John 1:50-51
The book of John is one of my favorites. It has so much spiritual depth. It seems always to speak to the spirit more than the physical while not ignoring human frailties.

Here in verse 50 and 51 Nathanael became a believer because Jesus told something to him which Jesus could not know unless He was of a divine or supernatural nature.
After Nathanael's confession of faith Jesus told him he would see much greater things, like the heavens opening up and angels of God descending and ascending on the Son of Man. Any one of us, who has believed in Jesus, regardless of what circumstance caused it to happen, can expect the same result in our life. True revelation comes from God when He opens the heavens and allows us to see Him in a form or circumstance we need at that precise moment.

Much like when Jacob lay down his head on a stone and he saw heaven open up. God was dealing with Jacob and allowed him a revelation unique only to Jacob. No one else ever had that experience.

Same with Ezekiel when the heavens opened up and he saw a revelation of God in a way no one ever did before or since.

That was His word to Nathanael and it happened for him and the other disciples and I believe it is a word to us as well even in this day. God wants to reveal His Spirit to us in ways we can understand and accept without hesitation. He wants us to see and understand things and truths about Him so we can know that we know that we know.

In my personal life I have seen the heavens open up and God has revealed Himself to me in ways that frightened me and at the same time I saw the beauty, power, love, of God and so much more; I can't describe most of it. Actually I don't really need to. I believe it was what I needed at that time and place to give me strength and hope.

There are times today when I go back to one of those special moments and realize how great a Father I have. It always refreshes me to go back but at the same time it gives me hope for the future and faith that He will reveal even more of Himself to me in my times of need or in my times of praise and thanksgiving. Praise be to God!

John 2:1-11
Turning water into wine is an issue most of us have heard about, talked about, and wondered about. Some even use this as an excuse to drink an occasional drink or to become a drunk. Of course this event was not recorded for either of those purposes.

I have two thoughts about this event.1. Jesus seems always to take the ordinary and make it into something extraordinary---look at you and me. There is a whole lesson right there. But "nuff
said" about that for today at least.

I would rather spend the time and space with the other thought. 2. In verse 10. Where He saved the best for last.

Here is a great spiritual truth. Anytime we have a special event happening in our lives, a decision that will change our life forever we are faced with the same problem. Which direction will we take? Will we take the easy (good) way first and hope the rough (bad) will not catch up with us later on or will we take the rough first and enjoy the good later on.

It seems our enemy would show and entice us to take the easy way without taking into consideration the final outcome. At the same time God would show us the hard time first with a promise of a better time later on.

I will use two very real situations to illustrate this truth. (Probably because I have had to experience them)
1-- In the case of the marriage--the man is to be the spiritual leader of the household. Many times the husband has failed to be the head. If and when he sees this truth and makes a decision to do so, all hell breaks out. It is a horrible experience but only for a season. For when God sees the earnestness and commitment in the husband He supplies grace for both wife and husband and the marriage begins to take on a wholly different aspect. One God can and will bless and married life becomes one great
experience after another in ways we never dreamed of.

2.--The same thing will happen in child training. When parents decide to raise their children in a Godly manner, initially the process is very difficult and painful, both for the parent and for the child. However when everyone concerned realizes this is a permanent way, it is then the pain subsides and the joy begins.

You can see how difficult it is at first, then how sweet it is later on. That is same principle that was recorded for us right here in the second chapter of John's gospel.

I do not believe it is there by accident. It is there because we need to realize the difference between the easy way out initially but later on brings pain for the rest of our days and the hard way at the beginning that brings joy for us later on and continues through the rest of our days. So often we look at God's way and believe it is too hard and give up. We fail to realize He always knows BEST!

John 4:50
"You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. How would my life change and how much would my household and those in my world change if I would take Jesus at His word?

John 5:8-16
Here is a prime example of a program being more important than a person. This is a serious problem among the Christian community. All too often a very good program becomes the object of spiritual death to a person or a church.

In this story the day set aside for worship was the day a man was healed. He had been ill for a very long time. For some it was a total mistake if not a down right sin, but for the person healed it was a life changing experience. The man went from a lame non-productive person to a person who could and would tell the story of Jesus for the rest of his life. But because it interfered with the established "program" the
leaders could not accept it.

This kind of behavior could be accepted in some circumstances if, and I emphasize if, they had in place something better or something that was a proven cure for the person or persons who need help regardless of the illness. Evidently this was not the case for this man; he had been that way for 38 years.

It pains me to say I have seen too many persons spiritually killed off in order to keep a program alive. I have also seen those who would dare oppose the program be persecuted in much the same way Jesus was.

I cannot help but remind myself and anyone else who will listen, Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

However I have never read anywhere where He said to make sure you invent programs and keep them in tact forever, regardless if they are helpful or harmful-- whether they are life-giving or life-taking.

John 6:8-9
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, ”Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

Here Andrew was aware of a need for a multitude of people; he also saw a way to satisfy that need. The only thing, there was not nearly enough to go around for everyone. His mistake was not truly recognizing the power of God in all things.

We are like that so many times. We are well aware of situations that need a remedy. We also are aware of only one, two or a few people who are up to the challenge so we shrink back and do nothing. We like Andrew fail to take the power of God through the Spirit into consideration. We look around and see the enormity of the situation and wrongly assume there is nothing we can do. Look and what happened in this account. When the willing provider came forward and gave his little to the Lord, it was multiplied so all the multitudes was blessed. Can we expect the Lord to honor our faith today in the same way He did in that day? I would say a loud YES! If only we could/would really believe and trust Him with our small but significant provisions or our life.

My personal opinion is we for the most part are distracted by accumulating more provisions for ourselves rather than giving away even that which we have no immediate need for. We cannot even comprehend giving away the very last of our resources. We are hoarders by nature, not givers. It is the power of God that changes us into something useful in His sphere of living. It is also the power of God
that causes small things to be magnified into large blessings.

John 6:45-71
Verse 60---When many of Jesus followers heard His teachings they became disinterested because the teachings were hard to accept.

I find this to be true to many of the "saved" today. Initially most of us come to Jesus because of what He can and will do for us. (like the feeding of the multitudes) We come because of a need we have--we "get saved". We get all excited about Jesus as long as He is meeting our needs and even many of our wants. Life becomes so full of joy and excitement as we see the love He pours out on us. We are gung-ho
about Jesus until.............He begins to show us places in our life that need change. Wait a moment---Jesus you mean I can't be self-centered any longer if I follow you. Do you mean the "I" in me must decrease while You increase in me; Jesus do you mean I too must eat the bread of obedience and drink the blood of sacrifice like you? Suddenly the joy of getting turns into the pain of giving and sacrifice as we become obedient to the Word. That is the time when many turn away because the truth is hard to accept. We prefer the snacks of the world rather than the Bread of Life.

Peter, in spite of his sometimes brash and uncontrolled zeal, was truly the wise one when he told Jesus, "Lord where can we go; You are the one with eternal life." (I would like to paraphrase this Jesus; You are the one who brings real living to us.)

If somehow we could all grasp that idea and digest it into our spiritual system we would be able to accept Jesus as our Lord and King, not just as our savior. We would have no problem with obedience or making the sacrifice fit for service in His kingdom.

John 7
In the reading of John there is so much spiritual depth it is difficult for me to read a long passage and comment on it. There is just so much in each verse or sentence. Today I will try something different.
I will make only a short comment on each thought of Jesus and see the parallel of today's people with the people of Jesus time.

Verse 2. Jesus brothers told Him if the was going to do miracles he should do them so the public could see them. They wanted Jesus to show-off, not necessarily because of the good He was doing, rather so they could get in on the publicity.

Verse 6.
Jesus told His brothers they could go anytime because they were not being hated. Usually the world does not hate anyone who is living a worldly life, it is only when a person decides to live a God pleasing life they become hated. This happens in the church community as well. The more obedient to the Word of God you become the more hated you become regardless if you are a professing Christian or not.

Verse 10.
Jesus went to Judea in secret. He knew the timing was not right; a very good lesson for each of us. We should always be ready to move yet at the same time we should not advance something just because we know it is the right thing to do. Sometimes the Spirit gives us instructions that require "right-now" action and other times it is instruction for a "later-on" action. We would be wise to be so in touch with Jesus we
would know the difference. Sometimes we are required to act without even being visible to the public eye--that may just be the most difficult for us.

Verses 14 & 15
Jesus was in the courtyard teaching and it surprised the learned Jews because they knew Jesus had not been to ORU or DTS or even HBU. Many church-goers today believe if a person has not attended one of the prestigious college seminaries that person cannot rightly divide the Word of God.

Verses 21-24
Jesus answered them, "I performed one miracle, and all of you are surprised by it. Moses gave you the teaching about circumcision (although it didn't come from Moses but from our ancestors). So you circumcise a male on a day of worship. If you circumcise a male on the day of worship to follow Moses' Teachings, why are you angry with me because I made a man entirely well on the day of worship? Stop
judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly."

The leaders of that day were so intent of the keeping of the law, they would circumcision on the Sabbath and think nothing of it, yet when Jesus made a man complete on the Sabbath they wanted to kill Him.
Think that through. Which is more important---the person or the traditional law? Did my program heal a soul and bring life or did it keep a law and bring death to the soul?

John 9:1-23
Here is still another incident written in the scriptures where the established traditions of man get in the way of a man's life. If the Pharisees had their way this man and Jesus as well would be put in the "sinner" box. There they would be left until they came to their senses and admitted their wrong doings. Even the man's parents were willing to distance themselves from their son so they would not be put of the Temple, or "out of the loop" in our modern day language.

When we see these incidents written to us over and over again, shouldn't we take them seriously? I am convinced of the fact when it is stated over and over we should take a closer look at the scriptures and then take a closer look at our own ways.

Are comparisons available for us today? Is the church community of today not too different than in Jesus day? My experience is regardless of where you attend church or of what denomination it may be, there are certain rules you cannot ignore if you want to stay in that body. Many of them are good ones; they are necessary and are of a Godly nature. At the same time many of them are worthless and damaging to the human spirit and keep the Holy Spirit from leading a people where they need to go. We seem to have a box for everything and every one and everyone is expected to remain in the box regardless of what the Spirit directs.

I say "wake up" and listen the voice of God---He is the keeper of life and death---traditions and boxes lead to death eventually---God leads to life everlasting.

John 10:1-5
Here is a great truth of a personal relationship with Jesus and the Father.It is the Father (watchman) who opens the way for us to come to the Jesus, (shepherd). Once we experience a personal relationship with Jesus we listen for His voice and will follow Him wherever He takes us. The fact is once we become one of His we are never the same again. We can stray, we can rebel, and we can complain, we can do or not do many things He requires of us yet He will never forsake us. His spirit will follow us everywhere we go, He will be with us and His presence will continue to direct us or it will haunt us for as long as we live. It is He who leads us into a place that provides a full and productive, joy filled life.

John 10:18
No one takes my life from me. I give my life of my own free will. I have the authority to give my life, and I have the authority to take my life back again. This is what my Father ordered me to do."

A key phrase here is: "I give my life of my own free will." I would put a question before you to answer honestly. Do you give your life freely to the will of the Father or to the will of the establishment? Are you so secure in your relationship with the Father that you can be obedient to His Spirit regardless what
someone might say, think, or presume?

For me personally this is a hard question. Far too long time I have been a "people pleaser" who would prefer you to think well of me rather than take a stand for something I believe in. But that is something that makes life miserable. I do have the power to give from my own free will. I don't always have to have someone tell me what portion of my life to give and what to hold back. Certainly it is good to seek wise
counsel but in the final analyses I must make the decision. Will I save face and give my life to something I don't like and don't really believe in or will I seek the Spirit honestly and sincerely and make a decision according to His orders even when it is unpopular?

You see I do have the power to give my life freely and I have the power to take it back. This is what the Father has ordered me to do. If you are a child of God, a joint heir with Jesus, a King's son, then you have the same power. In fact you have an obligation to do what the Father wants as opposed to what someone else might want.

There is a phrase that really gets to me in a negative way; it is "I have to................” Like I have to attend Sunday School, I have to attend Church, I have to go to prayer meeting, I have to lead a Small Group, I have to attend a Small Group, on and on the I have-to's go.
What would my life be like if I willingly and freely desired to do the will of the Lord not the will of a group? What would your life be like if you were secure enough in the Lord to only do what He says and do it with gusto? No doubt it would be one of constant criticism just like it was for Jesus, but at the same time it would be a life of joy, fulfillment and a certainty of success where it counts most.

Do you give your life freely or do you let others take your life from you and use it for themselves?

John 11:16--"Let us also go, that we may die with Him."
Earlier Jesus had escaped the stones of the Jews who wanted Him dead. The leaders of the day could not fathom Jesus as the Messiah even though the scriptures they so readily quoted and enforced spoke often and accurate of Him being the Chosen One.

Now Jesus' friend Lazarus was sick--actually dead-- and Jesus was headed back to the place where the stoning was a close reality. At the risk of death Jesus was on His way back there. He had a two-fold goal in mind. One, Lazarus would be returned to his family completely alive and well and secondly the faith of Jesus followers would be strengthened. Somehow the disciples had missed the point---they still had a difficult time believing all Jesus was telling them, now He would show them something they would always remember. One thing in their favor--they seemed willing to stay with Him until the end even if it meant death for them.

One lesson I can see here is this: Staying with Jesus--going where He goes-- does the same two things for us. Our faith is strengthened and we remain alive and well.

I do have times when it seems so hopeless to go on, yet each time I have said in essence---I will go with Him even if I die---it is then that life becomes more and more real and my faith in Him grows even deeper.

John 11:44
... Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
Can you make a spiritual application from a physical incident recorded in the New Testament? I believe so otherwise why was it recorded for us to read. Here is a good example for support of that belief.

Today we see or hear very little of people being raised from physical death, not that it is impossible for God, but it is not a common thing at least where we live.However we see and hear a great deal about people given life who were once dead, spiritually speaking. I am an example of that very fact and perhaps as you read this you will recognize you fit that description as well.

The point I want to make here is; it is great to be given a new life. We call this getting "saved". This is a wonderful experience yet as great as it is this is not enough. We must get rid of the things that bound us while we were dead. Here Jesus told the family and friends to take off the grave clothes and let him go.

Often when we come alive in Christ we are not even aware we are still bound by the same old grave clothes. We need family and friends to show us how and even help in the removal of binding ways and habits. We cannot allow ourselves or our brothers and sister to continue on in the same ways, "getting saved" is not the end it is the beginning of life.
We must not only come alive, we must be set free. Jesus says to us spiritually today---"Take off the grave clothes and let him (them) go. To me that means we are to assist each other in getting rid of the old things. Building a personal relationship with Jesus and with each other to the point of becoming transparent and vulnerable is a great and perhaps the only way to be set free. Jesus calls you to life, friends and family remove the grave clothes.

John 16:23-24
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Here is a scripture which has been abused often. "ask for anything in my name and it will be given to you" used in its context is easily seen as Jesus telling his disciples if they want to know more about Him and the Father and their relationship with each other and how it would affect the lives of the believers, both them and in the future, they can ask and receive what they want.

This by no means tells us to go about asking for self-indulgences of the worlds goods regardless of the ones that say other wise. Many persons have used this to rationalize the asking for monetary riches; a sad mistake. Most persons who crave for these kinds of riches usually come to a sad end. On the other hand those who crave the knowledge of the Son and Father and truly seek it out find joy they never dreamed
possible.

John 21:21
When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
"What about him" seems to be a question we all want to ask at some time in our spiritual experience? I have often been reminded during those times my only real responsibility is to "follow Jesus" and not even look at what others might be doing. It is also true those times seem to come more often that I would like to admit to--yet come they do. My immediate goal at this moment is to think less of what
others are or are not doing and concentrate more on what I am doing compared to what the Lord Jesus wants from me.