Letter From a Pharisee. John 3:1-21.

Dear John,

I, Nicodemus, thank you for your recent inquiry regarding my conversation with Our Lord. I am honored to be asked. I pray my report may be of some use to you as you draft your written account of Our Lord’s words and deeds while He walked among us. What a blessing to have been chosen to walk the earth while He did, and more so, to have had the opportunity to speak to Him face-to-face. You and I are indeed blessed.

As you may recall, I closely followed the teachings and miracles of the Man Jesus. Everyone did, of course. But where my colleagues among the Pharisees immediately dismissed Him as yet another ignorant troublemaker, I insisted He was different–and argued with them until such arguments proved futile. Nevertheless, I remained convinced. His healings were easily verified. And His words were not the rantings of a madman, but the poetry of a genius.

Finally, one night I made some excuse to my wife about a late-night meeting and went out walking where Jesus and His followers were rumored to be staying. God led me to Him and I began by letting Him know I was sympathetic—that I was more fan than foe. Of course, I was wasting my time making small talk. Jesus looked me in the eye and immediately knew my entire life story. He KNEW me, you know what I mean? I am sure you do. He knew exactly who I was. And He spoke to the questions in my heart before I could ask them. Sadly, His answers were so far over my head, it would take me several years to understand them.

“Nicodemus,” He began, “unless a man is born again, he will not go to Heaven.” I asked how that was possible. “You must be born in the flesh and also born in the spirit.” I looked at Him in astonishment, and He went on: “the wind blows, you know it’s real, but you can’t see it. Spiritual life is the wind. It is real and everyone knows it—everyone knows they possess a spirit. But until you have a spiritual birth, you are not ready for life in the kingdom of heaven.” I sat there shaking my head, and He said, “No one has been to heaven but the One who descended from heaven. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must I be lifted up.”

(When He was crucified, I remembered this statement and was astonished. He KNEW He would be crucified three years before it happened! Not only that, but He knew it was God’s plan, prophesied somehow through Moses and the bronze serpent.)

Jesus continued: “Nicodemus, think of it this way. God loved the world so much He sent His One and Only Son so those who believe in Him will have eternal life—a spiritual birth into Heaven’s Kingdom. Those who don’t believe will never be born into the kingdom. Just as physical birth welcomes you into life on earth, so spiritual birth welcomes you into life in Heaven. The spiritual birth is as important as the physical birth. You see, God did not send His Son to condemn the world. The world was already condemned. God sent His Son so those who choose to believe can be born spiritually into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

In conclusion, John, Our Lord brought the conversation back to your favorite metaphor: light and darkness. 

“The light [by which Jesus meant Himself] has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Evildoers don’t want their evil exposed. But those who live by the truth embrace the light so their good works can give glory to God.”

After that, Jesus smiled and stepped away. It was late and I knew our short conversation was over—and frankly, I found those brief words enigmatic and overwhelming. He gave me all that I could absorb in that moment; I could not have handled any more.

Thank you again for consulting me. I pray you will find this report useful. Should it prove necessary, I welcome additional inquiries. It is always a privilege to share the most amazing conversation of my life.

Your Brother in Him,

Nicodemus.

ΑΩ

Marriage and The Woman at the Well. John 4:18.

One of the greatest evangelists in the Bible may be the unnamed “Woman at the Well.” In the fourth chapter of John, Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman—a remarkable moment, because “Jews do not associate with Samaritans” John 4:9. Jesus was nice to her, they talked quite a bit, and she left and told everyone about Him.

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed because of what the woman said” John 4:39.

Do you remember what she said?

She said, “Come see a Man who told me everything I ever did!” v.29. But exactly what did Jesus tell her that led not only to her salvation but the salvation of her townspeople? He talked about her marriages.

“You have correctly said, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true” v.18

Evangelism—soul winning—often begins by talking about the law that has been broken. Most do not recognize their need for a Savior until they recognize their sin.

But I would like to address something more specific. The Samaritan woman was living with a man.  “The man you now have is not your husband” v.18.

We hear the phrase “living together” tossed about as though it were a normal and appropriate option. Some argue moving in together before marriage will increase the odds of a successful marriage later on. I disagree. But who cares what I believe?

The question believers should be asking is not what do the ladies on morning talk shows say, or what does the article in COSMOPOLITAN say, or what does Dr. Phil or Dr. Oz or Dr. Laura say, or even what does Pope Francis say.

The question believers should be asking is: “What does Jesus say about living together?”

The Bible speaks consistently on this subject: sex outside marriage is always wrong, whether outside in time (before the wedding) or outside in person (adultery). Jesus agrees. And while many might be tempted to call the woman’s live-in boyfriend her “partner” or “significant other,” or even her “common law husband,” Jesus does not. Christians might even mistakenly argue the man is her husband in the eyes of God anyway because “sex has made the two people one flesh” according to Genesis 2:24.[1] Jesus does not say that either–not about her current man or the five she appears to have divorced. Instead, he states flatly:

“The man you now have is NOT your husband. What you have said is true” John 4:18.

Living together before marriage is NOT marriage in God’s eyes. And it is not God’s plan for your life or relationship. Marriage is a COVENANT, not a COUPLING.

ΑΩ

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/sex-equal-marriage.html

PURPOSE. Matthew 12:39-40.

People who change careers many times may be struggling to find purpose.

Same goes for young people who begin a course of study but lose interest before completing it. “I’ll be an EMT. No, a teacher. No, farmer. No, actor. No, maybe….” —They lack purpose.

Do you know anyone who’s changed majors 4, 5, or 6 times? They’re looking for purpose. It’s a common problem.

Folks with more responsibility (bills) often stick with things for decades, but wrestle with the same doubts. I hear such talk from my friends—they’ve worked an entire career, but still dream of the job that got away. They need a purpose. A CALLING would give meaning to their days.

Did Jesus know His purpose? Yes—but not because He was God’s Son. He had purpose because He spent time with His Father. Praying all night long sometimes. Fasting. Studying scripture. Jesus understood His PURPOSE because He walked and talked with His Father daily.

When the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign (“Do a trick for us…”), Jesus said:

“An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign. But there will be no sign given but the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights” Matthew 12:39-40. 

This must have sounded ridiculous to the Pharisees, the rant of an unsound mind. But in fact, Jesus possessed the most sound mind. Jesus KNEW HIS PURPOSE. And even early in His ministry, He already knew EXACTLY His fate, down to how long He would be in the tomb. 

Talk about having a sense of PURPOSE! Jesus knew WHO He was, and WHAT God’s plan was for Him. He announced it at the very beginning of His ministry (see Luke 4:18). He knew EXACTLY why He was here. You can know too! Ask God to show you!

God, show us why we are here today. What is my purpose today? This week? This year? In this context? What is Your purpose for my life? Thank You that You have a purpose for me—even when I cannot see it!

“David fulfilled God’s purpose in his generation” Acts 13:36.

ΑΩ

NESTS AND MANSIONS. Matthew 8:20, 22-24.

On vacation, my daughter would rather reach a single vacation destination, make that location what the military calls a “forward operating base,” then travel daily to sites in all directions, before returning to spend another night in her new home away from home. Her mother agreed.

Of course, some journeys require you to move every day and sleep in different places every night. An ocean cruise might be a good compromise—you can travel a thousand miles while taking your lodging with you.

Women feather the nest. Ladies seem wired to move in, fix up, and make things homey. One look into the home of the bachelor next door (through his cloudy, un-dressed windows) proves the value of a woman’s touch. I get it. Everyone likes a sense of being rooted somewhere, if only for a few days.

Jesus gave that up. Though living as a creature, He gave up “creature comforts.”

(Think about THAT—first He gave up “Creator-Comforts,” then He gave up creature-comforts.)

“‘Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head’ …. Then they all got into a boat. Suddenly a violent storm arose, and the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping on a cushion” Matthew 8:20, 22-24.

IS IT: This Man needed so much rest, He could sleep through a storm—even with waves tossing the boat and water pouring in over the gunnels?

OR IS IT: This Man had so much rest in His heart, He could sleep through a storm? It’s the latter. When the disciples woke Him, He said, “Why are you fearful, ye of little faith?” v.26. WHAT ARE YOU SO AFRAID OF?

We love a soft bed in a cozy home, and God gives that to nearly everyone. But like Navy SEALs on a combat mission, Jesus had a higher purpose. He was on the road, battling evil, preaching Good News, and sleeping wherever He could find a pallet. Night-after-night He operated without a home base. It was an uncomfortable, homeless, nomadic existence. But Jesus drew thousands into His Kingdom—where His Father prepared what?

MANY MANSIONS.

God, grant us courage to give up creature comforts sometimes. Remind us we are tougher than we think—and You will give us our ultimate home.

ΑΩ

CELEBRITY. Matthew 4:23-25.

Have you ever walked into a store and been dogged by the sales staff when you wish they would leave you alone? If you’re like me, you want to browse the store a bit, get a feel for products and prices, and maybe you’ll try something on or maybe you’ll walk out and hit the next store. I prefer to shop on my own—and if I decide to have a conversation with a salesperson, I will approach them. 

But sometimes salesmen won’t leave you alone. They keep coming at you, keep trying to talk, keep pushing and pushing, until their persistence drives you right out of the store.

That’s what it feels like to be famous: you walk into a restaurant or a market hoping to shop by yourself. But people keep coming at you, trying to strike up a conversation, watching you, side-eyeing your every move. They know who you are and everything you do will become their next post on social media. Better be nice—although some will assume the worst no matter what you do.

Celebrity is a two-edged sword.

Many want to be famous until they are. The invasion of privacy is relentless—you have no privacy. People say ‘yes’ to your ideas, even when you need someone to say ‘no.’ Everyone expects you to pay for everything. There are stalkers who follow your every move, putting you in real danger.

When my step-grandfather Dr. Jesse Manning was the mayor of Kingsville, he took to carrying a gun even while jogging. When people telephoned his home with death threats, he said, “Okay, you come right ahead. I’ll be carrying my .38.”

Jesus was a celebrity.

Anyone who can heal the sick and raise the dead is going to attract a lot of attention. Naturally.

“Jesus was going all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people … So they brought to Him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan” Matthew 4:23-25

One reason Jesus came to earth was to share the good news with as many as He could. His mission from Isaiah 61:1-2 included preaching to the poor, proclaiming freedom to captives, and setting free the oppressed (Luke 4:18). To do that, He needed to reach the masses. But at the same time, Jesus required and fiercely protected His solitude. He needed time alone to pray. He had to find ways to escape the crush of the crowds and get alone with His Father.

Jesus was the biggest rock star of His time, but He cherished His solitude and never allowed His celebrity status to rob Him of quality time with the Father.

God, help us appreciate privacy, solitude, and anonymity. Never let busy-ness or fame interfere with our time alone with You. 

ΑΩ

*My analogy about being pestered while shopping is based on what I know of fame, but not on any personal experience! I still possess 100% of my privacy. Ha ha.

A PROPHET WITHOUT HONOR. Luke 4:24.

Jesus was mocked and even hated in Nazareth. They said, “Is this not the carpenter’s son? We know Him and all His brothers and sisters. Where did He get this wisdom and these miracles?” They scorned Him. And He confronted them:

“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his hometown” Luke 4:24.

I’ve seen both sides of this. Sometimes people who knew you ‘when,’ who remember the ‘BEFORE’ picture, refuse to accept that you have changed; they can’t accept the ‘AFTER’ picture.

Both of my kids have faced this. I even faced it recently when a teacher from high school said he could not believe that I would read books. (Imagine!—but he remembers sophomore-me). 

But the thing is, we all do it. We don’t let people grow up. When they rededicate their lives to the Lord, sometimes we think, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ Or when a squirrelly kid grows up, we continue to see him as he once was. And of course, that’s not fair. 

Let’s be people who give GRACE to others—even if we have known them well for years. Let’s give people the space they need to grow up and become the person God made them to be.

Never let yourself believe the cynical lie that says people cannot change. Be shrewd and savvy, but remember that God can change anyone. 

God, help us walk in your GRACE, and help us give grace to others, knowing that You can change them. Finally, give us courage to be someone NEW, even when our friends doubt us and try to drag us back down.

ΑΩ

WHO ARE YOU–DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE? Luke 4:18.

Some KNOW who they are and what defines them:

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”

“I’m Hub McCann. I’ve fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and TANKS! I’ve seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I’ve won and lost a dozen fortunes, KILLED MANY MEN! And loved only one woman, with a passion a FLEA like you could never begin to understand. That’s who I am.” 

Of course, the amazing lines above are FICTIONAL.

But Jesus was even more certain of His IDENTITY and PURPOSE. At twelve, he spoke like a Prince and Heir to the throne when He said, “I must be about My Father’s business.”

At 30, He gave us His “mission statement” when He read in the temple a prophecy from Isaiah 61:1-2:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” Luke 4:18.

Jesus then made the most stunning, jaw-dropping statement: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” Luke 4:21. He was BOLD and CONFIDENT.

Matthew narrates additional lines from Isaiah 9:1-2: “the people walking in darkness have seen a GREAT LIGHT, and on those living in the land of the shadow of death, A LIGHT HAS DAWNED” Matthew 4:16. Later, the Father confirmed Jesus’s purpose, speaking from Heaven:

“This is My BELOVED SON, in whom I am well-pleased. Listen to Him” Matthew 17:5.

The Bible contains much more about the purpose of Jesus, Joseph, Moses, Paul, and others.

Imagine if you will, this single purpose: the earth is shrouded deep in the darkness of sin–but Jesus said to His followers: YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, Matthew 5:14. He is the source of that light, John 8:12. But He invites us to share in that incredible purpose. He is the sun that will rise on the horizon and bring light into every single place. Jesus is the Light of the World. And we get to spread His light.

Dear God, show us Your purpose for each of us.

ΑΩ

GOALS & MISSION STATEMENTS. Luke 4:18-21.

A preacher asked, “Is there anyone here with goals?,” everyone nodded, then he followed-up:

“Raise your hand if you have your goals written down in your pocket right now!”

No one raised a hand. The point? You only achieve things you are deeply committed to. If you don’t write down your goals, you will not reach them.

A “mission statement” takes goals to the next level. Speaking of some of my present and former employers, Zimmerman, Dannenbaum, and UHD have mission statements. A mission statement clarifies priorities, thus helping you make decisions. Board members can say, “well, if one of our goals is ‘transparent finances’ then we should make this purchase public….”

Do you have written goals? Do you have a mission statement?

Jesus began His ministry in His hometown. He read from Isaiah a passage some have called His “MISSION STATEMENT”:

“‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone were fixed on Him. And He said, “‘Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’” Luke 4:18-21.

Jesus knew who He was and why He was. Do you? Do you know your mission? Has God revealed His purpose for you?

Full disclosure: this is one area that is not as clear for most of us as it was for Jesus. He had a HUGE, all-consuming mission. Jesus would never marry, never be a father. His would not be a “normal” life. But most of us have normal lives, families, careers, hobbies. Few are called to a huge mission.

Pray about it anyway! Give Him your time, talents, career, marriage, and future.

My wife and I have prayed about such things MANY times. God may say nothing, or surprise you with goals, or even a mission statement. He has led me to many goals: purity, good grades, who I would marry, education and career direction, and more.

Pray, listen, and be willing.

ΑΩ

LIFE VERSE: PRAY FOR ME! Matthew 13:54-55.

I love when Jesus walks into his hometown synagogue in Nazareth and reads from the scroll of Isaiah. It was not unusual for local men to read a passage. But the local boy did more than just read something aloud:

“… And unrolling the scroll, He found the place where it was written:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He said, ‘Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth. Yet they asked, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son? (Luke 4:17-22). They were astonished, and asked where He got such wisdom. ‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?’ (Matt. 13:54-55).

Do you remember His response to their doubts? He said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown, among his relatives, and in his own family” Matt. 13:57. Sometimes those closest to us doubt us the most. That’s normal. Hang in there!

But what I love is that Jesus knew EXACTLY who He was and what His mission was. God had given Him a “life verse” that defined His ministry.

Read the passage from Isaiah again. Don’t those words of prophecy, already ancient when Jesus read them, perfectly describe Jesus and the three years of ministry that would follow?

Ask God to give you a life verse that defines your ministry and mission. And will you do me a favor—ask God to grant ME such a verse! It’s time to sharpen my focus by knowing exactly what He made me to do. Thank you!

ΑΩ

*If you know me, then you know the picture above is from my favorite film version of Jesus, the performance of Bruce Marchiano in the GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (1993). I am also a fan of the portrayals of Jim Cavaziel and Jonathan Roumie.

ALONE. Luke 4:1-7.

The adventure show ALONE is so popular it has spawned foreign-language versions in Danish and Norwegian, and English versions filmed in Australia and Britain. And I’m reading the Bible and find myself imagining the scene as an episode of the show: 

“Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness 40 days being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals,” Mark 1:12-13. [Really? What animals? I’d like to hear more about THAT!]

“Jesus … was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days to be tempted by the Devil [sometimes GOD LEADS us to hard places]. He ate nothing … The Devil said, ‘If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ But Jesus answered, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ So the devil … showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. He said, ‘I will give You their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given to me, …. If You will worship me, all will be Yours’ Luke 4:1-7.

Did Jesus and the Devil see the future together? “He showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.” It’s possible. Second question: Could the devil actually give what he offered? YES—otherwise, it would not be a temptation. Which means, ‘all the kingdoms of the world’ ACTUALLY HAVE been given to the devil…

How does Jesus fight temptation? With scripture.

But who else quotes scripture? The devil. He says, ‘Throw Yourself down and let’s see the angels save You. For it is written, ‘He will give His angels charge over You … lest You strike Your foot against a stone’ 4:10-11. The devil quotes Psalm 91. How does he know it’s a prophecy about the Messiah? (Because I can’t tell!) But the devil does not just read scripture, he studies it. He understands it.

Scripture is our DEFENSE. We should study it with as much energy as our enemy studies it.

God, fill us with a passion for Your word! Make us crave it!

ΑΩ