Tag: Jesus

Realizing Holy Spirit Power

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 22, 2012

Although the terminology and even the timing vary between the various Christian traditions and perspectives, a generality is that first, someone decides to follow Jesus and then the Holy Spirit is given to guide and direct them.

While each stream of Christian thought assigns different terms to these events and has a diversity of understanding as to how and why this is the generally prescribed order.

So how then does this square with John the Baptist being “filled with the Holy Spirit even before he was born?” Things certainly seem out of sequence for him.

True, it would be unwise to rewrite our theology on the basis of one verse that seems to offer an exception to our understanding of the normal order of how things are done.

However, at the least, this verse should give us pause before we adamantly assert there is a specific way and time for one to receive the Holy Spirit.

Apparently, not everyone’s journey to God is exactly the same.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Luke 1-3, and today’s post is on Luke 1:15.]

Read more about the book of Luke in That You May Know: A 40-Day Devotional Exploring the Life of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke, now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

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Tags Holy Spirit, Jesus, John the Baptist, tradition

Christian Living

The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 20, 2012

The Great Three in One

The prophet Isaiah gives four descriptive names for Jesus. They are Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

However, I tend to think of Jesus as Savior, Healer, Redeemer, and so forth, but not so much the names Isaiah gives.

In fact, to me, Wonderful Counselor seems more descriptive of the Holy Spirit, while Everlasting Father and perhaps even Mighty God seem to point to God the Father.

Does Isaiah have his names mixed up? Am I confused? The answer to both questions is “no.”

If we truly perceive the God who is revealed in the Bible as three persons in one, then the names given to one part of the godhead appropriately applies to all three.

Therefore, Jesus really is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace—as are the Holy Spirit and God the Father.

They are, three in one.

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Tags God, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, trinity

Bible Insights

Which Version of the Lord’s Prayers Do You Say?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 15, 2012

Which Version of the Lord’s Prayers Do You Say?

Did you know there are multiple versions of the Lord’s Prayer—the prayer Jesus used to teach his followers how to pray? Matthew records the most common version, which goes something like this:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

While there are some variations to this depending on the version of the Bible referenced, it is essentially the wording many people use.

However, there is a footnote indicating that some manuscripts add the following phrase at the end:

“For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

This completes the version used by most of the rest of us. However, Luke also records the prayer with a more concise wording:

“Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”

I’ve never heard anyone use this version. But it is in the Bible and is worth considering.

However, it doesn’t really matter which of these three versions of this classic prayer we follow, for I don’t think Jesus intended us to recite it verbatim, but to use it as a model or a template to form our own prayers.

[Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4]

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Tags glory, Jesus, Lord’s Prayer, prayer

Christian Living

Are You a Disciple or Believer?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 11, 2012

Those who follow Jesus used to be called “disciples” but that term has fallen out of favor. Now the common label is “believer.”

It is easy to believe; it takes a lot more to be a disciple.

To believe is essentially a one-time act, a singular decision made at one point along life’s path. To be a disciple is a continuing commitment, an ongoing determination to steadfastly follow Jesus.

Although believing in Jesus is a great place to start—and the requisite beginning—merely believing isn’t enough. James notes that even the demons believe.

Jesus wants more and deserves more. He desires that all will believe, but once we believe he wants us to become his disciples: fully committed, totally dedicated, and steadfastly pursuing him throughout our entire life.

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Tags believer, disciples, follower of Jesus, Jesus

Christian Living

Be Real, Not Fake

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 12, 2012

Perhaps you’re one of the 18 million people who’ve viewed the viral YouTube video, Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus—and if not, check it out.

It is simply a video of a young man reciting his poem. In it, he creatively contrasts Jesus with religion. He does so with passion and conviction, avoiding overproduced hype and nauseating jargon.

From a broader perspective, I addressed this in my post “Spiritual but not Religious.”

Although the sentiment of both is not the exclusive domain of one demographic, it does more appropriately typify today’s younger crowd.

They—like me—tend to embrace spirituality and love Jesus, but the religions—and religiosity—that surrounds it is a huge turn-off.

It all boils down to being real, not fake. Which I think is what Jesus had in mind all along.

We need to be real for Jesus and with Jesus.

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Tags Jesus

Bible Insights

The Yoke That’s Easy

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 7, 2012

Jesus said that his yoke was easy; that his burden was light.

What exactly does that mean?

From a simple perspective, we understand a yoke to be a means to harness a draft animal in order to pull a load. Therefore, an easy yoke, one with a light burden, would be something that was not hard to do.

This means that the things Jesus expects from his followers are not difficult or burdensome.

However, we can gain a deeper understanding of his words when we consider it from a historical perspective. Back in Jesus’ day, the learned Rabbi’s would study the scriptures.

They did not see them as a definitive, fixed set of rules, but rather as an open-ended document that needed to be explored and interpreted.

A Rabbi’s interpretation of what the scriptures said, of what should be allowed and what should be prohibited was called his yoke.

When Jesus made his proclamation about his yoke, his hearers would connect it with the Rabbi’s practice (recall that Jesus was often called Rabbi by his followers and admirers).

So when Jesus said that his yoke was easy and his burden light, he was letting it be known that he allowed many more things than he prohibited.

He didn’t want his followers weighed down with a long list of don’ts, of heavy burdensome requirements, but instead he wanted them to be free to focus on him—and not a bunch of rules.

Some people read the Bible as a rigid law book of hard laws and unyielding rules.

Instead, they should be interpreting it like the Rabbis, making an easy yoke as Jesus advocated.

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Tags Jesus, yoke

Christian Living

Not Doing What I Want to Do

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 15, 2012

My typical day is divided between three activities: writing, job, and personal (which includes work around the house and leisure pursuits). To make matters more complicated, each of these three tasks takes place at home.

Sometimes I am self-disciplined enough to attend to each undertaking in its apportioned time, but not always.

I too often find myself wanting to do work when I should be writing, wanting to do household projects when I should be working, and wanting to write or work when it is time for household tasks. (And leisure activities always tugs on my time.)

Given this, some might label me a malcontent or simply bad at time management, but I resist those assessments.

To me my malady is merely human nature. And given my assessment that all things are spiritual, this becomes a spiritual issue.

Succinctly, will I use the time God has given me to its widest and fullest potential or will I squander it with undisciplined disdain?

My dilemma reminds me in something that the Apostle Paul said. In writing to the people in Rome, he agonizes over a similar quandary, noting that he doesn’t do what he wants to do and does do what he doesn’t want to do.

His answer to this struggle is simple: Jesus.

[Romans 7:15-25]

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Tags Jesus, Paul, sin

Christian Living

Are You Spiritual But Not Religious?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date December 4, 2011

An increasing number of people say that they are “spiritual but not religious.” For some this is merely a trendy thing to say, but beyond making them sound hip and appear insightful, it is an empty platitude.

For others, claiming to be “spiritual but not religious” is an attempt to abdicate responsibility for their behavior and their soul. It is nothing more than a highfalutin way of saying, “leave me alone, and let me do my own thing.”

However, for most, a desire to be “spiritual but not religious” is a sincere yearning for more.

It simultaneously dismisses the institutions spawned by earlier practitioners of their faith and acknowledging that the actions and attitudes of many “religious” people are indeed wanting.

Formal religion is out. A personal, relevant faith is what they seek.

For Christians, this sentiment can be summarized by “We like Jesus, but not the church.” It is true that many people admire Jesus, but the institutions that his followers created leave them cold.

They inherently sense that there is a better way—and they desperately want to find it.

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Tags Jesus, religious

Bible Insights

Moses Died and Then Good Things Happen

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date November 10, 2011

The book of Joshua opens by confirming the death of Moses, followed by a curious instruction: Now you go into the Promised Land.

Imagine that, an entire nation was put on hold, unable to move—until Moses died. Moses had to die for them to receive what God had promised to give them.

What if Moses had stubbornly clung to life for another month, another year, or even longer, holding on to a vain hope that he would also be allowed to enter the Promised Land?

Then the people would have had to wait even longer. Or what if Moses had died a bit sooner?

Perhaps the people could have moved forward a bit sooner.

Though it seems morbid, Moses’ death was a good thing for the people. Though their faithful leader was gone, only then could they receive God’s promised provision. His death was a necessary requirement for their journey.

It’s kind of like receiving an inheritance. The person needs to die for the gift to be given. Their death releases what has been promised.

It’s kind of like Jesus. He, too, had to die for us to receive what God had in store for us. His death was sad and horrific, but it was necessary for what happened next—our salvation.

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Tags Jesus, Joshua, Moses

Bible Insights

A Servant of Jesus

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 11, 2011

In the post, “Who is Jude?,” I speculated that Jude might be Jesus’ brother. Aside from that, we only know one other thing about him. Jude views himself simply as “a servant of Jesus.”

Today, in a time when religious people parade their titles and promote their education as if they were badges of godly distinction, someone who calls himself a servant would be shockingly counter-cultural.

When people introduce themselves as “Reverend,” “Bishop” “Elder,” “Doctor,” “Prophet,” or my favorite, “Reverend-Doctor” so-and-so I wonder about their motives.

Who are they trying to impress? Others? God? Or maybe it’s a futile attempt to convince themselves they are someone who they truly know they are not.

How refreshing it would be for someone to simply say that he or she is a servant of Jesus. What a great and significant credential it would be, perhaps the best one possible.

I don’t think titles and degrees mean much to Jesus; he is looking for servants. After all, Jesus himself said he came to serve. Shouldn’t we—as his followers—do the same?

[Jude 1:1, Matthew 20:28]

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Tags Jesus, Jude