Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope all of you are enjoy your time with your families and with God and your home church communities!! Christmas can be such a great family time event, and since we are often away at school, it is a time to cherish (even if time with family is not always as smooth as possible). So as for me, I went to a Catholic mass last night with my sister, her husband, and my 2 month old nephew!!! He is adorable by the way. Yes, I did grow up going to Catholic mass, went through the whole Batism, Reconsiliation, and Catocism series, and rather liked the Catholic Church. However, I wasn't growing in my faith the way that maybe I should have been, so my current roomate (who went to high school with me) invited me to a Weslyn youth group..and I suppose the rest is history? Anyway, the point is that I still love going to the Catholic Church with my family and I feel very at home with that style of service. Our sermon was about how we are supposed to emulate Christ in the way we love others and are generous. These two things can show people how we are Christlike. God is the way, the truth, and life. We can help be the way people become interested in learning more about God by being loving, without asking anything in return, and being generous (in all ways, not just financially). It was probably something like sermons we've all heard before, but it was particularly moving!!! I just wanted to share that with you all.
As far as my break goes, I arrived in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18th. My mom stayed at my sister's house for about 6 days (but she got here before me) and we have had lots of family time. Christmas is lots of fun with a newborn around. Side note: I like to hold my nephew a lot, even when he is sleeping! The time I've spent with my family has truly been a blessing, especially since I don't have enough of it normally! I will be here through New Year's and then student teaching begins!!!
So, I will quit rambling and talk about John 8 :)
So the first part of this passage (v. 1-11) is about the woman caught in adultery. Regardless of her sin, or our sin, Jesus did not hold her sin agaist her. No matter what sin we commit, Jesus will forgive us and love us as long as we believe in and follow him.
The next passage is about how the only one who should pass judgement is God. Even though we often say that we are looking at the actions of the person, and not the person, I feel like it is often easy to end up judging the person as well. However, that is not what we are to do. We are to love all people, regardless of their transgressions (since we have committed a few ourselves).
v.44 struck me as harsh. Your father is the devil!!! Man...most of what Jesus said from this point forward was hard for the Jewish people to hear, which is probably why they wanted to stone him. They were convinced he was possessed, since his views were so different from the customs and norms they were used to. Since Jesus was somewhat different from the norm, they were nervous about him (which I guess is part of why people can be apprehensive of Christianity). Let's be children of God, and have our hearts respond to God in a way that we let show through in the way we treat and care for others! Love on people today! After all, its Christmas day!! Have a great holiday everyone! If you want to add anything on, feel free to do so..this is just getting long and my belly is grumbling.
2 comments:
Wow. I think I'd be pretty in shock the day I hold my nephew/niece in my arms. Uncle Eric...haha, it'll be soo weird to hear that.
Here are a few passages that got my attention:
vv. 10-11:
Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Jesus doesn't passively tell her that it'd be a good idea to leave her life of sin, but straight up tells her, "Leave your life of sin."
v.20:
He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.
Just the repetition of "because his time had not yet come" throughout the book of John reminds me of God's sovereignty and his perfect timing.
v. 30:
Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
Jesus didn't do any miracles this time to win people over to him. He simply spoke truth--his words. This just reminds me that people don't have to witness or experience crazy, outrageous miracles to know Christ, but His Word is more than sufficient and can stand alone.
vv. 37-38:
I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father."
They had no room for His Word. Stuck with their own ideologies and teachings heard from other people, they were unwilling to listen to anything else Jesus had to say.
v. 58:
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
This is a reference to Exodus 3:14. Jesus implicitly (I guess it might've been more explicit in the Jewish community) claims to be God by referring to himself as "I AM."
haha Uncle Eric!!
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