tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6013294818208909082024-02-19T00:39:40.434-08:00Prayers and PaintingsKaren E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-80594176585418284642016-02-17T13:33:00.002-08:002016-02-17T13:33:22.080-08:00What is Truth?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Jesus said that the written Word of God is truth. <br />
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"Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" John 18:37-38 ESV<br />
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Explanation of John 18:38 from The MacArthur Study Bible, page 1580<br />
"18:38 What is truth? In response to Jesus' mention of "truth" in v. 37, Pilate responded rhetorically with cynicism, convinced that no answer existed to the question. The retort proved that he was not among those whom the Father had given to the Son ("Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice"--v.37; see notes on 10:1-5). no guilt. Cf. 19:4. John made it clear that Jesus was not guilty of any sin or crime, thus exhibiting the severe injustice and guilt of both the Jews and Romans who executed him."<br />
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"For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." Jude 1:4 ESV<br />
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Explanation of Jude 1:4 from The MacArthur Study Bible, page 1934<br />
"4 certain people have crept in unnoticed. These were infiltrating, false teachers pretending to be true, who on the surface looked like the real thing, but whose intentions were to lead God's people astray (cf. Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29; Gal. 2:4-5; 1Tim. 4:1-2; 2Pet. 2:1, 20; 1 John 2:18-23). These apostates were Satan's counterfeits, most likely posing as itinerant teachers (cf. 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2Pet. 2:1-2; 2John 7-11). Their stealth made them dangerous. They were characterized by three features: 1)they were ungodly; 2) they perverted grace; and 3) they denied Christ. long ago were designated. Apostasy and apostates in general were written about and condemned many centuries before, such as illustrated in Jude 5-7 and spoken of as Enoch did in vv. 14-16, Cf. Isa. 8:19-21; 47:9-15; Hos. 9:9; Zeph. 3:1-8. Their doom was "pre-written" in Scripture as a warning to all who would come later. Jesus had warned about them in Matt. 7:15-20 (cf. Acts 20:29). The most recent warning had been 2Pet. 2:3, 17; 3:7. this condemnation. This refers to the judgment spoken of by others "long ago." Jude's present expose of apostates placed them in the path of the very judgment of God, written of previously. ungodly people. Lit., "impious" or "without worship." Their lack of reverence for God was demonstrated by the fact that they infiltrated the church of God to corrupt it and gain riches from its people. Cf. vv 15-16, 18-19. sensuality. Lit., "unrestrained vice" or "gross immorality," which describes the shameless lifestyle of one who irreverently flaunts God's grace by indulging in unchecked and open immorality (cf. Rom. 6:15). deny. . . Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Two Greek words for Jesus are used here. The apostates disowned Christ as sovereign Lord (despotes) and disdained any recognition of Christ as honorable Lord (kurios) by their wicked behavior. The better NT manuscripts omit God in the text, placing the emphasis clearly on one person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and emphasizing that apostates deny him. See note on 2Pet. 2:1. Cf. Matt. 10:33; 2Tim. 2:12; Titus 1:16; 1John 2:22-23. It is always true of apostates, false teachers, and false religions that they pervert what Scripture declares is true about the Lord Jesus Christ."<br />
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There is absolute truth found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ("In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-5 ESV) There is NO truth apart from Him. Do not be deceived. Read the Bible and ask God to reveal Himself to you and show you the truth. <br />
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"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matthew 7:13-14 ESV<br />
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Explanation for Matthew 7:13-14 from The MacArthur Study Bible page 1371<br />
"7:13-14 Both the narrow gate and the wide gate are assumed to provide the entrance into God's kingdom. Two ways are offered to people. The narrow gate is by faith, only through Christ, constricted and precise. It represents true salvation in God's way that leads to life eternal. The wide gate includes all religions of works and self-righteousness, with no single way (cf. Acts 4:12), but it leads to hell, not heaven."<br />
"7:14 gate is narrow. Christ continually emphasized the difficulty of following him (10:38; 16:24-25; John 15:18-19; 16:1-3; cf. Acts 14:22). Salvation is by grace alone, but is not easy. It calls for knowledge of the truth, repentance, submission to Christ as Lord, and a willingness to obey his will and word. See notes on Matt. 19:16-28."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that Christian churches in America and all over the world will stand up and speak the truth. I pray that Christians will not be afraid to speak the truth found only in the Bible. I pray that you will take away the darkness and open the eyes of people so they will be know the truth and be set free from the bondage of sin and darkness and be saved by Christ the Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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www.karenejklein.com<br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-27544813603668816322015-12-25T09:20:00.000-08:002015-12-25T09:20:55.421-08:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom he is pleased!"" Luke 2:8-14 ESV<br />
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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!<br />
Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-20516323120353491102015-11-20T15:10:00.001-08:002015-11-20T15:10:52.719-08:00His Steadfast Love Endures Forever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!<br />
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"For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endues forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." <br />
Psalm 100:4-5 ESV<br />
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The painting above is my beloved dog Amy Rose. She died last month at 12 years of age. I miss her more than words can say because Amy Rose was by my side all the time. Amy Rose was the sweetest dog and I am thankful to the Lord that she lived as long as she did. Back in 2011 Amy Rose had a brain tumor. We had it removed and we were thankful it was not cancer. How wonderful we got to have 4 more birthdays and 4 more Christmases with her. I will always be thankful to the Lord for answering my prayer to bring a sweet golden into our home and for healing her so she would live to a good old age. <br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for all your blessings and provision for us. I pray that those who are lost will find your gift of salvation through your grace. In Jesus' name Amen.<br />
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www.karenejklein.com<br />
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Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-1799132678741301982015-09-29T15:37:00.002-07:002015-09-29T15:37:45.958-07:00Godlessness in the Last Days, 2 Timothy Chapter 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the apperance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. <br />
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You however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at lconium, and at Lystra--which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation throught faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy Chapter 3, ESV<br />
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Explanation for verses: 2 Tim. 3:1; 3:5; 3:6; 3:7; 3:8; 3:13; 3:16 from the MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, pages 1830-1831.<br />
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"3:1 the last days. This phrase refers to this age, the time since the first coming of the Lord Jesus. See note on 1 Tim. 4:1. times of difficulty. "Difficulty" is used to describe the savage nature of two demon-possessed men (Matt. 8:28). The word for "times" had to do with epochs, rather than clock or calendar time. Such savage, dangerous eras or epochs will increase in frequency and severity as the return of Christ approaches (2 Tim. 3:13). The church age is fraught with these dangerous movements accumulating strength as the end nears. Cf. Matt. 7:15; 24:11-12, 24; 2 Pet. 2:1-2."<br />
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"3:5 having the appearance of godliness. . . denying its power. "Appearance" refers to outward shape or appearance. Like the unbelieving scribes and Pharisees, false teachers and their followers are concerned with mere external appearances (cf. Matt. 23:25; Titus 1:16). Their outward form of Christianity and virtue makes them all the more dangerous."<br />
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"3:6 weak women. Weak in virtue and the knowledge of the truth, and weighed down with emotional and spiritual guilt over their sins, these women were easy prey for the deceitful false teachers. See notes on 1 Tim. 2:13-14; 5:11-12."<br />
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"3:7 a knowledge of the truth. First Timothy 2:4 uses this same phrase, equating it with being saved. Here Paul identified those women (2 Tim. 3:6) and men who were often jumping from one false teacher or cult to another without ever coming to an understanding of God's saving truth in Jesus Christ. The present age, since the coming of Jesus Christ, has been loaded with perilous false teaching that can't save, but does damn (cf. vv. 14, 16-17; 1Tim. 4:1)."<br />
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"3:8 Jannes and Jambres. Although their names are not mentioned in the OT, they were likely two of the Egyptian magicians that opposed Moses (Ex. 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18-19; 9:11). According to Jewish tradition, they pretended to become Jewish proselytes, instigated the worship of the golden calf, and were killed with the rest of the idolaters (Ex. 32). Paul's choice of them as examples may indicate the false teachers at Ephesus were practicing deceivng signs and wonders. the truth. See note on 2Tim. 3:7. opposed. The same word is translated "debased" in Rom. 1:28 (see note there) and comes from a Greek word meaning "useless" in the sense of being tested (like metal) and shown to be worthless."<br />
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"3:13 All dangerous movements of the false teachers (cf. vv. 1-9) will become increasingly more successful until Christ comes. Cf. 2 Thess. 2:11."<br />
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"3:16 All Scripture. Grammatically similar Greek constructions (Rom. 7:12; 2 Cor. 10:10; 1Tim. 1:15; 2:3; 4:4) argue persuasively that the translation "all Scripture is breathed out. . ." is accurate. Both OT and NT Scripture are included (see notes on 2Pet. 3:15-16, which indentify NT writings as Scripture). breathed out by God. Sometimes God told the Bible writers the exact words to say (e.g., Jer. 1:9), but more often he used their minds, vocabularies, and experiences to produce his own perfect infallible, inerrant word (see notes on 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 1:1; 2Pet. 1:20-21). It is important to note that the inspiration applies only to the original autographs of Scripture, not the Bible writers; there are no inspired Scripture writers, only inspired Scripture. So identified is God with his word that when Scripture speaks, God speaks (cf. Rom. 9:17; Gal. 3:8). Scripture is called "the oracles of God" (Rom. 3:2), and cannot be altered (John 10:35; Matt. 5:17-18; Luke 16:17; Rev. 22:18-19). teaching. The divine instruction or doctrinal content of both the OT and the NT (cf. 2Tim. 2:15; Acts 20:18, 20-21, 27; 1Cor. 2:14-16; Col. 3:16; 1John 2:20, 24, 27). The Scripture provides the comprehensive and complete body of divine truth necessary for life and godliness. Cf. Ps. 119:97-105. reproof. Rebuke for wrong behavior or wrong belief. The Scripture exposes sin (Heb. 4:12-13) that can then be dealt with through confession and repentance. correction. The restoration of something to its proper condition. The word appears only here in the NT, but was used in extrabiblical Greek of righting a fallen object, or helping back to their feet those who had stumbled. Scripture not only rebukes wrong behavior, but also points the way back to godly living. Cf. Ps. 119:9-11; John 15:1-2. training in righteousness. Scripture provides positive training (originally used in reference to training a child) in godly behavior, not merely rebuke and correction of wrong behavior (Acts 20:32; 1Tim. 4:6; 1Pet. 2:1-2)."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up those who don't understand the truth of Your Word and therefore don't know You. I pray that You will show them the truth and that they will hear, and not only hear it but, understand it before it is too late.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-44425209388955598582015-09-21T16:24:00.002-07:002015-09-21T16:25:42.109-07:00Romans 2 "God's Righteous Judgment"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.<br />
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He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.<br />
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For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.<br />
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But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, "The name of God is blashpemed among the Gentiles because of you."<br />
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For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God." Romans 2 ESV<br />
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Explanation for Romans 2:1-16; Romans 2:1; Romans 2:4; Romans 2:5; and Romans 2:17-29 from The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, pages 1650-1651<br />
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"2:1-16 Having demonstrated the sinfulness of the immoral pagan (1:18-32), Paul presents his case against the religious moralist--Jew or Gentile--by cataloging six principles that govern God's judgment: 1) knowledge (2:1); 2) truth (vv. 2-3); 3) guilt (vv.4-5); 4)deeds (vv.6-10); 5)impartiality (vv.11-15); 5) impartiality (vv.11-15); 6) motive (v. 16)."<br />
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"2:1 no excuse. . .you who judges. Both Jews (Paul's primary audience here: cf. v. 17) and moral Gentiles who think they are exempt from God's judgment because they have not indulged in the immoral excesses described in ch. 1, are tragically mistaken. They have more knowledge than the immoral pagan (3:2; 9:4) and thus a greater accountability (cf. Heb. 10:26-29; James 3:1). condemn yourself. If someone has sufficient knowledge to judge others, he condemns himself, because he shows he has the knowledge to evaluate his own condition. practice the very same things. In their condemnation of others they have excused and overlooked their own sins. Self-righteousness exists because of two deadly errors: 1) minimizing God's moral standard usually by emphasizing externals: and 2) underestimating the depth of one's own sinfulness (cf. Matt. 5:20-22, 27-28; 7:1-3; 15:1-3; Luke 18:21)."<br />
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"2:4 presume. Lit., "to think down on," thus to underestimate someone's or something's value, and even to treat with contempt. kindness. This refers to "commom grace," the benefits God bestows on all men (cf. Matt. 5:45; Acts 14:15-17). forbearance. This word, which means "to hold back," was sometimes used of a truce between warring parties. Rather than destroying every person the moment he or she sins, God graciously hold back his judgment (cf. Rom. 3:25). He saves sinners in a physical and temporal way from what they deserve (see note on 1Tim. 4:10), to show them his saving character, that they might come to him and receive salvation that is spiritual and eternal. patience. This word indicates the duration for which God demonstrates his kindness and tolerance--for long periods of time (cf. 2 Pet. 2:5). Together these three words speak of God's common grace--the way he demonstrates his grace to all mankind (cf. Job 12:10; Ps. 119:68; 145:9). repentance. The act of turning from sin to Christ for forgiveness and salvation. See notes on 2 Cor. 7:9-11."<br />
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"2:5 hard. The English word "sclerosis" (as in arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries) comes from this Greek word. But here the danger is not physical, but spiritual hardness (Ezek. 36:26; Matt. 19:8; Mark 3:5; 6:52; 8:17; John 12:40; Heb. 3:8, 15; 4:7). impenitent heart. A refusal to repent (cf. Rom. 2:4) and accept God's pardon of sin through Jesus Christ. storing up wrath. To reject God's offer of forgiveness and cling to one's sin is to accumulate more of God's wrath and earn a severer judgment (see notes on Heb. 10:26-30; Rev. 20:12). day of wrath. . .judgment. Refers to the final judgment of wicked men that comes at the great white throne at the end of the Millennium (see notes on Rev. 20:11-15)."<br />
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"2:17-29 Having shown that outwardly moral people--Jew and Gentiles alike--will stand condemned by God's judgment, Paul turns his argument exclusively to the Jews, God's covenant people. Neither their heritage (v. 17a), their knowledge (vv. 17b-24), nor their ceremonies specifically circumcision (vv.25-29), will protect them from God's righteous judgment."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up those who are struggling to understand that man's heart is basically evil because sin entered the world all those years ago. I pray that You will show people their sin and their need for You to save them. I pray that pride will not succeed in keeping people from seeing their sin. I pray that You will convict their hearts to realize that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all have told a lie, we all have taken things (even something small from when we were children). Some have committed adultery (looked at someone lustfully). All these things are sin and please show us our sin so that those who have not yet done this will ask you for forgiveness, and ask you to be their Lord and Savior, and be saved. I pray that self-righteousness will be replaced with humbleness. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-68788379363364935192015-06-01T18:10:00.001-07:002015-06-01T18:10:08.933-07:00Romans Chapter 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Starting the Book of Romans. Here is the first chapter:<br />
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"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,<br />
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To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:<br />
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
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First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you--that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.<br />
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For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."<br />
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For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.<br />
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Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.<br />
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For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.<br />
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And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." Romans Chapter 1, ESV<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that we will never claim to be wise. I pray that Your wisdom would be in our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Thank You for Your gift of salvation and Your grace to those who choose to ask accept Your forgiveness from their sins. I pray for Your protection and favor. In Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a><br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-48017993608576562892015-05-29T14:56:00.001-07:002015-05-29T15:01:52.866-07:00John Chapter 19, John Chapter 20, John Chapter 21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
John 19<br />
"Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."<br />
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From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." So he delivered hiim over to them to be crucified.<br />
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So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."<br />
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When the soldieres had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,<br />
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"They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."<br />
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So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.<br />
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After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.<br />
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Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness--his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth--that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced."<br />
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After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So becaue of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there." John Chapter 19 ESV<br />
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Explanation for John 19:26, and John 19:36-37 page 1582 from The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV<br />
"19:26 the disciple whom he loved. This is a reference to John (see note on 13:23; cf. introduction: Author and Date). Jesus, as firstborn and breadwinner of the family before he started his ministry, did not five the responsibility to his brothers because they were not sympathetic to his ministry nor did they believe in him (7:3-5) and they likely were not present at the time (i.e., their home was in Capernaum--see 2:12)"<br />
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"19:36-37 John quoted from either Ex. 12:46 or Num. 9:12, both of which specify that no bone of the Passover lamb may be broken. Since the NT portrays Jesus as the Passover Lamb that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29; cf. 1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:19), these verses have special typologically prophetic significance for him. The quote in John 19:37 comes from Zech. 12:10, which indicates God himself was pierced when his representative, the Shepherd (Zech. 13:7; cf. Zech. 11:4, 8-9, 15-17), was pierced. The anguish and contrition of the Jews in the Zechariah passage, becaues of their wounding of God's Shepherd, is typologically prophetic of the time of the coming of the Son of God, Messiah, when at his return, Israel shall mourn for the rejection and killing of their King (cf. Rev. 1-7)."<br />
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John 20<br />
"Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.<br />
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But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"--and that he had said these things to her.<br />
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On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If y ou forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."<br />
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Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."<br />
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Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed."<br />
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Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John Chapter 20, ESV<br />
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Explanation for John 20:1-31 from The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV,page 1583<br />
"20:1-31 This chapter records the appearances of Jesus to his own followers: 1) the appearance to Mary Magdalene (vv. 1-18); 2) the appearance to the 10 disciples (vv. 19-23); 3) the appearance to Thomas (vv. 24-29). Jesus did not appear to unbelievers (see 14:19; 16:16, 22) because the evidence of his resurrection would not have convinced them, as the miracles had not (Luke 16:31). The god of this world had blinded them and prevented their belief (2 Cor. 4:4). Jesus, therefore, appears exclusively to his own in order to confirm their faith in the living Christ. Such appearances were so profound that they transformed the disciples from cowardly men hiding in fear to bold witnesses for Jesus (e.g., Peter, see John 18:27; cf. Acts 2:14-39). Once again John's purpose in recording these resurrection appearances was to demonstrate that Jesus' physical and bodily resurrection was the crowning proof that he truly is the Messiah and Son of God who laid down his life for his own (John 10:17-18; 15:13; cf. Rom. 1:4)."<br />
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John 21<br />
"After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.<br />
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Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.<br />
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When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.<br />
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When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, Truly I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me." <br />
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Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"<br />
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This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.<br />
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Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself cound not contian the books that would be written." John Chapter 21, ESV<br />
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Explanation for John 21:1-25 and John 21:15-17, from The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, page 1585<br />
"21:1-25 The epilogue or appendix of John's Gospel. While 20:30-31 constitutes the conclusion of the body of the fourth Gospel, the information here at the end of his work provides a balance to his prologue in 1:1-18. The epilogue essentially ties up five loose ends that were unanswered in ch. 20. 1) Will Jesus no longer directly provide for his own (cf. 20:17)? This question is answered in 21:1-14. 2) What happened to Peter? Peter had denied Christ three times and fled. The last time Peter was seen was in 20:6-8 where both he and John saw the empty tomb but only John believed (20:8). This question is answered in 21:15-17. 3) What about the future of the disciples now that they are without their Master? This question is answered in vv. 18-19. 4) Was John going to die? Jesus answers this question in vv. 20-23. 5) Why weren't other things that Jesus did recorded by John? John gives the answer to that in vv.24-25."<br />
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"21:15-17 The meaning of this section hinges upon the usage of two synonyms for love. In terms of interpretation, when two synonyms are placed in close proximity in context, a difference in meaning, however slight, is emphasized. When Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, he used a word for love that signified total commitment. Peter responded with a word for love that signified his love for Jesus, but not necessarily his total commitment. This was not because he was reluctant to express that greater love, but because he had been disobedient and denied the Lord in the past. He was, perhaps, now reluctant to make a claim of supreme devotion when, in the past, his life did not support such a claim. Jesus pressed home to Peter the need for unswerving devotion by repeatedly asking Peter if he loved him supremely. The essential message here is that Jesus demands total commitment from his followers. Their love for him must place him above their love for all else. Jesus confronted Peter with love because he wanted Peter to lead the apostles (Matt. 16:18), but in order for Peter to be an effective shepherd, his overwhelming drive must exemplify supreme love for his Lord."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for what You did for us on the cross. I lift up those reading about Your death and resurrection and I pray that You would touch their hearts so they would believe. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-80819243915632444562015-05-20T13:06:00.000-07:002015-05-20T13:06:14.280-07:00John Chapter 18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(This is a painting of the third time Peter denies Christ and the rooster crows. There is a moment when Jesus turns and looks at Peter. Peter then remembered that Jesus had told him that before the rooster crows today you will deny me three times. Peter then wept bitterly, Luke 22:61-62)<br />
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"When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go." This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one." Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"<br />
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So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.<br />
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Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.<br />
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The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said." When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?" Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.<br />
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Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.<br />
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Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.<br />
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So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king., For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"<br />
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After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber." John Chapter 18, ESV<br />
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Explanation for verses John 18:1-40; John 18:15; John 18:16-18; John 18:25-27; John 18:36; John 18:38, from The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, pages 1579-1580.<br />
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"John 18:1-40 The events of Jesus' arrest and trial receive emphasis in this chapter. Since John's purpose was to present Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, he produced evidence to substantiate this purpose throughout his account of Jesus' passion. Through all of the debasing, shameful acts that were directed toward Jesus, John skillfully shows that these events, rather than detracting from his person and mission, actually constitute decisive evidence confirming who he was and the reason for which he came (1:29; cf. 2Cor. 5:21)."<br />
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"John 18:15 another disciple. . . that disciple. Traditionally this person has been identified with the "disciple, whom Jesus loved" (13:23-24), i.e., John the apostle who authored this Gospel; but he never mentioned his own name (see introduction: Author and Date.)"<br />
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"John 18:16-18 Peter. Here is the record of the first of Peter's predicted three denials (see note on 18:25-27)"<br />
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"John 18:25-27 Simon Peter. Here was the final fulfillment of Jesus' prediction that Peter would deny him three times (cf. Matt. 26:34)."<br />
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"John 18:36 My kingdom is not of this world. By this phrase, Jesus meant that his kingdom is not connected to earthly political and national entities, nor does it have its origin in the evil world system that is in rebellion against God. If his kingdom was of this world, he would have fought. The kingships of this world preserve themselves by fighting with force. Messiah's kingdom does not originate in the efforts of man but with the Son of Man forcefully and decisively conquering sin in the lives of his people and someday conquering the evil world system at his second coming when he establishes the earthly form of his kingdom. His kingdom was no threat to the national idenity of Israel or the political and military identity of Rome. It exists in the spiritual dimension until the end of the age (Rev. 11:15)."<br />
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"John 18:38 What is truth? In response to Jesus' mention of "truth" in v. 37, Pilate responded rhetorically with cynicism, convinced that no answer existed to the question. The retort proved that he was not among those whom the Father had given to the Son ("Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice"--v. 37; see notes on 10:1-5). no guilt. Cf. 19:4. John made it clear that Jesus was not guilty of any sin or crime, thus exhibiting the severe injustice and guilt of both the Jews and Romans who executed him."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up those reading your Word today. I pray that You would show to those who are lost, hurting and in pain the truth found in the Bible. I pray that the truth would set them free. I say these things in Jesus' Holy name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-65662838144901673322015-05-13T13:20:00.000-07:002015-05-13T13:22:50.880-07:00John Chapter 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A little side note from Karen:<br />
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"The Angel of the Lord"<br />
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Did you know that Jesus did not just show up one day in the book of Matthew? The God of the Bible is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Father, Son and Holy Spirit has always been there. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not 3 separate gods, but One God, hence the Trinity as described in the Bible). Jesus is God and has been there since the beginning and that means Genesis (Genesis 16:7and too many other verses to list).<br />
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The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, page 38 gives an explanation for Genesis 16:7, so I will type it out here for you: <br />
"16:7, The angel of the Lord. This special individual spoke as though he were distinct from Yahweh, yet also spoke in the first person as though he were indeed to be identified as Yahweh himself, with Hagar recognizing that, in seeing this angel, she had seen God (v. 13). Others had the same experience and came to the same conclusion (cf. 22:11-18; 31:11-13; Ex. 3:2-5; Num. 22:22-35; Judg. 6:11-23; 13:2-5; 1 Kings 19:5-7). The angel of the Lord, who does not appear after the birth of Christ, is often identified as the preincarnate Christ. See note on Ex. 3:2. Shur was south of Palestine and east of Egypt, which meant that Hagar attempted to return home to Egypt".<br />
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When you read the Old Testament and you read the words "the angel of the Lord" that is referring to Jesus. The whole Bible is the Word of God and is important and relevant for your life today.<br />
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John Chapter 17<br />
"When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.<br />
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I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.<br />
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I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and the loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." John Chapter 17 ESV<br />
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Explanation for verses John 17:1-26 from The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, page 1576.<br />
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"17:1-26 Although Matt. 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 have become known popularly as the "Lord's Prayer," that prayer was actually a prayer taught to the disciples by Jesus as a pattern for their prayers. The prayer recorded here is truly the Lord's prayer, exhibiting the face-to-face communion the Son had with the Father. Very little is recorded of the content of Jesus' frequent prayers to the Father (Matt. 14:23; Luke 5:16), so this prayer reveals some of the precious content of the Son's communion and intercession with him. This chapter is a transitional chapter, marking the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of his intercessory ministry for believers (Heb. 7:25). In many respects, the prayer is a summary of John's entire Gospel. Its principal themes include: 1) Jesus' obedience to his Father; 2) the glorification of his Father through his death and exaltation; 3) the revelation of God in Jesus Christ; 4) the choosing of the disciples out of the world; 5) their mission to the world; 6) their unity modeled on the unity of the Father and Son; and 7) the believer's final destiny in the presence of the Father and Son. The chapter divides into three parts: 1) Jesus' prayer for himself (John 17:1-5); 2) Jesus' prayer for the apostles (vv.6-19); and 3) Jesus' prayer for all NT believers who will form the church (vv. 20-26)."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up those who are hurting today. I pray for those in the Nepal earthquakes and all those who are suffering. I pray that You would comfort them and provide for them in the coming days. In Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-35641025043556326772015-05-04T13:18:00.001-07:002015-05-04T13:18:08.708-07:00John Chapter 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi everyone, I have not posted for months. I'm sad to say that my mother passed away, my little dog, Misty passed away, and we moved house. My mother was a born again Christian and so she is with the Lord. I even found a little note from my mom saying that she had accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Even though I already knew this is was a lovely note and treasure to find and keep. I would encourage every believer to leave a little note like this for their loved ones to find after they pass on. It will give them comfort in their mourning. It has been a difficult number of months, but it is time to start posting again. So here is chapter 16 in the Book of John.<br />
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"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.<br />
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I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of the world is judged.<br />
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"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.<br />
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"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me." So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and because I am going to the Father?" So they were saying, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.<br />
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"I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father."<br />
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His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John Chapter 16, ESV<br />
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Explanation for verses 16:7, 16:8, 16:9, 16:10, 16:11, 16:13, 16:14, 16:16-19, 16:20, 16:24, 16:33 from The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, pages 1574, 1575 and 1576<br />
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"16:7 the Helper will not come. Again, the promise of the Holy Spirit being sent is given to comfort the disciples. See not on 15:26-27. The first emphasis was on his life-giving power (7:37-39). The next featured his indwelling presence (14:16-17). The next marked his teaching ministry (14:26). His ministry of empowering for witness is marked in 15:26."<br />
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"16:8 when he comes. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was approximately 40 or more days away at this point (see Acts 2:1-13). convict. This word has two meanings: 1) the judicial act of conviction with a view toward sentencing (i.e., a courtroom term----conviction of sin) or 2) the act of convicting. Here the second idea is best, since the purpose of the Holy Spirit is not condemnation but conviction of the need for the Savior. The Son does the judgment, with the Father (John 5:22, 27, 30). In 16:14, it is said that the Holy Spirit will reveal the glories of Christ to his people. He will also inspire the writing of the NT, guiding the apostles to write it (v.13), and he will reveal "the things that are to come," through the NT prophecies (v. 13)."<br />
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"16:9 sin. The singular indicates that a specific sin is in view; i.e., that of not believing in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God. This is the only sin, ultimately, that damns people to hell (see note on 8:24). Though all men are depraved, cursed by their violation of God's law and sinful nature, what ultimately damns them to hell is their unwillingness to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior (cf. 8:24)."<br />
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"16:10 righteousness. The Holy Spirit's purpose here is to shatter the pretentions of self-righteousness (hypocrisy), exposing the darkness of the heart (3:19-21; 7:7; 15:22, 24). While Jesus was on the earth, he performed this task especially toward the shallowness and emptiness of Judaism that had degenerated into legalistic modes without life-giving reality (e.g., 2:13-22; 5:10-16; 7:24; Isa. 64:5-6). With Jesus gone to the Father, the Holy Spirit continues his convicting role."<br />
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"16:11 judgment. The judgment here in context is that of the world under Satan's control. Its judgments are blind, faulty, and evil as evidenced in their verdict on Christ. The world can't make righteous judgments (7:24), but the Spirit of Christ does (8:16). All Satan's adjudications are lies (8:44-47), so the Spirit convicts men of their false judgment of Christ. Satan, the ruler of the world (14:30; Eph. 2:1-3) who, as the god of this world, has perverted the world's judgment and turned people from believing in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God (2 Cor. 4:4), was defeated at the cross. While Christ's death looked like Satan's greatest victory, it actually was Satan's destruction (cf. Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14-15; Rev. 20:10). The Spirit will lead sinners to true judgment."<br />
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"16:13 all the truth. This verse, like 14:26, points to the supernatural revelation of all truth by which God has revealed himself in Christ (16:14-15), particularly. This is the subject of the inspired NT writings. See note on v. 7."<br />
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"16:14 He will glorify me. This is really the same as v. 13, in that all NT truth revealed by God centers in Christ (Heb. 1:1-2). Christ was the theme of the OT, as the NT claims (John 1:45; 5:37; Luke 24:27, 44; Acts 10:43; 18:28; Rom. 1:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Pet. 1:10-11; Rev. 19:10)."<br />
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"16:16-19 Jesus was referring to his ascension ("you will see me no longer.") and the coming of the Holy Spirit ("you will see me"), emphatically claiming that the Spirit and he are one (Rom. 8:9; Phil. 1:19; 1 Pet. 1:11; Rev. 19:10). Christ dwells in believers through the Holy Spirit--in that sense they see him. See notes on John 14:16-18."<br />
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"16:20 sorrow will turn into joy. The very event that made the hateful realm of mankind ("world") rejoice and cause grief to Jesus' disciples, will be the same event that will lead to the world's sorrow and the believer's joy. The disciples would soon realize the marvelous nature of God's gift of salvation and the Spirit through what he accomplished, and the blessing of answered prayer (v. 24). Acts records the coming of the Holy Spirit and the power and joy (Acts 2:4-47; 13:52) of the early church."<br />
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"16:24 joy may be full. In this case, the believer's joy will be related to answered prayer and a full supply of heavenly blessing for everything consistent with the purpose of the Lord in one's life. See note on 15:11."<br />
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"16:33 in me you may have peace. See note on 14:27. tribulation. This word often refers to eschatological woes (Mark 13:9; Rom. 2:9) and to persecution of believers because of their testimony for Christ (cf. John 15:18-16:4; Acts 11:19; Eph. 3:13). overcome. The fundamental ground for endurance in persecution is the victory of Jesus over the world (John 12:31; 1 Cor. 15:57). Through his impending death, he rendered the world's opposition null and void. While the world continues to attack his people, such attacks fall harmlessly, for Christ's victory has already accomplished a smashing defeat of the whole evil rebellious system. See notes on Rom. 8:35-39."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, We pray for the persecuted Christians. We lift up the persecuted Christians to you (those in other countries and the USA). We ask that you will provide for them and help them escape from the people who are persecuting them. I pray Psalm 121 over them. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-32386935737151654842014-10-15T16:58:00.001-07:002014-10-15T16:58:24.198-07:00John Chapter 15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 ESV.<br />
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"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.<br />
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This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.<br />
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If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'<br />
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But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning." John 15, ESV.<br />
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Explanation for John 15:1-17; 15:7-10; 15:13; 15:18-19; 15:22-24; 15:26-27 from The MacArthur Study Bible, ESV, pages 1573-1574.<br />
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"15:1-17 Through this extended metaphor of the vine and branches, Jesus set forth the basis of Christian living. Jesus used the imagery of agricultural life at the time; i.e., vines and vine crops (see also Matt. 20:1-16; 21:23-41; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 13:6-9; 20:9-16). In the OT, the vine is used commonly as a symbol for Israel (Ps. 80:9-16; Isa. 5:1-7; 27:2-6; Jer. 2:21; 12:10; Ezek. 15:1-8; 17:1-21; 19:10-14; Hos. 10:1-2). He specifically indentified himself as the "true vine" and the Father as the "vinedresser" or caretaker of the vine. The vine has two types of branches: 1) branches that bear fruit (John 15:2,8), and 2) branches that do not (vv. 2, 6). The branches that bear fruit are genuine believers. Though in immediate context the focus is upon the 11 faithful disciples, the imagery also encompasses all believers down through the ages. The branches that do not bear fruit are those who profess to believe, but their lack of fruit indicates genuine salvation has never taken place and they have no life from the vine. Especially in the immediate context, Judas was in view, but the imagery extends from him to all those who make a profession of faith in Christ but do not actually possess salvation. The image of non-fruit bearing branches being burned pictures eschatological judgment and eternal rejection (see Ezek. 15:6-8)."<br />
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"15:7-10 True believers obey the Lord's commands, submitting to his word (14:21, 23). Because of their commitment to God's word, they are devoted to his will, thus their prayers are fruitful (14:13-14), which puts God's glory on display as he answers."<br />
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"15:13 This is a reference to the supreme evidence of expression of Jesus' love (v. 12), his sacrifical death upon the cross. Christians are called to exemplify the same kind of sacrifical giving toward one another, even if such sacrifice involves the laying down of one's own life in imitation of Christ's example (cf. 1 John 3:16)."<br />
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"15:18-19 Since Satan is the one who dominates the evil world system in rebellion against God (14:30), the result is that the world hates not only Jesus, but those who follow him (2 Tim. 3:12). Hatred toward Jesus means also hatred toward the Father who sent him (John 15:23)."<br />
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"15:22-24 they would not have been guilty of sin. Jesus did not mean that if he had not come, they would have been sinless. But his coming incited the severest and most deadly sin, that of rejecting and rebelling against God and his truth. It was the decisive sin of rejection, the deliberate and fatal choice of darkness over light and death over life of which he spoke. He had done so many miracles and spoken innumerable words to prove he was Messiah and Son of God, but they were beligerent in their love of sin and rejection of the Savior. See Heb. 4:2-5; 6:4-6; 10:29-31."<br />
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"15:26-27 when the helper comes. Again, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit (7:39; 14:16, 17, 26; 16:7, 13-14). This time he emphasized the Spirit's help for witnessing--proclaiming the gospel. See note on 16:7."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, We thank You and glorify Your name above all. Thank You for Your sacrifical gift of salvation. I pray that You would protect Your people from plagues and all that is happening around the world. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-37686291563076250272014-09-24T17:50:00.002-07:002014-09-24T17:50:22.118-07:00John Chapter 14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."<br />
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Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.<br />
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"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.<br />
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If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.<br />
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I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.<br />
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These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 'You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here."<br />
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Explanation for verses 14:1; 14:2-3; 14:6; 14:7; 14:15-31; 14:17; 14:18-19; 14:26; 14:27; 14:30 from The MacArthur Study Bible, pages 1571-1572.<br />
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"14:1 Instead of the disciples lending support to Jesus in the hours before his cross, he had to support them spiritually as well as emotionally; This reveals his heart of serving love (cf Matt. 20:26-28). troubled. Faith in him can stop the heart from being agitated. See not on John 12:27."<br />
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"14:2-3 I go to prepare. His departure would be for their advantage since he was going away to prepare a heavenly home for them and will return to take them so that they may be with him. This is one of the passages that refers to the rapture of the saints at the end of the age when Christ returns. The features in this description do not describe Christ coming to earth with his saints to establish his kingdom (Rev. 19:11-15), but taking believers from earth to live in heaven. Since no judgment on the unsaved is described here, this is not the event of his return in glory and power to destroy the wicked (cf. Matt 13:36-43, 47-50). Rather, this describes his coming to gather his own who are alive and raise the bodies of those who have died to take them all to heaven. This rapture event is also described in 1 Cor. 15:51-54 and 1 Thes. 4:13-18. After being raptured, the church will celebrate the marriage supper (Rev. 19:7-10), be rewarded (1 Cor. 3:10-15; 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:9-10). and later return to earth with Christ when he comes again to set up his kingdom (Rev. 19:11-20:6)."<br />
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14:6 This is the sixth "I am" statement of Jesus in John (see 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 9; 10:11, 14; 11:25; 15:1, 5). In response to Thomas's query (14:4), Jesus declared that he is the way to God because he is the truth of God (1:14) and the life of God (1:4; 3:15; 11:25). In this verse, the exclusiveness of Jesus as the only approach to the Father is emphatic. Only one way, not many ways exist to God, i.e., Jesus Christ (10:7-9; cf. Matt. 7:13-14; Luke 13:24; Acts 4:12)."<br />
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"14:7-11 From now on you do know him. They know God because they had come to know Christ in his ministry and soon in his death and resurrection. To know him is to know God. This constant emphasis on Jesus as God incarnate is unmistakably clear in this Gospel (v. 11; 1:1-3, 14, 17, 18; 5:10-23, 26; 8:58; 9:35; 10:30, 38; 12:41; 17:1-5, 20:28)."<br />
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"14:15-31 In these verses, Jesus promises believers comfort from five supernatural blessings that the world does not enjoy: 1) a supernatural Helper (vv. 15-17); 2) a supernatural life (vv. 18-19); 3) a supernatural union (vv. 20-25), 4) a supernatural teacher (v. 26); and 5) a supernatural peace (vv. 27-31). The key to al of this is v. 15, which relates that these supernatural promises are for those who love Jesus Christ, whose love is evidenced by obedience."<br />
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"14:17 Spirit of truth. He is the Spirit of truth in that he is the source of truth and communicates the truth to his own (v. 26; 16:12-15). Apart from him, people cannot know God's truth (1Cor. 2:12-16; 1 John 2:20, 27). dwells with you and will be in you. This indicates some distinction between the ministry of the Holy Spirit to believers before and after Pentecost. While clearly the Holy Spirit has been with all who have ever believed thoroughout redemptive history as the source of truth, faith, and life, Jesus is saying something new is coming in his ministry. John 7:37-39 indicates this unique ministry would be like "rivers of living water" Acts 19:1-7 introduces some Old Covenant believers who had not received the Holy Spirit in this unique fullness and intimacy. (Cf. Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 1 Cor. 12:11-13."<br />
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"14:18-19 I will come to you. . .you will see me. First, he was referring to his resurrection, after which they would see him (20:19-29). There is no record that any unbelievers saw him after he rose (see 1 Cor. 15:1-9). In another sense, this has reference to the mystery of the Trinity. Through the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Jesus would be back with his children (John 16:16; cf. Matt. 28:20; Rom. 8:9; 1 John 4:13)."<br />
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"14:26 will teach you all things. The Holy Spirit energized the hearts and minds of the apostles in their ministry, helping them to produce the NT Scripture. The disciples had failed to understand many things about Jesus and what he taught; but because of this supernatural work, they came to an inerrant and accurate understanding of the Lord and his work, and recorded it in the Gospels and the rest of the NT Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. :20-21). See note on John 16:7."<br />
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14:27 Peace I leave . . . Not as the world gives. The word "peace" reflects the Hebrew "Shalom," which became a greeting to his disciples after the resurrection (20:19-26). At the individual level this peace, unknown to the unsaved, secures composure in difficult trouble (cf. 14:1), dissolves fear (Phil 4:7), and rules in the hearts of God's people to maintain harmony (Col. 3:15). The greatest reality of this peace will be in the messianic kingdom (Num. 6:26; Ps. 29:11; Isa. 9:6-7; 52:7; 54:13; 57:19; Ezek. 37:26; Hag. 2:9; cf. Acts 10:36; Rom. 1:7; 5:1; 14:7)."<br />
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14:30 the ruler of this world. Judas was only a tool of the "prince" who rules the system of darkness--Satan (6:70; 13:21, 27). no claim on me. The Hebrew idiom means that Satan had nothing on Jesus, could make no claim on him, nor charge him with any sin. Therefore, Satan could not hold him in death. Christ would triumph and destroy Satan (Heb. 2:14). His death was no sign that Satan won, but that God's will was being done. (John 14:31)."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, Please give Your believers Your Peace and please show the unbelievers how they could have Your Peace if they want it. Thank You Lord. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-1241706538533226862014-09-17T13:14:00.000-07:002014-09-17T13:14:13.194-07:00The Book of John Chapter 13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(A Little Note: Hi All, I have not been able to post regularly because my mom is very ill. We had to put her into hospice. Please pray for my mom and my family as we go through this journey. Thanks much.)<br />
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"Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean."<br />
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When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me. I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."<br />
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After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." The disciples looked at one another uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus, of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.<br />
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When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you. Where I am going you cannot come. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."<br />
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Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward." Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times." John 13, ESV<br />
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Explanation for verses John 13:1-17:16, John 13:4-5, John 13:10, John 13:23, John 13:27, John 13:31-33, John 13:34, John 13:36, from The MacArthur Study Bible ESV, pages 1569-1570.<br />
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"13:1-17:16 in these remaining chapters before his crucifixion, the record looks at Jesus' devoting himself to his own disciples. While chs. 1-12 center on the rejection of Jesus by the nation (cf. 1:11), chs. 13-17 center on those who did receive him (see 1:12). Beginning in ch. 13, Jesus moved completely away from public ministry to private ministry with those who had received him. Chapters 13-17 were spoken by Jesus as a farewell on the night of his betrayal and arrest to communicate his coming legacy to his followers (chs. 13-16) and pray for them (ch. 17). The cross was only one day away."<br />
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"13:4-5 The dusty and dirty conditions of the region necessitated the need for footwashing. Although the disciples most likely would have been happy to wash Jesus' feet, they could not conceive of washing one another's feet. This was because in the society of the time, footwashing was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. Peers did not wash one another's feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love. Luke points out (22:24) that they were arguing about who was the greatest of them, so that none was willing to stoop to wash feet. When Jesus moved to wash their feet, they were shocked. His actions serve also as symbolic of spiritual cleansing (John 13:6-9) and a model of Christian humility (vv. 12-17). Through this action Jesus taught the lesson of selfless service that was supremely exemplified by his death on the cross."<br />
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"13:10 wash, except for his feet. The cleansing that Christ does at salvation never needs to be repeated--atonement is complete at that point. But all who have been cleansed by God's gracious justification need constant washing in the experiential sense as they battle sin in the flesh. Believers are justified and granted imputed righteousness (Phil. 3:8-9), but still need sanctification and personal righteousness (Phil. 3:12-14)."<br />
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"13:11-12 Not all of you are clean. This verse refers to Judas (6:70), who was soon to lead the mob to capture Jesus (18:3)."<br />
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"13:23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. This is the first reference to John the apostle, the author the Gospel (see introduction: Author and Date). He specifically mentioned himself at the cross (19:26-27), at the empty tomb (20:2-9), by the Sea of Tiberias (21:1,20-23), and in the next-to-last verse where he is referenced as the author of the Gospel (21:24)"<br />
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"13:27 Satan entered into him. Judas was personally possessed by Satan himself in his betrayal of Jesus. See note on v. 2."<br />
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":31-33 glorified. With Judas gone, the final events were set in motion. Rather than looking at the agony of the cross, Jesus looked past the cross anticipating the glory that he would have with the Father when it was over (see 17:4-5; Heb. 12:2)"<br />
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"13:34 A new commandment. . . as I have loved you. The commandment to love was not new. Deuteronomy 6:5 commanded love for God, and Lev. 19:18 commanded loving one's neighbor as oneself (cf. Matt. 22:34-40; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal.5:14; James 2:8). However, Jesus' command regarding love presented a distinctly new standard for two reasons: 1)it was sacrifical love modeled after his love ("as I have love you"; cf. John 15:13), and 2) it is produced through the New Covenant by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Jer. 31:29-34; Ezek. 36:24-26; Gal. 5:22)."<br />
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"13:36 you cannot follow. His work was nearly finished; theirs was just beginning (Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47. Particularly, Peter had a work to do (see notes on John 21:15-19). Only Jesus, as the sinless sacrifice for the trespasses of the world, could go to the cross and die (1 Pet. 2:22-24). Also, only he could be glorified in the presence of the Father with the glory that he possessed before his incarnation (see John 12:41; 17:1-5)."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I sometimes don't know what to pray for. I'm sure I am not the only one. All I can say is thank You Lord for Your loving gift of salvation that even though we are sinners You still loved us enough to die for us. You conquered death! Those who receive Your gift of salvation are saved and it is only because of Your death on the cross and then Your resurrection. For someday our time will end on this earth and those who truly receive You will follow you to heaven and our forever with You is really all that matters for the world is not our home. In Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-62757607066212547452014-07-29T17:18:00.004-07:002014-07-29T17:18:50.843-07:00John Chapter 12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."<br />
<br />
When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.<br />
<br />
The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt."<br />
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His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."<br />
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Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andred; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. <br />
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Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is the Son of Man?" So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may becomes sons of light."<br />
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When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:<br />
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"Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,<br />
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"<br />
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Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,<br />
<br />
"He has blinded their eyes <br />
and hardened their heart,<br />
lest they see with their eyes,<br />
and understand with their heart, and turn,<br />
and I would heal them."<br />
<br />
Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.<br />
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And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment--what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."<br />
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Explanation for verses 12:1-50; 12:3; 12:12-19; 12:24; 12:25-26; 12:27; 12:31; 12:35-36; 12:37-40; 12:41; 12:42-43 in John Chapter 12 from The MacArthur Study Bible ESV, pages1566, 1567, 1568.<br />
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"12:1-50 This chapter focuses on the reactions of love and hate, belief and rejection toward Christ, leading to the cross."<br />
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"12:3 a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard. The term used for "pound" actually indicates a weight around three-fourths of a pound (approximately 12 ounces). "Nard" was an oil extracted from the root of a plant grown in India. anointed the feet of Jesus. Since those who were eating reclined at the table, their feet extended away from it, making it possible for Mary to anoint the feet of Jesus. The act symbolized Mary's humble devotion and love for him."<br />
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"12:12-19 This section marks Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is one of the few incidents in Jesus' life reported in all four Gospels (Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-38). By this action, he presented himself officially to the nation as the Messiah and Son of God. The Sanhedrin and other Jewish leaders wanted him dead but did not want him killed during the Passover time because they feared stirring up the multitudes with whom he was popular (Matt. 26:5; Mark 14:2; Luke 22:2). Jesus entered the city, however, on his own time and forced the whole issue in order that it might happen exactly on the Passover day when the lambs were being sacrificed" (1 Cor. 5:7). In God's perfect timing (see John 7:30; 8:20), at the precise time foreordained from eternity, he presented himself to die (12:23; 10:17-18; 17:1; 19:10-11; cf. Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; Gal. 4:4)."<br />
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"12:24 As the sown kernel dies to bring forth a rich harvest, so also the death of the Son of God will result in the salvation of many."<br />
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"12:25-26 Not only is the prinicple of death applicable to Jesus (see v. 24) but it is also applicable to his followers. They, too, as his disciples may have to lose their life in service and witness for him (see Matt. 10:37-39; 16:24-25)."<br />
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"12:27 Now is my soul troubled. The term used here is stong and signifies horror, anxiety, and agitation. Jesus' contemplation of taking on the wrath of God for the sins of the world caused revulsion in the sinless Savior (cf. 2 Cor. 5:21)."<br />
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"12:31 the ruler of this world. A reference to Satan (see 14:30; 16:11; cf. Matt. 4:8-9; Luke 4:6-7; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; 6:12). Although the cross might have appeared to signal Satan's victory over God, in reality it marked Satan's defeat (cf. Rom. 16:20; Heb. 2:14)."<br />
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"12:35-36 Jesus said to them. A final invitation from Jesus was recorded by John to focus on his theme of believing in the Messiah and Son of God (see 20:30-31)."<br />
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"12:37-40 In these verses, John gave the scriptural explanation for such larage scale, catastrophic unbelief on the part of the Jewish nation. The explanation was that the unbelief was not only foreseen in Scripture but necessitated by it in v. 38, John quotes Isa. 53:1 and John 12:40 he quotes Isa. 6:10 (see Rom. 10:16), both of which stress the sovereign plan of God in his judicial hardening of Israel (cf. Paul's argument in Rom. 9-11). Although God predestined such judgment, it was not apart from human responsibility and culpability (see John 8:24)."<br />
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"12:41 Isaiah. . . saw his glory and spoke of him. This is a reference to Isa. 6:1 (see notes there). John unambiguously ties Jesus to God or Yahweh of the OT (see note on John 8:58). Therefore, since 12:41 refers to Jesus, it makes him the author of the judicial hardening of Israel. That fits his role as judge (see 5:22-23, 27, 30; 9:39)."<br />
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" 12:42-43 The indictment of vv. 37-41 is followed by the exceptions of vv. 42-43 (see 1:10-11 vs. 1:12-13). While the people seemed to trust Jesus with much more candor and fervency, the leaders of Israel who believed in him demonstrated inadequate, irresolute, even spurious faith (see note on 2:23-25). The faith of the latter was so weak that they refused to take any position that would threaten their position in the synagogue. This is one of the saddest statements about spiritual leadeship, for they preferred the praises of men above the praises of God in their refusal to publicly acknowledge Jesus as Messiah and Son of God."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I just pray for softened hearts and eyes that see the truth of the Jesus of the Bible. I ask for Your wisdom and favor and protection. In Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-52456503868955446092014-07-22T13:55:00.004-07:002014-07-22T13:56:21.252-07:00John Chapter 11, I Am the Resurrection and the Life...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Continuing in the Book of John. . .<br />
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"Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill," But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."<br />
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Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walk in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Noe Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you my believe. But let us go to him." So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."<br />
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Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, the many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "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. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."<br />
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When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"<br />
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Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazaurs, come out." The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."<br />
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Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.<br />
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Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephriam, and there he stayed with the disciples.<br />
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Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?" Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him." John 11, ESV<br />
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Explanation for John 11:1-57; John 11:1; John 11:4; John 11:14-15; John 11:25-26; John 11:27; John 11:49; John 11:50; John 11:51; John 11:52; John 11:53. From The MacArthur Study Bible pages 1563-1566.<br />
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"11:1-57 As ch. 11 begins, Jesus stands in the shadow of facing the cross. The little time that he had in the area beyond the Jordan (cf. Matt. 19:1-20: 34; Mark 10:1-52; Luke 17:11-19:28) would soon come to an end. John picked up the story (John 11:55-57) after he moved back into the area of Jerusalem, and his death on the cross was only a few days away. In those last few days before his death, the scene in John's Gospel changes from hatred and rejection (10:39) to an unmistakable and blessed witness of the glory of Christ. All the rejection and hatred could not dim his glory as displayed through the resurrection of Lazarus. That miracle evidences his glory in three ways; 1) it pointed to his deity; 2) it strengthened the faith of the disciples; and 3) it led directly to the cross (12:23). The chapter can be divided as follows: 1) the preparation for the miracle (11:1-16); 2) the arrival of Jesus (vv. 17-36); 3) the miracle itself (vv. 37-44); and 4) the results of the miracle (vv. 45-57)."<br />
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"11:1 Lazarus. The resurrection of Lazarus is the climactic and most dramatic sign in this Gospel and the capstone of Jesus' public ministry. Six miracles have already been presented (water into wine [2:1-11], healing of the official's son [4:46-54], restoring the impotent man [5:1-15], multiplying the loaves and fishes [6:1-14], walking on the water [6:15-21], and curing the man born blind [9:1-12]. Lazarus's resurrection is more potent than all those and even more monumental than the raising of the widow's son in Nain (Luke 7:11-16) or Jairus's daughter (Luke 8:40-56) because those two resurrections occurred immediately after death. Lazarus was raised after four days of being in the grave with the process of decomposition already having started (John 11:39). Bethany. This Bethany is different from the other "Bethany across the Jordan" in 1:28 (see note there). It lies on the east side of the Mount of Olives about 2 miles from Jerusalem (11:18) along the road leading toward Jericho. Mary. . . Martha. This is the first mention of this family in John. John related the story of Mary's anointing of Jesus in 12:1-8, but this reference may indicate that the original readers were already familiar with the event. Cf. Luke 10:38-42."<br />
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"11:4 the Son of God may be glorified. This phrase reveals the real purpose behind Lazarus's sickness, i.e., not death, but that the Son of God might be glorified through his resurrection (cf. v. 4; see note on 9:3)."<br />
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"11:14-15 The resurrection of Lazarus was designed to strengthen his disciples' faith in him as the Messiah and Son of God in the face of the strong Jewish rejection of him."<br />
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"11:25-26 This is the fifth in a series of seven great "I am" statements of Jesus (see 6:35; 8:12; 10:7,9; 10:11, 14). With this statement, Jesus moved Martha from an abstract belief in the resurrection that will take place "on the last day" (cf. 5:28-29) to a personalized trust in him who alone can raise the dead. No resurrection or eternal life exists outside of the Son of God. Time ("on the last day") is no barrier to the One who has the power of resurrection and life (1:4) for he can give life at any time."<br />
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"11:27 She said to him. Martha's confession is representative of the very reason John wrote this inspired Gospel (cf. 20:30-31). See Peter's confession in Matt. 16:16."<br />
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"11:49 Caiaphas. Caiaphas became high priest c. A.D. 18, being appointed by the Roman prefect Valerius Gratus. His father-in-law was Annas, who had previously functioned in that same position from c. A.D. 7-14 and who exercised great influence over the office even after his tenure (see 18:12-14). Caiaphas remained in office until A.D. 36 when, along with Pontius Pilate, he was removed by the Romans. He took a leading part in the trial and condemnation of Jesus. In his court or palace, the chief priests (Sadducees) and Pharisees assembled "and plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him" (see Matt. 26:3-4)."<br />
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"11:50 one man should die for the people. He only meant that Jesus should be executed in order to spare their own positions and nation from Roman reprisals, but Caiaphas unwittingly used sacrifical, substitutionary language and prophesied the death of Christ for sinners. Cf. 2 Cor. 5:21 and 1 Pet. 2:24."<br />
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"11:51 he prophesied. Caiaphas did not realize the implications of what he spoke. While he uttered blasphemy against Christ, God parodied his statement into truth (cf. Ps. 76:10). The responsibility for the wicked meaning of his words belonged to Caiaphas, but God's providence directed the choice of words so as to express the heart of God's glorious plan of salvation (Acts 4:27-28). He actually was used by God as a prophet because he was the high priest and originally the high priest was the means of God's will being revealed (2 Sam. 15:27)."<br />
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"11:52 gather into one the children of God. In context, this had reference to believing Jews of the dispersion who would be gathered together in the Promised Land to share the kingdom of God (Isa. 43:5; Ezek. 34:12). In a wider sense, this also anticipated the Gentile mission (see John 12:32). As a result of Christ's sacrifical death and resurrection, both Jew and Gentile have been made into one group, the church (Eph. 2:11-18)." <br />
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"11:53 from that day on. The phrase indicates that their course of action toward Jesus was then fixed. It remained only to accomplish it. Notice that Jesus was not arrested to be tried. He had already been judged guilty of blasphemy. The trial was a mere formaltiy for a sentence already passed (Mark 14:1-2)."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your sacrifical death and resurrection. That those who believe in You should have eternal life. This is just so nice. I wish people could see how lovely, awesome and wonderful You are. I pray that the truth found only in Jesus would touch the hearts of those who do not believe--so that they may believe and have eternal life. I pray for wisdom. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
<br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-4873074955842476842014-07-17T16:53:00.001-07:002014-07-17T16:53:18.634-07:00John Chapter 10, I Am the Good Shepherd, I and the Father are One.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure of speech Jesus used whith them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.<br />
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So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."<br />
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There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?" Others said, "These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"<br />
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At the time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater that all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."<br />
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The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?" The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be broken--do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If I am not doing works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe in the works, that you may know and understand that the father is in me and I am in the Father." Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. <br />
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He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true." And many believed in him there." John Chapter 10<br />
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Explanation for verses in John Chapter 10 from The MacArthur Study Bible, pages 1561-1563. Verses John 10:1-39; John 10:7-10; John 10:9-10; John 10:11-18; John 10:11; John 10:12; John 10:16; John 10:17-18; John 10:26-27; John 10:28-29; John 10:30; John 10:34-36; John 10:35; John 10:38.<br />
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"10:1-39 Jesus' discourse on himself as the "good shepherd" flowed directly from ch. 9, as Jesus continued to talk to the very same people. The problem of ch. 9 was that Israel was led by false shepherds who drew them astray from the true knowledge and kingdom of Messiah (9:39-41). In ch. 10, Jesus declared himself to be the "good shepherd" who was appointed by his Father as Savior and King, in contrast to the false shepherds of Israel who were self-apopointed and self-righteous (Ps. 23:1; Isa. 40:11; Jer. 3:15; cf. Isa. 56:9-12; Jer. 23:1-4; 25:32-38; Ezek. 34:1-31; Zach. 11:16)"<br />
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"10:7-10 I am the door. This is the third of seven "I am" statements of Jesus (see 6:35; 8:12). Here, he changes the metaphor slightly. While in 10:1-5 he was the shepherd, here he is the gate. While in vv. 1-5, the shepherd led the sheep out of the sheepfold, here he is the entrance to the fold (v. 9) that leads to proper pasture. This section echoes Jesus' words in 14:6 that he is the only way to the Father. His point is that he serves as the sole means to approach the Father and partake of God's promised salvation. As some Near Eastern shepherds slept in the gateway to guard the sheep, Jesus here pictures himself as the gate."<br />
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"10:9-10 These two verses are a proverbial way of insisting that belief in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God is the only way of being "saved" from sin and hell and receiving eternal life. Only Jesus Christ is the one true source for the knowledge of God and the one basis for spiritual security."<br />
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"10:11-18 Jesus picked up another expression from vv. 1-5, i.e., he is the "good shepherd" in contrast to the present evil leadership of Israel (9:40-41). This is the fourth of seven "I am" statements of Jesus (see vv. 7, 9; 6:35; 8:12). The term "good" has the idea of "noble" and stands in contrast to the "hired hand" who cares only for self-interest."<br />
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"10:11 lays down his life for the sheep. This is a reference to Jesus' substitutionary death for sinners on the cross. Cf. v. 15; 6:51; 11:50-51; 17:19; 18:14."<br />
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"10:12 sees the wolf coming. . .flees. The hired hand likely represents religious leaders who perform their duty in good times but who never display sacrificial care for the sheep in times of danger. They stand in contrast to Jesus, who laid down his life for his flock (see 15:13)."<br />
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"10:16 not of this fold. This refers to Gentiles who will respond to his voice and become a part of the church (cf. Rom 1:16). Jesus' death was not only for Jews (see notes on John 10:1, 3), but also for non-Jews whom he will make into one new body, the church (see notes on 11:51-52; cf. Eph. 2:11-22)."<br />
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"10:17-18 take it up again. Jesus repeated this phrase twice in these two verses indicating that his sacrifical death was not the end. His resurrection followed in demonstration of his messiahship and deity (Rom. 1:4). His death and resurrection resulted in his ultimate glorification (John 12:23; 17:5) and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (7:37-39; cf. Acts 2:16-39)."<br />
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"10:26-27 This clearly indicates that God has chosen his sheep and it is they who believe and follow (see notes on vv. 3, 16; cf. 6:37-40, 44, 65)."<br />
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"10:28-29 The security of Jesus' sheep rests with him as the good shepherd, who has the power to keep them safe. Neither thieves and robbers (vv. 1, 8) nor the wolf (v. 12) can harm them. Verse 29 makes clear that the Father ultimately stands behind the sheep's security, for no one is able to steal from God, who is in sovereign control of all things (Col. 3:3). See notes on Rom. 8:31-39. No stronger passage in the OT or NT exists for the absolute, eternal security of every true Christian."<br />
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"10:30 I and the Father are one. Both Father and Son are committted to the perfect protection and preservation of Jesus' sheep. The sentence, stressing the united purpose and action of both in the security and safety of the flock, presupposes unity of nature and essence (see 5:17-23; 17:22)."<br />
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"10:34-36 Quoted from Ps. 82:6 where God calls some unjust judges "gods" and pronounces clamity against them. Jesus' argument is that this psalm proves that the word "god" can be legitmately used to refer to others than God himself. His reasoning is that if there are others whom God can address as "god" or "sons of the Most High," why then should the Jews object to Jesus' statement that he is "the Son of God" (John 10:36)?"<br />
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"10:35 Scripture cannot be broken. An affirmation of the absolute accuracy and authority of Scripture (see notes on Matt. 5:17-19)."<br />
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"10:38 believe in works. Jesus did not expect to be believed merely on his own assertions. Since he did the same things that the Father does (see notes on 5:19), his enemies should consider this in their evaluation of him. The implication is, however, that they were so ignorant of God that they could not recognize the works of the Father or the One whom the Father sent (see also 14:10-11)."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for being our good shepherd and for protecting Your flock. I pray that those reading Your words would see the truth. I pray that You would reveal Yourself to them. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-170542766177371472014-07-07T16:45:00.000-07:002014-07-07T16:45:07.392-07:00John Chapter 9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.<br />
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The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he." Others said, "No, but he is like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." So they said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."<br />
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They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."<br />
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The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put our of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."<br />
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So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard than anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.<br />
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Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you." He said, "Lord, I believe, and he worshiped him. Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains." John 9 (ESV)<br />
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Explanation for John 9:1-13; John 9:2; John 9:5 and 6; John 9:13-34; John 9:17; John 9:30; John 9:34, John 9:35-41; John 9:35 and 36; John 9:39; John 9:40; John 9:41. From The MacArthur Study Bible (ESV) pages1559, 1560, 1561.<br />
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"9:1-13 Jesus performed a miracle by recreating the eyes of a man who was born with congential blindness (v.1). Four features highlight this healing: 1) the problem that precipitated the healing (v.1); 2) the purpose for the man's being born blind (vv. 2-5); 3) the power that healed him (vv. 6-7); and 4) the perplexity of the people who saw the healing (vv. 8-13)."<br />
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"9:2 who sinned. While sin may be a cause of suffering, as clearly indicated in Scripture (see 5:14; Num. 12; 1 Cor. 11:30; James 5:15), it is not always the case necessarily (see Job; 2 Cor. 12:7; Gal. 4:13). The disciples assumed, like most Jews of their day, that sin was the primary, if not exclusive, cause of all suffering. In this instance, however, Jesus made it clear that personal sin was not the reason for the blindness (see John 9:3)."<br />
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"9:5 I am the light of the world. See note on 8:12; cf. 1:5, 9; 3:19; 12:35, 46. Not only was Jesus spiritually the light of the world, but he would also provide the means of physical light for this blind man."<br />
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"9:6 made mud with saliva. As he had done when he originally made human beings out of the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7), Jesus may have used the clay to fashion a new pair of eyes."<br />
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"9:13-34 This section in the story of the healing of the blind man reveals some key characteristics of willful unbelief: 1) unbelief sets false standards; 2) unbelief always wants more evidence but never has enough; 3) unbelief does biased research on a purely subjective basis; 4) unbelief rejects the facts; 5) unbelief is self-centered. John included this section on the dialogue of the Pharisees with the blind man most likely for two reasons: 1) the dialogue carefully demonstrates the character of willful and fixed unbelief, and 2) the story confirms the first great schism between the synagogue and Christ's new followers. The blind man was the first known person thrown out of the synagogue because he chose to follow Christ (see 16:1-3)."<br />
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"9:17 He is a prophet. While the blind man saw clearly that Jesus was more than a mere man, the sighted but obstinate Pharisees were spiritually blind to that truth (see v. 39). Blindness in the Bible is a metaphor for spiritual darkness, i.e., inability to discern God or his truth (2 Cor. 4:3-6; Col. 1:12-14)."<br />
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"9:30 The healed man demonstrated more spiritual insight and common sense than all of the religious authorities combined who sat in judgment of Jesus and him. His penetrating wit focused in on their intractable unbelief. His logic was that such an extraordinary miracle could only indicate that Jesus was from God, for the Jews believed that God responds in proportion to the righteousness of the one praying (see Job 27:9; 35:13; Ps. 66:18; 109:7; Prov. 15:29; Isa. 1:15; cf. John14:13-14; 16:23-27; 1John 3:21-22). The greatness of the miracle could only indicate that Jesus was actually from God."<br />
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"9:34 would you teach us? The Pharisees were incensed with the man, and their anger prevented them from seeing the penetrating insight that the uneducated, healed man had demonstrated. The phrase also revealed their ignorance of Scripture, for the OT indicated that the coming messianic age would be evidenced by restoration of sight to the blind (Isa. 29:18, 35:5; 42:7; cf. Matt. 11:4-5; Luke 4:18-19)."<br />
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"9:35-41 While vv. 1-34 dealt with Jesus' restoration of physical sight in the blind man, vv. 35-41 featured Jesus bringing spiritual "sight" to him."<br />
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"9:35 Do you believe. . . ? Jesus invited the man to put his trust in him as the One who revealed God to man. Jesus placed great emphasis on public acknowledgment of who he was and confession of faith in him. (Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8). Son of Man. Cf. John 1:51; 3:13-14; 5:27; 6:27, 53, 62; 8:28."<br />
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"9:36 sir. The word here is the same for "lord," but it should be understood not as an indication that he understood Jesus' deity but as meaning "sir". See also v. 38. Since the blind man had never seen Jesus (v.7) nor met him since he went to wash in the pool, he did not recognize Jesus at first as the One who healed him."<br />
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"9:39 For judgment. Not that his purpose was to condemn, but rather to save (12:47); Luke 19:10); saving some, nevertheless, involves condemning others (see notes on John 3:16, 18). The last part of this verse is taken from Isa. 6:10; 42:19 (cf. Mark 4:12). those who do not see. Those people who know they are in spiritual darkness. Those who see. Refers in an ironic way to those who think they are in the light, but are not (cf. Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31)."<br />
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"9:40 Are we also blind? Apparently Jesus found (v. 35) the man in a public place, where the Pharisees were present listening."<br />
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"9:41 your guilt remains. Jesus had particular reference to the sin of unbelief and rejection of him as Messiah and Son of God. If they knew their lostness and darkness and cried out for spiritual light, they would no longer be guilty of the sin of unbelief in Christ. But satisfied that their darkness was light, and continuing in rejection of Christ, their sin remained. See note on Matt. 6:22-23."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord, I pray for those who are in spiritual darkness, but think they are in the light. I pray that their eyes would be opened and instead of being spiritually blind that they would see. I pray that Your words would speak the truth to their heart so that they may find the joy and freedom of salvation in You, Lord Jesus. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-28193062398484903392014-06-25T19:17:00.000-07:002014-06-25T19:17:17.854-07:00John Chapter 8, The Truth Will Set You Free<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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[The earliest manuscripts do not include 7:53-8:11]<br />
explanation for the verses John 7:53 through John 8:11 from The MacArthur Study Bible ESV page 1556.<br />
"7:53-8:11 This section dealing with the adulteress most likely was not a part of the original contents of John. It has been incorporated into various manuscripts at different places in the Gospel (e.g., after vv. 36, 44, 52, or 21:25), while one manuscript places it after Luke 21:38. External manuscript evidence representing a great variety of textual traditions is decidedly against its inclusion, for the earliest and best manuscripts exclude it. Many manuscripts mark the passage to indicate doubt as to its inclusion. Significant early versions exclude it. No Greek church father comments on the passage until the twelfth century. The vocabulary and style of the section also are different from the rest of the Gospel, and the section interrupts the sequence of John 7:52 with 8:12ff. Many, however, do think that it has all the earmarks of historical veracity, perhaps being a piece of oral tradition that circulated in parts of the Western church, so that a few comments are in order. In spite of all these considerations of the likely unreliability of this section, it is possible to be wrong on that issue, and thus it is good to consider the meaning of this passage and leave it in the text, just as with Mark 16:9-20."<br />
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53[[They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condenmed you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."]]<br />
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Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." So the Pharisees said to him, "You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true." Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the tesitmony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me." They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.<br />
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So he said to them again, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." So the Jews said, "Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I am going you cannot come'?" He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins." So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and the I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him." As he was saying these things, many believed in him.<br />
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So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say. 'You will become free'?"<br />
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Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."<br />
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They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father--even God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."<br />
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The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?" Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, He is our God. But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad." So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple." John 8 ESV<br />
<br />
Explanation for John chapter 8 verses 8:14-18, 8:21-30, 8:23, 8:24, 8:31-36, 8:32, 8:34, 8:35-36, 8:51 From The MacArthur Study Bible ESV, pages1557-1559.<br />
<br />
"8:14-18 These verses give three reasons why Jesus' witness was true: 1) Jesus knew his orgin and destiny while the Jews were ignorant even of basic spiritual truths, making their judgment limited and superficial (vv. 14-15); 2) the intimate union of the Son with the Father guaranteed the truth of the Son's witness (v. 16); and 3) the Father and Son witnessed harmoniously together regarding the identity of the Son (vv. 17-18).<br />
<br />
8:21-30 Jesus revealed the consequence of the rejection of him as Messiah and Son of God, i.e., spiritual death (v. 24; cf. Heb. 10:26-31). These verses reveal four ways that ensure people will die in their sins and, as a result, experience spiritual death: 1) being self-righteous (John 8:20-22); 2) being earthbound (vv. 23-24); 3) being unbelieving (v.24); and 4) being willfully ignorant (vv. 25-29). The Jews who rejected Jesus displayed all four of these characteristics.<br />
<br />
8:23 You are from below. The contrast here is between the realm of God and that of the fallen, sinful world (i.e., "from below"). The world in this context is the invisible spiritual system of evil dominated by Satan and all that it offers in opposition to God, his word, and his people (see notes on 1:9; 1 John 5:19). Jesus declared that his opponents' true kinship was with Satan and his realm. By this domination, they were spiritually blinded (see 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1-3).<br />
<br />
8:24 unless you believe. Jesus emphasized that the fatal, unforgivable, and eternal sin is failure to believe in him as Messiah and Son of God. In truth, all other sins can be forgiven if this one is repented of. See notes on 16:8-9. I am he. The word "he" is not part of the original statement. Jesus' words were not constructed normally but were influenced by OT Hebrew usage. It is an absolute usage meaning "I AM" and his immense theological significance. The reference may be to both Ex. 3:14 where the Lord declared his name as "I AM" and to Isa. 43:10, 13, 25; 46:4; 48:12). In this, Jesus referred to himself as the God (Yahweh--the Lord) of the OT, and directly claimed full deity for himself, prompting the Jews' question of John 8:25. See note on v. 58.<br />
<br />
8:31-36 These verses are a pivotal passage in understanding genuine salvation and true discipleship. John emphasized these realities by stressing truth and freedom. The focus in the passage is upon those who were exercising the beginnings of faith in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God. Jesus desired them to move on in their faith. Saving faith is not fickle but firm and settled. Such maturity expresses itself in full commitment to the truth in Jesus Christ resulting in genuine freedom. The passage has three features: 1) the progress of freedom (vv. 31-32); 2) the pretense of freedom (vv. 33-34); and 3) the promise of freedom (vv. 35-36).<br />
<br />
8:32 the truth. "Truth" here has reference not only to the facts surrounding Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God but also to the teaching that he brought. A genuinely saved and obedient follower of the Lord Jesus will know divine truth and both freedom from sin (v. 34) and the search for reality. This divine truth comes not merely by intellectual assent (1 Cor. 2:14) but saving commitment to Christ (cf. Titus 1:1-2).<br />
<br />
8:34 Truly, truly. See note on 1:51. everyone who commits sin. The kind of slavery that Jesus had in mind was not physical slavery but slavery to sin (cf. Rom. 6:17-18). The idea of "commits sin" means to practice sin habitually (1 John 3:4, 8-9). The ultimate bondage is not political or economic enslavement but spiritual bondage to sin and rebellion against God. Thus, this also explains why Jesus would not let himself be reduced to merely a political Messiah (John 6:14-15).<br />
<br />
8:35-36 The notion of slavery in v. 34 moves to the status of slaves. While the Jews thought of themselves only as free sons of Abraham, in reality, they were slaves of sin. The genuine son in the context is Christ himself, who sets the slaves free from sin. Those whom Jesus Christ liberates from the tyranny of sin and the bondage of legalism are really free (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:1).<br />
<br />
8:51 never see death. Heeding Jesus' teaching and following him results in eternal life (6:63, 68). Physical death cannot extinguish such life (see 5:24; 6:40, 47; 11:25-26).<br />
<br />
Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for the gift of salvation. The truth shall set you free is a wonderful gift from You Lord. Thank You isn't enough to say for all You have done for us. I lift up those reading the Book of John and I pray that You will reveal Yourself to them so that they can also find the truth and be set free. In Jesus' name amen.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
<br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-60476344473819558692014-06-17T13:57:00.001-07:002014-06-17T13:57:17.995-07:00John Chapter 7--Rivers of Living Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
"After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. Now the Jews Feast of Booths was at hand. So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come. After saying this, he remained in Galilee.<br />
<br />
But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?" And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, "He is a good man," others said, "No, he is leading the people astray." Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.<br />
<br />
About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?" So Jesus answered them. "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?" The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?" Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." <br />
<br />
Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from." So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me." So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, "When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?"<br />
<br />
The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent the officers to arrest him. Jesus then said, "I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come." The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, 'You will seek me and you will not find me, and, 'Where I am you cannot come'?"<br />
<br />
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.<br />
<br />
When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.<br />
<br />
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed. Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." John Chapter 7 ESV<br />
<br />
Explanation for verses in John 7:37-39, from The MacArthur Study Bible page 1555.<br />
<br />
"7:37On the last day. This suggests that this occasion occurred on a different day than the controversy in vv. 11-36. If anyone thirsts. A tradition grew up in the few centuries before Jesus that on the seven days of the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, a golden container filled with water from the pool of Siloam was carried in procession by the high priest back to the temple. As the procession came to the Water Gate on the south side of the inner temple court, three trumpet blasts were made to mark the joy of the occasion and the people recited Isa. 12:3, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." At the temple, while onlookers watched, the priests would march around the altar with the water container while the temple choir sang the Hallel (Ps. 113-118). The water was offered in sacrifice to God at the time of the morning sacrifice. The use of the water symbolized the blessing of adequate rainfall for crops. Jesus used this event an an object lesson and opportunity to make a very public invitation on the last day of the feast for his people to accept him as the living water. His words recall Isa. 55:1. thirsts. . . .come. . . .drink. These three words summarize the gospel invitation. A recognition of need leads to an approach to the source of provision, followed by receiving what is needed. The thirsty, needy soul feels the craving to come to the Savior and drink, i.e., receive the salvation he offers.<br />
<br />
7:38 living water. The water-pouring rite was also associated within Jewish tradition as a foreshadowing of the eschatological rivers of living water foreseen in Ezek. 47:1-9 and Zech. 13:1. The significance of Jesus' invitation centers in the fact that he was the fulfillment of all the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, anticipated, i.e., he was the One who provided the living water that gives eternal life to man (cf. John 4:10-11).<br />
<br />
7:39 he said about the Spirit. The impartation of the Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual and eternal life. See note on 16:7."<br />
<br />
Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that those who read Your Scripture will seek to receive You. You are the living water and only You will quench our thirst forevermore. Thank You so much for your gift of salvation. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
<br />
Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-49375756187365915262014-06-09T20:15:00.003-07:002014-06-09T20:15:53.801-07:00John Chapter 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
"After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee,
which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they
saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and
there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews,
was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was
coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so
that these people may eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew
what he would do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy
enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples,
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him. "There is a boy here who has
five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?" Jesus
said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the
place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the
loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were
seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their
fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that
nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets
with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When
the people saw the sign that he had done, they said. "This is indeed the
Prophet who is to come into the world!"<br />
<br />
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make
him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.<br />
<br />
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and
started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet
come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they
had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming
near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, "It is I; do
not be afraid." Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and
immediately the boat was in the land to which they were going. <br />
<br />
On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw
that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the
boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other
boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after
the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor
his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum,
seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to
him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them,
"Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw
signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food
that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of
Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has "set his seal."
Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of
God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe
in him who he has sent." So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do,
that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the
manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to
eat. Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not
Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true
bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and
gives life to the world.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said to
him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”<br />
<br />
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not
hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I said to you that you have seen me and
yet do not believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that the Father
gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For I have come down from heaven, not to do
my own will but the will of him who sent me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of
all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this is the will of my Father, that
everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and
I will raise him up on the last day.”<br />
<br />
So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came
down from heaven.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said, “Is not
this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does he now say, “I have come down from
heaven?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus answered<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one can come to me unless the Father who
sent me draws him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I will raise him
up on the last day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is written in the
Prophets, And they will all be taught by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—not that
anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the
Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truly, truly, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
the bread of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your fathers ate the
manna in the wilderness, and they died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it
and not die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am the living bread that
came down from heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone eats of
this bread, he will live forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.<br />
<br />
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us
his flesh to eat?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Jesus said to
them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink his blood, you have no life in you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I
will raise him up on the last day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood
abides in me, and I in him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on
me, he also will live because of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the
fathers ate and died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoever feeds on
this bread will live forever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.<br />
<br />
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who
can listen to it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus, knowing in
himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you
take offense at this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then what if you were
to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is
no help at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words that I have
spoken to you are spirit and life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
there are some of you who do not believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe,
and who it was who would betray him.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless
it is granted him by the Father.”<br />
<br />
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do
you want to go away as well?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simon
Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come
to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet one of you is a devil.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot,
for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Chapter 6 ESV<br />
<br />
Some explanations for John Chapter 6 is from The MacArthur Study Bible
ESV,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>verses John 6:1-14, John 6:16-21,
John 6:22-58, John 6:53-58.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pages 1548,
1549, 1551.<br />
<br />
“6:1-14<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story of the feeding of
the 5,000 is the fourth sign John employed to demonstrate that Jesus is the
Messiah and Son of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the only
miracle recorded in all four Gospels (Matt. 14:13-23; Mark 6:30-46; Luke
9:10-17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since John most likely wrote
to supplement and provide additional information not recorded in the synoptics (see
introduction: Background and Setting), his recording of this miracle emphasized
its strategic importance in two ways: 1) it demonstrated the creative power of
Christ more clearly than any other miracle, and 2) it decisively supported John’s
purposes of demonstrating the deity of Jesus Christ while also serving to set
the stage for Jesus’ discourse on the “bread of life” (John 6:22-40).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, both creative miracles of
Jesus, the water into wine (2:1-10) and the multiplying of bread (6:1-14),
speak of the main elements in the Lord’s Supper, or communion. (v. 53).”<br />
<br />
“6:16-21<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story of Jesus’ walking
on the water constituted the fifth sign in John’s Gospel designed to
demonstrate the writer’s purpose that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God
(20:30-31).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The miracle demonstrates
Jesus’ deity by his sovereignty over the laws of nature.”<br />
<br />
“6:22-58 Jesus’ famous discourse on the bread of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key theme is v. 35, i.e., “I am the bread
of life,” which is the first of seven emphatic, “I AM” statements of Jesus in
this Gospel (8:12; 10:7, 9; 10:11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1,5).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This analogy of Jesus as “the bread” of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>life reinforces John’s theme of Jesus as the
Messiah and Son of God (20:30-31).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although John records Jesus’ miracles to establish his deity, he moves
quickly to Jesus’ discourse on the spiritual realities of his person in order
to define correctly who Jesus Christ was, i.e., not merely a wonder-worker but
the Son of God who came to save mankind from sin (3:16).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This discourse took place in the synagogue at
Capernaum (6:59).”<br />
<br />
“6:53-58<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>eat. . . drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ point was an analogy that has spiritual,
rather than literal, significance: just as eating and drinking are necessary
for physical life, so also is belief in his sacrificial death on the cross
necessary for eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eating
of his flesh and drinking of his blood metaphorically symbolize the need for
accepting Jesus’ cross work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the
Jews, however, a crucified Messiah was unthinkable (cf. Acts 17:1-3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again, the Jews, in their willful and
judicial blindness, could not see the real spiritual significance and truth
behind Jesus’ statements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover,
Jesus’ reference here to eating and drinking was not referring to the ordinance
of communion for two significant reasons: 1) communion had not been instituted
yet, and 2) if Jesus was referring to communion, then the passage would teach
that anyone partaking of communion would receive eternal life.”<br />
<br />
“6:60-71 These verses constitute the reaction of Jesus’ disciples to his
sermon on the “bread of life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with
the crowds’ response in Jerusalem (ch. 5) and in Galilee (ch. 6), the response
of many of his disciples was unbelief and rejection of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John lists two groups and their reactions: 1)
the false disciples’ reaction of unbelief (6:60-66), and 2) the true disciples’
reaction of belief (vv. 67-71).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
this sermon, only a small nucleus of disciples remained (v. 67).”<br />
<br />
Let’s pray:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dear Lord Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray for those who are in the group of
unbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that the truth will set
them free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say these things in Jesus’
name. Amen.<br />
<br />
Please pray for me as my mom has been ill and this has been a difficult
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t been very consistent
with posting my blog because of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.karenejklein.com</span></a> <br />
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Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-47510074869153541172014-05-18T16:01:00.002-07:002014-05-18T16:01:42.242-07:00John 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids--blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. <br />
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Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed." But he answered them, "The man who healed me, that man said to me, 'Take up your bed, and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."<br />
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This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.<br />
<br />
19So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."<br />
<br />
(Explanation for verses John 5:19-24 from The MacArthur Study Bible, pages 1547.<br />
"5:19 Truly, truly. Cf. vv. 24-25 and 1:51. This is an emphatic way of saying, "I'm telling you the truth." In response to Jewish hostility at the implications of his assertions of equality with God, Jesus became even more fearless, forceful, and emphatic. Jesus essentially tied his activities of healing on the Sabbath directly to the Father. The Son never took independent action that set him against the Father because the Son only did those things that were coincident with and co-extensive with all that the Father does. Jesus thus implied that the only One who could do what the Father does must be as great as the Father.<br />
5:23 honor the Son. This verse gives the reason that God entrusted all judgment to the Son (v. 22), i.e., so that all men should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. This verse goes far beyond making Jesus a mere ambassador whi is acting in the name of a monarch, but gives him full and complete equality with the Father (cf. Phil. 2:9-11). honor the Father. Jesus turned the tables on the Jewish accusation against him of blasphemy, instead, Jesus affirmed that the only way anyone can honor the Father is through receiving the Son. Therefore, the Jews were the ones who actually blasphemed the Father by rejection of his Son.<br />
5:24 passed from death to life. This develops the truth of v. 21, that Jesus gives life to whomever he desires. The people who receive that life are here identified as those who hear the word and believe in the Father and the Son. They are the people who have eternal life and never will be condemned (Rom. 8:1; Col. 1:13).")<br />
<br />
"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.<br />
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30 I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings how will you believe my words?"<br />
<br />
(Explanation for verse John 5:30 from The MacArthur Study Bible page 1548<br />
"5:30 the will of him who sent me. In summarizing all he has said from v. 19 on about his equality with God, Jesus claimed that the judgment he exercised was because everything he did was dependent upon the Father's word and will (cf. vv. 19-20))"<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up all who are reading this today. I pray that they will see the truth of who You are and why You came to die on the cross as You have spoken in the Bible. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-57334488706326929452014-05-12T18:26:00.000-07:002014-05-12T18:26:01.662-07:00The Gospel According to John, Chapter 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.<br />
<br />
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock." Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drink of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thristy or have to come here to draw water."<br />
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Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusamlem is the place where people ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."<br />
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Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the town and were coming to him. <br />
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Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him something to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for havest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."<br />
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Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."<br />
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After the two days he departed for Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast. <br />
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So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus said to him, "Go your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee." John 4 (ESV)<br />
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Explanations for John 4: 1-26, John 4:27-42, John 4:43-54 from The MacArthur Study Bible, pages1542-1545.<br />
<br />
"4:1-26 The story of the Samaritian woman reinforces John's main theme that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God. The thrust of these verses is not so much her conversion but that Jesus is Messiah (v. 26). While her conversion is clearly implied, the apostle's focus centers on Jesus' declaration foretold in the Scriptures (v. 25). Important also is the fact that this chapter demonstrates Jesus' love and understanding of people. His love for mankind involved no boundaries, for he lovingly and compassionately reached out to a woman who was a social outcast. In contrast to the limitations of human love, Christ exhibits the character of divine love that is indiscriminate and all-encompassing. (3:16)."<br />
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"4:27-42 These verses reinforce Jesus' acknowledgment that he was Messiah by offering proof for his claim. John gave five genuine, but subtle, proofs that Jesus was truly Messiah and Son of God, which reinforced his main theme of 20:31: 1) proff from his immediate control of everything (4:27): 2) proof from his impact on the woman (vv. 28-30): 3) proof from his intimacy with the Father (vv. 31-34): 4) proof from his insight into men's souls (vv. 35-38): and 5) proof from his impression on the Samaritans (vv. 39-42)."<br />
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"4:43-54 The episode of Jesus' healing of the official's son constitutes the second major "sign" of eight that John used to reinforce Jesus' true identity for producing belief in his readers (v. 54). In this episode, Jesus chided the official's unbelief in needing a miraculous sign in order to trust in Christ (v. 48). While some believe that this story is the same as the healing of the centurion's servant (Matt. 8:5-13; Luke 7:2-10), sufficient differences exist to demonstrate that it is different from the synoptic account; e.g., 1) no evidence exists that the official's son was a Gentile; 2) the official's son, not his servant, was healed; and 3) Jesus was far more negative regarding the official's faith (John 4:48) than the centurion's (Matt. 8:10). One may divide this section into three parts: 1) Jesus contemplation unbelief (John 4:43-45); 2) Jesus confronting unbelief (vv. 46-49); and 3) Jesus conquering unbelief (vv. 50-54)."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up those reading the Bible today. I pray that they will seek Your living water. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-45004237109368102892014-05-07T19:07:00.001-07:002014-06-21T13:53:39.285-07:00My Mormon Exit Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last March while I was waiting in line to see the movie, "God's Not Dead" my husband and I started talking to the couple in front of us. My husband asked the man if he knew what the movie was about and the man said--Jack Mormons? It turns out that this man and his wife were Mormons, but the wife had really left Mormon Church already. The man was still thinking about leaving. I gave them my card and told them about some websites (Sandra Tanner's website <a href="http://www.utlm.org/">www.utlm.org</a> . I told them about Sandra Tanner and Lynn Wilder. Both ex-Mormons now born-again Christians. Lynn Wilder's book "Unveiling Grace" is about her journey out of the Mormon Church. She was a professor at BYU and it is a fascinating story. Lately, I have had people ask me about my Mormon background so I decided to post my Mormon exit story. The long version. I have been praying for this couple I met in line at the movie theater. I hope they are doing well. Here is my story:<br />
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From the time I was a small child I have always loved God. I was raised in a Christian home and attended a local *Presbyterian Church during my childhood and as a young adult. It was there that I became a born again Christian. I was around the age of 16 and was in the church high school group. One Sunday morning the youth pastor asked us if we wanted Jesus to forgive our sins and be our Lord and Savior and I really did so I asked the Lord quietly into my heart then. I understood the Gospel and that I was a sinner and needed Jesus to save me. I was passionate for Jesus and His saving grace. That is when Satan went after me and challenged my faith in following God's will. Now begins the battle.<br />
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The following summer I went to church camp and while there started to read the Bible regularly. I read through the entire New Testament, underlining verses. While at church camp the guest pastor spoke about Christ centered marriage. He said that if God wanted you to marry you would--if not there was nothing you could do about it. This upset me terribly because I had always wanted to get married and have a family. I was frustrated with the "if it's God's will it will happen." As a young teenager I really didn't understand what that meant. Unfortunately, what that pastor said started me on a one sided fight with the Lord. I was going to make absolutely, positively sure I would get married when I grew up.<br />
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Fast forward to my last year in college (1978). I met a guy who was Mormon. When he found out I didn't smoke, drink or do drugs he asked if I was a Mormon. I said no. We became friends and he gave me a Book of Mormon to read. Then the Mormon missionaries came to my home and showed me their lessons about their church. When I heard the Mormon missionaries say things like, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost, I can't remember which term they used) I was thinking of the Trinity--ONE GOD. I did not realize that the Mormon missionaries were talking about 3 separate gods--one only in thought and purpose. What the Mormon missionaries said sounded "Christian" and being a young Christian and wanting to take things into my own hands and marry a good Christian guy the Mormon Church was just the thing for me. I had a wonderful time at those Mormon dances and went out on lots of dates with some nice guys. I was baptized into the Mormon Church in June of 1978. I caught a bad cold the day I was baptized a Mormon.<br />
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Soon after I was baptized I met a Mormon guy (Mike) at a special dance. He was going to UOP to become a dentist. We dated from August to December and got engaged on Christmas Eve 1978. My mother and I were busy planning the wedding. I remember I used to pray to the Lord that my marriage would take place and that we would have a nice life. I remember being in my room alone and talking out loud to the Lord about this when I heard His still small voice. The Lord said to me, "No, Karen, I'm sorry, but no." I asked again and heard Him say the same thing. I remember getting mad at the Lord and said to Him, "What is the matter with You!? Why do you keep saying no?" I am so grateful that the Lord was loving and patient and never let go of me. He was saying He was sorry to me when I should have been down on my knees saying I am sorry to Him. I truly did not know at the time that the Mormon Church was not a Christian Church.<br />
<br />
My fiance, Mike had gone to Utah for Easter break to see his family (1979) and while he was there we had a little agrument over the phone about polygamy. I had asked him if I died first would he re-marry and be sealed to someone else in the Mormon temple. He said if they had never been sealed before he would. This did not sit well with me (I think this was the first crack in my Mormon "testimony").<br />
<br />
When Mike came back to California after spring break he gave me a birthday gift from his parents. It was my temple clothes that I would wear on my wedding day. When I opened the box the first thing I saw was this green apron. It was a matte satin green with stitching that looked like leaves. I thought the way the stitching swirled around looked crazy--like the brush strokes of a Vincent Van Gogh painting. If you don't know Vincent Van Gogh suffered from mental illness. I didn't say anything about my thoughts to my fiance. We went back to our Mormon ward for church. Meanwhile, my parents came home and saw the birthday present on the coffee table. When my mother opened the box and saw those temple clothes the Holy Spirit convicted her and she knew right away that the Mormon Chruch was not Christian.<br />
<br />
Later that evening after Mike left to go back to his apartment, my mother and I were doing the dishes. She has such a funny look on her face I had to ask what was on her mind. At first she said that my fiance was a good man and that she didn't want to interfere. Well, I don't know about you, but when your mother says something like that you just have to know what she means by not wanting to interfere. Finally, she said, "Karen, Christ didn't just come for the "perfect people" He came for everyone. That Mormon Church is not a Christian church because only the "perfect people" can go into their temples. Your father and I can't go into the temple to see your wedding." When my mother said that Christ didn't just come for the perfect people He came for everyone the Lord removed the blanket from my eyes and all these Bible verses that I had read when I was 16 came flooding into my mind. "Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37-38. "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30. It was really pretty amazing. I remember my heart started to sink as I started to process this. I said to my mother, "You're right! What should I do? Can I still marry Mike? If I marry Mike will I be denying God?" I couldn't deny the God of the Bible. If I were to marry Mike and we had children and they were raised Mormon would I be condemning them to hell? I couldn't knowingly raise my children as Mormons. All this happened on a Saturday night--the next day was Easter Sunday.<br />
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I went to my Mormon ward on Easter Sunday because I had to teach 3 year old children Sunday school. Mormons don't wear crosses and the cross is not displayed in the ward--ever. When I walked into the ward the fact that there was no cross stuck out like a sore thumb. I listened to the different members of the ward give their Easter speech and they only spoke about the exaltation of man to godhood. What the heck was that? What godhood? I went into my Sunday school class of 3 year olds and was so upset I couldn't teach. I just asked them who they thought Jesus is.<br />
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After church I went home and so the conflict became bigger. A few days later while I was at work, I called my mother, who volunteered at the local *Presbyterian Church office. I asked her to ask the pastor there if it is ok if I married Mike. When she called me back and told me that the pastor said the Mormons are not Christians I really just broke down and my boss had to have my mom pick me up and take me home. When I got home I wept really hard. I asked my mom to call the youth pastor and ask him about this. She got him on the phone and I spoke to him. He was really nice and told me that what I needed to do was to go into my room by myself and pray to the Lord. Ask the Lord to direct me. The youth pastor also said that the Lord has someone for me to marry and that also my salvation was assured. He said that I was on the edge of a cliff ready to fall off and that I needed to pray and the Lord would save me from falling off that cliff. The youth pastor said that if I did marry the Mormon and if I would raise my children in the Mormon Church they would not be saved.<br />
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I went into my room and prayed and for the first time since this started I had peace. I knew I had to make a choice--choose the Jesus of the Bible or choose Mike. I chose Jesus. "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24. I knew I had to break it off with Mike and leave the Mormon Church. I called Mike and asked him to come over. I told him I had lost my testimony. I did not believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I told him I thought the Mormon prophets were actually adulterers. Mike got angry with me for saying that one. I also said to Mike that he would not be a god nor would I for there is only one God and we are not Him. Mike asked me why I did not want to be a god? I said because it just is not the way it is--God is God and we are not--never will be. I want to love and worship God, not be Him. Mike said he thought I needed help and he wanted to help me. I didn't need Mike's help so we broke up and I gave him back his diamond ring, temple clothes and fishing rods. We said our goodbyes and never spoke to each other again.<br />
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I then had to tell my bishop. He could hardly believe it. Someone came and picked up my Sunday school lesson books. Then so many people started calling me and showed up on my doorstep. Answering machines were not the norm back in 1979. This was really upsetting and harassing. This eventually stopped when I told them I would get a lawyer and to please leave me alone. My mother was praying for me and prayed that the Lord would bring a nice born again Christian man into my life. The youth pastor at the *Presbyterian Church asked a young woman who was the wife of an intern at the *Presbyterian Church to befriend me and help me get back into Christain fellowship. She was very sweet and I appreciated this very much. I re-joined the Presbyterian Church.<br />
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In June of 1979 I was invited to a going away pool party BBQ for this couple because her husband was going to seminary school. I was sitting on a porch swing at this party when this cute guy came up to me, sat on the arm of the porch swing and said, "Hi." Scott is a born again Christian. We started dating soon after and got married the following summer, July 1980. We will be married for 34 years this July. We also got baptized in a Christian church. It was wonderful to be baptized as a believer in Christ in a real Christian church. It just washed away that awful Mormon baptism that happened 35 years ago. I am so very thankful and humbled to the Lord for all His loving forgiveness and for never letting go of me even though I went off so wrong. Through all this I learned that the Lord really does know best and it is better to wait on Him than make a mess of things like I did. It is so easy for people to be deceived and it is so important to stand by the Bible alone. The Mormons use many of the same words as born again Christians, but they have very different meanings behind those words. If you are reading this and are a Mormon I would suggest that you to say a prayer and ask the Lord to show you the truth. He will show you the truth. The Lord taught me a lot through my Mormon experience. How Satan can really appear as an angel of light, yet he is the prince of darkness. It is important to gage everything according to the Bible and to spend time with the Lord in prayer. If it conflicts with the Bible then forget it. You cannot trust your feelings. Feelings can deceive you. The Lord Jesus is with you always. When you have faith and believe in Him and His sacrifice for you on the cross He will never leave you or let you go. I give all the glory to the God of the Bible for getting me out of the darkness of Mormonism.<br />
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"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed." Galations 1:6-9<br />
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"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up those who are still in the Mormon Church. I pray that their eyes would be opened to the truth found in the Jesus of the Bible. I pray that those in darkness will ask You, Lord to show them the truth. I pray that Your gift of salvation through Jesus, by grace will be received. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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*NOTE: The Presbyterian Church was a very different church back in 1979. I am no longer a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) or PCUSA. I have not been a member for many years. I do not endorse nor would I recommend joining the Presbyterian Church (USA) or PCUSA. Please seek out a church that stands with the Bible alone. <br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-78892532637282140522014-05-07T15:01:00.002-07:002014-05-07T15:01:21.318-07:00The Gospel According to John, Chapter 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "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. Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."<br />
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Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.<br />
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"For 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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."<br />
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After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).<br />
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Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness--look he is baptizing, and all are going to him." John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease."<br />
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"He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." John 3 ESV<br />
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Explanation for verses in John 3:1-21, John 3:3, John 3:8, John 3:16, John 3:15, John 3:22:36, John 3:36 from The MacArthur Study Bible, pages 1540-1541<br />
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"3:1-21 The story of Jesus and Nicodemus reinforces John's themes that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God (apologetic) and that he came to offer salvation to men (evangelistic). John 2:23-24 actually serves as the introduction to Nicodemus's story, since ch. 3 constitutes tangible evidence of Jesus' ability to know men's hearts and thereby also demonstrates Jesus' deity. Jesus also presented God's plan of salvation to Nicodemus, showing that he was God's messenger, whose redemptive work brings about the promised salvation to his people (3:14). The chapter may be divided into two sections: 1) Jesus' dialogue with Nicodemus (vv. 1-10); and 2) Jesus' discourse on God's plan of salvation (vv. 11-21)."<br />
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"3:3 born again. The phrase lit. means "born from above." Jesus answered a question that Nicodemus does not even ask. He read Nicodemus's heart and came to the very core of his problem, i.e., the need for spiritual transformation or regeneration produced by the Holy Spirit. New birth is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the believer (2 Cor. 5:17); Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:3; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18). John 1:12-13 indicates that "born again" also carries the idea "to become children of God" through trust in the name of the incarnate Word. cannot see the kingdom of God. In context this is primarily a reference to participation in the millennial kingdom at the end of the age, feverently anticipated by the Pharisees and other Jews. Since the Pharisees were supernaturalists, they naturally and eagerly expected the coming of the prophesied resurrection of the saints and institution of the messianic kingdom (Isa. 11:1-16; Dan. 12:2). Their problem was that they thought that mere physical lineage and keeping of religious externals qualified them for entrance into the kingdom rather than the needed spiritual transformation that Jesus emphasized (cf. John 8:33-39; Gal. 6:15). The coming of the kingdom at the end of the age can be described as the "regeneration" of the world (Matt. 19:28, ESV footnote), but regeneration of the individual is required before the end of the world in order to enter the kingdom."<br />
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"3:8 The wind blows where it wishes. Jesus' point was that just as the wind cannot be controlled or understood by human beings but its effects can be witnessed, so also it is with the Holy Spirit. He cannot be controlled or understood, but the proof of his work is apparent. Where the Spirit works, there is undeniable and unmistakable evidence."<br />
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"3:16 For God so loved the world. The Son's mission is bound up in the supreme love of God for the evil, sinful "world" of humanity (cf. 6:32, 51; 12:47; see notes on 1:9; Matt. 5:44-45) that is in rebellion against him. The word "so" emphasizes the intensity of greatness of his love. The Father gave his unique and beloved Son to die on behalf of sinful men (see note on 2 Cor. 5:21). eternal life. See note on John 3:15; cf. 17:3; 1 John 5:20."<br />
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"3:15 eternal life. This is the first of 17 references to "eternal life" in John's Gospel. The same Greek word is translated in some versions as "everlasting life." The expression appears in the NT nearly 50 times. Eternal life refers not only to eternal quantity but divine quality of life. It means lit. "life of the age to come" and refers therefore to resurrection and heavenly existence in perfect glory and holiness. This life for believers in the Lord Jesus is experienced before heaven is reached. This "eternal life" is in essence nothing less than participation in the eternal life of the Living Word, Jesus Christ. It is the life of God in evey believer, yet not fully manifest until the resurrection (Rom. 8:19-23; Phil. 3:20-21)."<br />
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"3:22-36 This section constitutes John the Baptist's last testimony in this Gospel regarding Christ. As his ministry faded away, Jesus' ministry moved to the forefront. In spite of the fact that John the Baptist received widespread fame in Israel and was generally accepted by the common people of the land as well as those who were social outcasts, his testimony regarding Jesus was rejected, especially by the leaders of Israel (cf. Matt. 3:5-10; Luke 7:29)."<br />
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"3:36 This constitutes a fitting climax to the chapter. John the Baptist laid out two alternatives, genuine faith and defiant disobedience, thereby bringing to the forefront the threat of looming judgment. As John faded from the forefront, he offered and invitation to faith in the Son and clearly expressed the ultimate consequence of failure to believe, i.e., "the wrath of God."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You so much for Your gift of salvation for us. I lift up those reading the Bible today. I pray that You will soften their hearts and minds so they will come to know You. I pray that the truth will be made known. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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Note about the painting: This painting is called "The Wind". <br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> <br />
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<br />Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-601329481820890908.post-82043680986038337862014-05-05T15:11:00.001-07:002014-05-05T15:15:30.423-07:00The Gospel According to John, Chapter 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does this have to do with me?" My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."<br />
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Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.<br />
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After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.<br />
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The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."<br />
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So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.<br />
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Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 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." John:2 ESV<br />
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Explanation for some of the verses in John 2 is from The MacArthur Study Bible, pages 1537-1539<br />
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"2:1-11 John relates the first great sign performed by Jesus to demonstrate his deity, the turning of water into wine. Only God can create from nothing. John identifies eight miracles in his Gospel that constitute "signs" or confirmation of who Jesus is. Each of the eight miracles were different; no two were alike.(cf. v. 11)"<br />
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"2:13-25 John used this section where Jesus cleansed the temple in righteous indignation to reinforce his main theme that he was the promised Messiah and Son of God. In this section, he highlighted three attributes of Jesus that confirm his deity: 1) his passion for reverence (vv. 13-17); 2) his power of resurrection (vv. 18-22); and 3) his perception of reality (vv.23-25)."<br />
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"2:15 As John recorded this cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, the synoptic Gospels record a temple cleansing at the end of Jesus' ministry during the final Passover week before Jesus' crucifixion (Matt. 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-46). The historical circumstances and literary contexts of the two temple cleansings differ so widely that attempts to equate the two are unsuccessful. Furthermore, that two cleansing occured is entirely consistent with the overall context of Jesus' ministry, for the Jewish nation as a whole never recognized Jesus' authority as Messiah (Matt. 23:37-39). Instead, they rejected his message as well as his person, making such repeated cleansing of the temple highly probable (as well as necessary). drove them all out of the temple. When the holiness of God and his worship was at stake, Jesus took fast and furious action. The "all" indicates that he drove out not only men but also animals. Yet, although his physical action was forceful, it was not cruel. The moderation of his actions is seen in the fact that to riotous uproar occurred; otherwise the specially large contingent of Roman troops in Jerusalem at that time because of the Passover crowds, stationed in the Antonia Fortress overlooking the temple, would have swiftly reacted. Although the primary reference is to the actions of the Messiah in the millenial kingdom, Jesus' actions in cleansing the temple were an initial fulfillment of Mal. 3:1-3 (and Zech. 14:20-21) that speak of Messiah's purifying the religious worship of his people."<br />
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"2:18-22 The second way John demonstrated Christ's deity in the account of the temple cleansing was to show his power over death through resurrection. Only God has this right."<br />
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"2:23-25 The third way John demonstrated Christ's deity in the account of the temple cleansing was to show his perception of reality. Only God truly knows the hearts of men."<br />
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Let's pray: Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up those who are reading the Bible today. I pray that as You reveal Yourself to us in the Gospel of John and in the whole Bible--that their hearts and minds will be open to receive You as their Lord and Savior. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenejklein.com/">www.karenejklein.com</a> Karen E J Kleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14481208089659259511noreply@blogger.com0