5:31 thru 5:47 (Feb 27) (cont.)

(v37,38) There seems to be a cause and effect thing going on here. Jesus makes the statement (v37) "...They have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form." To me this is a bold statement of fact....that though they may think they have heard His voice, Jesus declares that is not the case. (v38) points to a why this is true, because "they do not have His word abiding(dwelling) in you". Ok good so now I have this under control right???(study the Word, spend time in the Word) the very next verse (v39) declares a warning that studying Scriptures is not the Way of salvation. These Jews spend time studying the "map" instead of what the map points to, its final destination, the final Word, Jesus.

For me, Jesus makes a strong point about the life of the Jews (and sadly at times in my life) v44 where Jesus asks them "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not SEEK the glory that is from the one and only God" . To me this reads as Jesus with a perplexed look asking "how is it EVER possible to believe in me when you keep putting other people before me. Seeking their opinion, their approval, their praise". As Rob pointed out earlier this is again Jesus speaking the hard truth directly to people.

5:31 thru 5:47 (Feb 27)

I must say, this is not a very uplifting passage. Jesus lists the things that testify on his behalf to the Jews who were persecuting him (back in 5:16). These include John the Baptist; God the father, who testifies through the teaching and miracles of Jesus; the scriptures; and Moses himself, who wrote about Jesus. These things testify to the truth. But the sad truth is that some will not believe. As Jesus said, "You refuse to come to me to have life". This is a difficult thing to ponder.

Some observations: Jesus is not quieted by persecution - he repeats his message. When some don't believe his message, Jesus does not change it. He continues to speak the truth very directly to them.

I was wondering what it means when Jesus says "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid". Somewhat puzzling since Jesus' divinity would seemingly carry some weight. I think this is a statement that Jesus is doing God's will. If he were not - if he were doing his own thing, independent from God - then the Holy Spirit would not speak through John the Baptist. And God the Father would not work through Jesus' miracles. And there would be disconnects with what the scriptures say. And the Holy Spirit would not be working in the hearts of the ones who chose to follow Jesus, convicting them of their sin and moving them to believe. Jesus was doing the work that was given to him by the Father to do (5:36).

5:16 thru 5:30 (Feb 26)

Jesus is persecuted by the Jews for healing on the Sabbath. Then Jesus repeats the heart of the gospel to the Jews. I see many parallels between this passage and Jesus' talk with Nicodemus: 3:8 and 5:21; 3:18b and 5:22; 3:18a and 5:24; 3:16 (whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life) and 5:24 (whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life); 3:3 (born again) and 5:24 (crossed over from death to life); 5:29 (those who have done good) and 3:21 (whoever lives by the truth); 5:29 (those who have done evil) and 3:20 (everyone who does evil). This is a solid communication strategy: tell the truth, tell it clearly, and tell it often! Certainly Jesus testified in spirit and in truth.

4:43 thru 5:15 (Feb 25) (cont.)

(v3-4) The whole setup of racing to be the first in the water to be healed always baffled me, especially seeing how these are the sick, blind, lame and withered. How does the blind person know when the water is stirred. I'll say that again, differently "how do us blind people heal thyself". Oh yeah we can't, we're blind.
Then Jesus comes along and asks.... "Do you wish to get well?" let me re-phrase again "Do you really know the predicament you are in? Have you truly recognized it?" And of course we/I don't answer the question directly... I justify and give excuses(v7)... "people won't help me".

Of course all this is true and seems to tell the human condition.
1) I can't get my blind/lame/sick self to the water (even if i knew it had stirred)
2) No one is helping me, (cause everyone else is just like me trying to get to the water)
3) Then Jesus came along and COMMANDED "Get up,....."
Praise God I responded.
The great thing is Jesus still comes to find me and say (v14) ".. Behold you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you."

Notice how so far in John all of Jesus' miracles and healing are done by Him saying something, and someone responding to it. God grant me the ears to truly hear Your voice and respond, not just for my benefit but for the benefit of others.

4:43 thru 5:15 (Feb 25)

Here we have the story of 2 healings. Jesus returns to Galilee, even though He is not honored there as in other places (v4:44). Even still, the gospel is clear to point out that Jesus has the power to miraculously heal in Galilee (v4:54).

Verse 48 is puzzling to me: "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe". But is this an indictment of the people of Galilee or just a truth spoken by Jesus? Certainly Jesus' miracles authenticated him as being from God. Even today, without Jesus physically present to work miracles, we can see the work of the Holy Spirit changing people's lives.

Back in Jerusalem, Jesus passes the pool called Bethesda where "a great number of disabled people used to lie - the blind, the lame, the paralyzed". Why do the disabled people not lie there anymore at the time when the gospel is written? Certainly, it could be because the pool is no longer there. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. But I rather like to think that the reason that there were no longer disabled people there was because Jesus healed them all!

The account of the healing at the pool is nearly tragic. The man that Jesus heals did not know who healed him at first. He would have had physical healing without receiving what he needed even more - forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus returns to him and talks to him about his need for forgiveness.

Final thought: how evil is it that Jesus was forced to slip away after healing the invalid? For 38 years the man suffered. Then he is healed by Jesus and the religious leaders focus on the fact that he told the man to pick up his mat. The application to me is to never cover over and smear the glory of God with legalism. Lord, let my focus be on Your glorious acts and not on petty human rules and restrictions that are not your law.

4:1 thru 4:42 (Feb 24)

This passage is an interesting account of a life transformed and then the response that follows. The Good Shepherd seeks out a lost sheep and brings her back to Him. Indeed, it was God's will for Jesus to do this (v34). Jesus engages her in conversation (v7) even though Jews and Samaritans were not supposed to socialize. He shares with her the truth (v10, v13-14, v26). It may be that the Spirit of God convicts her of her sin (v17-18). Jesus does not let her settle for a half truth (v19) or change the subject (v20) or conclude that these things are beyond her comprehension (v25-26). He shares Himself with her and does not hide the truth. "True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth".

What is the woman's response? She believes! And then she shares what she believes with others (v29). Many believe based on her testimony (v39) and then deepen in their faith as they spend time with Jesus (v40-42). Jesus uses this as a lesson for his disciples in ministry: "Open your eyes! See the harvest! Go and reap!"

3:22 thru 3:36 (Feb 23)

An argument over ceremonial washing breaks out, driving John's disciples to seek his counsel. The conversation turns to Jesus, prompting John to again give his testimony. This seems to contrast the focus on ceremony with the focus on the truth that leads to eternal life. At the wedding in chapter 2, Jesus took the water that was used for ceremonial washing and turned it into something new. Here John teaches his followers that "the man who has accepted (Jesus' testimony) has certified that God is truthful" and "whoever believes in the Son has eternal life". The author John wastes no time in getting to the heart of the gospel, and he repeats it often for us!

I was convicted by verse 30: "He must become greater; I must become less". I must confess that I have a tendency sometimes to try to steal God's glory and make it my own. This is always pathetic, and I know better. Father God, make verse 30 true for me in my life and in my opportunities to minister for you.

3:1 thru 3:21 (Feb 22)

Nicodemus recognizes that Jesus is "from God" and calls him "teacher". So Jesus teaches him something: "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again". Jesus reproves Nicodemus for being Israel's teacher and not understanding these things. I always found this a little harsh. It does seem like a new teaching, considering that Nicodemus did not have the benefit of the new testament and thousands of years of Spirit led teaching in the church, not to mention Jesus' own teaching to his disciples explaining the old testament. But when I read the Psalms, I recognize this teaching in dozens of places. In many of the psalms, the psalmist pleads with God to give him an understanding of God's law and the heart to follow it. Psalm 119 is the pinnacle of this. For me, the lesson here is to remember that it is God who gives us the Spirit that sanctifies. The Pharisees, like Nicodemus, were so focused on the law itself that they could not understand their dependence on the Spirit to follow the law.

I am glad Nicodemus didn't understand, however. If not for that, we might not have the blessing of reading John 3:14-17!!

I am not sure I am reading verse 18 correctly. The way I read it, the words mean that believing in Jesus is not just a choice that everyone makes (it is this, but not JUST this) - it is also a commandment. And if we don't believe, then we stand condemned on this ground alone (and also condemned in our sins). Not sure, but that is how I read it.

3:1 thru 3:21 (Feb 22)

(v2) Nicodemus recognizes Jesus as coming from God as a teacher.".... For no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Wow what a statement by Nicodemus... the realization that God is with this person, Jesus because of the signs. Can people say the same of my life? Is there fruit, such that, strangers would say "God is with this person".

(4) The literal response of Nicodemus serves as an example for all engineering minds. Very difficult for me to wrap my mind around Spirit things. God give me a heart/mind/spirit of understanding your great Word.

(16-18) I've never really gotten past this verse(16). I think people should start writing John 3:16-18 and tact it to every Christians forehead..facing them... so that we remember that Jesus did not come to judge but to save. Non-believers have already been judge, they hardly need us Christians coming along with our own form of judgement.

(v20-21) has strong language. The NASB version says that "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, ...." (bolding mine). Hate means "an intense or passionate dislike" also to "have a strong aversion to (something)". All of these speak to a heart condition, the condition flows from the action. Doing evil produces hating the Light, while practicing truth produces a coming to the Light. How much more should this encourage us to seek, know and practice Truth!

2:1 thru 2:25 (Feb 20)

His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you" (v5). Although spoken in a different context, it is a pretty solid teaching in 5 words. Jesus is our master and we are to be obedient to what he tells us.

The passage about Jesus clearing the temple is puzzling. I have had people tell me that it shows errors in the gospel accounts since it happens at the end of Jesus' life in the other gospels and here at the beginning. I don't know about that. If there were not 2 separate events, then the passage is placed here for emphasis, which leads to the question of what is being emphasized. I see a message of authority here. Jesus' actions in the temple were very authoritative and he is asked to "prove your authority to do all this". His answer is interesting: You will kill me and I will be raised from the dead on the third day. That is, God the Father gives Jesus the authority and the resurrection will be the proof. The sign of Jonah. The resurrection is not "man's testimony about man" (v25), it is God's testimony about God's actions.

1:35 thru 1:51 (Feb 19)

John the Baptist again points to Jesus as the Lamb of God. I believe that this is an example of divine inspiration (e.g., similar to what Jesus says to Peter in Mt 16:17). It seems the JTB understood early on that Jesus must come as the lamb who is sacrificed to take away the sins of the world. My text notes point to Genesis 22:8: "God himself will provide the lamb". However, we also know that JTB later questioned whether Jesus was the One (Mt 11). I am still pondering what this means, but it seems to tell us that even John the Baptist, a great prophet, had moments of doubt and questioning.

My notes point to v51 as one of those inspiring links between the old and new testament. Jesus, the Son of Man, declares himself to be Jacob's ladder. Jesus has opened heaven to those who believe. He is the path, the ladder, connecting heaven and earth. He is the only way out of our bondage to sin. In Genesis 28, Jacob is at a low place - alone in the world, isolated from his family, separated by his own sin and deception. And God comes to him and reveals this vision of the stairway reaching to heaven (of Jesus!).

1:19 thru 1:34 (Feb 18) (cont.)

It always amazes me the number of people who could not recognize Jesus as the Christ[of course we have the benefit of hindsight]. (v26) JTB calls out those sent to him as ones "who do not know" the One among them. I looked up definition for "know" and found this applicable one, "have personal experience of ". It certainly seems fitting here... that the priests and Levites did not "know" Him.

In (v31,v32) JTB testifies that even he did not "know" Him. Not until the One who sent JTB revealed the Christ. These types of verses always mess with my head on the roll of Christ and our roll in the development of our faith. God MUST reveal the Christ to us(and does, the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts/converts), BUT our roll is to enter into that "personal experience of" to truly truly know Him.

1:19 thru 1:34 (Feb 18)

My translation says that John the Baptist "did not fail to confess" (v20). What an understatement, right? This reminds me of 1 Peter 3:15: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have".

JTB was faithful to the call from "the one who sent" him (v33). He testified for Jesus (v15, v34). He shared his testimony with the priests and Levites who were sent to question him (v19). His testimony was simple: he called people to repent and seek forgiveness for their sins (Luke 3:3) and he pointed them to Jesus (v15, v23, v26, v29, v30) who would change them forever through baptism in the Holy Spirit (v33-34). This sounds a lot like Christian ministry. John's ministry was truly blessed. In fact, I think that the fact that Jesus went to John for baptism (Mt 3:13) was, in part, a blessing to John and a recognition of his ministry.

1:1-1:18 (Feb 17) (cont.)

v6-7 I love using the 3 W's here:

Who: God

What: Sent a man

Why: To testify about Himself so that ALL might believe through him.

If we read that too fast we miss who the call goes out to... so that ALL might believe. Yes even that co-worker who truly irks me, that driver that cut me off, and yes even people that are just down right mean and hateful. God sent a man so that ALL people, even ones as bad as me,"might" believe.

v12-13 These speak beyond my comprehension. Being given the "right to become children of God"... what an awesome gift. By merely believing in His name we are consider "born of God". It subtle but this affirms the raw power of the name of Christ. Not only do demons flee, even when unbelievers use His name(Matt 7:21-23), but by believing in His name we become children of God. Wrap your head around that for a while "Children of God".

v18 The final words "He has explained Him." How definite are those words... "explained Him", they speak to a finality, completeness, lacking of question. It is no wonder Jesus later says "...Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. ..." [John 14:9].

1:1-1:18 (Feb 17)

I love how this gospel starts. I am struck by what a powerful statement of faith this passage contains. The author, John, knew Jesus. Lived, walked, worked, ate, slept, ministered, etc with Jesus for years. A lot of very mundane things. But he also saw the miracles of Jesus, his love, his wisdom, his knowledge of scripture, and, ultimately, his death. And here John declares, "This man I lived with is the Eternal God, the Creator of the universe, the Savior of the world, the Light of the world". We are called - in fact commanded, to believe the same.

I am also struck by the words of blessing and goodness in this passage: life, light, creation, children of God, glory, grace, truth, blessing. These things are contrasted with darkness. The focus is not on the darkness of the world or on the death of Jesus by that dark world (which John saw himself). The focus is the light and the amazing gift of Jesus "to all who receive Him". That is our calling also: to witness to the truth, to testify about the good blessings for those that follow Jesus to a dark world around us.