Friday, 18 February 2011
Thursday, 10 February 2011
John 6 - Safe and Secure
John 6 - Safe and Secure
The chapter begins with Jesus & his disciples crossing the lake, where Jesus feeds more than 5,000 people with just 5 loaves and 2 fish. The disciples then return across the lake and Jesus walks on the water to the boat which is struggling in the middle of the lake but with Jesus there it immediately lands on the shore. The people follow and then begins the dialogue which takes up most of John Chapter 6
2 well known miracles – great in themselves but purposely put there by John to connect with the words of Jesus that follow.
Jesus begins with two statements about himself:
1. I am the bread of life
He is the essential food for eternal life. We must come to Him and believe Him
2. I shall lose none that He has given me
There is a commitment from God the Father and God the Son that everyone who comes to Jesus is safe and secure.
For the Jews, and maybe for you, this raises questions and yesterday we looked at the 3 questions in chapter 6
1. How can he now say, I come down from heaven?
The Jews were unwilling to believe the teaching about Jesus’ supernatural origin and Jesus explains this is because coming to the Son for life is entirely dependent upon the Father’s drawing work. We need Spiritual illumination. We need the Father to draw people to Himself by His Word. We should pray that God would bring spiritual illumination to ourselves and those we tell the gospel to.
2. How can this man give us His flesh to eat?
Jesus explains that he must die to give them life – and they are scandalised. To feed on Jesus is to believe in Jesus. He gives us Life by His death. We are to approach his death like a starving man approaches a loaf of bread in the desert. Do you believe? Bread won’t do you any good unless you eat it!
3. This is a hard teaching – who can accept it?
It’s hard to accept Jesus’ supernatural origin and his death. It’s hard to accept that the way of the cross is right for Jesus and for you. Jesus criticises them for being unable to see His divine nature and divine mission. It is through his death He will be glorified.
It is the Spirit who gives life. Those who are given spiritual life say ““Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Can you say that?
To listen to sermons in the John series click here
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
John 5:31-47 Praise from God or being popular with our peers
Meanwhile the Jewish leaders were ignoring the testimony of God and preferring to get praised by their colleagues. They refuse to come to Jesus and have eternal life.
Who do you want praise from, God or men?
To listen to sermons in the John series click here
Whose right to live as they choose takes precedence?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12275094
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Britain's Banks too big to save
In the first five minutes they interview a businessman who shows clear love for his employees as he is forced to lay off some in order to keep his company a float; describes the way the banks operate as conceived in sin.
Do you think the banking system is inherently evil?
Thanks to John R for pointing this one out