Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” – John 4:35

All around us there are many searching for God’s kingdom. They know that this world is badly messed up and that there has to be something better, and they’re right! There are many looking for meaning and purpose to life, realizing that the shiny things of the world don’t provide that, and they’re right! There are many who instinctually long for the love of God because they sense they were made for it, and they’re right! We must have eyes to see them and the heart to share our hope in Jesus Christ with them.

God prepares this great harvest. He is the one who prepares souls to respond to the call of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. We simply must be willing to go out there and share that good news. All too often our eyes are looking down at the ground, concerned more with ourselves to avoid tripping as we walk through life. All too often our eyes are focused at the challenges immediately surrounding us. Our eyes can be focused too closely on personal problems, church problems, societal problems. Lift up your eyes! The fields are ready to harvest – let’s be faithful to go do the work God has prepared!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” – John 3:14-15

Hundreds of years earlier, the Israelites had rebelled against God, grumbling and complaining about His provision. As both symbol of, and punishment for, their sin God sent venomous snakes to plague them in the desert. However, because He is a God who saves, He had Moses create a bronze snake on a pole and all who were dying from the poison from these snakes could look up to that snake and be healed of what was killing them.

That strange story pointed forward to what Jesus does for us. We have all rebelled against God’s good design for our life. We grumble and complain about our situation, and prefer to do whatever we like no matter what. We’ve all been poisoned by sin and we all deserve the agony of an eternity separated from our holy God who doesn’t permit sin into His presence.

However, because God is a God who saves, He sent His Son Jesus to bring healing. By His sacrifice on the cross, in which Jesus Christ was lifted high, laid low in the tomb, and raised back to life even higher, He fulfilled this promise and opened the way to healing and reconciliation between sinful humans and our sinless God. All who believe in Jesus, all who look to Him for healing from the poison of sin and death will receive eternal life: the knowledge, relationship, and presence of God forever more.

“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” – John 2:11

Jesus’ first miracle was private, quiet, nearly invisible. Nearly. His earliest disciples were there to see water instantly turned into fine wine. Because they did, they believed for the rest of their lives, though they certainly still had much to learn about Him.

They were there that day when Jesus revealed that He had the power of God over the elements of nature, able to change one thing (water) into something else (wine) in large quantities. They were there when Jesus quietly blessed a poorly planned wedding feast by providing better wine than what they’d had previously. They were there when Jesus transformed the water for cleansing that symbolized the old covenant of Moses into wine, that symbolizes the blood of the New Covenant in Him. They were there the first time Jesus revealed His glory just for their benefit.

The reason Jesus did miracles was to reveal to people that He was indeed the Son of God, God Himself, with all the power and glory of God. That day He revealed Himself to a handful and they believed!

“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).’ – John 1:40-42

This is a critical moment in the history of the world! Andrew met Jesus and believed He was the Messiah. The first thing he did after that was find his brother, tell him about Jesus the Messiah, and bring him to Jesus. Andrew, while certainly important, is not especially famous. Peter is, well, Peter – apostle, pastor, evangelist, author of Scripture, leader of the early church.

What a simple, yet difficult thing, yet critical thing Andrew did! To go to someone he cared about, tell him about Jesus, and bring him to Him. We’re called to do the same, to be Andrews in the lives of others. Yes, it can be difficult, but it’s also both simple and critical. Your efforts may not only change their present and eternal future, it may change the world!!!

Who do you care about who needs to meet Jesus? Will you be faithful to be his or her Andrew???

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

What an extraordinary moment! The eternal Word, who was with God in the beginning and who was God, became flesh and lived among us. The event we call Christmas was the pivotal moment in history when the divine Son of God took on human flesh and a human nature, stepping into our fallen world.

By doing so, He could live the perfect life we can’t, defeating every temptation thrown at Him. By doing so, He could give Himself as a perfect, innocent sacrifice sufficient to pay the penalty for all our sins. By doing so, He became our Savior, a Savior who understands the difficulties and pain of ordinary human existence and so truly understands when we cry out to Him. By doing so, Jesus brought grace and truth into our lives when we embrace Him. What a glorious moment!!!