Jesus

12 Days in John

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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

50 Day Challenge, Art 1

Today begins the final stretch in our, Origin Church, 50 Day Gospel Challenge. We’ve been reading the Gospels between March 2 and April 20th in order to get to know Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

As we read John let’s ask God to help us see the glory, grace, and truth of Jesus. If you have not been on this 50 Day journey, today is a great day to start. Begin with John 1.

If you would like reminders via email and your calendars, create a bible reading plan at mybibleplans.com : sign up, set the reading period, April 9 – April 20, check The Gospel of John, and then indicate how you would like to be reminded.

I hope you will join with us in the last leg of our Challenge.

 

In the meantime.

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11As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.13Calling ten of his servants,he gave them ten minas,and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’14But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’15When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.   Luke 19:11-15

Faulty expectations.

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus stopped in at Zacchaeus’ house. The affect was electrifying. Some people where upset at Jesus for he willingly accepted the hospitality of the chief tax collector. But then the unthinkable happened. Zacchaeus wasn’t just posing; he was really seeking God. Zacchaeus received Jesus. Zacchaeus aligned his life with Jesus and gave away half his wealth. Zacchaeus promised to restore what he had defrauded from others at a rate of four times the offence. Then Jesus addresses Zacchaeus and frames what had just happened: “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:9-10

Godly expectations.

The disciples and crowd were surely excited now as Jesus headed to Jerusalem. They were sure that God’s Kingdom had come and that the trip to Jerusalem would end with triumph such that a new era of prosperity and ease would be theirs. The wealth of the rich and the power of the powerful would now be theirs. But Jesus tells a story, a story meant to reframe their expectations and to create urgency as to the allegiance of their own hearts.

Jesus is the nobleman who would be King. His journey to the “far country” was through Jerusalem, through the cross and then to heaven with His Heavenly Father. In the meantime how shall we live?

Giving ourselves to the work.

In the meantime, we will do just what he says, “engage in business until I come.” Each of us must give ourselves to the work the King has given us.

In the meantime Until Jesus comes again as King in all His glory, power, and authority, we give ourselves to Him, to each other, and to the work He gives us.

 

Weddings, Social Politics, and Seating Charts

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Do you care where you sit?

7Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Luke 14:7-11

What was obvious to Jesus is also obvious to others. When we are eager for respect, honour, position, status, we will climb over others to get into the seat of honour. Those who demand honour cannot calibrate the mind of a greater host. We are at the mercy of the host; to act otherwise is to show our smallness, pettiness, jealousy, vanity, and fear.

Jesus’ words here are not just wisdom for endearing ourselves to others by refusing to manipulate social politics for personal gain. Jesus is showing us the basic internal posture of kingdom citizens. His Kingdom citizens entrust themselves to the Host of the Great Wedding Feast. We are His servants, invited to His party, and He decides how, when, where, and why to exalt us.

Humility is a choice. It only becomes unconscious and part of our character when we are glad to be at the party with Jesus and anyone else He has included. Humility becomes our character as we are extraordinarily confident and secure in the Father’s love and acceptance of us through Christ Jesus our Lord. Then it doesn’t matter where we sit.

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What starts now.

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27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

Jesus is talking His relationship with the people who become His disciples.

They know Him. Now.

He is speaking with them. Now.

They are following Him. Now.

They have life. Now.

They have a victory over death. Now.

They are securely in His grip. Now.

They are the gift of the Heavenly Father to Jesus. Now.

They are simultaneously in the Father’s hand. Now.

I’m so glad for the grace to be living what starts now.

 

I am sure.

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31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Read it again.

Slowly.

Savour it.

For I am sure… nothing.. will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There is much in this world conspiring against our union with God through Jesus Christ. But this is the grace we have received: He will prevail. Against death, powers, present or things to come, He will prevail. Our doubts, struggles in faith, weakness and failings, have nothing on the sufficiency of HIs grace towards us.

He is for us. Praying for us. Having given Himself for us, Jesus has positioned those who receive His grace to be eternally with Him.