Category Archives: Bible

Bible

The dragon in Revelation 12

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The dragon in Revelation 12 is clearly named in verse 9: “that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world“.

Verse 4 says: ” He swept down a third of the stars of heaven“. Verse 7 then explains: “The dragon and his angels”. The stars represent God’s angels. This means that there are twice as many angels as there are fallen angels or demons who rebelled with Satan against God’s orders (Revelation 12:4, 9).

The devil is weaker than we think and is already in a lost position.

Bible, Jesus

No one ever spoke like this man

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If you listen to Jesus properly, you will understand who he is. But whether you get involved with him is another question. People like to make decisions based on predispositions.

The incident in John 7 shows us this: in verse 31 the listeners recognise that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) sent by God. The Pharisees, on the other hand, send their servants to bring him to them. They do not want to go to Jesus. The servants are unable to arrest him (verse 44). When they returned, they confessed: “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46).

Nicodemus says to the prejudiced Pharisees: “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” But their prejudice is clear: “No prophet arises from Galilee“. They don’t want to hear the real facts. They also argue that the elite do not believe him (verse 48).

Even today people make judgements about the Bible and Jesus without really listening or argue that no educated person believes today.

It is a decision not to engage with God at all. The other question is whether you want to accept Jesus for who he is. The Messiah sent by God – the Christ who brings us into a new relationship with the heavenly Father.

Bible

Jesus satiates thirst and life bubbles over

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The Feast of Tabernacles marked the beginning of the rainy season in Israel. On the last day of the feast, water was taken from the pool of Siloam in a procession and poured on the temple altar to ask for life-giving rain.

In the midst of this ceremony Jesus cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38).

In Jeremiah 17:13, God is described as a fountain of living water. Also in Jeremiah 2:13.

Through Jesus, divine life comes into us and flows out of us.

This is done by the Holy Spirit. John writes in John 7:39, “Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive”.

In Revelation 22:17 Jesus says: “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”

Bible, Jesus

In the Scriptures we can see God’s will for us

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At the Feast of Tabernacles in the autumn, Jesus spoke to the participants. Some asked, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” (John 7:15).

Jesus replied, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood” (John 7:17-18).

Jesus points out two things:

Those who seek God discover how God speaks to us through the study of the Scriptures. Those who rebel against God are blocked.

Those who take themselves on focus and their scholarship are not speaking in God’s name.

The revealing of Scripture in daily life is the source of divine power and comfort.

Bible, Jesus

You have the words of eternal life

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Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69)

Not all the listeners understood Jesus’ message that faith means that the kingdom of God dawns through those who believe. They turned away from Jesus.

Jesus also asks the disciples if they want to go as well. Peter sums up the meaning of faith very well. Even if we do not understand everything, we trust Jesus because in him we meet God, and he gives us eternal life.

Bible, Jesus

This is a hard saying

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“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (John 6:56) – no wonder people distance themselves from Jesus.  “This is a hard saying” (John 6:60).

The context of John 6 is important. The listeners ask: What should we do? (28) Jesus replies: Believe in me (29). To which the listeners replied: How do you prove to us that you are the promised prophet? Moses gave us bread from heaven (30-31).

Now Jesus takes up this illustration. “I am the bread of life” (35).

Those who desire for a life with God receive Jesus into their lives and he becomes part of us, just as bread and drink feed our bodies.

Through us, the kingdom of God becomes visible.

Not all listeners understand the message of Jesus. They get stuck in the literal sense and do not understand the spiritual message.

Even if we (flesh and blood) do not understand everything, trust in Him (=faith) is the key.

Bible

Excited and then in the middle of the storm

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Jesus’ disciples were still full of joy of the wonder of the multiplication of the loaves (John 6). Then a storm follows on the lake, and they are afraid.

It is like a picture of our faith. We have an overwhelming experience of faith, are full of joy and enthusiasm, feel God very close, only a short time passes, and we are in the middle of the storm and find ourselves in difficult situations in the darkness and God’s closeness seems very far away.

Jesus follows the disciples from behind and says: “It is I; do not be afraid.” (John 6:20)

In the midst of many worries, problems and difficulties that shake the sea of our lives, Jesus calls to us: Trust me, it is I; do not be afraid! I haven’t lost sight of you.

Ups and downs are there to grow our trust in Him.

Bible

Not a bread king

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Jesus was not impressed or seduced by a crowd that wanted to make him king (John 6:15). This crowd was willing to support Jesus as long as he gave them what they wanted – bread.

But Jesus wants to accomplish the will of the heavenly Father and not that of the people.

Some love Jesus for what he gives us. But he wants us to love him for who he is: the Son of Man (6:27) from heaven (6:29), with eternal life (6:27).

Bible

The fourth surprising message from Jesus: The Way

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Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Good news. There is a way back into an active relationship with Heavenly Father. But it is also difficult to digest that the path to the Heavenly Father is only open to people who do not ignore God’s revelation. Continue reading The fourth surprising message from Jesus: The Way →

Bible

The third truth of Jesus – our soul exists independently of our body

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The third surprising truth about Jesus is that he speaks about the resurrection and life after death. Our soul exists independently of our body. Jesus says in Matthew 10:28: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus was the first who speaks of heaven and hell. But over time we have imagined heaven and hell in an unverified way.

Many peoples have an idea of the continued existence of souls and have an ancestor cult. But in all cultures, there are also people who reject the continued existence of the soul (cf. Paul in Athens, Acts 17:32). Continue reading The third truth of Jesus – our soul exists independently of our body →