Daily Inspirations

  Good morning. Jesus continues with His figure of speech about the sheep. I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. Remember that the sheep hear the voice of the shepherd. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. And now we have a verse frequently quoted: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it (more) abundantly. If we truly believed that, we would not hesitate to obey Jesus when He tells us to do something. Instead, even believers listen to the thief. I am the good shepherd (that would imply that there are those who are not good). The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and i...

  Good morning!  Jesus is getting ready to give an illustration in which He uses more metaphors to describe Himself. He who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is a Shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. There are those who try to persuade members of a church to follow them instead of the Pastor. They of course do it surreptitiously. (I never have an occasion to use that word. I still remember the first time I heard an explanation of what that word means. It was in high school during gym period. Instead of having physical activity, we heard a lecture by someone. They said that you can remember what that word means by the last three letters of the word - sly. It is something that is done on the sly.) The sheep know the shepherd’s voice. He also knows their name. This implies a...

  Good morning. Today we finally finish with the blind man. Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, do you believe in the Son of Man? Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him? You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you. Lord, I believe. And he worshiped Him. Jesus did not fit the pattern that the Pharisees were expecting, so they did not believe that He was the son of man. This man did not care whether or not Jesus fit the pattern. He had been healed, and therefore he believed. For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind. The Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said, we are not blind too, are we? To them being called blind was an insult because they “knew“ everything that was supposed to be. If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, we see, your sin remains. They trusted in their knowledge to save them. They had many rules and re...

  Good morning. The Pharisees come back again and asked the man who was blind “what did He do to you? How did He open your eyes? Of course the man gets upset, wouldn’t you? I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you? He’s getting a little bit bold speaking to the religious leaders like that. You are his disciple, we are disciples of Moses. As we used to say, well touch you. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from. They say this a 1000 years after Moses; but while Moses was alive, the people of Israel fought him tooth and nail. Well here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man we’re not f...

  Good morning. Back to the blind man: The Pharisees couldn’t figure out Jesus, and so they asked the blind man what he thought about Jesus. He is a prophet. Watch as we go through this – his opinion about Jesus changes. Right now he is in the afterglow of the healing, and so he thinks the world of Jesus. Anyone would. Just like today when a miracle happens, the Pharisees did not believe that he had been born blind. They thought there was some logical explanation why he was healed. After all there had been people who had sight; temporarily lost it; and then regained their sight; but they had never heard of anyone who had been born blind receiving their sight. So they questioned his parents to make sure he was actually born blind; and if so, how could he now see? They confirmed that he had been born blind, but they refused to speculate on how he had been healed, because if they said that Jesus was the Christ, they would be put out of the synagogue. That was a horrific thing to happe...

  Good morning. We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world. Jesus had just said that shortly before, and will say it again later that He was the Light of the world. It is even more interesting that He says it now when He has encountered a blind man. He wasn’t just making some philosophical statement; He intended to put actions to His words. He spat on the ground; made clay; and applied the clay to the man’s eyes. He then told the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam. He did, and came back seeing. When people saw him, they said isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg? They asked the man how his eyes were opened. The man called Jesus made clay, anointed my eyes and told me to go wash. I did, and I received sight. They brought the man to the Pharisees and – uh oh – it was the Sabbath on the day when Jesus did this. He told the Pharisees what Jesus did. But since Jesus did...

  Good morning, and merry Christmas! We are going to digress and look at the first Christmas. This was something that had been foretold centuries before; and yet people still did not understand what was going to happen. They were thinking that the Messiah was going to come as an adult and was going to re-establish the nation of Israel above all other nations. They were not expecting Him to come as a baby, supposedly born to a carpenter and placed in a manger. Many things had to happen at precisely the right time. You had to have the right person to be His mother and the right person to be His supposed father. You had to have a reason for them to be in Bethlehem on the night He was born – the census. It had to be when shepherds would be in the field near Bethlehem watching their flocks. And just at the right time – an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, “do ...

  Good morning. So when Jesus said to the people, your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad, exactly what was He talking about? During what incident did this occur? Some believe that it was when Abraham met Melchizedek - that that was really Jesus in His pre-incarnate form. So the Jews said, You are not yet 50 years old, and have You seen Abraham? And now the statement that really got them upset: before Abraham was born, I am. It wasn’t just because Jesus said He was really ancient (that would just mean that He was nuts); it was because He said “I am”. They picked up stones to throw at Him, but He hid Himself and went out of the temple. This was not the only time that the people wanted to kill Him, but He slipped away. Nothing has said anything to the contrary, so we can probably assume that it was still during the feast of booths. He and the disciples were walking along and saw a man blind from birth. The disciples asked a question which even today peo...

  Good morning. So Jesus just told them that their father was the Devil. Do we not rightly say that You are a Samaritan (which the Jews despised and hated) and have a demon? Remember that these are the Jews that had believed Him. I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. Truly I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death. Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, if anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death. Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be? Again they are thinking of literal death of the physical body. If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, He is our God; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and ...

  Good morning. Abraham is our father. If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father. Remember that they had just said that Abraham was their father. Now they say: we were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God. At least when they are young, children tend to act like one of their parents. If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I’m saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. And now Jesus says something that would get anybody mad. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his o...

  Good morning. I’m sure you’ve heard people either in person or in the movies say “you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”. They don’t quote the first part of that statement which completely changes it. If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Do you want to be a disciple of Jesus – then continue in His word. It says that He said this to those who had believed Him (when He said that He was the “I am“). He was not just talking about getting your fire insurance. He was talking about truly being a disciple of His. Too many believers are not truly disciples of Jesus. Even though they believed Him, they were still thinking in the natural: we are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say you will become free? While they were not enslaved, Roman soldiers on every street corner indicated that they were not truly free. Everyone who commits s...

  Good morning. Jesus now sets them straight as to where He is from. You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. If you notice, the word He is in italics, which means that the translators added that word for clarification; but it was not in the literal translation of the passage. When God spoke to Moses in the burning bush, He said to tell the people of Israel that “I am” sent me. Jesus will refer to this passage later. So the people asked, who are You? What have I been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world. They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiativ...

  Good morning. Jesus had just said, I am the Light of the world. The Pharisees said, You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true. Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me. They of course did not understand. Where is Your Father? They were thinking of his earthly “father”, not His true heavenly One. You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also. They didn’t like where this was going, but no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come. I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your...

  Good morning. Now what did Jesus do when the scribes and Pharisees asked Him about stoning the woman caught in adultery? He stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. There has been much speculation about what He wrote, but no one knows for sure. Whatever it was, it was not sufficient to make them stop because they persisted in asking Him. He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. He again stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard what He said, they begin to go out beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone with the woman. Where are they? Did no one condemn you? No one, Lord. Neither do I. Go and sin no more. The next verse shows why that episode seems out of place. Then Jesus again spoke to them… To whom was He speaking – they had all left? He had been talking to the people about the rivers of living water. The officers had returned and reported to the scribes and Pharisees. So what follows seems to be back ag...

  Good morning. So now everyone is stirred up over Jesus and His words. Some said that He was the Prophet; others the Christ. Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? Scriptures say that the Christ will come from the descendants of David and from Bethlehem. They did not realize that both were true of Jesus. Remember that the chief priests and the Pharisees had sent officers to seize Him. They returned and said never has a man spoken in the way this man speaks. The Pharisees replied, no one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? This was not true because Nicodemus had come to Jesus. He then tries to speak up for Jesus. Our law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he’s doing, does it? You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee. My Bible says that they are mistaken because Jonah came from Galilee and perhaps others as well. There is a dispute that the story about the wo...

  Good morning. Remember that the people were upset with Jesus; so they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. It wasn’t His hour to go, so they couldn’t touch Him. Still, many believed in Him. When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He? That got the attention of the Pharisees and the chief priests; so they sent officers to seize Him. For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come. Of course they did not understand what He was talking about – even His disciples later on did not understand what He was talking about. No one even considered that He was talking about dying, rising from the dead, and then ascending to heaven. Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, if anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the...

  Good morning. Remember that last time the people said that Jesus had a demon. I did one deed, and you all marvel. The last time He was in Jerusalem, He healed the man by the side of the pool. At that time they were upset because He healed on the Sabbath. On this account Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the sabbath you circumcise a man. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? It is just the opposite today. People think that the only way they can get healed is to come to church and get healed on Sunday. Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. If only people would abide by that today. The people debated about who Jesus was. They wondered if the rulers thought that He was the Christ. However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows wher...

  Good morning. After His brothers had gone up to the feast, Jesus also went up, but not publicly. This is where the question comes in. We know that Jesus did not lie to His brothers when He said He was not going up to the feast; so was there a different way His words could’ve been translated, or perhaps did He not know that He was to go up until after they left? Again I don’t know. The people were looking for Him; some saying He was good and some that He led the people astray. In the midst of the feast, Jesus went up to the temple and began to teach. His words were not those of the ordinary man; so the people wanted to know how He had become learned, having never been educated. In today’s lingo – had not gone to school at a seminary. My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. You could say that His words rang true. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glor...

  Good morning. I pray that you are doing much better today. Jesus stayed in Galilee instead of going to Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. The Feast of Booths was near. It is a celebration of the harvest season. This is one of the feasts where all of the males were expected to go up to Jerusalem. His brothers encouraged Him to go into Jerusalem so that His disciples could see His works which He was doing. No one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world. For not even His brothers were believing in Him. They did not understand His mission. They were thinking in the natural. My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The word used for time here is not the one that means clock time. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come. Havin...

  Good morning. Father, we ask in Jesus name that You extend Your healing hand to us; that You bring about a miraculous healing quickly Lord - that You make us whole and complete quickly. In Jesus’ name we pray amen! Jesus’ disciples were complaining about His statement of eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. This emphasizes the importance of God’s word - if you want to have life, follow the word. There are some of you who do not believe. He is saying this to His disciples (not just the 12 who also were apostles but also others who were following Him). They were not just people in the crowd who happened to be there when He said these words. I guess you could say it was crunch time. Now we can see who truly believed and who just wanted part of the glamour of H...

  Good morning. Jesus’ response to their question about how can a man give us His flesh to eat made them even more confused, since they were thinking in the natural. Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. That made one think of cannibalism. Not only that, the Jews were extra careful to not consume the blood of any animal, since that was condemned by God. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. There’s that last day thing again. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he will also live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats is this bread will live forever. This really got the people upset, and it is understandable, since they were thin...

  Good morning. Jesus continues: everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. It says in another place that no one can see God and live. So is Jesus talking about before His incarnation that He saw God? There are several places in the Old Testament where it appears that God, not an angel, was interacting with humans. Was that actually Jesus before He became a man? Truly I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. Again it is not he who does something that has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh. This really puzzles the people – how can this man ...

  Good morning. Yesterday Jesus said that He came down from heaven not to do His own will but the will of Him who sent Him. So a good question would be, what is that will? This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. OK, so we might need a little more clarification. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone will beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. Again it is the believing that brings about the eternal life – not the doing of something. When is the raising up? It is on the last day. The people that were listening to Him were upset because He said that He was the bread that came down out of heaven. Of course they knew better: is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, I have come down out of heaven? They however did not know the full story, and Jesus was not about to explain it to them. No...

  Good Sunday morning. So now the people ask Jesus, what then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? Are you kidding me? Jesus just fed 5000 people with almost nothing, and you want to know what sign does He perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, he gave them bread out of heaven to eat. Truly, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father Who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that (He) which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world. They of course are still thinking in the natural. I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. You have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not (it is a double negative - emphatic negative) cast out. That means we can be confident that Jesus will never tur...

  Good morning. Jesus and His disciples go to the other side of the sea of Galilee. There was a large crowd because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. The Passover was near. This is the feeding of the 5000 which we have talked about before; so I won’t go into the details. When the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “this is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” They were looking at this sign only as a way to get plenty of free food. Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone. Then we have the incident where Jesus walked on the water. The next day the people came looking for Jesus – after all it’s breakfast time! They find Him on the other side of the sea and ask when did He get there. You seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. They were not seeking Him because He had performed ...

  Good morning. And the Father who has sent Me has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. You can know a lot of scriptures, even quoting them, without knowing the One who wrote them; nor letting them change your life. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me. They “knew“ the Scriptures, and “knew“ exactly how it would be when the messiah came; but since Jesus did not fit the pattern they envisioned, they completely overlooked Him as being the Messiah. It is very possibly the same today. People “know” what is supposed to happen during the end times. They could easily overlook what happens, because it does not fit the pattern they have envisioned. And you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. Since Jesus did not fit their pattern of the Messiah, they refused to trust in Him...

  Good morning. I can do nothing on my own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. It is hard for people to judge honestly because their own will a lot of times seeps into their judgment. Jesus judges fairly and honestly. If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. John testified about Me; but the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. John was revered by many; so his testimony was highly received. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. John has already called Jesus the Light, now Jesus calls John the Baptist the lamp. Both were lights of God. That should be enough to settle the issue; but - the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the w...

  Good morning. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgement because He is the Son of Man. If He had not given judgment to Jesus as the Son of Man, people would say how can God judge us - He doesn’t know what it’s like to be human? But Jesus, as man, did know what it was like to be human; and He was able to keep the law with perfection. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to resurrection of judgment. Notice the difference between this verse and the verse we talked about yesterday. Both said “an hour is coming“, but the one yesterday also added “and now is“. That sounded more imminent than this one does. That one said that those who hear will live. That implies that some would not hear. In this one, all hear ...

  Good morning. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgement to the Son. That’s a pretty scary statement for all those who have been hostile to Jesus. So that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. How would we feel if we owned a business, and sent our child to negotiate with someone from another company, and they disrespected our child? It would be just like they disrespected us to our face. He who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Now that is awesome! Of course that does not mean that we won’t die physically. An hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. The phrase “now is“ does not sound like it was going to be 2000 years later, but rather in the near future from when He said it. It sounds like some will hear...

  Good morning. Remember that it was the Sabbath, and the man by the pool did a horrible thing – he was carrying his pallet on the Sabbath. Hey don’t look at me, man. That dude who healed me told me to do this. Who was he? I don’t know. It says that Jesus found him; not that he found Jesus. You have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you. It doesn’t say anything about him becoming sick because of some sin that he did. I do notice that nowhere in the story does he give glory to God for healing him. Instead he goes straight away and tells the Jews it was Jesus who made him well. That got them stirred up; and they started persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. We will see that Jesus’ response made them even angrier. OK so the Jews were upset because Jesus was “working“ on the Sabbath by healing someone. Jesus’ response – My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working. That really got them upset; so much so that ...

  Good morning. After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. It does not say which one, but it must’ve been one of the major ones that expects all males to go up to Jerusalem. The beginning of the next chapter has the Passover at hand; so unless John skipped a whole year, this was not the Passover. There is in Jerusalem a pool, which is called Bethesda. Because he said “is” and not “was”, some argue that the gospel of John was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. However, John likes to use what is known in the Greek as the historical present. He uses the present tense instead of the past tense to describe an event - to draw you into the scene. It’s like someone telling a joke and saying, a man goes into a bar and… instead of a man went into a bar and…. You feel like you’re right there in the bar. So this very well could have been why John used the present instead of the past tense. There was a multitude of people around the p...

  Good morning. From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified about Him. This is what is supposed to happen to us. We share what God has done for us with others, and then they believe in Him through our testimony. Jesus then went back to Galilee. He testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. They received Him because they had seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast. They did not believe because of His words; they believed because of the signs He did. He returns to Cana where He turned the water into wine. A royal official from Capernaum heard that Jesus was in Galilee. His son was sick, so he implored Jesus to come and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe. Like any normal parent, he ignored Jesus’ criticism - please come before my child dies. Jesus simply said, go, your son lives. Most of us would’ve said, but You do...

  Good morning. I know that Messiah is coming; when that One comes, He will declare all things to us. I who speak to you am He. Jesus did not declare that He was the Messiah in front of the Jews – they would’ve gotten very angry. The disciples return, and the woman goes into the city. She tells them to come see a man who has told her all the things that she has done. This is not the Christ, is it? They went out of the city, and were coming to Him. The disciples had gotten something to eat, and so they encouraged Jesus to eat. I have food to eat that you do not know about. The disciples, as usual, were thinking in the natural. No one brought Him anything to eat, did he? My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. Now comes the verse that is similar to the one we looked at in a different gospel. Do you not say, there are yet four months, and then comes the harvest? I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields that they are white for harvest. It ...

  Good morning. Thanking in the natural, the woman at the well said “give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all this way here to draw”. Call your husband. I don’t have a husband. You have had five husbands and the one you now have is not your husband. I perceive that You are a prophet. Deflecting, she now brings up the bone of contention between the Jews and Samaritans: you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. God had said that Jerusalem was the place where the temple was to be built, and where worship was to occur. After the kingdom was divided, the northern kingdom worshipped in the mountains of Samaria. An hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (He didn’t say for the Jews - leaving us out). An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; for...

  Good morning. We are with Jesus and the woman at the well. 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’ve given you living water. In the book of Numbers, it talks about adding flowing or living water to the ashes of a sacrifice. The Holy Spirit is not like a lake or a pond just sitting there. He is living and moving and active in and through you. Of course the woman was thinking in the natural. Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? When the present well was cleaned out in 1935, it was found to be 138 feet deep. Did they have to dig that far to hit water, or was it that over time they had to keep digging and digging to keep getting water? In either case that is a desperation for water. That is the way we should be going after the Holy Spirit! You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us this well? Everyone who drinks of this water w...

  Good morning. Jesus left Judea and went way again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria. Remember that a lot of times the Jews went across the Jordan River to avoid having to go through Samaria. He went through Samaria because He was on a mission from God. Things did not happen to Him or by Him by coincidence. He came to a city near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus being weary from His journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. We don’t think about Jesus getting tired and thirsty. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water, Jesus said to her, give Me a drink. She said, how is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) people normally drew water at the end of the day; but as we shall see, she was not what one would call respectable. My Bible says that the phrase Jews have no dealings with Samaritans implies the meaning “do not use dishe...

  Good morning. John speaking of Jesus: what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. Jesus didn’t make stuff up; He only said and did what the Father told Him to say and do. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. (it’s not that this person gets a little bit, and this other person gets a whole lot!). The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. The Father did not hold anything back from the Son. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey (or believe) the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. So that’s the big question – do you believe in the Son? Some Christians are so focused on the wrong thing that this person or that person is doing. They try to get that person to stop doing it. But that’s not the problem – the problem is they do not have the Son. The o...

  Good morning. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. We see this very much today with all that’s going on in Washington and elsewhere. There are a lot of cockroaches afraid right now of being exposed to the light. They hide or try to misdirect the press. As we have seen many times in the past, those that condemn a particular sin the most are quite likely doing the same or worse in their own lives. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. Jesus and His disciples went to the land of Judea and were baptizing. John the Baptist was also baptizing. John’s disciples had a discussion with someone about purification. They told John that Jesus was baptizing, and everyone was coming to Him. They were th...

  Good morning. Continuing with Jesus and Nick at night. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. There was a plague, and whoever looked at the metal serpent that Moses held up was healed. Now this statement would disturb most Jews, because they believed that the Son of Man would live forever when He came upon the earth. They did not realize that He had to die on the cross. Whoever was hung on a tree was cursed. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Of course that is impossible for us to conceive of; that someone would give up their only child to save people who not only did not care about the one giving his/her child but even hated the one giving. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is...

  Good morning. We are still with Nick at night. Do not be amazed that I said to you (singular); you (plural) must be born again. So Jesus was not just talking to Nicodemus alone. Everyone must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. How can these things be? Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? There is in the Greek a definite article “the” in front of the word teacher; so he was not just any old teacher of Israel. I don’t know if that applied to just one person, or to several. In either case, I infer that that meant Nicodemus was not a young person. He had probably been in Jerusalem during many Passovers, especially the one where the 12-year-old Jesus was in the temple asking questions and answering the spiritual leaders. That was almost 20 years before; so he probably would not have been the teacher of Israel at that...

  Good morning. While Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. Jesus was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men. Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. It doesn’t say, but I assume it is still during this time of the Passover. This man came to Jesus by night. Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do the signs that You do unless God is with him. It just said that the people believed in His name because of the signs He was doing; yet it does not say what those signs were. Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. That is why unbelievers cannot tell what is of the kingdom of God and what is not – they’re not born again. Nicodemus doesn’t have a clue. How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he? Unless one is born of water and the Spirit ...

  Good morning. The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. John puts what will follow at the beginning of his gospel, and the other gospels put it at the end. Since John was there, then I believe he is the one that is right. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Of course it was necessary to have all these things, but not in the temple. People needed the animals to sacrifice; but it would’ve been a big hassle to bring them with them. People also had to have the right type of currency, and of course you could only get it here. But here should not have been in the temple. He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple. He poured out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. Stop making My Father’s house a place of business. The Jews were upset with Him. They wanted to know what sign do You show us as Your authority for doing these things? Je...

  Good morning. Now there were 6 stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing 20 or 30 gallons each. My Bible says that Jews became ceremonially defiled during the normal circumstances of daily life, and were cleansed by pouring water over the hands. Jesus told the servants to fill the water pots with water. They filled them up to the brim. That means that there was somewhere between 120 and 180 gallons of water. He then told them to draw some out and take it to the head waiter. I have no idea what type of vessel they carried the water in. I say that because I don’t know when it became evident that it was no longer water. Did it happen as they carried it, or when the head waiter tasted it? The headwaiter called the bridegroom. Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now. Have you ever wondered what the servants were thinking? The headwaiter did not...

  Good morning. Remember that we were with Nathaniel yesterday. Jesus saw him coming and says to him first, “behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” How do you know me? Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” Under a fig tree in the heat of the day is where an Israelite would dream of the coming of the Messiah to get their freedom from the Roman soldiers. Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these. You will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. That reminds one of Jacob’s ladder. On the third day from when all of this started, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. (This was actually Nathaniel‘s hometown); both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. Cana was not far from Nazareth; so at least Jesus’ mother...

  Good morning. The next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, behold, the Lamb of God! The disciples followed Jesus. Jesus wanted to know, what do you seek? They went with Jesus and spent the night there. One of the two that followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter‘s brother. It does not say who the other one was; it could’ve been John. Instead of keeping everything to himself, Andrew found Peter and said to him, “we have found the Messiah.” This of course is the way we should all be. When we come upon something so miraculous, we should share it with those who are closest to us. Andrew brought him to Jesus. It does not say whether or not Andrew had told Jesus about Peter. Jesus said first to Peter, “you are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas - Peter. Jesus found Philip and said to him, follow Me. Philip then found Nathaniel. This is the way spiritual multiplication works. You find one, then that one finds anoth...

  Good morning. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is He on behalf of whom I said, after me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me. I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water. Here John is telling us why Jesus was water baptized - it wasn’t because he needed to repent from sins He had done. Even John did not recognize Him (as being the Messiah), and they were related. We do not know how much interaction they had with each other, nor how old John was when he went to live in the desert; after all his parents were old when John was born. I have seen the Holy Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. I myself ...

  Good morning. Remember that some men had come from the Pharisees to question John the Baptist. Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The reason it was designated as Bethany beyond the Jordan is because Bethany was also the home village of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. It will also help us locate where Jesus was when the messengers from Mary and Martha came to tell Jesus that Lazarus was sick. It will be called the place where John was first baptizing. Father thank You that all is well when we are in Your love and care. Help us to feel that love today and every day

  Good morning. This time it really is morning. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. Remember that no one can see God and live. Remember when we were talking about the letters that John wrote, he was fighting the heresy of Gnosticism. They said that Jesus was just a man before the Holy Spirit came upon Him after being baptized; and that the Holy Spirit left Him when He was on the cross before He died. John is saying here that not only was Jesus God, but also that He was begotten. He became man also. Here John is also saying Jesus is presently in the bosom of the Father. This would not be true if Jesus were merely a man. When the religious leaders asked John the Baptist, “who are you?” He said that he was not the Christ. They had not experienced anyone in their lifetimes acting and speaking with the power and authority of God like John was. They were trying to put him in a box, just like people do today, so t...

  Good morning.  John testified about Jesus and cried out, saying, “this was He of whom I said, He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.” Now that is an interesting statement that Jesus existed before John, because John was actually born a few months before Jesus. He was again proclaiming the fact that Jesus was the Son of God - remember that He was in the beginning with the Father. For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. The letter of the law kills, but the Holy Spirit gives life everlasting! Father thank You that You give only life. Thank You for giving that life and all that goes with it to us and our families.

  Good morning. We started out with Jesus being called the Word. Remember that in Genesis God spoke, and things happened. And of course you use words when you speak. Then He was called the Light. Now John goes back to calling Him the Word. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father full of grace and truth. Jesus goes from being the glorious Word to becoming flesh. That is a great come down. He didn’t just stop by for a vacation; He dwelt among us. According to my Bible the Greek for dwelt is connected with the word tent or tabernacle; the verse would have reminded John’s Jewish readers of the tent of meeting which was filled by the glory of God. Jesus is the only begotten; we are adopted children of God. He came from the Father, and later would go back to the Father. He says that Jesus was full of grace and truth. Now to our minds these can sometimes be opposing concepts. We are used to thinking of grace or tru...

  Good morning. There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. This tells us that John had a divine calling on his life. Why did he come? He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. You have to know about something to testify about it - you don’t just read about it in a book. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. He knew his position and his calling – he did not try to take the place of Jesus. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. There have been many false lights over the ages. There was only one true One. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. They had been looking for the Messiah for thousands of years, and they did not recognize Him when He was standing in their presence. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. That seems simple enough. ...

  Good morning.  Now we start what is probably my favorite book – John. There is only a little bit of duplication with the other Gospels. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. That is so compact, and includes everything that you need to know about the Father and the Son. I forget the different heresies that it denies. A little different wording and it could be translated that the Son was a god – not the God. Again a little different wording, and it could be translated that the Father and the Son were the same. He was in the beginning with God. Even before the beginning of time, Jesus was with the Father. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. John used so many descriptive phrases for Jesus and the Light was one of them. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not comprehend it. You cannot have life n...

Good morning. So the two men return to Jerusalem, and find the 11 apostles together. The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon. They told the apostles what had happened. While they were telling all about these things, Jesus Himself stood in their midst and said to them “Peace to you”. Of course the apostles were not going to believe someone who told them such an incredible thing. They probably believed they were imagining things in their grief. Even though Jesus was standing right there, they still did not believe – they thought they were seeing a ghost. Of course we would probably be the same or worse. Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and feet? Touch Me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. That gives us an idea of how we will be one day. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, have you anything here to eat? They gave Him a piece of fish. He remi...

  Good morning. Now we have two men on the road to Emmaus. They were talking about all that just happened – the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. He wanted to know what they were talking about. Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened in these days? Jesus innocently – what things? “Jesus from Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people. They had not come to recognize Him as the Christ”. They were still thinking of Him as just a great man of God. “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel”. They were still thinking of Him as a conquering hero, not the one who was going to die for their sins. They then tell about the women who went to the tomb and did not find the body of Jesus. They said they had seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Was is it not neces...

  Good morning. They go to the Mount of Olives. Luke is very similar to Matthew and Mark concerning the garden and Jesus being arrested. Then Jesus is brought before Pilate. Then they take Him to Golgotha to be crucified. The women prepared spices and perfumes for His body. Luke does not say how many there are; but they all come on the first day of the week at early dawn bringing the spices which they had prepared. The stone is rolled away, and they enter the tomb; but they do not find the body of Jesus. Two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing. Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. They go to tell the disciples, but of course they do not believe them. Peter goes to the tomb and finds it empty. Father thank You that whatever we need, You supply us. Keep us and our family safe

  Good morning. Jesus said to Peter, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat. (sounds like the devil talking to God about Job). I have heard speakers saying that that was applied to Peter. There are two things wrong with that statement. First, the word you is the plural you. Second, it’s very hard to sift one item. So Jesus was talking about the entire group of disciples. But in the next part, He switches to the singular you. But I have prayed for you (talking just to Peter), that your faith may not fail; and you, when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Jesus did not pray that Peter would not be tempted; but that when he fell, we would rise again stronger than ever before. Peter of course says he will even die with Jesus; and Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times. When I sent you out without anything, you did not lack anything, did you? No. Now bring things with you; and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy ...

  Good morning. The disciples prepare what Luke says is the Passover. I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. We then have the bread and wine. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed! It was a done deal. Everything had been predetermined before the beginning of time. Now we would not like that – that something that important in our lives had been predetermined, and we had no say so in what was to happen. (now Jesus could have refused; but He could not change any one thing because the Scriptures had to be fulfilled.) Here Jesus is about to go through horrible suffering and death and what do His disciples do – there arose a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be the greatest. You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I gra...

  Good morning. Just when things look like they couldn’t get any worse – then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to happen, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. It’s like the fig trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. So it should not come as a surprise when it happens. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. First of all, the phrase “will not pass away” is a double negative which I’ve said before in Greek means it is a certainty that it will not happen. Second, as I also have said before, the phrase “all things take place” probably should be translated “all things begin to take place”. What are we to do – be on our guard. We have to be sure that we do not get distracted with th...

  Good morning. We then have the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus goes into the temple and throws out those who were selling. Then He tells the parable about the man who owns a vineyard and rented it out to some vine growers. Eventually they killed his son. All of this we have seen before. Now we get to Luke chapter 21. This is Luke’s version of Jesus’ prophecy about the end times. He tells the disciples that not one stone will be left upon another. They want to know when this will happen, and what will be the sign that it is about to happen. He says many of the same things that Matthew and Mark said. He talks about all the different things that will happen in nature and between peoples. Disciples will be put in prison and go on trial; but do not worry about what you will say because the Holy Spirit will give you the words. Some of things that Jesus talked about apply to the times around 70 A.D.; but a lot of the words are yet to be fulfilled. There some words that are very re...

  Good morning. As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. In Matthew, it was two blind men, and it was as they were leaving Jericho not approaching it. In Mark, it was also as they were leaving Jericho coming from beyond the Jordan, and it was blind Bartimaeus that received his sight. All three of these cases plus the one with Lazarus were shortly before Palm Sunday; so they were all within the same timeframe. Jesus enters Jericho (I believe coming from beyond the Jordan) and was passing through. There was a man named Zaccheus, he was a chief tax collector - he was rich! He tried to see who Jesus was, but he could not because he was too short. It is possible that the crowd was there because Jesus had just healed that blind man. He climbed up a tree in order that he could see Jesus. (right now that song about Zaccheus that you used to sing when you were a child is going through your head and won’t get out of it – ha ha ha!). When Jesus came to th...

  Good morning. Jesus told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself (He definitely was not praying to God): God, I thank you that I am not like other people; swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all I get. His righteousness consisted of all the religious things that he did for God. This kind of person defines righteousness in such a way that he or she definitely excels in those acts versus those around him or her. But that tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, God be merciful to me the sinner. All of our righteousness is as filthy rags. I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who ...

 Good morning. Jesus was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart. There was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in the city, and she kept coming to him, saying, give me legal protection from my opponent. For a while he was unwilling; but afterword he said to himself, even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out. Hear what the unrighteous judge said. Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? There may be times when it seems like God will not bring about justice for His children. Remember that He is always faithful, even when we are not. Father help us at all times to pray and to not lose heart, even when it seems like You don’t hear or won’t...

  Good morning. There was a rich man, and he normally dressed in fine clothes, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores. Notice that the rich man is never named, but the poor man is. The phrase covered with sores is a common medical term, and of course this is written by Luke the physician. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. What a contrast in what happened to each after they died. This was before the cross, so shouldn’t it be at least this good, if not better now? In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus with him. Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame. This is before the final judgment, and there was torment even at this point. During your life you received your good t...