John 12 part 2: Jesus Enters Jerusalem Triumphantly

John 12: 12-19 (Palm Sunday)

New International Version (NIV)

¹² The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³ They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

   “Hosanna!”

   “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

   “Blessed is the king of Israel!”

 ¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

 ¹⁵ “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
   see, your king is coming,
   seated on a donkey’s colt.”

 ¹⁶ At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

 ¹⁷ Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. ¹⁸ Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. ¹⁹So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Daniel’s Thoughts:

At my church we call the Sunday before Easter Palm Sunday. We remember the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem! God’s people praise the Lord and wave palm branches blessing Jesus! They believe that Jesus is the king of Israel the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

But pay attention, Jesus enters riding on the colt of a donkey. Jesus the King of the Earth rides into Jerusalem, the city of God in the land of God’s people Israel not on a chariot with an army, but on the back of a colt. For all of this happens is just as it is written in Zechariah 9:9 quoted here in verse 15. God’s plans are not like ours. I believe Jesus fulfilled all that was promised of the Messiah of the Old Testament and promise to Abraham.

Yet not even Jesus’ disciples understood what was happening. Only looking back after what is to come on this journey to the cross and resurrection will we be able to understand as the disciples came to understand. Then they believed as we believe.

For now God’s plan seems to be going well as we walk through the Gospel of John. But the journey has only begun as Jesus enters Jerusalem.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

Prepare our hearts

For this journey to the cross

And beyond!

As you entered Jerusalem let us rejoice!

But there is more to come

For your wisdom is not of the world.

Your glory is not like our glory

For your Son came riding on the colt of a donkey.  

Amen

John 3 part 1: Jesus Teaches a Religious Leader

John 3: 1-12

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

 ³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

 ⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

 ⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

 ⁹ “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

   ¹⁰ “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹² I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

Daniel’s Thoughts:

In Jesus’ ministry he spoke and interacted with Jew, Gentile, “sinner” and Pharisee. Jesus taught the religious elite of the day particularly the Pharisees. Jesus and the Pharisees may have had similar theology but Jesus calls into question their heart and application of their understanding of God and his word.

In this passage Jesus teaches Nicodemus, a Pharisee what it means to be born again of water and of the Spirit. Yet Nicodemus does not understand. Even a religious leader of the time who knew the law intimately failed to understand one of many lessons Jesus had for us. As Jesus asks, how can you understand more even heavenly things if you can not understand this?

What does this say for us today? How are we the church and Christians hard hearted. What lessons does Jesus have for us today. Are we open to listen? Do we really believe in what Jesus says and not what we want Jesus to say?

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

Humble us

To listen and hear you

To seek your will and wisdom

Not ours.

As the church and Christians

Help us to listen for what

You say Jesus

 in scripture

And in our life

In our life of prayer

Not to what we want

or think you meant

But only to you Lord!

Amen

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!