Two Fires - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 21:9,

"When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread."

After Jesus' resurrection and his two meetings with his disciples in the locked room, Peter had gone fishing in the Sea of Galilee. Accompanied by other disciples they fished all night and caught nothing. In the morning Jesus appeared on the shore, told them to cast their net again, and a miraculous haul of fish was made.

We are told when the disciples came ashore they saw Jesus with a fire of burning coals with a breakfast of fish and bread on it. This is the setting when Jesus "reinstated" Peter following Peter's denial of Jesus. Peter had denied him three times the night Jesus was arrested. Now, at this breakfast setting, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him three times. It really is quite a setting.

Earlier, when Peter denied Jesus, it was at break of day, and being cold, there was a fire there as well, "'You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?' she asked Peter. He replied, 'I am not.' It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself." John 18:17-18.

I note there was a fire at Peter's denials of Jesus and then later when Jesus "reinstated" him. What is the significance of a fire at both events? I really don't have a clue.

Here are some interesting passages that mention fire (that probably have nothing to do with the two events):

"Everyone will be salted with fire." Mark 9:49.
"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Luke 3:16.
"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work." 1 Corinthians 3:11-13.
"...for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" Hebrews 12:29.
"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:6.
"Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." Jude 22-23.

As I say, I have no clue as to why we are told a fire was present both when Peter denied the Lord and when the Lord provided Peter an opportunity to confess his love of the Lord. I just note that both accounts choose to make note of it.

Do you have any idea? Tongue in cheek (or is it?) we could say, "trial by fire"...

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Death Defeated! - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 20:1,

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance."

The stone had been removed from the entrance of the tomb Jesus was laid in following his death because he had arisen from death! Death had no mastery over him! "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him." Romans 6:9.

For those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, death has no mastery over us as well! We know this because of his resurrection! "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." Romans 8:11.

Here is a handy list of all the eyewitnesses to Jesus' resurrection (lifted right out of the NIV Quest Study Bible). Following the passages where the empty tomb is cited, there are twelve sightings listed, beginning with who saw him, where they saw him, when they saw him, and the passages where this is documented:

The empty tomb, Jerusalem, Resurrection Sunday, Matthew 28:1–8, Mark, 16:1–8, Luke 24:1–12, John 20:1–10.

To Mary Magdalene in the garden, Jerusalem, Resurrection Sunday, Mark 16:9–11, John 20:11–18.
To other women, Jerusalem, Resurrection Sunday, Matthew 28:9–10.
To two people going to Emmaus, Road to Emmaus, Resurrection Sunday Mark 16:12–13, Luke 24:13–32.
To Peter, Jerusalem, Resurrection Sunday, Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5.
To the ten disciples in the upper room, Jerusalem, Resurrection Sunday, Luke 24:36–43, John 20:19–25.
To the 11 disciples in the upper room, Jerusalem, Following Sunday, Mark 16:14, John 20:26–31, 1 Corinthians 15:5.
To seven disciples fishing, Sea of Galilee, Some time later, John 21:1–23.
To the 11 disciples on a mountain, Galilee, Some time later, Matthew 28:16–20, Mark 16:15–18.
To more than 500 hundred, Unknown, Some time later, 1 Corinthians 15:6.
To James, Unknown, Some time later, 1 Corinthians 15:7.
To his disciples at his ascension, Mount of Olives, 40 days after Jesus' resurrection, Luke 24:36–51, Acts 1:3–9.
To Paul, Damascus, Several years later, Acts 9:1–19; 22:3–16; 26:9–18, 1 Corinthians 9:1.

Live it! Love it! Believe it!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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From Secret to Bold - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 19:38-39,

"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds."

We read that following the crucifixion of Jesus, two men asked for his body, prepared it for burial and placed it in a nearby tomb.

One of the men was Joseph of Arimathea. In Luke 23:50-51 we read he was a member of the Council (the Sanhedrin), and that he was "a good and upright man." In Mark 15:43 we read that he was not just a member, but actually a "prominent" member of the Council. As a man who was "waiting for the kingdom of God", he disagreed with the Sanhedrin about their decision and action against Jesus. In Matthew 27:57 we are told he was a rich man, making him, along with Nicodemus, able to provide the expense of preparing Jesus' body for his burial in Joseph's own tomb, Matthew 27:60. John 19:38 says he was a secret disciple of Jesus - secret out of fear of the other leaders.

The other man was Nicodemus, another member of the Sanhedrin. He was the Pharisee that visited Jesus at night that we read of in John 3. Jesus called him "Israel's teacher", John 3:10, and the one to whom Jesus spoke the famous words, "no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." John 3:3.

From this we find, contrary to what many think, not all who were Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin were bad people. And, where they were once secret disciples, they now boldly and publicly sought and got Pilate's permission to take Jesus' body for burial.

What brought about their transition from secret disciples to bold disciples? I have to think the events we are told of that took place that day had an incredible impact on them, on many-- and on many yet today.

How about you and me? Are we bold disciples because of the events that took place those days? Are we fearless as opposed to being fearful of family members, coworkers, neighbors? Are we assured and confident?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Half-Wits - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 18:22,

"When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. 'Is this the way you answer the high priest?' he demanded."

In a preliminary investigation before the former high priest, Annas, Jesus refused to provide any new "evidence" for the purported charges he was arrested for. Annas apparently thought he could get Jesus to say something that could be held against him before the Sanhedrin. Jesus simply told Annas that anything he could say was already said publicly and openly.

Refusing the intentions of the high priest prompted a half-wit official to slap the Son of God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the redeemer of mankind, the object of God the Father's intense love. Whoever this official was, can you imagine what he must think today, knowing what he knows now? What must he think of his actions when he was in this life? How could he have been so obtuse, so foolish?

Obviously it was not just him but all who unwittingly participated as the useful idiots Jesus used to effect his atonement for the sins of all mankind on that cross.

It is not just those then to be marveled at for being given to such foolhardy decisions. "How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:29-31.

Just how do you think people who reject Jesus Christ in this life will feel following this life, knowing then what their lack of faith prevented them from seeing today?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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What's In A Name? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 17:11-12,

"Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me."

God the Father commissioned Jesus Christ, his Son, to effect the redemption of mankind with all the power and authority of the Father. This is what Jesus meant when he acknowledged to the Father in his prayer in John 17, that he kept his disciples safe by his name. Jesus Christ had within him all the authority and power of God the Father.

So close is this identification of Jesus with the Father he told his disciples, "'If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.'" John 14:7-11.

In John 1:12 we read, "Yet to all who did receive him [the Word, Jesus Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." This means we believe in his power as the Son of God, his status as the Son of God, his authority as the Son of God, his credentials as the Son of God. After all, Jesus Christ is vested with all these things from the Father. This is what it means to believe in his name.

Here is something Jesus promised his followers in John 14:13-14, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." Here Jesus is offering access to his authority and power to his followers.

How amazing is that?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Our Advocate Is Busy in the World - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 16:8-11,

"When he [the Advocate, the Holy Spirit] comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."

The Holy Spirit is called the "Advocate". For those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and becomes our advocate. More than just representing us in God's court as our advocate, he comes to us to strengthen us, to encourage us, to teach us, he comes alongside to help us. As far as representing us before the father, I am reminded of Romans 8:26-27, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."

Of course, Jesus Christ does as well, "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Romans 8:34-35.

In John 16 Jesus said when the Holy Spirit came he would prove the world to be wrong about three things: sin, righteousness and judgement.

The Holy Spirit helps us see our sinful condition, he helps us sense our need for the Savior. In our lost and fallen condition we would never see ourselves as God does and the Holy Spirit helps us in that regard. This is my understanding of the one unpardonable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in denying him as he shows us our sinful condition.

The Holy Spirit also reveals to us that we are not right with God as sinners. We need to change our standing with God and that will not come about by us being "good enough". Our acceptable standing with God can only come about by us having Jesus Christ's own righteousness being credited to our account by embracing him in faith. That righteousness of Jesus Christ is proven by his resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven.

The Holy Spirit also brings a dread to non-believers about the looming judgment they may or may not be conscious of. I am reminded of Psalm 14:5, "But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous." Satan is already condemned in God's judgment as a fixed reality, and the horror of falling under God's judgment is seen in Satan's situation.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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The Imperative to Love One Another - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 15:17,

"This is my command: Love each other."

Jesus quite simply told his followers to love one another. This is his command. In a beautiful passage where he speaks of the atmosphere, the climate of love that we are to dwell within with him and the Father, he says, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Verses 9-12.

An ever expanding universe of love awaits those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith in the next life, an expanse of love that envelopes us all together with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and all the heavenly host that communes there.

However, the Lord is not content with us not living out this love now, in this nasty, sinful, estranged and rebellious world. The love Jesus asks of us is to be manifested in this life because it furthers his agenda of redeeming all who are willing. We show the world who Jesus Christ is by our expression of love towards one another. We show our lives have been impacted by him, a change within us has been wrought.

And, this he says, brings him joy! "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Would any of us want to withhold from him the joy he anticipates in his people? And, who would not want to have the joy within themselves the Lord gives as we obey him?

Here is how we are capable of loving one another: "We love because he first loved us." John 4:19.

Here is an insightful note from the NIV Quest Study Bible, "There will always be individuals who try our patience and stretch our capacity to love. It's helpful to realize that God enables us to love others (1Jn 4:19). Jesus does not command us to feel a certain way; he commands us to show love to one another through our actions."

"This is my command: Love each other."

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.