Dr. Annamma Abraham
We
Christians are learners
(disciples). Jesus told us, you shall know the truth and the truth shall
set us free. John 8:32.
In
the school of Christ Jesus Christ is the teacher. Nicodemus a ruler
of Jews came to Jesus and said “We
know that you have come as a teacher": (John 3:2). Other names in that
capacity are ‘Rabbi’ which
also means teacher. Mary
Magdalene calls him on the day of resurrection morning as ‘Rabboni’
which means great teacher. Luke’s favourite title for Jesus is ‘Master’. Jesus
is the Master Man, and Luke meant to say: ‘We are all the servants of that Man’.
The chief occupation of a disciple
of Christ is to learn Christ. In the New Testament, the Lord's
people were called by various names: Christians; Believers; Saints; Brethren;
and People of the way; and Jesus called them ‘My friends’. Disciples are
not just students, they are the Apprentices . Apprentice are people who learn
and put into practice what they have learned.
The subject of Jesus’s teaching was spiritual and it was
about Himself. He said,
· I am the way, the truth and life (John: 14: 6)
· I am the good shepherd (John 10: 14)
· I am the bread of life (John 6: 48)
· I am the door (John 10: 9)
· I am the resurrection and life (John 11: 25)
He
said very much about the Father but He always related the Father to Himself and
Himself to the Father. He said: “I
and the Father are one” (John
14:9) .In John (14: 5-11) Jesus says: He who has seen Me has
seen the Father.
He
spoke much about the Holy Spirit and always related the Holy Spirit to Himself.
By
teaching about Himself, Jesus brought a complete revolution. People who heard
Him said "Never did a man
speak like this man speaks”. (John
7: 46).He taught them as having authority and not like scribes and
Pharisees (Mark 1:22).
One
business of the disciple is to know Him and learn Him. He did not only talk but
also made an impression on those who heard Him.He left something with the
learners. He made a difference in the life of people. They carried away
something. The people who listened to Him said "Never did a man speak like
this man speaks” (John 7: 46) . They remembered His words (Luke 24: 8 ) .
His coming into this world in human form definitely related to mankind. He came
in order to teach men. He came to bring His own person, all that God intended
man to have which man missed through disobedience.
Teachings of Jesus were always united with His acts.
He
said I am the light of the world (John 9:5 ) and He healed the eyes of
the man who was blind.He said I am the resurrection and life (John 11:25) and He raised Lazarus from death.
Jesus chose the poor lot as His disciples who seemed to have poor brains
because there was plenty of room in them for what He had come to bring. We must
be teachable, empty, weak and foolish in our own eyes. He will reveal Himself
to us if our hearts are open to Him.
Jesus gives us His divine life in us.
(John 10:10)-I came that they might have life, and might have it
abundantly.
(John 1:4)-In Him was life and the life was the light of men.
Towards the end of John's gospel in chapter 20:
31 but these have been
written ,that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ ,the Son of God; and that believing you may have life
in His name . John's gospel
is the gospel of spiritual education. Yes Jesus came to this world to give us
life. 1John 5:11-12, He
who has the son of God has life and he who does not have the son, has no life.
In
the New Testament four words are used for miracles-wonders, powers, paradoxes,
signs. John always called them
signs, which meant that these works indicated something more than
themselves, some meaningful lessons. Signs were the instruments used by the Lord Jesus. Believing was the reaction of men to signs.
Life was the result of their reaction. They committed themselves and
received life. Peter speaks about being made -"Partakers of divine
life" 2 Peter 1:4.
Life begins with new and different consciousness. The consciousness of
Jesus Christ, His union with the Father. The oneness that existed between them
(Father and Son). Jesus came to bring His disciples into the same union .I came
that they might have life. Have the same consciousness of God, a different
nature, divine nature.
Jesus did many miracles (John
20:30-31).John calls them signs because these signs taught us that Jesus is
the Christ the son of God. John specially mentions 7 (seven ) signs in John's
gospel which gives divine life .
1 .Divine Life which has quality and
character
(Turning of water into wine)
This was in Cana of Galilee at a wedding. They exhausted of all the wine. The
situation was very shameful almost like a dead condition. The owner of the
house couldn’t show his face outside. Jesus was invited for the wedding. Jesus
changed water into wine. When the headwaiter tasted the wine, he said it is a
better wine, every man serves good wine first and keeps the second quality at
the end.
The divine life what Christ gives has a superior quality- abundant life, gives
character to people who receive it .Let us see the life of the disciples .
Peter who denied Jesus to a servant woman, when the divine life came to him, he
became a changed person. People beheld the courage of Peter and John (Acts
4:13) they being cowards,
became men of courage and dignity. They who were thinking about themselves
e.g.-they wanted to gain the first place in God’s kingdom, they became men who
have forgotten themselves and have altogether selfless , thinking only of the
Lord's interest and not their own. ( Colossians 1:27-Christ in you the hope of
glory) .Their life became altogether different and is better.
2 . Divine life unlimited by time
and space. Read (John 4:45-58)
(Healing the nobleman's son)
This man of Capernaum was the king's officer and was a gentile. This miracle
also took place in Cana of Galilee. This official's son was sick and was on the
verge of death, and he came from Capernaum to Galilee and requested Jesus to
heal his son. Jesus said to him" Go your way, your son lives”. The noble
man believed in what Jesus said .On his way back his slaves met him saying that
his son was living. Key verse- John
4:52-53. So he inquired of
them the hour at which his son got better. They said yesterday at the 7th hour.
So the father knew that it was at the hour which Jesus said to him thy son
liveth. The divine life, unlimited by time and space. When we pray for
people at far place, things happen many miles away. Here, time and space is not
a matter. It is not the benefit that we want but He Himself. It is not the
faith in what He can do to us but the faith in His own person.
At
the end it says the noble man and all his family believed in Him.
3. Divine life deliverance from
bondage to sin and death. Read (John 5:1-18)
(The Invalid of Bethesda)
Near Pool of Bethesda, Christ heals a paralytic man.It was on the feast of
Passover, at Jerusalem at the very center of Israel, on Sabbath day. The
paralytic man was there for 38 years. It has a simile to Israel who were for 38
years struggling in the wilderness under the burden of the Law. There were many
other laws-over 2000, such as -Do not walk over 2 miles on a Sabbath day. Do
not light a fire. Many other don’ts were there. It was for the freedom that
Christ set us free, therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to
the yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Jesus asked the paralytic to take up his pallet and walk. When Jesus saw him on
another occasion, He warned him." Sin no more" .It is a sin to
turn away from grace and turn back to law.
4 .Divine life-all
sufficient and inexhaustible .(John
6: 5-14)
(Feeding the 5000)
John called them signs, because they were works with
meaning.
A
lad had five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus took the loaves and having given
thanks, He distributed to those who were seated, likewise also of fish as much
as they wanted .They gathered the left overs twelve baskets of fragments.Divine
life , all sufficient and inexhaustible.
5. Divine life - Triumphant
over the natural forces. Read (John 6:16-21).
(Jesus walking on water)
In
Mathew and Mark it says Jesus constrained the disciples to get into the boat
and go to Capernaum. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was
blowing. They were afraid .But they saw Jesus walking on the sea drawing near
to them .They were willing to receive him to the boat but they found that they
have reached the shore .It is the power of His life stronger than all the
storms, in our life . If we are left to ourselves, they would overpower us and
put us under. Mathew 28: 18-20. All
authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth-end of the age.
6. -Divine life by spiritual sight.
Read ( John 9:1-41 )
(Healing the man born blind)
Mathew 13:13 -While seeing they do not see, while
hearing they do not hear nor do they understand. The very first thing a true
Christian disciple ought to be able to say is I was blind but now I see. The
Lord has opened my spiritual eyes and has removed my natural handicap.
The life we receive in Christ has a simple beginning, but it is a progressive
life leading to fuller and fuller discovery of the Lord Jesus .We grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18).
7
. Divine Life: Overcoming Death in
its Fullness. Read (John 11: 17- 46 )
(Resurrection of Lazarus)
Here we have death in fullness, overcome by Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of
resurrection and life. Jesus wanted to let people know that death is death, and
it is beyond any human control. Only God almighty can do miracle here.
Quality of this divine life (Abundant life
-John 10:10)
1. Divine life which has a quality and
character
Turning water into wine
(John 2:1-11)
2. Divine life unlimited by time
and space
Healing the official's son
(John 4: 45-58)
3. Divine life-deliverance from
bondage to sin and death
Healing the invalid
of Bethesda, (John5:1- 18)
4. Divine life all sufficient
and inexhaustible
Feeding the 5000.
(John 6: 5-14)
5. Divine life triumphant over
natural forces.
Jesus walking on
water. (John 6: 16 -21, 25- 35)
6. Divine life by spiritual
sight.
Jesus heals a man born
blind. (John 9: 1- 41)
7. Divine life-over coming death
in fullness.
Resurrection of
Lazarus. (John 11: 17 -46)
Jesus came to give an abundant life. Not that what we are
going to get by this life nor the faith in Jesus to get something but Jesus
Himself. Let us Desire to have Jesus' life in us.
In
the school of Christ , Jesus Christ is the teacher.
Nicodemus a ruler of Jews came to Jesus and said “We know that you have come
as a teacher": (John 3:2). Other names in that capacity are ‘Rabbi’ which also means teacher. Mary Magdalene
calls him on the day of resurrection morning as ‘Rabboni’ which means
great teacher. Luke’s favourite title for Jesus is ‘Master’. Jesus is the
Master Man, and Luke meant to say: ‘We are all the servants of that Man’.
The Chief occupation of a disciple of Christ is to learn
Christ. In
the
New Testament Lords people were called by various names: Christians; Believers;
Saints; Brethren; and People of the way; and Jesus called them ‘My
friends’. Disciples are not just students, they are the Apprentices .
Apprentice are people who learn and put into practice what they have learned.
The subject of Jesus’s teaching was spiritual and it was
about Himself. He said,
· I am the way, the truth and life (John: 14: 6)
· I am the good shepherd (John 10: 14)
· I am the bread of life (John 6: 48)
· I am the door (John 10: 9)
· I am the resurrection and life (John 11: 25)
He
said very much about the Father but He always related the Father to Himself and
Himself to the Father. He said: “I
and the Father are one” (John
14:9) .In John (14: 5-11) Jesus says: He who has seen Me has
seen the Father.
He
spoke much about the Holy Spirit and always related the Holy Spirit to Himself.
By
teaching about Himself Jesus brought a complete revolution. People who heard
Him said "Never did a man
speak like this man speaks”. (John
7: 46).He taught them as having authority and not like scribes and
Pharisees (Mark 1:22).
One
business of the disciple is to know Him and learn Him. He did not only talk but
also made an impression on those who heard Him.He left something with the
learners. He made a difference in the life of people. They carried away
something. The people who listened to Him said "Never did a man speak like
this man speaks” (John 7: 46) . They remembered His words (Luke 24: 8 ) .
His coming into this world in human form is definitely related to mankind. He
came in order to teach men. He came to bring His own person, all that God
intended man to have which man missed through disobedience.
Teachings of Jesus were always united with His acts.
He
said I am the light of the world (John 9:5 ) and He healed the eyes of
the man who was blind.He said I am the resurrection and life (John 11:25) and He raised Lazarus from death.
Jesus chose the poor lot as His disciples who seemed to have poor brains
because there was plenty of room in them for what He had come to bring. We must
be teachable, empty, weak and foolish in our own eyes. He will reveal Himself
to us if our hearts are open to Him.
Jesus gives us His divine life in us.
(John 10:10)-I came that they might have life, and might have it
abundantly.
(John 1:4)-In Him was life and the life was the light of men.
Towards the end of John's gospel in chapter 20:
31 but these have been
written ,that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ ,the Son of God; and that believing you may have life
in His name .
John's
gospel is the gospel of spiritual education. Yes Jesus came to this world to
give us life. 1John 5:11-12,
He who has the son of God has life and he who does not have the son, has no
life.
In
the New Testament four words are used for miracles-wonders, powers, paradoxes,
signs. John always called them
signs, which meant that these works indicated something more than
themselves, some meaningful lessons. Signs were the instruments used by the Lord Jesus. Believing was the reaction of men to signs.
Life was the result of their reaction. They committed themselves and
received life. Peter speaks about being made -"Partakers of divine
life" 2 Peter 1:4
Life begins with new and different consciousness. The consciousness of
Jesus Christ, His union with the Father. The oneness that existed between them
(Father and Son). Jesus came to bring His disciples into the same union .I came
that they might have life. Have the same consciousness of God, a different
nature, divine nature.
Jesus did many miracles (John
20:30-31).John calls them signs because these signs taught us that Jesus is
the Christ the son of God. John specially mentions 7 (seven ) signs in John's
gospel which gives divine life .
1 .Divine Life which has quality and
character
(Turning of water into wine)
This was in Cana of Galilee at a wedding. They exhausted of all the wine. The
situation was very shameful almost like a dead condition. The owner of the
house couldn’t show his face outside. Jesus was invited for the wedding. Jesus
changed water into wine. When the headwaiter tasted the wine, he said it is a
better wine, every man serves good wine first and keeps the second quality at
the end.
The divine life what Christ gives has a superior quality- abundant life, gives
character to people who receive it .Let us see the life of the disciples .
Peter who denied Jesus to a servant woman, when the divine life came to him, he
became a changed person. People beheld the courage of Peter and John (Acts
4:13) they being cowards,
became men of courage and dignity. They who were thinking about themselves
e.g.-they wanted to gain the first place in God’s kingdom, they became men who
have forgotten themselves and have altogether selfless , thinking only of the
Lord's interest and not their own. ( Colossians 1:27-Christ in you the hope of
glory) .Their life became altogether different and is better.
2 . Divine life unlimited by time
and space. Read (John 4:45-58)
(Healing the nobleman's son)
This man of Capernaum was king's officer and was a gentile. This miracle also
took place in Cana of Galilee. This official's son was sick and was on the
verge of death, and he came from Capernaum to Galilee and requested Jesus to
heal his son. Jesus said to him" Go your way, your son lives”. The noble
man believed in what Jesus said .On his way back his slaves met him saying that
his son was living. Key verse- John
4:52-53. So he inquired of
them the hour at which his son got better. They said yesterday at the 7’Th
hour. So the father knew that it was at the hour which Jesus said to him thy
son liveth.The divine life, unlimited by time and space. When we pray for
people at far place, things happen many miles away. Here time and space is not
a matter. It is not the benefit that we want but He Himself. It is not the
faith in what he can do to us but the faith in His own person.
At
the end it says the noble man and all his family believed in Him.
3. Divine life deliverance from
bondage to sin and death. Read (John 5:1-18)
(The Invalid of Bethesda)
Near Pool of Bethesda, Christ heals a paralytic man.It was on the feast of
Passover, at Jerusalem at the very center of Israel, on Sabbath day. The
paralytic man was there for 38 years. It has a simile to Israel who were for 38
years struggling in the wilderness under the burden of the Law. There were many
other laws-over 2000, such as -Do not walk over 2 miles on a Sabbath day. Do
not light a fire. Many other don’ts were there. It was for the freedom that
Christ set us free, therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to
the yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Jesus asked the paralytic to take up his pallet and walk. When Jesus saw him on
another occasion, He warned him." Sin no more" .It is a sin to
turn away from grace and turn back to law.
4 .Divine life-all
sufficient and inexhaustible .(John
6: 5-14)
(Feeding the 5000)
John called them signs, because they were works with
meaning.
A
lad had five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus took the loaves and having given
thanks, He distributed to those who were seated, likewise also of fish as much
as they wanted .They gathered the left overs twelve baskets of fragments.Divine
life , all sufficient and inexhaustible.
5. Divine life - Triumphant
over the natural forces.Read (John 6:16-21).
(Jesus walking on water)
In
Mathew and Mark it says Jesus constrained the disciples to get into the boat
and go to Capernaum. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was
blowing. They were afraid .But they saw Jesus walking on the sea drawing near
to them .They were willing to receive him to the boat but they found that they
have reached the shore .It is the power of His life stronger than all the
storms, in our life . If we are left to ourselves, they would overpower us and
put us under. Mathew 28: 18-20. All
authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth------end of the age.
6. -Divine life by spiritual sight.
Read ( John 9:1-41 )
(Healing the man born blind)
Mathew 13:13 -While seeing they do not see, while
hearing they do not hear nor do they understand. The very first thing a true
Christian disciple ought to be able to say is I was blind but now I see. The
Lord has opened my spiritual eyes and has removed my natural handicap.
The life we receive in Christ has a simple beginning, but it is a progressive
life leading to fuller and fuller discovery of the Lord Jesus .We grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)
7 . Divine Life: Overcoming Death in
its Fullness. Read (John 11: 17- 46 )
(Resurrection of Lazarus)
Here we have death in fullness, overcome by Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of
resurrection and life. Jesus wanted to let people know that death is death, and
it is beyond any human control. Only God almighty can do miracle here.
Quality of this divine life (Abundant life
-John 10:10)
1. Divine life which has a quality and
character
Turning water into wine
(John 2:1-11)
2. Divine life unlimited by time
and space
Healing the official's son
(John 4: 45-58)
3. Divine life-deliverance from
bondage to sin and death
Healing the invalid
of Bethesda, (John5:1- 18)
4. Divine life all sufficient
and inexhaustible
Feeding the 5000.
(John 6: 5-14)
5. Divine life triumphant over
natural forces.
Jesus walking on
water. (John 6: 16 -21, 25- 35)
6. Divine life by spiritual
sight.
Jesus heals a man
born blind. (John 9: 1- 41)
7. Divine life-over coming death
in fullness.
Resurrection of
Lazarus. (John 11: 17 -46)
Jesus came to give an abundant life. Not that what we are
going to get by this life nor the faith in Jesus to get something but Jesus
Himself. Let us desire to have Jesus' life in us.
No comments:
Post a Comment