“If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:22)

            Peter made a common mistake – he allowed his curiosity about what John’s life would be like override his focus on his own.  It is so easy to get sucked into the game of looking at others’ lives.  We can easily complain about what brother or sister so-and-so did or didn’t do, or we can become fixated on the question of why others have wealth, health, or opportunity which we desperately wish we could have… but all of these speculations are a fool’s game.

            You cannot live another man’s life.  The only one that matters is the one that God gave you to live.  Your talents are neither increased or diminished by another’s.  If you are the two-talent man in the parable, constantly glancing at the outcome of the five-talent or the one-talent man does you no good.  Focus on your walk with God.  As Jesus commanded Peter, “You follow Me!”

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book…” (John 20:30)

            John gives us a good reminder.  The Bible doesn’t include all the information we want; it includes all the information we need.  There are many details of Jesus’ life and the history of mankind which would be fascinating to know but are not necessary for us.  God, in His infinite wisdom, included exactly what we need and no more.  Every word of the Bible has a purpose.

            We do well to not waste our time speculating on what was not included.  The important thing is to understand what is in the text and to saturate ourselves in it.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’ ” (John 19:15b)

            If we will not pledge our allegiance to Jesus, we will find ourselves in league with the darkest of authorities.  If you had asked the priests a few days earlier if they would have ever shown fealty to Caesar, they likely would have spat in your face.  This is the same priesthood that hated tax collectors and despised Jesus for even acknowledging that paying taxes to Caesar was appropriate.

Yet, here they are: joining Rome’s team to avoid accepting Jesus’ kingship.  When we run from Jesus, we never know what dark alley we will end up in.  Once we deny the true King, we open our hearts to dark overlords.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way.” (John 18:8)

            Even as the mob is coming for Jesus and the hour of His torture and death is upon Him… He is thinking about others.  He doesn’t ask for His safety.  He doesn’t ask for a fair trial.  He doesn’t ask for leniency or mercy.  He asks for His friends to be let go.

            Our Lord is ALWAYS thinking about us.  May we emulate Him in our love and concern for the needs of others.  May Jesus’ character be seen in us.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)

            If Jesus didn’t ask for us to be removed from the world, then we should be content where we are.  I fear at times that our discontentment with the world’s problems can lead to an undercurrent of grumbling amongst God’s people.  Our frustration with the politics, the deviant immorality, and the godlessness of the culture is completely understandable, but it is akin to a soldier frustrated at the dangers of the battlefield.  Battlefields are inherently dangerous; the world is inherently worldly.

            Jesus wants us here.  He wants us in the battle, shining the light in the darkness, and waging the war for souls.  Of course it is ugly.  All wars are.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“But I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away…” (John 16:7a)

            I imagine if I were amongst the apostles on that Passover evening as Jesus explained to them His impending departure, I would have a very hard time believing that Jesus going away would be good.  How could a world without Jesus in it be a good thing?

            Yet, that is exactly what happened.  Jesus’ death led to forgiveness, and His ascension into heaven put Him at the right hand of God forevermore.  Jesus going away triggered the sending of the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles and the birth of the church.

A thing that seemed utterly horrible led to something beautiful.  God knows what He is doing.  Trust His plan – bad things can be the beginning of unimaginably good things.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“They hated Me without a cause” (John 15:25)

            Evil needs no reason to hate; it is in the very nature of evil to do so.  Hatred is intertwined with selfishness and wickedness.  When I choose to place myself above others, than others simply become objects to manipulate, abuse, or destroy.

            We must accept that evil doesn’t need to be reasonable.  It can’t be understood or pacified.  Wickedness is at war with righteousness.  Compromise and peace treaties will not work with Satan, nor will they work with the world.  It is a battle for souls. The Lord needs more soldiers and less diplomats trying to find middle ground with the enemy.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“…for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” (John 14:30)

            Satan may have dominion over this world, but it is both temporary and without character.  The devil’s rule over this world was inaguarated by Adam and Eve when they submitted to his guidance in Eden, and it has swept across the plains of humanity like a blight ever since.

            What has been gained by the rule of Satan? Only death, shame, war, trauma, division, and animalistic degradation.  What has been lost?  Innocence, life, love, and our humanity.

            The good news of Jesus Christ is that Satan has no part in Jesus’ rule.  The serpent has been cast down, and his dominion ends here.  When our Lord returns, the devil will have no influence or place again.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“…He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1)

            Some passages are so beautiful they need no commentary – only attention.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him and that they had done these things to Him.” (John 12:16)

            I find great comfort in this verse.  The disciples would have known the passages from the Old Testament and been very familiar with the passage in Zechariah describing the King coming to Jerusalem seated on a colt… but they missed it in the moment.  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was living out a verse that they had already read, but it was only upon reflection later that understanding dawned upon them.

            This is the life of all Jesus’ disciples.  We read the text, try and understand it, but find ourselves requiring maturity, reflection, and time in order to see what is there.  There is no such thing as instant depth to your understanding of the Bible.  The words are all there.  They don’t change, but we do.  A lifetime of study constantly reveals new things and deeper understanding to the committed student of the Word.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites