Today’s Reading: John 10; Psalm 65

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” – John 10:1-5

There is so much that Jesus is revealing about himself in this chapter. If we lean in and look closely at this passage, we might gain a better understanding of our Lord and Savior this morning. You see, Jesus does not want to remain a mystery to us. He invites us to get to know him, just as he went to great lengths to explain his analogies to the crowds of people who were seeking to understand who he was and who he came from.

Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” – John 10:6-10

JESUS IS THE GATE.

Jesus came that we may have life, and that we might have it more abundantly (John 10:10b KJV). He not only opened up the gate, his coming provided the opening through which we can experience freedom — a gate that allows us to come and go freely, finding good pastures to rest in and to eat from. Before Jesus came, there was no gate. We were confined by our sinful nature, a slave to sin (Romans 6:6). But sin is no longer our master, because we no longer live under the requirements of the law, but under the freedom of God’s grace (Romans 6:14).

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” – John 14:6-7

JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.

Jesus walks ahead of us, and those of us who know his voice choose to follow him. He is the only way to truly experience abundant life. We can place our faith in him, trusting everything he said, because Jesus is truth. As we listen to Jesus, we gain an understanding of the sacrifice he made out of his deep love for us.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.” – John 10:11-13

JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

What a great reminder that Jesus cares deeply about us, protecting us from the enemy who attacks us. This enemy or wolf wants to scatter the flock, dividing us and creating chaos among us. This is his consistent mode of operation against the church and among followers of Jesus worldwide. But Jesus speaks out over the chaos, allowing us to hear his voice. If we will just listen to the voice of Jesus, we will be one flock with one shepherd.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” – John 10:14-18

The people in those days lost their patience with Jesus’ analogies. They wanted him to tell them plainly whether or not he was the promised Messiah. He had performed miracles among them, yet they refused to believe that he was sent from God. He revealed himself through every word spoken and every story told, but they did not listen to him because they did not recognize his voice.

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH.

Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” – John 10:25-30

Let’s spend time with our Lord this morning, soaking in the truth of who he was when he walked on this earth and who Jesus still is today. He is the gate; he has provided a way for us to experience abundant life. All we have to do is keep our eyes on our Good Shepherd, following his lead and listening to his beautiful voice. As we enter into a celebration of Thanksgiving, let’s find our way back to an authentic gratitude for the sacrifice that God made when He sent His Son to die for our sins so that we can experience freedom from sin and protection from the evil one.

Lord, lead us and we will follow. Speak to us and we will listen to your voice. Thank you for being the way, the truth and the life, providing a light for us in this dark world we live in. We are overwhelmed with love for you this morning. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 9; 2 Kings 20

“Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” – John 9:30-33

These were the words of a man who was born blind. But today Jesus and his disciples had walked by him and his life would never be the same. The disciples had asked Jesus if the man was blind because of his own sin or because of the sin of his parents. Right before Jesus spit on the ground, made mud from the saliva and placed it on the man’s eyes, he said these words to his disciples:

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” – John 9:3-5

Jesus, the light of the world, stopped in front of the man who had never known anything but darkness. Jesus was present and available to do something miraculous in his life, but it required action on the blind man’s part. First, the man had to be still and allow this stranger to place mud over his eyes. Next, he was faced with the decision of whether or not to obey the instructions Jesus gave him. Jesus said to go, and the blind man went.

He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! – John 9:7

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE SENT.

The man followed the instructions of Jesus before he was healed. Nothing had changed yet; he was still blind. But Jesus said to go and he went. Jesus sent him to the pool of Siloam, requiring an action of faith on the man’s part. The gift of healing was made available to the blind man, but he had to cooperate with the gift giver in order to receive the gift.

The pool of Siloam was built by King Hezekiah, another man who knew what it was to obey the Lord’s instructions in the midst of a fatal illness. After praying for the Lord to see him in the midst of his terminal condition, God sent this message to Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah.

“Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’” – 2 Kings 20:5-6

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE SEEN AND HEARD.

In his distress, Hezekiah had cried out to the Lord, asking Him to remember him. He had been faithful to the Lord, consistently doing what would please God, and so Hezekiah prayed to be seen. The healing was not in this moment of asking, but rather three days later. Hezekiah had to sit in the promise of his healing, waiting for God to do what He said he would do. He had to choose between inpatient bitterness or faith. The servants were sent by Isaiah to make an ointment for Hezekiah, and Hezekiah had to cooperate with the Lord’s plan. Hezekiah was patient and he experienced divine healing, and God added fifteen years to his life.

King Hezekiah had a pool built inside the city of Jerusalem, but it did not fill with water until he also had a tunnel built. This tunnel connected the fresh water supply to the pool, which Hezekiah named the Pool of Siloam, which means “sent”. To be sent means someone or something has caused you to go or to be taken to another location — to cause movement or to arrange for delivery. The fresh water the people needed was provided by God but it had to be SENT to the pool, just as the blind man was SENT to the pool to receive the healing that he needed.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE FOUND.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”
“You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”
“Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.
Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” – John 9:35-39

Have you followed the last instructions you received from the Lord? Obey and experience what happens when we cooperate with the Gift Giver. My friend, you have been sent. What are you waiting for?

Are you facing a situation that has you longing for God’s attention? Cry out to the Lord and experience what it feels like to be heard and seen by the God of compassion. Jesus told us to ask, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7). Make your request to the Lord and then wait patiently for His response, trusting His answer no matter what it is.

Do you recognize the impact of God’s prevenient grace in your life? He has been actively involved in your life since before you were born. He found you in your sin and offered you the gift of salvation. Jesus was SENT by God and now He is calling you to step into your day as a SENT follower of Christ.

My friend, this is what it feels like to be found and this is what it looks like to be SENT. Now we must quickly carry out the tasks assigned to us by the one who sent us — the Light of the World who wants to shine through us so that the blind can see and the lost can be found.

Today’s Reading: John 8:37-59; Psalm 135

“Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message.” – John 8:37

We are about to take a look at one of the more heated conversations between Jesus and the crowd of people, which included religious leaders. But first, let’s make sure we have room in our hearts for the message the Lord wants us to hear today. May God’s Spirit speak to each one of us individually, casting light on any erroneous thinking or false theology. May we be open to any area of our life or attitude that the Lord would like to work on this morning.

LET’S MAKE ROOM IN OUR HEARTS FOR THE MESSAGE GOD HAS FOR US TODAY.

“Our father is Abraham!” they declared.
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your real father.” – John 8:39-41a

The people saw themselves as having what you could call a religious pedigree. They took pride in being an ancestor of Abraham. Jesus pointed out to them that they took after their earthly fathers rather than Abraham, because Abraham would never have responded to the promised Messiah with threats and murderous strategies.

They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.” – John 8:41b-42

They wanted to claim a spiritual pedigree by declaring that God was their true father. They were Jewish and therefore part of God’s holy anointed people. Not only were the religious leaders who were joining in this argument Abraham’s descendants, they were part of the spiritual elite. They were teachers of the Jewish law, experts in the holy scriptures, and leaders in the synagogue. But Jesus pointed out that they were all missing the heart of God, who loves Jesus and, in fact, sent Jesus to them to warn them of their sinful ways.

“Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” – John 8:43-47

It’s as if Jesus was saying — Let me tell you about your father. It’s not Abraham, and it’s certainly not God. Your father must be the devil himself because you are acting just like him. You refuse to follow the truth, telling lie after lie, which is a reflection of your character. When you hear the truth, your natural reaction is disbelief. When I speak the truth, your first response is to accuse me of sin. I speak the truth; I am the truth. If you belonged to God, you would listen to the words of God that I am speaking.

The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”
“No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” – John 8:49-51

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

This seems to be the heart of the argument between the people and Jesus. They saw themselves as God’s children because they were descendants of Abraham. Jesus was telling them that he was God’s son, but they refused to believe him. They were wrong about who they were and they were wrong about who Jesus was.

Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.” – John 8:54-56

The people identified as children of God, when in fact they did not know Him. If they knew God, that familial relationship would be evidenced in how they responded to the message of Jesus. They would have recognized the presence of God in every word Jesus spoke and every miracle he performed. They were so focused on the position they believed God owed them because of their spiritual heritage that they were missing the opportunity to authentically worship the Messiah himself.

WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?

How often are we guilty of identifying as a Christian while neglecting our relationship with the Lord? Do we mistake our knowledge of the scripture for an understanding of God? Do we know him? I do not want to make the same mistake that the crowd made that day. I do not want to be wrong about who I am in Christ, and I do not want to be wrong about who Jesus is. And the best way I can protect myself from false assumptions and misinformation is to spend time every day getting to know my Lord — spending time in prayer, studying the bible and listening to His still small voice.

Lord, we believe you are who you say you are. We believe you are the Great I Am, and we humbly submit to who you are calling us to be. Thank you for the opportunity to enter into a relationship with you and get to know you more each day. Show us the ways we are trying to fit you into a mold we can be comfortable with, instead of genuinely seeking you. We know that we are not worthy to be called a child of God, but we thank you for the opportunity to be adopted into the family because of what you did for us on the cross and through your resurrection from the dead. Amen.

In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. – Galatians 3:6-7

Today’s Reading: John 8:1-36; 1 John 1

When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” – John 7:40-42

They thought they knew where Jesus came from. What they didn’t know was that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, because Mary and Joseph had traveled back for the census taken by the Roman Emperor. The religious leaders thought they knew the situation Jesus was born out of. What they didn’t know was that Mary was a virgin, even though she was found to be with child while engaged to Joseph.

It seems obvious to me that rumors had reached the religious leaders about the legitimacy of Jesus’ birth because they brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him.

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” – John 8:4-5

Instead of condemning the woman who had been caught in sin, Jesus stooped down and started writing in the dust. The teachers of religious law and Pharisees impatiently demanded an answer from Jesus. So our Lord stood up and invited anyone who had never sinned to throw the first stone. One by one the accusers walked away, for not one of them was sinless.

WE HAVE ALL SINNED. ALL OF US ARE GUILTY OF SINNING AGAINST GOD.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” – John 8:10-11

Jesus did not say that the woman was not guilty. Jesus showed the woman compassion but he did not affirm her adultery. Instead, Jesus told her to go and sin no more. In fact, you could say that it was out of compassion that Jesus instructed her to stop sinning.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” – John 8:12

WE DO NOT HAVE TO WALK IN DARKNESS. WE CAN WALK IN THE LIGHT THAT LEADS TO LIFE INSTEAD OF CHOOSING TO SIN.

The religious leaders continued their argument that they knew who Jesus was and where he came from. They had not gained any traction with the argument of who his mother was, so this time they focused on his father. Jesus pointed out that they did not know who he was and that they did not know his father (John 8:19).

Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” – John 8:23-24

IF WE CHOOSE TO STAY IN THE DARKNESS, TO CONTINUE TO SIN, WE WILL DIE IN OUR SINS.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. – John 8:31-36

Jesus is calling us to respond to his faithfulness by living a life that is faithful to all that he taught us. He invites us to know the truth because the truth will set us free. We no longer have to live as slaves to our sinful nature because the Son has set us free from the bondage of sin. God has given us the Spirit to do a work of transformation within us, empowering us to walk in the light that leads to eternal life rather than the darkness that leads to death.

AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.

Jesus invites us into a relationship with him where we can know him just as we are known by him. We do not claim to be sinless. In fact, we recognize that we are sinners in need of a Savior, but we also choose to walk away from the spiritual darkness of sin. We ask God to break the bondage that we have been living in so that we can truly experience what it means to walk in the light. God is calling every one of us to live in the light — to confess our sins, asking Jesus to cleanse us from our sin and making him Lord of our lives.

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. – 1 John 1:5-10

Lord, thank you for the freedom we experience when we walk in relationship with you — not freedom to do whatever we want to do but freedom from a life of sin that steals away the joy of our salvation. Thank you for the example of compassion you show us, inspiring us towards compassion towards those who are in bondage to sin. Strengthen us to walk in the light of your truth, recognizing that you are not calling us to affirm sin in others but to help them experience freedom from their sin. We love you, Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 7; Isaiah 55

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) – John 7:37-39

It was the Jewish Festival of Shelters (or Feast of Tabernacles) and crowds had come from all over the land for the celebration. People were grumbling amongst each other, some who looked at Jesus favorably and others who thought he was a fraud. The Jewish leaders walked among the people, asking if anyone had seen Jesus. Halfway through the festival, Jesus went to the Temple and began to teach, answering the accusations against him.

So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.” – John 7:16-19

The people were talking with each other, trying to figure out who Jesus was. They knew the Jewish leaders were trying to kill Jesus, so they were not surprised when Jesus said this. All of his miracles seemed to point to him being the Messiah, but he was not meeting their preconceived notions of how the Messiah would appear or where he would come from. It was not an easy decision for them and many walked away still undecided.

“Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. – John 7:28b-30

“ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME MAY COME AND DRINK.”

Many today still struggle to believe that Jesus was who he said he was. There is division and unbelief among us, just as there was while Jesus walked this earth. Because of this, it is important for each of us to dig deep and ask ourselves if we truly believe in Jesus. Do we have confidence in what the scriptures teach us about Jesus, and are we willing to walk in faith no matter how those around us choose to react or what they say about Jesus? If we choose faith, Jesus is calling us to come and drink of the Spirit.

“Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.” – Isaiah 55:3

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. – Revelation 22:17

“ANYONE WHO IS THIRSTY MAY COME TO ME.”

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink…”
Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. – Isaiah 55:1,6-7

On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” – 1 Corinthians 11:23b-25

Do you believe? Come and drink.
Are you thirsty? Come and drink.
Come experience the rivers of living water that flow from his heart.

Today’s Reading: John 6:41-71; Psalm 14

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35

Jesus warned them not to get caught up in the perishable things this world has to offer (the things that do not last), but spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you (John 6:27). But witnessing miraculous signs was not enough for this crowd, they wanted the ability to perform these miracles themselves; they wanted power and glory (John 6:28-29).

At times our focus is on the desire for God to do something great and mighty through us for others to see. But God’s response to us may be the same as it was to the crowd – to first seek Him, consume Him, believe in Him and fully experience life through Him.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” – John 6:47-51

TAKE THIS BREAD AND EAT.

It has been a tradition in the church to take communion on a regular basis. This is a beautiful moment to remember who Jesus is and what he has done for us. We take the bread and hold it in our hands, remembering the words of Jesus when he called us to consume his flesh — to remain in him and he in us. It is a holy moment in our covenant relationship with Christ and we are not to take it lightly.

“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” – John 6:53-56

TAKE THIS CUP AND DRINK.

Next we take the cup and drink in remembrance of the blood of Jesus shed for our salvation. We intentionally take time to consider the requirement of a sacrificial lamb for the sins of God’s people, and how Jesus became that sacrifice that we may experience life, both now and for eternity.

“I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” – John 6:57-58

After they left the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus’ disciples began to raise their concerns to one another. Jesus had used symbolic language before, and many were able to believe in the truths presented through the stories and lessons of Jesus. But who would be willing to accept this? What did Jesus mean when he said you must eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to gain eternal life?

Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.” – John 6:61-65

One by one, disciples start walking away from Jesus. What Jesus was asking of them was too much. They would not accept this teaching; they chose to walk away instead of believing in all that Jesus was saying. Twelve disciples remained. Twelve were left to respond to the question Jesus asked of them.

ARE YOU ALSO GOING TO LEAVE?

All of us have seen followers of Christ walk away from the faith. Something Jesus taught became an obstacle for them and they chose another life. This path Jesus asks us to walk is narrow and the gate is small; few find it. “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

There will be moments in our journey with Christ when we have to once again make an intentional decision to follow him. If we remain in him, the Lord will strengthen us for those difficult days when the world misunderstands us and when exiting Christians encourage us to join them. Living out the commands of Jesus is not always easy, and we will watch many choose an easier theology to digest. They will explain away scriptures and devalue the relevance of portions of God’s word in order to create a teaching that is more palatable for others to receive.

WHAT PATH WILL YOU CHOOSE?

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:68-69

Lord, our hearts respond with Simon Peter’s this morning. We cannot imagine walking away from this relationship with you. You alone have the words that give us the experience of eternal life both now and forever. Reveal in us if we have begun to soften your message or revise your words in order to fit in with the culture that daily demands that we change. Strengthen our faith and give us a bold confidence as we take the bread and drink from the cup. We long to consume all that you are so that you will remain in us and us in you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 6:16-40; Psalm 39

That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. – John 6:16-18

SOON

All was going well, until it wasn’t. Does that sound familiar? Have you had seasons in life of waiting on the Lord, when all seems to be going as expected until there is a sudden turn of events? Does it ever seem like you are making progress and gaining ground, just to be faced with a setback that leaves you uncertain of what is next?

SUDDENLY

They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination! – John 6:19-21

Jesus was teaching his disciples through every encounter they had with him. They were learning what he was capable of while learning who he was and what he was calling them to do. And with each miracle, each healing, each parable, their faith was growing. They were coming to believe that with Jesus the impossible is made possible.

THE NEXT DAY

It didn’t take long for the crowd of people to find Jesus. He was no longer where they expected him to be, so they followed the disciples across the lake to Capernaum and, sure enough, there he was! They came hoping to see another miracle or to watch Jesus do something spectacular. But Jesus wanted them to dig deeper in their understanding of who he was; he wanted them to believe in him, not just in what he could do for them.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” – John 6:26-27

Their response leaves me questioning their motives. They wanted the ability to perform the works of God, just like Jesus did. It was not the person of Jesus that they were seeking to experience more of, but rather the miracles they were most interested in. Jesus was calling them to believe in him and they demanded more miracles from him. After all, Moses had given their ancestors bread from heaven to eat, and all Jesus had done was feed them fish and bread from a boy’s lunch sack.

AFTER ALL

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. – John 6:32-36

EVERY DAY

The crowd wanted to experience the miracle of bread from heaven, just as their ancestors had, but they were so hyper-focused on the miracle of God’s provision that they were missing out on the bread of life himself. They didn’t want more of Jesus, they wanted more of the blessings that he could provide for them.

Do you see a reflection of our present day culture in this interaction between Jesus and the crowd of people he had just fed the day before? How often do we find ourselves having a stronger desire for the blessings that come from God than we do for having a deeper relationship with Jesus? That’s a dangerous posture to find ourselves in, don’t you think? When we position ourselves for greatness and God’s generous bounty, we can find our faith shaken when life brings us hardships and suffering.

For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” – John 6:40

AT THE LAST DAY

God is calling us to believe in Jesus, not for all He can do for us here on earth but so that we can experience eternal life in Him. He wants us to follow him every day, not so we can experience more of the good this world has to offer but so we can experience ALL the eternal blessings that God has to offer.

Let’s posture ourselves this morning for more of Jesus. He is the bread of life, and Jesus promises us that all who come to him will never be hungry again; whoever believes in him will never be thirsty.

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you. – Psalm 39:4-7

Today’s Reading: John 6:1-15; Psalm 20

After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. – John 6:1-2

A large crowd of people were following Jesus because they had seen the miracles he had performed. They were amazed by what Jesus could do. They had become fans of Jesus, but not yet committed beyond a surface level curiosity. Jesus moved up the hill with his disciples, but he soon saw that the crowd had come looking for him.

Jesus turned to Philip and asked him where they could buy bread to feed all of the people who were headed their way. He was testing his disciple, but Philip fell short of finding a solution because he saw the need as impossible for them to fill. It’s hard to see your way through a problem when you have already decided that it is impossible to solve.

Andrew chimed in with an inventory of what they did have — five loaves of bread and two fish that a boy had brought with him. But Andrew’s problem-solving ended quickly as he discounted what they had as a solution, knowing that it could not possibly feed the multitude of people walking their way.

THE CROWD SAW JESUS AS INTERESTING.
PHILIP SAW THEIR NEED AS IMPOSSIBLE.
ANDREW SAW THEIR RESOURCES AS INADEQUATE.

The disciples were looking through the lens of human capability and earthly limitations. Jesus took this moment as an opportunity to teach his disciples to expect heavenly provision when faced with a need that appears to be insurmountable.

“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. – John 6:10-13

Instead of sending the people away, Jesus invited them to sit down and allow him to supply their needs. He broke bread and the people consumed not just what they needed but as much as they wanted. There was more than enough. The generous love of our Savior was displayed that day.

THE CROWD LEARNED THAT JESUS WAS MORE THAN JUST INTERESTING.
PHILIP LEARNED THAT NO SITUATION IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR JESUS.
ANDREW LEARNED THAT THE LORD’S RESOURCES ARE UNLIMITED.

When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. – John 6:14-15

I wonder how the Lord might want to apply this passage in my life and in yours. I find myself asking these questions: Do I involve Jesus in my life simply because I find him interesting, or do I recognize who Jesus is and that he deserves my full surrender? How often do I shoot down solutions or choose not to pray for a situation because I have already decided on the outcome? Does my prayer life reflect the belief that nothing is impossible for God? Am I quick to jump into problem-solving mode with an earthly perspective instead of considering what God is capable of doing?

In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
May he grant your heart’s desires
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers. – Psalm 20:1-5

Jesus, we sit in awe of you this morning. Thank you for the reminder that you respond to our needs with compassion. You hold all of the answers and you invite us to come to you with our problems — to ask, seek and knock. We praise you this morning for nothing is impossible for you! We look back and thank you again for the many victories in our past, and we bring our current struggles and lay them at your feet. Lord, we ask you to answer our prayers — not because we deserve it or because you owe us but for your glory. May your will be done in our lives and may others come to know you through our life stories. Amen.

Today’s Reading: John 5:16-47; Psalm 33

Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. – John 5:15

I picture this man whom Jesus had healed at the pool of Bethesda as super enthusiastic when he brought Jesus’ name to the Jewish leaders. But perhaps he was more scared than excited. After being sick for 38 years, Jesus had told the man to stand up, pick up his mat and walk. Caught up in the moment, the last thing on this man’s mind was that it was against Jewish law to carry his sleeping mat on the Sabbath. His defense was that the man who had healed him had told him to do it, and so he did what he was told. Once he knew Jesus’ name, he was quick to go and tell the leaders so that he could be absolved from his guilt.

The Jewish leaders had objected to this miracle happening on the sabbath, so they were quick to harass Jesus. This is how our Lord responded:

“My Father is always working, and so am I.” — John 5:17

God is always working — He is always paying attention, always responding to our needs. Jesus, too, is always working — always representing us before His Father. Nothing going on in your life is unknown to God. He is aware of how you are feeling and what you are thinking. It is not in His nature to ignore you, for He cares deeply for you. You have His attention because you have the attention of Jesus.

“Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” — John 5:19b

Jesus was able to heal the sick, raise the dead, and restore sight to the blind because he was capable of doing what God can do. Jesus didn’t have to ask God to work through him, for God had already given him the power over death and disease. If it was Jesus’ desire to give someone life, he could do it. And the Father had given Jesus authority to judge. To honor the Son is to honor the Father, and to honor the Father is to honor the Son.

WHEN WE LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE OF JESUS AND CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN GOD, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGIN EXPERIENCING ETERNAL LIFE — WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE (John 5:24b).

“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.” — John 5:25-30

Jesus gave the religious leaders every opportunity to believe in who he was and who had sent him. He explained his relationship with God the Father, and he demonstrated the power God had given him. In addition to this, God had sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. They had heard John the Baptist preach and foretell the coming of the Messiah, yet they rejected both the messenger and the message.

“John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.” — John 5:35-38

The religious leaders loved the Scriptures. They studied them for hours every day, believing that the words on the page would qualify them for eternal life. They were caught in the routine of reading the scriptures and they took pride in their thorough knowledge of each verse, yet they were missing the introduction of the Messiah Himself. The only way to eternal life was standing in front of them and they were arguing with him rather than worshiping him.

THEY WERE STUDYING THE MESSAGE BUT MISSING THE MESSENGER.

Jesus loves it when we study the Bible. He even places a hunger in our hearts for the promises found in His word. But we must be careful that we don’t miss the messenger because we are too busy building our knowledge. He desires for our study to lead us into a tighter relationship with him. May Jesus come to life for each of us this morning as we study his Word. May he be more real to us today than he was yesterday!

The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees the whole human race.
From his throne he observes
all who live on the earth.
He made their hearts,
so he understands everything they do.
The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
for all its strength, it cannot save you.

But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.
He rescues them from death
and keeps them alive in times of famine.

We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone. – Psalm 33:13-22

Today’s Reading: John 5:1-15; Psalm 13

Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. – John 5:1-4

Picture with me crowds of people who are battling some kind of illness, disease or handicap. They have gathered together in this place, each of them desperate for a different life. The lame hope for the freedom of movement, the blind hope for the beauty of sight, and the deaf hope for the echo of sound. Some were born this way while others remember what it was once like to be healthy and free from this ailment.

THEY WERE AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA BECAUSE THEY HAD HOPE. THEY HAD REACHED FOR THE POSSIBILITY BUT MISSED THE HEALING.

If they did not have hope, they would have stayed home. If there was not a dream of healing, they would not be here waiting for the waters to stir. If they themselves did not have hope, someone who loved them must have had hope on their behalf because here they were amongst the crowd. Here they were anticipating the possibility of healing. But there was at least one at the pool who had given up all hope, and Jesus was there that day to change his life forever.

One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” – John 5:5-6

Consider the reality behind these words — Jesus saw him and Jesus knew. In a crowd of people with needs, this man was seen by the Messiah himself; in a world where he had never had the opportunity to meet the Lord, he was known by the One who had the ability to heal him.

JESUS WAS THE HOPE THEY HAD BEEN CLINGING TO BUT THEY DID NOT YET KNOW WHAT HE WAS CAPABLE OF.

“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! – John 5:7-9a

I long to know what the man was thinking between Jesus’ command and the man’s healing, but scripture says it happened immediately. It seems the sick man did not even have the chance to consider what was about to happen. One moment he was sick and the next moment he was not. But he did have the choice to respond in faith when told to stand up, pick up his mat, and walk. His response allowed others around them to know the impact of Jesus’ words on his life. He had been healed without human methods but by the power of the Lord, and everyone who had known him as the sick man at Bethesda now knew him as healed and whole.

But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”
But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”
“Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.
The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” – John 5:9b-14

THE MAN WHO HAD LOST HOPE WAS NOW EXPERIENCING PHYSICAL HEALING, BUT HE WAS STILL MISSING THE SPIRITUAL HEALING THAT JESUS HAD FOR HIM.

Jesus was there to help this man who had been sick for 38 years find hope, not in the physical but in the eternal. He arrived to make a difference in this man’s life, to turn the focus from how he was dying to how he was living. Jesus did not just want to change his circumstances but to transform his heart — to use his physical healing to bring him to a place of spiritual healing. He wanted the man to go from not knowing who Jesus was to personally knowing Jesus as Lord.

This man’s healing would not just impact him but also all who knew him. I imagine that everyone in his community saw him as the man who had been coming longer than anyone else, yet no one had helped him down into the water. They had accepted his plight and expected nothing to change for him. BUT JESUS.

Lord, thank you for the reminder this morning that we cannot lose hope in what you might want to do for us or for our loved ones. It is so easy to be discouraged by our circumstances, but we ask for a renewed confidence that you see us and that you know what we are going through. You are our hope. May the impact of our faith be evident for others to see as we wait patiently for you to move on our behalf. May our obedience to your instructions make a difference in those around us who need your healing touch. Amen.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me. – Psalm 13:5-6