Welcome to Cam’s Reflective Bible Study Journal

Cam’s Reflective Bible Study Journal is a blog/podcast where Cam, one of Reflective Bible Study's founders, shares things he has discovered from his time studying the Bible (usually from one or more of the four gospels).

Get these insights via email (Click Here)

Important: Your email address will NEVER
be rented, sold, or shared with others!

Looking Past the World’s Response: John 16:16-33

Published August 27, 2024 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: John 16:16-33 (NIV)

16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Read John 16:16-33 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

During Jesus’ last conversation with His disciples before being arrested and crucified, He shares with them a big picture idea that can help us frame God’s perspective on our world. When trying to help the disciples see past what was about to happen, Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (v. 20-22)

The idea I find very interesting in this is while the world is rejoicing, Jesus’ disciples and followers will be mourning. This tells me that the world had a different goal than Jesus’ or God did – or did it?

While Jesus was in the grave, part of me wonders what was happening in heaven. Was heaven filled with joy over Jesus’ completion of His salvation sacrifice, or was heaven filled with sadness over Jesus’ death on the cross? While the world was rejoicing over Jesus’ death and the disciples were sad, was heaven rejoicing with the world, or shedding tears with the disciples?

I am inclined to believe that both joy and sadness were present in heaven on that Sabbath that Jesus rested in the grave. I think that day was a day with mixed emotions unlike heaven had ever experienced up to that point.

But the perspective Jesus shares here in these words to His disciples is a much bigger, broader perspective then the immediate moment. Jesus tells His followers that the world looks at the immediate moment for its emotions, but they are to give equal or greater weight to the perspective that looks at the ultimate end. This means that whatever comes our way, whether we experience things that cause us joy or events that bring tears, we can find joy when looking at the big, big picture that reminds us that Jesus returns, and when history has ended, Jesus will stand victorious!

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!

Subscribe to this blog and never miss an insight.

Flashback Episode — Destined for Destruction: Mark 13:1-2

Published August 26, 2024 in Audio Journal Entries

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iHeartRadio | RSS

Read the Transcript

As Mark begins winding down the events that happened in the temple during the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, he shares a brief statement one of Jesus’ disciples makes, and a startling response Jesus shares with the group of disciples. It is likely that the response Jesus gives prompts the conversation that we will focus in on during the next two episodes.

With that said, while it would be easy to skim past or skip over these two opening verses, these verses set the stage for a much bigger conversation, while also being surprisingly powerful on their own. Let’s read what happened when Jesus and His disciples leave the temple.

Our passage is found in Mark’s gospel, chapter 13, and we will read it from the New American Standard Bible. Starting in verse 1, Mark tells us that:

1 As He [and this is referring to Jesus] was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”

Let’s stop reading here. The next verse transitions into a conversation Jesus has with the disciples later that evening, and while that conversation is likely directly related to this short statement and response, what Jesus has shared here is too significant, and I don’t want us to miss this significance by attaching it to a larger passage in one episode.

In this short passage and conversation, Jesus makes a direct prediction, and He also makes a subtle one. The direct prediction was the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem which ultimately happened several decades later. The subtle prediction is that other buildings we build up will likely be torn down.

While I don’t know what the temple in Jerusalem looked like during the time Jesus and the disciples were alive, I do know that it was likely one of the most magnificent buildings in that region, and perhaps the grandest building that any of them had ever seen.

The Jews took pride in the temple they had built and decorated in Jerusalem. However, what was likely started as a project focused on giving God the best they had, over time and generations, the temple had become the focus in itself rather than simply a place designed to help those present focus on Someone else – specifically on God.

We can see that the temple was the focus in the statement this anonymous disciple makes. This unnamed disciple in verse 1 comments, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”

This statement has nothing to do with glorifying God, which is the only reason the temple had been originally constructed. This disciple’s statement is only focused on praising the building and those who constructed it and not on God, who it was constructed to glorify.

We could say the same thing about many of the iconic buildings in some of the most famous cities. Some of the most distinct buildings that immediately identify the city they are a part of are amazing to see, and they are engineering masterpieces. But few, if any, are constructed to glorify God. And when we look at what has been built, culture never praises God for it, but it praises itself and human ingenuity.

However, a building is simply a building. Jesus’ response, while shocking to all the disciples rings true with a huge, challenging truth: The best buildings we can construct as a human race are nothing but stones, wood, brick, and cement. The best buildings we can construct will ultimately not last past the disaster that Jesus knows is coming.

This leaves us with a question. Knowing that what we build will crumble at some point in the future, should we even try to build anything new, grand, or spectacular?

I would answer this question with a yes. In Jesus’ response, we don’t see any hint that the temple or other grand buildings are evil or wrong. A building is simply a building.

However, a building is never meant to be our focus. Instead, buildings are meant to be places where people can live, work, and collaborate with each other.

In the case of the temple in Jerusalem, it was constructed to be a place where Jews came to worship God and to offer their sacrifices to Him. In the cases of buildings today, they are constructed to help us fulfill purposes beyond simply looking pretty on the outside or inside. Houses are constructed to be places where families can grow and live together. Office buildings and factories are buildings constructed for people to be able to work and accomplish things with the help of each other. Churches are buildings designed for people to come together to worship God.

Buildings should never be seen as the ultimate answer to problems. This is because buildings come and go. Instead, buildings are to be seen and used as tools helping us achieve things together. Just like buildings are a result of hundreds, if not thousands, of people working together in many different industries, buildings are used by many people to accomplish things together.

The best humanity can create or build is nothing when it comes to what God has in store for us in heaven. Culture wants us to minimize God while glorifying what humanity is capable of building. Jesus challenges His followers to glorify God while being realistic about what humanity is able to accomplish.

Natural disasters, terrorism, and other catastrophes can easily destroy in minutes a building that took years to construct. This is why Jesus challenges His followers to not focus on amazing or extravagant buildings. Buildings come and building go, but what matters above everything else is giving glory to the One who created life, and the One who gave His life for each of us!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first in your life and choose to glorify Him in whatever environment you are in. Whether you are in a home, an office, a factory, a vehicle, or outside, take a few moments to give God the glory and thank Him for blessing you with life, with breath, and with the gift of eternity together with Him. Resist the culture’s temptation to place buildings over relationships, especially when it comes to your relationship with God.

Also, continue intentionally praying and studying the Bible for yourself to learn, grow, and move closer to God each and every day. While what we pray and study might matter to some, what matters more is that we actually pray and study. Praying and studying our Bibles is infinitely more significant than trying to find the best place to study in. Don’t let the lack of an ideal location stop you from growing closer to God through prayer and study.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or give up on where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Flashback Episode: Year in Mark – Episode 35: In a short response Jesus gives to one of His disciples, discover how Jesus wants us to relate to buildings and human accomplishments, and culture’s temptation that human accomplishment matters above everything else.

The Goal of the Bible: John 5:16-47

Published August 23, 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!

During Jesus’ response to a challenge some Jewish leaders brought Him regarding something He did on the Sabbath, we find a fascinating way that Jesus frames the scriptures. The scriptures Jesus was referring to was the Old Testament, because that is what had been written at that time. Many of us living today would also bring the New Testament under the heading of scriptures because we can see evidence of how God has preserved these writings throughout history like He has preserved the Old Testament writings.

We could even broaden the term scripture to mean anything that God (i.e. The Holy Spirit) has inspired a person to write regardless of whether it was included in the Bible. The way Jesus frames this term can equally be applied to all these different ways of understanding what people have written that was inspired, but in the context of the statement, only the Old Testament was considered Scripture to those present.

Jesus challenges these Jewish leaders by saying, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (v. 39-40)

The idea Jesus is sharing with these leaders is that knowledge does not lead to life. Knowledge can only direct someone to where they can receive life. Words written on a page are at the most basic level sets of marks that mean something to those who can understand them. The words themselves only have the power we let them have. If we don’t internalize the message a group of words shares enough to change our lives, then the words are really useless.

At some level, this is the same with the words that make up the Bible. If someone chooses to read them and they don’t impact his/her life, then the words are not worth anything. Knowledge that is not applied is not worth much.

The Jewish leaders had placed a heavy emphasis on studying and knowing the scriptures, but they had missed the point of what was being said. The goal of the scriptures was to point to Jesus.

According to Jesus, reading the Bible does not lead one to eternal life. Only those who come to Jesus and choose to believe in Him, which is another way of saying having faith in Him, trusting Him, and following His leadership and direction ultimately gain this reward. When we believe, follow, and obey Jesus, then we are walking along the path the scriptures have pointed us towards – and when this is the case, the scriptures have fulfilled their intended task.

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!

Subscribe to this blog and never miss an insight.

The Promise of Peace: John 14:1-31

Published August 22, 2024 in Audio Journal Entries

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: iHeartRadio | RSS

Read the Transcript

As Jesus finishes up the special meal He has with His disciples on the night He was arrested, John’s gospel includes a powerful teaching Jesus shares with His followers about staying hopeful, and Jesus also promises His disciples a gift He would send them after He has left.

I thought about shortening this passage, or splitting it up into multiple blocks, but I concluded that if I did, we might not be able to finish the year on time. With that said, the next few episodes will contain longer passages than normal, and in each, I won’t be able to draw out as much as I might want to if we had a little more time.

With that said, our passage for this episode is found in John’s gospel, chapter 14, and we will read it from the God’s Word translation. Starting in verse 1, John records Jesus’ words to these remaining disciples, saying:

1 “Don’t be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. So how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me. 7 If you have known me, you will also know my Father. From now on you know him through me and have seen him in me.”

8 Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will satisfy us.”

9 Jesus replied, “I have been with all of you for a long time. Don’t you know me yet, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I’m telling you doesn’t come from me. The Father, who lives in me, does what he wants. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe me because of the things I do.

12 “I can guarantee this truth: Those who believe in me will do the things that I am doing. They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do anything you ask the Father in my name so that the Father will be given glory because of the Son. 14 If you ask me to do something, I will do it.

15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. 17 That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you all alone. I will come back to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. You will live because I live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me and that I am in you. 21 Whoever knows and obeys my commandments is the person who loves me. Those who love me will have my Father’s love, and I, too, will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) asked Jesus, “Lord, what has happened that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will go to them and make our home with them. 24 A person who doesn’t love me doesn’t do what I say. I don’t make up what you hear me say. What I say comes from the Father who sent me.

25 “I have told you this while I’m still with you. 26 However, the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything. He will remind you of everything that I have ever told you.

27 “I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly. 28 You heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away, but I’m coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I’m going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.

29 “I’m telling you this now before it happens. When it does happen, you will believe. 30 The ruler of this world has no power over me. But he’s coming, so I won’t talk with you much longer. 31 However, I want the world to know that I love the Father and that I am doing exactly what the Father has commanded me to do. Get up! We have to leave.”

In this passage, several ideas jumped off the page at me. Probably the biggest idea, theme, and promise within this passage is that while Jesus is leaving, He is coming again. Second to this are the powerful ideas that seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing the Father; when we believe in Jesus, we will do what He does; when we believe in Jesus, He will answer our prayers; and when we love and obey Jesus, He will send us a helper.

A phrase stood out in Jesus’ promise to give us the Holy Spirit. Verse 16 tells us a key detail of this promise: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever.”

While at other points in time I’ve focused on the first phrase, the last phrase in this verse is significant. When God gives us the Helper, who is the Spirit of Truth, we will have that helper forever. When we are given the Holy Spirit, this gift is not temporary; it’s eternal!

I suspect that while we will always have the Holy Spirit while we love and obey Jesus, the way the Holy Spirit is present and working in our lives will likely adapt depending on our situation and our stage of life. This shouldn’t be seen as discouraging. Instead, this demonstrates a powerful type of love that knows each of us is unique, and we all need God in our lives in unique ways.

However, with all this said, Jesus also promises to leave us peace. From the way this section fits within the rest of Jesus’ message, I suspect that the peace Jesus leaves us is connected with the Holy Spirit. In verse 27, Jesus promises us that we will receive His peace, and this peace is unlike what the world gives. With Jesus’ peace, we should not be troubled, cowardly, or fearful.

Peace from the world’s perspective is accepting the rule of those who are more powerful. Peace in this instance does not allow for us to push back at injustice, because when we push back, we will experience resistance and hostility. Jesus does not want His followers to have the world’s form of peace.

Instead, Jesus promises us His peace, and it is a peace that allows us to stand up for God in this world, and a peace that doesn’t make sense to those who do not have it.

The peace Jesus gives His followers comes from knowing that with whatever happens in this world, Jesus has already successfully redeemed us and saved our seats at God’s table in the next world. We have peace because this life in sin is temporary, but our next life is eternal when we have placed our faith, hope, trust, and belief in Jesus!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always challenge you to do, intentionally seek God first and place your faith, your hope, your trust, and your belief in Jesus. When we believe in Jesus, we unlock all the blessings God has promised to give us, though some of these promised blessings are being saved for us when we step into our next life when Jesus returns. Instead of focusing on what God is saving for us, focus on the blessings He gives each of us today, and stand up for Him in our daily lives with the assurance that Jesus has already won the victory!

Also, pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow a personal relationship with God on the best foundation possible – which is on His Word and His promises. The Bible gives us the best picture of God, and through Jesus, we know what God the Father is really like and how much He really loves each of us.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year in John – Episode 34: While sharing with the disciples on the night He was betrayed and arrested, Jesus gives the disciples a number of promises, and one promise in particular, stands out as being powerful and counter-cultural when we look a little closer at it.

Join the discussion. Share your thoughts on this passage.