How you doin? I hope
you didn't feel gypped yesterday. I had like 10 minutes or less, because
we had a planning meeting for our Spiritual Conference with the
Welton's coming up. We're SO excited. John 20 today. This is one of my
favorite chapters in the Bible.
On a
humorous note, I love how John refers to himself as, "the other
disciple, the one Jesus loved". John also writes that he can beat Peter
in a foot race... v.4 "Both were running, but the other disciple
outran Peter and reached the tomb first." It's good to know that John
could run faster then Peter. I'm not sure why this struck me so funny
this morning. It's as if John is in competition with Peter. It's
probably just me.
Back
to the good stuff. Mary thought that the resurrected Jesus was a
gardener until he personalized His talk with her. When Jesus first spoke
to her He said "women" and she answered Him as though He was a gardener
who she suspected stole His body. Then Jesus said "Mary" and she cried
out "Rabboni" (which means Teacher)"'. It wasn't until Jesus called her
by name that she recognized Him. COME ON!!!!!!! I believe that Jesus
personalizes prophecy so that we know it's from Him. (Bunny trail)
Verses
19-23 are AWESOME!!!!!!! Jesus shows up in a locked room and says
"peace be with you". I'm guessing the disciples were startled at least.
They were in a locked room hiding from the Jews in the first place. "He
showed them His hands and side." (20:20)
Jesus wants us to know it's Him. The disciples respond well considering
the circumstances, "The disciple were overjoyed when they saw the
Lord." DIG IT!!!!!!! Jesus again says "peace be with you". He reminds
them that He is sending them the way the Father sent Him. Here's my
favorite part, " And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit." (20:22)
SAY WORD!!!!!!! It's as if Jesus didn't have time for the
sanctification process, so He accelerated them to where He needed them
to be. AWESOME!!!!!!! We receive the Holy Ghost through reading the
Bible, prayer, worship, and prophecy, or however else Jesus speaks to
us. Jesus can accelerate us as well through impartation, but then the
process is maintaining the impartation. So we're not getting out of the
process. Verse 23 links forgiveness with receiving the holy Ghost. 2
Corinthians 2:10-11 tells us, "Anyone
you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was
anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your
sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit
us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." Unforgiveness is a tool of
the Devil. Forgiveness is God's business. SAY WORD!!!!!!!
Chapter
20 concludes with Thomas. Thomas needed proof that Jesus was
resurrected. So Jesus shows up in a locked room and again says, "peace
be with you". He then addresses Thomas in verse 27, "Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”'
That's a good word. I'm going to be saying that to myself all day.
"Stop doubting and believe". Jesus keeps it simple. Thomas responds
well, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus goes on to say in verse 29, “Because
you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not
seen and yet have believed.” COME ON!!!!!!! I believed in Him without
seeing Him. It's my biggest prayer to have eyes to see Him and ears to
hear Him, but I certainly believe in Him. DIG IT!!!!!!! I stand on my
conviction that the best prayer I've ever prayed/pray is for God to
increase my desire to love Him. I don't think that Thomas was being
rebuked or criticized. He was seeking Jesus. He was after an encounter
with Him. Jesus made Himself known to Thomas and will make Himself know
to us. THAT"S A GOOD WORD!!!!!!! Peace be with you, today.
No comments:
Post a Comment