Encountering Jesus
in John's Gospel
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!
Encountering Jesus in Our Doubt
August 21, 2022 • Pastor Tim Phillips
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!
Encountering Jesus in Our Fear
August 14, 2022 • Pastor Joe Meyer
Live long enough and you’ll be afraid of the “things” of this life! All of us experience fear during the course of our lives, but sometimes circumstances can seem overwhelming and it can seem as if God is absent, God is gone, or worse…God is dead! That’s how Mary felt here. Her Lord was not only dead but He was also gone! What would her future look like now? How would she live on after three years invested in service in and through Jesus? And then Jesus shows up! He didn’t have to. He could have waited till Mary was with the rest of the disciples but nope, Jesus met her in her fear (and grief). He came to her when she needed Him most…and so it is with us. As Psalm 23 says it, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”…and why? “Because you are with me” David writes. Jesus meets us, comes to us, and thankfully He does so even in our fear!
Encountering Jesus in Our Fear
August 14, 2022 • Pastor Ben Johnson
Live long enough and you’ll be afraid of the “things” of this life! All of us experience fear during the course of our lives, but sometimes circumstances can seem overwhelming and it can seem as if God is absent, God is gone, or worse…God is dead! That’s how Mary felt here. Her Lord was not only dead but He was also gone! What would her future look like now? How would she live on after three years invested in service in and through Jesus? And then Jesus shows up! He didn’t have to. He could have waited till Mary was with the rest of the disciples but nope, Jesus met her in her fear (and grief). He came to her when she needed Him most…and so it is with us. As Psalm 23 says it, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”…and why? “Because you are with me” David writes. Jesus meets us, comes to us, and thankfully He does so even in our fear!
Encountering Jesus in Our Self-Centeredness
August 7, 2022 • Pastor Ben Johnson
This is one of the stories from John that reminds us that Jesus comes to us in order to change our thinking…in order to change us! This story is so important because Jesus is calling us to understand our faith in Him through this story. Technically this could be “Encountering Jesus in Pride”…because He shows our prideful-selves what true humility looks like. The Lord of Glory…bending low. The Lord of Glory…stooping to serve. The Lord of Glory…washing filthy feet. And then The Lord of Glory saying “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” John 13:15. Let’s remember today that He does meet us in our pride but He also meets us in our humility. Said a little bit differently? He clears away our pride and empowers us for humility! He gave us an example of true humility, but He also gives us the power to live the example! Thank you Jesus for meeting us where you want us to be…in humility!
Encountering Jesus in Our Self-Centeredness
August 7, 2022 • Pastor Joe Meyer
This is one of the stories from John that reminds us that Jesus comes to us in order to change our thinking…in order to change us! This story is so important because Jesus is calling us to understand our faith in Him through this story. Technically this could be “Encountering Jesus in Pride”…because He shows our prideful-selves what true humility looks like. The Lord of Glory…bending low. The Lord of Glory…stooping to serve. The Lord of Glory…washing filthy feet. And then The Lord of Glory saying “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” John 13:15. Let’s remember today that He does meet us in our pride but He also meets us in our humility. Said a little bit differently? He clears away our pride and empowers us for humility! He gave us an example of true humility, but He also gives us the power to live the example! Thank you Jesus for meeting us where you want us to be…in humility!
Encountering Jesus in Our Gratitude
July 31, 2022 • Pastor Joe Meyer
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 Ben Johnson
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 Grief
July 24, 2022 • Pastor Joe Meyer
Not unlike last week’s theme, we remember today that when we’re hurting God can seem far away. Jesus Himself cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). Today we remember however that when Mary and Martha were hurting over their brother Lazarus, Jesus was right there. To be sure, He was there in His timing and according to His plan and purpose, but He was there. More than that however, He was not just there for them, but He was there with them. In fact, in an amazing twist, though Jesus knew what He would do for Lazarus, He nonetheless “wept”. Jesus was grieved too. And when you see that truth, when you grieve, you’ll be able to remember that Jesus comes to you in your grief and He shares your grief too. Thank you Jesus for coming to us when we grieve!
Encountering Jesus in Our Grief
July 24, 2022 • Pastor Ben Johnson
Not unlike last week’s theme, we remember today that when we’re hurting God can seem far away. Jesus Himself cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1). Today we remember however that when Mary and Martha were hurting over their brother Lazarus, Jesus was right there. To be sure, He was there in His timing and according to His plan and purpose, but He was there. More than that however, He was not just there for them, but He was there with them. In fact, in an amazing twist, though Jesus knew what He would do for Lazarus, He nonetheless “wept”. Jesus was grieved too. And when you see that truth, when you grieve, you’ll be able to remember that Jesus comes to you in your grief and He shares your grief too. Thank you Jesus for coming to us when we grieve!
Encountering Jesus in Our Broken World
July 17, 2022 • Pastor Ben Johnson
One of the things that derails many people’s faith is our broken world. The presumption is this: Since there’s a broken world where people get hurt and get sick and ultimately die, then God cannot be a good and gracious God. But today we remember through the man born blind in John 9, that Jesus meets us in our brokenness and comes to bring healing. Never forget, that might not be the healing that you want…but Jesus nonetheless comes to us in our brokenness and He does so to bring healing and wholeness…the healing and wholeness that He knows we need. Thank you Jesus for coming to us in our broken world!
Encountering Jesus in Our Broken World
July 17, 2022 • Pastor Tim Phillips
One of the things that derails many people’s faith is our broken world. The presumption is this: Since there’s a broken world where people get hurt and get sick and ultimately die, then God cannot be a good and gracious God. But today we remember through the man born blind in John 9, that Jesus meets us in our brokenness and comes to bring healing. Never forget, that might not be the healing that you want…but Jesus nonetheless comes to us in our brokenness and He does so to bring healing and wholeness…the healing and wholeness that He knows we need. Thank you Jesus for coming to us in our broken world!
Encountering Jesus in Our Judgements
July 10, 2022 • Pastor Ben Johnson
We live in a very judgmental world that is quick to castigate and slow to elevate. But we in the church can be extremely judgmental too and often are far more judgmental than anyone we meet on the street. Now, we know what God’s Word says about sin…sin in general and sin in specific too. The character that meets Jesus in John eight was in fact guilty as charged…she was an adulterous. But the point Jesus makes in this text is if we are judgmental, we better take a hard look at our own lives because when we do, our finger of judgment will be pointing right back at us! Jesus meets the women in this judgmental situation. Once again however, Jesus doesn’t leave her in that sin and judgment but speaks forgiveness and along with that word of forgiveness also says “…go and sin no more.” Thank you Jesus! Jesus forgives sin! Jesus empowers sinners!