“…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

“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)

Our Lord is not a cold and calculating overlord.  He is not without feeling to our pain or incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses.  Jesus wept when Lazarus died.

Perhaps He wept because He loved Lazarus… because He did.

Perhaps He wept because He loved Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha… because He did.

Perhaps He wept for Himself and the heartache caused by a world marred by sin – after all, He is the Man of Sorrows, and our sorrows are upon Him, too.

Or perhaps He wept for all those reasons and more I haven’t even considered.

Regardless, Jesus’ tears are a reminder of the heart of our King.  He is not immune to pain, and His tears reflect His love.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“… and the Scripture cannot be broken…” (John 10:35b)

            When you run across a passage that makes you uncomfortable or conflicts with your current worldview – change.  Disagreeing with the Scriptures is like a car disagreeing with a brick wall… the car better do the moving.

            The Bible isn’t negotiable, and God’s character is not up for compromise.  His laws are what they are.  We must adapt to His will, not the other way around.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.” (John 9:41)

            Jesus shows an immense amount of patience with sinners of all walks of life.  He dined with people the rest of society would have spurned.  He forgave adulterers and prostitutes, and He welcomed into the ranks of the apostleship those who committed, and would continue to commit, many foolish sins.  His mercy was radical, and His willingness to endure with the spiritually-weak seemed almost reckless to the people of His day – I suspect it would seem reckless to us, too.

            His set His boundary at willful ignorance.  When the Pharisees and Sadduccees whitewashed their sins and pretended they were perfect, He eviscerated them for it.  He openly rebuked the hypocrites who played games, denying their own sins while excoriating others for every infraction.  Jesus had no patience for the pretender.

            Next time you sin, remember Jesus viewed the cover-up with far harsher eyes than the initial sin.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” (John 8:29)

            There is no lonelier place than the island of sin.  Jesus suffered many things in His lifetime, but He wasn’t alone.  His Father was with Him because He suffered righteously.  When we suffer for doing good, we endure with an awareness that God is with us and is pleased with our efforts on His behalf.  Our prayers are heard, and our tears are seen.  We are safe in the satisfaction that a loving God knows us and sees our pain.  The righteous life is a life of hope and companionship.

            When we turn our back on God and choose sin, then we suffer alone.  We choose the lonely road of selfishness and must expect a cold and solo journey.  Sin drives us away from God and man alike.  When I choose me, I am also NOT choosing others.  Sin offers everything, but in the end, it takes away everyone.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)

            Remember when Jesus told us “not to judge” in Matthew 7?  Jesus also spoke that we are to “judge with righteous judgment”.  These two verses are not in opposition.  They are complimentary.  The problem with judgment is that far too often we make strong, sweeping judgments about people based upon our emotions, first impressions, or personal bias.  This is not at all what God intends.

            God wants righteous people making righteous judgments which glorify Him and His wisdom.  As God’s people, we should strive as often as possible to empty ourselves of judgmental feelings and ask instead, “What does the Lord judge regarding this matter?”

            Righteous judgment begins with the Righteous Judge.  God’s Word should lead us to be as strict and as lenient as He is on all matters.  May we be guided by Bible instead of bias.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.  It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.” (John 6:44-45)

            John 6:44 is a great study in the importance of context.  Jesus makes it clear that the only way someone comes to Jesus is if God draws the person toward Jesus… but verse 44 doesn’t explain how the Father draws people to Jesus.  In order to understand how He draws people to Jesus, you need to go to the next verse.  God draws by teaching.

            The teachings of the Scriptures are God’s draw.  When we are taught by the Word, we are drawn to Jesus, the Word.  The Bible is the system God has chosen to draw all men to His Son.  We cannot come to the Son without being taught.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” (John 5:14)

            When Jesus healed the man by the pool of Bethesda, what was His warning to him?  Avoid sin and the consequences which accompany it.  Oftentimes, the blessings which God pours upon us can become curses if we allow the good things to lead to complacency in our hearts.  Remember the dogs which returned to their vomit and the pigs which went back to the mud?  That’s the danger.

            When good things become ultimate things, we forget the reason for the blessing.  Second chances are chances to do better… to love better, serve better, and sin less.  When the Lord gives you your legs back – use them for running from sin.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

“I have food to eat that you do not know about.” (John 4:32)

            Jesus lived His life here on earth with a sense of determination and unflagging commitment which often puzzled His followers and His enemies alike.  When others encouraged Him to stop and eat, He continued to teach and preach to the crowds.  He stayed up late and rose early.  He seemed to always have energy for one more person, one more child, one more healing, and one more question.

            Jesus explains why – He was feeding His soul on the food of doing His Father’s will (see John 4:34).  Jesus understands the brevity of life and that there are opportunities which only come around once.  Each person He encountered was a potential once-in-a-lifetime moment.  With only three years to preach and teach before the cross, Jesus stirred up the fire within Himself and fed upon the blessing of being able to do meaningful work as it came.  Purpose is powerful.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites