Statement three... part 2...

I walked through a door in the last section, showing the courage to be honest and accountable for my own actions.  That door was opened and awaiting me, just as the door to this and to salvation are open to all.  The choice I made to walk through it, however, was immensely freeing for me!  Just imagine how that can feel...

"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture."

John 10:9, HCSB

The passage into salvation is one unlike any other, because it is one that is filled with indescribable and eternal joy.  Some folks ask how you can tell that there is a difference, but you literally feel it inside yourself as you begin to think about and weigh out different situations.  It's no different than the feeling that exists when the lights come on in a dark room, illuminating that there is no real danger.  It's also no different than eating to quell hunger, and feeling satisfied.  To enter through Christ's grace and mercy is so fulfilling and powerful and magnificent.

And then an even better part comes, one that the verse points out quite clearly.  We come in through the Door, receive salvation, and when we go out, we find "pasture."  I would infer that this can have two meanings when it mentions "going out," and the first one is that when we die, we go to Heaven.  The second one is the more complicated, and that is that once we have passed through the Door to salvation, wherever we go from there is the pasture we are meant to be in.  Our mission field, if you will, is our pasture, and we are now entered through the Sheep Gate of our own field, cleaned and tick free, so that we can serve and live as an example to others. 

Passing through this Door, we can now show what has been done in us by having the Bread and the Light, and we can be a vessel for the Spirit to bring others to the same realization in our own field of influence.

Now don't kid yourselves, because mistakes will still happen and errors will still exist.  Passing back through the Door of His amazing grace for a refreshed cleaning of the wool will be necessary, and refining by fire is one of those things that we, as believers, must endure.  Our failures, though, tend to be excellent teachers... I know my failures are all necessary for the growth and the refinement that I must experience.  The key here is which door you turn to when mistakes happen.

Clearly, as stated before, salvation can only be gained once.  However, to return and confess our sins, no matter how small, brings forth the proper heart attitude to grow.  His forgiveness and grace abound evermore than we can possibly grasp or fathom, and there is literally no limit to His love and power to shed grace upon each one of us.  I heard a pastor say once that His grace cannot and will not be stopped by human ignorance, and that is absolutely true.  So when you make a mistake, the key to your walk from there is which doorway you enter as you move forward.  Do you go and cleanse yourself once more, rededicate and focus even closer than before, or do you run with the mistake, assuming that it's just a phase? 

Friends, sin is not a phase, it's a nature.  And, as my wise mother pointed out to me, there is no level where sin is concerned, that makes one lesser than another.  In God's eyes, sin is sin, and our righteousness is but a filthy rag when held up to His light.  So as you move forward from whatever you may experience, whether now or later in life, know that you can choose which door to enter, and which pasture to find... one of sin and death, or one of service and humility and life.

God bless you all!!!

Statement three... part 1...

Our fears of hunger and darkness, as well as the need to see and eat, have been removed.  And now, Jesus steps in to share a powerful point for us all, and alleviate yet another very common fear that all people share... and that is the fear of being trapped.

"I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture."

John 10:9, HCSB

I have said before many times, and I will say again many more, that there is indeed only one way to Heaven, and that is through Christ.  I am going to be quite literal with that now, and openly ask you to think of Him as a doorway that you must cross through.  There is no knob, and the key is found in the words of "You are the Son," and "please save me from myself."  Those words, spoken to that door in the proper heart attitude, bring about a peace that passes all understanding.  In that moment, one realizes that entrapment by the enemy is no longer possible.

I think about this verse and this Statement and I am forced to ponder on certain movies and stories where a gate could only be opened by using secret lingo.  You had to say "Friend" to enter in one very, very famous trilogy of movies, and when the word was spoken aloud, the impenetrable stone wall just moved.  It opened up and the group was allowed to enter.  You might wonder what it was they left behind them, and you would find that it was a swamp of desolation and sadness.  They entered into shelter and security... for the moment.  We'll get to that, though.

Recently, I was faced with a personal choice of two doors, and I chose the incorrect one.  In doing so, I harmed my relationship with my family, and I hurt my pride and my character... and, above all, I dishonored the Father.  As a saved Christian, of course I know that God knew I would do this, and that He has forgiven me for this, as well as all the other stuff I'm still going to do later in life, but that doesn't excuse the action.  I walked through the door of an inappropriate conversation, and should not have done so.  I was caught in that conversation, and I am grateful for that.  I should never have allowed it to happen, as I should have been peacefully asleep in bed at that point... but it happened, and, as foretold a few hours prior, my high-horse placement of myself was lowered quickly to the ground as I forced my own bucking off of that same horse.  I should have looked to the other door.

I have apologized privately, and now I do so publicly.  I apologize not only to my God, not only to my family, but also to the people who read through my ramblings. 

Granted, since one cannot be saved more than once from eternal damnation, and I already have been, the thought of walking through this Door for this purpose is not a thought to bring salvation again.  I reference walking through the Door to say and show that we can walk away from the temptations of the world, and into the grace that has been provided to and for us, thereby removing ourselves from the danger of a sinful moment and all that follows it.  Please allow me to serve as an example of the wrong thing to do in this moment, and know that I am blessed to have been stopped so abruptly.

Jesus is the Door (some translations say "the Gate") that we must pass through in order to be saved.  No other door can do this.  And after you go through this Door, no other door really matters, locked or not.  Some will be locked from the inside, and you could open them... but probably shouldn't, since they're locked.  Some will be locked from the outside, keeping you from getting through, and those should be avoided, as well.  Others, however, will be wide open already, requiring no effort to go through, and those doors would be the ones to great relationships with your family, your friends, your church, and, most importantly, Jesus!

God bless you all!!!

Statement two... part 3...

Sorry for the brief absence, folks... family time was of great importance this past week, and I am grateful for the opportunity to now rejoin you with a furthering of our current study into the "I Am" statements in John.

We have now looked at how Jesus spoke to us personally, as well as how He spoke to us corporately, and all in this one statement about being the "light of the world."  Now I must simply explain one final thought on it, so that we can move on to the next portion of our study... how to never walk in darkness again!

"Then Jesus spoke to them again: 'I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.'"

John 8:12, HCSB

It's really a simple explanation, and this is it: follow Him. 

Undoubtedly, the simplicity of it all raises questions in our "enlightened" and "grown-up" level of our own "understanding."  (Please notice, the quotations here are for sarcastic effect.)  However, if you asked a child at a Vacation Bible School what it means to follow Christ, they would probably just respond by saying either "just follow Him," or "do the ABC's of salvation."  Children Accept that they are sinners, they Believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and they Confess (at the appropriate age) that Jesus Christ is... and let me make this perfectly clear, with no shadows or doubts... THE ONE AND ONLY SON OF GOD, AND THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION AND HEAVEN.  They just accept it.  As easily as they accept that 2+2=4, they accept that Jesus Christ takes away their sins, and they ask Him to live in their hearts, and they become co-heirs with Christ, just as you and I are.

Adults, on the other hand, tend to ask useless and ridiculous "what if" questions about morality.  Please allow me to answer them all in two words: so what!  Jesus' redemptive power does not stop because someone is guilty of this sin or that one, and He is not limited by what we are capable of doing, so please understand that any time you assume you could slow Him down with your failed humanity and sin nature, that is blasphemy.  When we (yes, I said we) try this, we are attempting to cover His light with our own darkness, and that cannot succeed.  Again, for clarity, we cannot shadow His light with our darkness... period.

So let's go back to the simple explanation: follow Him.  For Peter, this meant following Him in all things, including the method of execution.  For Paul, this meant turning a radical 180 degrees from persecution of martyrs like Stephen to profound praise and worship in the face of extreme opposition.  For me, it meant realizing that as smart as I may be by human standards (mostly measured by myself, if I'm to be really honest), I am NOTHING in comparison to the One who created me... and you... and that guy over there... and that lady over there.  For you it may mean something slightly different, but the end result will always be the same: He comes first, before all things, and you (like me) come second.  That's right, I said second.  And yes, I also said in all things, which means that you really are less important in all things than Him. 

Don't miss this... in that realization, placing yourself second behind the Father, behind the Son, behind the Spirit, you properly follow Him.  Now, of course, realizing and living it out are two different things, and both must be accomplished.  It is vital that the recognition be followed by awareness to remain in the second position, as well as the willful act to keep yourself in the second position.  Further, you must go forth, as we are commanded, to spread the Good News, as He did, and seek out those who are in need of Him.  It is in this way that you will be light for others, just as He is light for you, and there is no way that darkness could engulf you ever again.

God bless you all!!!

Statement two... part 2...

We've seen the personal aspect of Christ as the Light of the world for us all in a very individualistic sense, and now we must look to the corporate side of it.  So many people decide they have no need for corporate worship, and no need to join as a member of a church... but there is strength in numbers, always, and what better strength in numbers could you have than in a crowd of people who are ALL blessed with the Light of the world in them?

"Then Jesus spoke to them again: 'I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.'"

John 8:12, HCSB

I must make one opening disclaimer in this section: this is not intended to support any theological position on election for any of the possible positions that exist.  What follows is simply extrapolation on the words used in the Word, by the Word, in this portion of Scripture.  Please do not read any further into it than that.

Jesus reaches down to us as individuals and offers this light, the "light of life," as it is described in John 1:4, but He also points out here that "anyone who follows" will have this light.  It may seem like He is again speaking to the individual, and in a way, He is.  However, since He is addressing a group, He is making a blanket statement to the crowd for any individuals who wish to be saved.  Further, as anyone there was able to step forward, it would follow that since Christianity has spread as far and wide as it has in the last two millennia, that there is a fairly vast group who are blessed to have the Light.  That group is one that I am proud to associate with, both physically in worship and small groups and life groups and ministry teams, and spiritually as I serve by writing and thinking and praying for all I am blessed to know.  My individuality and personal relationship are better each day, because I have Christ (first and always), and because I am surrounded in corporate worship by others who also made the decision to follow Him.

Also, it is important to note that no matter what dictionary you look into, the term "darkness" has no actual definition.  Regardless of volume, you will only find phrases similar to "a lack of or total absence of light."  Light, on the other hand, has a plethora of definitions, all boiling down to two main things: without it, nothing on Earth could survive, and it makes things visible.  Given that the entire Bible is replete with references to the differences between light and darkness, and that THE LIGHT is now seen openly as being Christ, in His absence we can only assume that there would be darkness.  In that darkness, sin and lies and deceit and satan would be allowed to reign free, and we would all stumble, and not know what caused anything to happen.  Yet Jesus IS light, He is OF light, and He is THE light that brings us awareness of who we are, what we are, Whose we are, and what we're doing.  Through Him, and through Him alone, we are able to see.  He illuminates beyond what the darkness can cover, and the darkness cannot sustain itself as the Light can.  (For those of you who felt like you understood the world all on your own, I must apologize for bursting your bubble... all true knowledge and blessing come from above, and no one is smart enough to figure it out without Christ.)

So it's really no wonder that Jesus would choose this statement to share with the people, right?  The world had been in darkness, spiraling ever-deeper into the pit of despair as the leaders attempted to "teach" the Law of Moses through their own increasingly poor interpretation of it.  That interpretation twisted and turned many times, as well, and ended up with the Pharisees placing the law in the place of God, instead of seeking God to abide by His law.  Jesus brought this to light by and through His very presence, and shines for us, even today, so that we can see through things like hypocrisy. 

On a side note, I saw on facebook one day that someone posted something that said (paraphrasing, and not an exact quote), "I'd rather be known as an honest sinner than a lying hypocrite."  I remember being a tad confused, because I would think that all Christians would rather be known as REDEEMED SINNERS, and do their very best to live a life free of any hypocrisy.  I mean, really... honest sinner?  All that is required there is for any person to admit once, "Yes, I am a sinner," and that accomplishes the goal.  However, to go forward and have redemption and salvation and freedom and grace upon grace upon grace upon grace that we can NEVER EVER UNDERSTAND, one MUST have the Light shone upon them.  Without that light, one remains in darkness, and only comes to the place of admission, rather than reaching the place of submission.

God bless you all!!!

Statement two... part 1...

The first Statement was amazing, and clearly directed us to the Truth that Christ is the ONLY sustainer of eternal life.  Nothing else, no matter what it is, can do that.  Therefore, your attendance record at church, your good works, your giving of time and/or money, your kindness and polite attitude... none of them mean squat without Christ in your life.  It's almost as though you'd be wandering around in darkness...

"Then Jesus spoke to them again: 'I am the light of the world.  Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.'"

John 8:12, HCSB

Isn't that an interesting thought?  We have had our needs for hunger and thirst spoken to, and spoken to quite well.  And now we are being comforted from another very primal fear, as we are children in His eyes... the fear of the dark.  Do you remember that time when you were afraid of the dark?  Having small children, I still have to go and make certain rooms are "safe" without lights on, so this one is vibrantly alive for me.

Expanding on that, our kids and we ourselves have fear of the dark and of the things that may be in the dark.  It boils down to a fear of the unknown.  When you cannot see the things around you, they are not known.  In that place, a shadow from an innocent toy can be exaggerated into that of a monster lurking in the room.  That image is the one I need you to hold onto for a moment, because it will clarify all things.

The thing we "see" when we are fearful is often not really there, and something our own mind creates.  Light switches help to convince us that our mind is "playing tricks on us," but I believe the truth of it is deeper than that.  You see, born into a sinful nature, the natural part of us is in darkness already, and it needs a lamp.  Therefore, from our own fear and desperation, we concoct an image that is befitting of what we know at the time.  That image is of darkness, in darkness, and it is frightening.

Jesus Christ is the light we need.  He shines ever-brighter, regardless of circumstance, and nothing can ever quell His radiance.  Further, His light, as a part of a saved Christian, illuminates from the inside out, and allows us to look upon things differently.  Shadows really are just shadows, and understanding becomes a companion as we see things for what they actually are, instead of what our own darkness tells us they are.  That light is powerful, and unstoppable, and intense.  Darkness, after all, is merely an absence of light... therefore our own darkness, human nature, is just a natural absence of The Light.

Give thanks that He is lighting your way, from the deepest recesses of your heart to the whole universe and beyond.  It's so personal, so directly pointed at each of us, that we should develop a natural and powerful passion for the illumination of others!

God bless you all!!!

Statement one... part 2...

Christ uses these statements to speak to our physical needs, and this one is particularly powerful, as it speaks to hunger and thirst.  However, as mentioned before, there is also a serious Spiritual meaning and understanding, as well. 

"'I am the bread of life,' Jesus told them. 'No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.'"

John 6:35, HCSB

HE is the bread... He IS the bread... He is THE bread... He is the BREAD... no matter where you place the emphasis in the sentence, the Truth of it remains the same, and that is that Jesus Christ is the only thing we can consume (I'll get to how in a moment) that will sustain us eternally.  There is nothing else, and that means that there can be no other way.  Only Christ offers this level of sustenance.

As to how we "consume," I would like to ask that we think figuratively for a moment.  When we read the Word, we soak up and consume the Truth of the Bible.  It comes into us, through our eyes and minds and hearts, and then is within us.  It is not so literal as Ezekiel, who ate the scrolls and made them a real part of himself (ref. Ezekiel 3:3), but it is the same figurative concept.  Some will ask about transubstantiation, and while I am not a Catholic myself, I do see the value in the symbolic act of the Lord's Supper.  Taking and eating the body, given for us for the forgiveness of sins, bringing Christ into ourselves, is what brings salvation.  Apart from Christ, there is no salvation.  Therefore, in order to have salvation, you must bring Christ into yourself. 

But it's not just that He is the bread, is it?  He is the bread of LIFE, as the verse tells us.  So the food we consume keeps us alive, free from starvation... but this bread is OF LIFE, and therefore we become something new when we eat of it, because we become alive!  We are sustained in an eternal sense from only a crumb of what Christ has to offer, and yet He offers more than we can consume or understand.  He laid out a feast the likes of which no human eye can possibly comprehend, because it is a feast of Himself that brings freedom and peace and grace and salvation... and ETERNAL LIFE!

Also, it goes on to tell us that those who partake will never have hunger again.  Spiritually, this is quite significant, because you can only be a "seeker" until you find what you're looking for.  If you've found Christ, then you are no longer "seeking," nor will you ever need to be.  Certainly there are questions that are asked, and topics discussed, and studies written (I know, right... shameless plug), but the Truth that you are saved from what you deserve is always there.  The Truth that your soul is freed by grace and fed with the Body and Blood of the Lamb is evident in all things you search for and through.  And so now, as a Christian, you are not seeking Christ... you are now seeking a deeper communion with Christ.

He is the bread of life, and He is the only thing that can sustain and protect and save, and He is the only One ever to have made such a claim... so either He's completely bonkers, or He's more right than we can fathom.  I'm banking on Him being right, and I'm taking in the Bread.

God bless you all!!!

Statement one... part 1...

After looking so closely through all the Signs, these seven "I am" statements are going to be something of a refresher for our studies.  However, the power that exists within them is vast, and cannot be discounted as just something to learn or read through.  As we will see, each one of these moments in the Gospel of John speaks (literally) of the immense love that Christ pours onto all, and each one is an encouragement to remain true to Him above all else... because He did more for us than we could possibly understand or ever deserve.

"'I am the bread of life,' Jesus told them.  'No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.'"

John 6:35, HCSB

This statement follows the fourth Sign, which was the feeding of the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish.  The 12, doubting that all could be fed by so little, were shamed into picking up one basketful each of scraps AFTER all the people had been completely filled.  Their doubts put into check, they now leave the scene and are met by Christ walking on the water in the fifth Sign, and their guilt over not believing has to be intense in this moment.  And the next day, He tells them that the manna in the days of Moses was not the bread from Heaven that they all longed for... no, the bread from Heaven is the Christ.

This statement ties to the woman at the well, and Jesus refers to His water as "living water," and one practical thing we must look at with this first amazing declaration is that Jesus speaks to the physical needs of both hunger and thirst.  Naturally, He is speaking to both physical and spiritual need, and using a common metaphor of physical need to illustrate a larger point, but we are always concerned with hunger and thirst... sometimes far too concerned.  And Jesus clearly states that He fulfills those needs, and fulfills them completely!

Further, to chase this analogy a little more, I think of my own past issues with overeating when I was sad or lonely or angry... or because it was Tuesday... I was always searching for something, and trying to fill a void and feel better.  Food did that.  One day, though, I found that I could have the seemingly bottomless pit properly sealed by Christ, and then the need to eat became less powerful.  I didn't have to search for fulfillment in the pantry any longer.  Sadly, there are many people who seek this fulfillment in things more dangerous than food.

These statements, starting with this very, very powerful one, will all bring enrichment to the lives of those who have Christ, and they can bring the necessary fulfillment to the lives of those who NEED Christ and have not yet accepted Him. 

As mentioned, though, it starts with this very pointed one, speaking to one of the most primal functions of our humanity, and that is hunger.  Hunger can drive a person crazy.  Hunger can bring about a side of a person that was not there before.  Hunger is, in short, bad.  And if let go long enough, hunger can rule the decisions of a person that, regardless of the means, will lead to the specific end of having food to eat. 

Focus today, and recognize that there is a void that either needs to be or once needed to be filled, and that the only way to fill that specific place is with Christ.  Nothing else will satisfy... period.

God bless you all!!!

Next up...

I can only speak for myself, but the deeper look into the seven Signs in John was amazingly insightful for me!  To take the time and dissect such powerful Scripture is such a fun thing to do, and I am still reading back through it all, just baffled at the love that flows forward from the Gospel of John... it may have become my favorite Gospel, and my favorite book of the Bible altogether.

What we're going to do next, though, ties directly to the study of the Signs.  We're going to go through the seven "I am" statements that exist in this same Gospel, and look at their weight and implication, as well as what they speak to for our own physical needs and concerns.  I think that we'll find, together, that this group of seven is just as powerful as the last, and it is rooted specifically in the words of the Word, straight from the mouth of the Savior.

We'll begin soon, starting with the first Statement from John 6:35, so read up and be ready... this one is going to be fun!

God bless you all!!!

The seventh Sign... part 4...

This journey has been an amazing one, and we are now at the final moment of these seven Signs that point clearly to Jesus as Messiah.  John is so careful to make clear that this was his only purpose, the only goal, and that all he wishes is for people to see Christ for who and what He truly is, which is the Son of God, Emmanuel, The Angel of the Lord, One with the Father and the Spirit. 

To solidify this desire to show this Truth above all other truths, the seventh Sign demonstrates clearly that Christ has authority over all things, including the one thing that many at that time, as well as many today, feared the most: death.  To be sure, this is not the first time a person has died and Jesus changed that by bringing them back (little girl, widow's son, nobleman's son), but this is the first time it has been done with so large an audience, and so dramatic a point.  The others had not been gone for four days, already done with the burial rituals and already sealed in their tombs, you see.  And the others were not called forth in the manner of a loud shout, either, as we just saw.

"The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth.  Jesus said to them, 'Loose him and let him go.'"

John 11:44, HCSB

Now try to put yourself on this scene, as we've done with all the other Signs so far, and imagine this entire town outside in mourning for Lazarus.  All of the people present know their family, and they know that Jesus is coming.  Four days pass, and the tomb is closed, and now Jesus shows up and asks that it be opened, and then He calls the man out of death... literally.  (You might say Lazarus was roused from a dead sleep?)  And then, with this entire population watching, the man they were all mourning just walked out.  The man they had prepared with oils and fragrant materials, the man they wrapped and inspected, the man they all KNEW to be completely dead for FOUR DAYS, placed inside a tomb... he just got up and walked out.  As an object lesson, then, Jesus has them go and unwrap their own handiwork, showing that they cannot bind what God intends to set free.  In other words, men on this earth cannot control the Father or His will or His plans or His timing, and anyone who says they can speaks blasphemy.

Seeing this Sign, I cannot imagine how anyone would be able to doubt Christ's Divinity at this point.  Of course, the word of Lazarus' resurrection spread like wildfire, and the Jewish leadership decided to plot more seriously against Jesus, and to kill Lazarus, too, since he is the walking proof that Jesus should be followed.  Their own pathetic attempt at control, trying to bind the will of God with their infantile interpretations that seemed to focus only on what they would get on earth, shows their immense fear of the power that Jesus holds... and they should be afraid, because it is right to fear the Lord.

Next we're going to back up quite a ways, and look at something else of great importance in the Gospel of John, which will tie directly to this study.  I pray, with all my heart, that you will remain with us for the coming weeks as we continue to examine this amazing Gospel!

God bless you all!!!

The seventh Sign... part 3...

We have seen the Lord, the Messiah, moved to tears for us.  We have seen Him literally cry for the power that death holds over us, and the power that sin holds over us.  He stood and shed tears for our lack of understanding, and for us, as well.  Now we get to see something that shows His power that He holds over death, displayed before us all!

"'Remove the stone,' Jesus said. 

Martha, the dead man's sister, told Him, 'Lord, he already stinks.  It's been four days.'

Jesus said to her, 'Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?'"

John 11:39-40, HCSB

In my profession, I can tell you that four days without an embalming procedure is not a pleasant thing.  No amount of aloe or fragrant oil can cover the odor, and there is nothing like it.  Therefore, to keep it at bay, this tomb must have been pretty well closed up, so that it wouldn't emanate from the body of Lazarus.  And all the people present would have had that concern, as well.

Also, in the tradition of the "wake," a three day time period was generally accepted as the time by which people could measure whether someone was actually dead or not.  Therefore, to exceed this by a full day is to clearly state that Jesus Christ is Lord over all life... and all death, as well.

This moment... this one right here... this is what we have waited to see.

"So they removed the stone.  Then Jesus raised His eyes and said, 'Father, I thank You that You heard Me.  I know that You always hear Me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so they may believe You sent Me.'  After He said this, He shouted with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!'"

John 11:41-43, HCSB

The stone was rolled away, and I picture the people gasping in fear of what might happen, as well as covering their faces for the fear of the smell.  And then Christ thanks the Father openly, stating that He came from the Father, so that the crowd amassed would be able to know the Truth about His power over all things, including death, once and for all.

And then He does it... He calls Lazarus forth.  I imagine that, for the Word of God in flesh (that'd be Jesus), to shout in a loud voice is probably something that is capable of shaking the entire universe.  So when it says here that He did just that, I cannot help but think that the people around Him were almost shaken to the ground.  I mean, He always spoke with Heavenly authority... but now He is adding volume to that authority, and from the same place, and that had to be just ear-splitting!

We'll look at what happened in our final portion of this Sign, but please spend a moment today in thanks for the power that Christ has... not just over your life, but over your death, as well!

God bless you all!!!

The seventh Sign... part 2...

We're going to back up a bit, and start again at Jesus arriving at the tomb of Lazarus.  The sisters are there, the crowd is there, and they are all overcome and held in terror by the grip and reality of this evil thing called death.  The fear radiating from them is palpable, and they have genuine concern for their well-being, as well as that of the loved one who is now, in their understanding, lost forever.  Then something happens...

"Jesus wept."

John 11:35, HCSB

Jesus Christ, the Word, the Son, One with the Father from the point of our creation, is standing in the midst of a crowd who is literally gripped at the throat in fear.  He is looking upon His children, His likenesses all around, recognizing that they truly do not comprehend what death is, and what follows it, and what He has come to offer to them.  He sees that sin, since its entry to the world through the first Adam, has grown powerful enough to move whole towns of people to utter despair, and that this town is no exception to the rule. 

Let me put it to you another way... you look at your children the next time they are scared by anything, and I mean really scared to the point of speechless terror and forced acceptance that they cannot change it or fix it or overcome it or whatever the case may be.  Seeing your own offspring in that state, even imagining seeing them like that, I bet you grow a tad angry, just as I do thinking about it as I type.  I grow angry, not at any specific thing, but rather at a situation that has frightened my children.  My children deserve nothing less than for me to wish to make the world a better place for them, after all, and so my anger at this situation is natural and well-placed.  And in that moment (actually in this specific moment), tears build in my eyes at even the thought of my three little ones. 

Many people use this verse as a memory verse, because it is the shortest in the Bible.  However, as was true with a certain green man from a swampy planet, size is of little importance in the physical form.  These two words carry the depth and breadth of Christ's abiding and everlasting love for His creation, and it is shown and made evident by His willingness to shed tears for that same creation.  Further, as mentioned previously, Jesus sees all time at once, and therefore He wept for you and for me and for our grandchildren's grandchildren, too.  His love is that vast, and is literally without measure or fathom, and in this moment, as He grew angry at the power that sin had gained over the lives of His precious children... as He grew angry that the Truth was clouded by misunderstanding and misguided misinterpretations of the Words of the Father... as He grew angry that these, His children (including you and me), couldn't understand yet because they had not yet been told or shown the power that Jesus brings to conquer death... feeling that fear from them and us, He wept for them and us.

In all my studies, I have found one theological statement to be more true than any other, and it is as simple as it is perfect and infallible, and that statement is this:

"Jesus loves me, this I know.  For the Bible tells me so."

From the children's song, "Jesus Loves Me"

Here in these two words, we see the proof in the pudding that Christ's love for us is magnificent, and powerful beyond anything we can measure.  Give thanks for that today!

God bless you all!!!

The seventh Sign... part 1...

As with all things, this seventh Sign is the most powerful of the group, because it is the final Sign shown to mankind during these times.  The others, while astounding and impossible for anyone but Christ, did not carry the level of awe that this particular Sign holds with people.  Further, the previous Signs did not show as much love for us (all of us) as this seventh Sign does.

Sign #7 - Raising Lazarus From the Dead

"Now a man was sick, Lazarus, from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.  Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, and it was her brother Lazarus who was sick.  So the sisters sent a message to Him: 'Lord, the one You love is sick.'"

John 11:1-3, HCSB

To start, we need to recognize one specific thing about this introduction, and that is that one of these three siblings has been powerfully saved by Christ already, and that is Mary... Mary of Bethany.  The alabaster jar of perfume that was broken to pour out expensive fragrant oil, and the tears and wiping of Jesus' feet with her own hair, the moment of preparation for Jesus from this woman, the moment He told her to go and sin no more, to be freed from her life of ill repute: these things are vital, because it establishes that Jesus knows this family closely (as we would understand closeness), and that they know and trust in Him already. 

(On a side note, for anyone who might have a feeling that Mary of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, or any other Mary was somehow further involved with Jesus, please understand that if that were the case, it would be a very important detail in the life of Christ, and it would be written down.  It's non-existence means, quite simply, that the Word of God, handed down through the Spirit to men through inspired thought, does not state that Jesus married... and therefore, He did not.  So please, leave other apocryphal theories with doubters and naysayers where they belong, and understand that Jesus loves Mary Magdalene the same way He loves you and me.  Further, understand that the Word of God is absolute, irrefutable, and 100% accurate... to question this is blasphemy.)

Sickness has been healed by Christ to this point in many forms.  From our Signs, He has healed a lame man, a sick child, and a man born blind.  None of these people are named in the Gospel, because their names aren't important, as they represent our lame infirmity, our own fever and burning, and our own Spiritual blindness.  Lazarus, however, is different.  He represents for us the Truth of the Messiah's desire to have a One-with-one, personal relationship with each and every one of His children that believe and are saved.  Reading that, you then are probably wondering why Jesus decided to wait before heading to Bethany, just as I wondered the same.  Let me show you in Jesus' words...

"When Jesus heard it, He said, 'This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'"

John 11:4, HCSB

Just like the previous Signs, this one has purpose, and that purpose is higher than we can grasp.  It must run the course that is necessary, so that the timing can be right according to the Father, and so that the will of the Father can be accomplished.  By the by, this is a truism for all life, Christian sibling, including yours and mine.  His will is all that matters, and those who seek it are wise.  Those who seek only their own desires are counted among fools.

So Jesus stays for two full days before leaving to Bethany, and in this time, Lazarus dies.  He tells the 12 that this has happened, and He points out that this death is a good thing, because it allows for the Sign to be performed.  Again, this is a truism for the Christian life, in that our death from this earth is a good thing, because for the Christian, it is only the beginning of our reunion with the Father.  People fear death today, just as they did in Jesus' time, but it is only because we cannot measure or quantify or qualify how it happens or what follows with any level of accuracy... because all we know is that it happens, and that it happens to 10 out of 10 people.  (Staggering statistic, right... but really, one day will come that does not include me on this earth, just as that same day will come for each of you.)  Now, please know that I'm not trying to be negative here, but accepting this absolute and unwavering fact of our own mortality is a necessary step to overcoming the fear.

Jesus arrives in Bethany, and Lazarus has been placed in a tomb with a large stone in front.  It has been four full days since Lazarus died, and Martha comes running to Christ, stating that if only He had been there, Lazarus would be alive.  She believes, and is comforted by Jesus, then states that she does believe that He is the Messiah.  Martha then leaves to go and bring Mary to Jesus, who is followed by a large crowd.  Mary made the same statement about Jesus' late arrival (in their understanding of "late"), and was tearful and sobbing in sorrow.

Seeing the pain that sin and death, brought into the world by Adam and Eve, caused these people, Jesus was so deeply moved that He wept.  People say that He was mad, or that He was sad about Lazarus, but those don't make sense.  He knew what was about to be done, so why be upset?  And as for being mad, if that is the case then He was mad at sin itself, and the power that sin and death held over the people who had limited understanding to this point of just what Jesus was offering. 

What happens next is nothing short of awesome... but for now, reflect on how Jesus, seeing all time in one frame, saw whatever level of fear you once had and may still have about death, and He wept for you, too.  There is nothing more personal, more loving, more caring.  Think about it.

God bless you all!!!