May 7, 2023
‘So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does”‘ (John 5:17 NLT). Jesus described His activity as being inspired by and empowered by the Father. He did nothing by himself. He spoke
May 5, 2023
‘Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work”‘ (John 4:34 NLT). When the disciples returned from the town of Sychar with food for lunch, they found Jesus at Jacob’s well speaking with a Samaritan woman. They encouraged Jesus to eat something, but He
May 4, 2023
‘John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven”‘ (John 3:27 NLT). When John the Baptist’s followers worried that more people were beginning to follow Jesus than their leader, John rebuked them. He recognized that God determined spiritual results. And he also understood that his ministry was to prepare the way
May 3, 2023
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18 NLT). All of Adam’s children are already judged and condemned because of sin and because of sin’s wage, which is death. Every
April 30, 2023
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 NLT). John began his gospel as Moses began the Torah, with the words, “In the beginning…” This signaled the lofty aspect of John’s gospel that clearly proclaimed Jesus as God’s Son. Using the Greek λόγος (logos
June 2, 2022
THE LAST LIVING APOSTLE After Jesus told Peter the manner in which he would someday die for his witness, he asked about John’s future. Peter asked, “What about him, Lord?” The Lord responded that he shouldn’t worry about the plan God had for John’s future. He should focus on following Jesus, not on what happens
June 1, 2022
THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE As the apostle John closed his gospel, he gave its purpose statement, namely, that his gospel was written that its readers might believe. Believe what? First, believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One, the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem humanity. He is the Son of
May 30, 2022
BEHOLD THE MAN! The Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, brought Jesus out to stand before the accusing crowd. He had been scourged, beaten, mocked, and spit upon. A crown of thorns was pressed down upon his bruised brow and a purple robe thrown across his torn and bleeding shoulders. He stood silently before his
May 29, 2022
HOW MUCH DID JESUS KNOW ABOUT WHAT HE FACED? When the soldiers came in the cover of darkness with torches blazing and swords clanging, Jesus and his disciples might’ve easily escaped. Instead, Jesus fully realized that this was the moment for which he had come, so he stepped into the open to meet them. What
May 27, 2022
DON’T LET TROUBLE CAUSE YOU TO STUMBLE IN YOUR FAITH The NLT translates the Greek word, “skandalizo,” as “abandon your faith.” It’s not a bad dynamic interpretation of the word. The word’s literal meaning is to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another might trip and fall. But what