Sacred

John 2:16 (ESV) And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade."

In centuries past, there was a big distinction between the sacred and the secular. Things, places, and people dedicated to God were held in great reverence. Even the word “sanctuary” connotes a place set apart for God and God’s purposes only. This helped people gain a real “fear” of God and be mindful of how much greater he is than we are.

Yet, those in power can use the sacred/secular distinction to further strengthen their power and personal gain. In an ironic way the first century Jewish leaders had done just that. They held the power to determine what animals to be sacrificed were “unblemished” – good enough for God – so they could reject any brought to them and require worshippers to purchase theirs. Of course, those leaders claimed the profit. They could have also argued that a much larger percentage of the Jewish population no longer derived their income from agriculture, so they provided the sale of animals at the Temple as a convenience so the worshipper could be sure they offered a holy enough sacrifice.

Jesus was deeply offended by the Jewish leaders’ use of the sacred Temple for the secular function of buying and selling (the Greek word here in John 2 is emporium) at an unfair profit (the other gospels show Jesus overturning the tables again at the end of his earthly ministry and calling them robbers). Even though the ostensible purpose of the marketing was to help the people be sacred, its real purpose was the secular gain of the priests. Some have speculated that the two Temple cleansings at the beginning and end of his public ministry did more than anything to provoke the Jerusalem leaders’ hatred of Jesus.

We no longer sacrifice animals at a temple to cover our sins. As Jesus hints in the following verses, the temple itself has changed (vv 19-21). As the true temple, Jesus became the one sacrifice for all time and the real presence of God among us. We no longer need mediating priests to stand between us and God. Yet, does that mean there is no longer a place for the sacred in our lives and worship? More than a place or a thing, the sacred is Jesus himself. How casually do we treat him? Has he become a means for our own profit and benefit and his name an expletive of disgust, or we do remain zealous for him? He is holy. I hope we never forget that.

Believing

John 2:11 (ESV) This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding. There are many curious things about this miracle. What I find most interesting is how few there actually knew what happened. The way John tells it, only Jesus’ mother, disciples, and the servants asked to draw the water had any idea of the miracle that took place. Even the chief steward’s comments belie surprise at the excellent quality of the wine that far into the party but not the source of the wine.

Jesus’ miracles served three purposes: 1) They proved his Messiahship and the coming of the Kingdom of God, 2) They built faith in those who observed, and 3) They were a compassionate alleviation of people’s suffering. Of course, we should add a fourth that applies only for his resurrection: victory over death and Hell. It is hard to argue that 3) or 4) apply in the case of wine for a party (except the shame of the hosts). Yet, if 1) or 2) was the goal, wouldn’t it seem that Jesus would want as many possible to know a miracle had taken place? His ministry could have been launched with the bang that waited for the later, more public miracles, like the feeding of the five thousand or the numerous public healings at his hands. However, here at Cana only his disciples “believed in him” in response to the miracle.

Although the text does not tell us why Jesus only let the disciples and a few others know what was happening, John gives an interesting description for what took place: he “manifested his glory.” This was a phrase reserved for God alone in the Old Testament. This miracle showed Jesus’ disciples that he was more than a man. They would be challenged from all sides to support Jesus during his earthly ministry and after his ascension. They needed a secure faith.

Another interesting thing about this encounter is that the disciples (at least most of them) already believed in Jesus to an extent by the end of Chapter One (See John 1:41, 45, 49 & 50). Yet, John says they believed here. Jesus revealed his identity to a greater extent when his disciples were ready for it. Throughout his ministry, Jesus revealed more of his true self and his disciple’s faith grew.

The same is true for us. Believing in Jesus is not a onetime event, and faith does not come and grow in all people equally or in the same way. I pray Jesus reveals more of his glory to you today.

What’s It to Me?

John 2:4 (ESV) And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

Every day people around you have problems. These are not your problems. You did not cause them. You will not suffer anything if they are not resolved. You can go your happy way to deal with your own problems when they arrive and let other people suffer from their own problems. Yet, there are many times that you could help others overcome their problems. Maybe you have a set of jumper cables in your trunk that could start the car parked next to you with the dead battery. Perhaps the three dollars in change in your pocket could buy the homeless man on the corner a burger rather than add to the growing stack of coins on your dresser. These truly are not your problems, but you could be part of the solution if you choose.

In John 2, Jesus and his first disciples joined his mother at a wedding. Whether because of bad planning or too many guests, the hosts ran out of wine. Jesus was just a guest. He was not there to get drunk, so it did not matter to Him personally that they ran out of wine. When Jesus’ mother told him about the problem, his reply, translated literally, was, “What is that to you and me?” In other words, “This is not my problem or your problem.” Yet, although it was truly not Jesus’ problem and he did not have to do anything, he chose to help.

Mary seemed to know in advance Jesus would do something, because in the next verse she told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Sure enough, even though a lack of wine did not matter to Jesus, it mattered greatly to the hosts, who would forever be ridiculed for inadequate hospitality in a culture where how you took care of your guests was the measure of your character. Jesus saved the day, not because he needed to for Himself, but simply because he could help others overcome their problem.

Today, why don’t you and I both not just try to solve our own problems but try to take notice and action when we can help others solve theirs? Let’s be more like Jesus.

What Would it Take for You to Believe?

John 1:47-50 (ESV) Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

A friend and I had some conversations about Jesus. I could tell this was not his favorite topic, but, fortunately, our friendship was strong enough that we could deal with the uncomfortable topics as well as the easy ones and still look forward to our next time together. One day in the midst of one of these talks I realized something. He had decided he would not consider believing in Jesus no matter how persuasive an argument I or anyone else presented. I asked him, “What would it take for you to believe?”

He replied, “I cannot believe. There is nothing you can say or do that would change that.”

He was correct in his statement. If he had made the decision beforehand, he closed himself off to the possibility of any other consideration. Yet, think of the implications. Suppose you were the chief account of a multinational bank who started in your role in the late 1960s, but you still (in 2015) refuse to allow any of your staff to use computers for any activities because you “do not trust them.” Instead, you demand all your accountants all over the world to make hand written notations and mail them to the head office. Think how inefficient and risk-prone your methods would be. Your entire company would be at a competitive disadvantage because you were unwilling to even consider the possibility that a computer could improve your work.

Nathanael started off hardened toward considering Jesus to be anything other than an ordinary man. He was not inclined to believe. Note his response when Phillip invited him to check Jesus out: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (vs 46) Yet it took just three verses for Nathanael to become a believer. Jesus’ accurate foreknowledge of Nathanael sitting under a tree was all it took for him to decide Jesus was the Son of God. You might need more than that. Jesus even gives allowance for those who need a little more: “You will see greater things than these.” The real question is are you willing to consider who Jesus is. We have to be willing to believe.

If you have not yet fully trusted Christ, I sincerely ask you today to answer the question for yourself, “What would it take for you to believe?” Be willing to ask for it and look for it. He sure beats a pen and paper.

Come and See

John 1:38-41 (ESV) Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

Have you ever been lost for words because of your awe of the person you just met? I wonder how many celebrities are greeted by, “You’re Lebron James!” (or whatever celebrity it happens to be). Do they always reply, “Yes, I am!”? I think of the stupid things I said to the girls I had crushes on as a teen but were too scared of to say anything coherent in their presence. Perhaps that’s what prompted Andrew and his friend to ask Jesus a crazy question.

They did not know Jesus yet, but they had been following John the Baptist for quite a while. They had heard John say over and over he was not the Christ but that he was preparing the way for Him. They were there the day that Jesus first came and John identified Him as, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” When Jesus came by again the next day, Andrew and his friend followed Jesus, perhaps out of curiosity of what made this person so amazing that their hero John felt unworthy to even untie His sandals. Maybe they were whispering to one another, not sure what to do, when Jesus turned and caught them following Him. He asked them, “What are you seeking?”

Perhaps, being caught, they said the first thing they could think of: “Where are you staying?” Maybe it was just a point of conversation. Whatever they meant by their question, Jesus took it as a request for an invitation He was very glad to give: “Come and see.” They spent the whole day with Jesus at the place he was seeing. If they were simply curious to know what kind of room the proclaimed Messiah rented, I am sure they got their answer. In reality, though, they got much more than that. They did not come back to the rest of their traveling companions talking about accommodations. They returned convinced of the identity of their Host. Andrew told his brother Simon (later called Peter), “We have found the Messiah!”

Notice what it took to convince Andrew. It was not arguments. It was relationship. Even if Andrew’s question was rash, Jesus’ invitation to come and see was not. It was all Andrew needed. Jesus extends the invitation to you and me, as well. Spend a day with Him and see for yourself.

Witness

John 1:6-7 (ESV) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

If a crime is committed and a suspect identified, he will not be (or at least should not be) condemned without a fair trial. That will usually involve a judge, likely a jury and a prosecuting attorney, and unless the suspect serves as his own counsel, a defense attorney. Yet, no decision can be rendered without evidence. Physical evidence may be presented, but the most common kind of evidence presented in courts throughout history is testimony, usually of eyewitnesses – those who saw the crime personally or have some personal knowledge of what had happened. The guilty are convicted and the innocent set free (it is hoped) on the basis of these witnesses. This is the way the Greek legal system worked centuries before Jesus’ incarnation, and it is the original core meaning and use of the Greek word, martyr.

In his Gospel, John the Apostle uses this word of another John – John the Baptist. It describes his mission in verse seven: “He came as a witness…” His whole purpose in life was to take the stand in the world’s courtroom about what he knew and had seen concerning the Light of the World (Jesus Christ). Seven times in this one chapter, the noun or verb form of witness is used about John the Baptist’s role. Two other times he uses the similar legal term confess (vs 20) – not the confession of guilt, but a swearing of certainty and truth.

John the Baptist was not expected to talk about what he had not experienced or seen. He did not come as a philosopher. He spoke as an honest witness, and that was enough. People came to hear him. People changed their lives because of what he said and were willing to be baptized as a public “confession” of their commitment to change. The first century Jewish world was ready for Jesus’ arrival because one man had the courage to talk about what he had experienced.

Even today, advertisers love to use “testimonials” because one person’s bearing witness to their personal experience is usually more persuasive than reams of scientific data. Your story of what you have experienced is powerful. Don’t be afraid to talk about it.

Word

John 1:1-3 (ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In English the word “word” has a relatively simple meaning. It is one verbal thought; the most basic part of speech. You are reading several right now; letters together separated from others by a space. Sometimes we give word a metaphorical use, such as a “message,” like “Like what’s the word from the boss?” In the 1980’s urban slang began the expression “word up,” later shortened to “word,” to express agreement with others. Yet all of these pale to what John sought to express in the opening of his Gospel. I believe there are no words to adequately express what John means by “word” (logos in Greek).

To the secular Greek and Roman world of John’s day, logos was loaded with meaning. The great scholar Gerhard Kittel said to the Greeks (and the Romans who, although they controlled the political and military power of the First Century Mediterranean World were dominated by Greek though and culture) the word logos was “symbolic of the Greek understanding of the world and existence.” It represented so much more than just a saying. It encompassed understanding things as they are. It represented the goal of philosophy: the ultimate understanding of existence and its meaning.

John chose this powerful word to personify Christ to connect with the most deeply held values of the secular word of his day, but it also connected deeply into the heart of his Jewish readers. The Hebrew word for “word,” dabar, and its many synonyms, occurs thousands of times in the Old Testament. The Word of the LORD was to be the guide for life, the passionate pursuit of every heart. In the biggest connection with John 1, it was the word of God that created the universe. (“God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light.’” Genesis 1:3)

Yet as powerful and meaning laden as the Greek logos and Hebrew dabar were, John took logos much farther. The Word was not just the spoken revelation of the deity. The Word was not just philosophical understanding. The Word was a person. The Word became flesh. The Word is and was God. The Word was the agent of creation. The Word existed and exists forever, yet “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)

The Apostle John, who saw and walked with Jesus, took the most powerful word he could to communicate the unprecedented, preexistent glory of Jesus Christ to open his story of this Word, who alone in all history was creator yet lived among us (John 1:14). He is the ultimate goal of life for everyone, those with religious backgrounds and those with no religion. He encompasses the greatest need of mankind and our greatest joy. He came. He lives. He loves you.