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Unprepared: Luke 21:5-19

Published September 18, 2024 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: Luke 21:5-19 (NASB)

One morning, while studying this passage, a phrase caught me off guard.

You might know the feeling. You’re reading along, perhaps remembering many of the past times you read this same passage, and then you see it – a sentence or phrase that you never realized was there. “Who snuck that into my Bible?!” you ask.

Well, I had a similar moment while reading this passage. I was reading along, until verse 14 jumped out at me and caused me to pause. Here’s verses 13-15 to give verse 14 context: “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.” [verse 14 italicized]

By nature, by experience, or maybe even by personality I am a natural planner. My mind is always exploring the possible options and the various potential outcomes for my current list of upcoming decisions. If there is a possibility for something to happen, such as guest speaking or receiving an urgent new project at work, I will have a basic plan in place. This is why verse 14 challenges me.

Jesus tells His followers not to prepare beforehand. With my track record, I don’t know if I am capable of “not preparing” for anything. I suppose if I am faced with this type of opportunity to share my faith, I will need to force myself to not think about it, because my thoughts will organize themselves into a plan.

But, with this challenge, Jesus also gives a promise: “for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.” (verse 15)

Not only is this promise huge, it also brings peace into my mind and my heart. However, Jesus’ promise does not say that our opponents will accept the words He gives us, or that we will become friends afterwards. We need to look no further than the formerly blind man who was pulled in before the Pharisees and chief priests in John 9:13-34. They repeatedly questioned him, and when finally things have become about as tense as they will get in verses 30-33, the formerly blind man gives such a wise remark that it cannot be refuted, even though the leaders reject it.

In our passage for this entry, Jesus promises to do the same for us as He did through the Holy Spirit with this formerly blind man. The formerly blind man’s profound statement was perfectly timed and it couldn’t have been planned beforehand. Focus on staying close to Jesus, and He will help you respond to any accusations that come your way.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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Seeking Glory: John 5:16-47

Published September 17, 2024 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: John 5:16-47 (NIV)

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

Read John 5:16-47 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

In one of Jesus’ replies to a challenge He received, He shared a statement that completely shifted my perspective on His character. While Jesus hints at this idea earlier while talking about John’s testimony, He clearly states it several verses later in a way that doesn’t leave any loopholes for misunderstanding His intent.

During His response, Jesus directly states, “I do not accept glory from human beings.” (v. 41)

However, He quickly follows this up by saying “But I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.” (v. 42)

If Jesus followed His “but I know you” statement with an exception, or with a group of people who truly gives Him glory, then we might think He shared an exception to the rule. But Jesus essentially follows up by saying that He especially doesn’t accept glory from those who don’t have God’s love in their hearts. A human being who believes in Him may give Him glory, but He doesn’t accept it. A human being who does not believe would be even less likely to give Him glory, and even in the rare case that they do, He still would not accept it.

The next two logical questions we could ask ourselves are, “Does Jesus ever accept glory from anyone/anything?”, and “Since Jesus doesn’t accept glory from human beings, where does the glory go that is directed His way?”

To answer our questions, we can continue reading to learn a little more about what Jesus meant. Jesus continues by saying, “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (v. 43-44)

The response to our second question is easier to see. Since Jesus came in His Father’s name, any credit (i.e. glory) we try to give Him will be directed upwards toward the Father. Reading this shifted my thinking and prompted me to open my eyes to seeing miracles Jesus did where the gospel writers share that glory went to God the Father. In case you are wondering, there are many such examples. Giving the Father glory was one thing that motivated Jesus to help and heal people.

The response to our first question is trickier to see, but Jesus hints at it when He talks about how we should “seek the glory that comes from the only God”. (v. 44b)

While Jesus does not accept glory from us, He does accept glory from the Father, and He does allow the Holy Spirit to work through Him. In this way, Jesus sets an example for each of us – and it reveals His character. At the core of Jesus’ character is a 100% focus on God (the Father), and this God-focus can be a test we can use to determine whether someone is truly sent from God or not.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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The Pharisee Trap: Matthew 23:1-36

Published September 13, 2024 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: Matthew 23:1-36 (NASB)

During Jesus’ warning statements to His followers and the crowd regarding the religious leaders, He concludes by drawing our attention onto an interesting statement that reveals a profound insight into human nature. By sharing this statement, Jesus in many ways incriminates everyone in all history who has ever displayed a similar “self-righteous” attitude like these religious leaders had done.

Matthew shares Jesus’ caution towards and against the scribes and Pharisees by saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.” (v. 29-31)

In this challenge, Jesus essentially puts words in the scribes’ and Pharisees’ mouths, and then He uses those words to discredit their position. However, while this might sound like an underhanded tactic, the only way Jesus could have successfully pulled this off is if this was a legitimate reflection of the attitude these religious leaders had. By claiming they would have acted differently than their fathers, they are subtly associating themselves with the actions of those who went against God’s will many centuries and generations ago.

A few verses later, Jesus emphasizes all the wrong that these leaders are associating with by saying, “Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.” (v. 34-35)

The claim the scribes and Pharisees were making highlights a trait that most, if not all, humans exhibit. This trait is thinking that we would act differently than someone else if we were placed in the exact same circumstances that they were in. If we were raised in the same way they were raised and if we were placed in the exact same decision they faced – all without knowing the outcome – we maybe would choose something different, but we are fooling ourselves to think or say that we definitely would act differently. There is truly no way of making an accurate comparison between what happened then vs. what we would do knowing what we know.

This understanding highlights how the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus’ day had a very “self-righteous” attitude, and it is this attitude that Jesus is challenging them on. For us living today, pushing back at this characteristic of human nature will help us remain humble and more Christ-like, and it is only by letting the past be the past that we will ever be able to truly move into the future.

God sent Jesus to the earth to help us know Him better, and even though these religious leaders rejected Jesus, they did so because they had a flawed view of God and a self-righteous attitude. While it’s easy for us to fall into the same trap, focusing on Jesus is the only way for us to beat the trap and truly be free.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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God, Camels, and Wealth: Matthew 19:16-30

Published September 11, 2024 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: Matthew 19:16-30 (NCV)

 16 A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have life forever?”

 17 Jesus answered, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is good. But if you want to have life forever, obey the commands.”

 18 The man asked, “Which commands?”

   Jesus answered, ” ‘You must not murder anyone; you must not be guilty of adultery; you must not steal; you must not tell lies about your neighbor; 19 honor your father and mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ ”

 20 The young man said, “I have obeyed all these things. What else do I need to do?”

 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”

 22 But when the young man heard this, he left sorrowfully, because he was rich.

 23 Then Jesus said to his followers, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Yes, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

 25 When Jesus’ followers heard this, they were very surprised and asked, “Then who can be saved?”

 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “For people this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

 27 Peter said to Jesus, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. So what will we have?”

 28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, when the age to come has arrived, the Son of Man will sit on his great throne. All of you who followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms to follow me will get much more than they left, and they will have life forever. 30 Many who are first now will be last in the future. And many who are last now will be first in the future.

Read Matthew 19:16-30 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

There is a proverbial “elephant in the room” that faces us every time we read this passage, and up to this point, we have ignored it. However, in this passage’s case, the “elephant” is not an actual elephant, but a “camel”.

While teaching on the challenges those who are rich face, Jesus makes this startling statement in verse 24: “I tell you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Regardless of whether Jesus was talking about a literal needle (something that is used in sewing), or a human sized opening in the wall of Jerusalem, the reaction to Jesus’ words tells us what we need to know: “When Jesus’ followers heard this, they were very surprised and asked, ‘Then who can be saved?’” (v. 25)

This leads me to believe that the context for Jesus’ words suggests the more impossible of the two options, but it is only impossible when looking from one perspective. Jesus quickly follows up with another profound statement in verse 26: “For people this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

These verses that surround this event say two big things: It is impossible for anyone (especially someone who is rich) to enter God’s kingdom on their own, but God can make impossible things possible for those who place their trust in Him.

While the context of this event has wealth as a key theme, money is not the reason that makes salvation impossible for some while possible for others. Wealth brings with it a new level of temptation, and that temptation centers around trusting the money over trusting God. The more money one has, the more tempted they are to think their money or ingenuity is a safe place to lean. The temptation of wealth is to look to the wealth and not to God.

But God isn’t willing to abandon those who are rich. He doesn’t abandon anyone who is honestly seeking Him and wanting to place their trust in Him. In this event, Jesus points out that for many who are rich, the decision to follow Him is a much harder decision to make, because of the things we own.

In our world today, everyone looks at wealth as a relative thing. Perhaps only a handful of people actually think they are “rich”. In society, “rich” is a moving target. We base wealth on what we own: someone who has 50% more than you is “rich”, while someone who has 50% less than you is “poor”. The fallacy here is that the poorest of people living in one country could be richer than 95% of those living in another.

I honestly don’t see God looking down and categorizing people based on wealth. Instead, I believe He is looking for those who are willing to trust Him with their lives. For this group, God makes a way for them to enter His Kingdom. Wealth isn’t even an issue in God’s eyes. What matters is where we place our focus.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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