The Simple Life

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.  John 13:2-4 (ESV) Jesus understood the tremendous battle that was about to ensue. The enemy made his move on Judas and Jesus countered it by being a servant. Satan cannot attack someone dead to themselves. He cannot attack someone who is standing next to God. He cannot attack someone who embraces the truth. Judas and the crowd who would yell "Crucify Him" were prime targets of the Evil One. Jesus, the servant man God, was untouchable. Judas and the people saw the temporal significance of this moment. Jesus saw the eternal. Jesus understood how men should fight. Judas was clueless, blinded by Godless, human ambition. Eventually, the blind human...

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1 (ESV) Jesus knew that His time, His hour, had come. Jesus lived with His cross in mind. If we are His followers, He tells us to pick up our cross daily and follow Him. He was prepared for the day when His life, His job, His ministry on this earth was finished and proclaimed such on the cross. To be effective in this life, we must keep one eye on the next. To be fulfilled in this life, we must invest in the next, and realize that fulfillment cannot be had in this war-torn, temporal world. The more we make ourselves at home, the less we will be prepared for eternity. Jesus showed us how someone who knows God and all truth lives. Therefore, we need to align our thoughts and actions with His to succeed in this life and our death. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Life is not as complicated as it is often portrayed. When we ignore that God created the world and universe, we worship the world and universe because we think they sustain life. When we forget that God created people to love, we live as random blobs of protoplasm. When we ignore that God made male and female, that He made us different, we cannot celebrate differences and are constantly in competition for superiority.  When we ignore that God crafts each human life in the womb, we lose the value of the unborn. When we choose to be entertained for hours by violence, we become violent. When we allow pornography to be normal, we learn to use people rather than love them.  When we continually live in a virtual world, we struggle with reality. There is no right or wrong when there is no God, making it impossible to acknowledge good and evil. This always leads to living in a culture where each person does what is right in their own eyes and will leave the ultimate decisions in this ...

For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me." John 12:49-50 (ESV) Confidence comes to those who know the truth and express the truth. False confidence displays similar traits as true confidence, yet ends differently. Those who have confidence in the truth will win in the end. Those who put confidence in lies will lose in the end. We cannot tell what is right or wrong by observing someone's confidence levels. We can only know the truth when it's all over. Those who know God, who listen to Him, and who proclaim what He has said will find, at the end, when it matters, that their confidence was legitimate. We must be careful to examine truth apart from rhetoric, confidence, or emotional ties, for the Evil One uses all those things to block the simple truths of God's Word. https://...

I have come into the world as light so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. John 12:46 (ESV) Walking in darkness gets old and we were not created to walk in darkness. C. H. Spurgeon said this: "Perhaps the worst feature of darkness is, that it is so bewildering. You have to walk, and yet your way is hidden from your eyes. This is hard work. God will help His children, will He not? Ay, that He will, but we cannot see how I We look upward, and see no twinkling star; downward and do not even find a glow worm. Surely we shall see a candle in some window! But no! we are lost in a dark wood. Have we not somewhere about us a match that we could strike? We fumble for it; we find it, it is damp, we have no light. The question that now chills the heart is—How can God deliver me? We do not see how He can make a way of escape. What simpletons we are to fancy that if we do not see a way of deliverance, God does not see one either! If you have ever steamed up the Rhine, you h...

If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. John 12:47-48 (ESV) Jesus came to give us life. He came so we could thrive, not just survive. If we ignore Him, we are in trouble, yet it is not Him that is our trouble; it is our ignorance. Those who seek God find God. Those who obey God find that He is faithful and true. Those who ignore God find that their ignorance is costly. We like to focus on God's mercy and grace, and rightfully so. However, we would be wise to refocus on our obedience to God to live healthy lives. Those who focus on obedience stop focusing on perfection, because perfection is a byproduct of obedience. We can never be perfect, but we can be righteous. We can never be sinless, but we do not need to sin. We can never be blameless, but we should be responsibl...

And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” John 12:44-45 (ESV) Jesus is the perfect example of how we are meant to live. As people see me, they need to see Jesus. As people hear me, they need to hear Jesus. We are the arms and feet of God. We represent Him to a world that knows nothing of Him. We are tools in His hands, and the work He does through us always points to His craftsmanship. Jesus brought the concept of God into reality, and we are to do the same to the world in which we live. What do people know about God by observing me? What do people know of His justice, mercy, grace, and generosity by seeing my life? May God give me the wisdom and courage to represent Him well today. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees, they did not confess it so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:42-43 (ESV) We live in fear of what others think of us even though we know that what people think can change quickly. People gathered on Palm Sunday and shouted "Crucify Him" by the end of the week. Anyone who lives for the applause of man lives a yo-yo life. Throughout the Scriptures, we are told that it is the fear of God that brings great benefit, not the fear of man or anything else. The worst another person can do to you is kill you, and for the believer, that is not the worst thing that can happen.   The worst thing that can happen is to be separated from God, which is what fearing people will do to you. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."  Pro...

Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" John 12:37-38 (ESV) Some think that God performing miracles in the presence of unbelievers would convert them, and therefore look to God to change the world miraculously. Throughout Scripture, we see that God is constantly working miracles, and mankind forgets who He is. Miracles by themselves are entertaining, but not necessarily life-changing. Today, miracles are just as evident as they were years ago.   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. John 12:35-36 (ESV) Opportunities are not guaranteed to come twice. Often, we delay deciding due to various "reasonable" concerns. Yet, if we wait too long, those windows close. It is good to analyze the facts, yet the "facts" are endless in today's world. When have we studied enough? When have enough options been weighed to ensure our decision is correct? I am not sure there are standard answers to this, yet I am sure that opportunities come and go, and those who hesitate when they should be moving will get passed up by those who recognize it was time to move. Jesus laid out a simple truth. He was goi...

“Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine. John 12:28-30 (ESV) God needs nothing. As He reaches out to help us, He does so for our benefit, not His. He will rule the universe whether I obey Him or not. He will win in the end, even if I refuse to play in the game. He will always be right, for He has no perspective or opinion. God is not waiting for me to act to accomplish His will. He is competent without me or any human. This is why His actions on our behalf are remarkable. He continually reaches into our human experience to be a part of something that has no benefit to Him, but tremendous benefits to us. That is what love is about, and I am commanded to love others as He loves me. That means I do what is right even if...

Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." John 12:28 (ESV) Sin keeps us from glorifying God. Jesus never sinned and therefore always glorified God. We were created to function in a particular fashion. When we deviate from that norm, we can expect trouble. We were created to show who God is by how we live. Sin always stops us from this beautiful, divine-given purpose. In John chapter 17, Jesus prayed that you and I would be one with God, and He is one with God. To get there, we need to spend more time with Him and less with other influencers. In addition, we need to be intentional about limiting the outside voices of influence and focus on our intimacy with Christ. We make this life much harder than it's meant to be by listening to many self-proclaimed "experts" who are masters at being heard, but have nothing to say. We do not need to live this way; for now, the choice is ours.   https://w...

Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. John 12:28-31 (ESV) Jesus did all things for our benefit, not for His.  He is the model of success. We can guard our life, energy, time, resources, and more, only to find that we wasted them all. When we think of others and care for others, we invest in their lives. We do things for their sake, not ours. When we care for ourselves, we need to do so in a way that does not limit our ability to help others. Moms and dads need to help each other schedule "alone time," or time with God, in ways that enhance family relationships rather than limit them. If we learn to die to ourselves, we have a...

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. John 12:24-27 (ESV) Jesus's answer to someone wanting to see Him can be confusing. The Greeks wanted to see Jesus, and He answered them by telling them about dying to self. Perhaps He is telling them that they can see Jesus in anyone who dies to themselves and lives for Him. The Greeks were known for seeking knowledge and wisdom, and Jesus answered them appropriately, considering who they were and what they wanted. Throughout Scripture, we are told that Jesus is our ul...

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. John  12:20-22  (ESV) My dad's pulpit had the words, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus" on display for all who led worship and taught the Scriptures to read and apply. So, likewise, on the podium I use when speaking in the Chapel at Silver Birch Ranch is the phrase, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." For about 60 years, this has been a "check phrase" for those who teach on these grounds. The people who lead us in worship fail if they become the ones we see and worship. Likewise, the speaker fails if they become the one we see and worship. So, likewise, the system fails if it becomes what we see and worship. The greatest compliment a speaker could receive would be to hear someone quoting them, yet not remembering who s...

And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. John  12:14-16  (ESV) It is often difficult to understand the whys of what's happening while we are in the middle of the events. Are we eyewitnesses of something, yet not always sure what it is? Here, the people saw Jesus riding a young donkey. It was the custom of the day to honor those who deserve honor as they approach or ride through a city. The people who saw what Jesus did with Lazarus fueled the prasie fest, and they could only imagine what Jesus could do as King. Life, apart from Christ, is like the NFL in that your value is tied to “wWhat can you do for me now?” not “What have you done for me in the past?” What Jesus did with Lazar...

The next day the common people who came to the feast, having heard that Jesus is coming into Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out with a view to meeting Him. And they kept on shouting, Save now. Let Him who comes in the name of the Lord, the One who in times past has been eulogized, be regarded as such at present, even the King of Israel.  John  12:12-13  (Wuest) The crowd saw Christ's exceptional power and authority and wanted Him to act on their behalf now. This crowd would soon change from wanting to crown Him to wanting to crucify Him. What makes a crowd change its mind so quickly? Propaganda soon focused on the truth, and Jesus was in the crosshairs. If the people believed Jesus, the religious establishments were history. Therefore, religious leaders began to fight for the right to control their subjects. Jesus offers freedom. Religion offers repression. Jesus offers hope. Religion offers fear. Jesus gives life purpose. Religion is its own purp...

Then the common people among the Jews learned that He was there, and they came, not only because of Jesus, but also in order that they might see Lazarus whom He raised out from among the dead. But the chief priests took counsel to kill Lazarus also….  John 12:9-10 (Wuest) Once again, the commoners showed interest for the right reason. Jesus is God, and if we pay attention to what He is doing, we are amazed. The ordinary person investigates things they do not understand because they want to live in the context of truth, not confusion. The manipulators try to protect what they have already proclaimed, and extract any price necessary to keep and grow their status. It is right to wonder about and seek God. However, it is wrong to have all the answers and seek to kill those who disagree with you. Rightness and wrongness are never determined by wealth, power, the majority, or chance. Truth is only available to those who seek God, and if we seek Him, we will find Him, and at last be free....

Anger is ignited as the nation reads the leaked Supreme Court decision. As a result, people are polarized, and judges are victimized for doing what they understand to be their jobs.  I am disappointed. It is hard for me to understand that people find it acceptable, even admirable, to kill babies.  We can change the definition of anything to make it more acceptable, which is happening. We can choose to believe what we want and even pretend it is true, but, in reality, what we believe will never affect the truth.  God gives life and has made man in His image. Satan hates God and knows that people reflect His image. Satan knows that every baby is specially formed by God and has the potential to be one that God uses to destroy him by demonstrating God's mercy and grace to the universe that God has also created.  If we refuse to acknowledge God and redefine life, then we live in a manner that ignores the truth, and there will be consequences. Any society that has the rule...

Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor, you always have with you, but you do not always have me." John 12:7-8 (ESV) Appropriateness changes with circumstances. The Wuest translation helps us understand what motivated Mary.   It says this: "Then Jesus said, Let her alone. It was in order that with a view to the day of the preparation of my body for entombment she might take care of it…." Mary was focused on what was to come. The men around her were focused on what was happening then. Once again, Jesus allowed a woman, in times when women were often treated as second-class citizens, to teach the men a lesson. Jesus often included the unincluded first and seemed to enjoy their simplicity and sincerity. His birth announcement went to shepherds even though He had told the "religious elite" through the prophets. He chose Mary, a simple girl, to be His mother. He had a special relationship with this Mary and M...

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. John 12:4-6 (ESV) Imagine someone being in "ministry" because of what they get from the experience. Judas had a scam going that he, undoubtedly, thought could last a lifetime. He possibly saw Jesus as a "money machine," and thereby looked forward to "marketing" His "performances." All ministries have business aspects that need maintenance. So we all need to give Caeser what is Caeser’s. But, we also need to continually remind ourselves what our existence as a ministry or business is about. Our most significant efforts need to be in matters of faith, love, and hope, and we should do this in the context of sound busines...

 Mary, therefore, took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  John 12:3 (ESV) Mary gave, and the evil people were angry, and all people were affected by her generosity. Evil people are evil, act hateful, and the more "anti-evil" someone is, the more that evil people are roused to action.  Yet, the consistency of kind and generous people eventually envelopes all those in their presence. Mary loved Jesus and anointed His feet with her remarkable, fragrant offering, and that fragrance infiltrated the entire house for the aroma of generosity affects many. We must never allow skeptics and haters to win. Those who love God should always act like they love God, for our actions demonstrate that the generosity of God Himself was well used. Mary understood the purpose of her resources and her life. She ended up using both well.   https://www.po...

Mary, therefore, took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  John 12:3 (ESV) Hermas said this: "Thus turn always thy grateful countenance, first to heaven, and then to earth." Judas was seeing Jesus as the means for his future vocation. Mary seemed to focus on Jesus as her Savior. Judas focused on receiving and benefitting from gifts. Mary focused on giving gifts. God needs nothing and is not dependent on our gifts. Therefore, when we have the privilege of giving, it is because God has given. Mary gave something that is described as "extremely valuable," "very costly," "of great price." She did not give out of her excess or limit her gift to ten percent the total value. She gave something that could have been her "nest egg" or "security." This gift acknowledged that God was her "nest egg...

Six days before the Passover, Jesus, therefore, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary, therefore, took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  John 12:1-3 (ESV) After extreme chaos and disappointment, things seemed back to normal. Lazarus was eating like he usually ate. Food was cooked, served, and the conversation was happing. Yet, there was a strangeness in the room, an awareness that Lazarus represented something larger than life. Lazarus was now a symbol of who Jesus was, and those who were trying to carry on their lives as usual after seeing His power demonstrated through Lazarus could not do so. Mary understood the significance of the moment, and that from that point on, all who witnessed that mir...