Anthem Church

As Jesus ends his public ministry, he cries aloud one last time, sharing the truths that lead to true life in God. Jesus brings light, grace, and life, and those who believe and hold fast to his teaching will be saved from darkness, judgement, and death.

Jesus arrives to Jerusalem with one intention: to follow the Father and die for the sins of the world. Is this gospel good enough for each of us?

Jesus, in the book of John is constantly doing the miraculous, asserting his authority over creation, life and death. As we conclude the narrative of Lazarus' resurrection, we get a window into what gratitude should look to a God who constantly gives us what we don't deserve.

Those who experienced the death and resurrection of Lazarus were forced to make a decision. When we are exposed to Christ and His work, a choice is made to either believe in who He says He is or reject it. As a result of that choice, we must make a choice about who we are in light of that decision. Is Jesus Lord over our life or are we? If the choice is us, our morality becomes self-servicing and thus our choices in life reflect that.

What do we do with the problem of death? Jesus does not just grant resurrection and life; he is the resurrection and the life. What does this mean for those who have placed their faith in him?

Our faith will often lead us to points, moments, or seasons of wrestling with God. When this happens, we can either tap out of the wrestling or let it lead us to deeper communion with God. Our wrestling helps us prioritize Jesus, see more of Jesus, and make more of Jesus in our lives.

Whether or not we have the humility to admit it, all of our souls are in need of shepherding and care. May we hear the voice of the Good Shepherd as he protects us, cares for us, and guides us to green pastures and still waters.

May we be unburdened from the things that are less important, and may we be burdened for the things that are most important.

The Old Testament tells of the day that God will send someone to His people and that servant will open the eyes of the blind and set captives free. This week, we examine John 9, where the writer tells us a story in which Jesus shows us that He is that servant. He is both God, and God's foretold servant that would save His people and in so doing, opens the eyes of the blind.  

As his current debate with the Pharisees comes to a close, Jesus makes the unmistakable claim that he is God. If Jesus is God, what does that mean for us, especially those of us who follow him?

God is always seeking to adopt sons and daughters, and the assurance of adoption comes as we grow in grace, faith and obedience to the God who loves us. In order to grow, we must be honest with ourselves and others as we line our lives up to the word of God, living out of the grace and love given to us by faith in Jesus.

Jesus had many exchanges with those who oppose him, but his urgent cries are summarized beautifully as he makes the claim that he, and he alone, is the light of the world. Those who follow him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Is the light of life ours?

In one of the most famous passages in all of Scripture, Christ takes the sins of the religious and the wayward and puts them up against the holiness of God. None of us can meet God’s standard on our own; in Christ we are made righteous and given power to turn from sin and pursue godliness.

This week John wraps up his recounting of Jesus's teaching during the feast of booths. The people there are celebrating God's provision of rain and water and ultimately look forward to the day when, like water, YHWH will pour out His Spirit on all people. Jesus is drawing from this theme when he announces Himself as the giver of living water, that He is the way through which the Spirit will come. 

Jesus is loving and inviting, but he also calls all of us to see him truly and to deal with the reality of who he is. It is only in dealing in the reality of sin, the work of Jesus, and the redemption that results from faith in him that we find true life.

As Jesus’ ministry and influence continues to grow, everyone around him has strong opinions about who he should be, how he should act, and what he should do. However, Jesus models complete obedience to his Heavenly Father, and in doing so disappoints and frustrates the expectations of those around him. Are we able to count the same cost as we follow God? Is he worth it to us?

It doesn't matter where you've been or what kind of life you have cobbled together for yourself. Jesus is better and makes everything else obsolete, according the Hebrews 10. 

No matter what life brings our way, no matter where we find ourselves, the reality of Easter is that the Spirit and power of God himself is not bound. In Christ, this Spirit lives inside of us, offering us power, peace, and participation in the story of God’s redemption.