Page 8 - Good News September 2019 paper

E SPOKE, and galaxies Him, and so He came to rescue nature and His life-giving mis- Bread of Life (6:35); I am the Light
whirled into place, stars and save those who were lost and sion. These signs are (1) turning of the World (8:12; 9:5); I am the
Hburned the heavens, and to give them the gift of eternity. He water into wine (2:1-11), (2) Gate (10:7); I am the Good
planets began orbiting their suns is the Word, He is Jesus, the healing the official's son (4:46- Shepherd (10:11, 14): I am the
- words of awesome, unlimited, Messiah! 54), (3) healing the lame man at Resurrection and the Life (11:25);
unleashed power! He spoke the pool of Bethesda (5:1-9), (4) I am the Way, the Truth, and the
again, and the waters and lands It is this truth that the apostle feeding the 5 000 with just a few Life (14:6); and I am the True Vine
were filled with plants and John brings to us. John's Gospel loaves of bread and fish (6:1-14), (15:1).
creatures, running, swimming, is not only a life of Christ; it is a (5) walking on the water (6:15-21),
growing and multiplying - words powerful argument for the incar- (6) restoring sight to the blind The greatest sign, of course, is
of animating, breathing, pulsing nation, a conclusive demon- man (9:1-41), (7) raising Lazarus the Resurrection, and John
life. Again He spoke, and man and stration that Jesus was, and is, from the dead (11:1-44), and, after provides a stirring eyewitness
woman were formed, thinking, the very heaven-sent Son of God the Resurrection, (8) giving the account of finding the empty
speaking, and loving - words of and the only Source of Eternal disciples an overwhelming catch tomb. Then he records various
personal and creative glory. Life! of fish (21:1-14). post-Resurrection appearances
Eternal, infinite, unlimited - He by Jesus. John, the devoted
was, is, and always will be the John discloses Jesus' identity In every chapter Jesus' deity is follower of Christ, has given us a
Maker and Lord of all that exists! with his very first words, “In the revealed. And Jesus' true identity personal and powerful look at
beginning the Word already is underscored through the titles JESUS CHRIST, the Eternal Son
And then He came in the flesh to a existed. The Word was with God, He is given - the Word, the Only of God. As you read His story,
speck in the Universe called and the Word was God. He existed Son, Lamb of God, Son of God, commit yourself to believe in Him
planet Earth. The mighty Creator in the beginning with God” (John true Bread, Life, Resurrection, and follow Him!
became a part of the creation, 1:1, 2). John, the eyewitness, Vine. And the formula is “I am”. [LIFE APPLICATION STUDY
limited by time and space and chose eight of Jesus' miracles (or When Jesus uses this phrase, He BIBLE, New Living Translation,
susceptible to aging, sickness, miraculous signs, as he calls affirms His pre-existence and Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
and death. But love propelled them) to reveal His divine / human eternal deity. Jesus says I am the Carol Stream, Illinois, 2004].

ow prone we are to lose sight of this, being assailed. He is able to withstand the
and to imagine, because we see only mightiest foe! “Ons is almal huurders, en een of ander tyd sal die
Hour little corner in the conflict, that the groot Huisbaas ons kennis gee dat ons huur-
battle is ours! If the battle is the Lord's the supplies will be kontrak verstryk het.”
all-sufficient. No one knows how much is - Inskripsie op Joseph Jefferson se graf
If the battle is the Lord's, then the wanted in the day of battle like that General
responsibilities for planning belong to Him. who has been through many campaigns. We
Everything connected with the line of attack, shall lack nothing to make us victorious Psalm 49:11-12 “Wyse mense sterwe net soos
the method of defense, must belong to Him. warriors. dwase en sotte, en laat hulle besittings aan ander
We need not be anxious as to the enemy's na. Die graf is vir altyd hulle tuiste al het hulle
subtlety, activity, or power. The Victory is certain! The Captain on whose eenmaal grond op hulle naam gehad.”
side we are has never known defeat. He goes
“As captain of the host of the LORD I am now forth conquering and to conquer. The enemy Ons dink net nou en dan aan die tydelikheid van
come.” may apparently gain temporary advantage at ons lewe. Wanneer 'n vriend sterf, staan ons vir 'n
different points of the battle, but victory over oomblik stil by die graf en besef dat dit ook ons
He has a full view of the enemy's movements, Christ by Satan is simply impossible! elkeen se uiteinde is. Daarna jaag ons na die
and a perfect knowledge of the enemy's volgende afspraak en leef die dood “dood”.
devices. He has anticipated all the enemy's But He expects us to rest in His wisdom. In
wiles. It is impossible for Him to be deceived, the thick of the fight, in the midst of the Die dood bly egter op ons agenda. Juis daarom
or to be taken by surprise. It is His glory that smoke and din of battle, we may fail to see the moet ons nie te veel waarde heg aan wat ons hier
is at stake; the honour of His Name that is wisdom of all God's ways. When we cannot het nie. Ons eintlike skat lê in die toekoms, nie in
see, it is then that we must rest in His wisdom. ons huise en plase hier nie. Is dít waarna jy uitsien,
Let us have confidence in His power, and be of het die lewe hier vir jou genoeg geword?
obedient to His commands.
Gebed: Dankie, Here, dat ons net huurders op
I will not fear the battle, aarde is, maar dat ons deur U genade 'n ewige
If Thou art by my side.
eiendomsreg in die hemel het. Dankie dat ons
lewens veilig is by U op grond van Jesus se
[Devotions for Morning and Evening, Mrs,
Charles E. Cowman, Inspirational Press, New opstanding. Amen.
York, 1968]. [PITKOS vir die PAD, Annes Nel, CUM, 2004].