John 5:39  You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me.

In 1987, a British man named Martin Handford began a series of children's books called Where;s Waldo? Waldo (called Wally in the British version) is on every page in every book, but he is always hidden from plain view. Waldo is somewhere in the middle of all the busyness and chaos around him. The fun comes in trying to find Waldo, who wears a red-and-white striped shirt and cool glasses.

The Old Testament bears witness to Jesus, but sometimes it feels like a Where's Waldo adventure. Where is Jesus? Prophets predict His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); His ministry of healing (Isaiah 35:5-6) in Galilee (Isaiah 9); and His death (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) and resurrection (Ezekiel 37:1-14).

There are more than just prophecies about Christ. The Old Testament also foreshadows Jesus. For example, the slaying of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:1-14) points to Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Through Moses' faithful preaching of God's Word, we catch a glimpse of Jesus - God's final prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; Acts 3:22-26). In Solomon's temple - where God was present with His people - we see Christ. In John 2:19, the Savior identifies Himself as the temple, destroyed yet rebuilt.

Where is Jesus? Search the Scriptures. There you will see Jesus removing sin, offering hope, and delivering the gift of salvation. Jesus is God's gift to you!
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

John 4:35  Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

Herman and Mary rode along in their shiny new car. Mary said, "You know, Herman, if it weren't for money, this car wouldn't be here."  Herman said nothing. As they pulled into the driveway and admired their new home, Mary said, "You know, Herman, if it weren't for my money, this new house wouldn't be here." Herman said nothing. As they walked through their new home, Mary said, "You know, Herman, if it weren't for my money, none of this furniture would be here." Herman said nothing. After a couple of minutes, Herman finally spoke up. "You know, Mary, if it weren't for your money, I wouldn't be here!" Herman knew why he was here. Do we?

Jesus tells us. He sends us into the harvest field to find lost people - lost people who don't even know they're lost! Studies show that about 85 percent of people who trust Christ for salvation do so because a friend or relative told them about the grace of God in Jesus.

Mission isn't something extraordinarily we do somewhere else. We don't need to go to another country to live for Jesus. Our everyday life is the mission field God has given us. Instead of hemming and hawing, let's pray for an opportunity to tell others about our mighty and merciful Savior, whose cross and empty tomb announce life and forgiveness for the world.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,
 

John 4:10  Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

During World War II, the battle for North Africa boiled down to a drink of water - one drink of water! The Brits laid pipes from a nearby oasis, and their custom was first to test the pipes by filling them with water - salt water. Nazi patrols happened upon the pipes while they were being tested. The Germans thought they had struck gold. They made a hole in the pipe with a pickaxe and began to gulp down water - salt water. Hours later, British forces were shocked to see the Germans approaching with their hands raised, their mouths parched, and their voices crying out for water. It was the turning point in the battle for North Africa. It was the drink that made history.

John tells us about another famous drink. Christ offers "living water" to the Samaritan woman who had been through five marriages and was now living with yet another man. "Living water," though, implies that there is something called "dead water." The Samaritan woman knew. Dead water is the same excurse, day after day. Dead water is the same argument, day after day. Dead water is the same obsessive sin, day after day. It will eventually destroy us.

All of that can change. Come to Chriost's cross, the source of living water. Marvel at the water gushing from His open side. Just take a sip. It will be for you the drink that made history!
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

John 3:34  For He whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure.

Someone once said, "Church is a place where a group of dull and respectable people listen to a dull and respectable sermon about how to keep being dull but respectable." The sermon was dull but respectable. Most of the people looked on the dull side, but very respectable!

Just when eighteen people glanced at their watches. Just when that child won the wrestling match with his parents, again. Just when three people nodded off, again. Just then, a fire broke out on the altar, on the baptismal font, and on the pulpit! The usher got up to put it out - but to no avail. The fire kept spreading. It couldn't be contained. Everyone was going up in flames!

Could it happen? It will happen. That's the promise. Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit without measure. On Pentecost, the Spirit came with fire to enliven Christ's followers. Even today, God's holy fire breaks forth when we receive Holy Communion, live in our baptismal grace, and hear the Gospel of forgiveness. This fire ignites our faith in Christ - our crucified and triumphant Savior.

Gone are the blank stares. Gone are the ho-hum lives. Gone are the lifeless looks and the drifting prayers. Boldness, courage, and spine are unleashed when Jesus gives us the Spirit without measure.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

John 3:19  The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light.

On July 26, 1945, the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis delivered components for the atomic bomb, which was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, eleven days later. World War II was almost over, but for the crew of the USS Indianapolis, the worst was yet to come. Four days later, a Japanese submarine torpedoed the ship. The Indianapolis sank in twelve minutes, taking down three hundred men. The remaining nine hundred men were adrift in the South Pacific for five God-forsaken days. Only 316 survived. It was the worst disaster at sea in the history of the United States Navy. Someone had to be blamed, so the navy court-martialed the ship's captain, Charles Butler McVay. After years of mental anguish, McVay took his own life.

It wasn't until 2001 that the navy finally confessed. Naval personnel failed to notice that the Indianapolis was overdue as its next port of call. Then the navy failed to investigate. Nine hundred sailors were left in the Pacific Ocean for five days. Thank God that the navy finally confessed it.

Jesus invites us to come out of the darkness of denial. It's easier to keep our skeletons in our closet. Christ's light steps into this darkness. He looks at every sin and says, "My blood paid for that." Why live with regret and remorse? Instead, walk out of darkness and into your Savior's marvelous light! When it comes to sin, God gives us five wonderful words: Confess it. I forgive it.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

John 2:19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel provides the background for this promise of Jesus. In Ezekiel 47, the prophet envisions a rebuilt temple with water trickling out from under the altar.

He then sees these drops of water become a river that flows to the Dead Sea - a body of water 1,400 feet below sea level with a saline content of 35 percent. The prophet's vision concludes with the Dead Sea coming to life. "Wherever the river goes...everything will live" (Ezekiel 47:9).

Jesus fulfills this vision - and then some! Living water flows from Christ to us. It begins with just a trickle. Jesus tells Nicodemus that we are born again through water and the Spirit. The river picks up momentum when Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that He gives living water. Then the surge. "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:38).

Then, in one ironic twist for the ages, this raging river of life is reduced to just a trickle, until it completely dries up. "I thirst" (John 19:28). Here is Jesus, crushed and cursed by the sin of your life and mine.

"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). Jesus is alive. His river, when coupled with God's mighty Word, is a baptismal river of life. It forgives our sin, quenches our thirst, and defeats our death.
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

John 1:46  Philip said to him, "Come and see."

"First, secure your own oxygen mask." This directive is familiar to anyone who travels on commercial airplanes. In the event of an emergency ("a sudden loss of cabin pressure"), we're told that an oxygen mask for each person will drop from the overhead control panel. In such an anxious moment, parents might instinctively try to get air to their children. Adult children might focus on preserving the life of elderly parents seated next to them.

Such kindness might be instinctive, but it isn't wise. If we pass out from a lack of oxygen, our helpless seatmates won't survive. "First secure your own oxygen mask."

That's what Philip does. Jesus - the One whom Moses and the prophets announced - found Philip and said, "Follow Me" (John 1:43). Philip then finds Nathanael. But Nathanael doesn't think anything good can come out of Nazareth. Philip responds, "Come and see" (John 1:46).

"First, secure your own oxygen mask." If we don't, we downplay our Savior's most alarming details. An innocent man dies so we don't have to. His heart started beating again on the third day. When we don't breathe in the oxygen of the Gospel, we forget its freshness, its utter and unexplainable joy. I invite you to breathe in Christ's spiritual oxygen. Christ chose you. Christ found you. Christ loves you. Christ forgives you, and Christ pardons you. Our response to the world? "Come and see."
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Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,