Jesus and the Father in the Book of John

What word comes to your mind when you think of the writings of John? I suppose that the first word which comes to mind is that the disciple whom Jesus loved speaks so much about love. He does. He uses the word love, in its various forms, almost sixty times as he writes about the life of Jesus. The remarkable thing is that there is a far greater emphasis in this book. He uses the word father 132 times, and in all but eleven passages he uses the word to refer to  Deity!

In this fourth gospel John records the words of Jesus. Jesus used the phrase “My Father” 34 times. He not only thought of God as a father, but He thought of Him personally. There is a profound difference in thinking of God as a father, and viewing Him as “my” father!

Jesus knew that His Father was one who loves. After describing Himself as the good Shepherd, Jesus said, “Therefore My Father loves Me . . .” (John 10:17). This was the nature of the Father! God is love and Jesus lived His life cognizant of the fact that our Father is one who loves!

Jesus knew that His Father is one who gives. When he taught the Jews about true manna He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven” (John 6:32). When our Master lived on this earth He was comforted knowing that His personal Father is one who gives! Would to God that we all lived every day remembering this trait of the nature of God.

Jesus knew that His Father was one who had a house of many mansions. Who does not think of His words when we face death? “Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions . . .” (John 14:1-2). What difference does it make about our dwelling places on this earth when we have a Father’s amazing house awaiting us!

Jesus knew His Father in a way no other one has ever known Him. He is a righteous Father (John 17:25) and a holy Father (John 17:11). He is one who seeks men to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). He is a Father who works in the lives of men (John 5:17) and one who should be honored (John 8:49).

So how do you know your Father? The way we view God determines how we serve Him. How do you see the God you serve? The right way to think of God is to think of Him as Jesus did. He saw Jesus as a Father. More importantly, He saw Him as a personal Father. Don’t ever forget, we have the same Father!

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A Christian’s Reaction to Stressful Times

The situation in Jerusalem was one of immense danger. The northern kingdom of Israel was being overrun by the Assyrians, and in the southern kingdom the holy city of Jerusalem was being threatened by the same army that had invaded the north. Isaiah was in that city, and his writings allow us to sense what was happening. To study this event gives tremendous insight into how individuals react to stressful times.

Stressful times should create humble hearts before God. Isaiah said, “And in that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and for mourning, for baldness and for girding with sackcloth” (Isa. 22:12). Had Judah looked around them they would have seen how dire the circumstances were. The city was not only being threatened by Assyrians but the armies of Kir (Syria) and Elam (Persia) were also part of the attacking forces (Isa. 22:6). The valleys around the holy city were filled with chariots of the enemy, and there were breaches (gaps) in the walls (Isa. 22:7-9). It was a time when the Jews should have been on their knees, clothed in the sackcloth of repentance. Such simply was not happening!

Stressful times are times when we foolishly seek comfort in material things. God had called for repentance, “But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: ‘Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die’” (Isa. 22:13)! How remarkable it is that we ignore the God of all comfort when we really need comfort. This is the avenue of escape those with addictions seek, but the seeking of comfort in material things is also the route taken by many. When adversity comes our way we no longer spend time with His word. We become sporadic in church attendance. We push the spiritual out of our lives in so many ways. The “let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die” philosophy is such a fatalistic view of life. It may be the only source the ungodly have, but Christians have an amazing source of spiritual comfort and hope.

Stressful times either bring us closer to God or distance us from Him. How closely we live to God is determined by us. James said, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). When we humble ourselves before Him, He always lifts us up (James 4:10). The adversity in the days of Isaiah became Satan’s tool to destroy spirituality in Jerusalem, when it could have been the instrument used by God to create greater spirituality. Israel decided which it would be.

So the next time you are burdened, just remember that you determine if that situation is a blessing or a curse!

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Zealous for Good Works

He was just six months from the cross when He saw the blind man whose affliction some attributed to his sins or those of his parents. Jesus seized the opportunity to show His compassion and then to teach that it is wrong to associate sickness with sin. His explanation for interrupting His plans for that day was, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). His zeal, His devotion to doing the will of God, is so needed by many Christians today.

We need to be zealous in honoring that which is holy. When Jesus saw the desecration of the temple, He made a whip and drove out all those who had robbed that holy place of its sacredness. As His disciples watched all this take place, they remembered the words of David and knew they applied to Jesus, “The zeal for Your house has eaten Me up” (Psa.  69:9; John 2:17). In an age of complacency and secularization of all that is holy, we, too, should be consumed protecting the holy.

We need to be zealous in protecting the integrity of the church. In the closing chapters of Isaiah, the Messianic prophet saw the church (Palm Beach Lakes) clothed with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness and adorned with jewels like a bride at her wedding (61:10). He saw us as the glorious crown in the hand of Jehovah and as a royal diadem ready to be placed on the head of God! When he imagined how others might hide her beauty and dim the lamp of righteousness and salvation shining from her, he said, “For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest” (62:1). O how the world would be changed if Christians were as Isaiah was for cherishing the glorious beauty of His bride. O how we all should be concerned about her integrity!

We need to be zealous in edifying the church. The church in Corinth was selfishly competing for spiritual gifts. They had elevated their own self-interests above the needs of the church. Paul said, “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel” (1 Cor. 14:12). Christ did not shed His blood so I could put my own interest above the building up of the body of Christ. The Lord wanted them to go beyond just being zealous and to reach the level of excelling!

So what about you? Do you remember the zeal you had when you first obeyed the gospel? How does your present zeal compare to what it once was? God help us to let the zeal we have for His house, the church, consume us!

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Faith, Obedience, and Authority

The faith of the Roman centurion was so great that Jesus said it exceeded the faith of any Jew He had ever met. This commander of 100 Roman soldiers understood the matter of authority. He told Jesus that He did not have to go to his home to cure his slave, all He had to do was to give the command.

He understood this because he understood the nature of authority. He said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it” (Matt. 8:8-9).

It is amazing that so many have trouble understanding authority in religious matters. That soldier under the authority of this great man of faith could so readily figure out what his response should be. If the centurion told him to come, he would come. If he said go, he would go. If he said do this, he did it. When he heard the centurion’s command to come, he did not go. If the command was go, he did not come. If the command was do this, he did not do that! Isn’t it amazing how easily the matter was settled.

When it comes to religious authority, the principle is precisely the same. Jesus is truly our Commander-in-chief, for He has all authority in heaven and on earth. The fact that He has all authority leaves no authority for those of us who have committed ourselves to Him. The process is as simple as the arrangement in the armies in Rome. That soldier stood before his commander awaiting an order. When the order was given, he just did what he was told to do. Why is it that we struggle with this principle today? Like the Roman foot-soldier we stand before the Commander awaiting an order. When the order is given, we just do what He tells us to do.

If the command is believe, we believe. If the command is be baptized, we are baptized. If the command is to worship Him according to truth, we worship Him in that way. If the command is abstain from those lusts which war against the soul, we abstain. If the command is sexual purity, we live sexually pure. If the command is to not put asunder what God joins together, we do not put asunder. If the command is to not forsake assembling together, we do not forsake worship. If the command is to love or submit to our mates, we love or submit to them.

The basis of great faith is tied directly to understanding authority. Do I really have faith, if I do not obey?

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He Never Returned to Help

The reports from Haiti are so moving and touch the hearts of those who have compassion. It is impossible for us to fully understand the depths of despair the Haitians are enduring. We eat until we are full and sleep soundly in our houses, while there are those still buried in the rubble of that land who are crying out for help.

The morning news had an interview of a man who was rescued after being buried and trapped as a building collapsed around him. Unable to stand, he began shouting and discovered that seven others were nearby. They began to shout in unison and it was not long until someone came and responded to their cries. They were able to communicate with him and describe their condition. He said he would return with others to help them escape.

Then the impossible happened. They waited and waited for his return. Hours went by, yet no one came. Darkness approached and they spent the night wondering if when the sun arose they would be rescued. Still he did not return. They still had hope, but nothing happened. They shouted out again for more help, but there was none. Finally two days later another group discovered them and rescued them.

As I listened to that story I thought of how often it is repeated—almost daily. Around the world there are those who are trapped, not by rubble, but by the sin in their lives. As they are surrounded by the consequences of sin they begin to seek help, yet those who could so readily provide it seemingly are deaf. They may stop to listen, then walk away and get so busy with other things in their lives they forget about those who lie buried in the rubble of sin.

Before we become so judgmental of that man in Haiti who listened and then walked away forgetting to bring the aid he promised, think about all those around you who spiritually are crying out for our help. Have we heard their cries? Have we listened and heard compassionately as they described the problems they had in their lives. Have we thought, “If  you were just a Christians you could deal with these things because God would help you”? Then we walked away and became so wrapped up in our lives we never came back to help.

The world is lost. It cries out for help. Let us hear those cries and respond and get help to those who are lost. We simply cannot let the lost lie trapped in darkness while we walk in the light. God help us!

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