Tag Archives: John

Numbers 31, John 4

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In Numbers 31, Moses is commanded to perform one more task before he died – to organise the attack on Midian. This attack was “the Lord’s vengeance on Midian”, for their role in causing Israel to sin with the daughters of Moab, back in Numbers 25. 12000 men of Israel were accompanied by Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, along with vessels of the sanctuary. The battle resulted in no deaths among the Israelites.

It’s a gruesome account of one of Israel’s many battles, yet it serves as a reminder to us that God keeps His promises, both of grace and of vengeance. He promised Abraham that He would curse those that cursed Israel, and this battle against the Midianites is an example of that.

By contrast, we read in John 4 of the healing power of God’s word. It is “living water”, with the ability to become in us “a spring of water welling up to eternal life”, if we consume it regularly and let it affect our lives.  God is seeking people to worship him in spirit and truth, to drink of living water and never thirst again.

 

Numbers 28, John 1

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Numbers 28 summarises the offerings required of Israel under the law; the various daily offerings, the offerings specifically for the Sabbath, the monthly offerings, the special offerings for feasts throughout the year. They were offered time and again, reinforcing to Israel the consequences of their sin.

By contrast, in John 1, we are introduced to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”. John the baptist was a witness to the unique qualities of this lamb, “the true light, which gives light to everyone… for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”.

Like John, we are called upon to be witnesses of God’s grace and mercy, of His great love in offering us a relationship we could never deserve.  In Jesus “was life, and the life was the light of men”, and so we are to be lights shining in darkness, reflecting God’s glory.

John 8

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Jesus is the light of the world. If we follow him, we “will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”. By continuing in Jesus’ words, we show we are truly Jesus’ disciples, and we will ultimately be set free from slavery to sin.

John 19

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In his final hours, Jesus continued his life-long practise of putting others ahead of himself. He directs John to take care of his mother, offers hope to the thief beside him, and remains focused on his purpose sufficiently to ensure he fulfilled prophecy. His final hours convinced a centurion of the veracity of Jesus’ words, and inspired Joseph and Nicodemus to stand up for their beliefs.

The king of the Jews died a painful, protracted death in order for us to have hope of life everlasting. This paradox confounds the wise, leaving the way open for us, the weak of the world, to be part of God’s promises.  The sacrifice offered once has destroyed the power of death. Let us hold fast with confidence to our hope, allowing it to become real and evident in our lives, that we might one day enter that sabbath rest to which we’ve been invited

John 17-18

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Jesus publicly prays to God “this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent…Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”  This is our hope and purpose in life, expressed in heartfelt prayer shortly before Jesus’ betrayal.  Even in these last hours of painful anticipation, Jesus was thinking of us.  Let us be inspired to know the only true God, to be one with Him, to be part of Jesus’ future kingdom and to bear witness to the truth.

John 12

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Jesus said “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness”. The analogy of light and darkness is perfect, since darkness is merely the absence of light, rather than a physical property of itself.  Without the gospel, the world remains unilluminated, without hope of the future, as Jesus also points out, “The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going”.

We have been given an amazing gift, part of a chosen race, with a responsibility to “show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”.  We are now God’s people, illuminated by His character and glory. It’s up to us to live in a way that shows that light to those around us, that they too may be part of God’s chosen people.

John 11

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The story of Lazarus is both confronting and inspirational. Although it caused Jesus intense grief, he delays the healing of Lazarus in order to instead raise him from the dead.  Having complete trust in God to protect him and his disciples from harm, Jesus returns to Judea where the Jews had previously sought to stone him, and discovers that Lazarus had already been dead for 4 days.

Both Mary and Martha struggled to understand why Jesus hadn’t returned in time to heal Lazarus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Jesus consoled Martha with the words “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die“.

These words describe our hope also. Let us likewise live in Jesus, demonstrating our belief to those around us, confident that we too can receive the crown of life promised to those who love God, “for He who promised is faithful“.

John 8-9

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Jesus is our good shepherd. He has opened our eyes, so that we can understand our natural state and realise there is something better. We are his sheep, if we listen to his voice and follow his guidance.  Jesus said of his sheep, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand”.

Despite what happens in life, we can be sure of Jesus’ love and care for his sheep. We’ve been invited to share the same relationship Jesus has with his father. Let’s allow the example and leadership of Jesus to guide our way of life, that we too may have eternal life.

John 6

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Jesus describes himself as “the true bread from heaven”. Like the manna in the wilderness, Jesus is the only option that provides life.  The choice in the wilderness was clear; collect and eat manna on a daily basis, or die.  Jesus is the food that we can consume “that endures to eternal life”, in contrast to the manna that lasted at most two days.

Consuming the spiritual food derived by following Jesus’ example is really our only option.  Any other choice leads only to death. “If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever”. Let’s make sure we eat this living bread today, tomorrow, and all the days that remain until Jesus returns.

1 Chronicles 28, John 2-3

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David’s advice to Solomon is just as applicable to us, “know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you…He will not leave you or forsake you”.

God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows when we are truly trying to serve Him, and like Solomon, will not leave us.

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

God has done so much for us, in order that we might be saved. It is up to us to believe Him, and let that belief pervade our every thought and action.