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Jesus Encounters

What Love Looks Like

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Jesus, under relentless scrutiny by religious leaders, walked among the people as love. The gospels, replete with stories of His interactions with humankind, illustrate His love for all. Three examples are Zacchaeus in Luke 19, the woman in Luke 8, and the recluse in Mark 5. Jesus drew them from the shadows, connected with them, and transformed their lives.

Zacchaeus

First, we consider Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, who was literally up a tree. Being short didn’t keep his desire to see Jesus tethered. Jesus said. “Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” The people muttered while Jesus had come for the lost. “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus found him in the hidden place, had a meaningful encounter and left him different.

A Woman

Next, we reflect on a woman identified by her illness, hidden in a crowd. Jesus, on his way to keep a young girl from dying, felt power leave Him. “Who touched Me?” He asked.

 An unclean woman dared to reach out and touch the rabbi and was healed. She wanted to hide. Jesus, despite everyone denying it and Peter making light of it, called her out. Trembling, she fell at His feet and told Him the entire story. “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” He could have left her in her hiddenness, but the Light of the world knew she needed an encounter with Him for lasting change.

 The Recluse

Finally, we read of a man among the tombs, unrestrained by chains, who screamed and cut himself. Then Jesus climbed out of the boat. “Come out of this man you unclean spirit.” As the demons called for mercy, Jesus dealt with the spirits named Legion. Then the man is clothed and in his right mind. He asked to go with Jesus but was sent out to tell his story, which amazed all who heard.

Three lost souls encountered Jesus and were forever changed. That is what love looks like!

What is your story? Have you met Jesus? What did Love do for you?

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EasterJesus Encounters

Recommissioned

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

We come to this Good Friday with the story John writes about Peter. It is now the third visit of Jesus since His resurrection from the dead. The tragic weekend has passed. Peter wants things to go back to normal, put it all behind him, his betrayal, and the shame. But something has changed. Jesus is now the resurrected Lord. In this intimate conversation by the burning fire at the Lake of Tiberias, Jesus makes Peter face himself, restores and recommissions him.

Face Himself

Peter was determined. He would never deny Christ. He would die for Him first. The crushing events of Easter, however, revealed what actually lie within him. Three times, he denied knowing Jesus. He couldn’t go on pretending it never happened. Perhaps that is the reason Jesus has Peter affirm his love for Him three times. Jesus must take Peter beyond his failure.

Restored

Telling Jesus he loved Him three times was for Peter’s benefit. It reminded him of the love relationship he had with Jesus. He now has a clean starting place, his betrayal, his sleepiness in the Garden of Gethsemane, all his failures, have experienced the death, and resurrection of Jesus the Son of God, the Good Shepherd who had laid down His life for the sheep.

Recommissioned

Peter returned to fishing. Going back to the familiar things would make him feel better. Jesus, however, interrupted him, and reminded him of a far greater commission. Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” He told him three times. The great shepherd of the sheep, was leaving to prepare a place for His lambs. He needed His disciples. He needed Peter to fill in the gap, under the power of the Holy Spirit. He also predicted Peter’s demise. Peter was curious what it meant for another disciple but Jesus quickly reminded him, it was not his business.

In this intimate conversation by the burning fire at the Lake of Tiberias, Jesus made Peter face himself, restored, and recommissioned him.

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Followers of JesusJesus EncountersPeterWitness to Identity of Jesus

The Third Visit

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

When Jesus made his third visit, to the disciples after the cross, it was at the Sea of Tiberias. Some of the disciples, still felt a bit lost, and got together. Peter, the one upon whom Jesus will build His church, said, “I am going fishing.” So, one normal day, was touched with the presence of the resurrected Jesus, over a simple meal.

Come and eat!

One Normal Day

The disciples saw Jesus, a couple of times since He had risen from the dead. But on this day they felt the pull of normalcy and went fishing. These men were fishermen. They were used to being on the water catching fish. And as happened at least once before, their night of toil yielded nothing.

The Resurrected Jesus

In the morning, the resurrected Jesus, stood on the shore. “Have you any food?” He thought about food, for in this story as in the previous, He asked if they have anything to eat? Then Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side. Peter recognized the directive. Jesus brought Peter back to the event where he first recognized Him, the time he realized he was a sinful man, and had been called out to be a fisher of men..

A Simple Meal

When they arrived on shore, Jesus already had a fire going. They smelled the fish over the open fire and saw the bread. Jesus told them to bring some of the fish they caught and Simon Peter dragged the net in, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty three of them, yet the nets did not break. Then He called them to come and eat. They knew who it was. John writes, “Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.” Jesus came to them, in their everyday of working and being hungry and revealed to them again, He was the Son of God. It was one normal day, touched with the presence of the resurrected Jesus, over a simple meal.

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blessingFollowers of JesusJesus Encounters

The Greater Blessing

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

For some reason, when Jesus appeared to the disciples, Thomas was absent. Eight days later, they gathered again, inside, with the doors shut. This time Thomas was there. In the time of his doubt, he received revelation and heard a declaration from the Lord of a greater blessing.

His Doubt

The disciples full of joy told him they had seen the Lord. We know from another passage that Thomas struggled with some negative thoughts. In this instance he expressed his thoughts clearly. “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

Revelation

Jesus, as before, came and stood among them with the same greeting. “Peace to you!” He already knew about Thomas. He encouraged him “Reach your finger here, look at my hands, reach your hand here and put it into My side.” Thomas then declared, “My Lord and my God!”

A Declaration From the Lord

“Because you have seen Me, you believe,” Jesus said to Thomas. There was more He had to say. Looking to the generations beyond, to you and to me He added, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

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Jesus Encounters

If you had been here: Mary

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

As the story in John 11 continues, Martha goes to tell Mary Jesus has come. He is asking for her. Mary doesn’t wait around, nor do her comforters. When she sees Him, she falls at His feet and echoing the words of Martha says, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” This time Jesus responds differently. There are no words. In this life and death situation, Jesus moves into Mary’s grieving, struggles with emotional pain, and then takes action.

“If you had been here.”

Mary’s Grieving

Each individual encounter with Jesus is personal. This was Mary, the one who sat at His feet to listen to His teaching, rather than fuss about with her sister in serving Him. Though she voiced the same words as Martha, Jesus responded differently. Was the position she took of falling at His feet; the utter abandonment of all she was in that moment, to Him, the reason for the difference?

Emotional Pain

Jesus weeps. When he saw not only the tears of Mary, but those of her comforters, it moved Him. John writes, “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.” And I wonder. He knew his own death was imminent. He knew He would be calling Lazarus out of the grave. He had just declared to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Did the God part of Him overwhelm His human heart? He had breathed life into Adam and Eve, making them living beings. Death and grieving were not in this plan. Still, Satan, the great destroyer, because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, broke through. Centuries of dying and death followed. Here it was, this deep darkness wreaking havoc on those He loved. He felt deep compassion.

Takes Steps

However, Jesus does not stop here, and become just another comforter. Nor does He become stuck in the pain of grief. “Where have you laid him?” He asks. He is the Master of Life. “Come and see,” is the response. Still the argument of who He is continues. Some see His compassion, while others, observe what they think He should have done. Jesus knew who He was and what He was about. He was about His Father’s business. In this life and death situation, Jesus moved into Mary’s grieving, struggled with emotional pain, and then takes the first steps.

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Jesus Encounters

“Lord, if you had been here” Martha

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, rushed to meet Him. By this time, her brother Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days. She and her sister Mary have been surrounded by comforters, but, the One they desired most, didn’t come. They knew the stories of His mighty works, especially the healings. And yet, He had not come. “Lord, if You had been here.” These words stung with the accusation of neglect. Still, Jesus, in this encounter with Martha, listens as she talks through her pain, speaks into it and then commands her declaration of faith.

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

Martha’s Pain

Martha’s belief centered on the physical presence of Jesus. “If you had been here.” Yet there is more. She knows that He has a special relationship with God. “Whatever You ask of God, God will give you.” There is still something that can be done for her, she just doesn’t know what exactly she needs. Jesus listens and then He speaks.

Jesus Speaks to her Pain

Jesus speaks to Martha’s grief. “Your brother will rise again.” Martha believes in the resurrection of the dead and she tells Jesus of her belief. It only goes, however, as far as her understanding; what she has come to accept in her limited experience with God. Jesus, having come from the Father knows the end from the beginning, and in this painful time, He knows He is the answer for Martha.

Jesus Commands Her Faith

Jesus tells her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She needs to declare her faith in this time of grief. Jesus is asking. What does she believe? Yes, she believes in the resurrection, she believes that Jesus has a special relationship with God. But, when it comes down to life and death does she see this teacher, this good friend, this worker of miracles as the resurrection, as life? The great miracle Jesus has in store for her hasn’t happened yet, but she declares her faith. “I believe You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Jesus, in this encounter with Martha, listens as she talks through her pain, speaks into it, and then commands her declaration of faith.

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Jesus Encounters

What to Do With Jesus

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Jesus, while on earth, did the works of His Father. Onlookers of various understanding, considered what to do with Him. Among them, Nicodemus saw Him as a teacher, the Samaritan woman perceived Him to be a prophet and the condemned adulterous woman called Him ‘LORD’. Each encounter with Jesus left the question. God drew from the onlookers, people to question who this man was, others to experience His touch, and for all to decide what to do with Jesus.

“There was a division again”

To Question

Whatever Jesus did, it evoked questions. People wondered by what authority He spoke. They wondered where He got His power from. Why was He different? Wasn’t He just one of them? He healed diseases. Jesus calmed storms. The Messiah fed the hungry. He delivered the tormented. It made people ask questions.

To Experience

Of the onlookers, not everyone experienced the touch of Jesus. Those who did, were left to further discover the name of He who touched them. It was like the man born blind. He experienced a miraculous touch. He told the pharisees, “I was blind, but now I see.” His experience, however, left Him without the knowledge of the Healer’s name. While Jesus left him for a time, He later found him, and taught him to move beyond the experience, to the knowledge of the Son of God. This further revelation, moved him to call Jesus “Lord” and to worship Him.

What to do with Jesus

Of those who questioned and those who experienced Jesus there was one question. They had to decide. One side labelled Him as being mad and having a demon. They didn’t understand why anyone would listen to Him. The other group, however, heard the words and knew they were not the words of a demon. They also knew God alone could open the eyes of the blind.

This day, the question still exists. While some desire to explore the question, others label it or block it out. God still draws from the onlookers, people who will question who this man was, others to experience His touch, and in the end for all to decide what to do with Jesus today.

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Jesus EncountersJesus' Teaching

Was Blind but Now I See

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Consistent with all encounters with Jesus, the healing of the blind man caused a stirring. The Pharisees, those who oversaw the religious lives of the Jews, were also blind for they did not see the work of the Father. Foremost, in their thinking was, “how could this happen?” The blind man, unaware of who Jesus was, experienced the touch of God. He told the Pharisees, “One thing I know; that though I was blind, now I see.'”

“”And Jesus said, ‘For judgement I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

The Pharisees

These religious rulers were in charge but Jesus acted apart from them, saying, “I do the works of My Father.” It made them crazy. When hearing the blind man’s story, they could not accept it. Some countered it by stating Jesus was a sinner for breaking the laws of the sabbath. Others asked how could He do the works of God if He was a sinner. They went back to the blind man. “What do you say about Him since He opened your eyes?” When he told them Jesus was a prophet, they doubted the man had been blind and went to his parents.

Fear of the Jews

The parents of the blind man were afraid of the Jews. They had the power to excommunicate them from the synagogue; the symbol of their relationship with God and their heritage as Jewish people. They confirmed he was their son and that he had been born blind, but, when it came to identifying the healer they told them to ask their son. “He is of age,” they told them.

The Healed

When the Jews found the man again, they asked the same question. “How did He open your eyes?” This man spoke boldly, questioning those whom he had already answered. They didn’t like it and told him that while he was a disciple of Him, they were disciples of Moses. They knew from their heritage about God speaking to Moses, but they missed the parts like Isa. 35:5 where the blind will see. The healed man gave them a three point sermon; He opened my eyes, God listens to true worshipers, and if not from God, He could do nothing. As a result he was excommunicated.

The Healer

When Jesus heard they cast him out, He went looking for him. Then he got right to the point. “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He confessed he did not, but that he wanted to. When Jesus identified Himself, the man believed and worshipped. Next, Jesus explained that He came to judge, that those who were blind could see, and those who did see would be blinded. Those Pharisees that overheard questioned Him yet again. “Are we blind?”

Jesus told them if they were blind they would have no sin but because they knew it all, they remained sinners. The blind man who had been touched by Jesus told the Pharisees, “One thing I know; that though I was blind, now I see.'”

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Jesus EncountersJesus' Teaching

The Light of the World

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

John 8 begins “But Jesus.” Jesus lived a different life. When everyone else went home, He went to the Mt. of Olives. This place was significant to Jesus. It was a place of meeting God, even historically. King David (2 Sam. 15:30,32) had done so. Also, from this place His transfiguration would occur. In addition it was the place prophesied by Zephaniah to which He would return a second time. Jesus prepared Himself here with His Father. For this day, Jesus, the light of the World, teaches in the synagogue, deals with the scribes and Pharisees, and frees a woman from condemnation.

Jesus: Light of the World

Teaches in the Synagogue

This passage tells us that early in the morning Jesus returned to the temple. Here the people came and Jesus taught them. Notice the position from which Jesus taught. He sat. It was as if He had all the time in the world, to explain to these people the things of God. They wanted to learn from this man who told them, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Deals with the Scribes and Pharisees

The Scribes and pharisees also followed Him. It wasn’t for His light. They wanted rather to trip Him up, to catch Him to accuse Him. They did not know that before them stood Jesus “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” If Jesus spoke against the law of Moses, they thought they could charge Him. However, Jesus, the light of the world saw into a person’s heart. When these Jewish leaders brought the woman caught in adultery, Jesus knew what they were about. He used the opportunity to teach them something. The sinless one could throw the first stone. None claimed to be such. They all, the eldest to the last one walked away. They had misjudged the light of the world.

Frees a Woman From Condemnation

Women in Jesus’ day were treated with little respect. Being caught in adultery was a crime where the law of Moses condemned both the man and woman to be put to death. Here Jesus elevates her. After dealing with the accusers, He takes the time to talk with her. Where are your accusers? Are none left to condemn you? Then He says, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” He does not condemn, nor does He miss the opportunity to speak into her life. She had encountered the light of the world. She no longer needed to walk in darkness.

For this day, Jesus, the light of the World, teaches in the synagogue, deals with the scribes and Pharisees, and frees a woman from condemnation.

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Followers of JesusJesus EncountersNicodemus

Jesus Brings Nicodemus Through

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

I love how the apostle John weaves the story of Nicodemus through his book. Jesus goes about doing good, spreading seeds, preparing the world for His death and resurrection. Despite the rejection of many, Jesus brings Nicodemus through the process of relationship with a beginning, a middle and an end.

Jesus and Nicodemus

Beginning Relationship

John tells us that Nicodemus was a ruler among the Jews. Because of this, he is timid about approaching Jesus when so many people are around to see. Instead he comes under the cover of darkness. The darkness is not only around him but also in his knowledge of spiritual things. Yet the Father draws him by the words and works of Jesus. In John 3, his conversation with Jesus is recorded. He learns about another birth, the working of the Spirit and the great love of God in giving His Son for man to have everlasting life.

In the Middle

In John 7 we find Nicodemus again. As the Jews at the synagogue look to their leaders for knowledge of the Christ, Nicodemus stands for truth. He stands amid the jealousy and anger of the Jewish leaders wanting to be rid of Him. He calls them to remember the laws of Moses. “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” In Deuteronomy Moses commanded they hear the cases between their brethren, not only those of the small but the great as well. He also commanded, “you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgement is God’s.” Their response? They chose the way of the world by trying to diminish him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”

An End

Although any relationship with Jesus is an everlasting one, there is an end to the story of Nicodemus in John’s book. In chapter 19, Jesus has been crucified. Now those who loved Him came to care for His body. Nicodemus brought about 100 lbs. of myrrh and aloes and helped Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the body of Jesus for burial. Jesus made an impact on the life of this man. There was a starting place, and the journey continued. When others were caught up trying to decide who He was, worrying about how He threatened their beliefs and careers, Nicodemus sought Him out, asked the questions, searched the truth, stood for the truth and in the end loved the man.

Much purpose thrives amid process. In the process of ministry of Jesus, there was Nicodemus learning and growing along with countless others who learned to love the man who is God’s Son. What encouragement this offers as we work to share the love of Jesus. God works the process. Despite the rejection of many, Jesus brings Nicodemus, through the process of relationship, with a beginning, a middle and an end.

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