Repent first

What was the first sermon that Jesus preached ? Mark 1:15 (and Matt 4:17) REPENT, for the kingdom of God is at hand. I am not going to even attempt an exegesis of the text; many fine theologians have done this for us. See thoughts by John Piper here on what repentance is.

What I would like to point out is the order of things. Repentance comes first. Nothing matters in the eyes of God without the repentance part happening first.

Nothing. 

Your good deeds / social justice marauding (yes, the grace offered is stolen by a burden of works)/ giving away all your possessions and “following” the prophet counts for nada in God’s eyes.  Your status remains unrepentant until you…Repent.

Repent first. Repent from what ? Your sins. You are a fallen creature. By nature you rebel against God. By nature you consider yourself to be above God. Stop it. Repent. Bare your soul before God and admit to your sins. Repent.

Repent first.

John 7:37-53: Unbelief of the Pharisees

Analysis

During the last (8^th) day of the festival, Jesus’ message continues where he left off in v36 and he prophesy about the Holy Spirit. He uses the metaphor of water that gives life. It is a fitting metaphor for the festival as he uses Exodus 17 as basis where God provided the wandering Israelites with water so that they can live. Even at this time in the desert, God provided and saved the rebellious and stubborn people from death. Jesus is crying out to the people to believe in Him and prophesying that they will have living water flow within him through the working of the Holy Spirit. John explains this in v39.

In v40 to v44 the people are picking sides; some believe in Jesus for who he says he is and others believe the Pharisees. Those in the Pharisee camp cling to the one shred of false information about Jesus’ origin – that he is from Nazareth! The most amazing thing about these people is their narrow view regarding the messiah. Jesus does not fit into their view of the messiah and thus he must be rejected.

The Pharisees follow exactly the same though pattern; just because Jesus does not conform to their interpretation of the scriptures, he must be rejected. The Pharisees confess two important things here:

• They do not believe that He is the Messiah sent from God (v48)
• They do not interpret the scriptures right (v52) because Jonah was a prophet from Galilee (2 Kings 14:5) and Jesus was born in Bethlehem !

Their hypocrisy and arrogance reaches a climax in v47 to v52. Because others do not conform to their view of the scriptures, the Pharisees:

1. Declare the crown accursed because the crowd does not believe the Pharisees;
2. Misinterpret the scriptures openly by stating that no other prophet ever came from Galilee (v52); and
3. Wrongly apply the law to judge Jesus and in the process threaten Nicodemus when he shows them their error.

Response

From this passage it is clear that if you do not believe in the basic truth, that Jesus is the Son of God, you will, without fail interpret the Word of God in untruthful ways and you will find your-self in a place where you reject the Saviour.

Jesus taught the crowds from the scriptures and it must have become quite clear to them that the Pharisees and the scribes have been either lying to them or do not know what they are talking about when it comes to the scriptures.

This is a clear message to us that we must search and study the word given to us by God so that we can live the life for Christ in the way the Father intended it for us. If we do not know the scriptures, them it will be easy for us to be led astray by teachers who might themselves not understand the Word.

John 7:1-36: Jesus debates with the Jewish leaders and the Jews

Analysis

This passage is set during the Festival of the Tabernacles. This festival celebrates the memory of the exodus and the wanderings of the forefathers in the wilderness. Jesus goes up to the festival in secret but not before his brothers give him some political advice because they still judged him to be just a man (and fellow Jew) who might only be an earthly political messiah. They implore him to go to Jerusalem where he will be able to convince a larger number of followers (than at his small hometown) through the miraculous works he does and surely there is political strength in numbers! It was probably a sound earthly strategy. His brothers saw his outward works but did not see the inward significance of it.

Jesus does just the opposite; he goes incognito in order to not draw attention to himself.

When Jesus does go to Jerusalem and he teaches in the temple, the politics continue; the Jewish leaders want to kill him and the people are divided over his teachings. Yet, Jesus teaches with such authority and insight that even his detractors are amazed.

Now, the people are still seeing Jesus as just a man and are amazed that this could come from a man but Jesus is imploring them to judge whether His words are from man or God. In v18 Jesus says to let the words judge the result; if he glorifies God in his works there will be no unrighteousness in him and then it must be from God. His teaching is from God (Isaiah 50:4) and not from a man-made institution (e.g. school of the Pharisees), and his works glorifies God and backs up his teaching. And for that, the Jewish leaders want to kill him.

The crowd does not seem to know this because he explains that the Jews want to kill him because he healed flesh (at the pool of Bethesda) on the Sabbath. However, in direct contrast to the healing, the leaders mutilate flesh with circumcision (with due cognisance that it its part of a cleansing ritual) on the Sabbath because the cleaning rite “is more important” than keeping the Sabbath. Jesus is directly judging their skewed logic and utter hypocrisy.

Jesus tells them that He is being judged for selfish political reasons by the leaders instead of on his teachings and works that glorify God. If the leaders judge (v24) “according to righteous judgment” they would see God working.

The confusion amongst the people is propagated by the prophesy in Mal 3:1 where it says that “… the Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple…” The people understood this to mean that he will appear out of thin air and no one will know where he came from (v27), but they know Jesus’ background and where he comes from; hence the confusion amongst some. By judging Him on this one part of the prophesy alone would result in this confusion they find themselves in. Others did believe by considering his works and his words in v31.

The Pharisees already decided not to believe Him as the Messiah and judged him guilty by their own skewed and twisted interpretations of the Mosaic law. But not even the mighty leaders could arrest Jesus because God has not yet permitted it and in this, Jesus tells the people of the events that are to unfold surrounding his death.

Response

The crux of the matter is given in v24 “Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.”

The world is so quick to point to us as believers and label us as “judgemental.” However, as believers, we are called to judge others but we are also instructed how to judge; according to righteous judgment.

But how can we judge righteously ? How is it possible for a sinner like me to be able to do it and what serves the purpose of such judgement ?

I am only made righteous in the eyes of God because of Jesus’ work on the cross. Thus, I can only judge others to the standard and words of the bible. Beyond that, my own opinion is flawed and sinful. If I judge others with gentleness and kindness from the Word of salvation, I will be able to show the gospel to other sinners like me. The only reason we can have to judge in righteousness is so that others can also be led to salvation in Jesus.

John 6:22-71: A heavenly Kingdom

Analysis

This passage directly relates to the previous sign of feeding 5000 as the crowd now wants more of Jesus! It is not recorded in the gospels but I am sure Jesus almost fainted when they asked him for a sign. Really ?! Feeding 5000 from a single lunch box is not enough and you want more !?

Jesus says in v27 that we must “…work…for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal of approval on Him.” Three things are highlighted here:

• We must work (ἐργάζομαι – to toil, be engaged in or with, labour for, minister about). And Jesus tells them that the work of God is to believe in Jesus. Such a simple but amazingly profound statement! But what is the reward for the labour ?

• Food that lasts for eternal life. We must be actively engaged in perusing the food that gives eternal life. But what is the food of life and where do you get it ? Jesus makes is clear in v35 that HE is the bread of life. The food the people ate the previous day has digested by now and they are surely hungry again but if they believe in Him, they will never be hungry or thirsty again. Where does the eternal food come from ?
• From “the One who sent Me” in v38. Jesus is sent from God to do the will of God and God placed his sign of approval (σφραγίζω) on Jesus. Just like God provided manna from heaven through Moses, in the same way God provides bread eternal for the people through His son Jesus.

This plain teaching upset the Jewish leaders. They did not like the fact that He called God father (which was not culturally acceptable) or that he claimed he was sent from heaven. They see him equal as a man, born of flesh from Mary and sent by God as a prophet. The fact that He is God and the Son of God does not compute in their minds and the reason for this is simple; they do not believe.

Patiently Jesus teaches them by means of drawing parallel between Moses and the bread provided by God and the bread Jesus came to give. He does this so that they must believe in Him as the Son of God who is here among them to take away the sin of the world and give them eternal life. He even goes as far at to quote Isaiah 54:13 to show to them in their own language who he is. Unfortunately for them, they did not believe so that they will be able to understand.

Jesus also ends his teaching in a culturally offensive way in v54 where he tells them to drink of His blood and eat of His flesh. However, Jesus makes it clear that it is not some cannibalistic ritual or practise of flesh eating that gives life but the spirit. In fact, in v63 Jesus explains this quite clearly when he says “The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

Not only does this teaching upset the Jewish leaders but also many of Jesus’ disciples who find this teaching very difficult. In fact, they find it so difficult that they give up trying to understand it (v60 “Who can accept it?”). Jesus gives the reason for this difficulty in v64: unbelief.

Response

The whole theme of this passage is belief in Jesus as the one whom God sent so that we can have eternal life for those who believe in Him. Many people today struggle to understand the doctrine of the trinity or of pre-election. Some find the Epistles too hard to understand but that is not what Jesus requires. He wants belief first before understanding will follow. Many people try to understand first so that they can be convinced to believe.

To do the work of God is to believe in the one He sent – Jesus Christ our Lord. If you believe that Jesus has come to vanquish your enemies (e.g. the Romans) or give us many things (e.g. feed us bread 24/7), you are going to struggle with His message and turn away from Him because the basic fact is that belief in Him as the Son of God and the saviour of the world is missing from your point of view.

John 6:1-21: The fourth and fifth signs – Jesus feeding 5000 and walking on water

Analysis

This passage relates to the fourth and fifth signs of Jesus that John focuses on in his gospel.

It is rather sad to read (in retrospect) that the reason the crowds were following Jesus was because of the signs and wonders that he did. From Mark 1:38 we know that Jesus came to preach the gospel and only showed the signs and wonders to back up his words and because of his compassion for the people. Sadly, the crowds are seeing it the other way around.

By both these signs Jesus tests the faith of his disciples and subsequently Jesus demonstrates to his disciples that they must renew their thinking of Him and think outside of their cultural box in order for them to perceive and receive the Messiah sent from God. Not the political messiah that the Jewish teachers taught.

It is clear from the feeding of the 5000 that the crowd still holds to the earthly messiah concept. This idea is reinforced by their reason for following him; his signs and wonders. One commentator (B. Coffman) says that the crowd saw that Jesus could feed them without resources (miraculously) and they thought that, as such, Jesus would be able to sustain an army against the Romans and drive them out! The crowd’s thinking was earthly, selfish and short sighted. No doubt that this false indoctrination stems directly from the incorrect teachings and misinterpreted scriptures taught by the Pharisees.

Jesus knew their hearts and subsequently withdrew in solitude to the mountain. Jesus was not an earthly king but an even greater heavenly king! It must have been frustrating for Jesus to explain the kingdom of heaven to the people and all they see is their selfish want for an earthly king.

Mark 6:45-56 and Matt 14:22-36 expands on Jesus walking on the water and also includes Peter walking on the water to Jesus. John the apostle focuses in his gospel on the sign that Jesus is master of the elements and of natural forces (e.g. gravity, compressible Newtonian fluids, etc.) and does not place emphasis here on the disciples.

Response

We have to ask ourselves this question daily: why am I following Jesus? Is it just for what He can do for me or is it because he is the awesome God worthy of worship ? A very prevalent teaching in the public sphere (TV and radio) is the teaching that Jesus wants to liberate me with earthly things to satisfy my selfish wants. No!

We serve a God who gives us exactly what we need when we need it. We worship God not to get stuff from Him but because He is worthy and the Holy God. We are in His service the same way Jesus stood in God’s service and perfectly executed the will of the Father. God did not execute Jesus’ will.

When we look to the world and all its suffering and all its poverty, it is easy to see Jesus as a tool to alleviate us from all of this. But that is not the Kingdom of God. God gives us anyway what we need when we seek His kingdom and glory first in our lives.

John 5:19-43: Jesus reveals himself to the Pharisees

Analysis

After Jesus healed the infirm man from the pool of Bethesda, John 5:16 states that “because of the healing that took place on the Sabbath”, the Jewish authorities started (actively) persecuting Jesus.

In v19 to v47 Jesus is talking to the Jewish leaders and is making some amazing claims in their presence; i.e. raising the dead (v21), give life to who he wills (v21), He has authority to judge (v22), gives eternal life (v24), can execute judgement (v27) and people in tombs will come out (v28)! How does he do it ? v19 – He only does what He sees the Father doing. Jesus is following His lead from the Father under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

What evidence does Jesus give to substantiate His claims? In John 1 to John 4 Jesus did a lot of signs, wonders, miracles, teachings and even received an indirect confession from Nicodemus that “God is with him.” But now Jesus is going to call some witnesses in accordance with Law given by Moses where two or three witnesses are needed.

Verses 21-39 calls four witnesses:

1. Jesus himself – even though Jesus says that “If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid.” (v31);
2. John the Baptist – even though Jesus says that “I don’t receive man’s testimony,…” but it is to our benefit that John testifies and we believe Him;

At this point it is maybe pertinent to note that the first two testimonies might be dismissed the next two cannot be doubted. These are true and valid testimonies:

1. The Father (God) – (v37) “The Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me” and He testifies how ? in v36 it says “…works I am doing testify about Me that the Father has sent Me”; and
2. The scriptures (the Law, Prophets and Writings) – v39 Jesus says “You exalt yourself in the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me, the one standing in front of you.”

At the end of the passage Jesus drops the bomb when he shows them their own hypocrisy in v43 to v47 when he says that if you don’t believe the testimony of (i) the Father (the God of righteousness) in whose name I come or (ii) the scriptures that testify about me, then you will not believe.

Both of these witnesses are true. If this does not convince them, then nothing will.

Response

The emphasis of Jesus’ teachings as related by John is that he is the Messiah. John goes to great pains to emphasise this fact. He uses scripture references, the relates proofs given to the scribes and teachers of the law and he describes the miracles done by Jesus in detail. But all of these things are just words and objects if you do not have belief in the fact that Jesus is who he says he is.

You can only understand the true power of the Lord is you believe first. After belief, Jesus truly comes alive through the scriptures and the Holy Spirit helps us understand the scriptures. But it starts with Jesus and believing in him.

Even with all the knowledge possessed by the Pharisees they could not see the true Christ because they did not believe.

John 5:1-18: Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

Analysis

The account of the lame (or infirm) man healed by Jesus at the pool of Bethesda, as given here by the Apostle John, contains a fair amount of detail in its opening description (e.g. five roofed colonnades, multitude of people with varying ailments). This affirms the fact that John was an eyewitness to the events and that this was not a mere second hand account.

It would seem that Jesus sought this particular man out as the one the Father showed him to heal because there was a multitude of sick, lame and blind. Why particularly this man? We know he has been in this condition for 38 years and has, most probably, been at the pool waiting for a chance to be healed (get into the water at the right time) for most of the duration of his condition. His persistence is astounding. He also believed with his whole heart that he will be healed because when Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, all he asked for was some help to get to the pool. He firmly believed that his condition is just temporary; all he needs is a push in the right direction.

Notice what Jesus said to him as he healed him, “Pick up your bed and walk” and he did. He picked up his bed and walked away. The man went to the Jewish authority to be checked out and was declared well but the only thing they focussed on was that he was breaking one of their man-made Sabbath rules.

No one rejoiced in his new found health. The fact that the Jews did not know who it was that healed the man indicates that they were not present at the event. However, when they found out who it was, the Jewish authorities were enraged that one man could be “working” on a Sabbath rather than focussing on that this man is the Messiah and from God. They were even more incited to persecute Jesus when He pointed this out to them, that He is the Son of God and that He is God.

Application

This account of the miracle not only proves that Jesus is Lord over disease or over the law (which he came to fulfil) but that we can sometimes get caught up in the legalism of the bible instead of focussing on the redeemer.

The bible shows us all the ways that we should live our lives and through this I sometimes lose focus and judge others on minute details instead of loving them and focus on the fact that I am also a sinner like them. Jesus is God and he is our redeemer who freed us all from being slaves to sin.

Also, after the man was healed and he found out who it was that healed him, he confessed that it was Jesus who “saved” him and he was rejected because of what he did (break Sabbath “law”) and not on what he said when he proclaimed Christ. In the world, we are often judged on our outward lives rather than on the fact that we proclaim Christ. However, in our Christian walk, our deeds must always back up our words that we preach. Or conversely, we can only preach what we do.

John 4:43-54: The second sign: Jesus has power over disease

Analysis

Jesus has arrived in Galilee after traveling from the Passover through Samaria and arrived back in Cana where he did his first miracle. The synoptic gospels record that Jesus (Luke 4:29-30; Matt 13:53-58) was driven out of his home town of Nazareth in Galilee shortly after returning from the wilderness when he was starting his ministry.

In the testimony given by John the Apostle, the tables have turned and the people of Galilee welcome him with open arms now that he returns to the town. It is obvious that his fame and word of his teachings and miracles spread throughout the land after the Passover. It is akin to a trouble maker who leaves his hometown and becomes famous somewhere else. Upon his return to the hometown, he is of celebrity status in the eyes of the townsfolk and they welcome him home.

This was good news to an official (officer of the court or the like) living in Capernaum because he had a son that was on the point of dying. From the narration, he believed three things after his encounter with Jesus:

• Jesus can do miracles and might heal his son;
• He believed Jesus did indeed heal his son when Jesus said so; and
• Him and his household believed Jesus to be who he says he is.

The progression from “somebody told him that Jesus can heal” to complete belief in Jesus (v53 “And he himself believed”) is apparent here. Jesus rebukes the man (and the people of the town) first concerning his (their) unbelief (or partial faith) before making that faith whole through the miracle.

It is also interesting that John uses the phrase in v54 “…the second sign Jesus did…” when describing the miracle even though Jesus has, according the synoptic gospels, done many miracles before this. John is making a case for the deity of Jesus. The first sign Jesus did (according to John) was to show how he had power over nature. Here, Jesus shows that he has power over disease.

My Response

Jesus came to save the lost from their sin and not to provide in earthly goods (e.g. health and wealth) and it is through our faith in Jesus that we are saved. During Jesus’ ministry he was given the power to back up his claim that he was God and the healed people of their diseases and demons.

In today’s day and age we have the proof through the bible that Jesus was who he says he is and we are saved through our belief in him.

Jesus has the power over all creation (as there is not one thing he did not create) and we are seeing this power through the eyes of John.

John 4:27-42: Sowing the Word to the world

Analysis

The whole account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman is one of the most beautiful stories of evangelism and conversion in the scriptures in my humble opinion.

Jesus has shown the woman her need to be freed from her sin and her need for the saviour and she believed (v7 – v26). At that time two things happened, the disciples returned from the town where they went to buy food and the woman left the well to spread the message of the arrival of the saviour to the town’s folk (v27, v28).

It would seem that the disciples by now has learned that Jesus’ reasons for doing things a certain (or peculiar) way might not be easy to understand or might seem completely out of sync with tradition but that there was a very good reason for what he did or said. Thus they did not question Him about speaking to the woman but rather urged him to regain his strength. Their concern was greater for him than for the cultural faux pass they just observed. Here Jesus uses the opportunity to explain with the metaphor of the harvest what has transpired with the Samaritan woman (v34 – v38). They (disciples) might still be in training but there are many people to reach with the Word and the people available to do it are few. It is important that they do not give up preaching the gospel, even if it does not seem like it bears fruit. The groundwork done might allow someone else (in God’s time) to bring that soul to salvation.

Not long after saying these words to his disciples the woman returned with the harvest of the town’s people to whom she proclaimed Jesus to. She was the labourer that brought the harvest to the sower (Jesus) and the reaper (God).

And they believed because of the woman that brought them to Jesus and they believed in Jesus and his words.

What is your response ?

Jesus purely preached the Word of truth that he was the Messiah and saviour of the world. He did not (in this instance) use miracles or anything else to convince people of their need for a saviour. For the word of the cross is the power of God to those who are being saved (1 Cor 1:18)

Jesus also perfectly showed that the gospel is for everyone; Gentile, Jew or even Samaritan. It is our job to do as Jesus did and bring the word of salvation to everyone.

John 4:1-26: Evangelism 101

Analysis
Our Lord and saviour has angered the Pharisees and their ilk to a point where he needs to avoid them. Within the context of Jewish culture, travelling through Samaria could very well be considered an extreme attempt at avoidance according to the Jews as pointed out in v9 “For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” The Jews believed that you could become contaminated (unclean) from even travelling through Samaritan territory.

Jesus breaks down the barriers of tradition and culture by first travelling through Samaritan territory, speaking with a Samaritan and the fact that it is a woman he is speaking to.

Notice what Jesus does not do; he doesn’t try to explain himself to the woman why he is talking to a Samaritan woman; neither does he try to argue theology or history. Instead He tells her that the Messiah is going to do something great and wonderful for her: Jesus tells her that he can supply her with living water instead of the perishable water she is seeking at the well (v10). The Greek word ζάω (living) could metaphorically mean quick water or running water. Jesus is offering a stream or waterfall of water instead of stagnant well water. This fuels the Samaritan’s interests. However, it would appear as if the woman still does not understand completely as she is still looking for real water. Here Jesus teaches her (and us) the way of salvation:

• Repentance. He makes the woman realise her sin and need for it to be taken away and forgiven (v18).
• Faith (or belief): The woman believes that the Messiah is to come (v25) but clearly does not know how this is going to work or the fact that his time is now (“…when he is come, he will declare unto us all things”).

Jesus tells this woman that she has sin and that it needs to be dealt with. There is also a rift between her and the one who can supply eternal living water and the Messiah has come to deal with this rift. The messiah is here to take away her sin and pay the price so that all people can worship together in his wonderful name.