The Sayings of Jesus

Last Sunday our pastor was preaching out of Romans and in the course of his sermon he read John 12:47-. As he read this scripture I was gripped. I have read this many times before but it never before grabbed me like it did then.

John 12:47-50: NASB

47“If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

48“He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

49“For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.

50“I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

What really gripped me was that Jesus is repeating only what the Father is telling Him to say. These ideas are not his but the Father's. So, he is teaching people what the will of the Father is so they can do what is necessary to escape his wrath and judgement.

As I looked at these verses I thought I need to take a look at Jesus' saying: just what do they have to say? Then I took my red-lettered Bible and decided I am going through John and concentrate on red-lettered portions and see what principles are revealed therein. As I go through it, I want to share some insights - anyone want to go along for the ride and share yours as well? I know it is a mammoth undertaking but we have time, do we not? If I skip something you find inspiring, go ahead and say it.

To keep the thread orderly I suggest you put the reference of the scripture you are commenting on in the subject box.

Will see ya later...

Opps! hit the wrong key!

John 1: 47-51: (NASB)

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

48Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”

50Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

51And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

COMMENT:

John 1 records Jesus' calling of his disciples. His calling of Nathanael is remarkable. Jesus rarely complemented anyone but when he did it worthwhile to take note what he said.

Notice how he described Nathanael: "in whom there is no deceit", or guile (KJV).

Guile: from Strong's
meer-maw'
From H7411 in the sense of deceiving; fraud: - craft, deceit (-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery.

Nathanael was an honest man. He did not work to make others believe something about himself that was not true. Think about that! How many times do we work to leave good impressions on others about ourselves? Ouch? Ouch.

Nate was genuine. Apparently a rarity in Israel during that time. Am I rare in my community? Am I known for being honest, always honest? Am I genuine?

The benefits of being honest, genuine, free of hypocrisy is that God will reveal Himself to you. WOW! It will be so rich you will even see "the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man". Do we in our souls and spirit see it? Understand it?

(We do not read where Nathanael saw this literally with his physical eyes - other then Jesus in the flesh - but I am assuming Jesus meant this to occur in his mind, his soul and spirit. It is from this perspective I am speaking.

God bless....what do you see in these verses? )

"Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus is Jacob's ladder.

QUOTE:
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John is the most festal, midrashic, and over-all Jewish of the four Gospels,
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I have said this many times to friends - John is a Jewish book. If you are going to tell a person who is ignorant of Jewish culture, you better advice them to read Luke, who I think was a gentile. It will become a challenge to mine the book but then I do not expect to be able to plunge its depth - and this is the beauty of studying the scriptures: there is new insights to be gleaned all the time. This always fills my mind and soul with awe.

Nathaniel: he was a Jew. For some reason I suspect the fact that there was no guile in him was very unusual. To top it off, he did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit - He was not yet given to the people. Amazing. But he must have been so very sincere.

The ladder:
Literal or figurative? Maybe it could be both?

I know when our daughter was called to glory, I experienced a joy that night that far surpassed any kind of emotional euphoria I have ever experienced - it went on for hours - did not time it, but it seemed like it. This was something the experts called a gift from the LORD. Did I see heaven? No. But I did experience a glimpse of the joy that must characterize what exists in heaven. Awesome, I promise. Yes, God was and is good.

BTW: I never experienced bitterness in her leaving that many do when their child dies. When talking to other people about terminal illness I insist they turn this thing over to the LORD they will resist it. I never could understand it. Do people love to wallow in self-pity? What is to be gained from it? - OK, end of rabbit trail.)

John 2:1-11 NASB

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;

2 and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each.

7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim.

8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him.

9 When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom,

10 and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

COMMENT:

I see here lessons in faith as demonstrated by Mary and the servants at this wedding reception.

Jesus had never performed a miracle in his life (v. 11). His mother knew Jesus likely like no other person. We do not know what he told her about his forthcoming ministry, in any case she believed he could do something, what? she likely did not know. But she believed he could help.

Whether Jesus approached the servants or whether they asked for assistance, it does not say, but we do know Mary TOLD the servants to do as he says and they did.

It took a lot of faith to fill these pots with water and then give it to the head waiter. If it was still water they risked being considered a fool. But they obeyed and were rewarded handsomely.

I see in this story a powerful lesson in the purpose of people being involved in evangelism. The question often comes to me is why should people risk their necks and fortunes to preach to people who do not want to be taught? The Bible says in Hebrews 8:10-11:

"FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

11“AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’
FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME,
FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.

Why bother if God is going to do this?

Is it not true that God needs us to reaffirm his word to those he is convicting? What Jesus told these servants to do was totally absurd, but Mary said, "do it" and they did it. Without her urging would they have? Good question but likely not. Sometimes God tells people to do something the natural mind considers absurd, but when you follow through unimaginable blessings await.

When one partners with the Holy Spirit in witnessing we, too, will witness some of the glory that is revealed when one sees God working. Like these servants, people need a little push to get going.

John 2:13-22 NASB

13The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.

15And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables;

16and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.”

17His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”

18The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”

19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

20The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”

21But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

22So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

COMMENT:

It was Passover time in Jerusalem when many in Israel would go to the temple to offer their yearly sacrifice. For whatever reason, some folks saw this an opportunity to make money and where else but in the temple itself. There they set up - probably sounded like a sale-barn where animals are bought and sold - loud, noisy, and smelly. And this was the temple where people were to go pray, and bring their animal to the priest for an offering. It was to be a sacred place of worship. But they made it a house of merchandise. What a contrast!

I see Jesus walking up to the temple and being deeply grieved in spirit at what he saw; then making a cord and driving all these merchants with their animals out of the place. He had no regard for the money because it says he overturned their tables. I can imagine when folks saw this whip swinging around they did not stand around to debate him!

Anyhow...

Then some asked under what authority did you do this? He replied with "destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." Absurd, naturally. I see Jesus resorting to hyperbole to silence his critics.

What is our house of prayer? How have we allowed it to become a house of merchandise?

Personally, I find it unsettling in my spirit when I see people using the gospel for profiteering. They may say the right thing, but they are more interested in profits and performance. They have the appearance of ministry but it is more for show then ministry. (I suspect there is a tension between excellence in performance and ministry.) Since this troubles me, we rarely will attend any performance of this kind. So many of these performers' off-stage lifestyles have the appearance of carnality and this troubles me. Am I not by being there giving them approval of their lifestyle?

Worship, prayer is to come from the heart. It is to be given freely, entered into it freely. It involves my heart, mind, worship and love. No buying or selling. None. Jesus wants to preserve that sanctuary in our heart for Him alone - no buying or selling. Jesus cannot be bought or sold. His presence cannot be bought or sold. Clear the dross out that hinders this worship!

I suppose there are other rich lessons here that is eluding me at the moment, so what do you see?

John 2:24-25 NASB

24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,

25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

COMMENTS:

This is an observation by John of Jesus' attitude toward the public and public opinion.

I was struck by it - never noticed it as starkly as now.

Jesus did not rely on the approval of others. He knew their approval of him was fickle, temporal. To rely on their approval would mean he would be subject to their whims. It would not be stable, but wishy-washy. Nothing absolute about public opinion - changes as often as the weather - sometimes pleasant and sometimes stormy and sometimes leaves you high and dry.

Jesus was focused. How could he do that? The answer is found in John 12:49,50:

“For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.

50“I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

Can we be that focused? To do only the will of the Jesus, to speak only those things He would have you say? and do?

John 3:3-8 NASB

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

COMMENT:

Eternal principle: "unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." So spoken by Jesus.

How can one enter the kingdom of God? This was Nicodemus' question and it was not the last time it was asked - it continues to this day. And the answer remains the same: of water and the spirit.

Assuming Jesus means the WORD when he used the term water one knows from experience and the Scripture that it is impossible to be holy otherwise. It takes the WORD of God and the indwelling of the Spirit to make one fit for the kingdom of God.

To effect this requires a complete change in heart and spirit. Impossible to do it on your own - it is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is also an ongoing one and will be until you die. Simple. One does not have to have a degree in some theology to experience this. You cannot go to school to get it, nor can you buy it. No one can give it to you, either; nor can you inherit it because your mammy or pappy has it. It all rests with you, the individual. Me. The Holy Spirit beckons; am I listening?

The Holy Spirit cannot be seen. It is like wind - you see its effects because of what it does to the environment. So, the Holy Spirit - it will leave its effect on you. It can whip you, shake you, it can destroy or make you fly like a kite. Am I allowing Him to shape me up to fit me for the kingdom of God?

ginnyrose wrote:To effect this requires a complete change in heart and spirit. Impossible to do it on your own - it is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is also an ongoing one and will be until you die.
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I am learning just how impossible it is. I know in my heart that daily I must trust in the LORD, if I walk in self and strive to overcome I will fail. The only way is to submit and listen for HIS leading.

Thank you for sharing this has been very beneficial for me.

God Bless
mj

"ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”

When jesus cleansed the temple the disciples remembered this passage.

We Christians today obviously are not to have zeal for a building (God's "house" in scripture always refers to the temple).

So how should we complete the statement, if we are allowed to choose only one word or phrase?

"Zeal for __________ will consume me."

John 3:9-21 NASB

9Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”

10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?

11“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.

12“If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13“No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.

14“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

COMMENTS:

The tension between Jesus' words and man is brought into sharp focus here.

Nicodemus asked Jesus, "How can these things be?" He chides him with, "you a teacher in Israel and you do not know?"

Let us today consider the barriers to receiving TRUTH.

1. Have a mindset that resists truth, even in the everyday things of life. v12 I have noticed this, have you not? This is red flag #1 when one works to share with another, especially one who is persistent in sinning. It is as though they are working hard to contradict you at every turn. Interesting how this trait has spiritual implications.

2. Men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil. v19 Ever notice how Hollywood uses dark images in promoting their movies? Someone has said that when you see videos or DVDs whose primary colors on the case insert are dark you can know it is a movie that promotes evil. Is it not true also that some serious cimes occur under cover of darkness? Why? is it not so thee is less chance of being seen and exposed?

3. Everyone that does evil hates light and does not come to it, lest their deeds should be exposed. v20. If anyone sees through their deeds they will hate you; they hate it when people expose the under lying force that drives them.

When we resist TRUTH is there any hidden sin that prevents us from receiving it?

If only people would realize how liberating TRUTH is! It literally frees a person from bondage of all kinds. This is why some have the strength to suffer for Jesus' sake because they are liberated from lies and know the truth. Oh...oh..

Where am I?

QUOTE:
______________________________________________________________

"Zeal for __________ will consume me."
______________________________________________________________

Good question.

What consumes me? We see people all around us consumed with passion for_______________. Am I just as consumed for Jesus?

Good question, TMK.

As I was meditating on these verses and wondering what the LORD would have me share my attention was drawn to the phrase "the kingdom of God". It appears in verses 3 and 5.

In verse three it says:
"unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

In verse 5:
"unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Notice the words "see" in verse 3 and the word "enter" in verse 5 in connection to the kingdom of God.

Then I got to wondering exactly what is the kingdom of God? Is it not a kingdom that is ruled by God, where God is the ruling monarch, the king? where all his subjects do his biding? where all the inhabitants are subject to his decrees and will?

Ok...so how does one become a citizen of this kingdom? Apparently one has to recognize its existence(v.3), and then you can be born into it. Unlike your first birth, you do have the choice on whether you will enter it. (V.7: ye must be born again.)

So, now that I am born into this kingdom of God, my life, my will, my work, everything in my life is subject to the will of this King. Is this the case? Do I find it a pleasure, a joy to be a part of this kingdom?

If you were brought before a court of law and are accused of being a citizen of the kingdom of God, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

As I look at this scripture I sense in Jesus a frustration at people who disbelieved him.

Apparently, he had been doing a lot of teaching because of Nicodemus witness when he said "that we know thou art a teacher come from God." John 3:2. He also performed miracles and now this teacher was still unsure. What does it take to make people believe the obvious? There was powerful teaching plus miracles and still doubtful questions remained.

If this was the case back then, it surely is no better today, is it?

In Revelation John is shown how God will use severe calamities in an effort to bring about repentance. But will it work?

You have powerful teachings, miracles, calamities and they fail to convince the majority of the people. This alone should tell us something...

What will it take to force us to repentance? to stay close to the Master's side?

ginnyrose wrote:You have powerful teachings, miracles, calamities and they fail to convince the majority of the people. This alone should tell us something...

What will it take to force us to repentance? to stay close to the Master's side?

__________________

I think for some there is such a desire to live their life for self that no matter what happens or comes their way they will not repent and seek GOD because it would mean having to give up control of their own life. The idea of dying to self and relinquishing control is beyond what they can come to terms with...I have had some say to me the price for following Jesus is just to high if it means I have to give up ____________________(fill in the blank). Its so sad but I believe this is one reason that the path is narrow.

Enjoy reading your insights thank you for sharing.

God Bless
maryjane

There is one question that dogs most folks when they are presented with the teachings, claims of Jesus. Just exactly why should they concern me? Why should I listen? By what authority does He speak? Or, is he legitimate?

Many false messiahs had come into the world and continue to come - Jesus promised this. But what distinguishes them from the true Messiah? And would you believe, the devil still whispers these questions to my heart! Well, he does and I am a grandmother. SIGH. Never mind the wonderful supernatural experiences that I have been exposed to, he will still work to get me to doubt Him.

As I ponder this and the dilemma Nicodemus presented to Jesus. He gave him some interesting answers.

1. Nicodemus offered one: No one can do these signs unless God is with him. Signs and miracles.

2. We speak that which we know and bear witness. This is powerful: a personal witness: I know beyond a shadow of a doubt. This is what I have seen and heard. This lends authority to any witness.

3. He descended from heaven! (v13) Whoa! how many prophets or Messiahs will say that?! He is saying I got it from God himself! I was there, that is where I come from. Oh...oh.

Here you have three proofs of his legitimacy:
1. Miracles.
2. Witness
3. He came from God.

Jesus' life proved his origins. He was kind, he helped people, he preached holiness - working to draw men and women to God, reproved sin, preached repentance. He lived a consistent life.

Does my life demonstrate my new birth in Christ Jesus?