Have you ever thought you understood something and then along comes a new perspective that changes that understanding completely? This happens from time to time when we study the Bible.
In the gospel of John we see numerous times when Jesus taught Spiritual truth and his audience was thinking he was teaching about something natural. In John 3 we see Nicodemus speaking with Jesus in private to inquire about the nature of his teaching, whether it was from God or not. John 3:3, "Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." This was not what Nicodemus was expecting and he questioned how a person could enter into his mother's womb and be born again. Jesus of course was speaking about a Spiritual birth not a physical birth.
As we see in chapter four Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman about water at Jacob's well. When Jesus asked her for a drink of water, she questioned him about why a Jew would ask her for a drink, for it was not their custom to be associated with one another. But Jesus did not respond to the question of a drink of water. John 4:10, "Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."" Jesus was speaking of Spiritual life and not the refreshment that comes from physical water. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit that quenches a parched soul.
Jesus performed many miracles which affirmed his message that he was the promised Messiah of the Jewish people. After miraculously feeding the five thousand Jesus referenced the miracle of manna bread given to the Israelites in the desert in John 6:32-33. "Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." We all need food for nourishment to stay alive and give our bodies the necessary energy to work. But, there is also a Spiritual food that we all need to feed our souls so they too can come alive and receive Spiritual nourishment. This food is the Word of God.
There are many Spiritual truths throughout the Bible where we see that the physical realities are not the only realities. In John 6:63 Jesus taught, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." And even more in John 12:46, Jesus teaches us, "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." The light is the truth of Christ who gives light to the world.
Jesus in fact is the manifestation of the greatest Spiritual reality, he is the incarnation of God, the visibility of the invisible God. There are many other manifestations of Spiritual reality in the world as we all know we have a soul and we all have a human spirit. In our consciences we know we are not alone, we seek for meaning and purpose in life, and relationships with each other. We all seek to understand what happens when we die. And we all want to know how we can live the best life now.
Jesus teaches in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." The Spiritual life is the abundant life. It may not appear on the surface that living for God is the greatest life but the Spiritual truth is that we need Christ and we are created for him. The Spiritual truth of God in Christ is the greatest truth that brings the greatest life.
In the gospel of John we see numerous times when Jesus taught Spiritual truth and his audience was thinking he was teaching about something natural. In John 3 we see Nicodemus speaking with Jesus in private to inquire about the nature of his teaching, whether it was from God or not. John 3:3, "Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." This was not what Nicodemus was expecting and he questioned how a person could enter into his mother's womb and be born again. Jesus of course was speaking about a Spiritual birth not a physical birth.
As we see in chapter four Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman about water at Jacob's well. When Jesus asked her for a drink of water, she questioned him about why a Jew would ask her for a drink, for it was not their custom to be associated with one another. But Jesus did not respond to the question of a drink of water. John 4:10, "Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."" Jesus was speaking of Spiritual life and not the refreshment that comes from physical water. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit that quenches a parched soul.
Jesus performed many miracles which affirmed his message that he was the promised Messiah of the Jewish people. After miraculously feeding the five thousand Jesus referenced the miracle of manna bread given to the Israelites in the desert in John 6:32-33. "Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." We all need food for nourishment to stay alive and give our bodies the necessary energy to work. But, there is also a Spiritual food that we all need to feed our souls so they too can come alive and receive Spiritual nourishment. This food is the Word of God.
There are many Spiritual truths throughout the Bible where we see that the physical realities are not the only realities. In John 6:63 Jesus taught, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." And even more in John 12:46, Jesus teaches us, "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." The light is the truth of Christ who gives light to the world.
Jesus in fact is the manifestation of the greatest Spiritual reality, he is the incarnation of God, the visibility of the invisible God. There are many other manifestations of Spiritual reality in the world as we all know we have a soul and we all have a human spirit. In our consciences we know we are not alone, we seek for meaning and purpose in life, and relationships with each other. We all seek to understand what happens when we die. And we all want to know how we can live the best life now.
Jesus teaches in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." The Spiritual life is the abundant life. It may not appear on the surface that living for God is the greatest life but the Spiritual truth is that we need Christ and we are created for him. The Spiritual truth of God in Christ is the greatest truth that brings the greatest life.
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