Tag Archives: the book of John

April 9
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“When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?'” (John 5:6, NIV)
 
A little story (not true, but illustrative): Jesus encountered three disabled men along the roadside.  The first, He touched and he was able to walk.  He touched the second man, and his sight was restored.  As Jesus approached the third man, the man retreated and said, “Don’t touch me!  I am on permanent disability.”
 
It may be hard for some of us to fathom, but those who have spent time helping acutely needful people can attest to the fact that not all such people want to “get well”; especially if they have been in that “condition for a long time.”  Change — even good, positive, change — can be unsettling because it means releasing old, familiar, ways.  Change means — well — change.
 
Our Lord addresses each of us at the point of our need, and He asks, “Do you want to get well?”  – Luther
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June 18
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Uncategorized Aside

“When Peter saw him (John), he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’” (John 21:21-22, NIV)

As disciples of Jesus, we each have an assignment to execute in God’s plan. 

It is humanly natural to compare, to contrast, and to compete — but such characteristics have no place in the fellowship of God’s people.  We who belong to God must — instead — strive to cooperate, to collaborate, and to cheer-on all others working with God; even if we don’t comprehend what it is they have been assigned by our common Lord.

If we don’t see it, what is that to us? We do see Jesus, and it is Him alone we must follow.

Anything else is a diversion, and anything less is a distraction.  Stay focused.  – Luther

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June 17
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Uncategorized Aside

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?'” (John 21:15, NIV)

(This is a complex passage of scripture because its few words carry a number of number of applications. Today, we look at a third possible application.)

Today’s application returns to Peter’s loud and public boast that he would never, never, ever, ever desert Jesus; that he would “lay down his life” for Jesus. (See John 13:36-38)

This was Peter’s ambition, and it was a noble one. In the verses that follow John 21:15, Peter’s ambition to love Jesus without condition is affirmed, and he is told that, yes, he will “lay down his life” for his Lord. 

God is faithful to give us the desires of our heart, but He does not just give us what we desire; He first prepares us to both receive and to employ the gift.

We ask God for patience. It is a noble request (and most of us would certainly do well to be more patient). But do we despise the process that leads to patience — which, according to scripture, includes suffering, trouble, and pain? (See Romans 5:3) 

We ask God to be made holy. It is a noble request (and most of us would certainly do well to be more holy — which is to say, more like God and less like our dysfunctional world). But do we despise the process that leads to holiness? Do we gripe about the silence, and curse the solitude that is necessary to shape us into a woman or man who — like God — cannot be bossed; and cannot be bought?

As a child of God, our heavenly Father is delighted to give us the gifts that reflect the desires of our heart. Like the wise father who gives the keys to the family car to his child only after the child is properly educated, trained, and licensed to operate the vehicle; our heavenly Father first makes us ready for the gifts we desire.  – Luther

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