Dan Sullivan » grace

Jesus’ Confident Arrest

Dan — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:45:26 +0000

[4] Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. [7] So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” [8] Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

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4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” (ESV)

', 'John 18:4-8', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+18%3A4-8');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+18%3A4-8" >John 18:4-8 ESV)

Jesus is ready to go. He didn’t send Peter, James, and John to stall or slow down the army. He didn’t ask these questions to buy more time. He was ready to separate Himself from the 11 so that they could go free.

When Jesus says “I am He.” and all of the guys fall backward, I do too. That just blows me away. Some people use that verse to explain/justify being ‘slain in the Spirit’ I don’t even want to go there. It wasn’t the disciples, it was the army coming to kill Jesus. I don’t want to be grouped with them. This army wasn’t bowing down and worshiping, they were getting punked by the Lord of the Burning Bush and the power plant behind their heartbeat.

I was talking to Eric Youngblood last night and he said he thinks that Jesus just said “I Am” right there.

Think on that:

“Who are you seeking?” Jesus asked them over the sizzle of torches and the clanging of swords, shields and armor.

“Jesus of Nazareth” The commander of the legion shouted.

Jesus stepped forward, “The name [pause] is I Am.”

Nobody was sure if it was a strong wind, an earthquake, or a thunderclap that knocked the army backwards and onto their backs, but it was a full minute of confused, fowl-mouthed, scrambling before they had all gotten back up and approached Jesus again.

I wonder if any of the priest’s men thought about

10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. (ESV)

', '2 Kings 1:10', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Kings+1%3A10');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Kings+1%3A10" >2 Kings 1:10, when Elijah said, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down…” as they were getting knocked backward.

Jesus WANTS to reveal the fullness of the Father in ALL of His glory to all men. He gives these guys a chance to recognize who they are messing with.

Who do you want?

Jesus of Nazareth (just a man)

“I Am?” Jesus pronounces His title with the power veil up just a little bit, like pulling the curtain back just a tad to wake someone up that has slept in on a Saturday morning. In

1:1 After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.

2 Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? 4 Now therefore thus says the Lord, You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” So Elijah went.

5 The messengers returned to the king, and he said to them, “Why have you returned?” 6 And they said to him, “There came a man to meet us, and said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” 7 He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” 8 They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’” 10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

11 Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, “O man of God, this is the king’s order, ‘Come down quickly!’” 12 But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

13 Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, “O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. 14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight.” 15 Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king 16 and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?—therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’”

17 So he died according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? (ESV)

', '2 Kings 1', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Kings+1');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Kings+1" >2 Kings 1 the power veil was pulled up a little too far and the 50 soldiers were cooked.

Here is their chance to reconcile who this guy is. Who exactly are they messing with?

Whom do you want? What did you call me?

Jesus of Nazareth (still considering Him just a man)

“I am he.” Jesus fully veils the power of God and goes with them. They didn’t want to see it and so He didn’t force it on them. He could call down legions of angels for their destruction, or walk right through the crowd without getting touched, but that was not the Father’s plan that night, and Jesus knew it.

Matthew Henry on John 18:1-12

Dan — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:35:08 +0000

This is just about the best section and most poetic piece of Matthew Henry’s Commentary I’ve ever read. Appropriately, it’s on

18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. (ESV)

', 'John 18:1-12', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+18%3A1-12');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+18%3A1-12" >John 18:1-12

Our Lord Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and asked, Whom seek ye?
When the people would have forced him to a crown, he withdrew, ch. 6:15, but when they came to force him to a cross, he offered himself; for he came into this world to suffer, and went to the other world to reign.
He showed plainly what he could have done; when he struck them down he could have struck them dead, but he would not do so.
It must have been the effect of Divine power, that the officers and soldiers let the disciples go away quietly, after the resistance which had been offered.
Christ set us an example of meekness in sufferings, and a pattern of submission to God’s will in every thing that concerns us.
It is but a cup, a small matter.
It is a cup that is given us; sufferings are gifts.
It is given us by a Father, who has a father’s authority, and does us no wrong; a father’s affection, and means us no hurt.
From the example of our Saviour we should learn how to receive our lighter afflictions, and to ask ourselves whether we ought to oppose our Father’s will, or to distrust his love. We were bound with the cords of our iniquities, with the yoke of our transgressions.
Christ, being made a sin-offering for us, to free us from those bonds, himself submitted to be bound for us. To his bonds we owe our liberty; thus the Son makes us free.

Praying in Jesus’ Name

Dan — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 12:58:24 +0000

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? (ESV)

', 'John 16:25-31', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+16%3A25-31');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+16%3A25-31" >John 16:25-31

v. 25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.

v. 29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.

30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

31 “You believe at last!” Jesus answered.

I wonder what they would have done if after they said, “now you are speaking clearly,” Jesus would have said, “you think this is clear? You ain’t seen nothin yet!”

Just as Jesus didn’t need people to ask Him questions to draw out the truth that was in Him, the Holy Spirit is going to be in these guys to guide and help them and teach them before they ask the questions. In Jewish culture, the way to learn and gain understanding was to ask question after question, leading you down a path of discovering and realizing the answers as you asked questions. Jesus doesn’t have to do that because He can see what is in people’s hearts to address their questions and needs before they ask.

How much more-so shall our joy be complete when we ask the Father and pray to the Father?! He knows what we need before we ask; He knows the words we speak before we speak them. THAT is how our joy becomes complete. When we ask God and see that He answers we have His perfect joy.

That word “complete” as in “that your joy may be complete” is the same word pleroo which is used for a stuffed net, filled up cup, full, stuffed, packed. I have some friends that I’m not sure would credit God with any event. Amazing displays of luck or chance are treated as random as mishaps or tragedy. I have noticed that as I ask for things from God, boldly and in detail, He shows off to me and my family by fitting into the box we put Him in. My joy gets stuffed when I see that God does answer our prayers and show off in our lives.

My call from Fire & Rain for an interview came after we prayed at lunch one day “Please God, make F&R call while we’re eating lunch today and call me in for an interview.” After lunch I sat down on the couch, kinda bummed and wondering where the money was going to come from. That instant the phone rang and the guy said, “I’m sorry to do this to you, but can you be here in 10 minutes for an interview?”

One 2-hour interview later he gave me the job.

If you look at Isaiah’s quote of God in

13 And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
14 therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.” (ESV)

', 'Isaiah 29:13-14', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Isaiah+29%3A13-14');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Isaiah+29%3A13-14" >Isaiah 29:13-14

[13] And the Lord said:

“Because this people draw near with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

while their hearts are far from me,

and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

[14] therefore, behold, I will again

do wonderful things with this people,

with wonder upon wonder;

and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,

and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

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13 And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
14 therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.” (ESV)
', 'Isaiah 29:13-14', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Isaiah+29%3A13-14');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Isaiah+29%3A13-14" >Isaiah 29:13-14 ESV)

It looks like the main thing God wants is for people’s hearts to be close to Him. THAT is what it means to pray in Jesus’ name, to have your heart close to God.

for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (ESV)
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God LOVES it when we LOVE what HE LOVES! HE loves it so much that He responds and rewards and treats and almost teases us to ask for and LOVE MORE! When we love Jesus, we love God, and we follow His lead in reversing the wrongs done in Eden. Jesus’ life was the defining and deciding event in reversing the effects of the fall in Eden, and when we show love to God we show that reversal’s momentum in our lives.

The Never Underesteeming, Always Luring Teachings of Jesus

Dan — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:21:21 +0000

26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. (ESV)
', 'John 13:26-28', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13%3A26-28');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13%3A26-28" >John 13:26-28 26 Jesus answered, ��It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.�� So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ��What you are going to do, do quickly.�� 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.

The more I look at this the more interesting things pop out of it. It seems like Jesus is really obvious about who is going to betray Him, right? ��He to whom I will give this morsel to bread when I have dipped it.�� and then Jesus hands it over to Judas. So why didn��t they get it? I wonder if they couldn��t believe it. Or if they had pegged somebody else as the one in their heads, and none of them had pegged Judas. I wonder if the news that Judas would betray Jesus fell on their ears like Jesus�� words that He would die fell on Peter��s ears and caused Peter to rebuke Jesus. So foreign, so far out from what they conceived about the Messiah and about Judas, that they couldn’t even understand when it was told to them clearly.

All of this just shows off how merciful and amazing Jesus is. How often do we not say something or tell someone something because we think “They wouldn’t understand.” or “They’re not ready for that.” Jesus told the disciples stuff they weren’t ready for all of the time. He seems like He lived in a constant state of being around people that “didn’t get it” and He never flipped out or belittled them for it. (Once he was angry at the hardness of heart of the Pharisees, but never at His disciples. He was angered at the unwillingness to learn, not the inability to learn.)

Many times, in fact, Jesus told people something that confused them until something significant happened hours, days, or even years later.

Giving and Receiving in Humility

Dan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:27:52 +0000

8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” (ESV)
', 'John 13.8', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13.8');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13.8" >John 13.8 ��If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.��

There is a humility that is beyond the humility that somebody can tell me I need to have or that I can see and grasp. It��s beyond a virtue or anything that you can talk about, I think. Jesus doesn��t talk about being humble, whatever that means, but He always talked about the actions and the fruit of the humble.
humble yourself like a little child
the one who leads should be like one who serves
the greatest among you will be the servant of all
For he who is least among you all��he is the greatest.

If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.

There is no way at all that you can muster up humility in yourself and BING! be humble.

So being humble is an activity. It can be shown with activity, though that is never the point, and it can be cultivated with activity. At the same time, it can be shown and cultivated by receiving activity. Peter was NOT going to let Jesus wash his feet, but to talk that way to Jesus was the opposite of humility and submission to Him. Peter really shows off our pride of self-inflicted devotion at the Last Passover. If he really cherished and honored Jesus, he would let Him do whatever He wanted. If he really believed that Jesus was always right and wise, then he wouldn��t have argued when Jesus said, ��all of you are going to fall away,�� but instead he jumped in with great declarations of devotion that Jesus knew he wouldn��t keep.

There is a humility in just letting Jesus do His thing with us. It��s not found in us trying to show Him (or anyone else) how devoted we are or how GLORIOUS we think He is. It��s a humility that let��s people serve you and looks for the way to serve others and never notices either way.

I��m not there yet, but Jesus is, and I��m following Him.

Jesus made them clean, but not all of them got clean.

Dan — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:15:54 +0000

10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” (ESV)
', 'John 13:10', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13%3A10');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13%3A10" >John 13:10 �? Jesus answered, ��A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.��

Part of this verse shows why Universalism can��t be true. Yes, Jesus died for the sins of all people, but NO, that does not mean that everyone is saved. Judas didn��t accept the cleansing. He was still unclean in his heart and was conspiring to turn Jesus in even though he had been taught and shown and even ate dinner with The Truth.

It also shows that mere activity doesn��t make one clean. Judas was around and participated in the same activities as the other twelve, but that still didn��t make him clean in Jesus�� eyes. He even had his feet washed, which wasn��t an act of cleaning away dirt, but instruction on cleaning away pride. He didn��t learn that lesson either.

All of this comes as a warning to us. Let us not think that just because we are around disciples and just because Jesus has served us in many wonderful ways, that we are all set to do our own will and do our own thing and call ourselves clean friends of Jesus. It��s BEING His disciple and DOING His will that all of a sudden shows us that HE has made us clean.

Giving up on ‘working toward’ Holiness

Dan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:54:35 +0000

13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close to Jesus, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. (ESV)

', 'John 13', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13" >John 13: 9��Simon Peter said to him, ��Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!�� 10��Jesus said to him, ��The one who has bathed does not need to wash, d��except for his feet,��[1] but is completely clean. And e��you��[2] are clean,

For a long time in my Christian life, I��ve been moaning and groaning the words of a Jennifer Knapp song:

Lord, come with your fire
burn my desire
refine me…

please come and free me
and rescue this child
for I long to be reconciled to yo-ooo-ooo-ooo

I was singing this song and thinking about

', 'John 13', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+13" >John 13 and realized something.

I��ve already BEEN RECONCILED! And you know what else? I don��t need to have my desire burned. When Christ died on the cross, God reconciled Man to God. My sin was cleansed and when Jesus was raised from the dead, we who are in Christ were raised with Him.

It seems to me that there is this hyper-pious teaching that tells us to cry out to God to be made holy. Another song

Holiness, holiness is what I long for
holiness is what I neeeeed
Holiness, holiness, is what You want from me.

it even says at one point

Righteousness, righteousness, is what You want from me.

God doesn��t want our righteousness or our holiness any more than I want my 2 year old to give me a dirty diaper for a Christmas present!

The fact is, a person that has had a bath only needs to wash their feet. We have been made clean by the life and death of Christ. Sure, our feet still get dirty as we walk around in the world, but the part of us that matters the most to God, the part that is out of this world (which David Crowder says as soon as you leave the ground you��re in the sky, right?!) has been made clean.

So let��s change these silly songs.

Let��s quit yearning for holiness when it��s already been served up to us on a platter!

Give up on your silly, dirty-diaper holiness and have faith in Jesus!