Kenneth Winter's Blog, page 19

What’s So Special About Cana?

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Have you ever believed God was telling you to do something that makes absolutely no sense? Did you ever find yourself asking Him, “God, you want me to do what?!?” If so, there is a lesson for us to learn that comes out of an otherwise very inconsequential place. 

It was an obscure corner of Galilee. Very few people knew where it was, let alone traveled to it. As a matter of fact, the village of Cana is never mentioned in the Old Testament, and it is only referred to three times in the New Testament. Most people only passed through Cana on their way to somewhere else. It wasn’t a center of activity like Jerusalem or even Capernaum. But Cana became significant one day, not because of what it was, but because of what took place there. It became significant because Jesus came there. It became significant because of how a group of people responded to Him.

Jesus came to the village to celebrate a wedding at the request of His mother. She was the guest; He was “also invited.” You know the routine – “O, and Mary, bring Jesus along with you.” He was not the guest of honor. Up to that point He had lived a fairly obscure life. He wasn’t yet well-known for His teaching, and He had not yet performed any miracles. He was primarily known as Jesus the carpenter, and Jesus the son of Joseph and Mary. By this time, Joseph had died, and Jesus was the male head of the family. So, it was only appropriate that the hosts would encourage Mary to bring Jesus along as her plus one.

The bride or bridegroom (or both) were apparently somehow related to Mary; her instructions in the household seemed to carry weight and have influence. And no one seemed to care that Jesus had brought along a group of His friends. The apostle John was one of those friends and he’s the one who records this account.(1)

But then something happened. In the scope of eternity, it would seem it was pretty minor; but in reality, it wasn’t. And to the family of the bride and groom, it was a big deal! The attendance at the wedding was larger than expected. Apparently other people had also brought uninvited friends whom the hosts had graciously received. The guests were reveling in the hospitality and the celebration of the moment, when all of a sudden someone realized that the supply of wine had run out. 

Running out of refreshments for your guests is always a concern for hosts, but for Middle Easterners in the first century this would have tarnished their image and standing in the community for years to come. This was not only a social “pho-pa”; this would impact their ongoing influence, their livelihood and their respect among the people of their village, their synagogue and the entire region. 

Somehow the matter was brought to Mary’s attention – either she was told, or she observed it. Understanding the implications, she turned to Jesus. She understood that the implications were huge. And she knew, no matter how big or small the problem was, she could bring it to Jesus. 

Remember, to that point, Jesus’s time had “not yet come.” His public ministry had not yet begun. He’d been baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist and spent forty days fasting in the desert, but only a handful of men were following Him. 

It is highly probable Jesus had attended wedding feasts with His mother prior to this one. But we never hear about those. We are told about this one, because the Father chose it to be the moment Jesus began His earthly ministry. i find it interesting that it is the apostle John who also tells us that when Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom here on earth, it will begin with another wedding feast. It will be the wedding feast of the Lamb – when He unites with His bride – the church.(2) And on that day, He will not be a “tag-along” guest, He will be both the Host and the Guest of honor – the Bridegroom. But on that day two thousand years ago in Cana, He arrived at that feast as an “escort” – or so everyone thought.

When Mary discovered the problem, she came to Jesus and said, “They have no more wine.”(3) Jesus replied, “What has this concern of yours to do with Me”?(4) He was not disrespecting His mother, rather He was making it clear that He was absolutely bound to the Father’s will in heaven and not to anyone on earth – not even His mother. He would later say, “The Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing.”(5) He was not at His mother’s beck and call – nor anyone else’s – except that of His Heavenly Father. That’s an important reminder for us: as we pray, we are not to ask God to join us in our plans; rather, we are to seek to join Him in His.

Also, in the midst of His Father’s plans, Jesus desired for His mother to communicate to Him exactly what she was asking Him to do. Repeatedly we see Jesus asking those who have come to Him, “What would you have Me do?” He was teaching them, as He is teaching us, that they (and we) must ask – and must ask according to God’s will. On that day, Jesus responded to the faith of His mother as it aligned with the will of the Father – and that faith was communicated to Him by her asking. The same is true for each of us.

As a result, He then invited the servants to be a part of the miracle He was about to perform. The invitation came through a word of instruction from Mary to the servants. She said, “Do whatever He tells you.”(6) The servants needed a miracle – not only would the hosts pay the price for this oversight, so would they. It would appear as if someone had failed to properly plan. The servants would be blamed. Incidentally, that’s always true of miracles – you won’t experience one until you truly need one. That was true that day in Cana – people who lived in a little-known place needed a miracle and, as they obediently responded to what Jesus told them to do, Jesus did what only He is able to do.

Now we come to the main point of this blog post. Jesus told the servants to use the six earthen vessels that were standing there – the ones that were used for the washing of hands and feet. There wasn’t anything special about those water pots. As a matter of fact, they had been crafted by a potter to be used for the mundane and the routine. But in the hands of the Master Potter they would be used for God’s glory. That which had up to that point only been used for the natural would now be used by the Master for the supernatural. The issue wasn’t the pot – it never is; it was the Potter. The pots had no ability to transform water into wine, only the Potter did. And in His hands, “any old pot” will do.

And Jesus told them to fill the pots to the brim … with water. I have a lot of admiration for the faith of those servants. Their jobs were on the line – maybe their very lives. And this Man, who they didn’t know, told them to fill the ceremonial washing pots with water – when what they needed was wine! Wouldn’t it have made more sense for Him to give them a few shekels and send them by a back way to the local merchant to pick up a few gallons of wine? But no, He told them to fill the washing pots with water – to the brim. He didn’t tell them to do anything halfway. His instruction was to go all of the way - just like His instruction is to us. Understand that these pots held twenty to thirty gallons of water each, and there were six of them. This required quite a few trips to the well. And as each moment went by, the servants were rapidly approaching the humiliation of their master and themselves. 

Now, here came the real faith-tester. Jesus told the servants to withdraw some of the water back out of the pot and take it to the master of ceremonies to taste. Imagine what was going on in their minds! It’s one thing to fill the pots with water, it’s quite another to reach in and draw it back out. And yet they never questioned Him! i often wonder when the water was actually transformed – when they filled the pots or when they drew it out? I believe the bigger step of faith was in drawing it out. To their credit, the servants never hesitated! And because it aligned with the will of the Father, and because of the faith of Mary, and the faith of those servants, Jesus transformed the water into wine. Not just any wine – but the best wine anyone had ever tasted! Whatever Jesus does will ALWAYS be the best!

i often wonder what i would have done. Jesus asked them to do something that was outlandish. They had no reason to expect the outcome that occurred. But that’s why Jesus rewarded their faith. Every guest at the feast benefited from the miracle; but Mary and the servants experienced the miracle. Through their faith and obedience they became instruments that God used to bring glory to His Name. It had nothing to do with their ability. But they were faithful and obedient. And as a result, their eyes were opened to see Jesus for Who He is.

So the next time God tells you to do something, do whatever He tells you no matter how outlandish it might seem. And watch Him take the place you are standing – even if it isn’t very special – and use it as a platform for a miracle that brings Him glory!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Walking With The Master, chapter 8, entitled “What’s So Special About Cana?” This fourth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  John 2:1-11

(2)  Revelation 19:6-9

(3)  John 2:3

(4)  John 2:4

(5)  John 5:19

(6)  John 2:5

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO – The Gospels for the Visual Age on Lightstock

Matthew Wasn’t Looking For Jesus

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

i don’t know about you, but i can’t say i found God because i was pursuing Him. Rather, He was pursuing me. And in that regard, i have a lot in common with Matthew. And perhaps, you do as well.

Most of the disciples that followed Jesus were people who were seeking the Messiah. They knew the Scriptures. They knew the prophecies. They were watchful and expectant that the Messiah would one day come – perhaps in their lifetimes. They had been greatly influenced by the ministry of John the Baptist. Most were influential members of their fishing villages. And though they were not religious leaders, they were respected and trusted within their local religious communities. Though they may not have been learned men,(1) in many respects they had a great pedigree to be followers of Jesus! Besides – as fishermen, they had great early training on how to be fishers of men!

But that wasn’t the case with Levi. He was a tax collector. The tax collector’s role was to collect duties and customs on imported goods crossing the Sea of Galilee or passing along the Damascus road that ran along the shore between Bethsaida and Capernaum. Everyone knew that tax collectors were notoriously corrupt. They had the reputation of being dishonest and greedy men. They made their living extorting far and above what was due in order to line their own pockets, let alone the coffers of Rome. As such they were protected by Roman soldiers to ensure that Rome received its duties. Thus the tax collectors were untouchable.  

We first see Levi in his booth along the lakeshore of Capernaum. Jesus was back in Galilee and had been staying in a house in Capernaum. News quickly spread that He was there, and the house became so packed that there was no room for anyone else to enter. While Jesus was preaching, four men arrived carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat.(2) Seeing that they could not enter the house, they dug a hole in the roof above Jesus and lowered their friend. And Jesus, seeing the faith of the friends, said, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

As you may recall, the religious teachers “threw a fit”, saying, “How can this Man forgive sins?” Jesus, knowing their hearts, immediately replied, “I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Turning to the paralyzed man, He said, “Stand up, pick up your mat and go home!” And Scripture says that not only did the man get up, he jumped up, grabbed his mat and walked out through that stunned, packed crowd. That group of onlookers were amazed. Even the religious leaders must have been amazed. Imagine the exclamations from the crowd that spread immediately around that village.

On the heels of that moment, Jesus began to walk along the lakeshore, teaching the crowd as He walked. As He did, He encountered Levi. There is no indication that they had ever met before. But as a resident of Capernaum, Levi most probably had knowledge of the miracles Jesus had performed, including more than likely the one that had just occurred. But keep in mind, Levi wasn’t interested enough to go to the synagogue. He didn’t go to Jesus; Jesus came to him.

And when He did, He looked at Levi and said, “Follow Me and be My disciple”. He didn’t say, “Hi. I’m Jesus. Tell me your name. Tell me about yourself. What can I do for you?” Jesus didn’t have time for small talk. He was on a mission! And there wasn’t anything that Levi could say about himself that Jesus didn’t already know. 

Jesus knew Levi … just like He knew the woman at the well, and Nicodemus, and the four friends of the paralyzed man. He knew Him just like He knows you … and me. What did Jesus see in him? Sure, he had talents and abilities. His profession gave him a good practical understanding of human nature and behavior. He knew how to make a profit. And he probably had good connections with the other publicans and sinners that the fishermen would never have. He was probably a man of good education. But none of that is what Jesus was looking for. He saw the same thing in Levi, He sees in us – a man, woman, or child that is dead in our sin, separated from our Creator, and unable to save ourselves. And at that moment, Jesus extended an invitation to Levi – “Follow Me and be My disciple.”

To his credit, Levi IMMEDIATELY got up, walked away from everything and followed Jesus. He never hesitated or had to think about it. Remember, he was a wealthy man – albeit from ill-gotten gain. But he knew that there was nothing he possessed that could ever compare with having a personal relationship with the One who was standing before him at that moment! And Levi became Matthew (“gift of God”). In an instant, He was transformed by the saving power of Jesus. He was radically – and eternally – changed.

Either that night or soon thereafter, Matthew invited Jesus to his home for a banquet held in His honor. It would be attended by other tax collectors, former companions and friends. Matthew wanted to introduce them to Jesus! He wanted them to experience the same saving grace that he had received. He wasn’t about to keep the change in his life a secret. He was like the woman at the well. He wanted to immediately tell everyone he knew about Jesus.

The Pharisees and religious teachers predictably said, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”(3) Jesus replied, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”(4)

It’s interesting that this account is given almost verbatim in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. But only Matthew adds these words that Jesus spoke to the religious leaders: “Now go and learn the meaning of the Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifice.’”(5) You see, the real corrupt tax collectors were, in fact, the religious leaders – taxing the people with laws and requirements that they could never live up to and would never lead to salvation. And they failed to point the people to the mercy of God, and to extend that mercy to a sick and dying world. Matthew understood in a moment what the religious leaders had failed to learn through all of their studies … and they had failed to receive from Jesus.

So it begs these questions of us in our respective journeys:

1)    How have we responded to the Master’s invitation? Have we truly forsaken all else and followed Him?

2)    Are we following Matthew’s lead and inviting all of our coworkers, companions and friends to meet the One who has transformed our lives?

3)    Are we walking in a way that reflects and magnifies the mercy of God, or are we merely following religious practice and tradition?

Matthew is listed as being in the upper room In Acts 1 – but we don’t see any further reference to him in Scripture after that. Historians indicate that he stayed in Jerusalem another fifteen years after Pentecost before going out as a missionary to the Persians, Parthians and Medes. According to legend, he died a martyr’s death for the Gospel in Ethiopia. 

But if you remember nothing else about him, remember that on that day when Jesus said, “Follow Me,” he immediately got to his feet, and left all that he had to follow Jesus. You see, Jesus had a purpose and a plan for even a tax collector. Just as He does for you… and for me.

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Walking With The Master, chapter 18, entitled “Even A Tax Collector”. This fourth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  Acts 4:13

(2)  Mark 2:1-12

(3)  Luke 5:30

(4)  Luke 5:31

(5)  Matthew 9:13, quoting Hosea 6:6

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO – The Gospels for the Visual Age on Lightstock

Even John Had His Doubts

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

 Are you walking through a difficult situation right now? Have you been calling out to God … but He doesn’t seem to be answering? Are you feeling like Jesus has abandoned you? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us have been there at some point – including some whom we might least expect.

John the baptizer was a man of conviction and courage – the greatest of the prophets.(1) He came in the spirit and power of Elijah(2) and even dressed and ministered like him.(3) Like Elijah, John had a message of judgment for the entire nation of Israel. The prophet Isaiah had foretold John’s coming.(4) John’s ministry was to prepare the nation for Jesus and present Jesus to the nation. He had been sent to earth with a pretty impressive mandate from God. 

But suddenly he found himself being “unjustly” imprisoned by Herod Antipas for denouncing the tetrarch’s adulterous marriage to Herodias.(5) No one was advocating for his release. It was as if no one cared. You would have thought that the Jewish leaders would have been up in arms defending John’s position and denouncing Herod’s action. After all, adultery was a sin – and they were the “keepers” and “enforcers” of God’s Laws.

Yet, they were silent. John had honored Jesus through his preaching and proclaimed Him to be the Messiah. Since the pharisees hated Jesus, anyone who was His supporter or follower was also their enemy. And John hadn’t been all that gracious to them either. He had never been one to cater to the crowds, let alone the pharisees. No, the religious establishment had no interest in speaking up on his behalf.

And now, despite his mandate from God Himself, it seemed as if even heaven was ignoring him. His voice had been silenced behind the walls of a prison. He could not preach to the crowds from a jail cell. This voice with a divine mandate to proclaim was being muffled in prison. Understandably, he became discouraged, and perhaps even broken. He was calling out to God without receiving an answer. So, he decided to send a message to Jesus.

John’s disciples had been watching Jesus and keeping John apprised of His movements, His miracles and His message. It’s very likely that John was expecting Jesus to, at any moment, declare His authority as the Messiah, establish His kingdom and His government, and free the nation from Roman rule. John was anticipating that any day now the Messiah would begin His reign and the door to his prison cell would swing wide open and he would be set free. 

John was probably trying to understand why Jesus was taking so long to assume the throne. That was his context when he sent the message to Jesus: “Are You the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”(6)

Bear in mind, John wasn’t the only one with that question. More than likely, it was a common question running through the minds of most of those who were following Jesus at the time – including the twelve disciples. Even the way the Pharisees felt threatened by who Jesus was, largely resulted from the fact that He didn’t look anything like the Messiah they were selfishly expecting!  Everyone had a picture in their mind of who and what the Messiah would look like – and Jesus didn’t look like that picture! Even John the baptizer was beginning to doubt!

Jesus told John’s messengers, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen….” Tell him, “… the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”(7)

Jesus was using the very words of the prophet Isaiah, who wrote – “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you. And when He comes, He will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!’”(8)

Through those words, Jesus was sending John a word of encouragement – not a word of rebuke. When He added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of Me,”(9) He was reminding John of something else Isaiah had written:

He will keep you safe. But to Israel and Judah, He will be a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem, He will be a trap and a snare. Many will stumble and fall, never to rise again. They will be snared and captured.” Preserve the teaching of God; entrust His instructions to those who follow me. I will wait for the Lord, who has turned away from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my hope in Him.(10)

Though Jesus would be a stumbling stone to Israel and Judah, He would not cause those to stumble who trust Him! Songwriters Babbie Mason and Eddie Carswell communicated that message well when they wrote the lyric, “when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart” (see the complete lyrics to the song “Trust His Heart” below).

As we walk with the Master in 2021, we, too, will encounter circumstances that we never expected, and we certainly don’t understand. We were expecting the Lord to do one thing in our life – and He does something totally different – or He allows something totally different – which is at best, disappointing – or at worst, tragic. He doesn’t look anything like we think God should look like. He hasn’t done what we think He should do. 

We may be like John. We know the Scriptures. We know the promises of God … but we just got “sucker-punched” … and we don’t understand! The pain, the sorrow, the devastation, and the disappointment are causing us to question Jesus. It is causing us to ask, “Jesus, are You really who I think You are? If so, how could you allow this to occur? Are You the One to follow or should I keep looking for someone else?”

In that moment, Jesus has a message for us as well – trust My heart!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Walking With The Master, chapter 25, entitled “Even John Doubted”. This fourth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  Matthew 11:11

(2)  Luke 1:17

(3)  2 Kings 1:7-8, Matthew 3:4

(4)  Isaiah 40:3

(5)  Luke 3:19-20

(6)  Matthew 11:3

(7)  Matthew 11:4-5

(8)  Isaiah 35:4-6

(9)  Matthew 11:6

(10) Isaiah 8:14-17

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Natalie Vic Herregods on Unsplash

 

Trust His Heart  

All things work for our good
Though sometimes we don't see 
How they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth

 

Our Father knows what's best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just don't see Him,
Remember you're never alone

 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart
Trust His Heart

 

He sees the master plan
And he holds our future in His hand,
So don't live as those who have no hope,
All our hope is found in Him

 

We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and the last
And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me,
To someday be just like Him

 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart

 

He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you

 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart

 

When you don't understand
When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart
Trust His Heart

Songwriters: Babbie Y. Mason / Eddie Carswell

Trust His Heart lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. 

Trust His Heart (Lyrics video) recorded by Babbie Mason

In the Shadow of Peter

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Whose shadow did you grow up under? Was it an older sibling? Was it a parent? Was it someone you looked up to and hoped to reflect? Everyone has been touched by someone’s shadow at some point in their life … even the brightest stars! And each of us casts a shadow of our own. A question to consider is what kind of shadow are we casting? There was one apostle of Jesus who grew up under the immense shadow of another but still learned how to cast his own – and it was pretty impressive.

Andrew was significantly younger than his brother, Simon. Together, they had grown up in Bethsaida on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. Andrew had always lived his life in the shadow of his big brother. He was often referred to as Andrew, the brother of Simon. But that fact never seemed to bother him. He loved, respected and looked up to his brother.

Their father, John, had raised both of his sons to honor their God as whole-hearted worshipers, to provide for their families as industrious fishermen, and to love those around them as selfless servants. Their father had died while Andrew was still young, leaving Simon to take over the role as head of the family. 

One day Andrew heard about a preacher teaching a message of repentance in the wilderness of Judea. After obtaining his brother’s permission to leave his responsibilities on the family fishing boat, he embarked on a pilgrimage to Bethany, along the Jordan River, where the man was preaching and baptizing. Andrew hungered to know more about God and to hear firsthand this message about the Kingdom of God. Perhaps he was even sent as an emissary by Simon to glean the truth of the message. Having once heard John the baptizer, Andrew’s heart bore witness that the truth of God was being declared through him. He decided right then to become a disciple of this “voice crying in the wilderness.”

Andrew and his fellow companion, John (the son of Zebedee), were standing with the baptizer when the wilderness preacher saw Jesus one day and declared Him to be the Lamb of God.(1)  Immediately, with the full blessing of the baptizer, Andrew and John left to follow Jesus. As they did, Jesus asked them, “What do you want?” Their reply was simple: “Teacher, where are you staying?” From that moment on their lives would never be the same. Jesus invited them to “Come and see” and for the rest of that day they remained with Him. Scripture doesn’t tell us all they saw or all they heard Jesus say that day. But by day’s end, Andrew and John knew firsthand that Jesus was the Messiah – the Chosen One of God!

At that moment, we are shown three important truths about Andrew’s character in light of what he did next. First, he was a man of integrity. He had been sent with his brother’s blessing to glean the truth. And now having discovered the Truth, in the form of Jesus, his first action – without any delay – was to honor his commitment and carry that report back to his brother and family. He could have selfishly chosen to stay right where he was – there at the feet of Jesus. How many of us would have been tempted to do just that? But that wasn’t an option for Andrew; he had given a promise to his brother.

Second, he loved his brother. He was under the care and authority of his older brother. Simon apparently never lorded his authority over Andrew, instead he selflessly and affectionately demonstrated his desire for Andrew to always experience the best. And Andrew reciprocated that affection by demonstrating that his first priority was to bring Simon to meet Jesus. What greater expression of love can there be than introducing those we love to Jesus?

Third, he did not have a personal agenda – he was Kingdom-focused. That characteristic is not only evidenced in his action to immediately find his brother and bring him to Jesus, it is evidenced wherever we see him mentioned in the Gospels. 

After bringing his brother to Jesus, Andrew accompanied Jesus to Galilee. There he witnessed the miracle at the wedding feast.(2) Soon after, he was traveling with Jesus when they encountered a Samaritan woman at the well outside of Sychar.(3) In both of those places Andrew learned important life lessons. 

First, in Cana he learned Jesus could do the “impossible” – He had turned water into wine! There was no limitation on what Jesus could do. 

Second, in Samaria he was one of the disciples sent by Jesus to the village to buy food. As those disciples walked along the path from the well to the village, they would have passed a woman who was walking toward the well with her waterpot. They would have noticed her because it would have been strange for someone to be going to the well at that time of day. But Jewish men would have had little to do with a Samaritan woman. They would have looked down upon her and very clearly turned their heads away from her as they passed by her.

Imagine Andrew’s surprise when he and the others later returned to the well and saw Jesus speaking with that very woman! i don’t believe that the lesson of the day was lost on Andrew. Jesus had come to seek and to save all who were lost – no one was to be ignored, cast aside or walked by. From that moment on, Andrew never missed an opportunity to bring others to Jesus.

The day the apostles were trying to figure out how to feed a large crowd that had gathered to hear Jesus, it was Andrew that introduced the young boy with five barley loaves and two fish to Jesus.(4)  Though he had no idea what difference that modest lunch would make, he knew that he could not ignore the lad – and he knew Jesus was always able to do so much more… with so much less!

Sometime later, there was a group of Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration.(5)These men were not curious visitors or casual observers, they were truth seekers. Though they first approached the disciple Philip because he spoke their language, it’s interesting to note that he didn’t take them to Jesus. Philip told Andrew about them because Andrew had earned the reputation of being the one who was continually introducing others to Jesus. Can you imagine anything better to be known for?

You see, the apostle that grew up in the shadow of his older brother cast quite a shadow himself – a shadow that led others to Jesus. It was a shadow that was never about him – but was always about Jesus. O, that each one of us would cast a shadow that points those around us to Jesus!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Walking With The Master, chapter 15, entitled “In The Shadow Of Peter”. This fourth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  John 1:19-42

(2)  John 2:2

(3)  John 4:8

(4)  John 6:8-9

(5)  John 12:20-22

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO – The Gospels for the Visual Age on Lightstock

He Didn't Set Out To Betray Jesus

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Don’t lose sight of the fact that Judas Iscariot didn’t set out on his journey to follow Jesus with betrayal on his mind. He followed Jesus because he truly believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. He “believed” in Jesus. He was an “early adopter” and supporter. He wanted to get in on the “ground floor” of Jesus’s eventual rise to power. It is important to understand, at the outset, that Judas never envisioned he would betray Jesus. Rather, Judas envisioned he would be a part of His trusted circle – maybe not as close as Peter, James and John – but certainly close behind. After all, he was the keeper of the treasury for Jesus and the disciples. 

Judas believed that Jesus had seen his financial skills and abilities, and would place him in an important position on His leadership team when the day arrived for His reign as King. Judas “trusted” that Jesus would enable him to be successful and achieve his personal desires of life – those of position, possessions and power. Therefore, on the short-term, he was willing to sacrifice all of those things. He was willing to wander the Judean wilderness with Jesus and the rest of the disciples. From his perspective, it was a good investment that would pay off in the end.

But as time went on and Judas witnessed one miracle after another, he was becoming impatient for the day that Jesus would declare Himself. At first, his impatience was subtle and subdued, but the night Jesus allowed Mary to waste that expensive perfume and pour it over His head and feet, Judas couldn’t contain his exasperation.(1) If Jesus was going to rise to power, He needed to be more discerning in the best ways to utilize financial resources. He needed to call upon His trusty advisors – like Judas – to give Him counsel. He couldn’t just leave it up to the “riff-raff” to make their own decisions. Those funds could have been invested much more wisely – and Judas could probably have done so in a way that also enabled him to derive some amount of personal gain for himself as well. But that would never happen if Jesus was going to allow things to occur in such an “unconstrained” way.

What’s more, Jesus entered into Jerusalem with the people shouting His accolades in every corner of the city. This was the largest crowd that had ever been in Jerusalem at one time. Many, if not most of them, had come to see Jesus. If there was ever a time for Jesus to declare Himself, this was it!(2) And yet, Jesus was showing no sign that He was moving in that direction, and Judas became more and more frustrated. At that moment, blinded by his own selfish ambition he decided to take things into his own hands. Over the prior years, his ambition had been just the foothold that Satan needed to occupy Judas’s thoughts, and his decision to now “take things into his own hands” opened the door for Satan to take full control. And let’s not forget – Satan is a crafty liar! We can only imagine the convincing “self-talk” that Satan was speaking into his ear to encourage him in his folly.

Judas had witnessed the failed attempts of the religious leaders to entrap Jesus. Time and again, he had seen Jesus outsmart them, out-maneuver them, and outwit them at every turn. The religious leaders were just the pawns that he required for his plan to force Jesus to show His hand. The leaders wanted to arrest Jesus, so if Judas could help them do that, Jesus would have to declare His authority and establish His Kingdom. That would be the game-changer – Jesus would be declared King – and Judas would finally achieve all that he had been working toward. In his mind, this was the time. This was the week! So off he went to find his “unlikely” allies, to convince them to go along with his plan.(3)

As Jesus would later declare, “Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day.”(4) But the religious leaders were afraid of the reaction of the crowd. They knew that they could not take action in the light. They knew that whatever they did, it had to be done clandestinely and in the cover of darkness. (Just a quick reminder for you and me: Satan never works in the light. Darkness is his greatest ally! As a matter of fact, Jesus said the night He was arrested, “This is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”(5)) So imagine the delight of the religious leaders when one of Jesus’s own disciples approached them to discuss the best way for Jesus to be arrested. These unwitting allies all savored their own craftiness.

There’s more to talk about, but we’ll stop there. Let’s bring it back home to us. i doubt any of us are contemplating entering into an agreement to betray Jesus. We “believe” in Him. Like Judas, we “trust” Him for what we are certain He will do for us. We have come up with some great plans for ourselves, and certainly Jesus will enable those plans to come to fruition. He loves us. He wants the best for us. And surely, we know what’s best!

At the very moment that idea has entered into our mind, we are on the road to betrayal. That’s where our selfish ambition will always lead. Selfish ambition will corrupt the truth of God, distort the ways of God, and betray the Son of God.

How do we keep from sliding down that slippery slope? By continuing to surrender our will to His. By daily surrendering our selfish ambition. And by continually submitting to His Lordship. He knows what’s best. He knows how to accomplish it – and He will do so. His plan is perfect, and His timing is perfect.

He’s called us to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Him. The cross He would have us carry – and anything and everything we may encounter by taking it up – is not about us – it’s all about His redemptive and perfect plan for His glory!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Taking Up The Cross, chapter 27, entitled “The Traitor’s Consent”. This fifth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

 

* * * * * 

(1)  John 12:1-11

(2)  John 12:12-19

(3)  Luke 22:3-6 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus, so they could arrest Him when the crowds weren’t around.

(4)  Luke 22:53

(5)  Luke 22:53b

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO – The Gospels for the Visual Age on Lightstock

Nicodemus - The Inquirer

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

NOTE : Have you ever stood at the crossroads of a decision when the world around you was telling you to do one thing, but deep down inside you knew God was wanting you to do another? Did you ever wish you could sit down with Jesus and discuss it with Him? If so, you can relate to Nicodemus.

He knew that he was standing at the most important crossroads of his life. He knew that despite whatever success he had enjoyed in his life to that point, his life legacy would be determined by how he now responded to Jesus. The same is true of us. Our response to Jesus will determine our life legacy.

This week’s post is another one of my fictional eyewitness accounts. i pray Nicodemus’s story helps you know how to respond. 

* * * * *

My name is Nicodemus, and I grew up in Capernaum along the Sea of Galilee as the eldest son of a respected family in our village. My great-great-grandfather led the group of settlers sent by our Hasmonean King John Hyrcanus I to establish this fishing village. This was a part of the expansion led by the Hasmoneans to populate more of the wilderness lands north of Judea. My great-great-grandfather had been chosen to lead the effort because our village was to be named in honor of his father, Nahum. 

Nahum, my great-great-great-grandfather, was a priest who fought bravely alongside Judas Maccabeus in the successful revolt against the Seleucid Empire. Nahum died in battle. To honor his heroism and his memory, our new settlement was called Capernaum, meaning “Nahum’s village.” The Hasmoneans also awarded a financial tribute to his surviving family. Those riches funded the settlement of the village and also provided the seed money for our family’s wealth, which in turn multiplied with each succeeding generation. 

In 65 B.C., my grandfather partnered with a merchant named Shebna who had recently migrated to our village from Babylon. The two men were both visionaries and saw the financial opportunities created by Herod the Great’s economic expansion. Our region – and our families – prospered as a result of that foresight. Shebna was also the younger brother of Hillel the Elder. That family connection would later enable me to sit under his teaching.

As a son of means, I enjoyed a life of position and privilege. I am a Pharisee, as were the many generations of my family that went before me. I attended the School of Hillel in Jerusalem and sat under the elder’s teaching for eight years along with other privileged students who were being groomed as the next generation of leaders. I had the proper pedigree, wealth, and training. The only blemish on my record in the eyes of some is that I was born a Galilean. In some circles of Judean society, particularly among the Sadducees, I am therefore seen as a second-class Jew.

My schoolmate Annas never saw me as his equal because of my place of birth, although our teachers viewed us as two of their top students. Annas went on to become our high priest and continues to have significant authority over our Sanhedrin to this day.

After completing my studies, I returned to Capernaum where I could mentor and train the next generation without being marginalized by Judean bigotry. I was a respected rabbi within my home synagogue and very soon became the leading elder. 

Over the years, Jehovah God has permitted me to teach many promising young men. One of those who stands out is John, the son of Zebedee. Though John did not live in Capernaum, his mother’s family does. She is the granddaughter of Shebna, my grandfather’s business partner, so I have taken every opportunity to nurture John’s thirst for truth and understanding. I even made arrangements for him to study under his distant cousin, Gamaliel.

Soon after my return from my studies in Jerusalem, I was chosen to be one of the twenty-three judges who make up our local Sanhedrin in Capernaum. I hope it was my excellent understanding of the law and my wisdom that prompted my selection. But I am certain my wealth was a factor, as well. Regardless, I served our people and the position to the best of my ability.

For those of you who may not be aware, every significant village, town, and city throughout our provinces has a local Sanhedrin charged with adjudicating religious, civil, and criminal matters. Under our current Roman rule, we may not invoke capital punishment or judge matters having to do with political rebellion. Otherwise, the Romans permit us to handle all other matters in accordance with our laws and beliefs.

Matters that cannot be resolved by the local Sanhedrin are referred to the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, which is comprised of seventy-one judges from throughout the land. This council is the final court of appeal for matters regarding Jewish law and religion. Four years ago, I was chosen to serve as a part of this council. High Priest Caiaphas currently presides over us. He is the son-in-law of our former high priest Annas. His view that Galileans are “second-class” citizens has not changed – which means he and some of his cronies still look down on me, despite my personal achievements.

Gratefully, there are others on the council, such as Gamaliel (Hillel’s grandson) and Joseph of Arimathea, who were also fellow schoolmates and who do not share Annas’s low opinion of me. Jehovah God continues to place Annas in my path to teach me humility!

The Great Sanhedrin meets in the Hall of Hewn Stones. The hall was built into the north wall of the temple – half inside the temple and half outside, with doors on both sides. Even the positioning of our meeting place reflects the power we have been given over all aspects of Jewish life. It is a power that can be used to honor God and serve our people, or to foster selfish ambition, personal gain, and coveted power.

The presence of both motives is clearly seen among the members. My friends Gamaliel and Joseph represent the former; Annas and Caiaphas clearly represent the latter. My prayer is that I might be an influence for good, bringing honor to Jehovah God – and ours might be the majority opinion within the council. I fear, however, that is not the case.

An example of using position for personal gain is evident in our council’s rulings over how we worship God. When King Solomon had the First Temple built, there were birds, sheep, and cattle available for purchase outside the temple. This allowed traveling pilgrims, who could not bring their own offering, to purchase one of these animals to follow the requirements of the sacrificial laws. Solomon had established an area outside of the temple called the stoa, which was the place where these animals were housed and purchased.

When the Second Temple was established, that same practice was followed. But when Annas became high priest, stalls and tables were set up inside the temple walls in the outer court. Some say it was done out of necessity; I fear it was Annas’s desire for financial gain. The practice has continued ever since. And the volume of trade inside the temple has multiplied. Increasingly, priests have deemed animals brought to the temple to be blemished and therefore unsuitable for sacrifice. That makes the purchase of an animal or bird from within the court necessary. 

Also, rulings were made that Roman coinage could not be used for offerings in the temple; only temple coinage could be used. So, money-changers were set up in the court to exchange coinage – at a significant profit. The profits went to those who were in positions of power within the Sanhedrin, and the rest of us seemed powerless to do anything about it. Regrettably, over time the practice became so common that no one gave it a second thought.

In recent days, all of my Sanhedrin brothers and I have become aware of a rabbi by the name of Jesus. Some have already discredited Him because He is from Nazareth in Galilee. But most of us have been intrigued by the miracles He has reportedly performed and His teachings. He teaches in a way that is unlike any other, and His command of the Scriptures is unmatched.

Last week at the beginning of the Passover celebration, Jesus came to town. I am certain He has been in the temple on previous occasions, but this was the first that I – and many others – were aware of His presence. He created quite a stir!

When Jesus entered the outer court of the temple, He looked at the merchants selling their cattle, sheep, and doves, as well as the dealers exchanging money. I am told He reached down and gathered some ropes by one of the stalls and made them into a whip. Then He did something no one anticipated – He turned to the merchants and shouted, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a marketplace!”(1) 

He then proceeded to drive out the animals and chase the merchants out of the temple. He turned over the money-changers’ tables. They quickly gathered the coins, stuffed them into the pockets of their cloaks, and scurried out.

Our council was meeting at the time, but the commotion outside quickly drew our attention. When we walked out into the court, most of the animals and merchants had already fled. No one had even thought about stopping Jesus! No one had questioned His authority to clear out the temple!

Annas and Caiaphas, along with a few others, looked agitated as they huddled together. But, even in their anger, they made no attempt to stop Jesus. They knew … I knew … we all knew that if Jesus were confronted, He would rightfully rebuke us all from the Scriptures for letting this abomination take place. We knew it was wrong. The people knew it was wrong. But Jesus was the only One to confront us in our sin!

Annas and Caiaphas knew better than to publicly challenge Jesus. They didn’t want their evil deeds to be revealed or their authority weakened. So, they chose to do nothing … at least for now. But I knew their silence was only temporary.

As I stood there watching Jesus, I was ashamed. How many times had I walked through that court and done nothing? How many times had I ignored the sin in God’s temple?

After the scene quieted down, Caiaphas and Annas approached Jesus and asked, “What have You done? If God gave You authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”(2)

“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”(3)

“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and You can rebuild it in three days?”(4)

They had no idea what Jesus meant. None of us did. But they knew they could not confront Him any further, so they turned and walked away.

Over the next few days, I watched as Jesus healed many who were brought to Him. People began to gather around Him in great numbers as He taught in the temple. I knew I needed to know more. Also, as a member of the Sanhedrin, I needed to be certain that this Man was not leading our people astray.

Jesus had several men with Him who were obviously His disciples. One of them was John, my student from the synagogue in Capernaum. I approached him and asked if he would arrange a time for Jesus and me to meet. “I have many questions for your Rabbi,” I said. “I see that you have come to follow Him. Would you permit your former teacher the opportunity to do the same?” John agreed and arranged for us to meet two nights later.

Jesus and I were to meet away from the temple so we could have a quiet, uninterrupted conversation about spiritual matters. I was preoccupied each day with my responsibilities within the Sanhedrin, and Jesus was actively teaching from sunrise to sunset. Now we could both relax and talk through the night without interruption. The only other person in the room was John. I trusted him, and I knew this would be a safe place for us to talk.

“Rabbi,” I began, “we all know that God has sent You to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with You.”(5)

Jesus wasted no time with shallow compliments. Instead He moved right to the heart of the matter as He replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,  you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”(6)

“What do You mean?” I exclaimed. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”(7)

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.”(8)

“How are these things possible?” I asked.(9)

Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I tell you what I know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe My testimony. But if you don’t believe Me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.  

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son to save the world through Him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”(10)

At that moment, I knew that everything Jesus was telling me was true! Sitting before me was the Son of God. He was the promised One. He was the One God said He would send to deliver His people from our sins. But there would be people who loved darkness more than light – like Caiaphas and Annas. When Jesus cleansed the temple the other day, He was shining God’s light on their evil. He was exposing their sins … and my sins.

But those who want to do right come to the light. I wanted to do right. That’s why I had come tonight. I want to do what God wants. And I know there are others who want to do the same.

Over the next few days, I wrestled with a decision. Do I leave the Sanhedrin to follow Jesus like John has done? Or do I follow Jesus from within the Sanhedrin? Does God want me to be light from within the council? I came to the decision that  He wants me to stay. I don’t know for how long, but perhaps I can be of greater help to Jesus from within the council than from outside of it.

All I know for certain is that the One who stands before me is truly the Son of God. I have been born again and I am His follower.

* * * * *

This story is excerpted from  The One Who Stood Before Us , which is a collection of forty short stories about those before whom Jesus stood – some as followers, some as friends, and some as foes. The book  is available through Amazon in standard print, large print, and for your e-reader. Click  HERE  for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

In multiple instances the dialogue in this story comes directly from Scripture. Whenever i am quoting Scripture, it has been italicized. The Scripture references are as follows and have all been taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

(1)  John 2:16

(2)  John 2:18

(3)  John 2:19

(4)  John 2:20

(5)  John 3:2

(6)  John 3:3

(7)  John 3:4

(8)  John 3:5-6

(9)  John 3:9

(10) John 3:10-21

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by LUMO-The Gospels for the visual age on Lightstock

Zebedee - The Fisherman

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

NOTE : Did you ever feel like God was at work in everyone’s life … except yours? Did it ever seem to you that everyone around you was being called to new and exciting opportunities … but somehow you were being left behind? Or, if you are a parent, have you ever had to release your family to the Lord, entrusting them to His care, as they embarked on a journey that would lead them away from you?

If so, you can relate to Zebedee. This week’s post is another one of my fictional eyewitness accounts. i pray Zebedee’s story speaks to those same feelings in your own life. 

* * * * *

My name is Zebedee, and I grew up here in Bethsaida along the Sea of Galilee. I believe that even a bad day on my fishing boat is better than any day on dry land – but don’t tell my wife! Though, truth be told, she knows me better than I know myself. Salome (not to be confused with Mary’s childhood friend who has the same name) and I have now been married for thirty-three years. Though she grew up as a merchant’s daughter, she quickly learned what it was like to be a fisherman’s wife, and she never complained. I am a truly blessed man because of her.

We have two sons – the eldest is James and he is ten years older than his brother, John. James takes after me – he is a fisherman through and through. Though John is a hard worker here on our boat, I know that he longs to be elsewhere. The rabbi from Capernaum has twice arranged for him to attend the school of Hillel in Jerusalem. All his life he has sought out opportunities to study the Torah.

Slightly more than two years ago, I released him to travel down to Perea along the Jordan River with my business partner’s younger brother, Andrew. The two young men had their hearts set on being taught by the prophet in the wilderness known as John the baptizer. My partner, Simon, and I knew we needed to release them to pursue their calling from Jehovah God.

We were amazed when they returned two months ago to tell us they had met the promised Messiah. The One who God promised to our people almost two thousand years ago has finally arrived! Generations have come and gone with the hope they would see Him – and now we have that privilege! Simon, James, and I listened with excitement as John and Andrew shared their good news.

But then the good news got even better! The next day Jesus arrived in our village. We met Him face to face! And when He spoke to us, it was as if He had known us all of our lives. From the moment we met Him, we knew that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised One. John and Andrew had known that day in Perea that they must follow Him. Now, two of my paid workers – Philip and Bartholomew – knew they, too, must leave and follow Him.

Simon, James, and I looked at one another and resigned ourselves to the fact that we needed to stay here in Bethsaida and continue to earn a living so these young men could follow Jesus. Even though that is what we knew we needed to do, each of us thought seriously about following Him, as well!

John, Andrew, Philip, and Bartholomew returned home a week later. But we knew they were only back temporarily. They told us an extraordinary tale of how Jesus had turned water into wine at a wedding celebration. He was now spending time with His family in Capernaum, so our young men had returned home for a short stay.

Over the next few weeks they continued to amaze us as they recounted Jesus’s teaching. The promised Messiah had come! Soon we would be delivered from the bondage of Roman rule and God would establish His kingdom here in our midst. We knew the time had arrived!

After several weeks, Jesus arrived back on our shore. It was early one morning, and we had been fishing all night. We had nothing to show for it except our tired bodies. We were finishing our night’s work by mending and cleaning our nets and preparing to go home. But Jesus’s arrival reinvigorated us.

There were several others who were now traveling with Him. Two of the men were his cousins – James and Thaddeus. Jesus had invited them to leave Capernaum and follow Him as His disciples. Also joining Him was their mother, His aunt Mary. She explained to us that she is married to Jesus’s uncle, Clopas. She confided that she had felt led by God to come along and provide a woman’s helping hand to her nephew and her sons. 

Along the way, they had encountered a man named Simon. He explained that he was seeking Jesus. At one time, he was part of the zealot movement endeavoring to overthrow Roman rule. But he had abandoned their revolutionary ways and had become a disciple of the baptizer. Andrew and my son John were delighted to see their friend and were overjoyed that he, too, had chosen to follow Jesus as one of His disciples. We immediately started to call him Simon the zealot to prevent any confusion between him and my partner Simon – whom Jesus had renamed Simon Peter. We had a good time catching up with old friends and making new ones.

Jesus was already becoming well-known in Galilee, so it didn’t take long for word to spread through our village that Jesus was on the shore. As people gathered, Jesus began to teach. But soon the crowd was pressing in on Him. Jesus turned to Simon Peter and asked him to push one of the boats away from shore so He could sit in it and teach the crowd from there.

We lost track of time as we listened to Jesus. No one wanted Him to stop, but eventually He needed to rest. When He finished speaking, He turned to Simon Peter who was there in the boat with Him and said, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”(1)

The sun was high in the sky, and we all knew this was the worst time to try and catch fish. “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”(2)

Jesus nodded with a glimmer in His eye, so Peter released the nets. At first nothing happened, and Peter looked at Jesus as if to say, “See, Master, I have done what You said with little to show for it.” But suddenly his attention turned back to the nets. They were filling with fish! He and his brother-in-law, Thomas, earnestly called out to the rest of us to bring out the other boat and come help them.

I am fifty-four years old. I have fished on these waters all of my life, but I had never seen a catch of fish like that one! The nets were so full they began to tear. As we hauled in the harvest of fish, our boats were on the verge of sinking. Fortunately, we weren’t that far from shore or we wouldn’t have made it. 

When we got to shore, Peter fell to his knees as he turned and looked at Jesus. Then he said what all of us were thinking: “Oh, Lord, please leave me – I’m such a sinful man.”(3) To which Jesus replied, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!(4) Come, follow Me!”

Peter looked at me and then at his wife, Gabriella, standing onshore. She and Salome were standing with Jesus’s aunt watching all that had happened. Gabriella smiled and nodded at her husband. My son James also turned to look at me with an expression that told me what was in his heart. Both of the men knew they needed to go.

Then our last remaining worker, Thomas, also looked at me. All of the fishermen who worked with me were about to leave and follow Jesus. And I knew they needed to go. They didn’t need, nor were they seeking, my approval. They were acting in obedience to the Messiah and that doesn’t require anyone else’s approval. Their looks were simply to bid me farewell.

But then Salome approached me and said, “Zebedee, I believe that I, too, am supposed to follow the Master. I am to offer my help alongside of Mary.” What could I say? My wife was also responding to the invitation of the Master. Of course, she needed to go! I wasn’t only saying farewell to all of my partners and workers, I was releasing all of my family! I could hire other workers to help with the business, but I couldn’t replace the members of my family who wouldn’t be sitting around our dinner table each night.

Then I realized that Jesus’s calling on my family was also a calling on my life. There was a part of me that wanted to push my boats up onto the shore and follow Jesus with my family. But I knew that wasn’t what Jesus was calling me to do. He was calling me to stay – and that would be the harder of the two choices.

Jesus was calling me to carry on with my business to help provide the financial support He, my family, and the rest of His followers would need in order to carry out the work. I wasn’t being left behind; I was being asked to be faithful to a different calling.

Suddenly I realized Jesus had turned His attention toward me. As our eyes met, I could almost hear Him say, “I know it’s hard. But truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children – or has let them go – for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”(5)

Soon I was standing there watching Jesus walk away. Right behind Him were my wife, my sons, my partners, and my friends. I would be less than honest if I didn’t confess that at that moment I felt very alone. I knew it was the right thing to do, but that didn’t keep me from feeling that deep ache of loneliness.

But then I heard a still small voice say to me, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread, for it is the Lord your God who goes – and stays – with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”(6)

At that moment, I entrusted my wife and my sons to the One who had stood before me. And I entrusted my life to Him, as well. I knew He would order all of our steps and give us the grace and strength to accomplish all that He set before us. I knew we were just beginning to understand who He is and what He is calling us to do. Every journey begins with a single step, and the One who had stood before me had just led all of us to take that first step … including me!

 * * * * *

This story is excerpted from  The One Who Stood Before Us , which is a collection of forty short stories about those before whom Jesus stood – some as followers, some as friends, and some as foes. The book  is available through Amazon in standard print, large print, and for your e-reader. Click  HERE   for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

In multiple instances the dialogue in this story comes directly from Scripture. Whenever i am quoting Scripture, it has been italicized. The Scripture references are as follows:

(1)  Luke 5:4 (NLT)

(2)  Luke 5:5 (NLT)

(3)  Luke 5:8 (NLT)

(4)  Luke 5:10 (NLT)

(5)  Luke 18:29-30 (ESV)

(6)  Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Prixel Creative on Lightstock

A Conversation with a Pharisee

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. Pharisees were zealous in their keeping of the Laws of Moses. They were all about “doing” the right things – in so far as they defined those “right things” to be. They were well known to strain the letter over the spirit of the Law.(1) For example, the Pharisees developed such detailed rules for the observance of the Sabbath that they missed the whole purpose for why God created it to begin with.(2)

Since the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin were charged with interpreting what the “right things” were, it placed them in a position of great authority. There was no higher position of political power for a Jew in the time of Christ. Nicodemus was also considered to be one of the wealthiest men in Jerusalem of his day. So, he had it all – position, power, and money. And he was checking off the boxes – he was doing all the “right things.”

Jesus had overturned the money changers’ tables and scattered the merchants in the Temple just a few days prior to the night Nicodemus came to meet with Him.  As you can imagine, Jesus’s actions had created quite a stir among the Sanhedrin.(3) Who was this upstart Galilean that dared to question their authority and their practice? But they were reluctant to take any action against Him because of the notoriety He was gaining among the people of Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin had determined that before they openly opposed Jesus, perhaps it would be in their best interest to investigate Him a little further.

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night – under the cloak of darkness.(4) There are three possible explanations for him doing so. Perhaps he was a sincere seeker drawn to Jesus by the miracles that He performed, and he did not want others in the Sanhedrin to know of his visit. Word of his visit could greatly affect his reputation and position on the council. Or secondly, perhaps he came in his capacity as a member of the Sanhedrin, possibly self-appointed, to investigate Jesus further, and he did not want to lend undue credence to Jesus by making his visit public knowledge. Or thirdly, which is my conviction, it was a combination of both.

When Nicodemus arrived, he believed, or at least so he declared, Jesus to be inspired like the prophets of old – on a divine mission. But he did not believe He had a divine nature. This would explain for Nicodemus the source of Jesus’s power, but enable him to deny the authority of His Person. But Jesus immediately declared to him that His mission and His nature could not be separated. He declared that He was not only sent by God, He was also the Son of God, sent not to condemn the world, but so that the world through Him might be saved.(5)

In their conversation, Jesus redefined for Nicodemus what it meant to have a relationship with God. It wasn’t about following a list of “right things”; it was about following a Person – Jesus! The path to everlasting, abundant life wasn’t though a list of do’s and don’ts, but through Jesus. That was hard for a Pharisee to understand!

The reason that conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus came to my mind for this week’s post is because today is my “re-birth-day”. You see, thirty years ago i was doing a pretty good job of “doing the right things” – but in the midst of it all, i had missed the most important “thing”.

i had prayed “a prayer” when i was six years old at a Bible Club meeting in the basement of my grandparents’ home. i had “walked the aisle” at a citywide evangelistic crusade when i was ten. Soon after, my pastor “baptized” me at the church where my family was attending. To the best of my knowledge, i had “done” everything that i was supposed to “do” to know that i was “saved”. i wasn’t as wealthy or powerful as Nicodemus, but i was just as wrong!

i had missed the whole truth of the gospel! You see, i thought the gospel was all about checking the right boxes. I thought it was all about me doing the right things! i viewed it as being all about me – my sins being forgiven, and my eternal destiny being assured. 

Now don’t misunderstand me, both of those statements are truly by-products of salvation – but they are not God’s primary purpose. God’s ultimate purpose is not about us – it’s about Him! He desires for us to walk in a love relationship with Him – expressing our worship of Him and bringing glory to Him. Think of the picture that John describes in the Book of Revelation – as he writes about the multitude from every tribe, tongue and nation gathered around the throne of God worshipping Him.(6) Look in the book of Genesis – before sin entered the picture. The Lord God walked about the garden with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening.(7)It was a picture of a loving relationship between the Creator and His creation. A relationship that was destroyed by sin. A relationship that Jesus came to restore – and to restore not solely for the hereafter – but also for the here and now.

Jesus made the way – not so i would just pray a prayer and check the box – He made the way for me to walk in the fullness of the relationship for which God created me – to love Him, to honor Him, to worship Him, to glorify Him – with my whole heart, soul, and mind. And yet somehow i had cheapened it, as if it represented some type of eternal life insurance policy that i “bought” by checking the boxes, to be “redeemed at my death”. 

On the days leading up to May 26, 1991, the Lord opened my eyes to the truth that i had settled for so much less than the gift He was extending to me. i had settled for a consumer’s imitation of the truth – “check the boxes and move on”.  

But the truth was what Jesus told Nicodemus that night: “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.”(8)

So, on this day thirty years ago, i believed and trusted Him – without reservation -- signing over the title to my life to Him. Not to check a box, but to surrender my all to Him. And at that moment, just as Jesus described it to Nicodemus, i became reborn.

That’s a conversation Nicodemus needed to have with Jesus – and one that each of us needs to have as well. I’m trusting you’ve had it. If not, there isn’t a better time than right now! 

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Walking With The Master, chapter 9, entitled “From Darkness Into Light”. This fourth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  2 Corinthians 3:6

(2)  Matthew 12:1-8

(3)  John 2:13-22

(4)  John 3:1-21

(5)  John 3:17

(6)  Revelation 7:9

(7)  Genesis 3:8

(8)  John 3:16 (Amplified Bible)

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

A Lesson from Zacchaeus

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * * 

Most of us, at some point in our lives, have hosted a guest – and probably on more than one occasion. It could have been for a meal. It could have been for an overnight stay. It may have been longer. Some of you may be hosting a guest right now … and you’re wondering if they will ever leave!

The guest may have been a family member, or a friend, or an acquaintance. They may be strangers that you were asked … or compelled … to host. You may have been preparing to host your guest for some time. In fact, you looked forward to their arrival with anticipation. Or maybe, you wouldn’t go right to “looked forward to their arrival.” Or perhaps, your guest unexpectedly showed up.

Over the years, we have been the host to guests in each one of those situations … and we have also been the guests received by gracious hosts in each one of those situations. i am particularly mindful of occasions when we found ourselves stranded while we were traveling overseas, and unexpectant hosts very graciously took us in.

It causes me to think of a very surprised, unexpectant host by the name of Zacchaeus. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. In fact, though no one else knew it, He was making His way to the cross. Along the way, He stopped in Jericho. In that day, Jericho was a winter resort for Jerusalem aristocracy, complete with a hippodrome stadium for horse and chariot racing, and numerous “modern” aqueducts to irrigate the rich vegetation. It was the site of one of Herod’s ornate palaces and considered to be a beautiful “city of palms”. John Wesley wrote that during this period, “about twelve thousand priests and Levites dwelt there, who all attended the service of the temple.” It was a thriving city, frequented by the “rich and the famous”. But Jesus wasn’t stopping in Jericho to visit the rich and famous, He came for the express purpose of transforming the lives of a blind beggar along the side of a road,(1) and one slightly-statured tax collector.(2)

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in this prosperous town. In the day, tax collectors bid for the opportunity to collect taxes for a given region of the Roman Empire. They guaranteed to pay a set amount of taxes to Rome for their region. They then recouped their investment by extorting far and above that amount from the local citizenry. Goods coming into the region were taxed, as were goods coming out. Literally you paid the tax collector whether you were coming or going. 

No one was exempt from paying taxes – unless you were a Roman citizen living in Rome. And there was no reprieve from paying your taxes. If a tax collector went to collect from a widow who could not pay, he would evict her and take away her home without giving it a thought. Tax collectors were hated and despised by their neighbors. That’s why they needed and were provided with the protection of Roman soldiers. 

As the chief tax collector, Zacchaeus was responsible for the whole region of Jericho. Thus, he also collected a portion from the other tax collectors within the city who were under his charge. As a result, he was viewed with disdain by everyone in the region. It doesn’t appear that Zacchaeus was distressed by the feelings of his neighbors – and it appears he was quite content with the status quo – until the day Jesus came to pay him a visit!

Zacchaeus, like everyone else, had heard of Jesus. And he saw and heard the commotion as Jesus walked through the town. Little did he know that he was the very one that Jesus had come to see. Being vertically challenged, he climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view of Him.

Imagine his excitement when Jesus looked up at him and said, “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Jesus hadn’t come to stop at the home of the city’s mayor, or the home of the chief Pharisee, or the palace of Herod. He had come to be the guest of the despised tax collector!

At some point in the encounter, Zacchaeus surrendered his life to Jesus. We don’t know how their conversation went. But we do know that salvation came to Zacchaeus, and he would never be the same. He was one of those people who got saved – and never got over it! As he repented of his sin and received forgiveness from his Lord, he knew without anyone having to tell him that he needed to make public restitution for his sin. He knew that where he had cheated others, he must give back to them according to the Mosaic law.(3)

Imagine the reaction when Zacchaeus began to return fourfold that which he had taken from his neighbors. They had heard about Jesus performing miracles, but they had never imagined that He could change the heart of a “crook” like Zacchaeus! The sad thing is, i fear that though most of them rejoiced at the unexpected financial windfall they received, most if not all of them were too blind to see the real miracle that Jesus could bring about in each of their own lives as well.

We read in other parts of the Gospels that Jesus was hosted by others on numerous occasions. To name a few, His hosts included Simon the Pharisee, the sisters Martha & Mary, and later the two of them with their brother Lazarus. In the broadest definition of the word, He was also hosted by Herod, as well as Caiaphas the high priest, and Pontius Pilate. In the Old Testament, He was hosted by Abraham.(4)

i would contend that Zacchaeus was one of the most changed of all His hosts – and the change was obvious to the community around him. Some of His hosts opened their homes, but not their hearts. Some didn’t even open their homes. Some served Him. Some fell down and worshiped Him. Some reclined beside Him in an attitude of gratitude. But Zacchaeus was a picture of what it means to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him(5) … without reservation.

Just like Zacchaeus, apart from Jesus, we are nothing but deceitful, despicable sinners whom He, by His grace, chose to visit. So, it begs the question, what kind of host have we been to Jesus? And what kind of host are we now?

* * * * *

This post is adapted from Walking With The Master, chapter 61, entitled “He Climbed A Tree”. This fourth book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  Luke 18:35-43

(2)  Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and made His way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, He looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” He said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”         

(3)  Exodus 22:1

(4)  Genesis 18

(5)  Luke 9:23

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Mael Balland on Unsplash

No Turning Back

If you would prefer to listen to this post as a podcast, CLICK HERE.

* * * * *

Regardless of our age, many of us have found ourselves, at some point, harkening back to the “good ole days.” Those days may not even have been that long ago. Most of us find ourselves harkening back to the days before COVID. 

Whatever those days are for you, you probably remember them fondly. Our memories tend to wash away most, if not all, of the challenges, complications and difficulties those days actually contained. In truth, as we look back, we recall that time as more idyllic, less complicated and more fulfilling than it really was. And – if during our stroll down memory lane – we happen to recall any of our sinful behavior during those days, we tend to gloss over the sin, and instead, long for the temporary pleasure it provided.

That impulse to harken back to yesterday is often triggered by the overwhelming challenges of our current reality. We may be longing for a day before social distancing, face masks, and restrictions in how we gather. We may be longing for days that are not filled with disease or difficulty. We may be longing for days that feel more fulfilling or less hectic.

Some of those reasons really make sense, and each of us can empathize. But, sometimes our longing comes from a basic human desire to long for that which we don’t have anymore. A couple of examples come to mind.

i wonder if Moses, while he was tending to his father-in-law’s flocks on Mount Horeb, ever looked back on his days growing up in the palace as an adopted son of pharaoh. i wonder if he longed for the good life. i also wonder if he, when he was leading the Israelites through the wilderness, ever looked back at those quiet days on Mount Horeb, without all the complaints of a contentious people.

i even wonder if Jesus, while He was growing up in Nazareth, ever looked back on the days of eternity past with the Father in heaven without the dirt and toil of growing up in a fallen world. i also wonder if even Jesus, as He hung on that cross looking down at His mother weeping at His feet, momentarily thought back to happier days growing up in the home of Mary and Joseph with His younger half-brothers and half-sisters.

The Israelites often looked back when they were encountering the challenges of journeying through the wilderness – hunger, thirst, or even the threat of an enemy. As a matter of fact, they had only been in the wilderness for slightly more than a month when they came to Moses grumbling, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate all the bread we could eat!”(1)

In the days immediately preceding, they had seen God’s hand of delivery from their slavery in Egypt, and God’s miraculous defeat of the Egyptian army at the Red Sea. They had seen God make the bitter waters sweet. Now, rather than trusting their miracle-working God to meet the need of their hunger, they harkened back to those glorious pots of meat and bread in Egypt. They acted like those days of oppressive bondage as slaves were so wonderful. They forgot the sting of their master’s whip. They forgot what it was like to not be free. How easily they forgot Who it was who was leading them! How easily they forgot His faithfulness in the past and His promises for the future!

One thing we see throughout Scripture and throughout time is that it was never God’s plan to lead us back. He has always been at work to lead us forward – closer to Himself – through His merciful and gracious gift of salvation.

Salvation is the great mystery of God purposed in Christ, fulfilled through Christ, and revealed by Christ. J. I. Packer wrote, “The gospel proclaims that the God who saved Israel from Egypt … saves all who trust Christ from sin and sin’s consequences.”

The deliverance of the people of Israel from their bondage to their Egyptian slaveholders was accomplished solely by the miraculous work of God. It wasn’t accomplished through the revolt of the Israelites themselves. It wasn’t accomplished through their superior military prowess or their great bravery in battle. Their salvation from slavery was accomplished solely through the work of God and granted to them by His merciful grace. And our salvation has been granted to us in the same way.

God never promised them that their lives would be free of difficulty after their deliverance from Egypt – but He promised them He would be right there with them every step of the way. And He has given us that same promise as well!

The Israelites took their eyes off of the One who was leading them. He was leading them to the mountain that they might worship Him. We were created to worship Him, and He is worthy of our worship. Our very lives are to be an offering of worship. When we set our eyes on Him, like the apostle John in the book of Revelation, we will fall at His feet and worship Him. There will be no other response when our eyes are on Him. But in the midst of the journey, they, like us, took their eyes off of Him.

When they did, they became distracted by their circumstances and their surroundings. When we take our eyes off of our Lord, we become disoriented – we lose sight, not only of His Person, but also His purpose and His plan – and we start to think that everything is all about us. We start to think about our comfort and our convenience. And when we do, the wilderness ceases to be a path to worship and becomes an uncomfortable and inconvenient place to be. The walk through it is too long, too hot and too difficult.

And then what do we do? Just like the Israelites, we look back and begin to murmur. The next thing we know, we are hungering for the things of this world. Those leaks and onions back in Egypt never tasted so good! We have become so blinded by our fleshly desires that we are ready to return to the captivity from which He has delivered us in order to receive the temporary satisfaction that those things will provide.

Though we may have days when times past seem brighter and happier in light of what we are walking through in the here and now, let’s take a lesson from the Israelites. Let’s keep our eyes on our Lord and hold onto His promise. The place He has prepared for us is ahead. The brightest days of His promise are still yet to come. The days when there will be no more strife, no more pain and no more death are just ahead on the horizon. Trust the One who led you out to lead you through. Trust Him to lead you to that place, and allow Him to draw you close throughout the journey.

There’s no turning back. Our greatest days are ahead!

* * * * *

This post is adapted from The Journey Begins, chapter 10, entitled “The Wilderness of Sin”. This first book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print and for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

* * * * * 

(1)  Exodus 16:3 (ESV)

Copyright © 2021 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash