Reflective Bible Study Gospel Adventure

Loving Like God: John 22:31-38

Published August 15, 2024 in Audio Journal Entries

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Near the end of the special supper Jesus shares with His disciples, and after Judas Iscariot had left, Jesus shares a powerful truth and challenge to His remaining disciples. While it would be easy to focus in on the part of Jesus’ words that Peter focused in on, something Jesus said is worth paying attention to that it appears as though Peter missed.

With that said, let’s dive into our passage and discover what Jesus shared that Peter missed, and several things that are worth us paying attention to. Our passage is found in the gospel of John, chapter 22, and we will read from the New International Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 31, John tells us that:

³¹When he [referring to Judas Iscariot] was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. ³²If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

³³“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

³⁴“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

³⁶Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

³⁷Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

³⁸Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

In this passage, we see Jesus challenge Peter on his vocal willingness to be ready to die for Jesus. Jesus responds with the famous challenge that Peter would deny Him that night. While it would be very easy for us to focus on this detail, there are two verses that seem to disappear when reading this passage. These two verses are powerful, but it is as though Peter doesn’t hear them because of what Jesus had just said before.

Immediately after Jesus told the disciples that they cannot come with Him, and before Peter asks Jesus where He is going, Jesus gives the disciples a new command in verses 34 and 35, saying “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

In this command, we might be tempted to think this is simply Jesus restating or reminding the disciples about one of the two greatest commandments that are shared earlier in the gospels. In many ways, loving one another is very similar to the command to loving our neighbor. However, if we stop here, we miss something significant.

Within the earlier command to love our neighbor, the context is very tangible, and when using Jesus’ illustration of the Good Samaritan, we have a framework for what it means to “love our neighbor”. The wording of this command is specifically to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

However, Jesus’ command to the disciples is distinctly different. Just as Jesus elevated God’s ideal for His law to a level much higher than the words themselves, such as when Jesus calls hating someone close as equivalent to murder, I suspect that Jesus is doing something similar here.

In the Old Testament law, we are challenged to love others as we love ourselves, and this makes us equals. This is healthy, and it pushes back arrogance and pride from our lives, because we are equal with each other.

However, Jesus’ command in this passage is that we are to love others like Jesus loved them. With this framing, does Jesus love other people as though they are equal to Him? While a case could be put together that implies this is true, when I read the gospels, I don’t see an equal frame for Jesus’ type of love. While it is very true that Jesus loved all people equally and individually, and while this is something we should do, I don’t recall seeing a place where Jesus emphasizes His equality with men.

In contrast, Jesus understood who He was, namely the Son of God, and He understood that we are sinners. This perspective could have led Jesus to judge others, which is a temptation for everyone to fall into, but it didn’t. Instead, this perspective led Jesus to extend mercy and grace to everyone God loved. With only one or two extraordinary exceptions, Jesus’ harsh words were reserved for those who believed themselves to be better than others and who used this moral superiority to bully those who were not as good as them. Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm today on many social and spiritual issues.

However, while Jesus understood that He was the Son of God, sinless, and that we all are sinners, how did that change His actions? Remember, Jesus is giving the disciples a new command to love each other like Jesus loved them, and what did Jesus do to demonstrate that love?

While we could easily jump to the cross, the disciples didn’t have that as a frame of reference like we do looking back on this event. Instead, the clearest modeling of Jesus’ new command was when, earlier that evening, Jesus stepped into the lowest servant’s role and washed their feet. When we look at how Jesus acted when loving others, never do we see Jesus step above someone else. Instead, in almost every case, Jesus steps down and places Himself in the role of servant to those needing help.

With all this said, Jesus elevates the Old Testament commandment in these two verses by challenging the disciples to place others ahead of themselves, like Jesus placed humanity ahead of Himself. It would have been easier to abandon humanity to sin, but it wouldn’t have been loving. True love in God’s eyes pushes past the easy, convenient solution towards the solution that puts others ahead of Himself.

We are called to love each other like Jesus loved us, and this is done when we place others ahead of ourselves. While this doesn’t eliminate the need for us to rest or to have healthy boundaries, it does mean that when God brings people into our lives that we can help, we are to place them ahead of ourselves and love them like the Godhead loves us.

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

As always, intentionally seek God first in your life and choose to love others like Jesus commanded His followers to do, and loving others like Jesus loved each of us. While Jesus paid the ultimate price for us, the love He models is giving Himself to help us in ways that only He could. We are called to use our time, our talents, and our resources to help others beyond the quick, convenient fix. While help often looks different depending on the situation, when in doubt, lean on God to help you know how to best love those He brings into your life.

Also, always pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow your personal relationship with Jesus. A personal relationship is personal when we focus on growing closer to Jesus and we don’t put anyone else in the middle of our relationship. While authors, speakers, pastors, or even podcasters can have good ideas worth considering, take everything you read, see, and hear and compare it with the truth found in the Bible. If what you are hearing or reading doesn’t match a clear truth within the Bible, it is an idea that likely won’t last beyond the end of sin.

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 discount where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year in John – Episode 33: Near the end of the special meal Jesus shares with His disciples on the night He was betrayed and arrested, He tells the disciples that He is leaving them and one other thing. While all the focus in the room went to the detail about Jesus leaving, the two verses that get ignored are among the most powerful verses in the Bible, and together, they give us a picture of God’s love for each of us!

Join the discussion. Share your thoughts on this passage.

Focused on Each Moment: Luke 15:11-32

Published August 14, 2024 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Read Luke 15:11-32 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most famous of Jesus’ parables, but there is a part of it that I have never heard anyone address: The Father’s role in what happens.

Many scholars and teachers will point out that this parable is more about the Father’s role than it is about either of the two sons. I agree, but one thing bothers me about this parable when looking at it with God representing the “father” character: God orchestrates the entire course of events.

What I mean by this is that the younger son comes home, and the last thing he is looking for is a party. He was more hoping to be one of the servants. The older son would have completely agreed with the younger one.

But the Father character flips the tables. He honors the son that was not seeking honor, and he knows that this will bother the older brother.

This entire situation is orchestrated by the Father. God uses this as one additional example of those who seek honor being humbled, and those who humble themselves being honored. There are ample examples of Jesus’ sharing this truth in all four gospels.

Why does this bother me? I’m not sure, but perhaps it is because I can understand the older brother’s perspective. If I had stayed faithful to God, and it looked like He had displaced me for someone who had fallen away, I could easily understand having annoyed feelings. If I were in the older brother’s shoes, I would have been offended at the idea of the younger brother being given a feast of honor.

But the truth is that God wants the older brother, and all of us, to understand something deeper about Him – and His character. He is focused on the moment, and this moment holds the return of His lost son. In any moment with this event, would you expect a loving father to react any less?

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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Facing Disappointment: John 21:1-14

Published August 13, 2024 in Written Journal Entries

Focus Passage: John 21:1-14 (NIV)

¹Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ²Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Read John 21:1-14 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

When reading the last portion of John’s gospel, and specifically the event where the disciples go out fishing, we can find an interesting picture of how God often shows up to work miracles. The way this event happened probably was not the way the disciples would have wanted it to go, but it was the best way for it to have gone looking back on it.

The event begins in the evening, and several of the disciples decide to join Peter who had just gotten the urge to go fishing. Perhaps Peter has doubts on whether or not Jesus would appear to them or whether Jesus would even accept Him back after his denials just weeks (maybe even days) before. Or Peter may have just been filling time while waiting for Jesus to arrive.

Whatever the reason, the disciples push out into the lake to catch fish – but their night could only be classified as unsuccessful: No fish and no Jesus showing up with them on the lake. It is not a stretch to imagine these disciples were feeling just a little disappointed.

In our own lives, often we face periods of disappointment, and times when things keep turning up empty. These times we may feel as though God has abandoned us or that He is not interested. But this is not the reason for the empty night at all.

When the sun started peaking up over the horizon, the disciples spot a person on the shore, and this person tells them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat after learning that they had caught nothing. While this sounds like a ridiculous request, the disciples obey, and they land the biggest catch they could have imagined.

It often is only after the periods of disappointment that we are truly ready to receive God’s blessing. This is not God making up for lost time with a gift of interest, but a growing experience for all those present.

If the disciples had caught fish during the night, they would have attributed their catch with their own fishing ability, but the only possible conclusion we can reach following this event is that God provided the fish. In a subtle way, Jesus says to these disciples that even if they chose to go back to a life of fishing, they will only be successful if He is with them. In a similar way, regardless of what we choose to do in life, the only way we can truly be successful in the roles we choose is if Jesus/God allows it.

The growth that comes is a growth that teaches us our need to depend on God. We often are tempted to depend on our own ability, but eventually, our abilities will fail us and we will need outside help.

God wants to help us and to bless us, but He doesn’t want His blessings to pull us away from Him. God wants to bless us in extravagant ways, but He doesn’t want His gifts to affect our relationship with Him. Too often, this is only learned after we face times of disappointment that can remind us of our need.

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Flashback Episode — The Missing Piece: Mark 12:28-34

Published August 12, 2024 in Audio Journal Entries

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As the religious leaders bring Jesus a set of challenges in what appears to be a last attempt to discredit His ministry, we discover in Mark’s gospel, a strange ending to this string of questions. However, it is likely that Mark summarized the conclusion of this event while other gospel writers include more detail.

During the last challenge that Jesus was given, we find the question appear surprisingly simple when compared with the earlier challenges. However, I wonder if this question was leading somewhere, and Jesus ultimately cut this train of questioning short.

After Jesus had been challenged by the Sadducees, a religious leader who heard what Jesus was saying decides to step in with a question of his own. Let’s read about what happened and discover what we can learn from this event.

Our event and passage are found in Mark’s gospel, chapter 12, and for our time together, let’s read it from the New International Reader’s Version of the Bible. Starting in verse 28, Mark tells us that:

²⁸One of the teachers of the law came and heard the Sadducees arguing. He noticed that Jesus had given the Sadducees a good answer. So he asked him, “Which is the most important of all the commandments?”

²⁹Jesus answered, “Here is the most important one. Moses said, ‘Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is one. ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹And here is the second one. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There is no commandment more important than these.”

³²“You have spoken well, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one. There is no other God but him. ³³To love God with all your heart and mind and strength is very important. So is loving your neighbor as you love yourself. These things are more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

³⁴Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely. He said to him, “You are not far from God’s kingdom.” From then on, no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions.

In this event, and from looking at all the trick questions Jesus had faced and avoided leading up to this point, it seems like this question was an easy one for Jesus. From looking at the other gospels and how they paint the big picture of Jesus’ life and ministry, I don’t believe this was the first time Jesus had been asked this question.

However, in this brief conversation, Jesus hints at something significant being necessary in order to gain entrance into God’s kingdom. In the summary that the religious leader shares with Jesus, he gives a compliment to Jesus for a well-summarized response. This religious leader also rightly concludes that loving God with all your heart, mind, and strength and loving your neighbor as you love yourself are more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. From this summary, we see that this religious leader believed love and dedication to God and love and kindness to his neighbor are more important than the entire sacrificial system that was set up.

Seeing that this leader had also responded well, Jesus compliments him by telling him, “You are not far from God’s kingdom.”

In Jesus’ response to this religious leader, we discover something fascinating. Loving God with all our heart is one piece of the key needed to enter God’s kingdom. Another piece of this key is loving our neighbors as ourselves. However, being “not far from God’s kingdom” implies that you are close but still not in it.

With all the laws being summarized in these two commands related to love, what piece of the key into God’s kingdom is missing in this man’s response, in this idea, or in this man’s life that He still needs to discover?

As I look at what Jesus hints at in this conversation, the only thing I can see missing in this summary is a Savior.

This religious leader had rightly concluded that love is at the heart of God’s law, and loving God and loving others is the filter that we must view God’s law through. However, in this leader’s conclusion, there wasn’t any room for those who had broken the law. While this summary of the law is amazing, no-one alive at that point in time, or at any point in history other than Jesus fully exemplified this understanding of the law 100% of the time.

The punishment for breaking the law is death. We could logically understand then that the punishment for not loving God with all our heart and for not loving our neighbors is death. Everyone fails at this standard, and because of this, the closest we can come to God’s kingdom on our own is about as close as this religious leader, which happens to be close to God’s kingdom, but not actually in it.

Verse 34 records Jesus’ response to this religious leader: “Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely. He said to him, ‘You are not far from God’s kingdom.’”

This religious leader needed a Savior. This leader, like all of us living throughout history, needs a Savior because we all have failed Jesus’ standard of love for God and love for our neighbor. Jesus came to be that Savior. In the context of the pieces of the key needed for entrance into God’s kingdom, the missing piece is Jesus as our Savior. With love for God, love for our neighbor, and Jesus as our Savior, we are able to step into God’s kingdom and into the life He created us to live!

While Jesus doesn’t emphasize the need for a Savior to this religious leader, Jesus’ disciples make it very clear after Jesus was resurrected and returned to heaven that Jesus was the Messiah that the Old Testament prophets told them about. Jesus’ disciples take the message of Jesus and they emphasize that we are to love God with all our hearts and our minds, that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and that we are to place our faith, hope, trust, and belief in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross for our sins!

Without Jesus, our faith is meaningless. With Jesus, our faith leads us into eternity!

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 place your faith, your hope, your trust, and your belief in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross for your sins. Choose to accept the gift Jesus offers you and accept the eternal life He deserved while He paid the debt that we owed.

Also, continue praying and studying the Bible for yourself to learn and grow closer to God each and every day. Discover in the pages of the Bible a God who is deeply in love with you and who is passionate about saving you for eternity. Don’t let anyone get in the way of you discovering this God for yourself and for growing a personal relationship with Him!

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 33: In what appears like an easy question Jesus received, discover in Jesus’ response a missing piece needed for entrance into God’s kingdom, and a piece that we all can discover in our own lives as we realize we have failed God.