Sin is deceitful and unbelief often resists belief, even when confronted by miracles and evidence of Jesus’ power and love. Chapter eleven illustrates this very clearly. Notice what the Bible says happened after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. In verse 45 we’re told that “many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw… Read More »
Chapter Ten
In this chapter Jesus uses an illustration from everyday life in first century Palestine that everyone would have easily understood. Certain parts of that illustration are a little confusing to most of us. He talked about sheep, shepherds, thieves, doorkeepers, doors, and hired hands. What does all this mean? At night shepherds often herded their… Read More »
Chapter Nine
Chapter nine was fresh in my mind because I used the story of the man blind from birth that Jesus healed in a recent sermon. So as I read the chapter this time, I asked the Holy Spirit to make the words fresh in my heart and to speak to me about something other than… Read More »
Chapter Eight
A book could be written about this chapter of John’s gospel, but I’m going to focus my comments on four things. One, the story of the woman caught in adultery. After her accusers have left, Jesus says to her in verse 11: “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”… Read More »
Chapter Seven
I can’t help but think about modern Americans when I read chapter seven in John’s gospel. It seems that the common people were becoming divided in their opinion of Jesus. Some believed He was the Christ (promised Messiah) or at least a great prophet, while others thought he was crazy. This division is clearly seen… Read More »
Chapter Six
There is so much I could write about in this chapter, but I’m going to focus on the way some people who are interested in following Jesus struggle with some of what He says and ultimately turn away. The chapter begins with a large crowd following Jesus (verse 2). They experience the miracle of Jesus… Read More »
Chapter Five
In chapter five of John’s gospel, the animosity toward Jesus on the part of the established religious leaders within Judaism comes into focus. Two key issues are highlighted here. First, they are upset with Jesus because He did not follow all their religious rules regarding the Sabbath. They had taken God’s commandment to honor the… Read More »
Chapter Four
There is so much in chapter four of John’s gospel about which I could write, but I want to briefly deal with two things that jumped out at me. First, the energy we receive from God when doing His work. Jesus was physically tired, sitting by a well while His disciples had gone into town… Read More »
Chapter Three
Today I want to focus on interpreting two verses in this chapter. Jesus told Nicodemus in verses 5-6 that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” What… Read More »
Chapter Two
If one theme jumped out at me yesterday in chapter one, today the opposite was true as several different things grabbed my attention. So I did what I often do – I prayed through the chapter by taking a moment to stop and pray about what I was sensing the Holy Spirit saying to me… Read More »