- araratchurch
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Last time, our guide took us to the pool of Bethesda. As it turns out, it wasn’t a pool party, but there was a reason to celebrate: A man who had been waiting 38 years for his turn to get into the pool for healing, finally got his turn when Jesus healed him. The problem with this scenario is that Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath and the Jewish leaders weren’t having any of it. Jesus began a discourse with them that we will look further into today.
Before heading out on today’s excursion, let’s see the new people to whom we were introduced last time:
> A man who had an infirmity for 38 years
>More of the Jewish religious leaders
Well, Jesus had the room pretty much on fire last time. Let’s head out to see what else He has to say:
Jesus, having healed a man at the pool of Bethesda, now comes under fire from the Jews because He performed this healing on the Sabbath. As we left the scene last time, Jesus has informed the Jews that He does what He sees His father do. As well, He informs them that His Father has committed all judgment into His hands. Jesus now begins to lay out the authority by which He is doing what He is doing, as well as excoriating the Jewish leaders. Jesus goes on to tell them that whoever believes what He is saying, will pass from judgment into everlasting life. He reiterates that the Father has granted Him to have life within Himself (that is, can give eternal life) and informs them that soon even the dead would hear His voice. He tells them that when the people come forth from their graves, some will experience the resurrection of life; but those who have done evil, will go to the resurrection of condemnation. Jesus then points out to them that there are witnesses who speak on His behalf, one of which, is John the Baptizer. Additionally, He says the works He performs, give witness of Who He is, as well as the Father Who has sent Him. Jesus tells them that they don’t have God‘s word living in them, and notes that it’s strange that even though they search the scriptures trying to find a way to eternal life, they don’t see that those very scriptures testify of Him. He says that they are not willing to come to Him that they might have eternal life. He then breaks it down further, by saying that if they believed Moses, they would believe Him, for Moses had written about Him. But, since they don’t believe Moses, they’re certainly not going to believe His words.
Our highlighted verses for today:
““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?””
John 5:24-25, 28-29, 32-33, 36-37, 39-40, 46-47 NKJV
Question for reflection:
Where did Moses speak of Jesus?
Next time, we’ll head out to a miraculous feast.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Last time, our guide took us back to Cana of Galilee, where we saw Jesus heal a nobleman’s son, from a distance!
Before heading out on today’s journey, let’s see the new people we met last time:
> A nobleman from Capernaum
> Servants of the nobleman
> The nobleman’s son (mentioned)
Now we’re ready to head out. Let’s go with John and see what all the “stir” is about a certain pool:
Because of a Jewish feast, Jesus heads up to Jerusalem. Arriving in Jerusalem, he goes to the pool of Bethesda. Here, Jesus finds Himself among a multitude of sick people. You see, sometimes an angel would come down and stir the water of the pool and the first person in the water would be healed. Jesus comes across a man who had been waiting there for 38 years for his turn in the pool. Jesus asks the man whether he wants to be healed. The sick man says that he wants to be healed, but anytime the water is stirred, other people beat him into the water seeing there was no one to help him get in fast enough. Jesus simply tells him to take up his bed and walk. And immediately, he was completely well. The problem is, this happened on the Sabbath, and some of the Jews saw the healed man carrying his bed. When they corrected him for carrying his bed on the Sabbath, he said that the one who had healed him, had told him to do so. They ask him who healed him, but he doesn’t know. Jesus had withdrawn from there. After the healed man’s interaction with the Jewish leaders, Jesus found him in the temple and told him to stay away from sin, or a worse thing will come on him. The Jews were livid with what Jesus did and wanted to kill Him. Jesus says that His Father is working, so He is working. This statement really sets the Jews on fire. Jesus not only healed on the Sabbath, but He was calling God His Father. Jesus then tells them that what He is doing is because He is doing what the Father is doing. Jesus then tells them that just as the Father can give life, He can also give life. He then informs them that the Father has given the authority to judge to the Son. He then warns that those who don’t honor the Son are also not honoring the Father Who sent Him.
Our highlighted verses for today:
“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Now, knowing who it was who had healed him, the man went and told the Jews that it was Jesus who healed him. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,”
John 5:2-6, 8-9, 12, 14, 16-17, 19, 21-22 NKJV
Question for reflection:
Why is Jesus suited to be a perfect judge of mankind?
Next time, we get to go hear Jesus finishing His rebuke of the Jewish leaders.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Last time, our guide took us to witness what turned out to be a wonderful revival in Samaria. Indeed, many of the Samaritans came to believe in Jesus because of the testimony of a wayward woman.
Before heading back out with John on our next excursion, let’s look at the new people we met last time:
> Some Samaritans from the village of the wayward woman
We’re all caught up. Now let’s catch up with our guide. It looks like Jesus is on the move:
After spending the two days in Samaria, Jesus left and went to Galilee. It seems that Jesus may have decided to go to Cana of Galilee, rather than back to Nazareth (also in Galilee, but a few miles away), because, as we heard Him say, “A prophet has no honor in his own country.” But Jesus does receive an excellent welcome in Galilee because the people there had seen the signs He performed at the Passover Feast (our destination on “Day 5”). As Jesus arrives in Cana, He is met by a nobleman from Capernaum. The nobleman begs Jesus to come with him and heal his critically ill son. Jesus remarks that the people are always seeking a sign, but tells the nobleman to go home, where he will find that his son has recovered. Surely enough, as the nobleman leaves to go home, he is met by his servants who tell him that his son has recovered. The nobleman asks them what time his son recovered, and finds out that it was exactly the same time Jesus said his son would recover! This miracle leads to the nobleman’s whole household believing in Jesus. It seems that we have just seen the second sign that Jesus has performed since he came out of Judea.
Our highlighted verses for today:
“Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.”
John 4:43-44, 46, 48, 50-51, 53 NKJV
Question for reflection:
Why would people fail to honor a prophet who is from their own country?
Next time, we’re going to go with Jesus to a pool!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!