A Big Fish Story

John 21:1-14

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to read is true, and the names have not been changed to protect the innocent.   In that it is a big fish story, we are going to stick to  “Just the facts and nothing but the facts,” so help me God.  This story has been around for sometime and it took place by the Sea of Tiberias and if you are not familiar with the Sea of Tiberias let me share some history: Tiberias has been a popular destination for tourists, and Jan and I visited the site in June 2008, and many have gone there for more than 2,000 years.

As early as Roman times, this thriving recreational spa built around 17 natural mineral hot springs more than 600 feet below sea level, welcomed visitors from every part of the ancient world.  Built by Herod Antipas (one of Herod the Great’s three sons who divided up Palestine after their father's death), the city was named Tiberias in honor of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. 

The reason this fish story stands out as one of biggest fish stories of all time is that the main character in the story is the resurrected Jesus Christ, and it is the third time he has shown himself to his followers after he was raised from the dead.  The supporting cast is Simon Peter, Thomas (Called the Twin), and Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two more of his disciples.  Often, after someone fails in a new endeavor you will find them returning to what has been successful for them, and in Peter’s case that was fishing.  Yes, Peter knew boats and fishing so he said to those with him, “I am going fishing.”  And at that moment it seemed like a good plan much better than being locked up in a house worrying about the Jews who wanted to kill you.  So Peter and the group have been fishing all night and it is time to pull in the nets and return to shore, and I wonder if Peter was thinking, I couldn’t even catch a fish. 

Peter and his fishing buddies are almost to shore when “Jesus said to them, “Children do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.  (John 21:6-8 ESV)  Now some of the disciples in the boat with Peter may not remember that this scene has happen before, but act II of Jesus performance was not wasted on Peter. 

Scene one happens when Jesus was teaching by the lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him.  Jesus saw two boats at the shore and the fishermen were washing their nets.  So Jesus got into one of the boats and it belonged to Simon who is later to become the apostle Peter.  Jesus sat down and taught the people from the boat, and after finishing Jesus turned to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  Now before anyone gets all religious on me, can you imagine anyone doing that, they washed the nets, they had been out all night and no catch, but to my astonishment Simon did as Jesus asked, and this time they caught so many fish that their nets were breaking and they had to call for the other boat. 

I’m almost sure Peter also remembers his actions and what he said to Jesus that day.  It is reported in the gospel of Luke 5:8, “But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”  And I would bet the farm that Simon Peter also recalled what Jesus said back to him; “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be a fisher of men.” 

Simon might have been called an impulsive person in that he was stripped down for work, but on hearing John say it was Jesus, he puts on his robe and swims one hundred yards to shore, while the others come in the boat.  I bet Jesus was enjoying this moment, watching big Peter coming out of the water dripping wet looking to Jesus much like a faithful dog would do that had seen his master after being apart for a while.  Now Jesus has the charcoal fire going on shore with some fish on it and he says to the disciples bring some of your catch, and who ran to the boat, and hauled the net full of 153 large fish, none other than the guy who just swam 100 yards with a robe on.  And this is what Jesus said to the group, “Come and have breakfast.”   Never forget that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)  Jesus is very serious about spending time with His brothers and sisters, do your remember this comment to the church in Laodicea;  “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)  How long has it been since you had a meal with Jesus?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

Or you Missing Life in the Full?

John 20:30-31

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so 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 20:30-31 ESV)

I often feel as if I’m missing out on living life to the full?  I seem to identify with the guys who pay full fare for a cruise ship and carries on a container full of water and food, so that he will not go hungry, and yet all that the ship has to offer is his.  So this morning as I read, “and that by believing you may have life in his name.” it was time to ponder on what or how does that apply to my living out life on planet earth?  The Helper (Spirit of Truth) put this thought into my mind; “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV) 

This morning as I stood for inspection, the question was not “what would Jesus do” but what did Jesus do, in that He is my life and is Jesus still doing what He did while He kicked rocks as He walked the Judea hillside?  Hebrews 13:8, gives this insight; “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  So it’s today and Jesus is still kicking rock, He has not changed, He is just doing it in my earth suit, using my personality and the talents and gifts that He has blessed me with. 

Now there is still more information that we need, all that is written above is true, but do not forget that my flesh is wanting to run the show, and Channel 1 is telling me how to get my needs met outside of Christ, where as Channel 2, the Spirit of Truth is telling me to watch out for the deceiver who is speaking into my life using Channel 1.  This is a great example of Channel 2, “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”

(Galatians 6:3-5 ESV)  Can we get real, that is not a message you will ever hear on Channel 1, but as I reflect on my life, when I entered into Christ and He entered into me, I brought nothing to the game, all that I have and all that I am is from Him.  (Note: My flesh does not like me writing that truth.)

As I pondered these thoughts, it became clear that Jesus is not talking only about eternal life, if that were the case He would not have told us the following: “I came that they (meaning you and me) may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b emphasis added) 

Jesus also told us that living life on planet earth would not be free of temptations, or pain, it would not be fair, but to relax because He has over come the world and we are of great worth to the Father.  And that is why the “Helper” the Holy Spirit put this prayer into the apostle Paul’s heart to pray for us; “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV)

If you like me have bought the deception message of Channel 1, then you are more like the example of the guys on the cruise ship, and that is not even close to the abundant life that our Lord has provided.  Let me continue to remind you that Channel One is not a strange voice, the deceiver masks your voice, and he is hoping you will own those thoughts.  Thoughts like “you deserve” or you are entitled, and often Channel One will tell you that you are void of value, Channel Two guides you into truth, and the truth is Jesus is still wanting to kick the rocks out of your path and live His life to the full through your earth suit.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Are you a doubting Thomas?

John 20:24-29

Most of us know the story of the disciple Thomas, he is often referred to as doubting Thomas, but is he that much different from all of us?  Now Thomas was more about placing conditions on what he would do or on what he would believe, and most of us can find a place in that boat.  Just for a moment ponder how you operate at work, with your neighbors, and family and it may surprise you how many conditions we place on those relationships.  Some of us have grown-up in homes that conditions were placed on, and what favor would be shown to us and even for some there was conditional love.  And for me, as a person who made a living in sales, it was always conditional.  You wanted to fall from grace, all it requires in sales is to miss quota, and often marriages set conditions on love.  I will love you if_________ and you fill in the blank, yes, we are not that much different than Thomas the disciple of Jesus. 

If you are not acquainted with Thomas this is the ink that got him to be called doubting Thomas: “Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”  (John 20:24-25 ESV)  It is so easy to call Thomas a knucklehead, why would he not believe ten guys who had shared their food and lived together for three years, plus it seems impossible that he would not have heard the account also from Mary Magdalene and yet Thomas placed conditions on what he would believe.  So as I ponder on this it became clear that I was not building campfires with Jesus for three years, but at the age of 27 years I said rain on being a Baptist and looked for a relationship with the same Jesus that Thomas and eleven other guys had hung out with for three years.  As I reflected back on that time, I had placed many conditions on a relationship with Jesus, and for years I said I believed Jesus was the Son of God, but I also believed He came with many conditions.  So I, like Thomas gave Him my conditions, and guess what, Jesus is not offended by our stupidity, this is Jesus’ action on Thomas’s condition: “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  (John 20:26-27 ESV)

Could it be that this is not the Jesus your church or friends have told you about, but that is who He is?  He looks past your fears, He understands what and why you disbelieve and His offer is “Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  In that hotel room as I read Romans 10:9-10, it became clear that I had a need that only Jesus could fill, and I removed the condition and just received His gift of forgiveness and love, and at that moment I entered into Christ and He entered into me; but what about Thomas?  It is recorded in the gospel of John, “Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

(John 20:28-29 ESV)  Now that’s just cool, real cool!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Emotions - We all have them

John 20:11-23

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without emotions; we all have them and they control our lives more than most of us understand.  It is important to state that emotions are not bad in fact they give us the ability to express love, sorrow, joy and pain.  Many wear them on their shoulder for all to see, and often they are referred to as emotional wrecks, while others keep them guarded but are just as controlled.  Let me share the story of a man who ask prayer for his wife because she seemed to cry all the time, but when he lost his job and was about to lose their home, I met him for coffee and tried to give him a hug to let him know that I was there for him, but when I hugged him he stiffened up like a board and looked around the coffee shop to see who was watching. That dude was controlled by his emotions just as much as his wife.  It matters not when we look at history we find emotions at work in the life of mankind.

As we visit the site of the resurrection of Jesus the Christ, we find Mary Magdalene and Peter and John at the tomb.  In the next scene, we see Peter and John returning to their homes, and Mary weeping outside the tomb.  Mary has not looked into the tomb till now and is she in for a surprise, this is what she saw: “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John 20:11-18 ESV)  So Jesus finds Mary weeping but how does he find Peter, John and the disciples?

Is Mary the only one being controlled by her emotions?  Where did Jesus find his disciples on the evening of that same day?  “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”  (John 20:19-23 ESV)  The disciples were totally controlled by fear of the Jews, and so would you and I have been.  This is not about judgment it is more of an observation; the disciples were just as emotional as Mary, but it showed up in a different form.  But when Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them, they had a Helper, God living inside of them, and they became fearless, they became powerful, and so can you, it’s your call.  Put this thought into your heart and mind that the same Jesus who came and breathed on them is living in you.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  (Hebrews 13:8)  Now if He is the same, then is He still doing the same things today as He did then?  So it is a choice, we can choose to turn to Jesus or we can let emotions control us, choose Jesus!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Greatest moment in History

John 20: 1-10

Great moments in history; what comes to mind?  If you are seventy or younger it may be World War One and two, or could it be the assassination of President Kennedy, or the attempt to assassinate President Reagan.  It may have been when President Reagan told the leader of the USSR to tear down that evil wall, and all of us watching as the citizens of Germany broke down the wall that held them captive.   It may be Vietnam or Desert Storm, or if you have studied history it may be Columbus finding the Americas and the many who fled England and Europe for the ability to live as a free people.  They came to worship freely and to live without some leader telling them what and when and how they could live life.  One of the biggest failures of one such group was having all things equal, and they almost starved to death the first winter.  It was only when the leader gave each family land to farm and the ability to prosper from their own work that they began to flourish.   If you are thirty or younger and live in the USA, it has to be the cowardly muslin attack on our nation and watching 3,000 Americans die by such evil men.

But there are so many great moments in history that it is impossible in a short paper to begin the list, so let’s just cut to the chase and list the number One.  The greatest moment in history was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, for all people!  No other act compares to how the Resurrection of Jesus Christ has changed history, and yet we are living in a time when many have no understanding that only in Christ is there freedom from the control of sin.  The gospel of John gives us a clear understanding of this in this encounter between Jesus and some Jews who had believed in him. “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”  Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  (John 8:31-36 ESV) 

So on the greatest day of history on planet earth, whom was chosen to be the witness of this very special day: a lady who once was controlled by seven demons that Jesus cast out of her, and her name is Mary Magdalene.  We have this account in the gospel of Mark; “[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.]  (Mark 16:9-13 ESV)  On the greatest day of the history of the world we have two common scenes, a risen Savor reaching out to His follower saying I’ve risen, I’m alive, I Am the victory over death, and the grave, and you are the recipient of my act of love and grace.  And the other scene, is those who said as his disciples did that day, we do not believe. 

Then we have the gospel of John account where Mary came to the tomb on the first day of the week early while it was still dark, and saw the stone rolled away from the tomb.  So she ran and told Peter and John and they ran to the tomb.   One of the things we learned from John is that of the two you want to put your money on John in a race, for it is recorded that John got there first.  But speed is not the end game, for it is reported that John looked inside and Peter being Peter did not stop at the door, but went into the tomb.  So this is what is reported, both John and Peter saw the same thing, and both went into the tomb, but John 20:8-10, gives us this insight; “Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.” (John 20:8-11 ESV)  Tomorrow we will learn about Mary’s encounter with the risen Lord.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Jewish man named Joseph

John 19:38-42

All four of the gospels give ink to a man named Joseph of Arimathea a Jewish town in Judea.  There is much we can learn about this man from Arimathea in those gospels: Matthew gives this account; “When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away”.

(Matthew 27:57-60 ESV)  First, we find that his action was done in the evening and that Joseph was a man of wealth, and a disciple of Jesus, and that he took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, and after he had done this he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.  What Matthew does not tell us is did Joseph do this by himself?

We find more information in the gospel of Mark: this is what Mark had to say about Joseph; “And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph.”

(Mark 15:42-45 ESV)  Mark gives one more piece of the puzzle about this Joseph of Arimathea, he is a respected member of the council and because of that he gets an audience with Pilate, who is shocked to find out that Jesus is already dead.  And before turning over the body of Jesus he verifies that Jesus is dead.

What can we learn from the gospel of Luke: Luke’s account is in agreement with the other two but we learn one more piece of the puzzle; “Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.” (Luke 23:50-54 ESV)  Both gospels, Mark and Luke, give the account that Joseph is a member of the council, what council?

“The Sanhedrin was the supreme council of Israel. As long as it stood, it was the Supreme Court and legislative body in all matters of Torah law. As such, the Sanhedrin was entrusted with keeping and interpreting the Oral Torah.  And every member of the Sanhedrin had to be distinguished in Torah knowledge, wisdom, humility, fear of God, indifference to monetary gain, love of truth, love of fellow man, and good reputation. It is thus written, "You shall provide out of all the people, able men, who fear God, men of truth, disdaining unjust gain, and place them over [the people]" (Exodus 18:21). It is likewise written, "Take from each of your tribes, wise men, with understanding and full of knowledge, and I will make them your leaders" (Deut. 1:13).  And the other thing that should be noted is; “He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.”

And last let us look to the gospel of John: John has more information for the seeker of truth; “     After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.”

(John 19:38-41 ESV)  We find that this powerful man, this leader is fearful of how others will accept him, and if he told them the truth he would have been kicked out of the council.  But we also learn that he had a partner in this action, a guy named Nicodemus who also saw Jesus by night and the gospel of John tells us that he also was a ruler of the Jews, in John 3:1.  So we now know who also was present and helped in not only carrying the body of Jesus to the tomb but also who prepared the body for burial and rolling the large stone over the opening.

Are you one of those spineless undercover Christians, I was for years and it is an easy pattern to fall into, the fear of men, more than the fear of God.  If that’s where you find yourself at the reading of this paper, take heart, first and foremost you are greatly loved by the Father, and it was part of God’s plan to use these two powerful but fearful men in the history of His only Son.  So let me encourage you to look to Jesus, for when Jesus sets you free you are free indeed.  The Father has a plan for you; “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A Roman family visit to Jerusalem

John 19:31-37

Will you be part of the story, it is the day of Preparation and Jerusalem is bulging with masses of people who have come for “Pesach” and you picked this week totally by ignorance of Jewish customs to bring the family for a vacation to Jerusalem.  You and the family are staying at Hotel King David, and being from Rome as you came near the city there were three crosses and the one in the center had a sign above it in Hebrew that said; “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  Being Roman, crucifixion is not a new thing to your wife, but the children are young and so you use it as a teaching moment.  Not exactly what the wife had in mind for a vacation, but more surprises are in store for the family.

It takes over two hours to go from where the crosses are to your hotel; it is bumper-to-bumper traffic and when you ask a local why so many people they tell you it is Pesach, or in your language it is called Passover.  It is the most observed Jewish holiday and you are quick to remind both the children and your wife of this fact, that when in Rome you do what the Romans do, but you are not sure why you said that, in fact you are not sure where you heard that saying.

It has been a long trip and at the hotel you have noticed that the ones who greeted you are not Jews and a notice comes in your papers of the non-Jewish place in town where your family can get a meal.  All of them are in areas away from the main part of town, and all are owned and run by non-Jews, not what you were expecting.  So being a teacher you ask the person at the hotel where you can read about the meaning of this holiday, and are told that a scroll in the hotel lobby has the information you need.  One of the doorman shows you the scroll and you begin to read to the family from a part that is titled Exodus 12:11-13, “In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” 

When I had finished reading, a man ask if I understood what I had read and I said that I understand the Hebrew language but have no knowledge of what this is all about.  He ask if I know the name Moses and I explained that I had read that he was credited with bringing the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt, but it had been reported in my papers as a tall tale.  The man said that if we wish he would explain to us how Passover and the man hanging with the sign over his head “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” would bring my family into the story of the Passover.  How could that be?  So with that we were all wondering how we could be part of any story about being freed from slavery, are we not Romans, are we not the rulers of the world?

But we listen and the man began with how the Jewish God told Moses that each family was to take a lamb on the tenth day of that month and the lamb is to be without blemish, a male a year old and on the fourteen day of this month they shall kill the lamb at twilight.  They are to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the house in which they eat it.  That very night they shall roast it over the fire and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  And they were told to eat it all and if not to burn it in the morning.  The man said, “does that help you understand what you read earlier?”  Yes and did those die, the first born of those without the blood on their doorpost?  Yes, was his quick answer, and if you would have kept reading you would understand that the Lord has required us to keep this for all times as a memorial day, it is our feast to our God of His favor to us as a people, it is a holy assembly, and no work shall be done on these days.

The man did not seem to take a breath and that is why the high priest and our leader have ask Pilate to break the legs of the three hanging on the cross.  That is where I came from, I am a follower of Jesus, and this is what happen when they had broke the legs of the two on each side of Jesus, they noticed that Jesus was already dead, so one of the guards pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.  The man said it has been prophesied in our Bible that God would send a Lamb to take away the sins of the world, and the Lamb of God would be pure without sin, and that is why we were told to pick a lamb without blemish.  Look down to where it says in Exodus 12:46, “It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones.”  Then he turned to what was called the Psalms and read  “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”

It seemed as if he was finished when I ask, but how does that effect my family; we are not Jews, so how does it bring my family into the story of the Passover?  Once more he went to that scroll and turned to what he called the great prophet Isaiah and began to read, “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  (Isaiah 53:3-6 ESV)  Then he said to us and to others who were listening, one of our Prophets said this about Him, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”  (John 1:29-34 ESV)

But this is what I heard Jesus said about you, and your family, and everyone who has lived or will live, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”  (John 3:16-18 ESV)  Then as if finished the man began to walk away, but only a few steps, then as he turned he ask this question of us; will you believe in Jesus, the Son of God?  And each of us was left to ponder on his question.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Elder Son

John 25-30

Have you noticed that often the elder son is the most attentive to the needs of his mother?  That was the case in my family, Fred watched over the needs of our mother and often the young son was busy traveling, and making a living, or just dropped the ball when it came to being responsible.  In the time Jesus walked on planet earth, the mother was dependent on her children and it was the elder son that she looked to for her support.  So as we look at this Scripture, ask the Spirit of Truth to be your helper, that is one of His names.  And how should we ask him to help us, in this manner, to see Jesus as the elder son knowing and loving His mother. 

As Jesus hung on that cross to pay the penalty for sin, we often look at only the physical pain, the suffering, and the mocking, and we forget the elder son.  His death was a very public death, a death for all of Jerusalem and the very large crowd because it was Passover.  This is what was reported to happen at the time of Passover: “During Passover Jerusalem was swollen by pilgrims from 600,000 to 2-3 million. The Passover pilgrims who welcomed Yeshua into Jerusalem slept outside the city walls, oblivious to the actions of the Temple Establishment.”  It is clear that the writer of the above comment is trying to make a point that the people outside the gate were the ones who cried out “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”  And that writer is making a good point: “And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”  (Matthew 21:10-11 ESV)  It sure looks as if there were two groups of people, and so the ones that were crying Hosanna and the ones that cried crucify may not have been the same.  So that’s a sidebar, but the featured story is on the elder son, who looks down and sees His mother, His aunt and Mary Magdalene, and though in great pain, as the elder son of Mary, Jesus made sure that His mother was provided for.  This is John’s account: “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.  (John 19:26-27 ESV) 

As the younger son, often my busy life was my very weak excuse for not putting mother first, but look at Jesus, look at the man, one hundred percent man, yet 100 % God, who chose to depend totally on His Father, and it is the Father’s heart to provide for the mother, it is the duty of the son.  So what happen next; “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30 ESV)  You may ask what was finished: Much was finished, the power of sin’s control over anyone who by faith enters into Christ, and by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross.  The power of death no longer is to be feared, it is now an open door to the Father’s house.  Look at 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Yes, on that day the pure Lamb, the spotless Lamb, the Lamb of God, Jesus the elder Son, took on sin, death, and it has been conquered and the door is open to all who will bow their knee to the son of Mary, and the Son of God.  He is never too busy and He looks past the crowd, the pain and your many failures to welcome, “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16 b)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Cross

John 19:23-24

For years I carried a cross in my pocket and with that cross came a poem that I put to memory back in my late twenties:

“The Cross In My Pocket”

By Mrs. Verna Mae Thomas

“I carry a cross in my pocket a simple reminder to me of the fact that I am a Christian No matter where I may be.

This little cross is not magic nor is it a good luck charm. It isn’t meant to protect me from every physical harm.

When I put my hand in my pocket to bring out a coin or key the cross is there to remind me of the price He paid for me.

It reminds me too, to be thankful for my blessings day by day and to strive to serve Him better in all that I do and say. It’s also a daily reminder of the peace and comfort I share with all who know my Master and give themselves to His care.

So, I carry a cross in my pocket reminding no one but me that Jesus Christ is Lord of my life If only I’ll let Him be.  If only I’ll let Him be.”

What a great truth, but has the cross-become common place to many of us, or is it just a symbol of a religious order?  It did not begin in that manner, it was the cruelest of deaths, and it was a sadistic disregard for the pain or suffering of others, in fact it was designed to produce the worst of deaths.  Hanging on a cross was purposely designed as an excruciating and slow form of death.

This is John’s account; “      When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture, which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”      

(John 19:23-24 ESV)  While Jesus was hanging on the cross we have a crap game going on near by for his garments, and what has happen up to the time of Jesus’ arrest and before the cross is beyond our emotional ability to grasp in a world where we think giving Ensure to prisoners is cruel and unjust.  In fact, it makes water-boarding a walk in the park in comparison.

So what does the cross mean to me?  Romans 5:6 explains my self-love, my desire to live life on my terms independent from God’s authority, I was ungodly.  And in Romans 5:8-10, it states this truth: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

God’s act of grace freed me from the control of sin and it was the blood of Jesus Christ that exploded grace; the forgiveness of my trespasses against God and His redemption has lavished the mind of Christ by my Helper the Spirit of Truth, and through Him we can understand the mystery of His will for us, and for a better understanding of the above paragraph look at Ephesians 1:7-10. 

Now let us engage Romans 6:5, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”  You must ask this question: What is that talking about, do we have to die on a cross to become united with Christ and the Father?  If Romans 6:6 and Galatians 2:20, are true and they are, then something got crucified in you when Christ went to the cross, so did you.  Bill Gillham states; “God has no plan to make something beautiful of your life (in Adam).  The plan is to kill it and start over again.” 

The following are four truths about what happen to you on the Cross:

1.   When Christ went to the cross, you were in Him.

2.   When Christ was buried, you old self was buried in Him.

3.   When Christ was raised, you exploded from the grave a new person in Him.

4.   When Christ took His seat at the Father’s right hand, in Christ, you took your seat next to the Father.

From the Back Porch

Bob Rice

Unlearning

John 19:17-22

For many years my wonderful wife had wanted to take a trip to Israel, but it was not on my bucket list so we did not go until a few years ago.  It is by far one of the most memorable of the many trips that we have been blessed to take.  One of the last things we did was go to the place of the skull, and then to where they believe Jesus was placed in the tomb.  The trip, as a whole, had been full of sights and lessons and it gave me clarity about many of the lessons we had been taught in Bible studies over many years; that is till we arrived at the place of the skull.  An Englishman began to share that the Romans did not crucify Jesus on a hill far away, that the Romans always crucified people on the main roads that lead into the city, a road well traveled so many could see and learn that it did not pay to break the laws of Caesar.  He explained that often when a ruler was coming from Rome, they would line the road with the crosses of lawbreakers that were being crucified.

Now this is not in keeping with the song, the “Old Rugged Cross,” but is that where we get our doctrine, a songbook, I hope not and yet for me it had been in that one area.  So we need to look at the apostle John’s account of that day, is it in keeping with what the Englishman was teaching us? “So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” (John 19:17-22 ESV)

I once more understood that much of what I had been taught needed to be examined, not by some commentary, but by the authority of Scripture.   Folks, what we believe about Scripture is critical, yes, it is extremely important because God will hold each of us responsible and because John 10:10 tells us that the deceiver is good at selling us a lie, and those lies will keep us from living the life of abundance on planet earth. 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Attic – My hidden life

The Attic – My hidden life

Have you given much thought to what is in your attic, yes that area immediately under the roof of your house?  Our home has two attics, one is in the garage and the other is in the house, but both have one thing in common, they are the places for stuff that was too good, or at the time six plus years ago when we moved into the house, we thought was too good to give away.  The attics of our house have become the place to deposit more stuff that we did not have room for, or did not want others to see and became cluttered, disorderly, and a real mess. 

Often, I’ve gone into that attic looking for something that I needed but after looking for what seemed an eternity but was closer to a few minutes, I came down in defeat, promising myself that I will do the hard work and organize my attics.  So after a short six years, I began the task, but it went from a simplistic project to an understanding of myself.   

My first encounter was the many boxes that had never been opened in 6 plus years, and where to begin with so little space to even move a box; could I have been that cheap while building the house, that I did not allow the builder to put down decking?  It became painfully apparent that I needed to deck some of the attic in order have the ability to see what treasure was to be found in those many boxes.  

When you begin a do over the past often becomes the new reality, and because the opening is much to small for bringing the 4 X 8 X ¾” plywood that is required to install decking, and at seventy years of age, it seemed that those sheets of plywood had grown both in size and weight.  If you are still with me, let me report that after weeks of cutting and carrying plywood up the stairs, and doing some dumpster diving, (we have three houses being built in the area, and it is a cheap source of scraps) and scraps require cutting and some engineering but they help me keep the project on time and under budget.  Now both attics are decked to a large degree and have some shelving so that items have a place to go and they are soon to be labeled so that we no longer have clutter.

I had an epiphany, after the garage was almost finished, I told my bride that the attic was a picture of much of my life; a total mess, cluttered with thoughts and stuff that was not being used, but was out of sight.  A guest or neighbor who came into the house would have a total wrong impression, for though the attic was in total disarray, the house was always clean and each thing in its proper place, but no one was allowed into the attic, for the attic exposed confusion.

I began to reflect on the attic of my mind, it has some boxes that need not to be opened; they just need to be discarded, but it has others that must be opened in order to deal with wonderful memories of treasures that God has put into my life on planet earth.  Those treasures have names, Bob Keese, who cut my hair for many years, and invited me to a Bible study where God began to exposé my need to leave religion; my identity was being a Baptist, not having a relationship with Jesus Christ.  In those boxes that need opened was the many men who God used to teach me, and some of my bosses that showed me how much I walked by sight and not by faith.  But the box that I need to open most is the one that shows the highways of my life, and the faithfulness of a Father who loves a rascal like me, a person who He saw before one day happen and still loves me beyond my understanding.

How is your attic, not the part you let others see, but the hidden attic of your soul, are there boxes that need to be opened, and others that just need to be pitched on the pile of “bought lessons”?  

We should remember that Jesus said; “ For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

John 19:12-16

“From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,”

When I traveled in Arabic countries this saying was very common: The phrase “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”  Is that what is taking place in the above quote?  I was blessed to have the gulf area as part of my assignment and you were told as a businessperson that if you travel to Israel, ask that they not stamp your passport but add a page that could be removed.  The Saudi and others in those regions have a great hatred for Israel and that hate will be passed on to anyone whom they believe is a friend of Israel. 

Throughout history, in World War II both England and USA became allies with Russia, this is the account; “During the Second World War, said foreign policy was often on display within the Allied powers.  On the European side of the war, tension was common between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. The fiercely anti-Communist Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared that, "if Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons," in support of British aid to Soviet forces.   In addition to Churchill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was wary of Joseph Stalin and his dictatorial regime, but realized the Soviets were necessary for the Allied war effort.”

It does not seem that Pilate is on the same page with the Jewish authorities, in fact Pilate only sees Jesus as a problem, not an enemy of his or Rome’s.  So when Pilate said to that group, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, I find no guilt in him.”  It was the reply of the leaders of the mob that frightened the governor; “The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.”  (John 19:7 ESV)  He what! That day the Roman procurator of Judaea wanted to be anywhere but there, and it is reported that Pilate’s wife had a dream, and it is recorded in Matthew’s gospel. “Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”  (Matthew 27:19 ESV) 

So why did Pilate wash his hands of a righteous man?  It was not because he liked the Jews, nor was it because he respected their customs or religious beliefs, it was done out of fear.  Pilate had no fear of the Jews, and it seems as if he had little fear of God, but the Jews knew whom he did fear and that was Caesar.  This was the line that the Jews used to close the deal; “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” (John 19:12b ESV)  And that day fear reigned supreme, and Jesus became an enemy, and so the saying is correct: “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

But what about the Jews, did they not hate the Romans, did they not dream of the day the Messiah would ride into Jerusalem with his army of angels and free them from the Romans.  Moses had told them that God was their King, and yet Jesus without an army was rocking the religious world, and they feared that if he was allowed to live, Rome would remove them as the shadow government, and they would no longer be the big dogs and hold a place of honor.  This is what John’s gospel reported; “Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:14-15 ESV)  And on that day that saying once more held true; “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice