Listening to Jesus' Voice

1Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them.

He said:

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Thoughts: The teachings of Jesus are stunning and still ring true in our world.  He turns the world upside down by turning what is ultimately valuable upside down.  So the ones blessed are not the rich and comfortable but the poor and those who mourn, the merciful and peacemakers.  Many follow Jesus not because of his miracles or his resurrection, but simply because they agree with his teachings.  However, His divinity and miracles give credence and attention to His teachings.  The power of Jesus is not just in His teaching, but it is certainly in His teaching.  Jesus changed perspectives here.  He encourages His followers to focus not on the temporary but on the eternal.  He talks about those who are persecuted here will be rewarded in heaven.  He also wants us to focus not on human blessing but on God's blessing- which is based on a different value system.  You also see here great emphasis on humility- the meek- the poor in spirit- the mourning.  This sets the pace of New Testament teaching- humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.       Jesus invites us to listen to Him instead of listening to what the world values. Jesus sat down to teach, which encouraged the people to sit down and listen.  We too need to stop, sit down and listen to God's values.  

Prayer: Lord, let me hear your values and put them into practice.  

A Leader Who Had a Hard Time Listening

1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^a ”

4“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^b gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^c must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^d

9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.^e 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,^f 15that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (John 3)

Thoughts: There is much debate about this passage and Nicodemus.  Nicodemus was a leader in the Sanhedrin.  He was well educated, respected, and wealthy.  Nicodemus tried to stand up for Jesus at his arrest, and boldly took Jesus' body for burial along with Joseph of Arimathea helping to treat the body with care.  So Nicodemus became a listener to Jesus.
      Nicodemus came at night to Jesus as it is recorded in this passage.  He may have been curious, or trying to trap Jesus, or he could have been genuinely beginning an inquiry.  I think the latter.   He came at night without an entourage or soldiers.  He came saying that Jesus was a great teacher and seemed to believe in the miracles of Jesus.  The miracles piqued interest and laid credence to the uniqueness of Jesus.  Jesus' words in verse 11 point out that Nicodemus at this time was not a believer or fully accepting the testimony of Jesus. 

Jesus' words to the learned man were important.  They were not another lesson in ethics- like the Sermon on the Mount.  It was not a discussion on the fine points of the Law or Philosophy or politics.  Nicodemus' problem was not intellect but belief.  To believe the testimony of Jesus is to be born again.  This is not a literal second physical birth, but a spiritual re-birth.  It is when everything in life becomes new- including how we look at the Law, Philosophy, politics, and education.  I am convinced that the Law, Philosophy, politics and education are all important, but they are limited in what they can do for both human behavior, and in the face of death and our own failures (sin).  Nicodemus needed the power of the one lifted up on the cross to forgive him, and he needed to believe in him in order to have the life beyond the Law, Philosophy, politics, and education.  Today, the crisis we face is a crisis of belief and trust in God.  When people are transformed, the world becomes transformed- and yes, for the better.  Being born again means that we stop going our way- and we are born into a new way of life- the way of eternal life.  

Prayer: Lord, transform me into the person I need to be.  Let me live as your new creation- leaving the old behind.  Give me ears to hear and a heart to respond and be born again.

Jesus and Mary Listening

1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4“Woman,^a why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.^b

7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.  (John 2)

Thoughts: There is much about listening in this first recorded miracle of Jesus.  Jesus listens to Mary, though he seems to say it is a bit risky for him to do this now.  His mother saw the need and pointed it to Jesus- listening to the providence of the situation.  Mary told the servants to listen to Jesus- "do whatever he tells you."  If they did not listen, the miracle would not have occurred.  Listening is always a precursor to a miracle.  Naaman had to listen to Elisha and come to Israel to be cured- though he didn't want to do so.  Listening means humbling ourselves before another.  Humbling ourselves to pay attention to God is a good thing for us.  Listening to Jesus changes ordinary water into wine.  Listening to Jesus changes our ordinary lives into rich full ones with purpose that honor Him.  

Prayer: Lord, enrich my life by enabling and helping me to listen to your great voice.  

Couples renewing vows at Cana church 2010.

1-13-14 John 2- Listening to Jesus and Changing

5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

Thoughts: Where were Jesus and Mary when they said this?  They were not in the main hall with the family and the bride and groom.  They were in the kitchen with the servants.  Mary was helping out with the wedding.  She was the one who noticed they were out of wine.  Mary, with her humble, servants heart was teaching Jesus to serve.
      Her advice to the servants was "do whatever he tells you."  This is good advice to us all- listen to Jesus- listen to the Lord.
    The jars holding the water were used for ceremonial washing- washing not to get physically cleansed, but spiritually cleansed.
       Jesus turns what is plain into what is special.  This is what He does with our lives- turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.  He enables us to be transformed, and to transform the world. He calls us to make a difference changing a meaningless, plain world into a world of meaning, hope, and direction.  When we listen to Jesus- we are transformed and the world around us is transformed as well.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to listen to you.  Transform me today and help me to make a difference in the world around me. 

(Ben and Bekah in the church in Cana, reading John 2- 2010).