Today in the Word for March 23-30
Today in The Word
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
What was the point of raising Lazarus? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. We know Jesus was full of compassion at the death of Lazarus, but did Jesus do this miracle because of compassion? The following verses from John 11 say otherwise:
V 15 to disciples: “…I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe…”
V 26 to Martha: “” …whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?””
V 40 to Martha: “” …Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?””
V 42 to the Father: “” …I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.””
And v 45 in conclusion: “Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.”
Without a doubt, Jesus orchestrated the raising of Lazarus to promote belief. And not just any belief, but specifically belief in Himself. The people are challenged to believe in Jesus.
The challenge continues to us. Jesus is powerful, even over death. Will we trust ourselves to him? Will we believe in him today?
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
Why do people react differently to the miracle of God? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. After the raising of Lazarus, John 11:45-46 reads:
“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.”
Some of these friends of Mary and Martha have come to offer support in their grief. They saw with their own eyes the raising of Lazarus. Yet their choice is to ‘tattle’ on Jesus to the religious leaders? John 12:42-43 explains such a choice:
“…many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”
They wanted the approval of their leaders. They experienced God’s miracle, yet their lust for approval silenced their belief.
What chills expressing your faith on the job, or in the classroom, or around the family table? Is the approval of others worth it? Isn’t God’s approval truly worth seeking?
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Thursday Mar 25, 2021
Is seeing, believing? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. After Lazarus was raised from the dead, we read in John 11:47-48:
“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him…”
It is obvious that the religious leaders do not believe in Jesus. In fact, they are worried everyone else might believe. But notice what they do not dispute. They do not dispute the raising of Lazarus. They do not deny the miracle ‘Here is this man performing many signs.’
Often the Pharisees are in the very presence of miracle. They see the paralytic walking. They observe the leper cleansed. They see, but they do not believe. Seeing is not believing. Believing is a choice. Believing is a response we make to the presence of God’s power and revelation. What choice will you make?
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday Mar 26, 2021
What keeps us from believing? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Lazarus has been raised from the dead, and we read in John 11:47-48:
“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.””
They do not believe in Jesus because he is a threat to them. If the people follow Jesus, maybe the Roman Empire will have to squelch a revolt. And if they put down a revolt, the Pharisees may lose their position as religious and spiritual leaders. They are asking themselves if believing in Jesus will threaten their status.
In truth, believing in Jesus can be a threat to our status. Promotion, fame and even employment have been lost because a Christian expressed their belief in Jesus. But we have to ask ourselves what is more important. Is my status or my witness to the hope within me the more important?
And that’s the Word. Tune in Sundays at 10:30 on the Deer Lodge Assembly Facebook page for our Livestreamed service or join us at the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Monday Mar 29, 2021
How does one become blind to the miracle of God? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. John records in John 11:37, 39-40:
“Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him…For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.””
This passage can trouble us, as we falsely conclude that God is unfairly punishing people he hardened. Yet, Jesus offers clarity in his explanation of the parable of the soils in Luke 8:8, 10-12:
“” …whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” …I speak in parables, so that, “’though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
“This is the meaning of the parable…Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”
Jesus quotes the same Isaiah passage, and then explains that hard hearts, like a hard path, are easy pickings for Satan. The good seed of the Word is snatched before it takes root. Jesus, and Isaiah are saying, the development of a hard heart trumps our eyes and ears. God is revealing himself to us, but our increasingly callous heart makes it difficult to see what is before us. Our hard hearts can make us God-blind.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Can a person remain neutral about faith in Christ? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. After Jesus raises Lazarus, the religious leaders react in John 11:47-50, 53:
“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin…
“Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up,
“…You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish…”
So from that day on they plotted to take his life.”
The Sanhedrin illustrates a spiritual truth. They saw the miracle, yet they did not believe. Instead, they plan to assassinate Jesus. Seeing and not believing isn’t neutral, it is open rejection. When God’s miracle is evident, we cannot remain undecided. We either place faith in Jesus, or we reject him. We move toward him or we move away.
There is no neutral gear in faith.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.