John 3:1-8

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of 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 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Key Observation:
Nicodemus, a secret follower, came to Jesus to learn.

Devotion:
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night signifying that he was not an open follower; we know no more of him than that. By inference, commentators say that Nicodemus believed in the miracles and “that thou art a teacher come from God”, but they had no real faith in Christ. John brings us again and again to crowds, people swarming around our Lord, but people who did not commit to Him. They were interested in Him because He fed them, or they were interested in His miracles, and hoped they might see another one.

McGee points out the historical record is in unanimity about the miracles; even the enemies of Jesus did not argue against the miracles. They were plain for all to see. But evidently the miracles themselves were what people wished for. John six tells us that the crowds came by force to make Him a king. The people were very upset with the presence of Jesus, but they did not know how to act. They were, in the words of this chapter, not born again, but were struggling in their flesh even to honor and accord the Son of God. But to no avail.

Knowing the gospel, and realizing who Jesus is, is not enough to save you. Are you trusting God? Are you believing Him, and are you walking with Him? James challenges us to show faith without deeds, and tells us that he will show us his faith by what he does. Here is a great mystery. We cannot be saved by our works; it is the grace of God alone which saves us as we trust in Him. But neither are we saved apart from our works. The works which I would choose to do for God are naught but folly, doomed to never please Him. But the works that I do by faith, leaning on the Spirit himself, and trusting Him to do through me, these works are works that Jesus does expect of me.

Second Corinthians has lots to teach us on walking the Christian life. “And we, who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:18) Do you see the mystery revealed? Our work is to reflect the glory of Jesus, but that glory comes from Jesus through the Spirit. In other words, we are to walk in the Spirit, let Him use us, and for that use, we will be changed more and more into the likeness of Jesus. What a mystery!

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4) When I have the wonderful privilege of leading someone to Christ, it is me speaking the Word, but it is the Spirit of God doing the actual drawing. That is why my prayer focus should be that the Lord would send me as a laborer into HIS harvest. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay [the musical group got its name here] to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Cor. 4:7) And again: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being transformed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16)

John says the wind blows where it will, and so the Spirit goes where He will, to bring life and the peace of knowing Christ to lives that we would not expect. Did the disciples expect the Spirit to speak to Saul of Tarsus? The record is complete, and those who found the reborn Saul on their hands had to have a special revelation from God to put their trust in Saul. Paul, formerly know as a sinner before God by the name of Saul, knew what a miracle God worked in changing his heart. Saul worked very hard to please God; as a Pharisee of renown he had memorized the first five books of the Bible. He worked hard for God, dressing right, teaching others, but all the time he himself was not reached.

It was not until Jesus appeared to Saul that Saul became Paul. I believe that when Jesus did this, he was appointing the apostle to replace Judas. I do think the church erred when they picked their two apostles—neither one ever came close to the record of the one whom Jesus picked. In fact, we never hear about anything of the rest of their lives. They were godly men, but not apostles, because they were not picked personally by Jesus. At least that is my view. According to the book of Acts he was in the desert many years unlearning much of what he thought he knew. So is it when one is born of the Spirit. God’s grace confounds the wisdom of man. Therefore it is my responsibility to be used of God for His purposes. Probably around some of the people who I despise the most, if we are to learn for Saul’s conversion.

So James is very correct when he challenges us; the only way we can show our faith is by our works. Yet the mystery of God comes in when we find we cannot do the works ourselves. It is the work of the Spirit within us, as we yield to God, that does the works which are approved of God. And I should not make the mistake of thinking I will not be held accountable. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10) Please do not misunderstand this bema seat of judgment. We have already been found to be worthy of being with Christ, because of our trust in God. At this seat we will receive rewards, crowns, and perhaps responsibilities. If what we have done is unrighteous, not in the Spirit, our works will be burned up, yet we ourselves shall be saved.

Salvation by grace

Titus 3:3-7.

[Lord, we confess our num'rous faults,
How great our guilt has been!
Foolish and vain were all our thoughts,
And all our lives were sin.

But, O my soul! for ever praise,
For ever love his name,
Who turns thy feet from dangerous ways
Of folly, sin, and shame.]

['Tis not by works of righteousness
Which our own hands have done;
But we are saved by sovereign grace
Abounding through his Son.]

'Tis from the mercy of our God
That all our hopes begin;
'Tis by the water and the blood
Our souls are washed from sin.

'Tis through the purchase of his death
Who hung upon the tree,
The Spirit is sent down to breathe
On such dry bones as we.

Raised from the dead we live anew;
And, justified by grace,
We shall appear in glory too,
And see our Father's face.

Isaac Watts

John 2: 12-25

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Key Observation:
The main purpose of John is “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ” (John 20:31) and in this section we find Jesus acting jealously for His father.

Devotion:
The Life of Christ in Stereo makes it apparent that Christ cleaned out the temple twice, once at the beginning of his ministry and once at the end of his ministry. John, with his attention to both time and place, puts this cleansing clearly near the beginning of His ministry. Matthew tells us that Jesus, after His triumphal entry, He “entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” (Matt. 21:12) Clearly John tells us of the cleansing of the temple as being early; Matthew equally clearly tells us of a late cleansing. The two times of cleansing are easily accounted for if we view it as two separate cleansings: one at the beginning of His ministry, and one near the end.

McGee says: “This was not at the beginning of His public ministry but probably at the end of the first year.” I do not think I agree. John is practically a slave to time and place, even this early in John:
1) Now all this happened at Bethany 1:28
2) The next day 1:29
3) The next day 1:35
4) The first thing Andrew did 1:41
5) The next day 1:43
6) On the third day a wedding took place in Cana 2:1(We are left with an unknown period of time between chapter one and two)
7) After this he went to Capernaum 2:12 (again an indeterminate period of time)
8) he stayed there a few days 2:12
9) When it was almost time for the Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem 2:13

Thus it seems to me that these events are connected in time in John’s mind, and that they were probably not a long time apart. The measured time we have is the continual “next day” or “after this”. McGee does not give a reason for the longer time, and I do admit it could have been months. I wonder what his reason for believing the longer interval was.
In any case McGee himself agrees there were two cleansings: “He did this twice. One cleansing was at the beginning of His ministry and one again at the end of His ministry.”

I recall my early Christian life and a pastor friend of mine who had great difficulty with believing there were two cleansings. I think it was because this act is sometimes interpreted as the mad ravings of the weird Jesus. Jesus was acting in a bizarre fashion, at least according to how we think of proper behavior. I think my dear friend was not looking at the offense through the eyes of Jesus. Think about it for a moment. Jesus was seeing His own Father’s house turned into a house of merchandise. It was a place for man to try to find peace with God, a place that God himself had picked. It is also the exact place to which the Son is returning, and will set up His rule on earth. That this place should be despoiled by sinful man selling his wares was an ultimate despising of the house of God. Of course He cleaned it out. At the beginning of His ministry, He cleaned it to symbolize His authority. At the end of His ministry He cleaned it anew for the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

How do I know that? Well, in verse 18 the Jews ask for a miracle so that Jesus could show He had authority to do such bold and bizarre actions. Jesus gave them a miracle, saying, destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it again.” He did answer their petition to validate his authority. The resurrection did establish His authority once for all. But they misunderstood Him, thought He was speaking of the temple he had just cleansed, and even his own disciples did not understand this saying until after the resurrection.

A final note. I can’t help but remark on a theme of John contrasted against another theme. First John tells us (v. 11) that his disciples put their faith in Him. Then he tells us “many people” (v. 23) believed in His name. But then John adds a note: Jesus did not commit himself to any of them, for He knew what was in a man. These themes are repeated throughout John. Many believe. Many follow. But the Lord knows their heart. In John we see great movements of many crowds, trying to take Jesus and make Him a king by force. But we see Jesus, not willing to give Himself for that purpose, because the mind of God was for others. Where would you or I be if not for God’s willingness to wait for us? The matchless grace of Jesus was given to me, at least in part because God had a better plan—the plan of the cross.

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

1. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

2. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost;
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

3. Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God's dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Chorus:
Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient grace for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus,
Praise His Name!

Lyrics: Haldor Lillenas

John 2:1-11

1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Key Observation:
The first miracle of Jesus answered a great social need of his mother.

Devotion:
The mother of Jesus is given the honor of designating the beginning of His miracles. John undoubtedly was standing there, watching the whole thing, evidenced by the fact that he gives vivid and personal details. The conversation with his mother is recorded, as are the number of waterpots. The comment of the ruler of the feast is retold, and taken together, indicate that John was probably present. McGee makes a very poignant observation that Mary carried the sullied reputation for all of the life of Jesus concerning her virgin birth. This request by her might be also seen as a plea for vindication: “Show the world that You are who the angels said You are.”

McGee: “Here she is asking Him to do something that will demonstrate who He is to clear her name. He tells her that He is going to do just that—He will clear her name—but that the hour has not yet come. That hour did come! His resurrection proves who He is.” I always took it that Jesus was being told by his mother that the time had come for miracles, that this was an honor she was given from God, but McGee gives some new thoughts to this. I am not sure I agree totally with it; the context seems to demand a current remark to a current situation. Would Jesus refer to His resurrection at such a point? Perhaps He might, but Mary’s question is specifically tailored to the marriage feast, and I do think the answer that Christ gave to his mother must first fit the context.

Mary has some role with the marriage that is not revealed; perhaps she is a relative, or just an interested friend. But we know from her remark: “They have no wine”, she is concerned about their need. Calvin suggests that Mary was trying to get Jesus to give a discourse; McGee suggests that she was directing her son to begin to show Himself through a miracle. I agree with McGee; Calvin seems to be making a-way-out-of-context interpretation here.

I find it interesting that the miracles of God so often seem to use ordinary things which are given miraculous effects. The spit of Jesus was used to heal eyes. The prophet Elisha told Namaan to go wash himself in the Jordan River seven times. Here water, ordinary water, is turned into a fine wine. I think God does the same thing with me. I do not count for very much; others look at me and see someone quite ordinary. But God, filling me with His Spirit, takes “the ordinary” and makes something miraculous from it—someone that can be used by God to effect profound change in others. Do we not all wish to be used like that? Oh, that God might fill us with His Spirit, and put us to His uses.

* Afternote:
I may have happened upon an explanation as to up to a year gap between Chapter One and Chapter Two. Thomas Aquinas: "For three miracles are commemorated on the feast of the Epiphany: the adoration of the Magi, which took place in the first year of the Lord’s birth; secondly, the baptism of Christ, which implies that he was baptized on the same day thirty years later; thirdly, this marriage, which took place on the same day one year later. It follows from this that at least one year elapsed between his baptism and this marriage. In that year the only things recorded to have been done by the Lord are found in the sixth chapter of Matthew: the fasting in the desert, and the temptation by the devil;"

Thus we know we have to have time for the temptation of Jesus, which we know to be at least 40 days. Therefore it is reasonable that several months passed between John 1 and John 2.

St Thomas Aquinas (2010-04-15). Commentary of The Gospel of St John (Kindle Locations 2595-2599). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me

1. Gracious Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would gracious be;
And with words that help and heal
Would Thy life in mine reveal;
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Savior speak.

2. Truthful Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would truthful be;
And with wisdom kind and clear
Let Thy life in mine appear;
And with actions brotherly
Speak my Lord's sincerity.

3. Tender Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would tender be;
Shut my heart up like a flower
In temptation's darksome hour,
Open it when shines the sun,
And his love by fragrance own.

4. Mighty Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would mighty be;
Mighty so as to prevail,
Where unaided man must fail;
Ever, by a mighty hope,
Pressing on and bearing up.

5. Holy Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would holy be;
Separate from sin, I would
Choose and cherish all things good,
And whatever I can be
Give to Him Who gave me Thee!

Lyrics: Thomas Toke Lynch

John 1, an outline

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Key Observation:
John chapter one can be looked at as a testimonial for the Lamb of God.

Devotion:
The purpose of John should be considered before trying to outline any part of the book. Fortunately John tells us: “But these are written 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 20:31) So every piece of a coherent outline should be under the purpose: “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.”

Now looking at John One, I see a very clear outline:

1) John presents Jesus as the Savior in creation and John as his spokesman. 1:1-18
A. John testifies that The Creator is Jesus v. 1-5
a) John testifies of the Word v. 1,2
Jesus is God, was with God in the beginning
b) John testifies of the Creator v. 3
c) John testifies of the life and light of men v. 4,5
B. John testifies that John the Baptist heralds the Light
a) John the Baptist testifies of the Light v. 7-9
Parenthetical testimony of John: Jesus made the world, but the world knew
Him not. v. 10
Parenthetical testimony of John: His own did not believe Him, v 11
Parenthetical testimony of John: All who receive Him are born of God.
e) John testifies of the superiority of Jesus v. 15
Parenthetical testimony of John: His grace is given for all v. 16
Parenthetical testimony of John: Law compared to grace v. 17
Parenthetical testimony of John: God the Father is unseen, the Son, seen,
declares him v. 18

2) John presents John the Baptist as the Herald of the Savior v. 19 – 28
A. John confesses he is not Christ v. 19 – 20
B. John confesses he is not Elijah v. 21
C. John confesses he is not that Prophet v 21
D. John testifies he is the voice
E. John testifies he baptizes with water to proclaim the greater One

3) John the Baptist presents Jesus as the Lamb of God John 1:29-34
A. His baptizing was that He might be revealed v. 31
B. John testifies that he saw the Spirit descend on Jesus v. 32-34

4) John the Baptist presents to his disciples Jesus as the Lamb v. 35-39
A. Andrew and John follow Jesus v. 37-39
5) John records Andrew’s testimony to Peter v. 40-42
6) John records that Philip follows Jesus v. 43-44
7) John records that Philip finds Nathanael and brings him to Jesus v. 46-51

Thus there seem to be seven clear sections to chapter one that tell me about Jesus. They tell me that He is God, comes from God, that He is life, that He is light, and that he is the Lamb of God. Thus John presents Jesus in the first chapter as:
1) God
2) With God
3) Creator
4) Life
5) Light
6) Flesh
7) Lamb
9) Son of God
10) King of Israel

Clearly in every one of the seven presentations of John, Jesus is depicted as the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

Blessed Assurance

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight:
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest:
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Chorus:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Lyrics: Frances Jane (Fanny J.) Crosby

John 1:34-51

34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Key Observation:
This is the testimony of those who first saw Jesus, possibly including John.

Devotion:
McGee: “This first chapter of John’s gospel has been lengthy and extremely important. The prologue presents the incarnation of the Word—He is God, He became flesh, He reveals the Father. Then He is introduced by witnesses. John the Baptist testifies that Jesus is the revealer of God. Andrew testifies that Jesus is the Messiah. Philip testifies that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament. Nathanael witnesses that Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel.”

Who is the unnamed disciple that turned from following John the Baptist to following Jesus. In verse 37: “When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.” They stayed with Him that first night according to verse 39. The next day, one of the disciples is identified as Andrew, who promptly went and found his own brother, Peter.
So now we have three disciples: the unnamed disciple, Andrew, and Peter. The next day Jesus found Philip, who found Nathanael. Nathanael follows Jesus, but is not called into the inner circle of disciples. John’s gospel does not record the specific calling of the rest, but by the sixth chapter, Jesus refers to the whole twelve.

Matthew gives precedence to Simon Peter and Andrew, making two things seem out of order here. According to John’s gospel Andrew and the unnamed disciple were the first to follow Jesus. But according to Matthew He calls Simon Peter and Andrew first and then James and John. So Matthew covers not Philip, nor the following of Nathanael. The two different accounts are easily reconcilable as different times observed by different people. That is, at some point after their initial following of Jesus in the gospel of John, the brothers Peter and Andrew were fishing to earn their living. Coming by, Jesus called them and then did the same to James and John. This would make the account in John to be the first account of their meeting—not some later calling away from their fishing life.

Mark closely imitates Matthew, though Mark tells us of the calling later of Matthew (Levi) in chapter 2. In chapter three of Mark, the twelve are listed: Simon Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. Luke’s account in chapter 5 is slightly more detailed, but again covers the calling away from their livelihood of fishing, rather than their first meeting with Jesus.

John alone, then, is able to give us details given in none of the other gospels. Why? I think the explanation that most easily answers the question is that John is the unnamed disciple. Does this fit the narrative? Well, I could point to the other places in the gospel where John refuses to name himself. He is not at all shy about naming the others or giving credit to others, but he consistently refrains from naming himself in a public fashion.

1)When the disciples are partaking of the last supper, Jesus informs them that one disciple is a traitor. John is spoken of, not by name, but as the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13).
2)In John 18, the story of Simon Peter and “another disciple” are the only two to follow Jesus, and because “another disciple” was known to the high priest, he was allowed into the high priest’s courtyard.
3)When Jesus is upon the cross, in chapter 19, He saw his mother and “the disciple whom He loved”. John, alone among the disciples, was there with Jesus’ mother. Jesus gave the responsibility for the care of his mother to “the disciple whom He loved.”
4)In chapter 19, John also refers to himself yet again, “The man who saw it has given testimony and his testimony is true.” Again the “man” is most likely John.
5) In chapter 20, Mary Magdalene is running to Simon Peter and “the disciple whom he loved.”
6) In chapter 20 again, Peter and the “other disciple” started for the tomb and the “other disciple” outran Peter
7) In chapter 20 again, the “other disciple” outruns Peter. Peter is the first to go inside the tomb, yet when “the other disciple” goes in, he sees the empty tomb and he believes. I think this is a reference to John, and him saying that he was the first to understand the empty tomb. What a marvel!
8) In chapter 21, Peter wants to know what John’s end of life will be like, since the Lord prophesied such a dismal end for Peter himself. John is again referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” and “the disciple”.

In summation, I think John was the first to follow Jesus, with Andrew, and I think John was the first to understand that the empty tomb meant a resurrected Lord. Counted with the listed appearances above, there are nine places where I find John referring to himself anonymously. I rejoice in the Bible study, but more so in the empty tomb!

McGee, J. Vernon (1990-01-30). Thru the Bible 1-5 (5 Volume Set) (Kindle Locations 100047-100050). Grupo Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Up from the Grave He Arose (Low in the Grave He Lay)

1. Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2. Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)

3. Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
(Refrain)

Text: Robert Lowry, 1826-1899
Music: Robert Lowry, 1826-1899
Tune: CHRIST AROSE, Meter: 65.64 with Refrain

John 1:19 to 33

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Key Observation:
John the Baptizer verifies the Lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the world.

Devotion:
To introduce Christ to the world is an honor for John. He tells us that he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness. He definitely tells us that he was not Elijah. Thomas Aquinas gives us some interesting insights: “There are certain heretics who say that souls migrate from one body to another. And this belief was current among the Jews of that time. For this reason they believed that the soul of Elijah was in John’s body, because of the similarity of John’s actions to those of Elijah.”

The statement of Jesus still muddies the scene further: “And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” The simplest explanation is that John the Baptist was one who came in the spirit of Elijah—that is he did similar things to Elijah. I think Jesus was talking in context of the offered kingdom here. He was offering himself as King, which if the Jews had accepted Him, John the Baptist’s coming in the spirit of Elijah would have been sufficient. However, as God knew already, the Jews would reject His Son, and therefore the prophet coming in the spirit of Elijah has not yet come.

I believe his identity to be as one of the two prophets sent during the time of Jacob’s trouble, to turn the hearts of Israel back to God. Elijah could come literally, or perhaps figuratively, as did John the Baptist. Either way would be a fulfillment of God’s promise.

John cried, “This is the Lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the world.” It is John the apostle alone who tells us of the testimony of John the Baptist. The other gospels all tell of the message of John the Baptist: “But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John also faithfully records this message. But it is John alone who records the cry of John the Baptist, and in the gospel of John it appears twice, on consecutive days. (verse 29 and verse 35 of John 1) Remember that the gospel of John emphasizes the deity of our Savior. What better emphasis than calling Him the Lamb of God?

It may be also that John was personally present to hear the two cries. Apparently the cries took place before the calling of Andrew and Peter, as well as Philip and Nathanael. I wonder if the two disciples following John the Baptist, who turned from John to follow Jesus were not likely John and his brother James. That would account for John being able to faithfully record this message.

What a message! The Lamb of God sent to take away the sin of the world. Not the sins of just a few—but the sins of the world. This fits so beautifully into John 3, where John tells us: “For God so loved the world,” and “God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him, might be saved.” Something to be thankful for indeed!

The Lily of the Valley

1. I have found a friend in Jesus, He's everything to me,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He's my comfort, in trouble He's my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.

2. He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He's my strong and mighty tower;
I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart and now He keeps me by His power.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.

3. He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I've nothing now to fear,
From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where the rivers of delight shall ever roll.

Chorus:
He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

Lyrics: Charles William Fry

John 1:18

18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Key Observation:
As far as we know, no human has ever seen God.

Devotion:
Moses famously asked to see God. He was allowed to see only the “hindmost” part of God. The result was the glory of God shining in the face of Moses. Someone pointed out that Moses covered his face, not to hide the glory of God, but rather to prevent others from seeing the glory fading from his face. I wonder if that speculation is true. “But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:23)

This Thanksgiving I am thankful that God has allowed me to enter His fellowship, a fellowship not to be despised, but one that will endure. Jesus says, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. I know of no place that says one day we will see the Father; I only know that we will look fully on the face of Jesus, and the Scripture says, “we shall become like Him for we shall see Him as He is.”

Recently I worked on scanning family photos a bit more, with my goal one day being able to have them all in digital format. I confess to being overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in those pictures who have passed on—some to eternal life, and I am thankful that one day soon I will begin eternity with them, but others to face judgment. What is it that Jesus meant when he said, (Luke 14:26) “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”?

I think part of the answer to this question lies at the heart of this verse: No one has seen God, the Son has declared Him. If our priorities are right, then our faces are fixed firmly towards Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. All other things of this world become secondary. As I grow older, and sprout the gray hairs that McGee declares to be a warning from God that my life is nearing an end, I have noticed faith in other fervent aged souls. Somehow those who teach me the most are those who go beyond the sickness of their devoted spouse, who go beyond their own ailments and loss, and look to Jesus to bring that which this life cannot bring.

It is not that those people do not find happiness in life; they are some of the most happy people I know. But their happiness is centered in Christ, and even their very faces begin to shine with the glory of the Lord—for they have spent their lives looking to their Lord, and they anticipate with their whole being the transformation that will come one day by looking fully upon His face. Not willing to wait for that glorious transformation, they are walking with their God, moment by moment and day by day being transformed into His glorious image. Is it any wonder that I admire such men and women of faith? Step by step they are drawing unto their Lord, and the people and the things of this life are growing strangely dim.

I thank God this Thanksgiving for all of the saints that I know who have gone before me, not willing to just go, but willing every day of their latter lives to watch the face of their Lord.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

2. Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conquerors we are!

3. His Word shall not fail you He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Chorus:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Lyrics: Helen Howarth Lemmel

John 1: 15:17

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Key Observation:
This passage is dealing with one of the two themes of the first chapter: 1) The testimony of John the Baptizer, and 2) The beginning ministry of Jesus with the calling of his disciples.

Devotion:
John is a type of Elijah: “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and terrible day of the Lord comes.” (Mal. 4:5) Had the offered kingdom been accepted by the Jews, John the Baptizer would have been the Elijah sent to turn the hearts of people back to God. The kingdom was rejected, as our Lord foreknew, and John, though he acted in the spirit of Elijah, was never able to fulfill this role.

Thus, the prophecy of Malachi, which nearly came true, has not yet come true, and it is in the great day of the Lord that many Bible scholars feel Elijah himself will return. Some say, and I think so also, that Elijah and Enoch will be the two great prophets that come to turn the hearts of Israel back to their God. The reasoning for this is that Elijah and Enoch stand alone in all of mankind as the two people who never experienced death. Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, and Enoch was not, for God took him.

I think that they may be literally sent back for that great time of Jacob’s trouble, but I also think that the Scripture may be fulfilled by God’s sending two prophets in the spirit of Elijah. What is the spirit of Elijah? Elijah confronted major disbelief and idolatry in his day. He stood almost single-handed for the Lord, who rewarded him with great signs and wonders to turn the hearts of Israel back. Whether it is the actual flesh of Elijah, I know not, but the job of these prophets will be to confront disbelief and idolatry. They will stand almost singly, with the aid of a 144,000, and they will be the prominent ones through whom God will send signs and wonders. I believe that their deaths and even perhaps their subsequent resurrections will be on world wide television, since Revelation tells us that the whole world will rejoice over their deaths. At least in the sight of those present and gloating over their deaths, the two prophets will be raised again to life, and their bodies taken up to heaven.

Unless I see John the Baptizer in this prophetical light, I miss the expectation of the Jews. Time and again the gospel of John makes it apparent the people following Jesus tried to come and make him a king, not understanding that because the kingdom was rejected, that the offer would be deferred to a later date. One day soon we will have two prophets raised up who will testify again: “This is He, the Messiah.” Now that gives me a Chris Matthews’ tingle up my leg!

Sound the Trumpet

Sound the trumpet, oh people of God!
Sound the trumpet, oh people of God,
And let his glory be known, and let his glory be known!

Sound the trumpet, oh people of God!
Sound the trumpet, oh people of God,
And let his glory be known, and let his glory be known!

For the Lord, our God, is a great God,
Great King of all the earth!
For the Lord, our God, is a mighty God,
Oh, sing of his excellent worth!

Sound the trumpet, oh people of God!
Sound the trumpet, oh people of God,
And let his glory be known, and let his glory be known!

Lyrics: Unknown

John 1 14

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Key Observation:
The Word, The Life, and The Light has been made flesh. One of the mysteries of all time.

Devotion:
I find myself wondering why from time to time. Why did the Lord do all of this for me? Why would He care that much? He came to be rejected, knowing the death He was to face, and still He came. I do not know why, except that He chose to love us.

I am thankful. I do not understand, but thankfulness swells endlessly from my heart. What a God we serve! From eternity past He chose to come to the cross, to give himself freely that I might live. I will cling to the old rugged cross!

Of course the tragedy is that the world rejected Him. The verse earlier in John says: “that all men through him might believe.” Freely He was given, coming as a babe in a manger, going faithfully all the way to the cross, that the world might be saved. But the world has rejected Him, and even among us who remember, how many of us are really living for Him? The scripture asks the question: when the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the earth?

As for me and my house, we will be found faithfully waiting for Him. I am so thankful for the moment to moment peace He brings to my soul as I anxiously watch the evils in our world unfold. To know there is a sense to it all, that there is a Master who is very much in charge, Someone who makes my life understandable. These are reasons to be thankful.

Early in my Christian life, when I was still a new Christian (19 or 20?) I asked the Lord to take care of my yet unborn children, to watch after them, to bring them up in Him, with all their descendants. I look with amazement and am overwhelmed with thankfulness as I see what He has accomplished. I have two wonderful daughters married to husbands fervent to be faithful to God, and all my six grandchildren are being raised to love their Lord. What a God I serve! Who is He that He should care what I prayed? The mystery of it all overwhelms me. Who are we that the Word would become flesh for us? What a wonder!

The Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine
Such a wonderful beauty I see
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and approach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

Lyrics: George Bennard

John 1: 10 to 12

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Key Observation:
The king of the world is rejected by both the world and his own Jews.

Devotion:
It is altogether remarkable that the Light of the world should be shunned by the world. The wickedness of man hides the grace of God; I know from Scripture that I would be unable to come to God except He give me much more than the light mirrored in mankind. “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” (J. 6:24) “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” (Ro. 1:18,19) So evidently the light which is in man is sufficient for God to hold men responsible. But in this passage, the Scripture tells me that He was in the world for us to see, acknowledge, and bow before. What did the world do instead? They crucified Him.

I notice that verse 10 tells us that the world was made by Jesus, which makes those who would take Him away from the Godhead altogether more ridiculous. Remember that some would translate verse one as “a” God, notwithstanding all the other verses evident in this chapter that affirm the deity of Christ.

The conundrum here is that even his “own” reject Him. Those who should have proclaimed him king before the world were guilty of despising the Son. I think Israel spiritually died after rejecting their own king; statistics tell us that the Jewish people have significantly more atheists as part of their population than any other peoples. The Bible is clear when it tells us that one day the Jewish people will see the Messiah coming for them and will turn back to Him. On that day, the world also will be turned toward Him.

But as many as received Him. The offer was to the world, even as Jesus saw and knew the hearts of men. Does not the verses prior to this show that He knows our hearts? Nevertheless, the promise is to “as many as”. Belief is the only cost of being saved. Refusal to belief brings the judgment of God—a judgment that is just since “what may be known about God is plain to them.” Abraham believed God and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness. By faith we all must be saved, for certainly there is nothing within ourselves able to save. In reminding ourselves of the grace of God in our election, and knowing that no one can come unless he be called, we would do well to remind ourselves that NOT one man enters heaven without also believing. Somehow the great doctrine of election and the believing power of man work together, but in a harmony of which God only understands.

The answer to the question, what must I do to be saved, has for two thousand years been the same: “Believe”. But without faith it is impossible to please God. Consider carefully the claims of Christ—and pray that God will open your eyes, that seeing the truth you might believe. To them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe in His name. Ask that you might receive. Jesus promises that he who comes to me I will in no wise case out.

What a wonderful promise! We serve an awesome God, a God who is always victorious. We know that one day we shall live and stand before Him, who is the Word, the Light, the Good Shepherd, and the Bread of Life.

Great Big Wonderful God

We've got a great big wonderful God
A great big wonderful God
A God who's always victorious
Always watching over us
Great big wonderful God

We've got a great big wonderful God
A great big wonderful God
A God that loves every one of us
Done so much for all of us
Great big wonderful God

He never, never, never leaves us
He's always standing by
To pick us up when we stumble
We're the apple of his eye

We've got a great big wonderful God
A great big wonderful God
Oh what a glory it is to sing
Praises to the coming King
Great big wonderful God
Our Great Big Wonderful God

John 1:6-12 Part Two

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Key Observation:
He lights the life of every man!

Devotion:
Calvin says: “For since man lost the favor of God, his mind is so completely overwhelmed by the thralldom of ignorance, that any portion of light which remains in it is quenched and useless. This is daily proved by experience; for all who are not regenerated by the Spirit of God possess some reason, and this is an undeniable proof that man was made not only to breathe, but to have understanding.” Thus he takes the position that this is the only proper interpretation of “the light which lighteth every man”. My understanding of the verse would put the Light as another name for Jesus, stressing his divinity. I have always connected “the light in every man” as being the very image of God, in the form of the Spirit, and thus I am led to reflect on the job of the Spirit: to convict the world. But perhaps Calvin is right; I would not dogmatically build a doctrine around such an obscure reference. I would point out, though, that Christ uses “Light” many times to refer to himself, and I do not think that the light referred to here as being in men, can be said to emanate from any but Christ. The point of the verse seems to be that somehow men are still being “lit” by the light, coming from the image of God; whether it be something left, hideously marred by sin, or the work of the Spirit in every man, I know not. Perhaps in the end they are one and the same—the image that we were created in has a part of God in it, but apart from the further work of God, we remain unable to save ourselves.

The way that John begins his gospel here is compellingly different than Matthew or Luke, who were concerned with the human lineage of the Christ. John begins at once giving us the deity of Jesus, and thrusting us directly into learning what that divinity meant. Matthew particularly is more concerned with the prophecies being fulfilled, while John is far more interested in presenting Jesus as God. In reading the commentaries, many times I have seen the suggestion that John was answering the heresies developing in his time. Some were trying to take away the humanity of Jesus as they struggled with the concept of a being who was both fully God and fully man.

Matthew lets us know the world was expecting a ruler to arise from Judea. The Magi came from the east, not Judea, and inquired of Herod about the one born “king of the Jews”. Herod himself was alarmed enough to attempt to destroy all Jewish babies of that time. Where did that knowledge come from? McGee says: “Suetonius relates that “an ancient and definite expectation had spread throughout the East, that a ruler of the world would, at about the time, arise in Judaea.” Tacitus makes a similar statement. Schlegel mentions that Buddhist missionaries traveling to China met Chinese sages going to seek the Messiah about 33 a.d. (Life of Vespasian, c. iv.).”

(I cannot help but remark that today’s world is also seeing the arising of a leader. The Christians allege the time of Christ is near. The Catholics have prophesied the end of their popes to be but one more after this one. The Moslems are proclaiming the coming of the 12th Imam. The Mayan Calendar has certainly generated a lot of speculation; one has only to google 2012 to find endless wonderings about a calendar which seems to run out that year. Is not the general tenor of the world preparing for a change in world leadership?)

Why does John seem to skip over all of that, and present us with the deity of Jesus? I would think the reason might originate in two things that are quite simple. First, Jesus was the best friend of John. At times commentators have acknowledged this; I do not know why they did not think of it to explain, at least in part why John presents such a different picture of Jesus. John was called the beloved. It was he alone of all the apostles who remained with Jesus to the bitter end of the cross. Jesus gave the care of his own mother to John in one of his last cries on the cross. It seems that John, being more reflective than the impetuous Peter and others, had prior insight into the nature of Judas. One of the last comments of the resurrected Lord concerned John, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” John himself clarifies this remark in the end of his book. I would submit that John knew Jesus a bit better than any of the others. Somehow he gained insights into the nature of his best friend that others choose not to emphasize. He knew Jesus, and in knowing Jesus, he knew God. That is the message of John. McGee points out that the gospel of John hardly uses the term Christ, yet so plainly this is the gospel of the Christ, and we would expect Christ to appear many times. Instead Jesus is used almost throughout the gospel. Why? I would submit it was because of John’s friendship, that he knew the Christ, but he knew him as Jesus, his friend.

Update: Calvin states this as I would interpet it later in his commentary:
"But since the Evangelist employs the general phrase, every man that cometh into the world, I am more inclined to adopt the other meaning, which is, that from this light the rays are diffused over all mankind, as I have already said." I still wonder if that light, however distorted and marred inside natural man, is not the conviction of the Holy Spirit, attesting to who God is.

I promised to list some of the places in John where it shows that Jesus absolutely knew all men—knew that they would largely reject him. Yesterday I listed places where it is very clear that Jesus is offered to the world. Calvin himself says of this gospel: “They do not, indeed, omit to mention that Christ came to bring salvation to the world, to atone for the sins of the world by the sacrifice of his death, and, in short, to perform every thing that was required from the Mediator, (as John also devotes a portion of his work to historical details;) but the doctrine, which points out to us the power and benefit of the coming of Christ, is far more clearly exhibited by him than by the rest.”

Verses that show Jesus knew the hearts of men:
1) But Jesus would not commit himself to any, for he knew all men. He needeth not that any should testify of men, for he knew what was in man. (J. 2:24, 25)
2) but still you people do not accept our testimony. (J. 3:11)
3) This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead
of light because their deeds were evil. (J. 3:19)
4) He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony
(J. 3:32)
5) yet you refuse to come to me that you might have life. (J. 5:40)
6) But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. (J. 6:36)
7) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise
him up on the last day. (J. 6:46)
8) For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and
who would betray him. (J. 6:64)
9) Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil! (J. 6:70)
10) For even his own brothers did not believe in Him. (J. 7:5)
11) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me? (J. 7:19)

I think that is sufficient proof, that though the Lord gave himself as a sacrifice to the world, he knew men, and knew most would never receive His message.

Calvin, John (2009-06-03). Commentary on John - Volume 1 - Enhanced Version (Calvin's Commentaries) (Kindle Locations 576-578). Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Kindle Edition.


Calvin, John (2009-06-03). Commentary on John - Volume 1 - Enhanced Version (Calvin's Commentaries) (Kindle Locations 327-329). Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Kindle Edition.

McGee, J. Vernon (1990-01-30). Thru the Bible 1-5 (5 Volume Set) (Kindle Locations 99620-99622). Grupo Nelson. Kindle Edition.



Calvin, John (2009-06-03). Commentary on John - Volume 1 - Enhanced Version (Calvin's Commentaries) (Kindle Locations 498-500). Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Kindle Edition.

Jesus Paid It All

1. I hear the Savior say,
'Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.'

2. Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow'r and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone.

3. For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb.

4. And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
'Jesus died my soul to save,'
My lips shall still repeat.

Chorus:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lyrics: Elvina Mable Hall

John 1: 6-12

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Key Observation:
In teaching us about John the Baptizer, John the apostle also has much to teach us about Jesus.

Devotion:
In this portion of John, we are introduced to John the Baptizer, but even in the introducing him,the glory is passed on to the One. I find it appalling that so many scholars will not read their Bibles, but take their doctrines from others. Here the Bible is most plain, and it is said many times: “that all men through him might believe”. In every decent sense of the word, Christ died for the sins of the world. Let’s look at some of the scriptures which tell us so:
1) that all men through him might believe (J. 1:7)
2) which lighteth every man that cometh into the world (J. 1:9)
3) that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life (J. 3:15)
4) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes
(J. 3:16)
5) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, (J. 3:36)
6) We know that this man really is the Savior of the world (J. 4:42)
7) whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life (J. 5:24)
8) For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world
(J. 6:33)
9) For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall
have eternal life, (J. 6:40)
10) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him (J. 7:38)
11) I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death (J. 8:51)
12) I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved (J. 10:9)
13) and whoever lives and believes in me will never die (J. 11:26)
14) But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself (J. 12:32)
15) I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay
in darkness (J. 12:46)
16) For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. (J. 12:47)
17) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing
(J. 14:12)
18) the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father
has commanded me. (J. 14:31)
19) when he comes he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness
and judgment. (J. 16:8) (Jesus is describing the job of the Spirit here. Notice that
the Spirit is convicting the world.)
20) He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of
the whole world. (1J. 2:2)
Jesus is both the author and finisher of our faith; I am certainly not maintaining here that our calling and election do not have much to do with our salvation. Rather, I am trying to show that men are responsible before God to believe, and they will be judged for not believing. God made the offer to all; not all partook of his offer, and God, being God, also says He both foreknows and predestines us. Many verses in John show that Jesus was very aware of the hearts of the men whom He was talking to, and that He did know that many would not come to him.
But that in no way means the offer of salvation is not to the whole world. Notice in the above verses words like world, whoever, and anyone appear again and again. His offered atonement is unlimited, that is it is a bonafide offer to the world. But the sacrifice of the Son is limited to those who believe. Thus it is also a limited atonement, meaning that it is effectual only for those who will believe.
Tomorrow I will list the verses from John which show that, at the same time Jesus was offering himself to the world, He was very cognate of how He would be treated and rejected. But today, let’s focus on this verse: “For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. (J. 12:47)” One day God will be perfectly justified to judge the world, for has He not offered to rescue it?

Joy To The World!

1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing.

2. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.

4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, and wonders of His love.

Lyrics: Isaac Watts

John 1: 4, 5

John 1: 4, 5
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Observation:
Jesus is the only light to the souls of men.

Devotion:
In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. Jesus is the start and the finish of where we must go for our light. In the synoptic gospels (the other three besides John), Jesus is presented as the King, as a man, as a servant. Deity is apparent throughout, but the purposes of the authors, being slightly different, also present us with a slightly different view of Jesus.

In John, Jesus is supremely presented as God in the flesh. In John He is presented as the Savior of the world. In this verse He is both our life and our light. There are other verses John wrote which carry this same theme:
1) And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14)
2) That was the true light (John 1:9)
3) I am the light of the world. (John 8:12)
4) Put your trust in the light while you have it. (John 12:36)
5) concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (1 John 1:1&2)

The Bible depicts the man without Christ as dead in trespasses and sins. They are all the more dead since they do not even know of their deadness. Once a man comes to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, he is freely forgiven, and for the first time, knows what it is to be alive. So it is a very real sense in which Jesus gives me life. I am come, He says, that you may have life and have it abundantly.

I was reading some of Francois Fenelon last night. He said: “I was once as wise as any; thinking I saw everything, I saw nothing; I crept along feeling my way by a succession of reasonings, but there was no ray to enlighten my darkness; I was content to reason. But when we have silenced everything within, that we may listen to God, we know all things without knowing anything, and then perceive that, until then, we were utterly ignorant of all that we thought we understood. We lose all that we once had, and care not for it; we have then no more that belongs to self; all things are lost, and we with them.”

It is, of course, but a dissertation on my Lord’s words who said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16) I never found my life until I handed my dead body and soul to the Lord. Then, and only then, was I quickened, and became alive to share eternal life with my Lord. The darkness comprehends only itself, and cannot know light. My old life was darkness, dreary and dead; my new life is light, free and forgiven. Praise be to God!

François Fenelon (2010-05-23). The Inner Life (Kindle Locations 756-760). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

John 1:1 to 3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Observation:
The Word is declared to be God and with God at the same time.

Devotion:
These verses are some of my favorite verses of all time. I like to parallel verse one of Genesis with verse one of John:
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

Do the themes not correlate beautifully? God creates, but was with the Word, who was also from the beginning. And the Word is God. John is making a statement of the highest claim for Jesus here. He claims that Jesus is God, and that Jesus was there creating the heavens and the earth. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. . .” (Colossians 1:16,17)

There are some today who try to rewrite this verse, and translate it: In the beginning there was the Word and the Word was with God, and the word was “A” god.” The rules of Greek grammar absolutely forbid this translation, but if you need further evidence of what John is saying just look to the next verse. “The same was in the beginning with God.” And the next: “All things were made by Him, with Him was not anything made that was made.” This gospel, along with other passages of Scripture, make it clear that Jesus was there in the beginning, creating. He Himself is not created; rather He is part of the Godhead, and has existed from infinity past, before time began its reckoning.

McGee introduces the gospel of John beautifully: “Jerome said of John’s gospel, “John excels in the depths of divine mysteries.” And no truer statement was ever made. Dr. A. T. Pierson put it like this, “It touches the heart of Christ.”” Have we not already touched the heart of a great mystery? And who shall explain it? Not this writer. We say, and the scripture plainly teaches that God is three, but also that God is one. I do not understand fully how this can be, and I doubt that any mortal on this side of heaven does either. But I believe it. The gospel of John presents God come in the flesh more so than any of the other gospels.

Gnosticism was the heresy going round when John was an old man; I believe that John wrote this gospel to dispel that which gnostics were beginning to teach: that Jesus was God, but never ever was really a man. Gnostics taught that the disciples did not see the real Jesus. The gospel of John, we are going to see, presents Jesus as being the Son of God and also as the son of the virgin Mary. He was both God and man. Fully each. Do you understand? Well then, explain it to me. I do not understand it. I choose to believe it.

God has already come into my life, crashing into my heart and changing my beliefs in what I thought to be most likely. He took what I thought was reality and wiped it away with but a brush of His finger, and showed me in the scripture the real reality, His Son Jesus the Messiah, the sent one, sent to save me from my sins. The gospel of John is sometimes called “the simple gospel” because of John’s simple vocabulary. But make no mistake about it, while the words chosen may be simple, the concepts are beyond our understanding. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, without Him was not anything made that was made. If I can twist the words a bit from the song: “Then I saw His face, Now I’m a believer, I couldn’t leave Him if I tried.” After seeing Him enter my life, change all that I thought, and abide in me all these years, I have no desire other than to follow Him.

McGee, J. Vernon (1990-01-30). Thru the Bible 1-5 (5 Volume Set) (Kindle Locations 99545-99546). Grupo Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Psalm 150

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD

Key Verse:
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD

Key Observation:
A wonderful end to a glorious book!

Memory Verse:
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD

Devotion:
McGee: “Today you and I are living in a created universe that is actually singing praises to God. But man is out of tune. Man is in discord. God’s great purpose is to bring man back into the harmony of heaven.” (I might note that McGee has an excellent homily on worship and the Psalms at the end of Psalm 150) I leave the last of the psalms with regret—I have made many new friends and truly learned things in the unity of the book which I never knew before.

The great one thing that I have learned? God is our Creator, our Redeemer, and He has planned the end from the beginning. I did not realize just how many of the psalms seem to be preparation for the millennium itself. In looking backward to the Old Testament, I found myself looking forward towards that which is yet to come. God, the Great Planner, has planned His coming from since before the creation of the world. Time must play itself out, but I cannot help but think that Coming is almost upon us.

I have also learned more about David, the author of most of these psalms. David indeed, as the scripture declares, was a man after God’s heart. David knew his God, experienced His forgiveness, tasted His mercy, and upheld His righteousness. But David did it in the context of singing what I term “prayer-songs” to his Lord. Certainly much of the heart of God is revealed in the Psalms, long before the New Testament was even written.

Everyday is sweet before the Lord, and I pray that each day I may have the wisdom to walk in the Spirit, experiencing His forgiveness, tasting His mercy, and upholding His Name to a lost world, desperate in its need for the Savior.

McGee, J. Vernon (1990-01-30). Thru the Bible 1-5 (5 Volume Set) (Kindle Locations 52173-52174). Grupo Nelson. Kindle Edition.

I Stand Amazed in the Presence
(My Savior's Love)

1. I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

2. For me it was in the garden
He prayed, "not My will, but Thine."
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat-drops of blood for mine.

3. In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.

4. He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

5. When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
'Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

Chorus:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful
Is my Savior's love for me!

Lyrics: Charles Hutchinson Gabriel

Psalm 149

1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Key Verse:
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

Key Observation:
The Lord will show salvation for some, but judgment for others.

Memory Verse:
4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Devotion:
McGee says that the “new song” in verse one is that Jesus is our Redeemer. I wish to look at the psalm particularly after the sixth verse. This psalm I notice includes the saints in the judgment of the world. The cry is to put a two-edged sword in their hands. In verse nine it tells us that the responsibility or the “honour” is given to the saints. Right now, in my present body, I would find it very difficult to judge anyone else, especially with the righteousness of God. But we are told that God will give us new bodies, and I trust we then will be able to look, as it were, through the eyes of Christ at others.

Paul says that we shall share in this judgment in 1 Corinthians: “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” Paul goes on in the next verse to say (I Cor. 6:2&3): “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” So Paul teaches that we will not only judge others, but we will also judge angels.
Evidently this is a role of helping Christ to judge for there are many places that make it apparent that Christ will judge the world. Here are a few:

1) Romans 2:16, “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
2) 2 Timothy 4:1, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;”
3) 1 Peter 4:5, “Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”
Now, this is not the judgment of Christians, which takes place according to my gospel at another time: “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” (Romans 14:10). We will all stand before Christ, but the judgments are clearly different. “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” (1 Cor. 4:5) We Christians will be judged on the basis of what we have done with the gospel, how we carried the good news forward to other men, and how we act faithfully before God. As well as I can tell, and God only knows, at that time we will be given the responsibility of carrying judgment to those who followed not Christ.

Some might say this is a very harsh view for God to take towards men. Some even try to deny that there is a judgment and a hell to be sent to, but the Scripture is plain. I view it a bit differently, and my reasoning is as such: God sent his only Son to redeem the world, that whosoever believeth should not perish, and in doing that God did everything He possibly could to redeem the world. He has sent His Spirit to convict us of the righteousness of Christ and our own unrighteousness. His provision and mercy are fully adequate in every way; there remains not one thing which He could do for our redemption. How then shall He act to those who refuse His merciful hand? Psalm 98 makes it very plain: “Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.”

In my view, then, God is totally righteous in judging the men who have refused His Son, and He is totally merciful in that His provision of sacrifice was made available to all. What then shall be said for those who hear not the gospel? Romans tells us that all are without excuse, because nature itself clearly presents the invisible qualities of God (Romans 1:19f). It remains true that some of us, me included, had many more opportunities to receive Christ, and were more obviously convicted by the Spirit. Romans 9 tells us that God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, and He will harden those whom He will harden. This is where election becomes more unclear and makes me want to throw up my hands in despair of ever understanding it.

I will observe though, that God’s provision of spreading the gospel is through us. How shall they hear without a preacher? George Mueller used to confess before God in shame for each time he passed the opportunity to confess his Savior before men. He was ashamed that God had given him opportunity to bear witness, and he was not faithful to that witness. I cannot help but wonder about myself. How many times I have been too weak to speak when I ought! There is a lost world beginning right at your next door neighbor’s house. Have you bothered to even tell them of God’s plan for redemption? How shall they hear without a preacher?

Bringing in the Sheaves

1. Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

2. Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

3. Go then, ever weeping, sowing for the Master,
Tho' the loss sustained our spirit often grieves.
When our weeping's over, He will bid us welcome;
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Chorus:
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Lyrics: Knowles Shaw

Psalm 148

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD

Key Verse:
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

Key Observation:
McGee: “Not only in the heavenlies, but on the earth as well, will His created beings praise Him. This is moving now to a mighty crescendo when heaven and earth will praise God!”

McGee, J. Vernon (1990-01-30). Thru the Bible 1-5 (5 Volume Set) (Kindle Locations 52115-52116). Grupo Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Memory Verse:
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

Devotion:
A wonderful psalm of praise to God. I notice that the next two psalms are similar—that is, they are not only Halleluiah Psalms, but they approach as McGee says of this psalm: “a mighty crescendo”. For that reason I think these psalms clearly will be recited in the millennium.

Matthew Henry says: “This psalm is a most solemn and earnest call to all the creatures, according to their capacity, to praise their Creator, and to show forth his eternal power and Godhead, the invisible things of which are manifested in the things that are seen.” One of the things that I have difficulty imagining is how great and wondrous it will be to actually be in the very presence of God. I can well imagine falling on my face to God and worshipping Him, but knowing my nature, I might guess that would only last a few moments.

But the idea occurs to me that that majesty might be so great that I could do nothing but worship on my face before my God for all of eternity. May I ask, how could we better spend eternity? In this psalm, the psalmest is so enraptured with praising his God that he wishes everything to praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6 captures the spirit of the entire psalm: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Halleluiah!

I do remember one fine day driving the tractor out on my uncle’s farm, and exulting in the Lord. I fancied that even the fruit trees, dancing in the breeze, were paying homage to Him. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! What else could be said?

Praise Him! Praise Him!

1. Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! highest archangels in glory,
Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children;
In His arms He carries them all day long;

2. Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins, He suffered and bled and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the crucified:
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong:

3. Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav'nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! crown Him! prophet and priest and King!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious,
Pow'r and glory unto the Lord belong:

Chorus:
Praise Him! praise Him! tell of His excellent greatness!
Praise Him! praise Him! ever in joyful song!

Lyrics: Frances Jane (Fanny J.) Crosby

Psalm 147

1 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

Key Verse:
2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

Key Observation:
In this psalm it is made plain that God is very involved in sustaining and providing for his creation.

Memory Verse:
11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Devotion:
Since our American forefathers, there have been many who believe in God, but who also believe God does not really have anything to do with his creation; He started creation, but then has left it alone, or so the reasoning goes. The psalmest here disagrees strongly with that viewpoint:
1) He builds up Jerusalem and gathers the outcasts of Israel
2) He heals the broken hearted and binds their wounds
3) He knows each star and has named them
4) He is of great power and His understanding is infinite
5) He lifts up the meek and casts down the wicked
6) He covers the heavens with clouds and prepares rain
7) He makes the grass to grow on the mountains
8) He feeds the beasts and the young ravens
9) He takes pleasure in those who fear Him, who cry to Him for mercy
10) He strengthens the bars of the gate of Zion, and blesses the children of Zion
11) He brings peace, and food (wheat) to us
12) He commands the earth, and the earth follows Him
13) He makes the snow come and the frost
14) He commands the snow and ice to melt

And lastly He shows His mercy and His commands to Israel. Does this sound to you like we have a clockmaker God? That brings us precisely to the problem of evil. If God intercedes so much in our current world, why is all the evil allowed to continue? I have many friends over the years that have not been able to get past this point. They readily see the great evil of the world, and thus they reason, no good God would allow such evil.

I think their problem is based on the fact that they do not see themselves as the worst of that evil. It is when we come to Christ that we see ourselves for the first time through the eyes of God. I have been reading Francois Fenelon, and in his chapter on self-abandonment he says:

“IF you would fully comprehend the meaning of self-abandonment, recall the interior difficulty which you felt, and which you very naturally testified when I directed you always to count as nothing this self which is so dear to us. To abandon one's self is to count one's self as nought; and he who has perceived the difficulty of doing it, has already learned what that renunciation is, which so revolts our nature. Since you have felt the blow, it is evident that it has fallen upon the sore spot in your heart; let the all-powerful hand of God work in you as he well knows how, to tear you from yourself.”

Fenelon says, and I agree, it is very easy for us to become “lost in our selves” and proud of our wisdom, our ability to learn and discern. For the Christian to win victory over this sin, Fenelon says: “Self-abandonment is not accomplished by means of painful reflections and continual struggles; it is only by refraining from self-contemplation, and from desiring to master ourselves in our own way, that we lose ourselves in God.” It is precisely at this point that I feel my non-Christian friends make their fatal error. They are intrinsically viewing themselves as adequate judges of the world, and their viewpoints assume that they are better than their neighbors.

Contrary to what the world thinks, God does not measure our good deeds against our bad deeds; there is no balance scale where He places one of us up against another and measures who is best. God is not concerned with any of our righteousness, for the scripture declares it to be as filthy rags in His sight. There is NO sense in which God is pleased with our sins, and even our best acts emanate from that well of sin nature that we are born with. We are in no sense Masters of our own fate, instead all we are, and ever can amount to is due to the wonderful works of God in his creation.

Indeed we have very little to do with our own salvation—God commands that we believe He sent His Son to die so that He might rescue us in our utterly lost state. The utterly lost state is precisely what my friends are missing. Before we condemn anyone else, we ought first to be condemning ourselves. And when we thus see ourselves through the eyes of God, all that we see around us, evil and good, becomes an extension of the mercy of God. Peter tells us this: “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

And I know, from study of the Bible, that all of us do not die, but rather are created souls for eternity. Those who do not repent of their misdeeds, no matter how big or small (remember that there is no scale measuring sinfulness), will perish in everlasting punishment. Our Lord warns us many times on this point. So in the long term the objection that evil is allowed free reign will be proven false. And the Lord will be proven righteous. “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10)

François Fenelon (2010-05-23). The Inner Life (Kindle Locations 559-561). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

François Fenelon (2010-05-23). The Inner Life (Kindle Locations 455-460). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

Faith Is the Victory

1. Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise,
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below,
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.

2. His banner over us in love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith they, like whirlwind's breath,
Swept on o'er ev'ry field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.

3. To him who overcomes the foe
White raiment shall be giv'n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav'n.
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame;
We'll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus' conq'ring name.

Chorus:
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory
That overcomes the world.

Lyrics: John Henry Yates