Why Jesus?
Dear Saints:
Imagine coming from heaven and born into a human family and your brothers and sister don’t even get it and believe in you. The people outside also don’t understand you and think you are demon possessed. Welcome to the world of Jesus’ earthly life. I know you are saying my parents/siblings or spouse don’t also believe in me. That is what we encounter in today’s study of John 7 (Please read the entire chapter).
In the midst of the back and forth, Jesus reveals why He came and who He is and what anyone who believes and trust in Him will be like.
Jesus, why did you come and why do people hate you? “7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.”… 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:7 and 23).
Jesus came to confront the evil of this world that is outside (e.g. injustice, hunger) and inside of us (e.g. hatred, anger, adultery). He has come to make us like Himself because there is no evil in Him. Literally, He has brought a new Kingdom and way of life, that life is in Him.
By His name “Jesus”, we understand too why Jesus came in addition to the above statements (John 7: 7 and 23). Jesus means, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. Sin is evil. Jesus has dethroned evil on the cross.
What do those who believe and trust in Jesus receive and become?:
“Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those [g]believing in Him would receive; for the [h]Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37-39.
The good news is that now, the Holy Spirit has come and lives in us that believe (see Acts 2). The question is whether the “rivers of living water is flowing” through us? Is Jesus the source and center of our lives and what comes out of us in words and deeds? Do I really trust Jesus and believe everything He has said and to ask for His grace to obey them?
We are in the age of “having a form of godliness and denying the power” of Jesus to work in our lives (see 2 Timothy 3:5-7). We have come to just believe (mentally) and think we have got a ticket to heaven (and escape from hell) but our lifestyles do not reflect a disciple or a follower of Jesus.
Let’s shun “cheap grace”. Jesus said, "17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." John 7:17. There must be willingness and choice to do God's will i.e. to obey Him.
If the world cannot see the love of Christ in our words and actions, why should they believe in our Jesus?
We thank God that Jesus’ brothers turned around and were transformed. Proof is apostle James who wrote the book of James, who says, “faith without works is dead”.
Lord, help us by your Holy Spirit to not just be hearers but doers of your word according to James 1:22-25. What has the Holy Spirit spoken to you and inspired you that you can put into action today? Heaven is here and now in the person of Jesus; let’s begin to live it and experience Him in every areas of our lives. Amen.
Happy Labor Day Weekend! We thank God for rest and new fall season.
Imagine coming from heaven and born into a human family and your brothers and sister don’t even get it and believe in you. The people outside also don’t understand you and think you are demon possessed. Welcome to the world of Jesus’ earthly life. I know you are saying my parents/siblings or spouse don’t also believe in me. That is what we encounter in today’s study of John 7 (Please read the entire chapter).
In the midst of the back and forth, Jesus reveals why He came and who He is and what anyone who believes and trust in Him will be like.
Jesus, why did you come and why do people hate you? “7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.”… 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:7 and 23).
Jesus came to confront the evil of this world that is outside (e.g. injustice, hunger) and inside of us (e.g. hatred, anger, adultery). He has come to make us like Himself because there is no evil in Him. Literally, He has brought a new Kingdom and way of life, that life is in Him.
By His name “Jesus”, we understand too why Jesus came in addition to the above statements (John 7: 7 and 23). Jesus means, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. Sin is evil. Jesus has dethroned evil on the cross.
What do those who believe and trust in Jesus receive and become?:
“Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those [g]believing in Him would receive; for the [h]Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37-39.
The good news is that now, the Holy Spirit has come and lives in us that believe (see Acts 2). The question is whether the “rivers of living water is flowing” through us? Is Jesus the source and center of our lives and what comes out of us in words and deeds? Do I really trust Jesus and believe everything He has said and to ask for His grace to obey them?
We are in the age of “having a form of godliness and denying the power” of Jesus to work in our lives (see 2 Timothy 3:5-7). We have come to just believe (mentally) and think we have got a ticket to heaven (and escape from hell) but our lifestyles do not reflect a disciple or a follower of Jesus.
Let’s shun “cheap grace”. Jesus said, "17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." John 7:17. There must be willingness and choice to do God's will i.e. to obey Him.
If the world cannot see the love of Christ in our words and actions, why should they believe in our Jesus?
We thank God that Jesus’ brothers turned around and were transformed. Proof is apostle James who wrote the book of James, who says, “faith without works is dead”.
Lord, help us by your Holy Spirit to not just be hearers but doers of your word according to James 1:22-25. What has the Holy Spirit spoken to you and inspired you that you can put into action today? Heaven is here and now in the person of Jesus; let’s begin to live it and experience Him in every areas of our lives. Amen.
Happy Labor Day Weekend! We thank God for rest and new fall season.
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