Truly My Disciples

After reading the Great Commission a thousand times in my life, I had one of those "Aha" moments several months ago when I read it again and something jumped out at me in a way that it hadn't in the past.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matt 28:19-20

In the original language, the words that come to English as "Go", "baptizing", and "teaching" are constructed to clearly be in support of one overarching command in this verse. That overarching command? Make disciples. This is Jesus' commissioning command to His church as He left to return to heaven - make disciples. I had always read the Great Commission as a call to evangelism, and it is that, but again, the primary command isn't to "Share your faith" or as Pastor Scott told us this Sunday, it isn't to "make converts" but to make disciples.

This has put me on a journey of asking a few questions - What is a disciple of Christ? How do we know when someone has become a disciple? How do I make disciples? My background in business leads me to wanting to develop a list of key indicators, set up regular assessments, and establish a dashboard to track our progress. Thankfully, I've come to the conclusion that making disciples is a different goal, a higher goal than making or selling widgets, and doesn't necessarily lend itself to measurable, time based goals.

One of the things that jumped out at me from this week's text though, is that Jesus specifically told us one of the things that makes us a true disciple of His - "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples...(John 8:31)" A true disciple of Christ is one that abides in the Word of Christ.

This idea is not unique to this passage. Read the following passages regarding scripture and the Word of God:

Psalm 119:9-18
Luke 4:4
Col 3:16
2 Tim 3:16
2 Pet 1:19-21

How well do these scriptures reflect our lives? What place does scripture hold in our lives? Would we characterize ourselves as those who "abide in Christ's words?

If it is our desire to be a true disciple, and a disciple is one who abides in Christ's word, what changes might we need to make?

Many Believed

As he was saying these things, many believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:30-32 ESV)

“Many believed in him.” Finally, some good news. Jesus’ dialog with the religious leaders in Jerusalem seemed to be going nowhere, and it was getting increasingly hostile. So these words - “many believed in him” - came as a breath of fresh air.

If only Jesus could have left well enough alone. His once-burgeoning popularity had been on the decline, and this uptick was a welcome change in that trend. Why couldn’t he just accept his success - enjoy it, even celebrate it?

Here’s why: “He himself knew what was in man” (John 2:25). Take a look at the rest of the chapter, bearing in mind who it was that Jesus was dialoging with: “the Jews who had believed in him.” Go ahead - I’ll wait…

Makes you think, doesn’t it? Jesus won’t let his listeners off the hook. And John won’t let his readers - including you and me - off the hook, either. He keeps on challenging our assumptions about what it means to be a “believer.”

“Many believed in him.” Good news, but only the beginning.

Believe That I Am

Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” . . . And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:21, 23-24 NKJV)

As Jesus continues to confront the leaders in Jerusalem, his words become more and more pointed. Three times in the space of four verses, he tells them that they are going to die in their sins - not necessarily the approach most of us would take if we were trying to win friends and influence people.

He gives them three reasons: 1) They’re not going where he’s going (“Where I go you cannot come”); 2) They’re not from where he’s from (“You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world”); and 3) They don’t believe (“If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins”).

The last reason is in the form of a condition: “If you do not believe…” And what is it that they must believe in order to escape a death sentence?

I quoted this passage from the New King James Version because the translators of the NKJV use a particular convention: if a word doesn’t appear in the original language, they italicize it.

Take another look at the end of verse 24: “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” The word “He” is in italics because it isn’t there in Greek. It literally says, “If you do not believe that I am…”

With these two little words, Jesus asserts his deity - and he declares that life comes through faith in him as God and Savior. This is entirely in keeping with John’s purpose for writing his Gospel: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31 ESV).

John recorded a number of “I am” statements from Jesus (see John 6:35, 48, 51; 8:12, 58; 10:9, 11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1, 5). Take some time to read and reflect on what Jesus says in these verses and on what his words reveal about him.

Dying to Live

Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:28-29)

In the humiliation of the cross, in the bitterness and ignominy of a very public execution, Jesus was to find glory. He was to be “lifted up,” to be honored, in his death.

The writer to the Hebrews puts it like this: “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Did you catch that? Jesus was “crowned with glory and honor,” not in spite of, but “because of the suffering of death.”

And in his glorious suffering and death, he provided a way for you and me: “…so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” That’s why Paul was able to say, “Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

Paul had discovered the secret - to find true life, he had to die: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

True life is found only in Christ, in dying to self and living for him. Read Romans 6:1-11. Read it slowly. Read it carefully. Read it prayerfully. And ask God to give you the grace to be “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).

Not of this World

In this week's text, Jesus continues to engage the religious leadership and their failure to believe in Him. He ratchets it up a little this week, saying that their failure to believe in Him will result in their death, they will die in their sins.

No signs or miracles in this week's passage, but it did result in many believing in Jesus.

Read this week's passage, John 8:21-30.

What contrasts did Jesus draw between Himself and the religious leaders?
What was Jesus' issue with the religious leadership?
Was what they religious establishment doing unique to them or is it a broader issue for all of us?
What is the solution to this problem as Jesus lays it out in this text?

I believe that God has something transformational for us this week. Pray that your heart would be prepared to hear from God this week.

I am a witness

One of the other topics that Jesus and the Jewish leaders discussed in this weeks text was the concept of witness. The Jewish leaders were concerned that Jesus was making statements without any corroboration and therefore were unreliable, because Jewish law required two witnesses to something. Jesus' response was that God the Father and He were both witnesses to His character and His role.

As I thought about the concept that God the Father and Jesus were both witnesses to the character of God, it reminded me that in Acts, we, Christ-followers, are also called to be witnesses:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8

It struck me that in much the same way that we as Christ-followers are to shine a light, that ultimately comes from Christ, the light of the world, we are also to be witnesses of something that Jesus and the Father are witnesses to. Look up these verses on witnesses and consider what it means to be a witness, and to what are we to bear witness.

Deut 30:19
Job 16:19
John 8:14,18
Acts 1:8
Rom 8:16
Heb 10:15

I am the light of the world

In this Sunday's text, Jesus claimed to be "the light of the World."

What exactly did Jesus mean? What does it mean that Jesus was the light of the World?

The word light appears in the Bible nearly 250 times. It first appears in Gen 1:3 when God declares "Let there be light." It was God's very first act of creation. Look up the following verses and reflect on the meaning of "light" in each one. Then spend some time reflecting on how that would add meaning to Jesus declaring that He is the "Light of the World."

Gen 1:3
Ex 3:1-4
Ex 13:21, 19:18
Ex 40:38
Ps 43:3
Ps 119:105
Is 6:15
Is 60:3
Mt 5:14-16
1 Cor 4:5
Eph 5:13-14

The Light of Life

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

In this week’s text, Jesus makes the second of the seven “I am” statements recorded by John in his Gospel (see also John 6:35, 48, 51; 9:5; 10:7, 9; 10:11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1). Jesus’ announcement continues a theme that’s been repeated throughout the first half of the book, beginning in the Prologue: “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5; see also 1:9; 3:19-21; 9:5; 12:35-36; 12:46).

Jesus came to drive back the darkness. He came to enlighten darkened hearts and give life. His words provoke a crisis; they demand a decision: follow Christ and walk in the light of life, or reject him and walk in darkness.

As we prepare our hearts for worship this Sunday, let’s pray as Paul prayed, “…that the eyes of [our] hearts may be enlightened, so that [we] may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19).

No Condemnation

Jesus…said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." (John 8:10-11)

Under the Law, this woman, caught in the act of adultery, was condemnable and deserving of death (see Leviticus 20:10). But Jesus didn’t go there. Instead of condemning, Jesus offered grace and forgiveness.

This is entirely in keeping with his mission: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). God sent Jesus into the world to bring salvation. And salvation - deliverance from sin and its effects - is provided to those who have faith in Christ: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned” (John 3:18).

In the words of the apostle Paul, those who have placed their faith in Jesus are “in Christ,” and they are no longer under condemnation: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).

If you are “in Christ,” saved by grace through faith and reconciled to God, you have been set free from sin and death. You are no longer condemned; instead, you are free not to sin. Before your conversion, you were in slavery to sin and therefore unable not to sin. “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

The great theologian and philosopher Bob Dylan put it like this:

You’re gonna have to serve somebody

Yes, you’re gonna have to serve somebody

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

Paul’s conclusion: “Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Romans 6:22). Salvation leads to sanctification; deliverance from sin and death results in transformation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I encourage you to spend some time meditating on the miraculous truth that Christ came, not to condemn, but to save and forgive and redeem and restore and transform. And then, give thanks to God for this “inexpressible gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

Judgment, Grace, Transformation

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”. . . And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”. . . But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." (John 8:3-5, 7, 9-11)

We are the woman. All of us. We are all sinners, deserving of judgment and condemnation. David has it exactly right: “There is none who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3). So the scribes and Pharisees are completely justified in confronting the woman’s sin and advocating the proper penalty under the law.

But Jesus doesn’t confront her sin alone. He compels her accusers to consider their own position before God and, amazingly, they fade into the background - perhaps as they were forced to consider the many ways in which they, too, had violated God’s law and fallen short of his standards.

Then, as they stand their together, Jesus and the woman, he asks an amazing rhetorical question: “Where are your accusers? Who remains to condemn you?” Her answer - “No one, Lord” - isn’t completely accurate; Jesus remains, and he alone has full authority to render judgment and proscribe condemnation (see John 5:22-29).

But he doesn’t judge. He doesn’t condemn. Instead, he offers grace. He offers deliverance from a death sentence. And he alone has full authority to offer grace and forgiveness: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23; see Matthew 9:1-8). In the words of the apostle Paul: “For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8).

And true repentance, in response to grace and forgiveness, engenders life change. This is what Jesus demands from the woman: “Go and sin no more.” Being a Christ follower is more than a belief system; it’s a lifestyle. In God’s economy, true repentance = transformation. Paul continues: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

We are the woman. All of us. We are all sinners, deserving of judgment and condemnation. And Jesus offers all of us grace and forgiveness and the opportunity to live a transformed life, reconciled to God.

Go and sin no more

This week's text, John 7:53-8:11, is a familiar story of Jewish leaders bringing a woman caught in adultery to Jesus and asking him whether she should be stoned to death, and Jesus responds with the famous: "Let him who is without sin throw the first stone."

While being familiar, it is also one of the most contested passages in the Bible. Some date would indicate that it is not original to the writing of the gospel. Most translations make some sort of remark to indicate that there is some discussion about it and some even leave the verses out. The details of this discussion will be too much for a sermon so for those that may have an interest in the more technical aspects of this argument I will include the main points here.

1. The NT is translated to English from an original Greek. We do not have any of the original manuscripts. What we have are copies the earliest of which date to several 100 years after Christ. This passage is not included in the earliest and most complete (and therefore considered most reliable) manuscripts.

2. There are a number of words that are included in this passage that are not used anywhere else by John. There are two words for crowd in Greek - ochlos and laos. John prefers ochlos while this passage uses laos, which is more characteristic of Mark and Luke.

3. The earliest extra-biblical writings that we have, that are often letters from pastors and teachers, fail to comment on this passage. While not definitive it is noteworthy that none of the earliest teachers seem to not its existence.

4. There is some disagreement as to how well it fits at this point in the narrative. Some manuscripts place the story in other places or even other books of the Bible.

5. There is, however, no disagreement that the Christ pictured in this passage is consistent with the portrait that is being painted by the gospels. The savior who came not to condemn, but to save.

6. There is a particular early disciple named, Papias, who was to have known John personally, who seems to point to John being aware of a story about a "woman who was accused before the Lord..."

7. By the 4th century, writers and church leaders, including St. Augustine, seem to have knowledge of it. In fact, the indication is that Augustine may have removed the story from his text for fear that it would give women grounds to appeal infidelity. So the arguement that it was in John at one point and then removed can't be completely dismissed.

The consensus of scholarship is that while it can not be authoritatively attributed to John, the passage seems to ring of an authentic story and seems to display the authentic Jesus, and is therefore profitable for us to study.

Information included here was drawn from William Hendriksen, John, NTC and Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John, NICNT.

Streams of living water

I have had the privilege to visit Israel twice. While it is referred to as the land "flowing with milk and honey" much of it is very desert like. Then for a brief time each year, the rainy season comes, and the desert is transformed into a green and fertile garden spot. Finding water, collecting water and protecting water become everpresent activities. Even in modern Israel, the Sea of Galilee supplies 70% of the fresh water for the entire country. Over the last decade or so the level has been slowly dropping and is of concern to them. In fact one of the issues in the 6 day war back in 1967, was for Israel to regain control over the Golan Heights to provide a buffer between Syria and the Sea of Galilee, the country's primary source of water.

In our experience, few of us have ever known truly restricted water. It is in this culture that values and appreciates water that Jesus ministered. In this week's text, Jesus said: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:37b-38) Pastor Scott pointed out that it is the the drinking in of Jesus does not result only in the satisfaction of our own heart, but results in our heart being a source of living water flowing out. An amazing idea.

I began to realize how many times we had talked of water in the Gospel of John, and when I looked it was even more dramatic than I thought. The word water is used 25 times in the Gospel of John, and only 19 times in the other three gospels combined. The list of every time water is used in John is below. Read these verses. Observe whether there are any common themes in these references to water. Observe the different uses water has (e.g., cleansing or purifying, satisfaction or source of life, etc).

John 3:5, 23; 4:7-28, 46; 5:7; 7:38; 13:5; 19:34.