Tag: pharisee

Jesus Knew Who He Was

Barbara WeberLeave a comment

John 8:24 WEB

I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

Jesus knew who he was (John 8:58). He knew scripture and recognized his life fulfilled Bible prophecies about the Messiah (John 17:5). He knew what that meant. He understood unless people know God, they would not believe the message, Jesus was the Messiah. And believing in the Messiah as an action step towards salvation was a new concept. Only those who were intimate with the Father would know such things (John 17:2).

Only those the Father gave to Jesus would be saved. Jesus understood this was true. He understood people had to be born again (John 3:3). For the Jewish leaders to be saved the Father would have to inspire them to trust Jesus. However, the Pharisees and leaders were so confident in their righteousness they did not ask God for revelation (John 7:47-49). They did not ask God to protect them from deception. They believed in the law and thought Jesus was either deranged or deceived.

Jesus was neither (John 8:48). He was not mentally unstable. He did believe the Bible and for that, he was looked down upon. Nor was he deceived. He did not have false delusions about who he was and what his eternal role was. He was humble enough to be honest with himself and others. He understood the truth. He was the Messiah, he had to die, he would rise again, and God would reward him for his trust and faith.

Lord Jesus, bless me with the humility to tell other people the truth about you. Lead me into holiness and bless me to bring the lost into a saving belief in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Father’s Bosom

Barbara WeberLeave a comment

John 7:32-36 WEB

The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. [33] Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me. [34] You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come.” [35] The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? [36] What is this word that he said, ‘You will seek me, and won’t find me; and where I am, you can’t come’?”

Did you catch that? In the above verses, Jesus says he is going somewhere the Pharisees cannot follow. He then goes on to say, “where I am, you can’t come.” What does Jesus mean when he says where he is they cannot come? He is talking to the Pharisees in person. Doesn’t that mean they are all in the same place? No, according to Jesus they are not because he is somewhere the Pharisees cannot come.

Where is this special place Jesus is at? Jesus is in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18). The bosom is a central pocket or fold in a garment tied with a sash or belt. Thus, John gives us a picture of Jesus being carried in a fold of the Father’s garments. However, the bosom also means the center of one’s thoughts. Jesus was favored by God and had access to God’s thoughts (John 14:6). And that was somewhere the Pharisees could not go.  

Praise the Lord! We are not excluded from being present with Jesus. We also are in the bosom of the Father if we have learned to rest. When we are trying to please God with constant activity, we miss the chance to go where only he can take us. The Pharisees were the picture of striving (Hebrews 3:18-19). They had hundreds of rules they believed were necessary to please God. More, they kept themselves on the throne of their lives by remaining in control.

The bosom of God is not a place one can achieve striving in the flesh (Heb 4:6). It is a place of peaceful surrender to the ways and thoughts of God (Heb 4:10). We release our own desires in exchange for God’s desires. Then God places us in his bosom and carries us. More, the bosom is the place where God’s heartbeat can be heard.

Lord Jesus, please help me rest from works. Help me cease striving. I long to be carried in your bosom Father. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Discounted Jesus

Barbara WeberLeave a comment

John 7:13-15 WEB

Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews. [14] But when it was now the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught. [15] The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”

Surely the Father equipped Jesus for ministry. Jesus was from a family of tradesmen (Mark 6:3). He was from Galilee (John 7:52). More, he had a grasp of scripture that was uncommon. Jesus is recorded as quoting 23 different scriptures from the Old Testament. In addition, he referenced 17 stories from the Old Testament (1).

Jesus was almost certainly educated (2). However, the prejudice of those judging Jesus in the above passage caused them to assume he was unable to understand scripture. Ironically, the evidence he knew the Word of God was right in front of their eyes. They had heard him teach and preach (Mat 7:28) and still, they could not get beyond their prejudice (John 7:52).

The Judeans were disgusted by Galileans. Judeans were educated. Many of them probably studied with a rabbi. Consequently, they viewed tradesmen as having lower status. Even though Jesus was surely a brilliant craftsman, all they could see was he wasn’t like them. And for that, he was ridiculed as foolish (Mat 9:11, 34, 12:2, 14, 24.)

Jesus was also ridiculed for coming from Galilee. Judeans despise Galileans (3). They had their own accents, clothing styles, and values which offended Judeans. Practically all Pharisees were from Judea. Anyone from Galilee would be instantly recognized by their speech and clothes (Mark 14:69-70). And, due to prejudice, they were not chosen as disciples. The prejudice of the Pharisees had the power to divide the two people groups causing one to have a significant disadvantage.

Jesus did not let his demographics define him or his ministry. Being from Galilee, he would not be chosen to follow a rabbi. However, Jesus clearly wanted to serve God and he likely tried the path of the disciple. We cannot know for sure, but the evidence we have from his childhood reveals a deep hunger for the things of God (Luke 2:44-46). The path of a rabbi would be a normal path. For Judeans. Not Galileans. This surely gave the Lord compassion and mercy on those rejected for things out of their control.

Lord, please forgive me for pridefully comparing myself to others, especially those who are different than me. Forgive me for discounting people and help me see others as you see them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  1. (bit.ly/3tbQyx6)
  2. (bit.ly/3vrE3Af)
  3. (bit.ly/36Frln3)

#Jesus #Rabbi #God #Carpenter #Disciple #Galilee #Judea

Watching for Jesus

Barbara WeberLeave a comment

John 7:11-12 WEB

The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, “Where is he?” [12] There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others said, “Not so, but he leads the multitude astray.”

Why did people say Jesus was leading others away from God? It’s because Jesus claimed to be related to God (John 10:30), come from Heaven (John 6:38), and be one with God (John 5:18). Essentially, he made himself one with the Father. What would happen if someone today started teaching they had come from heaven and were conjoined with God? People would probably start asking about their mental health (John 10:20). More, leaders would teach their flocks to avoid the danger (John 9:22).

Our leaders would do the same as the Pharisees. They would try to discredit Jesus (Mat 16:4). Because like the Pharisees, there is a chance Jesus would be hard to recognize. We all have messianic expectations. Just like the Pharisees. In John 7:27 WEB it says, “However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.”

The Pharisees thought they knew how to recognize the Messiah. More, the Pharisees had traditions, Godly counsel (John 12:42), the Word of God (John 5;45), and still, they could not recognize Jesus (John 7:52). We have all those same things today. Of course, we have one thing the Pharisees did not have. We have the Gospels. This gives us an advantage. God testifies about himself that he is unchanging (Heb 13:8).

This is an advantage because God has testified about himself that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus is still the Son of Man (John 5:27). He may come back as a baby (Luke 2:11). He may have to win the battle by trusting and having faith in the Father (Mat 17:21). Regardless, we do not know. So, it seems pertinent to pray and keep watching for Jesus.

Lord Jesus, please help me know you and your voice. Bless me Lord as I watch for your return. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

#Jesus #God #Father #Armaggedon #Testimony #Word #Bible #Leaders #Flocks #Pharisee

Wise yet Harmless

Barbara WeberLeave a comment

John 4:1-3 WEB

Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John [2] (although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples), [3] he left Judea, and departed into Galilee.

Jesus epitomized the scripture that says, “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16 WEB) When he learned he had attracted the attention of the Pharisees he departed Judea and went to Galilee. In chapter 3 of John, John the Baptist pronounced Jesus as the way to heaven. John as much as declared Jesus the messiah. Jesus’ response to this was to pack up and leave the area.

Jesus understood the Pharisees hated him. While professing zeal for God, they demonstrated with their behaviors that they actually despised God. What they liked was the glory of standing before the people. Jesus was threatening their glory.

Have you ever heard a minister preaching compromise? Why would they do this? The exact demonstration of hatred for God may have changed, but the root cause of the sin is the same. Namely, a desire for people to glorify themselves rather than God. Preaching the untainted gospel has with it the risk of people rejecting the messenger.

Jesus was often scorned and rejected by those to whom he ministered, On the other hand, many were saved as well. This is important to notice. Jesus experienced both rejection and acceptance. He told his disciples to shake the dust from their feet when they were rejected. Literally, to pronounce condemnation on those who rejected their message.

Can you imagine a modern-day preacher declaring condemnation for rejection of the gospel? They would be heckled and counted as a hypocrite for such preaching. People still have little tolerance for the untainted message of the gospel. That message is that Christ alone saves those whom he will and rejects the disobedient. Telling people that Jesus will save them is not too hard. On the other hand, telling people they must be obedient to the whole Bible or face eternal torment is not accepted by most people.

People want salvation to be a democratic affair. As if we can choose which passages are relevant while declaring others irrelevant. Some of this has been caused by modern-day zealots. Ministers who teach a heartless gospel of condemnation drive the lost away from God. They preach to a mouth-foaming crowd that wants confirmation that they are better than everyone else. But the word of God does not counsel this. Rather, it says to be wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove.

As Christians, we have to learn to declare the truth from a place of love for the world. The Father desires the world to be saved (John 3:16). We can declare condemnation for the lost in love. We can plead with the lost to turn their hearts fully to the Father through the grace of Jesus Christ. We can demonstrate obedience thereby duplicating it in those who are new in the Lord.

Lord, please help me walk wisely while remaining harmless to those with whom I share the gospel. Please forgive me for being immature and heartless. I’m sorry for withholding love from the lost. Please forgive me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Nicodemus’ Issue

Barbara WeberLeave a comment

John 3:1-3 WEB

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [2] The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” [3] Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”

Did you catch that last line of the text scripture? You must be born again to see God. It is noteworthy that Nicodemus, though he was a Pharisee, was able to understand the meaning of the signs. There is a suggestion that Nicodemus is born again. All he lacked was acknowledging Christ as the Messiah. And that was Nicodemus’ issue. He came to Christ in the cloak of darkness. He was conscious of the opinions of other Pharisees and religious leaders. So, though he believed, he was not ready to let others know that he believed. The word says that believing is not enough. We must believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths to be saved. “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NLT) Do not be deceived beloved, whatever a person has apart from confession is less than what they might have if they publicly acknowledge their devotion to Jesus Christ.    

Lord Jesus, please bless me with grace to confess you publicly, lovingly, and boldly. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.