John

It's been a couple weeks since I read Luke. I wasn't sure why I was waiting to read John, but this past Sunday morning we had Dr. David Wang (www.asianoutreach.org) at church. He spoke using John 9. I think I waited so that I could hear his talk and have it influence how I read John.

Dr. Wang talked about the Chinese church, how it had simple faith, prayer, evangelism and mission. As for simple faith, his thought was that the western church, and the disciples, made it complicated. "Who sinned, that this boy was born blind?" When all Jesus wanted to do was show his glory. When challenged later, the boy said simply "Once I was blind, now I can see." He taught that there is arrogance in sophistication, and Jesus wants us simply to know him.

Then, reading John yesterday morning took on a different slant. As I have shared with some people my approach to reading the Bible this past year, some challenge me that I'm not getting deep enough. They think I'm just skim reading, which is not the case - I'm reading thoroughly, with an open mind, not expecting a particular message but letting the text, "the Word," speak to me.

John's interesting. He doesn't record many miracles. Mostly he has recorded conversations and teachings of Jesus. If I had to sum up my thoughts about John, pick one phrase that captures what I've learned, it's in 14:11. Jesus says "Have faith in me when I say that the Father is one with me and that I am one with the Father. Or else have faith in me simply because of the things I do." John presents Jesus and someone who wants to be known by us, he wants us to know how much he, who is the the Father, loves us. I know people pick John 3:16 as their favourite verse. I guess that is the background to why Jesus came. I think 14:11 explains his method.

The miracles were second nature for Jesus. He doesn't seem to focus too much on them. But he knows that's what we need. I know he said that we would do even greater things than he did, but in context, the miracles are not something we should seek after, as much as it should just flow out of our relationship with him. I was raised Pentecostal. The emphasis in my upbringing has always been on supernatural things. I find that a focus on supernatural for me puts the onus for change externally, but Jesus wants us to be changed internally. The external will follow.

Now I think I'm just rambling.

Dr. Wang talked about our tendency to theologize, to be sophisticated. He says we need to be simple. That's what I want, but there is a constant pull in my life between sophistication and Jesus, between knowing about him, and knowing him.