Have you ever heard a story that carries on a little longer than you care for? I know that I’m setting myself up on this one. You may be thinking of a few that I’ve told. Whether pressed for time or a challenged listener, I sometimes just need to hear the facts. Skip the salad and get to the meat. As I’ve been closing down my study of the Gospel of John, I notice this meaty verse. Jhn 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” What a perfect summary verse of this Gospel. That these events were recorded that I might believe in Jesus and that through this continued action of believing I might have life. As I re-read the of Jesus’ death and resurrection, I again stand convinced of this miracle of life that He has offered. Even more than the miracle of human life, the miracle of a born-again spiritual life we all can have as we receive what Jesus has done for us on the cross. The doubts and fears go away as I see the miracle of continuing to believe by experiencing the renewal of the mind through His Word. Then I have life. This life is defined in the Greek as: life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, and blessed. When you start doubt and fear. Read again what our Lord did and said at Calvary. His Word will continue the belief and will continue the life.
Jhn 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.” He offers full and meaningful life.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” John 8:36
There is a pan of brownies upstairs, taunting me as I sit to write. I would be nice if I was like the majority of the population and had just the slightest self control and could just enjoy one wonderful and scrumptious choc lately square. But I am not. In fact, like many have heard, I am a ridiculous chocolate fiend. Don’t let me fool you. I can resist all day, but like Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde, when all the family lay to rest. I go on the prowl. Not a problem for most, other than a few extra annoying pounds, or the next morning of bitter tears and disappointed children, but I’m hypoglycemic. In other words, I have a problem balancing sugars and they, especially in the quantity that I would eat, would mess me up. They could and have messed up my sugar levels for several days. Now, if I make the mistake and have just a taste now, although the sample would be small, and not affect my current sugar level, I would have the taste in my mouth. Then, as I wake late in the night, not fully conscience or concerned with the adverse effects, I would indulge. Without a doubt, I would be messed up. Don’t we all wrestle with these areas in our lives? These areas were the Lord has warned us to avoid, or these areas of sin that He has once delivered us from. Sin is sweet for a season, but we shall reap what we sow 2 Cr 9:6. When we know what is right, at all costs, avoid the taste! “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” 2 Tim 2:22

Proverbs Chapter 8:17 says, ”I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” I’ve noticed something special that happens when I seek the Lord early. I hear His voice. The comforting, reassuring, and directive voice in His Word. I think it no mistake that Mary was rewarded with being the first person to witness the voice of the Lord from the tomb. She sought Him early. Sometimes I like to make excuses by telling myself that I’m just not a morning person or I don’t have enough time in the morning. I can take on an attitude that I’m just not made for the mornings. The Holy Spirit reminds me that I was not saved to stay the way I am, but to be more like Jesus. Our Lord would get up early to meet with the father. I encourage you to let the Holy Spirit give you a game plan, how to adjust your mornings so you be ready for battle.
Jhn 20:1 The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Jhn 20:16 “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
After Jesus had risen from the tomb, His appearance had changed. Mary Magdalene was broken, weeping, and seeking the body of Jesus. When Jesus inquired who she was looking for, she supposed Him to be the gardener. When she heard Jesus call her name, she understood who He was. Believers recognize the voice of Jesus. Jhn 10:4 “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” Not only is His voice recognized by His own, but it is a source of joy to His friends. Jhn 3:29 “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. As the days continue and my days in this life accrue, I am stirred to hear His voice.” This sometimes may be confusing for some because what is implied is that believers are hearing His voice audibly. The believer may certainly experience the Lord speaking this way simply because we see the Lord doing this in His Word. We never want to fall into the trap of letting our experience dictate God’s Word, but rather God’s Word dictates our experience. The Gospel of John tells us: Jhn 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is the Word. He speaks to us through His Word. Through my days I am capturing the truth that there is no real joy apart from Jesus. His voice is source of Joy. I must read, listen, and abide in His Word.

hn 19:23 “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also [his] coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.”
Jhn 19:24 ” They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.”
This robe or vesture that the Roman soldiers cast lots over, was a valuable garment, having no seams. This was how the garments were to be made and worn by the high priests in Exodus chapter 28. Jesus was and in the Ultimate High Priest! I came across a worship song that I used to play in college by Wes King. It speaks of the beautiful character of Jesus.  “The Robe” was inspired by a sermon read by Spurgeon which Wes read while in college.

      The Robe- click to watch

In Chapter 19 of the Gospel of John, we encounter the ruler of Rome that has been warned by Caesar because of his earlier political mistakes. Pilate, determined to keep the peace at any price, was faced with the uprising of the people in regards to the innocence of Jesus. Pilate’s conscience was speaking that there was no fault in Him. But Pilate, like so many of us, was just going along with the crowd. Tyranny of the majority. A spiritual coward. Jhn 19:1 ”Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged [him].”
Jesus received thirty-nine lashes with the flagellum or flagrum. It was usually comprised of a short whip with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths, in which small iron balls or sheep bones were tied in intervals. The roman soldiers repeated struck the victim’s back with full force, it would cause deep contusions and the leather and sheep bones would produce ribbons of bleeding flesh and lacerations. This process would often be enough to kill a man alone. Painful beyond our imagination. Jesus took this for us willingly. Jhn 19:2 “And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put [it] on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, Jhn 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.” I see the necessity of the cross but why this? Why the painful beatings of the flesh. Isaiah tells us: Isa 53:5 “But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”With His stripes we are healed. Mat 8:17 “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare [our] sicknesses.” Through my years of walking with Jesus, I’ve experienced His healing touch in numerous areas of my life. I’ve seen him heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. How about you saint. How has He healed you?

Jhn 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.

Jesus and his disciples wait in the Garden of Gethsemane as our Lord feels the pressure of the time at hand. Gethsemane itself literally means olive press. This was a time of great pressure for Jesus, as our Lord would even sweat drops of blood due to the necessity and willingness to go the cross for our sins. So necessary to bridge the large gap between sinful man and a Holy God. What is amazing here is when Jesus, once again, declared his title of “I am,”  the band of soldiers, about 600 men, had fallen in His presence. The power of His Word.  So much evidence of His deity, so many miracles, so many signs, yet the heart of man can be so hard and calloused. Six other “I am,” has passed His lips, “ I am the Bread of life,” “I am the Light of the world,” “Before Abraham was, I am,” “I am the Door,” “I am the Good Shepard,” and “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”

Jhn 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am [he]. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

As Jesus waits in the garden of Gethsemane, He once again declares His deity, as He gets even closer to the cross for our sake. So thankful we can experience the power of our Lords declaration of the Great I am. A title and character of God that is so impressive and magnificent, yet an intimate reminder that Jesus is willing to fill the need of whatever we need him to be according to His Word. If we need a friend, I am. If you need a comforter, I am. If we need direction, I am. If we need the truth, I am. I am so thankful for our magnificent Creator, Savior, Master, and Friend. So amazed by His knowledge of my sin and mistakes, yet He has shown His love for me, and all who choose to take advantage of the incredible gift of life. Now and forever. Thank you Jesus!

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;

Eph 2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The Teens and I are at the castle in PA seeking the Lord together this week. The theme is Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart. The Lord has begun our time together by reminding us of His protective boundaries. How He sets up these boundaries in our life in order to bless our socks off. This can seem so contrary to our natural man. Our flesh, certainly, can’t grasp this, but God’s plan and calling for our lives far exceeds what this world can offer. Within God’s protective hands is where the blessing truly is. We have been studying some of the characters in the book of Judges these past four days. Jdg 17:6 Describes the heart and folly of the Israelites, but it also warns us of our current pop culture mindset. To do what is right in our own eyes, which is disaster waiting to happen apart from the direction of Gods Word. We began our journey with Samson. An incredible display of God’s grace and desire to use a man for His purposes, yet Samson is so childish and distracted in the faith. Making riddles and disregarding all the boundaries that Lord had desired for him to stay consecrated and separate. He had no spiritual soberness. God had big plans for him, but he was fooling around with his gifts. Confused by our Lord’s longsuffering, Samson continued in his sin. The Lord was just giving him space to repent. With Samson, we observe the fruit of a distracted heart, wasted potential, and an unwillingness to abstain from our lusts that can so easily take us down. Please pray that our hearts won’t be distracted, but that we will seek and search the Lord with all our heart!

Jon 1:1-3 As the Lord speaks to Jonah and instructs him to go and preach to the Assyrians, the Lord is very clear here. Go to Nineveh and cry against it. The calling that the Lord had on Jonah is a vivid reminder of the calling that He has on our lives. Like Jonah, anything less than fulfilling that calling, is disobedience. Too many believers are too casual or even careless in seeking and knowing Gods calling on their lives. Jam 4:13-15. What is a calling? It is following through with what the Lord has prescribed for our lives. Our prescribed calling can be an incredible vehicle for intimacy, worship, and purpose. I enjoy the characters that the Lord places in His Word for our example. The apostle Peter had a clear calling on his life as a chief man in the early church. To strengthen the brethren Luk 22:32, and tend to the flock John 21:15, 1 Peter 5.

Look at what Peter writes…

2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

I long for this security, to not fall. It is so nice to not mess up for a change. The key is to give diligence to make our calling and election sure. How can you and I receive God’s call?