On a Scale of 1-10

John 1:45-50

It has always been difficult for me to not share what I’ve seen or heard, especially when it is a new phenomenon.  As a five year old, it was the fort we built in the farms grain crop, Tommy Black and myself had dug holes in the farms field and cut his maze and weaved it into a fort and out of the fort we fought and killed many Indians.   Both of our mothers had to come and see the fort, and I’m sure when the farmer cut his grain, it was an experience out of the ordinary.  And I remember riding our bikes to the Back Bay in Corpus Christi, with fishing poles, and bringing home a stringer of speckled trout; it was something you shared with almost anyone who gave you the chance.  In my senior year of High School the fighting Roy Miller Buccaneers won the State Championship; now that was a phenomenon, and it is something we shared with all who would listen.  Jan and I took our first trip to England, and the things we saw for the first time were extraordinary and marvelous, and we had pictures to show any poor guest who came for dinner.  Yes, when something out of the norm happens, we want to share it with any and all, and that is what Philip did after meeting Jesus.

We find this report in the gospel according to John, and we pick up the story in John 1:45-46, “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  The name Jesus was a common name and it is of interest to see that often in the Scriptures Jesus is called, Jesus of Nazareth, and He also refers to Himself using that name.  “Now Nazareth is the city were Joseph and Mary lived, and the home of Jesus till the announcement of his messiahship at the age of thirty.  The area is secluded in the mountains, halfway between the Mediterranean and the Sea of Galilee, yet it was near the well-traveled highway between Egypt and Mesopotamia.” (Taken from the Archaeological Supplement page 1681 of the Thompson Chain Bible NIV)

It does not sound as if Nathanael is a fan of Nazareth or anyone who has come from there, but this we know, he went to see this Jesus of Nazareth, and this is what took place: “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.”  And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

This was a new phenomenon for Nathanael, out of the ordinary and it was life changing for Nathanael; do you think he went about his daily routine as if nothing had happen?  We do not have to wonder, we have the account of Nathanael’s life after encountering this Jesus of Nazareth, he told others what had happened to him, he told others about this Jesus of Nazareth.  It was by far the greatest thing that had happened to Nathanael, and that makes me wonder, have you met the Jesus of Nazareth, and if you have has that encounter changed your life.   On a scale of 1-10, one being so-so and 10 being the greatest happening in your life, what number would you put on your encounter with Jesus of Nazareth? 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Recruiter

John 1: 43

Pearl Harbor is the site of a major U.S. naval base, where a surprise attack on December 7, 1941, by Japanese carrier-borne aircraft inflicted heavy damage and brought the U.S. into World War II.  It was the next day that our Congress declared war on Japan, and Germany and the recruiters for our military did not have to solicit young men they were coming to them in mass.  We use recruiters in the business world everyday and our military, which is now voluntary, also has many recruiters, but have you ever given any thought to Jesus Christ as a recruiter?

John’s gospel sheds some light on Jesus as a recruiter in chapter 1, verse 43. “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee.  He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”  Now that sure sounds like a recruiter, so I began to wonder was Philip’s case special, or have I missed this attribute of Christ, is Jesus a “Recruiter”?  In the gospel of Matthew 4:18-20, we have this account of Jesus the recruiter; and Simon and Andrew left nets, fishing boats and followed this man who said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  He must have be a good recruiter because we are told they immediately left their nets and followed him.  As they walked away from the nets, from the businesses they owned, from all that they knew, they came on two other men and this account is amazing.  Picking up the story in Matthew 4:21-22, “And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.  Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”  Jesus, the recruiter has a strong appeal to these men, they followed him without delay, but were they the norm? 

Could it be that these guys Jesus recruited were in a bad business deal, maybe the fishing business was not what they wanted and they were looking for a career change, did Jesus ever recruit anyone with a thriving business, and they dropped everything to follow him?  That was precisely what I was thinking and Doctor Luke addresses it in his gospel, chapter 5, verses 27&28, “After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth.  And he said to him, “Follow me.”  And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.”  For any who may wonder, tax collectors were no more popular in the time Jesus walked on earth than they are today, and we know that Levi, was a man of wealth, for in the next verse we are told that he had a dinner party in his house and invited his friends, and who were his friends, tax collectors and some others who I’m sure were not accepted by those being taxed.  In fact, the Pharisees and the lawyers ask this question of Jesus; “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Looking at Jesus as a recruiter opens your eyes to see that is what He did, and when it came to addressing, “is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm,” Jesus recruited a man with a withered hand, and you can find that account in Luke 6:6-11.  We all know the story of Zacchaeus, but read it again in Luke’s gospel chapter 19:1-10.  This small man who is a tax collector wants to see Jesus, so he climbs up a sycamore tree to see Jesus as he passes, and the “Recruiter” looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”  And why was Zacchaeus recruited, so that he and his family could come to a saving knowledge of the Christ.  This is what Jesus the “Recruiter” said to the crowd who were not happy that he was going to the house of a sinner.  “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the loss.”  Wow, the “Recruiter’s” job was seeking out those who were lost.

I’m sure you recall the man named Saul who was sent out by the Chief Priest to arrest and kill Christians, and his encounter with the “Recruiter,” Jesus Christ.  The book of Acts is Doctor Luke’s account of when Jesus recruited Saul and changed him from a tool of Satan to a follower of Christ, the full account is found in Acts chapter 9.

Was there ever an account of Jesus recruiting a person, and them rejecting his offer?  The answer is yes, we have the account of a very rich man who wanted his goodness to buy him into eternal life, and this I’ve come to understand, the “Recruiter” Jesus Christ, sees past the exterior into the heart.  This rich guy wanted Jesus on his terms, and Jesus ask him to give up the false god he was serving, but the god of wealth had his heart and he went away very sad, for he was extremely rich.  It is amazing as I reflect back on my encounters with the “Recruiter,” I also walked away sad, because I wanted control of my life.  But He sent others and then He came back to me in a hotel room, and I followed him.

Jesus is a recruiter; his mission statement is clear; “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)  Need more information look at John 3:17, “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.”  If you are not sure please read John 3:18 also, Jesus is looking for all who will put away the little worthless gods and follow him.  I understand that the enemy of your soul also is making an offer, but Jesus the “Recruiter” tells us in John 10:10, it is not in your best interest to listen to those lies.  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”   For many have bought into the package of lies, the false gods of wealth, sex, but it really comes down to wanting to live life on your terms, you do not see any need for the “Recruiter” but to all who are lost, the “Recruiter” Jesus Christ’s job and mission plan is to seek out and offer life, now and it is eternal.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Many never Tell

John 1:35-42

Something new and exciting has taken place in your life and it is almost impossible to keep quiet about it.   I’ve yet to meet a grandparent that does not talk about the new grandchild, and if you give them a chance they will be showing you pictures.  If it is a first grandchild and the only thing they have to show is a sonogram, get ready to see the most beautiful little black and white picture and grandmother will explain all the parts.  For guys it may be the new bass boat, or corvette, but we find great pleasure in sharing our grandchildren or new house, car, kitchen and with me it would be my garden with most everyone who asks.

Not much has changed, John had been looking for the Messiah, and as he and two of his disciples were talking and he saw Jesus walking by and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”  These two must have been with John when the priests and Levites ask him, “Who are you?”  And they remember his reply was, I am not the Christ, nor am I Elijah, nor am I the Prophet, but today this man they follow had said to them, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

We like the rest of the story, they started to follow Jesus and look at what happen, “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.” (John 1: 38-39)  Have you heard the expression, “I would like to have been a fly on the wall,” but God did not share what took place as these two disciples of John went and spent the night with Jesus.  But one thing is  a fact, Andrew’s life was changed that night, and he wanted to share with his brother Simon the good news that he had found the Messiah.  This is what happen on the next day; “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).  Then he brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John.  You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). (John 1: 41-42)

We live in a time where many who go by the family name of Christian, who claim they are members of the family of God, Christ has redeemed them from the penalty of sin and death, and yet they never tell anyone else about this great gift.  Many act as if they did God a favor to join His family, and others bring shame on His holy name.  Could it be that Andrew and Simon were looking, waiting, and expecting the Christ to visit them?  And could it be that many who go by the name of Christian are not looking, not waiting, and not expecting His soon return?  I do not know the answers to those questions, but this I know, I told all my neighbors about a 13 inch broccoli head I grew in my garden, it was something, but it has been eaten, it’s gone, and it has no power, no hope, no authority to give life, to change a heart, to redeem a person.  But let me tell you Jesus does, he is the giver of life, I know because for 27 years of my life I was religious, but without hope, without life, and one night in a hotel I read this verse, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” and I acted on it as if it were truth, and Jesus forgave my sins and came to live in my life and now I live in Him.  Note: Never forget “Do and done,” “Do” is religion, what I can do for God, but “Done” is Christianity what Jesus Christ has done for you.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Imagine Yourself being in the Audience

John 1:15-34

We live in a time of “double talk” it might be defined as, deliberately combining nonsense syllables and actual words to form unintelligible speech.  As you read verse 15, it sure comes across in that manner: “(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)  Now it is clear that someone born after us could move into a position of rank or authority over us, but how could someone born after us be alive before us?  You and I have read the story, but let your imagination place you as part of this audience, there is no New Testament, you are under the harsh rule of Rome, and you are hoping for a Messiah to come and defeat Rome, to put things in order, that is if you are still hoping at all.  And this guy John, who is a man’s man, dresses funny, and needs a hair cut is speaking very powerful words, and many are coming to him to confess sin and be baptized.

As we place ourselves in that group that has come to see this John the baptizer, we are not the only ones who are curious about his position of importance, was he of a high status.  If John showed up today we would ask where he got his education, what he did for a living, who was his family, and what church or denomination and political party he belonged to.  But that day as we stand in the crowd, we see priests and Levites from Jerusalem coming to ask this question: “Who are you?”  Now I must confess, the crowds that had come before us had returned saying is this the Christ, the Messiah, or could it be Elijah, if not, surely John is a Prophet sent by God.

The first thing John said when asked “Who are you” is “I am not the Christ” and then they ask, are you Elijah and his answer was no.  One of the groups sent from Jerusalem say then you must be a Prophet sent by God, and to my shock, John replied, no.  At this point things are getting real interesting, if he is not the Messiah, nor Elijah, and not even a Prophet sent by God, who is he and that is what they ask next.  You see they needed to give an answer to those who had sent them.  This is what John said about himself.  It is recorded in John’s gospel, chapter 1:23, “He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 

The crowd was pushing in on us and yet it was very quiet, so it was easy to hear what those that had been sent said; and John’s reply is recorded in verses 25-27, “They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”  John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”  Now I do not know about you but I came back the next day, I had to know more about this person John is referring to, as one whose sandal he is not worthy to untie.  And early that morning while John was baptizing, he stopped 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.” (Recorded in John 1:29-31)  Then John said to us, “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.” (This also was recorded in John 1:29-34) 

Often, it helps me to place myself in the story, what seems to be “double talk” became very clear, and I believe the Spirit of God who descended on Jesus also made it clear to some of those in that crowd, my prayer is that He did the same with you.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Contemplation

John 1:14

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Have you ever contemplated the statement above?  Jesus introduced to the world grace and truth and the dictionary defines grace: “The infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill shown to mankind by God.”  As an act of faith one can experience being set free from sin, by the confession of sin and accepting repentance from God.  If we explore the Handbook on living life on planet earth, it is often referred to as God’s Holy Word, or the Bible, its pages are full of the word grace.  Many refer to grace as God’s unmerited favor, it’s God’s goodness and mercy, His great love for mankind and it was introduced to this world by Jesus, who took on flesh and dwelt among us in flesh for awhile, but when He returned to the Father, grace and truth lived in and was empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to all who received it by faith.  In 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” 

What does 2 Corinthians 8:9 mean?  If that is your question, it a good one and the apostle Paul answered it in a letter to the church at Ephesus.  Ephesians 2: 13-19,^13”But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” 

God’s mercy, His grace, has bestowed citizenship in the household of God, in fact the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome, and told them in Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father!”  What can compare to that?  Surely no one would compare the riches of this world, they or temporary, but to be adopted into the Family of the Creator, the giver of truth and grace, is eternal.  Therefore, if your adoption is through the blood of Jesus Christ, you have grace sufficient for all human needs, that is what 2 Corinthians 12:9, is saying to us: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God’s grace shows up not in our strength but in weakness, and that is who we are, “no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” 

I’m sure you have noticed that we have not gotten to truth, but Jesus has much to say about the subject and He had this exchange with Pilate; “Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?”  Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.  For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”  Today many who are members of some denomination are asking the same question as Pilate or even Thomas.  In the gospel of John 14:5 “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going.  How can we know the way?” How many are sitting in churches that will not ask that question because they fear what some other person might think of them, aren’t you grateful that Thomas ask it for you, and this is our Lord’s reply.  “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  I have talked to many people who want another way, but it comes down to an issue of;  “Does Jesus tell the truth?”  If not, he is at best a liar and a lunatic, not a good teacher, nor a good man, because He has made this claim, that He is The Christ, the only way, the only door to the Father.

I believe Jesus is “Truth” the only truth, and I believe that “Truth” lives in me and I live in that “Truth”.  For us who are adopted into the family of God, we have much to look forward to, Jesus said this to us; “Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Is it part of our DNA?

John 1: 6-13

Back in the old days, when I worked for money I often heard people say, where did this day go, or the week or month flew by?  Now, I still work and often it’s doing something important like cleaning the house for Jan or working in the garden so we can enjoy fresh vegetables, but I’ve noticed that the day, week, and month seems to take wing and are gone.  For many of us we are too busy to notice the blessings God has sent to us, blessings like flowers, birds, grandchildren, friends, and often your wife or husband.  So I wonder is that unique to our time, our culture, or is it just a people problem? 

I’ve come to this conclusion, it is in our DNA and God has been sending special people to us from the beginning to tell us to stop and listen, to be still, and see or hear and act on the blessings that He sends.  Such a man was John the Baptist, and this is what John 1:6-8 says, ^“There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” 

Could it be that the people of Johns day were much like us too busy being busy, that they missed out on the greatest gift our Father has ever given, much greater than any of the wonders of this world, greater than anything you place value on.  Being busy may have caused many to ignore the giver of life.  John 1:9, “The true light, which enlightens everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.”  Creator God took on flesh, that is what John tells us in chapter 1, verse 14, “The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

I do not believe it is possible to see clearly or understand the feelings of Jesus, but from a Bob’s view, if I had been the Creator, and you chose to leave my paradisiacal garden, and later I sent Moses to lead you to the promise land.   Now I’ve come to buy you back out of sin and your too busy to notice me, you would have been toast, I’m returning to glory to be worshipped, no cross, no forgiveness, but thank God, we are not God.  John 1:11-13, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood nor of the will of flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

If you are too busy being busy, stop look and listen, and ask God to reveal His plan for you, it a good plan.  If you, like the people of Johns time, have not received Jesus, will you ask Jesus to give you ears to hear and eyes to see what the Spirit of God has for you in Christ?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Power of the Light

 

John 1: 4-5

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The power of light over darkness is without challenge; it only takes the smallest of light to dispel darkness.  But the light that verses four and five make reference to is the light of the Spirit of the living God, that light will give you clarity in a evil and dark world of sin. 

Do you recall your imagination when you were a small child, the images and ideas that came into your mind, and how you formed images of the voice on the radio and in the books you read, I believe television has stolen much of our imagination today.  But I’m asking you to imagination yourself in the time that Jesus walked on the earth, you are a member of a Jewish family, and your life is built around the customs and traditions of your religion, and that means all Jewish boys learned to read and write in their own family, and the book that was used was the Bible.  You have learned how to assimilate the history of Israel, the election, the promises, the covenants, and the law is your guide.  You have learned to sing the psalms and each Sabbath you and your family are at the synagogue.  You have grown up under Roman rulers and as a people you resented the Roman government, that is a mild understatement, you hate Rome and it’s appointed king Herod.  As a Jew, your world was divided into two types of people: Jewish and Gentile, and that meant anyone who was not Jewish.  Rome gave you some freedom of religion, but your court system (the Sanhedrin) was limited in what it could do, it no longer had the right to put someone to death without Rome’s approval.

That is the world you live in and this new teacher comes to your village and says, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)  Now as you imagine yourself in this setting, let your mind go back to what had just taken place before Jesus said the words above.  Jesus is at the temple teaching those who gathered around him and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in the act of adultery.  And these are the words they spoke and you and all that had gathered knew them to be the Law of Moses.  “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.  So what do you say?” (John 8:4-5) You and all who have gathered to hear this new Teacher are amazed, he does not speak but begins to write on the ground, and then he stands and says; “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” He once more began to write on the ground and it was amazing, the older men left first and then the younger and no one was left to condemn her.  “Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Women, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?”  “No one, sir” she said.  “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared.  “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:10-11)

You may still be wondering what did Jesus write, why did they all leave?   Now he has said that He is the light of the world and if I follow him I will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.  One of the Pharisees challenged him, and told him his testimony was not valid.  Now Jesus said a lot but this I will never forget; “I am the one who bears witness for myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” (John 8:18) 

At this point you can stop imagining, but you must make a choice just like that group that came to Jesus that day.  Do you accept that Jesus is the giver of life and that He has the ability, no matter what condition you are in, to give you a new spirit and this light of life, or do you reject it?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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