They Refused to Believe

Imagine for a moment that the elderly man on your block stated that he walked on the moon. What would it take for you to believe him? What if he showed you a strange rock that he claimed was from the moon? Strange rocks can be found anywhere. What if he showed you a picture of astronauts and claimed he was the one in the middle? How could you be sure after so many years that it was him in the photo, and even if that was a photo of him in his youth, couldn’t it just be Photo Shopped in? What if he had a spacesuit? Couldn’t that have been bought at an auction? What about a letter from the President? How could you know it wasn’t forged? What if he showed you all these things? As the evidence piles up, it starts becoming more and more compelling.

This week we are looking at the last half of John 12. Jesus has presented a mountain of evidence to back up his claim that he and the Father are one, but some still refused to believe. Join us as we look at who saw the signs, who believed, who didn’t, and what it means for us.

In Christ,

Chappy

Outcast for Obedience

Have you ever felt like you were outside of the group? No matter what you did or said, it seemed like you were only pushed farther and farther away? Jesus kept all the commands of God, and he always did whatever was asked of him by his Father. But the teachers of the Law and the leaders of the people God called to be his own, hated him for it. The more Jesus demonstrated obedience to God, the more he grew at odds with the people set apart to be the example of obedience. Jesus should have been praised for the life he lived; instead, he was hated and rejected.

Join us this week as we look at second half of John 11 and the plot to kill Jesus.

In Christ,

Chappy

I Am the Resurrection

Throughout Jesus’ ministry his works have testified about him. For those who have followed Jesus, heard his claims, and seen his works, the picture is becoming clearer. Though, some may still be wonder who Jesus is. Is he a prophet, or is this Elijah returned, or perhaps the long-awaited messiah? This week Jesus declares something that cannot be said about any other human, and then provides a testimony of his claim by performing a miracle that no one else could ever do. 

Join us this week as we look at John 11 and see Jesus before the tomb of Lazarus.

In Christ, 

Chappy

I and the Father

When I was a youth, my cousin said he was going to play in the NBA. It wasn’t that he stated he wanted to play, or that he was trying to play, but he emphatically declared he would play at the professional level. With serious doubt, but also with a little curiosity, I asked how he could be so sure. Without missing a beat, he began to list his stats and compared them to Michael Jordan. Now my cousin was just a freshman playing JV at his high school. He wasn’t playing for a school that was known to be in a difficult league and he wasn’t even playing half the time per game as Jordan, but if you ignored all of that, my cousin had the same shot percentage as his hero.

While perhaps a little overconfident, my cousin did understand that it’s easy to say something is true, but it’s something else to back up those claims. What my cousin didn’t seem to understand is that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Your shot percentage in JV basketball, no matter how good it is, isn’t enough to get you in the NBA.

This week we look at an extraordinary claim Jesus made in John 10. However, Jesus, as the expression goes, came with receipts. Join us as we look at what Jesus profoundly declares about himself and the evidence he brings to back up his claim.

In Christ,

Chappy

Triumphal Entry

When I was a young junior officer, it was a big deal when an Admiral or General came to visit. Ships would get fresh paint, lawns would be immaculately manicured, and anything looking broken or in disarray would be repaired or replaced. Anything and everything to give the impression that every square inch of the base and ships were professionally maintained. On one such occasion, one of my sailors observing a working party repainting the red fire zone paint on a curb quipped, “I wonder if admirals know curb paint doesn’t always look like it was just painted?”

When we are expecting company, we want to give a good impression. And the more importance we credit to our guest the more extravagantly we prepare for their arrival. I think most of us would stay up all night cleaning if we were told our favorite celebrity was coming to our house for a visit tomorrow. Or how much care would you take planning dinner if you knew the CEO of your company was joining you? What do you think you would do if a king were coming to your town? And not just any king, but the long-anticipated savior that would free you and your people from a brutal occupation?

Jesus had just finished his seventh sign according to John - raising Lazarus from the dead after his spirit had departed. Word of this unprecedented miracle had reached the massive crowd gathering for the Passover Festival in Jerusalem. Soon Jesus would be making his way to the city to join the festival and the crowd heard he was coming. What was the crowd going to do? How would the Jewish leaders respond? Join us this Sunday as Pastor Vaughn leads us through John 12:12-19, Jesus’ triumphant entry.

In Christ,

Chappy

What was the Feast of Booths?

The Feast of Booths went by several names though Israel’s history: Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Ingathering. It was a major cultural event celebrated every year in Israel beginning after the completion of grain threshing and pressing grapes, on the fifteenth day of Tishri (the seventh lunar month, which falls in late September to late October). By God’s command through Moses the feast was the last of the seven feasts described in the Pentateuch and one of the three great feast which the people were expected to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Detailed instructions directed how the festival was supposed to be observed. It was a seven-day festival, with a Sabbath rest and sacred assembly on the first and eighth days. On the first day the people were to take branches from palms, willows, and other luxuriant trees and rejoice before the Lord. Then they were to take the branches and build booths in which to live for the week so their descendants would know that they lived in booths as they wandered through the desert when God brought them out of Egypt. Every seventh year, the Jubilee, the high priest was to read the law to the whole assembly of Israel. (Lexham Bible Dictionary)

It was in this context that Jesus would make bold proclamations about his authority (Jn 7:17), where he was from (Jn 7:29), and who he was (Jn 7:38). Join us this week as we look at Jesus and the Feast of Booths.

In Christ,

Chappy

Thrice Declared

As a child, I often would not immediately comply with my parents’ wishes for me to do my chores. I frequently made them repeat their instructions before I complied.  On occasion, they would tell me a third time. If they told me three times, I knew that I needed to pay very close attention to their instructions and immediately fulfill them because there would not be a fourth time.

In the passage of John 6:22-59, Jesus is addressing a crowd of people following him for several reasons. Some were his devoted followers, some were seeking to kill him, but many were looking for a handout. Jesus’ purpose wasn’t to give food to fill people’s bellies; he came to provide the bread of life. His words to the crowd are, in part, a rebuke of their motives, and this speech causes many to turn away.

During this short section, Jesus says a phrase three times, “I will raise him up on the last day.” (Jn 6:40, 44, 54) Jesus is clear, anyone who comes to Jesus and believes in him will have eternal life, but Jesus is also clear that he and he alone will raise the dead to life. This power to save from death cannot be found in any created thing. Thrice he warned the crowd, and after this many of his disciples even turned back and no longer walked with him (Jn 6:66.) Reader listen carefully, pay very close attention to Christ’s words, and do not delay your response. Our Lord declared thrice that he would raise the dead. Have you declared him as your savior?

In Christ,

Chappy

All I Have

I remember a story on the news a few years ago about a fire that had started on the side of the highway. A passerby pulled her car over, grabbed a few 12oz water bottles, and began dowsing, or perhaps more accurately sprinkling, the fire before it got out of control. It would have been easy to criticize this woman’s act. How could a few small bottles of water extinguish a fire? Didn’t she know that wouldn’t do anything? Why was she even trying? But then, someone else pulled over with a Camelbak full of water, and another with more bottles of water. More and more vehicles stopped offering help. When the fire department showed up, there were Jerry Cans, water bottles, canteens, and an assortment of other emptied containers that mitigated the fire until the firefighters were able to completely put out the blaze. This woman’s small act sparked a response in others that accomplished far more than she was able to do.

John 6:1-15 tells the story of Jesus’ fourth sign. He demonstrated his power over the natural order by miraculously turning five loaves and two fish into an abundance of food that fed 5,000 families and then filled 12 baskets with the leftover bread. Something quite remarkable happened, however, just before this miracle: a boy offered the bread and fish. I imagine Andrew patronizingly thanked the boy for his donation. After all, “what are they for so many?” Jesus, on the other hand, had different plans.

God wants us to partner with Him in his plan to bring His kingdom to Earth. There is no way anything you or I could do, could possibly accomplish such a feat. But, when we are willing to give God all that we have, He opens the flood gates of heaven and accomplishes far more than we could ever imagine.

In Christ,

Chappy

Bearing Witness

The Scriptures cannot save you.

That statement may initially shock you, but let its reality sink in. The Scriptures state that Salvation comes from the Lord (Ps 62:1, Jon 2:9,) not from the Scriptures. Paul writes we are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8), not by how much of the Scriptures we memorized or how many Bible Studies we attend. It is true that we are commanded to read and meditate on the Scriptures. And, if you want to be a Christ follower, then you will have to study the Bible to know what you have been commanded to do. None the less, we are not saved by our own effort to learn, teach, or follow the Scriptures; the Scriptures cannot save you.

Some of the Jews in Jesus’ day believed they had the secret to eternal life because they had the Scriptures. Jesus confronts them with this truth: eternal life is not found in the Scriptures; rather, the Scriptures lead us to the one in whom life is found. Jesus declares the Scriptures witnessed about him (Jn 5:39.)

What is your approach when reading the Scriptures? Do you need to start spending time with the Scriptures so you may be lead to the one in whom life is found? Do you read Scripture with the belief that hidden in them is the secret to eternal life? Or, do you approach humbly and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what the passage your reading reveals about God, about His creation, and how we should apply that truth to our lives?

In Christ,

Chappy

Yes, but...

There’s a story about a young man who, after reading how God spared Noah and his family from the flood, prayed that he would have the faith of Noah. That very night, he watched as the news reported a massive storm was coming; everyone in his town needed to evacuate to avoid a great flood. The young man knew this was his opportunity, so he began to pray and fast that God would save him. Later, as storm clouds began to gather, a fire truck drove through announcing the town was under evacuation and assisting anyone who needed extra help. The young man prayed more fervently that God would save him. The flood waters eventually came, and the man had to move to the second floor. He was looking out his window when a police boat came trying to save anyone still stranded. The young man prayed that he would not lose faith and recommitted to his prayer for God to save him. Finally, the young man had to climb on his roof to avoid the rising waters. A Coast Guard helicopter spotted him and told him to take hold of their ladder because this would be his last chance. The young man boldly refused and declared that his God would save him. A few moments later his house collapsed, and he was sucked into the torrent of water below and died.

When the young man stood before God, he was rather indignant. “God, I don’t understand! I believed, I prayed, and I publicly declared that you would save me, but you let me drown. Why?”

God, puzzled by the man’s accusation replied, “I sent you a news report, a fire truck, a police boat, and a Coast Guard helicopter. What else did you expect me to do?”

The invalid man we encounter in John 5 had been waiting for 38 years for an opportunity to receive healing. Then one day, one who had mastery over creation stood before him and asked if he wanted healing. Instead of accepting, “Yes, please,” the man objects, “Yes, but…” He was so focused on the obstacles preventing him from reaching the healing waters that he failed to recognize the source of the healing.

Does God’s miraculous, transforming, saving grace seem illusive? Maybe you have a preconceived notion of how God will or will not work in your life. Let us neither overlook the ordinary nor discount the extraordinary when it comes to how God chooses to answer our prayer.

In Christ,

Chappy

The Second Sign

What makes a "good" sign? Attractive colors? Pretty font? A fresh design? Or something more familiar? While these things can certainly improve a sign (or if done poorly detract from it) what ultimately determines whether a sign is good or not is if it conveys the idea or knowledge for which it was created to share. Signs are made for a purpose. Good signs convey their intended meaning, bad signs do not. No matter how beautiful or legible or interesting an exit sign is, it's a terrible sign if it doesn't direct you to an exit.

Pastor Vaughn and I are talking a lot about signs as we progress through our study on John. It was, after all, a central component of John's purpose for writing the Gospel account. (Jn 20:31) We know Jesus performed many other miracles during his Earthly ministry than the few John appropriates as "signs." It is only natural to ask, "Why did he select these ones?" What makes these miracles important enough to single out from the rest of Jesus' works? These miracles are set apart not to emphasize the supernatural act, but what the miracle revealed about Jesus. These signs reveal his glory and point to who Jesus is. 

In this week’s study, Jesus told the official his son would live, and the boy recovered that very hour. (Jn 4:50-53) From this miracle, the official and his entire household believed that Jesus was the Christ. At first the official believed Jesus’ words that his son would recover. But then he realized that the miracle Jesus performed was showing him that Jesus was the Christ. He then believed not only Jesus’ words, but he believed in Jesus himself. Jesus provided everything needed to prove his identity. It is up to us to decide if we follow the signs and believe in him or disregard them and be left on our own.

In Christ,

Chappy

True Worshipers

“The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.” (Jn 4:21, ESV)

Years ago, I used to do a lot of lap swimming. I liked to go early in the morning, but it wasn’t always possible because the swim team had the pool in the early hours. I had my googles, swim trunks and knew all the rules, but none of that mattered. If I wanted to swim while the team had the pool, I had to have my name written on the team roster.

In Jesus’ time so much of the Jewish understanding of their relation to God stemmed from their relation to physical things. The children of Abraham were God’s chosen people, The land of Israel was God’s promised land, Jerusalem was God’s holy city, Mt. Zion was God’s mountain, and the Jewish Temple was God’s dwelling place. But Jesus taught that God is spirit (Jn 3:5, 4:24). If we want to enter God’s Kingdom, we must be born of spirit and water. If we want to worship God, we must worship in spirit and truth.

Jesus’ teaching would have upset the order of things in Jewish society. The Jewish leaders had all the prerequisites and knew all the rules, but that isn’t what matters to God. If we want to be a part of God’s Kingdom, we must be spirit and have our names written in the Book of Life.

In Christ,

Chappy

Believe and Live

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (Jn 3:36 ESV)

The world-famous tightrope walker Charles Blondin staged a feat of his skill by suspending a rope 160 feet above Niagara Falls. After crossing the Falls several times with various props, he finally pushed a wheelbarrow while blindfolded. He addressed the stunned onlooking crowd with two questions. First, he asked if the crowed believed he could push a person across the span in the wheelbarrow. The crowd responded with a resounding, yes. Then he asked his second question, “Who will get in?”

The Greek word for belief used in the first part of John 3:36 can be interpreted also as “trust.” This form of trust is related to duty and has a nuance of obedience. This nuanced relationship makes the second part of the verse, “whoever does not obey,” seem more fitting. In combination, these two words create a literary parallel that places a strong emphasis on the Biblical understanding that belief in God and, in turn, Jesus is not simply a conceptual belief, but requires obedience.

It is also the same word Jesus used in his conversation with Nicodemus in Jn 3:16. The fourth Evangelist uses another literary parallel, this time emphasizing the connection between belief in the Son and eternal life. Jesus offers eternal life to anyone who believes in him, but do not deceive yourself. Jesus doesn’t ask us to only say we believe; he requires us to go all in.

In Christ,

Chappy

Show Me the Way

John 3:16 is probably the most memorized verse in all of Scripture. God loved us so much that he held nothing back, not even His own son. But the Son of God was not a gift for us to put on a shelf and admire; He was sent to save us from our self-made destruction.

When I was in middle school, I had a party at my house to mark the end of the school year. The directions to my house included 15 minutes of dirt roads. It was not an easy place to find, and the directions were very detailed. One of my friends missed a turn and they became hopelessly lost. I got a call about an hour after he was expected from an exasperated father. I could have tried to explain what he did wrong, or point out that everyone else had made it, or chide him for not calling sooner, but none of those things would have been helpful. Instead, I asked my mom to take me down to the house they were calling from, and I showed them the way.

All of us, like my friend, are hopelessly lost on our own. God gave us very detailed instructions on how to live so that we could be reunited with Him, but we have all missed a turn along the way. Jesus came to the world, not to point out what we did wrong or to condemn us for being lost; rather, he came to make and to show us the way home.

In Christ,

Chappy

#5 Belief

In our modern world, we are surrounded by a never-ending parade of “success” stories. Those who succeed are given platforms in the media and online. We give them permission to speak into our lives on all matters, no matter how unqualified they are. Think how many times someone we know feels comfortable trusting medical advice from a star athlete or financial advice from a TV personality yet questions the recommendations from their doctor or financial professional. The more meteoric the rise to success, the more we believe they should be trusted in all areas - until they are not. As quickly as society raises up a star, they will throw her to the curb when she fails.

We are a fickle people, and Jesus knew it. “Many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.”(Jn 2:23-24) The Greek in these two verses uses the same verb that we translate into the English words “believed” and “entrust.” John is contrasting the type of belief the people had in the signs with the true understanding Jesus possessed. Jesus did not believe in the people’s belief.

What are you believing in today? Are you jumping from new teaching to new teaching, or are you trusting in the tried-and-true lessons of the Scriptures? Are you obsessing over what’s currently trending on Twitter, or are you meditating on the eternal Word of God? Are you believing in people who are famously successful, or are you putting your belief in the One who knows all people?

In Christ,

Jonathon “Chappy” Swearingen

#4 Preconceived Notions

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5, ESV)

At a wedding celebration that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had been invited to, the hosts ran out of wine. This would have been embarrassing for anyone, but in this culture, it would have also diminished their standing in the community. Mary had full confidence in Jesus that he had the power to do something for the wedding hosts. Even though Jesus points out that there are valid reasons that he might not do something, Mary does not waiver in her conviction that he can do something. Mary neither objects nor demands how Jesus answers her request. She has stated her case with unwavering faith then cedes the initiative of action to Jesus. Her response is a simple yet profound confession of faith, “Do whatever he tells you.”

I must confess that I am prone to coming to God with a prayer request and a preconceived notion of how that request should be answered. Even before I bring my need to the one who has power to answer, I have already formulated my plan of how I will take care of the issue. Instead of humbly requesting guidance on how or even if I should proceed, I arrogantly demand a blessing on my plan which I have already decided I’m going to take. Not even the mother of our Lord had the power to dictate how Christ operated or the authority to restrict his freedom regarding his mission from the Father. How much more do we need to recognize our position when we come before our Lord and God?

When you pray about a decision, are you willing to take an option you don’t like if that is the direction God tells you to go? When you come in prayer with a need, are you willing to do whatever he tells you?

In Christ,

Jonathon “Chappy” Swearingen

#3 Lion or Lamb?

Have you known someone with a nickname that had a great story behind it? As a preschooler, I was known as "Little Mitch." My grandfather went by his last name, Mitchel, and anywhere he went, I was sure to be with him. If you saw Mitchel, you would likely find his shadow, Little Mitch, nearby.

Jesus had many titles given to him; most were related to his power and deity (Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Eternal Father, Christ, Messiah, the Lion of Judah) But, when John the Baptist sees Jesus, he declares, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn 1:29) Lions are fierce hunters, powerful, feared, and often a symbol of kings. The Lion became the symbol of the tribe of Judah because when Jacob blessed his children, he called Judah “a lion’s cub” (Ge 49:9) and declared that Judah’s tribe would rule with power. God promises David, a descendant of Judah, that his dynasty would be established forever (2 Sam 7.) The Jewish people were waiting for the Lion of Judah who would sit on the throne of David.

Lambs, in contrast, are gentle and need protection. They could be family pets, slaughtered for food, or source of wool, but in the Scriptures, we see another meaning: God provided a male lamb, or ram, as a sacrifice to substitute for Abraham’s son, Isaac (Ge 22.) Lambs were sacrificed to save the Hebrew slaves from the Angel of Death when God sent the tenth plague on Egypt (Ex 12.) And, God’s Law commanded lambs to be central to the sacrificial ritual.

John the Baptist was aware of Jesus’ mission as the Lion - and the Lamb. Many of the people and Jewish leaders missed the long-awaited King of the Jews because they were expecting the Lion but failed to recognize the Lamb of God.

Are you missing God because you’re expecting how God will appear instead of seeking his face?

In Christ,

Jonathon “Chappy” Swearingen

#2 Thoughts on John 1 - Part 2

Have you ever had someone close to you meet someone famous? Or maybe one of your children or a close friend finally had a conversation with their crush? Were they excited to tell you about the encounter? Maybe you were the one relating the events to those close to you? Why are we so eager to share even a chance encounter with a celebrity? How much more if our lives are in some way enhanced because of the meeting?

I once led a team of divers and technicians on a mission to ensure a partner nation’s port was clear of navigation hazards. After, as we were waiting for our ride to the airport from the hotel, a young movie star walked through the hotel lobby and into a limousine. One of the divers was quick to intercept the celebrity who was happy to stop and get pictures with the service men. What amazed me was how interested the actor was in what we were doing and had no real interest in talking about himself. He displayed a genuine interest in my team. Because he cared about us, I became a fan of his.

John met the most anticipated figure in Jewish history. John walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus and shared meals with him. John witnessed Jesus’ miracles, his frustrations, his tears and even his crucifixion. Jesus cared immensely for John, in fact for all of us, and was willing to die for him. John was so moved by this experience that he devoted the rest of his life to teaching others about the truth of who Jesus was. As Pastor Vaughn said on Sunday regarding John, “He wants us to see what he saw. He wants us to hear what he heard. And he wants us to come to the same conclusion that he did. That conclusion, he wants us to believe in Jesus and find life.”

In Christ,

Chappy

#1 Introduction to John

Historical records indicate The Gospel According to John was written sometime between 70-100AD (there are manuscripts of parts of John in Egypt dated to the year 100AD.) In 70AD Roman soldiers ransacked Jerusalem and completely destroyed the temple. When Jesus predicted that "not one stone would be left on another," it must have been hard to imagine how that could even be possible, but only a few decades later that is exactly what came to pass. John's target audience were a people without a temple, living under brutal occupation, and largely rejected by the religious leaders of their time.
The fourth Gospel account is unique in composition and material covered when compared to the first three Synoptic Gospel accounts. It was written for a church living in a different context and teaching a different set of oral traditions. The truth of the Good News remains the same, but John records aspects of Christ's ministry that were important to those he was ministering to. From the very beginning Christianity has been willing to sacrifice or adopt man-made traditions in order to make the truth of the Gospel message accessible to people.
Do you want a deeper relationship with Jesus, but there is a church practice or tradition preventing you? Reach out to Pastor Vaughn, me, or your local pastor and help us understand your situation.
In your local setting, are you possibly insisting on a routine, practice, or adiaphora (things of little consequence) that is preventing others from receiving the Gospel message? Pray the Holy Spirit would reveal where you are relying on what is familiar and comfortable instead of trusting in the Lord. Again reach out to your pastor and let us help you find a way to meet your neighbor where they are.

In Christ,

Chappy