Archive for the ‘Gospels’ Category

Scripture reading for May 13th: John 7:31-53

After delaying His appearance at the Feast of Tabernacles, halfway through the celebration Jesus appeared in the Temple and began to teach there.  His teaching amazed many and caused much discussion about who Jesus was.  Some tried to seize Him and others put their faith in Him.  (John 7:30-31)

It was during this last day of the Feast, that Jesus came to the Temple.  “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If any one is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to later receive.  Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:37-39)

On the last day of this feast of Tabernacles, it was the custom to draw large jars of water from the Pool of Siloam and to pour them out before the Lord, celebrating how Moses brought water from the rock in the wilderness to refresh God’s people.  This was done in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah, who would take them to their ‘Promised Land” and provide food and eternal refreshing.  In this context, the Jews who heard Jesus would have paid attention.  Some thought that they had heard a great prophet, and others thought the He was the Christ.  (John 7:40-41)

As we look at this prophetic word from Jesus, we now know that Jesus was speaking of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those who would put their faith in Him as the Messiah.  On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church and each believer received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-4)  Out of their mouths flowed a new language of praise to God and power to be witnesses to all the world.  This gift empowered the Church to live fruitfully and to be ready for the coming of Jesus Christ at any time.

We are all just passing through this life, the world is not our home!  We have been given rivers of living water to bring refreshing to those who will hear!  The King is coming soon!  Let those waters flow here in this wilderness!

Scripture reading for May 12th: John 7:1-30

Timing is everything in God’s economy.  Solomon said that there was a time for everything under the sun.  (Ecclesiastes 3:1)   Jesus was a man who knew the proper timing for each part of His life because He was committed to do God’s will.   If we will learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and commit to do God’s will, we will learn that Jesus’ teaching is God’s will.

All Jewish males were to appear before God in Jerusalem at the temple three times a year.  This was God’s instructions through the Law of Moses.  One of these times was for the Feast of Tabernacles, a celebration of Israel’s time in the wilderness when they lived in tents awaiting entry into the ‘promised land’.  Jesus’ brothers tried to get Him to go up with them to Jerusalem, but Jesus told them that His time had not yet come to go up.  (John 7:4)  These brothers did not yet believe in Jesus. Jesus timing was always a part of God’s plan and will.

Later, Jesus went to the required celebration.  Everyone was looking for Him and there was much debate about who He might be.  Halfway through the feast, Jesus went to the temple and began to teach.  His words of wisdom amazed those who heard Him, especially the Jews.  They asked each other where He got such learning.

“Jesus answered, “My teaching is not My own.  It comes from Him who sent Me.  If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own.” (John 7:16)  Jesus plainly told them before that He spoke for the Father.  Here He told them that a choice on their part to do God’s will would open their understanding about whether or not His teaching was from God.  This is a key to faith!  We must choose willingly to truly want to do God’s will, not just know about it!  When we make this choice from our heart, we come to know that Jesus’ teaching is from God the Father!

Today is the best time to choose to do God’s will and then listen to Jesus’ teaching.  It comes from God the Father, as He did.  Simple child-like faith will open a new world of eternal life and knowing God’s will and timing.

Scripture reading for May 11th: John 6:47-71

“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.  Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven.  Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” (John 6:53-58)

Jesus followed the feeding of the 5000 with some hard teaching.   He spoke to them of eating His flesh and drinking His blood.   This was not an option, but mandatory to have eternal life.  Jesus knew that many of these that were following Him were not placing their trust in Him as the Son of God and did not really believe that He came from the Father.  They ate the physical bread that had been miraculously multiplied and were satisfied, but were not yet ready to feed on Jesus as the true Bread from heaven.  As their forefathers had eaten the manna and died, they needed to feed on Jesus’ flesh and blood to live.

“On hearing this, many of  His disciples said, “This is a hard teaching, who can practice it.” (John 6:60)  Jesus asked  these grumblers if His teaching offended them.  They would see something even more offensive to the carnal mind:  His ascension to heaven!  “The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing.  The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are Life.  Yet some of you do not believe.” Jesus knew that some would not believe and one would betray Him!  He was actually a devil!  (John 6:70)

In this  spiritual teaching, Jesus was referring to the Last Supper, the meal where He would give them the bread and cup as remembrance of His death and a reminder of His coming again.  The true followers would be willing to eat the bread (representing His body) and drink the cup (representing His blood.)  This teaching is Spirit and Life!  Have you placed your trust in Him?

Scripture reading for May 10th: John 6:22-46

Jesus’ miracle of the multiplication of the bread and fish caused the crowd to search for Him the next morning.  After spending time alone in prayer late into the night, Jesus had walked on the lake and joined the disciples in their boat.  The crowd was mystified about how Jesus got across the lake.  Upon finding Jesus in Capernaum, they asked Him when He got there .  Jesus told them they were not looking for Him because of the miraculous signs, but because they ate the bread and were satisfied.  He told them not to work for food that spoils, but to seek the food that endured to eternal life which the Son of Man would give them.

Jesus’ instructions stirred a question in those who heard.  “What must we do to do the works God requires?”  Jesus answered, “The work God requires is this:  to believe on the One He has sent.” (John 6:28-29)   Jesus was emphasizing that man cannot do any ‘works’ to purchase salvation.  God the Father was only looking for humble faith, a trust in the One He sent, His Son Jesus Christ.  This was true then and remains the same today!  It is only by grace through faith that we please God.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)  We do good works that God prepares for us after receiving that grace through faith.

Some from the crowd asked Jesus for another miracle to prove He was the One to believe in.  They cited Moses and the manna from heaven that God provided for the children of Israel in the desert.   Jesus told them that Moses had not given them bread, but His Father who would give them true bread from heaven.  “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”  Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:33-35)

Jesus Christ is the true Bread of Life!  In Him we have eternal sustenance.  We can commune with Him each day and truly satisfy our inner hunger and thirst for righteousness, peace and joy.  We must come humbly to Him and simply believe that He is the Son of God.  Have you found the Bread of Life?

Scripture reading for May 9th: John 6:1-21

“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”  He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do.  Philip answered Him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite.” (John 6:5-7)    Jesus liked to ask questions that provoked His followers to think.  In this setting, they were away from town on a hill near the Sea of Galilee and had a large crowd of people who had followed Jesus there because they had seen His miracles of healing and were hungry for more.  Jesus was not only interested in their souls, but also realized that they needed food.  He challenged His disciples with the question about where they could get bread, knowing in His heart what He intended to do.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, found a young boy with five small barley loaves of bread and two small fish.  He brought them to Jesus, wondering how this small amount might help in feeding so many.  Jesus had them set the people down on the grassy slope and took the bread, giving thanks, breaking it and giving it to the disciples to distribute.  He did the same with the fish.  (John 6:10-11)  When all had eaten all they wanted, the disciples gathered up  twelve baskets full of leftovers!  This so excited the crowd that they were speculating on who Jesus might be and Jesus knew that they wanted to make Him king by force!  He withdrew to a mountain alone, probably to pray and resist temptation.

As we think about this miracle and Jesus question, we are reminded of several things.  First, God knows and cares about our physical needs.  Jesus taught His followers to seek first His kingdom, and what they had needed (physically) would be added to their lives.  (Matthew 6:31-34)  God cares for the birds and animals, and we are much more valuable than them!  Second, if we are willing to give what we have to the Lord, He can multiply that money or food and use it to fulfill a greater purpose!  God is a life-giver and loves to do more than we expect!  The left-overs will be more than what we gave originally! Jesus is the bread-maker and multiplier!

Scripture reading for May 8th: John 5:24-47

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.  I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.  For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.  And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.” (John 5:24-27)

Jesus plainly told the Jews who were persecuting Him for healing on the Sabbath that He came from the Father and all His miracles were a result of seeing the Father at work.  He further instructed them in today’s reading that whoever would hear His word and believe in the Father would have eternal life.  Those who did not believe would be condemned and remain in death.  God is a life-giver and now God’s Son, Jesus Christ was given the ability to speak life to those who would hear Him.  Life was a characteristic of Jesus and the Father.  This word for life is “zoe’, life eternal and complete.

Jesus went on to tell these people about a time coming in the future. “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out–those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.  By Myself I can do nothing, I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is just for I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me.” (John 5:28-30)  Like God, Jesus will have the power to give life to the dead.  At a specific time in the future, all the dead will hear Jesus voice calling them to life.  Some will rise in sin and be condemned.  (Revelation 20:11-14)  Some will rise and be rewarded with eternal life.  (Daniel 12:2-3)  (John 5:28)  The Son will judge as He hears the Father declare the truth concerning each one.

These glimpses of the eternal role of Jesus Christ should bring reverence and a desire to be found doing good.  We should honor the Father and the Son!  Today might be the day of resurrection!

Scripture reading for May 7th: John 5:1-23

“Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.  For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all he does.  Yes, to your amazement He will show Him even greater things than these.  For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it.  Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.  He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.’ (John 5:19-23)

Jesus openly declared His own dependence on the Father and gave all glory to His Father for His own works.  Jesus plainly stated that He only did what He saw His Father doing.  At this point we must ask how did Jesus see His Father doing the miracles and good works?  The key was in Jesus’ prayer life.  Jesus spent time each day waiting on God and listening for His Father’s instructions.  He often slipped away alone to pray early in the morning.  At other times he prayed late at night.  (Luke 6:12)   Jesus was in perfect unity with His Father.

What are the “greater things” that the Father will give to the Son to do?   The verses following that statement tell of Jesus giving life to the dead and sitting in judgment.  These are things that only God could do and mark Jesus as God’s Son and the Christ!   Jesus Christ has the power to raise the dead to eternal life and will judge the living and the dead at the Judgment Seat of Christ and Great White throne.  (2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:11-15)  Because Jesus is God, we must honor Him.  If we honor Him, we honor the Father as well.

Jesus is God!  The miracles of healing and miracles are wonderful examples of His divinity.  But the greater works of  raising the dead to life and judgment are still to come.  Are you giving honor to Jesus and the Father by obeying them and their Word?  If not, today is a good day to repent!

Scripture reading for May 6th: John 4:43-54

Jesus was never one to do miracles just to satisfy someone’s curiosity.  He knew each person and what they needed to help them with faith.  He sometimes surprised people with His comments and offended others.  In today’s reading,  Jesus makes a strong statement to a royal official seeking healing for his son.

Jesus left the Samaritan village where He had ministered to the woman at the well, and headed for Galilee and His home town.  Jesus noted that a prophet has no respect among the people He grew up with.  Upon arrival, a certain ruler came to Jesus with a desperate request.  He had a son who was sick and near death.  He believed that Jesus could come and heal this boy.  “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”  The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  Jesus replied, “You may go.  Your son will live.” (John 4:48-50)

This royal official was not deterred at Jesus comment about miraculous signs.  He was not seeking a sign, but needed a miracle to spare his son.  He was desperate to have Jesus come and touch this son.  He ignored the remark about the signs and Jesus honored his faith with a word of knowledge.  His son would live and not die!  This man exercised faith by “taking Jesus at His word”.  “Consequently, faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

Upon arrival at his home, this ruler found his son had recovered and that the recovery began at the exact hour he had received the word from Jesus.  This truth brought faith to the whole household and all came to trust in Jesus Christ!  Jesus had done this miracle so that this man and his family could come to faith.  They were not curiosity seekers or just looking for something to excite them.  They sought Jesus for a recovery for this son and their faith was rewarded!

This story teaches us the simple truth of trusting the word of Jesus.  Jesus honors faith and He speaks a word to us that strengthens our faith.  Miracles can help people to trust in Jesus.  We should always seek the Lord for His miraculous work to flow through us.  Take Jesus at His word!  Miracles are still happening!

Scripture reading for May 5th: John 4:4-42

Jesus chose a path back to Galilee through Samaria, stopping at the town of Sychar near Jacob’s well.  The Samaritans were  mixed Jews whose ancestors had intermarried with the Assyrian people used to repopulate the area around 722 BC.  For a Jewish man to be seen talking to a Samaritan would have been scandalous.  To be seen talking to a Samaritan woman would have been unthinkable.  While the disciples were away getting something for lunch, Jesus Christ had an encounter at this famous well with a Samaritan woman that brought new life to her and her neighbors!

At about noon, Jesus was resting by this well when a woman came to draw water.  Jesus said to her, “Will you give Me a drink?”  The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.  How can You ask me for a drink?  (For Jews don’t associate with Samaritans.)”  Jesus answered her, “If you knew that Gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:7-10)  Jesus initiated a conversation with this woman and she was taken aback.

Jesus sparked her interest with a statement about living water and the gift of God.  She tried to understand how He would be able to get this water without anything to draw it out with.  She asked Jesus if He were greater than Jacob, who dug the well and drank from it.  Jesus then told her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

Jesus was interested in this woman’s soul and drew her to request this living water.  He then gently told her about her past and she changed the subject.  In the course of the conversation about where to worship, the woman stated that she knew the Messiah would explain everything when He came.  Jesus revealed a special truth to her, “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:26)  This woman left her water jar and ran to tell her friends and neighbors!  Jesus loved this Samaritan woman and desired to have her in the Father’s kingdom!  Living water draws a crowd!

Scripture reading for May4th: John 3:23-4:3

“The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands.  Whoever Believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” (John 3:35-36)

God’s love for His Son was such that He placed everything in His hands.  God sent His Son into the world that the world might be saved through Him.  (John 3:17)  In the Son’s hands was healing power for those that were hurting and wounded because of sin, sickness, and disease.  In the Son’s hands was power to forgive sins and break demonic power.  But in the Son’s hands was also the judgment of all who rejected Him as Savior and Lord.  (John 5:22)  The simple truth was that those who would place their faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, would have eternal life.  Those who would reject the Son would never see life but would experience the wrath of God for all eternity in a place described as the ‘Lake of Fire’.  (Revelation 20:10,14-15)

John’s Gospel emphasized the need to believe.  Believing is more than just acknowledging that something is true.  Biblical faith is a deep, abiding trust in Jesus that leads to action that demonstrates the trust.  (James 2:17-19)  If someone believes that Jesus is the Son of God and Lord, then their actions and decisions about living life will be directed by the belief in that truth.  Just saying that you believed without corresponding actions would not be biblical faith.

The reward of believing in Jesus Christ is eternal life.  The Greek word for ‘life’ here is ‘zoe’, life that comes from God and goes on forever!  Man lost this ‘life’ when he sinned in the Garden of Eden and the result was spiritual death followed closely by physical death.  Sin and death are linked eternally, but biblical faith in Jesus Christ brings restoration of eternal life through new birth by the Spirit.  (John 3:1-8)

Rejecting the Son of God results in us having the consequences for sin, the wrath of God, resting on us eternally.  This means that we are separated from a relationship with God and dead spiritually.   Upon physical death, our soul will await the judgment of the Great White Throne and a final sentencing to the Lake of Fire.  (Revelation 20:11-15)  The choice is up to each individual!  Today is the right time to choose!