He Has Revealed God to Us

August 31, 2016

He Has Revealed God to Us

“If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

John  12: 44b-46

John opened his Gospel with the declaration that Jesus and God are One, and that Jesus’ mission was to reveal God to the world: “No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.” (John 1:18). In today’s passage Jesus affirmed his mission: “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me” (John 12:44b-45).

Jesus’ remarks in this passage help us understand the connection between faith, that is our believing, and Jesus’ signs. Last night when I went to bed, I did so believing the sun would rise this morning. This morning the sun did rise, not because I believed it would, but because that is the nature of the sun. It rises and sets each day. My believing opens the possibility for me benefiting from the warmth and light the sun will bring.

The Prophet Jeremiah writes, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). My believing this passage does not make it real. God’s mercies are new every morning whether I believe it or not. My believing opens the opportunities for me to experience God’s mercy anew every day.

Many people did not believe Jesus was the Messiah or that he was birthing God’s New Creation. Nevertheless, Jesus was the Messiah, and he continued with his mission to bring about God’s New Creation. Those who chose to believe Jesus benefited greatly. They still do.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Many Believed. Many Did Not

August 30, 2016

Many Believed. Many Did Not

Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

John  12: 37-38

When churches offer Christmas cantatas, there are always some in the congregation with bored expressions on their faces, or perhaps even taking a nap. The pageantry, the music that thrills the hearts of many of the faithful, seems lost on others. We wonder how people can be so unmoved by the experience. Similar happenings occur at Easter Sunday worship services. The congregation sings ‘Christ the Lord has risen today’, and the faithful feel tears rolling down their cheeks. Others mumble the words. While many open their hearts to drink in the majesty and mystery of the celebration, still others respond with ‘ho hum.’

Such is human nature. In today’s passage, John is remembering the signs pointing to Jesus as the Messiah: water to wine; the official’s child; the man by the pool; food in the desert; walking on water; the man born blind; and Lazarus raised from the dead. Many believed. Many did not. Some believed, but wanted to keep it a secret. How do you explain the differences? John seems to suggest that some people had help to not believe. Could it be that God closed their hearts and minds so they could not believe? That would be like the reverse of prevenient grace, with God closing hearts instead of opening them. I don’t think that’s what John is saying. His reference to God closing hearts and minds is figurative, not literal. He used this expression to emphasize how remarkable Jesus’ miracles were, and how much more remarkable it was that some still did not believe. Even so, God cared enough to send Jesus to all the people, and God loves the whole world so much that each person is free to decide for themselves whether to accept God’s love.

As for me, I like to sing along with the popular praise chorus,

I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

No turning back, no turning back.

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

attr. to S. Sundar Singh

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Then God Spoke

August 29, 2016

Then God Spoke

“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

John  12: 27-28

At the end of John 11 (August 23), I asked you to pause and try and put yourself in Jesus’ sandals. What was he thinking and what emotions was he feeling as he contemplated a final visit to Jerusalem. Our passage for today tells us that Jesus’ soul was deeply troubled. The other Gospels wait until Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane to tell us that Jesus was deeply troubled. Jesus, the Word made flesh, the one who turned water into wine, who healed the royal official's son and the paralytic, who fed the five thousand and walked on water, who healed the man born blind and raised Lazarus, was deeply troubled in his soul. Jesus’ reference to being lifted up is not the stuff of a simple praise chorus like “Lord, I lift your name on high”; Jesus was nailed to the cross and then lifted high. Yet, only one thing was on Jesus’ heart, “Father, bring glory to your name” (John 12:28a). Then God spoke: “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again” (John 12:28b).

I believe we can rest in the absolute assurance that when we pray, Father, bring glory to your name, God will always answer our prayer with the very same words he spoke to Jesus, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” However, Jesus’ prayer is not for the faint of heart, and most of the people present with him didn’t understand what was happening. Even so, Jesus invited them to follow him on his final steps to his cross. Today, those who come seeking the Kingdom of God will find that Jesus is still lighting the way for his disciples.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Time For Commitment

August 26, 2016

Time For Commitment

Those who love their life in this world will lose it.

Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

John  12: 25

When the Apostle Paul visited Athens, he found statues for dozens of gods. He even found one dedicated to the unknown god. The Greeks were known for their desire of knowledge and their love of debate. The Athens philosophy club welcomed Paul to tell them about his god and Paul gladly proclaimed the Good News of the Gospel. The club members found it to be a nice story, and invited Paul to visit with them again if he was in Athens. These people liked all manner of ideas, and were partial to none in particular. (Acts 17)

The Greeks, in Jerusalem for the Passover, were also curious onlookers. (John 12:20-28) They had heard about the wondrous deeds of Jesus and wanted to meet him in person. Perhaps if they had come at another time, Jesus may have taken the time to chat with them. However, for several chapters, John has been noting that Jesus’ time had not yet come. Then his time came. The festival of Passover was Jesus’ time. Jesus was fully focused on fulfilling the final steps in his Messianic mission. He had no time for casual debates on the philosophies of the day. It was the time for commitment.

A kernel of wheat was a nice metaphor, but his disciples did not fully appreciate the truth that it would be Jesus’ body going in the ground. Neither was it easy for them to hear, “Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity” (John 12:25). Disciples of Jesus follow Jesus, and following Jesus means giving up control of our lives to Jesus. These words of Jesus prompted G. K. Chesterton to note, "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried." If Jesus’ words cause you to tremble a bit, reach back and remember his promise in Chapter 10; Jesus’ followers can rest in the absolute assurance that they are safe and secure in the grasp of Jesus. It is also good to remember the promise in Matthew’s Gospel as well, “He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle” (Matthew 12:20).

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.