On Sunday our guest speaker was ethnomusicologist Jo Ann Richards. She presented several songs that she composed in the style of traditional Jamaican folk music. The texts of these songs were reflective of various Scripture verses.
The first song she presented was an echo of last week's sermon: John 14:6-- Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Sister Jo Ann gave an interesting theory, in light of this verse, concerning the belief that streets in heaven are paved with gold. She posited that the streets are paved with gold not because of the value of the gold, but because the value of Jesus far exceeds any other. If Jesus is indeed all we need, then of what value is gold? It is simply another common thing. It is no longer worthy of being fashioned into jewelry, nor is it worthy of being a standard for currency. It can be trampled upon without a second thought, because Jesus is our all in all.
I pray that He is everything to you.
Jesus, give us grace to love You with a love that will make the things of this earth "grow strangely dim." We long to see Your Glory.
Showing posts with label John 14:6. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 14:6. Show all posts
Monday, August 13, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
You Are The One I Praise...
As was said this past Sunday by our pastor, Jesus has been “accorded a place in society as a great man.” The secular world seems enamored enough with His parables, His teachings, His miracles.
But this same Jesus has made some claims about Himself. He's not just another "great man". He is God. He is Lord. And He loves us! And He is jealous for us! And we have no other entrance into Glory, except through Him.
Some questions:
Do we love Jesus, and extol Him above all else?
Is our love for Him expressed in our obedience to His commands?
Have we given Jesus exclusive rule over our lives?
Let's continue to worship the Lord Jesus, Savior of our souls.
But this same Jesus has made some claims about Himself. He's not just another "great man". He is God. He is Lord. And He loves us! And He is jealous for us! And we have no other entrance into Glory, except through Him.
Some questions:
Do we love Jesus, and extol Him above all else?
Is our love for Him expressed in our obedience to His commands?
Have we given Jesus exclusive rule over our lives?
Let's continue to worship the Lord Jesus, Savior of our souls.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
I Can't Recant.
During this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Sam spoke about the differences between empirical evidence and forensic evidence. He reminded us of the statements of Thomas, who said he would not accept his fellow disciples' testimony of having seen the resurrected Christ.
What did Thomas want? Empirical evidence. “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!” (John 20:25) In an incredibly gracious gesture, Jesus obliged him. “Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe." (John 20:27)
But the commendation of God is not gained from our demand for empirical evidence. If we have heard and know the word of God, we can't say things like "Well if God didn't want me to go to that place, then He would have prevented my car from working." See Thomas? He had walked with Jesus for the three years of His earthly ministry, and yet his demand for empirical evidence was evaluated by Jesus as unbelief. If we base our Christian walk on empirical evidence, we will bear the same rebuke.
There is a better proof of the truth of Jesus's claims: Forensic evidence. The testimony of witnesses through the ages who, in faith, took hold of the word of God and never let go. Hebrews chapter 11 lists some of the horrible deaths experienced by Christian martyrs. These men and women, convinced of the deity of Christ Jesus, chose to die rather than to recant their faith.
From then to now, we Christians are called to live by what we believe. But if we "have to see it to believe it", then where is the role of faith, which Scripture tells us is "the evidence of things not seen"?
Lord Jesus, help us to believe what You have said concerning Yourself. Help us to reject the urge for empirical data. We crave Your commendation, which is earned by belief and obedience. Give us grace to receive You by faith. Give us courage, by Your Spirit's power, to be witnesses of Your grace to the world.
What did Thomas want? Empirical evidence. “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!” (John 20:25) In an incredibly gracious gesture, Jesus obliged him. “Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe." (John 20:27)
But the commendation of God is not gained from our demand for empirical evidence. If we have heard and know the word of God, we can't say things like "Well if God didn't want me to go to that place, then He would have prevented my car from working." See Thomas? He had walked with Jesus for the three years of His earthly ministry, and yet his demand for empirical evidence was evaluated by Jesus as unbelief. If we base our Christian walk on empirical evidence, we will bear the same rebuke.
There is a better proof of the truth of Jesus's claims: Forensic evidence. The testimony of witnesses through the ages who, in faith, took hold of the word of God and never let go. Hebrews chapter 11 lists some of the horrible deaths experienced by Christian martyrs. These men and women, convinced of the deity of Christ Jesus, chose to die rather than to recant their faith.
From then to now, we Christians are called to live by what we believe. But if we "have to see it to believe it", then where is the role of faith, which Scripture tells us is "the evidence of things not seen"?
Lord Jesus, help us to believe what You have said concerning Yourself. Help us to reject the urge for empirical data. We crave Your commendation, which is earned by belief and obedience. Give us grace to receive You by faith. Give us courage, by Your Spirit's power, to be witnesses of Your grace to the world.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Know-And-Tell.
In John 3:16 the verse begins, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”. Jesus’s entrance into the earthly realm as an infant went largely unnoticed by the majority of people in that time. (see Matthew chapters 1 and 2.) But God went beyond Bethlehem and informed, through nature, a small group of wise men from the East. “We have seen His star and have come to worship Him,” (see Matthew 2:1-2). God loved the world, and the Magi showed up as a proof of His love. It was as if God said, Yes, I will speak to these wise men in a language they understand. Their culture speaks of a star announcing the birth of the King of the Jews, and I have given them the sign they were seeking.
About thirty years later, as we see in John 14:6, Jesus announced His deity in a geographical location that touches the world. This time, it is not announced to the sages through astronomy. Instead, it is shared through a common lingua franca. As Pastor Sam shared, all lands known at that time were able to communicate for the purposes of trade. And, all trade routes had to pass through Jerusalem. By confirming His deity during His time in Jerusalem, Jesus positioned His word to be shared throughout the known world.
And this is why He can say “no one comes to the Father except by Me.” He is the conduit. Africa, Asia, Australia, Americas... all must reckon with a tiny strip of land in Palestine, where Jesus made His claim as the Only option for mankind.
Do you know Him? Tell the world.
About thirty years later, as we see in John 14:6, Jesus announced His deity in a geographical location that touches the world. This time, it is not announced to the sages through astronomy. Instead, it is shared through a common lingua franca. As Pastor Sam shared, all lands known at that time were able to communicate for the purposes of trade. And, all trade routes had to pass through Jerusalem. By confirming His deity during His time in Jerusalem, Jesus positioned His word to be shared throughout the known world.
And this is why He can say “no one comes to the Father except by Me.” He is the conduit. Africa, Asia, Australia, Americas... all must reckon with a tiny strip of land in Palestine, where Jesus made His claim as the Only option for mankind.
Do you know Him? Tell the world.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Unigenite...
Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
On this past Sunday, Pastor Sam carefully unpacked this single verse. And it is good to be careful when unpacking verses like this, because verses like this have the potential to explode. As he said, and I paraphrase here, the above verse is a dangerous one to quote in the twenty-first century because it carries an exclusionary, exclusive tone. But there it is, in the canon, so we have to deal with it.
For anyone who is Christian, this reality of “the way, the truth, the life” is at the core of our faith. And it is Jesus- not Pastor Sam, not the denomination, not our personal opinion, but Jesus Himself- it is He who says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6 carries the echo of John 3:16, another verse that speaks of the exclusive nature and status of Jesus. As “only begotten Son” (see John 3:16) He is identified as unique, one-of-a-kind, with no other option available. He is the Only One. In the same manner, Jesus informs us in John 14:6 that He is the Only Way, the Only Truth, the Only Life. There is no other option available.
So, in light of this, we can never say “Jesus and…”. It’s not Jesus and Mommy, nor Jesus and Buddha, nor Jesus and Mary, nor Jesus and the Pastor (the uppercase “P” is deliberate, as an indicator of those who in fact deify their pastors). It’s only Jesus. Exclusionary and exclusive, because no one else can do what He does for us.
Who else has been crucified for our sins? Who else has made a way for our salvation? Who else is seated at the right hand of the Father? Who else can say, “If you have known me, you will know my Father too” (see John 14:7)?
Jesus, the Only Unique.
On this past Sunday, Pastor Sam carefully unpacked this single verse. And it is good to be careful when unpacking verses like this, because verses like this have the potential to explode. As he said, and I paraphrase here, the above verse is a dangerous one to quote in the twenty-first century because it carries an exclusionary, exclusive tone. But there it is, in the canon, so we have to deal with it.
For anyone who is Christian, this reality of “the way, the truth, the life” is at the core of our faith. And it is Jesus- not Pastor Sam, not the denomination, not our personal opinion, but Jesus Himself- it is He who says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6 carries the echo of John 3:16, another verse that speaks of the exclusive nature and status of Jesus. As “only begotten Son” (see John 3:16) He is identified as unique, one-of-a-kind, with no other option available. He is the Only One. In the same manner, Jesus informs us in John 14:6 that He is the Only Way, the Only Truth, the Only Life. There is no other option available.
So, in light of this, we can never say “Jesus and…”. It’s not Jesus and Mommy, nor Jesus and Buddha, nor Jesus and Mary, nor Jesus and the Pastor (the uppercase “P” is deliberate, as an indicator of those who in fact deify their pastors). It’s only Jesus. Exclusionary and exclusive, because no one else can do what He does for us.
Who else has been crucified for our sins? Who else has made a way for our salvation? Who else is seated at the right hand of the Father? Who else can say, “If you have known me, you will know my Father too” (see John 14:7)?
Jesus, the Only Unique.