The Firewall

John 21

John 21

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way:  2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.  3 "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.  5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered.  6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.  7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.  8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 

9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.  10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."  11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.  12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.  13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.  14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."  16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."  17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.  18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."  19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" 

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?")  21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"  22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."  23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" 

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.


The paragraph from vv 20-23 contains an important principle for us on our Christian walks.  In the previous paragraph Jesus had given some instruction to Peter.  Then, in this paragraph, Peter immediately becomes concerned with what Jesus has to say to John.  Jesus’ answer to Peter is brilliant in its simplicity and deep in its truth: “You must follow me.”  Imagine Jesus pointing His finger at Peter’s chest when He says the word “You”.  Jason’s Slightly Irreverent Version (or JSIV, for short) translates this sentence as: “Mind your own business.”  Jesus is telling Peter that his concern is his relationship with Jesus, not John’s relationship.  This is an important truth.  God has given each of us the lives that we have and the roles in the Kingdom that we have.  Yet, we spent a lot of time worrying about what other people have or what they are doing, or even their relationship with Him.  God doesn’t want you to be concerned with these things; He wants you to be concerned with your relationship with Him.  He wants YOU to follow Him. 

Well, so ends our Walk through the book of John.  My view of Jesus has been changed by this close examination of His life.  I hope you can say the same.  Tomorrow we’ll start with Psalms.  Thanks for reading, and feel free to make good use of the “Comment” button below.

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

John 20

John 20

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.  2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"  3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.  4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.  6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.  8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.  9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)  10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 

11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.  13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."  14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.  15 "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."  16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).  17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"  18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. 

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."  22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.  23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." 

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."  28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"  29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 

30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


It came as quite a shock to me when I first realized that the four accounts of Jesus’ resurrection contained in the gospels were all different.  I had always been told that nothing contradicted itself in the Bible.  If you’re curious, take a quick look at Matthew 28, Mark 16, and Luke 24.  A seminary professor explained it like this: if 4 different people witness a car accident, you will get 4 different versions of what happened.  Some of the details may be different, such as the color of the cars involved or the speed that the cars were moving, but all of the witnesses will agree that an accident did occur.  The same idea explains the apparent contradictions in the gospels: yes, some of the details of the resurrection are different, but they all agree on the fact that the resurrection did happen.  If someone tries to use the contradiction excuse with you as to why they don’t believe the Bible, consider yourself armed with a response!

Also, let’s not forgot to take a minute and remember that Jesus was resurrected and lives today!  This is one of the basic tenets of Christianity, and I’ll admit that I’m not always as amazed by it as I should be.  And one other (hopefully) interesting tidbit, throughout this gospel, when John refers to the disciple that Jesus loved, he was referring to himself!

One day left in the book of John.  I hope this look at the life of Jesus has been as enlightening to you as it has been to me.  Thanks for reading, and as always, feel free to make use of the “Comment” button below!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

John 19

John 19

1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.  2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.  4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him."  5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"  6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."  7 The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."  8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.  10 "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"  11 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." 

12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."  13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha).  14 It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.  15 But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.  16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 

17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).  18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others-- one on each side and Jesus in the middle.  19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.  20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.  21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."  22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." 

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.  24 "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did. 

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," 27 and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. 

28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."  29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.  30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 

31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.  32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.  33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.  34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.  35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.  36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," 37 and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced." 

38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.  39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.  40 Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.  41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.  42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.


I’m not really sure what to write here.  I’ve just read the accounts of Jesus’ death in Matthew and Mark and I’m a little overwhelmed.  Jesus not only endured a horrible death, but a sham trial, the betrayal of one of His disciples, and the denial of one of His best friends.  And, He did it for us.  I’ll leave it at that, but take a minute (or 99) and really meditate on what He did for us…

The “Comment” button is always available.  Thanks again for reading!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

John 18

John 18

1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.  2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.  3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.  4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"  5 "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)  6 When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.  7 Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."  8 "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go."  9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."  10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)  11 Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" 

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.  14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people. 

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.  17 "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not."  18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. 

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.  20 "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.  21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."  22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded.  23 "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?"  24 Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. 

25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not."  26 One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?"  27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.  28 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.  29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"  30 "If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."  31 Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected.  32 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. 

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"  34 "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"  35 "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"  36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."  37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." 

38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.  39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"  40 They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion. 


Something in me feels like I could relate to Simon Peter’s part of this story.  While John doesn’t include the garden of Gethsemane, a quick read through Matthew 26:36-45 and Mark 14:32-41 will show you that Jesus asked Simon Peter to come with Him while He prayed.  And, that Simon Peter fell asleep when Jesus needed his company.  Then in this chapter, he whips out his sword at starts to fight when Jesus is arrested.  But a few hours later, when Jesus was in serious danger, Simon Peter denies even knowing Him.  Not once, not twice, but three times!  Luke 22:61 tells us that Jesus looked directly at Simon Peter immediately after the third denial.  I’d imagine that Simon Peter felt pretty low just then.  When Jesus needed him the most, Simon Peter failed Him miserably.  I know I have. 

I don’t know if I’m doing this justice, so I’m going to point you to a song that will.  The song is called “Hopeless is as Hopeless Does”, and it’s by a group called Vigilantes of Love.  You can download the song here, it’ll be the best $.99 you spend this week.  Here’s the second verse, so you can get the idea:

Yeah I fell asleep when you needed a friend
You were sweating blood and talking about violent ends
Ah we're pulling swords, talking real loud
Pledging allegiance, yes us bunch of cowards

Thanks for reading!  Please feel free to post your own questions, comments, and/or observations.  And please let me know what you think of that song.  Vigilantes of Love are a huge influence on me, and I’d love to turn some more people onto them!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

 

John 17

John 17

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.  2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.  5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 

6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.  7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.  8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.  9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.  10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.  11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-- the name you gave me-- so that they may be one as we are one.  12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.  13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.  14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 

20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:  23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.  25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." 


Should I have the chance to say a prayer right before I die, I want it to be this prayer.  Obviously, take out the direct references to being the Son of God and replace them with myself.  In particular, I want to be able to quote v 4: “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”  And also v 6: “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”  I consider my children, my friends, as well as all those whom I have the privilege in leading in worship at The Firewall to have been placed in my path by God.  I pray that when all is said and done, that I will have lived a life that revealed God to them and that they will choose to follow Him themselves.

Thanks for spending another week on this Walk.  Take some time this weekend to consider whether or not your life is revealing God to those He has entrusted you with.

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

John 16

John 16

1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.  2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.  3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 

4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.  5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'  6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.  7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.  8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:  9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;  10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;  11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 

12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.  13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.  15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. 

16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."  17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?"  18 They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying."  19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'?  20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.  21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.  22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.  23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. 

25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.  26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.  27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.  28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." 

29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.  30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."  31 "You believe at last!" Jesus answered.  32 "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.  33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." 


I find it almost unbelievable that it took Jesus’ disciples this long to believe that He came from God.  Now, this probably includes disciples other than the Twelve.  But still, after all that He had done and taught them, it takes until right before His death before they get it.  Of course, I suppose we can be pretty thick too!  Sometimes we get so caught up in what we can physically see and hear that we don’t hear that still, small voice that God uses to talk to us.  Maybe He’s talking through someone’s actions, as Jesus did with the miracles He did.  Or maybe He’s talking through a sermon at church or on the radio, as Jesus did in every town He visited.  However, it’s quite possible that He wants you to be quiet enough to hear Him when He’s talking directly to you in that still, small voice.  Lord, help us to make time to be quiet, so we can listen for your still, small voice.

Thanks for reading!  By now, I’m sure you know what the “Comment” button is for…

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

 

John 15

John 15

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  14 You are my friends if you do what I command.  15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  17 This is my command: Love each other. 

18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.  22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.  23 He who hates me hates my Father as well.  24 If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.  25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'  26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.  27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.


I count 11 uses of the word “remain” in the first paragraph.  Now, I’m not the brightest guy around, but anyone who uses a word 11 times in a paragraph is trying to make a point!  This paragraph is galvanizing my (relatively new) belief that we have to make an effort to live Christian lives in order to receive the prize (heaven) at the end.  (You might remember our discussion of this in Colossians 1, vv 22-23 to be exact)  Now, this isn’t earning His love or His grace, but continuing in the faith after you initially receive Him.  Unless you die immediately after accepting Christ, then you have a duty to “remain” in Him.  “Remaining” in Him requires effort on our parts.  The effort may include reading His Word, praying, going to church, etc…  I’m finding that the closer I get to Him, the less effort these things are!  I want to follow Jesus.  I want to remain in Him.  I’m not trying to earn His love; I desire to do these things.

There is so much great material in this chapter!  The mention of the Holy Spirit in the last paragraph continues an idea began in chapter 14, and is worth an entire post by itself.  Alas, He’ll have His turn…  Thanks for reading, and please feel free to use the “Comment” button to offer your own questions, comments, and/or observations.

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

John 14

John 14

1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.  2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  4 You know the way to the place where I am going."  5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"  6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 

8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."  9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?  10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 

12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. 

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.  16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.  20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."  22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"  23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 

25 "All this I have spoken while still with you.  26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  28 "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.  29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.  30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me,  31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. "Come now; let us leave.


Take a second and read v 6 again: “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  (Read this next sentence in the movie-trailer-guy voice) If you only memorize one verse from the Bible, this should be the one!  This is Christianity in two sentences.  I’m bothered to no end by Christians who buy into the idea that there is more than one way into heaven.  If you believe (in any way) that Jesus is who He said He is, then He is the ONLY way into heaven.  He cannot have been just a good teacher or a good man, since He routinely claimed to be God.  If Pastor Craig stood up at The Firewall on Sunday night and claimed to be God, you wouldn’t think he was a good teacher anymore.  You’d think he was a liar and quite crazy.  This is your choice with Jesus: He “either was (and is) just what He said or else a lunatic”.  The preceding quote is from a book entitled “Mere Christianity”, written by C.S. Lewis (that’s right, the Chronicles of Narnia guy).  If you’re up to the challenge, then you should read that book immediately.  It can be a bit heavy, but it lays out the rational foundations for Christianity in such a way that leaves no doubt that we believe the one true religion.  As for our own lives, there is no room for any other belief on getting into heaven besides “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Sorry if that was a bit rant-ish.  But the deeper I delve in Christianity, the less tolerance I have for anything other than the Truth.  Thanks for reading today, and feel free to make use of the “Comment” button below!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

 

 

John 13

John 13

1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.  2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.  3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"  7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."  8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."  9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"  10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."  11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.  13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.  14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.  18 "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'  19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.  20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." 

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."  22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.  23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.  24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."  25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"  26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.  27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.  29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.  30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. 

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.  32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.  33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.  34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." 

36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."  37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."  38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!


The lesson in servitude that Jesus gives us in the first two paragraphs of this chapter is perhaps the most profound lesson in the whole of the gospels.  It’s not enough that the Son of God would humble Himself and become human, but then the night before His death He performs the thoroughly demeaning task of washing His follower’s feet.  This was a job usually left for the lowest ranking servant in a household, not the Messiah.  But, in this act, He showed us how we are to treat each other.  No action should be considered below us when it comes to serving someone else.  I couldn’t begin to count how many times I’ve failed in this area just in the past month.  Pride has a way of saying “That person is a mess, let someone else help him.”  Or, “You have more important things to do, someone else can do that.”  Lord, please give us the strength to see past ourselves and truly serve each other.

What a blessing this blog has been to me!  God reveals more and more of Himself to me each day, and I hope that you’re able to listen to what He’s teaching you.  Thanks for reading, and please feel free to post your questions, comments, and/or observations.

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net

John 12

John 12

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.  3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."  6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.  7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.  8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." 

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. 

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.  13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"  14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 "Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."  16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.  17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.  18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.  19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" 

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast.  21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."  22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.  23 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 

27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."  29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.  30 Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.  31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.  32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."  33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.  34 The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"  35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 

36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.  37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.  38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"  39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:  40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn-- and I would heal them."  41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.  42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;  43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 

44 Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.  45 When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.  46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.  47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.  48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.  49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.  50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."


Anyone who has been to The Firewall regularly for the past year should know that I have a weird relationship with the word “hosanna”.  This is an Aramaic (the language that Jesus spoke) word, which if literally translated means “save us, please”.  (There is an additional tone of supplication, of bending down low in front of the one you are asking for help.)  However, somewhere along the line, it became an exclamation of praise.  I’ve not been able to figure out where or how this happened.  I know, “Who cares?”  It means “save us” and that works in the context of this story.  Well, as a worship leader, I’m concerned with whether or not it works in our context, on Sunday nights.  There are a few worship songs called “Hosanna” and we’ve played the Hillsong United one a lot over the past year.  It’s not enough for a song to be catchy, there needs to be truth in the lyrics.  And that means that we have to take the time to understand what we’re singing.  So, next time you hear a song that contains the word “hosanna” remember that you’re asking God to save you.  And then remember that He did!

Please feel free to use the “Comment” button below.  I’m very interested in your questions, comments, and/or observations.  Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!

God Bless,
Jason Chaillou
thefirewall@comcast.net