Category: Gospels
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
Scripture reading for April 20th: John 10
Tending sheep and caring for them is an occupation that is common in most places around the world. Sheep are very docile animals that cannot defend themselves and sometimes they wander off. They need someone to care for them and protect them. They will willingly follow a shepherd and get to know his voice. The shepherd also knows his sheep and calls them by name. Jesus took this very common job and applied it to His own life and ministry.
The Jews who saw the healing of the man blind from birth asked Jesus if He thought they were blind too. In response to this question, Jesus told them about sheep and shepherds and gates, making some strong statements to help them understand who He was.
“I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:7-10)
“I am the good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me–just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father–and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)
At these statements, the Jews were divided. Some said Jesus was demon-possessed or mad, but others recognized the miracle and were wondering. Jesus had said that only “His sheep” would recognize His voice and follow Him! Have you heard the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for “His sheep?”
“I am the Light of the World”
Scripture reading for April 17th: John 9
I can only imagine what it would be like to be blind from birth. Living in a world of darkness and not being able to see family, friends, or the amazing world that God created would be a great loss. But suddenly having sight after years of living in darkness would make a tremendous impact on a blind person’s life! Jesus gave this opportunity to a man he encountered.
Encountering the man born blind, the disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:2-5) Jesus taught that in this particular case, sin was not a cause. God would use this man’s blindness to display His glory to open eyes to His Son.
Jesus made some mud and placed it on the man’s eyes and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. As he obeyed, he was restored to sight. This caused the Pharisees to question him and then his parents. They had trouble believing because Jesus restored this man on the Sabbath! They condemned the man and cast him out of the temple for claiming that Jesus was from God!
There is a deep darkness over all mankind because of sin. Jesus alone is the light of the world. When we acknowledge Jesus is the Son of God we can see the light of His life! Have you had your world lit up?
Holding to Jesus’ teaching!
Scripture reading for April 16th: John 8
Many people start out with zeal for Jesus and His teachings, but after a time grow weary, fall away or run away from truly following Him. They want to ‘try it out’, and when it doesn’t make them feel good any longer they go on to try something else. Jesus gave further instructions to His disciples to help them find a deeper connection.
“To the Jews who had believed in Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:31-32) True disciples are those who hold firmly to the teaching of Jesus. They do not waver or shrink back when the teaching goes against their beliefs or their fleshly desires. They do not compromise or look for something newer or more appealing, but hold fast in faith and practice.
The Jews answered Him, “”We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can You say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.”” (John 8:34-36) As Jesus patiently explained the truth that all were slaves of sin and that being a descendant of Abraham did not make you free, the Jews became offended with Jesus’ teaching. They mistakenly thought that having the right ancestor made them “God’s children.” They had trouble holding to His teaching and finding the truth that would free them! Many today assume they are automatically ‘God’s children’ and don’t have to repent of sin! Has the Son of God made you “free indeed?”
Hated by the world!
Scripture reading for April 15th: John 7
Jesus’ own brothers did not understand who He was and what His purpose was. They incorrectly assumed that His desire was to become a public figure and have a great following. Jesus wasn’t into politics or religion and it’s trappings! He had come to seek and save lost people, even His brothers!
After His brothers encouraged Him to go up publicly to the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus declined saying, “The right time for Me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify that what it does is evil.” (John 7:6-7) Jesus knew the effect of His teaching on the religious people of His day. They desired to kill Him because He brought their hypocrisy to light. He declared truth with authority and demanded repentance and belief in Him and His word. This shocked them because He was not a part of their religious system and not a member of the Pharisees or Sadducees. In violation of God’s law not to commit murder, they were plotting His murder while claiming to follow God’s laws!
Jesus did attend the Feast later and began to teach there. “The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” 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 7:16-17) A key to understanding Jesus and His teaching is a sincere desire to know and do God’s will. Many want to hear amazing teaching and have interesting facts, but faith requires belief and action on that teaching of Jesus! Are you ready to do God’s will?
Bread from Heaven!
Scripture reading for April 14th: John 6
Jesus miraculously fed five thousand men plus women and children with five loaves of bread and two fish. The people were amazed and desired to make Him king by force so He withdrew to pray and sent His disciples across the lake in their boat. He caught up with them in the middle of the night, walking on the water! John recorded these miracles for us and went on to share Jesus’ further teaching about this miracle and what it meant.
When the people realized that Jesus and the disciples were no longer there, they also left in boats to find Him. When they found Him they asked how He got there, Jesus responded to them, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me not because you saw the miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” (John 6:26-27) They then asked Him what they must do to do the work God required. Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One that He has sent.” (John 6:29)
“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 6:35) Jesus declared that He alone was the ‘bread from heaven’ that all must believe on to find eternal life. People were working to find a source of bread for food, but Jesus was the most satisfying food and drink that anyone could find. The only ‘work’ that can be done is ‘believe’ in the One God sent! Have you done that?
The Father has Life in Himself!
Scripture reading for April 13th: John 5
Jesus was constantly working to do His Father’s will of bringing healing to the broken and forgiveness of sins to those who were bound. Because He even healed on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted Him and sought to kill Him because He called God His Father. In their carnal understanding, He had made Himself equal with God but was only a man. They did not believe He was the Christ!
Jesus tried to help these religious people with understanding of who He was. “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.” Jesus stressed that all He did was from the Father. If anyone claimed to Love God the Father, they must honor the Son. If they refused, the Son would judge them!
“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him the authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.” “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.” (John 5:26-30) The Father and Son have life in Themselves! He who has the Son, has life! (John 3:36, 1st John 5:12)
Food for Jesus! (and His disciples!)
Scripture reading for April 10th: John 4
Jesus purposely left Judea and returned to Galilee by way of Samaria. Samaritans were mixed race people who were despised by the Jews because of their compromised marriages with Gentiles. But Jesus knew that there were lost people in that area that needed reached. About noon, Jesus and His disciples arrived at Sychar, the ancient site of Jacob’s well and there stopped for a rest. Jesus sent the disciples into town to buy some food while He rested by the well.
“When a Samaritan 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. Ho can You ask me for a drink?” (For the Jews do not associate with Samaritans.” Jesus answered her, “If you knew the 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 the conversation to the shock of this woman! He then revealed that if she knew who He was, she would ask Him for a drink of ‘living water’ that would become in her a spring of water leading to eternal life. He was the “Messiah”!
As the disciples returned, they were also shocked that he was talking to a woman! They urged him to eat some of their food. Jesus replied to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about!”. . .”My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.” (John 4:32-34) Reaching lost people and revealing eternal life was Christ’s food and doing His Father’s will was His highest priority! Would all who follow Jesus eat this ‘food’!
God so loved!
Scripture reading for April 9th: John 3
Jesus Christ came into our world to reveal the love of His Father for all mankind. He came first to His own people, the Jews. These Jews should have been able to recognized Him because of the Scriptures shared through God’s prophets. One of these studied Jews, Nicodemus, came to Jesus by night to inquire further of Jesus about God’s kingdom. Jesus told him that he must be ‘born again’ by the Spirit to even see the kingdom of God! (John 3:5-8)
Nicodemus struggled to understand this concept so Jesus used one of Moses’ stories to illustrate how God would do this for all mankind. “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven–the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:13-17)
Jesus had come down from heaven to heal mankind of the serpent’s bite. He was the ‘Son of Man’ and ‘Son of God’. He would be lifted up on a cross bearing the judgment of God on the serpent and sin’s bites on mankind. Anyone who would look to Him and believe would be saved from perishing and receive eternal life! God loved the whole world! This was the pathway to being ‘born again’! Have you believed on Jesus Christ?
Zeal for “Father’s house”!
Scripture reading for April 8th: John 2
Jesus revealed God’s heart of compassion for people through a series of miracles or signs. John’s first record of a miracle of Jesus was the turning of water into wine at a wedding feast. Jesus revealed His compassion for a young couple who had run out of wine. At Jesus’ word, the servants filled the jars with water and as they gave some to the master of the banquet, he was amazed at the quality. This sign displayed God’s glory and helped the disciples put faith in Him. (John 2:11)
Next, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the annual Passover feast. As He entered the temple, He found something that disturbed Him. “So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both the sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, ‘Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:15-16) Jesus was concerned about “Father’s house”. He wanted people to come and truly connect with His Father, not be hindered by the merchandising of sacrifices and the commercialization of their temple visit. He began by exercising authority from His Father to remove the hindrances.
The disciples remembered this incident after Jesus’ resurrection. They associated it with Scripture concerning the Messiah: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.” (John 2:17, Psalm 69:9) The religious leaders were furious, demanding a miraculous sign to prove Jesus’ authority to do this act of judgment! “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews were thinking about the building, but Jesus was referring to His body as God’s temple! Later, this would help Jesus’ disciples and us to believe!
The “Word” made flesh!
Scripture reading for April 7th: John 1
John’s record of Jesus’ life and ministry begins with the “Word” of God as the starting point. Jesus is God’s personal and final “Word” given to mankind to reveal His love, character, and Father’s heart. Jesus was with God in the beginning. This ‘beginning’ was the creation of the world and mankind. He made all things through His Word out of nothing. (John 1:3-4)
John also stated that Jesus is the source of all life and light. In Christ alone, there is life without end. He came to earth to bring this life and the knowledge of it to man. But because of sin and rebellion, man did not recognize Jesus. Even Jesus’ own people did not receive Him. Though Jesus was in the world He created, the world did not recognize Him because of the darkness. (John 10:10)
“Yet all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become the children of God–children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or of a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13) Those who believed on Jesus recognized Him as God’s Word made flesh. We know Him as the “One and Only, who came from the Father.” (John 1:14) We through faith become God’s children supernaturally by His Spirit.
“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.” (John 1:17-18) God spoke the Law to Moses to reveal sin and man’s need for a sacrifice. The Law could not save mankind. But Jesus Christ revealed God’s grace and truth, enabling us to be restored to God. What an amazing Word!