SHARING BREAD

¹⁸ Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

²⁰ The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹ But the temple he had spoken of was his body.

John 2:18-21 (NIV)

Do you not find it interesting that in our verses for today, the creatures demand proof from the Creator of His Authority?  I am reminded of Jesus’ parting words in Matthew given in the Great Commission for us all to take to heart:

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.“   Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)

The Jews were always looking for a miraculous sign.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians:

 ²⁰ Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.   1 Cor 1:20-25 (NIV)

Amen to that!  Paul also tells us that while our vision and understanding now remain clouded one day we will see clearly as our partial knowledge will be displaced by a completed sight and understanding.  This will occur when our now becomes then:

¹² Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.   1 Cor 13:12 (NIV)

Sadly, the brilliance of man may cause him to miss the mark in regard to fully appreciating and apprehending the wisdom and plan of God as he chooses to lean on his own understanding.  God’s thoughts and plans, being far superior to human thoughts and ways, are those that even the most brilliant of minds could not conceive.  God’s compassion, love and mercy far exceed our fleshly ability to comprehend. The narrow way is found only through the self-effacing faith not through self-confident erudition. The prophet Isaiah tells us:

⁸ ”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
⁹ ”As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.   Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

We are also told in Proverbs the key to successful living:

 
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Prov 3:5-6 (NIV)

Christ’s answers their demand by giving them a sign that was to come – a prophecy of His own death and resurrection, that which would be.  Partially in mercy, using figurative language to those who would refuse to believe so that the clearer words would not be held against them, He shows His pristine foresight of His sufferings and resurrection.  Paul followed Jesus in preaching Christ crucified – a stumbling block to those who would refuse to believe but to those who would, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Indeed, this was a charge that the unbelieving Jews brought forth in Jesus’ conviction:

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”   Matt 26:59-61 (NIV)          

“The saddest condition a man can be in is to sit under the most living ordinances with a dead, stupid, untouched heart.”    Matthew Henry

 ¹⁴ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:  ”‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.   Matt 13:14 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• Jesus has been given all authority.
• The foolishness of God is wiser than my wisdom as His weakness is stronger than my strength.
• I must not lean on my own understanding rather His. 

SHARING BREAD

¹² After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”

¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

John 2:12-17 (NIV)

Jesus was passionate about His Father’s house – Jesus is still just as passionate.  As believer’s, our bodies are now the dwelling place of God.  Let’s just think about that briefly.  Our bodies carry within us the very Spirit of the living God; Jesus is therefore just as zealous about our vessels.  This message may step on a few of our toes if we are willing to put our feet out there.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians:

For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”   2 Cor 6:16 (NIV)

Paul follows this by quoting from Isaiah 52 demonstrating the personal holiness required in fellowshipping with a Holy God:

¹¹ Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing!  Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.   Isaiah 52:11 (NIV)

“We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives.”  Charles Spurgeon

 As believer’s we must continually be reminding ourselves of the purpose of life which is not happiness or health but rather holiness.  Peter tells us:

¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”   1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV)

 Our lives may be consumed and wasted by our distractions, interests and desires – albeit some even being right, noble and worthy.  God intends rather for us to be constantly narrowing towards holiness as He prunes things that are perhaps good in order for the better to bloom forth.  Obedience and a relinquishment of our will to Him are required in this process as well as a firm grasp of His Word, a fervent prayer life and the constant listening to His “still small voice”.  He alone equips and enables us to grow in Christlikeness as we willingly and humbly submit to His leading.     

“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection.  And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others.
Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.”   A.W. Tozer

“The voice of God is a friendly voice.  No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it.”   A.W. Tozer

“The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept the God who will make him holy.  At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God…..God has only one intended destiny for mankind – holiness.  His only goal is to produce saints…..He did not come to save us out of pity – He came to save us because He created us to be holy…..Never tolerate, because of sympathy for yourself or for others, any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God….Holiness is not simply what God gives me, but what God has given me that is being exhibited in my life.”   Oswald Chambers

I wonder if, like Jesus, zeal for our Father’s house consumes us.  Are we willing to “make whips” to consciously drive out sin in our lives? Are we as concerned about our personal holiness?  Are we committed to this endeavor or simple just involved? 

“The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs.  The chicken is involved, the pig is committed.”   Martina Navratilova

Paul sets forth for us a wonderful example in 1 Corinthians:

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. ²⁷ No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  1 Cor 9:24-27 (NIV)

 “While I regarded God as a tyrant I thought my sin a trifle; But when I knew Him to be my Father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against Him.  When I thought God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against One who loved me so, and sought my good.”  C.H. Spurgeon

What I glean from this:

• As believers, Jesus is passionate about our vessels – our jars of clay – as we are now the temple of the living God.   “The Christian life is not about being a ‘good committed Christian’ for God, but allowing the life of Christ to be supernaturally lived through us as we’re dependent upon Him.”  Chip Ingram

• Scripture tells me that I am to be holy in all that I do.  “Beware of reasoning about God’s Word – obey It.”  Oswald Chambers
• Zeal for my Father’s House should consume me.  “Ask me not where I live or what I like to eat…Ask me what I am living for and what I think is keeping me from living fully for that.”  Thomas Merton

SHARING BREAD

¹¹ This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

John 2:11 (NIV)

“Firsts” are special are they not?  The first tooth, the first step, the first day of school, the first date, the first time to drive a car, the first child, the first grandchild – “Firsts” make quite an impact on our lives perhaps because they generally come as the fruition to what most of us disdain – waiting.  Indeed, “Firsts” carry with them a sense of wonder, awe and amazement as waiting turns into reality.  Our verse for today speaks of the performance of Jesus’ first miracle, revealing His glory to the disciples, opening their eyes to the finger-marks of God, prompting them to put their faith in Him.  Transforming water into wine, Jesus sets forth a taste of what was to come for man – the transformation of the heart.  There is nothing like experiencing a miracle to build faith and point us to the Truth! 

The Jews had been waiting for their promised Messiah just as God had waited on the “fullness of time” for His Son to be born.  God’s timing is perfect – never late and rarely early.  Everything was ready when Jesus arrived on the scene.  Jesus, in whom all the fullness of the Deity dwelt in bodily form, came to make God the Father known to man.  As no man can see the full glory of God and live, Jesus came in human form to manifest the Father to us.  Jesus was called the First in Scripture.  We find in Romans:

²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.    Romans 8:29 (NIV)

Paul also states in Colossians:

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.   Col 1:15-20 (NIV)

Christ both preceded the whole Creation and is Sovereign over all Creation.  He is exalted as the Firstborn among many demonstrating to us the great pattern we are to follow.  He came to do His Father’s will and to make His Father known.  In like fashion, we too are to manifest Jesus in our “jars of clay”.

“Christ became what we are that He might make us what He is.”   Athanasius of Alexandria

 Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians:

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  2 Cor 4:7-10 (NIV)

The message of salvation and the results which the gospel produces are both divine and glorious.  Contrast this precious treasure to the housing of it in our imperfect human jars of clay and it evidences the powerful Source must come from God and not from man.  God can use any vessel, in fact, any old rock will do!  It is amazing that He allows man to be a part of the high privilege of His workings in communicating the gospel to others.  He is the one who receives the glory – the One that gives the power gets the glory.    

To preach the gospel is really to unfold the heart of God, the person and work of Christ; and all this by the present energy of the Holy Ghost, from the exhaustless treasury of Holy Scripture.”  C H McIntosh, Notes on Numbers, 1869

“Throughout Scripture God speaks through kings and queens, princes and prophets, poets and pilgrims.  He speaks through weather patterns, barnyard animals, and even the stars in the sky.  God is not only creative, but He is persistent in getting our attention and communicating with us.”   Margaret Feinberg

Glory and splendor are openly shown to His disciples as Jesus turns the water into wine without a word.  When “pala” things are accomplished – things too hard for mere man to do, things beyond the bounds of human powers – our attention is grabbed.

“God alone knows the depth and riches of His Godhead, and divine wisdom alone can declare His secrets.”   Thomas Aquinas

What I glean from this:

•  “First’s” in Scripture, as in life, are always important.  ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt 6:33 (NIV)
•  Jesus came to make the Father known to us.
• God in His kindness allows mere man to be a part of His glorious kingdom work. 

SHARING BREAD

⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

John 2:6-10 (NIV)

How like Jesus to choose the jars which held the water used for both the ritual and spiritual purifications as the receptacles to house His first miracle of turning water into wine – 120 to 180 gallons of wine, to be a bit more specific.  Indeed, nothing in Scripture is random.

“Christ came to bring in the grace of the gospel, which is as wine, instead of the shadows of the law, which were as water.”   Matthew Henry

The servants simply were told to fill the jars with water – and fill them to the brim they did!  Christ is in the business of giving abundantly out of His glorious storehouse and His desire is for us to be prepared by faith to receive them – no half jars of water would do!  The psalmist states:

¹⁰ I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.   Psalms 81:10 (NIV)

 Paul also encourages us with these words in Ephesians:

 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.   Eph 3:20-21 (NIV)

All done in quietness – without any ceremony, pomp or splendor; without any gawking spectators or sans any fanfare, the miracle was performed suddenly with great dignity and magnanimity.  He wills the thing and then proceeds to work it without a word. 

“Christ does great things and marvelous without noise, works manifest changes in a hidden way, without any hesitation or uncertainty in his own breast.  With greatest assurance imaginable, though it was his first miracle, he recommends it to the master of the feast first.  As he knew what he would do, so he knew what he could do.  All was good, very good, even in the beginning.”   Matthew Henry

No uncertainty, utter confidence, Jesus quietly goes about His first miracle.   I am reminded also of the confidence He exuded when He stooped to wash His disciples’ feet:

³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.   John 13:3-5 (NIV)

Jesus was well aware of His sovereign authority, His origin and His coming destiny yet He begins to wash the feet of His disciples, taking the very nature of a servant upon Him.  While all things are certainly not under our human power, as believers, we know where we come from and where we are returning and that we carry, through the blood of Jesus, the high rank of children of the King.  Having this confidence in Him, equipped with the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to serve freely as well – no service beneath us.  We no longer should be wallowing in insecurity, desperately desirous of our works to be in the limelight, constantly drawing attention to ourselves and craving affirmation and kudos to stroke our pride. We can work in quiet confidence, even producing our fruit anonymously, living out our lives for an audience of One.  Nothing goes without His notice, nothing:

¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.   Heb 4:13 (NIV)

⁹ For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.   2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)

It is simply quite freeing.  Paul tells us:

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  2 Cor 3:17-18 (NIV)

Lastly, what Jesus provides pales the world’s provisions.  Nothing we are offered here satisfies or compares to what He holds out for His children.  Just as the master of the banquet remarked on the miraculous choice wine, the products of miracles will always be the best of their kind.  King David encourages us to:

⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.  Psalms 34:8 (NIV)

“There are joys that are unearthly in their power and in their sweetness.”  Amy Carmichael

 What I glean from this:

•  Nothing in Scripture is random.  ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.   2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV)
• God is in the business of doing exceedingly and abundantly more than I can ask or imagine.
• Jesus alone truly and fully satisfies.  ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.   John 10:10 (NIV)

SHARING BREAD

¹ On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

John 2:1-5 (NIV)

In our verses for today Jesus brings honor to the ordinance of marriage – first by gracing it with His presence and second by the performance of His first miracle.  Christ begins His miracles in an obscure little corner of the world, Cana in Galilee at the ordinance and celebration of a marriage.  How desirable for Jesus to be present at the celebration.  All marriages should be so blessed to have His acknowledgment of them and presence of Him – an honor indeed.  His presence elevates the covenant of marriage to its rightful height as two become one flesh – an example of Christ and His bride, the Church.

Mary goes straight to Jesus, the source of all power and strength, when she discovers the problem of the empty wine glass.  It would do us all well to follow Mary’s example and apply ourselves to prayer and humbly present our case to Him as a first rather than last resort.  His response to His dear mother was “the fullness of time” had not yet arrived.  Jesus was in the center of God’s will and about His Father’s business – in His Father’s time – always.  He was not in the business of randomly performing miracles for miracles sake.  There was purpose behind each miracle as well as purpose behind everything He said and everything He did.          

Mary’s response had to be one of her all time greatest – “Do whatever he tells you.”  She herself fleshed this out when told by Gabriel that she would be the mother of the Messiah:

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.” ³⁸ ”I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.   Luke 1:35-38 (NIV)

“Do whatever he tells you” – modern day believers are in great need of hearing and applying these five words are we not?  Unfortunately, the god of tolerance coupled with gross Biblical illiteracy has blinded our eyes to Truth leaving us ignorant of what we are even to be obedient to.  We have bought into the relativism of our day.  Statistics prove this out.  There is very little difference in the behavior of those who claim to be Christians and the actions of the world.  This should not be – shame on us!  We are to be different – cities on a hill that cannot be hidden – showing forth good fruit – pointing others to Jesus – bringing God much glory. Indeed, Jesus Himself states:

¹⁵ “If you love me, you will obey what I command.   John 14:15 (NIV)

²¹ Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”   John 14:21 (NIV)

“Love for God and obedience to God are so completely involved in each other that either one of them implies the other too.”   F. F. Bruce

“Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.”   A.W. Tozer

A true faith will show forth in obedience.  James tells us:

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.   James 2:14-19 (NIV)

“Whenever there is a true faith, it must fix on Jesus Christ alone for salvation; that is its principal act.  This same faith unites to Christ; and where there is union, there must be love; and where there is love, there must be obedience; and where there is obedience, there will be a reward of grace; and when the reward is acknowledged to be of grace, and not of merit, God will have all the glory in time and eternity.”    K. H. Von Bogatzky

“Beware of reasoning about God’s Word – obey It.”  Oswald Chambers

What I glean from this:

• Jesus presence and performance of His first miracle brought honor to the ordinance of marriage.
• “Do whatever He tells you” should be my pursuit and pleasure!   “Every time we resist the slightest temptation, we honor God.  Every time we overcome even the smallest problem by trusting and obeying our Lord Jesus, God is glorified in our lives.  Whenever we choose character over convenience, faithfulness over ease, or honesty over deceit, we bring honor to the Lord Himself.”  Robert J. Morgan

• My obedience flows from my knowledge and love.  “While I regarded God as a tyrant I thought my sin a trifle.  But when I knew Him to be my Father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against Him.  When I thought God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against One who loved me so, and sought my good.”  C.H. Spurgeon

SHARING BREAD

⁵⁰ Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” ⁵¹ He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

John 1:50-51 (NIV)

Jesus’ Words to Nathanael remind me of the verses in 1 Corinthians where the apostle Paul quotes from the prophet Isaiah:

⁹ However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” — ¹⁰ but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.  1 Cor 2:9-10 (NIV)

Nathanael is blown away over Jesus’ knowledge of him yet Jesus confirms to him that this is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what he is going to see.  “You shall see greater things than that” is the promise uttered by our Savior and one, I might add, that, as believers, we can apply to our own lives as well.  Jesus tells His disciples:

¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. ¹² I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.   John 14:11-13 (NIV)

Every true believer is sealed with the precious Holy Spirit Who equips and empowers them for action in the good works which God has ordained for them to do.  To be a part of God’s work for the kingdom is the highest calling – it is our greatest purpose. God’s desire is to be glorified both in us and through us.  He does this by changing us from the inside out through the power of His Holy Spirit and the surrender of our will – one surrender at a time.  He never forces us to follow Him – becoming like Him – rather, by each surrender to the Holy Spirit’s prompting we become more conformed to His image – we become less and He becomes greater.

“All true knowledge of God is born out of obedience.”  John Calvin 

“The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.”  William Booth

“We were made by God and for God, and until we figure that out, life isn’t going to make sense.”  Rick Warren

Not only that, God delights in our calling upon Him so that He may e reveal to us great and unsearchable things that we do not know.  This is exactly what the prophet Jeremiah tells us:

³ ’Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’   Jer 33:3 (NIV)

“Whatever revelations Christ is pleased to make of himself here in this world, he has still greater things than these to make known to them.”  Matthew Henry

Paul exclaims in his blessed Doxology the following:

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! ³⁴ ”Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” ³⁵ ”Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”  ³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!  Amen.   Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

Jesus’ next Words to Nathanael –  “I tell you the truth,” - commanded Nathanael’s fixed attention to what was going to be said as it would be weighty and undoubtedly True.   Regarding heaven being open and angels ascending and descending upon Jesus was an indication that Jesus would now be man’s access to heaven.  Referring to Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28, the stairway placed on earth going to heaven with the angels ascending and descending on it as heaven communicating with earth would now be replaced by Jesus as the divine Communication.  The Son of Man would now be God’s link with the earth.

¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”   Luke 19:10 (NIV)

²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. ²⁶ Such a high priest meets our need–one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  Heb 7:25-26 (NIV)

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ ”Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”   Matt 26:63-64 (NIV)

“When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist His powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.”  Charles Spurgeon

What I glean from this:

• God has more prepared for me than I could ever imagine.
• I become conformed to the image of Jesus one surrender at a time.
• Jesus is my access to heaven.

SHARING BREAD

⁴⁶ ”Nazareth!  Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”

⁴⁸ ”How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

John 1:46-49 (NIV)

Words filled with skepticism, criticism and sarcasm flow easily do they not?  Careless, critical, caustic words bring death to the hearer destroying hopes and dreams and relationships in the wake of their destructive path.   Words that bring life which edify, encourage and exhort should mark every believer’s mouth. 

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.   Prov 16:24 (NIV)

James tells us that we are incapable of training that little two inch sword which rests behind our incisors as our words are simply a manifestation of what lies within our hearts (ouch!).       

⁸ but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.   James 3:7-8 (NIV)

This certainly does not mean we give way to verbal assault it means rather we do not begin with the mouth in dealing with the problem.  We go to the source; we must begin with the heart.  Jesus tells us in Scripture:

⁴⁵ The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.    Luke 6:45 (NIV)

Our words matter to our Lord, beware!  I wonder if after being confronted with the Truth Nathanael wished he had not uttered those words?  You can almost feel his sarcastic, biting, fault finding and know it all heartfelt attitudes by just reading his doubting words.  While caution is commendable as our rule as believers is to prove all things by God’s Word, Nathanael’s quick response was not only wrong but rude.  We are to be like the noble Bereans who diligently searched the Scriptures to prove Truth.  Scripture tells us in Acts regarding these noble men:  

¹¹ Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.    Acts 17:11 (NIV)

Yet Jesus, who is aware of the unseen life, knows Nathanael’s heart; and delivers a commendation to him that is just so Jesus!  Fleshing out Romans 12:21 before our eyes, He gently leads Nathanael to the Truth providing for us a wonderful example of how we are to respond to negative verbiage in our own lives:

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.   Romans 12:21 (NIV)

Some people seem to have such a passion for righteousness that they have no room left for compassion for those who have failed.  Charles Allen

Jesus commends Nathanael not to simply flatter him with empty words rather perhaps to focus on his strengths, highlighting and encouraging the good rather than hitting him over the head with a two by four regarding his flaws.  As Jesus alone knows the heart of man, He knew Nathanael to be a modest man who sincerely professed the faith of Israel putting into practice what he professed.  Jesus’ words surprise Nathanael and perhaps take him a bit off guard.  A loving response often does that to people.  We are so accustomed to receiving complaints and criticism that when we come face to face with True love it can be a bit disarming can it not (not to mention charming)?  What a wooing and glorious example Jesus sets for us regarding the critical caustics in our own lives.  The ensuing response Jesus received from Nathanael confirmed how firmly now he believed the Truth in his heart as he freely confessed with his mouth Christ’s prophetic office as Rabbi and His divine nature and mission by calling Him the Son of God and the King of Israel.

“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, and learning.”  Frederick Faber

What I glean from this:

• I should guard my words by guarding my heart.    ³⁶ But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”   Matt 12:36-37 (NIV)
• My words can speak life or death to my hearer causing good or evil.
• Like Jesus’ example, I am to “overcome evil with good”.

SHARING BREAD

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

⁴⁴ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

John 1:40-45 (NIV)

Ever had some really good news that you were busting at the seams to share?  The arrival of a new baby, the marriage of a child, a job promotion, an unexpected call or visit by someone we love – you name the good news – whatever it may be – and chances are you will want to share it.  Indeed, in our sharing, our joys are multiplied and our sorrows divided. Perhaps this is what Paul was referring to when he reminds us of our appropriate response to those sharing news with us in Romans 12:

¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.   Romans 12:15 (NIV)

This is exactly what we find in our verses for today.  Both Andrew and Philip having found Jesus had to make it known.  First we discover Andrew making a beeline for his brother Simon (a/k/a/ Peter).  Andrew had spent the day with Jesus and was full of Him and it showed.  He knew there was enough of Christ to fill all and in haste goes straight to his brother.

“He is your friend who pushes you nearer to God.”  Abraham Kuyper

“One man with beliefs is equal to a thousand with only interests.”   John Stuart Mill

Andrew is convinced of the truth of Jesus – those who are convinced cannot keep but sharing especially to those nearest and dearest to them.  Just as Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians:

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.   2 Cor 5:14-15 (NIV)

Realizing the gospel was God’s panacea for all of mankind’s spiritual needs, Paul unabashedly proclaims in Romans:

¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome.  ¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”   Romans 1:14-17 (NIV)

“True grace hates monopolies, and does not love to eat its morsels alone.”  Matthew Henry

“There is no joy in the world like the joy of bringing one soul to Christ.”   William Barclay

 A heart filled with Jesus will spill out to others both in our words and in our deeds.  So excited over his discovery of the Messiah, Andrew brings Simon to Jesus who quickly gives him a name change from Simon to Peter meaning the rock.  Names were thought of much differently in those days.  Basically, the name was used to indicate the character of the person described by the name or identification with the person bearing the name.  Jesus gives him the name Peter as an indication of his future involvement with the ministry of the gospel. 

Next, we discover Philip being found by the Messiah and subsequently going forth with the good news to Nathanael unable to keep quiet over this wonderful Truth he had now discovered – the One on whom we have so long been waiting and wishing – He has come, He has come, we have found Him!  What an experience of pure joy!

“The great difficulty is to get modern audiences to realize that you are preaching Christianity solely and simply because you happen to think it true; they always suppose you are preaching it because you like it or think it good for society or something of that sort….”   C. S. Lewis

“He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.”   Montaigne

²⁵ A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.   Prov 11:25 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• The wonderful news of Jesus is exciting to share.
• I have freely received therefore I must freely give.  “Nothing taken for granted; everything received with gratitude; everything passed on with grace.”  G. K. Chesterton
• Jesus is God’s panacea for all of mankind’s spiritual needs. 

SHARING BREAD

³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

³⁹ ”Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

John 1:35-39 (NIV)

Here we have the Baptist standing among two of his disciples in close conversation as he takes note of Jesus passing by.  John, with his intense, steadfast focus on Christ, announces to his hearers:   “Look, the Lamb of God!” The wording here depicts the fullness of God’s perfect timing through the actions of the Baptist and Jesus – John standing as Jesus passes by – for Jesus’ ministry was to begin “passing by” that of the Baptists. 

“He was looking at Jesus; he looked steadfastly, and fixed his eyes on him.  Those who would lead others to Christ must be diligent and frequent in the contemplation of Him themselves.”    Matthew Henry

I am reminded of the command given in Hebrews chapter 12 calling us all to this same steadfast focus on Christ:

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.     Heb 12:1-3 (NIV)

Notice how in verse thirty-seven of our verses for today, the two disciples turned from following John to following Jesus.  How natural that must have seemed for them as John’s teaching to his disciples was the basis for their conduct – remember reader, John’s mantra was:  “He must become greater; I must become less.”  (John 3:30).   They were eager to follow Him just as their teacher was eager to follow Him. 

“Would you follow Christ?  Then follow him in self-denial, in humility, in patience, and in readiness for every good work.  Follow him with a daily cross upon your back, and look to his cross to make your burden light.  Follow him as your Guide and Guard, and learn to see with his eyes, and to trust in his arm for defence.  Follow him as the Friend of sinners, who healeth the broken in heart, and giveth rest to the weary souls, and casteth out none that come into him.  Follow him with faith, resting your whole acceptance with God, and your title to heaven, on his meritorious blood and righteousness.  Lastly, follow him with much prayer.  For, though he is full of compassion, he loves to be much entreated; and when he is determined to give a blessing, you must yet wrestle with him for it.  Thus follow Jesus, and he will lead you to glory.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky  

Observe, also, how Jesus takes notice of the two followers – Christ is always aware of a soul’s first motion towards Him – making sure they comprehend their motive behind the movement to follow Him.  He is constantly getting us to look into our own hearts (ouch! – yet “wounds from a friend can be trusted”!).  He turns and speaks first to them asking them to tell Him what they wanted.  Jesus was always asking that question – “What do you want?”  He asks the same of us.  What is it that we desire – a Teacher, a Ruler, a Lord?  What are our intentions – our motives behind our movement to follow Him?   Some come only to Christ to have all their problems fixed, desirous of a rose colored life with no rain clouds in sight.  Others may come to Him overwhelmed in the fervor of emotion, moved perhaps by songs or sermons or sayings.  Yet others follow Him to go deeper still. Bottom line, since it is only through Him that we are justified before God, do we come to Him in humility with the realization of our need, seeking God’s favor and eternal life?  These disciples coming to Jesus by calling Him Rabbi (Teacher) were desirous to be His students.  The wording used here depicts their eagerness to be better acquainted with Him, adherents, accepting His instruction, making it their rule of conduct.  He says to them “Come” – inviting them to come without delay – and just as He opened blind Bartimaeus’ eyes, He opened their eyes to see.  Jesus is always willing to open the “eyes that are blind” to those who come diligently seeking Him.  There is never a better time than now to come to Jesus.  He tells us in Matthew:

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”   Matt 11:28-30 (NIV)

Paul also gives us this strong exhortation in Second Corinthians:

¹ As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. ² For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.    2 Cor 6:1-2 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• Jesus must become greater in my life and I must become less.
• My focus is to be upon Him.
• In coming to Jesus, I seek a right standing with a Holy God.  He justifies me with His blood restoring me to a right relationship with the Father.  

SHARING BREAD

³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ³³ I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:32-34 (NIV)

Having been previously told what would happen; the Baptist recognizes and takes note with reflection and acute interest the Holy Spirit descending from heaven manifesting Himself in the form of a dove and abiding on Jesus.   So certain was he of what his ears had been told and now his eyes beheld that John the Baptist exclaimed with great assurance:

³⁴ “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”   John 1:34 (NIV)

It must certainly be overwhelming to experience what one has only been told and believed through faith and then subsequently been given the privilege to have sight thereof.  At the end of Job we also find a similar situation where faith becomes sealed with sight and the creature laid low in the presence of his Creator:

¹ Then Job replied to the LORD: ² ”I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. ³ You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’  Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ⁴ ”You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ ⁵ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.  ⁶ Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6 (NIV)

I am reminded also of Peter’s response to Jesus’ question to His disciples – “Who do you say I am?” – appearing in the gospel of Matthew:

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.   Matt 16:16-17 (NIV)

Take note that, like the Baptist and Job, it was the Father in heaven who revealed this truth to Peter.  Like Peter, it mattered not to John the Baptist that Jesus was not clad in external pomp and grandeur for he was not ashamed to confess freely that Jesus was God’s Son.  The Baptist held a higher honor than the prophets who walked the dust before him in that they spoke of Him to come and he beheld Him already come. 

“And it was necessary that John should thus show them the person, otherwise they could not have believed that one who seemed so insignificant should be he of whom John had spoken such great things.    Matthew Henry

Just as the prophet Isaiah had prophesized:

² He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. ³ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.   Isaiah 53:2-5 (NIV)

John tells us that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John’s cleansing with water was one thing but the cleansing that would be produced by the Holy Spirit would be totally other.  After His suffering and resurrection Jesus gave convincing proofs to His followers that He was indeed alive and commanded them to wait for the gift of the promised Holy Spirit.  John identified people with himself through the baptism of water now Jesus would join the followers to Himself through the Spirit bestowing upon them His gifts and graces and comforts.  This is a confirmation of the Baptist’s word “I baptize you with water.  But after me comes one who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  Jesus brings great honor to John’s words by confirming the message of His servant.  Jesus states in Act to His followers:

 ³ After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”   Acts 1:3-5 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• John had been given a message and believed then shown providing for me a demonstration of the walk of faith.
• It is the Father who reveals Truth to me.
• Jesus’ appearance was not what the people expected as they were looking for pomp and splendor.  Likewise, as a believer in Jesus I am to be different from the world, not what the world expects, empowered by the Holy Spirit and showing forth the humility and love of Jesus through my words and deeds.