The Strand Study Bible

JOHN JOHN 4:38 Think again, if you think the OT saints knew little about their promised OT MESSIAH . “ Other men (OT saints) labored ” long before the disciples. People like Simeon and Anna (Lk 2:25-38), Joseph of Arimathea (Mk 15:43), as well as a multitude of others all preceeded the disciples (Mt 13:16-17, Lk 1:67-70, Jn 4:37-38, Acts 3:20-24 & 7:51-52 & 10:42-43, Rom 3:19-22 & 4:1- 6,11, Gal 3:6-8, Titus 1:2, II Tim 1:9-10, Heb 11:17-19 and I Pet 1:10-12). NOTE - While it is true that many of the OT saints may not have fully understood the actual death, burial and resurrection of Christ ( Lk 18:34 and I Pet 1:10 a ), it is also true that every OT saint understood the “facts” behind the actual death, burial and resurrection of Christ, the “facts” behind the Gospel are what save a person ( I Cor 15:1 ). 4:48 Jesus said, “ Except ye see signs and wonders ( Except ye experience a more personal and emotional experience ), ye will not believe . There are three dangerous thought processes for wanting a spiritual experience: 1. We think a personal experience with God guarantees us a better experience with God . It does not . In fact, all too often it guarantees us just the opposite (Gen 3:8-10). Adam had heard fromGod “audibly” everyday of his life (he had a more personal and emotional experience with God), yet what good did it do him? We find him here in Genesis 3 in total disobedience despite the fact that he had this more personal and emotional experience with God. Peter said in II Peter 1:16-21: 1733

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

As memorable as the transfiguration of Jesus was, as memorable as the “audible” voice of God fromHeaven was, Peter reminds his readers here that the power of God’s promise ( a more sure word of prophecy ) will always be greater than the power of His presence (a more personal and emotional experience with God). And although we want that personal and emotional experience with God, that’s not what God wants for us (Notice John 4:49-50). John 4:50 says: And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him… All you or I need to experience God is what the nobleman needed –the Word. The nobleman didn’t need Jesus’ presence to see his son healed; he didn’t need a personal and emotional experience with God that many have to have to go along with the healing. No, all he needed was Jesus’ Word. And it’s all you or I need. Thinking that a more personal and emotional experience with God guarantees us a better experience with God just isn’t so. A “God-encountering” experience is good, but it should never take precedence over the “God-encountering” Written Word. 2. We think a personal experience with God guarantees us a better life with God. It does not ( Jn 20 :26- 29 ). Jesus said to Thomas in verse 29: The blessed ones, according to Jesus, are not the ones who have to have a personal and emotional experience with Him. The blessed ones are those who just trust the Word and serve God. They don’t have to have proof by way of a more personal and emotional experience. All they have to have is the Word. Again, the power of God’s promise (this Book) will always be greater than the power of His presence (a more personal and emotional experience with God). Thinking that a more personal and emotional experience with God guarantees us a better life with God just isn’t so. A “God- encountering” experience is good, but it should never take precedence over the “God-encountering” Written Word. 3. We think a personal experience with God guarantees us a better life in the next life with God. It does not. The author of Hebrews reminds us in Hebrews 11 that the next life is based on “faith,” not feelings. Sarah ( Heb 11:11 ) was willing to lay with Abraham at the age of 89 in order to conceive, not because she wanted to but because she was commanded. Faith has nothing to do with how we feel and everything to do with what God says. Faith, according to Hebrews 11:1-3, is simply man’s response to God’s commands, and has nothing to do with how we feel or what we experience. Thinking that a more personal and emotional experience with God guarantees us a better life in the next life with God just isn’t so. A “God-encountering” feeling is good, but it should never take precedence over faith, which comes from the “God- encountering” Written Word (Rom 10:17). NOTE – Nobody had a more fulfilling life serving God (and will be rewarded for it in the next life) than did John the Baptist. In fact, Jesus called John the greatest man to serve God ever born of women (Mt 11:11). And yet, according to John 10:41, John the Baptist never performed one miracle; he never got to experienced a more personal and emotional experience with God that the rest of us are always longing to experience. If John is considered the greatest man born of women, having never personally experienced one miracle in his life, then undergoing a more personal and emotional experience with God never guarantees us a better life , not in this life or the next. Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed ( Because you have experienced a more personal and emotional experience with me, you have believed) : blessed are they that have not seen ( blessed are they that have not undergone a more personal and emotional experience with me), and yet have believed.