October 31, 2012
The Pharisees, Priests, and Sadducees were angry. They were so threatened by Jesus and the TRUTH that they were willing to do anything to stop the "noise" of anyone who was speaking and/or believing truth. They plotted (Psalm 140:1 - "Rescue me O Lord from evil men who devise evil plans in their hearts") not only against Jesus but Lazarus also, making plans to kill him because people were leaving their ways and believing in Jesus. When you have encountered the Son of God there is one thing you must do—tell others about Him. And that is what they were doing.
An encounter with Christ brings peace to yourself; a love for others; and the desire to tell others about Him.
Matthew 7:15–20 - You will know them by their fruit. The Pharisees, Priests, and Sadducees called themselves religious when in actuality they were religious unbelievers. Their actions mirrored that of whom they followed. They sought to steal, kill, and destroy—the very description of what Satan seeks to do—and they did it under the guise of religiosity. Judas acted appalled at the "wasting" of perfume on Jesus feet when that money could have been used for the poor. John 12:6 - "But Judas did not really care about the poor; he said this because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the money box, and he often stole from it." The only reason the leaders wanted Jesus, Lazarus, and the other believers destroyed was to preserve themselves and their selfish desires.
Christ-followers give away. Self-followers take.
In John 12 there is a switch. Up until now Jesus said, "My time has not yet come." (John 2:4; John 7:6; John 7:30; John 8:20) Now it changes to "the time has come..." It was now time. John 12:23–27 - "The time has come for the Son of Man to receive his glory. I tell you the truth, a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds. But if it never dies, it remains only a single seed. Those who love their lives will lose them, but those who hate their lives in this world will keep true life forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Then my servant will be with me everywhere I am. My Father will honor anyone who serves me. Now I am very troubled. Should I say, 'Father, save me from this time'? No, I came to this time so I could suffer. Father, bring glory to your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have brought glory to it; and I will do it again. The crowd standing there, who heard the voice, said it was thunder. But others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus said, "that voice was for your sake, not mine."
Now is the time.
We must be willing to do what Jesus did—surrender ALL—and lay our lives down to follow Him. And when we do, our actions and our desires bring Honor and Glory to His Name. When we surrender the Father is pleased and He in turn brings honor to those who serve Him. It is for "your sake" that trials and difficulties come. To see the hand of God and to bring honor and glory to Him is for "your sake."
Oh, how grateful I am for all the "deep water" times in our lives, including these last almost six years of "the storm." It truly has been for "your sake."
Still, through everything, some people still would not believe. They saw the miracles but, "They still did not believe in him." Their eyes were blind. Their minds were closed. (Isaiah 6:10) When you walk in darkness you don't know where you are going. Jesus came to be the light, "but they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things. All who do evil hate the light and will not come to the light, because it will show all the evil things they do. But those who follow the true way come to the light, and it shows that the things they do were done through God." (John 3:19–21)
Again—Jesus came to be the light—but it is our choice whether we receive it or not. John 12:46 - "I have come as light into the world so that whoever believes in me would not stay in darkness."
You cannot believe and continue to do the things that are of darkness. Light and darkness do not mix. If you choose to believe and obey—you are in the light. If you refuse to believe, do not accept my words, and do not obey (Jesus' own words)—then you are in darkness. It really is that black and white.
Next Entry: John 13:1–38
The Pharisees, Priests, and Sadducees were angry. They were so threatened by Jesus and the TRUTH that they were willing to do anything to stop the "noise" of anyone who was speaking and/or believing truth. They plotted (Psalm 140:1 - "Rescue me O Lord from evil men who devise evil plans in their hearts") not only against Jesus but Lazarus also, making plans to kill him because people were leaving their ways and believing in Jesus. When you have encountered the Son of God there is one thing you must do—tell others about Him. And that is what they were doing.
An encounter with Christ brings peace to yourself; a love for others; and the desire to tell others about Him.
Matthew 7:15–20 - You will know them by their fruit. The Pharisees, Priests, and Sadducees called themselves religious when in actuality they were religious unbelievers. Their actions mirrored that of whom they followed. They sought to steal, kill, and destroy—the very description of what Satan seeks to do—and they did it under the guise of religiosity. Judas acted appalled at the "wasting" of perfume on Jesus feet when that money could have been used for the poor. John 12:6 - "But Judas did not really care about the poor; he said this because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the money box, and he often stole from it." The only reason the leaders wanted Jesus, Lazarus, and the other believers destroyed was to preserve themselves and their selfish desires.
Christ-followers give away. Self-followers take.
In John 12 there is a switch. Up until now Jesus said, "My time has not yet come." (John 2:4; John 7:6; John 7:30; John 8:20) Now it changes to "the time has come..." It was now time. John 12:23–27 - "The time has come for the Son of Man to receive his glory. I tell you the truth, a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die to make many seeds. But if it never dies, it remains only a single seed. Those who love their lives will lose them, but those who hate their lives in this world will keep true life forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Then my servant will be with me everywhere I am. My Father will honor anyone who serves me. Now I am very troubled. Should I say, 'Father, save me from this time'? No, I came to this time so I could suffer. Father, bring glory to your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have brought glory to it; and I will do it again. The crowd standing there, who heard the voice, said it was thunder. But others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus said, "that voice was for your sake, not mine."
Now is the time.
We must be willing to do what Jesus did—surrender ALL—and lay our lives down to follow Him. And when we do, our actions and our desires bring Honor and Glory to His Name. When we surrender the Father is pleased and He in turn brings honor to those who serve Him. It is for "your sake" that trials and difficulties come. To see the hand of God and to bring honor and glory to Him is for "your sake."
Oh, how grateful I am for all the "deep water" times in our lives, including these last almost six years of "the storm." It truly has been for "your sake."
Still, through everything, some people still would not believe. They saw the miracles but, "They still did not believe in him." Their eyes were blind. Their minds were closed. (Isaiah 6:10) When you walk in darkness you don't know where you are going. Jesus came to be the light, "but they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things. All who do evil hate the light and will not come to the light, because it will show all the evil things they do. But those who follow the true way come to the light, and it shows that the things they do were done through God." (John 3:19–21)
Again—Jesus came to be the light—but it is our choice whether we receive it or not. John 12:46 - "I have come as light into the world so that whoever believes in me would not stay in darkness."
You cannot believe and continue to do the things that are of darkness. Light and darkness do not mix. If you choose to believe and obey—you are in the light. If you refuse to believe, do not accept my words, and do not obey (Jesus' own words)—then you are in darkness. It really is that black and white.
Next Entry: John 13:1–38
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