John 16: Don’t Fall Away

Today’s reading is John 16.

Because we are reading one chapter per week, we may miss the interlocking nature of what we find in our Bibles as John 15 and John 16. In John 15:18-25, Jesus spoke of persecution. In John 15:26-27, He spoke of the coming help of the Holy Spirit. In John 16:1-4, He speaks again of persecution. In John 16:5-15, He speaks again of the help of the Holy Spirit.

Smack in the middle of this, Jesus provides the reason for the back and forth repetition of these teachings:

I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

John 16:1 (ESV)

Let’s think about that for a minute. Jesus believed the apostles were in danger of falling away. Folks can bicker about what this word means in order to try to protect their pet doctrines, but it is the same word Jesus used in Matthew 13:21 to describe the outcome of the seed sown on rocky soil. Jesus used it in Matthew 24:10 to describe what many disciples would do when tribulation and persecution occurred. It is the same word Jesus used in Matthew 26:31 to describe what all the apostles would do when Jesus was arrested. And it is the same word Peter used to describe what he would never do in Matthew 26:33 (but, of course, he did).

However, notice this: Jesus is not talking about what would happen at His arrest or in the three days of His burial. He is talking about what would happen after His resurrection and after the apostles start proclaiming the gospel. Jesus goes on in John 16:2-3 to discuss the events that would occur in Acts. And, I repeat, Jesus believed the apostles were in danger of falling away.

At the same time, Jesus believed falling away was avoidable. He provided for them what they needed to avoid it. He prepared them for the potential. He warned them of the events which might tempt them. He told them of the help they could have and the source of strength they could rely upon. He taught them truths to counter the falsehoods the enemy would use. They could fall away, but if they took Jesus’s way of preparation, they wouldn’t.

What does this mean for you and me? First, let none of us think God has so saved us that we cannot abandon Him. We can. Further, let none of us think we are so strong we can’t possibly surrender to the enemy. Some do. Second, let none of us think God has so chosen, predestined, predetermined that any of us must of necessity be lost and condemned. Further, let none of us think our God is so weak that we cannot but help fall prey to the enemy. We can fall away. That doesn’t mean we will.

Finally, and here is the truly important part of this. God doesn’t want us to fall away, so He has provided all we need in order to stand firm and overcome the enemy. We must choose to avail ourselves of the truth, strength, and help God provides. But He has given it. We don’t have to fear God has left us hanging out to dry. Ask God for strength. Seek God’s righteousness. Knock on the gates of God’s kingdom. All who ask receive; those who seek find; and those who knock will have it opened to them. God wants you healed, whole, and heading for heaven. Be honest with yourself, with God, with others, and with the Word. Reach out to God and rely on Him, His Spirit, His Word, His people. And refuse to fall away no matter what happens. Hold on to Jesus no matter what.

Tomorrow’s reading is John 16.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does John 16 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Avoiding Offense

Today’s reading is Matthew 17.

In Matthew 15:12-14, Jesus didn’t seem to be to worried about giving offense to the Jews. The apostles had been concerned He had offended the Pharisees. Jesus doubled down and said they were blind guides. If He worried too much about what they thought, He’d end up in the ditch with them.

However, in today’s reading, Jesus wants to avoid giving offense. So, He sends Peter to miraculously find a shekel to cover the temple tax for both of them.

What’s the difference? Why was Jesus concerned one time regarding offending people and not the other? To be clear, in both passages the word translated “offended” and “offense” is the Greek word you may have heard sermons about that often refers to causing people to stumble. However, in both cases, it seems to have the lesser meaning that corresponds with our modern use of “offend.” It has to do with upsetting people. In one passage, Jesus didn’t care what the people thought; in the other, He did.

I may be mistaken. However, I believe the difference in scenarios explains the difference in Jesus’s concern. In Matthew 15:12, with the Pharisees, the offense had to do with the truth Jesus was teaching. They didn’t like His teaching. Jesus wasn’t going to compromise the truth or change His teaching no matter what anyone thought. If people are going to be offended at the teaching of truth, they’ll just have to get over it. However, the issue of the temple tax wasn’t about a reaction to teaching. Rather, Jesus was asserting to Peter He had a right. As the Son, it was silly for Him to pay a tax to use the temple. No king of Jesus’s day would demand their sons pay taxes. In like manner, the Father wouldn’t demand the Son to pay a tax for the temple. After all, as the Son, it was Jesus’s house. He had explained earlier He was greater than the temple. However, while Jesus was more than willing to let people be offended by the truth, He wasn’t going to offend people in a power play for His rights.

This is really intriguing to me because on the surface, one might think it would be a great opportunity for Jesus to teach His Sonship. It would have been a great opportunity for Him to display the truth about who He is. However, He didn’t. As Philippians 2:3-4 explains, He emptied Himself of Himself. For Jesus, submitting to this temple tax was qualitatively the same mindset that led Him to the cross. He was abandoning His rights in order to save us.

Sadly, I often take the exact opposite approach. I am more than happy to offend people through demanding my rights as I back off from truth because I’m afraid of upsetting people. That isn’t following Jesus. May we learn to take the same approach to dealing with potentially offensive situations as Jesus did. Seems to me, He probably got it right. What do you think?

Next week’s reading is Matthew 18.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Does it surprise you Jesus went out of His way to avoid offending the people collecting the temple tax? Why or why not?
3. Why is it so easy for us to offend people with our rights and so hard to be willing to offend people by teaching the truth?
4. Did you catch Jesus’s miracle in this story? What did you think of the whole “go catch a fish” thing?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Offending Pharisees

Today’s reading is Matthew 15.

After rebuking the Pharisees about their law-violating traditions, Jesus called out to the people. He gathered a crowd and said, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” This worried the disciples. They questioned Jesus, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

What offended them? Were they offended because the teaching seemed different than theirs? Were they offended because it followed His rebuke of them? Were they offended because Jesus taught as if He were on par with them in understanding? I don’t know. What I do know is Jesus didn’t care.

The point in this story is not that we should disregard the feelings of those we teach. Rather, we have to remember that those who are not on God’s side don’t get to establish the rules. If Jesus were to kowtow to the whims of the Pharisees and play the game by their rules, He would become just as blind as they were. Anyone who followed them or Him in that scenario would end up in the ditch.

Our purpose is not to be offensive. We do not behave in a way to purposefully upset, offend, or anger others. However, our standard for behavior and teaching is not the feelings of those who reject Jesus. As much as depends on us, we strive to live peaceably with everyone. The problem is it often doesn’t depend on us. Many times it depends on others. When we play by God’s rules, if others get offended, that is on them. Further, we need to be prepared. Even when we are playing by God’s rules, plenty of people will get upset. They will push back. They will cry foul. They will persecute. And they for sure will not play by God’s rules in their reaction. We must stand firm.

That being said, let us always make sure we are playing by God’s rules. Only then can we behave as Jesus does in this account.

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 15.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. It’s a tough balancing act. When should we be concerned about offending others and when should we be unconcerned about it?
3. What will happen to us if we start to follow “blind” teachers?
4. How can we be sure we aren’t following “blind” teachers?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?