New Commandment
New Commandment
John 13
When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.’
Therefore, when he (Judas) had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me... where I am going, you cannot come. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for another.
Have you ever been bedside when a loved one is close to death? Everyone seems to have their own story of such a time. It’s always painful, however, some have stories of joyful passing's and others, very painful. Read more
Emotional
Emotional
John 13
I’m having a difficult time moving out of the opening section of John 13. The Bible is like a reflection off a prism. As you turn it slightly to a different angle, you see a whole new wonder of radiant reflections of the glory of Jesus. So, why should I rush?
When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit ...13:21
We have seen, on occasion, the emotions of Jesus. In His sinlessness, His humanity is sometimes emphasized and His emotions are occasionally described by the gospel writers. As Jesus sat down with the disciples for the Passover dinner, John describes four thoughts that were dominant in Jesus’ mind. Thoughts that are filled with emotion. Read more
Someday You'll Understand
Cat Café in Vienna
Someday...
John 13:5-20
Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So, He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, ‘Lord, do You wash my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter’...So when He had washed their feet and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
Have you ever disciplined your children and told them, “someday you’ll understand and appreciate what I’m doing”? Jesus is telling them that someday soon, they’ll understand the importance of washing feet. Jesus is teaching them that His role on earth is to serve! He came to serve. His first coming was a mission of service.
The prophecy of Isaiah 53 describes the Messiah as a suffering Servant. It begins with God’s words, Behold, My servant, 52:13. Jesus is the servant of God. The prophecy ends with My servant will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities, 53:11. Jesus himself proclaimed For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, Mark 10:45. He is the Servant King. Do you want to be like Jesus? Nothing reflects the glory of Jesus in your life more than when you serve, in Jesus’ name (not for your own recognition). Read more
The School of Humility
Our family Thanksgiving!
The School of Humility
John 13:1-20
Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded...Truly, truly, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
The Bible highlights the disciples' struggle with pride. Consider the following three references to the Disciples' pursuit of greatness.
An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. Luke 9:46
They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, ‘what were you discussing on the way?’ But they kept silent for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Mark 9:33,34
And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be the greatest. Luke 22:24
But my favorite story of the bumbling disciples, Jesus’ beloved Keystone Cops, took place a very short time before the washing of the disciples' feet. They just didn’t get the concept of humility. Read more
Servant Leaders
Weekend in Vienna!
Servant Leaders
John 13:1-5
Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of the world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end...Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water in the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Jesus is a multi-dimensional person. This an understatement. We tend to gravitate in our thinking toward Him and His attributes in the manner we are most comfortable with. He’s my God. He’s my Savior. He’s my provider. He’s my King, my hero, the lover of my soul, etc. But, He has so many more attributes. He has the ability to step forth, exemplify and shine a particular attribute when it is needed the most. We tend to think of Him in ways that makes us feel good or comforted or according to what we desire the most at the time. Read more
To the End
To the End
John 13:1
Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
This is even better than to be “loved to the moon and back.”
This is even better than Dr. Seuss’ description of love: “We’re all a little weird, and life’s a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”
Let’s stick with Jesus’ words. He loves His own and He loves them to the end! Read more
The Legend of Jesus
The Legend of Jesus
John 12:20-50
The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him...And, I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself. But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.
The legend of Jesus escalated to epic proportions after the raising of Lazarus. The majority wanted to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and would bring salvation and deliverance from Roman tyranny. Last time, I ended with the following:
The people are ready to rumble. They would have followed Jesus anywhere. Jesus could’ve whipped them into a frenzy. But He didn’t.
Instead of tapping into the emotions of the group, Jesus begins to teach. Read more
The Triumphal Entry
The Triumphal Entry
John 12:12-50
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation; humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.’ These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and they had done these things. John 12:12-16
Oftentimes, events occur that are of significant importance that in the moment, we don’t realize the full impact. On June 16, 1981, I walked into a church office in Port Charlotte, FL and met a 19-year-old University of Florida student name Leigh Marshall. My heart definitely skipped a beat but I had no idea that I was meeting my life-long bride and soulmate. Fourteen months later were married and have spent the rest of our lives together. How could I know in that moment? Read more
Sister, part two
Off to the Marine Ball!
Sister, part two
John 12:1-12
Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So, they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
The scene is supper in the home of Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary. We speculated on their sisterly relationship last time. Once again, Martha is preparing and serving. As was the custom, the men are reclined at the table. Lazarus, whom He loved, is with Him. Martha is serving and most likely doesn’t even bother to ask Mary for help any more. Mary is a free spirit. She is emotional and giddy. Her beloved brother is alive and her Lord and Savior is in the house. Let's celebrate! Read more