Do You Love Me?

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

¹⁶Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

John 21:15-17

Three times, Jesus asks Peter "do you love me?" All three times the question is phrased slightly different. Three times, Peter responds "yes Lord." Three times Jesus responds - each time slightly different in it's own right. Do you love me more than these? Do you love me? Do you have affection for me? With each question, the intensity of the love seems to lessen and Peter seems to become discouraged. When contrasted with Jesus' instructions back, there is no need to be discouraged. Do you have affection for me? Feed my sheep. Nourish your brothers. Care for the spiritual wellbeing of my people. Do you love me? Tend my sheep. Shepherd my people. Oversee my people. Take care of all of their needs. Do you love me more than these? Feed my lambs. Nourish the young believers. Nourish the children.

All of us who call ourselves Christians have a responsibility to take care of God's people regardless of how committed we are. As our love for Jesus grows, our commitment to serving Him and serving His people should deepen. Feed, tend, nourish. Not starve, hurt, cut off. Love. Feed. Love. Tend. Love. Feed. Do it today. Do it tomorrow. Do it every day.

My Lord and My God!

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

John 20:28 (NIV)

Thomas wasn't there when the other disciples first saw Jesus after His resurrection. They told him about it it and he was skeptical. And then boom, Jesus appeared again and Thomas believed. Actually, it was a week later. A week later. Just one more time for emphasis. A week later. Can you imagine what Thomas must have been feeling during that week. All of these other folks that Thomas had been close to for the years of Jesus' ministry had seen Jesus in the flesh after the resurrection. He hadn't. Whatever it was the Thomas had been doing that day when he wasn't there with the other disciples must not have seen as important now. The other disciples had seen Jesus alive and he hadn't. If I had been in his position my skepticism at first would have turned into doubt which after a week probably would have turned into utter despair. Thomas may have felt confident with his skepticism at first, but a week later he may have felt like Charlie Brown on the ground after Lucy pulled the football away from him. AUGH! Perhaps he was thinking "Why has everyone else had this blessing and I have not? What's wrong with me?" So, he stuck close to the other disciples. If Jesus appeared again, he wasn't going to miss it. They were togehter in the room. The doors were locked. Jesus appeared. Jesus looked at Thomas and spoke to him. He knew the skepticism and doubt. Come on, stick your finger in there. It's really me! After a week of hungering to see Jesus again, the doubt had vanished. After a week of longing to see Jesus again, there He was. After a week of doubt and despair, Thomas' hope was realized. I can imagine that Thomas didn't just say those words once. I can imagine that he bowed before Jesus repeating over and over "My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God." I can imagine that Thomas was weeping tears of joy as He did so. "My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God."

I find it easy to put myself in Thomas' shoes. Why has everyone else around me gotten this blessing and I haven't? I can feel the skepticism, doubt, and despair. I can feel the longing to really see Jesus. I can feel the fear. I can feel the pain. But there Jesus is. I can feel the peace. I too bow and worship. My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God.

Threatening Words

¹⁹Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." ²⁰Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" ²²Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."

John 19:19-22 (ESV)

The Jewish leaders came to Pilate to have Jesus killed telling him that by calling Himself King of the Jews, Jesus was an enemy to Ceasar. After speaking with Jesus, Pilate called Him the King of the Jews. The Jewish leaders didn't want to hear this since it threatened their roles as leaders of the people. They certainly didn't want to admit that they were wrong about Who Jesus was. These very words threatened the core of their existence. Yet, Pilate stuck to them. In my mind I can see Pilate played by Jack Nicholson with the expression on his face the same as in A Few Good Men when he delivered the line "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth." Pilate, not counting himself as a believer, is saying "I wrote what I wrote. I don't care if you're threatened by it. Deal with it!"

Truth be told, even today, there are proclamations about Jesus that are threatening. Savior we can sometimes handle, but Lord? You mean I'm giving up control of my life? That's sometimes a tough one. A good teacher. Yes, of course He was a good teacher. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36) That's a little tougher. If there are words about Jesus or from Jesus that we feel threatened by, we need to ask what is it that threatens us? Then we need to deal with it. As you read what God has written about His Son, picture Him saying "What I have written I have written." Why, because HE DID!

I Saw You With Him

²⁵As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?"

He denied it, saying, "I am not."

²⁶One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" ²⁷Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

John 18:25-27 (NIV)

They pressed Peter again and he denied Jesus again. Then an eyewitness stepped forward and IDed Peter. He denied Jesus a third time. Jesus had been right that Peter would deny Him three times. The cock crowed. Peter was busted. Maybe Peter feared that he too would be crucified with Jesus. Maybe Peter feared that this last guy was going to try an-ear-for-an-ear on him. Nevertheless, Peter feared. Things were spinning out of control even though Jesus told him this would all happen - and that it had to happen.

When things start to spin out of control am I apt to do the same thing as Peter and deny Jesus? Maybe not verbally, I'm probably more apt to do it in my actions. But if I truly believe God is sovereign and in control, why should I fear? Why should I fall short in my belief? Why should I deny? When I believe that God is sovereign, I can be confident in Him and I shouldn't deny Him. When I deny Him, it shows my unbelief. I believe! Help my unbelief!

That Was Easy

"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not."

John 18:17 (NIV)

Peter told Jesus he would not deny Him. Peter defended Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene. Peter followed Jesus as He was taken to the high priest's house. He gets there and finds a crowd. You're His discple she says to him. He emphatically says "NO!" Now, I'm not a Greek scholar, but from what I've read of the Greek definitiions of the words in question, it's pretty clear that Peter was pretty clear about saying no. He didn't mumble "nah." He didn't avoid the question. He answered and his reply was clear: "NO!"

How quick am I to deny Jesus? If I were in a hostile environment and questioned if I knew Jesus, I don't think that I'd be like Peter with a quick emphatic answer. I'd probably mumble and equivocate a little and then perhaps pretend I didn't hear the question. How would I feel about it after the fact? I'll be pondering that today...

To Keep You From Falling Away

"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

John 16:1

Jesus continues preparing His disciples for their ministry after His death. He is telling them this so that they will not fall away. The Greek word translated fall away here is skandalizō (σκανδαλίζω) from which our English work scandalize is derived. Jesus doesn't want the disciples to be scandalized, to be entrapped, to be tripped up, to be enticed to sin or apostasy. He wants them to remain faithful. If we want to remain faithful, we should pay careful attention to Jesus words. We should read His word daily, since we may daily encouter things that may tempt us to fall away. We should memorize and meditate and cherish His word in our heart so that we may always draw upon His word when we need it.

Comforting Words

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

John 14:1 (ESV)

As Jesus approached the end of His earthly ministry, He began to focus more on preparing His disciples for their continuing ministry. They were beginning to sense impending doom as Jesus had warned them in John 13 of His betrayal and Peter's denial. Here in John 14, He gets them to focus. He doesn't want them to be troubled or agitated or restless (ταράσσω). He tells them to believe (πιστεύω) in God and believe in Him. They need to be confident in Him, to trust in Him, to have saving faith in Him. Instead of being troubled they can be confident in Him. He goes on to reassure them that He is the way to the Father and that the Holy Spirit will come to them. He reassures them of who He is, who God is, and who the Holy Spirit is. They need not be restless, they can trust in Him. In the midst of the busy-ness of my life, I too should not be troubled. I can trust in Him. So be it!

Jesus Washed Judas' Feet, Too

Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."

John 13:10 (NIV)

I've always been touched by the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet giving them an example of humble servanthood. This act of servanthood to the men who have stuck with him throughout His ministry even though Jesus knows His death on the cross is imminent is simply beautiful... even if I don't fully understand everything about it. Reading some commentaries have helped. I hadn't fully appreciated the two Greek verbs at use here. One meaning take a bath. One for washing hands and feet. Taking a bath signifying salvation. Through the disciples' faith in Christ, they have been made clean. Except for Judas. Nowhere does it say that Jesus didn't wash Judas' feet. He knew Judas would betray Him. He knew Judas did not have faith in Him. Yet, He still washed Judas' feet. It's one thing to love and serve those who love you. It's amazing to me to contemplate that Jesus extended the same service and love to the one who would betray Him. The text does not mention Judas' reaction. It also doesn't say whether the disciples knew who Jesus was talking about here (at least at that time). The text in no way implies that Jesus didn't was Judas' feet, so we must believe that He did so. Then He told His disciples to do likewise (v 14) and they would be blessed by it (v 17). If you knew that someone was going to betray you, would you still be a servant to them? I think that I just might struggle with that. May my heart be changed by Jesus' example and may I be willing to do as He did.

Praise From Men

⁴²Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

John 12:42-43 (NIV)

They would not confess their faith. They knew Jesus. They actually saw Him do His miracles. They walked with Him. They may have even talked with Him. They believed in Him. But, they would not confess their faith in Him. Wow. They feared what the Pharisees might say. They feared what their neighbors might say. They wanted to please people more than they wanted to please God. What about me? I confess my faith before other believers. Others around me at work and at home know of my faith. But do I really confess my faith before all those around me? How would my life look different if I truly was not afraid of what others would think? I pray that my faith would be seen in my life and God would be glorified in it.

Jesus Wept

Jesus wept.

John 11:35 (ESV)

John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible. Two words. Jesus wept. I recall a time when it was said "Real men don't cry." Jesus did. He was the ultimate man. Don't try and rationalize or anything. When you look at the Greek, dakruo it specifically means to shed tears. This Greek word was used exactly once in the New Testament - right here in John 11:35. Do you suppose the specific word choice is significant? I do. Jesus was saddened by the death of Lazarus - even though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was moved to shed tears. The love He felt for Lazarus was real. The sadness He felt was real. The tears He shed were real. The connection He had to Lazarus and Mary and Martha was real. Jesus wept. Do you?

Do You Believe This?

²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11:25-26 (ESV)

Lazarus had died. Martha came to Jesus and confessed that she knew that if Jesus were there, Lazarus would not have died. She wasn't nagging. If You'd only been here, this NEVER would have happened. Where the heck were You? No, she recognized His power. She knew what He could do. Jesus began to draw her out. "Your brother will rise again." Yes, Jesus, I know that. He'll rise on the last day. I know that. She recognized Jesus power to heal the sick - the living. She knew that Jesus had power over life. But what about death? Jesus knew He was going to die on the cross. His disciples were beginning to realize that Jesus was going to be killed. Thomas suggested to his fellow disciples that they go and die with Jesus. "Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." Jesus has power over life AND death. "Do you believe this?" Do you have faith in this? Do you trust this? Are you willing to commit to this? Martha, He's saying, You know Who I really am. You've seen what I can do. I am telling you that I can do more than you know. How are do you respond right here, right now?

I know the end of the story. Lazarus is raised from the dead. Jesus goes on to die on the cross. He dies for my sin. The curtain in the temple is torn in two. Through Jesus, we have access to God's holiness. Jesus is raised from the dead. Death cannot stop Jesus. Oh death, where is your sting? But the question that I am confronted with is the same question Jesus posed here to Martha. "Do I believe this?"

Hardness of Heart

³³"If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." ³⁴They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

John 9:33-34 (ESV)

The Pharisees continued their investigation of Jesus healing the man born blind by questioning the man himself. Back in verse 16, the Pharisees were clear that they felt Jesus was not from God. Yet here this man whom they saw as a sinner (and of course he was, but it wasn't because of sin that he was born blind) is telling them that Jesus was from God! How dare he. The Pharisees were so set in their ways that they could not accept Jesus being from God. Yet the man born blind realized it and believed Jesus was from God. When Jesus revealed Himself to the man born blind, the man believed that Jesus was the Messiah and worshipped Him (v 38).

Are there ways that I am so hard of heart or so set in my ways, that I cannot see Jesus for who He truly is? I would love to say no, but I would imagine that is not completely true. Do I find myself set in my expectations of what Jesus will do in my life that I fail to see ways that Jesus is working that is different from what I am expecting? Am I so set in my expectations that my peripheral vision is suffering? Yes, I wear progressive no line bifocals for my normal vision, but is my spiritual vision suffering too? The truth is I need me eyes opened freshly every day to see what God is doing in my life.

Heavenly Father, open my eyes. Keep me from becoming blind to what You are doing in my life. Help me be like the man born blind who now could see and be eager to see what You are doing in my life. For Your glory. Amen.

Unbelief

Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

John 9:3 (ESV)

Jesus healed a man born blind. His neighbors didn't really believe it was the man who had been born blind. It's him. No it's not - it's somebody who looks like him. They wanted an investigation into the matter so they took the man before the Pharisees. The Pharisees made a big deal out of the fact that Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath. Some of them didn't believe a man of God would do work on the Sabbath. Others believed that a sinner couldn't do such a miracle. "And there was a division among them." They didn't want to believe that the man was born blind. They queried his parents. Yes, it's him. He was born blind.

The neighbors and the Pharisees didn't want to believe in what Jesus had done. Jesus didn't fit their picture of what a man of God was supposed to be. They kept looking for explanations so that they could rationalize their disbelief. Mistaken identity. Charlatan working on the Sabbath. He wasn't really blind to begin with. He's a sinner. Their arguments wouldn't stand. Yet, they couldn't believe in the mighty work Jesus had done. They failed to see God's work in the situation.

Where is it that it fail to see God's work in my life? Where do I rationalize away the divine and look for other explanations? Am I like the Father in Mark chapter 9?

²¹And Jesus asked his father\cf1 , "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. ²² And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." ²³ And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"

Mark 9:21-24 (ESV)

Jesus, I know that I often sell You short in my life. I beleive! Help my unbelief!

The truth will set you free

³¹To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:31-32 (NIV)

The truth will set you free. That's one of those truths that I hold on to. The truth will set you free. Period. Well, no, not exactly. If you hold to my teaching... Wait a minute. We have to do something before the truth sets us free? We can't just wily-nily be doing what we want and have the truth set us free? Nope. Not gonna happen. Jesus said we must hold to His teaching. That means we must know His teaching. The verb translated "hold to" here is menō which means to remain, abide, sojourn, tarry. We must be actively living in His Word. It must be an active part of our lives. We should be reading it every day. We should be letting it affect every area of our lives. We should let it influence every decision we make. We should be clinging to it. THEN we will be His disciples. THEN we will know the truth. THEN the truth will set us free. Are you free?

Did you notice who wasn't there?

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

John 8:7 (NIV)

They brought a woman accused of adultery to Jesus wanting Him to tell them it was OK to stone her. Did you notice who wasn't there? The Washington Post wasn't covering the story. Nor was the New York Times. Not CNN, MSNBC, or FoxNews. Not Huffington Post or DrudgeReport. Not Gawker. Not TMZ. Nope, our mainstream media completely missed out on this story. But did you see story on such-and-such about so-and-so? I'll send you the link. Ha, I can't believe what they've done! They deserve what's coming to them! Let him who is without sin... My sin? What do you mean? I'm just relaying something I saw on... It wasn't me saying anything in the first place. Shouldn't you be reproving the MSM for reporting salacious stories like this? What? How many fingers are pointing back at me? Come on, give me a break. There's a speck in your eye! Don't you know that! You expect me to get it out for you? Forget it! I'm not going to help you! (I can't because of this darn log in my eye.)

Who is Jesus?

⁴⁰On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet."
⁴¹Others said, "He is the Christ."
Still others asked, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? ⁴²Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" ⁴³Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. ⁴⁴Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

John 7:40-44 (NIV)

The people were arguing who Jesus was. They didn't know everything about Jesus and how He fulfilled the prophecies that they were questioning. People are still arguing over Jesus today. "He was a good man." "He was a good teacher." "He was a prophet." How can I, having been elightened by the Holy Spirit, reveal to those around me who He really is?

Feed Me!

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

John 6:26 (NIV)

They tracked Him down. They realized He was no longer where He had fed them and they went looking for Him. They found Him. They hadn't understood the miracle. They were hungry AGAIN. Feed me, Jesus, feed me! "I am the Bread of Life" He said. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they said. Their stomachs were empty. They didn't understand He cared for their souls. When was the last time Jesus filled you up? Did the experience fill you or did you taste and see that the Lord is good? Were you left craving for that next meal or were you craving more of Jesus? A few hours later, did you find yourself heading to Five Guys to fill you up or can you declare like David in Psalm 63

¹ O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

³ Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Psalm 63:1-5 (NIV)

Revealing God

³⁶ At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. ³⁷ Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

1 Kings 18:36-37 (NIV)

²³John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' "

²⁹The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:23,29 (NIV)

If the story of Elijah on Mt. Carmel isn't my favorite story in the Bible, it has to be in the top 3. The Israelites have almost completely turned away from God and are following Baal. Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a showdown. Just Elijah and Jehovah versus 450 prophets of Baal and Baal. The prophets of Baal go first and build their altar and call on Baal to bring down fire. He doesn't. After a while, Elijah starts taunting them: Maybe he's asleep or taking a leak or on vacation. Seriously Elijah, the prophets of Baal think, you're starting to sound like one of those right-wing blowhards on the TV. Can't we have a more civil discourse? Elijah has them flood his altar and prays his prayer and then calls on God to bring down fire. God does, the altar is incinerated, and Elijah has revealed the true God to the Israelites.

Things really weren't that different in John's day. Israel was under Roman rule. The leaders were more concerned with following the law than with expecting the Messiah. They questioned John because he didn't fit their pattern of who he should be. He lived in the wilderness and wore that smelly camel hair coat. He certainly wasn't part of civil society or of the mainstream. What was his deal? John knew that his purpose was to point to Jesus. When Jesus, showed up to be baptized, John said "Behold the Lamb of God!"

Fast forward to today. The National Day of Prayer has just passed. Franklin Graham was disinvited from the ceremony at the Pentagon because of his anti-Islamic views. Really, he was disinvited because he believes that Jesus is the only way to God. As a professing Christian, I think Graham's got it right. It seems that some in the "mainstream" of our society have labeled him a wacko because he believes in a "one true God." One article I read lamented that Franklin wasn't tolerant like his father Billy. Compared to Elijah, Franklin Graham is pretty civil and polite. Compared to Franklin Graham, am I proclaiming Christ? Compared to John am I pointing to Christ? Compared to Elijah am I boldly seeking to reveal God so that those around me will turn to Him?

Heavenly Father, embolden my heart. Help me to proclaim Your love for this fallen world that lead to send Your Son to die on the cross that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life. Help me to proclaim the He is the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to You except through Him. May You be revealed in my life so that those around me will know that You are God and that their hearts will be turned to You. Amen.