The Rooster Crows

September 26, 2016

The Rooster Crows

“But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?”

Again Peter denied it.

And immediately a rooster crowed.”

John  18: 26-27

Full of love and loyalty, Peter makes his way to the place of Jesus’ interrogation. When questioned, Jesus told the truth. When questioned, Peter lied. However, Peter’s courage cannot be questioned. He alone, in the face of overwhelming force, took his sword to defend Jesus. Even after his confrontation with the arresting force in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter followed Jesus into the hostile camp that held Jesus captive.

As Peter warmed himself by a fire, and verbally sparred with the others around the fire, a rooster crows after the third time Peter denied knowing Jesus. I suspect Peter’s experience in the courtyard of the High Priest served to ground Peter in Jesus’ teaching: I am the vine, you are the branch. Apart from me you can do nothing. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter’s courage was bolstered because Jesus was with him. In the courtyard, Peter was separated from his Master. Peter’s experience reveals the weakness of our sinful flesh that cannot be overcome until Jesus sends our Helper, our Advocate, the Holy Spirit.

(By the way, remember, John never includes a meaningless detail. John points out that Peter warmed himself by a charcoal fire. Peter will warm himself by another charcoal fire when he has a conversation with Jesus on the beach in John 21:9.)

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.

Sinful Man Was Arresting God

September 23, 2016

Sinful Man Was Arresting God

“Who are you looking for?” (Jesus) asked. 

“Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied.

“I Am he,” Jesus said”

John 18:4-5

There is a beautiful symmetry in the way the Biblical writers tell the story of God. There was the first exodus of God’s people, from slavery in Egypt, led by Moses. The Gospels tell of Jesus, God’s Messiah leading the second exodus, from slavery to sin and death. In the book of Genesis, we read of the Garden of Eden inhabited by Adam. In John 18:-114, the setting is another garden; the Garden of Gethsemane. In the first Garden, God, in the cool of the evening, came looking for Adam. In the second Garden, in the cool of the evening, sinful man comes looking for Jesus, God’s second Adam. (The Apostle Paul writes much about the ‘first’ and ‘last’ Adam in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15) Yet a third Garden will be the setting for Jesus’ resurrection.

“Who are you looking for?” (Jesus) asked.  “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said” (John 18:4-5). The disciples, and perhaps even Judas who was with the soldiers, in the Garden that evening heard much more than a simple reply, “I am he.” They hear; “I AM.”

“I AM The Bread Of Life.”

“I AM The Light Of The World.”

“I AM The Gate.”

“I AM The Good Shepherd.”

“I AM The Resurrection And The Life.”

“I AM The Way, The Truth And The Life.”

‘I AM The Vine.”

With the memory of these seven ‘I Am” statements echoing through the Garden, the absurdness of the moment was overwhelming: sinful man was arresting God. The arresting force drew back and fell down. Did they understand the absurdity of the moment? Perhaps it was the humility of Jesus and his lack of resistance that shocked them. I don’t know why the arresting force drew back and fell to the ground, but as I meditate on that scene, falling on my knees seems an appropriate response for me.

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.

God Loves Us As Much As God Loves Jesus

September 22, 2016

God Loves Us As Much As God Loves Jesus

“I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”

John  17:23

The seven concluding verses of Jesus’ prayer (John   17: 20-26) reveal the heart of Jesus for you:  “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message” (John 17:20).  You and I, the disciples of Jesus in 2016, are included in Jesus’ prayer to God two thousand years ago!

Jesus asked God to include us in the unity of the Trinity. Just as there is complete harmony and unity in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Jesus prayed that his disciples will have this very same unity. Through our sacred relationship with the Trinity and with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we offer a compelling witness to the world: “And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me” (John 17:21b).

Jesus then tells us how this is possible: “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one” (John 17:22). By the gift of God’s prevenient, justifying and sanctifying grace, Jesus is in the heart of the disciples. Since God is in Jesus, we experience such perfect unity that the world will know that God sent Jesus, and that God loves us as much as God loves Jesus. (John 17:23)

Whatever is next on your agenda for today can wait. Take as much time as you need and let the truth of this passage completely envelop you. God, the Father Almighty, loves you with the very same love He has for His son, Christ Jesus.

Jesus has given you the same glory God gave to him! The glory of God is the revelation of God’s essence and is revealed through the presence of God. The ultimate expression of God’s glory is the presence of God in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Christ Jesus. Jesus has given the presence of God within him to you!

When we open our lives to receive this love from God, and this glory from Jesus, we experience such perfect unity with the Trinity and with our brothers and sisters in Christ that the world will know “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

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.

Being Obedient To God’s Truth

September 21, 2016

Being Obedient To God’s Truth

“And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them

so they can be made holy by your truth.”

John  17:19

The way John writes Jesus’ prayer suggests that he may have incorporated the prayer into his own devotional life, as well as taught others to pray Jesus’ prayer. This can be a helpful devotional practice for us as well. Take time to incorporate Jesus’ thoughts into your own prayer, and thus take ownership of Jesus’ will for you. Here is my incorporation of Jesus’ prayer in verses 13-19. (I borrowed the last paragraph from Jude 1:24-25)

“Father your Holy Spirit has given me your Word and impressed upon me the teachings of Jesus so I would be filled with his joy. I am so thankful for the joy of Jesus within my heart because I know the world hates me; I do not belong to the world, just as Jesus did not belong to the world. Father I’m not asking you to take me out of the world, but to keep me safe from the evil one.

“Father you are making me holy by your truth. Father, just as you sent Jesus into the world, Jesus is sending me into the world, so please continue teaching me your Word, so that I may be equipped with your truth.

“Jesus gave himself as a holy sacrifice for me and made me holy by your truth. Now, with your anointing, I seek to glorify you and your Son, Christ Jesus, by being obedient to your truth.

“Now all glory to you Father. You are able to keep me from falling away and with great joy you will bring me into your glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to you who alone are my God, my Savior through Jesus Christ my Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are yours before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.”

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.