October 25, 2015

FOLLOW THE LEADER

John 1–2

Haven Graybill
Sunday's Devo

October 25, 2015

Sunday's Devo

October 25, 2015

Central Truth

We need to recognize Jesus as not only God’s Son, but also as God Himself in the flesh. We are His servants, and He doesn’t answer to us. When we follow Jesus, He gives us everything we need and more.

Key Verse | John 2:5

But [Jesus’] mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:5)

John 1–2

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, 1 1:4 Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, 2 1:11 Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people and his own people 3 1:11 People is implied in Greek did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son 4 1:14 Or only One, or unique One from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 5 1:16 Or grace in place of grace 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, 6 1:18 Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son who is at the Father's side, 7 1:18 Greek in the bosom of the Father he has made him known.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight 8 1:23 Or crying out, In the wilderness make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Behold, the Lamb of God

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son 9 1:34 Some manuscripts the Chosen One of God.”

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 10 1:39 That is, about 4 p.m. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus 11 1:40 Greek him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter 12 1:42 Cephas and Peter are from the word for rock in Aramaic and Greek, respectively ).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, 13 1:51 The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

The Wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 14 2:6 Greek two or three measures (metrtas); a metrts was about 10 gallons or 35 liters Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers 15 2:12 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated brothers) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, 16 2:20 Or This temple was built forty-six years ago and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Jesus Knows What Is in Man

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Footnotes

[1] 1:4 Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him
[2] 1:11 Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people
[3] 1:11 People is implied in Greek
[4] 1:14 Or only One, or unique One
[5] 1:16 Or grace in place of grace
[6] 1:18 Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son
[7] 1:18 Greek in the bosom of the Father
[8] 1:23 Or crying out, ‘In the wilderness make straight
[9] 1:34 Some manuscripts the Chosen One
[10] 1:39 That is, about 4 p.m.
[11] 1:40 Greek him
[12] 1:42 Cephas and Peter are from the word for rock in Aramaic and Greek, respectively
[13] 1:51 The Greek for you is plural; twice in this verse
[14] 2:6 Greek two or three measures (metr&emacron;tas); a metr&emacron;t&emacron;s was about 10 gallons or 35 liters
[15] 2:12 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
[16] 2:20 Or This temple was built forty-six years ago

Dive Deeper | John 1–2

In John 1, Jesus (the Word) is introduced as God who became human (verse 14).  He was with God at the beginning, He is God, and He gave life to everything (verses 1-4). He came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (verse 29). This is wonderful news!

But the verse that stood out to me was John 2:4 where Jesus performs His first miracle at a wedding. Mary, Jesus’ mother, comes to Jesus and tells Him that the wine has run out. Jesus replies, "Dear woman, that’s not our problem . . . . My time has not yet come." When I first read this passage, I was thinking, “Who on earth calls his mom, 'Dear woman?'" Some translations even leave out the word "Dear." It seems disrespectful to talk to your mom that way. I would be in trouble at my house if I spoke to my mom like that. But we know it was not sin for Jesus because He was perfect. So what’s up?

A respectful son might say, "Mother, how can I help?" But the concept of authority and submission changes with Jesus. He is not going to answer to Mary anymore, but rather follow His Heavenly Father’s will. Mary sees the change and tells the servants to listen to Jesus and do what He says. Jesus has the servants fill jars with water. When the master of ceremonies drinks from the jars, he finds that the water has turned into the best wine. Jesus’ ministry has started. This was Jesus’ way of saying, "It’s go time." 

Like Mary, I need to see Jesus for who He really is: God in the flesh. He does not answer to me. Like the servants, I need to follow Him because I am His servant, too. When I follow Christ, He provides what I need and gives me the best.

Discussion Questions

1. When was the moment you submitted your life to Christ?

2. Is there any part of your life now that you are not submitting to Christ?

3. What was the first miracle God performed in your life?