There are supposedly “Seven I AM Statements” in the Gospel of John
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
John 6:19-20 ESV
When Moses was before the burning bush he asked for God’s name. God’s response was ἐγώ εἰμι “I AM”
I was excited to go see Noah. I remember seeing a preview for the film just about exactly one year ago at the Catalyst conference in Dallas in April 2013. Who wouldn’t want to see the epic depiction of just a huge high-point in the Old Testament, and the casting looked awesome, I’m a fan of Russle Crow, I think men should be men, and he does that pretty well “ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!”
So I began to hear Christians go back and forth about Noah… before it even came out. My gut reaction was “hold on there fellas, we can’t say it’s good or bad until we can say it’s good or bad.” We have to at least give the movie the decency to actually watch it before we are critical or laud its message.
Well, now I’ve seen it, and I have some thoughts… (warning, there are spoilers below, and I didn’t edit this at all before I posted it)
It’s easy to be negative, critical, to complain about life…
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”
John 5
The truth is, the cure is here. Jesus is the answer to all that life throws our way. We have no cause for frustration, for disappointment, for a critical spirit. Oh sure, every single one of us excel in these areas, and we have to constantly remind ourselves of our victory in Jesus. Imagine the Lord similar to the way he would respond to Peter “don’t you trust me? Am I not enough?”
What an amazing thing, Jesus brings healing, not only physically and permanently one day through the resurrection, but for all of life… you just have to want it. “Do you want to be healed?” Let him.
Pastors have to field many questions, some are very off the wall, but most people have similar types of questions. We all want to know “why” at times (for which there is not always a clear answer), we all want assurance as well, but once I heard a question answered that really got under my skin (this is not an easy thing to do).
Someone asked the question online “can I tell my child that God loves them?”
This is a quite honest and heartfelt question, and one that I think is easy enough to answer, but I was shocked and astounded when the reply was “well, yes and no…”
Jesus was invited to a wedding, and he helped the caterer.
When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”
John 2
Jesus turned water into wine, it was a miracle. Jesus’ miracles, especially as they are depicted in John, are meant to show who he is. Not only is he divine, he is a servant. He helps. He cares about even the little things, and so should we. Are you in a position to help someone? Do it, in Jesus’ name.
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