Command: Love One Another

John 15:14-17 
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

We are Christ's friends when we obey, especially the commands to love each other.  We serve, but are more than mere servants in Christ; we have been chosen, not choosing Christ ourselves, to be fruitful in a way that lasts.  So in Him we ask for what is fruitful and God-honoring to receive those things for Him.

Abide in His Love

John 15:9-13 
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

To really dwell in God's love, we should be doing what He told us. This is Jesus' example as the Son of God, and as His sons and daughters we must be no different.  So we are not only to love God, but to love each other even to the point of laying down our lives.  But this is primarily possible only because we are abiding in God's love in loving obedience. 

"He is committed to the display of his glory (Isaiah 43:7) and invites you to embrace that mission as one of utmost importance (1 Corinthians 10:31)."

Vine of His Word

John 15:5-8 
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

To abide or remain in Christ means we must grow in and out of Him, just as a branch does from a grape vine.  If we are not getting nutrients from Him we wither, die, and are cast aside to be disposed of.  But if we remain in Him then we listen and obey His words to us, and so are fruitful and can expect answers to prayer for those things He wants and not our own.  This is how we glorify God in Christ, by remaining in His living and written word and communing with Him.

Pruned for Fruitfulness

John 15:1-3 
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

If we grow in Christ, we will be pruned in the areas needed - especially when we are not bearing godly fruit for eternity. If we do not conform to Him in character and obedience, that part must be cut off in order to grow back properly.  Though we are already clean (pruned) in our position in Christ, sanctified in position, we must grow into His image daily.  This means discipline and pruning by His hand from the Word and Spirit.

That the World Knows

John 14:28-31 
28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. 29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Jesus went to His Father and returned after dying. We should all rejoice in this, for it is what we believe (the gospel), and we need reminding as the adversary stalks us a a lion without hope and without Christ.  Jesus did His Father's will so we could follow from death to life so we can arise and go from here in this grace by faith in which we stand. And He is coming back for us again...

Holy Spirit Will Teach Us

John 14:25-27 
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When Jesus walked the earth with His disciples, He told them many things, many of which were written down for us.  But when He left, God's Spirit came to His followers to not only remind us of all He said, but to teach us those things with understanding.  The apostles then wrote down the rest of what we need for His Spirit to teach us. So we have God's peace and do not have to worry or fear - He lives in us who are called out and reborn.

Obedience is Love

John 14:21-24 
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

Do we follow Jesus Christ to put off sin and put on His righteousness?  Or do we purposefully refuse out of a lack of love for Him?  He called us out of sin into a life of following; that is how we really see Him, as we choose to read His word and - in His strength - then choose to not do what is dishonoring to instead do what honors Him who suffered and died for us.  He shows Himself to us whom He calls out, and He alone gives the ability to follow.  We do not work for faith, but work out this faith given to us with fear and trembling.

Indwelling Spirit of Truth

John 14:15-18 
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

We who love God obey Him out of love and honor in return. He has even given His own Spirit to live in us forever, the same Spirit who moved on the face of the waters at creation and was around the disciples before being in them after Jesus arose at Pentecost.  We are His children, never orphaned and never alone.  The world around us cannot see or know Him unless we tell them and God opens their eyes; so we are driven by Him to them - as He commands and out of love.

Greater Works of the Gospel

John 14:12-14 
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

We do "greater works" to reach a greater part of the world with the gospel by Spirit's work (Ac.1:8), not works that are more miraculous or that have greater authority than Jesus's.  So if we ask aligned with His will to accomplish His work (not indulging our own wants) of the gospel, we as the church will collectively reach more than Jesus within Israel at that time.  He is the one who gets the attention of glory, that is what "in My name" means.  We do not use prayer selfishly nor self-willed to get what we want by affixing "in Jesus name" to our demands.

Show us the Father

John 14:9-11 
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

Philip did not understand that seeing the Son of God meant he was also seeing the Father - they are the same God who said let Us make man in our image.  All that time Jesus was with the disciples He spoke words as no mere mortal, just as He discussed detailed knowledge and understanding with scholars while only 12 years old. The living Word and Son in the Father and the Father in the Son spoke and did wonders that man cannot.  So we see God in Christ, backed by all He said and did.

A Place Prepared For You

John 14:1-6 
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Why worry, unless we do not believe in Jesus Christ as we do God? He has made a place for us with Himself, and the only way there is through faith in Him. There is no other truth, and no other way to the life He is and offers. No other religion or work of the mind or hands can work up enough effort to go through death to life without end in God's presence.  Jesus Christ is the absolute only way to be reconciled with God and remain with Him.

Follow Jesus into Life Everlasting

John 13:36-38 
36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

The disciples could not follow Jesus through the suffering and death and back, they could not lay down their lives to pay the price for others - only Jesus could do that as both man and God.  Like Peter, we think we can perfectly obey and follow, but we stumble, and even more without His power and strength in and through us.  However, the good news is that we can follow Him as the one who leads us through death into life unending.  So daily we lay down our lives in picking up the cross to die to self and live to Him.

Love as He Loved Us

John 13:34-35   
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

To love others as Jesus loves us is a new command, since He loves us when we do not deserve it. We often love conditionally, seeking something in return or based on how someone measures up to a set of standards (often our own).  Followers of Jesus reflect His love for each other. We must imitate Christ. 

Jesus Glorified in the Father

John 13:31-33 
31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.

Jesus was glorified in Himself, which meant God was glorified in Him because they are God. Jesus said He would immediately or shortly be giving and given glory - He spoke of the suffering, death, and resurrection about to transpire.  When leaving, the disciples could not yet follow into death and back.  That would come only after Jesus had gone first as the first fruits of we who are His.

Satan Entered Judas

John 13:21-28   
21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” ... 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him.

Judas was prepared for perdition; it just took the right timing in God's plan to be known. Even the dipping bread to eat with Jesus was set in motion, and Jesus told the others about it. Then Judas was told to get it over with, to betray Jesus to begin the suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection to come. But still the others did not grasp all of God's plan until later - until He opens our eyes we cannot see His works.  Ah, but when He opens our eyes with faith...

Chosen and Rejected

John 13:18-20   
18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

Jesus spoke to those He chose out of the world, the ones He called out, so they could also see the one who was not called and how He knew the betrayal to come. But the ones called receive Him truly, even through them and us as we tell the good news of reconciliation with a holy God in Him.  So we believe, and so we bear witness to all that some may receive Him through us.

Wash One Another's Feet

John 13:12-17 
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus gave the example to serve, not to lord position or authority over others. We are not greater than Him who sends us, so humility should move us to do the things which fulfill the second greatest commandment, both to those within and without.  Do we "wash each others' feet?"

God's Planned Hour

John 13:1-4   
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

God had the plan in place before Jesus stepped into the world, and so the Son knew exactly when it was time to leave it to return to Father God. He loved those who were His fully, the enemy made desperate plans to vainly stop Jesus, and Jesus then demonstrated serving to those called out to Himself.  God determined in advance all these things, calling some to Himself while knowing the gates of hell could not overcome His called out ones - the church. So we must continue to follow and serve as He demonstrated, knowing His call.

Son has Father's Authority

John 12:47-50   
47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Jesus has the authority as God to command we have life that cannot end - not just existing forever in hell, but eternally in God's very presence with joy instead of the torment we deserve. If we believe Him, we receive life; if we reject Jesus, we receive completed justice, the sentence on our sin from birth. We can therefore but turn and live by believing He died in our place by grace to find life.

Praise of Men, or God?

John 12:41-43 
41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. 42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

The prophet Isaiah saw God's glory long before Jesus came to us, and many saw this and believed - but the religious leaders wanted their own importance and kicked out anyone who did not go along and reject Jesus.  Even now some will go by the name of Christ, yet only as it profits them.  Those disagreeing by believing what God said in the Bible they shun or attack.  But those of us who were blind yet now see find joy in all God said and did for us, humbly receiving grace over judgment in knowing we deserve one and cannot attain the other.

Blinded and Hardened to Signs

John 12:37-40 
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”

Some cannot believe because God has closed their eyes and ears of their hearts, choosing to show Himself to the ones He chooses.  This is a hard saying, and so many refuse to believe even when they see God working in front of them and hear of all He does around them.  For those who believe what we hear God shows His power, mercy, and goodness because He opened our eyes and heart.

Walk in Light as Sons

John 12:35-36 
35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

We see clearly what is in front of us when light shines our way.  So it is with Christ - we are blind to what is around us and above us until He opens our eyes to truly see. With opened eyes we know where we are going, for we have believed the light of the world and are God's children of His light. Jesus is only hidden to those unable to see.

Lifted Up to Lift Us Up

John 12:32-34 
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

Jesus rose from death in order to draw people, not to offer a free deal to all.  He calls and we respond as we are made able because He died to offer us life and righteousness. The Christ, the messiah, does exist forever - through death into eternity from where He came. As the Son of Man, Jesus provides this certainty of hope (no mere wish) because He died as one of us to make payment on God's just wrath to give deliverance and reconciliation to us who He calls and draws out. 

Saved for This Hour

John 12:27-31 
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

Jesus as a man was troubled to go through the beatings and crucifixion, but as God knew the purpose to glorify the Father and defeat the ruler of this world in final judgment. So the Father spoke from above as thunder, promising glory through it all. So Jesus came, spoke good news, suffered, was beaten, hung on a tree to die, and then rose from the grave - that glorifies God and gives us a certain hope.

Honored to Serve

John 12:24-26 
24 Most assuredly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

We must all die to live. The old has gone and the new has come when we are reborn by faith in the Son of God alone. Only then can we bear true fruit of righteousness to Him, and that means giving up the hold on our life to live towards eternity. So serving Christ we honor and glorify the God who made and sustains us, and so are honored by Him.

Greeks Wish to see Jesus

John 12:20-23 
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

Those who were not Jews, God's people, wanted to talk with Jesus and asked His followers to see the men.  But Jesus pointed beyond just seeing or speaking to the fact that He was about to be glorified in the torture, ridicule, death, burial, and resurrection.  But even the disciples only vaguely knew what Jesus meant. The hour had come and Jesus had said most of what He came to tell the world. Now it was time to come and see Jesus glorified.

Behold Your King!

John 12:12-19 
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!” 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey's colt.” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him. 17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

Those seeing Lazarus brought to life came to see Jesus enter Jerusalem, putting down branches and quoting the Old Testament about the Messiah as King coming. Not even they probably knew who He was, but were moved to worship - and the Pharisees grew more afraid and frustrated as the world went after Jesus. Later the disciples understood as we can also look back to see God's sovereignty on display on the way to the cross.  Our King came, died, and rose again to accomplish everything.

Lazarus, Hope of Resurrection

John 12:9-11 
9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

While coming together to celebrate the week of Passover, Jesus sat with Lazarus - many came to see a dead man and the one who brought him back to life after being dead 4 days. The religious leaders looked for ways to kill the evidence as well as Jesus for claiming to be God and ruining their religious system with its power and control over others.  So others like Hus were killed for revealing the truth of Christ and His work to justify us by faith alone. But we fight the good fight.

Fragrance Filled the Air in Honor

John 12:3-8 
3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

A gift for Jesus to honor His death was turned by Judas to disdain because he wanted the monetary value to take for himself. Even as the aroma of his perceived waste filled the room, personal gain filled his heart and crowded out any honor to glorify God. We can always earn money and help the poor; to honor God with our hearts and possessions reveals where our love lies.

Christ Died for His People

John 11:49-53   
49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.  53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

Jesus did many things which revealed who He is, and so the religious leaders were afraid of losing their standing and political security.  So they began looking for ways to kill Jesus. One even said it was best for Him to die in place if all the rest. So true, for that is what happened on the cross.  So in the 16th century others stood up and pointed to Christ Alone as the one who died for all, and the political church of those dark times sought to stop those like Luther bringing out God's word and the gospel to bring light and life. 

Take Away the Stone!

John 11:39-43 
39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

Even after being dead for four days, nothing was too hard for God among us.  He showed God's glory by doing the impossible, bringing a quite obviously dead man back to a normal life. All so we could see and believe Him, trusting what Jesus told us is true and sent as the Messiah to die and come back to life for us.  So we can trust He will do the same for us!

Resurrection and the Life

John 11:23-27
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

When faced with death, Martha trusted in the sure hope of life after death - a resurrection to life. Jesus made it clear that He was that hope. Faith in Christ means death will be followed by life again, and we will never die again.  But this only is through Jesus the Christ who came into the world to die and be the forerunner of resurrection from the grave - so we have a certain, demonstrated hope of forever!

No Stumbling in the Light

John 11:7-10 
7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought 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 one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Jesus faced being stoned to death for saying He was God, yet as divine went into danger in the daylight to dispel the darkness.  He told the disciples, and us, that we must keep our eyes on the light of the world and not the darkness around us.  If we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can see where we are going to avoid stumbling.  Without Him we stumble about aimlessly in the dark.  We now have God's word available for the last 500 years after being suppressed to be able to see the light. Post tenebras lux.

Many Believed in Him

John 10:39-42 
39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. 40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed. 41 Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.” 42 And many believed in Him there.

Jesus was able to not let others take hold of Him for the wrong reasons, yet still openly allow those who believed Him by His works to draw near. Because Jesus was divine, He could do things such as make wine from water and give life to a man dead for four days - and call some to open the eyes of their hearts to believe as others refused to do so.  It started with John at that place calling for repentance...

Believe the Works

John 10:34-38 
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not 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, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

Corrupt judges were called God's representatives - so how much more the real God, Jesus the Son, be called more than God's judge?  He is God Himself, demonstrated by miraculous deeds no mere mortal could do.  So Jesus pointed to believe those if they would not believe His word.  When we see the Son, there is the Father who spoke and things just were because He made the universe and us in it.

Jesus Declared Himself God

John 10:30-33 
30 I and My Father are one.” 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

Jesus was almost stoned to death because He made himself God by saying He and the Father are one.  He equaled Himself with God, and that was blasphemy to the Jews who said there is only one God; they could not accept that God was Father, Son, and Spirit in one God.  His nature is not as ours, so we deny this truth.  The things Jesus did even proved who Jesus is, yet denial and violence riled against truth, even as it does today.

Sheep Hear and Follow Forever

John 10:26-29 
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone 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 My Father's hand.

Why do some refuse to believe Jesus?  To put it simply, they are not His sheep, so they cannot hear His call over others. This Shepherd gives life unending with assurance of its certainty and absolute security - nobody can take His away from Him (including ourselves). God gives to His Son, and we are held secure by the promise and faithful character of God Himself.  This is the true God and eternal life.

Jesus' Power Over Death

John 10:17-21 
17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” 20 And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus was not raised from death by God the Father, but raised Himself as God the Son - not only did Jesus make blind men see, as God He has power over life and death.  So who do you say Jesus is?  Just a man, or God among us?  Only He can give you life as you take Him at His word and submit to Him in admitting you sin against God and trust His Son alone for deliverance from justice. No religion or philosophy offers this free redemption.

His Sheep Hear His Call

John 10:13-16 
13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Jesus knows us and so we know Him; we don't know those who claim to know another way to God, because we do not belong to them in the first place. He also laid down His life for us, whereas false leaders expect us to die for them instead. So He brought Jew and Gentile together by His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection.  We can trust Him because we know Him and what He has done. This is not true for any other way.

Christ is the Only Door to Life

John 10:7-10 
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

We who are Christ's hear His call and enter through Him to life, not listening to those leading nowhere.  Those who offer doors to nowhere only cause ruin in the lives of the ones listening to them - but we are saved from that which leads to God's anger and judgment, finding freedom in life to come and go with Him.  Grace gives us ears to hear and eyes to see, so we listen and follow through the door of Christ to see His glory. 

Sheep Hear the Master's Voice

John 10:1-4 
1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the 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 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

False teachers and religions do not go God's way through Jesus Christ.  They offer another door, one which steals truth and gives no care for the sheep.  Jesus entered the door prepared from the creation of the world as the only way to the Father.  So we who are His sheep hear and follow Him as the only door to life as we know the voice and trust the one we belong to.

Judgment on Self-Righteous

John 9:39-41 
39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” 40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

Jesus came not only to save but also to judge the world - He gives sight, but also leaves those blind who in their own power and wisdom claim to see. Such pride of claiming to see apart from God enabling the sight is spiritual blindness that keeps sin in.  The humility of faith acknowledges inability to see unless sight is first given, and allows grace to heal our souls.

Lord, I Believe!

John 9:35-38 
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

Do you believe in the Son of God?  That is the real question we all need to answer for eternity.  This man believed Jesus because He could now see - and worshipped Him.  If we answer who Jesus is and do we believe (have faith in) Him, we see God in the question and answer. 

God Opens Eyes

John 9:30-33 
30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

Jesus is attacked by those who refuse to admit they miss the mark of God's standards of right, and so claim even to not know where He is from - yet the scriptures already say where. So instead these try to discredit those who have admitted their lost state under His wrath and found forgiveness and a new life. Only the holy God can open blind eyes as Jesus did.  He still does open eyes blinded and dead to Him.

Life From the Dust

John 9:15-17 
15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

When God heals a man on the outside, many questions cast doubt; when He does the real healing of the soul on the inside, many doubt when we are not instantly perfected and so doubt he changed us.  But he opened our eyes, and the signs of a changed life which continues to change us can be seen - even if denied by those who do works in the dark and do not want to admit they are sinners in the hand of a holy God...

Light and Sight of the World

John 9:6-8 
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”

Light gives sight; so Jesus made a man's eyes well to see Him and understand who healed him.  The one who made Adam from the ground and breathed life into him now used that same ground to make him anew.  So Jesus makes us new in the whole, new creatures via a second birth as it were, out of more than just dust and breath.  We are reborn in Him to be able to see the height and depth and breadth and unending length of God's love to us in His Son's sacrifice for our hope and His glory.

God's Works Revealed in Us

John 9:1-5 
1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

The light came into the world by God's word in creation, and again when that living word brought the light of sight to a grown man born blind.  The man's parents did not sin to bring punishment on their son, nor he himself - God brought light to his eyes to see God's glory. So Jesus is the light of the world to make some of us see so He gets all the glory and allows us to see it. 

Jesus is God, I AM

John 8:56-59 
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

As God told His name to Moses as "I AM," so Jesus said He was I AM - the one who just exists without beginning or end.  God is who He is.  So is Jesus.  This is how Moses saw Jesus then and to come as a man on earth, God among us, Emmanuel.  Do we see Jesus as God?

Believe to Eternal Life

John 8:50-55 
50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” ... 54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.

Keeping God's word in Christ (turn and believe) brings life unending. We honor the Son who honors the Father because we know Him and do what He says. It is not following a set of rules to keep His word, but believing in the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent for us to honor and obey.  Do you know, trust, and obey Him?

Only the Elect Hear

John 8:43-47 
43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

The one who is God's hears Jesus Christ.  The one who does not hear is not God's. Truth can only be heard by those who are God's - the ones He knows and calls out.  Others remain in a lie unless called.  This is why so many heard Jesus speak, but so many were not His sheep and called Him a liar.  They did not have ears to hear.

Truth of the Word Frees Us

John 8:31-36 
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” .. 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Living in God's word means to hear and trust God is absolutely true. This reveals His truth and is the only way to be set free from our sin and it's just punishment.  We are either slaves of sin or we are His as sons and daughters.  We are truly free only in Christ - through the faith that come only from hearing His word. The truth sets us free indeed.

Who is Jesus Christ?

John 8:25-30 
25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” 27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

People still ask who Jesus is as the Son of Man and God.  He told us He and the Father (God) are one - if you see one, you see the other.  He showed us by turning water to wine and bringing Lazarus from death to life after 4 days.  But we refuse to believe what we see and hear when the finger of God stands before us as He did.  He told us to turn from sin, but then to turn to believe in Him who would die for our sentence, freely pardoning and setting us free.  As He speaks, many may yet believe in Him...

Not of This World

John 8:21-24 
21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” 23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

We cannot follow Jesus through the grave and back as those in His time; they sought Jesus in their own wisdom and strength, and still were dying in their sin. He was going to heaven where God our Father is, and made it clear that the only way not to die in our sin is to believe He is the I Am, the Messiah God-man.  Only believing in the divine Jesus as both the I Am and Son of Man keeps us from dying in sin by being saved from wrath in Him.

Know Jesus to Know God

John 8:15-19 
15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” 19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

Jesus is the only Judge with the Father. So all He says is testified to by God as Himself who is true. So if we know Jesus, we know God.  This is why we listen to the Son of God to hear God, and what He said is in the Bible for us to hear and know God through Him.

The Light of Life

John 8:12-14 
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

Light from Jesus allows us to walk and see where we are going.  Without Him we stumble around in the darkness as we try to find the door; but Jesus said He alone is the door, so the light from it draws us to and through Him into that marvelous light. He told us so, and we know it is true because He came from heaven and returned there from the grave.  So he knows and has told us He is that true light that comes int the world. 

Go and Sin No More

John 8:7-11 
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Are we eager to throw rocks at others to say how bad they are and how they must be punished?  But do we look at ourselves and see the guilt and the just punishment we deserve instead?  God is the judge, and He accuses unless we by faith trust in His work on the cross to forgive us.  So let us not condemn others, turn, and then stop sinning against our merciful God.

Nobody Spoke Like Him!

John 7:46-51 
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” 47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?”

Judging Jesus before listening to what He says goes against the Jewish law - but also against ours today.  Prejudice in a court is out of place, and so with us if we do not hear Jesus first by reading the Bible for ourselves.  Many who dismiss or attack Jesus never listen, only hearing others against Him and not looking for themselves, and don't know what is going on or what is even true.  What do you do?

The Prophet's Coming Foretold

John 7:40-42 
40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”

Many read that the Christ was coming, but they told of Bethlehem, not Nazareth of Galilee.  But they did not know of the census and Jesus' family moving, so they refused to fully believe what He said and did based on incomplete knowledge of scripture and events.  So we too must look deep and patiently wait at times for understanding of God's word and work.

Thirsty? Come and Drink

John 7:37-39 
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

At the festival of booths when prayer for rain was made and remembrance of water flowing from the rock in the wilderness in Israel's journey, Jesus spoke.  He said He was the source of living water in us through faith in Him - who He is and what He offers.  He now gives us His Spirit when we truly repent and believe, taking away the heart of stone, and that new water flows like a river from us.  You have all His Spirit if you are reborn, and without it you are not His.  We in Him honor and please Him as we let Him flow.

Follow Christ after His Resurrection

John 7:33-36 
33 Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.” 35 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What is this thing that He said, “You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

Jesus knew when He would be crucified.  When He said they would not be able to follow Him, they did not understand that they could not die on a cross, lay in a tomb for days, and then bring themselves back to life and into the Father's presence as only the God-man could.  So we can only follow by being made new and able in Christ the first fruits to follow through death into life.

Know Him Who is Known

John 7:27-31 
27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me." 31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

The Jews did not see the scriptures telling where Jesus would come from, but the real issue of where the Christ was to come was not the town but from above.  The signs He did were only to backup the words as divine in origin. So they should see and know where He is from - God the Father in heaven.  So we should see and remember who He is as well; not what we are expected to by men or even churches, but from what He has said already.

Don't Judge by Appearance

John 7:21-24 
21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I did one work, and you all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Jesus healed a man on a day that religious leaders said no work could be done on, yet they did a work all the time to satisfy the letter of the Law for circumcision (before Moses' law).  So Jesus pointed out the real issue, that of their hearts not using righteous judgment.  They were looking at the outward acts as absolute and absolutely missed caring for others in the process.  Loving God first and others next is why laws were given to show us righteousness. 

Jesus' Authority

John 7:15-18 
15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

Jesus spoke with authority because He is more than just a man; as God, as His living word, Jesus knew evert jot and tittle of all scripture.  He was the author of it, and they did not understand how he could know more than they of Jewish academia.  Pride and disbelief drove them to seek their own glory over God's.  But the Messiah was sent sinlessly to glorify the Father as we were meant to do and would if it were not for our sin.

World's Works are Evil

John 7:4-8   
4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”

People who don't believe Jesus demand that He dance to their flutes, they say He must show Himself in the ways and at the times they command.  Yet Jesus knows the beginning to the end and has plans set by His word to accomplish.  So the world hates the Jesus who does not fit their own doctrine of expectations.  Yet Jesus still goes and does as told in His time.  Our time is always to follow; His time and ours is in His hands.

You Have Words of Eternal Life!

John 6:66-69 
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Many left Jesus when He challenged them with truth and confronted their hearts to repent.  But the 12 (11 actually) were asked if they also wanted to leave, Peter answered for them.  Where else could they go?  They knew Jesus had words that gave unending life with God, and believed He was the Son of God and the Anointed One.  So they followed on to the death - and beyond.  Do we follow at all costs also?

Believe Only if Granted Faith

John 6:64-66 
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

God knows who will believe, but also has to draw men and grant them to come and be His.  Many who hear that it is up to God to call and grant faith to then believe just walk away angry, because pride says they must do it in their own power.  Jesus said we must be called out, and He knows who we are that are enabled to believe - all by His work and grace, not ours enabled by rules or others, but by Christ alone. 

Words of Spirit and Life

John 6:60-63 
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

When we are faced with difficult things from God's words, we can question and complain, or turn an ear to hear and remember that Jesus rose from the grave, alive forevermore.  He gives us that same life by His Spirit; our own efforts and abilities cannot give the understanding that comes only from God.  Our pride therefore takes offense and complains or turns away instead of stopping to listen.

Eat and Drink Christ for Life

John 6:54-58 
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

We only find life in Jesus Christ; His body was broken to take our punishment and His blood was given to pay the price, to atone for our sin.  So we can find new life in Him alone and can eat of Him as our whole provision wherever we journey or wander.  Partaking of Christ means living forever in and with Him.

Come Only If Drawn to Christ

John 6:44-47   
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

When God draws someone, He gives them ears that can hear and teaches them as they are called and come to Him through Christ. The time He opens our eyes is when the faith to trust with active belief becomes the moment of rebirth that has assurance of life forever with Him - now and through death. This mystery of drawing and calling out to a new life is as the wind blowing, the unseen but felt work of God in those He calls, justifies, and glorifies.

None Lost, Eternity Gained

John 6:38-40 
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus called out those given by the Father.  He lost none really His (Judas was not), and promises life forever with Him to all who are His.  So we are called out, enabled to believe with eyes opened and ears unstopped so we can believe to receive Jesus Christ and be reborn.  Our hope of final resurrection is proven by His, and His we are!

Elect All Come to Christ for Bread

John 6:34-37 
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

Being consumed with Jesus Christ means we never go hungry or thirst for those things which satisfy the soul.  But this only comes when we see who He is and believe what He told us.  That leads to forgiveness and marks us as His forever - nobody (not even ourselves) can change His work by throwing us out.  Have we consumed and are we consumed by Him?

Manna from Heaven

John 6:30-33 
30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

God gave Israel manna as bread down from heaven for forty years; it was not Moses, but God, and now here He does again coming down to allow us to partake of God Himself with life giving bread. Jesus Christ is who we eat of, not a teacher or leader or prophet.  Only God gives life, and we find our nourishment in fellowship and union with Him.

Acceptable Work is to Believe

John 6:28-29   
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

We try to do good things to earn a way to God, but we all fall short and never can work the true work of God - to believe Jesus Christ whom He sent.  This is the good news, that all our work fall shot but one, His work we trust and believe fully and only in.

Work for Eternal Food

John 6:25-27   
25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

People followed after Jesus to hear more, such as here where He walked out to catch a boat to the other side of the lake and they could not find Him. More importantly, Jesus told them why they did it - because they ate from multiplied food that made them hungry for more. Then Jesus pointed out the real desire should be for everlasting food for the soul that only He can give (the anointed one, the Messiah/Christ). If they had ears to hear...

Peace in the Storm

John 6:18-21 
18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

Fear in life's storms comes when we stare at the tempest and not the one over it all.  Jesus came to the disciples walking over the waves to bring them peace.  So He does for us when we face dark and tumultuous times in our lives. So we continue to do what is right, keep our eyes on Him, and walk on in trusting faith that knows these things. We will get to land in the boat with Him. 

Suffering Servant

John 6:15 
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Jesus came as Messiah to rule, but not as the people thought - they tried to make Him an earthly King, while Jesus wanted to rule their hearts.  So He went away from the crowd to pray and then kept telling us why He came until it was time for sacrifice and the beginning of a spiritual kingdom to begin in men's hearts and souls. 

Nothing Lost

John 6:12-14 
12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Feeding 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread made everyone there believe Jesus was the prophet spoken of who would come.  But Jesus was the manna from heaven sent to feed us from Himself, to partake of Him in a new life with God as Spirit living in us.  The miracle was not in feeding so many, but feeding so many from Himself.  There is always enough left over for more.

Faith Tested for Sustenance

John 6:2-6   
2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

Many came to Jesus for a miracle, not wanting to suffer any more.  But Jesus was concerned for their sustenance, and asked the disciples where to get food - yet Jesus knew already He would provide it without cost.  So He began to test their faith and show them again where all comes from, the hand of God Himself.  This is where we also receive all we need for both life and godliness.

OT Speaks of Christ

John 5:45-47   
45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

The Jews had God's word from Moses and the prophets, who all pointed to Jesus the Messiah.  Yet they did not accept that they fell short of God's standards in their hearts and motives, and  missed that they also with the nations were accused by God and under His wrath.  So by not believing Jesus' words, they did not believe the Old Testament.  God's written word as a man told them.  Do we accept all of the Bible as from God, and listen to how Jesus explained it all?  It is all or none, and none leaves us under judgment we are due...

Seek Honor from God

John 5:41-44   
41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

So few honor Jesus Christ as God's Son; they honor others for their deeds or position and welcome honor for themselves, yet reject God come to offer life in reconciliation.  To believe in Christ one must seek honor from God for believing His words and not from others.  Religion will not honor God, only honoring what He said - Jesus is the only way, truth, and life in the only God.  Do we honor Him in all things?

Search the Scriptures!

John 5:36-40 
36 But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

John witnessed who Jesus was, but so did the impossible works Jesus did.  But above that, God the Father testified, especially through all the scriptures from Genesis to Malachi. Jesus as the Son heard the Father's voice, while others did not.  So many search the bible to see Jesus, but are unwilling to come to Him for forgiveness and life.  When God calls, He enables the ear to hear and eye to see by faith; otherwise we do not believe any witness or testimony. 

Righteous Judgment

John 5:30 
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

Why should we listen to Jesus Christ?  Because as God's very word spoken to create all things, that word that became a man, He is God.  When God speaks and judges, it it right and true, and so God's will in judgment and all things is heard in the Son of God.  We listen therefore to God speaking as recorded in the Bible, the authority of God - His word that both judges and forgives as it reveals His character and will, as well as our hopeless state apart from Him without reconciliation in Christ.

Hear and Believe for Eternal Life

John 5:24-29 
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.   28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Hearing Jesus with soul and mind given understanding brings life forever, a new birth out of spiritual death - and into forever beyond death of the body.  He promises to speak life and bring us out of our graves, just as He brought Himself out of the grave first as proof.  But those who did evil and refused to hear and be forgiven, will be forever condemned to suffer justly and fairly as we all deserve.   Oh that all would listen long enough to hear!

Son Gives Life to Whom He Wills

John 5:20-23 
20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

The Son of God gives life to the ones He chooses to, just as He is the one who judges all people and even raises them from the dead.  So God as Son deserves all honor as the Father and does such great things to put us in awe - consider His words and work just while walking on the earth, not to mention all from the beginning of time.  If you see Jesus you see the Father, for God is one, and all is held together through Him. This is why Jesus Christ is more than a mere man and deserves our worship.

Jesus Equal with God

John 5:17-19   
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

Not only did Jesus do good on the Sabbath, He called God His Father.  He made Himself equal to God - which is why His acts ruled the day of rest, not the interpretation of others.  So they tried to kill the one they called a blasphemer who said He was God.  And He is.  Yet in the role of the Son, Jesus followed His father's deeds and will.  Jesus Christ is God, and we who follow Him do also as God says rather than men.  All we are able to do is by His authority and power and will. 

Healed to Sin no More

John 5:12-15 
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

When Jesus healed, religious ones tried to find out who He was so they could accuse Jesus of breaking Sabbath rules.  The man who was healed was simply grateful not to suffer anymore.  But he was also warned by Jesus to stop sinning - he was forgiven from sin to no longer walk therein.  Even now people will mock and even attack those born again ones who have received the ultimate healing of their souls.  Wisdom is justified by her children.

Rise, Take Your Bed, Walk

John 5:5-9 
5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath.

Jesus comes to us to make us whole, yet still asks if we are willing.  So the will of man must be initiated by God to heal our souls to salvation.  We cannot heal ourselves spiritually, nor get up and walk as a new creation in unless God bids us to rise from death to life and walk after Jesus. He is our sabbath rest; we only find peace with God and rest from trying to work the righteousness of Christ when we take His on ourselves.

Signs and Wonders, or Belief?

John 4:48-53 
48 Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” 49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.

Jesus spoke with the same authority as when creating the earth, and the official's son was instantly made well, escaping death. When the man heard his son was alive and well, he believed in Jesus, for only with God was such a thing possible.  He may not have known Jesus was the Son of God, but did see divinity in action and believed for the work's sake.  So we hear Jesus now and the testimonials of those written down like this to move us to see who He is and trustingly believe in thought, word, and will.

Prophet Without Honor

John 4:43-45 
43 Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

Jesus avoided the area where He grew up to others who would receive Him and listen to the good news because of all they saw in Him and what He had done, just as the outcasts of Samaria had heard Him and seen.  So often we find that the people we grow up with or unbelieving family refuse to see the change in us from Christ in us, and so listen little to the same gospel truth others hunger for.  Those who look at the witness alone miss the truth and its life changing impact.

See and Hear for Yourself

John 4:39-42 
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word.42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

When we bear witness by testifying of what Christ has done in us, others will go to Him to listen to what He said, hoping it is true. When they read and hear for themselves, then they can believe from the source that is reliable and true, and see Jesus is the Christ who alone can save from the just anger of a righteous God.  Only by His work and word can we be set free.

Fields are Ripe for Harvest

John 4:35-38 
35 Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

God sows through us as He did through others from Eden until Christ.  So now with the gospel the crops are ripe for bearing fruit for the food we should labor.  No matter who plants or waters, it is always God who brings the harvest for eternal life in Christ.  Our duty is wages, the souls of men are eternal life fruit of the harvest, and God's glory brings rejoicing together. 

Food is to Do God's Will

John 4:31-34 
31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

To Jesus food to sustain the body and enjoy was actually doing God the Father's will, finishing the work He came to do - teaching, suffering, dying, and resurrecting from the grave. So that is what He hungered for.  We should also hunger for doing God's will, to run the course faithfully and finish the race with the goal of glorifying God in sight always. This is His will and our calling.  Let us find these words of His as more than necessary food and savor each one.

Worship in Spirit and Truth

John 4:21-26 
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.  23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

Worship of God is not constrained to one certain city or place, but in the heart of the worshipper as a living temple where God takes up residence. Real worship is not in rituals nor in the right building, it is true spiritual honoring and exaltation of our creator and Lord from within.  The Messiah, the Christ - Jesus - He is who told us this, He who is God's very word. He is the source of all authority, and so is true and worthy to be praised.

Never Thirst Again

John 4:11-14   
11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?   13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Living water satisfies our thirst, while water from a well we draw repeatedly ourselves will always leave us needing more.  So it is with what Jesus offers to truly satisfy our thirst - His Spirit given to live in us becomes this unending life as a fountain flowing continually from within, from Him.

Living Water Freely Given

John 4:7-10 
7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

Jesus turned a request from an outcast for a drink into an offer she could not wisely refuse - living water from God with her.  He so offer us to drink as we try to serve in order to earn a dink, but He comes to us to offer when we don't expect it nor deserve it.  It is freely offered.

Predetermined Route

John 4:1-4   
1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria.

Jesus had a timetable to fulfill scripture, so when the religious leaders were set to come after Him for baptizing many to repent (and then not be following the Pharisees but God), Jesus went the direct route to where He needed to go - through an area avoided by "good" Jews.  He needed to, not only to get there quicker, but to preach good news to a woman and her town of second class citizens.  Jesus came to those looking for the Messiah who believed and received Him.

Eternal Life or Wrath of God?

John 3:33-36 
33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

God the Son guarantees that God is true, and spoke His words to us.  The Son has all the Father has, so only believing in Jesus brings life unending in God's presence now and beyond death. We only see life with God in Jesus Christ, or we are still in God's judgment of wrath on our sin - we all are facing what we deserve unless the Son sets us free.

Point to Christ

John 3:26-29 
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

John had been baptizing as he called for people to turn from sin to God, and Jesus baptized also.  So the Jews pointed out all were going to Jesus instead; but John pointed out the heaven sent one had that right, while he simply rejoiced to see Jesus in action. He even hinted at Jesus being the Messiah in joy, but nobody seemed to grasp that. We too can only point to Jesus, because we are not God but only His servant messengers bearing witness to Him.

Already Condemned

John 3:18-21 
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

We are all condemned unless we believe, and will never believe if we go on doing evil and hating what is good.  Loving darkness keeps us from the light because our hearts are not set on doing right to seek and please God.  This is the rest of the story beyond God so loved the world - it does not mean all go to heaven, just that it is possible by what Jesus has done.

Look and Believe or Perish

John 3:13-17   
13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Heavenly things come down from there, and Jesus brought these to us, that we might look on Him and believe all He said and has done to make forgiveness and life forever with God possible.  We need to believe His life, death, and resurrection and therefore that Jesus is God, the Word man man. That is how much God loves His creation, to send His Son from heaven to bring these good gifts and save us from ourselves, our own sin, and from His due punishment against we who are born against Him. 

Heavenly or Earthly Things?

John 3:9-12   
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Nicodemus could not grasp hat he had to be born again, changed unseen by God, because everything for him had been the outward works attempting to appease God and earn His favor to enter heaven.  Even though he taught the Old Testament, he missed the core of it - that man is born in sin and cannot work his way out of it.  Only a new heart and God's Spirit can make us new.  So Jesus told him these things in earthly terms because he did not have opened eyes to see further. So God alone now opens eyes to the gospel for change in us.

Must be Born Again from Above

John 3:3-8 
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

One must be made into a new creation to move from sinful mortality to God's sinless presence in immortality.  Only God's breath, His Spirit that first breathed life into the clay of Adam, can blow into us to transform our spirit.  So He moves as the breath of a blowing wind to change us in an unseen new birth.  This is God's work which man cannot duplicate, imitate, nor even fully investigate; so we can only see the results of being reborn.

He Knows All People

John 2:23-25   
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

When people saw what Jesus did they believed in Him, but only to a point - Jesus saw their hearts as He does all men's, and so chose to give Himself only to those He chose.  Soon Nicodemus and a Samaritan woman would find Jesus trusting and committing to them the words of life.  But it was His choice and on His terms because He knew where their hearts lay. So it is today.

Resurrected in 3 Days

John 2:19-22 
19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

Jesus told those who questioned Him about driving out merchandisers from God's house that they could destroy His temple, but Jesus would raise it back up.  He meant His body resurrected from the grave, though, not the stones around them.  This is the heart of the gospel - hope of a new life from death, now and at the end of time.  We are also temples of the living God, for His Spirit lives in those reborn, and these temples will also rise again.

Zeal for His House, Not Profit

John 2:14-17 
14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

God's house is to worship Him in, not to do business and make personal profit.  Not even if the items sold are supposed to be used to offer sacrifices.  So Jesus drove these profiteers out of the temple.  A warning for us to not ever make church about profit, but service and worship, and to lovingly but firmly drive out those who would - just how to do this in grace and love is the difficulty.

Sign of Water Made Wine

John 2:1-4, 11   
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”  11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

The 3rd day after disciples began following Jesus, He turned water into wine at a wedding feast they were invited to.  So began many signs Jesus did that were not humanly possible to show He was from heaven.  So God began walking around us to show His glory in ways we could not miss if not rejected.  So now also we can read these from eyewitnesses and either harden our hearts or believe and follow when called.

How Do You Know Me?

John 1:48-51 
48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Jesus knows us before we know Him.  But even that is small compared to who Jesus is and what He did for us, coming down from heaven with angels ministering as He suffered, died, and arose victorious over Heath and hell.  But we still look past His work to His knowing and calling us before we saw Him.  He draws us and first saw us in sovereign grace and mercy.

We Have Found Him!

John 1:43-46   
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”   Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus found Philip and called him to follow; Philip in turn found Nathanael and pointed to the Messiah (the prophet we should listen to) that God wrote about from the beginning.  They knew the Scriptures and that they pointed to Jesus, and shared that so another could come and see also.  So do we seek out the one who found us and point others to see Him also as the Bible points out who He is.

The Messiah, the Christ

John 1:40-42   
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

When we meet the Messiah, the Christ Jesus, we are moved to tell others we found Him (actually He found us as here) and followed.  We do not force religion or our way on others, but gladly are driven to invite others to meet Him to know the same fulfilling joy we have. We bring others to meet our savior messiah to find life. 

Behold the Lamb of God!

John 1:35-38   
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

The lamb of God - a lamb was to be sacrificed to atone for sin.  Jesus walked by John and was identified as God's sacrifice for us by the one sent ahead to make a way for Him by repentance and cleansing crooked ways.  So what do we seek?  Do we ask where He lives so we can live there also?  Only Jesus sacrificed Himself for us in a perfect way to perfect us in His righteousness; ours is filthy rags no matter how we work, we all come short, so only a perfect sacrifice will do.

Spirit Descended and Remained

John 1:32-34   
32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

God as Spirit is in whom we are immersed and cleansed - baptized.  John saw God's Spirit on the Son of God and man to also prove Jesus was both a man and God among us, Emmanuel.  This same Spirit is the one all Christians receive when made new, reborn, and without which we only have lifeless religion.  God himself comes to live within us, Christ the hope of glory!
Colossians 1:27 - To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.