Comments on: Is Jesus Enough?

By: Anastasie

Anastasie — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 16:14:21 +0000

Dear Chip,
My sister Clare sent this message to me in a period when I was akingmyself many questions about my relationship with Jesus. Am I really the light of the world and since my conversion nothing change around me ? Am I the salt in my home, at work, wherever I go ? Am I showing the character of Christ ? I read your message 2 or 3 times already and I will continue till I give sincere answer to the question I Jesus enough ?

anastasie

By: Joe Griffo

Joe Griffo — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 14:06:06 +0000

Jesus is everything. I have to read this article more often because it is so easily for me to drift into nonsense…thanks

By: Chip Brogden

Chip Brogden — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:59:06 +0000

Hi Cheryl,

This verse is a paraphrase based on George Lamsa’s translation that reads “these things”. When I looked up the original Greek word in this verse for “these” I discovered it was translated “these” 38 times and “these things” 21 times. There are only two possible meanings for “these” here. Either Jesus means “these things” or “these people”. If you think He asking if Peter loves Him more than “these [people]” then is He asking Peter if Peter loves Jesus more than the other disciples love Jesus, or is He asking if Peter loves Jesus more than Peter loves Peter’s fellow disciples? Both sound strange to me, given the context. In any event, I couldn’t find an example of that Greek word being translated as “these people” anywhere in the New Testament. It was either “these” or “these things.” So I think “these things” helps to clarify for us the question Peter was asked. He had left Jerusalem and gone back to his fishing, and Jesus wanted to know, do you love Me more than your fishing business, your boats, and your nets? And if the answer is “Yes Lord” then the response is, “Follow ME!”

Your experience with this group is a good example of how religious people take the simplest of truths and stumble over them. Rest assured that I didn’t write this article based on a single interpretation of a single word. Changing the verse from “these” to “these things” or even “these people” has little relevance at all to what the article is asking all of us: what and who do you love the most, and are you willing to follow Jesus even at the expense of everything you hold dear?

By: cheryl

cheryl — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 02:40:32 +0000

I was sharing this article with a group and they pointed out that scripture ‘was taken out of context’ I was not surprised at this; as they were a group that I knew were not going to embrace this message anyway. but I looked the verse up: John 21:15 in various versions and could not find what you have. ….do you love me more than these other things? so, this is were the wall went up and I could not go any further with them. Which version did you use for that particular scripture? thanks so much.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:31:53 +0000

Yes, Jesus is enough.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:59:32 +0000

The Lord is “planting” this in the hearts of leaders, believers and youth – a tremendous cross-section of the church. O, that His message to “Go…” because He is enough, because His Bride is ready to take His Hand, to cast behind her all the glitz and glamour the church has appropriated as her “right”. Jesus, You are enough for me. Help me keep my eyes off man and totally focused on You.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:47:31 +0000

Oh to get this and walk in it. I agree with Dave who said “Our(own peculiar)humanity is going to cause us grief as well as the religious stuff.” When times are hard and the season is dry, my desires gravitate toward the “stuff”. By the grace of God, I am recognizing the idols easier these days- seeking to turn, but the emptiness lures me back. I only have one more thing to say: Come Lord Jesus!

By: Chip Brogden

Chip Brogden — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:52:23 +0000

Jesus said everything can be summed up into “Love God and love your neighbor.” One could argue that’s a bit simplistic too, but the truth is, simple works. There is no merit in making something more complicated than it has to be. Jesus is Enough.

By: Joy

Joy — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:55:31 +0000

I cherish how the Lord is using you to make us choose who we will serve…how we will serve…and when we will serve him…
His word through you is clear and direct…it leaves no “wiggle room”. It sends me straight to him, knowing that I am transparent yet loved enough that he would call me to see and hear and know that I am loved. All else pales before him…yes my brother, HE IS ENOUGH…
Your sister, Joy

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:46:06 +0000

Hi Brother –

of course I get where you are coming from – think however that its a bit simplistic to say only the about jesus stuff causes problems.

Because we are all damaged goods in one way or another we dont get all our problems blasted away in one big event – e.g. the Jesus is enougth event.

Our (own peculiar)humanity is going to cause us grief as well as the religious stuff.

Of course its good to get over being religious – God wants things real and He is seeking those that will worship Him in spirit and truth ( all the time or in ever growing ways)- which for me at this time means I have hope that He is the source of this reality that He is leading me to. The journey is still ongoing.