The Well Church OKC

Chapter 6 ended with a question for all of us. Fundamentally, now that we know what it means to follow Christ, and what it calls for, will we, too, leave? I pray our answer is that we will not trade the things of this world for our relationship with our God. That we will not fall away, enticed by whatever it is that draws us away from him. That we would finish the race well, not slowly drifting off course. That we will endure the challenges up until the end. The challenges change, and both our enemy and our flesh present different things to turn us away from Jesus as the years progress.

Eating is one of my favorite things. It is simple, enjoyable, essential, and available. I get to taste things that are marvelous. I get to eat with my family and friends. I get to stop hunger pangs. Most importantly, however, I get to stay alive.

It amazes me that God provides so much food for so many people ALL THE TIME!

God sustains us. Now and, if we choose Jesus, forever.

Recall the work of Jesus in the feeding of the 5,000 and when he walked on the water to join his disciples

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The miracles of Jesus—about 37 are recorded in the Gospels—include physical healings, casting out demons, providing food, controlling or altering elements such as water, wind, and rain, and raising people from the dead. All these supernatural occurrences served a specific purpose in God’s plan of salvation for humanity.

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People believe in all kinds of things. They, we, have chosen a whole host of things we are willing to bet are true, even when we don’t really have “proof”. Many of these are based in facts that have been verified by others, and even by the evidence of what we have seen ourselves. We believe in people, places and things we have never personally seen, touched or known. We decide to believe all the time.

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In our study of John, we have begun to see the ministry of Jesus coming into public view. We have seen the disciples called. The separation from the earthly family to an extent, and the movement within the heavenly family. We have started to see the conflict that will soon reach its boiling point. We have seen the sweet and powerful redemption of the woman that Jesus met at the well.

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He Is Risen!

Recall where we have just been. John has just shared the intimate account of Jesus’ divine appointment with Photima. (or at least that is the name we will use for her.)

“This man really is the Savior of the world.”

Not just because of another person’s account or words, but because of personal encounters with Jesus. Because of “his words.” In other words, because they listened to what Jesus said to them intimately and it changed who they believed him to be.

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All about us. Or, rather, all about how Jesus sees and accepts us. Each and every one of us. The Gospel of John is utterly consistent in sharing both the dire consequences of sin that must be dealt with, and the perfect redemption available to those who would believe in Jesus, accepting his gift of salvation. Either we are responsible for our sin, or He is.

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The most important time in our lives is not when we were born, or when we die. It is not when we graduate or when we get married or when we have kids. It is not when we get a promotion or get a terminal diagnosis. It is when we make the decision about whether or not to place our faith in Jesus as our Savior. Everything in our eternal existence hinges on this choice. Nothing is more important than that we are born again.

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Last week, Lukas spoke about the clearing of the temple. This was, as all events recorded in John, deeply important. In this account, we see Jesus depicted as anything but shy, retiring and peaceful. He brought justice and accountability to those who would defile the temple and use religion to profit. He brought unflinching challenge to those unwelcome people who had made themselves at home in His Father’s house. He was forceful and clear in making right what was wrong. In this we get a hint at the character of God. God is perfectly holy and will always reconcile this trait by the eradication of sin and imperfection. It is clear that one day God will make all things perfect. It is inevitable and we can look forward to it, deny it, or anticipate it with dread.

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