Aches and Praise Five Hundred & Thirty Three

November 23, 2021
 
 
Dear friends,
 

As we approach the American Thanksgiving holiday, it is a good time to reflect on all that the Lord means to us and to praise Him for who He is. Tonight, in our Bible study group on Zoom, we will look at John 20, where Mary Magdalene finds an empty tomb before seeing the risen Christ. If you are a male and would like to join in the study tonight, please contact me and I will send you the link.

In John 19, we see that Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds (v. 39), to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. In John 3, we read that Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. When we think of Pharisees, we remember that Jesus told His disciples to “take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees” (Matt. 16:6). In his Study Bible, Dr. David Jeremiah notes that in Matt. 13:33 Jesus used leaven to illustrate the growth of the kingdom, but in Matthew 16 leaven is a metaphor for the insidious spread of false doctrine. As we study the gospel of John, it is encouraging to see that Nicodemus was present at the burial of Jesus. The Lord had told him that “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:15). Besides meeting people like Caleb and Joshua, I would love to meet Nicodemus in heaven and hear how his life transformed.

Another man who experienced a wonderful transformation is Thomas. Dr. Jeremiah writes: “Often called ‘doubting Thomas’ for his questions, we can learn much from this man and his encounter with Jesus.

  1. Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his questions; He simply answered them. While we may not receive answers from God so quickly, a sincere and loving relationship with Jesus allows His followers to seek Him out with their questions.
  2. Thomas went on to serve God. He preached Jesus in India and was killed by a spear in his back. The church is there today because of this man who asked a question.”

Do you have questions that you would like to ask God? You can find answers by reading His Word and seeing how the Lord Jesus demonstrated the love of God. The Lord wants you to experience the abundant life that only He can give. Turn from worldly attractions and trust Him to lead you, as David expressed so eloquently in Psalm 23.                                                                                                                                                   

Scripture for the weekend: “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God.’” John 20:28 (NKJV)

Thought for the weekend: “The emphasis throughout the gospel of John is on believing. There are nearly one hundred references in this gospel to believing on Jesus Christ. The subject of John’s gospel is ‘Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.’ He presented a threefold proof of this thesis: our Lord’s works, our Lord’s walk, and our Lord’s words. In this gospel, you see Jesus performing miracles; you watch Him living a perfect life in the midst of His enemies; and you hear Him speaking words that nobody else could speak.” – Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe (from “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament” published by David C. Cook. Colorado Springs, CO)

 

By His grace,
 

Steve


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