John 19: Remember Why

Remember Why

John 19's focus is on Jesus and his crucifixion. I cannot say that there is a parable or words of wisdom from Jesus. I cannot say that he performed another miracle. This chapter is a huge reminder. This is a reminder of the prophecies coming true and of why Jesus died.

In John 19:24, we see a prophecy fulfilled from Psalm 22:18. When Jesus was on the cross soldiers gambled for his clothing. How is it possible a reference from generation before could come true? 

In John 19:36-37, we see another prophecy fulfilled from Psalm 34:20. Once again, how is it possible a reference from generation before could come true? God's power is bigger than we can even fully explain.

Jesus's death on a cross was the ultimate example of God's grace for us. Remember John 3:16 and "for God so loved the world?" If God not love us then He would not have come down in Heavenly human form to reunite us with Him. Think about it this way, for all that we did wrong and all that we still will do, God still loves us. God didn't send Jesus just for 5 or 6 people who lived at that time. Jesus's sacrificial death was for all of us who accept him as the son of God and want to receive that redemption. The next time someone upsets you or breaks your heart, think of the God sized forgiveness in the size of Jesus.

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Luke 16:15- Approval of People

Approval of People

There are things we do that are so common place to us that actually have nothing to do with what we think unless it is tied to how people will perceive it.  There are people who volunteer from time to time because of the photo opportunity. There is a cosmetic surgery industry that flourishes from insecurities and perceptions of others. Don't get me started on the fashion industry and red carpet events. That thrives on public perception and who is wearing what from which designer.

Living for the approval of people is no way to live. Every generation will cherish something else. The 1950s had a different view of males and females than how this generation views what defines a male and female. How people choose to see us isn't important. How God sees us is what is important. People see the outside, God sees our heart.

Jesus had just finished telling a parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-13). The Pharisees never liked Jesus's teaching, ideas and parables and ridiculed him. Instead of getting angry and getting into an argument (as many of us would do) for being ridiculed Jesus replied with a simple statement that has deep meaning. Jesus said, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." He was telling them that they do things and say things to have the approval of people but they overwrite and ignore what God will think about it.

What God has to say about what we do and what we say matters not more than other things or less than other things, but is the only thing that matters. Have you ever had a time where you did something nice for someone and they thought or someone else thought that you had ulterior motives? It has happened to me. You try to do the right thing but people look at it with the wrong lens. Or there are times I thought I was doing the right thing and really it had an ulterior motive. Man sees the outside, God sees the inside (1 Samuel 16:7). Let pleasing God be your focus.

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Luke 8:11- The Seed is the Word of God

The Seed is the Word of God

The Parable of the Sower is to explain how we can plant seeds in people with the Word of God (the Bible). Some seed will get trampled and eaten up by birds. Some seed will fall among rocks and will not be able to grow properly as there is no moist soil for it to grow from. Some seed can fall among thorns and when it grows up it is choked out by those thorns. And other seed can fall into good soil and be very fruitful. 

The Word of God is that seed and what people do with it is how that seed grows or does not grow in that person. We need "good soil" in order for that seed in us to grow. If we spend all of our time around thorns and rocks and where the seed can be eaten up from us, then the seed/The Word is not growing to its capacity. The image below gives an illustrated look at how our faith in that seed can either make or break its growth.

Is the word planted in you deep in the soil or is it getting choked out by disbelief, worldly ideas, false gods, and distance from God? That is the question you must ask yourself. The fruit will reveal the answer.


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Luke 7:50- Saved by Faith

Saved by Faith

We know the story of the sinful woman who humbled herself and wash Jesus's feet with her tears and anointed his head with oil (read Luke 7:36-50). But, did you see the parable and the lesson Jesus taught to Simon while also correcting the thinking of the Pharisees?

The Pharisees were on their self-righteous pedestal again and were condemning Jesus for letting a sinful woman touch him. She was showing her humility by serving Jesus and the Pharisees took an action and applied their own meaning to it. In them doing this, Jesus began telling Simon (a different one than the disciples) a parable of a moneylender and two debtors. One debtor owed more than the other, but both had their debts forgiven by the moneylender. The debtor who owed more (10 times more) was far more thankful for being free of his debt. 

Jesus explains the parable by turning away from the woman and exposes Simon the Pharisee's disbelief that Jesus could forgive sins and that he was actually a prophet. Simon thought (in verse 39) that if Jesus were truly a prophet he would see how sinful the woman was that was touching his feet. Simon did none of the things that the woman did and they were in Simon's house. He saw her humility and said "he who is forgiven little, loves little." I understand that to mean when you are in debt a great deal (imagine $500,000) and that debt is forgiven, then you are more likely to be appreciative of the forgiveness of that debt than if it was just $5.

With our sins we must see that Christ can forgive us. He has the power and the ability. But, we must have the faith like this woman who knew she had done wrong and wanted to be forgiven. Jesus tells her in verse 50 that her faith has saved her and for her to "go in peace." When we have been forgiven, there is a whole lot more peace in life. Go seek Christ for forgiveness.

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Mark 4:21-25- A Lamp Under a Basket

A Lamp Under a Basket

Think about that. Think about how you need light to see. Light is essential in our lives. We can't walk around in physical darkness. We would stub our toes on everything from corners on walls and the edges of our beds (obviously these things have happened to me). We can't drive in darkness. When it starts hitting 7:30pm or 8pm currently, we start turning on those car headlights so that others can see us and we don't crash. We turn on our lights so we can and so others can see. Do you see where this is going?

The Word of God is the light in our life. We can either utilize that light so that we can see where we are going or we can essentially put the light under basket and make it irrelevant in our lives.

In Mark 4:21-25, Jesus uses the idea of putting a lamp under a basket to illustrate his point. Lamps are used to be put up on top of something so it can be fully utilized. I read a great comparison to this light as if the light were a cure for a disease. If you had the cure for a disease, you would not keep it to yourself, you would share that cure and help heal others.

So, now that you have the Word of God in your hands and as easy to find, what will you do with it?

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