TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus in the Book of John

“Being lost is living by a set of values that systematically dismantles your life” -  Unknown source.  

I wish I knew the person that shared this quote.  It makes me think about my own life and the historic decisions I have made for the better or for the worse, and how those decisions have either stabalized my or made it more unstable.  I had to read the quote several more times before the "key" word stuck out to me.  That word is "living."  

Living is a decision, a decision that requires each of us to decipher whether our living is a by-product of how we were taught to live life, or whether it is a by-product illuminated by truth.  How we live is determined by the set of values we pursue.  Those values either dismantle or construct what is the foundation of our lives.  Please understand, there is no way to bypass the events of your life that cause dismantling.  Sometimes we have no control over those events.  What we do have control over is how we construct, or even reconstruct.  

There is a test to examine if your life is stabilized, that is very easy and elementary to understand.  Here it is!  Look to see if your life is adding any lumber to the lives around you.  To many of us live life like it's the "blind leading the blind."  Someone blind taught us to see, taught us to walk, taught us to hear, and we know no different when it comes to what our purpose in lives is.  Notice I said lives, not life.  

Lives get so dismantled, so easy, because we don't SEE properly, because someone led us astray and we followed.  I remember in college two guys in my dorm, Mike and Brian.  They were roommates, and shortly after Brian landed on campus, Mike, an upperclassman, would take Brian across campus to show him the way to the various classrooms.  Strangely enough, both Mike and Brian were born blind.  On one occasion, both Mike and Brian were caught in a circle of shrubs and didn't know how to get out.  It took someone who could see to come along side of them and illuminate the way out.

Light will dismantle your life, but at the same time, it will reconstruct it.  That is the difference a little light will make when we recognize how our choices have caused to dismantle.

Love to hear your thoughts,

Randy

TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus in John

I want to ask a simple question of you this week that falls in line with my message from this past Sunday - "Who is Jesus to you?"  This question springs from a statement Jesus made in John 7 when he was in the middle of a teaching battle during a very holy week in Jewish traditions, known as the Feast of Tabernacles.  In John 7:28, Jesus is teaching about the authenticity of his claims as the Christ, and as He teaches he makes this statement - 

"Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me."
John 7:28-29 (NIV)

  
The phrase for "cry out" means to scream.  Jesus screams a rhetorical question in this passage – “Yes, you know me, do you?”  In other words, you claim you know me, but do you really?  So I had to ask myself, what does it look like to KNOW Jesus, and what is the proof in my life?

We all have images of what Jesus looks like and how we are to follow that image, but what if we had the direction and flow wrong.  What if it were to be more like this is what Jesus looks like and this is how he flows from us.  

Last week I shared about Christ's statements in John 6 about being the Bread of Life, and how Christ called us to consume His flesh and drink his blood.  I don't believe for a second that Jesus was being literal, but I do believe He was calling us to an action that involved consumption and absorption of Christ.  This is a change of direction and flow.  It is us consuming and absorbing Christ and allowing Him to flow from within in us, so what people then see is less of us and more of Christ.  

Some might suggest that this strips us of our individuality and freedom.  I don't necessarily think so, because then Christ would be stripping us of those two very things which is contrary to His nature.  The creative processes of Christ in creation was to provide individuality and freedom that each fell in place with the loving nature of God.  

So when I ask, "who is Christ to you," I ask wondering directionally if it is Christ "flowing" through me, or if it is my following Him.  Both are imperative, yes, but if out of order, a definite struggle.

TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus from the Book of John

In John 6, we see the first of seven "I AM" statements from Jesus Christ, seen only in the book of John.  I did a study on the "I AM's" of Jesus Christ several years ago and found it to be a fascinating study.  More so, because of the Old Testament connection to Exodus 3, Jesus was making in each of his statements.  

In John 6:35, Jesus states, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.” - John 6:35 (NLT).  Jesus makes the same claim again later in John 6 - 

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" John 6:48-52 (NIV) 

The imagery from Jesus was a bit gruesome, you know, eating his flesh and drinking his blood.  Not something your momma would approve of, nor mine.  Now, a good juicy steak, with some pink in the middle, no complaints on my part.  But when Jesus said "love your neighbor," this seems a bit contradictory.  

What Jesus really wanted us to understand through all the muddle was quite simple.  Jesus wanted us to understand was that eating his flesh and drinking his blood signified Jesus becoming "REAL" to us.  It was Jesus analogy to help us understand what being "Christ-like" is all about.  When we eat of his flesh (bread) and drink of his blood (cup) what is being illustrated is our willingness to absorb Christ into our lives.  This is not a one-time action that turns us into a Christ-like product.  A better understanding might be, as you are absorbing Christ into your life, otherwise known as becoming Christ-like.  


Beatle George Harrison once said that the "first really decent guitar" that he owned was the Gretsch Duo Jet. The electric guitar, manufactured by Gretsch Guitars, was known for its trebly tone. In the early '60s, Harrison bought the guitar for 70 pounds (about $200 at the time).
Early in 2011, Gretsch Guitars announced that the company would manufacture a limited run of 60 exact replicas of George Harrison's Duo Jet guitar as a tribute model. USA Today reported that "Gretsch Guitars product manager Joe Carducci says master [craftsman] Stephen Stern re-created the guitar precisely, replicating the nicks and dings of a half-century's use, even using a CAT scan to determine the semi-hollow guitar's body-chambering style." The suggested retail price for the tribute Duo Jets would be $20,000. This is an expensive guitar because it replicates a valuable original so closely. In the same way, you and I find our highest value in becoming an amazing replica of Someone whose worth is infinite: the Lord Jesus Christ.

As you continually absorb the worth of the Savior, you will find yourself becoming a replica of Him carried out in your life.

(For the first person who responds to this blog there is a gas card waiting.  Please comment.)

TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus from the book of John

John 5 begins what is known as the beginning of the greatest moments of hostility in the life of Jesus. Today’s text takes us to the Pool at Bethsaida, inside one of 8 gates known as the Sheep Gate (Herod’s Gate). It is a Sabbath day – possibly a regular Sabbath, Passover, Feast of Tabernacles or Hanukkah (Dedication) - 1 Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches -- John 5:1-3 (NLT)

The confrontation begins because Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. This man, for 38-years waited by the pool for a chance to be healed and was always denied the chance because of his ailment. Many of Jesus miracles were meant to confront human regulations that had gone against the flow of God’s design. This particular miracle points at breaking the regulations of the Sabbath, specifically the 4th Commandment. 

The Religious Leaders made the Sabbath day a day of regulation, which was never the intention. All Jewish Sabbaths were to be “God-targeted.” It was meant to be a reunion. Sometimes a reunion of joy, sometimes irritation. The Sabbaths are days of reverence and devotion because God deserves it. Be careful that you don’t regulate your Sabbaths to become “ME” centered.  The Sabbaths were meant to center on a completely different subject -- rediscovering grace.

Grace is defined as "an undeserved blessing bestowed on man by God." The Sabbath in Jesus day had become consumed with legalistic demands instead of promoting a new life of joy. What Jesus wanted his listeners to understand was that the Sabbaths were made to target a grace transformation, a blessing bestowed on us by God undeservedly, and in turn that grace transmitted into the lives of others.

The Sabbath had turned into a day of performance and expectation. What Jesus wanted us to understand through this miracle was that the Sabbath was "for" man not "about" man. There was nothing we could bring nor any performance we could offer that God needed. What He desired from us was quite simple - 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise - Psalm 51:16-17 (NIV).

No gift you can give will suffice God's expectation, except the gift honor with a heart laid bare before the Creator with awe, reverence and love. 

Randy

TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus in the book of John

90% of John’s gospel is unique in comparison to the other three gospels. All 4-gospels, however, target the controversial or antagonistic teachings of Jesus. Teaching that angered the Religious Leaders of His day. John 2, is just such a place. This is probably the middle or later third of Jesus ministry. In John 2, Jesus is preparing for the Passover, a Jewish Sabbath Day -- 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
John 2:13-16 (NIV) 

I know there have been numerous explanations for why Jesus would carry on like he did.  I've read several myself, all of which have a reasonable explanation.  The one that really seems to hit home for me, however, targets the issue of complacency.  


Thomas Edison stated - "We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present."  I think Jesus was angry because He saw complacency creep into temple worship.  On one of the holiest days of the Jewish Sabbath celebrations, He witnessed how complacency had infected temple worship, both in the leaders and in the worshipers.  Don't misunderstand, however, complacency begins from the top-down.  Jesus was sending a message to the Religious Leaders of the day by pointing a finger at their lack of leadership and the complacency of their hearts by letting His Father's house become a place that was "man-centered" instead of "God-centered."  


The same can be true and seen in the church today when we see God more in our buildings than our hearts; more in our personal needs than our spiritual giftedness and how that gift centers on engaging our neighbor and not our personal desires.  


I remember a pastor I worked under telling his congregation once, "for those of you that are believers, God bless you, because we are going to spend eternity together in heaven.  In the mean time, please allow me to spend time with those that are lost instead of visiting you in your homes."  


Tough statement to make to your church family, I know, but it attacked the heart of what could have led to complacency within the church he served.  Don't get me wrong, we need to care for one another, but complacency will always center on self if we are not careful in reminding ourselves of our mission and target, and how we get there.


Randy

The Final Act - Act 6: Glorification

Here is how Jan Winebrenner defines Glory...

 

"Glory is a cheap commodity these days.  Or what passes for glory...  It's obvious, we're pretty confused about wht real glory is.  But we do have one thing right: Real glory only happens when we're in proximity to another person, in relationship.  But we've gotten the "someone" all wrong.  It isn't the audience on the other side of the television camera... Glory captures you.  God, through Christ, enters our world and captivates us with the sweet allure of His indescribable magnificence."  

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth -John 1:14 (NIV).

"We experience the glory of Christ by being in His presence..."  Winebrenner goes on to connect the "glory" of Christ to our personal afflictions.  She states that, "glory will be inextricably bound to suffering."  

Thomas Merton concurred when he wrote, "Afflictions work for good, as they are means of loosening our hearts from the world.  When you dig away the earth from the root of a tree, it is to loosen the tree from the earth; so God digs away our earthly comforts to loosen our hearts from the earth."

To summarize in my own words, in order to experience the true essence of God's glory in my life, there will be suffering and affliction, but it is suffering with a just cause.  It is loosening the soil of this world to prepare me for another, one that reveals the wholeness of God's glory.  The glory of this world is momentary.  The glory of my eternity is timeless.  "Come Lord Jesus, Come!!"

The Final Act: Act 5 - Redemption

The word redemption is one of those "50 cent" words you don't randomly throw around for the simple reason people might think you are an unapproachable intellectual, or in other words "to big for your own britches."  Let me see if I can summarize redemption in an easily understood way.  To be redeemed means to be forgiven, the core of Christianity.  The two words are interchangeable.  

Here is how Catherine Marshall organizes the two ideas - "Forgiveness has two sides that are inseparably joined: the forgiveness each of us needs from God, and the forgiveness we owe to other human beings.  Most of us prefer not to face up to the fact that God's forgiveness and man's are forever linked.  Jesus warned us that if we want the Father's forgiveness, there is only one way to get it: Start the flow of forgiveness between heaven and earth by forgiving our brother from the heart."

The flow of redemption - heaven to human heart - was never meant to have dams installed, slowing or stopping the flow of redemption from our own hearts to those who need to experience reconciliation from us.  Isn't the concept of giving someone the "other cheek" meant for us to ignore our natural impulse to stay angry or to get even?  

Growing up I had a coach that used to have his athletes write on their chest - CH_MP.  After the game was done the athlete had to decide whether to place a "U" or an "A" in the blank.  To truly understand the concept of reconciliation with forgiveness, especially towards an enemy, being a CHAMP means first being a CHUMP.  This is not a recipe for being weak, it is a recipe for knowing that the ingredients of true forgiveness and reconciliation will cost us first because we are the agents of pursuit.  We are the engineers that disassemble the dams and allow the grace of reconciliation to flow into us and through us to our enemies.  

A daunting task?  You bet!  One that cannot be accomplished without first admitting personal weakness and laying it before the Lord in prayer seeking His assistance to accomplish a painting that we cannot visualize on the canvas.  

Randy