"Jesus wept." - John 11:35 Hands down, this is the shortest verse in the Bible. Two little words, but they carry a very large message.  When Lazarus became sick, Jesus knew the plan was to delay so Lazarus would die. That sounds harsh, but God had a much-bigger plan than healing Lazarus. Jesus was going to raise him from the dead, thus proving to be the Son of God. The disciples nor Mary and Martha had knowledge of this plan. Four days later we find that Lazarus has died and Jesus now wants to go to where Lazarus was. Once Jesus arrives he sees Mary and Martha and all the mourners grieving. I'm quite sure the disciples were weeping as well. Then we see something remarkable. Even though Jesus is about to raise Lazarus from the grave, and even though everyone's weeping is about to change to exhilaration, Jesus weeps as well. So, the question is why? I believe the answer is fairly simple: Jesus wept because his friends wept. the Bible is clear that Jesus understand...

 "When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it," (Lk. 19:41, NASB)  "Jesus wept." (Jn. 11:35, NASB)    Here we have two verses of Scripture, with a grand total of only fourteen words, but so much is contained within them. It is interesting to me that on two separate occasions that Jesus, who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and  transcendent over creation as sovereign LORD, would shed tears.     In John's account, Jesus is seen deeply moved by the scene. Lazarus has been dead for four days, and Mary and Martha, although respectful, cannot understand why Jesus did not show up earlier. He cries at the tomb, but not because Lazarus is dead. John records  "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled..." (11:33, NASB) He was moved at the pain and suffering of His friends. He alone knew that the plan was not to heal Lazarus, but ...

"But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus." - Jn. 12:10-11 (NASB)    The story of Lazarus miraculous return from the grave is one of the greatest miracles Jesus performed during his earthly ministry. Jesus allowed His friend to remain dead for four days until He showed up at the tomb and commanded Lazarus to live again. This incredible act showed his disciples, the onlookers, and even the unbelieving that He was God. What we often miss is the events that follow.    In chapter twelve, just prior to Jesus' entering of Jerusalem for the last time before the crucifixion, there was a plot to kill Lazarus. Yes, the same man whom Jesus had just raised from the grave. The religious leaders wanted to kill him for the simple reason that many of the Jews were coming to believe in Jesus. The miracle that Lazarus has received was extraordinary, but being brought ba...

"Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, 'Rabboni!' (which means, Teacher." - (Jn. 20:16, NASB)      Does Jesus really know your name? I believe so. The Bible is clear that every hair on our heads are numbered and the LORD takes into account every bird that drops dead to the ground (Mt. 10:29) . In addition, the Bible tells us that God knows every star and calls them by name ( Ps. 147:4 ). So, yes, I believe that God knows your name. Why is that significant?     In the verse above, Mary had been talking to Jesus and two angelic visitors at the tomb where Jesus had been placed just two days prior. She was talking to Jesus, and yet did not realize that she was, in fact, talking with the risen Jesus. It was not until he called her by name that she recognized whom it was speaking to her, but when she heard, "Mary!" she knew.      In American society, names often do not carry the significance they do in many othe...

He then answered, "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." - John 9:25 (NASB)      Simple is better!   No, this is not an AT&T commercial, but we do have a tendency to complicate many things in faith. The story represented in the verse above is a great illustration. Jesus was doing what He always did, namely loving, teaching, and healing. This is where he meets this unnamed man who had been born blind. Like many of his day, the man apparently spent much of his time begging on the roadside for money and food. Jesus sees the man and proceeds to heal him. The manner in which heals him is pretty wild, for Jesus spits onto the ground, makes some mud with it, smears it on the man's eyes, and tells him to go and wash it off. As the man did what Jesus instructed, his eyes were miraculously restored. This was on Sunday, and the Pharisees did not like the fact that Jesus was "working" by healing the man. So,...

"Lord, if You had been here, my brother wold not have died." - Jn. 11:21 & 32 (NASB)      This piercing statement was made not once but twice to Jesus, each time by a sister of Lazarus, and a friend of Jesus. However, the responses were much different. When Martha asked the question (v.21) , Jesus responded by telling her Lazarus was going to rise again (v.23) . She did not get it, so Jesus reminded her that He is the resurrection and the life. (v.25) She still did not get it. We know this because she responded to Jesus by avoiding His question. On the contrary, when Mary spoke those same words (v.32) Jesus responded by asking where Lazarus's body was buried, then proceeded to the tomb to resurrect him. (v. 34-44)         Why did Jesus respond to them differently? He could have just as easily asked Martha where Lazarus's body was buried. Perhaps Jesus wanted to engage the faith of each of these women at the level they were. In Luke, th...

"...'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'" - John 8:31-32 (NASB)    There are many verses of Scripture that are taken out of context and used in inappropriate or inaccurate ways. I believe this is done many times innocently, but there are those who will deliberately use the Word of God for their own personal gain. This verse is a good example of Scripture that is often taken out of context. We love to quote the latter part of this text, "the truth will set you free," and the principle is incredibly powerful. However, when we skip the first part we risk losing its context and damaging the promise. The context is discipleship, or walking with Jesus. When we walk with Jesus daily, we can expect the Word of God to both reveal truth and bring freedom to us. But, if we choose to avoid Him, can we really expect to either know truth or to live free? I would argue the ca...

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" - John 3:3 (NASB)    If you read the entire record of Jesus conversation with Nicodemus, it should become evident that Nic has not earthly idea what Jesus is talking about. Jesus himself even responded to Nic's confusion, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things." (v.10) It is relatively easy for us to look back at this encounter and be shocked at his lack of understanding; however I want to defend Nic's response for a moment. Nic had a major hurdle to overcome, but it had nothing to do with his knowledge of Scripture or his intelligence. His difficulty was spiritual blindness. Yes, he was educated in the Scriptures, but could not "see" the LORD, even though He was standing in front of him.    The NASB uses the word "see" in referencing God's kingdom, and for good reason. Certainly, ...

"But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men." - Jn. 2:24 (NASB)    As I was reading this morning, I was completely caught off guard by one simple thought that the Holy Spirit challenged me with: Can Jesus have faith in me? Let me back up just a little. In the context of chapter two, Jesus has returned to Jerusalem for the Jewish Passover feast, as was His custom. While He was there He undoubtably performed signs and wonders of which John does not elaborate on (v.23). As the people saw the signs, John writes that many "believed" in His name. That is good news. Then, we read verse 24 where Johns writes, "But Jesus…was not entrusting Himself to them." Something was gnawing at me, so I began to research the original language and noticed something powerful. The Greek word for "believe", PISTEUŌ , is the same word used in verse 24 translated as  "entrust."* As I was thinking about the connection, the ...

"…We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote…" - (Jn. 1:45, NASB)    It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of Jesus throughout the Word of God. Although I believe that Philip did not fully understand at that moment, he grasped the OT Scriptures enough to recognize that the man standing before him was the Messiah. Too often we limit the Biblical account of Jesus to the gospels. However, even a casual observer reading through the Bible should be able to see the fingerprints of Jesus throughout. Jesus, the anointed of God, is the central figure, and the great revelation of God to humanity. The OT hinted, foreshadowed, foretold, prophesied, and looked forward to His arrival on earth. The Gospels record His supernatural arrival, life, words, and ministry, along with the central event of creation: the cross, death, and resurrection. The epistles outline the meaning and application of His glorious existence, along with the effects of Jesus...

"Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but though Me." - (Jn. 14:6, NASB) A brief excerpt from yesterday's message.    This was the final Sunday in our series on, "I Am," looking at Jesus' comments of Himself. Although this is not the last in sequential order, I believe this statement to be a culmination of all the "I am" statements that Jesus made. We can break this verse down into individual parts and look at their meanings, but take a look at the overall message of this verse. As the truth, He is the revelation of God's perfect will to fallen humanity. As the way, He is the journey or path by which we are able to enter into heaven and the glory that is the Heavenly Father. And, as the life, He is both the beginning and the ending, the source of our initial regeneration and the sustaining life until we are translated into glorious beings.  We cannot learn about God without the revelatio...

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." - (Jn. 15:5, NASB) A brief excerpt from yesterday's message.    There is one main, overarching theme in this passage of Scripture: Jesus is our source! Everything else in this passage flows from that thought. He is the vine, not we ourselves. We sometimes think, or at least act, as though we have the capacity to bear fruit by sheer strength and determination, but it is just not possible. We are the branches. The branch receives its nourishment from the vine itself, and the health of the branch is directly linked to both the health of the vine and the strength of its connection. As the vine, Jesus is perfect, so there is no problem there. The problem comes in our connection with the vine. The stronger connection we have, the more of His life flows in and through us. I am not talking about improving on salvation. We cannot do anything fur...

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” – (Jn. 11:25-26, NASB) A brief excerpt from yesterday's message.    Context is everything in Scripture. Knowing and understanding the context of a verse is key in understanding the meaning of the verse itself. In the above passage Lazarus had died, and Jesus was "too late" by most accounts. However, man could not understand the power of God. It had always been Jesus' plan to raise Lazarus from the grave. Therefore, had He arrived any earlier, then the miracle would have not been possible. After Jesus arrives He is greeted by Lazarus's family. As Jesus was talking with one of Lazarus's sisters, Jesus tells her, "I am the resurrection and the life." Now, I am not a Greek scholar, so there is much about the original Greek that I do not understand. However, I noticed something int...

"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." - (Jn. 10:11, NASB) A brief excerpt from yesterday's message.    I am not a shepherd, although I have been around them some. What I know of them is not generally pleasant: they stink, they are stubborn, and they are not too bright. If I have offended any shepherds then I am sorry. I mean no disrespect, but you do have my sympathy. Sheep, by nature, are very weak animals. Without proper protection and provision they would die. In my own humble opinion, I think sheep would have been wiped out centuries ago if it were not for shepherd, but I digress. Sheep stand no chance in the face of predators. They would scatter, then become an easy meal, that is, without the presence of the shepherd. The shepherd's job is to do what sheep cannot do for themselves. When wolves and other predators come, the shepherd positions himself between them and the sheep, and defends the flock, either by chas...

So Jesus said to them again, "I am the door of the sheep." - Jn. 10:7 (NASB)    A brief excerpt from yesterday's message. In this chapter, Jesus uses several metaphors in revealing and explaining just who He is to the people. Today I want to focus on Jesus as the door. Although Jesus spends some time elaborating on the connection of the door, shepherd, and sheep,  there is a central overriding message that Jesus is attempting to get across to the people: Jesus is the only way to eternal life. The reason I write "attempting" is that verse six tells us that the people did not understand. He had to tell them in another way because they just did not get the message. As I think about this passage, I realize that we are not too different. In our world today, there are many different "gospels" which preach a variety of ways to find a variety of gods. Many of the "gods" that are at the core of their message do not look much the God of the Bible....

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." - John 8:12 (NASB)     A brief excerpt from yesterday's message. In order to understand Jesus' statement, we need to understand the reality of darkness. Darkness is here. It is in our lives, our homes, businesses, schools, governments, nations,……and churches! In the OT and the NT, darkness represents a number of phenomenon such as moral depravity, evil forces or powers contrary God, the complete absence of God's presence, and also misery, death, spiritual insensitivity, spiritual blindness, and ignorance. So, the question of the hour is, "Which of these was Jesus referring to when He said we will 'not walk in darkness?'" The answer is all of the above. The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus IS the light, He is the source of light. We are told that there is no darkness in God at all (1 Jn. 1:...

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.'" - (Jn. 6:35, NASB)    A brief excerpt from this mornings message. As Jesus spoke to those around, no one could miss the obvious reference to OT "manna" from Heaven that God send to care for Israel in 40 years of wandering around. The problem that some had was Jesus declaring Himself to be God (I AM), and His reference about eating His body. The Pharisees could not accept his declaration of deity, nor would they accept it. To them this was blasphemy. In addition, they did not get his comment of eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Jesus was not advocating cannibalism, but that the only way to Heaven was through believing in Him.     In studying this passage, three times Jesus refers to Himself as "bread of life" or "living bread." Why?  Bread nourishes, sustains, and satisfies the physical body. Without...