02.23.10 Greetings! ICF ON SUNDAY (February 21) It was the night before Jesus' death. He was eating the last supper with his disciples before his arrest and execution. Then Jesus did something really strange. He got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and began washing his disciples' feet. The disciples were shocked and uncomfortable with Jesus' strange behavior. Why did Jesus do it? What did it mean? What does it mean for us today? Jesus' actions were significant then, and they are still significant today. We will talk about this on Sunday. Please join us as we study John 13:1-35. Since another class meets in our room immediately after ICF, we need to finish on time, so we need to start on time. Here is our schedule: 9:30 - 9:45 am - Before-Class Social Time, including snacks and hot drinks (come early and enjoy conversation and snacks) 9:45 - 10:45 am - Class Time (please come before 9:45 am, so you don't miss anything) 10:45 - 11:00 am - After-Class Discussion/Social Time EVENTS THIS FRIDAY (February 19) Across Fridays. Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM), beginning at 7 pm. This Friday will be Skit Night. People will have the opportunity to come up with and act out skits. Should be fun. Our small group Bible study at 8:30 pm. Chinese Bible Study (CBS). Blacksburg Baptist Church (BBC), beginning at 7:30 pm. SNOW SKIING (February 21) Do you want to go snow skiing? If you do, check this out! ICF LAST SUNDAY - The Path of Life When you hear the phrase "the path of life", what do you think about? Many people think about their earthly lives, or their "life paths" (e.g., leader, discoverer, developer, performer, warrior, teacher, manager, etc.). Some people might think about the "many paths" to an existence (or nonexistence) beyond this earthly life. However, when I use the phrase "the path of life", I am talking about THE path to THE life. What is it? The Path of Death Almost 2000 years ago, Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). He also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (14:6). John wrote, "In [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men" (1:4, ESV). Speaking of Jesus, John wrote, "The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it" (1 John 1:2). What is "the Life"? Jesus is "the Life"! However, Jesus' path was a path of death. The Path of Jesus A few days before his arrest and execution, Jesus said these words: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24, ESV). A "grain of wheat" is the fruit of a wheat plant. If the grain is not buried in the ground, it does not generate more life. It must be buried in the ground in order to germinate. Once in the ground, it absorbs water and the outer coating breaks away, and a new plant begins. The new plant grows and bears many more grains. The result is multiplication. Jesus used this analogy to teach this truth: It was only through the death of the one man (Jesus) that "life" (abundant and eternal) could be given to the many. How could Jesus' death result in life for many others? Jesus said elsewhere, "For even the Son of Man (that is, Jesus himself) did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:33-34). A "ransom" is a price paid for release from captivity and/or punishment. The Bible teaches that all humanity is captive to sin and under God's judgment. We desperately need to be released! Jesus paid the price for our release. The price paid was Jesus' life. The "released" are those of us who receive Jesus Christ through faith. It must be noted that Jesus was the only human qualified to pay the ransom. He is the unique Son of God, and the only human being without sin. In Christ, the righteous died for the unrighteous (1 Peter 3:18). It is significant that Jesus died during Passover week. "Passover" is the annual festival in which Jews remember and celebrate their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This deliverance involved the sacrifice of a "Passover lamb" and the application of its blood on the doorframes of Jewish homes. When God's judgment fell on Egypt, these particular homes were "passed over" (Exodus 12:1-14). When Jesus came, he was called "the lamb of God" (John 1:31) and "our Passover lamb" (1 Corinthians 5:7). If we receive Jesus, we essentially "apply the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorframes of our lives" and we are released from slavery to sin and God's punishment of sinners. The Path of Jesus' Followers The principle of the wheat grain - that death is the necessary condition for the generation of life - can be generally applied to Jesus' followers. Jesus continued, "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (John 12:25, ESV). The love/hate contrast reflects a Hebrew idiom that communicates fundamental priority. What is more important - our lives in this world, or life with God? Jesus says that whoever refuses to let go of his worldly life loses his life, while whoever gives his life to God (thus in a sense dies to his former life) will keep it for eternal life. As an illustration, let us say the wheat grain represents my life in this world. Loving my life in this world is like placing the wheat grain on a shelf. On the shelf it will eventually decay, but it will never generate more life. However, if I bury it in the ground - if it dies - it will result in new life. In order to receive "the Life" we must die. As the Bible says elsewhere, we must die with Christ. Eternal life is found "on the other side of the cross". The old identity (outside Jesus) must die, so the new identity (in Jesus) can live (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:8). To follow Jesus is to travel the path of Jesus. It begins when we die with Christ, but it continues. Jesus said elsewhere, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good is it if a man gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:25-26a). Jesus traveled the path of humility, submission to God's will, self-giving love, suffering and glory. To follow Jesus is to travel the path of Jesus. What About You? Do you desire "the Life" that Jesus offers? Have you believed in him? If not, keep seeking knowledge of Jesus. If you believe, are you "following Jesus" in the way he has instructed? Read Mark 8:34-38 and 10:29-30, and seek God's help as you commit to the path of life. See the ICF website for the entire lesson http://www.bcfworld.org/. As always, if you have any questions for comments, please let me know. Your Servant, Jay ______________________________________________________________ BAD WEATHER? When the weather is bad (snow or ice) BCF may cancel services (including ICF) on Sunday morning. If they cancel services, they decide by 8 AM and notify people in the following ways: 1. BCF Listserv 2. Recorded message on BCF phone (552-8002) 3. Announcement on first page of BCF website (see link on ICF website). 4. Radio: WVTF 89.1 FM 5. Television: WDBJ Channel 7 and WSLS Channel 10 (or their websites)

You may E-mail Jay & Michele Lester or Call at 540.381.2086