Pharisees refused to listen

John 7:45-52 Finally, the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

   “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.

   “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted.  “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?  No!  But this mob that knows nothing of the law - there is a curse on them.”

   Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?”

   They replied, “Are you from Galilee too?  Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee” (NIV).

   The temple guards listened to Jesus.  But the leaders of the Pharisees did not listen to the temple guards, rather they insulted the guards.

   Then those leaders made a generalization saying that none of the Pharisees had believed in Jesus.  Yet did Nicodemus believe in Jesus?  Whether he did or not at this juncture, he gave a rational response about their rejection of Jesus.  But the leaders of the Pharisees did not listen to Nicodemus either.  Instead they insulted him also.

   Wild enough, this emotional string of insults exposes an evil mode of those involved in the insulting.  I preface that mode to say there is a minuscule chance those leaders could have been unaware of what was written in Isaiah 9.  Yet it is more likely they were ignoring and distorting Isaiah 9.  What evil for those leaders to be ignoring and distorting Scripture.

   Tragic.

Here is the Scripture they were ignoring:

Isaiah 9:1-2   Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.  In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan - The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (NIV).

   Indeed, the prophet Isaiah foretold of a great light which would come out of Galilee.  This prophecy must have seemed bizarre at the time, because Galilee was part of the kingdom of Israel.  Yet after the fall of the northern kingdom, Israel became flooded with Gentiles.  Isaiah was correct.

   Isaiah gave a prophecy of much hope in telling of a great light.  That great light was the Messiah!

   Yet the Pharisees diverted that truth or ignored that truth.

   Tragedy continues two thousand years later as people ignore, distort, or even reject the revelations of Scripture.

   Yet even in our time, many adhere to the revelations of Scripture!  For example, verses or messages from Isaiah 9 are sung and stated often in Christian worship services all over the world during the Christmas season.

   Though he was not born in Nazareth, it was the hometown of Jesus.  Thus out of Galilee, at about age thirty, came the Messiah!

Hunter Irvine

Scripture Love Blog

Believe in Jesus

John 7:38    “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him or her” (NIV).

   I now focus on a pinnacle message which is embedded in the passage I pondered in my last piece.  Jesus said the way to receive all that He promised is to believe.

   The beautiful simple truth is that believing in Jesus is the sole way to gain salvation from sin.  The result is eternal life.  Literally, you need only believe in Jesus.

   To truly believe in Jesus is to receive Jesus.  It is an eternal relationship of true love, made possible by Jesus who is Love, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

   I have been unemployed a long time.  Frustration only mounted this summer as fitting job postings were few, and my intense search resulted in nothing.  Also, most everything about this job search process has seemed dehumanizing to me, including my application attempts with Christian organizations.  In the midst of that frustration, I saw a job posting for a position at Colorado Christian University.  I had applied for that same job in previous years with incredible enthusiasm, but to no avail.  Once again, I wanted that job.  A few days after applying, I got an email with an offer for a preliminary recorded interview.  With no live person involved, it was simply a video recording where I had to answer four questions.  I thought it was the best “interview” I had ever done.  Sometimes it is a challenge for me to think quickly, yet there under a time pressure of from one to two minutes per question, my answers flowed right out.  Afterwards, I was elated.  But then two weeks went by with no contact from anyone at CCU.

   Come the evening of the 24th of August, I entered a large chain store to buy a box to mail a birthday gift.  At the entrance, I saw four young women walking closely together, and I quickly thought those ladies could be incoming CCU students.  I had the strong urge to meet them and then to encourage them that very evening before the start of the semester.  But since not one of the women was wearing a CCU shirt or cap, I could not be certain if they were students.  I reluctantly but decisively refrained from talking with them.

   About ten minutes later, all four were in the school and office supply section, where I had been earlier and where I returned to get a journal notebook.  Sighting just a small bit of a blue lanyard in the hand of the one woman, I stooped down behind her back to look at that lanyard.  Though too small to fully see, I saw what seemed to be the CCU shield.

   Smiling, I slowly straightened up and said in a confident voice, “You all look like a group of CCU students.”

   One of the four looked me right in the eyes and said with a bit of astonishment, “We are CCU students.”

   Not trying to impersonate a prophet, I told them I saw the key chain in the hand of the one woman, yet that I figured they might be CCU students.

   Then I said, “I graduated from CCU.  In fact, you can pray for me!”

   I briefly said I had an interview for a job at CCU which went great.  Then I expressed my discouragement that I had heard nothing for two weeks.

   Immediately, one of the women stated, "Let’s pray for you right now!"

   "Great," I responded.

   The woman prayed.

   As she prayed, I was overwhelmed with the beauty of her prayer.  The words of her prayer were straight forward.  And there was something in the sincerity of her voice which was utterly caring.

   Her final sentence was a request that the will of God would be done.

   I was overwhelmed.

   With emotions rising, a quick thought of how great her prayer was enabled me to say one sentence, “You made me want the position more.”

   Then standing there for a moment, I knew I could say no more.  I turned around and walked away as tears welled up in my eyes.

   Normally I talked too long with CCU students, telling them a number of stories.  Yet at that moment, I was unable to say even one more word to those four women without crying.

   On the surface, this story does not have a good ending.  Two days later I got a standard generic rejection email from CCU.  One of my best “interviews” ever ended up in emptiness.

   Yet deep down, this story has a glorious ending.  I cherish the prayer of that CCU student.

   She gave me hope when my job search seemed hopeless.

   She gave me hope when I was losing hope.

   Right now, I realize “living water” was pouring from her at a time when I was in need.

   She believes in Jesus.

   There is only one thing you need to do to be saved from the result of sins and to be spiritually united with God for all eternity: believe in Jesus.

Hunter

Overflow with love

On the last and greatest day of the Feast [of Tabernacles], Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him or her come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him or her.”  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.  Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified (John 7:37-39 NIV).

   Previously I wrote about the offer by Jesus for anyone who is spiritually thirsty, as recorded in Revelation.  Now I tell that even before that, when ministering in this fallen world Jesus offered to fulfill anyone’s spiritual thirst.

   John explains that this “living water” is the Holy Spirit.  Indeed, for any person who believes in Jesus, she or he is forgiven of sins, and then she or he is baptized with the Holy Spirit.  The result is spiritual quenching.

   And wild enough, accepting Jesus’ offer will result in that person overflowing with the love of Jesus to others.  The Holy Spirit is the third Person of our triune God.  Thus the nature of the Holy Spirit is true love, since we have the revelation from I John 4:16 that “God is love.”  Thus for anyone who has believed in Jesus, and who relies on Him to be loving, he or she will overflow with true love.

   One point I make now about overflowing with love: All people are unique, and each of us have different manners for expressing love.  I am a hugger.  I value opportunities to hug friends, or even nice people whom I play a game of golf with.  Hugging is an action I like to carry out to express the true love of the Spirit of Christ who overflows in me.  (I add that in this day and age, it is often best to ask permission to give a person a hug.)

   Overflowing with love is not an emotional state.  (Granted when I express love I can get emotional.)  Overflowing with love is a state of living with genuine love in your heart, and acting accordingly.  And when that true love is expressed, in an appropriate manner, and in a manner which fits you, you will bless other people.

What is one action you like to carry out to express the love of Christ?

Hunter

Scripture Love Blog

The water of life is offered

Revelation 22:17   The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”  And let her or him who hears say, “Come!”  Whoever is thirsty, let him or her come; and whoever wishes, let her or him take the free gift of the water of life (NIV).

   Jesus said, “I am thirsty” soon before dying on a cross, as is recorded in John 19:28.  During my Lenten series entitled, “Seven Statements by Jesus from the Cross,” I stated: “Then Jesus was gloriously resurrected.  The One who was tragically thirsty on the cross is now in heaven offering eternal satisfaction for the spiritual thirst of anyone.”

   I went on to quote Jesus from Revelation 21:6, “…To him or her who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.”

   Here in Revelation 22:17, there is likewise the invitation for “the free gift of the water of life.”

   The bride refers to the community of followers of Jesus.  Note Revelation 19:7: “… For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”

   It is an honor which goes beyond my comprehension that we Christians are called by God to join in with Him proclaiming to people that the water of life is offered to them from Jesus.

+ Holy Father, I thank You for the honor of being able to tell people that You offer the “water of life,” the result of which is eternal life.  May we rely on You to be able to tell the truth in love.

It is through Your loving name Jesus that I pray.

Amen.

Hunter

Scripture Love Blog

Epilogue for Seven Statements by Jesus from the Cross

   Pondering the crucifixion, I contemplate how that single action by Jesus involved the ultimate suffering, yet then resulted in the ultimate accomplishment.  Having examined the seven statements by Jesus from the cross which were recorded in Scripture, I now realize this dual reality was even expressed by Jesus.

   Both Matthew and Mark wrote that Jesus said, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”  They also both prefaced that statement by saying: “Jesus cried out in a loud voice…”

   Then we are told by Luke: “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit'" (Luke 23:46 NIV).

   Expending precious energy, Jesus raised His voice expressing His agony, as recorded by Matthew and Mark.  Yet then expending a final surge of energy, Jesus raised His voice expressing His trust of His Father.  That trust sealed an eternal victory.

   I acknowledge here that many scholars who have written commentaries in the last century advocate the statement recorded in Luke 23:46 was the final statement made by Jesus on the cross.  I still advocate “It is finished” was the final statement.  Scripture does not specifically say which one was final.  Thus I think we need to accept that unknown and simply realize both are crucial revelations.

   In dying for sins, as expressed to us by His statements from the cross, Jesus gave His all.  Jesus gave Himself.

Thank You Jesus!

love,

Hunter

God listens to you

* Please note an unplanned epilogue for the seven statements by Jesus from the cross follows this piece, posted on June 30th.

Psalm 66:19   “…yet God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer” (NIV).

   I pray to God every day.  As I have been unemployed for a long time, my prayers have been filled with distressed requests for a job.  But up to today, I have not gained employment.  Filling out online applications is a cold and impersonal process.  Email rejections are even more cold and impersonal.

   The bottom line is that no fitting door has opened yet for me.

   And in the midst of my challenging job search, I was hurt in a church.  It was a time when I needed extra comfort, yet instead there was hurt.

   Has God been listening?

   Many years ago, in the wake of graduating from college, I did some “temp” work.  My first assignment from the temp company was to be a receptionist at the American Red Cross.  When I arrived the first day in that grandiose building in Washington, D.C., a helpful woman got me situated at a switchboard.  She showed me how to operate it, and her instructions were clear.  Then she had me take a few calls while she was present in order to assist me if I needed help as I started.  Then she left.

   Soon after she left, a call came in, and I answered with the proper greeting.  A person stated: “I’m bleeding profusely, and I need blood.”

   For a moment I was stunned!  Then as my mind was able to process the situation, my response was: “Dad!”

   It was my dad’s voice.  He had found out from my mom that I got a temp assignment there, and he was quick to play a joke.

   My point is that even in a new place, doing a new job, and working with new equipment, I recognized Dad’s voice.  And my dad had recognized my voice when I answered the call.

   Our heavenly Father loves us.  Our heavenly Father knows our voices.  Our heavenly Father listens to our prayers.  Our heavenly Father is working in alignment with the prayers of His children to guide and encourage us in the midst of the continuing problems in this world.

   Even when circumstances are crummy, God pours out His love for you and me!  We need to keep speaking and listening to Him.

Hunter

Scripture Love Blog

It is finished

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:30 NIV).

   What is “it?”

   The answer: The atonement.

   Now various words and phrases are used to describe the work of Jesus on the cross, such as atonement, sacrifice, substitution, propitiation, and satisfaction for sins.

   The word which Jesus used was “ransom,” as is recorded in Matthew 20:24-28.

   Being a kid back in the 1970’s, I remember a popular movie where two children were kidnapped and held for “ransom.”  Ransom was a payment to get back people who had been abducted.  That was, and still is, the common definition of “ransom” in the United States.

   Yet that is not the biblical definition of ransom.  We can learn the biblical definition from the book of Exodus: Then the LORD said to Moses, “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his or her life at the time he or she is counted.  Then no plague will come on them when you number them” (Exodus 30:11-12).

Continuing on: “The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives.  Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting.  It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, making atonement for your lives” (Exodus 30:15-16).

   Thus the biblical definition of “ransom” is a payment to atone for sins.

   Jesus foretold that He would give His life as that spiritual payment.

   Now we do have a selection of biblical words to use, though I need to clarify this statement, and I do so using a superb quote from Dr. John Stott: “To be sure, neither ‘satisfaction’ nor ‘substitution’ is a biblical word, and therefore we need to proceed with great caution.  But each is a biblical concept.” (1)

   When reading Scripture, we need to learn concepts.  And here I phrase the atonement concept by saying that Jesus died in our place, taking the punishment we deserved, which was spiritual death, thus making the forgiveness of sins available to anyone.

   Jesus died for you!  To receive forgiveness from God, you need to believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

   Jesus loves you!

Hunter Irvine

Scripture Love Blog

(1) John Stott, The Cross of Christ

(Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1986), 112.