Who do You Believe Jesus is

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 6:41-59

 

John 6:42

And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

(NKJV)

 

John 3:16 reminds us that God sent us His only Son and that those choosing to believe in Him shall receive eternal life. However, Romans 10:9-10 reminds us that this belief must be a heart belief and not just a mental belief in the existence of Jesus. The complaining Jews in John 6:41-59 had no difficulty in believing in the existence of Jesus because he was with them, but they did have a lack of a heart belief in who Jesus was. The purpose of this posting is to have everyone reading it search their hearts to determine who they believe Jesus is.

 

The Jews following Jesus have a complaint against Him because He said He was the bread from heaven believing He was wrong because he had earthly parents (John 6:41-42). Jesus replies by telling them not to murmur among themselves for no one can come to Him unless the Father who sent Him draws them and that those that come to Him will be raised at the last day (John 6:43-44). Jesus continues by reminding them that the prophets said all will be taught by God with everyone who has heard and learned from the Father coming to Him (John 6:45). Jesus then reminds them that anyone alive then has not seen the Father except for the one sent by the Father, Him, the bread sent from heaven (John 6:41,46). Jesus then tells them what he told Nicodemus that anyone believing in Him has everlasting life (John 6:47). Jesus says he is the bread of life, reminding them that those who ate the manna in the wilderness died (John 6:48-49). Jesus says again that He is the bread of life, the living bread, with the bread He offers His flesh which He shall give for the life of the world (John 6:50-51).

 

This led to the complaining Jews quarreling among themselves wondering how Jesus could give them His flesh to eat (John 6:52). Jesus’ reply tells them that unless they eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, they have no life in them (John 6:53). Those choosing to eat Jesus’ flesh and drink His blood have eternal life and will be raised up at the last day (John 6:54). Jesus’ flesh is food indeed with his blood drink indeed with those partaking in His flesh and blood abiding in Him and He in them (John 6:55-56). Just as the living Father sent Jesus and Jesus lives because of the Father, those choosing to feed on Jesus will live because of Him (John 6:57). Jesus concludes these things taught at the synagogue in Capernaum by saying He is the bread from heaven with anyone partaking of this bread living forever (John 6:58-59).

 

Jesus’ words may seem arrogant, but Jesus says them with confidence because Jesus knew who He was and where He came from. Jesus’ words may also seem to condone cannibalism, but he is speaking of partaking in His flesh and blood in a spiritual sense which we remember when we take communion. To believe Jesus as the Messiah one must believe He came from Heaven and is not the descendant of an earthly father. The complaining Jews of this text seem to have missed the point of the miracle of feeding the five thousand (John 6:1-14). While these complaining Jews did not witness Jesus’ walking on the water (John 6:15-21), they did observe that Jesus somehow arrived at the other side of the sea without the use of a boat since the only boat there was the disciple's boat and Jesus had not joined them (John 6:22-25). This evidence alone should indicate Jesus was someone special and not just the son of Mary and Joseph, who was Jesus’ adopted father with God as his Father. In fact, when questioned by the disciples of John regarding whether He was the one, Jesus pointed to the miracles as signs He was the one (Matthew 11:1-6). One would need to be blind not to see that Jesus was special.

 

However, belief in Jesus as Savior is not just a belief in a good man who did many good works while on earth. It is more than just a belief in one who arose from the dead. It is belief in the one sent from God out of love to die for humanity’s sins and to rise from the dead to bring them eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus is from heaven and knew no sin, yet he took the sin of humanity upon Himself so anyone choosing to believe in him would become the righteousness of God and a child of God (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:2).

 

As the salt (preservative) and the light (Illuminators of the truth of God’s Word), the Church has the mission of taking the Gospel to a world desperately needing it (Matthew 5:13-16, 28:19-20). Sadly, many Churches are lukewarm and more focused on wealth, prosperity, and what they can get from God instead of focusing on Who Jesus is, the Son of God sent from God to redeem fallen humanity (Revelation 3:14-17). It is time for the Church to repent of its lukewarmness and return to its mission from God (Acts 1:8).

 

I want to invite anyone reading this post who has not prayed for salvation from their sins and to make Jesus the Lord of their life through the confession of their belief in Jesus as their Savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May the Lord challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.

The Watchman and His Message

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 33:1-11

Ezekiel 33:7

“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.

(NKJV)

 

Ancient cities like Jerusalem would have stone walls surrounding them to protect them from enemy attack. On these walls, they would appoint watchmen who would blow a trumpet to warn those in the city of an approaching enemy attack. Ezekiel 33:1-11 has the heading of the Watchmen and his message with Ezekiel receiving the calling of a watchman for the house of Israel. However, the message of warning God instructs Ezekiel to give is not just a warning message but one warning them of their sins separating them from God and bringing spiritual death. Revival will only come when the Church fulfills its role as the watchman of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Ezekiel receives another word from the Lord, this time regarding the appointment of watchmen over the city (Ezekiel 33:1-2). The watchman has the responsibility to blow the trumpet in warning when he sees an enemy coming to attack the city (Ezekiel 33:3). If the people in the city ignore the trumpet’s warning and die from the sword, their blood is on their own head because they ignored the warning from the watchman, but one heeding the warning shall save his or her life (Ezekiel 33:4-5). However, If the watchman fails to blow the trumpet in warning, the blood of those taken in their iniquity will be on the watchman’s hand since the watchman did not warn them (Ezekiel 33:6).

 

The Lord then makes Ezekiel the watchman for the house of Israel with God instructing him to take the words he hears from the Lord and warn the house of Israel (Ezekiel 33:7). If Ezekiel fails to warn the wicked of their transgressions, the wicked man shall die in his iniquities but his blood will be on the hands of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 33:8). However, if Ezekiel warns the man and the man does not heed the warning, the man will die in his iniquity but Ezekiel will be delivered (Ezekiel 33:9).

 

Ezekiel then receives specific instructions to warn the house of Israel of their transgressions saying that if they continue in their sin, how can they live (Ezekiel 33:10). Ezekiel is then to tell the house of Israel that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but wants them to turn from their wicked ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11). As the watchman, Ezekiel is warning the house of Israel to turn back to God and live.

 

This passage provides instruction for the watchman and their duty to warn the people of harm (Ezekiel 33:1-6), Ezekiel’s calling as Israel’s watchman (Ezekiel 33:7-9), and Ezekiel’s message from the Lord for Israel (Ezekiel 33:10-11)

 

• The watchman’s duties and responsibilities (Ezekiel 33:1-6) – The watchman must watch for danger coming upon God’s people (Ezekiel 33:2-3). The watchman’s duty is to blow the trumpet in warning when he sees danger coming upon the people of Israel (Ezekiel 33:3). The watchman’s responsibility is to blow the trumpet for failure to do so brings guilt upon him for their death because they were killed without warning (Ezekiel 33:6).
• Ezekiel to be a watchman for Israel (Ezekiel 33:7-9) – After giving Ezekiel the duties and responsibilities of the watchman, He calls Ezekiel to be Israel’s watchman.
• The watchman’s message to Israel (Ezekiel 33:10-11) – Ezekiel is instructed by the Lord to warn Israel about their transgressions and that if they continue transgressing the Lord’s commandment to have no other god’s (Exodus 20:1-3), they will die. God is a just God and must not allow Israel to live in their transgressions but has a heart of mercy, not wanting any of them to die but live.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

As the salt and light of the earth, the Church has the same calling of a watchman with the same duties and responsibilities as the watchman of Israel (Matthew 5:13-16). In the time of Christ, there was no modern refrigeration or freezing so they used salt to preserve food. The Church has the truth contained in the Word of God acting as a preservative protecting culture from moral decay. The Church is also light because each believer in the Church has the Holy Spirit within them to bring an understanding of God’s word, counsel on living a Godly life, and to convict us of our sin, like Daniel (Daniel 5:11-12).

 

Unfortunately, many modern Churches are lukewarm, failing to be a preservative of Godly truth from the Bible and stifling the Holy Spirit due to their sin (Revelation 3:14-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22). Many of these Churches compromise with the transgressions of the world to gain more membership and contributions. This stifles the movement of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives so they do not receive Godly counsel and understanding of scriptures or conviction of sins (John 14:26, 16:5-11). The Church must repent of its lukewarmness and return to being the watchman God called it to be.

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.

Jesus: The Bread from Heaven

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 6:22-40

 

John 6:35-36

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. ³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.

(NKJV)

 

 

The election in the United States is over with still a few races undecided. Those whose candidate lost can fall into despair with those whose candidate won becoming complacent. The middle ground comes from realizing Jesus Christ is still on the throne and in control and that we must still pray for those in leadership whether we supported them in the election or not (1 Timothy 2:1-7). From the solid foundation of Jesus Christ as the King of Kings in control and as the bread from heaven bringing salvation to all through the cross, do not stop praying for the salvation of all, including our leaders.

 

On the day after Jesus fed the five thousand and walked on the water, the people standing on the other side of the sea observed only the boat of the disciples, remembering that Jesus had not gone with the disciples (John 6:22). Other boats did come in from Tiberias, but the people noticed that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, so they departed for Capernaum, seeking Jesus (John 6:23-24). Seeing Jesus on the other side of the sea, the people asked him when he had come there, not knowing about him walking on the sea (John 6:25).

 

Jesus replies by telling them they were not seeking Him because of the signs they saw but because they ate the loaves and were satisfied (John 6:26). The Lord then tells the people not to labor for food that perishes but instead seek food that endures to everlasting life coming from the Son of Man and God the Father who sent Him (John 6:27). The reply of the people is asking how they can do the works of God to which Jesus replies with the work of God being to believe in the one sent from God (John 6:28-29).

 

This reply from Jesus prompts the people to ask Jesus to perform a sign so they may see it and believe (John 6:30). They then mention how God provided manna from heaven to feed their fathers in the wilderness (John 6:31). Jesus agrees with them that God did provide manna from heaven, but that God has provided the true bread from heaven, one who comes down from heaven giving life to the world (John 6:32-33). This prompts the people to ask for this bread to which Jesus replies He is the bread of life with those coming to Him never hungering and those believing in him never thirsting (John 6:34-35). However, these people have seen Jesus and still do not believe (John 6:36).

 

Jesus then tells them that all that the Father gives Him will come to Him and that anyone coming to Him will not be cast out (John 6:37). Jesus continues by telling them that He has come down from heaven not to do His will but the will of the Father (John 6:38). The will of the Father is that all who come to the Son and believe will have everlasting life and be raised up at the last day (John 6:39-40).

 

The miracle of feeding the five thousand was a sign pointing to Jesus, the true bread of life but the people fed by Jesus sought another sign and a meal before they would believe. According to Hebrews 11:6, faith is essential if one is to please God. However, this is not faith in something we can see, but faith in what we cannot see, God Himself (Hebrews 11:1). Those fed by Jesus could see Jesus, God Himself, and yet asked for another sign (John 6:30). These people were not seeking intimacy with God through faith but free goodies from God. Jesus declares He is the bread of life (John 6:35), bread that brings eternal life through belief (John 3:16, 6:40). Those speaking to Jesus who were among those fed sought their next meal, Jesus offers eternal life.

 

Every believer must ask who Jesus is to them. Is He the one they go to when in trouble and needing a miracle, or is he the bread of life who gives them eternal life? Is He the God of my next free goodie, or the God I am seeking a closer relationship with and the God I want to spend eternity with? Is He just the God of my next meal or the bread of life and my God and Savior? I encourage everyone reading this to ponder these questions.

 

Repentance is making a 180-degree turn from any wickedness or sin in our lives. If after pondering the questions above God revealed some unrepentant sin in your life, I encourage you to repent and ask God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). If pondering these questions has caused you to realize you have never entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your personal savior, I encourage you to do so now. Romans 10:9-10 teaches that if one confesses with his or her mouth that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead, and believes this in the heart, they will be saved. If this is what you believe in your heart, I urge you to make the confession by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

  May the Lord challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.

Transformation From and Not Conformity with the World

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 32:17-32

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

(NKJV)

 

As A Child growing up, I remember my parents telling me not to hang out with those people or I will become just like them. As I have grown older, I have realized this advice is not only good for children but also for adults. In this text, we observe that the nations aligning with Egypt should also have heeded this advice and not aligned with Egypt which was destined for destruction. As Christians we must not seek conformity with the world but transformation through the renewing of our minds through the Word of God (Romans 12:2).

 

This text begins with Ezekiel receiving another word from the Lord, this time telling him to wail over the multitude of Egypt who will go down to the Pit (Ezekiel 32:17-18). The Lord then asks Egypt who they surpass in beauty, reminding them of their pride and that they will be placed with the uncircumcised (Ezekiel 32:19). Egypt is destined to fall with others slain by the sword along with the multitudes following her (Ezekiel 32:20). The strong among the mighty in hell will cry out to Egypt as they lie slain by the sword among the uncircumcised (Ezekiel 32:21).

 

Among those accompanying Egypt to the Pit are Assyria, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom, the Princes of the North, and the Sidonians (Ezekiel 32:22-30). Seeing these multitudes also slain by the sword brings comfort to Pharaoh says the Lord (Ezekiel 32:31). The text concludes with the Lord reminding Egypt that they caused terror in the land of the living and are destined to be placed among the uncircumcised with all the multitudes aligned with them (Ezekiel 32:32). A reminder of the fate of those aligning with the world.

 

Since Egypt is symbolic of the world in Scripture, this passage is a warning to those choosing to follow the world instead of God. In Romans 12:2, the Bible tells God’s people not to conform to the world but to experience transformation through the renewing of our minds. Renewal of the mind occurs when one acquires knowledge, but we must be careful what knowledge we allow to enter our minds. Paul warned the Colossians not to fall prey to the philosophies of the world that are not in accordance with Christ (Colossians 2:8). Renewal of the mind based on worldly knowledge will result in the renewal of the mind but not renewal away from worldly conformity but renewal into conformity with the world. The renewal spoken of in Romans 12:2 is renewal away from worldly conformity through the acquisition of knowledge of God through the Bible.

 

Sadly, however, many in the Church today fail to have a regular time of daily reading and study of the Bible so they can gain knowledge bringing transformation away from worldly conformity. Evidence of this failure to acquire Biblical knowledge and Godly transformation is the Church going woke and conforming to the world instead of being a transformative force in the world. Jesus told his followers that they were salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16).

 

During the time of Christ when people did not have modern refrigeration to preserve food, they used salt as a preservative. Jesus’ use of salt as an illustration is a call for the Church to function as a preservative force in the world. Conformity with the wokeness of the world is not acting as a preservative but instead acting to spread the toxic philosophies destroying the world. The use of light symbolized the need for the Church to shed light on the sins of the world and direct people to salvation through Jesus Christ. I urge those reading this post to spend time daily reading and studying the Bible, so they experience less conformity to the world and transformation toward Godliness. Then I challenge you to become salt and light in a dark world and become an agent of transformation in a world desperately needing it.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.