John 20
Mary finds Peter and John verse 1- 2
The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early
when it was yet dark to the sepulcher
and seeing the stone taken away from the sepulcher
THEN she ran and comes to Simon Peter – and the other disciple
whom Jesus loved and said to them
They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher
and we know not where they have laid HIM
Peter and John run to the tomb verse 3- 10
Peter therefore went forth – and that other disciple
and came to the sepulcher so they ran both together
and the other disciple did outrun Peter
and came first to the sepulcher – and he stooping down
and looking in – saw the linen clothes lying
yet went he not in
THEN come Simon Peter following him – and went into the sepulcher
and sees the linen clothes lie – and the napkin
that was about HIS head
not lying with the linen clothes
BUT wrapped together in a place by itself
THEN went in also that other disciple
which came first to the sepulcher and he saw – and believed
for as yet they knew not the scripture
that HE must rise again from the dead
THEN the disciples went away again to their own home
Mary receives message from angels verse 11- 13
BUT Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping – and as she wept
she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher
and sees two angels in white sitting
the one at the head and the other at the feet
where the body of Jesus had lain
And they say to her
Woman – why weep you?
She said to them
Because they have taken away my Lord
and I know not where they have laid HIM
Mary meets resurrected Jesus verse 14- 18
And when she had thus said – she turned herself back
and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus
Jesus said to her – Woman – why weep you?
whom seek you?
She supposing HIM to be the gardener
said unto HIM
Sir – IF you have borne HIM hence
tell me where you have laid HIM
and I will take HIM away
Jesus said unto her
Mary
She turned herself – and said to HIM
Rabboni – which is to say – Master
Jesus said to her – Touch ME not
FOR I am not yet ascended to MY Father
BUT go to MY brethren and say to them
I ascend unto MY Father and your Father
and to MY God and your God
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that
she had seen the Lord
and that HE had spoken these things unto her
Jesus appears to ten disciples verse 19- 23
THEN the same day at evening – being the first day of the week
when the doors were shut where the disciples
were assembled for fear of the Jews
came Jesus and stood in the midst
and said to them
Peace be to you
and when HE had so said
HE showed to them HIS hands and HIS side
THEN were the disciples glad
when they saw the Lord
THEN said Jesus to them again – Peace be to you
as MY Father has sent ME – even so send I you
and when HE had said this
HE breathed on them and said to them
Receive you the Holy Ghost
whosoever sins you remit
they are remitted to them
whosoever sins you retain
they are retained
Doubting Thomas comments verse 24- 25
BUT Thomas – one of the twelve – called Didymus
was not with them when Jesus came
The other disciples therefore said to him
We have seen the Lord
BUT he said to them
Except I shall see in HIS hands the print of the nails
and put my finger into the print of the nails
and thrust my hand into HIS side
I will not believe
Jesus appears to eleven disciples verse 26- 29
And after eight days again HIS disciples were within
and Thomas with them
THEN came Jesus – the doors being shut – and stood in the midst
and said Peace be unto you
THEN said HE to Thomas
Reach hither your finger and behold MY hands
and reach hither your hand and thrust it into MY side
and be not faithless but believing
And Thomas answered and said to HIM
My Lord and my God
Jesus said unto him
Thomas – BECAUSE thou hast seen ME you have believed
blessed are they that have not seen
and yet have believed
Purpose of the writing of Gospel of John verse 30- 31
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of HIS disciples
which are not written in this book – BUT these are written
that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ
the Son of God
AND that believing you might have life – through HIS name
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. (4100 “believed” [pisteuo] means commit unto, commit to trust, to think to be true, place confidence in, implying trust, be convinced or faith)
DEVOTION: This “other disciple” is the author of this Gospel. He wrote four other books of the New Testament. It is thought he was the youngest of the twelve disciples.
He runs to the sepulcher with Peter. He outruns Peter but doesn’t enter the tomb. Peter who is the impetuous one goes in before him to look around. John follows Peter and looks at the evidence and is convinced that Jesus arose from the dead. He believed what Jesus had told him.
When we look at the evidence of the resurrection do we come away with the confidence that we are following the right Savior? We should but sometimes we act like the other disciple who doubted the testimony of others. He wanted to see HIM for himself.
We need to have the same confidence that John had from the moment he saw the evidence at the tomb. Our belief should be based on the Word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit in our life.
Once we realize how the LORD is working in our life we can give a testimony of these works to others. It should help them understand the truth of the statements of Scripture which should lead to their becoming a follower of Jesus.
This cycle should continue until the LORD calls those who are members of the church universal are called to heaven to meet the LORD in the air at the rapture of the church.
CHALLENGE: Once we learn a truth from the Word of God, we should apply it to our actions. John did.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 19 Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be to you. (2808 “doors were shut” [kleio] means to close, lock, not open or affording passage or access, securely locked, or windows of heaven, so that no rain can fall)
DEVOTION: The disciples felt that they were in danger because the religious leaders had killed Jesus. They thought they were next. They locked the door to keep the soldiers out. It was a wrong move because the soldiers could have broken the door down if they wanted them. They were thinking wrong. They were afraid.
Jesus walks into the room without using the door. They are even more afraid but Jesus greets them with “Peace be with you.” They didn’t have any peace. Jesus had promised to care for them and yet they didn’t know what to think.
Now HE was in the room with them showing them the scars from the nails. HE wanted them to know it was really HIM. HE wanted them to have faith in HIM. HE wanted them to remember all the times HE had taught them that HE was going to raise from the dead.
HE wants them to realize that HE brings Peace with HIM to the hearts of all of those who follow HIM. We are to have the fear of the LORD which is a reverent respect for the LORD. The fear of the LORD is not a phobia that produces shaking and worries. Worry is a sin according to the LORD.
The pictures we see regarding those who face suffering in this world is that of a bird under the protection of a cliff during a storm.
CHALLENGE: During each storm the LORD allows in our life we are to face it with the peace of God that passes all understanding. It is easy to say but hard to practice. Prayer helps make the difference.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and says unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. ((2983 “receive” [lambano] means to take with the hand, lay hold of, to take in order to carry away, to make one’s own, procure, or to take a person)
DEVOTION: Jesus was appearing to the disciples after his resurrection from the grave. Ten saw him the first time but Thomas was not with them. Thomas wanted to see him in person. He didn’t believe the other disciples.
Jesus appeared a second time to the disciples eight days later. Thomas was with them on this occasion. He wanted proof that Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus gave him that proof. He worshiped the LORD by calling him Lord and God. Jesus stated that those who don’t need physical proof of the resurrection were more blessed than he was. We are part of that group of people.
Too often we want physical proof of the resurrection of Jesus. The Holy Spirit witnesses to us that HE was raised from the dead. The Bible is written for us to believe in HIS resurrection. Other believers help us understand that HE is risen by their testimony. The personal revelations of the Holy Spirit working in our times of meditation in the Word of God witness to us of HIS presence in our life.
This verse gives us a problem. If the Holy Spirit was given right then, then what happened on the day of Pentecost forty days later? This was a preview of the day of Pentecost. The disciples were given an individual filling of the Holy Spirit to understand what was happening at that time. They were also given more instructions of what to do after the day of Pentecost.
There was going to be power given to the leaders of the church to tell people how their sins could be forgiven. God does the forgiving on the basis of the death of Christ on the cross. HIS blood gives each of us the ability to be a child of HIS. As a child of HIS our sins are forgiven. Praise HIS name.
We have many in our churches who need eye witness proof of the existence of God. One of the great things is that we can see answers to prayer that helps us understand that God is real. Jesus also gave the disciples a gift before he left them. HE breathed on them and told them to take on a person. The person was the Holy Ghost. HE is the third person of the Godhead. HE was going to come into them.
Since the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has filled believers who are living for the LORD. Once someone follows the LORD the Holy Spirit indwells them until the return of Christ or they go to heaven.
The Holy Spirit gives power to witness. The disciples were going to need this power while they waited for the blessings of the day of Pentecost. Under the old covenant the Holy Spirit came on people and left them. Under the new covenant, since the day of Pentecost, HE indwells them until their death. Praise the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Realize the power you have once the Holy Spirit is active in your life. Use that power to live and witness for the LORD.)
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:27 Then said HE to Thomas, Reach hither your finger, and behold MY hands; and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into MY side: and be not faithless, but believing. (571 “faithless” [apistos] means characterized by a lack of belief and trust in someone or something, especially of those who deny or reject the truths of the Gospel, to be unbelieving, to be lacking trust, withholding belief, incredulous, or a heathen,
DEVOTION: Unbelief is a sin. If it is found in one of the disciples who walked with Jesus for three and a half years it is sad. Yet we find it in Thomas. He has made other negative statement in the Gospels. He seemed to like to look at the negative side of every issue. There is one of these in most churches and families.
Jesus wants a change a negative person into one who can trust in the LORD no matter what the circumstances. That takes time in the Christian life. Even for those who walked with Jesus.
Our responsibility is to encourage those who have a tendency toward the negative with the Word of God and prayer. Too often we can try to avoid these types of individuals in our families and in our churches.
I have had individuals in each of my churches who always seemed to come to meetings with a negative attitude toward any suggestion made by anyone but themselves. They seemed to like being called the “devil’s advocate” which no Christian should ever want to be called.
We are not to give the devil even a foothold in our families or our churches. Unbelief in the power of the LORD to conquer any circumstance not only affects the individual but those around him.
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD for help in encouraging those who tend to be negative to have a more positive attitude toward the ability of the LORD to help them in their decisions and circumstances.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Scripture verse 9
Book verse 30, 31
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Father verse 17, 21
Ascended to Father verse 17
God verse 17, 28, 31
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verse 2, 12, 14- 17, 21, 24, 26, 29- 31
Lord verse 2, 13, 18, 20, 25, 28
Gardener verse 15
Sir verse 15
Rabboni – Master verse 16
Ascend to Father verse 17
Resurrected first day of week verse 19
Breathed on disciples verse 22
God verse 28
Signs verse 30
Christ verse 31
Jesus is the Christ verse 31
Son of God verse 31
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Receive ye the Holy Ghost verse 22
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Two angels verse 12, 13
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Fear of the Jews verse 19
Sins verse 23
Not believe verse 25
Faithless verse 27
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Loved verse 2
Saw verse 8
Believed verse 8, 27, 29, 31
Our Father verse 17
Our God verse 17
First day of week verse 19
Peace verse 19, 21, 26
Glad verse 20
Sent verse 21
Gift of Holy Spirit verse 22
Remit sins verse 23
Retain sins verse 23
Blessed verse 29
Not seen yet believe verse 29
Life verse 31
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Mary Magdalene verse 1, 11- 18
Jews verse 19
Church (New Testament people of God)
Simon Peter verse 2- 10
Other disciple (John) verse 2- 10
Brethren verse 17
Disciples verse 18- 30
Thomas (Didymus) verse 24, 26- 29
Other disciples verse 25
Last Things (Future Events)
Life verse 31
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QUOTES regarding passage
27 Jesus’ appeal to Thomas shows that he knew what Thomas had said to his colleagues when they told him of the first appearance. Since Jesus had not been visibly present to hear his reaction to their report, Thomas must have been startled to hear Jesus quote his very words. Jesus did not immediately upbraid him for his doubts, but he challenged him to make the test that he had suggested. Jesus’ words can be translated “Stop becoming an unbeliever and become a believer.” Jesus halted Thomas on the road to a despairing unbelief and offered him the positive evidence he could build an enduring faith on. (Tenney, M. C. (1981). John. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 195). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Then saith he to Thomas (εἰτα λεγει τῳ Θομᾳ [eita legei tōi Thomāi]). Jesus turns directly to Thomas as if he had come expressly for his sake. He reveals his knowledge of the doubt in the mind of Thomas and mentions the very tests that he had named (25). Be not faithless (μη γινου ἀπιστος [mē ginou apistos]). Present middle imperative of γινομαι [ginomai] in prohibition, “stop becoming disbelieving.” The doubt of Thomas in the face of the witness of the others was not a proof of his superior intelligence. Sceptics usually pose as persons of unusual mentality. The medium who won Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to spiritualism has confessed that it was all humbug, but he deceived the gullible novelist. But Thomas had carried his incredulity too far. Note play on ἀπιστος [apistos] (disbelieving) and πιστος [pistos] (believing). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 20:27–28). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
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20:24–29. In his Gospel, John has traced the development of unbelief, which culminated in Jesus’ enemies crucifying Him. Conversely, John also traced the disciples’ development of faith, which was now climaxed in Thomas. The disciples were affirming Jesus’ resurrection to Thomas (told in v. 25 is elegon, an imperf. tense which indicates their continual activity). But he remained unconvinced. He wanted bodily proof of Jesus’ risen state. The reappearance of Jesus a week later provided the opportunity Thomas wanted. Again … Jesus miraculously entered a room with locked doors (cf. v. 19). He asked Thomas to touch Him (cf. “showed” in v. 20) and to stop doubting and believe. This was a forthright challenge to a personal commitment.
Thomas’ response, My Lord and My God! is the high point of the Gospel. Here was a skeptical man, confronted by the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. He announced that Jesus, the Man of Galilee, is God manifest in the flesh. Thus the truths in the first chapter were realized personally in this apostle (1:1, 14, 18). The Resurrection (a) demonstrated that what Jesus predicted about His being raised was true (Mark 8:31; 9:9, 31; 10:34; John 2:19), (b) proved that Jesus is the Son of God (Rom. 1:4) and was sent by God (“vindicated by the Spirit,” 1 Tim. 3:16), (c) testified to the success of His mission of salvation (Rom. 4:25), (d) entitled Jesus to a position of glory (1 Peter 1:11), and (e) proclaimed that Jesus is the “Lord” (Acts 2:36). (Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 343–344). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Why was Thomas not with the other disciples when they met on the evening of Resurrection Day? Was he so disappointed that he did not want to be with his friends? But when we are discouraged and defeated, we need our friends all the more! Solitude only feeds discouragement and helps it grow into self-pity, which is even worse.
Perhaps Thomas was afraid. But John 11:16 seems to indicate that he was basically a courageous man, willing to go to Judea and die with the Lord! John 14:5 reveals that Thomas was a spiritually minded man who wanted to know the truth and was not ashamed to ask questions. There seems to have been a “pessimistic” outlook in Thomas. We call him “Doubting Thomas,” but Jesus did not rebuke him for his doubts. He rebuked him for unbelief: “Be not faithless, but believing.” Doubt is often an intellectual problem: we want to believe, but the faith is overwhelmed by problems and questions. Unbelief is a moral problem; we simply will not believe.
What was it that Thomas would not believe? The reports of the other Christians that Jesus Christ was alive. The verb said in John 20:25 means that the disciples “kept saying to him” that they had seen the Lord Jesus Christ alive. No doubt the women and the Emmaus pilgrims also added their witness to this testimony. On the one hand, we admire Thomas for wanting personal experience; but on the other hand, we must fault him for laying down conditions for the Lord to meet.
Like most people in that day, he had two names: “Thomas” is Aramaic, “Didymus” is Greek, and they both mean “twin.” Who was Thomas’ twin? We do not know—but sometimes you and I feel as if we might be his twins! How often we have refused to believe and have insisted that God prove Himself to us!
Thomas is a good warning to all of us not to miss meeting with God’s people on the Lord’s Day (Heb. 10:22–25). Because Thomas was not there, he missed seeing Jesus Christ, hearing His words of peace, and receiving His commission and gift of spiritual life. He had to endure a week of fear and unbelief when he could have been experiencing joy and peace! Remember Thomas when you are tempted to stay home from church. You never know what special blessing you might miss!
But let’s give him credit for showing up the next week. The other ten men had told Thomas that they had seen the Lord’s hands and side (John 20:20), so Thomas made that the test. Thomas had been there when Jesus raised Lazarus, so why should he question our Lord’s own resurrection? But, he still wanted proof; “seeing is believing.”
Thomas’ words help us to understand the difference between doubt and unbelief. Doubt says, “I cannot believe! There are too many problems!” Unbelief says, “I will not believe unless you give me the evidence I ask for!” In fact, in the Greek text, there is a double negative: “I positively will not believe!”
Jesus had heard Thomas’ words; nobody had to report them to Him. So, the next Lord’s Day, the Lord appeared in the room (again, the doors were locked) and dealt personally with Thomas and his unbelief. He still greeted them with “Shalom—peace!” Even Thomas’ unbelief could not rob the other disciples of their peace and joy in the Lord.
How gracious our Lord is to stoop to our level of experience in order to lift us where we ought to be. The Lord granted Gideon the “tests of faith” that he requested (Jud. 6:36–40), and He granted Thomas his request as well. There is no record that Thomas ever accepted the Lord’s invitation. When the time came to prove his faith, Thomas needed no more proof!
Our Lord’s words translate literally, “Stop becoming faithless but become a believer.” Jesus saw a dangerous process at work in Thomas’ heart, and He wanted to put a stop to it. The best commentary on this is Hebrews 3, where God warns against “an evil heart of unbelief” (Heb. 3:12). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 393–394). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Thomas was with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace be unto you.” Marvelous grace was this. As we have said, this second manifestation of Christ unto the apostles was expressly made for the special benefit of Thomas. The Savior made the same mysterious entrance through the closed doors and came with the same comforting salutation. There is much for us to learn from this. How patient and tender is the Lord with dull and slow believers! Forcefully does this come out here. Christ did not excommunicate His unbelieving disciple, but addressed to him the same word of “Peace” as He had previously saluted the Ten. O, how graciously does He bear with the waywardness and infirmities of His people. Timely are the admonitions of Bishop Ryle: “Let us take care that we drink into our Lord’s spirit and copy His example. Let us never set down men in a low place, as graceless and godless, because their faith is feeble and their love is cold. Let us remember the case of Thomas, and be very pitiful and of tender mercy. Our Lord has many weak children in His family, many dull pupils in His school, many raw soldiers in His army, many lame sheep in His flock. Yet He bears with them all, and casts none away. Happy is that Christian who has learned to deal likewise with his brethren. There are many in the Family, who, like Thomas, are dull and slow, but for all that, like Thomas, are real and true believers.” (Pink, A. W. (1923–1945). Exposition of the Gospel of John (p. 1109). Swengel, PA: Bible Truth Depot.)
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20:24–26 Thomas has already been portrayed as loyal but pessimistic. Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his failure, but instead compassionately offered him proof of His resurrection. Jesus lovingly met him at the point of his weakness. Thomas’ actions indicated that Jesus had to convince the disciples rather forcefully of His resurrection, i.e., they were not gullible people predisposed to believing in resurrection. The point is they would not have fabricated it or hallucinated it, since they were so reluctant to believe even with the evidence they could see. (MacArthur, J. F., study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Jn 20:24–26). Nashville, TN: Thomas Jr. (2006). The MacArthur Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 27. Then saith he to Thomas, &c.] For whose sake he chiefly came, and whom he at once singled out from the rest, and called by name in the most friendly manner, without upbraiding or reproaching him for not believing the testimony that had been given him: reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thine hand and thrust it into my side; that is, make use of every way by seeing, feeling, and examining the scars in my hands, and the hole in my side, and satisfy thyself in the manner thou hast desired; which shews the omniscience of Christ, who knew what had passed between him and the other disciples, and the very words Thomas had expressed himself in; also his great humility and condescension in submitting himself to be examined in the very manner he had fixed; and likewise the reality of his resurrection: and be not faithless, but believing; in which words Christ dissuades him from unbelief, which is very evil in its own nature, and in its effects; it is the root of all evil; it unfits for duty, and renders the word unprofitable, and leads men off from Christ; and is the more aggravated in the people of God, by the instances, declarations, and promises of grace, and discoveries of love made unto them: and he also encourages him to believe. The exercise of the grace of faith is well-pleasing to Christ; it gives glory to him, and makes for the soul’s comfort; and a word from Christ, his power going along with it, will enable men to believe, as it did Thomas; which appears by what follows. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 128–129). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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The Lord evidently knew the words Thomas had spoken in that room the week before. He had been a silent, unseen listener to that conversation. The Lord’s omniscience made as deep an impression on Thomas as the clear-cut evidence of the Lord’s miraculous appearance and the proffered proof of nail scarred hands and riven side. Every eye in the place must have been riveted to Thomas and the Lord to see what was going to happen next. But Thomas was already overwhelmed. The sight of his eyes, the evidence of his ears, was enough. He did not need to add the sense of touch. He was convinced. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Gospel of John: An Expository Commentary (Jn 20:27). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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FROM MY READING:
Treasures from the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest
The word “disciple” is the translation of a Greek word meaning “one who learns.” The word does not include within its meaning the idea of salvation. Thus, the disciples of the Christ could be either saved or unsaved. They merely had to be followers of Him, those who were under His instruction and adhered to Him as a leader or teacher. Judas was the one disciple of the twelve who was not a true believer. In John 6:66 we have, “From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.” They followed our Lord in His ethical teachings, but when He spoke of salvation through faith in a substitutionary blood sacrifice, they parted company with Him. Therefore, one must consult the context in which the word “disciple” is found, to find out whether the disciple mentioned is saved or unsaved. (p. 67)
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The following is excerpted from “Barna Study: America Has a New Moral Code,” Answers In Genesis, June 12, 2016: “Barna recently conducted a general population survey to determine current American views on morality. … Over half of Americans think that ‘whatever is right for your life or works best for you is the only truth you can know.’ … Barna’s president David Kinnaman argues that the formerly, nominally Christian ethic that used to characterize this nation is being replaced with ‘a new moral code.’ He says this morality can be characterized by self-fulfillment and has six guiding principles. These principles, listed below, are troubling. 1. ‘The best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself.’ An incredible 91% of US adults and 76% of practicing Christians agreed ‘completely’ or ‘somewhat’ with this statement. 2. ‘People should not criticize someone else’s life choices.’ Overall 89% of adults and 76% of Christians agree. 3. ‘To be fulfilled in life, you should pursue the things you desire most.’ 86% of American adults and 72% of Christians said, ‘Yes.’ 4. ‘The highest goal of life is to enjoy it as much as possible.’ 84% of adults and 67% of Christians agreed that this was the highest goal of life. 5. ‘People can believe whatever they want, as long as those beliefs don’t affect society.’ Those who agreed with this statement consisted of 79% of American adults and 61% of practicing Christians. 6. ‘Any kind of sexual expression between two consenting adults is acceptable.’ Incredibly, nearly 69% of American adults and an astonishing 40% of Christians agreed with this. These statistics should provide a wake-up call to every Christian. Though you will not find any of these ideas in Scripture, the majority of Christians accept five out of six of them! … David Kinnaman has some sobering thoughts on this new morality, our culture, and the church. ‘The highest good, according to our society is “finding yourself” and then living by “what’s right for you.” … There is a tremendous amount of individualism in today’s society, and that’s reflected in the church too. Millions of Christians have grafted New Age dogma onto their spiritual person. When we peel back the layers, we find that many Christians are using the way of Jesus to pursue the way of self. … While we wring our hands about secularism spreading through the culture, a majority of churchgoing Christians have embraced corrupt, me-centered theology.'” CONCLUDING NOTE: America’s churches are indeed to blame for this mess. New Evangelicalism, for example, has been preaching non-judgmental moral relativism for more than a half century. For documentation see New Evangelicalism: Its History, Characteristics, and Fruit, available in print and eBook editions from www.wayoflife.org.
THE NEW CAMPUS GESTAPO (Friday Church News Notes, July 8, 2016, www.wayoflife.org,fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The following is from “Meet the New Campus Gestapo,” New York Post, June 26, 2016: “On campuses across America, the Thought Police have a new tool: Bias Response Teams, administrators who crack down on classroom insensitivity. More than 100 US colleges have set up BRTs. The newshounds at Heat Street last week dug up a taste of how it works. A professor at the University of Northern Colorado got visited by the school’s Bias Response Team–for imploring his students to think about opposing viewpoints. Heat Street’s Freedom of Information Act request revealed that the professor 1) had students read an Atlantic article about rising sensitivity of college students, and 2) asked them to consider un-PC views on topics like global warming and transgender issues. A trans student finked to the BRT that the professor mentioned the idea that ‘transgender is not a real thing, and no one can truly feel like they are born in the wrong body.’ She wrote she ‘was very offended and hurt by this.’ The BRT told the professor to never talk about transgender issues again, or even mention un-PC opinions on the topic, whether his or someone else’s. If professors can’t ask students to engage in critical thinking, we might as well close down the universities now.”
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1 Peter 5
Elders should shepherd the church and, in turn, the church should respect their leaders.
INSIGHT
True leaders are servants. Their task is to make those under them successful. As everyone is successful, the larger goal toward which they are all contributing is achieved. This is an example of a fundamental principle which is taught throughout Scripture: The work of God is done by the people of God through mutual submission. As we submit to the needs and roles of others rather than looking out for our own efforts, His work is accomplished. Elders are to shepherd those in the church by living the kind of life that is a positive example to others. They should live in submission to the needs and characteristics of those under them and humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt them in due time. (Quiet Walk)
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Artist Doug Merkey’s masterful sculpture Ruthless Trust features a bronze human figure clinging desperately to a cross made of walnut wood. He writes, “It’s a very simple expression of our constant and appropriate posture for life—total, unfettered intimacy with and dependency upon Christ and the gospel.”
That’s the kind of trust we see expressed in the actions and words of the unnamed woman in Mark 5:25-34. For twelve years her life had been in shambles (v. 25). “She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse” (v. 26). But having heard about Jesus, she made her way to Him, touched Him, and was “freed from her suffering” (vv. 27-29).
Have you come to the end of yourself? Have you depleted all your resources? Anxious, hopeless, lost, distressed people need not despair. The Lord Jesus still responds to desperate faith—the kind displayed by this suffering woman and depicted in Merkey’s sculpture. This faith is expressed in the words of hymn writer Charles Wesley: “Father, I stretch my hands to Thee; no other help I know.” Don’t have that kind of faith? Ask God to help you trust Him. Wesley’s hymn concludes with this prayer: “Author of faith, to Thee I lift my weary, longing eyes; O may I now receive that gift! My soul, without it, dies.” By Arthur Jackson (Our Daily Bread)
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RESTING ON CHRIST
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10
To continue yesterday’s story, the Christian told the man that if only he looked to Christ and relied upon Him, he would be enabled to overcome his being captive to drinking. The man was a simple, illiterate man, and all he was anxious to do was to find the name of this person about whom this Christian was speaking, and he was told the name was Jesus.
The story went on to say how that poor man went away and, having worked again, came back to this same place to sell his grain. There again the tempters came, but he did not go with them, and his own wife and children were amazed. This Christian visitor came back in a year or so to find the man entirely changed. He began talking to him and asked him how it had happened. And the man’s simple testimony was this: “I went back the first time, and my friends came and tempted me, and I felt weak. But suddenly I remembered the name Jesus. I could do nothing but keep on saying to myself, ‘Jesus.’ I cried to Jesus to do what you told me He would do.” His faith was as simple as that, but it was enough, and he overcame. He did not go back; he was emancipated.
That is what I mean when I talk about this direct faith; it is simply resting upon Christ, and we have to do that. That is becoming as a little child, realizing our utter weakness and helplessness and hopelessness. When the fight is yet strong and the enemy is there and we feel we are on the point of falling, we must simply cry, “Jesus” and believe and know that He is looking upon us and that He is there and is ready to deliver us and protect us. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
A Thought to Ponder: Direct faith is simply resting upon Christ.
(From Life in God, p. 58, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Jewels
“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” (Malachi 3:16-17)
This precious promise occurs at the end of the Old Testament, a time of wholesale apostasy on the part of the people of Israel. But there was a believing remnant. Today, Christians again are in a minority (as always), and it does us well to study the former situations, paying attention to the nature of the remnant as well as God’s response to them.
Notice first the attitude of these believers toward God. We see that they “feared” God when they “thought upon his name.” Who could help but do the same as the work and character of God are pondered? Further, a proper attitude and walk with God lead to true fellowship. They “spake often one to another.” Too often it seems that mere friendship replaces true Christian fellowship as entertainment of guests replaces true hospitality. Human relationships can never attain the fullness possible unless they center around the Lord.
Next, note God’s response to the dear saints in our text. He hearkens and hears, evidently paying special attention to the attitudes (“feared the LORD”) and the words (“spake”) of the saints. Then He registers their history in a special “book of remembrance.” We will all give an account one day, but we may be assured that the good will be remembered, for it is in God’s special book of remembrance.
Likewise, we are assured of salvation: “They shall be mine,” He says. We will be spared while others are being judged. The mighty Lord of hosts holds us as dear to Him as “jewels.” (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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