Author Archives: tricialathrop

Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

Posted on June 4, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 47 of 49 

The third person of the Trinity remains mostly a mystery. Depending on the denomination, he can be ignored, exalted to higher than Christ, or considered a cause for misunderstanding leading to division. 

Today I’m looking at where the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the OT. This is not an all inclusive list.

What does it say about his character and purpose? What would the disciples have understood about him? 

We first find him in the beginning with God, hovering over the waters when God said, “Let there be light”. 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 

Ge 1:1–2.

The Spirit of the Lord’s presence in the life of Joseph and Daniel was obvious to those outside the faith.

And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 

 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 

Genesis 41:38–40

There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, 

 because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.” 

Daniel 5:11–12

The Spirit gives abilities when they are needed. These abilities can be given to more than one person so that the responsibilities are shared.

The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 

And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.” 

Ex 31:1–11.

And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone. 

Numbers 11:17

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.  Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 

Numbers 11:25–26

Today, most people understand prophesy to be telling the future. While that may be a part of a prophesy, it is simply proclaiming the Word of the Lord. We get so wrapped up in knowing the future that we forget, God will speak into our today to give us hope and encouragement…for today.

The Spirit of God came upon Balaam, and he blessed Israel even though he was paid to curse them. In the OT, the Spirit of God could come upon someone who did not fully follow the Lord. 

And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,  the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:  How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! 

Numbers 24:2–5

The Spirit of the Lord came upon men to help them when called to lead the people of God.

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. 

 Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. 

Numbers 27:18–19

But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 

 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 

Judges 3:9–10

In Judges 14 and 15, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson many times and he did great feats of strength. But he compromised his position as a Nazarite to the point that the Spirit of the Lord no longer came.

When Saul became king of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he prophesied among the prophets. But his disobedience led to the removal of the Spirit, and David received it instead. David prayed that the Spirit would not leave him.

Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.

1 Samuel 16:14

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. 

1 Samuel 16:13

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 

Psalm 51:10–13

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!  For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!  And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant. 

Psalm 143:10–12

Nehemiah and the prophets referred to the Spirit of God and his work among the children of Israel.

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. 

Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. 

Nehemiah 9:20–21

Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. 

Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. 

Nehemiah 9:30–31

But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. 

Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. 

Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? 

Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit, 

who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, who led them through the depths? 

Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble. 

Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. 

So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name. 

Is 63:10–14.

Prophesies of the coming Messiah referred to the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life.

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.  And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. 

Isaiah 11:1–3

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.  He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;  a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 

Isaiah 42:1–3

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, 

and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. 

Is 61:1–3.

There were also prophesies of when the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh.

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 

 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 

Ezekiel 36:26–27

And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.” 

Ezekiel 39:29

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.  Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. 

Joel 2:28–29

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. 

Zechariah 12:10

What did the disciples await in the upper room? 

The Holy Spirit in the OT provided wisdom, instruction, understanding, and authority. 

The Holy Spirit promised would be poured out on both men and women and enable the people to obey God’s rules and change the hearts to be softened towards the Lord.

Lord, thank you for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Give me a clearer understanding of what he provides for my walk with the Lord. 

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Palm Sunday

Posted on June 3, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 46 of 49

One of my favorite celebrations combines a children’s choir with the adult choir, joining together to sing a song of praise to the Lord while the children walk around the sanctuary waving palm branches. Hosannas ring throughout the congregation.

I used to think that hosanna meant praise the Lord, but it means, save us, we beseech you. Instead of a song of praise, it is a plea for deliverance.

And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 

29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 

30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 

31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 

32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 

33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 

34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 

35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 

36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 

37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 

38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 

39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 

40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” 

Lk 19:28–40.

Jesus joined a group of Galileans traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. For the former three years, Jesus had walked among them, teaching about the Kingdom of God and performing many miracles. He showed the people the love and care of the Lord.

On this journey, the people often sang the Psalms, in particular those called the Psalms of Ascent (Ps 120-134). 

Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!

Ps 134

I imagine the people traveling to Judea traveled with an expectation of good times with family and friends. The songs focused on the Lord and what he had done in the past, and what they could hope for in the future. They sang, unified in voice and in purpose. The excitement would have increased as they approached Jerusalem. 

They knew Jesus traveled with them. 

In first century Judea, the expectation for the Messiah ran high, especially at Passover. Palm branches had become a symbol of the Zionist movement, who wanted to remove Rome from Judea in any way possible, even riot and rebellion. 

So a multitude of people are traveling to Jerusalem, unified in singing the Psalms of Ascent and praise to the Lord. I’m sure that Jesus and his disciples joined in the songs. When they got close to Jerusalem, Jesus sends two of his disciples for a donkey which he sits upon. The disciples begin to sing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. Coats are laid before the donkey as it walks, palm branches are picked up along the way and the excitement and expectation moves to a higher level as the people focus upon Jesus as the long awaited Messiah who would deliver them.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! 

Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he,  humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 

Zec 9:9.

As the city prepares for an influx of pilgrims, here comes Jesus, sitting on a donkey and all the people are dancing and singing in celebration around him. Jesus ministry in Judea had been clouded with confrontations of the Jewish leadership. They did not like what they saw.

The Jewish leadership weren’t so much concerned that Jesus might be the Messiah, they didn’t want the status quo with Rome to change. They were comfortable with the way things were, they had some power and didn’t want to lose that standing if an uprising happened in Judea. 

People wonder how the crowd could have turned so quickly on Jesus to demand his crucifixion later in the week. The crowd that traveled with him to Jerusalem had witnessed his words and his actions for three years. Many believed he was the promised one. They would not have dealt with the politics of Jerusalem. 

The group in Jerusalem, who confronted Jesus, stood in the courtyard of Pontius Pilate and demanded his crucifixion. 

Some of the Pharisees told him to tell the people to stop proclaiming that he was the one to come. Jesus told them that If they stop, the rocks would cry out.

Writing this, I’m reminded of a night long ago, when as a preteen, I felt compelled to worship the Lord while lying in my bed. It was the first time I sang with a heart full of joy and love for the Lord. 

The people on the way to Jerusalem were united in purpose, to go to the house of the Lord and worship him there. They sang together, songs of prayer, worship and praise. They became part of a worship service that was beyond compare, much like what we will experience when we see Jesus face to face.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”  And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”  And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. 

Revelation 5:12–14

Lord, you alone are worthy of all honor, glory and praise. Remind me to take time each day to worship you.

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The Widow’s Mite

Posted on June 2, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 45 of 49. 

I enjoy going to the mall the day after Thanksgiving. Before online shopping, it was a day of total chaos as people tried to get the best deals for Christmas. I went to watch the people. I think I got that from my mom. 

Jesus people watched too.  The thirteen collection vessels sat in the court of the women, where both men and woman could go. Jesus watched as people brought their gifts. 

Some came with a great deal of fanfare, letting everyone know about the gift they brought. There could have been some scoffing as the woman brought in two copper pieces, leptas,  the smallest coins in circulation at the time.

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” 

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 

And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” 

Mk 12:38–44.

We have in this passage a contrast, the rich people giving large amounts and a widow giving two small coins. I wonder if the disciples were impressed by the value of the rich man’s gift. It doesn’t say, but Jesus makes a point to direct their attention to the widow. 

No matter how large an amount, some is still only a part…and all will always be more than some. The widow held nothing back from the Lord, she honored God with all that she had. 

We have another contrast in this passage. The scribes, Jewish leadership, loved to impress people with their piety and religious appearance. They dressed to impress, sat in seats of honor, both in the synagogue and at parties. With all the appearance of a life that worshipped the Lord, it was just a show as they devoured widow’s houses. 

Then we have the widow, probably poorly dressed, not invited to parties, and bringing a pitiful amount of offering into the Temple. 

When I people watch, I can only guess at the motivations for what I observe. Jesus understood the person’s heart and motivation. The woman revealed her love for and her trust in God with her gift. 

We don’t know what happened to her. I like to think that God gave her a new family and the means to enjoy a full life. If so, I’m sure she continued with a heart of generosity to those around her.

This is convicting to me on two levels. First, am I willing to give all to the Lord? My money? My time? My gifts? Where am I holding back…what am I holding onto?

Second, my evaluation of others, do I even try to see the one who is really sacrificing to honor God? Or do I just assume a sold out life by a facade of righteousness? 

Lord, open my eyes to the person who truly tries to honor you with all they say and do, that I may encourage them. Reveal to me where I am holding back from giving my all to you. Help me to trust you more. 

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Living Water

Posted on June 1, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 44 of 49

I expected to find the statement, “I AM the living water”, but no, Jesus never claimed to be living water.

He gives living water, Jn 4:10-14

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 

The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 

Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

Living waters flow out of the heart of the one who believes in him, Jn 7:38.

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

As the shepherd he will guide us to living water, Rev 7:17.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, 

and he will guide them to springs of living water, 

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Living water never stands still. It flows providing a clear source for drink and refreshment. Contrasted to stagnant water which often smells bad, grows algae, and breeds mosquitos.

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 

Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

Jn 7:37–39.

In the first century, the Festival of Tabernacles included a six day ritual of drawing water from the Pool of Siloam. The priests carried it to the temple in golden pitchers. They poured out the water around the altar. On the seventh day, the ritual was repeated seven times, pouring so much water that it ran in rivulets from the altar. Against this backdrop, Jesus made his statement, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me.” 

The festival served as a reminder of the wilderness trek where water was a precious commodity, and living water even more so. In Exodus 17, the people complained to Moses that they had no water. And God told Moses to strike the rock, and water came out of it for all the people to drink. 

We often refer to Jesus as the Rock of Ages. Psalms refer to God as the rock of refuge, a stronghold. Exodus 17 allows us to see an image of the suffering Christ, who provides living water.

They asked, and he brought quail, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river. 

Ps 105:40–41.

But for some reason, we humans tend to try to rely on our own efforts. I’m not sure why. Do we really think that we can be good enough to meet God’s standard without him? Do we want some of the glory? 

No matter what our reasoning, God desires to be the source of our salvation. He wants us to trust and rely on him.

for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. 

Je 2:13.

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, 

come, buy and eat! 

Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? 

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 

Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 

Is 55:1–3.

Jesus identified himself as the One sent from the Father, the true bread from heaven which provides eternal life to those who believe and the source of living water through which salvation comes to the people. Through him and him alone do we have a restored relationship with God. He is the provider of all we need to not only survive spiritually, but thrive. One with God, he is the creator, giver and sustainer of our lives.

You will say in that day: 

“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, 

for though you were angry with me, 

your anger turned away, 

that you might comfort me. 

“Behold, God is my salvation; 

I will trust, and will not be afraid; 

for the Lord God is my strength and my song, 

and he has become my salvation.” 

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 

And you will say in that day: 

“Give thanks to the Lord, 

call upon his name, 

make known his deeds among the peoples, 

proclaim that his name is exalted. 

“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; 

let this be made known in all the earth. 

Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, 

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” 

Is 12:1–6.

Lord, thank you for providing us with your living water that sustains us and helps us to thrive. Thank you for being the source of our salvation. Remind us not to rely on our own resources which will never satisfy.

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I AM the True Vine

Posted on May 31, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 43 of 49

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 

You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 

These things I command you, so that you will love one another. 

Jn 15:1–17.

Jesus delivered his final I AM before his death and resurrection to eleven of the disciples on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane. They probably passed through a vineyard or two undergoing the pruning process, with the fruit just beginning to appear. Perhaps they even saw some piles of burning branches. Jesus provided a great visual for his name.

The vines, ampelos, provide nourishment and stability for the branches, klema, which extend from the vine and bear the fruit. A cultured vineyard needs a vinedresser who spends time pruning and directing the branches in such a way to produce the best of grapes. He protects, prunes, fertilizes, and trains the branches along the trellis, carefully tending the vineyard.

This name differed from the others. The others focused on the unity of Jesus Christ with his Father, this name connects the disciples into that unity. It is not only Jesus and God working together, but adds the disciples to the process of glorifying God by bearing good fruit. It explains the disciples relationship to Jesus, their belief results in actions and words which will bear the fruit that God desires.

Jesus called himself the True (trustworthy, genuine, real) Vine. As the vine he kept his Father’s commandments, abided in his Father’s love and spoke the word of the Father. He loved the disciples.

He spoke the word of the Father in order to cleanse them. 

He spoke the word in order that his joy would be in us. He desires our joy to be full. 

As he is the vine, he called God the vinedresser who is glorified when we bear much fruit. The vinedresser works to ensure that the branches bear fruit that is beneficial and lasting. He makes the decisions for each branch, whether it is fruit bearing or not. The decision of pruning, whether it is being cut back to bear more fruit, or totally cut off comes from the vinedresser. Jesus called twelve disciples, one of whom betrayed him. Judas’ branch was broken off.

I used to travel through upstate NY when the grapes ripened. The aroma of concord grapes filled the car and smelled so good, it made me want to eat them. We want our fruit from abiding in Jesus to have the same effect on the people within our sphere of influence, to want to know about God.

For the eleven, and also for us came the command to abide in Christ and his love, and to let His word abide in us. These two things will enable us to bear good fruit that remains, providing the proof that we are his disciples.

What does it mean to abide?

  • Get sustenance from
  • Cling to
  • Contentment in where you are
  • Resting in his love and care
  • Choosing to remain in him
  • IF we keep his commandments THEN we abide in his love

Jesus could not hide his love for his disciples. He elevated them from a subservient position to that of a friend. Obedience provides the proof of the friendship. He revealed to them everything he had received from the Father, he gave them his name to use with his authority, and he appointed them to go and bear fruit. 

He emphasized the command for them to love one another. Up to this point, there had not been much love revealed from the disciples. They bickered over who was the greatest. They had no desire to be the one washing the feet of the others. They came from different backgrounds: a tax collector and a zealot; ignorant fishermen and educated (Nathaniel). Yet each one followed Christ. 

Jesus told them to love as he had loved them…and was going to love them by dying on the cross. We must receive love from God before we can truly love anyone else. And, because he loves us so completely, we are free to love. The Gaither’s used to sing a song: “I am loved. I am loved. I can risk loving you, for the one who knows me best, loves me most.”

We can ask anything in Jesus’ name and God will give it. This is not a genie in a bottle asking, this is asking in Jesus’ name, according to his will. We are free to ask for what we want, but if it is for our own desires, we might receive a no. However, when we ask according to his will, hoping to advance the Kingdom of God, or to show love to another, we can expect God to act…maybe not the way we expected, but God is faithful to give to us what is best.

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 

Jas 4:2–3.

God desires that we bear good fruit, and we can only do that when abiding in the vine, Jesus. As we receive God’s love through Jesus, we will be extending to each other all that we hope for ourselves. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will flow out to those around us in our actions and words, releasing a fragrant aroma of hope that we can only find in Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus said “I AM the True Vine”

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I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life

Posted on May 30, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 42 of 49

The time had come. Within 24 hours, Jesus would be tried, condemned and hung on the cross to die. In his last precious moments with his disciples, his words contained the essence of all he wanted his disciples to remember. He understood that his leaving would cause sorrow, confusion, and fear.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  Jn 10:10

In Christ, our life continues to grow and expand…Jesus came to give us abundant life. It’s not our possessions that make our life abundant, but the love, contentment and joy that we can have through Jesus Christ. 

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” 

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 

Jn 14:1–14.

The disciples were disturbed that Peter could deny Christ (Jn 13:38), I’m sure they considered themselves equally fallible. Jesus encouraged them and told them he was going to prepare a place and would come back for them.

The picture is one of a marriage. After a betrothal, the future husband returns to his father’s house and prepares a place for the bride. The son could not return for the bride until the father said the place was ready. 

Jesus spoke about his return to the Father, to prepare a place for them. Because he’s with the Father, they will be able to do even greater works than Jesus did. They could ask for anything in his name and his Father would provide it.

But they didn’t understand.

Thomas said: “We don’t know where you are going, how will we find the way?”

Jesus responded: “I AM the way, the truth and the life.” 

In the Greek, these words are placed in such a way to indicate that “the way” is the most important part of the name. The Way is first and foremost, all must come through Jesus Christ to arrive at the Father. Following Jesus Christ leads us to the truth about God’s plan. Knowing Jesus as the way, leads us to truth that leads us to life, eternity with the Father.

They still didn’t understand and Philip spoke up, “Show us the Father.”

We only have Jesus’ verbal reply. “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me?”  I wonder if he sighed…

It must have been hard to have a human Jesus who needed to eat, sleep and eliminate waste like everyone else…and think of him as God Almighty. I think they grasped that he was the Messiah, the chosen of God…but it was a stretch for the finite mind to equate him with God, even though he told them multiple times. 

Even today, it is difficult to fully comprehend the concept of the Trinity. 

Jesus came to earth to reveal the Father by being the image of the invisible God. He came as a tactical expression of the Father’s character; full of love, mercy and grace. God wants a return to the intimacy he had with Adam when they walked and talked in the garden together.

Jesus death and resurrection opened the way for all of us to come into God’s presence. Our sins are paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. His resurrection broke the power that death has over our souls. Our physical bodies will die and decay, but we will live forever in fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 

And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 

Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 

While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 

And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 

O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” 

Jn 17:1–26.

Because Jesus said “I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life”

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I AM the Resurrection and the Life

Posted on May 29, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 41 of 49

Death, the final frontier.  Jesus existed from the beginning as God, a member of the Trinity, always living. He never experienced separation from God or death. He knew what it was, he knew the effects on a human…but he had never experienced either himself.

Jesus faced the death of his physical body. Did he know about the separation from God? It sounds as if he is surprised by it on the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”, while experiencing separation from God for the very first time.

Did he face his coming death with trepidation? In the garden he prays, “If possible, let this cup be taken from me.” 

Jesus made a statement to the people around him, “God gave me the authority to lay down my life and the authority to take it up again.” This statement of faith showed that he trusted God completely, that by dying, something he had never experienced, he would be able to rise again.

When he spoke in the garden, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done,” he gave a statement of conviction. He chose to walk in obedience, fully dependent upon God to keep his word. 

Life exists in organisms who are capable of performing functions such as reproduction, ingesting nutrients, expelling waste. Death occurs when those functions cease. Life must exist for death to take place.

Resurrection, coming back to life, can only occur after a death.

When we use the term resurrection, which literally means to rise up, it almost always means to be raised up from the dead. Spiritually, we use it to refer to ourselves after accepting Christ, we are now dead to sin and risen in Christ.

On Day 11, I spoke of the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Today I will focus on Martha’s discussion with Jesus. 

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 

She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” 

Jn 11:20–27.

When he tells her that her brother will rise again, she answers that she knows he will on the last day. It didn’t cross her mind that Jesus meant that day.  Jews believed resurrection could happen up to the third day. But four days meant that Lazarus was as dead as could be, no hope for a physical resurrection. 

The understanding of the resurrection in first century Judea considered it to be on the final judgement day, when Israel would rise to its former glory with the Messiah as the forever King. All the other nations would be judged and condemned for their treatment of the Jews.

Jesus continues: “I AM the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. Everyone who believes in me will never die.” Then he asks her if she believes that.

Martha’s dilemma: “Everyone who believes in me will never die”…my brother believed and is dead. Belief vs sight, it’s not always crystal clear, our eyes are dimmed by our experiences.

So Martha gave a statement of faith. “Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who was promised to come.” In her understanding, he was the one to bring about the resurrection in the final day. He was her only hope…”even now, the Father will do what you request.”

To follow Christ, we need to die to ourselves. Death came into the world, because Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil instead of the Tree of Life.

Christ was life from the beginning, he had no death within him. However, he came as a man, to die so that we could have a resurrected life, free from sin. Jesus embodied life, he did not have to die. He chose to die, and chose to take up his life again in resurrection.

  • Jesus being both-gives life initially and returns it when lost
  • Jesus had life within himself
  • Jesus able to give and receive the resurrection

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 

I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 

When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 

The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Jn 11:38–44.

Jesus told the people to roll the stone away. Can you imagine the shock on every face? They all knew four days dead meant he would stink. Martha spoke up, and he reminded her of his words, “Did I not tell you, if you believed, you would see the glory of God.” 

What went through her mind at that time? Was her heart stirred with a belief that passes all understanding? Did hope arise in her? She gave the word to remove the stone. This is not stated, but it is understood that no one would have moved the stone without her permission. 

”Lazarus, come out.” Jesus had to call him by name, if he had just said “Come out,” it is very possible that all the past relatives would have come out with Lazarus. Jesus told the people to unbind him, so that he could walk freely. 

It is interesting to read the resurrection narrative in light of Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life. In these narratives, we find the living example of a life laid down and taken up again. Because Jesus Christ lives, we have eternal hope.

  • Matthew 27:32-28:10
    • Tombs were opened-saints who had fallen asleep appeared in the city
      • Saints, those that lived for God
      • Imagine being in Jerusalem and seeing your dead relatives
    • You seek Jesus who was crucified: not here, risen as he said
    • Tell my brothers to go to Galilee, there they will see me
  • Luke 23:26-24:12
    • Jesus continued to do the work of God, even on the cross
    • Thief: Today you will be with me in paradise
    • “Save yourself”
    • Why seek the living among the dead?
    • Disciples didn’t believe the women
  • Mark 15:33-16:8
    • You seek Jesus who was crucified. He is risen
  • John 19:1-20:18
    • Pilate no authority unless given by God
    • Made sure his mother was cared for

The resurrection is key to the Gospel message, without it, we have no hope of a future. It is mentioned quite often in the letters written to encourage Christians.

  • Acts 24:14-16
    • There will be a resurrection of the just and unjust.
    • Keep a clear conscience before the Lord
    • Christianity first called “The Way”
  • Romans 6:5-11
    • We will be united with Christ in resurrection
    • Old self crucified so we no longer enslaved to sin
    • Die with Christ, live with Christ
    • Death has no more dominion over the one who died
    • When we are dead to sin, we are alive to God in Christ Jesus
    • Christ’s death, once for the sin of all
    • Christ lives his life for God
  • 1 Corinthians 15:42-49
    • Resurrection of dead
      • Sown perishable-raised imperishable
      • Sown dishonor-raised in glory
      • Sown in weakness-raised in power
      • Sown in natural body-raised a spiritual body
    • Adam became a living being, Christ became a life-giving spirit
    • We are the image of the man of dust, we will bear the image of the man of heaven
  • Philippians 3:7-11
    • Knowing Christ
      • More valuable than anything I own
      • More valuable than anything I am
      • More valuable than my own righteousness
    • By faith
      • Know him
      • Know the power of his resurrection
      • Know the fellowship of his suffering
    • Become like him in death
      • So that I may attain the resurrection from the dead
  • 1 Peter 1:3-6
    • Resurrection of Christ provides a living hope
    • It causes us to be born again
    • We have an inheritance
      • Imperishable
      • Undefiled
      • Unfading
      • Kept in heave
      • Ready to be revealed in the last time

As I consider Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life. He is the essence of life. In him flows the blood of the ages, an eternal existence that brings glory to God.

He brings life back to the world, what Adam sold for a piece of fruit, Jesus restored by his death and resurrection.

We are resurrected to live a new life, not bogged down in the bondage of sin, but free to live as God desires, dying to our own desires.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 

  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 

Php 3:7–11.

Because Jesus said “I AM the Resurrection and the Life”

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I AM the Good Shepherd

Posted on May 28, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 40 of 49

We are all familiar with the image of Jesus as a shepherd. We often see the picture of Jesus holding a lamb surrounded by sheep. But that image is insufficient to describe the reality of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. 

The definition of shepherd: One who cares for, guides, and guards sheep. Pretty simple in concept, and includes keeping the flock together, seeking the sheep who go astray, keeping them safe, and providing all they need.

It has been expanded in meaning, in both the OT and the NT to include leadership. The leaders serve in the role of shepherd; caring, guiding and guarding the people who are under their leadership. 

John 10:1-10 The Good Shepherd

Jesus gave insight into the role of the shepherd. A shepherd enters by the door. He is not a stranger to the sheep or to the gatekeeper. He goes before the sheep, they follow him and they know his voice. He helps them to find pasture.

The sheep will run from a stranger. The thief and robber don’t enter by the door and come to steal, kill and destroy.  No purpose is given to the stranger, but the thief and robber are definitely up to no good as regards the sheep.

John 10:11-18 I AM the Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 

13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 

15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” 

Jn 10:11–18.

Jesus became more specific about the role of himself as the shepherd, calling himself the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep. He spoke of his relationship to the Father, who gave him authority to give his life for the sheep.

Jesus compared himself to the hireling. A hireling runs away from danger, for instance a wolf attack. He acts like a shepherd, but cares more for his own life. The hireling is not like the thief, intent upon the destruction of the sheep, but his uncaring actions result in the destruction of the sheep all the same.

We find through this example, the loving care that God and Jesus have for the sheep, not only those found in Israel, but those of the Gentile nations, all the sheep who listen to his voice and follow his lead.

Jesus knows the Father and what the Father desires of him. He knows the sheep and what is best for them. He speaks to his sheep and they hear his voice to follow him, knowing that the shepherd provides food, water and safety. 

To better understand Jesus’ reference to himself as the Good Shepherd, we need to go to the OT. The Jews would have been familiar with this passage.

Ezekiel 34:1-31 Bad Shepherds

In this passage, God spoke to the shepherds of Israel, the priests and Levites in charge of caring for the people of Israel. He accused them of:

  • Feeding themselves instead of the sheep
  • Clothing themselves with the wool from the sheep
  • Eating the fat of the sheep
  • Not strengthening the weak sheep
  • Not healing the sick sheep
  • Not binding up the injured sheep
  • Not seeking the sheep who were lost or strayed
  • Ruling them harshly

The shepherds abused their position, using the sheep for their own benefit.

The sheep, because of the treatment of the shepherds, wandered aimlessly, scattered over the hills and mountains, living as prey and food for the wild beasts. 

God promised to seek and rescue them from where they had been scattered. God would return them to Israel with good pasture where they could lay down in peace and rest. He promised to bind up the injured, strengthen the weak, and feed them justice. He promised to set over them a “good shepherd”.

When we look at this passage in relation to the healing of the blind man in chapter 9, we can see a connection between the false shepherds and the leading Jews. The people lived in fear of the Pharisees, worried that they would be cut off from the synagogue…scattered to fend for themselves. The Pharisees had no idea who the blind man was, even though he begged at theTemple gates daily. Instead of rejoicing with him, they complained that it took place on the Sabbath, and kicked him out of the synagogue…at a time when he would finally have been eligible to enter into the Temple to worship in God’s presence. 

Jesus as the Good Shepherd healed the blind man’s wounds and sought him out, not waiting for the man to come to him. He spoke to the man.  The man recognized Jesus as that promised Good Shepherd and began to follow him.

The OT references to the Good Shepherd:

  • Psalm 23
    • Provides needs
    • Makes lie down in green pastures
    • Leads beside still waters
    • Restores
    • Leads
    • Remains in times of trouble
    • Provides provisions in front of enemies
    • Anoints with oil (healing)
    • Leads to the house of the Lord
  • Isaiah 40:10-11
    • Powerfully saves
    • Gathers lambs in arms
    • Carries the young
    • Gently leads those with young
  • Amos 3:12
    • Rescued those in need
    • Remove the broken pieces from the mouth of the lion
  • Micah 5:4-5
    • The sheep will be secure
    • The sheep will have peace
    • Will maintain their life

John 10:19-21 The people respond

The people were divided, some believing him and who he said he was and others thinking he had a demon or was insane. It is important for us to remember that it is the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind (Ps 146:7-8). If God does not open the spiritual eyes, one cannot see.

John 10:22-39 If you don’t believe me, believe the works

Even though Jesus made it plain that he was the One sent from God, the Jews again asked him to state his identity. I’m sure Jesus shook his head, they hadn’t believed before, why would they now?

He spoke about his sheep. They know him (unlike the Jews), they hear his voice (the Jews hear, but don’t choose to comprehend), they will never perish.

And then he said, “I and the Father are one.”

That was what the Jews were waiting for, an explicit, no way to misunderstand statement…in their mind, blasphemy. So they picked up stones to stone him.

In past confrontations, Jesus disappeared from them, but this time he stayed and questioned their action. He referred to his works… they could not argue against any of his works. The actions spoke to his identity and confirmed his words. The Jews were always seeking signs, Jesus provided them and they didn’t believe anyway. But Jesus continued to do what God called him to do, despite the opposition.

The NT contains references to Jesus as our shepherd. They tell us about his identity and his relationship to us.

  • Matthew 9:36
    • Jesus had compassion on the people, like a sheep without a shepherd
  • Lk 12:32
    • God wants to give us the kingdom
      • The fear not gives us a picture of the shepherd petting and comforting the sheep
  • Jn 15:13
    • Greater love, man lay down life for friends
  • Hebrews 13:20-21
    • Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep
    • We will be equipped with all we need
  • 1 Peter 2:24-25
    • He bore our sins
    • We strayed, but have returned to the Shepherd and overseer of our souls
    • Reveals his humility and suffering
      • 2:22-24 brings out that we are continually straying, not just a one time thing
  • Revelation 7:17
    • Jesus will be our shepherd
    • He will guide us to living waters
    • He will wipe away our tears
    • Jesus as a human felt as we feel
      • He relates to us in a very personal way

Jesus, the Good Shepherd reveals the love and care that Jesus and the Father have for us. He provides all our needs, we need look no farther. As the shepherd, he knows our need better than we do.

Because Jesus said “I AM the Good Shepherd”

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  • I will________________
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I AM the Door

Posted on May 27, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 39 of 49

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 

2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 

3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 

5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 

6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 

7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 

8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 

9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 

Jn 10:1–10.

John 10 takes place at the Feast of Dedication (Feast of Lights), in winter (vs 22-23). The Feast of Dedication is what we know as Hanukkah. At the time of Jesus it was celebrated as a rededication of the Temple. Today in America, most Christians see it as a Jewish substitute for Christmas using a menorah instead of a tree. 

Hanukkah celebrates a miracle of God that happened during what we call the 300 quiet years, where God did not speak to his people. 

Around 200 bc, Syria, Greece, Egypt and Rome fought for control in Israel. Antiochus III worked with Israel to oust Egypt, but when he died, Antiochus IV wanted all to embrace the Greek lifestyle. He refused to let the people study the Torah, sacrifice to God, and tried to force them to eat pork. He sacrificed a pig on the brazen altar, erected a statue of Zeus in the Holy Place and assassinated the priests.

The 90 year old High Priest refused to eat the pork they tried to force feed him. His people, in order to spare him the pain of refusing, told him to pretend to eat it. He refused because he did not want to give the impression to the children that he had compromised and turned away from Adonai. He died a horrible death.

Judas Maccabeus led a rebellion in 164 bc. The people expelled the Greeks and cleansed the Temple. They found one small jar of uncontaminated oil, not enough for lighting the candlestick in the Temple, but it was multiplied and provided enough oil for 8 nights, or until they were able to consecrate new oil. That is the reason for the lighting of the menorah for 8 nights, remembering God’s miracle of the oil. 

The holiday rejoices in God’s provision of the oil and a deliverer in Judas Maccabeus. They celebrated the rededication of the Temple and looked forward to the coming deliverer, the Messiah. 

This festival encouraged a great hope that the Messiah would arrive and deliver them. But they did not seek a spiritual deliverer, they sought one to free them from Rome.

In John’s Gospel, he preceded the “I AM the door” with the story of the healing of the blind man. Because he claimed to believe in Jesus, who had healed him, the Pharisees expelled him from the synagogue, which included exclusion from the Temple also. They felt as if they were in charge of who had access to the people of God and to God himself.

Jesus specified that he is the door of the sheep.

The watchman was usually one of the shepherds. The folds could contain several flocks. At the door, each sheep who entered must go under the rod which the shepherd placed across the door, too high to step over, but the sheep must bend down to go under. This revealed anything that was wrong with the sheep so the shepherd could take care of it right there; removing burrs or placing oil on a wound or cut, or dealing with a lame leg. Then he would lay at the door so that the sheep had to go through him to get back out. 

As we looked at the OT passages referring to a door, there is a sense that the door to God’s presence requires righteousness to enter. Our righteousness provided through Jesus Christ allows us access to the presence of God. Entering God’s presence gives us access to the kingdom of God, eternal life, rest, and fellowship. 

Jesus is the only way to the Father, there is no other.

When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the Temple split from top to bottom. This curtain allowed only the High Priest to enter God’s presence once a year, but only after steps of preparation including sacrifice, washing, changing clothes, and carrying the blood and incense (Lev 16:1-29). 

Jesus, as the door, opened the way for us to enter God’s presence without all the preparation. He was our sacrifice. He washed away our sins. He has clothed us in righteousness. He did it all for us on the cross.

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!

 Mk 15:37–39.

Because Jesus said “I AM the Door”

  • I have_________________
  • I can_______________
  • I will________________
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I AM the Light of the World

Posted on May 26, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 38 of 49

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 

15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 

16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 

17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 

18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 

19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 

20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. 

Jn 8:12–20.

Jesus claimed to be the light of the world on the day after the Feast of Booths. For the festival, two giant golden lamp-stands stood in the treasury. Many lamps hung on each lamp-stand and were lit every evening during the festival. It is said that the lights could be seen all over the city. 

The lights symbolized the pillar of fire by which God led the Israelites through the wilderness on their way to the promised land. 

The day after, when the lights were no longer burning, Jesus declared himself to be the Light of the World. He stood in the treasury near the Court of the Gentiles.

With his statement, he identified himself as God, the pillar of fire in the wilderness and the one promised by Isaiah, the Light of the world to the Gentiles.

Light, the absence of darkness, shines and makes visibility possible.

What are the characteristics of light? Light is not just what we can see, it includes infra-red and x-rays. In fact, we see far less light than is out there.

  • Light needs no source to exist, however, the light we see does have a source.
  • Light can be emitted or reflected.
  • Light makes things clearer. 
  • Light provides warmth and heat. 
  • Light promotes growth.
  • Light can be a beacon or guide.
  • Light moves at the fastest speed possible. If one sits on a traveling photon, no time passes. Since God is light, he is not bound by time.
  • Without light, there can be no life. 

The OT speaks a lot about God as light. It reveals the presence of God. It indicates guidance from God. It is involved in God saving his people. The OT prophesies refer to the Messiah coming as light to the nations. Rejecting the light brings judgment. 

“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 

I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. 

Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” 

Is 42:6–9.

By calling himself light, Jesus identified himself with God. The people would have understood this. They also knew the promises of the Messiah, as one who brings light into the darkness and hope of righteousness.

As he spoke, many believed. His words and his actions all pointed to his identity as the one who was promised. 

The Pharisees remained in darkness, refusing to come to the light.

John 9:1-41 Jesus heals a blind man

It says, “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.” How many times had Jesus passed by this same man at the Temple gates? The people knew the blind man, because they could testify to the Pharisees about his sight. 

The disciples’ question gives us insight into the thinking of the people. “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” The people considered a blemish or illness as judgement from God. I don’t know how a person could sin in the womb, but they considered that this man’s sins could have been the cause of the illness.

This is common thinking in some churches today…”you need more faith”. We even judge ourselves, “where did I go wrong?” This is not to say that sometimes we do pay the consequences for our sins, because there are physical consequences to things like overeating, overspending, laziness…but not always. It is not always about us.

In this case, Jesus pointed out that this man’s blindness would reveal the glory of God. This is great hope for those trials that go on year after year, we can pray for God to be glorified in our suffering.

The physical healing was such a small part of this story. Jesus made mud with his spit and put it on the man’s eyes, told him to go wash. He did, he was healed. Then it got interesting.

The people took a bit to recognize him as the blind beggar. They had not seen the miracle so they questioned him about it. Then they took him to the Pharisees, where the man repeated his story. I don’t know why the people took him to the Pharisees. Perhaps to prove to them that Jesus was the promised one.  

Problem, Jesus made spit for healing on the Sabbath, taboo in the additional list of limitations on keeping the Sabbath.

An argument arose. “He breaks the Sabbath.” “He healed a blind man, only a righteous man can do that.”

The Pharisees call in the parents, who were not present at the event. This should have been a great time of rejoicing for them, but instead, they stood in front of the Pharisees, who had the power to kick them out of the synagogue. They sent the Pharisees back to the son.

The man realizes that the Pharisees aren’t going to believe him, no matter what he says. As he confronts their inconsistency about the Christ, saying that only a righteous man can heal, something they should have seen and admitted. One can have light and not use it. They kicked him out of the synagogue. 

Jesus heard about his excommunication, and went to him. I love that he didn’t make the formerly blind man find him…instead Jesus searched for him. Not only were his physical eyes opened, but his spiritual eyes as well, and he worshipped Jesus.

How does the healing reveal Jesus as the Light of the world?

  • Without Jesus, we won’t be able to see.
  • Understanding is given with light.
  • Jesus is the one who gives us spiritual sight.
  • Light allows right judgment.

Because Jesus said “I AM the Light of the World”

  • I have_________________
  • I can_______________
  • I will________________
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