Christ Jesus

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

Christ is God. He has everything. He has all power and authority. He rules everything because He created it. He can do what He pleases.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

Think about this.

Jesus is God.

If He wanted, He could have left us in our sin and sent us to hell.

He had the right.

We messed up. We chose sin over Him.

BUT.

Even though He had all the right to judge us and send us to be punished, being God, He humbled Himself.

GOD HUMBLED HIMSELF, to the point of being a servant.

God left heaven, came to earth, lived a perfect life, endured hardships, pains, sickness, long days, everything.

Why?

To die.

He was obedient unto death.

For what?

He was blameless.

For our sin.

The very God who created us and told us what not to do is the same God who came and DIED to forgive us.

Do you get that?

There is NOTHING more beautiful than that.

Nothing.

Praise God.

John 6:1-21

V.1 "After this" Because this is mentioned obviously we should know what happened before. From the end of John 5 to 6 up to 6 months had passed. This story is part of the synoptic gospels so it's in all four of the gospels. Upon looking at the others we find that this is after Jesus sent the disciples out to preach and heal. They have been gone about six months so Jesus is taking them to a desolate place to allow them some downtime. They are most likely tired, despite their excitement from all that happened, and Jesus is wanting them to rest and tell about their experiences.
V.2 But a large crowd, easily 20,000 people, had started following Jesus; but only because of the signs He had done.
V.4 This verse may seem out of place but it's important in knowing the time of year, also this is the second of three passovers during Jesus' ministry.
V.5 Jesus saw the crowd and asked Philip (this was his hometown) where they could buy food for all these people. *Numbers 11:13
V.6 Of course, Jesus knew it wasn't impossible, but He wanted to test His disciples and see how much faith they had.
V.7 Philip states that 200 day's wages wouldn't feed all these people even just for each to get a little.
V.8-9 Andrew, Simon's brother, state that a boy had a little food but went on to say "what are they for so many?" *Numbers 11:22
V.10 Jesus had them sit down in groups
V.11 Jesus blessed the bread with this prayer: "Blessed are you God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth." Think about this. Jesus used a prayer and stated that God is the one who brings forth bread and what was Jesus doing? He multiplied bread. He created it. Certainly what they had wasn't enough. So Jesus, in saying God creates and brings bread while doing it is Him stating He IS God. *They got as much bread and fish as they wanted.
V.12-13 He told his disciples to gather up the leftovers. 12 full baskets. The parallel of this story and Moses (notice the references to Numbers) is wonderful. 12 baskets? 12 tribes of Israel? 12 doubting disciples? You draw what you feel. There are hundreds of lessons from that.
V.14 When they saw this the people said, "this is surely the prophet who has come into the world!" Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Goes back to Moses again. God told Moses about Jesus that long ago. :)
He promised He would come from Moses' seed also, and Jesus did. *Matthew 1:1-17
V.15 Jesus knew the people were about to take Him and try and force Him to be king of Rome. Jesus' kingship on earth was spiritual, not physical. So, despite the temptation of having power, Jesus withdrew from the people. *After this the disciples for the first time acknowledged Jesus as the Christ. *Luke 9:18-20 and Mark 8:27-30

V.16-17 The disciples started back across the sea again without Jesus because He was spending time alone praying to His Father.
V18. The sea had become stormy as it frequently did because of it's geographical location.
V.19 Then they see Jesus walking on water (Mark 6:48 He meant to "pass by" them. Greek: parerchomai just as God "passed" by Moses giving Him a glimpse of His glory! *Job 8:9) yet when they saw Him they did not recognize Him in the darkness and storm. They thought He was a ghost. Matthew 14:26 tells they actually cried out in fear.
V.20 Jesus said, "it is I; do not be afraid." The Greek phrase used: ego eimi actually is translated I AM.
Verses 19 and 20 are so important. In the Old Testament it is made clear ONLY God has authority and power over creation. Psalm 29:10-11, and *Psalm 107:28-30 and Jesus was WALKING on water in the middle of a storm! Three to four miles! Also, when Jesus uses I AM to identify Himself He is saying the same thing God the Father used in Exodus 3:14 when telling Moses who He was.
V.21 They immediately took Him onto the boat and the very moment they did they arrived safely at their destination. **Psalm 107:28-30 again. :)

*Jesus sent His disciples away to pray. Even Jesus' number one priority was spending time with God. Is it ours?

*Even after that much time they did not recognize Jesus during the storm. Ever have a hard time seeing God during a storm in life?

*Peter, walked on water. He didn't sink until he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the mess around him. Where is your focus?

*Even when Peter lost faith he still knew who to call on. Not only that, Jesus still took his hand and lifted him up. :)

Love.

Christian.

If you say this word in other places, most embrace you.

But in America, this word makes most cringe.

Why?

The image of Christianity in America is much different than the image of the Christ we claim to follow.

When people not of the faith in America are asked what they think when they hear the word Christian, things like:

Homophobic, hypocritical, judgmental, and many others come to mind. Don't get me wrong, the world will hate us.

It hated Jesus.

But nobody ever accused Jesus of hating people.

Why?

He didn't.

And He made it known.

We grade sin.

Then we draw a line around us.

If someone jumps that line or exceeds the weight on that sin scale we don't want to love them anymore.

What. The. Crap.

Have we not read any of Jesus' words?

How about the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus teaches us that sin is sin.

Having an affair is equal to watching porn.

Murdering someone is equal to being angry without cause.

So.

Is it really sin we hate?

If it is why are we so "okay" with ourself?

I am not minimizing sin.

I'm questioning the love we so for our brothers and sisters.

The ONLY people that Jesus ever scorned and got on to were the ones who thought they had it all together. The ones who believed they were better than everyone else.

He never, ever judged or condemned an honest sinner.

So.

Do we really wanna be like Jesus?

If we do then we seriously need to change this cycle.

People need love.

They need it.

It doesn't matter what they have done.

They still need love.

We all do.

And we are called to love them as ourself.

"So whatever you wish others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law of the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is HARD that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matthew 7:12-14

If the way and amount we LOVE looks the same as the world,

we are not loving the way Christ did and called us to do.

Dare to be different.

Not Many Will Enjoy This

There are some things on my heart that must be expressed. More will disagree than agree. Some may even get mad at me, but I've learned a valuable lesson about the truth. The truth may not always be popular, but it's always true.

During his time on earth Jesus, being sinless, spent His time LOVING on tax collectors and harlets. These groups of people were the most hated and despised of all people in this culture.

Jesus loved them.

I can almost see when the religious people brought the woman caught in adultry, asking Jesus if she should be stoned. He told them whoever was without sin should throw the first stone. In time they all left because they knew they weren't perfect. Here's the beautiful part: Jesus was sinless, He could have thrown as many stones as He wanted. BUT, He didn't. He told the woman He didn't condemn her.

Today in nearly every "church" and Christian household you can hear people slander, abuse and condemn people. We often use excuses such as, "they're too bad to change" or "they don't deserve forgivness for what they've done." I view both of these excuses as ignorant.
If someone "deserved" forgivness then they wouldn't need it. We put people's sins on a grading scale to decide their worthiness, but the Bible, Jesus especially, teaches us that sin, is sin, is sin. If you think it, plan it, or do it, it's sin. Period.

So willing to accept Grace.
Too selfish to allow others.
G-d help us.
No one can "out-sin" the Grace of G-d.

Price Check?

What is a person's salvation worth? Of course we know Jesus considered it worth everything. He wasn't JUST created, He had been. He was already in Heaven. The place we long for -yeah He left it just to make sure we could come too. And He didn't just come, die and leave. he was born, grew up, was tempted and lived perfectly, suffered and then died, then rose from death by the power of God! So when faced with this question we say nice answers, but what answer would our lives give? Ever used time as an excuse for not sharing the Gospel and love of God with someone? It wasn't worth my time. Ever been too afraid to speak up because of what someone might say or think? They weren't worth my pride. Ever used feelings as an excuse? They are less valuable than my comfort. If we compare the actions of Christ to our own we come up oh so very short. Jesus was willing to suffer and die and we are afraid of someone laughing at us. Don't even mention a chance of martyrdom. Is this simple and short life of comfort, hedonism and things, which we will lose no matter how hard we hold on, really so important that we can't give up our time, comfort, desires, feelings and yes, if God wills, even our life just so one person might know and embrace the love of God?

I must believe it's more than worth it. No salvation does not and cannot come from anyone but Jesus Christ, but sometimes people just need a glimpse of hope and a reason to believe. I can assure you with all my heart, in Heaven you will never regret the cost.
Christ sure won't. :)

12.11.09

To those who wonder or worry, have some faith.
Th those who fuss and fight, be kind and polite.
To those who can't see the light, quit walking away from God because He is the light.
To those who suffer, Jesus says how blessed are you!
While this world may hate you, do mean and evil things to you, leave you hungry and on the road to die,
the Savior is there among you.
He didn't come for the rich, the good, or the righteous, but the poor and messed up sinners.
As if this news isn't good enough, it gets even better!
There is nothing you have to or can do to earn this forgiveness.
No, it isn't free, but Jesus already covered the cost on the cross;
where He bled and died just so you could be redeemed.

New Day

Today is strange, today is new, today is much different without you. Part of me is completely excited while another begs to hold on. I know change can be good, but I still feel misunderstood. As I came into Memphis today all I could see were HUGE fancy churches and people starving in the streets.
God?
Surely this isn't your will.
This can't be the Kingdom you've willed.
These people need help, but all we care about is how nice our church buildings are.
Forget about love.
We don't care about starving children or desperate men and women.
Just give us three million dollar buildings, huge projection boards, flashing lights, expensive clothes, safe sermons, fake smiles, big programs, and nobody feels guilty.
Eventually we don't even notice the poor anymore.
And if we do notice we assume they deserve to be in the situation they are.
Hypocrites.
We all deserve hell. Yet Jesus died for each one of us and took on the wrath that you and I deserve. We are so willing to accept all that we are given, but we become selfish and greedy.
"For God so loved the world that He gave...."
The evidence of love is giving.
Think about it. When people love, they give. They give time, love, patience, gifts, forgiveness, whatever is desired or needed.
But what are we giving?
In James 2:15-17 it says "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food (sounds a lot like homeless people) and one of you says, go in peace, be warmed and filled, (a lot like our ritual of God bless you) WITHOUT giving them the things needed,
WHAT GOOD IS IT? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Did you catch that?
James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that all the kind words in the world don't mean junk if we don't actually help people in need. Especially when we have the means to do so.
And that doesn't always mean money.
I'm not pointing fingers at anyone.
This was written to me.
But maybe God can speak to you also.
I love you dearly.
:)