John Calvin on the Unity and Distinction of the Trinity

"The Scriptures demonstrate that there is some distinction between the Father and the Word, the Word and the Spirit; but the magnitude of the mystery reminds us of the great reverence and soberness which ought to be employed in discussing it.  It seems to me, that nothing can be more admirable than the words of Gregory Nazianzen: 'I cannot think of the unity without being irradiated by the Trinity: I cannot distinguish between the Trinity without being carried up to the unity.'  Therefore, let us beware of imagining such a Trinity of persons as will distract our thoughts, instead of bringing them instantly back to the unity.  The words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit certainly indicate a real distinction, not allowing us to suppose that they are merely epithets by which God is variously designated from his works.  Still they indicate distinction only, not division.  The passages we have already quoted show that the Son has a distinct subsistence from the Father, because the Word could not have been with God unless he were distinct from the Father; nor but for this could he have had his glory with the Father.  In like manner, Christ distinguishes the Father from himself when he says that there is another who bears witness of him (John 5:32; 8:16).  To the same effect is it elsewhere said, that the Father made all things by the Word.  This could not be, if he were not in some respect distinct from him.  Besides, it was not the Father that descended to the earth, but he who came forth from the Father; nor was it the Father that died and rose again, but he whom the Father sent.  This distinction did not take its beginning at the incarnation: for it is clear that the only Begotten Son previously existed in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18).  For who will dare to affirm that the Son entered his Father's bosom for the first time, when he came down from heaven to assume human nature?  Therefore, he was previously in the bosom of the Father, and had his glory with the Father.  Christ intimates the distinction between the Holy Spirit and the Father, when he says that the Spirit proceeds from the Father, and between the Holy Spirit and himself, when he speaks of him as another as he does when he declares that he will send another Comforter; and in many other passages besides (John 14:6; 15:26; 14:16)" (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1.13.17).

John Calvin on Proving the Divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit

"When the word of God is set before us in the Scriptures, it were certainly most absurd to imagine that it is only a fleeting and [imperceptible] voice, which is sent out into the air, and comes forth beyond God himself, as was the case with the communications made to the patriarchs, and all the prophecies.  The reference is rather to the wisdom ever dwelling with God, and by which all oracles and prophecies were inspired.  For, as Peter testifies (1 Pet 1:11), the ancient prophets spoke by the Spirit of Christ just as did the apostles, and all who after them were ministers of the heavenly doctrine.  But as Christ was not yet manifested we necessarily understand that the Word was begotten of the Father before all ages.  But if that Spirit, whose [agent] the prophets were, belonged to the Word, the inference is irresistible, that the Word was truly God.  And this is clearly enough shown by Moses in his account of the creation, where he places the Word as intermediate.  For why does he distinctly narrated that God, in creating each of his works, said, let there by this - let there be that, unless that the unsearchable glory of God might shine forth in his image?  I know prattlers would easily evade this, by saying that 'Word' is used for order or command; but the apostles are better expositors, when they tell us that the worlds were created by the Son, and that he sustains all things by his mighty word (Heb 1:2).  For we here see that 'word' is used for the nod or command of the Son, who is himself the eternal and essential Word of the Father.  And no man of sane mind can have any doubt as to Solomon's meaning, when he introduces wisdom as begotten by God, and presiding at the creation of the world, and all other divine operations (Prov 8:22).  For it were trifling and foolish to imagine any temporary command at a time when God was pleased to execute his fixed and eternal counsel, and something more still mysterious.  To this our Savior's words refer, 'My Father worketh hitherto, and I work' (John 5:17).  In thus affirming, that from the foundation of the world he constantly worked with the Father, he gives a clearer explanation of the what Moses simply touched.  The meaning therefore is, that God spoke in such a manner as left the Word his peculiar part in the work, and thus made the operation common to both.  But the clearest explanation is given by John, when he states that the Word - which was from the beginning, God and with God, was, together with God the Father, the maker of all things.  For he both attributes a substantial and permanent essence to the Word, assigning to it a certain peculiarity, and distinctly showing how God spoke the world into being.  Therefore, as all revelations from heaven are duly designated by the title of the word of God, so the highest place must be assigned to that substantial Word, the source of all inspiration, which, as being liable to no variation, remains forever one and the same with God, and is God" (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1.13.7)

John Calvin on the Three Persons of God

"While [God] proclaims his unity, he distinctly sets it before us as existing in three persons.  These we must hold, unless the bare and empty name of Deity merely is to flutter in our brain without any genuine knowledge.  Moreover, lest any one should dream of a threefold God, or think that the simple essence is divided by the three persons, we must here seek a brief and easy definition which may effectually guard us from error.  But as some strongly [rail] against the term person as being merely of human invention, let us first consider how far they have any ground for doing so.  When the apostle calls the Son of God 'the express image of his person' (Her 1:3), he undoubtedly does assign to the Father some subsistence in which he differs from the Son.  For to hold with some interpreters that the term is equivalent to essence (as if Christ represented the substance of the Father like the impression of a seal upon wax), were not only harsh but absurd.  For the essence of God being simple and undivided, and contained in himself entire, in full perfection, without partition or [being diminished], it is improper, no ridiculous, to call it his express image χαρακτήρ (character).  But because the Father, though distinguished by his own peculiar properties, has expressed himself wholly in the Son, he is said with perfect reason to have rendered his person (hypostasis) manifest in him.  And this aptly accords with what is immediately added, i.e., that he is 'the brightness of his glory.'  The fair inference from the apostle's words is, that there is a proper subsistence (hypostasis) of the Father, which shines [radiantly] in the Son.  From this, again it is easy to infer that there is a subsistence (hypostasis) of the Son which distinguishes him from the Father.  The same holds in the case of the Holy Spirit; for we will immediately prove both that he is God, and that he has a separate subsistence from the Father.  This, moreover, is not a distinction of essence, which it were [lacking reverence for God] to multiply.  If credit, then, is given to the apostle's testimony, it follows that there are three persons (hypostases) in God" (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion).

J.C. Ryle on Christ as Our All in All

"Is Christ all?  Then let all His converted people deal with Him as if they really believed it.  Let them lean on Him and trust Him far more than they have ever done yet.  Alas, there are many of the Lord's people who live far below their privileges!  There are many truly Christian souls who rob themselves of their own peace and forsake their own mercies.  There are many who insensibly join their own faith, or the work of the Spirit in their own hearts, to Christ, and so miss the fullness of gospel peace. There are many who make little progress in their pursuit of holiness and shine with a very dim light.  And why is all this?  Simply because in nineteen cases out of twenty men do not make Christ all in all.

"Now I call on every reader of this message who is a believer, I beseech them for his own sake, to make sure that Christ is really and thoroughly his all in all.  Beware of allowing yourself to mingle anything of your own with Christ.

"Have you faith?  It is a priceless blessing.  Happy indeed are they who are willing and ready to trust Jesus.  But take heed you do not make a Christ of your faith.  Rest not on your own faith, but on Christ.

"Is the work of the Spirit in your soul?  Thank God for it.  It is a work that shall never be overthrown.  But oh, beware lest, unawares to yourself, you make a Christ of the work of the Spirit!  Rest not on the work of the Spirit, but on Christ.

"Have you any inward feelings of religion, and experience of grace?  Thank God for it.  Thousands have no more religious feeling than a cat or dog.  But oh, beware lest you make a Christ of your feelings and sensations!  They are poor, uncertain things and sadly dependent on our bodies and outward circumstances.  Rest not a grain of weight on your feelings.  Rest only on Christ.

"Learn, I entreat you, to look more and more at the great object of faith, Jesus Christ and to keep your mind dwelling on Him.  So doing you would find faith and all the other graces grow, though the growth at the time might be imperceptible to yourself.  He that would prove a skillful archer must look not at the arrow, but at the mark" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle of Joining Anything with Christ

"Is Christ all?  Then learn the enormous folly of joining anything with Christ in the matter of salvation.  There are multitudes of baptized men and women who profess to honor Christ, but in reality do Him great dishonor.  They give Christ a certain place in their system of religion, but not the place which God intended Him to fill.  Christ alone is not all in all to their souls.  No!  It is either Christ and the church, or Christ and the sacraments, or Christ and His ordained ministers, or Christ and their own repentance, or Christ and their own goodness, or Christ and their own prayers, or Christ and their own sincerity and charity, on which they practically rest their souls.

"If any reader of this message is a Christian of this kind, I warn him also plainly, that his religion is an offense to God.  You are changing God's plan of salvation into a plan of your own devising.  You are in effect deposing Christ from His throne, by giving the glory due to Him to another.

"I care not who it is that teaches such religion, and on whose word you build.  Whether they be pope or cardinal, archbishop or bishop, dean or archdeacon, presbyter or deacon, Episcopalian or Presbyterian, Baptist or Independent, Wesleyan or Plymouth brother, whoever adds anything to Christ, teaches you wrong.

"Take heed what you are doing.  Beware of giving to Christ's servants the honor due to none but Christ.  Beware of giving the Lord's ordinances the honor due unto the Lord.  Beware of resting the burden of your soul on anything but Christ, and Christ alone" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on Mercy Without Christ

"I warn you plainly that all notions and theories about God being merciful without Christ, and excepting through Christ, are belles delusions and empty fancies.  Such theories are as purely an idol of man's invention act he idol of Juggernaut.  They are all of the earth, earthly.  They never came down from heaven.  The God of heaven has sealed and appointed Christ as the one and only Savior and way of life, and all who would be saved must be content to be saved by Him, or they will never be saved at all" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on Christ as All in Heaven

"Like the altar in Solomon's temple, Christ crucified will be the grand object in heaven.  That altar struck the eye of everyone who entered the temple gates.  It was a great bronze altar, twenty cubits broad, as broad as the front of the temple itself (2 Chron. 3:4; 4:1).  So in like manner will Jesus fill the eyes of all who enter glory.  In the midst of the throne, and surrounded by adoring angels and saints, there will be 'the Lamb that was slain.'  And 'the Lamb shall be the light of the place' (Rev. 5:6; 21:23).

"The praise of the Lord Jesus, will be the eternal song of all the inhabitants of heaven.  They will say with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain . . . Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever' (Rev. 5:12, 13).

"The service of the Lord Jesus will be one eternal occupation of all the inhabitants of heaven.  We shall 'serve Him day and night in His temple' (Rev. 7:15).  Blessed is the thought that we shall at length attend on Him without distraction, and work for Him without weariness.

"The presence of Christ Himself shall be one everlasting enjoyment of the inhabitants of heaven.  We shall see His face, and hear His voice, and speak with Him as friend with friend (Rev. 22:4).  Sweet is the thought that whoever may be at the marriage supper, the Master Himself will be there.  His presence will satisfy all our wants (Ps. 17:15).

J.C. Ryle on Holiness (Part 2)

J.C. Ryle on Holiness (Part 1)

"Would you be holy?  Then Christ is the manna you must daily eat, like Israel in the wilderness of old.  Would you be holy?  Then Christ must be the rock from which you must daily drink the living water.  Would you be holy?  Then you must be ever looking unto Jesus, looking at His cross, and learning fresh motives for a closer walk with God, looking at His example, and taking Him for your pattern.  Looking at Him, you would be come like Him.  Looking at Him, your face would shine without your knowing it.  Look less at yourself and more at Christ, and you will find besetting sins dropping off and leaving you, and your eyes enlightened more and more every day (Heb. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18).

"The true secret of coming up out of the wilderness is to come up leaning on the Beloved (Song 8:5). The true way to be strong is to realize our weakness, and to feel that Christ must be all.  The true way to grow in grace is to make use of Christ as a fountain for every minute's necessities.  We ought to employ Him as the prophet's wife employed the oil - not only to pay our debts, but to live on also.  We should strive to be able to say, 'The life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me' (2 Kings 4:7; Gal. 2:20).

"I pity those who try to be holy without Christ!  Your labor is all in vain.  You are putting money in a bag with holes.  You are pouring water into a sieve.  You are rolling a huge round stone uphill.  You are building up a wall with untempered mortar.  Believe me, you are beginning at the wrong end.  You must come to Christ first, and He shall give you His sanctifying Spirit.  You must learn to say with Paul, 'I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me' (Phil. 4:13)" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on Holiness (Part 1)

"Christ is not only all in the justification of a true Christian, but He is also all in his sanctification.  I would not have anyone misunderstand me.  I do not mean for a moment to undervalue the work of the Spirit.  But this I say, that no man is ever holy until he comes to Christ and is united to Him.  Until then his works are dead works, and he has no holiness at all.  First you must be joined to Christ, and then you shall be holy.  'Without Him, separate form Him, you can do nothing' (John 15:5).

"And no man can grow in holiness except he abides in Christ.  Christ is the great root from which every believer must draw his strength to go forward.  The Spirit is His special gift, His purchased gift for His people.  A believer must not only 'receive Christ Jesus the Lord' but 'walk in Him, and be rooted and built up in Him' (Col. 2:6, 7)" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on a Sinner's Justification Before God

"Christ is all in a sinner's justification before God.  Through Him alone we can have peace with a holy God.  By Him alone we can have admission into the presence of the Most High, and stand there without fear.  'We have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.'  In Him alone can God be just, and justify the ungodly (Eph. 3:12; Rom. 3:26).

"With which can any mortal man come before God?  What can we bring as a plea for acquittal before that glorious Being, in whose eyes the very heavens are not clean?

"Shall we say that we have done our duty to God?  Shall we say that we have done our duty to our neighbor?  Shall we bring forward our prayers, our regularity, our morality, our amendments, our churchgoing?  Shall we ask to be accepted because of any of these?

"Which of these things will stand the searching inspection of God's eye?  Which of them will actually justify us?  Which of them will carry us clear through judgment and land us safe in glory?

"None, none, none!  Take any commandment of the ten, and let us examine ourselves by it.  We have broken it repeatedly.  We cannot answer God one of thousand.  Take any of us, and look narrowly into our ways, and we are nothing but sinners.  There is but one verdict; we are all guilty, all deserve hell, all ought to die.  With which can we come before God?

"We must come in the name of Jesus, standing on no other ground, passing no other plea than this: "Christ died on the cross for the ungodly, and I trust in Him.  Christ died for me, and I believe on Him.'  The garment of our Elder Brother, the righteousness of Christ, this is the only robe which can cover us, and enable us to stand in the light of heaven without shame.

"The name of Jesus is the only name by which we shall obtain an entrance through the gate of eternal glory.  If we come to that gate in our own names, we are lost, we shall not be admitted, we shall knock in vain.  If we come in the name of Jesus, it is a passport and shibboleth, and we shall enter and live.

"The mark of the blood of Christ is the only mark that can save us from destruction.  When the angels are separating the children of Adam in the last day, if we are not found marked with that atoning blood, we had better never have been born.

"Oh, let us never forget that Christ must be all to that soul who would be justified!  We must be content to go to heaven as beggars, saved by free grace, simply as believers in Jesus, or we shall never be saved at all" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on Christ in the Law and Wilderness Miracles

"It was Christ who was the substance of the ceremonial law which God gave to Israel by the hand of Moses.  The morning and evening sacrifice, the continual shedding of blood, the altar, the mercy-seat, the high priest, the passover, the day of atonement, the scapegoat - all these were so many pictures, types and emblems of Christ and His work.  God had compassion upon the weakness of His people.  He taught them Christ, line upon line, and, as we teach little children, by similitudes.  It was in this sense especially that 'the law was a schoolmate to read' the Jews 'unto Christ' (Gal. 3:24).

"It was Christ to whom God directed the attention of Israel by all the daily miracles which were done before their eyes in the wilderness.  The pillar of cloud and fire which guided them, the manna from heaven which every morning fed them, the water from the smitten rock - all and each were figures of Christ.  The bronze serpent, on the memorable occasion when the plague of fiery serpents was sent upon them, was an emblem of Christ (1 Cor. 10:4; John 3:14)" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on Christ through Abraham and Jacob

"It was Christ to whom Abraham looked when he dwelt in tents in the land of promise.  He believed that in his seed, in one born of his family, all the nations of the earth should be blessed.  By faith he saw Christ's day, and was glad (John 8:56).

"It was Christ of whom Jacob spoke to his sons, as he lay dying.  He marked out the tribe out of which He would be born, and foretold that 'gathering together' unto Him which is yet to be accomplished.  'The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be' (Gen. 49:10)" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on Christ in Every Old Testament Sacrifice

"It was Christ crucified who was set forth in every Old Testament sacrifice.  Every animal slain and offered on an altar was a practical confession that a Savior was looked for who would die for sinners - a Savior who should take away man's sin, by suffering, as his Substitute and Sin-bearer, in his stead (1 Peter 3:18).  It is absurd to suppose that an unmeaning slaughter of innocent beasts, without a distant object in view, could please the eternal God!

"It was Christ to whom Abel looked when he offered a better sacrifice than Cain.  Not only was the heart of Abel better than that of his brother, but he showed his knowledge of vicarious sacrifice and his faith in an atonement.  He offered the firstlings of his flock, with the blood thereof, and in so doing declared his belief that without shedding of blood there is no remission (Heb. 11:4)" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

Judging

Joseph Stowell once wrote, “Discernment in Scripture is the skill that enables us to differentiate.  It is the ability to see issues clearly.  We desperately need to cultivate this spiritual skill that will enable us to know right from wrong.  We must be prepared to distinguish light from darkness, truth from error, best from better, righteousness from unrighteousness, purity from defilement, and principles from pragmatics.”

The disciple of Christ is called to judge rightly.  This is not a judging of people, but of the teaching from leaders, pastors, and other disciples of Christ.  In John 7:14-24 Jesus provides us with practical ways to judge rightly between right and wrong, truth from error, and light from dark. What is God’s Word really saying?  How can we discern between truth and error?  And how can we know that Jesus’ words are truth?

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we search the words of Christ for truth and seek to cultivate the skill of discernment in our own walk with Christ.  May we be prayerfully prepared to encounter God this week and allow him to mold, change, and encourage us in our faith.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Pastor Mark

J.C. Ryle on the Revelation of the Christ

"There came a time when the world seemed sunk and buried in ignorance of God  After four thousand years the nations of the earth appeared to have clean forgotten the God that made them.  Egyptian, Assyrian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires had done nothing but spread superstition and idolatry.  Poets, historians, philosophers had proved that, with all their intellectual powers, they had no right knowledge of God, and that man, left to himself, was utterly corrupt.  'The world, by wisdom, knew not God' (1 Cor. 1:21).  Excepting a few despised Jews in a corner of the earth, the whole world was dead in ignorance and sin.

"And what did Christ do then?

"He left the glory He had had from all eternity with the Father, and came down into the world to provide a salvation.  He took our nature upon Him and was born as a man.  As a man He did the will of God perfectly, which we all had left undone; as a man He suffered on the cross the wrath of God which we ought to have suffered.  He brought in everlasting righteousness for us.  He redeemed us from the curse of a broken law.  He opened a fountain for all sin and uncleanness.  He died for our sins.  He rose again for our justification.  He ascended to God's right hand, and there sat down, waiting until His enemies should be made His footstool.  And there He sits now, offering salvation to all who will come to Him, interceding for all who believe in Him, and managing by God's appointment all that concerns the salvation of souls" (J.C. Ryle, Holiness).

J.C. Ryle on Christ and the Fall

"There came a day when sin entered the world.  Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and fell.  They lost that holy nature in which they were first formed.  They forfeited the friendship and favor of God, and became guilty, corrupt, helpless, hopeless sinners.  Sin came as a barrier between themselves and their holy Father in heaven.  Had He dealt with them according to their deserts, there had been nothing before them but death, hell, and everlasting ruin.

"And where was Christ then?

"In that very day He was revealed to our trembling parents as the only hope of salvation.  The very day they fell, they were told that the seed of the woman should yet bruise the serpent's head, that a Savior born of a woman should overcome the devil, and win for sinful man an entrance to eternal life (Gen. 3:15).  Christ was held up as the true light of the world, in the very day of the Fall; and never has any name been made known from that day by which souls could be saved, excepting His By Him all saved souls have entered heaven, from Adam downwards; and without Him none have ever escaped hell" (J.C. Ryle, Holiness).

Dining on the Bread of Life

“In the 1930s the most famous living author was William Somerset Maugham.  He was an accomplished novelist, a great playwright, and a short story writer.

“In 1965 Maugham was ninety-one years old and fabulously wealthy.  Royalties were continuing to pour in from all over the world despite the fact that he had not written a word in years. . . He was experiencing incredible success.  But how did Maugham respond to his success?  What had it brought to his life?”

An article written by Maugham’s nephew after he visited his uncle before his death gives some insight.

“I looked round the drawing room at the immensely valuable furniture and pictures and objects that Willie’s success had enabled him to acquire. . . Willie had 11 servants . . . He dined on silver plates . . . But it no longer meant anything to him.  The following afternoon, I found Willie reclining on a sofa, peering through his spectacles at a Bible which had very large print.  He looked horribly wizened, and his face was grim. ‘I’ve been reading the Bible you gave me . . . and I’ve come across the quotation: “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul?”  I must tell you, my dear Robin, that the text used to hang opposite my bed when I was a child . . . Of course, it’s all a lot of bunk.  But the thought is quite interesting all the same.’  That evening, in the drawing room after dinner, Willie flung himself down onto the sofa.  ‘Oh, Robin, I’m so tired . . .’  He gave a gulp and buried his head in his hands.  ‘I’ve been a failure the whole way through my life,’ he said.  ‘I’ve made mistake after mistake.  I’ve made a hash of everything.’  I tried to comfort him  ‘You’re the most famous writer alive.  Surely that means something?’  ‘I wish I’d never written a single word,’ he answered.  ‘It’s brought me nothing but misery. . . .Everyone who’s got to know me well has ended up by hating me. . . . My whole life has been a failure. . . . And now it’s too late to change.  It’s too late. . . .’  Willie looked up, and his grip tightened on my hands.  He was staring towards the floor.  His face was contorted with fear, and he was trembling violently.  Willie’s face was ashen as he stared in horror ahead of him.  Suddenly, he began to shriek.  ‘Go away!’ he cried.  ‘I’m not ready. . . .  I’m not dead yet. . . . I’m not dead yet, I tell you. . . .’  His high-pitched, terror-struck voice seemed to echo from wall to wall.  I looked around, but the room was empty as before.  ‘There’s no one there, Willie.’  Willie began to gasp hysterically” (R. Kent Hughes).

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we look at what John 6:22-59 tells us about Jesus being the Bread of life and the joy of having eternal life through Him alone. 

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Pastor Mark

Children in the Storms of Life

In 1789 Rev. John Newton, the author of the famous hymn Amazing Grace, played a major role in the difficult effort to abolish slavery in the British Empire.  But in the midst of that effort a much more difficult circumstance occurred when Polly, his wife of forty years, became very ill.  For nearly eighteen months her condition slowly worsened and each day became an agonizing wait for her death.  On December 15, 1790, Polly Newton died after a long, painful, and strenuous battle. 

The same day Polly passed away, John Newton was visiting the sick in his church and preparing for the sermon he would give the following Sunday.  He even gave the eulogy at Polly’s funeral, something that was looked down upon by the people of that time.  Many saw John’s actions as uncaring and unloving, but it was far from the truth.

John Newton struggled through an eighteen-month storm, slowly watching the life of his wife ebb away.  That storm could have easily turned him away from God, but instead his faith increased and his love and reliance upon God strengthened.  So much so that he was able to move forward in life quickly, knowing he would see her again and that the Father would be his constant strength and rescuer in times of need.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we look at John 6:16-21.  In this passage Jesus walks on the water in the midst of a storm, while his disciples struggle through the wind and waves to get their boat to shore.  May we be prayerfully prepared to discover how the Father takes care of his children in the midst of the storms of life, even when those children are sinking under the waves.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Pastor Mark

Easter Morning

What else is there to say?  We serve a risen Savior!

Believing Jesus

Well, it’s political season.  That time of the year when politicians say what the voters want to hear in hopes of getting elected.  In reality, though, it truly is a crapshoot whether they can or will deliver on their promises once they are elected.  But people like what they hear and so they vote with high expectations.

In the times of Jesus the Jews were no different.  Many within the Jewish community followed leaders who promised big because that is exactly what the people wanted to hear.  These leaders promised easy victory and political and material power.  So, many rallied behind these leaders with high expectations.

But Christ came promising a cross, not political and material power.  And the victory he promised was not easy, but very difficult and self-sacrificing.  This is not what the people, especially the religious leadership, wanted to hear.  So, Christ was rejected.

What are our expectations of Christ?  What are Christ’s expectations of us?  What does true discipleship and Christian belief look like when it comes to glory and faith?  Join us this week as we hear the words of Christ in John 5:41-47 and learn from the example He made of those who opposed Him.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark