John 6:1-24 – Time to Slip Away

Read John 6:1-24

What a miracle! Jesus multiplied the fish and barley loaves so that everyone was fed, with leftovers galore. The sheer number of people who experienced that miraculous feeding boggles the mind. This time, since the crowd recognized Jesus as the “prophet” they had been waiting for, Jesus had to slip away to avoid being crowned king. That was not his earthly mission.

Yes, Jesus is our King of kings, but his kingdom is not of this world. The people seeking him and following after him in those days had no idea about Jesus true mission as their Messiah. All the healings and signs and wonders had created the atmosphere of excitement and anticipation of being rescued from the oppressive Roman government ruling their land. That had to be so front of mind for them. Continue reading “John 6:1-24 – Time to Slip Away”

John 5:31-47 – Witnesses for Jesus

Read John 5:31-47

Imagine you were waiting to be called to the witness stand to testify about Jesus, your Lord and Savior. Do you know what you’d say? If you’ve never been in a court of law, you’ve probably seen dramatizations on television or in films. Jesus continues to speak to the religious leaders who are questioning him, even though Jesus said his own testimony would not be “valid,” and he didn’t need human witnesses either. Why do I feel so compelled to stand up for Jesus?

The religious leaders Jesus was speaking to couldn’t grasp who Jesus was. While he wasn’t pleading his case, Jesus did point to his Father and all the teachings and miracles he had performed. I can’t imagine how you could witness those things and not know for certain that you had seen God’s Son. Continue reading “John 5:31-47 – Witnesses for Jesus”

John 5:19-30 – Future Events

Read John 5:19-30

Jesus continues to address the issue of the healed man while opening up much bigger and life-changing topics. He even throws in a foreshadowing of Lazarus’ resurrection, not to mention the resurrection of the dead yet to come. This is not the first time John’s gospel gives a glimpse of future events out of sequence.

Jesus touches on judgment during his education hour this time. Based on what Jesus says, as believers, we need not fear judgment because not only has Jesus chosen us, but we’ve also chosen Him. We do that when we honor his name and accept his offer of eternal life with our love, worship, and obedience. Continue reading “John 5:19-30 – Future Events”

John 5:1-18 – What Do You Want?

Read John 5:1-18

I’m always surprised by Jesus’ question to the man who had been sick for 38 years. That’s a very long time to be suffering. After that much time had passed, the man may have become accustomed to his pain and disability. To be healed would have been too frightening to imagine. What would he do if he were actually healed? Did he truly believe the bubbling water was the answer? It was easier to stay in denial.

Then we see how the man responded to Jesus’ question. He made excuses. In his words, “I can’t.” That didn’t answer Jesus’ question at all. Yet Jesus’ compassion for the man was great, and Jesus immediately healed him. Continue reading “John 5:1-18 – What Do You Want?”

John 4:27-54 – Coming to Faith

Read John 4:27-54

Did you notice how many people came to faith because of one woman’s testimony? We’re not given an exact number, but it’s impressive how God uses us all to grow His Kingdom. We each have a special story that tells of how Jesus has changed our lives. Our encounters may not be dramatic, but their impact can be life-changing. You never know when your story will resonate with someone who needs to hear it.

It sounds like the disciples were a little confused by what had happened while they were busy gathering food. Jesus’ ministry had taken an unexpected turn from their perspective. And then Jesus started talking about food and harvesting. “You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true.” Continue reading “John 4:27-54 – Coming to Faith”

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