This week in our study, we have been learning about Jesus’ character from someone who knew Him very well—His chosen disciple, and friend, John. Throughout the gospel written by John, we learn much about Jesus. We come to understand, know, and love Him through
- The 7 ‘I AM’ statements
- His relationship with His Father
- His promises
- His incredible love for His followers
- His prayers and intercession for them (and us!)
It is this deep love and tender care for His followers that I would like to focus on today. With all that we have come to understand and know about our Lord as He walked this earth, should it surprise us at all that He had great relationships? His love…unconditional. His forgiveness…just amazing. His patience…looooong-suffering (think about the manner in which the Pharisees seemingly were constantly looking to snare Him). His grace, His mercy…just amazing!
In today’s lesson, Teresa wrote about Jesus identifying Himself as ‘I AM – The Resurrection.’ And she shared the record from John chapter 11 about Jesus’ dear friend, Lazarus’ death…and Jesus raising him from the dead. I always love reading the account of Jesus dealing with Mary and Martha’s deep grief. He loved these three siblings very much! (You can read the full account here.)
Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the same spot where Martha had met Him. When the Jews who were sitting with her in the house and consoling her saw how hastily Mary had risen and gone out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to pour out her grief there. When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she dropped down at His feet, saying to Him, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who came with her [also] sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. And He said, Where have you laid him? They said to Him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. The Jews said, See how [tenderly] He loved him!
(verses 30-36)
What a true Friend, and how tender, gentle, compassionate Jesus was to these two sisters! This record gives us the opportunity to know more about our Lord and Savior. We know from the Scriptures that ‘…we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning’ (Hebrews 4:15).
But He knew there was a purpose and plan in the waiting. He told them that their brother would be made alive again.
Jesus said to her (Martha), Your brother shall rise again. (verse 23)
Can you imagine how hard it must have been for Jesus to not run immediately to them when He first heard that Lazarus was sick! But He—Who was always busy about His Father’s will—denied His own desires to bring glory to God!
Then Jesus said “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said,
“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me,
but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here,
that they may believe that You sent Me.”
(verses 40-42)
This great care and concern for others was supremely evident all throughout His life; we could talk about time after time after time after time when He loved to the utmost…even up until the very end. As He hung on the Cross, His very life dripping out of His Body, He made sure that His mother, Mary, was taken care of.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:25-27
This same love, care, and compassionate concern that our Lord had for those who lived and walked this earth with Him—He also has for us! Nothing less! The worries, the burdens, the cries of our hearts…all are known by our Lord. He intercedes for us as He reigns at God Almighty’s right hand. There is not a moment of our lives that Jesus is not watching over us. There is not a need we have that He is not providing for. There is not a tear that falls that He is unaware of. There is not a burden that threatens to overwhelm us that He is not willing to help us carry. And so we must do the following.
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
Let’s Pray:
Dear Lord, we come before the Almighty’s throne of grace and mercy acknowledging Your perfect provision of everything we need! We love You, Lord, and we are so thankful for the privilege of learning and knowing more about You, our Precious Savior! May we speak and shout to the world about You, Lord Jesus, helping them to know the Truth that we know—YES! Our Jesus cares! He cares for You! We pray, Lord, for each life we reach out to and each heart that we speak life and peace and truth into…by Your grace may they be drawn into a relationship with You—You Who are The Way, The Truth, and The Life! By Your grace! We love You, Lord…and pray and ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen
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You were right Coleen….that song brought tears!!!!
DOES Jesus care? yes, yes He does! <3
This a beautiful and uplifting blog Coleen. Praise the Lord. He is mighty indeed!
praising Him along with you, mary! (thank you, i am so glad that it blessed your heart!) <3
Just the fact that Jesus cares and keeps His relationship with us so personal keeps me going. I want to be counted one day as a BBF something I strive for but sometimes fall short. I remember this is a daily battle and the VICTORY is already ours.
what a friend we HAVE in Jesus, yes, anne? <3
Yes indeed
What a wonderful reminder that no matter what is going on, The Father, does care for us. I never really followed along with the blogs, but I am finding that it helps take the studies to a whole different level. God is really speaking to my heart in this study.
oh, chelle, i am so thankful that you are here with us…AND…that the Great I AM is speaking to your heart! <3
Coleen, your writings always speak so deeply to me. It’s almost as though you know the words I need to hear. Thank you for sharing with us.
peggy, I AM aware of WHO does know the words you need to hear!!! thankful I AM to be part of the sharing. <3
Peggy –
I so second that. Every morning before work I look for Coleen’s prayer for the day; it is ALWAYS right on time. I needed this reminder today as well as another devotional verse I receive. Thanks Coleen, you are a great gift!
by God’s grace and blessing to us all, we each have the opportunity to minister His Words to one another. praying for you each…please pray for me, too! <3
FAITH ONLY PROOF-TEXTING
The proposition that Christians are saved by faith only is supported by proof-texting. Using a select verse of Scripture to validate a doctrinal position without using all Biblical accounts is proof-texting.
EXAMPLES OF FAITH-ONLY SALVATION, PROOF-TEXTING.
1. PROOF-TEXT: Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
a. Abraham was not a Christian.
b. Abraham was not saved under the New Covenant.
c. Abraham was also justified by works. (James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?)
d. Abraham did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. (John 8:24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”) If you can be saved like Abraham, then you can be saved without believing Jesus was the Son of God.
Was Abraham saved? Yes. Can men living under the New Covenant be saved like Abraham? No, they cannot.
2. PROOF-TEXT: Luke 23:39-43…..43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
a. The thief on the cross was not saved under the New Covenant.
b. If you can be saved like the thief, then you can be saved without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (John 7:39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
c.If you can be saved like the thief, then you can be saved without believing in the resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.) The thief did not believe that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was still alive when the thief was saved.
d. If you can be saved like the thief, then you can be saved without being baptized in water for the forgiveness of your sins.(Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16)
Was the thief saved? Yes. Can men living under the New Covenant be saved like the thief? No, they cannot.
3. PROOF-TEXT: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
a. If by believing only you could be saved, then the demons could be saved.(Matthew 8:28-31 …..And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”…..31….the demons……) The demons believed that Jesus was the Son of God. Faith only did not save them.
b. If believing only could save, then men would not have to confess Jesus before men to be saved. (John 12:42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;) (Matthew 10:32-33 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father in heaven. 33 “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My father who is in heaven.)
Believing only cannot save anyone.
SAVE BY FAITH ONLY IS A DOCTRINE OF MEN, IT IS NOT GOD’S DOCTRINE.
Men are justified by faith.(Romans 5:1) But not by faith only.
Men are justified by grace. (Titus 3:7) But not by grace only.
Men are justified by the blood of Christ. (Romans 5:9) But not by blood only.
Men are saved by water baptism.(1 Peter 3-21) But not by baptism only.
Men are save by confessing Jesus and believing in His resurrection. (Matthew 10:32-33, Romans 10:9-10) But not by confession only nor by believing only.
Men are saved by repentance. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) But but not by repentance only.
Men living today need to be saved by the terms of the New Covenant. FAITH-John 3:16 REPENTANCE- Acts 2:38 CONFESSION Romans 10:9-10 WATER BAPTISM 1 Peter 3:21
Men can be save in two hours more or less—NO WORKS OF THE LAW OF MOSES NOR GOOD DEEDS ARE REQUIRED TO BE SAVED.
(All Scripture from : NEW KING JAMES VERSION)
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Thank you for your interest in our discussion of the Great “I Am” and who we are because of Jesus. The discussion you propose by use of proof texting speaks in circles and proves nothing but confusion. The text without context is a pretext. Every word written in the Bible is provided so that we may know the character of God and live our lives accordingly.
The Old Testament and New Testament are tied together by One thread. Love. God created us, God loves us, God made a Way for us to be restored to Him. The Bible is a LOVE story in its entirety. We are thankful for His love and care in our lives. Keep following these writers. They make some very valid theological points and apply the Scriptures to daily life. Regards, Teresa