QT 28 Sep 12, Don't preach, weep with those who weep

John 11:28-36 (NIV) And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked.

"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

NOTE: I love the fact that Jesus did not use any platitudes. He didn't try to answer all her questions. He didn't defend himself. He didn't waste useless words in a time of great pain and sorrow. Instead, he just wept. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. That is all we have to do--mourn together with the hurting. There will come a time for discussion and learning, but in the midst of pain, our souls cry out to be comforted, not to be taught. It is a strong and godly man who can feel the pain of others in his soul and express it through tears. 

QT 26 Sep 12, Trusting God even when it is too late

John 11:18-27 (NIV) Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Note: Bethany was only two miles away  and God did not move. Not that he  really needed to. He had healed  from a distance before and it  would not be difficult for him.  But Jesus knew exactly what he  was doing. For Mary or Martha,  this absence would have been particularly difficult. They did  not know what God was doing.  Martha meets Jesus and while  it is not clear from the text, one  could understand if she was angry, "if you  had been here." Her follow-on  statement is hard to understand  because while she believes anything  is possible, resurrection from the  dead is not on her list. Jesus then makes one of those extreme statements that he has been doing as of late and claims to be the resurrection. Martha believes him, at least in a spiritual sense, and definitively calls him the Son of God, which he does not deny. Something very big is about to happen and only one person knows how significant the event will be, Jesus. We are about to see the sign of Jonah. We will see it again after the crucifixion. And we will see it one more the in history when the two witnesses rise from the dead after three days. In each case, dead for all or part of three days is required. The signs cannot be ignored, people cannot be raised from the dead.

QT 18 Sep 12, Why do we really believe in God?

John 11:1-17 (NIV) Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."  5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."

8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."

12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

NOTE: A number of things stand out. First, as others have commented, the Jews did not consider a case of raising the dead legitimate unless the person had been dead 3 days (all or part). Otherwise, it would be called a resuscitation. Technically, Jesus raising of Tabitha from the dead would be a resuscitation, as would be some OT miracles, although not all. But this leads to other natural implications.

One, Jesus did know that the sickness would lead to death, at least temporarily, but what would be fully classified as death. I wonder how Mary dealt with that truth if Jesus' word were relayed back to her. When Lazarus died, how did she view Jesus' promise? It would seem that his word had clearly failed, but it had not. So, even the most obvious event or contradiction of a promise does not mean that God has failed.

Secondly, Lazarus' death is a very intentional act of God or at least Jesus is fully aware in foreknowledge that he would die soon and that his death would be intentionally used by God as still another sign to Israel. Of course this leads to the argument of free will or determinism and I disagree with those who argued either position determinedly (pun intended). The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I believe in his sovereignty and the more I believe that our free will determines most of the events of our life. This is one case where rationality argues against me because my logic does not make sense, and yet I can't deny the firmness of my belief on this point.

Finally, Thomas makes himself clearly known as the cynic or partially agnostic. He will complete the profile later when he denies the other disciples' report of Jesus' resurrection. So, not all the disciples were gung-ho in their belief in Christ (some holding doubt), and Thomas' rationalism provides a fitting contrast in the story. How does one view Jesus' promise to Mary? Why does Jesus have to wait for the period of resuscitation to pass? Was the whole event pre-planned by God or was it a target of opportunity used by God or neither or both? And how could men like Thomas not believe sooner than they did when they saw a man actually raised from the grave? Is that not sufficient proof of the power of God and validation of the message? And maybe the whole point is that truly we choose to believe in God or against God independent of actual facts?!

QT 17 Sep 12, Truly the only way to come to Jesus is one-on-one and alone

John 10:34-39 (NIV) Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?  35 If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came — and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."  39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

NOTE: Verse 34 can actually be interpreted "judges" or "God" and verse 35 references the special commission given to the judges of Israel, that in their sentences they are representing God, for only God can truly judge. Jesus' argument seems to be that if God allowed the title to be used for certain men, why do they judge him for using the title as well? But of course, Jesus' use of the term here puts himself on equal footing with the Father, and not only that, he claims the miracles as proof of his position. Israel's judges were appointed among men without any special power. Jesus claims to have come directly from God and can use that term because of his power and special relationship to the Father.

There is no argument to justify calling oneself God's son outside of truth. The statement is true or it is blasphemy. And because the leaders assume blasphemy, they immediately tried to seize him, but once more he escapes the grasp of the leaders. Even with the miracles, it would have been hard to believe that God's actual son was on earth, or that God had a son, or that humanity could hold him in a body. But the miracles are so amazing and they are so good to people (which contradicts the argument of Satan's power). No, this is an amazing conundrum. If only they would have done what Nicodemus did, swallowed their pride and met and talked with Jesus at a personal level. I think Nicodemus' one-on-one meeting was about the only thing that could have worked, for if he had met in a group, he might have been tempted to put up a façade or to act for the crowd, but Nicodemus met him where nothing could interfere, one-on-one in quiet. Ultimately, that is the only way anyone of us can meet Jesus, one-on-one and alone.

QT 12 Sep 12, What is more important, religion as we know it or as Jesus defined it?

John 10:22-33 (NIV) Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"

33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

NOTE: Yes, Jesus was a man, and yes, Jesus claimed to be God. The miracles authenticated his claim. The proof was his sinless life. The leaders objected based on a misinterpretation of the Sabbath, claiming that no work could be done on the Sabbath. Jesus argued very effectively that in the case of an animal falling into a pit or a circumcision that falls on the Sabbath, they will make exceptions, but for healing they would not, and therefore they contradicted themselves. They prefer animals or rituals over the healing of living soul. Additionally, Jesus has already made it very clear who he is, and this is not the first time they pick up stones because of  the supposed blasphemy -- but for some reason they never throw the stone. Their testimony indicates that they understood very clearly his claim.

Today, we have the verbal record of his miracles, claims, and statements. For the most part, people will accept the statements, some of the claims, but not the miracles. Humanity picks and chooses because it is too difficult to face the facts, that one man could actually make the claims that he did and perform the miracles that he did. Jesus really did do all those things, the historical record cannot be ignored. What are we going to do about it? I suppose it is not that hard to still ignore or to not believe, since even the people of his day chose to reject him. In their case, they put their view of the law over Jesus' claim. They would rather be legalistic and ritual-based, than to seek the life that Jesus was preaching. It seems foolish, but sometimes years of behavior are hard to break old habits. Lord, I want what you have to offer, not what religion offers. I want to be different, not like the crowd's definition of Christianity and religion, but your definition. Open my eyes to see the difference.

QT 10 Sep 12, It is intellectual cowardice to deny the miracles of Jesus as myth or fable

John 10:18-21 (NIV) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

19 At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"

21 But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

NOTE: In his book, More than a Carpenter, Josh McDowell popularized the argument of liar, lunatic, or Lord (Son of God). But long before that book, that very line of reason was being argued by the people, and by John in his gospel. McDowell adds some of the after-effect arguments. How could all but one of Jesus' apostles go to their death if they knew the message they were spreading was a lie? None of them experienced rich and prosperous lives, and most died early deaths. John was the exception as he spent his last years exiled on the island of Patmos. I don't give much credence to followers (non-eyewitnesses) who give there lives for a cause because they can be easily deceived. But eye-witnesses, who were close to and intimate with the person they were following, is quite a different story, and is why the death of so many of Jesus' early followers is an important fact. They knew him, they saw the miracles, they were eyewitnesses to the events, and they died rather than deny the facts of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In this passage, the Jews are very divided over whether Jesus is a lunatic or not. Lunatics cannot open the eyes of the blind. They were eyewitnesses to the miracles. The miracles have to be faced. Today, the world wrongly assumes the miracles are fables or myths, popularized by the Christian church years afterwards. Of course, that assumption does not fit with the facts since we have hundreds of fragments of the new testament from the first century that were copied because eyewitnesses testified to their truth. The so called lost books of the bible that some people popularize today, were not copied because the eyewitnesses knew they were not true. No, you cannot dismiss the miracles. It is the fly in the ointment that should bother every agnostic and atheist. 

QT 4 Sep 12, This world can never truly satisfy

John 10:7-10 (NIV) Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 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.

NOTE: When I stop and look around at what people call "life" today, it is very sad. And I don't know what is sadder, that they don't know what real life tastes like or that they believe that the life they are living is worth it. I see so many with broken relationships, alcohol-fueled relationships, and entertainment-driven lives. They are like the blind man and the Pharisees, they should be able to see but they can't because they are blind, spiritually blind. And I see believers, who of all people should be able to see, make the same mistakes and bind themselves to garbage. There is pasture, rest and joy, to those who enter through the gate, Jesus. There is peace and blessing in walking with God. It is so different from what the world offers and it so much more satisfying. Why, O why do we persist in our rebellion to God? Why can't we truly repent and seek him who holds out to us, real life? Have mercy upon us God? Open our eyes that we might see.

QT 1 Sep 12, Sometimes those who see the best, see the least

John 9:30-34 (NIV) The man answered, "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

34 To this they replied, "You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!" And they threw him out.

NOTE: I wondered why the Pharisees say that they don't know where Jesus came from. A little earlier they told Nicodemus to look it up that no prophet arises out of Galilee. Nicodemus had merely mentioned that they ought to question him before determining who he is. Now they reply that they don't know where he came from, which is a repeat of some earlier comment from the crowd. I wonder if they dug a little deeper and found out that he was born in Bethlehem, and rather than admit that point, they have moved to the position, "we don't know," probably based on some justification like, "they do not have eyewitnesses to his birth." Therefore, they don't really know. Which has now gone full circle and is "we don't know where he came from." Secondly, they say that the man was steeped in sin from birth. But Jesus made it clear earlier that a person's birth disabilities are not a result of his sin. He also mentioned it was not because of a parent's sin either but that may have been a particular situation or an in-general comment, since it would clearly be possible for a parent's sin (addictive abusive behavior) to result in a child with birth defects. Finally, they don't want to be lectured to by an inferior uneducated, formerly, blind man. The blind man sees the obvious, a man opens the eyes of a person born blind -- impossible in that day and age, and one of the Messianic miracles (I believe). The Pharisees do not want to see the obvious even though it is staring them in the face. Who is blind now?