Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.  1 John 5:6

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. John 19:34

Verse 6 reminds us of what John saw when the Roman soldier, assuming Jesus was dead on the cross, thrust his sword into Jesus’ side just to be sure he is dead, because the Sabbath was at hand.  A corpse could not hang there on the Sabbath.

John saw a remarkable thing.  When the soldier withdrew his sword, water and blood gushed forth together.  The appearance of Jesus’ blood mixed with body water does not strike a casual reader as noteworthy, certainly not in the culture in which I live. For John it was a divine revelation absolutely loaded with meaning.  In John’s writings the blood was for cleansing and the water was for giving life.  John saw that dual flow as he stood with Mary and other women on that dreadful day of crucifixion.

He may have pondered its meaning as, perhaps, we should today.  He refers to it as a phenomenal insight into truth, that is, that cleansing and infilling go together, always!  They are twin blessings from God, always working together.

The Greek world was rampant with philosophies and religions.  We recall the writings of Plato and Aristotle and others.  They sought water, wisdom.  They came close to finding it. They left out the need for new birth, however, for cleansing and brokenness.  Their philosophies stressed self-improvement.  Just water, we might say.  But we know that the answer is not in correct philosophy but in knowing that God loves us and invites us to be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus so that God can enter our lives and make us anew, cleansed and filled.

The way I see it, the blood stands for cleansing, water stands for new life and ongoing refreshment.  We need both and both are available in fullness because Jesus died for us. They are ours as a free gift of God.

With joy and thanksgiving Chestnut Hill congregation welcomed back the Garber family following their well-earned Sabbatical.  It is so good to see you back, Garbers, one and all.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. 

I John 5:1 – 3

How do we show that we love the children of God?  By loving God, John insists.  He reminds us that we are talking about God’s children, every one of them is adopted.  God has no natural children, so to speak.  The love of God embraces all those who love him, no matter their background.  Each one is indebted to God for his adopting love.  All who come to God through Christ are equal in this regard.

Therefore, God does not have children who are at odds with his other children.  That simply does not work. That would be at odds with God’s embracing love.  No one is there by his or her merit, but by the amazing grace of Jesus Christ.   Should they not love one another with the love that incorporated them into this new family of faith?

The love that binds those in the new family of the born again is not human love, but agape, the very love of God.  Our relationships with one another in Christ should reflect that love.

This is not sentimental love.  It is the love of God, real love!  It will show itself in the desire to do what pleases God, the adopting father.  “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.”  And I might add, one of these commands is to love one another in the family of God.  That makes sense.  It would be strange if we say that we love our father but not his children.

Human love chooses whom to love.  Divine love enables us to choose to love those God loves!  This sets apart the followers of Jesus as people who love one another from those who know only human love.

So, as believers, we have victory over Satan by faith in God.  And what is the basis of that faith? The Spirit says, Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. So we are brought back to the common basis of our love, that is that Jesus is the Son of God.  It could not be simpler, nor more demanding.

Isaac spent a few days here in our village as his last fling before Grade 1.  The “village” is us and Jane and Glenn’s (Isaac’s grandparents).  Isaac is even-tempered, kind, loving and, in our estimation, super bright!

We love because he first loved us.  Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

I John 4:19 – 21.

The love that John is talking about, agape, is not refined human love but God’s love.  If I read and understand it correctly, this love, divine love, is not “standard equipment” in any person in any age, but is a gift of God.  None of us, no matter who we are or the culture of our birth, comes by agape naturally.  We do not get it from our parents or from any other person.  It is a gift of God, a gift if we receive, puts us into touch with God and makes it possible to experience and exhibit this special gift from above.

When John reminds us that we must be born again, he is underlying that fact that this love is not inherited but is part and parcel of being born again, of being converted, of becoming a lover of God. And, whether we welcome the thought or not, is given only because Jesus atoned for our sins and has brought us to himself, so close that he can flood us with agape, divine love. No one has ever found another way of partaking of agape.  It is only through Christ because by his atoning acts he makes it possible.

This does not mean that those who are born naturally of believing parents simply “get it.”  It does not move like osmosis, otherwise John and the Gospel of Jesus Christ would have made it clear that some people have agape, others do not, regardless of whether they are born again or not.  No, no human being is born with this virtue.  It must come from above, from God himself.

The expression of agape is abundantly clear in person’s life. If it is there then a person loves God and men and women like himself.  The Spirit of God underlines it, “Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” This powerful love has nothing to do with culture or race.  It is for all!  Amazing!

This is our first year to have bubblegum petunias- much loved by our Amish neighbors. We are among the admirers.  We were amazed to see this variant, a half white one among ours.  Nature amuses and amazes us, that is for sure.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

1 John 5:1

First, the word, “Everyone.”  John has burst out of his Jewish ethnic mold.  He is absolutely convinced that Jesus Christ died for all, meaning all!  All people, for all time in all cultures.

The next phrase is also shocking to most ears, “Who believes.” It does not just happen, it requires belief, one of the most difficult concepts to grasp, but also the most important.  We are trained to believe what we see and know.  We have no cultural training to believe what is unseen and eternal.  John is not describing something quite natural, like believing that the sun will rise tomorrow because we have learned that it always has.  This is not the kind of belief John is talking about. He speaks of something that is believed by faith!

Human logic does not readily believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth who was a baby and a man of Palestine was in fact Jesus the Christ. Even those words require such a stretch of imagination that we do not take the trouble to even try to understand it.

John insists that Jesus is the one and only promised Messiah. Then it gets even more challenging, He who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.  As I see it God was the Father of Jesus. Then, hold your breath, God bears Jesus in us as a Father.  

What is the meaning of “born of God?”   We understand “born of Joseph and Mary.”  Our culture is stymied at the idea that a human being could have God as the father. That is terribly hard to believe, so hard that most just throw up their hands, and think of Jesus as a good man.

This brings us back to the crucial function of belief!  If the truth is apparent there would be no reason to doubt it.  That Jesus is born of God is certainly not apparent, but must be grasped by faith alone.  In fact, it is the central belief of all who are born anew of the Holy Spirit of God.

This is the second year for our block party, a couple of short streets here.  We enjoy being the guests of the Church of the Nazarene whose pastor joined in and for the use of their nice pavilion.  Thanks.

In this world we are like Jesus.  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

1 John 4:17, 18

“In this world we are like Jesus.”  Really?  Is that the standard?  Can anyone be like Jesus?  Can we live like him?  Die like him?  Rise from the dead like him?  Who can possibly attain to the standard of Jesus?

There is only one answer, and that is obvious, we cannot.  But, hold your breath, we can if Jesus is in us doing what he does, with our entire wholehearted cooperation, of course!  This is wonderful good news.

Jesus loves.  That we know. His love drives out fear!  I must think about that for a bit. I hadn’t thought of how love and fear are related.  If I truly love I give up my right to protect myself.  A paradox – perfect love assumes perfect vulnerability.  That sounds contradictory but it is exactly what the Spirit is bringing to our attention, I do believe.  If I, as a believer, live in fear it is because that agape is not at the center of my will and life. If I truly love someone I have no reason to fear that he or she will do me harm.

This is exactly what happens when give our lives to Jesus, when we love him so sincerely that we can trust everything to his will.  If so, fear is gone because he will love us until the end.

If I interpret this passage right, it means that if I live in fear, that is an indication that I have not given my all to Jesus Christ who promises to meet my every need. I think that is what John means by insisting that “There is no fear in love.“ 

Now and again I feel a sharp point of fear.  I suppose that is normal. What is not normal is repenting of not loving Jesus who casts out fear because of who he is.  That is our way of dealing with any stab of fear.  Of this I must learn again and again.  Lord, grant me the grace to love you without reservation.