Three Minute Bible

May 21, 2019May 21, 2019

The Invisible Man – John 14: 17b

The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.

In 1987 H. G. Wells penned a story about a scientist who discovers a way to alter his body’s refractive index, effectively becoming invisible. Unfortunately for the man, the effect could not be reversed, and he remained a kind of monster. In the end, the isolation drives him mad and desperation drives him to crime and to murder.

John writes that the world cannot see or know the Spirit of truth. While this spirit is a wonderful gift, the effect it has on a person is like the potion that made the scientist in the story invisible. A person who knows the truth and acts on the truth will not be accepted by the world. The world does not understand.

May 20, 2019May 19, 2019

Antidote – John 14: 16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.

Back in the beginning, way back in Genesis 3, we are told the story of What Went Wrong. In verse 5 we hear the Serpent telling Eve that if she ate the Forbidden Fruit, “… you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” What the Serpent didn’t tell Eve was that she would not be able to tell the difference. It is a small detail, but very important.

Jesus calls the Serpent, “…a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) The purpose of a lie is to deceive. Not being all-knowing like God, we are easily deceived. We see the lies, we just can’t tell the difference between what is true and what is not true.

For us to be able to know the difference between truth and lies requires that we look to God. Proverbs reminds us:

May 19, 2019May 18, 2019

The Things We Do For Love – John 14: 15

If you love me, keep my commands.

What do you find yourself doing for love? For some that might seem like a funny question. For others, I suspect that doing things “for love” is second nature.

The kind of love Jesus is talking about is “agapaō” in Greek. It is not family love or romantic love. Agapaō is deep respect, a caring, a desire to honor and obey.

Jesus wants us to care about what He wants for us just as He cares for us.

Do we care? Then let’s keep his commands! Now, what was it he wanted us to do?

Hmmm…

Oh, yes, love one another. (John 13: 34)

May 18, 2019May 17, 2019

Wants – John 14: 13-14

And 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.

In 1970 Janis Joplin released a song that indirectly satirized this verse. It also parodied consumerism. She sang…

“Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz…”

I mention this because the words to the song capture the expectation some have based on this verse. The idea that God will provide things is both justified and unjustified. It depends on what the expectation is.

Is it unreasonable to pray for a car if one needs transportation? It sounds reasonable to me. Is it reasonable to pray for a certain kind of car because of the ego gratification and social status it imparts? Mmmm… not so much.

May 17, 2019May 16, 2019

Greater Things – John 14: 12

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Do you believe in Jesus? Have you been doing the works he has been doing? Have you done even greater things, or do you know someone who has?

The key question here is what does Jesus mean by, “…the works I have been doing?” What works?

May 16, 2019May 15, 2019

Evidence – John 14: 11

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.

When Jesus says, “Believe me when I say…” it sounds like a command. But then he adds, “… or at least…” which sounds much different. Almost like he is pleading. Then there is the fact that he repeats this theme over and over again, almost a dozen times throughout John alone by my count.

May 15, 2019May 14, 2019

Oneness – John 14: 10b

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.

Authority is a funny thing. Often we like to have it. We imagine that with authority comes respect and obedience only … it doesn’t.

Bosses don’t get the respect and obedience they would like. Parent complain that their kids don’t do what they are told to do. Teachers wish their students would pay attention. Kids get mad at their pets when they chew up kid toys instead of pet toys.

To speak with authority is to have authority. Oddly, Jesus doesn’t even claim to have authority of his own. He points to the Father, living in him as the source of his authority. This is where we get back to the oneness of God and Jesus. They are inseparable. They are one. God speaks and Jesus moves his lips. Oneness.

May 14, 2019May 13, 2019

A Mountain Too High – John 14: 9-10a

Picture of a high mountain in the distance.

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?”

Today’s verse represents what is for me a theological mountain too high to climb. Jesus says, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” How does that work?

At this point, I have to step back from my earthbound human perspective for a moment. Remember that Jesus speaks like someone from outside space and time. He looks at things from a heavenly perspective. We tend to look at things from an earthly perspective. This difference in perspective is why people did not understand Jesus.

May 13, 2019May 13, 2019

Enough – John 14: 8

Philip said, ”Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Philip’s comment in verse eight amazes me. It is almost as if he is saying, “Look, Jesus, we aren’t asking a lot here. Just show us the Creator of the Universe, you know… the Invisible God, the One who can bring people to their knees just by the sound of his voice, the One whom our forefathers feared to look upon or they would die…just show us Him and that will be enough for us.”

Enough for what?

Enough to turn you into a vapor? Dust? A pillar of salt? What did Philip expect to accomplish by seeing the Father?

May 12, 2019May 11, 2019

Arguing With God – John 14: 5-7

Thomas said to him, ”Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, ”I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Don’t you just hate it when someone argues with you? Especially when you know you are right?

Imagine being the Creator of the universe! You really <I>do</I> know everything because you made it. You were there at the beginning of creation. You have been intimately involved with the world and its people since the beginning of time. Nothing is hidden from your eyes and you never make a mistake.