John 2 part 2: Jesus is Coming into our Hearts and our Churches!

John 2:13-25

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”^[c]

 ¹⁸ The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

 ¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

 ²⁰ They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

 ²³ Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.^[d] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. ²⁵ He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

Even in the places we consider to be holy, we let our brokenness enter. We let our churches, our bible studies our hearts be filled with darkness. But Jesus is clearing them out. Jesus will be harsh and not let anything stand between us and him. He will come into our communities and our hearts the deepest darkest corner and clear them. We often hide and run away afraid of this. But it is for our good and these things keep us from truly living and following God with joy.

God’s chastening is never enjoyable, but it is for our good. God always uses it to bring us back to him so that we might follow him and find life. Israel constantly turned from God. God corrected them harshly by handing them over to other nations to be ruled and exiled. But God was redeeming Israel and at work. Israel may have felt God had abandoned them, but in fact God was the one at work and this was his plan for their good,

It is hard to remember this when we are being chastened or in suffering. But I pray we would center on Christ and trust in our Lord even when things seem to be going wrong and we don’t understand. Jesus warned his disciples he would suffer and die. Yet they forgot and doubted when he dieed on the Cross. Yet our God is faithful even when we are not. Jesus did rise from the dead three days later as we celebrate Easter and every day!

Why should we trust him and believe his promises?

Because Jesus is our Lord and savior. He has promised to give us hope and a future. He has promised to work all for our good and in the end to save us through his sacrifice by faith in him.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

I am broken.

We as your church your bride are broken

We fear your cleansing

But come and clear our hearts

Center us completely on you

Help us to trust in you

In the hard times

When you correct us

Help us see the bigger picture

You work all for our good

You are faithful

You have promised to give us hope and a future

Thank you Lord!

Amen

John 2: part 1 Jesus at the Party Scene

John 2 Part 1 v1-12

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

 ¹ On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

   ⁴ “Woman,^[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

 ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

 ⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.^[b]

 ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

 ⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

   They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

 ¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

 ¹² After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

As I read this passage I think about myself as a Christian and how many Christians can be very uptight and worried about who we interact with, and what they are doing. Jesus did not worry about this, he went where the people were. He interacted with all kinds of “sinners”. He went to weddings, he went to “parties”. Jesus did not hide in a bubble and stay with the righteous. As Jesus says he came for the sick not the healthy. So we the church are sent I believe for those who are in need, those who may not believe what we believe or live by the morals we live by. The church the bride of Christ is the only organization I know of made for the people who aren’t in it. Yet, it is so easy to become content and starting seeking security and safety.

As InterVarsity we have to keep this in mind. God calls us to live to him and be sent to the world. We are to be righteous but then go out to those outside of our group. I pray we would never be content with being safe and boring. God make us radical in following you and bringing your kingdom.

Jesus did drink wine. Jesus also made wine, the best wine. I don’t care what your stance on drinking is, I have had times of both. What I care about it my heart for those who differently. I want to love them not judge them. I want to help them not point out that I am better than this person or that person because I don’t do that. With EDays coming up this is especially on my mind. I do not plan to drink but instead have fun in other ways. But I also want to be there for people I know if they need help not to judge or feel good, but to share the love of Jesus.

Also on a side note Jesus does do as his mother asks even though he says his hour has not yet come.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

As you sent your son in to the world

To serve not to be served

To humble himself

To bring light and hope into darkness

Send me also Lord.

Humble me

Let my heart seek to love not to judge.

Use me, use InterVarsity and the people

For your kingdom

To share your love this EDays 2012

Amen

John 1-So it begins: Jesus the Word made Flesh

John 1

New International Version (NIV)

The Word Became Flesh

 ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.

 ⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

 ¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 ¹⁵ (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and^[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

 ²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

 ³² Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. ³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”^[f]

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus

 ³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

 ³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

   They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

   ³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

   So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

 ⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² 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^[g]).

Daniel’s Thoughts:

1.    The beginning: The Word

Jesus is the Word of God. Through him all things were created. Jesus is the light of the world and sustains everything with life. The Word became flesh taking on our form. Jesus humbled himself to be like us and experience life and suffering as we do. Jesus came to bring us grace and truth! Though we have never seen God through Jesus we have come to know God and his love, for he is the very Son of God!

2.    John prepares the way

John is the voice in the wilderness crying our to prepare the way for Christ. All that happens from John to Jesus ministry fulfills what was promised in the law and prophets. For Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) that was promised!

3.    Jesus begins his journey by calling men to follow him

Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist, but then accepts an invitation to follow Jesus and see his ways and life. One day with Jesus is enough to convince him Jesus is the Messiah. He does not just believe this, he acts on it. Andrew leaves John and follows Jesus and bring his brother Simon to Jesus. Jesus renames Simon as Cephas (Peter). So the discipleship of Peter begins with the testimony of his brother and then being called and appointed by Jesus.

And so the journey begins!

Daniel’s Prayer:

Father God

You have created all things through Christ!

Jesus are Lord of all

Through you all life is sustained.

For you are the light of the world.

Thank you for claiming us as your own

Thank you for washing us clean

That we have become children of God

By rebirth in the baptism of the Spirit

Lord you have blessed us with grace upon grace!

Jesus as you have called Peter

You have also called us

Each in our own way

Bless this journey to the Cross and beyond

Change my heart Lord!

Amen

Journey with Jesus to the Cross and Beyond!

Easter Sunday is 13 days away! This year I want to experience the holy week and the gospel in a new way! I want to walk with Jesus in his journey on earth. I want to open my heart to the words and love of Christ as he shared with us when he walked this earth in human form. I want to feel what the disciples felt. Let us begin this journey with Jesus to the cross and beyond!

As the suffering and crucifixion approaches I hope my heart will be with Jesus. Please Lord use this time to open my heart to experience and understand your amazing gift of grace to us.

As we remember Jesus dying for our sins I pray my heart would break this coming Good Friday as we remember Jesus suffering and death on a cross. He died bearing our sins, paying the price, so that we might have life in him. Between the cross and the resurrection I pray my heart would break and feel the loss. Yet I pray God would use this to reveal what true hope is in his promise.

Easter - God did raise Jesus from the dead victoriously on the third day! Our God is victorious over death and the devil!

In this journey with Jesus I will be studying John 1-21 and sharing here. I am also fortunate enough to be in the Holy week dramas at my church Evergreen Lutheran. I will be playing the part of Peter. Another exciting event in this journey with Jesus is that I am going to see “The Thorn” passion play. I will be going with my friend Assylbek who came last year and was amazed. This year he is brining more friends and guess what? Assylbek and his friends are not Jesus followers (yet).

I  trust that your journey to Easter will be blessed, open your heart to him and he will fill you with love and hope!

Mark 5: Jesus' Calling, Power and our Faith

Mark 5

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

 ¹ They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.^[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. ³ This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 

 ⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. ⁷ He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” ⁸ For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

 ⁹ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

   “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

 ¹¹ A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹² The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” ¹³ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

 ¹⁴ Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. ¹⁷ Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

 ¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis^[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

 ²¹ When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. ²² Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. ²³ He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” ²⁴ So Jesus went with him.

   A large crowd followed and pressed around him. ²⁵ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

 ³⁰ At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

 ³¹ “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

 ³² But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

 ³⁵ While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

 ³⁶ Overhearing^[c] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

 ³⁷ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹ He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” ⁴⁰ But they laughed at him.

   After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). ⁴² Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. ⁴³ He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

1. 1.    Jesus and Demons

Jesus interacts with demons frequently during his ministry. I think we can learn a lot from these interactions. First the demons come to Jesus sometimes running and fall on their knees before Jesus. The demons know Jesus for who he really is: the Son of God with power and authority. Often I think we think that the Devil and evil have power in this world. We imagine hell to be under the Devils control. But as I read through this scripture I see that demons bow before Jesus on their knees begging him not to torture them. Also Jesus in a parable about the judgement day says, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” If this place of eternal fire is hell then it is not where the devil reigns but his place of punishment. I think we diminish the authority of God by believing that the devil or evil have any power against the will of God. God is in control of all things. At the name of Jesus demons tremble in fear and beg. We follow a God who is lord over all creation and that includes all people and even the devil.

1. 2.    Jesus calling is different for different people

Not all people are called to follow Jesus in the same way. Many come to Jesus and ask to follow him, but he gives them a different calling. For this man who was saved from demons his calling is to tell his story to the people in the area he is from. Some people come to Jesus asking to follow him and be his disciples and he discourages them telling them of the cost (Luke 9:57-62). Yet for disciples Jesus calls fisherman, a zealot, a tax collector etc. Yet all are called to believe in him and follow him in some way. We are called to do his work for the kingdom in our own way with the gifts and opportunities given to us.

1. 3.    Faith in Jesus has power to do all things.

When people come to Jesus they are healed scripture often says by their faith. Our faith is powerful and can do all things. But only when that faith is in Jesus. Jairus came to Jesus with faith that he could heal his daughter. Yet when his daughter he believes she is beyond Jesus power. Yet Jesus says to him, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” And Jesus calls to this girl and she rises up immediately!

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

You are Lord of all creations.

At your name every knee will bow.

All peoples

All creation

The Devil and his angels

All are under your authority.

Reveal your calling to each of us.

Thank you for the gifts and opportunites you give us

Let us serve faithfully

For we find joy in living out your calling to us.

Let us seek first your kingdom and righteousness

Faith can move mountains.

Thank you for the gift of faith.

I believe, help my unbelief.

Through you we can do all things.

I trust you Lord, help me trust you in all things.

Amen

Jeremiah 29: 10-14 God's promise

Jeremiah 29:10-14

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.^[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Daniel’s Thoughts:

God makes a promise to his people who are exiled. What would it feel like to be exiled from their homeland? They are God’s people and have the priests and prophets. Yet in being exiled I can imagine their doubt and fear. I have the same fears and doubts sometimes.

Is God real? Does he care for me? Has he forsaken us? How can God be good and in control and allow this.

I remember what God has done in the past, but somehow in the moment the fear and uncertainty overcome what I know to be true.

Yet God promises to never leave or forsake us. He promises to work all for out good.

To Israel he makes this promise for their future. When his people seek him and turn back to him in exile they will find him and he will gather his people and bring them back from captivity.

Let us hold on to a similar promise. For in the new covenant, I believe that we ourselves keep us from God more than anything else. We choose to turn from God.

Sometimes even when we don’t seem to turn from God life does not go as planned. Sometimes it feels like we are in exile. Life just does not go as planned. We suffer and so do those we love. Yet somehow in all of that God is present. God is somehow working even our suffering for our good. I don’t understand. You may say this is what happened to me, how can that be God’s plan. How can that be good? My answer is I don’t know, but God does. I can tell you the story of a man at the Men’s retreat at my church who lost his wife. Then after moping for two years he was able to remarry. But that same year he remarried he got into a financial scam and lost all of his hard earned savings and support for his retirement and new wife. Then his new wife suffered from severe health issues. I don’t see any hope in this or anything redeeming. Yet now years later he is able to look back and see how God used all of this to bring this man closer to our Lord. He is able to see that God used this for good. He now relies much more on God. All of this taught him that he is not in control. in some ways he is actually thankful for what happened to him. And I am happy to say that his wife is doing much better and through hard work this family has recovered financially.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

God you and your ways are a mystery.

Our God has plans for us.

To prosper us and give us a future.

In the hard times God will bring us back to him.

He will never leave or forsake us.

When we turn and seek him with all our hearts

We will find him

He will fulfill his promises.

Thanks be to God!

Amen