Category: John

John 7:14-24
14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”

16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”

20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

His ability, knowledge, and all that made Him a great teacher came from God, the one who sent Him. He knew where His gifts cane from, and He knew that they were given to I’m to glorify the Father. The gifts that are given to us, which are manu, are not meant to place you in high esteem among man, rather they are given to you to glorify God.

As the people chose to pick on Jesus’ great work on the Sabbath, they failed to notice that they had done the same many times before. They could not see their own faults and wrongdoings because they were stuck on law and trying to please man. Trying to please each other.

In this world it is commonplace to rely on the judgement of man, and base our understanding of what is right on the judgement of our peers. What we are supposed to do is weigh what we do against the way that Jesus lived His life. As you know, we will always find someone that will agree with us even when we are hurting ourselves or those that we love. We need His example to live by. It is is given to us in the Bible and it needs to be read…daily. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK 

All in Gods time, not ours…

John 7:1-13
After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?”

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.

Jesus always acted on the direction of the Father. He did not take any action unless it came directly from God. The reason for this is that this world can ensnare all of us, and Jesus was to live the perfect and blameless life so that our sins would be taken to the cross. He is the Messiah.

Those that were fearful of speaking about Jesus were fearful because they did not yet fully believe in Him. Even His own brothers did not. Jesus understood that, and loved them all the same. Their disbelief did not change His love for them. Many of them thought He was a good man. Many of them thought He was deceptive. Nonetheless, Jesus would remain steadfast and strong in His journey.

Jesus is our example to live by. Our standard. We can never love the perfect life that He did, but because of Him we do not have to. It should be our goal to give the perfect effort in trying to live up to the standars that Jesus set for us. He knows we will stumble and fall, and He does not hold that against us. As a matter of fact He uses the stumble to bless others. It’s a wonderful equation in the end, but it’s difficult when we try to work it out ourselves.

Today, let us focus on today. Not tomorrow. Not yesterday. Not next week. Today! Ask God to reveal exactly what He wants from you today. There is something He can do for others through you. As for that. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

John 6:60-71
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

The gate is narrow. It takes discipline, devotion, commitment, and love, to be able to live right by God. It also takes trust. We must belive and have faith in the the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe it happened the way the Word says it happened…it’s not easy.

Many did abandon Jesus. They were fearful and could not understand what was happening. They left. The Twelve stayed. They stayed with Jesus. The trials they would face are insurmountable. To the very core this world rattled these men. I can only imagine. What faith they possessed. I pray for that now.

I want to be one of the Twelve. I want their faith and loyalty. I want it to be new every day. I don’t want to rest on yesterday’s blessing. I ask God to give us this day our daily bread. Just enough for today. Let tomorrow be taken care of by You, as it always has been. Perfectly.

As we grow closer to God, and you begin to see His light in your life, at that moment you need to praise Him. That blessing you are to give away. You are to pour it out on all who come close to you. Cups need filling. We are to fill them with the overflowing blessing of Living Waters. From our hearts the blessing will pour from Him to us and on into the entire world. Speak it today. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

John 6:41-59
41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’[d] Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Jesus came to earth to save us with His perfect life. He lived the perfect sinless and blameless life so that He could take  our place on the cross. Through this our sins were carried away and forgiven. It is His body that was given up for us.

Those that are entrenched in law are unable to see Him for who He is. He is the Savior of the world, and it is necessary that He is acknowledged as such through the way that we speak with Him daily. As we pray to the Holy Spirit, we are empowered and given the strength necessary to overcome all obstacles in our lives. If we only look to what feeds the flesh yet ignores the spirit, then we will only be temporarily satisfied.

Through Jesus we find a bottomless well of life, love, and forgiveness that is devoid of fear. In Him we find rest from the trials of this world. In Him we find peace. In Him there exists every good thing. We must go to Him every day and receive His gift. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

We have to look past what we see and see with our heart…

John 6:25-42
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[c]”

32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

We can all very easily get caught up in only seeing what is isibke with our eyes. These men that were with Jesus wanted signs so that they could believe. They wanted proof, even after this proof was already given. They wanted more. Sound familiar?

No worries…He has you. He does not mind that you ask. Spiritual maturity will happen as you walk with Him. He will show you when it is time, but you must submit to the will of the Father and not your own. You cannot allow your eyes to be fixated on this world. It is a process, and one that can be used against you of you let it.

To day, let’s ask for all things that we need and want, like a child does to his/her father. Begin a conversation with Him, and allow Him to grow in you. He will send you where you need to go if you ask Him. It may take some time. That is where faith will become evident to you and you will see the fruits of your faith. People may doubt you or question, that is good. People may say that you are not worthy, that is good. Have FAITH. He see you. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

John 6:16-24
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

A following. A group to lead. Not lead them to some place magnificent in their, but rather a place of magnificence because that is where Jesus is. People were will to cross the sea to get to Jesus and His disciples. It was worth it, and they noticed. It was their eyes that made the observation, but it was their heart that prompted them to move.

We all have those times when we are unsure of where to go next. Which direction to turn, what friend to lean on in times of trouble. In those instances, many times we are weak and indecisive. It is that moment that we worry and concern ourselves about the things of this world and forget to follow Jesus.

When all else is falling apart and withering away, there will always be one constant. And when I say Always, I mean ETERNITY! Forever. It is Jesus. Jesus is the rock, the cornerstone, foundation of our lives, and if we choose to follow Him, that action will save the lives of hundreds even thousands people.

Today, let us choose to seek Him as soon as we get up in the morning. Let us give Him our first fruits. As we actively seek Him through prayer and Reading scripture, we have FAITH that God will answer our prayers and that His will be done in every situation.

Lord we thank you. We love you. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray for all those that do not know you. We pray that they find you so that their lives will be come a living sacrifice for you name.

Amen
DK

The miracle is incredible, but yet it happened. Jesus is the Son of God…

John 6:1-15
1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

“Lord, I ask that you help me with my unbelief this day.” Perhaps that is something we should all day every morning, and ever night. We simply do not have the capacity to love at the level that Jesus lived without His gifts to us. Through Jesus were are made pure and righteous, sobrhst we can freely accept the gift that had been unearned.

Jesus was super – aware of the goings on around Him. He was aware of those that wished Him dead, as He held the keys to all secrets. Many began to show their intent to crown Jesus and fight for those that wanted the power. This was not what He came for…

He came for us…you and I. He came to save not to destroy. He came to provide an example to live by, and it is a perfect example. In God’s time, all will be revealed and we will all be going home. Before that day, let us ask His will to be done on our lives. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Jesus had three to testify for Him, as He did not begin His ministry by testifying about Himself…

John 5:31-47
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study[c] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[d]?

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

John the Baptist was the first to testify about Jesus to the world. The second testimony came in the form of His miracles and works. The third and final witness to testify for Jesus is the Word of God. These were the three required by Jewish tradition, belief, and law.

So then, why didn’t the “religious” of the day not see Him? What blinded them? The answer is the same thing that blinds many today. Reading and acquiring knowledge for personal gain rather than for the gain and glorification of the Father.

Jesus performed miracles on the Sabbath deliberately to make sure that those that were stuck in tradition and law would learn. Hiwever, in order to learn, they must have God in their hearts. The Word is alive and it lives in us. It is activated through reading, faith, and believing. The very scripture that the “learned” Jewish officials lived on was actually blinding them. They failed to acknowledge Jesus was the Messiah because after all they would’ve known right?

Jesus reminds them that because of this, they will be judged by Moses rather than He who had come to deliver them. The point…move past law and towards a standard higher than rules. God will see Jesus rather than your sin, and as He does, you are forgiven. Ransom paid. Freedom granted. Eternal life awaits. Love poured out into us.

Now, we can witness for Jesus. We can do this daily. We are called to testify and speak the Gospel to all. We are to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. We are to love ourselves, and then love our neighbors. So, ask Jesus to come into your life, step toward what you have been called to do, and speak the mighty name of Jesus. #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Walking in the authority og God the Father…

John 5:16-30
16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

At no point did Jesus act without the approval of God the Father in Heaven. When He healed, whether it was on the Sabbath or not, He did not do it unless He was instructed to do so by God. Those that were stuck in law could not truly see Him who was sent to set us all free if we believe.

Jesus walked this earth with authority as the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Messiah. As He did, He taught us how to love. Each interaction and conversation with those chosen in the Gospel was tailored to fit them and give them the most valuable of testimonies.

Such is true for for our lives as well. Our Faith can be different, can look different, can feel different. But friends, a person with just a mustard seed of faith can move mountains. Faith and love are powerful actions. Add Hope and watch out, for it is Hope that pulls you through when Love and Faith may seem fleeting. Hang on…

He will come again soon, and when He does, what a glorious day that will be. Until then, God use me as your will sees fit. Here Am I, Send ME! #JesusSaves

Amen
DK

Another healed…

John 5:1-15
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”

12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Stop sinning. This is exactly what it means. Stop sinning, or worse could happen to you. Those were the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ then, and they are His words now. Worse could happen to you.

Ask for help. Ask Him. He will respond. We must listen when He does. You will get clear direction from the Holy Spirit. That was a promise from Jesus as well, a Spirit that is always with us to help guide us as we grow toward God. Son, hiqever, can cause us to fall away or divert from God’s plan in our lives. He never fails and He will make it right, but if we would only listen the first time.

Get up, grab your mat, and walk. Amen! Can you picture the scene? How amazing that must’ve been to see that in person. We are all hurting in one way, shape, or form on this earth. It’s not home. The devil was given free feign here, and he tries daily to get us and drag us away. He is good at it. Don’t try to fight Him alone. You need Jesus to conquer the devil, like He did so many times in His life. Run to Him, and always get up and walk. #JesusSaves