Here is our text for the week:
John 1:35-51
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" "Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter ).
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
How do Andrew, Philip, and Nathanael respond to Jesus differently?
Is this significant?
What else is on your mind this week?
Sunday, April 13, 2008
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18 comments:
Which of these 3 disciples can you most easily identify with?
Any thoughts on yesterday's worship assembly?
How did your LIFE Group go last night?
Reading in John again this morning...
I came across this in chapter 7:5
Even Jesus' own brothers had not yet become his followers.
This made me think about yesterday's thought about John "not knowing" Jesus. What would it take for his brothers to believe? Why didn't they believe him? They are actually ridiculing him.
Why do Andrew and Phillip seem to follow Jesus easily and quickly? Why is Nate skeptical but then quickly believes?
What does all this mean???
I can relate with all of them. In Andrew, the first thing he wanted to do when he found the Savior was to run to those closest to him, his brother, to share the good news. After he told his brother, his brother, Peter found his friend, Philip and Philip told Nathaniel. Nathaniel knew where Jesus came from and he instantly assumed he was not to be taken seriously because after all Nazareth produced no leaders worthy to be a king. But when Jesus let Nathaniel know He knew his heart and thoughts before he even had spoken to Jesus he knew Jesus was who He said He was. He got evidence. Don't we do the same. We wait to see if someone else approves before we follow, or wait for proof, instead of just believing. It's easy to pass judgement without knowing the whole story. I see so much of our humanity in this passage and our need for a Savior to show us a New and Better Way. I thought of another thing too, Jesus brothers were not only from that same town, they were in the same house. Sibling rivalry, maybe. I just don't know. It seems at times those closest to us are taken for granted and we hold up others higher than the ones we are nearest to sometimes. They sure failed to see who He was until He left them for Heaven, then they followed and believed. They got the proof. We have the proof all around us and we too forget Who He really is. Have a beautiful day, everyone. Sherron
Good post, Sherron!
I think the words of Jesus, uttered several times, about a prophet not being honored in his home town (in his house too) are very interesting. They actually trouble me at times (kinda kidding)!
The brothers of Jesus think he is arrogant and delusional but come to believe after the resurrection, if I remember the story right.
We read the gospels “backwards” from the Resurrection; we know how the story ends. John G. states his purpose in writing (bring us to belief) after narrating the Resurrection. I think we all come to The Story in different ways and this leads to different responses, which is illustrated somewhat with Andrew, Phillip, and Nathaneal, but the bottom line is submission to Jesus.
He must become greater. I must become less.
Some get there quicker and easier than others. One Lord. Different responses.
AND some stay in submission better than others. Why is that?
Why do people rebel?
Why do people fall away?
AFTER initially submitting to Christ?
The answer to those questions, I think, is our humaness.
Better to fall away and come back than to turn lukewarm.
Annette
True, Annette.
Do you think some feel the pull of the flesh stronger than others? If so, why?
Is it easier for some to believe than others?
If so, then how should this affect our attitude toward those who are different from us?
It can be an exercise in patience because all of us are different and unique. I think we relate to what we know from our past and present and stepping outside the realm of our own understanding can be difficult. It is important that we do because we miss out on so much when we stay put in our comfort zone. Change is uncomfortable. The passage from last week has really struck me this week. Especially regarding our children. There is a time to step back and let them fly and a time to be there when they need us but not to force our views and ourselves upon them. Roots and wings have really been more relevant to me as our grown children care for their families and face the same struggles we did. A mother's desire is to always have them close by but that is not always possible so we pray for them when they are away and we keep our own lives busy with the things at hand that need to be done for God and others. I keep thinking back to a study we had 'it's not about me'. Have a wonderful day. Sherron
Good thoughts, as usual, Sherron. I like the application of “Greater and Less” to children. I am in process with a couple right now. It is a helpful thing to know.
***
I try to read portions of John’s gospel every morning. For the last few days I have been reading the parts that are less familiar to me. With some N.T. books I can pretty well tell you generally what the content of each chapter is. With John I know some of the chapters pretty well, but there are some chapters that I am fuzzy about their content, so that’s what I have been reading lately. I find it pretty interesting really, plus it helps to keep my mind from wandering. I have also been reading it in different translations. Presently I am using the Contemporary English Version. It’s not bad, but I don’t think I would want to use it all the time.
Jesus looks at the 2 disciples and asks, "what do you want?".
It's a really good question.
What do you want from Jesus?
What does one want from Jesus?
Osmosis.
If I gained one ounce of humility from Jesus, I feel I am 100% a better person.
If you gained one ounce of understanding compassion from Jesus, I feel you are 100% a better person.
etc etc
If you were hurting and you explored Jesus just for the hope that your pain would ease, you are 100% on the right road.
The important thing is starting on the right road.
Everyone knows the story of a business operating on the principals of the Bible is a successful business. No matter if they personally believe it or not.
No matter what you want, no matter where you are or where you start, starting to develop a personal relationship with Jesus will make you 100% a better person.
This is all stated simply.
Come, follow Me, is a simple statement.
"Where are you staying?"
"Come and see"
They go and stay (abide).
Fellowship.
Relationship.
Discipleship.
Last night I drove a school bus to Linton. Why? Because Luke is playing golf, and the golf team needs transportation this year, since the coach sold his van. ANYWAY, last night on the way and on the way back we passed a church building that had a sign out front. Here’s what the sign said:
YOU NEED
GOD
HE’LL BE HERE
SUNDAY 9.30 & 10.30
What do you think of that?
So what do you think of the race for President of the USA. Though I am not very excited by any of them and though I think I am becoming more apolitical due to Kingdom understanding, I am pretty much intrigued by the process this time. I find it all interesting, especially the intense scrutiny each candidate receives. Can you imagine having every spoken word, and I think it is EVERY word, scrutinized and analyzed? How would you do? The press is going back months and years to find statements that contradict present utterances. Wow!
For what it’s worth I think McCain will probably win. In part because he has been scrutinized for years and seems fairly consistent, whether you like him or not.
It might not fit into this blog discussion so well, but I just have to say that I am so thankful to be in a group of believers who truly consider the poor. Our country has for so long been a place of cheap food - both the literal cost and the content, but the times, they are achanging.... Because of the fuel pressures and the myth of ethanol, the price of food will continue to rise. It will be the poor who will be hit the hardest. If perchance you actually see any world news amidst the clamor the rich and infamous, you will know that food riots have been occurring in many different parts of the world. The cost of rice is up 147%. Do you have any idea how many people have rice as the staple of their diet? There were food riots in Haiti this week. Perhaps the corn from Bryantsville is going there? Handing out food in the name of Christ is an incredible honor. It is so beautiful and practical to touch people is a way that betters their lives. It opens doors for conversation. It's very hard to listen to someone tell you to be "warmed and filled" as they go to their warm home filled with plenty. But if we as believers can meet physical needs of those around us, we have in some small way earned the right to be heard. If we could just give up one restaurant meal a week or fast one family meal and use that money to buy real food for the pantry or for someone who is struggling what an impact we could have! We can also grow extra food in our gardens!! It's so easy! Just plant a few more tomatoes or peppers or whatever you like to grow. Wash it and take it to the food pantry on Mon or Tues. We can make a difference.
T
good comment "T"
you know last night i had experience that has really been bugging me. went to big lots to look at something and when i left, at the stop light was a younger lady with a sign that said; "family to support, anything helps. god bless" did she need help or was it a ploy? i dont know but it really made me think about that all night. we look for these cases to help and poverty seems to always be what we see outside of our community but there are so many case here too. with rising gas prices and such it will only worsen.
we have such a great church family that does have the servant's heart and i feel blessed to be with them. now i pray that i will be one with such a heart.
rr
Jesus is alive today. In us, among other places. What does the Living Lord want from us? I pretty sure that a large part of it is serving the poor. Just read the Scriptures about what he did, and then read Matthew 25:31ff. about Judgment.
I am pleased with the direction our church takes. I know we have some serious things to consider with our food pantry (too much going out and not enough coming in and trying to figure out how to not serve those who do not need our help), but I think we’ll get there. There are no “official” ties with Capstone Ministries (ReGeneration) and Bryantsville Hunger Relief Project and our church, but through others and me there is definitely a strong link. I think we are making a difference among the needy. It’s feel good. But I want to do more...
People along side the road with signs really disturb me, almost haunt me. I don’t think I have ever given any of them anything, but I always wonder if I should.
* * *
Did you feel the earthquake this morning? I did. It rattled around for about 20 seconds I think. Interesting.
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