Peter’s Sword and the Christian Mission • A Teaching about Jesus and Including others at the Table

In this insightful Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els encourages listeners and online viewers to reflect on their perceptions of others and how those perceptions align with God’s view. He begins by noting the often primitive nature of human thoughts and behaviors. Vander Els points out our tendency to mold God in our own image, particularly in how we judge others, rather than striving to see people through the compassionate eyes of Jesus (Yeshua).

To illustrate this point, Vander Els poses the question of how one might think God views figures like former President Donald Trump or President Putin. He highlights the wide spectrum of human opinions, ranging from condemnation to adoration, and suggests that we often mistakenly believe our own viewpoint reflects God’s judgment. However, he humbly questions how God views each individual, including ourselves, suggesting that this introspection can reveal a discrepancy between our judgment and divine perception. The speaker emphasizes that God sees all people through a lens of mercy, love, grace, and blessing, a perspective he derives from understanding the character of God as revealed through Yeshua. He asserts that Yahweh is a Yeshua-looking God.

Delving deeper into the understanding of Yeshua, the teaching emphasizes the Gospel of John as a particularly profound account. Vander Els expresses his deep appreciation for John’s portrayal of Yeshua’s ministry, life, death, and resurrection, noting the director-like way John injects themes and theological portrayals throughout his narrative. A key element unique to John is the “I am” statements of Jesus (ego eimi), which serve to exalt Yeshua and make significant theological claims about his identity without explicitly stating them. The speaker explains that John’s intention was to ensure the audience understood that Yeshua carried the divine name of God. Seeing Yeshua, the seemingly ordinary construction worker from Nazareth, was in fact seeing God himself, the same God who freed the Israelites. John’s ultimate aim is to reveal the mercy and character of Yahweh through the clearest possible picture, which, according to John chapter 1 and Hebrews chapter 3, is found in Yeshua.

The significance of the Greek phrase “ego eimi” is further explored, connecting it directly to the account in Exodus 3:14, where God tells Moses, “I am that I am.” John’s repeated use of this phrase throughout his Gospel account serves the same theological purpose, subtly declaring Jesus’s divine nature. Vander Els distinguishes between instances where Jesus uses “I am” with a predicate nominative (e.g., “I am the bread of life,” “I am the way,” “I am the door,” “I am the good shepherd”) and those where he simply states “I am.” He provides powerful examples: in John 6:20, when the disciples are terrified by Jesus walking on water during a storm, he reassures them with “I am. Do not be afraid.” In John 4:26, during his conversation with the Samaritan woman about the Messiah, Jesus declares, “I am the one speaking to you.” Perhaps most impactful is in John 8:24, where Jesus states “I am,” a declaration that leads the religious leaders to pick up stones to stone him for blasphemy. The teaching emphasizes that they understood the implication of his words.

The phrase “I am” appears again in John 13:19 at the Last Supper, subtly presenting Yeshua as the good shepherd prophesied by Ezekiel, who would gather his flock. The final instance discussed is in John 18, during the arrest of Yeshua. When Jesus asks whom they seek, and they reply “Jesus of Nazareth,” Jesus responds “I am.” The power of these words is so profound that those who came to arrest him fall backward. This moment is portrayed as the pinnacle of Yeshua’s testimony, declaring himself as the one who carries the divine name, the perfect representation of the Father incarnate.

For more Bible Teachings, click the link.

Application for Everyday Life

• Practice Empathy: Strive to understand others’ perspectives, remembering that God’s view is one of mercy and love.
• Choose Compassion over Judgment: Resist the urge to quickly label or condemn others based on your own opinions.
• Seek to See Jesus in Others: Recognize that every person is created in God’s image and deserves to be seen with dignity and respect.
• Use Words to Heal: Be mindful of your language, ensuring it builds up and encourages rather than tears down or criticizes.
• Respond to Conflict with Peace: Avoid resorting to aggression or violence in your interactions.
• Extend Grace and Forgiveness: Mirror Jesus’s willingness to forgive and offer second chances.
• Include the Marginalized: Actively seek out and welcome those who are often excluded or overlooked.
• Address Brokenness with Love: Recognize that people struggling with negative behaviors may be hurting and in need of compassion.
• Focus on Spiritual Healing: Remember that healing encompasses more than just the physical; it includes emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being.
• Be a Carrier of God’s Presence: Let your life be a demonstration of God’s love and healing to those around you.

References

Bible Verses:

• Exodus 3:14
• John 1
• Hebrews 3
• John 6:20
• John 4:26
• John 8:24

Books and Resources:

• The Bible by Various Authors