John 6:30-36 • A Dog on a Bone

John 6:30-36 records an example of how spiritually blind we can be when we become fixated on something we want.

Jesus had just told the people that believing in Him as Messiah is the one thing God is asking us to do. And to paraphrase, they responded by saying, “If You really want us to believe that You’re the Son of God, what miracle will You perform to convince us? Yes, we enjoyed the free meal You provided us the other day. But You only fed thousands and just once. Moses gave manna – the bread of heaven – to more than a million Israelites every day for forty years.”

Jesus corrected them by clarifying that it wasn’t Moses but God, the Father, who provided the manna during the wilderness wonderings and that it was meant to symbolize His ultimate provision of the true bread of heaven – the sending of His Son to give life to the world.

Their reply sounds good: “Lord give us this bread always.” But it’s clear by the Lord’s immediate response as well as what follows in the rest of the chapter that they still didn’t get it. He bluntly stated, “I am the bread of life.” And He went on to say that anyone who would come to Him could have their spiritual hunger and thirst completely satisfied. Then He sadly added, “And yet you do not believe.”

They were like a dog on a bone. They just could not let go of the dream of having Jesus provide them with free food. But their insistence on the satisfying of that desire caused them to miss the bigger picture altogether. And I’ll bet you’ve experienced that yourself. I certainly have.

In fact, just a couple of weeks ago I became infatuated with the idea of getting a pair of hiking boots like the ones I bought on our honeymoon when I was nineteen. I know it sounds crazy, but for several days there I spent all my free time dreaming about how much better my life would be if could just relive that part of my wardrobe history. And after several internet searches, I actually found some for sale. I came this close to spending $150 plus shipping on a pair of 44-year-old used boots. Now, that’s nuts!

What did I miss of my Savior’s voice and the ministry of His Spirit during those days when I was so determined to fulfill that desire? What spiritual hungers went unsatisfied by the bread of heaven while I pursued that temporary satisfaction?

And the same thing can happen when we get it in our heads that God ought to do what we think He should, when we think He should, and in the way we think He should. That presumption, if not quickly repented, can grow to the point where it chokes off our spiritual sensitivities.

Be careful not to let that happen. Is there any desire that you’re consumed with or insisting on today? Is the white-knuckled grip you have on that desire flowing out of your relationship with Jesus or something else? I encourage you to be honest with yourself and willing to surrender that hunger to the true bread of heaven.

John 6:28-29 • Scoot Over

In John 6:27, Jesus told the crowds to spend their labor on that which is eternal not temporary. And in verse 28, they responded by asking Him to explain. They wanted to know – as most people do – what kind of WORKS please God. And in verse 29, Jesus answered them in a completely unexpected way. Instead of telling them to pray, read the Bible, attend church, evangelize, tithe, love enemies, and feed the poor – along with a hundred other things we might have expected Him to say – He told them that BELIEVEING in HIM is the DOING God is looking for from us.

Now, when we hear this, most of us can’t help but think there’s got to be more to it. That’s just too easy. Surely, pleasing God requires something more labor-intensive than that. Belief is just too simple.

But hold on, just because something is simple doesn’t mean it isn’t challenging. Climbing a mountain isn’t complicated but it’s also not easy. Placing my faith in Jesus is pretty straightforward but living it out requires everything I’ve got. Trusting Him means placing my life, my future, my security, my provision – all that I am – in His hands.

And that’s why John 6:29 makes a lot of us uncomfortable. We’d prefer a list – no matter how long and complex – of things we need to DO to please God because checking off a to-do list doesn’t require surrendering control. Belief does.

So, we tend to want to add layers of DOING to our relationship with God. It makes us feel like we’re in the driver’s seat. But it also leads to spiritual exhaustion because our sin has made it impossible to ever DO enough.

So, let’s keep it simple. Let’s just scoot over to the passenger side and give Him the wheel. Let’s give up our DOING and rest in what He’s DONE.

John 6:22-27 • Free Food

John 6:22-27 quietly cuts like a knife to the heart of an issue I regularly need to re-consider. It challenges me to honestly evaluate why I follow Jesus.

After their hunger had been satisfied by the miracle of the loaves and fish, the crowds saw the Disciples get into their only boat and depart. But they also noted that Jesus didn’t go with them, and that He had headed off alone to a secluded area instead. Then, the next day, when they couldn’t find Him, they got into some other boats that had arrived later and went looking. When they located Him in the Capernaum area, they wanted to know how He’d managed to get there.

It’s interesting to note that Jesus didn’t answer them by telling how He’d walked on water. As dramatic a story as that would have been, He chose Instead to answer their question with a searing statement that revealed the true nature of why they’d followed Him there.

To paraphrase, He said their pursuit was not because they’d just seen this amazing sign of His messiahship and wanted to submit to Him as their Lord. He bluntly declared that the only reason they’d come looking for Him was because He’d provided them with free food. Ouch!

He challenged them to stop viewing their relationship with Him as a means of satisfying the temporary needs of the flesh, and to focus on eternity instead.

I have a relationship with the giant online retailer, Amazon.com. I pay an annual fee for its Prime service so that I can purchase items at what I hope will be discounted prices and have them shipped to me for free within two days. But that’s as far as the relationship goes. It’s transactional. And I’m at the center of it. I will pay that fee and be a loyal customer right up until the moment another company provides me with better prices or service. And if I’m honest, my relationship with Jesus can sometimes look like that.

I can sometimes drift into a state where I’m following Him because of what He provides me: forgiveness of sins, peace that passes understanding, joy inexpressible, the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the supply of all my needs according to His riches in Glory. And as much as the Bible makes it abundantly clear He delights to bless me – and you – in these ways, Matthew 6:33 reminds us that it’s AFTER seeking Him and His kingdom first that all these things are added to us. He wants a relationship with me that’s anchored in the eternal not the temporal. He wants to lead me beyond the here and now into the forever after.

Lord, I pray you’d help me reclaim an eternal perspective as the only motive for why I follow you. May it always be that our relationship is centered around You alone.

John 6:16-21 • Divine Guidance

John 6:16-21 describes an event that took place after Jesus fed the multitudes when He withdrew from the crowds to be alone in prayer. And when you include the additional information supplied in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, it illustrates some very important principles for anyone desiring divine guidance.

It says that around sunset, Jesus told the Disciples to get into a boat and sail in the direction of the town of Capernaum which wasn’t very far away along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. And at first, they probably just hugged the coastline assuming Jesus would catch up to them on foot. But by nightfall, they still hadn’t seen Him, and a powerful storm came up which they battled all night while it forced them more than three miles out into the middle of the lake.

But we’re told that Jesus was watching them the whole time. And suddenly, when it seemed things couldn’t get any worse, there He was, drawing near to them, walking on the wind-whipped waves, assuring them everything would be OK as He got into the boat with them. And immediately after that, the storm miraculously ceased, and they found themselves at the “land where they were going.” Only…it wasn’t Capernaum. It was Gennesaret.

Why the storm? Why the change in destination? Well, let’s talk about it.

Most of us deeply desire to live our lives in obedience to God’s will. We want to follow the path He’s laid out for us. But much of the time we struggle to know what that is, primarily because we’re looking for the wrong things.

We’re looking for a route that takes us along the path of least resistance. We don’t want to face any obstacles, uphill climbs, or bad weather. But those are often the very things God needs to lead us through in order for His will to be fulfilled in our lives. The value of the personal and spiritual growth that results is priceless.

We also want to know where the road will take us before agreeing to set out on the journey. But it doesn’t work that way. God’s will is based on His eternal perspective, knowledge, and wisdom which are so much higher than our own, we don’t even have the frame of reference to comprehend that information. And if we could, we would be tempted to plot our own course and leave Him out of the picture altogether, which brings me to the bigger point. With God, it’s all about the journey, not the destination. The relationship, dependence, and faith we develop along the way are His priorities.

Here are some things to consider regarding divine guidance:

1. In the same way that Jesus sent the Disciples TOWARD or in the direction of Capernaum, it almost always begins with less clarity about the ultimate destination than you want. God can usually only give us enough of a glimpse to get us pointed in the right direction. But that’s really all we need, because…
   

2. What’s important is that we just keep putting one foot in front of the other, taking one step or one oar stroke at a time. Remember, it's all about the journey. And…
   

3. Don’t panic or lose heart when a storm comes up and you wonder why Jesus doesn’t seem to be coming to your rescue. Just as He SAW the Disciples in the darkness, His eye is on you too. And He will make His presence known, stepping into your boat right on time, stilling the storm, and delivering you safely to shore.

John 6:15 • The Opposite Direction

John 6:15 describes Jesus doing something so contrary to my experience, I simply stand in awe. When the crowds were determined to make Him their king, He literally walked away. He went the opposite direction – toward solitude and away from the cheers and adoration. In our current season of human history which is so obsessed with celebrity – with the quest for attention, acclaim, and fame at a fever pitch – the Lord’s actions here are stunning by contrast.

Now, I need to confess something. A couple of days ago, I posted one of these Bible study videos on my website, podcast, and social media. And over the next twenty-four hours, I caught myself checking for likes and comments every fifteen minutes it seemed. I was behaving like an addict. But once I was able to exercise enough self-control to stop, I began asking God why I craved these “hits” of affirmation so much. And I’m ashamed of the answer.

At first, I tried to convince myself that it was just due to being a little insecure about my identity since I recently retired from being a local church pastor after nearly forty years. Having had such clarity about my life and ministry for so long, I was feeling a little uncertain about my role in this world.

But the truth is, I wanted to be noticed. I wanted to be admired. I wanted to feel important, relevant, esteemed. Let me just call it what it is, pride, and not the good kind, the kind that’s focused on self-promotion. And get this, that’s what motivated Lucifer’s rebellion against God and ultimately is at the root of all evil. Yuck!

Now look, I believe the desires all of us have for significance and to be valued are God-given. And, dear one, He intends to fulfill them within the embrace of His relationship with us. But pride’s another thing altogether. It can NEVER be satisfied. And the more you feed it, the more it’s hunger grows.

Jesus understood this and refused to allow himself to be in a position where He could even be tempted by it. He was leading us by example. Matthew’s gospel says He withdrew from the spotlight at this moment of ecstatic popularity specifically to be alone with His Father in prayer.

And when we find ourselves in the crosshairs of the Spirit of Pride, we would be wise to do the same, turn and RUN to the throne of God. There’s something about being on our knees before the Sovereign of the Universe that puts things in perspective and escorts us into a deep place of security that pride can’t touch.

I’m talking to you right now after having spent time at the Lord’s feet regarding my sin described earlier. And as always, I discovered there His lavish grace to cover and cleanse. But I wonder. Do you find yourself being offered pride’s empty promises today? If so, don’t hesitate. Run to the Father right now.

John 6:13-14 • On the Street Where We Live

John 6:13 surveys the aftermath of a miracle. And I’m just mesmerized by the simple statistics. Five loaves and two fish produced twelve baskets of food AFTER filling the bellies of five thousand men plus women and children.

Now, I think we need to take just a few moments to consider the implications of this.

Doesn’t it force us to reevaluate our faith? Did Jesus actually do this or not? If He did, how can it be so easy for us to just carry on with the routines of our lives without any expectation that He might want to invade our circumstances with His miraculous power?

The next verse, John 6:14, says that those who had front row seats for that miracle became believers on the spot. And wouldn’t you? So why is it possible for us to read the account of what happened and not be equally moved to belief?

Maybe it has to do with the way we casually read the biblical accounts of miracles as though they’re disconnected from our personal reality.

Perhaps I shouldn’t admit this, but I’m a bit of a Star Wars nerd. I love watching the Millennium Falcon travel through hyperspace in the films and imagining the lightsaber duels I read about in the books. But I’m well aware that these things only happen in a galaxy far, far away, not on the street where I live.

So, I have to ask myself, “Is that how I categorize the epic displays of the supernatural I read about in the Bible? Do I intellectually relegate them to another time and place?” If so, how do I square that with John 14:12 where Jesus said that after He returned to the Father, those who believe in Him would experience even greater works than He performed?

I don’t think the Lord could be clearer about His intentions to continue being who He is, the omnipotent God. Everything He does is miraculous, beyond the constraints of this natural world. He can’t be any other way. So, let’s get our expectations aligned with His attributes in this regard. If we want our miracle-working God to be active on the street where we live, it WILL involve miracles.

So, today, let’s allow Jesus to help us read the Bible differently, to see in its pages not some fantastic story of what happened once upon a time, but as a preview of what God is prepared to do right now.

John 6:12 • Sufficiency and Economy

John chapter 6 verse 12 graphically illustrates two important truths about God: He is both lavish AND frugal. He is both abundant with His grace AND meticulous with His care. Let me explain.

My wife and I are currently remodeling a home. And our contractor is continually asking us if we want this fixture, that color, this window, that door, this tile, or that trim. Frankly, it’s wearing us out. But we have to answer each of his questions with one of our own: “Can we afford it?” We only have so much money.

You know what I mean. Every resource we have as human beings is finite. We have a limited amount of time, talent, and treasure. And since this is our frame of reference, we tend to imagine God as though He’s in the same boat. And even if our theology is better than that, all of us experience times when we hesitate to bring our needs to Him because we feel like we may be pushing the limit of what He can afford. But God doesn’t have to stretch His supply or budget His benevolence.

The end of verse 11 and the first part of 12 tell us that Jesus didn’t stop multiplying the loaves and fish until everyone in the crowd had eaten all they WANTED and until they were FULL. He didn’t cheap out. He doesn’t have to. He’s the maker and master of all things. And when we come to Him with our needs, our requests are NOT evaluated against a limited supply. His gifts of every sort – spiritual, physical, and material – are abundant.

Now, don’t misunderstand. This verse is not licensing our GLUTTONY. It’s showcasing God’s SUFFICIENCY. But this is also juxtaposed against His ECONOMY which is illustrated when He commands the Disciples to gather up all the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.

And there’s clearly a lesson here about our need to exercise better care in how we manage what God gives us. But I think there’s even more.

Many of us know what it’s like to mourn the ways we have squandered the goodness of God in our pasts. And we imagine that those lost expressions of His love are irretrievable. But John 6:12 reveals a Savior who is concerned about discarded fragments. We have a God whose amazing grace is so powerful He can insure that nothing of His intentions for us are ultimately forsaken.

As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Great Divorce, “Heaven, once attained, will work backwards…The good man's past begins to change so that his forgiven sins and remembered sorrows take on the quality of Heaven…”

Dear one, today, bring your needs to our all-sufficient God, AND trust Him to carefully gather up all the pieces of your life you thought were lost.

John 6:11b • Bite-Sized Miracles

The last half of John 6:11 describes how Jesus involved the Disciples in the loaves and fishes miracle. It says He distributed the multiplying food to the hungry people through them. The miraculous literally passed THROUGH their hands. They were conduits of wonder. I can’t even begin to imagine what an amazing experience that must have been for them.

But as someone who longs to be more USEUL when God is moving to meet people’s needs through displays of His power, I notice two things here that I find extremely helpful.

First, through the events of the preceding verses, Jesus made it clear to the Disciples that they were not responsible to MAKE the miracle happen. Neither THEIR money nor THEIR culinary skills were involved. It was ALL Jesus. Their role was to simply dispense what He was creating. They were like divine delivery-persons. UPS and FedEx drivers aren’t required to purchase or manufacture the items in their trucks. Their job is to just make sure the boxes get to the right address, ring the doorbell, and leave them on the porch.

So much pressure comes off when I understand that. Miracles are not up to me. My job is to lay hands the sick. It’s His to do the healing. My job is to speak the words of prophecy, knowledge, wisdom, and discernment HE gives. My job is to pray for the bound and broken-hearted. His is to deliver and comfort.

The second thing I see here is that the grand miracle of feeding the multitude unfolded in stages, mouthful by mouthful. The Disciples got to be involved in distributing a series of bite-sized miracles that altogether became something legendary.

Now, don’t misunderstand. A miracle is a miracle. The terms “large” and “small” do not really apply. And God can work massive miracles in an instant. But I’ve found that for the most part, He invites me to participate in a lot of little ones that accumulate over time into an amazing expression of His glory.

As an older man who has walked with God for a long time now, this is deeply moving to me. I look back over my life and rejoice with amazement at the times I’ve witnessed demonstrations of God’s explosive power. But I also cherish the cumulative weight of all those quieter ones. And I’ve come to understand the value of living in the daily expectation of a steady stream of God’s manifest power.

So, if you’re desperate today for a large, loud, and immediate miracle from heaven, we have a God who is more than able. But it may just be that His provision is on the way to your doorstep a box at a time. Don’t miss them.

John 6:11a • The Power of Gratitude

The first part of John 6 verse 11 says that AFTER Jesus had received the loaves and fishes from the young man and BEFORE those meager provisions became bounty, He gave thanks.

Now, EVERYTHING Jesus said and did was intentional, purposeful, and strategic. Among other things, He was modeling for us what a life of faith looks like. So, it’s incredibly important to pay close attention to EVERY move He made and EVERY word He spoke.

There’s a reason He paused en route to a miracle of provision to first give thanks. And since I’m often in need of God’s supernatural provision, I want to understand why. What was He thankful for? I think it’s clear He was thankful for what He’d already been given – five loaves and two fish.

They weren’t nearly enough, but Jesus focused on what He’d been given, not on what was still needed. And there’s something extremely powerful about that heart-posture that opens the door for the Lord’s supernatural supply.

But to be honest, when I’m in need…of money, healing, wisdom, comfort, guidance…gratitude is not usually my response. In fact, quite the opposite. I’m far more likely to complain, expressing my impatience and even venting my anger than to be grateful.

And you know what I’ve found? Thanklessness is habit-forming, and it poisons my soul. So that when God in His faithfulness does supply my need, I’m more likely to think, “Well, it’s about time,” than to fall on my knees with praise for His goodness. And ultimately, I think that makes me less likely to even recognize the wonderful miracles He regularly performs on my behalf.

I wonder if that might be true for you too. What do you say we choose to survey the circumstances we’re in today noting with thankfulness what we’ve already been given instead of grumbling about what we still need? I wonder how that might change what happens next?

John 6:10 • Obedience Paves the Way

In John chapter 6 verse 10, we’re told that Jesus asked His disciples to instruct the crowd to be seated in the grassy field. And Mark’s gospel gives us the additional information that Jesus wanted the people to be seated in groups of fifties and hundreds. And Mark also takes the time to specifically tell us that they did as instructed.

Now, John 6:10 is easy to skip over on our way to the main event. But there’s no “filler” in the Bible. God never wastes words. And the importance of the principle contained here cannot be overstated. Jesus was setting the stage for a miracle. And if you think you might ever need one of those, pay attention.

He was preparing for the organized distribution of a large quantity of food. He was about to supernaturally multiply five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 men plus women and children. But He was the only One who knew that. No one else there that day had ANY idea what was about to happen.

Just stop and think about that. The Disciples and the hungry crowd obeyed Jesus without even the slightest understanding of why He was asking or how their compliance could have anything to do with the meeting of their need.

And that’s the point. They did what He said simply because He said it. That’s what faith is ALL about: Trust-filled obedience. And displays of God’s miraculous power are nearly always preceded by an act of faith that rarely seems to be relevant to the need. Like when Jesus directed the servants at the wedding in Cana to fill six pots with water and take them to the master of the feast. They could NEVER have guessed that water would become wine. But their simple obedience facilitated an amazing miracle.

Or like the time, I responded to a very vague prompting I thought might be from the Lord. I was just folding the laundry at home one day when I sensed He was asking me to reach out to a young couple I’d heard about but hadn’t yet met and ask if they’d be interested in allowing me to mentor them in ministry. There was no way I could have known the miracle Jesus was setting up. At that time, I had no idea that my wife and I would soon be embarking on a new season of ministry assignment. And with the small step of obedience I exercised in contacting that couple, the Lord was arranging what became the miraculously smooth transition of pastoral leadership our church experienced when they succeeded me and my wife as senior pastors just eighteen months later.

Listen. If you need a miracle today, stop worrying about how in the world God is going to feed the multitudes. Instead, start looking for the nearest divine command you can obey. And if you draw a blank, consider opening the Bible, it’s full of them. Your step of child-like obedience, whatever it looks like to you, will place in the Lord’s hands the loaves and fishes He can work with to do something wonderful.

John 6:7-9 • The Faith of a Child

Last time, we talked about how John 6 verses 5 and 6 show Jesus using a need – the hunger of thousands – to test faith. We learned that when God allows our faith to be challenged, His purpose is to INCREASE our spiritual health not deplete it. And we also learned that our Lord is ALWAYS in control of a trial’s outcome. He can be fully trusted.

Now, verses 7 through 9 reveal three different types of response to this test of faith. Let’s see if we can find ourselves in them, and by comparing, discover a better way to handle the faith-trials WE encounter.

Jesus had posed a question. “How are we going to feed all these people?” And the first response came from Philip. He whipped out his calculator, did the math, and reported to Jesus that there was no way they could AFFORD to buy anywhere close to enough food. He focused on the size of the need and said, “It’s too big.”

Next up was Andrew. He came to Jesus with five barley loaves and two small fish he’d gotten from a kid who’d brought a lunch with him that day. But then, he asked his own question, “What are they among so many?” You see, he was focused on himself and was saying, “I don’t have enough.”

But there’s another person involved in this episode, the boy with the lunch. And although the text doesn’t specifically say so, it clearly implies that this young man freely offered his loaves and fishes. They weren’t taken from him, they were given. And by doing so, he was demonstrating that he was focused on Jesus, and by his actions, saying, “I believe You can do anything.”

Oh, the faith of a child!

Dear Lord, when I next face a need that tests my faith, may my response be the simple childlike trust demonstrated by that young man. May my choice be not to focus on the size of the need or my own limited resources to meet it. Help me instead, to trust in the greatness of Who you are. May my heart’s cry be, “You can do anything!”
 

John 6:5-6 • The Outcome is Never in Doubt

John chapter 6 verse 5 moves us into the “loaves and fishes” narrative. A massive crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children was approaching. And when Jesus saw the multitude, He asked one of the Disciples a question: “How are we going to feed all these people?”

Then, verse 6 tells us two very important things WE should remember whenever WE encounter a need that has the potential to overwhelm us whether it’s spiritual, physical, financial, or relational.

First, we’re told the Lord was using it as a test. Need always does that – tests our faith. And although these trials can seriously rock our world and challenge us to our core, God’s purpose in allowing them is NEVER to disqualify or defeat us. It’s always to reveal both how far He’s already brought us and to expose areas of trust He wants to help us grow into.

It’s like the gym that a friend of mine manages. All day everyday, people walk through his doors determined to put their bodies to the test. They pay my friend’s company for the opportunity to be challenged with weights, machines, and instructors for the benefit of seeing their health, strength and fitness increase.

In the same way, the Bible tells us to REJOICE when our faith is tested because it’s increasing our spiritual health. God is using it for our good.

The second thing verse 6 tells us is that Jesus knew in advance what He was going to do. The outcome was NEVER in doubt. God is in control. And oh, how good is that! As believers, these what-in-the-world-am-going-to-do kind of situations always reach us through the filter of God’s love, mercy, and grace. We square off against them in an environment managed by the power of the Sovereign God. As His kids, we are never – and I repeat, NEVER – in jeopardy.

Now, I can’t know what kind of need may be testing you today. But Jesus does. And as challenging as it may seem, remember these soul-securing truths. One, if you let Him, your Savior will use it to strengthen your faith muscles. And two, Jesus already has a rock-solid plan for meeting that need.

Trust Him!

John 6:1-4 • There’s Always a Backstory

John chapter 6 opens with an account of the occasion when Jesus fed thousands of people with only five loaves and two fish. Pretty exciting stuff! But before going any further, I’d like to focus on just the first three words of verse one, “After these things…” Why? Because there’s ALWAYS a backstory. And this phrase lets us know there’s a context for what follows.

The first four verses of the chapter set up the “loaves and fishes” story by giving us the time of year and the location where it happened. We’re told that it was springtime just before Passover and in a deserted area across the Sea of Galilee.

But by saying, “after these things,” John lets us know there’s even more to the story and implies that we should consider these additional details. He makes it clear they’re worth digging for.

And we don’t have to search far. The other three Gospels – especially Mark – fill in the six-month gap between John chapters five and six. And we find out that there was a reason Jesus had taken His disciples across the lake. He was leading them to a wilderness area for some rest. They were all dealing with the emotional impact of John the Baptist being beheaded by Herod. The Disciples had just returned from their first ministry tours and needed debriefing. And the intensifying of Jesus’s miracle ministry was creating so much activity that we’re told they didn’t even have time to eat.

So that’s why they crossed the lake. And it makes a difference to know that, doesn’t it?

In a very crude way, it’s like this sign here. Unless you take the time to stop and read it, you probably wouldn’t give this tree a second thought. But if you do, you find out that it was brought to this island by a sea captain from a distant port and planted here more than a hundred and fifty years ago. There’s a backstory. And digging for it makes a difference in how you see the tree.

And that’s true for people too. There’s ALWAYS a backstory.

But we usually interact with others based on the superficial. We rarely stop to even think that there may be more to consider.

And this is especially true for how we relate to ourselves. We waste so much of our emotional resources focused on our surface issues instead of asking Jesus, “What’s the backstory here?” But if we did, we’d be much more likely to discover the context for what He’s trying to deal with in our lives and be better able to cooperate with Him as He brings us healing and deliverance.

So, I encourage you today, when you find yourself wrestling with the “stuff” in your life – and you know what I mean – ask the Lord to help you see the backstory. Stop ignoring the real issues while whining about what you think God should be doing to help you but isn’t. And be willing instead to stop and read the signs that reveal how these things got rooted in your life in the first place. Then, you’ll be better able to allow the Lord to set you up for what comes “after these things.”

John 5:33-47 • Willing to Come

In John 5 verses 33-47, Jesus concludes the argument He was making to the religious leaders regarding His claim to be the Son of God by identifying four unassailable witnesses that had already testified on His behalf: John the Baptist, the miracles He performed, God the Father, and the Old Testament Scriptures.

For those who resisted breaking with the pack to embrace his Lordship, Jesus was reminding them that none other than the universally respected John the Baptist had publicly declared Him the Son of God, staking his own reputation on the truth of that statement.

For those who refused to believe without tangible proof, He reminded them that THEY had seen His miracles with their OWN eyes.

For those who were stubbornly withholding faith unless the heavens opened and they heard God speak in an audible voice, He reminded them that they had been personally present as that exact thing happened when He was baptized by John.

For those who were clinging to their skepticism until there was theological agreement on the subject, He pointed out that the Holy Scriptures speak clearly of Him and affirm His divinity throughout.

And that brings us to verse 40 where Jesus says, “But you were not WILLING to come to Me that you may have life.”

Placing faith in Jesus for salvation, or anything else for that matter, is really never about convincing arguments, proofs, and evidence no matter what anyone says. It’s always about a WILLINGNESS to trust Him. And Jesus promises here that this simple act of surrender is what opens the door to the life we long for. So, why are people, including you and me, so often UNWILLING?

Well, I’ll just speak for myself. Taking ANY step of faith, requires that I confront the desire of my sinful nature to maintain CONTROL. But faith is the exact opposite of control, isn’t it? Trusting Jesus with my health, finances, marriage, career – let alone my eternal destiny – means being WILLING to release the control of those things to Him, believing there is no better place for them than in His hands.

But that’s the issue, right? Do we really believe that?

It’s hard for me to admit this in the face of the overwhelming evidence of my Lord’s love, faithfulness, and power. He has NEVER failed me. Still, there are times I hesitate to trust my cares to Him. And perhaps that’s true for you too.

If so, let’s agree today, to come to Him WILLINGLY releasing all our concerns to Him that we may know life as He intends.

John 5:31-32 • Case Closed

In the final section of John chapter 5, we have a kind of courtroom drama playing out. Jesus, like a skillful defense attorney presenting His final argument before the Jewish religious leaders, details the weighty testimonial evidence for His claim to be the Son of God.

He begins in verse 31 by acknowledging that according to their Law which required two independent witnesses to establish the truth of a matter, serving as His own witness is insufficient. That’s what He means when He says, “My witness is not true.” He doesn’t mean that He’s telling a lie. He’s simply agreeing that under their system, His personal testimony alone is not enough.

So, over the remainder of the chapter, He reminds them of the powerful testimony they’ve already heard from not just two, but FOUR INDISPUTABLE witnesses. And in verse 32, before elaborating in detail later in the passage, He teases them with some of what is coming when He says, “There is another who bears witness of me.” A clear and unequivocal reference to God, the Father.

And reading those words again yesterday caused my throat to tighten with emotion and my eyes to tear up as I was reminded of the forceful impact of the testimony of my Heavenly Father in the recurring case of the Devil’s suit against my salvation. It seems that almost daily Satan attempts to call into question the right to consider myself a child of God. And he skillfully introduces as evidence all the dirt he continues digging up from the remains of my sinfulness.

And it can be VERY convincing. When the fruits of my wickedness are paraded through the courtroom of my soul, I can often find my personal witness to God’s grace losing ground against the testimony of my sinful past.

But…“There is another who bears witness of me.”

God has declared in John 1:12 that because I have placed my faith in Jesus, I have been given LEGAL standing as a child of God. And Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

So, if you find yourself today being tempted by the “Accuser” to doubt your place in God’s family because of something he dredged up from your past, remember 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and JUST to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.”

Case closed.

John 5:30 • Judging Others

In John 5 verse 30, Jesus says that His assignment as divine judge, which He described in the preceding verses, is administered solely on the basis of instructions He receives from the Father. And in that context, He makes this incredible statement: “I can of Myself do nothing.”

Now of course, as God incarnate, Jesus possessed everything required – authority, power, wisdom, knowledge – to do anything. But He makes clear that in His role as our redeemer, He specifically and purposefully chose not to act independent of the Father. Philippians 2 verses 5-11 describe His submission in detail and declare that IT is the reason ultimately every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is Lord.

So, Jesus’ words here in John 5:30 are extremely significant. And I think that’s especially true of the last half of the verse where He says that because He seeks the will of the Father and not His own, His judgment is righteous.

Now THAT forces me to consider how I judge other people.

All day everyday, I pass judgment on those I hear, see, meet, and interact with. I can’t help it. And neither can you. We are instinctively wired to evaluate others on the fly. Have you ever heard a stranger’s voice on a podcast, radio show, or phone call and determined what their appearance, personality, and motivation must be like even though you’ve never met them? We all do that. It’s a human trait that I suppose is a form of self-protection. But I’ll bet you’ve noticed that it’s almost never accurate.

The prejudgments I make of people almost always turn out to be wrong once I actually get to know them. And if you’ve ever been unfairly judged yourself, you know it feels terrible and is often very hard to change.

I once rented a home from a guy who for some unknown reason just decided he didn’t like me. And nothing I did to try and change his mind was ever successful. He just doggedly clung to his false initial impression of me no matter what, and I could not overcome his skepticism and mistrust. So, I eventually had to move out.

I don’t want to do that to others. But I do. Like the obviously homeless woman I passed on the street the other day. Based on her appearance alone, I created an entire profile of her in my mind. A pretty negative one I must add. How unfair was that? And, a few minutes later, when I realized what I’d done, I had to confess my sin to God and repent of it. So, I’d like to discover a better – more righteous – way to handle this aspect of life. And, as always, Jesus points the way.

He said the key to righteous judgment is seeking God’s will not my own. In other words, if I will simply start choosing to see others through the lens of his desires for them instead of through my own fears and prejudices, my perspective will become more like His. I want to do that, don’t you? And what a better world this would be if everyone did?

John 5:27-29 • The Resurrection of Life

In John 5 verses 27-29, Jesus describes His role as our judge. In the preceding two verses He referred to Himself as the Son of God who can right now offer spiritual life to those dead in their sins if they will simply respond to His voice calling them to faith. But here, as He describes a future occasion when His voice will call all those who have died physically to either a “resurrection of life” or a “resurrection of condemnation,” He says His authority to execute this judgment is on the basis of what the Father has given Him as the Son of Man. And this change in title is worth noting.

Jesus is both Son of God and Son of Man. He is fully divine and fully human. And this is what uniquely qualifies Him to be both eternal-life-giver, and judge. As Son of God, He personally paid the penalty for our sin so we could have the payment of His suffering and death applied to our record by faith. And as Son of Man, He victoriously stared down every kind of temptation and has first-hand knowledge of every form of human experience so that as judge, He alone has the righteous authority to administer it.

When those who have refused to receive His offer of salvation during their lifetimes stand before Him on that future day of judgment, there will be no excuse, no alibi, no defense. But if you’re hearing me say this, that doesn’t have to be your story.

In verse 29, there’s a very wonderful and hope-filled use of two different Greek words that are often translated by the same English word, “done,” or “did.” Jesus says that the resurrections of life and condemnation are the result of having “done” good or “done” evil. But, He’s not saying that a person’s eternal destiny is based on whether or not they’ve racked up sufficient good-works points. Ephesian 2:8 & 9 make this crystal clear.

The word translated, “done,” in the first instance describes a one-time act. In the second, the word is about something habitually done. The Lord is saying that with one act, placing our faith in His saving grace, we can insure our “resurrection to life” and wipe out the consequences habitually turning our backs on Him.

Now that’s good news! If you haven’t yet, receive it. And if you have, share it.

John 5:25-26 • Spiritual CPR

In John 5 verses 25 and 26, Jesus begins to describe something happening at that very moment that will also happen at a time yet to come. He’s talking about dead people coming to life. And He starts by saying the Hebrew word, “amen,” twice. This is sometimes translated as, “verily, verily” or “truly, truly,” or “most assuredly.” The Lord uses this introduction method 25 different times in John’s Gospel when He wants to underscore what follows. It’s as though He’s saying, “There’s nothing more true than this.” In other words, He wants us to pay VERY close attention to what He’s about to say.

Now, we’ll wait until we get to verse 28 to look at its implications for what He describes as, “the hour that is coming.” But for now, I’d like to focus on the impact of this regarding what he calls the hour that, “now is.”

He tells us that right now the dead who hear His voice will live. And yes, every time the Gospels tell us about Jesus raising a physically dead person to life, He’s described as speaking to them first or CALLING them back to life. But I think it’s clear from the context of this passage, that He was referring to those who are spiritually dead being made spiritually alive. And this is possible, He says, because He has, “life in Himself.”

And that’s the point.

None of us can engineer our own spiritual resuscitation. Only He’s qualified for that job. And that’s because He defeated death on the cross and then rose again for us.

Still, many of us try to administer spiritual CPR to ourselves.

Now behind me is a busy emergency room at a local hospital. And CPR or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation is a frequent occurrence within those walls. It’s a method for attempting to restart someone’s heart when they’ve suffered a cardiac arrest. But you can’t do it for yourself. In fact, you can’t be more INCAPABLE of helping yourself than when you’re in that state. It requires someone who HAS life to offer it to the one who DOESN’T.

And when it comes our spirits, we are COMPLETELY dependent on Jesus to do that. Not only is spiritual self-help ineffective, it’s IMPOSSIBLE. None of us can offer life to ourselves.

So, if you long to become fully alive, let me tenderly invite you to stop the insanity of trying to do it yourself. Instead, just respond to the voice of the One calling you to life.

John 5:24 • Put Your Butt in the Seat

In John 5 verse 24, after emphatically declaring to the Jewish leaders that He is co-equal with the Heavenly Father, Jesus goes on to say that FOR anyone who responds to His message by believing in the Father, three things become true: Something has already happened, something will never happen, and something is happening right now. But before we look a little closer at these, let’s make sure we understand what He meant by believing in the Father.

The Greek word translated as, “believes,” in this verse, is a word that conveys more than just concluding that the design of a chair, for instance, could support your weight. This word is about the action that FLOWS from that conclusion and results in actually putting your butt in the seat. It’s about trust, and trust that results in commitment.

Jesus was calling these leaders, everyone overhearing that conversation, and all who have heard these words since to take action on what they’ve heard and place the full weight of their faith on Him. And if that describes you, I’ve got some excellent news.

First, you have already, as Jesus said, “passed from death into life.” The spiritual death that was the result of your sin is now behind you – forgiven, cleansed, covered – and up ahead as far as you can see is the gift of life that God gives His kids.

Second, you will never experience judgement, not now, or at any time in the future. No matter how hard the Devil may try to bring you under condemnation, according to Romans 8 verse 1, that shame no longer has your name on it.

And third, you ARE living in the stream of “everlasting life” right now. And Jesus wasn’t just talking about its duration – how long it lasts. He was talking about the type of life it is. This verse employs the Greek word, zoe, which the New Testament uses to describe the kind of life God has – deeper, richer in every way than mere existence or anything this world can offer.

All of this is yours as a result of your faith in Christ. Dear one, live every minute of this day in the awareness of that.

OH! And if by chance you haven’t yet become a believer, what are you waiting for? Put your butt in the seat.

John 5:18-23 • An Exact Reflection

I’m not sure how it’s possible to become even more angry with someone after you’ve reached the point of wanting to kill them, but that’s the state of outrageous agitation the religious leaders had reached regarding Jesus. They had already issued a death sentence for His healing of a sick man on the Sabbath. But John 5 verse 18 informs us that they were even more ticked off at His clear claim of equality with God.

And Jesus refused to back down from this. For the next five verses, Jesus declared in no uncertain terms that EVERYTHING He did and said was an EXACT reflection of the Heavenly Father and that He should be honored in the same way the Father is.

And there you have it. That’s why the Jewish elite was so mad. It was impossible for them to remain ambivalent about the question of who Jesus was. The testimony of His life was crowding them toward a decision point – one they were violently resisting. Because to embrace the truth of His divinity would have required that they surrender to His Lordship. And that’s what made their blood boil.

However, for the rest of us, there’s WONDERFUL news here. Jesus is God! Everything the Gospels reveal about Jesus that move us to fall so deeply in love with Him are EXACTLY true of the Father as well. There is NO difference. And this is incredibly important and healing on many levels, especially for those who have trouble relating to the Heavenly Father because of the failures of their earthly ones.

As someone who has spent my life caring for the wounded souls of people, I’ve seen first-hand the damage a dad can do by his words and deeds even if unintentionally. The Devil LOVES to exploit a man’s brokenness to inflict painful scars on his children and thereby cause them to recoil from the love of God. What better way for Satan to keep someone imprisoned in their hurt than to emotionally cut them off from the only One who can free them.

But Jesus is the answer. He put on display the father-heart of God. The closer we examine His life, the more we see of what God is really like and the more any barriers melt away.

So, if you’ve been victimized by this strategy of the Enemy to prevent you from experiencing the healing embrace of the Lover of Your Soul, let me stand with you today as we welcome the Son to introduce you to the Father.