"Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the last." John 13:1b

I've read these chapters at least 50 times, and I've always missed this when reading the first verse. I wonder why. I've read the first part of the verse where Christ knows that it's time to leave his disciples and go to the Father, but I've blocked out the last half of the verse that simply says he loved his disciples to the end. Even yesterday, I selected what I thought was the first verse of John 13.

Maybe I have a hard time recognizing it because I have a hard time accepting love. Maybe it's because I have a hard time humanizing Christ to the point that a verse that simply says that he loved his buds goes past me. Then again, maybe the Holy Spirit blinded me for the day so that I would really listen today! I think it's the latter statement that is true. When I read this passage today it hit me like a ton of bricks. It is a simple two part statement. A statement of fact and a statement of action.

"Having loved his own who were in the world...." The context of this passage indicates that the verse is talking about the disciples. But it's not such a stretch to include myself in this group. I said yesterday that Jesus had the mind of God. That he knows and feels everything that God knows and feels. So what do I read about God? One of the first verses in the Bible I ever memorized was John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." or there is a definition of sorts of God in I John 4:8 "... God is love". I also said yesterday that God sees the entire picture from beginning to end. By being outside of time, time is simply an object to him... Like my desk. Knowing me 2000 years before I was born is no big deal from that vantage point. So, I can safely assume that Christ's love of his own includes me... Even if I hadn't been born yet. That is pretty awesome in itself. But there is more...

It says "... He loved them to the last." I think the translation that is more commonly presented for this is "... He now showed them the full extent of his love." I've read ahead, and in the context of the verses that follow, this is OK, too. He is about to perform an act that would be not be believed in that culture as an act of devotion to his disciples. And the primary translation fits in that context. I love the alternate translation, though. To think that the last thoughts on the mind of Christ as he anticipates his death is me... What more can I say?

Father, you have always love us... Rather me. It seems too watered down to talk about your love in the generic. Sort of like listening to a Miss America pageant response to an interview question. But when I personalize it, it's overwhelming. To think that you love me. That you sent Christ to bail me out. That you care enough to give me the very best. Well, quite truthfully, it brings tears to my eyes. I love you, too. Thank you.

- posted by Steve R. @ 7:33 AM

 
"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. " John 13:1

Twenty some odd years ago I read a book by Reuben Welch entitled We Really Need to Listen. The book was a devotional study of Christ's final discourse with his disciples in John 13, 14 and 15. That book changed forever the way I read and study Scripture. I'm going go give credit to Mr. Welch now for his work... But to be honest, I'm not where his ideas and mine begin and end anymore. The book is out of print... And I don't have access to it anymore, but it is still imprinted on my mind and heart.

Since I've finished the study of the Sermon on the Mount, I thought it would be appropriate to continue to look at the different sermons of Christ throughout the Gospels. John 13-15 is my absolute favorite passage in the Bible... So why not visit an old friend for the next few months?

The setting is in the upper room as the disciples have finished the Passover feast, better known as the Last Supper. DaVinci's photo opp is over and the mood turns sober. John says Christ knew that the time had come for Him to complete his mission. It was a serious time, in fact, the last opportunity Christ would have for quality time with His companions of the past three years. When someone knows they are going to die, and the have the opportunity to bring their loved ones around them, they share the things that are the most important to them. In return, the family and friends hold those last words closely. I've only had one experience like this... I remember my sister-in-law Brenda sitting in a hotel room in Sweetwater, Tennessee and us gathered around having one of these conversations. I can remember it like yesterday... It was that important. Marcia had an opportunity to visit with her mother before she died of cancer. We often have discussed that conversation. And now, Christ is having one of those conversations with us and His disciples... And in the words of Reuben Welch, "We really need to listen".

It says Christ knew he was going to die. How did he know? I suppose I could ascribe it to simply reading the handwriting on the wall. Judas has been sneaking around, and I'm sure the stress would show in his face. The disciples have been staying in Bethany for the past week since it would be safer there. Christ has thrown the money-changers out of the temple, and that would have upset the leaders. There have been plots and possibly threats against His life. He may have just figured it out. But it doesn't say, "He figured it was time..." It says "He knew"!

It's easy to forget that Christ has the mind of God. That He is God. And while God impermeates our universe, he also sits outside of it. He is greater than time and space. When I sit at this desk in a hotel in Albuquerque, NM, I can see the entire desk. I can describe it, touch it, tell you everything about it all at once. But if I were an ant crawling along on the desk, I would have a very limited view of what the desk was. I would be willing to bet that I couldn't put together enough data in my little ant mind to figure out it was a desk. When it comes to time and space, we are ants in the cosmos. God is looking at the whole desk.

I guess that's why the whole discussion about free will and predetermination is not a big deal to me. I believe God has given me the choice to do what I want. But because he sits outside of time, he sees the whole picture and knows what I'm going to do. I suppose if I thought about it long enough it would give me a headache... But it's never been a big mystery to me. He just knows. And Christ shares his mind. He knew. And now he's getting ready to speak to me.

Father, you know everything about me and yet you still love me. You know that I'm having pain this morning. You know that I face temptations on a daily basis. You know that I love my wife very dearly. You know about that little mole on the top of my ear. You even know that there are times that I'm not very friendly to you. Yet you still love me. You love me enough to send your Son to take my whuppin'. Thank you for paying attention. Thank you for loving me that much. Now, if I can only appreciate you enough to try to reflect back to you the kindness and love you've shown to me.

- posted by Steve R. @ 8:45 AM

 
"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." Matthew 7:28, 29.

I wish I could have been there that day to hear the words that Christ spoke. Something tells me that this is the Reader's Digest version of this message. It must have been awesome. Even today when reading these words they are so radical that I still struggle to fully understand and apply the teachings to my life.

The essence of the sermon for me is "When it comes to living, there's a way that sounds right; but that isn't important. To do right I have to go back to God's original intent for my life." The only problem for me is that I really struggle at times to carry out what I know. Marcia likes to tell me that she thinks I have adult Attention Deficit Disorder. I disagree. But when it comes to spirituality, she might be right. So many times the last thing to catch my eye is where I go. Why? I think it's simply because I don't accept the authority of the scriptures as I should.

There are a number of teachers on the airwaves today. They sound good. The speak definitively. They tell me what they want me to know. They all tell me they have the answer. Teachers in Christ's day must have been like that. The sixth chapter is full of "You have been taught...", but then Christ would say, "But I tell you...". The teachers had an opinion, Christ had the answer.

Why would Christ have such authority? Because he was the creator of the world, He was there all the time. He not only knows the law, He invented it. He doesn't just try to figure out the mind of God, He shares His thoughts. Bottom line... I need to start paying attention. It isn't popular to submit to an authority. That doesn't make it right. I must change my focus and instead of looking at what I think is right, defer to the master teacher and learn from Him what is right.

Father, the only way I'm going to know your thoughts is to get to know you intimately. Thankfully, you have shown me what I need to know through the life of your Son, Jesus. If I only had this sermon to direct me, I could know what is important to live for you. Now it's up to me to apply what you've shared with me. Humble me. Forgive my arrogance in thinking that I have a better way. Soften my heart, break my will. Allow me to yield to the authority of your Son.

- posted by Steve R. @ 6:28 AM

 
"But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:26, 27.

In doing research for yesterday on foundations and their importance for building, I learned that water was the greatest danger in building a foundation. Hydrostatic pressures, the pressure water exerts against a dam or wall, can be tremendous. Poor drainage can cause the ground around a foundation to soften and become weak. Not only does bedrock play a role in the foundation keeping the building from sinking and shifting, the earth around the foundation helps to solidify it. So it follows that water from the rains and flooding from poor drainage would weaken the structure and make it vulnerable.

Once the building is weakened, then the wind can finish the job. Living in Florida, I know something about wind. Tropical Storm Bonnie is lying off our coast as this is being written, and is expected to become a hurricane before it reaches land. The building codes in Jacksonville require commercial buildings be able to stand a Force 5 Hurricane. Christ seems to indicate that it wouldn't take much wind to finish off the house in His metaphor once the ground around the foundation was compromised.

This isn't new architectural revelations I'm reading about here. Christ is telling me this 2000 years ago. And to be honest, the application isn't rocket science either. There is only one bedrock, that is Christ. So why do I struggle so much to make Him the end all and be all of my life? Why is it that my eye wanders and my desires to stray from Him are so strong?

I'm one of those people who does not see things in black and white. I admire those people to a point, but they also irritate the stuffins out of me. You know the type, everything is either right or wrong... There is nothing in between. I tend to see everything in shades of gray. Many things to me are amoral and it is the application, motivation and intent of the individual that makes it right or wrong. I think it is a proper application of Paul's statement that all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. I do think there is a point where we cross over from right to wrong, and that is when we commit what I think of as the "Thou shalt nots". Those areas of behavior that Christ and the New Testament / Old Testament writers have said were expressly forbidden. Knowing when I've crossed over the line has not always been an easy for me to figure out until it's too late.

I saw an illustration thirty years ago that keeps coming back to my thoughts. It is a circle with a fuzzy boundary. Inside the circle was good, outside the circle was bad / wrong... The fuzzy boundary represents those amoral activities that are right or wrong based on my intent/motive. Christ is at the center of that circle representing perfection. The problem for me is that I am always trying to find the edge of that circle. To live at the edge of what's right and what's wrong. And that is the problem! The focus of my activity is toward the boundary, not toward the center.

Christ tells me here that those who hear his words and obey them have built their house on the bedrock. Those that do not have built it on the sand. In other words, I need to turn my focus around 180 degrees. Instead of focusing on the edge and what is right or wrong, I need to look to the center of the circle... To the words and actions of Christ as my foundation. The closer I get to the center of the circle, the less I have to worry about what is right or what is wrong. What a concept!

Father, you have shown me once again that when I'm the one trying to decide what is good and what is not, I'm on shifting ground. Point me to the rock, bring me close to the Perfect One in thought, actions and motive. Drive the pilings of my foundation deep into the bedrock of your Son. Let me stand firm when temptation floods over my life. Allow me to sway with the onslaught of the hurricane of events around me, but let me remain solid in my contact with the Cornerstone. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for forgiving me when I do fail. Thank you for such a wonderful example for helping me live my life.

- posted by Steve R. @ 3:20 AM

 
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:24, 25

Marcia and I recently visited Kuala Lumpur. One of the great sites there is the Petronas Twin Towers, the largest twin towers in the world and at one time the tallest building(s) in the world. It took just over two years to complete the building, but over a year was spent on the foundation alone.

Petronas Twin Towers at night


Why would the builders spend over half the construction time on what doesn't even show? Because it's essential to the building's longevity. The constructions of the twin towers posed a number of challenges. One challenge was that concrete piers would shorten due to the sheer weight of the building causing it to lean... That could be rather dangerous. The bedrock was uneven, so allowance had to be made for that. Hydrostatic pressures (water seeping in through the soil) was one of the major hurdles that had to be overcome.

When I read all this, I realize that if a good foundation is important for something like a skyscraper, how much more important it is for my spiritual life. Christ says to me here that my foundation is built by listening to his words and applying them. That's not always easy... My bedrock is often uneven (I don't have all the knowledge I need), and there are pressures on me from all around. But the bottom line is: if I want to have a temple that is worthy of the Creator of the Universe... I'd better start paying attention to that foundation!

Father, if you say it quickly building a foundation that will stand the test of time is easy. I can even draw blueprints and plans for accomplishing the job. The challenge for me is the construction. Help me today as I build your temple. May it be pleasing to you. May I be an example to others. I'm going to need a construction crew... I'll need your Spirit to guide and direct me today. Thank you for your help and for the example I can follow, your Son, Jesus.


- posted by Steve R. @ 6:15 AM

 
"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' " Matthew 7:22, 23.

I probably have a bit different interpretation of these verses based on a period in my life that I'm not especially proud of having experienced. There was a short period in my life when I was involved in trying to learn as much as I could about human potential. You know, the Tony Robbins stuff you see on TV. What you don't know is that his seminars and some of the ones I have attended end with a fire walk. Walking over glowing red coals with your bare feet. Sounds nuts... and probably is.

While I was involved with these people, I saw a lot of interesting things that looked a lot like the church: people spoke in unlearned languages, people were healed, people performed miracles. If you were to ask, every one of them would have said their abilities came from God.

After a while, the Spirit began to work on me and I began to question what was really going on. I began testing the spirits. What I finally came to realize is that while we were saying "I can do all things", the real emphasis needed to be "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." While they would acknowledge God and Christ, most would not recognize Christ as the basis for our salvation. Christ represented the God Essence we all possess. I would try to reconcile it as a matter of semantics... That what they were really referring to was the Holy Spirit. But deep down inside, I knew better.

I tried to minister to my friends who were caught up in the lie... but it is not easy. Especially when the response is that your reality is different from mine. What I tried to point out to them was that it is not the miracle that is important, it is knowing the Miraculous One. It's not what I can do, but what I can do for Him.

There will be a time when the Lord will look at us all. Many will think that their efforts were OK... only to find out that they had bought into a counterfeit of the Church. I hope when that day comes, Christ doesn't say to me... "What's your name again?"

Father, I thank you today that you forgive our sins when we ask. That our past errors are as if they are no more. Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. More importantly Lord, help me to know you. Help me to serve you in a way that is pleasing to you. Like David, let me say:

"Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Psalm 51

- posted by Steve R. @ 4:41 AM