Jesus follower

“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15) In this section, Jesus is having a hard conversation with Peter.Peter denied Jesus three times; Jesus asks Him three times if he loves him.This first time Jesus specifically says “more than these”.Remember Peter is always trying to outdo the other disciples, to be…

“This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.” (John 21:14) John wants his readers to know that they really saw Jesus.There was no doubt in their mind, they knew it was the Lord.This was not a figment of their imagination, they ate breakfast with Him.Not just…

“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.” (John 21:7) Once again Peter makes a public display of his devotion to Jesus.But this follows his three-time public denial of Jesus.Peter knew himself, his failure…

“‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’” (John 21:3) What would you do after you just met someone who died and came back to life?I am imagining that they were in shock, experiencing both fear and joy.No doubt they wanted to be with Jesus, but He was…

“These are written that you may believe  that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31) John has a clear agenda in what he writes… all the Gospel writers do.He selects some signs from many to make his point and achieve his goal.He…

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) Thomas gets a bad rap because he doubts that Jesus was alive.He will forever be known as ‘doubting Thomas’.And those who raise doubts will also be called ‘doubting Thomases’.And yet in fairness, those who are quick to believe will becalled gullible.I do not…

“‘Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”(John 20:29) At one time I saw this verse as proof that Jesus was God.It is hard to know what exactly Thomas meant when he said this.But I can’t imagine Thomas was making a theological statement about God.Maybe eventually he did conclude that Jesus was ‘God with us’.But…

“If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:23) Jesus is alive, and yet He will not continue His work in the same way.From now on Jesus will continue His work through His followers (Acts 1:1-8).They (we) are equipped by the Spirit to continue God’s kingdom mission.At the heart of this mission is representing…

“I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (John 20:17) If you ask me Who Jesus is, at best I can say that somehow He is ‘God with us!’.But Jesus didn’t go around saying, ‘hey look everyone, I am God!’Jesus as God with us was fully human, and lived…