Always seems odd to talk about Jesus meeting us in our gratitude. We presume we’re the actors when we’re not. Take worship for example…we think we come to give to Him but in fact, He comes to give to us. Mary’s love for Jesus here was born of her gratitude for the return of her brother Lazarus. She was tearful and sad in John 11 but is grateful and glad here in John 12. And yet, even in her gratitude Jesus meets her. Jesus receives it for what it is, namely a huge “thank you note” for blessing her with her brother yet again. And yet,
Encountering Jesus in Our Gratitude
July 31, 2022 • Pastor Joe Meyer
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Encountering Jesus
Encountering Jesus in Our Need
August 28, 2022 • Pastor Joe Meyer
We’re ending this tour through John with what is perhaps the most obvious of encounters with Jesus and that’s Him meeting us in our need…our need for forgiveness. Peter had denied Christ. Peter had gone back on his word. Frankly, in the garden with Jesus, Peter had bold face lied to the Lord. And yet what does Jesus do? Does He act like we would, kicking Peter to the curb and walking away? Nope. Jesus reaches out to Peter. Jesus seeks Peter. Jesus comes to Peter in His need and speaks the word of forgiveness He so desperately needed. He does the same for us. Thank you Jesus that when we sin…when we run…when we deny…You come to us in our need!
Encountering Jesus in Our Need
August 28, 2022 • Pastor Ben Johnson
We’re ending this tour through John with what is perhaps the most obvious of encounters with Jesus and that’s Him meeting us in our need…our need for forgiveness. Peter had denied Christ. Peter had gone back on his word. Frankly, in the garden with Jesus, Peter had bold face lied to the Lord. And yet what does Jesus do? Does He act like we would, kicking Peter to the curb and walking away? Nope. Jesus reaches out to Peter. Jesus seeks Peter. Jesus comes to Peter in His need and speaks the word of forgiveness He so desperately needed. He does the same for us. Thank you Jesus that when we sin…when we run…when we deny…You come to us in our need!
Encountering Jesus in Our Doubt
August 21, 2022 • Pastor Ben Johnson
We are people of faith. We trust that God exists. We trust that Jesus died and rose for us. We trust, we live in faith, every single day. For a long time therefore, the Church berated and shunned those who doubted. They were called, from our story in John today, “Doubting Thomases” and thought to be less than the best Christian. Amazingly however, Jesus doesn’t act like us! Oh…that’s not amazing is it? He always shows us the way and in this instance He reminds us that while He knew all about Thomas’s doubting and unbelief, He came for Him, not once, but twice. He knew and yet He spoke “peace”. He knew and yet He did what He needed to do to bring faith into the heart of Thomas and perhaps, make him even stronger than he was before. And so He does with us…but so He also does through us to others! Thank you Jesus for coming to us in our doubt!