Okotoks Evangelical Free Church

When we struggle to understand God or his plans, we are not allone in that. The Transfiguration of Jesus happened to wake the disciples up to Jesus’ message concerning his death and resurrection. It establishes his uniqueness and the Father makes sure they know who he is and that what he says is a message from God.

In the feeding of the 5000, we’re often so enthralled by the miracle we forget to look for the lesson. The disciples were being taught something here about God’s mission and the compassion needed to carry it out. Compassion will come before our convenience when it comes to God’s mission.

Both Mary and the Scribes had views of Jesus that were off the mark. Jesus addresses both their mistakes in this passage. Mary had expectations and a picture in her mind of how her son, the Messiah, would fulfill his destiny. The Scribes relegated Jesus and his power to the realm of the demonic and sorcery. Jesus addresses them both. God’s plan was the only one he would follow and he was the only one who could bring it into being.

The story of the Woman and the Well intertwines three stories in one - the Woman, the Disciples, and the Townspeople. Each of them came face to face with the redemptive work that God is doing in our world. Their responses are instructive for us.

In this passage, two groups of people believe in Jesus. His disciples are contrasted with ‘the many’ who he does not entrust himself to. What was the difference in belief between these two groups? That’s what this study is about. The disciples trusted Jesus even when they didn’t understand what he meant by many of his statements and why he did the things he did. They trusted him regardless and the understanding came later.

Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine was not really about the need at the wedding banquet. It was a ‘sign’ - as John always refers to Jesus’ miraculous works. This sign declares an end to a religion of rituals and the introduction of something new - a personal relationship with God.

Jesus’ temptation attacked him at the core of his being. Would he trust what he had been told and experienced? Would he embrace who he was? We face the same temptation to doubt who we are as God’s children and heirs with Christ. We learn from Jesus what we must do to have any chance at a faithful repsonse to doubt.

Their are two words in the angel’s declaration to Joseph that pretty much sum up the reason for Jesus birth. Sin and a Savior. We are in need of rescue today as much as the day of his birth some 2000 years ago.