10.3.09 Ex22, Jn1

Exodus 22:
More rules for the people. God talked about protection of property and social responsibility this time. It's interesting that stealing is the center of the property protection. However after I thought about it, Stealing really covers everything with property. The social responsibility though, God again emphasized on adultury. it cannot be stressed enough, and God just know we were gonna fall and he layed this out for use first so that we could have a reference. and the consequence is pretty severe.

John 1:
This chapter was sooooo rich! First John gets this vision about Jesus' coming and being the word. Then he wrote about this other John, who was Jesus' cousin. He was john the baptist. Pay attention to when he states John's purpose of his life--"he came only as a witness to the light" v8. This was sooo powerful, and it takes a lot of strength and faith to carry out. I really wish that's all my purpose, and i could carry it out. John also prophesied about the coming of christ. he said that there was going to be one before him and greater than him. I would not want to declare anyone to be greater than me. I always go through so many comparisons between people and myself, and try to find in what aspect I am greater than them.
When John the baptist was qustioned about his identity. He did not hesitate to tell them who he was and who he wasn't, and even that was a testimony about Jesus. God let all these happen shortly before Jesus' coming, so that John could be prepared to have Jesus come. Indeed, Jesus came to John, and even though John did not know Jesus, he still recognized him with signs sent by God. Imagine if I could do this, and Jesus came to me, and i could recognize him. How awesome would that be? Instead of sitting here and guessing who Jesus could be, I could tell right away who he is. John did this by obedience through the holy spirit, and Jesus recognized John because he is God. This is soooo good, and satisfying. It makes me want to be able to recognize him, or even just his work.