Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…
Imagine that you want to get people together to form a camera club, or a hunting party, or a hotrod association. You find a place to meet, and you kick in a few bucks to cover the cost of name tags and the like. Then you go out and start the work of getting people to join. I may be going out on a limb here, but I’d bet that the main reason people should join the new group is not, “Hey, if you join our club you get to face trials!”
Being a Christian isn’t always “fun.” Sure, we have a reason to fellowship with other believers. We enjoy going to church. There are always those wonderful potlucks where the food is amazing and unending. But there are also Christians who are alone, hungry and persecuted.
James counsels us to think of trials as joy. Is he nuts? Who in their right mind equates trials as joy?
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
James is a Jew.
I just wanted to say that because as a Gentile, I sometimes forget that the Jews are still God’s chosen people. Both Matthew and Mark record the story* of the Gentile woman who wanted Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus responds by saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24b) Her response demonstrates that she, too, has faith in God and because of her faith her daughter is healed. Jesus’ response demonstrates that he loves all people.
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction…
Have you ever wished that there was an instruction manual for life? I have! I remember back in the days when I looked at the Bible as “just a book.” I used to think, “Why couldn’t God give us an instruction manual?” Boy, was I dumb! No wonder I needed help. I had the instruction manual all the time. All I had to do was read it.
In the whole history of the world, there has only been one person with the wisdom of Solomon. His wisdom is a gift from God Himself. In his lifetime people came from all parts of the known world to consult with him and hear the wisdom God had given him. Fortunately for us, Solomon was thoughtful enough to have his words written down. Unfortunately for Solomon, he wasn’t smart enough to follow his own advice.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…
I’ll begin this meditation by sharing how I see Scripture.
The first time I looked at the book as a child it seemed to me to be an insurmountable mountain. Such a big volume! So many words!! Later, while in high school, I took up with our local Young Life group and was challenged to read the whole Bible. (Just three chapters a day and you can read the whole thing in a year!)
In college, I majored in Religious Studies for a year at a secular university. At the time, I had no idea what I was getting into. The secular mind looks at every such book as an artifact of the past, a historical relic. The challenge for the secular mind is not to understand the Bible but to dissect and bisect the text into little pieces. Then, as though one had the omnipotence of God Himself, decide which bits should be believed and which should not.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
This week we begin a new phase of ThreeMinuteBible.com. We have completed the Gospel of John and instead of beginning a new book study, I am going to mix it up a little. Henceforth (or until such time as I change my mind… 🙂 ) Mondays at Three Minute Bible will be known as Affirmation Monday. Let’s face it, Mondays are hard enough to face as it is. Who couldn’t use a little encouragement and affirmation on Monday?
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Do you journal? I do. Every evening I write down a few short notes about the day. I have trained myself to be very brief because there is so much that goes on in a day it would be impossible to write it all down. And that is one day!
John spent about three years with Jesus. He was with him almost every day, all day. Discipleship was not something that was an eight to five job with weekends off. Discipleship was a lifetime commitment, 24/7, 365 days a year (or about 355 days if you are using the Hebrew calendar!).
During that time John heard Jesus preach over and over again. It seems likely that Jesus would have repeated his teachings many times as they went from village to village. When they had time away from the crowds, the disciples would be able to sit and listen to Jesus in private and have their questions answered.
Jesus healed many people. The stories of Jesus’ miracles in John’s gospel are only a small sample of what he related to us. Luke relates how, “…all tried to touch him [Jesus], because power was coming from him and healing them all.” (Luke 6:19b) There was a lot John could have written about.
Application: John’s gospel was written under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We know this because John was a disciple of Jesus and the disciples received the Holy Spirit from Jesus. (See “Breath of God”) What John and the other New Testament writers have given us is exactly what we need and what our Creator wants us to have.
Food for Thought: If there is one thing in the gospel accounts that you would like to know more about, what would it be?
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
How do you talk about yourself? When you go to the store do you say, “We are going to the store,” when it is really only you that is going? Or do you say, “I am going to the store”?
When you come back from the store do you say, “The one who has returned from the store has arrived,” or do you say, “I’m here!”?
The first example is called the “Royal We.” When royalty speaks, a king or queen speaks not just for themselves, but also for the nation they represent. And so they talk funny. “We are not amused,” means the king or queen is not happy with you. It can also mean that the whole country is not amused and may choose to come down on you like a ton of bricks for displeasing the head of state. The Royal We speaks from a position of authority and entitlement.
The second example is similar but different. In the second example, the person speaks in a similar form (third person) but refers to themselves obliquely. It is a way of being humble, of not drawing attention to oneself. It is rare these days and so it draws attention because it is so seldom used.
The writer of the Gospel of John is very humble. He has taken great pains to remove himself from the story while being faithful to speak truthfully. Not only does he not speak in the Royal We, he doesn’t even speak in the first person. His way of speaking is to refer to himself, not by name, but as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” We see this at the Last Supper (John 13:23), the crucifixion (John 19: 26), and twice in this last chapter (verses 7 and 20).
In today’s verse, John combines both the Royal We and the humble third person to affirm that he is telling the truth: “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.”
Application: John shows us an example of extreme humility while being faithful to his testimony.
Food for Thought: How do we apply this kind of humility in our lives today?
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
How many of the things Jesus has said have been misinterpreted? One? Two? Half?? The difficulty with trying to understand someone else’s words is in getting past the assumptions we bring to the table.
When Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2: 19b) the Pharisees thought he was talking about the temple that Herod was rebuilding. John explains that the temple Jesus was referring to was his body.
When talking with Nicodemus Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3: 5) Some people feel that Jesus is saying you have to be baptized with water to be born of water. Other people say Jesus is talking about being born of flesh (a baby floats in water in the womb) and being born spiritually.
Later, after feeding the five thousand, Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6: 53b – 54) The Pharisees argued that no one could eat his flesh and almost all but the twelve disciples abandoned Jesus. Did he mean what they thought he meant?
There are many other examples. The point of this post is not to pick a fight, but to illustrate the importance of seeking God’s perspective. Instead of trying to force our interpretation on God’s Word it is best to listen carefully.
Many years later Paul would write in his second letter to Timothy, “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.” (2 Timothy 2: 23) Of course when we argue it doesn’t feel “foolish and stupid” at all, but that is often how it looks.
Application: Our job is to let God be God. When we assume the role of the Devine and claim to “know” what God means, we run the risk of leading someone astray. It is enough to listen to God’s Word and decide for ourselves what God means. If we understand correctly, His light will shine through our lives like a beacon on a hill.
Food for Thought: Some arguments are worth having, but they are very few. How do we tell the difference between one of the few worthwhile things to argue about and everything else?
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
The scene has shifted here a little. In verse 15 we are finishing up with breakfast when Jesus starts talking to Peter. In this verse, Peter and Jesus appear to be walking with John following behind.
Jesus has just told Peter how he will die. When Peter notices John following them he asks, “Lord, what about him?” I understand Peter to mean if that is what is going to happen to me, what is going to happen to him?
The phrase, “What about him?” has special meaning for me. I grew up with three younger brothers. If one got to do something special the others would cry, “What about me?” When I read Peter’s words I hear the same tone of voice I heard from my brothers when I was young.
Jesus’ answer is classic, but we will talk about that tomorrow.
Application: How much do we need to know about other people’s lives? Isn’t it enough for us to know what God expects of us? Is it unfair if God has a different expectation for someone else? Peter is about to get a lesson in minding his own business.
Food for Thought: God knows every intimate detail of every life on the planet. He knows every thought you have ever had and every tiny part of your body. What would be the benefit or harm if one person (you) could know that much about someone else?
Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Peter, James, and John were the “inner circle” of Jesus’ disciples. John is writing this gospel account at the direction of the Holy Spirit. And we know from John 16: 13 (See, “From God’s Lips to Your Ears”) that the Holy Spirit only speaks what God has told him to speak.
Why does John tell us what Jesus told Peter about how he will die?
There are a few reasons I can think of. I don’t know if any of them are right.
One is that this is another example of Jesus knowing things only God would know. He knows how Peter will die because God is both the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He knows all. This is a reason to believe in Jesus.
A second is that John wants us to know that Peter is faithful to the end. Even though he denies Jesus at the crucifixion, his relationship with God through Jesus strengthens him and makes it possible for him to face death courageously.
A third possible reason is that this comment sets the stage for the last few verses in the chapter.
Application: Knowing the future is a two-edged sword. Living in the present moment is much simpler and more enjoyable.
Food for Thought: Why do you think Jesus made a point to tell Peter what his future holds? How do you think this affected Peter?
