to whom we’ve prayed a thousand times, though he has always been invisible to us, now we can look into his eyes. We can put our hands into the holes in his wrists. We can hug him and say, “Thank you” into his ear. That is certain; however, there are hints in the Bible of something even more intriguing as we find in our reading today. Theologians have often spoken of the “beatific vision” — that heavenly vision which involves not our resurrected bodily eyes, but “the eye of the soul.” In this way, it is said, we will behold Christ in his divine nature, a glory that surpasses the sweetness of laying our physical eyes on him. Not only will heaven heal your earthly sorrow, but it will also recall and fulfill all your earthly happiness. Even the greatest theologians labor to describe this experience. But all agree it is the ultimate happiness of creatures. John Owen said that it “will make us blessed unto eternity.” And, remember, Jonathan Edwards called it “happifying.” Such an encounter with the glory of Christ can scarcely be imagined. How will we even endure such light and joy? Surely this will be the pinnacle moment of our existence, as we ascend into that permanent roar of joy from which we shall never, and can never, descend. These features of heaven’s eternal shoreline change how we swim. For now, we struggle through rough waters, deep fatigue, and thick fog. But the day is coming soon when the seemingly unending waves will give way to a broad, sturdy shoreline where the joy is full and the pleasures are forevermore. Knowing this awaits us at the shore can help us keep swimming, no matter how choppy the waves get. Stay focused on the other side. That will be enough to get you through this difficult day in which we live!

The Other Side - Pt 3

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:7-11 ESV).

In exploring “The Other Side” I come to a principle that many believers have not given much thought. We tend to think about the spiritual joy of heaven more than its physical pleasures; however, every pleasure finally finds itself. But I think heaven will have both joy and pleasure. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know how to imagine all the details, but I don’t think God created the grandeur of mountain landscapes, or the breathtaking vistas of crystal clear oceans, or waterfalls, or chocolate, relationships, and art only to destroy them forever so we could float in an ethereal, cloudy realm. And I’m pretty sure the “pleasures forevermore” of our reading today are not exhausted by an eternity of singing praise choruses. That means something startling. As we saw yesterday, not only will heaven heal your earthly sorrow, but it will also recall, answer, and fulfill all your earthly happiness. Your happy moments on earth are not lost to you. They will return to you, in some deeper form — part of that final, settled happiness of which they were, even at their best, mere anticipations. I don’t know what it is about some things that we experience that affect us as they do. I understand the things that hurt us. I have experienced enough of those disappointments and painful circumstances that I can easily relate to the joy of our heavenly existence that is free from pain and grief. However, when it comes to those times when I was lost in happiness I have much more difficulty expecting anything like that in heaven. Some of these things are so temporal it’s hard to imagine that God would have anything like that in heaven. I remember the first home run Kyle hit in little league; I remember the first goal David scored in soccer as a 4-year old; I remember the first musical score Aaron played for us from memory. Each of these produced an enormous amount of satisfaction and happiness. There are hundreds of such moments, some simple and some complex in their nature and duration. All of them were moments that still bring great pleasure as I recall them. The Scripture teaches that all of those moments have been stored up for eternity. All of those moments will be a part of the pleasure of heaven. The difference is that then we not be encumbered with any of the pain of other experiences. They will be better for that reason. Our pleasure will be perfect as well! That’s the kind of hope we have secured in the grace of God!

The Other Side - Pt 2

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 ESV).

We’ve been looking at heaven the last few days. As I began to prepare today’s thought I was taken back to some of the wonderful conversations I have had through the last fifty years with people who were near death and the families who were taking care of them in the last days of their lives. In every case for those who were believers, there was an incredible divided between the one who was dying and those who were to be left behind. The believers who were facing death were typically calm and resolute, simply waiting for their final release from pain and suffering. During their conscious times we would often talk about how much they looked forward to heaven. Often they had a spouse or other loved ones that were already dead and they longed to see them again. The family members were often on the other side of the emotional spectrum. They were beginning their grief and sadness seemed overwhelming to them. It is to the these folks that I have some GREAT news. In heaven sadness is permanently unmade. We know that earthly sadness cannot enter heaven. This is true, but the Bible seems to point to something even more profound — that heaven will enter our earthly sadness. My thoughts are often drawn to our reading today when I confront grief. This verse claims more than the fact that we won’t weep in heaven. The imagery of God wiping away our tears seems suggests consolation for, as well as the end of, earthly grief. Heaven will not merely end our pain, it will mend it. Tim Keller says it like this: “Resurrection . . . means that every horrible thing that ever happened will not only be undone and repaired but will in some way make the eventual glory and joy even greater.” Imagine yourself newly arrived in heaven. God Almighty summons you. As you stand trembling before him, he surgically draws up the deepest wound of your life, healing you and transforming your pain into glory and joy. Such imagery is tender to the point of embarrassment. This is the other side Jesus is preparing for all of we who believe! That is such a comfort for me. I hope it is for you as well.