Come and See: Asking Jesus in John's Gospel
The Place and the Way
April 9, 2023 • Gerrit Dawson • John 14:1–7
For at the core, Christ is about an invitation to change. He’s about the dawning of freedom. We don’t have to stay stuck where we are. We don’t have to stay stuck as we are. We don’t have to stay mired in shame, wracked with guilt, wandering in futility and just plain sick of ourselves. We can move from where we are. We can move into him. Jesus offers us freedom to move along a way of life, hope and peace. He issues an invitation to join him. To change roads from one way of life to another through walking in his way, the Way.
Sir, We Wish to See Jesus
April 2, 2023 • Gerrit Dawson • John 12:20–28, John 12:31–33
Sir, we wish to see Jesus. That’s a lovely thing to say. But questions have to be asked in reply. Do you wish to see Jesus as a tourist or a disciple? Do you want to see Jesus as a detached observer, or will you submit your life to him? Do you demand that you stay independent and solitary, always in control, or will you risk dying with him? Will you let your ego be buried in order that you might rise in a new life of love and giving and worship? Knowing the path Jesus had to follow, knowing the path he calls you to follow if you would be joined to him, can you still make the statement the Greeks made? Is it the desire of your heart to say, with all your heart, “Yes, we wish to see Jesus.”
Lord, Come and See
March 26, 2023 • Gerrit Dawson • John 11:28–44
When Martha said, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” Jesus replied with a theological assurance. “Your brother will rise again.” He engaged Martha about the future resurrection of the dead, and astounded her with the news that he, himself, is resurrection and life. Jesus answered Martha with confidence and hope. He knew what was going to happen.
Lord, If You Had Been Here
March 19, 2023 • Gerrit Dawson • John 11:1–7, John 11:11–15, John 11:17–27
From God’s view, death is not nearly as big of a problem as unbelief. Distance and time pose no obstacles to the purposes of the Creator who entered his creation. External conditions and events, even death, are not our main dilemmas. The inner darkness, the estrangement from the Father, and the enslavement to sin are the greatest threats to our eternal life. To the family and disciples, Lazarus seemed irretrievably gone. “But to Jesus, Lazarus had not even come close to leaving the Son’s custody or domain.” For Jesus has all authority over life and death. Death may seem to steal life from us. But death cannot steal a life from Jesus. Our Christ is greater than death. Only unbelief can separate us from Jesus and his eternal life. That’s why he asked Martha that crucial question. “I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?”
Give Us This Bread Always!
March 5, 2023 • Gerrit Dawson • John 6:30–40, John 6:48–51
This is the striking news from the one we follow. Jesus is the bread of life. We have to eat him in order to be filled. We have to take him in in order to live. Jesus called this eating believing into him. We move out of ourselves as a source. We move towards Jesus and offer him our lives. We surrender the quest for our satisfaction to him. This surrender happens once for all when we get united to Christ by faith. This is the surrender of salvation in which the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. We repent of our sins and repent of ourselves. We turn to Jesus and ask him to fill us.
Neither Do I Condemn You
February 26, 2023 • Gerrit Dawson • John 8:2–11
Jesus, this woman, this man, was caught. The law demands condemnation. What do you say? The God who wrote the law with his divine finger, now writes with a human finger. And Jesus writes through his servant Paul “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Rom. 8: 1). I have made your condemnation my own. For you there is no condemnation! From you there is to be no condemnation. Sin no more. Go in peace.