Category: Daily Devotionals

John 3.3 – 3.10

Brian Welch: From Korn to Jesus

Christianity is personal, it goes to the heart of the individual and it changes lives. You can be a clever person, a rich person, socially successful or down and out but if Christianity doesn’t personally impact you in your inner core as a person it is of no lasting value to you. Why is that? It is because Christianity is about personally being born spiritually and from that beginning one’s life changes and a relationship with God starts. Nicodemus knew all about religious practices as a Pharisee and teacher of the law. He was faithfully obedient to all the customs and rituals. He knew the scriptures inside out. However, that does not equal spiritual life. His religion was at that time an empty husk except for one thing he had desire in his heart to know more about Jesus and he recognized that Jesus was from God. ‘For no one could perform signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ ^{John 3.2}

That desire to know more about Jesus and really wanting to change is God’s Spirit speaking into our mind. Being as it were touched by the Spirit of God is described by Jesus as, ‘The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear it’s sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.’ ^{Johm 3.8} It is poetic language but everybody who has started a relationship with God will recognize that prompting that draws us closer to Jesus. We look back and say I have known the Spirit convicting me even when I have fought against him. Jesus concluded his description of the Spirit’s impact by saying, ‘So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’ ^{John 3.8} Jesus longs for each one of us to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and ask him to be spiritually born.

Is spiritual birth a real thing and is it absolutely necessary? Jesus makes clear that spiritual birth is necessary for forgiveness, spiritual life and eternal life. He says it twice to Nicodemus. ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ^{John 3.3} ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.’ ^{John 3.5}

This to Nicodemus was a whole new idea and so naturally enough he gets confused about the difference between natural birth and spiritual birth. ‘ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked.’ Jesus states plainly that spiritual birth is separate to natural birth because they are different. ‘Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit (notice the capital S indicating that it is the Holy Spirit) gives birth to spirit.’ ^John 3.6 God alone can give one spiritual life we cannot do it for ourselves. Our role is to ask and trust.

Why did Jesus say that one needed to be born of water and the Spirit? The idea that the Spirit gives spiritual birth is straight forward but what is meant by being born of water. Jesus was speaking to a learned Jewish leader who would have known the scriptures intimately. He therefore refers Nicodemus back to Ezekiel’s prophecy addressed to the nation of Israel when the people had persistently pursued sinful ways. ‘I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.’ ^{Ezekiel 36.25-27} The sprinkling with water symbolizes forgiveness and cleansing from their old ways that rejected God. The Spirit within enables one to live a life pleasing to God.

Is it time to take the step that Nicodemus eventually did and ask Jesus for spiritual birth, to be cleansed from old ways and received the Spirit’s life and have a new start?

If one took that step some time ago but now need one’s spiritual life to be refreshed then do not hesitate to come again to Jesus, ask for forgiveness and cleansing, to be filled again with his Spirit to overcome sin and lead a life that is fulfilling and righteous.

Newsboys – Born Again

John 2.23 – 3.2

Do you understand people who are reluctant to speak in a public forum? A personal fault of mine is not readily appreciating what a barrier that is for many. I am subject to the other personality trait and am too readily prone to speaking out. For me it goes with my learning style which is strongly bent towards engaging in debate, while others may much more happily be outwardly passive learners keen on listening and observing. In a constructive, supportive, nonthreatening environment all personality types can flourish. However all too frequently life is not like that and the context in which we live can carry heavy penalties if we openly speak our mind or indeed at times do not openly speak up for particular people or ideas. I think of a time when the newly invested President of the USA ask his closest advisers and ministers sitting around the table to each say how great he was. It reminded me of Nebuchadnezzar. In the one case their job was on the line in the other their life. Nicodemus’ desire to find out more about Jesus must have been a bit like that. ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.’ ^{John 3.2} He had come under the cover of darkness, God’s Spirit prompting him to enquire further.

Nicodemus along with many of the other Jewish leaders had witnessed many signs performed by Jesus during his visit at Passover to Jerusalem. Many believed in Jesus because of these signs, (John does not record what miracles they were) but Jesus was not convinced about the long term sincerity of their belief because of man’s inherently sinful heart. ‘But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.’ ^John2.24,25 The Jewish religious leadership, of whom Nicodemus was one, were highly antagonized by Jesus’ teaching and actions. At the same Passover he had cleared the temple of traders and then spoken of the temple’s destruction and how he would raise it in three days. If one was a member of the religious leadership one would be very unpopular and risk one’s personal standing by expressing interest and respect for Jesus. So, Nicodemus came at night. Nicodemus was a seeker after God and he recognized God at work through Jesus. We can be confident that in the end Nicodemus became more than a sympathizer, he became a disciple. ^{Jhn 7.50-52, John 19.38-42}

Nicodemus’ hesitancy about enquiring after Jesus is a very common thing. Nicodemus was genuinely enquiring, he wanted to know more and he wanted God in his life. There are many like that and there is considerable anecdotal evidence that Covid 19 has increased the level of interest. There has been a reported 20% increase in the numbers attending church by virtual means. Alpha reports more people than ever before attending their courses. What are the factors behind this? Partly it is a response to greater awareness of mortality and how we are not as in control of our lives as we once thought and partly because virtually we can as it were come at night with no one knowing. Whatever the case the Holy Spirit is at work in people lives prompting them to seek and ask.

Jesus provides us as a church with two important examples. He was active and known, publicly ministering to people’s needs in the power of the Holy Spirit. His identity and ministry was not hidden or secret. He demonstrated God’s purposes in his life and words. He did not let difficulty, opposition or hardship prevent him from obedience to the Father. Seekers knew who to go to, to find out more.

Jesus made himself available even at night. He was approachable. He did not have a private life that came before his ministry. He was wholly available to God’s will.

How does this challenge us individually and as a church?

KING FOREVER (ACOUSTIC)

John 2.13-22

The Temple in Jerusalem during Jesus’ ministry was not the temple built in Solomon’s reign, it was the third temple and even though the Temple authorities said it had taken 46 years to build ^v20 the outer structures were not completed until AD 66. Prior to Solomon a temporary tent like structure was where the Ark of the Lord was housed, containing the tablets of the covenant, a golden urn holding manna and Aaron’s staff that budded. ^{Hebrews 9.4} David dreamed and planned for the day when a permanent temple would be built, in his eyes it was to be grand enough to be worthy of the Lord. The temple was for the nation of Israel a number of things. It was a sign of God’s presence with his people. It was where the people through the offices of the priests could meet God and seek counsel. It stood for God’s authority over his people. The temple honoured God and was where the great feasts to give thanks and praise to God were centred. Longing to be in the temple equaled longing to be in God’s presence. Above all it was the place of sacrifice to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The temple represented the heartbeat of the nation therefore its destruction under Nebuchadnezzar tore the heart out of the nation and was considered by Israel’s enemies not only a defeat for the people of Israel but also for their God. The temple was the ultimate symbol of nationhood and the nation’s relationship with Yahweh.

When Jesus cleared the Temple, the complaints were not about brutality towards either people or animals. They were not even about the mess created. The whip of cords ^v15 Jesus made was not comparable to the whip used to scourge Jesus, ripping flesh from his back, it was a means of driving animals from the courtyard. Little did the Temple authorities know but they cut to the heart of the matter. In asking, ‘What sign do you show us for doing theses things’ they were asking by what authority did he challenge the “Father’s” house being used for trade.

Jesus’ answer was not understood by any present at the time. It took Jesus’ resurrection for the disciples to grasp his meaning. ^v22 The Temple authorities limited imagination was restricted to a Temple of stone. They had lost sight of the Temple being the symbol of God’s presence, the place of reconciliation, teaching, intercession and God’s transforming blessing. In Jesus’ answer he was stating that he is the eternal Temple of God. Only through his death and resurrection three days later would all these things be possible. All the previous rituals would be swept away. God is met through him wherever one was geographically. No physical building is required. Jesus left just two acts of remembrance and

Commitment, the bread and wine of the last supper and baptism. Each needed no set place or even a building of any kind. The only priest needed was the High Priest Jesus. ^{Hebrews 4.14}

The first place I truly met Jesus was in my study bedroom at college, aged 18. He placed in me the faith, I had been wanting for some weeks, through his Spirit. Where can you first remember engaging personally with the Lord? He and he alone is our access to God, who is truly a universal God, not constrained by buildings, geography or time.

There are many things during history that the Christian Church has promoted as “Temples” and necessary for access to God. There then occurs a reaction against them that frequently divides the church. It may be a physical church where some feel they have to be there to pray. It could be a ritual or ceremony. It may be a particular kind of musical atmosphere is deemed necessary. The presence of a religious leader may be seen as a means of accessing God’s blessing and even biblical knowledge as the ultimate goal rather than as a means of meeting with God through his Spirit.

What difference does it make that Jesus, and not a building, is our temple; and that access to God is through him, and not through religious ritual?

Be still for the presence of the Lord

John 2.1-11

Politicians do it all the time, when they have an announcement they pick the background setting to emphasize the message. In just the last week we had the prime minister crawling on a primary classroom floor to encourage parents to send their children back to school and then wearing a hard hat and luminous jacket to announce the reopening of Appledore shipyard. Of course, it can go ridiculously wrong such as when the prime minister was filmed hiding in a refrigerator to avoid questions. The PR people talk of getting the optics right. If then you were the Son of God and you wished to select the place for your first sign of the coming of your future kingdom, where would you pick? As it is a kingdom perhaps a palace would be ideal or maybe the temple. If instead of a building one wanted a natural setting how about the top of Mount Sinai with all its historical associations with the giving of the law. In addition, judging by modern leaders there would be some announcement to attract the crowds. The audience would be carefully selected to ensure the contemporary leaders were present to provide their endorsement.

Contrast this with Jesus who chose the wedding of an unnamed couple in a minor town in Galilee with no greater witnesses than his family and new disciples. When he changed the water to wine it was done without fanfare so the master of ceremonies did not even know it was happening. Yet it was this humble event and setting that has been recorded and preserved over two millennia. Jesus indicates the reason for the low key nature of the miracle is that people’s misconceptions about the coming Messiah would lead to unhelpful responses. However, this did not prevent Jesus performing numerous miracles or signs in the course of his daily ministry. John records that this was simply the first of his signs. ^{v 2.11}

The importance of the setting of a wedding is the place marriage has in the symbolic relationship God has with his people. The theme of marriage runs from the beginning of Genesis ^{Genesis 2.24} into Revelation ^{Revelation 19.7-9} as a God ordained relationship. Humans are made for intimate relationships that reflect the fellowship the Godhead has within themselves. The faithfulness of the marriage is intended to reflect the faithfulness of God to his people. In the Old Testament this is particularly the message of Hosea, where God through Hosea’s marriage demonstrates that he is faithful even when his bride is not and reconciliation between God and man is always possible.

A Christian marriage is intended by God to be in itself a witness to God’s faithfulness to his bride, his people. “Paul tells us that marriage is a mystery designed by God to show us Christ’s love for the church.” (Josh Moody, John 1-12 for you.) ‘Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.’ ^{Ephesians 5.25-27}

How then does a marriage reflect Jesus’ love for the church and how can the marriage partners foster that loving faithfulness for the rest of their lives?

What challenges are presented when only one of the married couple is a disciple of Jesus?

What pastoral support do we provide as a church for married couple to be a witness to the faithfulness of God?

Faithful one – Brian Doerksen

John 2.13-25

Is it true for you that the industry that surrounds religion including the Christian faith is a problem? Does it in any way create a barrier to faith for either yourself or people you know. If so, is the problem where established churches appear to be wealthy and the wealth is not used for the purposes their teaching would lead you to expect? Is it that the churches money is focused on the wants and needs of church members and not on the gospel message and needs of non-church members? Could it be that you believe you cannot trust the people in power in the church to honestly manage the finances? Is it that you believe the business of religion has relegated gospel living and sacrifice to a small dusty back seat in the corner of the church, so much that you believe if Jesus walked in the church he would not recognize it as a people of worship?

Following the wedding feast in Cana, Jesus, his family and disciples go back to his Galilean base, Capernaum, but he only stays there a few days before heading off to Jerusalem for the Passover. ^{John 2.12,13} John mentions Jesus attending three separate Passovers and there is some disagreement as to whether there were one or two occasions when Jesus “cleared the temple”. The other gospels record a similar event in the Passover week of his death. Has John reorganized the order of events to structure his teaching for symbolic and conceptual reasons? This may be so but we cannot be absolutely sure either way. Certainly, conceptually this account fits in well, just before the visit of Nicodemus, as it deals with religion being a barrier to a relationship with God.

When Jesus entered the outer courtyard of the temple in Jerusalem, known as the Court of the Gentiles what did he see? It was noisy, thronging with people doing business selling animals for sacrifice and exchanging currency for the correct money to pay the temple tax.  ^v14 The business itself was not illegitimate it was where and how it was being done that was wrong. It made sense that people who had travelled great distances, often on foot, bought their sacrifice to worship God on arrival. The payment of the Temple tax was not in itself wrong but by insisting that it was paid in specific Temple currency and then charging exorbitant rates was exploitative of worshippers. The temple was being run for the benefit of the insiders preventing them from being the light to the world that God intended them to be. They had effectively reversed the intentions of God and the place of prayer set apart for all to worship in had become a noisy market place where prayer and worship were no longer possible.

Jesus drove out the animals and stall holders because they had become a barrier between ordinary people and God. These were frequently God fearing people who had come in humility seeking forgiveness. God fearing is how the New Testament described genuine Gentile seekers after God who were not Jews. ^{Acts 17.4} The court of the Gentiles was where such people could come and worship but in the eyes of the religious authorities they were inferior to those born a Jew. They were presented with unnecessary additional barriers for the profit of the religious authorities. Contrast that with Jesus’ own responses to such people as we will see later in the gospel. Before we consider how Jesus prophesied that he was the way to forgiveness and a relationship with God it is worth thinking of the many ways the Christian church has created self-seeking additional barriers to forgiveness and a relationship with God. This can be in the form of hierarchies, rituals, legalism, language designed to exclude and moral depravity.

Have you experienced the church placing barriers in the way of simple faith in Jesus?

Have church rituals made it difficult for enquirers after Christ to feel welcome?

Do we place moral integrity as an essential characteristic for continuing in Church leadership?

How closely do we align church finances with gospel priorities?

Holy ground – David Bilborough