"To Him be glory forever": John 20

Showing posts with label John 20. Show all posts

Sunday, November 10, 2019

More Than A Story

Recently I got a call from a friend I haven't heard from for nearly 40 years. We served together in the Navy and through technology that virtually no one could have imagined in 1979, the Facebook phone call, he called me up.

My friend was working on some issues in his life and had come to the conclusion that perhaps he should read the Bible. The idea may have been suggested to him by someone else. He didn’t know where to start, but he did know that I had become a pastor, and so he gave me a ring to see what he should do.

Just hearing from him was a surprise, and I wasn't sure what kind of guidance to give him. I'm a pastor, but not his pastor. If it was someone from my congregation, or maybe someone who I was talking with in my office, I could sort things out a bit before giving him some guidance. I might have some understanding and insight as to where to begin. But…those luxuries were not mine at the time. I took what seemed to be the best route and said, "Read the gospels."

A few days later I got a message. "What gospels? My Bible doesn't have any gospels."

That caught me by surprise, but also let me know that I was assuming too much. My suggestion to "read the gospels" assumed that he would know what I was talking about. It assumed that he already had a basic understanding of the organization of the Bible. So here is the basic message I sent back:

"The first four books of the New Testament are the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In a nutshell they are the story of Jesus, each told from a different point of view. They have some things in common, and also some differences. Maybe start with reading John. John begins by basically stating that Jesus, the man who lived on earth, was also God, no ifs ands or buts. And that sets the tone for the way he would have us read the story of Jesus' life, as he tells it. His goal is that his readers would come to believe in Jesus as their savior when they get to the end of the story. John wants his readers to see their problem with God being one of living as sinners in the presence of a holy God, a God who in his mercy offers them his son, Jesus, as the only possible remedy for dealing with their sin and coming into a relationship with God. That may sound a bit preachy, but I want you to know what you are getting into as you read."

In answering my friend I was mindful of the fact that the gospels are stories, but they are much more than stories, for they have a purpose that is greater than any other story that might come to your mind. John says it himself this way,

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John 20:30-31

The gospels are more than stories, for the story they tell is the only one that leads us into a relationship with God. No ifs, ands or buts.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Making The Cut

May is coming to an end, and so that means that football season is getting closer. The picture is from an article just before the beginning of last year's season for the Green Bay Packers. On the first day of the last season there were 53 men on the roster. As preparation begins for the 2019 season some of those 53 men will be returning. Some will have retired or had their career end through injury. Others will have joined new teams through a trade or free agency. And others may be barely hanging on to a roster spot. They will enter training camp wondering if this will be the year that they get cut and someone else gets the spot that they had on the roster.

The other night Robin and I were reading from Luke 7:11-17, which says:

"Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country."

It's an absolutely amazing miracle by Jesus. A large crowd. Someone who is very clearly dead. At the words of Jesus, and nothing else, the man comes to life. The witnesses praise God and spread the word about Jesus.

It is an absolutely amazing miracle, recorded by Luke, but not even directly hinted at when we come to John's gospel. A powerful miracle that doesn't make the cut. John has seven miracles scattered through the first 11 chapters and as far as the remainder of Jesus' miracles are concerned he says this:

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

John freely admits that Jesus did many miracles, but he only needs seven to make his point. Read these and follow where the evidence leads, to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now as good as football is, there is something about the gospel that is infinitely better.

Each of the 32 NFL team has 53 players. That’s 1696 players beginning the season with the goal of being one of the 53 who will win a Super Bowl ring on the last day. Some won't make it through the season due to injury. Some will lose their place to better players as the season progresses. Some teams will emerge as strong ones, and the weaknesses of others will become apparent. And then bit-by-bit teams, and their players, will be eliminated in the playoffs.

To end the season as a champion there is a matter of being in the right place at the right time. But that won’t happen unless you have the basic ability in the first place, in terms of having the skill set needed to make the cut and stay on the team.

One aspect of the good news of Jesus is that making the team is fairly easy. Just show up with faith in Jesus. Paul puts it this way:

"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Skilled player, even a superstar, or not…it doesn’t matter. There is a place for you with Jesus. Injury that won’t heal? No problem. Jesus has a place for you. Don't like your coach? Don't worry. The coaching of Jesus will be perfect for you. Perhaps you play quarterback and think that Jesus already has too many? Come anyway, because there is no limit to the depth chart. Afraid you won’t get a ring if you don't get into the game? Fear not. Everyone who is on the team, be it in the game or on the sidelines, when the final whistle blows receives the same reward.

"Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Shoes and Good News

This past week has been a unique one for me in ministry. In addition to the regular activities of an ordinary week, of which preparing to preach on Sunday morning is probably the most important and most time-consuming, I also preached three funerals. Two of those funerals were in our church building and one was a graveside service, and in all three I was at the cemetery for the burial. Three different groups of families and friends, grieving losses that were completely unexpected, plus one group of people gathered together for worship on Sunday. The one thing that joined them all, from my point-of-view, was that they heard the good news of Jesus proclaimed to them.

The picture is one of my "work shoes" this past week. From left to right: Tuesday, preaching from John 20:30-31; Friday, from Luke 15:1-7; Saturday, from Psalm 121; and this morning, from John 1:1-5. The Gospel presentation from those sermons was stronger in some than in others, again, from my viewpoint, but it was there nonetheless. The essence was that we are sinners in the presence of a holy God, and the only hope we have for rescue is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Romans 10:14-15 Paul writes:

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

My present calling is to be a pastor on a reservation, and so in Paul's words I have been sent here in order that people may understand the good news of Jesus and call on Him for salvation. Those are the shoes that cover my feet as I do this work.

But the greater truth is that all people who have faith in Jesus should grow as followers of Him, preparing for that moment when in the telling of their faith story they become the means that God uses to open someone's eyes to see the glory of their Savior as they come to faith in Him.

I showed my shoes because, frankly, no one wants to see a picture of my feet. But those shoes cover one pair of feet that are carrying the good news of Jesus to a world that desperately needs it. And by God's grace, be it in your home, your neighborhood, or across the globe, your feet can do the same. Amen.