The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Saturday, 20 February 2016 “You will see greater things than these!”
Daily Scripture: John 1:43 The next day, having decided to leave for the Galil, Yeshua found Philip and said, “Follow me!” 44 Philip was from Beit-Tzaidah, the town where Andrew and Kefa lived. 45 Philip found Natan’el and told him, “We’ve found the one that Moshe wrote about in the Torah, also the Prophets — it’s Yeshua Ben-Yosef from Natzeret!” 46 Natan’el answered him, “Natzeret? Can anything good come from there?” “Come and see,” Philip said to him. 47 Yeshua saw Natan’el coming toward him and remarked about him, “Here’s a true son of Isra’el — nothing false in him!” 48 Natan’el said to him, “How do you know me?” Yeshua answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Natan’el said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Isra’el!” 50 Yeshua answered him, “you believe all this just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that!” 51 Then he said to him, “Yes indeed! I tell you that you will see heaven opened and the angels of God going up and coming down[John 1:51 Genesis 28:12] on the Son of Man!”
Reflection Questions
Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a tiny village. It lay about an hour’s walk from Galilee’s district capital, Sepphoris, a prosperous city which built a Roman theater during the time of Herod the Great. This description from Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels shows Nazareth’s obscurity: “As it expanded, Nazareth may have grown to a settlement of some 200 persons.”1 So when Phillip told Nathanael that “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, Joseph’s son, from Nazareth,” Nathanael responded as any of us might have: “Can anything from Nazareth be good?” But Nathanael was quickly convinced Phillip was right once he met Jesus.
- In verse 51, Jesus reminded Nathanael of the story of “Jacob’s ladder” in Genesis 28:12, and said Nathanael would see something similar as he spent time with Jesus. The message was that Jesus truly linked heaven and earth in a way Jacob’s famous dream only symbolized. How open is your heart to perceiving the often unseen spiritual realities of God’s world? In what ways can reading, studying and meditating on the story of Jesus, as told in John’s gospel, help to make that connection stronger for you?
Lord Jesus, John wrote that in you heaven came to earth. But many days this dark world doesn’t look much like heaven to me. Please connect me more closely to God, to the source of all life and goodness. Amen.
Family Activity
Jesus is God’s greatest expression of His love for all people! This week, discover verses on love in Scripture and find Bible stories about God’s love. Share God’s love with your wider community using your words and actions. Remember—you don’t have to practice growing love in big, fancy ways. Find small, yet meaningful ways to share God’s love with others. Consider serving a meal to, or enjoying fellowship with, people unfamiliar to you. Holding a door, smiling, and waving can all express God’s love to someone. When we are open to God growing us through the Holy Spirit, everyday acts will help produce love for everyone. Pray daily, asking God to grow love in your heart and lives for all people.
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Insights from Dave Robertson
Dave Robertson is the Director of Community Life at The Church of the Resurrection’s West Campus.In the Daily Study Bible series commentary, William Barclay describes how John’s Gospel was written to a much different looking audience than the first three Gospels. By the time John writes his Gospel, the vast majority of the church came from a non-Jewish, Greek-speaking, Gentile background. This is one of the reasons John’s Gospel is written like it is. The philosopher Plato pictured the world we live in as just a shadow or reflection of the real world. Jesus, having come from the real world, gives us glimpses of what the real world actually looks like.
When John presents Jesus being the Word or Logos of God who existed in the beginning from another world, finally entering our world by being made flesh, this helped the Gentile world understand the very nature of Jesus in a way they probably could not grasp from the synoptic gospels. John paints a picture of Jesus, throughout his Gospel, showing people glimpses of what this other world is like–the real world. In the synoptic gospels, we see a picture of a compassionate Jesus as he heals people. One who sympathizes with lepers, feels sorrow for people with sick kids and shows pity for the infirm. In John’s gospel, the healing stories typically have Jesus pointing toward these being done to reveal God’s glory. It’s not that Jesus is dispassionate, but there is a greater purpose to the miracles. The miracles point to something greater than what we know in this life.
When Jesus engages Nathanael, Jesus seems to have seen him from an other-worldly viewpoint. Jesus kind of mystically sees Nathanael before they ever met, and Nathanael’s response to Jesus telling him about himself was to declare Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus tells Nathanael, “You will see greater things than that.” Jesus has come to show people what the real glory of God looks like; to show people glimpses of the real world. The good news of John’s Gospel for Gentiles really comes later, when Jesus talks about his Father’s house having many rooms and he is going there to prepare a place for them. Gentiles never before thought they would ever get to live in the real world–now Jesus promises them they will.
I think back to times when I believe I have seen glimpses of what the real world looks like, glimpses of God’s glory revealed through Jesus Christ. Times that reassure our faith and cause us to say, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” You are “the way, the truth, and the life.” One day we will truly experience in its fullness what the real world is like. As Pastor Adam reminds us, “I not only believe it, I’m counting on it.”---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for “We have found the Messiah”
Daily Scripture: John 1:35 The next day, Yochanan was again standing with two of his talmidim. 36 On seeing Yeshua walking by, he said, “Look! God’s lamb!” 37 His two talmidim heard him speaking, and they followed Yeshua. 38 Yeshua turned and saw them following him, and he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi!” (which means “Teacher!”) “Where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and remained with him the rest of the day — it was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who had heard Yochanan and had followed Yeshua was Andrew the brother of Shim‘on Kefa.
41 The first thing he did was to find his brother Shim‘on and tell him, “We’ve found the Mashiach!” (The word means “one who has been anointed.”) 42 He took him to Yeshua. Looking at him, Yeshua said, “You are Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan; you will be known as Kefa.” (The name means “rock.”)
Reflection Questions
One of the most remarkable ways John the Baptist showed his humility was to point everyone, even his own close followers, toward Jesus, “the Lamb of God.” Two of John’s followers (we learn that one of them was Andrew) were so intrigued when they heard John describe Jesus that way that they followed Jesus on the spot.
Lord, you extend your invitation to “come and see” to me during this Lenten season. Draw my heart closer to yours, and teach me to live into your vision of a transformed world. Amen.
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Insights from Ginger Rothhaas
When John presents Jesus being the Word or Logos of God who existed in the beginning from another world, finally entering our world by being made flesh, this helped the Gentile world understand the very nature of Jesus in a way they probably could not grasp from the synoptic gospels. John paints a picture of Jesus, throughout his Gospel, showing people glimpses of what this other world is like–the real world. In the synoptic gospels, we see a picture of a compassionate Jesus as he heals people. One who sympathizes with lepers, feels sorrow for people with sick kids and shows pity for the infirm. In John’s gospel, the healing stories typically have Jesus pointing toward these being done to reveal God’s glory. It’s not that Jesus is dispassionate, but there is a greater purpose to the miracles. The miracles point to something greater than what we know in this life.
When Jesus engages Nathanael, Jesus seems to have seen him from an other-worldly viewpoint. Jesus kind of mystically sees Nathanael before they ever met, and Nathanael’s response to Jesus telling him about himself was to declare Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus tells Nathanael, “You will see greater things than that.” Jesus has come to show people what the real glory of God looks like; to show people glimpses of the real world. The good news of John’s Gospel for Gentiles really comes later, when Jesus talks about his Father’s house having many rooms and he is going there to prepare a place for them. Gentiles never before thought they would ever get to live in the real world–now Jesus promises them they will.
I think back to times when I believe I have seen glimpses of what the real world looks like, glimpses of God’s glory revealed through Jesus Christ. Times that reassure our faith and cause us to say, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” You are “the way, the truth, and the life.” One day we will truly experience in its fullness what the real world is like. As Pastor Adam reminds us, “I not only believe it, I’m counting on it.”---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for “We have found the Messiah”
Daily Scripture: John 1:35 The next day, Yochanan was again standing with two of his talmidim. 36 On seeing Yeshua walking by, he said, “Look! God’s lamb!” 37 His two talmidim heard him speaking, and they followed Yeshua. 38 Yeshua turned and saw them following him, and he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi!” (which means “Teacher!”) “Where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and remained with him the rest of the day — it was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who had heard Yochanan and had followed Yeshua was Andrew the brother of Shim‘on Kefa.
41 The first thing he did was to find his brother Shim‘on and tell him, “We’ve found the Mashiach!” (The word means “one who has been anointed.”) 42 He took him to Yeshua. Looking at him, Yeshua said, “You are Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan; you will be known as Kefa.” (The name means “rock.”)
Reflection Questions
One of the most remarkable ways John the Baptist showed his humility was to point everyone, even his own close followers, toward Jesus, “the Lamb of God.” Two of John’s followers (we learn that one of them was Andrew) were so intrigued when they heard John describe Jesus that way that they followed Jesus on the spot.
- When John’s two disciples followed “the Lamb of God,” they asked, “Where are you staying?” and Jesus set us a model—he said simply, “Come and see.” Verse 39 said “they remained with him that day.” When, and in what ways, has your desire to follow Jesus meant spending time with him, listening and learning? How might you do more of that, during this Lenten season and beyond?
- Enter Simon Peter, perhaps the most colorful, outspoken, and brashly human of all Jesus' first disciples. When we get to the end of the gospel (spoiler alert!), we’ll find him figuring in a powerful story of restoration after shattering failure. Yet Jesus immediately gave him a name that meant “Rock,” promising much future growth. In what ways have you grown since you started to follow Jesus? What growth do you look forward to in the future?
Lord, you extend your invitation to “come and see” to me during this Lenten season. Draw my heart closer to yours, and teach me to live into your vision of a transformed world. Amen.
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Insights from Ginger Rothhaas
Ginger Rothhaas is a seminary student at Saint Paul School of Theology and is serving in Congregational Care at The Church of the Resurrection.Take a quick walk through your memory, and picture the teachers you loved.
We can all think of a teacher that we loved. That’s a universal memory we all share. At some point in our education, there was a person who made a positive impact on us.
Put yourself back into that space with the beloved teacher. Do you remember the feeling of hanging on their every word? Of watching their mannerisms and wanting to be more like them? Do you remember thinking they must know everything there is to know?
I imagine this is what the disciples were feeling when they affectionately call Jesus “Rabbi.” The gospel of John depicts Jesus as a teacher more times than any other gospel. I love that about John–he is painting for us a scene of Jesus as our ultimate teacher.
Can you imagine being there in person with this profound teacher? I imagine we would be hanging on every word, watching his mannerisms, wanting to emulate his sense of peace, feeling that he knew all there was to know. We would want to soak it up.
That’s what the disciples are doing when they ask him where he is staying. John uses the Greek word meno here, which can mean staying, going, remaining, or abiding. It seems the disciples are saying, “Jesus, our great teacher, wherever you go next, I’m going too!”
The disciples want to soak him up. They want to learn all they can. They are realizing that this is their ultimate divine teacher.
And he is our beloved teacher too!
Use this Lenten season to re-connect with his teachings. Soak up all you can. A good place to start…the red letters in your Bible! But also consider artwork depicting his teachings, music lyrics, sermons online, commentaries, spiritual teachers, and the many pastors you have available who would love to help you. Your morning prayer could be, “Jesus, my great teacher, show me the way today. Teach me what I need to see. Bring to me what I need to learn, and help me be an instrument of your love.”---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 18 February 2016 “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Daily Scripture: John 1:29 The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, “Look! God’s lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world! 30 This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘After me is coming someone who has come to rank above me, because he existed before me.’ 31 I myself did not know who he was, but the reason I came immersing with water was so that he might be made known to Isra’el.” 32 Then Yochanan gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and remaining on him. 33 I myself did not know who he was, but the one who sent me to immerse in water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is the one who immerses in the Ruach HaKodesh.’ 34 And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
Reflection Questions
In this remarkable passage, John the Baptist first recognized and identified Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” That title was a clear signal that Jesus’ self-giving life and death would fulfill all the symbolism of Israel’s sacrificial system of worship. But John had even more to say: “I have seen and testified that this one is God’s Son.”
Lord Jesus, give me the boldness of John the Baptist to step into the adventure you began 2000 years ago, to risk bearing witness to all the divine love and forgiveness I believe you embodied. Amen.
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Insights from Dr. Amy Oden
We can all think of a teacher that we loved. That’s a universal memory we all share. At some point in our education, there was a person who made a positive impact on us.
Put yourself back into that space with the beloved teacher. Do you remember the feeling of hanging on their every word? Of watching their mannerisms and wanting to be more like them? Do you remember thinking they must know everything there is to know?
I imagine this is what the disciples were feeling when they affectionately call Jesus “Rabbi.” The gospel of John depicts Jesus as a teacher more times than any other gospel. I love that about John–he is painting for us a scene of Jesus as our ultimate teacher.
Can you imagine being there in person with this profound teacher? I imagine we would be hanging on every word, watching his mannerisms, wanting to emulate his sense of peace, feeling that he knew all there was to know. We would want to soak it up.
That’s what the disciples are doing when they ask him where he is staying. John uses the Greek word meno here, which can mean staying, going, remaining, or abiding. It seems the disciples are saying, “Jesus, our great teacher, wherever you go next, I’m going too!”
The disciples want to soak him up. They want to learn all they can. They are realizing that this is their ultimate divine teacher.
And he is our beloved teacher too!
Use this Lenten season to re-connect with his teachings. Soak up all you can. A good place to start…the red letters in your Bible! But also consider artwork depicting his teachings, music lyrics, sermons online, commentaries, spiritual teachers, and the many pastors you have available who would love to help you. Your morning prayer could be, “Jesus, my great teacher, show me the way today. Teach me what I need to see. Bring to me what I need to learn, and help me be an instrument of your love.”---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 18 February 2016 “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Daily Scripture: John 1:29 The next day, Yochanan saw Yeshua coming toward him and said, “Look! God’s lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world! 30 This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘After me is coming someone who has come to rank above me, because he existed before me.’ 31 I myself did not know who he was, but the reason I came immersing with water was so that he might be made known to Isra’el.” 32 Then Yochanan gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and remaining on him. 33 I myself did not know who he was, but the one who sent me to immerse in water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is the one who immerses in the Ruach HaKodesh.’ 34 And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
Reflection Questions
In this remarkable passage, John the Baptist first recognized and identified Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” That title was a clear signal that Jesus’ self-giving life and death would fulfill all the symbolism of Israel’s sacrificial system of worship. But John had even more to say: “I have seen and testified that this one is God’s Son.”
- In the Temple, a worshipper confessed his or her sin over an innocent lamb. Then a priest sacrificed the lamb and placed its blood symbolically on the altar to clear the sinner from guilt. What does the image of Jesus as “the Lamb of God” tell you about one key reason he came (cf. also Matthew 1:21)? How can you prepare your heart this Lenten season to fully accept forgiveness from “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”?
- The way Mark chose to tell the gospel story, Jesus was not called God’s Son until a Roman centurion who had watched him die on the cross said, “This man was certainly God’s Son” (Mark 15:39). But 20 or 30 years later, John’s gospel wove that crucial statement of faith throughout his very first chapter. On what basis did John the Baptist reach that belief? What leads you to believe and testify that Jesus “is God’s Son”?
Lord Jesus, give me the boldness of John the Baptist to step into the adventure you began 2000 years ago, to risk bearing witness to all the divine love and forgiveness I believe you embodied. Amen.
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Insights from Dr. Amy Oden
Dr. Amy Oden is Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology at OCU. Teaching is her calling, and she looks forward to every day with students. For 25 years, Amy has taught theology and history, pursuing scholarship in service of the church.Sometimes I’m not sure I know who Jesus is. I’m not always confident I would know him if I saw him. I have a picture in my mind of what he looked like in Bible times, but I’m pretty sure that is not what he looks like walking down the street today. Then I think of what John the Baptizer says in this passage. Twice John says he didn’t know Jesus, “I myself did not know him…” (v. 31 and 33). It’s surprising and encouraging to realize that even though John didn’t know Jesus yet, he was still part of the good news.
John the Baptizer really hoped God would do a new thing. And he believed that God would do a new thing, even though he didn’t know what that new thing would be. He just knew that people were hungry for mercy and forgiveness and love. He knew it was time for the Spirit of God to come afresh upon all people.
So John offered his ministry – baptizing with water and declaring forgiveness – before he’d ever met Jesus, before he knew for sure what God was up to. He wanted to be part of this new thing God was doing in Jesus, even before he ever knew who Jesus was. And though his baptizing wasn’t yet the complete fulfillment of God’s dream for the world, he was doing what he could to be part of that dream.
I want to be part of God’s dream for the world, too. So, on those days when I’m not sure I know who Jesus really is, I’m grateful to be like John the Baptizer, part of the Good News unfolding in the world.---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 17 February 2016 “A voice crying out in the wilderness”
Daily Scripture: John 1:19 Here is Yochanan’s testimony: when the Judeans sent cohanim and L’vi’im from Yerushalayim to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 he was very straightforward and stated clearly, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 “Then who are you?” they asked him. “Are you Eliyahu?” “No, I am not,” he said. “Are you ‘the prophet,’ the one we’re expecting?” “No,” he replied. 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? — so that we can give an answer to the people who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” 23 He answered in the words of Yesha‘yahu the prophet, “I am
The voice of someone crying out:
‘In the desert make the way of Adonai straight!’”[John 1:23 Isaiah 40:3]
24 Some of those who had been sent were P’rushim. 25 They asked him, “If you are neither the Messiah nor Eliyahu nor ‘the prophet,’ then why are you immersing people?” 26 To them Yochanan replied, “I am immersing people in water, but among you is standing someone whom you don’t know. 27 He is the one coming after me — I’m not good enough even to untie his sandal!” 28 All this took place in Beit-Anyah, east of the Yarden, where Yochanan was immersing.
Reflection Questions
John the gospel writer introduced Jesus' forerunner, John the Baptist (or “Baptizer”). This fiery prophet came from the Judean desert to the Jordan River, and his preaching of repentance moved the authorities to send messengers to ask him if he claimed to be the Messiah. John humbly said he claimed only to be carrying out the message of Isaiah 40:3. He was here, he said, to direct people to “someone greater.”
Lord Jesus, you still seek a path into every human heart. Help me, like John the Baptist, to be “a voice crying out in the wilderness, Make the Lord’s path straight.” Amen.
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Insights from Kari Burgess
John the Baptizer really hoped God would do a new thing. And he believed that God would do a new thing, even though he didn’t know what that new thing would be. He just knew that people were hungry for mercy and forgiveness and love. He knew it was time for the Spirit of God to come afresh upon all people.
So John offered his ministry – baptizing with water and declaring forgiveness – before he’d ever met Jesus, before he knew for sure what God was up to. He wanted to be part of this new thing God was doing in Jesus, even before he ever knew who Jesus was. And though his baptizing wasn’t yet the complete fulfillment of God’s dream for the world, he was doing what he could to be part of that dream.
I want to be part of God’s dream for the world, too. So, on those days when I’m not sure I know who Jesus really is, I’m grateful to be like John the Baptizer, part of the Good News unfolding in the world.---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 17 February 2016 “A voice crying out in the wilderness”
Daily Scripture: John 1:19 Here is Yochanan’s testimony: when the Judeans sent cohanim and L’vi’im from Yerushalayim to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 he was very straightforward and stated clearly, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 “Then who are you?” they asked him. “Are you Eliyahu?” “No, I am not,” he said. “Are you ‘the prophet,’ the one we’re expecting?” “No,” he replied. 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? — so that we can give an answer to the people who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” 23 He answered in the words of Yesha‘yahu the prophet, “I am
The voice of someone crying out:
‘In the desert make the way of Adonai straight!’”[John 1:23 Isaiah 40:3]
24 Some of those who had been sent were P’rushim. 25 They asked him, “If you are neither the Messiah nor Eliyahu nor ‘the prophet,’ then why are you immersing people?” 26 To them Yochanan replied, “I am immersing people in water, but among you is standing someone whom you don’t know. 27 He is the one coming after me — I’m not good enough even to untie his sandal!” 28 All this took place in Beit-Anyah, east of the Yarden, where Yochanan was immersing.
Reflection Questions
John the gospel writer introduced Jesus' forerunner, John the Baptist (or “Baptizer”). This fiery prophet came from the Judean desert to the Jordan River, and his preaching of repentance moved the authorities to send messengers to ask him if he claimed to be the Messiah. John humbly said he claimed only to be carrying out the message of Isaiah 40:3. He was here, he said, to direct people to “someone greater.”
- The book of 1 Maccabees, written about 100 years before Christ, told of heroic brothers who fought for Israel’s freedom. At one point, it noted wistfully: “There was distress in Israel, such as had not beensince the time prophets ceased to appear among them” (1 Maccabees 9:27). How does this background help you understand why John’s (and then Jesus') powerful, prophetic preaching triggered great excitement and hope?
- John said, in relation to the “someone greater” coming after him, that “I’m not worthy to untie his sandal straps.” Do you believe John’s comment reflected an unhealthy lack of self-worth and confidence in himself? Or do you see it as a reflection of the kind of reverence and devotion that Jesus’ followers believed was only appropriate in the presence of the Word who became flesh?
Lord Jesus, you still seek a path into every human heart. Help me, like John the Baptist, to be “a voice crying out in the wilderness, Make the Lord’s path straight.” Amen.
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Insights from Kari Burgess
Kari Burgess is a Program Director for the ShareChurch team, handling promotion and marketing for all of the conferences held at Resurrection, as well as registration and coordinating hospitality volunteers.When I think of John the Baptist, I think of a large, gruff, wild man. I’m not really sure where this comes from–surely partly from Scripture that describes John the Baptist wearing clothes made of camel’s hair and eating locusts. But I wonder if I’ve seen a movie somewhere where he was portrayed in this way. In any case, my image of him includes a booming, loud voice of authority preaching repentance with fire and brimstone–not exactly the picture of humility.
But Scripture tells us he is precisely that–humble. He is confident in the message of repentance he has been sent to proclaim, preparing the way for Jesus. But he is quick to point out to the Pharisees that he is not the Messiah and even more, he is not even worthy to be the servant of the One who is to come after him.
So the GPS asks: Do you believe John’s comment reflected an unhealthy lack of self-worth and confidence in himself? Not at all. Rather than view him as someone with little self-worth, I would say John the Baptist is more of a humble leader. John the Baptist’s story teaches us the importance of humility in leadership.
Humility in leadership helps to build trust with those being led. A humble leader realizes there are others with vision, strong ideas and abilities to accomplish a common goal and is secure enough to seek out the input and talent of others. It’s not that a humble leader lacks self-confidence–quite the opposite. A humble leader leads with a quiet confidence. Perhaps C.S. Lewis says it best, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” Leading while thinking about the goal in mind or how your initiative will benefit others instead of thinking about how it will make you look to others or what you can personally gain is true humility in leadership.
In trying to teach my own children about humility and how it breeds respect, trust and is ultimately a positive trait of leader, I have found it tricky to try to help them balance between self-confidence and humility. Kids think in terms of black and white, so you can either be prideful and confident or humble and self-diminishing.
My husband and youngest daughter participate in a program at our elementary school called All Pro Dads. Once a month they have breakfast with other dads (and dad figures) and kids and talk about various topics relevant to building character. My husband and daughter come home after each meeting excited to share about what they learned and discussed. In one activity, they go around the room and the dads tell one thing they are proud of about their child. The idea is to reflect on a character trait of the child, not an accomplishment. For instance, “I was so proud of Johnny last week when he gave up his Saturday morning to help pick up trash in the park” instead of “I’m so proud of Susie for being the high scorer in her basketball game last week!”
In a recent meeting, they talked about the importance of humility. They identified 10 ways to teach your child humility, using an article from their website. These are helpful reminders for all of us on how to be humble. Here are the 10 traits:
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KIDS
10 Ways to Teach Your Children HumilityAuthor GK Chesterton said: “What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth. This is now exactly reversed.”
Many modern young people state there is no absolute truth, but they are supremely overconfident in themselves. So when your son or daughter displays genuine humility, they stand out like the noonday sun. Here’s 10 ways to teach your children humility:
1. Modeling.
Never underestimate the power of teaching through example. Humility must be consistently modeled as a lifestyle, not an on-again, off-again example.
2. Build them up.
This may sound counter intuitive, but it’s important to understand that humility always comes from a position of belief, strength, and self-assurance.
3. Encourage and help them to be the very best they can be—no matter what they do.
Humility works best when your child has actually achieved something! Help your child achieve with confidence.
4. Make sure they understand where their real value comes from.
It’s easier to sidestep pride or arrogance when children understand that they are valued simply because they are your child, not because they win the race, have a prettier mom (and a smarter dad!), earn a higher income, or score the most points.
5. Never humiliate your kids.
Humility cannot be imposed. It’s important not to confuse humiliation, bullying, and beating down with an education in humility.
6. Expose your child to the great teachers and their stories.
Jesus, Mother Teresa, Eric Liddell… are all wonderful role models. For Jesus, there are lots of great children’s books about him, as well as about Mother Teresa. Eric Liddell is the man who inspired the movie, Chariots of Fire, a great film for your whole family.
7. Teach them to serve.
– Serve the homeless
– Serve the poor
– Serve their family
– Serve one another
8. Coach them on how to respond.
Kids need to be taught to say, “please” and “thank you” as much as they need to be taught to brush their teeth and to stay out of the street. So why expect them to know humility without guidance? Here’s an example: “Look, Jr., that’s a great job you did on your science fair project. You deserved to win the prize. Now, this is how you handle it in class tomorrow…let’s practice saying,
“Thanks!”
“I like the way my friend, Matt, did his project, too.”
“I don’t think I could have won without the help of my teacher.”
You get the idea.
9. Teach them how to apologize.
The well-timed and sincere apology is a key component of humility. Sometimes they’re wrong; they need to acknowledge that. Sometimes they overreach and it’s time to back up. Sometimes, they receive unintentional consequences they need to smooth over.
10. Teach them to give thanks.
A genuinely grateful heart is a key building block for humility. Gratitude, practiced and eventually owned, enhances humility at every turn. The person saying “thank you” affects a posture that is unassuming and modest. Try this: every time someone offers a compliment, simply say, “thank you.” It’s the kind of response that eventually soaks in, grows roots, and blooms humility.
But Scripture tells us he is precisely that–humble. He is confident in the message of repentance he has been sent to proclaim, preparing the way for Jesus. But he is quick to point out to the Pharisees that he is not the Messiah and even more, he is not even worthy to be the servant of the One who is to come after him.
So the GPS asks: Do you believe John’s comment reflected an unhealthy lack of self-worth and confidence in himself? Not at all. Rather than view him as someone with little self-worth, I would say John the Baptist is more of a humble leader. John the Baptist’s story teaches us the importance of humility in leadership.
Humility in leadership helps to build trust with those being led. A humble leader realizes there are others with vision, strong ideas and abilities to accomplish a common goal and is secure enough to seek out the input and talent of others. It’s not that a humble leader lacks self-confidence–quite the opposite. A humble leader leads with a quiet confidence. Perhaps C.S. Lewis says it best, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” Leading while thinking about the goal in mind or how your initiative will benefit others instead of thinking about how it will make you look to others or what you can personally gain is true humility in leadership.
In trying to teach my own children about humility and how it breeds respect, trust and is ultimately a positive trait of leader, I have found it tricky to try to help them balance between self-confidence and humility. Kids think in terms of black and white, so you can either be prideful and confident or humble and self-diminishing.
My husband and youngest daughter participate in a program at our elementary school called All Pro Dads. Once a month they have breakfast with other dads (and dad figures) and kids and talk about various topics relevant to building character. My husband and daughter come home after each meeting excited to share about what they learned and discussed. In one activity, they go around the room and the dads tell one thing they are proud of about their child. The idea is to reflect on a character trait of the child, not an accomplishment. For instance, “I was so proud of Johnny last week when he gave up his Saturday morning to help pick up trash in the park” instead of “I’m so proud of Susie for being the high scorer in her basketball game last week!”
In a recent meeting, they talked about the importance of humility. They identified 10 ways to teach your child humility, using an article from their website. These are helpful reminders for all of us on how to be humble. Here are the 10 traits:
- Modeling
- Build them Up
- Encourage and help them to be the very best they can be—no matter what they do
- Make sure they understand where their real value comes from
- Never humiliate your kids
- Expose your child to the great teachers and their stories
- Teach them to serve
- Coach them on how to respond
- Teach them how to apologize
- Teach them to give thanks
---------------------
KIDS
10 Ways to Teach Your Children HumilityAuthor GK Chesterton said: “What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth. This is now exactly reversed.”
Many modern young people state there is no absolute truth, but they are supremely overconfident in themselves. So when your son or daughter displays genuine humility, they stand out like the noonday sun. Here’s 10 ways to teach your children humility:
1. Modeling.
Never underestimate the power of teaching through example. Humility must be consistently modeled as a lifestyle, not an on-again, off-again example.
2. Build them up.
This may sound counter intuitive, but it’s important to understand that humility always comes from a position of belief, strength, and self-assurance.
3. Encourage and help them to be the very best they can be—no matter what they do.
Humility works best when your child has actually achieved something! Help your child achieve with confidence.
4. Make sure they understand where their real value comes from.
It’s easier to sidestep pride or arrogance when children understand that they are valued simply because they are your child, not because they win the race, have a prettier mom (and a smarter dad!), earn a higher income, or score the most points.
5. Never humiliate your kids.
Humility cannot be imposed. It’s important not to confuse humiliation, bullying, and beating down with an education in humility.
6. Expose your child to the great teachers and their stories.
Jesus, Mother Teresa, Eric Liddell… are all wonderful role models. For Jesus, there are lots of great children’s books about him, as well as about Mother Teresa. Eric Liddell is the man who inspired the movie, Chariots of Fire, a great film for your whole family.
7. Teach them to serve.
– Serve the homeless
– Serve the poor
– Serve their family
– Serve one another
8. Coach them on how to respond.
Kids need to be taught to say, “please” and “thank you” as much as they need to be taught to brush their teeth and to stay out of the street. So why expect them to know humility without guidance? Here’s an example: “Look, Jr., that’s a great job you did on your science fair project. You deserved to win the prize. Now, this is how you handle it in class tomorrow…let’s practice saying,
“Thanks!”
“I like the way my friend, Matt, did his project, too.”
“I don’t think I could have won without the help of my teacher.”
You get the idea.
9. Teach them how to apologize.
The well-timed and sincere apology is a key component of humility. Sometimes they’re wrong; they need to acknowledge that. Sometimes they overreach and it’s time to back up. Sometimes, they receive unintentional consequences they need to smooth over.
10. Teach them to give thanks.
A genuinely grateful heart is a key building block for humility. Gratitude, practiced and eventually owned, enhances humility at every turn. The person saying “thank you” affects a posture that is unassuming and modest. Try this: every time someone offers a compliment, simply say, “thank you.” It’s the kind of response that eventually soaks in, grows roots, and blooms humility.
---------------------
My favorite point in the article is about building them up: “This may sound counter intuitive, but it’s important to understand humility always comes from a position of belief, strength, and self-assurance.” In other words, build your child up, so they have self assurance, confidence in themselves and their abilities. From this posture, they can be confident in their own abilities but also recognize the abilities of others as being equally or more valuable.
Which brings me back to today’s story about John the Baptist. He certainly came from a position of belief, strength and self-assurance of his God-given message of repentance, but still showed humility in assuring the Pharisees there would be someone else coming with another, even more important message. I hope to guide my children to consistently display this type of humility. In doing so, may I also learn to be humble in every aspect of my work and personal life.---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Tuesday, 16 February 2016 “The Word became flesh”
Daily Scripture: John 1:6 There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan. 7 He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him. 8 He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.
9 This was the true light,
which gives light to everyone entering the world.
10 He was in the world — the world came to be through him —
yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own homeland,
yet his own people did not receive him.
12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.
14 The Word became a human being and lived with us,
and we saw his Sh’khinah,
the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, “This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received from his fullness,
yes, grace upon grace.
17 For the Torah was given through Moshe;
grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.
18 No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father’s side — he has made him known.
Reflection Questions
The Greek and Roman gods usually showed little interest in human beings’ day-to-day concerns. John said “the Word” was utterly different. He gave all who believed in him the right to become children of God. “The Word became flesh and made his home among us”—neither Greeks nor Jews believed God could bridge a gap that wide. But John said the light wasn’t just about God—the light was God himself, one of us yet so much more than just one of us.
Lord Jesus, thank you for becoming flesh, and for giving me the authority and power to be born anew as a child of God. Thank you for my new life. Amen.
---------------------
Insights from Brandon Gregory
Which brings me back to today’s story about John the Baptist. He certainly came from a position of belief, strength and self-assurance of his God-given message of repentance, but still showed humility in assuring the Pharisees there would be someone else coming with another, even more important message. I hope to guide my children to consistently display this type of humility. In doing so, may I also learn to be humble in every aspect of my work and personal life.---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Tuesday, 16 February 2016 “The Word became flesh”
Daily Scripture: John 1:6 There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan. 7 He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him. 8 He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.
9 This was the true light,
which gives light to everyone entering the world.
10 He was in the world — the world came to be through him —
yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own homeland,
yet his own people did not receive him.
12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.
14 The Word became a human being and lived with us,
and we saw his Sh’khinah,
the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, “This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received from his fullness,
yes, grace upon grace.
17 For the Torah was given through Moshe;
grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.
18 No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father’s side — he has made him known.
Reflection Questions
The Greek and Roman gods usually showed little interest in human beings’ day-to-day concerns. John said “the Word” was utterly different. He gave all who believed in him the right to become children of God. “The Word became flesh and made his home among us”—neither Greeks nor Jews believed God could bridge a gap that wide. But John said the light wasn’t just about God—the light was God himself, one of us yet so much more than just one of us.
- Being born is the way each one of us enters into the world to begin a new life. John, taking his cue from Jesus (cf. John 3:3-8), said the quality of life Jesus brought is so fresh and filled with divine energy it’s like being born anew as a child of God. When did your spiritual journey start? In what ways has walking with Jesus given you a whole new life?
- The poetry of Genesis said “in the beginning” God made the world, and declared it good (Genesis 1:31). But many prominent, widely accepted philosophies in John’s time, such as Philo’s, said the physical world (“flesh”) was so corrupt and evil that a truly good God could have no contact with it. In what ways does Jesus, the Word who “became flesh,” cast light on what it means for you to be fully human?
Lord Jesus, thank you for becoming flesh, and for giving me the authority and power to be born anew as a child of God. Thank you for my new life. Amen.
---------------------
Insights from Brandon Gregory
Brandon Gregory is a volunteer for the worship and missions teams at Church of the Resurrection. He helps lead worship at the Vibe, West, and Downtown services, and is involved with the Malawi missions team at home.I’ve written about the opening of John in the past. The concept of God as the Logos (the Word) was not original to John; but John’s interpretation of God as the Logos went beyond anything that had been said before.
The Jewish philosopher Philo was the first to really attribute the Jewish God to the Logos–the underlying logic and order of the universe. But the God Philo described was a distant God who couldn’t come into contact with a sinful world. Philo was influenced by the Stoic philosophers of his time, who believed that the flesh was evil and needed to be overcome to seek true enlightenment.
In Philo’s mind, God and the flesh were on opposite ends of a sliding scale. In fact, Philo described God as absolutely transcendent, nothing like the earthly realm we know–and furthermore, in our earthly state, we could only know God from a distance. We could never truly know God personally because we were stuck in the flesh.
So when John says, “And the Logos became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” it’s not just poetic–it’s scandalous. The flesh, with all of its shortcomings, became the dwelling place of the Logos.
This is the radical nature of Christianity–that God loved us so much that he was not content to love us from a distance, but came down to show us what love was. Our God is not unknowable in our current state–he came alive to show us that God was within reach. We are not stuck in the flesh, as Philo described–we’re in the same state as the disciples who reached out and touched our God all those years ago. Never forget how close we are to God, or how close he came to us through Jesus.---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Monday, 15 February 2016 “The life was the light for all people”
Daily Scripture: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing made had being.
4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not suppressed it.
Reflection Questions
John’s prelude was like a great musical overture. The first three words—“In the beginning”—were the first of many allusions in the gospel to Genesis 1-2. John wanted us to see that Jesus the creator was creating anew. The “life” and “light” images were also from those “beginning” stories, with the added insight that since the beginning the world had grown dark. Into this dark world, Jesus brought inextinguishable life and light for all who trusted in him.
Lord Jesus, give me “eyes to see” the light of how much you love and value me as I read your story again in John’s gospel this Lenten season. Amen.---------------------
Insights from Donna Karlen
The Jewish philosopher Philo was the first to really attribute the Jewish God to the Logos–the underlying logic and order of the universe. But the God Philo described was a distant God who couldn’t come into contact with a sinful world. Philo was influenced by the Stoic philosophers of his time, who believed that the flesh was evil and needed to be overcome to seek true enlightenment.
In Philo’s mind, God and the flesh were on opposite ends of a sliding scale. In fact, Philo described God as absolutely transcendent, nothing like the earthly realm we know–and furthermore, in our earthly state, we could only know God from a distance. We could never truly know God personally because we were stuck in the flesh.
So when John says, “And the Logos became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” it’s not just poetic–it’s scandalous. The flesh, with all of its shortcomings, became the dwelling place of the Logos.
This is the radical nature of Christianity–that God loved us so much that he was not content to love us from a distance, but came down to show us what love was. Our God is not unknowable in our current state–he came alive to show us that God was within reach. We are not stuck in the flesh, as Philo described–we’re in the same state as the disciples who reached out and touched our God all those years ago. Never forget how close we are to God, or how close he came to us through Jesus.---------------------
The Daily Guide-The Daily Devotional grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Monday, 15 February 2016 “The life was the light for all people”
Daily Scripture: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing made had being.
4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not suppressed it.
Reflection Questions
John’s prelude was like a great musical overture. The first three words—“In the beginning”—were the first of many allusions in the gospel to Genesis 1-2. John wanted us to see that Jesus the creator was creating anew. The “life” and “light” images were also from those “beginning” stories, with the added insight that since the beginning the world had grown dark. Into this dark world, Jesus brought inextinguishable life and light for all who trusted in him.
- “In the beginning” reaches back to mysteries that even today’s science can barely scratch the surface of. But John said Jesus, the Word, was already here “in the beginning”—that Jesus “was” BEFORE the beginning! In other words, John believed Jesus is eternal; Jesus is God. Can you believe, with John, that Jesus is more than just a good man? John believed that because he knew Jesus. In what ways can you deepen your personal connection with Jesus?
- “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light” (verse 5). So many kinds of darkness try to put out the light in our lives—the death of someone we love, a broken relationship, facing unfair or abusive treatment, financial uncertainty and fear, and many more. What does it mean to you that Jesus' light keeps shining even at those times? How can you keep your spiritual eyes open to receive Jesus' light?
Lord Jesus, give me “eyes to see” the light of how much you love and value me as I read your story again in John’s gospel this Lenten season. Amen.---------------------
Insights from Donna Karlen
Donna Karlen serves in Communications at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.”
Did you know that light possesses “radiant energy”? Qe[nb 2] is the symbol, in case you’re interested. I love the image in today’s scripture of Jesus as light – light that cannot be overcome, extinguished, snuffed out. Darkness may surround light, seems to press in on it in an attempt to eliminate it; but as long as there is even a tiny source of light, darkness isn’t. Every Christmas Eve we see this concept enacted as our worship venue is plunged into darkness, and then a single candle pierces the darkness with light.
Each of us can be that single candle. Darkness presses in on us every day. So many bad things happen. And sometimes those things bring darkness so heavy as to make it hard to breathe – or to imagine the world ever being anything but the hot mess it seems to be.
Yet still the light shines in the darkness. The light of Jesus. The light of life.
It shines when more than a thousand people come to pack care kits to help people impacted by a natural disaster, or a ton of food is donated to help relieve hunger in our own city. It will shine this Saturday at FaithWork (if you would like to shine as part of that light, click here). Light shines when we reach out to someone who hurt us, and we forgive. It shines when we lift up a hurting heart with a simple smile and a kind word.
The light of Jesus shines with radiant energy in each of us when we choose to let it in… to let it push away the darkness that cannot extinguish our light.---------------------
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
---------------------
Did you know that light possesses “radiant energy”? Qe[nb 2] is the symbol, in case you’re interested. I love the image in today’s scripture of Jesus as light – light that cannot be overcome, extinguished, snuffed out. Darkness may surround light, seems to press in on it in an attempt to eliminate it; but as long as there is even a tiny source of light, darkness isn’t. Every Christmas Eve we see this concept enacted as our worship venue is plunged into darkness, and then a single candle pierces the darkness with light.
Each of us can be that single candle. Darkness presses in on us every day. So many bad things happen. And sometimes those things bring darkness so heavy as to make it hard to breathe – or to imagine the world ever being anything but the hot mess it seems to be.
Yet still the light shines in the darkness. The light of Jesus. The light of life.
It shines when more than a thousand people come to pack care kits to help people impacted by a natural disaster, or a ton of food is donated to help relieve hunger in our own city. It will shine this Saturday at FaithWork (if you would like to shine as part of that light, click here). Light shines when we reach out to someone who hurt us, and we forgive. It shines when we lift up a hurting heart with a simple smile and a kind word.
The light of Jesus shines with radiant energy in each of us when we choose to let it in… to let it push away the darkness that cannot extinguish our light.---------------------
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
---------------------
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