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Lessons from John

Lately I've been reading the book of John and have had more reflections jump out of me than I originally thought I would. I've jotted them down in my bible and then realized that I might as well capture these thoughts here too. Out of the four New Testament books about Jesus' birth, ministry, and death, I am most drawn to the book of John. There I can see the beauty in how God's Word is crafted together. John doesn't just tell what he saw, he points out the deeper purpose and connection that Jesus has to the Old Testament, to God, to Israelite traditions, and to the creation of the world! I invite you to journey with me as I chronicle my musings on the book of John!

John 3 - Nicodemus - Born Again
It's interesting how this chapter starts with Jesus teaching Nicodemus about the Spirit - how you need to be born in it and how it moves in ways unknown and unseen - then ends with John the Baptist teaching his disciples that Jesus has the Spirit!

John 4 - Samaritan Woman - Give me this Water
The thought of being filled with living water, and being like a "well" makes me see that being filled with God's spirit is not just for our own satisfaction. Just like a real well is meant to nourish more than one person, our being filled with the Holy Spirit is also meant to satiate other people. As we are filled, we should also be pouring out so that others can experience God too.

John 5 - Do you See Me - Suffering/Glory
I wonder what it must have been like to see a ton of people with disabilities in what may look like a picnic pavilion today or a main city square. The Jews here apparently mixed in and roamed by these people, so the disabled were immersed in their society. The people of this day were confronted by the everyday struggles of others and I find that interesting. Also interesting and sad is the thought that the physically-abled people around them didn't do much to help them. Today, it seems we don't allow those suffering to confront us with their reality - at least not in such a visible way. We have different types of "homes" or shelters for the "undesirables". People with mental illness, the disabled, homeless, elderly... Not to say that it isn't good to have places for focused care. That's a wonderful thing, but I just wonder if it also makes us less likely to see them and to care for their plight in life.

I also wonder about the verse in John 5:44: "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" It's a good reminder to do all that we do to make God happy. When we focus on pleasing God, our work is aligned with his purpose and our heart is in the right place. When we strive for our ambitions, only to gain the approval of people and their praise or attention, we reap an empty and shallow victory. People are fickle and change their preferences over time, so aiming to please people can move you from what is true and grounded in God. Seeking to please God builds true faith because it grounds us in something permanent and real and unchanging.

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