Tag: John

Behold the Lamb of God

James HoganLeave a comment

So I’ve been enjoying reading the book of John of late. Always a pleasure when it comes time to read that again. And today, found myself reading the three epic chapters(but really, aren’t they all?) of John 4, 5 & 6. So many things could I say (Jesus proclaiming Himself to the woman at the well! Jesus healing the man who had been waiting 38 years – “pick up your pallet and walk!”), but since John 6 is the last chapter I read, thought I’d just make a couple comments on a few items that encouraged me deeply. Firstly, Jesus had just provided a bountiful feast for the thousands of people that had flocked to Him for his healing. Because of this great sign which Jesus had performed, the people decided that Jesus really was something special and they for some reason thought it’d be a good idea to make Jesus king (by force if necessary!). Jesus – knowing that this was a terrible idea, and indeed that His time had not yet come – went up the mountainside to be by Himself, at which time I have no doubt He prayed to His Father. The disciples apparently had no idea when Jesus was going to come down, so they got in a boat and started across the sea. The wind was terrible, they were rowing for miles and then finally…they saw Jesus. Walking. On the sea. Reasonably so, they were frightened. But Jesus reassured them – “It is I; do not be afraid.” And so they were willing to receive Him into the boat and Jesus brought the boat to where they needed to be. No more rowing required! I suppose this is a well-known story, but I just want to make a couple quick points. The disciples were on their own(as they thought) and not having a great time of it. Just as we often are in the midst of turbulent and miserable circumstances and think that we’re alone and think that Jesus is nowhere near. We may think that there’s no way Jesus could be near or with us(maybe intellectually we know this is not true…but emotionally and spiritually…we feel alone. Yes?) Yet, no matter where we are – Jesus has absolutely no probably getting to us. Being near us. But what is the disciples’ first response to seeing Jesus on the waves? Fear! Just so with us – sometimes when God reaches out to us when we’re in the midst of our mess, we are afraid as well. It may be for different reasons (not just because we see God walking on the water!) We are afraid for Jesus to see us at our worst. We are afraid that Jesus is too holy and we know we are too unholy. We are afraid that Jesus is disappointed in us. We are afraid that Jesus won’t really be able to help us. We are afraid looking into the face of God. But Jesus reassures us. “It is I; do not be afraid.” As we know who Jesus truly is – His character, His divine nature, His love…for us! – so that should assuage our fear and reassure us that the nearness of Jesus is indeed our good. Jesus’ communion with us – via ministry of the Holy Spirit! – is indeed a very balm to our wounded souls. And so it says the disciples willingly received Him into their boat. So let us not push back against the ministry of God in our lives – let us receive Him, welcome Him, cry out to Him, love Him. Be willing – nay, be eager! – for Christ to work in our lives. And what great things will He not do?? Just as He miraculously brought the boat to where they needed to be…so God will do wonderful things in our lives. Far more wonderful than we can even conceive. True? May it be so.

Humorous interlude. I do like that the next morning, all the crowds of people are still looking for Jesus and they note that the one boat is still there and the disciples had used the other boat (guess there were only 2 boats there originally?)…and they still couldn’t find Jesus anywhere!! They’re hunting all over and finally they find Jesus across the sea. They are most confused. Wait a second…how did Jesus get here when he most certainly didn’t use a boat?? It’s fun to picture their puzzlement. They probably didn’t consider the fact that Jesus doesn’t exactly need a boat. The Son of God truly rules the wind and the waves and He will walk where He will. No boats required.

Briefly…another few thoughts that encouraged me. The rest of John 6, Jesus challenges the Jews greatly. They bring up Moses and the manna in the wilderness and ask Jesus if He will perform such signs (even though He already did…I guess they want more signs? More food!) and Jesus doesn’t hold back from speaking truth to this crowd that seems to be seeking Him. He tells them that He Himself is the true bread of God that comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world. And that only those who believe in Him will have eternal life. There’s a lot of back and forth and I don’t have time to get into it now, but Jesus doesn’t package this into a nice easily digestible message. No, He makes it difficult. He makes it weird. And just when they start to complain about Him coming out of heaven (“We know you come from Joseph and Mary!”), he challenges them further, while also proclaiming the truth that no one can come to Christ but those in whom the Father works. What hard words are these. Those who ate the manna in the wilderness, what happened to them? They died in rebellion in the desert. That manna did them no good whatsoever. But as for the true bread of life, Christ Himself? Come to Him, believe in Him for your salvation, cry out to Him for your life…eat His flesh and drink His blood (oh what a beautiful picture of communion with God this is!)…and you shall abide in Christ and Christ shall abide in you. You will truly live forever.

Again though, these were weird words. And Jesus didn’t make them necessarily all that palatable. And so many of His disciples (those who had been following Him! Those who thought they liked Jesus!) just couldn’t take it. When they thought Christ was just a prophet or just a rabbi or just a good man…they were very willing to follow Him and be a part of His group. Now though? To trust that Christ is the only source of eternal life and to completely and totally believe in Him for salvation? Too much. So many of them “withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.” Submitting yourself to God isn’t about going to church or being part of a fun social group. It’s completely and totally surrendering to the God of the universe, believing what God says about Himself and trusting in Him and Him alone for your salvation. This isn’t a fun and easy way of life. But it is true life. And the gorgeous words which wrap up this chapter…Jesus asks the twelve disciples if they want to go away too. How does Simon Peter answer?

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Let those be our words. To whom else shall we go indeed? There is no one other. There is nothing else that can satisfy. Never, no never. To whom shall we go? Christ Jesus is the Holy One of God, and our true hope of salvation.

These are a lot of random words today, so don’t take my words for true interpretation of these texts. Just some musings on what I read today and thoughts that came to my head. Indeed, through the reading of the Scripture does the Holy Spirit comfort our souls.

Violently does the ocean Foam, Alone does the herald Stand

James HoganLeave a comment

So today I have just begun reading the Gospel of John – a truly glorious book, divinely inspired and penned as it was! And while I could spend hours pondering and thinking and writing on the beauties contained in only the first chapter of John, I’d like to focus on a few words. Let me set the scene – John the Baptist has been talking about the One whose sandals he is not worthy to untie. The One upon whom the Spirit descended like a dove. The One who existed before John – although John was born first. The very Son of God. And as John proclaims in his preaching – “the Lamb of God!”

Some of John’s disciples are naturally curious and so they decide to follow Jesus. Jesus sees them following and turns to them and what does He say? “What do you seek?” These are the words I want to hone in on. Apart from them being the very first words Jesus speaks in the Gospel of John, these are the words Jesus speaks to those who would “follow Him”. So to those of you who would desire to follow Jesus(or at least curious to know more about him?), that is the question that needs to be answered. What do you seek? Notice – Jesus doesn’t say “who” – He says “what”. We desire many things on this earth, most of them unhelpful and even dangerous for us – body and soul. Jesus – as very God – understands that our minds are warped and corrupted and He knows that apart from the grace of God our desires will be foolish and our seekings ill-conceived. So – what do you seek? Do you seek fame and fortune? Do you seek pleasure and gain? Do you seek comfort and self-gratification? Do you seek companionship and emotional fulfillment? Do you seek intellectual fulfillment? Do you seek a sense of identity or belonging that you think comes with “religion”? Do you seek moral stature and a cleansing of the conscience? Do you seek love? What do you seek?

I would say that to desire to be a follower of Christ…that question must be answered. Consider in your own life what it is you truly desire and long for. And then consider who Christ is. Think – these men following after Jesus didn’t know who He was at this point. They understood John had been making grand proclamations about Him. But they did not truly know Him. They wished to know Him more. But what did they seek? This was the question Jesus asked them. And how did these men answer Him? They didn’t answer him directly – maybe because they did not know what to say – but they asked where he was staying and Christ answered – “Come, and you will see.” That is the invitation Christ gives to all people – “Come, and you will see.” These men went to the house of Jesus and spent the day with Him and…began to understand who He truly is.

And who is Jesus? The Lamb of God. Indeed, as John had earlier said – “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” And now we finally come to the crux of the matter – because this is who Jesus is – the One who takes away the sin of the world. The One who saves. So what do you seek? Do you seek salvation? If so, this is what Christ offers. He offers freedom from sin. He offers life from death. He offers salvation from this hopeless life that without Him is empty and vain. What do you seek? The Lamb of God – the Savior – is at hand. And as you wonder if Jesus is truly all that…He says, “Come, and you will see.” Come in your darkness and in your shame. Come in all your dirt and filth. Come in your hopelessness. Come. Behold – the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.