Elmwood
Chapel

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to join us in Worship, Fellowship,
and Service.

Worship at
10:30 a.m.

781-235-6025

Church & Office Location:
42 Elmwood Rd
Wellesley, MA 02481

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There are many golden nuggets throughout Scripture if we only look for them. This page contains some of these treasures, and we hope that these will encourage your relationship with God.

copyright, Elmwood Chapel

John 4:25-26, 28-29, and 39-42     2006-07-23

After Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to the woman at the well, she left her waterpot, returned to her city, and told others about Jesus. At first many from the city believed in Jesus because of her testimony. However, Jesus stayed in that city two more days, so that afterwards the people of the city told the woman that they now believed not just because of her testimony, but also because “we have heard for ourselves”. It is a wonderful thing for someone to come to faith in Jesus because of another’s testimony. But it’s even better after that person’s faith has grown because they have encountered Jesus for themselves. Is your faith based only on the testimony of another? Then pray that the Lord would reveal himself to you so that your faith might grow greater.

John 4:1-24    2006-07-16

In this account, Jesus met a woman at a well. He spoke to her in spiritual terms (verse 10) and she answered him in practical terms (verse 11). After this failure to communicate, Jesus posed a test, when he asked the woman to call her husband. After her response, Jesus gave a one sentence summary of her marriage history. I have no doubt this caused her some consternation. So, typical of many people when God intrudes in their lives, she reached for the “fig leaf” of religious conversation, and starting talking about where might be the proper place to worship. Jesus ignored this red herring, and made two beautiful statements: 1) Those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth; and 2) For such people the Father seeks, to be His worshippers. In other words, it matters not what form the style of worship takes. What matters is that the worshippers are “present” in heart and mind and that the worship is genuine. And the best part is the promise that, if you worship God this way, God will seek for you!

John 3:26-30     2006-07-09

Did you know that Jesus began his ministry baptizing, like John the Baptist? In fact, more people starting going to Jesus for baptism, than John (wouldn’t you?). The Baptist’s disciples came to him and pointed this out, as though they were concerned with losing “market share”. John’s response was that his joy had been made full; i.e., “It’s okay guys, this is the way it should be.” Then the Baptist follows with a remarkable statement, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Therein is the entire call of discipleship and holiness. And since Jesus called the Baptist the greatest man (literally “greatest born of women”), we would do well to emulate John’s goal to see Jesus increase in our lives.

John 1:1     2006-07-02

This verse is remarkable for its simplicity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Books have been written by theologians, and people have disputed the theological ideas expressed in this simple sentence. If we read further we see that John is referring to Jesus when he writes “the Word”, and if we parse the sentence, we see that John is saying that: 1) Jesus is eternal, 2) Jesus is distinct from the Father, and 3) Jesus is divine. John should know; he was the closest disciple of Jesus and he was given extraordinary revelation. Let’s take John’s words to heart, and learn also from him that when speaking of God, it’s possible to say more, by saying less.

John 3:14    2006-06-25

In this verse Jesus compares his coming crucifixion with an event in the Old Testament where Moses “lifted up the serpent”. This is an odd reference to an event during the wilderness wandering days of the Israelites. During this time, God judged their rebellious complaining by sending “fiery serpents” among them. These venomous creatures bit the people and many died. Moses interceded for them, whereupon God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and raise it on a pole. Anyone who looked at the serpent was healed.

This event is remarkable for two reasons. The first is the many parallels to the Crucifixion. A symbol for the malady or judgment, namely the bronze serpent, was raised for all to see. It took a look of faith to obtain healing. Similarly, Jesus was “made sin for us” according to Paul, and the malady (sin) which has bitten mankind was placed on the cross, borne by Jesus, for all to see. It still takes a look of faith to be healed.

The second noteworthy aspect of this OT account is that the bronze serpent later became an occasion for sin for the nation, as people began worshipping it as an idol. King Hezekiah eventually destroyed it for that reason. Similarly, when the cross becomes merely a good-luck symbol or a lucky charm, we have idolized the symbol and dishonored the Father and the Savior behind the symbol. The reality behind the symbol of the cross is that mankind’s sinfulness collided with God’s mercy, and God’s mercy triumphed. And thus, we worship Him!

John 3:1-9     2006-06-18

This famous story recounts the visit of the Jewish leader Nicodemus to Jesus. It is clear from the conversation between the two, that they were not communicating well. Nicodemus was talking on a physical, material plane, and Jesus was talking on a spiritual plane. The last word we hear from Nicodemus in this passage is “How can these things be?” Translation: “I don’t get it!”

We might think from this that Nicodemus walks away clueless. Perhaps he did. But we learn later, in John 19:39, that when Joseph of Arimathea arrives to take the body of Jesus for burial, that “Nicodemus came also, bringing about 75 pounds of spices.” (Spices were used then for burial preparation.) Nicodemus risked loss of position in society, and perhaps even was risking his life, to be identified with the executed Jesus. Obviously, somewhere between chapters 3 and 19, Nicodemus “got it”. All right, Nick!

So don’t give up hope for loved ones that you have shared the message of salvation with. Some day in the future, before the final chapter is written, it might be said, “and he (or she) came also”.