Tag: following Jesus

John 10:1-21 – Being a Good Sheep

Read John 10:1-21

Jesus identifies himself as the gate and as the shepherd. Jesus is clever to come at his identity from two different angles. He is the way to salvation and also our protector and guide. Jesus is more than capable of handling both jobs well.

Even though Jesus used a common example for His time, using sheep and shepherds, the people weren’t grasping the message. To others, it made perfect sense. Those people would follow Jesus anywhere. Perhaps it was hard for some to imagine themselves as a sheep, and that’s why people took offense to Jesus. Continue reading “John 10:1-21 – Being a Good Sheep”

John 1:35-51 – Come and See!

Read John 1:35-51

John’s disciples had heard his teaching. When they finally saw Jesus, they knew they needed more from Him. It’s like that for us, especially new believers. When we start to realize we can know Jesus personally, as well as learn from Scripture, our lives start to have a new and fresh meaning. It’s like turning the light on in a room that had only been half-lit. We want more of the light.

For some, that light can be intimidating because it exposes the darkness of our sin. We can get comfortable and begin to overlook our sinful behaviors, telling ourselves we’re not “that bad.” Before we know it, our human tendencies have separated us from the love of Jesus. Having a daily dose of Scripture becomes the reminder we need to keep our focus on Jesus. Continue reading “John 1:35-51 – Come and See!”

Mark 6:1-13 – What’s Next?

Read Mark 6:1-13

Whether you’ve lived in the same town your whole life or have moved around like a pastor’s family, the way this passage opens can strike a chord. Returning to your hometown or whatever town you currently call home can bring a sense of relief and joy, with a little hopeful expectation tossed in. I experience that each time we return to our Mexico home on the lake. When you come over the mountains and see the lakeside area spreading out below, it takes your breath away. You have your own special arrival moments, too.

But Jesus’ homecoming wasn’t all sunshine and roses, was it? We see a lot of the same negative, condescending types of behavior right there in Nazareth that we see today. Finding fault with others is a lot easier than looking at the faults within ourselves. Continue reading “Mark 6:1-13 – What’s Next?”

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