The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."
Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
John 1:29-34
The word affirmation comes to mind. Jesus really was the beneficiary of affirmation. He was affirmed by Anna at the Temple. By Simeon. The Magi. When he was 12 in the Temple. Here, by his cousin John. And most of all from his Father in heaven.
If you ever wonder about the importance and power of affirmation - look at how Jesus benefited from it.
How have you benefited from affirmation?
How might you affirm someone today?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
372
Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor a Prophet?"
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:24-28
Check out all the significant things that happened to Jesus in Bethany.
- His baptism - John 1:28
- He had dinner with Simon the Leper - Mark 14:3
- It was where he was annointed with expensive perfume - Mark 14:3
- Bethany was the hometown of Mary and Martha
- Bethany was where he raised Lazarus from the dead - John 11
- Bethany was the town where he began his Triumphant Entry - Luke 19:19
So much! in a town two miles on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:24-28
Check out all the significant things that happened to Jesus in Bethany.
- His baptism - John 1:28
- He had dinner with Simon the Leper - Mark 14:3
- It was where he was annointed with expensive perfume - Mark 14:3
- Bethany was the hometown of Mary and Martha
- Bethany was where he raised Lazarus from the dead - John 11
- Bethany was the town where he began his Triumphant Entry - Luke 19:19
So much! in a town two miles on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Monday, February 27, 2012
371
Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor a Prophet?"
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:24-28
...the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie...
If there was one word to describe John the Baptist it would be humble. My friend Fil and I talk a lot about this. Not John the Baptist. But humility. We both admire it. We both do not come by it naturally. We marvel at those who seem to have this lack of self-awareness. That are freed from the shackles of the perception of others. Lile John the Baptist. He wore camel hair, not something you'd see on the red carpet. He ate locusts. He lived by the river. That's where Chris Farley's famous motivational speaker lived. He was a joke. And yet, John the Baptist didn't seem to notice.
And once he did gain recognition, he passed it over to his cousin. He said, don't look at me. I'm nothing coming to him...later in John he'll say these most beautiful of lines: he must increase; I must decrease.
That's is pure humility. I marvel at it.
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:24-28
...the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie...
If there was one word to describe John the Baptist it would be humble. My friend Fil and I talk a lot about this. Not John the Baptist. But humility. We both admire it. We both do not come by it naturally. We marvel at those who seem to have this lack of self-awareness. That are freed from the shackles of the perception of others. Lile John the Baptist. He wore camel hair, not something you'd see on the red carpet. He ate locusts. He lived by the river. That's where Chris Farley's famous motivational speaker lived. He was a joke. And yet, John the Baptist didn't seem to notice.
And once he did gain recognition, he passed it over to his cousin. He said, don't look at me. I'm nothing coming to him...later in John he'll say these most beautiful of lines: he must increase; I must decrease.
That's is pure humility. I marvel at it.
370
Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor a Prophet?"
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:24-28
I baptize with water...I think this is an important corrective for those of us who get tempted into placing too much significance onto things. The water does not clean you. The bread, the wine doesn't forgive you. The ring doesn't marry you. Those are the obvious ones. And we still get tempted sometimes by them. We humans are tempted by things. We are in our very essence materialistic. Matter matters. And it matters too much!
And in a very matter of fact way, Jesus came to free us of this. He came to show us the true significance that exists beyond what we can see and feel. The intangible became tangible so that he could show us the intangible. That is why John the Baptist, who understood this would describe Jesus' baptism this way...while his was with water, Jesus' would be with the Holy Spirit...(Mark 1:8)
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:24-28
I baptize with water...I think this is an important corrective for those of us who get tempted into placing too much significance onto things. The water does not clean you. The bread, the wine doesn't forgive you. The ring doesn't marry you. Those are the obvious ones. And we still get tempted sometimes by them. We humans are tempted by things. We are in our very essence materialistic. Matter matters. And it matters too much!
And in a very matter of fact way, Jesus came to free us of this. He came to show us the true significance that exists beyond what we can see and feel. The intangible became tangible so that he could show us the intangible. That is why John the Baptist, who understood this would describe Jesus' baptism this way...while his was with water, Jesus' would be with the Holy Spirit...(Mark 1:8)
Thursday, February 23, 2012
369
Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor a Prophet?"
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:24-28
I recently became acquainted with an Amish carpenter. He is incredibly talented. And incredibly humble. And incredibly cheap. He could easily charge twice what he charges. I am not kidding. And as I have spent time with him the last several weeks (I have found excuses to spend time with him), I cannot help but be struck by how much he reminds me of Jesus. The exceptional carpentry - the humility - and the fairness - the more than fairness...this is exactly how Jesus must have been as a carpenter.
It reminds me of John's humility as a baptizer. There is something truly beautiful - right - godly - Christlike - what's the best word? for the truly humble. It touches me and challenges me and corrects me and inspires me...I guess you could say it humbles me!
"I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1:24-28
I recently became acquainted with an Amish carpenter. He is incredibly talented. And incredibly humble. And incredibly cheap. He could easily charge twice what he charges. I am not kidding. And as I have spent time with him the last several weeks (I have found excuses to spend time with him), I cannot help but be struck by how much he reminds me of Jesus. The exceptional carpentry - the humility - and the fairness - the more than fairness...this is exactly how Jesus must have been as a carpenter.
It reminds me of John's humility as a baptizer. There is something truly beautiful - right - godly - Christlike - what's the best word? for the truly humble. It touches me and challenges me and corrects me and inspires me...I guess you could say it humbles me!
368
Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, 'I am not the Christ.'
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
John tells these priests and Levites "Make straight the way for the Lord."
That's a great challenge for us to consider. What are the obstacles getting in the way of your relationship with Jesus? As we enter into this Lenten season, what if we spent some time removing obstacles, in other words: making straight the way for the Lord to meet with us?
What might it look like to be an obstacle remover for others? Maybe you yourself are one! That is my convicting thought for today. How am I blocking others from seeing Jesus?
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
John tells these priests and Levites "Make straight the way for the Lord."
That's a great challenge for us to consider. What are the obstacles getting in the way of your relationship with Jesus? As we enter into this Lenten season, what if we spent some time removing obstacles, in other words: making straight the way for the Lord to meet with us?
What might it look like to be an obstacle remover for others? Maybe you yourself are one! That is my convicting thought for today. How am I blocking others from seeing Jesus?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
367
I really like how Peterson translates the beginning of Romans 12. Let it challenge and center you today.
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering.
Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering.
Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
366
Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, 'I am not the Christ.'
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
Earlier today, my friend Jon asked a good question. If the Bible is where we are supposed to find all the answers, what's the importance of testimonies? It seems like everyone if you're a Christian is supposed to have one. But why? Shouldn't we just focus on the Bible?
I thought that was a great question. Or questions.
Why are testimonies important? Then, it hit me...duh...oh yeah. The Bible IS a testimony. It's split up in two actually. Old TESTAMent and New TESTAMent. And inside those two big testimonies are scores and scores of little ones. When it comes to sharing the gospel, testimonies, in fact, is most of what God gives us. Aside from direct revelation, that is all we have!
However, it is important to add this caveat. All testimonies must be in accordance to Scripture. Testimonies that are incongruent with Scripture are False Testimonies. There is and there will always be only one gospel. How that gospel transforms us individually - well that is limited only by the number of those transformed. May it be us all. Amen.
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
Earlier today, my friend Jon asked a good question. If the Bible is where we are supposed to find all the answers, what's the importance of testimonies? It seems like everyone if you're a Christian is supposed to have one. But why? Shouldn't we just focus on the Bible?
I thought that was a great question. Or questions.
Why are testimonies important? Then, it hit me...duh...oh yeah. The Bible IS a testimony. It's split up in two actually. Old TESTAMent and New TESTAMent. And inside those two big testimonies are scores and scores of little ones. When it comes to sharing the gospel, testimonies, in fact, is most of what God gives us. Aside from direct revelation, that is all we have!
However, it is important to add this caveat. All testimonies must be in accordance to Scripture. Testimonies that are incongruent with Scripture are False Testimonies. There is and there will always be only one gospel. How that gospel transforms us individually - well that is limited only by the number of those transformed. May it be us all. Amen.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
366
Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, 'I am not the Christ.'
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
this was John's testimony...
in other words, this is where God took John - to the wilderness, eating crazy food, wearing crazy things, telling people things that are even wilder and crazier.
where has God taken you?
He certainly is one Wild and Crazy God, isn't he?
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
this was John's testimony...
in other words, this is where God took John - to the wilderness, eating crazy food, wearing crazy things, telling people things that are even wilder and crazier.
where has God taken you?
He certainly is one Wild and Crazy God, isn't he?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
365
Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, 'I am not the Christ.'
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
the voice of one calling in the desert...
Whenever a verse is plucked up from Scripture and used, it is always important to go back and look at the context of the original source...in this case Isaiah 40:3...
Let's read together verses 2-5.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Wow. This has Jesus written all over it.
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
the voice of one calling in the desert...
Whenever a verse is plucked up from Scripture and used, it is always important to go back and look at the context of the original source...in this case Isaiah 40:3...
Let's read together verses 2-5.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Wow. This has Jesus written all over it.
Monday, February 13, 2012
364
Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, 'I am not the Christ.'
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
I find it interesting that of all the things John the Baptist was confident in - he was confident in what he was not. Have you ever spent any time thinking about what you know you are not? I haven't. But it's a powerful question.
Who am I not?
I am not able to save myself.
I am not the end all be all do all master of my own universe.
I am not a slave to sin.
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
I find it interesting that of all the things John the Baptist was confident in - he was confident in what he was not. Have you ever spent any time thinking about what you know you are not? I haven't. But it's a powerful question.
Who am I not?
I am not able to save myself.
I am not the end all be all do all master of my own universe.
I am not a slave to sin.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
363
A friend told a friend this when he gets in his occasional funk:
"keep looking at Jesus until you're different."
"keep looking at Jesus until you're different."
Thursday, February 9, 2012
362
Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, 'I am not the Christ.'
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
Lia pointed this out to me a couple weeks ago. She imagined what it must have been like for John to be learning Scripture and for God to lead him to this verse. To HIS verse.
Has God done that for you? Has he led you to a verse? Do you have YOUR verse? What is it? What does it mean for you? If not, spend some time right no, asking the Lord if he happens to have one in mind for you. See where he leads you.
They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?"
He said, "I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
Finally, they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
John 1:19-23
Lia pointed this out to me a couple weeks ago. She imagined what it must have been like for John to be learning Scripture and for God to lead him to this verse. To HIS verse.
Has God done that for you? Has he led you to a verse? Do you have YOUR verse? What is it? What does it mean for you? If not, spend some time right no, asking the Lord if he happens to have one in mind for you. See where he leads you.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
361
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
Pierce Pettis, one of my favorite music artists defined grace as "unmerited favor." I've always liked that definition.
As for truth - I think once you consider how impossible AND important it was for God to do what he did by placing all of himself in Jesus Christ - you'll understand how important it is for John that we believe the impossible truth.
John 1:17
Pierce Pettis, one of my favorite music artists defined grace as "unmerited favor." I've always liked that definition.
As for truth - I think once you consider how impossible AND important it was for God to do what he did by placing all of himself in Jesus Christ - you'll understand how important it is for John that we believe the impossible truth.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
360
Yesterday, I mentioned a zinger, but I failed, in my opinion, get the zinger across. I'm going to try again:
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
John 1:18
Up to verse eighteen, John has used several descriptions for Jesus.
v1: Jesus is "the Word."
v1: Jesus is "God"
v2: Jesus was "with God" in the beginning.
v3: Jesus made all things
v4: Jesus is "life"
v4: Jesus is "the light"
v5: Jesus overcomes darkness
v9: Jesus is the "true light"
v9: Jesus gives light to humanity
v14: Jesus (God) became flesh.
v14: Jesus lived among us
v14: Jesus is full of "glory"
v14: Jesus is full of "grace"
v14: Jesus is full of "truth"
v16: Jesus gives us "one blessing after another"
All of that was in Jesus Christ. God took 100% of Himself and packed it in the body of the man Jesus. And so, the God, who before this moment could not be known or understood, now has become known though many will not understand it. But those who do - those who comprehend, who believe and receive, this tremendous glorious act of love and generosity form the Father - they will be given this greatest of gifts: to become a child of God themselves!
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
John 1:18
Up to verse eighteen, John has used several descriptions for Jesus.
v1: Jesus is "the Word."
v1: Jesus is "God"
v2: Jesus was "with God" in the beginning.
v3: Jesus made all things
v4: Jesus is "life"
v4: Jesus is "the light"
v5: Jesus overcomes darkness
v9: Jesus is the "true light"
v9: Jesus gives light to humanity
v14: Jesus (God) became flesh.
v14: Jesus lived among us
v14: Jesus is full of "glory"
v14: Jesus is full of "grace"
v14: Jesus is full of "truth"
v16: Jesus gives us "one blessing after another"
All of that was in Jesus Christ. God took 100% of Himself and packed it in the body of the man Jesus. And so, the God, who before this moment could not be known or understood, now has become known though many will not understand it. But those who do - those who comprehend, who believe and receive, this tremendous glorious act of love and generosity form the Father - they will be given this greatest of gifts: to become a child of God themselves!
Monday, February 6, 2012
359
I'm chomping on the bit to get to the "action". So far we have been looking at the set-up. In a moment we'll get the pay-off: Jesus' boots on the ground.
But as we transition out - John leaves us with one final zinger:
John 1:16-18
From the fullness of his grace we hall all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
There's two things here: (1) Jesus is a game-changer. Up to now, the rules of the game were established by Moses. But Jesus, by fulfilling the "rules" broke the rules and established a new foundational platform by which the game (life) must now be played: it's called grace and truth.
And (2) If you want to see God, Jesus is the way (the only way) to see Him. He has "made him known". In other words, the only way to know God is by knowing Jesus.
But as we transition out - John leaves us with one final zinger:
John 1:16-18
From the fullness of his grace we hall all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
There's two things here: (1) Jesus is a game-changer. Up to now, the rules of the game were established by Moses. But Jesus, by fulfilling the "rules" broke the rules and established a new foundational platform by which the game (life) must now be played: it's called grace and truth.
And (2) If you want to see God, Jesus is the way (the only way) to see Him. He has "made him known". In other words, the only way to know God is by knowing Jesus.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
358
If Jesus had stayed on the other side of the great divide, his favorite words would have been "Come here." But they're not. Jesus' two favorite words are "Follow me."
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
357
John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
John 1:15-16
We'll come back to John the Baptist's "testimony" because this is just the beginning of it. What I'm interested in is this: one blessing after another. This is coming from a man who will experience one torture after another. John will suffer. He will be imprisoned. He will experience trail after trial, and yet to him it was all blessing.
One blessing after another...is the kind of phrase you say about someone you love. Someone you really love...who really loves you...the kind of person you find yourself at a loss for words to describe...a person like Jesus...like Jesus was to him.
The same is true for you and me. When we get personal with Jesus, it might not be pretty, life will likely not get any easier, but we will see in the face of Jesus - love...life will become one blessing after another.
John 1:15-16
We'll come back to John the Baptist's "testimony" because this is just the beginning of it. What I'm interested in is this: one blessing after another. This is coming from a man who will experience one torture after another. John will suffer. He will be imprisoned. He will experience trail after trial, and yet to him it was all blessing.
One blessing after another...is the kind of phrase you say about someone you love. Someone you really love...who really loves you...the kind of person you find yourself at a loss for words to describe...a person like Jesus...like Jesus was to him.
The same is true for you and me. When we get personal with Jesus, it might not be pretty, life will likely not get any easier, but we will see in the face of Jesus - love...life will become one blessing after another.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
355
The Word became flesh and blood
and moved into the neighborhood
We saw the glory with our own eyes
the one-of-a-kind glory;
like Father, like Son
Generous inside and out
true from start to finish.
The Message
What strikes me tonight are the words "with our own eyes." John, who is writing this, saw this. He's not doing what I spend my days doing, making up stories. He is not even telling THE STORY. He's just telling us the truth. This is what happened. I didn't make it up. This book is an eye witness account of what the Word did when it became flesh.
and moved into the neighborhood
We saw the glory with our own eyes
the one-of-a-kind glory;
like Father, like Son
Generous inside and out
true from start to finish.
The Message
What strikes me tonight are the words "with our own eyes." John, who is writing this, saw this. He's not doing what I spend my days doing, making up stories. He is not even telling THE STORY. He's just telling us the truth. This is what happened. I didn't make it up. This book is an eye witness account of what the Word did when it became flesh.
355
It was like there were words, there was what was said, and there was what was meant – the distinct unity and otherness between thoughts, words, and the speaking of them. Sam wasn’t sure why this memory had surfaced, but here it was: “Words,” Vino had told him once, “are like the Holy Trinity. Three parts, one being, all equal, all interconnected, and yet all able to exist on their own.” Sam didn’t know why the memory came to mind, but he went with it. For some reason it seemed important. It, at the least, had the positive side effect of taking his mind off the weight. “Words are very much like the Holy Trinity,” Vino had said, “God, the Son, the Holy Spirit. With every word there is the Thought, the Word, and the Pronunciation. God is like the Thought. Thoughts are higher than the words, greater than the words, and yet they cannot be known without the word. Take love, for example, love is a beautiful word, but it is the idea that the word reveals to us that makes it so wonderful. Love is infinite and yet it is captured in those four letters – the four letters that make up the word, which is why, to us, words are essential. Words give substance to ideas, thoughts, and feelings. They make the intangible, tangible. We can know love because we have the word for it. We can also express love for the same reason. That expression is the Spirit of the Word, the Word Spoken. Every word has a voice, a sound attached to it whereby it can be communicated. Thoughts and words become powerful when they are spoken. However, the power comes not from the sounding. You can say gobbledygook ten thousand times at the top of your lungs and nothing will happen. But you can whisper I love you and kingdoms will fall, mountains will crumble; you say I love you and life will never be the same; the history of the world can change course on a phrase like that. It’s the meaning within the word spoken that constitutes its power. So be cautious with what you say, and careful with what you don’t. For better or worse, once a word is spoken, it is impossible to erase.”
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