Studies in the Gospel of John
Sunday we begin an exciting series of lessons from John’s Gospel. John is unique among those who tell the story of Jesus. He tells of days and people that others do not tell and provides a fresh and unusual way of looking at Jesus.
John records seven "signs" of Jesus, which is his carefully chosen word for miracles. The signs of Jesus are intended to bring people to believe in him as God in the flesh.
Like no other, John invites us into the stories he tells. He wants us there to hear the conversations between Jesus and the individuals and the crowds. He invites us into the stories because he knows that observing Jesus will lead us to believe. And he knows, further, that if we believe, then we will experience life, abundant life and eternal life.
We hope to help those who have no faith to find one in Jesus, and we hope to strengthen the faith of all.
Here is the text for our introductory lesson from John:
John 20:30, 31
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Try to read this text each day and then spend several minutes of quiet reflection on these words. Read slowly and deliberately each word. Ask God to guide you as you read.
Tell us what you think about this text.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
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For Further Study - The 7 Signs:
John 2:1-11 The Changing of Water to Wine
John 4:46-54 The Healing of Official’s Son
John 5:1-9 The Healing at the Pool
John 6:1-14 The Feeding of the 5,000
John 6:16-21 The Walking of the Water
John 9:1-12 The Healing of the Man Born Blind
John 11:1-46 The Raising of Lazarus
How do each of these signs show that Jesus is God in the flesh?
What about each of these stories is designed to lead people to believe the claims of Jesus?
How does reading these stories strengthen your faith?
Wow, I am really rusty! Maybe this week I will get back into a better flow of blogging.
Easter feels a little weird this year. I think because it’s so early and that it falls on Spring Break, it just doesn’t have the usual exciting feeling of anticipation that I remember from previous years. Maybe it’s because I “rusty”? I know we will have a good day, though.
Here’s a post (from Anonymous) that came in last night on last week’s post. I am going to bring it over here, because I don’t many people will see it otherwise. Here it is:
It is often quite amazing to me that while this is the time of year dedicated to remembering the suffering of Christ we walk blithely along choosing our new clothes, stocking up on candy and happily following pagan rituals. I know, I know, I'm being a kill joy, but it really does strike me. I was in a restaurant this Friday when the waitress ask me if I colored eggs. Without waiting for me to answer she laughed and said she did. She continued to laugh and tell me that Christians think it is their holiday when in fact at no time was it celebrated by the early church. She said she colored eggs because it was the pagan thing to do to celebrate fertility and she was a practicing pagan. Well, that was quite an interesting thing to hear. I often think about the rituals that are in our culture and how they are such a part of "the church." What does the Lord think about these things? How do we "come out from among them and be separate?" How do we remain unstained from the world. Who even asks the questions?
Any thoughts?
I agree our focus should be on Christ's resurrection, at all times. But, I have no problem with taking over somepagan things and making them ours. St. Patrick did this in Ireland, with great success, leading many people to Christ.
Donna
Here’s a dramatic change of subject for you. A friend of a friend (really) asked me about suicide. Specifically this person is wanting to know what happens to a person who commits suicide. Are they automatically “eternally lost” because of this final act?
What do you think? What biblical support do you have for your view (opinion)?
I really dont have any biblical support but real life story. When I was middle school aged I struggled with all the changes going on in life and became depressed. I never sought help and just figured it was normal. I always thought I was a christian just by going to church and that since my life was so horrible maybe that was just the lot I was given. At church camp my cabin counslor (though she doesn't remember saying it) led a discussion about suicide and said that people who think about killing themselves aren't christians. At that moment (surely God planned that discussion to win my heart) I realized I wasn't a christian and didn't have Christ in my heart.
Maybe this isn't true for everyone, but while my life hasn't been all cake and ice cream, I have a solid hope in God to know that he loves me and means good for my life.
So... From my life example, I think they were enternally lost before they killed themselves not because of the act itself.
ee
Thanks, ee, for such a personal story. Interesting. I wonder if your counselor’s thoughts, though helpful to you obviously, are based on Scripture or the way she was raised.
This is very painful, complicated, and difficult subject in my mind. I’m sure most readers of this blog have been affected by it in a personal way.
I am interested in hearing other thoughts. Thanks again, ee, for sharing yours. You are a bright spot in our church family, so I am very thankful for the influence your camp counselor had on you.
From a scan of the news this morning:
Kedra and I have a good marriage, and now I know why.
Women, Want a Healthy Marriage? Marry Man Uglier Than You, Study Says
The best marriages are those where women marry men who are less attractive than themselves, research has found.
Psychologists who studied newlyweds found men who were better-looking than their wives were more likely to be unhappy and have negative feelings about their marriage.
In couples where the wife is more attractive, both partners tended to be very content. The research, published in the Journal of Family Psychology, suggests that, in evolutionary terms, women are less choosy about their man's looks as long as he is able to help them reproduce. Men, however, are programmed to choose a mate who is most likely to pass on their genes and look for youth, health and physical attractiveness.
Here’s another insight:
Excessive Emails and Text Are a Mental Illness
Hey, I read it on the internet. It’s gotta be true! [I need to forward this to everyone in my address book.]
I think if we are truly honest with ourselves that most of us fall into depression from time to time either from external or internal reasons. Life is not easy on this earth and yes I have entertained thoughts of suicide (especially when I was young)but something, either connections with others or with God lifted me from the dark mood preventing it. Emotions run like a roller coaster for many of us, especially young people. It is important during those times to stay connected with others who love and respect us and especially with God who is always there with his comfort. Nothing on this earth that can happen to us is worth taking ourselves out of life. I do think it is a selfish act that damages so many surrounding the victim. I don't know what happens to a soul that is so tormented internally that they choose suicide. God, knowing the heart of the person, is the only one I think to make the decision as to their salvation. When we are communing with our Savior daily, moment to moment, we have an outlet for frustrations, lonliness and pain. Reaching out to others, getting busy with positive activities and staying focused on our Reason for being here is a great way to relieve these times. Writing down our true feelings also is a great way I have found to put things into perspective. When we go back and see what we wrote it is much clearer then and easier to understand. When we come out of it and look back we wonder why we felt that way. I think that young people having less experience in life are most at risk. It is hard for them to see past today. I appreciate so much the programs with our youth that keep them connected and with Gary and those who work closely with him who keep them involved. There were wonderful people in my life as a teenager who did just that for me and I will treasure them forever in my heart. Involvement is the key I think with God and others.
Just my 2 cents worth. Have a wonderful day everyone. It is beautiful outside. Sherron
Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
what is the devil askng Christ to do? He is tempting Jesus to commit suicide. If we say we are believers then we need to believe and trust that God will bring us through the good times as well as the bad times. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
If you say you trust in God, where is the trust.
Thanks, Sherron, for your (usual) words of wisdom!
Anon, I think you are a little off in your interpretation of the Temptation. The devil was not tempting Jesus to commit suicide; it’s just the opposite, seems to me. He was tempting Jesus to prove his claims to the be the Son of God. According to the devil, if Jesus is the Son, then God would catch him before he hit the ground.
Your other verses are helpful. Trust, which is the essence of faith, is the key I think.
Here is the heart of an interesting article about sin and our perception of it, based on a recent survey.
A significant majority of Americans were agreed that the following are sins: Adultery 81%, Racism 74%, Using "hard" drugs such as cocaine, heroine, meth, LSD, etc. 65%, Not saying anything if a cashier gives you too much change back 63%, Having an abortion 56%, Homosexual activity or sex 52%, Not reporting some income on your tax returns 52%.
A "significant percentage" of Americans agreed that these acts are also sinful: Reading or watching pornography 50%, Gossip 47%, Swearing 46%, Sex before marriage 45%, Homosexual thoughts 44%, Sexual thoughts about someone you are not married to 43%, Doing things as a consumer that harm the environment 41%, Smoking marijuana 41%, Getting drunk 41%, Not taking proper care of your body 35%.
A much smaller percentage believed that these acts are sins: Gambling 30%, Telling a "little white lie" to avoid hurting someone's feelings 29%, Using tobacco 23%, Not attending church or religious worship services on a regular basis 18%, Playing the lottery 18%, Watching an R-rated movie 18%, Being significantly overweight 17%, Not giving 10% of your income to a church or charity 16%, Drinking any alcohol 14%, Working on Sunday/the Sabbath 14%, Spanking your child when he/she misbehaves 7%, Making a lot of money 4%, Dancing 4%.
To read an article about the survey click here.
Any thoughts/comments?
One of the 10 commandments states that we shouldn't kill. Suicide is murder of yourself theremaking it a sin. I also believe it is a completely selfish act. You leave behind all those who love you to deal with it and to live with the knowledge that you won't be in heaven. Heartbreaking!! Life is very hard, full of temptations, that is satan's job with us isn't it? To pull us down by tempting us. I don't really know anyone who lives in a perfect life but I believe that God will pull everyone thru it as long as we believe He will and allow Him to work in our lives. I believe God forgives sins but how does He forgive the sin of murder of yourself when you aren't around to confess and ask forgiveness? Can you ask forgiveness for a sin before you committ it? Seems wrong to me!
Just another opinion :o)
Diane Slone
One question that comes to my mind is this: is a person who does this always fully aware of everything? Here are a few questions to think about: Are mentally ill people held accountable for everything? What about developmentally disabled people? What about Alzheimer’s victims?
It’s hard for most of us to imagine what would drive a person do such a thing as suicide. Those are the things said in that context, right?
Don’t take me wrong. I am not trying to defend suicide, but I take more of an “I don’t know” approach. Psalm 103 is usually used at funerals of people who die by suicide.
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
[Verses 8-16]
I've always liked that particular part of psalm 103. Allen, I kind of agree with you on the "don't know" stance regarding suicide. I think to kill yourself, you have to be pretty mentally/emotionally unstable to begin with. What I wonder about, is people who are physically ill and in terrible physical pain, and consider suicide to end that. Sorry to complicate the subject further, but it's so complicated, I don't think you can really come to a black and white conclusion.
Donna
Hey, Cool, I'm able to read my opeators in English, not French! If you want more explanation on that, I'll clarify later.
I guess I've always classified the folks with mental illness with children "below the age of understanding" as I heard growing up. Not that all mentally challenged people fit that catagory. Like most things, mental illness has levels...sometimes, I think I may be one of those levels. :]
I went through some pretty serious depression a couple of years ago. It was pretty bad. I think Tracy was about ready to pack my bags, but she's a patient woman. I was almost fired becuase of it. I just couldn't control my emotions. Sometimes I wonder if it was what they talk about with soldiers getting Post Tramatic Stress Syndrome.
But, I guess I never got to the point where I felt like killing myself. I sometimes wondeer if that's because of the things that Allen is getting at about saved vs. condemned. That's what I guess I always had been taught.
Now, that we dig a little deeper, maybe I'm not so sure.
Realistically, if I had committed suicide, would I have been saved due to my mental state?
Things that make you go hmmmmm.
Brent
I have a very dear cousin in Plainfield who is terminally ill with cancer. She has fought it for over three years and continues to do so. She keeps fighting because of her family who loves her and her mentally ill brother who lives with her and because she loves life even though she is in severe pain right now and on morphine and other pain killing drugs. When I called her yesterday (she has 7 more days of radiation in a 20 day session) she was hopeful because one of the tumors has shrunk and she thinks they may do more radiation to see if the others will. Even on her really bad days she has told me that God is there with her comforting her. There are others who choose to stop all treatment and go Home to be with God. I don't think either option is wrong but a personal decision. It makes me very aware that I must pay attention to those around me and stay involved in their life if they let me. I am puzzled by someone who chooses to take their own life but they take lives of those around them first. What state of mind must they be in to entertain those thoughts and let them fester to fruition. It happens in all walks of life and it I wonder how someone can get so far detached from life that all reason leaves them. Only God knows. Our part is to support and encourage all those involved in these heartbreaking situations. Trusting God truly is all we can do and leave the judging to Him. Trusting God can keep us from so many problems in life. Trust His guidance, trust His plan for our lives, trust His word as true, trust Him with our todays, our yesterdays and our tomorrows. Have a joyful day everyone, it's a gift. Sherron
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