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John 18:1-11
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"
They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?"
And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."
Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"
They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?"
And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."
Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"
‘Whom are you seeking?’ asks Jesus, and the answer comes back from the troops and officers of the chief priests and Pharisees, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Seek,and you will find, report Matthew and Luke, and we must be aware that we are not seeking a thing, but a person — and a very specific person. Not a Jesus, or one like Jesus, but Jesus of Nazareth in particular.
For a number of days now, I have been puzzling over why we can so often disagree amongst ourselves about Jesus. After all, that differing viewpoint seems to be at the root of the denominational church system. It seems to me that each church clings to their own view (or their founding fathers' view) of who Jesus was, and each one of us has a personal view of our personal Saviour. We all worship the same Jesus, but with our own image of Him in mind. In reality, we should be looking to the Jesus that Jesus Himself said He was — Jesus of Nazareth.
The troops and officers were careful to ensure that they apprehended the right man, and we should do the same. Only if we apprehend Jesus of Nazareth can He lead us ‘through The Cross of Calvary’ into Resurrection Life, for He is so much more than a personal saviour — He is Jesus of Nazareth, ‘Jehovah is salvation’ and ‘one separated.’ There is no other, so He is not the Jesus I create or imagine Him to be, or that another might favour, He is one and the same for all who believe.
He is not ‘my Jesus’, rather I am His brother, and Him I must seek and know.
For a number of days now, I have been puzzling over why we can so often disagree amongst ourselves about Jesus. After all, that differing viewpoint seems to be at the root of the denominational church system. It seems to me that each church clings to their own view (or their founding fathers' view) of who Jesus was, and each one of us has a personal view of our personal Saviour. We all worship the same Jesus, but with our own image of Him in mind. In reality, we should be looking to the Jesus that Jesus Himself said He was — Jesus of Nazareth.
The troops and officers were careful to ensure that they apprehended the right man, and we should do the same. Only if we apprehend Jesus of Nazareth can He lead us ‘through The Cross of Calvary’ into Resurrection Life, for He is so much more than a personal saviour — He is Jesus of Nazareth, ‘Jehovah is salvation’ and ‘one separated.’ There is no other, so He is not the Jesus I create or imagine Him to be, or that another might favour, He is one and the same for all who believe.
He is not ‘my Jesus’, rather I am His brother, and Him I must seek and know.
Meditate On These Things
MATTHEW 13:45-46
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
DEUTERONOMY 4:27-30
And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
DEUTERONOMY 4:27-30
And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD — CRC Worship
A HOLY OCCUPATION: Oswald Chambers on PRAYER
— requires CHILDLIKENESS--
THERE IS ONLY one kind of person who can really pray, and that is the childlike saint, the simple, stupid, supernatural child of God; I do mean "stupid." Immediately you try to explain why God answers prayer on the ground of reason, it is nonsense; God answers prayer on the ground of redemption and no other ground.
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’]
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’]
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