Posts that reference the Gospel of John

Whose Standard Are You Using?

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? John 5:44 (NAS)

At first glance, this is a confusing question, but if you go back and read the whole exchange between Jesus and the religious types, it makes a little more sense. Jesus preached a message that turned the religious ideas of the day on their head. He said God doesn't care about what you do until He changes your heart, and that can only happen once you understand how rotten you are on the inside.

In Matthew 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave a relentless list of items 'you have heard it taught this way, but God really meant it like this'. The people flocked to Him because He gave them hope. They COULD please God, not on their own merit, but because they trusted Him to make them worthy.

The religious leaders of the day had a far different system. Your worth to God was based on your ability to keep the Law and all the other corollaries they had devised through the generations. They were the experts, so they kept it better than anyone else, as a result they were God's favorites, and no upstart, uneducated hick was going to tell them any different.

The issue is one of standards. As long as the religious leaders were better than the common people (and better than most of their colleagues) they figured they were in good shape. However, they were using the wrong standard. God doesn't compare us to each other. He compares us to Himself. Are we as holy and perfect as He is? Of course not.

As long as we are content just to be "better" than those we see around us, if that's our idea of righteousness, then we have no room to receive the imputed (real) righteousness than comes from God. Only when we recognize our spiritual bankruptcy, does God take over.

Whose standard are you measuring yourself against?

Study Tip/Q: Do You Want To Be Made Well?

By Paula Wiseman

Do you want to be made well? John 5:7

Jesus asked this question of a man with a paralyzing illness, lying beside the pool at Bethesda. The man had endured alone for 38 years and was desperate enough to try the superstition of the day- be the first one in the pool when the water is stirred up.

[Today we'll try double duty- a study tip AND a look at the question!]

As you read and study the story, make a note of the details.
A great multitude of sick people were there at Bethesda- dozens, hundreds perhaps, grasping at a faint hope.
We don't know what illness the man suffered from, or when it struck him, but I speculate it hit in childhood or his teen years because he had no wife or children. There were also no parents or siblings, or even friends. He was abandoned. Devastating illness does that. (Be extra compassionate and say an extra prayer for those who struggle with chronic illness.)
Jesus approached him. In the gospels, we usually see folks imploring Jesus to come and heal a loved one, but not this time. Jesus initiated this encounter with a question. We'll discuss that question in a minute.

Bible study centers around three overarching questions:
1. What does the passage say?
2. What does that mean?
3. How should I live or what should I do as a result?

There may not be a 'set' answer for each of these questions. Each time you study, the Holy Spirit may illuminate a different nuance or idea. Here's how I'll answer the questions today.
1. Jesus healed a paralyzed man.
2. He didn't heal everyone at the pool. For His own reasons, (which He never explained) He chose and healed this one man.
3. God is sovereign. I need to trust His decisions.

You may answer the questions differently. Next time I study this passage, I may answer them differently as well.

Now for Jesus' question- Do you want to be made well?
Jesus says "made". Made well. Jesus is offering to do the hard part. The man must simply surrender to it.
It's a yes or no question, but the man answers with an excuse.

Jesus performed dozens of healing miracles, each with a purpose. They all demonstrated His deity, His power over nature and its processes, but they were more than that. All sickness is a result of sin, not necessarily personal sin correlated with personal illness, but the world operates under a curse of sin. Cells go bad. Viruses replicate. DNA codes fail. Every miracle of healing is an object lesson for Jesus' whole purpose- to deliver men and women from the curse of sin.

At the moment of salvation, we are eternally delivered from the judgment sin brings, but each day we need rescue from the influence of sin. Jesus offers. Do we want it? Or do we prefer to give excuses?

BTW: Steve Arterburn has a great book on this question, Healing is a Choice

Q: Will You Believe?

By Paula Wiseman

If I have told earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? John 3:12

Jesus is still talking to Nicodemus here, trying to get him to see the big picture. Now, Nicodemus was well-respected, educated, and pious. He was following God as well as he possibly could according to his understanding of God's requirements. HIS understanding. He probably expected to quiz Jesus, examine and cross-examine him, and come away with a 'reasonable' explanation.

"Nicodemus, there are some things you will never understand as long as you rely on your wisdom and experience."

Jesus rocked Nicodemus' faith to its core. He faced a moment of decision. "If I believe what Jesus says about these things … Then I have to change. I have to change my understanding … my attitudes … my actions and behavior. I thought I had God all figured out. What if I don't?"

If you haven't already done so, like Nicodemus, you will come up against a situation that will shake your faith, and you'll come in search of answers. The answers you get will be quite different than what you expect. They will cause you to take a step back, to question what God is doing.

Remember, Jesus says "believe", not "understand". He's not asking us to explain everything, nor is He going to reveal every detail about our situation. He asks us to trust what He does tell us. To trust Him. To believe.

Study Tip: Seeing in Greek

By Paula Wiseman

English is a tremendous language with rich shades of meaning in its words. However, there are a few occasions in Scripture where we miss out because we’re reading in English. One of those passages is John 20 where the discovery of the empty tomb is described. The word “see” or one of its form is repeated several times. However, there is much more going on in the Greek.

If you have your handy-dandy Strong’s or some other Greek reference, and read verse 1 you find out that Mary Magdalene “saw” the stone removed. The word is blep? and it means to look at (literally or figuratively), behold, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, take heed. Strong calls it a voluntary observation.

In verse 5, John does the same thing. He looked in and “saw” the linen clothes lying there. Same Greek word.

In verse 6, Peter arrives and he checks things out. His word is the?re? It means to be a spectator, look at, behold, to view attentively, take a view of, survey, to view mentally, consider. Peter examines things, inspects them and begins to process the information he’s taking in.

Then in verse 9, John has another turn. John followed Peter’s example, examined things, especially everything neatly folded and in order and he “saw” and believed. His word is eido. He perceived with his eyes and understood the implications of what he saw. (Granted, John helps us out a little by supplying the words “and believed” so we know he ‘got’ it.) John had a light bulb moment. He’s not quite there yet, though, because he and Peter go home.

Mary is still hanging around, however, and in verse 12, she sees an angel at the tomb. This is the?re?. In verse 14, she sees Jesus Himself. Same the?re? kind of seeing. The risen Christ speaks to her and she recognizes Him. Jesus sends her to tell His disciples.

In verse 18, she runs to tell them she saw the Lord. She gets a whole new Greek word- horao which means to become acquainted with by experience, to experience. Strong goes on to say this word implies that it’s something remarkable. It has an idea of wide-eyed wonder. So the boys “saw” it, maybe even comprehended it, but Mary “got” it.

May God grant us all a new grasp on the wonder and miracle that is Easter.

If you have your handy-dandy Strong’s or some other Greek reference, and read verse 1 you find out that Mary Magdalene “saw” the stone removed. The word is blep? and it means to look at (literally or figuratively), behold, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, take heed. Strong calls it a voluntary observation.

In verse 5, John does the same thing. He looked in and “saw” the linen clothes lying there. Same Greek word.

In verse 6, Peter arrives and he checks things out. His word is the?re?. It means to be a spectator, look at, behold, to view attentively, take a view of, survey, to view mentally, consider. Peter examines things, inspects them and begins to process the information he’s taking in.

Then in verse 9, John has another turn. John followed Peter’s example, examined things, especially everything neatly folded and in order and he “saw” and believed. His word is eido. He perceived with his eyes and understood the implications of what he saw. John had a light bulb moment. He’s not quite there yet, though, because he and Peter go home.

Mary is still hanging around, however, and in verse 12, she sees an angel at the tomb. This is the?re?. In verse 14, she sees Jesus Himself. Same the?re? kind of seeing. The risen Christ speaks to her and she recognizes Him. Jesus sends her to tell His disciples.

In verse 18, she runs to tell them she saw the Lord. She gets a whole new Greek word- horao which means to become acquainted with by experience, to experience. Strong goes on to say this word implies that it’s something remarkable. It has an idea of wide-eyed wonder. So the boys “saw” it, maybe even comprehended it, but Mary “got” it.

May God grant us all a new grasp on the wonder and miracle that is Easter.

Q: What Does It Have to Do with Me?

By Paula Wiseman

What does your concern have to do with Me? John 2:4

Jesus asked His mother this question during the wedding at Cana when she told Him they had run out of wine.

At first glance, it’s no wonder Jesus seems to deflect Mary’s concern. The situation is not life-threatening. In the big picture, it’s not that big of a deal. I have some speculation about this story – total speculation, mind you – but I think this wedding was for one of Jesus’ sisters. I think she was marrying a boy in Cana and so Jesus, as the oldest son, was acting as the father of the bride. It was the bride’s family’s responsibility to provide the wine for the wedding feast. I believe, Mary, after spending her life enduring whispers and shame over the birth of her firstborn, is terribly afraid of another public humiliation and her statement, ‘they have no wine’ is actually asking Jesus not to put her through that. (Speculation)

So the question, ‘what does your concern have to do with Me?’ Shows several things about Mary:

1. She trusted that Jesus WAS concerned about small details

2. She trusted that He COULD do something about it

3. She trusted that He WOULD do something about it.

When we bring a list of concerns to Jesus, do we have the same trust? I know for myself, I often get hung up between #2 and #3. Lately God has been proving His willingness to act as He has stepped in and worked out several little things for us (like our tax refund getting deposited at just the right time).

A sure sign of not trusting Jesus in a situation is a failure to even bring it to Him. That’s a sure sign that we’ve determined He doesn’t care, He can’t help or He won’t. I think the answer to the question ‘what does your concern have to do with Me?’ is – ‘As much as we will allow it to concern Him.’

What does your concern have to do with Me? John 2:4

Jesus asked His mother this question during the wedding at Cana when she told Him they had run out of wine.

So the question, ‘what does your concern have to do with Me?’ Shows several things about Mary:

1. She trusted that Jesus WAS concerned about small details

2. She trusted that He COULD do something about it

3. She trusted that He WOULD do something about it.

Q: What Made You Believe?

By Paula Wiseman

When Jesus called His disciples, He had an interesting exchange with Nathanael.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

Let me paraphrase Jesus’ words – You believe I’m the Son of God and King of Israel just because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’? You ain’t seen nothing yet!

What was it about Jesus that drew you to Him? Was there a moment when you concluded He is God? What made you believe?

The promise He made Nathanael holds true for us as well. We haven’t seen a fraction of what He can and will do.

When Jesus called His disciples, He had an interesting exchange with Nathanael.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

Let me paraphrase Jesus’ words – You believe I’m the Son of God and King of Israel just because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’? You ain’t seen nothing yet!

What was it about Jesus that drew you to Him? Was there a moment when you concluded He is God? What made you believe?

The promise He made Nathanael holds true for us as well. We haven’t seen a fraction of what He can and will do.