They got it, but they did not get it….

The death of Lazarus caused many to weep.  In John 11, we find the verse that is memorized the most.  Verse  35, “Jesus wept.”

Along with many others, Jesus was emotionally troubled.  His love for this “brother” was deep.

 Later in John 12, Lazarus was talked about again. 

Many people went to see Jesus because of the miracles.

The Pharisees, a legalistic and separatistic group of hypocrites, huddled up and began to talk amongst each other.

Verse 19 says “But the Pharisees said to each other, “There is nothing that can be done! Everyone in the world is following Jesus.”  Contemporary English Verson

You see, they got it, but they did on get it……

They could see people believing in Jesus and following him, but their pride, their traditions and their arrogance was self-centered.  They could not look past themselves.

In John Chapter 13, verses 34-35, Jesus says, “But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you.  If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

These Pharisees had trouble believing, they had trouble loving.

Our church will be filled with people that care about themselves, yet are inwardly yearning to experience the love of Jesus.

Upward Basketball and Cheerleading participants will fill our building every Saturday for the next 8-9 weeks.

Some do not believe…they need to see the miracle of LOVE!!!

May we see Jesus’ miracles and GO OUT TO MEET HIM! (John 12:18)

If you want a place to witness miracles, serve Jesus and make children smile, find an Upward volunteer and jump in….you will be blessed. 

God Bless

Opportunity

John 9 tells a stroy of a blind man who receives his sight.

Many were worried about the who sin caused this condition.

Jesus said, ” this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

Then, Jesus moves to a statement of purpose.

 Verse 4, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me.”

Wherever we are at, we must do the work of him who sent us. 

I have been preparing for my first Upward Basketball practice.  I have the honor and opportunity to teach and coach 9 young ladies.   Some, if not most, of these young ladies are spiritually blind.  They have heard about Jesus in Sunday School and in church all of their lives.  But, they are at the age when they truly start to understand that they are sinners.  Jesus is the light of the world. 

We have the opportunity to share the light of the world with these children.

Father,

Thank you for these 1st and 2nd grade young ladies.  Prepare their hearts for your Word.  Prepare their minds to learn the game of basketball and the game of life.  Prepare their soul for your presence.   May the presence of Jesus inhabit the souls of these young ladies.  Thank you for being the light in this world of darkness.

Bless them indeed, expand their minds, their thoughts and their boundaries.  Keep your hand upon these young ladies and protect them from the evil one.

Thank you for your presence!!!!  Amen