Saturday, January 18 – Human 2.0 – Weddings & Worship

To prepare for worship tomorrow, read ahead through the second chapter of the gospel of John.  Jesus does his first “sign” or miracle.  Weddings and worship involve relationships of love.  Jesus reveals his passion for and support of both.

Read the whole chapter and answer the following questions:

1)  What word, phrase or image lingered in my thoughts?

2)  Where/How does this chapter connect with my life?

3)  What does God want me to do or be in response to his Word?

Friday, January 17 – Son of...

No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known.  –John 1:18 (TEV)

And John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and stay on him. ³³ I still did not know that he was the one, but God, who sent me to baptize with water, had said to me, 'You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a man; he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ I have seen it," said John, "and I tell you that he is the Son of God."   –John 1:32-34 (TEV)

When we use that negative epithet, “You son of a ...” what are we actually saying?  Are we impugning that person with the character and the qualities of the one they are a “son of”?  Are we saying they are related, that they’re “a chip off the old block”?

When John & Nathaniel say Jesus is the Son of God (vv. 34, 49), are they saying Jesus is related to the Creator of all that is, seen & unseen?

When Jesus calls himself the Son of Man (v. 51), is he saying he is related to that messianic character of Daniel 7:13-14?  Is he also alluding to his human nature in connection with you and me? 

Pray for your connection to Jesus...for your humanity...and for your receiving of the divine nature through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in your flesh; that divine nature which declares us sons and daughters... of God.

Thursday, January 16 – Messiah

At once he found his brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah." (This word means "Christ.")  –John 1:41 (TEV)

Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the book of the Law and whom the prophets also wrote about. He is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth."  –John 1:45 (TEV)

“Messiah” is the Hebrew word for chosen or anointed one.  “Christ” is the Greek equivalent.  Messiah/Christ is Jesus’ job, his office, the work that God gave him to do.

Jesus was chosen by the Father and anointed by the Spirit to carry out the purpose that he was sent for...to take on himself all your and my (bleep) and that of the rest of the world.  He was anointed for that “glorious” task (as seen from the heavenly side) ...worse than a garbage collector or a Honey Bucket cleaner.

From the human side, it’s a “glorious” task, that of a conqueror ...a savior.  The Messiah was the one both sides were looking for. Little did those who found him know what it all meant...

Give God thanks for the work Jesus did on all our behalf.

Wednesday, January 15 – Word alive!

From the very beginning the Word was with God. ³ Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. ⁴ The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. –John 1:2-4 (TEV) 

The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son. –John 1:14 (TEV)

Words live don’t they?  Some words live on in our memories.  Some words live...and condemn us.  Some words live...and inspire us.

It’s not only the hills that are alive with the sound of music...but the Word is alive...creating and shaping and animating all that we see and know...all that we call life.  Words have power...

Pray for the power of God’s Word to give life...in you & through you.

Tuesday, January 14 – Grace and Truth

The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. ... ¹⁶ Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. ¹⁷ God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. –John 1:14, 16-17 (TEV)

Oil and water don’t mix very well (but with a few other ingredients they make great salad dressing!).  They need to be mixed constantly to do their job together.

Grace and truth may be similar.  Grace is frequently needed because the truth (like the light) shows us our faults and need for the grace and mercy of God.  The truth reveals what God expects of us and what God desires for the beloved.

When grace and truth are properly mixed we are freed to follow... freed from the curse and punishment of the Law and freed by grace to follow the truth of what (in Christ) we are expected to become... people who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit...the character of Christ.

Pray that we all may be have the faith to ‘mix’ grace and truth so that we may receive the blessings of Christ, that we may “taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” (Psalm 34:8)