Tag: Revelation

Nathaniel’s Repentance

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John 1:46-49 WEB

Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” [47] Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” [48] 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.” [49] Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”

Why was Nathanael so amazed that Jesus saw him under the fig tree? He was amazed because Jesus called him out for the sins of scoffing and laziness. Nathanael scoffed at Jesus because he was from Nazareth. Psalm 1 clearly defines scoffing as the worst level of sin. Psalm 1:1 NLT says, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.”

Notice how Jesus cuts right to the issue when he says, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”  I don’t think He said it as praise but was probably employing a tone of sarcasm. Scoffing is one of the sins that partners with laziness. So, Jesus cuts to the heart of Nathanael’s life issues. Proverbs 6:9 NLT says, “But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up?” Essentially Jesus was calling Nathanael out for his sins of scoffing and laziness. His answer to Nathaniel brought conviction and revelation and led to Nathanael getting up and following the Lord.

Don’t be afraid of all the scoffers. Also, do not come into agreement with them. Your right behavior will also be a holy behavior because it paves the way for their repentance. We are not Jesus; we do not have the Spirit without measure. I would leave off the sarcasm. We do not want to scoff at or with scoffers but rather speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:15 NLT says, “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”

Lord Jesus, please reveal to me those areas of sin that I am ignoring or ignorant. I want to get up from all sin and follow you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Law vs. Spirit

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John 1:22-25 WEB

They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” [23] He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” [24] The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. [25] They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

Pharisees are concerned with the rules. They are legalists. Pharisees went to John the Baptist and asked him who he was. They could recognize that he was anointed, but they could not discern his purpose. The Pharisees were more focused on being in control of John’s authority to act than they were interested in knowing what God was doing.

Pharisees had religious control of the region. John must have seemed like a threat to them. You can see in the passage how rude the Pharisees were to him. They demand he answer for himself. But, they had asked John a question only God could answer. Since Pharisees only got revelation from scriptures they walked away from John. They did not value that he was bringing people to repentance.  

Lord Jesus, please help me know the Bible and practice its teaching while I keep my inner ear tuned towards your voice. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen

The Word Became Flesh

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John 1:14 WEB

The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh. Jesus is called the word in the Book of John. In fact, the first verse in the Book of John says, “in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” When I see Jesus became the word, I wonder if it’s the voice of God that became flesh through Jesus Christ. Thus, in the beginning was The Voice, and it was God’s Voice. And through God’s Voice, all things were created and nothing was created without God’s Voice.

Then, is Jesus God? Is Jesus divine? The spirit inside of Jesus was from the Father directly (Luke 1:35). So yes, Jesus is divine (Phil 2:5-7). Yet, Jesus testified that the Father was one (Mark 12:29). Conversely, Jesus also testified he and the Father were one (John 10:30). However, that most likely meant the same thing it means for you and me. We are all one with God but that does not make us God (John 14:20). We have God’s voice inside of us but that also does not make us God (Mark 13:11).

I believe Jesus and God are one and the same. But we have a human element we’re dealing with that may not be God. My concern is when Jesus returns to Earth we are going to be dealing with a human element and it’s probably going to be a different human element. Unless Christs’ body is able to exist where he is, with the Father, when he returns the Father will have to give him another one.

If Jesus returns as a baby, will he have the same memories? Will he know who he is? Will he have to grow in stature and grace (Luke 2:52)? Jesus testifies he is the same yesterday today and tomorrow (Heb 13:8). That is why I think we should expect something similar with Christ’s second return to what we had for his first coming (Luke 2:7). That is a human being that has to be born, come to an awareness of who they are, then grow in grace and stature. I believe this is one possible way Jesus will return.

Lord Jesus, I ask that you give each one of us a revelation regarding your return. We know that you come back victorious, but we do not know the journey you have to take to that victory. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a willing and tender heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Unrecognizable

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John 1:10-11 WEB

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. [11] He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

If God was sitting on the pew next to you, would you know? It seems unlikely considering God has walked the Earth in the past and not been recognized (John 1:11). When I think of how much the Pharisees were devoted to God (Acts 26:5), and how well they knew scripture (Mt 23:23), it stuns me they did not recognize God (John 5:16). But more, it scares me.

It’s frightening. Pharisees were trained for years in the word of God. All Pharisees had huge sections of scripture memorized. They had more of God’s word inside of them than modern Christians (Phil 3:5-7). And if the Pharisees could not recognize God, why do we think we are going to be able to recognize God?

Lord Jesus, please send out a spirit of Revelation that will open the eyes of Christianity so we can see you at your appearance. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.