John 10:19-30
19So again came to be division among the Jews because of these words. 20But many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is raving mad; why do you pay attention to Him?” 21Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of being demon-possessed. A demon is not able to open eyes of blind, is it?”
22Now the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23And Jesus was walking about in the temple in the Portico of Solomon. 24Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You hold our soul in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25Jesus answered them, “I told, and do not believe; the works which I do in the Name of My Father, these testify concerning Me. 26But do not believe, because are not of My sheep, just as I said. 27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28And I give to them eternal life, and they shall by no means perish into the age! (they shall never ever perish!) And no one will pluck them out of My hand. 29My Father who has given to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to be plucking out of the hand of My Father. 30I and the Father are one!”
Good Day Child of God! "Father? I open my heart and my mind that you may teach me for I am willing to hear and believe." It is more than interesting that our Scripture follows our last Study and the challenges of the understanding of why something happened, will outstrip our knowledge that it simply happened. For example, we know Jesus was a man, looked like a man, spoke like a man, walked like a man, had a mom and earthly dad as well. Even took on His earthly father's career of being a carpenter. We also know that nothing much is said of Jesus' earthly father except to point out that he really wasn't Jesus True Father, but more of a foster father instead.
Jesus' mother Mary was His real mother on the human side, implanted with the seed of God by the Holy Spirit, who is God, an extension of God. Jesus then the human is born of water and of Spirit. Interesting, but why this way?
Today's easy lesson: When we start to look at all the things that Jesus taught and the things He did, all of a sudden it starts to fall in place, doesn't it? It is meant too! There is no mistake, no accident, no coincidence, this is all planned out, and it wasn't planned by the human part of Jesus. How can that be said with certainty? Jesus would not have the ability as a human to pick His parents or His time of birth, or where He would be born, just to sight a few examples. The complex prophecy of future events, Judaism's background, the people who cared and those that only cared for themselves, cannot be put together by a child, then young adult. Of course, the teachings planned to be given at certain places and times would be impossible for any human to lay out ahead of time.
In Part 1 of this series, we learned why Jesus had to come when He did. It couldn't have been much later, nor to much sooner, because the world keeps moving forward, things change, rulers change, a simple idea from one person can change the lives of all people on an entire continent, so the timing was critical. Certainly, a human could not do that! Yet we have this Human/God Jesus, and why is it that He came as a man the way He did? The Father could have had Him just appear out of the desert coming from nowhere in particular, but what authority would He have over the Jews, even with knowledge and understanding? How could be prove Himself by Scripture if that were to happen. Besides
the fact that the Messiah was to come after Elijah, and the Jews were looking for this man was a certainty. Elijah did come first, but the Jews
didn't recognize him, only the Chosen did, and they followed him. His name
was John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin. Without John the Baptist's introduction, Jesus would have had a more difficult time making the impact He did in the time needed. Again the question is why a man, why Jesus, why not a prophet, or perhaps a sign, similar to the "writing on the wall"? In order to make an impression on people, you have to be one of them. If God were to come Himself, no one could look at Him, and the overall message would be drowned out by an event only a few could attend. One reason that God only met with Moses alone after the Exodus. Moses represented God, but look at the impression Moses made. Almost nothing. In fact so poorly did he manage the people, he too was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Look at Jesus as opposed to Moses. Jesus could not be backed down, pushed around, even touched without it being planned ahead of time by the Father. The Father along with Jesus made the Messiah more than a man that would challenge religion and it's varied belief systems, and more than a person that would take the punishment for mankind's sins for all, forever, nor the man that would end up dying on a Cross to be Resurrected from the dead to defeat death. He has to be the perfect example of how God would like to be worshiped, followed, and spoken to. We have more than a simple carpenter that is sent to take our sins and end death for God's Chosen, we have a faultless example of what we should do to please God, in our actions, our speech, our treatment of others, and our reverence for our Father. The simplicity of which is to follow the Father, not do and ask His Blessing. Follow, not lead. No works, no penance for sins, no confession, no tithe, nothing with rites or rituals or traditions are for the Father. Those are for you alone. They would be your gift to you to feel better about being a Believer. They have NO effect on God's wishes for you. Jesus did all these things to complete the Law which then would end it. Jesus did all the works, as well, so God's Children, even as adopted, would know how to follow, not lead the Father. When you think about it, it is nearly exactly backwards of what most are taught in traditional church gatherings to this very day.
How does this effect my walk with the Father? To understand that to get together frequently with like minded brothers and sisters to honor and worship in song and thanksgiving is basic to being a Christian. To talk to your Father as though He were your real father here on earth, is one example Jesus gives us, for He didn't go through "Thee and thou" as He spoke to His Father. The Father was filled with Love for His Son, and did not want to be treated as though He is so large He must be approached like an untouchable. Please, Jesus/God/Holy Spirit are your best friends, act and speak like it! We see that Jesus had to become a man because for the long term, for you and I today and those to come, we had people research, like Luke, who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts, to prove Jesus' lineage back to Adam and Eve. Well in reality it takes both Luke's Gospel and Mathew's Gospel for both Adam and Eve, but that said, we know He is real. He was here, if not, if He didn't do what is written, why tell anyone and risk being brought to your death for doing so? These are the reasons Jesus/God had to come as a man. It was God who started everything, it is God who keeps it going, and it is God who provides, and it is God who will decide when it all ends. You and I are Blessed to be fortunate enough to be able just to have Faith and Believe (Trust) in this, and our bonus for that is never dying. Those that would rather doubt, be the captain of their own ship, well, God will see to them in His own way and will. Jesus' visit was well planned, exacting, and in the end, the idea was to simplify it for the Father's Children. Just simple Faith. Everything else is man trying to get the Father to give more to a people that already have been given everything they need. God is Blessing all of His Children in so many ways. How truly thankful we should be. Yet, many are not, they want more. Jesus settled the sin issue, no sin. He opened the curtain that separated everyday men and women from God to allow for the personal relationship He wants with His Children, and the first gift-gift mind you, is Life and that forever, abundantly. Is there more? Yes, all the attributes of God at our asking; peace, love, joy, calm, gentleness, kindness, patience, faithfulness, and self-control. What do we ask for instead of these things? How about a new home, or car, or whatever else we see as important. Those worldly types of things that may come are not miracles, they are provisions, and our job is to use them properly, which is to honor our Father, and to be ready to do His Will, so the things that really have substance in this world bear something worthwhile for others, and we benefit from them as well. Amen? Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
John 10:11-18
11“I am the good shepherd! The good shepherd lays down His life on behalf of the sheep. 12But the hired worker, not being also a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, watches the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf seizes them and scatters the sheep. 13Now the hired worker flees because he is a hired worker and is not concerned about the sheep.
14“I am the good shepherd, and I know My, and I am known by My. 15Just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father, and I lay down My life on behalf of the sheep. 16And other sheep I have which are not from this fold. These also it is necessary Me to bring, and My voice they will hear. And they will become one flock, one Shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, so that I shall take it again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself; I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. This command I received from My Father.”
Good Day Child of God! "Father, I open my heart and mind to your teaching, please teach me now." If you haven't read the verses above yet, it is important that you do read them before you begin to read the Study. If there are Key Verses in the Bible, these qualify to be along with the most important. They are filled with knowledge, wisdom, intent, and a relationship that is near impossible for mere humans to understand.
For some reason I feel unworthy to present the Truth that is above. It consists of deep lessons on God's Plan for all of mankind, which is highlighted above. Jesus and His relationship with the Father, and by that teaching, it brings us to why did Jesus had to become a man, why did He have to come when He did, and what was His primary purpose for coming. This is teaching that doesn't get any more serious than any in the Bible. It takes in the Old with the New Testament and beyond, and it requires our complete attention to understand.
Today's easy lesson: You have heard these verses more than once if you are a regular church attending Christian. Or perhaps watching sermons on television or hearing them on the radio. I have heard them, and the pastor, teacher, or preacher using the words, now that we have time to look into them, have little understanding of the significance of the message. We know that Jesus is the Good Sheppard, and the Good Sheppard isn't just a hired man, He indeed cares for the sheep because He has raised them all since the first couple that began His flock. Each sheep He knows by name, He knows their personalities, their likes, dislikes, their penchant for doing this or not doing that. His care for the sheep is more important to Him than anything else He has. It is that simple. To put it in other terms, God made us, He has not lost interest in us, and in fact He works to this very day doing what He can to care for His entire flock, but many have wandered off where the danger of not having His protection and provision are keeping them from Him.
Jesus came as a man, half man, half God, at a time when nearly all the Israelites could be gathered together at one time, in one place, at anytime. During the silent period of about four hundred years where there was nothing heard from God directly or from a prophet, some Israelites came up with the great idea to begin to worship God by virtue of a religion named Judaism. When reading the Old Testament, God never wanted any other leadership than Him for anyone, but especially for Abraham's family. He wanted nothing made to look like Himself, because then the tendency is to worship in front of that thing, or treat it with reverence, when He is not in it nor a part of it. He did not want to give them an earthly king, as the other nations had, because He was to be their leader on earth as it is in heaven. All the Father wanted was a people of Faith that would understand that He was all in all strong enough, loving enough, and caring enough that they could trust Him for all things, and nothing or no one else. God proved to be more than able in times of famine, in times of threats from aggressors, whatever it many be, from the time of the Exodus to the time of the first moment of seeing the Promised Land for the first time. Yet, with all this proof, the Chosen still did not give God trust to continue to care for them, and there was a need to allow the wheat and the tares to be separated. That required a forty year journey in the dessert, and even then the stubborn mind of the Israelites were a constant challenge for the Father. We come quickly back to the four hundred years of silence, where Judaism is born, the people find the Law of Love, a punishment instead of a group of rules that lead to Agape' Love. God's Chosen are in a mess. Some still have Faith, some are ardent Jews, some have intermarried with others, and hope in God, but have no real knowledge of Him, and without some action from God Himself, Abraham's Family and by extension, the entire world, would be lost. We cannot throw out that Lucifer is a great part of this mess, not to take away anything from man's greedy ways, but there is a Spiritual War for souls going on, continuing on to this day.
Going back to Jesus' First Coming, God's Chosen are still small enough in numbers, and close enough in area to gather together. God saw that Jesus was needed at that time, so during the Holy Days when most Israelites of one stripe or another would be there, Jesus could be there as well, in their midst bringing the message of healing from the Father. Now we know the reason for the timing. There is the relationship of God and Jesus that we don't understand. There is the message of healing from the Father and why most Christians do not grasp it. There is the reason of how we are to worship and show our respect for the Father, and why Jesus is not the one to worship, which comes right from Jesus. Lastly, there is why of Jesus' sacrifice of beatings, the Cross, death, and burial, and most importantly the reason why He had to rise from the dead. Some of these things you know. But do you understand why?
In the coming few Studies, we will take on all the questions one, two, or whatever number the Father has in mind. We are doing this, because to understand these things is to understand the foundation of Christianity. Once you understand the strength of the foundation, you as part of the building itself, will be stronger, wiser, than ever before. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
John 10:7-10
7Therefore, Jesus said again to them, “Most positively, I say, I am the door of the sheep! 8All, as many as came, are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and he will come in and will go out and will find pasture. 10The thief does not come except so that he should steal and kill and destroy. I came so that they shall have Life, and they shall have abundantly!
Good Day Child of God! "Father? I open my heart to allow you to teach me right here and right now, please do." Ah, the great "Abundant Life"! We have such differing views on it that there are literally Sects of Christianity named as such, and then there are those that are so afraid of it because they don't understand it, it is rarely, if ever, spoken of in the hallowed halls of many church buildings.
Two words, not spoken of over and over again in the New Testament, in fact I do not recall them being mentioned together in the Old Testament, but do a computer search and see what you find. To save you the trouble, I did it, and you would be amused to know that somewhere between 15 and 21 verses use the words. Do you believe that? You would if you took words out of context, used different Bible interpretations, and tried your best to make a similar word work with one or the other of the two.
Today's easy lesson: Let's so if we can parse these two wonderful words, and come up with a simple to understand meaning for them. To do that we must understand what we gain from Jesus' sacrifice on the way to the Cross, and His death on the Cross. Then we must understand what we gain by the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. After all, these are the two main reasons for the coming of Jesus, and there is a third reason as well. We'll discuss that extremely important reason when the Father sees fit, whether now or later.
To get to the point quickly, what exactly do you receive from Jesus when you accept Him as your Lord and Savior? Anyone...forgiveness of sins. Is that true fellow Students? We have to be practical. Jesus went to the Cross for the forgiveness of sins for the world. In fact there were other times where there was no sin in the world. The Apostle Paul speaks of it in Romans. It was before the Father gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Sin was brought into the world before that when Adam and Eve were told not to...and they did. Big sin, cost them the Holy Spirit that was in them, and they would die. You know that, do you see it now? It doesn't say they will go to hell, it says they will die. The next time sin becomes an issue is when the Ten Commandments were put into place to give the Israelites something to focus on so their collective understanding of God would change from the worldly gods the Egyptians introduced to them. They had a way to gain forgiveness for each sin, it was spelled out, that way the Israelites would gain a conscience, and respect, and their thinking process would start to bend toward the God of Gods. Not some statue of one sort or another.
The Israelites never really got into the Ten Commandments, as they used them to sin, used their ability for forgiveness to sin, and in many cases still worshiped idols, especially the goddess Diana. Some just loved having a woman god. As God struggled to keep his fledgling, immature group together, the time came that some Israelites found a nice way to have a good life, make a few dollars, control the entire group, and do it all in the name of God, so they started Judaism. They kept the commandments, made themselves gods on earth, and the Father decided this had gone to far, so Jesus volunteered to come and fix the sin issue. That would take the power away from Judaism, God wasn't interested in a religion to begin with, He wanted a personal relationship with His Chosen. That is what the Gospels primarily show all of us. Jesus taking Judaism to task, trying to free the Chosen from worrying about their sins, and focusing on a loving relationship with the Father. Jesus accomplished His task by ridding the world of the sin issue by "completing the Law, for not one jot nor one tittle will be taken from it until it is completed." You see, you don't get forgiveness of your sins. You are already forgiven, you should be thanking Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. That would be proper and correct.
What do you get when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior if it isn't the forgiveness of your sins? Didn't Jesus also die on the Cross, and doing so did He also defeat death? Yes! So when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you get...Life. Going back to Adam and Eve, they sinned and lost the Holy Spirit and would surely die. By accepting Jesus, you gain the Holy Spirit and shall surely live. Not just now, here on earth where to live for the most part is to struggle, but more Abundantly, after you shed this biological body, you get a new body, you are free to go in passing Jesus and go out into the heavenly realms where there are no tears, or fears, hunger, or troubles of any kind. That my fellow Students is what the Abundant Life means. If that is not so, why are not all those that claim to want this or that, to be free from problems, have good health, and still they beg for those things, they have many problems, get sick, and they die? It is false teaching, and where our Father will take care of us in many ways, the suffering and Crucifixion, the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus is about giving you Life, both here and after your body withers away. As for the third reason Jesus came, we will discuss it, but not now. Another time, and you will love it! Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
John 9:39-41
39And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that the ones not seeing shall be seeing, and the ones seeing shall become blind.” 40And those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and they said to Him, “We are not also blind, are we?” 41Jesus said to them, “If were blind, would not have sin, but now say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, sin remains.
John 10:1-6
1“Most positively, I say, the one not entering through the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbing up some other way, that one is a thief and a robber. 2But the one entering through the door is shepherd of the sheep. 3To this one the doorkeeper opens. And the sheep hear his voice, and his own sheep he calls by name, and he leads them out. 4And whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5But a stranger they shall by no means follow, but they will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6This illustration Jesus spoke to them, but those did not understand what the things were which he was speaking to them.
Good Day Child of God! "Father? I open my heart to you that you should teach me your Will and your Way. Please do that now?" It is not difficult to see the Chapter break is in a bad place. The reason for that is the breaks were pegged to be where there seems to be the approximate same number of words. Sometimes it just doesn't work out to be a good place to make that break. It matters very little. When these words were written, they were not numbered by verse, punctuated for the most part, and points were made in short form. That is in a form we speak to one another today; We know what the other person means with just a word or two. No need for a full explanation, similar to "Close the door." That sentence could mean many things, but if you are there and it is cold outside, you know why the door needs to be closed. But it could be you are sitting in a car, and it is time to go, same meaning, different reason. That is one why we should NEVER take the Bible out of context, that is, move words or sentences from one Book or Chapter of the Bible and put them together with another. You may think you are giving many examples to make your point, but each example was for a specific reason, and if you are not using the words to explain how the language works, then you are possibly making an error in your point, a large error!
Another thing to watch out for is to whom the text is for. In our case above, who is Jesus talking to? You and I, everyone? No! He is taking about heaven believing, highly educated, men of power known as the Pharisees. If you put yourself in that time and place, you see sin in a whole different light. Why? Because this was being taught to men who could teach and judge, Pharisees, before the Cross. After the Cross the word for sin changes meaning. Confusing? It can be. Stay with the rule of keeping the words in context and it won't be confusing at all. Know to whom a passage is for, why it is being said, and when it is being said. It is very rare that an Old Testament passage, for example, speaks to you for use in this day and age, except in certain Books of Wisdom and Praising. Don't transfer the Law to yourself in this day and age. You are not an Israelite, you live in the Post-Resurrection era, and most certainly these things don't match up with God's Plan and Will between the two times.
Today's easy message: If you look at the Bible as it is sectioned off, you see two Testaments. I see three. I see the Old Testament History, The Jesus Years, and The Post Cross and Resurrection Teaching. Did you know that the lions share of the New Testament, as we call it, was written by the Apostle Paul? Even if you take the Book of Hebrews out of Paul's account, the Apostle to the Gentiles, the great Apostle Paul, wrote nearly every other word, or fifty percent. Why is this important? The Bible was put together by a group of men in the best interest of understanding what had happened over the period from the beginning of time, to the end of the Apostle's lives. This was done about 400 years after Jesus died. That's a lot of time, and there were other Books, teachings, pages, sermons and so on to consider as well. The Book of James nearly didn't make it into what is known as the Cannon or the Bible as we know it. Why? James really is a book that sits partially into the time of Judaism and it's control, and includes some "Age of Grace", or after the Cross, as well. The Apostle Paul taught the Grace Gospel, and early on his message was not considered accurate by James, Jesus' brother who led the Church at Jerusalem, and the Apostles who hung around Jerusalem even as they were told to go out into the world proclaiming the Good News. Eventually the Apostle Paul's Grace Gospel won over all the other Apostles, yet the message was again perverted over a period of time, and for the most part, it still is today. Yes, in Christian Churches. Where else?
How does this information help you in your walk with the Father? All that is said above is a longer version of what Jesus was saying to the Pharisees in our reading this Study. You see, you can make up any kind of story, religion, rite, ritual, and all the works you want too, so you can try to jump the fence into God's House. That said, there in only ONE way to become a Child of God, one way to acquire the Gift of Life; That is, to Trust that Jesus did die for the sins of the world, ending the sin issue between God and man, and was Resurrected from the dead, defeating death and allowing a Child of God to Live forever in heaven. One Way, not many.
The Pharisees were about as educated in Judaism as anyone could be, yet they could not understand this Truth. Frankly, if you have been attending church for a long time, the whole Grace Message goes over your head and is very difficult to grasp. I know, I had to study hard and Trust the Father to grasp the Grace Gospel, the ONLY Gospel for our time. What makes it easy to understand is that once you grasp the fact that God is doing it all, the entire Bible fits together without having to bend a rule, or say things like "I don't get this, but I will know later." You will get it now, because you are dependent on the Holy Spirit to teach you. It all makes sense when kept in context of whom the verses are meant.
God stopped His messages to mankind at the end of the Old Testament for about four hundred years, and toward the end of that period, about a hundred years before the birth of Jesus, a group got together and started Judaism. God didn't ask for this, it was a way to control and try to worship God all at the same time. Jesus came to tear it down. They were making a mockery of the One True God, and where some good was occurring from that Religion, in the end, it was the Blind leading the Blind into oblivion. How many Christian Churches do you suppose are doing that today, yet God allows this to happen. Why? Because many are called and few become Chosen. Ask your Daddy, your Abba, your Father to direct you to the Truth, everywhere and always so you know you are His Child. By the way? If you do Trust in the works of Jesus, no matter what direction your church may be taking you, once the Holy Spirit enters you, He will teach you as you allow, He will never ever leave you, so hang on to that, as you consider and seek Truth and living a Life to Honor your Father. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
John 9:24-38
24So a second time they called the man who was blind. And they said to him, “Be giving glory to God; we know that this Man is sinful!” 25Then that one answered and said, “If He is sinful, I do not know; one I do know, that being blind, now I see!” 26But they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27He answered them, “I told already and did not hear; why do again want to be hearing? Do not want to become His disciples, do?” 28They insulted him and said, “You are a disciple of that One, but we are disciples of Moses! 29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but this One—we do not know from where He is.”
30The man answered and said to them, “Indeed, in this is a marvel, that do not know from where He is—and He opened my eyes! 31But we know that God does not hear sinful, but if anyone is God-fearing (devout) and is doing His will, this one He hears. 32Since the beginning of time it was not heard that anyone opened eyes of one having been born blind. 33If this One were not from God, He would not be able to be doing anything.” 34They answered and said to him, “You were totally born in sins, and you are teaching us!” And they cast him outside.
35Jesus heard that they cast him outside. And having found him, He said to him, “Do you believe (trust) in the Son of God?” 36That one answered and said, “And who is He, Lord, so that I shall believe in Him?” 37And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and the One speaking with you—that One is He.” 38And he said, “I believe, Lord!” And he prostrated himself in worship (reverence) before Him.
Good Day Child of God! "Father? Please teach me as I open my heart to you, please. Amen." Since we started this small series nothing has changed during the whole time, because people without the ability to have the mind set to see things as they are, are stuck in the cement of who they are. Ego is one of our greatest enemies, and it can creep up, and in fact does creep up on us at every opportunity. We must be aware that we are not the chosen in terms of saving the world. Jesus was, and that has not changed. We never truly lead, we are just inform what we know because we follow.
As we look into the match of words between the Sanhedrin group, those that are supposed to be the most learned, and this man that had to have almost no education due to his infirmity and his station in life, being poor, it is hard to say that this young man isn't more secure in his knowledge than those of the leadership group. It isn't what you know, it is Who you know, and whether or not you wish to follow His lead. Notice the young man knew things of the Bible.
Today's easy lesson: In the prior Study within the back and forth I spilled the beans, so to speak, by giving away of the young man asking if the Sanhedrin group wished to follow Jesus. The fact is their frustration could not be satisfied without condemnation of Jesus, and the man that was healed was in no way noticing their bitterness when he was celebrating his healing. He thought when good things happen to people, everyone is happy. Unfortunately in this life, jealously, ego, and station or wealth, tend to keep some from caring anything about anyone except themselves. So if there is goodness to cheer about, even for someone close to them, their reaction is, "Oh? Is that so? Well good for you." Nothing sincere in that or anything or anyone else in life except for their personal victories.
How does this relate to you and your reverence for God? When this young man that was healed of blindness had his chance to meet Jesus, he threw his religion, Judaism, aside more easily than they threw him out of Judaism. Ready, willing, and able to recognize Truth and the One worthy of his reverence, he prostrated himself in front of Jesus without being asked. It's interesting that being blind all those years, having little or nothing of his own, that he would throw himself down so easily in front of Jesus, except the only person to show him any kindness and any hope of a better life was Jesus. Jesus only gave him the opportunity for a better life, He did not give him riches, homes, money, chariots, anything, but hope. That is what He does now, and with the Father's guidance and protection hope turns into reality for everyone that takes their life and trades it in for the Gift of Life that Jesus provides for us, through the Holy Spirit who indwells every Believer, and a bonus! More abundantly, meaning Life forever. It's your choice of course. Your religion and it's rites, rituals, and belief system, or accepting the Gift of Life from God through Jesus' works by forgiving your sins by dying on the Cross, and giving you Life ever lasting by being Resurrected from the dead. You can still worship with your friends if you wish, but recognize that Jesus who always points to the Father is the Way, the Truth and the Life is your way to peace, love, and joy. Nothing else will. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
John 9:13-23
13They bring him to the Pharisees, the one formerly blind. 14Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15So again the Pharisees also were asking him how he received sight. And that one said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see!” 16Then some of the Pharisees were saying, “This Man is not from God because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others were saying, “How is a sinful person able to be doing such signs?” And a division was among them. 17They say to the blind again, “You, what do you say concerning Him, because He opened your eyes?” So he said, “He is a Prophet.”
18Then the Jews did not believe concerning him that he was blind and received sight, until which they called the parents of him, the one having received sight. 19And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, whom say that he was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20But his parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21But how he now sees, we do not know, or who opened his eyes, we do not know. He is of age, ask him. He will speak concerning himself.” 22These things his parents said because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed together that if anyone shall confess Him Christ, he should be expelled from the synagogue. 23For this reason his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.”
Good Day Child of God! "Father? I open my heart to you, please teach me? Amen." Who would ever think that one clever healing of a blind man by Jesus could cause such an emotional mixed up argument among piers? These are educated men, each with a doctorate of their time, constantly thinking of ways to prove Jesus a charlatan, yet with a simple act, Jesus sends them into a tizzy.
Whenever these types of things happen, where Jesus out thinks His foes, that old commercial phrase "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature" comes into my mind. Even more so with Jesus. He may have looked like an every day Joseph in that day, and He did by the way, but His mind and His Father's guidance put Him light years ahead of a few egotistical over zealous religious scholars.
Today's easy lesson: This is starting to get interesting. Here is a relatively young man, who was born blind. He is so happy and so excited to see for the first time, and what happens? He is treated as though he were a criminal. "You, were you blind?" he answers, "From birth, couldn't see a thing, until now!" They retort, "It is the Sabbath, how is it you are given sight on this day?" Again he answers, "I was healed! It is a miracle! Some guy put mud on my eyes, told me to come here and wash off the mud and now I can see!" They ask him, "Who was it that made the mud and healed you on the Sabbath?" He says, "Me? I don't know, but He did a great thing, do you want to meet Him too and learn from Him?"
That's not exactly what the investigators wanted to hear. They were more interested in finding the man that thinks He can do work, good or bad, on the Sabbath. They are so upset, they call the former blind man's parents to testify that he was indeed born blind, what did they know and when did they know it. Sounds just like our own leaders at this very moment. Ego, power, and money, it tends to blind anyone that will do anything to protect their place in life ahead of that which is good and right and just for anyone else. It said tends to, not always does.
How does this help you in your daily walk with the Father? This is what is called an oxymoron. That is this; the physically blind man listened, had Faith, and did exactly what he was told, no more, no less. His choosing to be healed because he was someone special had no part in this exercise, except that Jesus happened upon him by plan. Most likely he had spent years asking God to find a way to heal his blind eyes, and that prayer was answered most likely before he was born. On the other hand you have those that think they know God like no one else, yet are blind as bats as far as God's Loving Kindness. Do you see the message here? It isn't religion or your actions, works, rites, wishes, intelligence, or anything else you have to "offer" God to be special to Him. It is that you follow the Father, follow, not lead, live in innocence, which in turn shows God's goodness, and have an attitude of thanksgiving. Not just in November, but every single moment of your Life. After all, what you don't know and what your Father is planning are miles from what you think or fear. What is the worst that can happen? Even if it is death, you win. Stay Faithful to the Faithful one. Don't lead and try to pray your way, or work your way into having Him Bless you. That is religion. It is wrong, it is backwards, and as you can see God can do so easily what you cannot even contemplate. The idea that to think you can impress Him with your good deeds is simply clouds over your eyes. Are you having some things to be concerned about today? Give it or them to your Father, your Daddy, your Abba, and let Him handle it. Don't harp, don't carp, that only helps you, it seems to annoy the Father, read Job. He is Faithful, He knows what is best, and your ONLY job is to remain Faithful to Him. Nothing else matters except talking to your best friend as often as you can which encourages you, and please allow Him to Live and Love through you. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
John 9:6-12
6Having said these things, He spit on the ground and made mud from the saliva and rubbed the mud on the eyes of the blind man. 7And He said to him, “Be going away; be washing in the pool of Siloam” (which is interpreted, “Having Been Sent”). So he went away and washed, and he came seeing! 8Therefore, the neighbors and those seeing him previously that he was blind, were saying, “This is the one sitting and begging, is it not?” 9Others were saying, “This is he.” But others, “He is like him.” That one kept saying, “I am he.”
10So they were saying to him, “How were your eyes opened?” 11That one answered and said, “A Man being called Jesus made mud and rubbed my eyes and said to me, ‘Be going away to the pool of Siloam and be washing.’ And having gone away and having washed, I received sight!” 12So they said to him, “Where is that One?” He says, “I do not know.”
Good Day Child of God! "Father? I open myself to your teaching right now, please teach me? Amen" If you recall Jesus had this long argument with the "Sanhedrin Group". It's an easy name to remember. They discussed in the Jewish, Israeli, mid-east style; meaning there were raised voices, and from there they went on to get louder and more contentious. The argument was about Jesus and His credibility to teach in the Temple. Keep in mind, being a Jew, that is Religion, a reminder for those that forgot, included all kinds and types of schooling, teachers, rules, rites, and ceremonies that ultimately resulted in the right to teach, even the possibly to become part of the ruling body of Judaism, or the Sanhedrin.
At the end, with full frustration built up within the "Sanhedrin Group", Jesus walked right through them to get away from the fracas and move to a place that was quiet and where He could either rest, pray, or do something different. At least for a time. Arguing as they did takes allot out of the participants, and the listeners as well!
Today's easy lesson: If I calculated correctly there will be five Studies in Chapter 9 of John's Gospel, maybe six. I had to go ahead a bit, which is unusual, to get a sense of this Laurel and Hardy bit about the man that was healed of blindness in our reading above. Have you ever given it any thought or wondered why Jesus spit in His hands, mixed dirt with it, and rubbed it on the mans eyes? What did Jesus say to him right after He prayed for His eyes to be opened? He sent him off to the Pool of Siloam. Why, is there something special in that water, does the Pool have a special healing power, or was it just a simple example of how foolish the "Sanhedrin Group" could get?
How does this affect our daily walk with the Father? We often talk about why a prayer isn't answered right away, sometimes for years, and we don't understand. The fact is we don't understand. Jesus had no need to make mud and send the man to wash the mud off. The fact is the man never saw Jesus, he was blind. If Jesus sent him away, he would see for the first time and not know who or what he was seeing. From there the fun begins, because as the man says in the last few words, "I don't know", who heeled me. How could he? Yet there is a reason for the delay and washing his eyes away from Jesus. God has a lesson to teach, through Jesus, but not to the man that was healed. The message was for those that dared believe they were above Jesus, and Jesus is going to show them the fools that they are, or at least are acting like. That foolishness has already started when men with sight are asking a man that has been blind since birth is asked to tell them who healed him. He doesn't really know where he is, let alone recognize anyone around him. He wouldn't know his friends, except by voice, from anyone else as he first sees, and the "learned" are pushing for answers without giving that a thought. We do the same thing. Just because we want something done and quickly, we believe God should do it now and quickly. We rarely give consideration to what God knows and sees and what might be best in His Will and His Plan for the greater group of those whom Jesus sacrificed. Keep this in mind as you pray, that is when you talk with your Father, Daddy, Abba, and Trust that He will do what is in the best interest of the whole in your petition. Our Father doesn't think like you and I, He doesn't see like you and I, and He doesn't Love like you and I. He sees all, He knows all, and He does what is best for all. That is the Love that surpasses all understanding, and the Love you can depend on no matter what. Share your whole day with your Father, make Him your best and closest friend, and enjoy all the benefits that come from having your Father the most powerful and caring Father anyone could ever ask for or have. When you do that, you cannot lose, and you will have more confidence than ever before. Amen? Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
John 9:1-5
1And passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this one or his parents, that he should be born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this one sinned nor his parents, but so that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4It is necessary Me to be working the works of the One having sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one is able to be working. 5As long as I am in the world, I am Light of the world.”
Good Day Child of God! "Father? I open myself to allow you to teach me. Amen" If I had to come up with the lesson for each Study not many would get done. Jesus is right when He said "I am the Light of the World...It is necessary Me to be working the works of the One having sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one is able to be working." I switched the verses around but the meaning is the same. Unless the Father is doing the actual directing of the work, the darkness will overcome the perceived light that we may believe to be Truth.
Jesus just left the group of so called learned Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes, Priests, and others that were trying as hard as possible to catch Him in a lie, and in fact call Him a liar. They didn't make their point well enough however, as the people that watched this rather long back and forth, Believed Jesus. Looking back at what just happened, what does Jesus do after a hard day of teaching to rest and relax?
Today's easy lesson: Each of us have our favorite things to do. A hobby, a place we like to visit, a game we like to play, people we like to be with, something that when everything around us seems to be going more difficult than usual, we retreat to for rest and renewal. For Jesus, His rest came by doing whatever pleased His Father, and that would help people at the same time.
Here we are, not more than a few minutes after walking away from the large crowd that had gathered around Jesus and the Jews as they debated God's Will, and Jesus finds a blind man alone hoping for help from someone. At that time, in fact, we still see it today in parts of the world, people believed that someone that did some gross sin was punished with some kind of ailment. In this case it would be blindness. Jesus simply not being able to teach biology to the Apostles in that era, explained to them that the blindness occurred so that God's Power could be shown in the world. There is no demon, there is no sin, there is just a young person born blind. That is not to say that abusing ourselves or others does not cause many ailments. These few verses,
however, are used primarily for the next lesson that the Jews need to learn, and the Apostles too for that matter. That lesson is to come, and it reads like a Abbott and Costello routine. We have something special to look forward too!
How does this help you in your walk with the Father? Over and over again Jesus points out that He doesn't do anything the Father hasn't shown Him to do, and He doesn't say anything He hasn't heard from the Father. It is the basis used for all of our Studies, and in fact our new beginning, the small prayer above, is a short example of how we can hear, see and do the Will of God. As a reminder, "Christ in you, your hope of Glory." To give your will to the Father to act and speak through you is something we should all do, at least daily in my mind, to keep reminded of His presence. When looking at a situation, we are at ground level. God is in a place to see all the things that are going on, kind of like a drone with a camera. He can tell what to do and when. He is our eyes and ears, and where we may be praying for one thing, God can see it will be another that has to be done to answer that prayer. If we live Life that way, we will never be disappointed, for the Father is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He Loves unconditionally, so whatever is asked in Jesus name will be dealt with, but there is a good chance that it won't happen in a way that is seen nor understood. Time means nothing to the Father, but the results will come. Our job is to move on, keep talking to our Father as often as possible, just like talking to a best friend. Truth which we are taught comes by way of the Holy Spirit.
Where does the Holy Spirit reside? Yes, inside you. Who then is your real teacher, not needing anyone else to teach you? Yes, the Holy Spirit. Thus God teaches through the Holy Spirit, and unless we are leaning on our Father to guide, teach, and direct us, we will come up with ideas and works that fall far from the Father's wishes. You know this to be true by the fact that there are too many people claiming the only way to heaven is what they teach, and Jesus, of course. Stay close to your Father. You will find rest from turmoil that is clouding out Truth everywhere you turn. This is what is meant by praying in Spirit, and in Truth. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
John 8:48-59
48Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “We say rightly that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon, do we not?” 49Jesus answered, “I have no demon, but I am honoring My Father, and are dishonoring Me. 50But I do not seek My own glory; is One seeking and judging. 51Most positively, I say, if anyone keeps My word, he shall by no means see death into the age!” 52Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we have known that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets, and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My Word, he shall by no means taste of death into the age!’ 53You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died, are You? And the prophets died. Whom are You making Yourself ?”
54Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; My Father is the One glorifying Me, whom say, ‘He is our God.’ 55And have not known Him, but know Him; and if I should say that I do not know Him, I will be like—speaking falsely. But I know Him, and I keep His Word. 56Abraham, father, was very glad that he should see My day, and he saw and rejoiced.”
57So the Jews said to Him, “You do not yet have fifty years, and You have seen Abraham?” 58Jesus said to them, “Most positively, I say, before Abraham came to be, I Am!” (cp. Exod 3:14) 59Therefore, they took up stones that they should cast on Him. But Jesus was hidden. And He went out from the temple, having passed through middle of them, and so He passed by.
Good Day Child of God! "Father? Your Will Be Done!" I want to make an apology for the amount of Scripture being used in the last couple of Studies, but to be frank, the Jews arguing with Jesus about religion continues to go over their head, which has the Jews using worldly examples in a Spiritual battle.
The Jews are so out of the realm of understanding what God wants and Who He is, that Jesus isn't making a dent in their collective thinking. They see the World, God sees the Spirit. It's like comparing a tomato and a potato. They relate in some way, but when arguing about them you are talking about two different, although thought to be similar.
Today's easy lesson: Are you familiar with the television program from America, Saturday Night Live? Back in the late seventies and early eighties, an actress by the name of Gilda Radner would come on the news segment of this comedy, which was live, and begin to argue a point, usually something current and common, that could easily be misheard or misunderstood. She would get all wound up making her points, and near the end as her anger peaked, one of the so-called news anchors would interrupt her and tell her what the correct word was, not the one she thought is was. Each and every time she would pause, look into the camera and say "Never mind."
That's what we should have above. The Jews, a group of religionists, are telling Jesus that there is no way on this earth that He could be telling the Truth because of His youth and His background, compared to the knowledge and experience and the depth of their Jewish education. God wasn't interested in Judaism then, He wasn't interested in providing an earthly king for the Israelites when they asked for one after the Exodus, and He certainly isn't asking anyone to swear allegiance to one Christian sect at this moment. The Father has no preference for any religion. He has a real desire for people that want to build a Trusting relationship with Him.
How does this help you in your daily walk with the Father? Jesus didn't come only to speak to Judaism and it's problems in pleasing the Father. He didn't go the Cross for the forgiveness of sins for the world, die and be Resurrected to exchange Judaism for Roman Catholicism, or any other Christian Religion. In fact the Father allows religious practice for you to get together with like minded people, like minded in the style of worship you prefer, and that is it. Some of us like loud and raucous. Some of us like pious and stately. Does that make us any better than the other? Does the name on the building or the affiliation matter to the Father? No. What matters is that God's Love, Jesus' works, and Trust in the reason for those works are all preached and taught in whatever assembly you wish to attend. This is not to say that is the only place that God is satisfied with, nor that is the only place God exists. In fact the only place God exists on earth is in His Children. In You! (Hint, when you pray, don't look up, look in.) Keep in mind, as a Gentile, the only reason there is a larger group of Christ Believers than Israeli Believers is because the Israelis were hard hearted like our friends above, and so much so, that God decided to give the Gentiles a chance to go directly to Him, setting the Israelites aside for a season. Make no mistake however, the Israel of Abraham will always be God's Chosen and they will take their rightful place in the Father's House.
Keep in mind God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments and other decrees to bring them closer to Him and His thinking. Yet, remember you are Free! Free from the worry of sin and confession. Free from worry of whether or not you will go to heaven when this worldly biological body gives way, and Free from the worry of whether you are doing enough to satisfy the Father's wishes. Jesus did it all! Trust Him in that, and your destiny is sealed to never change from being a Child of God, with your place at His table celebrating His unstoppable Love for you. The Father's total commitment no matter what. Talk to your Father won't you? It might be nice to add "Thank You for such great Love." It is fitting for a Child of God to do so. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
John 8:42-47
42So Jesus said to them, “If God were Father, would love Me, for I came forth and am come from God. For I have not come from Myself, but that One sent Me. 43Why do not understand My speech? Because are not able to be hearing My word. 44Are from father the Devil, and the desires of father want to be doing. That one was a murderer from beginning, and he has not stood in the Truth, because Truth is not in him. When he is speaking falsehood, out of his own he speaks, because he is a liar, and the father of it. 45But because I speak the Truth, are not believing Me. 46Who convicts Me concerning sin? But if I am speaking Truth, why are not believing Me? 47The one being from God, the Words of God He hears, for this reason do not hear, because are not from God.”
Good Day Child of God! "Father? Your Will Be Done!" Nearly the whole of Chapter 8, and more, is an argument between Jesus and the educated Jews. Educated meaning those that belong to the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jewish Religion. It is difficult not to just put the entire Chapter in one reading and teach the basic lesson of it.
As they argue, and I mean a loud, finger pointing, "Oh you think so! Well my dad can beat your Dad with one hand tied behind his back!" Jesus replying, "Good luck, my Dad has no hands, and your dad is a liar, a cheat, and killer, and that's his good side!" Not pretty, but I am confident it was enjoyable to the pew sitters listening and watching every word and action going on. For certain, it wasn't a cool, calm conversation.
Today's easy lesson: We have all heard of Righteous Indignation. It simply means in some cases where some person or people are taking to task someone who is not being treated in a manner and with respect that is due. Condemned without confirmation of the facts. That happens more than we would like to consider, bullying is a great example, and at some point, when the wrong goes on so long, the one being persecuted without good reason turns and leans in with their best punch and "Watch out mama I am going to be late coming home tonight, and I will have bruises on my fists." At that point, when the dust settles, one of two things happen. The "bully" either gains respect for being challenged and beaten back, or he runs away, planning revenge. The end result for Jesus above is that those that are trying to beat on Him cannot get a point in without Jesus making them look, well, ah, stupid, at least to those that Love Him. The only thing left now is to plan their revenge. They have a problem, Jesus has an answer for that too!
How does this help you in your daily walk with your Father? This is a prefect example of how life treats us, and many of us fight back with prayer, waiting on the Father for His power to come against things that are bearing down on us, until one day we have had enough, and we turn and do what we think is the right punch into the right face. The problem is timing. "Vengeance is mine saith the Lord." We live relatively complex lives, and most of our problems we bring on ourselves. Oh, how could I say that to all of us innocent Children of God? Simply because whether it is me or you, or whomever, we are all so self indulgent we don't even notice our own selfish actions. We get in trouble, we react immediately, fail, then we call 1-800-GETGOD, and ask Him to punch someone in the mouth! If only the line wasn't busy, or God would check His voice mail, we would all be much happier. True? If we are Children of the most Loving God, and we walk in the way He walks, talk the way He talks, trouble will stay far away in the worldly sense. Most of the time. Spiritually however, the battle continues on, and God's timing to win the battle and the war is different than our thinking of "Get 'em now!" What are we told to do when people treat us poorly? Pray for them. Forgive them. Continue to speak and walk as though our dependence is on our Father taking care of us in every and all circumstances, with no need for our begging, but simply by staying close to Him, listening to His Loving words, which you can often hear, or get from most Bibles or lessons, even some books, and allow your Father to be close to you, hugging you, and you Him. He will deal with all your needs; food, shelter, health, wealth, and peace of mind in His time and in His way. Meanwhile, let the world plan its way that ends in despair, but no matter what, you will see a whole new place that is filled with wonder, love, peace, joy, no sickness, no bullies, nothing but endless, timeless good. Let your thoughts contemplate that when the frustration becomes to much to handle.
One other thing. God gave us each other as a Brother and Sister to listen and do the best we can in a time of need. Yes, talk to your Father as often as you can, but don't forget your Brothers and Sisters, they love and care and are at time filled with just the right thoughts and words to make all the difference. Have a Grace Day!
Brother Glenn
Complete New Testament Grace Studies link: http://gracehouseministry.blogspot.com/
