John 11:1-10 - News about Lazarus

John 11:1-10

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Message: News about Lazarus

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Chapter 10 is a discussion Jesus gives that He is the good shepherd. And He lays down His life for sheep. And Jesus does this, laying down His life, on the authority of the Father. Jesus recognizes here that some are not His sheep and will not hear His voice. As Jesus speaks further He proclaims that He and the Father are of the same essence, are One, and in response to this the Jews pick up stones to stone Him. Jesus continues to defend that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. Chapter 10 ends with Jesus leaving Jerusalem, going beyond the Jordan and as He did many believed in Him there. 

Now in Chapter 11 Jesus finds out from Mary and Martha that Lazarus is sick. And He will go back to the area that He came from, Bethany which is only 2 miles from Jerusalem. The disciples are concerned for his safety. But Jesus responds with words about hours in the day to basically say, that He is here now on this earth and He wants to be doing His best for people now. 

This is an interesting passage and maybe I don't see a whole lot of application here, but still I learn about Jesus and His mission and what He values in this world, reminding me of what I need to value in this world - people and being committed to them. 

Also in verse 4 I see a common theme of a miracle that Jesus will do in raising Lazarus and while Lazarus will eventually die again (I would think) the intent of this miracle is "for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it." Obviously, people get helped with miracles but the end result of this is that these acts will glorify God. 

Also, Jesus mentions 12 hours in a day, as in 12 hours to do walking, 12 hours to do work. In the USA we have instead shifted to an 8 hour work day, but it reminds me possibly that my days need to be about work and doing work and not simply waiting and relaxing. There is time for this and God provides team each day for this, but I also need to be about work and doing my best with the time He has given me. 

Summary: Jesus leaves Jerusalem, but will return to nearby Bethany after hearing that Lazarus is sick. 

Promise: God’s timing is not our timing, and His timing is always perfect.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the messages that I continue to study and read about in this Gospel of John. Thank you for giving John these words to say, that I might hear them, learn more about You and How you work and then how I am to conduct myself in these days. You are to be always glorified God. I think you for the many miracles you have done in my life - simply providing me great parents, a wonderful wife, great children, a great place to work and live and joy for each day. It all is under the umbrella of grace and provides fulfillment I don't deserve. But I thank you for being so gracious to me and pray that You would help me be a better ambassador for you in this new year. Give me opportunities to speak to more people. Help me to be faithful in this way. Bring all the glory to You God. Watch over my children - train them in You. Save my father. Rescue him. Help me to accept always what You provide. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 10:31-42 - Charges of Blasphemy Refuted

John 10:31-42

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” 39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 41 Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” 42 Many believed in Him there.

Message: Charges of Blasphemy Refuted

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: After Jesus says in 10:30, "I and the Father are one" these Jews immediately pick up stones to stone Him for they recognize that the words of Jesus are that He is making Himself equal to God and they believe this to be blasphemy. Jesus then responds to them speaking further about himself being the Son of God. The Jews do not respond favorably and want to seize him, but he eludes their grasp. Chapter 10 then concludes that Jesus has left to go beyond the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing. And many believed in Him there. 

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 is a tough passage for it says that false prophets shall be put to death or executed. It speaks of people coming and asking you to serve other gods that you do not know. I think this could also mean people who ascribe to God ways about Him that are not true, thus they fashion God into their own image rather than accepting Him for Who He is. Perhaps at this time, this is what the Jews were doing, though they were simply at that moment trying to seize Him but they thought Jesus was making Him out to be equal with God. 

Jesus states that He is the Son of God and that the works that He is doing support the idea that the Father is in Him and He in the Father. I was speaking to a Muslim man a couple of weeks ago that said no where does it say that Jesus states He is God and yet these words mention that He and the Father are one and then the Jews of the day go to stone Him and He comes back that they need to look at the work that He does and they will see that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. I wish I would have responded with these words at the time. 

Believers can state that they are in God and God in them. John 3:21, "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” Romans 8:9 - "However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." These words are different though from Jesus saying in response to him and the father being One that He is basically of the same essence of God. Jesus is still responding to the question of who He is? For the other writings are speaking of practicing our faith and that as we practice we can be in Christ as doing the work of Christ. This is different from what Jesus said when he was stating that His works will testify that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. 

Tabletalk says, "If Scripture can call men gods who are in reality not divine, how much more is it right to refer to the One who is God as the Lord and Creator of all?" This is to explain how Jesus responds initially to being confronted about blasphemy. Jesus responds by first saying that in scripture, going back to Psalm 82:6 where it says, "I said, “You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High."  

Hmm. I don't understand that word from Ligonier at the moment and the referencew to Psalm 82 seems still to be confusing. So in trying to understand Psalm 82 a little more, My Open Bible says Psalm 82 is "Rebuke of Israel's Unjust Judges." I notice in the NIV and KJV the reading is a little different as verse 1 of Psalm 82 says, "God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”." So NIV and KJV says among the "gods" instead of NASB saying "in the midst of the rulers." So rulers in this passage are gods. Verse 1 - God takes a stand and judges even the rulers, even the gods. Both are elohim, but the particles are different. One means God the most high and the other a man, probably what rulers were sometimes called in that day. So these judges, while all ordained by God, are not doing what they are supposed to be doing as judges. Verse 2 - they judge unjustly. Verse 2 - they show partiality to the wicked. And yet they in verse 3, vindicate or act harshly toward the weak and fatherless. Verse 4 God says they need to "Rescue the week and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked." So these rulers which are also called gods are not acting correctly. As such, these rulers or gods are actually instruments of God. The Word of the Lord comes to these judges, thus they are called sons of Elyon. As such, for Jesus to call Himself the Son of God is not blasphemy. 

Summary: The Jews sought to stone Jesus for speaking a statement of blasphemy but Jesus states God can name him the Son of God, even men from Psalm 82 held this distinction, but Jesus is God incarnate. 

Promise: Christ possesses divine authority inherently according to His divine nature. 

Prayer: Lord, it is a joy to read and study your word, though it takes me time sometimes to understand it. Continue to provide me understanding of Your word here. Thank you for the clarity of Your word in showing that you a mission that many don't understand, but we stand by You and trust in You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 10:30 - The Perfect unity of the Father and the Son

John 10:30

"I and the Father are one.”

Message: The Perfect unity of the Father and the Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: As I have been studying and as I have been reading Jesus' words that He is speaking to those he interacts with, namely those who are questioning Him, He puts forth ideas but while He does speak those ideas He does it from the foundation that the Father has called Him. 

John 5:19 - Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

John 5:21 - For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

John 5:26 - 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

John 5:30 - I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 

John 5:36 - the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

John 6:29 - "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." 

John 6:32, 35 - Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, 

John 6:38 - I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 6:40 - For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life;

John 6:44 - No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him

John 6:46 - Not that any man has seen the Father, except the One who is from God, He has seen the Father.

John 6:51 - I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever

John 6:57 - As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father

John 6:65 - no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.

John 7:28-29 - He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him; because I am from Him, and He sent Me.

John 7:33-34 - Jesus therefore said, "For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. You shall seek Me, and shall not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come."

John 8:19 - Jesus answered, "You know neither Me, nor my Father, if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.

John 8:23 - And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.

John 8:26 - He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him; these I speak to the world."

John 8:29 - He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.

John 8:42 - If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on my own initiative, but He sent Me. 

John 8:54 - If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'

John 8:55 - I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word

John 8:58 - Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

John 10:14-15 - I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father

John 10:18 - This commandment I received from My Father.

John 10:25 - I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 

All of these words that Jesus has been speaking are not so different from him now saying, I and the Father are one. Everything he does is from the Father and the Father and He act in a similar way. There is unity in purpose. 

The question posed to Jesus in the previous words is who Jesus is exactly. And specifically they are talking of His power because that is what Jesus has been talking about. His power to lay down His own life and raise it up again, to do the works. Jesus is claiming omnipotence, to be of the same power. 

And then following this is the reaction of the Jews - to stone Him. The Father and the Son have the same power. 

It is no surprise that Muslims do not accept the teaching of this book at all and do not believe it is authoritative. Actually, they can't and still have their religion. They must take a position of excluding it. 

Summary: Jesus has responded previously that only the Sheep here his voice but in further response to them asking who He is, He states He and the Father are One, of the same essence. 

Promise: The full unity in mission and essence of the Father and the Son guarantees the salvation of God’s people.

Prayer: God, your words are rich. Thank you for revealing yourself Jesus/God the way You have in these words and providing the clear understanding of who You are and the mission that You have been on. You are Savior. You are Lord. You are Light. You are I Am. There is salvation only in You Jesus. Keep my words consistent with who You are. Thank you for these truths and the joy of studying them. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 10:22-29 - Safe in the Hand of God

John 10:22-29

22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. 24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Message: Safe in the Hand of God

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: From the previous passage there was a division among those Jews listening to Jesus with many thinking that Jesus had a demon in Him. Why? Because of what He was proclaiming. That He lays down His life for His sheep (v.11). That the Father knows Him (v. 15) and that in Himself people will be saved (v. 9). And that beyond Israel, he adds the Gentiles as well to the fold of belonging to Him (v. 16). And He will die and be resurrected (v. 17). All this is based upon His authority (v. 18). 

Jesus had entered Jerusalem in chapter 7 following the request of his brother though he did it in His own way. That time was the Feast of the Booths in September/October time frame. Now it is the time of the Feast of Dedication taking place in Jerusalem (v. 22). 

The Feast of Dedication was also called the Feast of Maccabees and now is called Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. The Maccabees successfully revolted against Antiochus IV Epiphanes (ruled the Seleucid Empire (encompass modern-day Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon) from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC). The Maccabean revolt occurred from 167 BC to 160 BC. The Seleucids were trying to take control of Judea. Jewish practices were banned, Jerusalem was placed under direct Seleucid control, and the Second Temple in Jerusalem was made the site of a syncretic Pagan-Jewish cult. According to the Talmud, the Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting. Thus, this is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple. 

Jesus is walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. This portico is said to have been on the east side of the Temple, and to have been a relic of the original building of Solomon which had survived all destructions and restorations. And the Jews that have probably been a part of the division (v. 19) encircle him and question Him as to who He really is. Some have said he was a demon (v. 20) but others didn't think He could be demon possessed (v. 21). They want to know if He is the Christ. 

The question is rather preposterous. Jesus continues to state clearly He is from the Father and He is the Son of God. While Jesus does not say "I am the Christ" He has been speaking of who He is and that He is the Son of God. 

John 5:19 - Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner."

John 7:37 - Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink."

John 7:38 - “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

John 8:12 - Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 8:36 - “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

John 8:56 - "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

John 10:1 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber." 

Matthew Poole (1624–1679) in his commentary states, "I have in effect told it you more than once; I have told you that I am sent of the Father, &c., I have said enough for you to conclude it; but you will not understand, you will not receive it, you will not believe what I say. What need you any further witness of it, than those works which I do by Divine power; by virtue of my oneness with my Father, and of that power and authority which he hath committed to me, that by them I might confirm the doctrine which I have taught you?"

This is a sobering reality for many. And a sobering reality for those that know the truth that the reality is many will not conclude the same. Some people are stuck in their ways. Like the man we spoke to at the mall two weeks ago who really would not listen or consider any words that we might say. He was a man that was stuck. And no amount of revelation or words from us was going to change that. 

Jesus points out - you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. The sheep hear his voice and know his voice (vs. 3-4). But these are not His sheep. They don't hear. They may hear words from a mouth, but they don't hear in the sense of understanding and accepting. 

For those that hear and know His voice Jesus confirms their present and future -- My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

Sheep have a different path - following Jesus. Receiving eternal life, never perishing. Safe in the Hand of God....always. 

This reminds me that once we are declared safe by Him and perhaps Jesus is the only one that really know who has been declared safe, but for those that are safe they will never be unsafe. They will never be lost. 

Summary: Jews encircle Jesus at the time of Hanukkah and want to know if He is the Christ. Jesus has already repeatedly told who He is. They are not His sheep and cannot hear Him. 

Promise: RC Sproul writes, "We are secure, not because we hold tightly to Jesus, but because He holds tightly to us.”

Prayer: Lord, I am thankful that I can hear you and that I know Your voice. It is a sobering reality Lord that others cannot hear. And yet Lord, you still want me to be a voice to people. You still want me to share. You want me to have the conversations and communicate and find Your sheep. Help me to be faithful in this. I need this. This is not a burden but something I need to do continually. For my own sake in who you have called me to be, I need to speak the truth of You to others. Thank you for the richness of Your word and the clarity of it and the history of You saving your people. This can be seen in Hanukkah that you have always been a God who saves their people, no matter what is going on in the world and who has governmental power, you are always present and near. I praise You God for this. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 10:17-21 - The Shepherd's Charge from His Father

John 10:17-21

17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”

Message: The Shepherd's Charge from His Father

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: This passage, beginning in verse 1, is teaching giving an allegory stating that He is the door and He is the shepherd for the sheep. The sheep are those of the fold of Israel (v. 1), but also those that are of another fold - the Gentiles (v. 16). His sheep hear His voice. Others my try to dissuade the sheep, but the sheep are in tune to the shepherd, which is Jesus. Salvation is found in Jesus. 

And then in verse 11, He mentions that the shepherd will lay down His life for His sheep. Just as the Father knows the Son Jesus, Jesus knows the sheep (v. 15). Jesus, as a man, a perfect man, has a relationship with Father God that is unique. And the benefactors of this relationship is His sheep. Verse 17 is a verse that communicates - God's Love, His death, and His resurrection. Jesus will die but then He will take back His life again. He does this all by the authority of God (v. 18). Even as Jesus dies on the cross, he states, "And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.” Having said this, He breathed His last (Luke 23:46). 

After stating this, the division continues among the Jews listening, some believe He has a demon and some do not. This word for division is used in John 7:43 and John 9:16. 

Summary: Because of the Father and Son's love toward one another, Jesus will lay down His life and take it up again (resurrection). This continues to cause division among the Jews. 

Promise: Jesus is our Shepherd who guides us wherever we should go. 

Prayer: Thank you for the Special relationship God you have with your Son Jesus. You sent Him into this world of ours that I live in  to show us the way of salvation. In Jesus' name we are saved. Let all people behold this truth. Give all people this understanding. God, you are good and holy and your ways are right. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 10:11-16 - The Shepherd Who Knows His Sheep

John 10:11-16

11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd."

Message: The Shepherd Who Knows His Sheep

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus provides further clarity to what He said, recorded in the first 6 verses of Chapter 10. In verse 7, He says He is the door of the Sheep. And in verse 11 He says, "I am the good shepherd." Toward the sheep, Jesus says He lays down His life for the sheep (v. 11). He says he lays down His life for the sheep (v. 15) and he knows His sheep and His sheep know Him (v. 14). There is intimacy here. There is a close relationship. God is sovereign and in control. He is mighty, but, as a reminder, on this Christmas day, God sent His son as a baby into this world, small and innocent. He lived as we live, tempted as we are. And He knows us. There is nothing greater than to be known by God. 

Jesus lays down His life for His sheep. He dies for us. Jesus atones for His sheep. Jesus dies on the cross but His death was not for all because all would not be saved, instead He lays down His Life for the sheep. Jesus mentions in verse 26 that "you do not believe because you are not of My sheep." So not all are His sheep. 

Verse 16 speaks of "other sheep...not of this fold." Verse 1 of chapter 10 mentions the fold of the sheep. In these verses and in his conversation in chapter 9, He is speaking to the Pharisees, the Jews of the day (v. 19). But in verse 16 He remarks that beyond the fold of the Jewish people and those He has chosen of the flock, there are other sheep, there are other sheep that will hear His voice and they with the other folds will become one flock with one shepherd. 

As such verse 16 is a prophetic word by Jesus. The Gentiles will be a part of His kingdom but they are not yet. He is speaking here again to the Jews, the Pharisees but later all people from all nations will be a part of His fold - one flock with one shepherd. I remember again chapter 9, verse 39 that Jesus comes into this world for judgment and there will be a separation - some will see, some will be blind, but He comes into the world for all. For God loves the World. 

Summary: Jesus is the good shepherd, laying down His life for His sheep, those of the fold of Israel and other sheep (Gentiles), not of this fold are prophesied. 

Promise: John Calvin comments on John 10:16, “We are already God’s sheep, before we are aware that He is our shepherd.”

Prayer: Lord, you are Holy. Your ways are perfect. Thank you for grafting me in, all Gentiles in and calling Israel as well to your flock. You are our Shepherd and we are one Flock. Thank you for seeing the need all people have for You, in all nations, in all manners of life. Let us be a people that continually honors You and gives glory to Your name. Draw my family to You o god. Make yourself real to them always. Awaken them by Your Spirit to an understanding of You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 10:1-10 - The Door of the Sheepfold

John 10:1-10

1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Message: The Door of the Sheepfold

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: As I read this passage, I think about the last lesson from Jesus that I really enjoyed. Jesus comes into the world so that people will make a decision about Him - some will follow, some will not. Everyone will be divided into those two realms. 9:39 mentions (1) those who do not see may see and (2) those who see may become blind. The seeing and the not seeing seem to represent those that will be open to Jesus, discovering who He is, and moving into a relationship with Him. Those who are blind already have their mind made up on what they see and what they see is not Jesus necessarily. They are hardened. 

That is a great lesson for me. It speaks of the reality of our world. And also makes me wonder as we share the Gospel, and figuring out our audience and where they are at in that relationship. I listened to our missionary that serves in Lisbon today state that it takes 3 years for a seeker in this post-modern world to come to Christ. They have to see people and watch them for a while before they will make that decision to follow Christ. This doesn't mean we are not to evangelize and share our faith, but we need to realize that for many people it won't be a quick process, like maybe it was in the 80s. 

Now, in chapter 10, we have a story that Jesus tells that many will call an allegory. Jesus speaks of a door. The door is an entryway or a port in which people will walk into. A door is a place to transition from one world to another. I think of the CS Lewis series, Chronicles of Narnia, that mentioned at many times this transition from one world to the next. And so Jesus begins with this idea of coming through a door. But he first starts with those that don't enter by the door, those that don't go past the door to be with the fold of other sheep. Fold here is speaking of a group or community of other sheep. Rather than going through the door, they are trying a different way. Those that go about in a different way are thieves and robbers. 

In this story, not just anyone can enter through the door. The door is reserved for the shepherd to come through. And at the other side of the door is the sheep, the lost. Jesus also mentions the doorkeeper which must be the Father as Jesus has been charged by the Father. It seems the sheep are trying to get out. The door opens, the shepherd speaks and calls the sheep to come out (verse 3). After calling "his own" (verse 4), which doesn't mean calling all but only his own, the shepherd walks ahead of them and the sheep follow him. His voice being the one they know. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd. And verse 5 mentions strangers. The sheep are not following a stranger but someone they know. 

The disciples response to Jesus telling this story is one of question. They don't understand. So Jesus offers the explanation. Jesus says I am the door. Those before Him were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. Enter through Me and be saved. Thieves come to steal and kill and destroy but Jesus comes to give abundant life. 

Tabletalk mentions the context of this passage: Raising sheep in first-century Palestine: Individual flocks were led by particular shepherds during the day, but in the evening, various flocks would be gathered into one large, walled sheepfold for safety. The sheep would intermingle during the night, but when the shepherds returned the next day to retrieve their sheep, it was easy for each shepherd to find his flock. Each shepherd uttered his call, and only the sheep that belonged to him would come.

Reading this changes my understanding of the passage. The sheep have only a shepherd but others will try to get to the sheep, thieves and robbers or false prophets. Jesus is the only source of eternal hope and security. Only Jesus is the gateway to eternal life. 

Summary: Jesus provides an allegory of sheep that hear the voice of the shepherd and follow Him while strangers try to get to the sheep. 

Promise: All of us must be alert and watch out for false teaching and false teachers who may try to infiltrate our churches.

Prayer: Thank you God for the message of the sheep and You being the door, the good shepherd that we follow. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit guiding us into truth and helping us navigate our way. As those thieves and strangers come, give us the grounding in your word to withstand those and instead help us keep our eyes on you the Shepherd. Thank you for this truth and providing us abundant life. Help me to show others the door that opens up to following You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

TABLETALK - May 2018

I continue in my daily studies to be guided by Tabletalk magazine. 2018 was a study on the Gospel of John and its straightforward presentation of the person and work of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and other doctrines. 

• January 2018 (July 4, 2023 - July 23, 2023) John 1:1-2:22 - The preexistence of Christ, the ministry of John the Baptist and the person of Christ. 
• February 2018 (July 24, 2023 - August 10, 2023) John 2:23 - 3:36 - Regeneration and our need to believe in Christ for Salvation
• March 2018 (August 13, 2023 - September 30, 2023) John 4:1 - 5:29 - Christ is the incarnate Son of God
• April 2018 (October 1, 2023 - November 6, 2023) John 5:30 - John 7:36 - Jesus is as necessary to our souls as food is to our body; Jesus teaches in the temple during the Feast of Booths
• May 2018 (November 7, 2023 - December 22, 2023) John 7:37 - John 9:41 - Jesus experiences opposition and there is a sin-motivated resistance people have toward being enslaved to sin.

John 7 continued

Rivers of Living Water (John 7:37-39) - Jesus is the source of living water, providing life to those who believe in Him and the waters will flow in the form of blessings to many people, continually. 

Jesus Brings Division (John 7:40-46) - Jesus's coming is causing division among people following and observing him over who He really is: only a prophet or also a Messiah. And officers are not seizing Him. 

The Prophet from Galilee (John 7:47-52) - The Pharisees believe the multitudes have been misled by Jesus and later state the same of one of their own - Nicodemus. Some will not believe no matter what Jesus says. 

John 8

The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 7:53-8:6) - A woman is brought by Jesus officials which Jesus is teaching at the temple, stating the woman has been caught in adultery and Jesus is asked to determine her fate. 

Showing Mercy and Upholding the Law (John 8:7-11) - In response to the accusation brought by officials of a woman in adultery, Jesus tells them to examine themselves first before throwing stones. 

The Light of the World (John 8:12-20) - Jesus proclaims Himself as the Light of the World based upon two witnesses, Him and the Father. 

How Not to Die in Sin (John 8:21-30) - Jesus says he will be going away and to be with him one must believe in Him or die in their sin. He is I am and is sent by the Father. 

The Mark of True Discipleship (John 8:31-32) - Being a disciple is abiding in Jesus' words, to know the truth so that I will be free. 

Children of Abraham (John 8:33-40) - Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. To be free like Abraham is to be a servant of Christ. 

Children of the Devil (John 8:41-47) - If we are not of the Father and if we are not believing in Jesus, then that person is of the devil and abides by the devil's ways.

The One Who Seeks Christ's Glory (John 8:48-55) - Jesus is all about the Father's glory, though the Jews believe he has an evil spirit. 

The Incarnate I Am (John 8:56-59) - Jesus culminates His deity now by announcing that before Abraham was born, I am, igniting the leaders to stone him for blasphemy. 

John 9

The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-7) - Jesus is the light and in our world today and reveals that a man born blind is that way to bring glory to God. Jesus later heals this man.

Division Among the Pharisees (John 9:8-23) - After the healing of the beggar of his blindness, the Jews and people in Jerusalem are questioning the healing. 

Opening Blind Eyes (John 9:24-33) - The former blind man believes Jesus is from God and bears testimony of this that he can now see. The Pharisees don't believe. 

Spiritual Blindness (John 9:34-41) - Jesus is the Son of Man and comes to give people the opportunity to either choose Him or go their own way. 

Total Depravity Lessons - These are 7 lessons based upon an RC Sproul series that speak of the condition of people apart from God and they will remain in this state. The only hope is that God awakens them, out of His sovereign will and they respond to Him in faith. 

When Hope is No More - Buck Parsons (editor of Tabletalk and Senior Pastor of Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida) - Disappointment is prevalent in life - people disappoint us and we disappoint them; and things disappoint us, but we need to be careful if we wrap up our hopes and dreams in ourselves. People only focused on self will eventually be unbalanced and hopeless, as this is how God designed it. But becoming hopeless about self and instead hoping in God is a sovereign act of God. Hope is given by God's grace, sustained by His Spirt for our earthly and eternal good and for God's glory. It is not wishful thinking. We hope because the Holy Spirit overflows this condition in us (Rom. 5:5). Beyond the grave, hope will disappear as hope is only for present day. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. 

The Reality of Disappointment - Jeremy Pierre (Professor of biblical counseling and department chair at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a pastor at Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.)  - Disappointment is rampant and often increases with age. Life is in itself a disappointment as we often learn to echo the words of Alexander Pope, "Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed." [Notice Pope was 4'6" and died at age 56.] In living for an ideal situation in life, most likely we will be disappointed. We dream of better days. Even when our expectation is missed, we have to hope that one day it will bloom. We live in reality that fails to match the Eden in our minds. Expectations are part hope, part prediction of what we expect reality to be. We need to acknowledge that disappoints are not unique to us but hit everyone (thus the importance of community and coming together). Being broken is the world we live in. If we only expect the ideal, we will be disappointed by the actual. We must to a trust in God, and move outside of ourselves, to get beyond the broken and yet remain thankful for anything He has provided. God tells us this world is broken but also that it shouldn't be and in the process we are more sharp for the future world he is preparing for us to reside in. Disappointments should result in lamenting (complaining to God honestly) and then seeking (preparing for a better day). An unbroken world awaits us. 

Failure and Disappointment in Scripture - David P. Murray (Senior pastor of First Byron Christian Reformed Church in Byron Center, Mich. and author) - Would anyone come to a conference or read a book on "Failure and Disappointment?" We live in a "success culture" that idolizes victory and fulfillment - for good reason - it feels good and brings joy. By all means aim high, but recognize no oe escapes failure and disappointment. We should plan on it and prepare for it with a view to profit from it. Failure is a lack of success in doing something. Disappointment is the sense of sadness and frustration that results from failure, either our own or others or both. [Sometimes I wonder if many in our society struggle with how to deal with failure and disappointment - the shootings that have become commonplace in our land; mental illness they say effects 1 in 5; suicide rates are often higher in more developed countries like united states; Russia has one of the highest rates of suicide.] We have multiple examples of failure to obey God's ten straightforward commands. We are most vulnerable when we are most successful. Success breeds confidence. Our country is full of examples of powerful and successful men being brought down by the weak and helpless victims they previously oppressed and exploited. I have noticed that most people give out the impression that most things work out for me. Again, you don't see posts on Facebook of a parent with a picture of their child in the principal office for fighting. We might share about failure that has impacted us but rarely do we share about personal failure. We need to share with others. Most of the time when failure hits leaders it is too late. Failure can be a great teacher. Confession frees us from guilt and shame. Failure does not define us. Failure can be forgiven. Failure brings heaven closer. 

A Time To Mourn - Joe Holland (Managing editor at Grimké Seminary in Richmond, Va., and a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America) - We do grieve, mourn and lament into the day of no more tears. And there is unbridled sorrow and purposeful lament. Lament is a gift from God leading to sorrow and finally a feast of joy. (Struggled a little with this reading and getting more out of it.)

Our Final Hope - Michael A. Rogers (Senior pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Lancaster, Pa) - Buried a woman named Hope (86) - live with daily pain from car crash and yet radiated deep joy and trust in Jesus. Sermons today more focused on this life today that future hope. In the past life was shorter and Hope in the face of ever present death was the sermon. Gods word says less about heaven than we might think. At death we leave our physical bodies and our souls are received into God’s presence. Now in Christ, at death with Christ.

Rediscovering Contentment - James L. Harvey (Executive director of Reformed Theological Seminary in New York City) - Product of reformation is that God has called everyone, not just the clergy, to serve Him and bring Him glory. And each person can do this where they are at. Our angst in the world today is we are not satisfied with our work life and singles want to be married. We must be careful about resignation (accepting things as they are) and idealism (grass is greener on other side). Idealism fueled by idolatry (something that can satisfy us other than Christ). Biblical realism is living the life God has assigned to me ("Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him" - 1 Cor. 7:17). I am here to live for Christ. There is no ideal life on this side of glory. 

Talking About Sin and Repentance - Steffen Mueller (Church-planting pastor of Gospel Church München in Munich, Germany) 

Technology and the Christian - Jon D. Payne (Senior pastor of Christ Church Presbyterian in Charleston, S.C) - Yesterday in Sunday School I summarized the lessons of the day with the idea of being careful. Yesterday it was about being careful that Christmas is really about Jesus and be careful that we are not easily deceived. But here in this lesson is another "be careful" and this is in regards to our cell phones and a technology that since 2007 has not a very prominent role in our life. And as it is not shaping our lives, we need to be careful and realize that with it we need to make sure always that it is not taking over us, controlling how we spend our time, pushing us to do things that have no eternal purpose. It is not to say that it is bad, but just that we need to not always assume it is good. It is a great way to find verses in the Bible when we need help. "Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15). 

Using our Beauty - Rebecca VanDoodewaard (Freelance editor and author)

The Sin that Clings So Closely - Garrett Kell (Lead pastor of Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va.) - how do we deal with sin that crouches at our door and seeks to devour us - we look to Jesus. And in this we read the Bible to show us Jesus, the Holy Spirit helping us. We see and witness His Love. As his truths start to overpower the weight of our sin, albeit a slow process. As we see Him do good works our trust for Him grows. And we hear His promises. 

Qualified Children's Sunday School Teachers - Stephen J. Adams (Associate pastor of youth and family ministry at Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla) - This presents a high standard I think for Sunday School Teachers. It is good, but I think a little lofty. But overall I think has some good points. At his church, he states, they assess potential teachers in three areas: covenantal, doctrinal, and relational. First, teachers must be members in good standing for at least six months. Second, regardless of age, our teachers must subscribe to the Westminster Standards, with limited approved exceptions. [For adult Sunday school, we also require that teachers must either be ordained officers of the church, pastoral interns, or part of the ministry staff. -- This is what I think is not practical for bigger churches.] Third, potential teachers must be active in the life of our church; they must be committed to the mission of the local church and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ensuring that these standards are met allows us to make sure that the flock of Christ entrusted to our care is being fed the pure Word of Christ and protected from error.

The Church's Response to Natural Disasters - Victor-Hugo Cruz (Church-planting pastor of Redeemer Church (El Redentor Ciudad de México) in Mexico City) - Good article reminding us to meet the needs in our community and to serve all of the time. I like this mission of the church, to serve in the community. I think I get off track in this thinking at times. 

The Simplicity of God - James E. Dolezal (Director and professor of theology at Radius Theological Institute in Bakersfield, Calif., and also teaches in the School of Divinity at Cairn University in Langhorne, Pa.) 

Various Scripture - Total Depravity Lessons

Genesis 1:27

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Message: The Heights from Which we have Fallen

What the Lord is Saying: It is clear from my study of the Bible, of these Gospels and even of the last two chapters of John 8 and 9 that many do not believe. They have a slant away from God. They are not trying to discover Him. They are people without a need for they believe they have the answers and their reason for talking about Jesus is to discredit Him and to add evidence or credence to their lives that He is not real and should be rejected as Lord and Savior. We describe these people being totally depraved. They don't want the things of God. 

But in saying one is totally depraved, this does not mean a person is utterly depraved and has only evil in them. I believe all the good we describe in our world as good has as its author God. And so whatever is good is from God, even if the one giving the good may not acknowledge God. As today's verse says, every person has been created in the image of God and every person has the potential and will do good things as a God creation. For those that refuse to acknowledge God, there seems to be something in them that prevents them from this acknowledgement. They are depraved. Sin has darkened their understanding of Him. Depraved does not necessarily the person acts with evil as their ambition for their lives. 

This is a hard lesson and many will not understand it because we hold onto this notion that people are good. People are good but their willingness to accept Jesus and live for Him above all things in life is what we are talking about here. We are talking about whether people will have a desire for spiritual things and desire to glorify God above everything else in their lives. We are talking about people and whether they will deny themselves and take up their cross. Yesterday, the pastor talked about sinners and I thought to myself that for one to come to know God they first must see that they are a sinner, that they are in need, that they are imperfect and need something more than themselves. That they don't have all the answers. 

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Luke 11:11-13

11 Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Message: Utter Depravity

What the Lord is Saying: I have acknowledged that people can do good - be kind to others, even love unconditionally, and they can do these even unselfishly as well as selfishly. But their goal in doing these things is very often not to honor God. Even those who do evil often could have done more evil. We may think that what they have done is entirely evil, but it always could have been worse. Thus, utter depravity is always sinning to the greatest degree possible, again all of the time. But as Luke 11 shows, even those being evil still give good gifts to their children. Everyone has potential, but that doesn't mean everyone has a desire to please God with how they live. 

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Romans 1:21-23

21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Message: Radical Corruption

What the Lord is Saying: RC Sproul has mentioned that instead of saying with are totally depraved, perhaps we can use the phrase radical corruption. Every part of our being is corrupted, even though each of us has the ability and can still practice good. We are not evil to the fullest extent. And it is radical because sin has corrupted every part of our human nature. We are not simply creatures where we are looking for the good to outweigh the bad. We are bent away from God and the things that please him. We have to train ourselves to be Godly (I Timothy 4:7-8). We will do good out of fear of punishment, not necessarily out of love for God. In today's passage, even though we know God we don't thank Him for life and instead look inward to define life. We reason away him thinking we are being wise. My atheist friend in London does this all of the time. He believes I am gullible and he is smart. He has exchanged God for an animal to define man. 

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Romans 1:24-31

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

Message: The "Normalcy" of Sin

What the Lord is Saying: One of the problems with total depravity or radical corruptness in the eyes of many is the fact that sin has somewhat been normalized and we in society often acknowledge certain sins as offensive like murder, but other sins that every one seems to commit like telling white lies or being disobedient to parents or even using God's name in a flippant manner like the slang, OM_, has made us complacent to the seriousness of sin and disobeying God. The Parable of the Tax Collector voices words from the Pharisee that he is not like the tax collector. He doesn't do the really bad stuff so he must be okay. And then he says he does do certain works to offset any bad that has been committed. What he fails to see is the holiness of God and His standard. The one-time sin is as great as the multiple sinful life. Many will agree with most of the sins listed here in Romans 1:29-31 like murder, but what about gossips or those even who are arrogant, boastful or lacking in understanding, do we often place those on a different chart of acceptable behavior? 

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Romans 1:32

and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Message: The Sinfulness of Sin

What the Lord is Saying: It is bad enough that we have normalized sin, but we take it a step further as Romans 1:32 states. The move of sin to acceptable behavior comes about when we come together in groups and sometimes simply one with another to agree over the sin. I think this is the move in society that we see to further normalize it. I think the homosexual and pride events that are now an annual celebration in our cities are a stark example of this, taking something that is blatantly wrong and we instead join forces to celebrate it, in the name of loving our neighbor. God loves us, but hates sin and nowadays society doesn't know how to separate those two ideas. And yet we even do this as Christians, sometimes in sharing prayer requests out of concern for our Christian brother it might move to pride that we are not like that other person and we are shocked by the sinfulness of their behavior. I must admit that I will often pick apart someone's behavior, getting others to agree with me - and all the while I can feel the Holy Spirit convicting me to not speak in this manner. I sense the Spirit providing a way out (I Cor 10:13) and yet the more I speak, the harder it is not to not speak. 

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John 8:14

Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

Message: Enslaved to Sin

What the Lord is Saying: Many can acknowledge that we are all sinners, that we all disobey God. In sharing with people in an evangelism setting, people can admit often they have told a lie. I've mentioned previously that people are capable of doing good. God is good and all that He has created has been good and so anyone can be a conduit for this good. But the harder idea is moving to pleasing God. Mark 12:30 gives us the goal: "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." That move to all is the big step in us. God clearly wants this as we see numerous examples of this throughout the Old Testament. The issue here is we like to think that each of us is capable on our own to move us out of a bad situation. I love reading people's testimonies of how God has changed their lives. Often the one's that stand out are the people that have practices a very clear life of opposing God. And then to see the awakening that took place in their life. Some are moved to this awakening but others aren't. It seems clear that God sovereignty is the key that we often don't recognized or call to our attention. Lately I've been memorizing Ephesians 2:1-2, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walking according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience." This is a radical statement that I seriously wonder if many of us believe or can accept or even see. That we were spiritually dead and that this deadness was because of the prince of darkness and an evil spirit moving in people towards disobedience. 

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Ephesians 2:1-10

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Message: Total Moral Inability

What the Lord is Saying: I did not realize when I was writing earlier that this next lesson is on Ephesians 2. This is a powerful text. But this idea in verse 2 verses is people are enslaved and living in disobedience. What will make them change? Paul uses powerful language to say a person is dead. It seems consistent to Jesus saying one must be born again. What will shift them will be their faith in verse 8. But prior to that they are living on this earth - dead. A sober reality. A sober proclamation. But as I have seen, what changes in people is the Spirit of God awakening them. But how this is done I am not sure we are clear on. And so these lessons have yes chronicled the condition of people, that some are depraved or stated another way, radically corrupted. The world has corrupted their thinking. The prince of the power of the air has corrupted them. In our world we see those who are made alive in Christ and those who are not. I think we need to find the harvest and pray that the Lord would lead us to the harvest, that we might share with them to help them discover Jesus and the Savior he can be to their life. We are His workmanship (verse 10). 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 9:34-41 - Spiritual Blindness

John 9:34-41

34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains."

Message: Spiritual Blindness

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Chapter 9 continues with Jesus interacting with a blind man, then healing him and then what follows is interactions with Pharisees, mostly between the former blind man and the Pharisees but now here at the end culminates in Jesus appearing on the scene and speaking again to this man. It is interesting that most of this chapter has been about the blind man bearing testimony. Jesus could have been speaking the entire time but instead the chapter recounts a testimony which is what we have today. Jesus is not here on earth and so life is about providing testimony from us, his followers, his ambassadors on Jesus. 

In the last lesson, I noticed that the former blind man turned the tables on the Pharisees and even tried to preach a little to them. I kind of thought that probably didn't go over well with the Pharisees and sure enough, in verse 34, the Pharisees say, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” The Pharisees undoubtedly believed in different type of people. Moses was significant (from God), they were significant as religious leaders, and then there were sinners. And yet they make this proclamation that the former blind man was "born entirely in sins." As such there is something about them whereby they think they are the authoritative representatives of God.  But also they are echoing the words of the disciples in 9:2 over his condition of being born blind and that the reason for his blindness was that either he sinned or is his parents. 

Jesus shows up. The interaction between the former blind man and the Pharisees has ended and Jesus shows up, not to speak to the Pharisees but to the former blind man. Jesus approaches him and asks a seemingly puzzling question, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"  I suppose he wouldn't need to say, "Do you believe in Me?" because the man has already confirmed this, but instead he asks him a different statement about whether Jesus is the Son of Man. Note: that many of the oldest manuscripts refer to the phrase "Son of Man" and many also believe the reading is "Son of God." Son of Man is a term that Jesus refers to himself. "Son of Man" is referenced 93 times in Ezekiel and then 84 times in the New Testament, most often in Matthew. The man responds to Jesus, "Who is He (the Son of Man)?" And Jesus responds, "I am he." And the man responds by worshipping Him. 

Now, not sure we need to make too much out of the word "worship" here. At this moment, this man is evolving in his understanding of Jesus. I would think this man is already a Christian in the sense that we would think of that term, a changed, saved person, accepted by God for all eternity, but here worship I think is a simple understanding right now of Jesus. He is recognizing that Jesus has authority, special authority that is distinct from others. He is more than simply a prophet. 

What follows by Jesus is I think a very interesting discourse as Jesus basically then says he has come to save the lost, to save the blind. That those who purport that see will not believe. Like today, I sent a response to an Islamic man who has already come to the conclusion that he can see (in his own way). And he is only stating about Jesus that he is merely a messenger. So my focus in talking to him should not be so much as a person trying to rescue him, but more as a person that is trying to make a better defense as to what I believe. As I have learned the chief reason for doing apologetics is to help the Christian better understand what they believe. 

The blind man possessed something in him that he could not control, his blindness, and in the process all that he wanted was to see. The Pharisees judge the man for being blind and in a way, stand with pride, believing that they are greater than this man. They don't have a need. The man has a need and so he seems to be more willing to accept Jesus. Jesus says in verse 39, "For judgement I came into the world." This judgment is not a final judgment, but rather he has come to declare who He is and then see how people respond. What will their judgment of him be? Will they choose to follow or not? So Jesus came into the world to carry out the judgment of each person. This is it: will you believe? Yes or No?

Again, he states a very radical statement, "that those who see may become blind." Here is judgment - do you see? Are you good with your life? Do you think you have the answer to life? Or do you rather have a need? And will you believe in God and depend on Him? What are you trusting in? For those that think they can already see, they are the one's who are blind. 

Spiritual pride was the original cause of sin as mentioned in Genesis 3:4 - "The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!" I know better than God. And many in our world have this spiritual pride. They have already made up their mind, but still others are searching and so maybe the quest in evangelism is finding the harvest (Matthew 9:38). There is a harvest that is ripe. We need to locate it. 

Verse 40 says, "If you were blind, you would have no sin." The Pharisee asks in the previous verse if they were blind. They miss the point of Jesus' previous words "those who do not may see." Once we start with not seeing and in need then we will see. And Jesus says to be blind is a good thing because then you would not be guilty. Proud is the Pharisees. They think they are not blind and see. And for this person, "your sin remains." Find the blind. Find those that are searching. 

Summary: Jesus is the Son of Man and comes to give people the opportunity to either choose Him or go their own way. 

Promise: Many blind themselves to God and His ways by believing they have all the answers, but we are to find the harvest, those that continually want to seek the Light. 

Prayer: Lord, again, I thank you for teaching me through Your words and helping me with this understanding of sharing truth with others. Help me to find your harvest, to find those who truly want to seek You. Lead me to your harvest. Give me opportunities to share my testimony with others of how I was blind, but now I see. Show me other people that are blind in our world and are looking for you to be their Savior and Lord. You are savior and Lord. Direct me and help me to be bold. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 9:24-33 - Opening Blind Eyes

John 9:24-33

24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?” 28 They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

Message: Opening Blind Eyes

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus was just walking by the temple and saw a man born blind and spoke to him, but the discourse we have throughout much of John 9 is Jesus answering the disciples and then the Jews interacting with the blind man following Jesus healing him. John here takes time to allow this former blind man to provide the defense of Jesus. In the previous lesson, the Pharisees spoke to him. These seem to be different Pharisees that don't have the same history as others about Jesus. In the previous passage, they have concerns about Jesus healing on the sabbath and the former blind man's response is he is a prophet. It seems that this blind man is going through a process of trying also to figure out who Jesus is as well and perhaps the Pharisees questioning him is helping him process. 

These Jews don't believe what the former blind man has said and so go to his parents for their testimony but they tell them to ask their son. And that is how the previous passage finishes and so today we have the Pharisee's going back to the former blind man and they speak to him with authority asking him to tell the truth (Give Glory to God; sort of like one placing a hand on the Bible in a court room). The Pharisee's have already made up their mind. This is common among people. Many people are not really out to figure Jesus out, but rather they are set to confirm their own suspicions. And the blind man responds that all that he knows is he can now see. His life is a living testimony. He is not a theologian, but he knows that he has been affected. 

This is a great testimony. We do not need to be theologians to talk to people or defend our Christianity. We can start by simply telling them how we have been affected. My friend and I were at the mall recently and after saying to a man that God loves you and him saying there is not a God, while surprised by his response, I never offered what He had done in my life. But the Pharisees continue to say that this former blind man is a disciple while they are a disciple of Moses. 

And then the man starts to educate the Pharisees. Jesus opened his eyes. There are references in scripture that seem to infer that God does not hear sinners (Psalm 66:18, Jeremiah 11:11). But we also know that those who do God's will and fear Him, God will listen (verse 31). This seems to be the former blind man's defense to the Jews asserting that Jesus is a sinner (v. 24). This is interesting. I still think this former blind man is still trying to understand who Jesus is and he is also trying to figure out his own theology. I wonder what this is about, as there is a contrast being mentioned. Is Jesus from God? Merely a prophet? Or a Sinner? Not sure what is meant by sinner. Could this mean he is merely a man? 

Again, looking back at verse 24, the Pharisees are calling Jesus a sinner. For healing on the Sabbath and that he is not a prophet. So the contrast to a prophet is a sinner. Could 'sinner' be speaking more that Jesus is merely human? I suppose I find it interested that the former blind men makes the statement that to be of God, to do God's will, one must fear him. I don't think there is anything in this text speaking of Jesus as God. I don't think the former blind man knows this yet or has to come to this conclusion. He is simply confessing that for the Man Jesus to have done what He has done, He must be from God. The Pharisees don't believe this as Moses is from God they know, but they still don't know about Jesus. Either way, this is more than believing Jesus was only a normal walking man. 

As Tabletalk records today, miracles were not uncommon with prophets. But the miracles that Jesus did set him apart from the prophets of the past (Moses, Elijah, Elisha). Jesus exorcised demons. Healing a blind man set him apart and is also a prophetic healing of the Messiah (Isaiah 42:1-9, verse 7). No one born blind had been healed previously, only those that received blindness later in life. The problem remains that people have prejudiced ideas about Jesus and nothing that is said about them will change their mind. 

Summary: The former blind man believes Jesus is from God and bears testimony of this that he can now see. The Pharisees don't believe. 

Promise: Share your testimony...though I was blind, now I see. 

Prayer: Lord, I hate it that sometimes it takes me so long to sit down, take the time to read Your Word and instead spend my time on just other things, other things that don't ground me in Your Word. And yet I know you have given me grace and just because I spend this time in Your word it does not make me any greater of a Christian or person than someone else, and yet this time enriches me. I enjoy the process of reading Your truth and discovering about You. And perhaps you are directing me and training me. I thank you always for my mom and her modeling this in my life. She trained me that reading Your word is the best way to start a day. The more I return to You the better I am. I thank You here for the testimony of this man born blind, but then healed from that blindness. In doing this miracle, you did something significant. In life people believe different things, contrary things. This is being presented and testifies of You. Keep providing me insight. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 9:8-23 - Division among the Pharisees

John 9:8-23

8 Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” 9 Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” 10 So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”

18 The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, 19 and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?” 20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 23 For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

Message: Division among the Pharisees 

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Up to this point, most of the readings that I have been doing in John have been with Jesus talking, but in this passage there isn't Jesus talking. There is no red letter speech. This passage is a lot of detail really of the aftermath of the incident of the first 7 verses of John 9 and our previous lesson. The Jews are inspecting the blind man, questioning now him having sight. The man gives testimony of what Jesus has done. The Jews problem, once again with Jesus, is that He has done this healing on a Sabbath day. And so there was division among them (verse 16) over that which Jesus had done. The Jews then didn't believe that the man had actually been born blind so they went to his parents. But the parents would not answer for themselves. The parents were scared of saying something that the Jews didn't want to hear and being banished possibly from the temple so they instead said the beggar or young man was of age. So maybe this man was not that old, if that matters any. 

Contrary to the last lesson, this one does not seem to have as much to learn from. There is a dispute brooding over Jesus and he is rattling cages and doing work but creating division. I also am going to think about those words Jesus said in John 3, that the beggar's blindness "was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him." Could it be that the healing was a work of God? The Jesus carried out that work? I am not sure but now that He has done the healing it has produced a lot of controversy. It is all pointing to God and His work and we are hoping that God is glorified. 

Summary: After the healing of the beggar of his blindness, the Jews and people in Jerusalem are questioning the healing. 

Promise: Over the course of John 9, the man born blind goes from knowing Jesus’ name to calling Him a prophet to confessing Him as Lord (9:10, 17, 38). This progression indicates a growth in the man’s understanding and faith. 

Prayer: Lord, you are the great healer and your works are to be praised and glorified. Thank you for working and that John records this work. Thank you for the testimony of Your Word. Keep teaching me through it. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 9:1-7 - The Man Born Blind

John 9:1-7

1 And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind? 3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents, but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes. 7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated Sent). And so he went away and washed, and came back seeing.  

Message: The Man Born Blind

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: From the previous verse at the end of Chapter 8, Jesus has left the temple where he had spoken of his history - that He was before Abraham, and “I am” - he is equal with God. And so now here in verse 1 of chapter 9, Jesus is probably near a spot by the Temple, a place where beggars asked for alms. This beggar probably voiced to Jesus and to all that passed by his condition -  blind since birth. He probably announced this to gain more pity from those passing by and thereby bringing about greater sorrow and greater alms. 

In our culture, it seems we are living in a time when begging is very apropos and commonplace. It is difficult to drive in the city now and not see beggars at street corners or traffic lights, who are holding signs, pleading to those passing by for money. And their signs are being written in numerous ways in order to help people have this desire to give to them, to feel sorrow, to recognize the need. 

In this passage, the disciples see the disability of the man and automatically believe it is there not by accident. In the Bible, sicknesses and ailments like this can be the result of sin. Man is not in a perfect state and sickness and disease are signs of that imperfection. But a persons condition may not be a result of their own sin. It may, but it also may be the general result of all sin to mankind. The disciples asset that the beggars blindness is the result of some form of disobedience, either by the man himself while in the womb or even of the belief that this man had a past life and was now bearing the punishment of past indiscretions - either by himself or his parents. 

Jesus, however, corrects them. Jesus responds that this man's problem is not a problem at all and instead it is actually a good thing to result in God's glory. Genesis 50:20 echoes the promise, "and as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." This man, and we don't know his age, has been born blind in order to glorify God. This man's blindness will be cured (verse 6) and that cure will be an act of God showing us his glory and so Jesus is saying that he has what we term a handicap for the purpose of glorifying God. God did not make us only temporary people but eternal people and so we need to remember to look beyond circumstances to what God may be doing in a person’s entire life. 

In verse 4, Jesus mentions the importance of working, not simply laboring as in a job, but doing the work of the Father. This work that is done will be temporary (day) because at some point the work will no longer be needed (because of night). It is possible that the events of the Feast of Booths, which Jesus went to Jerusalem and was involved in (John 7:37 until this the time of John 10:21) constituted the same day and so maybe the day/night correlated with this verse. He has spoken a lot but He seems to still be in this same area of Jerusalem. But Jesus, in whatever work He is speaking about, includes the disciples in that work. He says, "We." While Jesus is the central focus of the gospel in calling people to an abundant life and living life to the fullest, the disciples are involved. We are also involved.

Either way, I suppose the encouragement here is to work hard while we can work. I think of this as I am getting older as the older I get the harder it will be to keep working. My body just won't keep up. Jesus then in verse 5 remarks, "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Jesus has spoke of the day in the previous verse, the day being the time to the work, but the sun of the day is not what will illuminate us, He will illuminate us. He is the Light. Maybe this is more of a plead to the disciples that He is here now, in the world, they are to work hard to spread His message as He is in the world and He is a light to this world. 

And then Jesus spits on the ground, made clay, and wiped it on the man's eyes. And the man then saw. Jesus heals, not sure why he did it this way, but Jesus can heal any way he wants. 

Summary: Jesus is the light and in our world today and reveals that a man born blind is that way to bring glory to God. Jesus later heals this man.

Promise: Jesus reminds us that we do not need to look at others to try to determine why they are in the condition they are in, but rather we are to minister to them, and help them in their suffering. 

Prayer: God, you brought Jesus into the world to be our light, both then, now and forever. Thank you for helping me be more understanding of those that are suffering. Give me the strength to do this. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.