John 5 Works

 

John 5 – Works

 

The Father “broke” his Sabbath rest to help two sinners (Gen. 3:8ff), and Jesus followed His example. The man had no one to put him into the pool. Perhaps his all-but-hopeless condition prompted Jesus to set His sights on him while choosing not to heal anyone else there. God makes forsaken individuals His highest priority.

 

In the world of nature, the Father is healing bodies, multiplying food, turning water into wine, and so forth; but He takes longer to do those things. Our Lord’s miracles are the Father’s works done instantly. Whether instantly or gradually, they are wonderful works of God.

 

Today, Jesus is the Savior; tomorrow, He will be the judge (Rev. 20:11-15). Even death cannot keep lost sinners from the judgment, for He will raise them from the dead. There is no escape, except faith in Jesus Christ.

 

If you worship God the Father, you must also worship the Son, and if you dishonor the Son, you dishonor the Father. Those who claim to worship God but ignore the Son are not even worshiping god! They are only fooling themselves.

 

How can anyone deny that Jesus is the Son of God when so many witnesses affirm that he is: John the Baptist, the miracles, the Father; (Mark 1:11), and the scriptures? But when people believe in Him, they have the witness within themselves (I John 5:9-13).

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J Vernon McGee Thru the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

John 4 Jesus the Human

 

John 4- Jesus the Human

 

Because Jesus was truly human, He experienced weariness, hunger, and thirst, but His deepest desire was for the salvation of the sinful woman. He forgot His physical needs and concentrated on her spiritual needs. Patiently He revealed Himself to her: “a Jew,” “greater than Jacob,” “a prophet,” “Messiah”. She believed in Him, and her life was so changed that she immediately shared the good news with others.

 

The will of God should be food that nourishes us, not medicine that upsets us. The disciples were satisfied with material food, but Jesus wanted the satisfying spiritual food from God. The will of God gives us the strength we need to do our job in the great harvest all around us. By paying attention to what the unsaved say, Christians may receive exactly the cue they need to initiate a spiritual conversation. Today, believers need to lift their eyes and look at the fields, people near them are ready to be saved (matt. 9:37; Luke 10:2).

 

Salvation is to the inner person what health is to the body. The boy would have died had Jesus not intervened and given him health. The father heard, believed, and knew, which is a normal Christian experience. The father came to Jesus sincerely and with intensity; the journey to Jesus was a 20-mile trip from Capernaum to Cana over mountainous terrain. He had faith in Jesus and believed. Humans think seeing is believing, when believing is seeing in the spiritual realm. God is always working, sometimes 20 miles away; sometimes 2,000 miles away (Ps. 66:18,19). This is the second sign that John presents to prove Jesus’ divinity.

 

Jesus won the woman; the woman won many Samaritans; and the father won his whole household. We should be busy in the harvest.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

John 3 Born of the Spirit

 

John 3 – Born of the Spirit

 

In our first birth, we are “born of the flesh” and “born of water”; but in our second birth, we are “born from above and born of the Spirit”. Our first birth leads to death, but our second birth brings eternal life. The new birth is a new beginning that results in “newness of life” Romans 6:4. To be in the kingdom of God, a person must be born of God’s Word and His Spirit. No one can see the new birth happening, but the results of the Spirit’s life-changing work are evident.

 

Jesus is the Son of God come down from heaven. He is the Father’s love gift; He is the light in a dark world. He was lifted up, and He died on a cross for the sins of the world. All who look to Him by faith receive eternal life. Healing those who looked upon the bronze serpent was to foretell His death on the cross, where He would be lifted up. Anyone who looks on Him in faith receives eternal life. While God loves everyone, not everyone accepts that love.

 

John the Baptist’s ministry was given to him from heaven. His task was to bear witness to Jesus. Jesus is the Word, and John was only a voice proclaiming the Word. Jesus is the Bridegroom, but John was only the best man. John did no miracles, but his witness was used to win people to Christ, even after he was dead. He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease”. In the Christian life, the first priority is not the preeminence of one’s position but the performance of one’s assignment- magnifying Christ (col. 1:18). There is not room in the Christian community for pride in one’s popularity or personal accomplishments.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.

 

John 2 Jesus is Joyous, Righteous, and Victorious

 

John 2 – Jesus is Joyous, Righteous, and Victorious

 

A Jewish wedding is a joyful event, and Jesus was very much at home there.  He was “a man of sorrows” (Isa. 53:3), but He also experienced great joy (Luke 10:21); and He can share the joys and sorrows of our lives. The joy the world offers will eventually fail, but the joy He supplies goes on forever. Jesus performed His first public miracle, not in the temple, but in a Jewish home in Cana; not at a funeral but at a wedding. Not at a fast but at a feast. This is a reminder that the life of a Christian should reflect the joy that characterized Jesus. Jesus’ actions show how vastly different God’s ways are from the worlds. The world starts with the better, which often becomes bitter in the end. But God starts with something ordinary and makes it extraordinary. Whenever Jesus enters a life, He transforms it.

 

The other gospels record His cleansing of the temple at the close of His ministry, but John tells us He started His ministry by cleansing the temple. Judgment begins at the house of God (I Pet. 4:17). The temple was then “a house of merchandise” three years later, it was “a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13). Outward reformation without inward renewal is a temporary thing. Jesus used the temple to represent His own body and His coming crucifixion and resurrection. At the same time, He signaled that He replaced the temple. God would now dwell with His people in Jesus Christ.

 

The Jews repeatedly asked Him for a sign (I Cor. 1:22) and then rejected the evidence He provided. His resurrection was the greatest proof of His deity (Matt. 12:38-40), but the Jews did not understand what He was talking about. They would destroy the temple by crucifying Him, but He would triumph over them in His resurrection. Only after Jesus rose from the dead would the disciples finally put the story together.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans for You. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

 

JOHN 1 the Creator, Savior, Master and King

 

John 1– The Creator, Savior, Master, King

 

Moses wrote about the old creation, but John wrote about the new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17). By calling Jesus the Word, John emphasizes that Jesus is the revelation of God.  Jesus is the creative Word and the living Word who reveals the Father to us.

In His many miracles Jesus showed His power as Creator.  He is a faithful Creator, and you can trust your life to Him (I Peter 4:19).

 

The Savior came with grace and truth, not law and judgment. He revealed the Father and gave the Holy Spirit to those who trusted Him.  He is the Lamb of God who alone can take away sins. The blood of lambs covered the sins of the Jews, but the blood of Christ takes away the sins of the whole world. Salvation is a grace gift from God (Eph. 2:8,9).

 

The Master called a few men to follow Him, and He transformed their lives and used them to transform the lives of others. Simon’s new name (Peter) symbolized a new beginning in his life.  He became a part of the new creation, sharing in the fullness of grace. Jesus calls each one individually and uses different approaches, but the same Master calls. Genuine followers of Christ are willing to submit themselves to Him (Matt. 4:20,22).

 

The King came to His own creation and everything in creation obeyed Him; but His own people did not receive Him. During His trial before Pilate, His kingship was the paramount issue; and it is still the issue today. Who is the king of your life?

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better. If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. J. Vernon McGee Thru the Bible. Nelson’s Quick Reference. Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Luke 24 forgetting His Word

 

Luke 24 – Forgetting His Word

 

The stone was rolled away, the body of Jesus was gone, and the women were perplexed. They had forgotten His word. Today, angels do not come to remind us of His word; the Holy Spirit has that ministry (John 14:26). Yield to the Spirit and let Him remind you of the promises that will encourage your heart.

 

Those two men could have walked and talked for days and never gotten rid of their disappointment. They lacked the key that unlocks the Old Testament: Messiah must suffer and die before entering His glory. Their hearts burned as they heard Him teach the scriptures; and soon, the mourners became missionaries and shared the good news with others. (John 16:13-15).

 

Their hearts were troubled, frightened, and doubtful; yet the Lord lovingly reassured them with His word. We today cannot see or feel His body, but we have the Holy Spirit to make Him real to us from the scriptures. When your heart is troubled or frightened, see Jesus in the Word (Jon 14:1-6). When your faith is weak, see Jesus in the Word (Rom. 10:17). The first step toward peace is receiving the Word.

 

God opens our eyes and opens our understanding so that when He opens the scriptures to us, we may open our mouths and tell others about Him. Jesus gives us the commission the power, and the message. There is no reason to be silent! When we experience joyful worship, we will have little problem giving the world a joyful witness.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

Luke 23 - Condemning an Innocent Man

 

Luke 23 – Condemning an Innocent Man

 

Pilate wanted to get rid of Jesus as quickly and as easily as possible, but you cannot avoid making serious decision about Him. Pilate ended up condemning an innocent man, releasing a guilty man, and making friends with a wicked man. What a record for a Roman ruler whose responsibility it was to uphold that law and give people justice!

 

Herod wanted to see Jesus do a miracle. The evil king would make the Son of God into a court entertainer. Jesus performed no miracle; He spoke no word. Herod had silenced God’s voice, and there was nothing left for him but divine judgment.

 

Barabbas deserved to die but was set free because Jesus took his place. Did Barabbas go to Calvary and look at the Man who died for Him?? Probably not. He was glad to be free from the sentence of death so he could return to his old ways. He was free but still in the bondage of sin.

 

And for those people, and many more, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” What grace!

 

The thief exercised great faith when he asked Jesus to remember him, for Jesus did not look like He was able to save anybody.

 

Joseph exercised great courage when he openly took our Lord’s body from the cross. He defiled himself for Passover week, but it made no difference; He had met the Lamb of God, and that was all that mattered.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible