John 7:1-36 – What Is The Key To Spiritual Discernment?
Education can easily become an idol – even in Christian circles. We can confuse academic training and book learning with genuine spiritual discernment that can only...
John 12:1-11 – Showing Our Devotion To Christ
[Originally posted Jan. 29, 2006] In our culture of restrained emotions, self-centeredness and pragmatism, it is healthy to take time to meditate on the supreme...
John 1:1-18 — The Incarnation of the Word of God
THE INCARNATION OF THE ETERNAL GOD IN THE PERSON OF THE WORD REVEALS THE ESSENCE OF GOD AND OFFERS SPIRITUAL LIFE THROUGH FAITH AND THE DYNAMIC OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN INITIATIVE
John 1:19-34 — The Witness of John the Baptist – The Difference Between Me and He
JOHN THE BAPTIST FULFILLS HIS MISSION OF IDENTIFYING JESUS AS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD
John 1:35-51 — Joy of Discovery
THE JOY OF DISCOVERY RENEWS THE CYCLE OF TESTIMONY —
WITNESS REGARDING CHRIST LEADS OTHERS TO THE JOY OF DISCOVERY (WHILE RENEWING OUR JOY) AND PROMPTS NEW WITNESSING (ON THE PART OF EVERYONE)
John 2:1-11 — Sign Miracle #1 – Manifestation of Glory – Changing Water Into Wine
JESUS FIRST MANIFESTED HIS GLORY IN SATISFYING THE HEART OF MAN WITH THE WINE OF NEW COVENANT LIFE AND FULLNESS OF JOY
John 2:12-25 — Cleaning House – Passion for the House of God
PASSION FOR TRUE SPIRITUAL WORSHIP LEADS TO INTENSE CONFLICT WITH MATERIALISTIC OPPORTUNISM
John 3:1-21 — Born of the Spirit (Born Again; Born Anew; Born From Above)
ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ONLY BY THE NEW BIRTH:
– ACCOMPLISHED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
– APPROPRIATED BY FAITH
John 3:22-36 — The Real Deal – Divine Validation of the Superiority of the Ministry of Jesus Christ
CHRIST CAN LEGITIMATELY OFFER MEN ETERNAL LIFE BY VIRTUE OF THE DIVINE VALIDATION OF THE SUPERIORITY OF HIS PERSON AND MINISTRY
(AS TESTIFIED TO BY JOHN THE BAPTIST)
John 4:1-26 — Thirst Quencher
OPPORTUNISTIC EVANGELISM OFFERS THE FREE GIFT OF SPIRIT PRODUCED LIFE, AWAKENS A SENSE OF SPIRITUAL NEED AND RECRUITS GENUINE WORSHIPERS
John 4:43-54 — Sign Miracle #2 – Faith Peepers Preferred Over Sign Seekers
EVEN THE MOST POWERFUL MUST HUMBLY TAKE JESUS AT HIS WORD TO EXPERIENCE THE REWARDS OF FAITH
John 5:1-18 — Sign Miracle #3 –God’s Strategy for Picking a Fight – The Law Maker Can Never Be the Law Breaker
JESUS DEMONSTRATES HIS SUPREMACY OVER LEGALISM AND HIS EQUALITY WITH GOD THE FATHER
John 5:19-30 — Divine Authority Vindicates All the Claims of Christ
CHRIST MANIFESTS EQUAL AUTHORITY TO GOD THE FATHER IN BOTH THE REALM OF LIFE AND THE REALM OF JUDGMENT
John 5:31-47 — The Judge of All the Earth Argues His Case in Court
CREDIBLE WITNESSES SUPPORT CHRIST’S CLAIMS BEFORE THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS
John 6:1-15 — Sign Miracle #4 – Feeding 5,000+ on a Limited Budget
THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE CAN ABUNDANTLY SATISFY ANY PHYSICAL NEED DESPITE THE APPARENT LACK OF PHYSICAL RESOURCES
John 6:16-21 — Sign Miracle # 5 – Walking on Water– Sinking or Swimming Are Not the Only Two Options
THE PRESENCE OF THE MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE SHOULD CALM ALL FEARS AND ACCOMPLISH ALL OBJECTIVES
John 6:22-40 — What Can Fill You Up? Only the Bread of Life
ONLY THE BREAD OF LIFE CAN SATISFY FOR ALL ETERNITY
John 6:41-59 — Feeding on the Bread of Heaven
THE BREAD OF HEAVEN WILL ONLY BE RECEIVED BY HEARTS PREPARED BY GOD THE FATHER
John 6:60-71 — The Hard Truth Is the Only Truth
FULL SECURITY FOR THE CHOSEN FEW BUT NO EASY BELIEVISM FOR TRUE DISCIPLES
John 7:1-36 — Willing to Do His Will
THE KEY TO SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT IS INWARD RIGHTEOUSNESS REFLECTED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO OBEDIENCE AND IN OUR SENSITIVITY TO THE WILL OF GOD
RESULT = TRULY SEEKING THE GLORY OF GOD
John 7:37-53 — Is It In You?
THE UNIQUE AND LOFTY CLAIMS OF CHRIST STIR UP DIVISION AND BIGOTED OPPOSITION
John 8:1-11 — No Condemnation
JESUS WILL NEVER ENDORSE A SPIRIT OF HYPOCRITICAL CONDEMNATION
John 8:12-20 — The Light of the World . . . The Light of Life
WHEN IT COMES TO THE VERACITY OF THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST THERE IS NO HIGHER COURT OF APPEAL THAN THE GODHEAD
John 8:21-30 — “I AM” Is the Simple Answer to the Question: “WHO ARE YOU?”
DESPITE REPEATED REVELATION, THE IDENTITY OF JESUS REMAINS AN ENIGMA TO THOSE BLINDED BY SIN
John 8:31-59 — Exposing False Faith
PRETENDER DISCIPLES QUICKLY TURN HOSTILE WHEN CHALLENGED REGARDING THEIR BONDAGE TO SIN AND REGARDING THEIR DISHONORING OF CHRIST
John 9:1-41 — Sign Miracle #6 – The Light of the World
OPENING THE EYES OF THE BLIND CAN ONLY BE A WORK OF GOD
John 10:1-21 — The Good Shepherd
ONLY THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP
John 10:22-42 — Believe the Works (Which Harmonize With the Words)
THE GOOD WORKS OF CHRIST SUBSTANTIATE HIS CLAIM TO DEITY
John 11:1-44 — Sign Miracle #7 – The Resurrection and the Life
RESURRECTION (THE ULTIMATE SIGN MIRACLE) DEMONSTRATES BOTH THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE VALUE JESUS PLACES ON FAITH
John 11:45-57 — Wanted . . . Dead or Alive
THE REDEMPTIVE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST ON BEHALF OF HIS PEOPLE IS PLANNED OUT IN PROPHETIC IRONY BY HIS CHIEF ENEMIES
John 12:1-11 — Anointed for Burial . . . Celebrating Resurrection
COSTLY DEMONSTRATIONS OF GENUINE DEVOTION TO CHRIST CAN TAKE PRIORITY OVER ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHARITABLE GIVING
John 12:12-19 — The Bandwagon of Popular Acceptance
WELCOMING CHRIST AS KING CAN BE A SHALLOW LIP SERVICE SPECTACLE WITH MINIMAL UNDERSTANDING AND ZERO COMMITMENT
John 12:20-36 — The Hour Has Come For the Lifting Up of the Son of Man
ONLY THE SACRIFICIAL DEATH OF THE SON OF MAN CAN PRODUCE LIFE FOR ALL MEN WHO BELIEVE
John 12:37-50 — Culmination of the Public Ministry of Christ Summed Up In Rejection
THE REVELATION OF THE FATHER VIA THE LIGHT OF HIS SON CANNOT BE RECEIVED BY EYES THAT ARE BLINDED AND HEARTS THAT ARE HARDENED
John 13:1-17 — Foot Washing: A Simple Function With Profound Significance
MOTIVATED BY LOVE, BELIEVERS NEED TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES AS SERVANTS AFTER THE PATTERN OF CHRIST AND DO THEIR PART TO SEEK THE ONGOING SANCTIFICATION OF ONE ANOTHER
John 13:18-38 — Who Is On the Lord’s Side? . . . Who Will Serve the King?
AGAPE LOVE IS THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD FOR DISCIPLESHIP LOYALTY AND THE REVEALING BENCHMARK FOR FAITHLESS BETRAYAL
John 14:1-14 –Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – The Road to God the Father Goes Through Jesus
OUR HEARTS NEED THE REASSURANCE THAT OUR FAITH IN CHRIST SECURELY CONNECTS US TO GOD THE FATHER
John 14:15-31 — Immanuel – The Abiding Presence of God
DESPITE HIS IMMINENT DEPARTURE, CHRIST PROMISES ONGOING REVELATION / ILLUMINATION TO THOSE WHO DEMONSTRATE THEIR LOVE BY OBEDIENCE
John 15:1-17 — Spiritual Horticulture – Abiding in Christ
FRUIT BEARING RESULTS FROM ABIDING IN CHRIST
John 15:18 – 16:6 — Preparation for Persecution
REMEMBERING THE ENCOURAGING PROPHETIC WORDS OF CHRIST MAKES PERSECUTION MORE PALATABLE
John 16:7-15 — The Departure of Christ Unleashes the Spirit of Truth
THE HOLY SPIRIT EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATES GOD’S TRUTH ON A WIDER SCALE TO BOTH THE WORLD AND TO BELIEVERS
John 16:16-33 — Seeing Jesus Clearly Solves Everything
SEEING JESUS BY FAITH CONNECTS US TO DIVINE LOVE, JOY AND PEACE
John 17:1-26 — The Passing of the Torch
FOR THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF MUTUAL DIVINE GLORIFICATION, JESUS PETITIONS THE FATHER FOR THE UNITY AND SECURITY OF THE ELECT (PARTICULARLY THE APOSTLES) WHILE THEY CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION IN AN UNFRIENDLY WORLD
John 18:1-11 — The Master of the Moment — Submitting Without a Fight But In Total Control
THE GREAT MAJESTIC “I AM” VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERS TO THE POWERLESS ARRESTING PARTY GUIDED BY TRAITOROUS JUDAS
John 18:12-27 — HIding and Denying
THE FRIGHTENED DISCIPLES HIDE AND DENY WHILE JESUS TESTIFIES OPENLY HE HAS NOTHING TO HIDE
John 18:28 – 19:16 — Pilate Forced to Consider the Claims of Christ
NEUTRALITY IS NOT AN OPTION WHEN IT COMES TO CHECKING OUT THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST AND PASSING JUDGMENT
John 19:17-30 — The Crucifixion of Jesus the Nazarene, The King of the Jews
AND DEMONSTRATED THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
John 19:31-42 — The Burial
PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT AND DEDICATED DEVOTION CONTINUES AS JESUS’ BODY IS PREPARED FOR BURIAL
John 20:1-18 — The Bodily Resurrection of the Son of God
THE EMPTY TOMB IS A POWERFUL WITNESS TO THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST – ESPECIALLY WHEN INTERPRETED BY THE APPEARANCE OF CHRIST HIMSELF!
John 20:19-29 — How Much Evidence Is Enough to Stimulate Faith?
THE RISEN LORD OFFERS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BELIEVE BEFORE WE SEE
John 20:30-31 — Theme of the Gospel of John
JESUS’ SPECIAL SIGN MIRACLES POINT US TO FAITH IN HIM AS THE PROMISED MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD — WHO ALONE CAN PROVIDE SPIRITUAL LIFE
John 21:1-14 — Fishing Lesson – Application to Fishing for Men
THE FINAL APPEARANCE OF THE RESURRECTED CHRIST REINFORCES THE NECESSITY FOR TOTAL DEPENDENCE UPON THE MASTER FOR SUPERNATURAL RESULTS
John 21:15-25 — Feeding Lesson – Application to Shepherding the Sheep
EACH UNDERSHEPHERD MUST PASSIONATELY AND PERSONALLY FOLLOW THE GREAT SHEPHERD AND CARE FOR THE SHEEP