We came away from our study with Miriam stunned. For months several of us had been gathering at her home for study. Each week she would talk about something Jesus said. One of us might be puzzling over something Peter or one of the other apostles said about Jesus at the temple where the church was meeting. She explained and helped us see Him like we never had before. We always came away loving Jesus more than we could ever have imagined. We thought she must have been a lady of wonderful upbringing. I assumed she understood that God was our Father because she had such a wonderful earthly father. But this afternoon she told us about how she first came to know Jesus. We were all shocked at what she told us about her life.

She said she had grown up in the home of a strict Pharisee who never showed her any kindness. She was hardly more than a child when he gave her in marriage to an older man who treated her harshly. They had not been married long when he began to be unfaithful. He would be away from home for weeks at a time. She often did not have enough money to maintain the household. Then he would return with his clothes smelling of wine and perfume. 

During this time a young Pharisee befriended her. When he discovered that she did not have enough money to buy food he helped her. He began to see her everyday. He told her he was not married and that in the eyes of God she was not really married either because her husband was unfaithful. He continued to see her some even when her husband was not away. He convinced her that he would take her away from her husband and care properly for her.

He came to her home one day when her husband had beaten her. He spoke softly and comforted her. He carried her to her bed and began to treat her wounds. She told him about all the injustices her husband had foisted upon her. And they wound up in her bed. Suddenly a group of Pharisees burst into the room shouting and calling her a wicked woman. The man she had trusted joined the others in accusing her. She was hardly able to grab a covering for her body before they dragged her out into the street. They brought her to the temple courts where Jesus was teaching. 

Standing her before Jesus they said, “This woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses in the Law commanded us to stone such women. What do you say?” Instead of answering them, Jesus squatted down and began to write in the dirt. For some time they kept demanding that He answer them. 

Mariam told us, “Jesus stood up again and said, ‘Let the one among you who is without sin cast the first stone.’” She said, “I was terrified that I was going to be stoned to death right there on the temple grounds. Jesus then stooped back down and wrote in the dirt again. Then one of the older men who had dragged me from my house turned and walked away. Another left, and another. When Jesus stood back up all of them were gone.”

We were all silent as Miriam looked around the room at us. “Jesus asked me, ‘Is no one left to condemn you?’” Tears were running down all of our cheeks when she told us her answer. ‘No one, Lord.’ Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.’”

After I had caught my breath I asked, “What did Jesus write in the dirt?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I was too upset to read. I don’t think I even looked.” And she explained. “Of course, I do not know much about it. But later that day I was listening to His teaching and He told the crowd, ‘I am from above. You are from below, from this world.’ I immediately thought His stooping down to write. I thought then that Jesus had been demonstrating that He had to come down to our level to communicate with us. But that cannot be all He was saying.”

When she thought we had begun to understand Miriam continued, “One of the first things Jesus said to the crowd after saving me from the stoning was, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ I determined right then that I would follow Him wherever He was teaching.”

One of us said, “I wonder what made those self righteous Pharisees leave.”

Miriam answered, “They must have become aware of the absolute holiness of Jesus. No one could pretend to be righteous for long in His presence. Least of all me. I was overwhelmed by His holiness. It was very hard for me to hear Jesus say, ‘Go and sin no more.’ I knew that was impossible. I had been  thinking of all the sin that I had been pushed into by my father, my husband, and my hard life. But as I stood in His presence I knew that the problem was in my heart. That was almost enough to make me run for my life. But I didn’t think I could run far enough to get away from the guilt I felt before Him. I needed forgiveness. I stayed to hear whatever Jesus had to say. 

He addressed those of us who believed. “If you continue in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth. And the truth will make you free.” Some of the people in the crowd complained that they were not slaves to anyone. Jesus explained that anyone who sinned became the slave of sin. That was my trouble. I was a slave to my sin. And I began trying to memorize as many things that Jesus said as I could.”

One of the girls asked, “Is that different now that the Spirit has come?” The church in Jerusalem was started as the Holy Spirit miraculously came to rest on those of us who followed Jesus.

Miriam said, “No not really. The Spirit does many things in us. But the main thing He does is explain to us what Jesus has said. The Spirit always makes us love Jesus more and more. Some of you have said coming to listen to me makes you love Him. That is not my doing. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in us when we gather here.”

This story is taken from the 8th chapter of The Gospel of John.

Lord Jesus, we tremble in your holiness. 

Help us saturate our lives in the love and power of Your words.

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THE FREEWILL OF MAN

Some years ago I was fellowshipping with a group of pastors. One of them spoke of a common belief that I did not think could be found in the Bible. As a joke I said, “Do you have a favorite Scripture on that?” He had a great answer. “I think that is in the same place that teaches the freewill of man.” And you can look throughout the Bible and not find a direct statement of the freewill of man. However, there are some Scriptural arguments for the free will of man. 

We can start with the command to Adam and Eve. They were clearly given a choice to obey or not obey what God told them. They did not obey. The Bible teaches that their sin brought great calamity upon the earth. This also points out that free will is not unlimited. We do not have the ability to unmake some decisions. I can choose to jump off a cliff. But once I have jumped, I cannot decide not to fall. Their decision could not be undone once they had disobeyed.

All the commands of scripture depend upon the ability to decide to obey or not. There are many examples in Scripture where people were rebuked for making foolish or evil decisions. This would be meaningless if people had no choice in these matters. Believing in Christ and yielding to His will clearly demands a decision. We must choose to give our will to Him. This makes great sense to us as well as being obvious in Scripture.

However, the Bible presents this as more complex. And while this complexity is often repugnant to us, it fits human experience. We cannot overcome sin in our lives without God’s intervention. Simple decisions and will power will not keep us from stumbling. And coming to God at all requires God’s help. Let me point out some things Jesus said. In John 6:37 He said, “All that the Father gives me* will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” In John 6:44 He made a stronger statement. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him*.” This is not the only place Jesus spoke words like this. This seems to indicate that our believing is a work of God. I cannot answer all the questions related to this. But while our will is always involved in turning to God. The will to turn to God is complex. People are foolish to speak of freewill as if such decisions were made in a vacuum. Spiritual, emotional, and worldly forces bombard us when we struggle with coming to Christ. There are decisions that we cannot flippantly decide to make. We are bound by sin. In John 8:34 Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” Even as believers we continually need God to free us from sin’s bondage. Without God working in our lives we can never even want to turn from our selfish sinfulness. Those of you who are offended by the concept of predestination spoken of in Romans 8:29 and elsewhere, need to recognize that God is above time. He knows all things, and even hears and answers prayer from eternity past present and future. I am always uncomfortable when people speak lightly of freewill as if there are no parameters. We must make decisions. But many of them are not simple. This includes most spiritual decisions. 

*Italics mine

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THE FREEWILL OF MAN

Some years ago I was fellowshipping with a group of pastors. One of them spoke of a common belief that I did not think could be found in the Bible. As a joke I said, “Do you have a favorite Scripture on that?” He had a great answer. “I think that is in the same place that teaches the freewill of man.” And you can look throughout the Bible and not find a direct statement of the freewill of man. However, there are some Scriptural arguments for the free will of man. 

We can start with the command to Adam and Eve. They were clearly given a choice to obey or not obey what God told them. They did not obey. The Bible teaches that their sin brought great calamity upon the earth. This also points out that free will is not unlimited. We do not have the ability to unmake some decisions. I can choose to jump off a cliff. But once I have jumped, I cannot decide not to fall. Their decision could not be undone once they had disobeyed.

All the commands of scripture depend upon the ability to decide to obey or not. There are many examples in Scripture where people were rebuked for making foolish or evil decisions. This would be meaningless if people had no choice in these matters. Believing in Christ and yielding to His will clearly demands a decision. We must choose to give our will to Him. This makes great sense to us as well as being obvious in Scripture.

However, the Bible presents this as more complex. And while this complexity is often repugnant to us, it fits human experience. We cannot overcome sin in our lives without God’s intervention. Simple decisions and will power will not keep us from stumbling. And coming to God at all requires God’s help. Let me point out some things Jesus said. In John 6:37 He said, “All that the Father gives me* will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” In John 6:44 He made a stronger statement. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him*.” This is not the only place Jesus spoke words like this. This seems to indicate that our believing is a work of God. I cannot answer all the questions related to this. But while our will is always involved in turning to God. The will to turn to God is complex. People are foolish to speak of freewill as if such decisions were made in a vacuum. Spiritual, emotional, and worldly forces bombard us when we struggle with coming to Christ. There are decisions that we cannot flippantly decide to make. We are bound by sin. In John 8:34 Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” Even as believers we continually need God to free us from sin’s bondage. Without God working in our lives we can never even want to turn from our selfish sinfulness. Those of you who are offended by the concept of predestination spoken of in Romans 8:29 and elsewhere, need to recognize that God is above time. He knows all things, and even hears and answers prayer from eternity past present and future. I am always uncomfortable when people speak lightly of freewill as if there are no parameters. We must make decisions. But many of them are not simple. This includes most spiritual decisions. 

*Italics mine

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The Feast of Booths had begun before Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. He hid in the crowds listening to the people, discerning what His Father was doing in their hearts. Right in the middle of the celebration He went up into the temple and began to teach. His authority was so obvious that no one challenged him. They marveled at His teaching. 

They said, “How has this man come to know so much without studying in one of the rabbinic schools?” 

Jesus proclaimed, “My teaching is not my own, but His who sent me. If you want to do God's will, you will know whether my teaching comes from God, or whether I teach on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own seeks to glorify himself. But the one who speaks for another has no reason to lie. Moses gave you the law and none of you keep it. So why are you trying to kill me?” The people looked nervously around and saw several Pharisees in the crowd. No one dared admit that they wanted to kill him. The leaders of the people had publicly turned against Jesus at a previous feast when He healed a man on the Sabbath.

Someone in the crowd, possibly a Pharisee, shouted, “You must have a demon. Who is trying to kill you?” Most of the people trembled at this denial. Jesus ignored the comment.

“You perform circumcisions on the Sabbath for the law to be observed. Why are you upset that I made a man’s whole body well on the Sabbath? Do not judge by mere appearances but by what is true and right.”

The people began to wonder why the Pharisees had not said more. Some of them began to say, “Is this not the man they want to kill? He is speaking openly and the rulers do nothing to stop him. Could our leaders know in their hearts that he really is the Christ?”

Others were saying, “But we know where this man comes from.” They had heard rabbis teach that no one will know where the Messiah comes from when he appears. 

Jesus responded to this as He taught in the temple. “You know who I am. And you can know who sent me by what I do. I did not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, but you do not know Him. I know Him for I came from Him.” The tension continued to build. The only reason no one laid a hand on Him was because His time had not yet come.

Yet many of the people believed, saying, “When the Christ comes, will He give us more signs than this man?” When the Pharisees heard the people say this they reported to the council. And the chief priests sent officers to arrest Jesus. 

An eerie feeling filled the temple as Jesus said, “I will only be with you a little while. I must return to my Father. You will seek me and will not find me. For where I am going you cannot come.” The people questioned one another about this. “Where was he about to go? The whole crowd was mesmerised as Jesus promised those who would believe that their souls would cease to hunger and thirst. He said rivers of living water would flow from within them. 

As the feast came to an end the officers returned to the council. The chief priests demanded, “Why did you not arrest him?”

The officers looked sheepishly at one another. The ranking officer among them said, “No one ever spoke like this man.” 

The Pharisees scorned them. “Have you been deceived as well? This rabble who do not know the law are cursed.” When Nicodemus, one of their number, said that they had never really given Jesus a hearing, they scorned him as well. “ Are you from Galilee too?” they asked.

This story was taken from John 7:14-46

Lord, you speak to us like no one ever has. Saturate our lives with your teaching, so that rivers of living water may flow from us.

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The Feast of Booths had begun before Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. He hid in the crowds listening to the people, discerning what His Father was doing in their hearts. Right in the middle of the celebration He went up into the temple and began to teach. His authority was so obvious that no one challenged him. They marveled at His teaching. 

They said, “How has this man come to know so much without studying in one of the rabbinic schools?” 

Jesus proclaimed, “My teaching is not my own, but His who sent me. If you want to do God's will, you will know whether my teaching comes from God, or whether I teach on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own seeks to glorify himself. But the one who speaks for another has no reason to lie. Moses gave you the law and none of you keep it. So why are you trying to kill me?” The people looked nervously around and saw several Pharisees in the crowd. No one dared admit that they wanted to kill him. The leaders of the people had publicly turned against Jesus at a previous feast when He healed a man on the Sabbath.

Someone in the crowd, possibly a Pharisee, shouted, “You must have a demon. Who is trying to kill you?” Most of the people trembled at this denial. Jesus ignored the comment.

“You perform circumcisions on the Sabbath for the law to be observed. Why are you upset that I made a man’s whole body well on the Sabbath? Do not judge by mere appearances but by what is true and right.”

The people began to wonder why the Pharisees had not said more. Some of them began to say, “Is this not the man they want to kill? He is speaking openly and the rulers do nothing to stop him. Could our leaders know in their hearts that he really is the Christ?”

Others were saying, “But we know where this man comes from.” They had heard rabbis teach that no one will know where the Messiah comes from when he appears. 

Jesus responded to this as He taught in the temple. “You know who I am. And you can know who sent me by what I do. I did not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, but you do not know Him. I know Him for I came from Him.” The tension continued to build. The only reason no one laid a hand on Him was because His time had not yet come.

Yet many of the people believed, saying, “When the Christ comes, will He give us more signs than this man?” When the Pharisees heard the people say this they reported to the council. And the chief priests sent officers to arrest Jesus. 

An eerie feeling filled the temple as Jesus said, “I will only be with you a little while. I must return to my Father. You will seek me and will not find me. For where I am going you cannot come.” The people questioned one another about this. “Where was he about to go? The whole crowd was mesmerised as Jesus promised those who would believe that their souls would cease to hunger and thirst. He said rivers of living water would flow from within them. 

As the feast came to an end the officers returned to the council. The chief priests demanded, “Why did you not arrest him?”

The officers looked sheepishly at one another. The ranking officer among them said, “No one ever spoke like this man.” 

The Pharisees scorned them. “Have you been deceived as well? This rabble who do not know the law are cursed.” When Nicodemus, one of their number, said that they had never really given Jesus a hearing, they scorned him as well. “ Are you from Galilee too?” they asked.

This story was taken from John 7:14-46

Lord, you speak to us like no one ever has. Saturate our lives with your teaching,

so that rivers of living water may flow from us.

Blogs

http://thinkinginthespirit.blogspot.com/

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After the large group of disciples deserted him Jesus ministered only in Galilee for some time. He did not go at all into Judea because the Jewish hierarchy were threatening to kill him. With the Feast of Booths at hand Jesus went back to his childhood home in Nazareth. There he found his brothers and sisters and their families gathered. His oldest brother, Joseph, welcomed him. 

“Jesus! We are glad to see you. We are preparing to go to Jerusalem for the feast and were expecting to see you there.”

Jesus said, “I sent my disciples on to Jerusalem with their families. I think I would rather stay here where it is quiet.” 

His brother James said, “We have been talking about this, Jesus. You need to go up to Jerusalem. We hear that you are doing amazing miracles. We still cannot figure out how you could have produced wine when they ran out at that wedding in Cana. Some people are saying you turned the water in the stone jars into wine.” 

Joseph said, “Listen, if you really do these things, you need to go where your followers will see what you do. No one who is trying to become prominent should work in secret.”

Jesus answered, “You don’t understand the situation. Timing is crucial for me. The time is always right for you. The world cannot hate you. Your lives reflect the world around us. The world hates me because everything I do and say testifies that their works are evil. You go on to the feast. I am not going up to the feast with you. My time has not yet fully come.”

After the rest of the family left Jesus began to pray. After a few moments he heard someone talking outside the house. He went to the door and saw his mother and his youngest brother talking to his Aunt Susanna and her son David. As Susanna and her son turned to go Jesus stepped out to meet Mary and Simon.

“What is happening? Why have you not started for Jerusalem?” Mary sent Simon into the house with directions to get some things. 

To Jesus she said “We were all meeting at the synagogue to travel together. And Susanna's son Jesse arrived with a donkey cart. That meant we could take a few more things for the journey. Susanna and David returned for a skin of wine. And I came back for some blankets and a round of cheese. Are you sure you won’t go with us to the feast?”

“No, mother. I cannot go until the timing is right.”

“I suppose I understand, son. But you said your time had not yet come at the wedding feast. And God still honored what you did.”

“I know mother. But I would not have done anything then without my Father’s prompting. I am afraid my brothers did not understand that at all.”

“I know, son. They never understood your motivations. Your father and I have not always understood. But your brothers and sisters were not shown God’s plan by an angel as Joseph and I were. It was more than your brothers could understand, when you stood in the synagogue and said the prophecy of Isaiah was being fulfilled in you. It is difficult for them to believe the brother that they have known all their lives came from God.” 

Jesus nodded his understanding. “Be assured that my Heavenly Father is speaking to them. In time, they will come to believe.” As They were talking Simon came out of the house loaded down with blankets, and Susanna and David came back along the road. 

Mary put her hand on his arm and said, “It is not for me to say, but I think God’s time for you is very near. You must pray about coming to the feast in order to be ready when your time does come.” Jesus said goodbye and returned to the house to pray. 

After a while, he too arose and started north on the road to Jerusalem. He did not join a group for the journey. He entered the city secretly to observe what was being said. The people were all whispering about him. But no one dared speak of Jesus openly because the chief priests and rabbis were so angry.

Some of the people were saying, “He is a good man.” 

Others said, “When the messiah comes will he show us more signs than this man?”

Still others argued, “It doesn’t matter how many miracles he does, he is leading the people astray. Don’t all of our leaders oppose him?”

This story was based on certain things in John 7:1-13.

Father, the world hates us more and more as we draw nearer to You. Help us be sensitive to Your timing and your prompting in our lives.

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After the large group of disciples deserted him Jesus ministered only in Galilee for some time. He did not go at all into Judea because the Jewish hierarchy were threatening to kill him. With the Feast of Booths at hand Jesus went back to his childhood home in Nazareth. There he found his brothers and sisters and their families gathered. His oldest brother, Joseph, welcomed him. 

“Jesus! We are glad to see you. We are preparing to go to Jerusalem for the feast and were expecting to see you there.”

Jesus said, “I sent my disciples on to Jerusalem with their families. I think I would rather stay here where it is quiet.” 

His brother James said, “We have been talking about this, Jesus. You need to go up to Jerusalem. We hear that you are doing amazing miracles. We still cannot figure out how you could have produced wine when they ran out at that wedding in Cana. Some people are saying you turned the water in the stone jars into wine.” 

Joseph said, “Listen, if you really do these things, you need to go where your followers will see what you do. No one who is trying to become prominent should work in secret.”

Jesus answered, “You don’t understand the situation. Timing is crucial for me. The time is always right for you. The world cannot hate you. Your lives reflect the world around us. The world hates me because everything I do and say testifies that their works are evil. You go on to the feast. I am not going up to the feast with you. My time has not yet fully come.”

After the rest of the family left Jesus began to pray. After a few moments he heard someone talking outside the house. He went to the door and saw his mother and his youngest brother talking to his Aunt Susanna and her son David. As Susanna and her son turned to go Jesus stepped out to meet Mary and Simon.

“What is happening? Why have you not started for Jerusalem?” Mary sent Simon into the house with directions to get some things. 

To Jesus she said “We were all meeting at the synagogue to travel together. And Susanna's son Jesse arrived with a donkey cart. That meant we could take a few more things for the journey. Susanna and David returned for a skin of wine. And I came back for some blankets and a round of cheese. Are you sure you won’t go with us to the feast?”

“No, mother. I cannot go until the timing is right.”

“I suppose I understand, son. But you said your time had not yet come at the wedding feast. And God still honored what you did.”

“I know mother. But I would not have done anything then without my Father’s prompting. I am afraid my brothers did not understand that at all.”

“I know, son. They never understood your motivations. Your father and I have not always understood. But your brothers and sisters were not shown God’s plan by an angel as Joseph and I were. It was more than your brothers could understand, when you stood in the synagogue and said the prophecy of Isaiah was being fulfilled in you. It is difficult for them to believe the brother that they have known all their lives came from God.” 

Jesus nodded his understanding. “Be assured that my Heavenly Father is speaking to them. In time, they will come to believe.” As They were talking Simon came out of the house loaded down with blankets, and Susanna and David came back along the road. 

Mary put her hand on his arm and said, “It is not for me to say, but I think God’s time for you is very near. You must pray about coming to the feast in order to be ready when your time does come.” Jesus said goodbye and returned to the house to pray. 

After a while, he too arose and started north on the road to Jerusalem. He did not join a group for the journey. He entered the city secretly to observe what was being said. The people were all whispering about him. But no one dared speak of Jesus openly because the chief priests and rabbis were so angry.

Some of the people were saying, “He is a good man.” 

Others said, “When the messiah comes will he show us more signs than this man?”

Still others argued, “It doesn’t matter how many miracles he does, he is leading the people astray. Don’t all of our leaders oppose him?”

This story was based on certain things in John 7:1-13.

Father, the world hates us more and more as we draw nearer to You. Help us be sensitive to Your timing and your prompting in our lives.

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(It has been 4 weeks since I posted one of these stories based upon the signs of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John. This story is actually a continuation of a supposed gathering of the disciples who were at table when Jesus first instituted the Lord’s Supper, now a full year later.)

We sat together for a while after we had eaten, all of us reluctant to leave the fellowship. Thomas spoke up.

“I’ve been thinking about those men who quarreled with Jesus the day after He fed the multitude. They all would have said with force that they believed in Jesus. But Jesus knows our hearts. He knew they didn’t really believe. Their faith was in what they wanted. They only believed in Jesus as long as they thought they could control Him. It desturbed them when He said He was the Son of God. He was more than someone they could use to get whatever they wanted.

Philip spoke up. “I suppose the same was true of Judas. I for one never saw that he was about to betray Jesus. But Jesus knew.”

James (the younger) said, “When Jesus gave us the power to heal and cast out demons, he didn’t exclude Judas. I partnered with him when we went from town to town. Judas did everything Jesus told us to do. That included miracles that I hardly had enough faith to attempt. 

Andrew said, “I remember Judas questioning some things Jesus did, but I was questioning too. He once said he wondered how Jesus came from heaven if his parents still lived in Nazareth. But he immediately said, even though we didn’t understand many things, he knew we could trust Jesus.

Matthew said, “When all the others had abandoned Jesus, as John reminded us tonight, Judas stayed with us. He seemed to be quite as stirred as I when Peter said to the Lord, ‘You have the words of eternal life. And we know and believe that you are the Holy One of God.’”

Peter nodded and said, “Of course, Jesus often warned us that one of us was going to betray him. I think Judas must have told himself that if Jesus really knew that he was the betrayer, He would have sent him away. I certainly would have. For that matter, even though I declared then that we believed, I may have been the weakest of all. On the night of the supper he told me I would deny him. And even after I did, he brought me back.”

Thomas said, “All of us wondered why Jesus did not send us away, me most of all in the end.”

John said, “His clearest word about Judas was on the night of the supper. But even though I was leaning on Jesus, I didn’t understand what He was saying. In fact, when He said it was the one sharing the plate with Him, I was afraid it was me. I do think He was warning all of us that our faith was weak.”

Peter said, “I think Judas may have understood on that night. By then he must have thought he had to go through with it. Of course the devil had him by then. This reminds me that Jesus clearly told us that we need God working in us to believe. We cannot do it on our own. I suppose God had to be working in us from before we were born, for any of us to trust Him.

The idea for this story came from John 6:60-71.

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(It has been 4 weeks since I posted one of these stories based upon the signs of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John. This story is actually a continuation of a supposed gathering of the disciples who were at table when Jesus first instituted the Lord’s Supper, now a full year later.)

We sat together for a while after we had eaten, all of us reluctant to leave the fellowship. Thomas spoke up.

“I’ve been thinking about those men who quarreled with Jesus the day after He fed the multitude. They all would have said with force that they believed in Jesus. But Jesus knows our hearts. He knew they didn’t really believe. Their faith was in what they wanted. They only believed in Jesus as long as they thought they could control Him. It desturbed them when He said He was the Son of God. He was more than someone they could use to get whatever they wanted.

Philip spoke up. “I suppose the same was true of Judas. I for one never saw that he was about to betray Jesus. But Jesus knew.”

James (the younger) said, “When Jesus gave us the power to heal and cast out demons, he didn’t exclude Judas. I partnered with him when we went from town to town. Judas did everything Jesus told us to do. That included miracles that I hardly had enough faith to attempt. 

Andrew said, “I remember Judas questioning some things Jesus did, but I was questioning too. He once said he wondered how Jesus came from heaven if his parents still lived in Nazareth. But he immediately said, even though we didn’t understand many things, he knew we could trust Jesus.

Matthew said, “When all the others had abandoned Jesus, as John reminded us tonight, Judas stayed with us. He seemed to be quite as stirred as I when Peter said to the Lord, ‘You have the words of eternal life. And we know and believe that you are the Holy One of God.’”

Peter nodded and said, “Of course, Jesus often warned us that one of us was going to betray him. I think Judas must have told himself that if Jesus really knew that he was the betrayer, He would have sent him away. I certainly would have. For that matter, even though I declared then that we believed, I may have been the weakest of all. On the night of the supper he told me I would deny him. And even after I did, he brought me back.”

Thomas said, “All of us wondered why Jesus did not send us away, me most of all in the end.”

John said, “His clearest word about Judas was on the night of the supper. But even though I was leaning on Jesus, I didn’t understand what He was saying. In fact, when He said it was the one sharing the plate with Him, I was afraid it was me. I do think He was warning all of us that our faith was weak.”

Peter said, “I think Judas may have understood on that night. By then he must have thought he had to go through with it. Of course the devil had him by then. This reminds me that Jesus clearly told us that we need God working in us to believe. We cannot do it on our own. I suppose God had to be working in us from before we were born, for any of us to trust Him.

The idea for this story came from John 6:60-71.

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In John 7:25 Jesus said,

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.”

I am not addressing these remarks to everyone. But some of you will allow God to lead you deeper into His holiness.

• Holy thinking begins by discerning your own heart.

We all need to allow God to show us our hearts to discern the vulnerability and flaws hiding there. In Psalm 139 David Prayed,

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

What words have you spoken, what opinions have you held, or attitudes have you indulged that are false or in any way ungodly? Holiness demands repentance. The Epistle of James warns against being the kind of person who looks into a mirror and forgets what you saw without washing your face or combing your hair. This may include admitting, with a little private irony, weaknesses in your own positions. If you cannot see them, you have not examined yourself closely enough.

• This has to include examining your desires and motives.

Do you believe something because it is right or because it is comfortable? Do you think something is right because it benefits you? Does your opinion make you popular with your friends? Holiness seeks to please God and God alone. Jesus was clear about this. In John 7 He said His teaching was not His own but His Father’s. Verse 18 says,

“Anyone who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; 

but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, 

and in him there is no falsehood.”

• Holy thinking calls us to examine our influences.

This must go deeper than searching for excuses for people who influence your thinking. All of these things that I am listing require supernatural help. They must be bathed in and directed by prayer. One of the most difficult things here is discerning if what you read or hear or have seen in any media is right and true. This will require constant prayer and the struggle of discernment. You will have to wrestle with these things in your heart. 

Let me remind you of something emphasized in John 6 and 7. Jesus was saying he had come from heaven. Some people said he couldn’t have come from heaven. They knew his parents. Others pointed out that he came from Galilee, and the Christ was to have been born in Bethlehem. You may know scriptures that answer these and other questions. But few people listening to him had any means of answering them. Those who believed had to say, in effect, that even though they could not answer all their questions, no one could do the miracles he did if he had not come from God. Jesus gave us a promise that will help in John 7:17.

 “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will,  

he will know whether the teaching is from God

or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”

Do you long for His will?

• We must also consider the thinking of those who disagree with us.

This actually relates to examining our influences. In this world of polarizations, it is easy to be influenced by reaction, often over reaction, to those we do not agree with. It can be godly and sometimes persuasive to search for points of agreement between you and someone with whom you disagree. Can you see their point of view? Can you find areas where you can cooperate with them?

As with last week’s post, I am not listing access to my books or other blogs.

In John 7:25 Jesus said,

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.”

I am not addressing these remarks to everyone. But some of you will allow God to lead you deeper into His holiness.

• Holy thinking begins by discerning your own heart.

We all need to allow God to show us our hearts to discern the vulnerability and flaws hiding there. In Psalm 139 David Prayed,

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

What words have you spoken, what opinions have you held, or attitudes have you indulged that are false or in any way ungodly? Holiness demands repentance. The Epistle of James warns against being the kind of person who looks into a mirror and forgets what you saw without washing your face or combing your hair. This may include admitting, with a little private irony, weaknesses in your own positions. If you cannot see them, you have not examined yourself closely enough.

• This has to include examining your desires and motives.

Do you believe something because it is right or because it is comfortable? Do you think something is right because it benefits you? Does your opinion make you popular with your friends? Holiness seeks to please God and God alone. Jesus was clear about this. In John 7 He said His teaching was not His own but His Father’s. Verse 18 says,

“Anyone who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; 

but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, 

and in him there is no falsehood.”

• Holy thinking calls us to examine our influences.

This must go deeper than searching for excuses for people who influence your thinking. All of these things that I am listing require supernatural help. They must be bathed in and directed by prayer. One of the most difficult things here is discerning if what you read or hear or have seen in any media is right and true. This will require constant prayer and the struggle of discernment. You will have to wrestle with these things in your heart. 

Let me remind you of something emphasized in John 6 and 7. Jesus was saying he had come from heaven. Some people said he couldn’t have come from heaven. They knew his parents. Others pointed out that he came from Galilee, and the Christ was to have been born in Bethlehem. You may know scriptures that answer these and other questions. But few people listening to him had any means of answering them. Those who believed had to say, in effect, that even though they could not answer all their questions, no one could do the miracles he did if he had not come from God. Jesus gave us a promise that will help in John 7:17.

 “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will,  

he will know whether the teaching is from God

or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”

Do you long for His will?

• We must also consider the thinking of those who disagree with us.

This actually relates to examining our influences. In this world of polarizations, it is easy to be influenced by reaction, often over reaction, to those we do not agree with. It can be godly and sometimes persuasive to search for points of agreement between you and someone with whom you disagree. Can you see their point of view? Can you find areas where you can cooperate with them?

As with last week’s post, I am not listing access to my books or other blogs.

RIGHT JUDGMENT

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.”

John 7:25

I am struck by the rendition of Philippians 4:5 in the e.s.v. It reads, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” Good reasoning is a spiritual discipline. In the early centuries of Christianity the church grew rapidly partly because of our fearless compassion shown in the plagues that swept the cities of Europe and the east. Now when our world is being ripped apart with strong and dangerous delusions, I pray we may touch hearts around us with our reasonable words and lives.

Make no mistake about it. This is a matter for serious and urgent prayer. I intend to give you some biblical reasoning in relation to this subject, but any effort in this direction will require God’s people to pray as we have begun to pray for many things in our day.

• This needs to be a matter of prayer because the need for right judgment is so serious.

Our faithfulness to God depends on our godly perspective of the world around us. Many things that we see happening can be alarming. I referred to Philippians 4. The k.j.v. renders the word translated “reasonableness” in verse 5 as “moderation.” We are living in days of intransigent extremes and hateful perspectives. We can be reasonable because the Lord is near. The passage continues, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Our witness to the world will depend on our reasonableness being known to everyone around us. This must be a matter of earnest prayer.

• This needs to be a matter of prayer because right judgment is difficult.

The confusion around us, like many things we are seeing today, was foretold in Scripture. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 says, “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false.’”

God is sending “strong delusion” as righteous wrath upon our world. We must pray lest we be swept up in these things. And like the compassion shown by the early church, which we will also need in full measure, our witness to the world must reflect wise discernment.

• This needs to be a matter of prayer because right judgment is spiritual.

In a warning that relates to this Jesus said in Matthew 24:24,

“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

Right judgement in our lives must be a matter of prayer because it is developed from a vervent relationship with Christ.

I will write more about this next week. I am praying for wisdom for you and for myself in these days.

For several reasons I am not listing access to my books or other blogs here. 

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.”

John 7:25

I am struck by the rendition of Philippians 4:5 in the e.s.v. It reads, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” Good reasoning is a spiritual discipline. In the early centuries of Christianity the church grew rapidly partly because of our fearless compassion shown in the plagues that swept the cities of Europe and the east. Now when our world is being ripped apart with strong and dangerous delusions, I pray we may touch hearts around us with our reasonable words and lives.

Make no mistake about it. This is a matter for serious and urgent prayer. I intend to give you some biblical reasoning in relation to this subject, but any effort in this direction will require God’s people to pray as we have begun to pray for many things in our day.

• This needs to be a matter of prayer because the need for right judgment is so serious.

Our faithfulness to God depends on our godly perspective of the world around us. Many things that we see happening can be alarming. I referred to Philippians 4. The k.j.v. renders the word translated “reasonableness” in verse 5 as “moderation.” We are living in days of intransigent extremes and hateful perspectives. We can be reasonable because the Lord is near. The passage continues, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Our witness to the world will depend on our reasonableness being known to everyone around us. This must be a matter of earnest prayer.

• This needs to be a matter of prayer because right judgment is difficult.

The confusion around us, like many things we are seeing today, was foretold in Scripture. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 says, “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false.’”

God is sending “strong delusion” as righteous wrath upon our world. We must pray lest we be swept up in these things. And like the compassion shown by the early church, which we will also need in full measure, our witness to the world must reflect wise discernment.

• This needs to be a matter of prayer because right judgment is spiritual.

In a warning that relates to this Jesus said in Matthew 24:24,

“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”

Right judgement in our lives must be a matter of prayer because it is developed from a vervent relationship with Christ.

I will write more about this next week. I am praying for wisdom for you and for myself in these days.

For several reasons I am not listing access to my books or other blogs here.

We gathered again in the upper room where we had celebrated the Passover on that last night before our Lord was crucified. This had been a very exciting year. It began with the greatest tragedy we had ever experienced. That led to the most thrilling event in history. Jesus was raised from the dead! Everything in us and everything in the world was changed by those events. The church in Jerusalem continues to multiply despite severe opposition. However, most of us are being sent by the Spirit to other places. Some have gone beyond the borders of Israel. Jesus told us many times what he concluded as He ascended into the heavens. By the Spirit we are to take the good news to all the earth. 

Jesus gave us what we are calling His supper at the Passover. He told us to remember Him with the Supper as we had kept the Passover. We have begun to celebrate it in our love feasts. But this is the first Passover after the cross. And we thought it was appropriate to celebrate it in the upper room where Jesus first gave us this wonderful reminder. 

I began by saying, “We have gathered here tonight to remember that last supper with our Lord. We welcome you ladies and family members, the mother, sisters and brothers of our Lord, and of course, Matthias who has taken the place of Judas.” Peter then set the bread and the cup of wine before us. 

He began by holding up the bread and saying, “Jesus said, ‘This is my body given for you.’”

Then I said, “I think all of you remember when Jesus fed the multitude the first time on the far side of the sea. Some men who thought food for our stomachs was what Jesus came to give said to Him, ‘Moses gave us bread from heaven as a sign in the wilderness.’ Jesus answered, ‘Moses did not give you the bread from Heaven. My Father gives you the true heavenly bread. The bread of life is the one the Father has sent to give life to the world. Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the bread of life given for the life of the world. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and died. Whoever eats this bread will never die. Whoever believes in me has eternal life. And I will raise him up on the last day.’ 

‘The bread  that I give for the life of the world is my flesh. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.’ When we take this bread and drink this cup we remind ourselves that we are nourished to eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus. We feed on His flesh and drink His blood. He said, ‘My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. The one who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me. And I abide in that person. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.’”

Then Peter took the cup saying, “Jesus said, ‘This is my blood given for you.’” He passed the cup among us and we showed our faith in Him as we took the supper together. Finally Peter said, “Jesus said, ‘For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’”

This story is drawn from words spoken in John 6:35-59.

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I love the miraculous appearance of the Angel of The Lord in Luke 2:8-14.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 

“Glory to God in the highest,

    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The angel still shocks me out of the ordinary pursuits and problems of life with good news of great joy! 

He brings to us a message of Personal joy. “Unto you is born a Savior.” The angel could have spoken to theologians or historians. He could have said to all mankind. He could have said to men and women and children. He could have said, “to every language, people, and culture to the end of time.” But to a hand full of unknown shepherds and to me he said, “Unto You.”

He brings to us a message of Present joy. The angel did not say “Unto you is one who will become a savior.” Nor did he say, “One who is and has always been savior.” He said, “Unto you is born This day.” I have known many people who have said, “I used to be religious.” or “I want to be religious.” or even, “Someday I will listen to God speaking to me.” He speaks to us today.

And he brings us a message of Wonderful joy! This is not government aid. The angel did not introduce a self-help book. He announced a Savior who is indeed Christ the Lord!”

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The Kindle edition of my recently published novel, Ears To Hear, will be offered free on Amazon.com for 5 days beginning Christmas day.

We were amazed when we saw Jesus heal the sick. We decided then to become his disciples. We led a multitude that grew larger at every village along the sea until we came to where Jesus had gone to the far side of the sea with some of his disciples. He amazed us even more by feeding everyone there with what looked to us like a little boy’s lunch. We wanted to make him king. But we hardly had time to tell him of our devotion when he went back up the mountain alone. Soon his closest disciples left in their boat, and Jesus was not with them. 

Several of us lit a bonfire and kept watch through the night, but we never saw Jesus. In the morning we were ready to eat again. We sent a man up the mountain to look for him. He said he saw where Jesus had been, but Jesus was not there. We were still puzzled over where he could have gone when a boat from Tiberius landed near where Jesus had blessed the bread and fish to feed everyone. We couldn't find Jesus, and we knew his disciples weren't there. Several people climbed into that boat. Other boats soon came along. More of us boarded them and headed back across to Capernaum. Looking for him in town seemed futile to me. I was tired and wanted to go home. But several men insisted that we go on hunting for him. Sure enough we found him in the synagogue. We interrupted his teaching to ask how he had come there. 

He said, “You are not seeking me because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill and were satisfied. Do not live for the bread that will perish. Seek the bread that will endure to eternal life which only the son of man can give you. The signs that you see are the Father's seal upon him.” 

We thought about this for a few minutes. Then I asked, “What must we be doing to do the works God demands?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is to believe in the one whom He has sent.”

One of us asked, “What mighty work will you do that we may see and believe in you. Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” This didn’t make sense to me. We had seen amazing signs. But we had not eaten since the day before, and they thought this was a fairly persuasive argument for him to feed us.

Jesus answered. “I am telling you the absolute truth. Moses did not give you bread from heaven. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

The man said to him, “Sir, always give us this bread.” Others of us didn’t think Jesus was talking about food for our stomachs.

Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life—whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But you have seen and still do not believe.

“I did not come from Heaven to do my own will, but the will of the One who sent me. And it is His will, that I not lose any of those who come to me. It is my Father’s will that everyone who looks on the Son and believes should have eternal life. I will raise that person up on the last day.”

Well, many people complained about this. Some of them said, “This is Jesus the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he say that he came down from heaven?” I didn’t know how to answer this. But I had seen amazing miracles at his hand. I didn’t think Jesus answered them very well. 

He said, “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me. I will raise him up on the last day. Not that anyone has seen the Father except he who came from the Father. He has, of course, seen him.'” This was offensive. He didn't have to say we had never heard from God, although, I suppose we had not.

Then he said, “I am telling you the truth, and you had better pay attention. Whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven. Whoever eats it will never die. I am the bread of life. This bread that I give for the life of the world is my own flesh.”

The others answered, “How can he give us his flesh to eat?” I was still troubled because of the miracles he had done in our presence. But I did not know what to say to this.

Jesus said, “I will dwell in whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks in my blood, and that person will live in me.”

Most of the others were saying this was too hard to accept. They decided that they could not follow him any more. And what could I say? If he said things like this,.we would never again gather a crowd to make him king. So I left with the others. 

This story was drawn from John 6:22-65.

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After feeding the multitude Jesus left us with the people while he went up the mountain to pray. At the end of the day we went down to the water. I steadied the boat while everyone got in. Releasing the line that was fixed loosely to a tree along the shore, I came aboard. At Simon's command, we set a course for Capernaum. Darkness fell, and a strong wind blew up. We took down the sails lest we capsize in the storm. We had to row against the waves. By the fourth watch we were less than halfway across the sea. A flash of lightning revealed a fearful specter. Someone was walking on the water and coming near us. We stopped all effort to row, frozen in terror. 

Then Jesus spoke over the roar of the wind. “I AM! Do not be afraid.” We all thought immediately of the words spoken to Moses from the burning bush. We would not have thought much about this had he said those words in a synagogue in town or even that day on the mountain. But the force of it was overwhelming seeing him walk on the storm tossed sea as if it were solid rock. We were now eager to bring him into our boat. He had hardly stepped onto the deck when the boat was no longer in the middle of the sea but at the docks near Capernaum. In the next few months he explained more than we ever dreamed about the meaning of the words “I AM.” He would soon say, “I am the bread of life,” “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” and other explanations of his divine identity and complete sufficiency for life and eternity. 

This story was taken from the account found in John 6;16-21 

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After the conflicts we had with the other Jews, Jesus took a group of us across the sea. He led us up a mountain, and sat down with us for a special time of teaching. The Passover was near, and we could not help thinking of Moses taking the elders up the mountain where God gave the law. 

Shortly after he had begun Jesus lifted his eyes and saw a huge multitude that had followed him around the sea. I stepped near the edge of the place where he was teaching and saw more people than I could believe. 

Jesus stepped up behind me. Putting his hand on my shoulder he said, “Philip where will we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing me, preparing to teach me a powerful lesson about depending on him to care for the needs of people. I was not one of the leaders in the group. I never had the insight of John or the courage to speak like Peter. But the least of us knew he loved us and that he had a purpose for each of us. I was no exception. 

I was still shaking my head at the size of the multitude. “200 denarii worth of bread would not be enough to feed all these people.” We couldn't guess how many there were. I could have said three or four hundred denarii worth of bread would not feed them all. But Andrew, bless his heart, came up with his hand on the head of a little boy. Even though Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother and half owner of the boat we came in, he was not one of the leaders either. 

He said, “This boy has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many.” I now suspect that the faith of Andrew was serious, but at the time what he said seemed funny to most of us. Judas laughed out loud. Jesus did not pay us any mind. 

He simply said, “Have the people sit down to eat.” The wet season was at its end, and there was a lot of grass along the sea. We started having the men sit down in groups of about 50, each man with his family. There were about a hundred groups of fifty or so men and their families. Who knows how many people there were altogether. Jesus stood where everyone could see and looking up to heaven blessed the bread and fish. Then he began to distribute food to the people. We went from group to group helping pass out bread and as much fish as anyone wanted. Time seemed to stand still as he fed the multitude. 

When we finished and had eaten a bite or two ourselves he told us to start gathering up the leftover pieces of bread so nothing would be lost. I didn't understand much of what was happening at the time, but I have never forgotten that a miracle of Jesus is precious. It is crucial that we not waste the fruit of the signs he continues to perform in our lives. We actually gathered twelve large baskets of bread from the five barley loaves Jesus had broken to multiply. We were not the only ones to recognize this magnificent sign of his majesty. 

Jesus pointed to a group of men whispering together. “They are getting ready to come and take me by force to make me king. I am going to slip away. I want you to stay a while with the people and then start back across the sea. I will catch up with you later.” We watched him start up the mountain alone. Then we walked among the people, talking about what they had seen, praying with many. As evening came we went back down to the sea to return to Capernaum with a great deal to think about.

This story was drawn from John 6:1-15.

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After the conflicts we had with the other Jews, Jesus took a group of us across the sea. He led us up a mountain, and sat down with us for a special time of teaching. The Passover was near, and we could not help thinking of Moses taking the elders up the mountain where God gave the law. 

Shortly after he had begun Jesus lifted his eyes and saw a huge multitude that had followed him around the sea. I stepped near the edge of the place where he was teaching and saw more people than I could believe. 

Jesus stepped up behind me. Putting his hand on my shoulder he said, “Philip where will we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing me, preparing to teach me a powerful lesson about depending on him to care for the needs of people. I was not one of the leaders in the group. I never had the insight of John or the courage to speak like Peter. But the least of us knew he loved us and that he had a purpose for each of us. I was no exception. 

I was still shaking my head at the size of the multitude. “200 denarii worth of bread would not be enough to feed all these people.” We couldn't guess how many there were. I could have said three or four hundred denarii worth of bread would not feed them all. But Andrew, bless his heart, came up with his hand on the head of a little boy. Even though Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother and half owner of the boat we came in, he was not one of the leaders either. 

He said, “This boy has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many.” I now suspect that the faith of Andrew was serious, but at the time what he said seemed funny to most of us. Judas laughed out loud. Jesus did not pay us any mind. 

He simply said, “Have the people sit down to eat.” The wet season was at its end, and there was a lot of grass along the sea. We started having the men sit down in groups of about 50, each man with his family. There were about a hundred groups of fifty or so men and their families. Who knows how many people there were altogether. Jesus stood where everyone could see and looking up to heaven blessed the bread and fish. Then he began to distribute food to the people. We went from group to group helping pass out bread and as much fish as anyone wanted. Time seemed to stand still as he fed the multitude. 

When we finished and had eaten a bite or two ourselves he told us to start gathering up the leftover pieces of bread so nothing would be lost. I didn't understand much of what was happening at the time, but I have never forgotten that a miracle of Jesus is precious. It is crucial that we not waste the fruit of the signs he continues to perform in our lives. We actually gathered twelve large baskets of bread from the five barley loaves Jesus had broken to multiply. We were not the only ones to recognize this magnificent sign of his majesty. 

Jesus pointed to a group of men whispering together. “They are getting ready to come and take me by force to make me king. I am going to slip away. I want you to stay a while with the people and then start back across the sea. I will catch up with you later.” We watched him start up the mountain alone. Then we walked among the people, talking about what they had seen, praying with many. As evening came we went back down to the sea to return to Capernaum with a great deal to think about.

This story was drawn from John 6:1-15.

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We had seen some mighty works done by Jesus. James and John and Andrew and I were the only ones to see Jesus fill a boat with fish from only one dip of a net. After that Jesus said we would fish for men, and we left our boats to follow him. Believe me, we told others about the miracle catch until they were tired of hearing us. We also saw Jesus turn water to wine. Most of the people at the wedding never knew what happened, but we did. He healed the official's son. That too was done in a way that most people didn’t know what happened. His fame had spread through Galilee. But up to now most of his mighty works were not widely known. All of us were excited to go to the feast in Jerusalem. He had demonstrated his power at a previous feast. Who knew what he might do at this one. Everyone would see and understand who Jesus was.

When we arrived we walked together around the city. That was always a treat for those of us who didn’t live there. And we had the sense that Jesus was looking for just the right person to heal. We were wondering what would make him known to the nation. Jesus had hinted that he only did what his heavenly Father told him to do. I understand now that he was looking for the person his Father wanted him to heal

We came to the pool of Bethesda near the sheep gate. Many people were there who needed to be healed. I’m not sure how the rumor got started, but people said an angel stirred the water from time to time. They believed the first person into the pool after the water was disturbed would be healed. The sick wanted to desperately believe it was all true. Occasionally someone would shout that the water was disturbed. Each one would try to be first to get into the pool. People who brought the infirm to the pool would help them into the water. From time to time someone would start shouting that he had been healed. But all I ever saw were quarrels over who was first or whether the water had actually been stirred. 

A big crowd there to see whatever Jesus did. There was a guy who had been there as long as anyone could remember. People said he had been coming there for nearly 40 years. Jesus went straight to him.

“Do you want to be healed?” Jesus asked. “Or have you given up on that altogether?”

The man answered. “I cannot be healed. I’m left here alone in the mornings. I don’t have anyone to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.”

“Stand up!” Jesus said “Take up your mat and walk.” And the man was healed immediately. He stood shakily and then grabbed his mat and almost ran away in front of the whole crowd. While the man had everyone’s attention, Jesus disappeared into the crowd. We were still standing there and saw the funniest thing. A Pharisee stopped the man before he got far. 

“This is the Sabbath,” he said. “It is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” A crowd gathered around evidently to help accuse the man of breaking the Sabbath. The Pharisee spoke with enough authority that the crowd who saw the man healed were cowed into silence. We may have been the only ones there who were trying to keep straight faces. Bartholomew laughed out loud. Could they not see what a great miracle had been done? The fellow answered them. “The man who healed me told me to pick up my mat and leave.”  

Someone in the crowd, probably another Pharisee, raged, “Who is this that dared tell you to break the Sabbath?” It seemed to us like a guard from Jericho trying to arrest Joshua for making too much noise with the trumpets. I suppose the Pharisees would have been even angrier if they realized how ridiculous they looked. After it was all over and we had found Jesus, we went with him into the temple. The man who was healed was there giving thanks.

Jesus approached him and said, “See, after all these years you are well. Stop sinning lest something worse happen to you.” Jesus evidently knew the man would immediately go tell the Pharisees. We followed him to them. They turned and attacked Jesus for abusing the Sabbath. 

Jesus said, “My Father is at work, so I am also working.” The Pharisees didn't understand that Jesus taught that it was his Father who worked miracles through him. But they did understand that Jesus was saying he was the Son of God. This became the primary reason they persecuted him. 

This story is taken from the 5th chapter of The Gospel of John.

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