“I Seek Not My Own Will”
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 5:30).
While Jesus’ words here are probably meant to make several theological points clear to the Jews about his identity, they are embedded with a deeply practical lesson as well. Jesus is emphasizing just how intertwined his role and the Father’s are, and how their wills are united. The point he’s making is not meant to allow his hearers to entertain the idea that he could have a different desire than the Father (“I seek not my own will”–as if Jesus’ will could somehow be different!), but to demonstrate just how deeply he loves his Father. Jesus has such reverence for Him, that he wishes to do nothing apart from Him.
Here’s the practical part; be reminded of Ephesians 5:1-2: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Jesus’ work on the cross was another instance of Jesus embracing the Father’s will to free us from sin, because he loves us, just as the Father does. Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice to the Father so we could be saved and have life eternal and abundant; their wills regarding our freedom from death and sin were one and the same.
Now, what does the beginning of Ephesians 5 say again? “Be imitators of God… and walk in love, as Christ loved us… a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
In other words, one of the many ways we can imitate Christ, if we love him, is to “seek not [our] own will.” Now, unlike for Jesus, this is actually quite difficult for us. We love to make the world revolve around us, rather than realizing everything does and should revolve around our Creator and Savior. However, not only will listening to Him direct us appropriately in all we do so our “judgment is just,” it will also allow us to walk in love, because that is the heart of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What’s incredible is that by imitating Jesus by dying to ourselves and offering ourselves up to God as a living sacrifice, we can unite with Him and his Spirit in doing the supernatural: bringing dead things back to life.
Ashley Carr
In Dependence
Series: Signs of Life | Text: John 5:30-47
Speaker: Pastors Josh Rose & Esteban Tapia
July 9, 2023: On Sunday, Pastors Josh Rose & Esteban Tapia continued our Gospel of John series for our latest season of messages, Signs of Life. We hope you'll enjoy studying this section of the Scriptures with us. This sermon message is entitled, In Dependence.
All at Once
On Monday, I had the chance to meet with a woman who goes to our church. During our time together, she shared with me that she has been raising Monarch butterflies. She raises them in cages indoors so that the flies don’t get them while they’re in their caterpillar phase, and she has different cages where the butterflies are at different phases of their development. Some are caterpillars, some are in the chrysalis phase, and some have fully turned into butterflies. As I met with this woman, I started to think about the ways that development mirrors our spiritual journey.
We are all on a journey of transformation, but so often we can only see a limited portion of that journey. Sometimes we imagine that we will forever be in the phase we’re currently in. How cool would it be to be able to see all phases of transformation at the same time? How great would it be to not only be able to celebrate where we are but to clearly see where we are going? That’s exactly what Jesus was able to do, and it’s the truth he shared with his followers.
In John 5:21 Jesus said, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.” Jesus’ claim was that he had the capacity to awaken people to live - spiritual life. He was referring to “zoe” life, the kind of life that not only allows you to breathe but makes you grateful that you’re alive. However, that was only one phase of the journey. That was akin to the caterpillar phase of the Monarch. He also declared, “An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life.” (John 5:28b-29a) We might view that as the butterfly phase.
Jesus was able to see all of those phases of transformation at the same time. He boldly declared that he was awakening people to life, and he spoke prophetically about the way he would one day raise people from the dead. The life Jesus made available to his followers while he walked with them was a foretaste of the resurrection he promises to provide.
As we walk with Jesus and experience his life and joy today, it’s a reminder for us that the life promised is eternal. He can be trusted because he sees all phases of life at one time. The question in front of each of us is, will we trust him for life?
Ryan Paulson
Tasked With Judgment
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
I’ve always found this passage chilling. I get goosebumps when I think of how Lewis flips the familiar phrase “Thy will be done” from The Lord’s Prayer. He cleverly inverts it to demonstrate the reality of those who reject the compassion of their Creator and instead make themselves god.
Humans choosing Hell for themselves is demonstrated by passages about judgment from John Chapters 3 and 5. In the gospel of John, we see Jesus easing the Jews into an understanding of who he truly is, but in Chapter 5 he really starts pulling out all the stops: “You thought the Father would be your judge? Well, it’s actually going to be me. Who or what does that make me then? Yep, the Father’s equal, folks. In fact, if you believe in me, you won’t be subject to death. I can breathe life into your dead limbs just like the Father because… (ready for it?)... we’re one and the same.” I can picture the Pharisees exchanging glances of disgust and horror over this “heretical” statement.
Jesus says something similar in John 3, but with more subtlety; you can see he’s already preparing the soil: “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil” (John 3:19). Who is “the light”? Jesus himself. But what about “the judgment”? Well, first, let’s remember the scenario played on repeat throughout the Old Testament: the Jews would run to the Father in times of need, then ignore him when times were good; He would show them their brokenness, then forgive them when they ran to him again in desperation.
But now, Jesus is informing the Jews that he is the last line of defense against eternal separation from the Father. There will be no more “next times” or “whoopsies.” When the Jews, or any humans, choose to reject Jesus the Son, that’s it. There are no more “second chances.” He is their second chance because He is the judgment. In other words, our decision to embrace or reject Jesus will determine our post-death futures: basking in the ecstasy of God’s presence or cut off from the very source of being, joy, and goodness (aka Hell).
One of the many pieces of good news about this reality is that our judge is also the one who died for us. Not so he could guilt-trip or manipulate us with, “See what I did for you? Now YOU deliver by doing what I ask of you,” but because he actually cares about saving us from ourselves. And if you really think about it, who gets the privilege of being judged by the person who died to save them? By the one who loves them more deeply than any other being in existence? Sign me up!
Ashley Carr
Giver of Life
Giver of Life
Do you remember in the not-so-distant past when a new word entered our vocabulary, COVID, and life as we knew it came almost to a stop? It seemed as if overnight everything familiar changed. We no longer went to work. The roads and freeways were quiet. Children didn’t go to school. We didn’t worship in church. I remember coming to the office every couple of days to check the mail and it was an eerie feeling to be in an almost empty building. Life seemed to have gone out of it because it had. Yet, God the giver of life, never left and he never left us.
Looking back, what happened was almost miraculous. No one gave up and said, well I guess we just won’t have church during the pandemic. We pivoted. Ryan preached from trails, groves, vineyards, beaches, and soon the courtyard as well. Our services went online and our staff began taking care of people in a whole new way. We formed teams to call people, we found new volunteers to help shut-ins and many others who needed help, we took prayer requests, we had online meetings and we PRAYED! We all learned the true meaning of working remotely and doing it in a completely different way. Thanks be to God. We learned so much about ourselves, other people, and our Creator.
There were so many unknowns during that time. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you. So instead let’s talk about what we did and do know. Life went on even though it was different. We found our strength in the One ultimately in control when everything seemed to be out of control. We knew that Jesus was interceding for us with the Father (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25) and was our advocate. (1 John 2:1) Jesus Christ alone mediates between God and man. “For there is one God and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5) Jesus is always pleading our case, like a defense lawyer before the Father on our behalf. And he is appointed by his Father. John 5:26 says, “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”
Jesus tells us in John 10:10b, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." This promise means that though life changes, sometimes even drastically, we can count on the giver of life to see us through and give us purpose and a hope.
Deb Hill
Worthy of Honor
Worthy of Honor
Though it may seem odd, some fathers are jealous of their sons. They don’t want their sons to be more successful than they are. They don’t want their sons to receive more recognition than they do. They don’t want their sons to receive more glory than they get. Not so with God.
As was pointed out in yesterday’s devotional, there is perfect harmony between all members of the Trinity. One thing this means is that there is certainly no competition between Them. Another thing this means is that One rejoices when one of the Others is made much of. In other words, the Father is absolutely delighted when the Son is honored. In fact, verse 23 teaches that the Father is dishonored when the Son is dishonored. Our heavenly Father wants us to honor His Son!
This is significant for at least two reasons. First, in the context of this passage, Jesus knows that the Jews are very careful to honor the Father. Saying that it is impossible for them to honor the Father without honoring Him is another way of Him saying, “I am God.” He is claiming His equality with God.
The second reason it is important is that it lets us know that we should be as careful to honor the Son as we are to honor the Father. And how do we do this? By hearing and obeying His Word and by giving Him the worship and commitment He deserves as a co-equal with the Father and a member of the harmonious Trinity.
So here’s a suggestion for today: prayerfully renew your commitment to honor Christ and then ask for guidance in how to do that. The Father will be thrilled that you are trying to honor His Son!
Scott Smith
Trinity in Harmony
One of the distinctive features of music produced by the legendary Southern California band “Beach Boys” over the decades has been its amazing musical chords and harmonies. According to Quora.com “Brian Wilson, the main songwriter for the Beach Boys, was known for his innovative and complex chord structures…layering multiple instruments and harmonies to create a dense, rich sound.” Thanks to Wilson’s talents as a composer, Beach Boys fans worldwide have been treated to many memorable melodies!
We know that the “physics“ of sound itself - things such as volume, frequency, pitch, resonance and harmony - all exist because they are part of God’s creative design. So is the marvelous ability of the human ear and mind to absorb and appreciate musical sounds. God has likewise shaped the human soul such that it can be deeply moved by melodious compositions, harmonies and musical chords.
Theologians draw a parallel between this and the internal dynamics of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In his book Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith, Michael Reeves observes that “The Father, Son and Spirit have always been in delicious harmony, and thus they create a world where harmonies - distinct beings, persons or notes working in unity - are good, mirroring the very being of the triune God.” We conclude that in each and every one of the Trinity’s mutual actions and affections there is a concert of beautiful, divine harmony. There never has been, and never will be, a note of dissonance or competition between them. We see an example of their harmony reflected in Jesus’ words “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” (Jn. 5:19) ESV
Let us praise God for the harmony that flows eternally from the Trinity! And may we marvel in the knowledge that as God’s people He continually invites each of us to take part in this holy harmony. Ask the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in your prayers how you can enter into more perfect harmony with their actions, affections and will. I trust your soul will delight in the ways God answers this prayer!
Pastor Dave Korinek
Amazed by Authority
Series: Signs of Life | Text: John 5:18-29
Speaker: Pastors Ryan Paulson & Antonio Hernandez
July 2, 2023: On Sunday, Pastors Ryan Paulson & Antonio Hernandez continued our Gospel of John series for our latest season of messages, Signs of Life. We hope you'll enjoy studying this section of the Scriptures with us. This sermon message is entitled, Amazed by Authority.
Sabbath “Keeping”
Some years ago, while living in New England, my wife and I loaded the family into our station wagon for a road trip to visit friends who had moved to Minnesota. Two days into the journey, on a Sunday afternoon, we had crossed most of Indiana when I noticed the tank was almost empty. We pulled up at the next toll booth and asked the attendant where to find a gas station. To our surprise he responded that under “Blue Laws” in Indiana the sale of gasoline was prohibited on Sundays! (Indiana has since repealed that restriction but I’m told it’s still one of several states that prohibit the sale of automobiles on Sundays). Luckily, we had just enough gas left to limp across the state line into Illinois where they were happy to sell us gas on a Sunday!
Exodus 20:8-11 instructed the Jewish people that since God rested on the seventh day of creation they were also to keep the Sabbath holy and make it a day of rest. Truth be known, God didn’t “need” to rest after six days of creation. However, He did so to demonstrate the principle of devoting one day each week to rest for the health of man’s body, mind and soul. Sadly, Jewish leaders in the centuries before Jesus had tarnished this principle by adding numerous non-biblical prohibitions about the Sabbath. Although nothing in the Law of Moses prohibited healing someone on the Sabbath, Jewish religious authorities included this on their list of man-made restrictions. The theological term for their religious mindset is “legalism”.
Jesus repudiated this spirit of legalism and the Jewish leadership’s focus upon earthly traditions. He declared that the Sabbath was made for mankind’s benefit, not man for the Sabbath (Mk. 2:27). Jesus’ model of Sabbath “keeping” reflected his vision of bringing “life to the full” to all of God’s creation. Thus he was ready to heal the ill and infirm on any day of the week. The Pharisees were so spiritually hardened that they couldn’t celebrate a soul being healed when it broke their definition of “Sabbath laws.” Jesus’ choice to heal on the Sabbath demonstrates that everything life-giving is holy in the eyes of God.
Pray for Christian leaders at all levels in the church to choose grace over legalism, in all its forms, and affirm Christ’s vision of “life to the full” for God’s people.
Pastor Dave Korinek
Ripples of Faith
In John 5:5-9, we read the story of the healing of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus asks the man a question, “Do you want to be healed?” He had been lame for 38 years and we do not know how long he had been beside the pool hoping for healing. Of course, he wanted to be healed. His response was one of hopeless desperation, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” But then Jesus! Imagine how it must have felt to instantly be healed and able for the first time in years to move without help! The ripples from this story continue through the centuries.
In Scripture, we read the sad story of the rich young ruler who said “No” when Jesus asked him to take a step of faith by following him. He had put his faith in his riches which would never be enough. Why is it that we say “no” to God? Just a few years ago, I became stuck in my journey with the LORD. I felt bereft of His presence and was approaching quiet desperation. A friend suggested I become part of a training that would not only help me but show me how to walk with others on similar journeys. Driving on my way to the first meeting, I remember exactly where I was when I almost turned around to go home. I thought this won’t work either, why bother, nothing will change again! But I decided to take that step of faith anyway and continued on. I am so glad that I did as the Lord helped me become ‘unstuck’ and be blessed to accompany others in their walks with the Lord. The ripples from not turning around on that highway continue to grow.
“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7
If we truly believed these words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount, what ripples of faith might there be? We would trust in His love, His peace, His joy, His sovereignty and not in those things that promise that which they can never fully deliver. We would not trust in anything this world has to offer and those ripples would be eternal.
Reflection:
If Jesus were to ask you, “Do you want to be______________?”
What would you put in the blank? Loved, healed, peace-filled, content, etc. Meditate on Matthew 7:7 and consider what your “yes” will be.
Francie Overstreet
