Monthly Archives: March 2014

Our last reading had Jesus out teaching people where John the Baptist had done his ministry. He got a message that his friend Lazarus was sick. His sisters sent word that, “The one you love is sick.” This phrase means that Jesus considered this man a close friend. I love this deeply human side of … Continue reading »

Today’s reading picks up right after the healing of the blind man, yesterday. He uses a sheep and shepherd metaphor. The concept of a shepherd in the Old Testament was a royal caretaker of God’s people. God is called the Shepherd of Israel in several places, including Psalms, Isaiah and Ezekiel. God gave great responsibility … Continue reading »

Today, we get to see Jesus in action. As Jesus walks along, he comes across a man who was born blind. His disciples ask him if was it his sins or his parents’ sins that caused him to be blind. Jesus has a lightning fast response here. Neither. It was no one’s fault. This man … Continue reading »

Yesterday, the last verse was, “Many put their faith in him.” Apparently, although many people had made a formal profession of faith in Jesus, the rest of this chapter shows that they were not true believers. They start off by arguing the point that they have never been slaves to anyone which is quite ironic … Continue reading »

After yesterday’s showdown, Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives, but at dawn, he appears at the temple courts and is teaching the crowds. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have hatched a plan. They interrupt his teaching and bring him a woman caught in the act of adultery. They tell him the … Continue reading »

About six months later, it’s time for another feast, the Feast of the Tabernacles. Jesus’ brothers tell him he should leave Galilee and go to Judea so everyone can see all of the miracles that he performs. They tell him to get out and show the world his stuff. No one who wants to become … Continue reading »

Today’s reading picks up the day after Jesus walked on water. The crowds are diligently searching for Jesus and finally find him. They are seeking him because he fed them physically with the fish and the loaves. He tells them they should not be searching for food that spoils; they should be searching for eternal … Continue reading »

  In today’s reading, Jesus is busy performing miracles. The first one he performs is the feeding of the five thousand. This is a very familiar story to most Christians and is one of only two miracles that appear in all four Gospels. The other is the greatest miracle, the resurrection. John tells us it … Continue reading »

Today, the showdown with the Jewish leaders continues. Yesterday, they argued about Jesus healing on the Sabbath and he tells them that he is the Son of God. He tells them that they should require no more testimony than that, but he knows they don’t believe him, so he talks about others who have testified … Continue reading »

Just as we suspected, the Jews were outraged by the healing of the man at the pool. Jesus had healed him on the Sabbath and that broke their laws. The Jews of that time didn’t refer to God as “Father;” the term was too intimate. When Jesus referred to God that way, he was saying … Continue reading »