- araratchurch
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Last time, our guide took us to see an interesting event where the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery, before Jesus, asking Him what punishment she should have. It seems that they were setting a trap for Jesus. If He says to not stone her, then they can accuse Him of breaking the Law of Moses. We watched with amazement as the wisdom Who created all things, gave one simple instruction: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” The woman’s accusers scattered, and Jesus sent her off, telling her to leave her life of sin. Jesus then becomes embroiled in yet another argument with the religious leaders as to the source of His authority.
Before checking out today’s itinerary, let’s see the new people to whom we were introduced last time:
>A wayward woman, caught in the very act of adultery
Now, let’s set out for today’s adventure with our guide:
When Jesus and the disciples leave the scene of the religious leaders trying to again stone Him, they pass by a man who was born blind. The disciples ask Jesus as to who had sinned, causing this blindness. Jesus says that it wasn’t because of anyone’s sin, but so that the works of God could be revealed through the blind man. Jesus then makes paste with His saliva and some clay and places it on the blind man’s eyes. He then instructs him to go wash himself in the pool of Siloam. Having done so, the blind man can now see! This miracle sets people at odds as to whether this man had actually been blind or not. When the Pharisees catch wind of this, they bring the blind man in, demanding as to how he had been healed. Oh, did I mention, this is on the Sabbath? The blind man tells them exactly what happened, but they seem dissatisfied with the answer. They, too, question whether or not he had actually been born blind, dragging his parents in to ask whether he was born blind or not, and if so, how he was made to see. The blind man’s parents—fearing being cast out of the synagogue—defer to their son to answer, as he is of age. At this, they call back the formerly blind man, asking again how he was healed. The healed man sticks with his story, because it is true. Additionally, the blind man gets “smart” with the religious leaders who then accuse him of being born in sin and throw him out. Jesus—hearing that he has been thrown out—looks him up and actually reveals who He is to the blind man. Jesus then makes a very interesting comment about the fact that He came into the world so that those who were blind could now see, and that those who could see, would be made blind.
Our highlighted verses for today:
“And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.””
John 9:2-3, 5-9, 13-16, 18, 20-21, 24-25, 30, 34-37, 39 NKJV
Question for reflection:
What does Jesus mean by saying: “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
Next time, our guide will take us to hear Jesus talk about a Shepherd and His sheep.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 10
- 5 min read
“A Journey with John”
Day 16: No one else is without sin (John 8)
Last time, our guide led us with Jesus to His appearance at the Feast of Tabernacles where Jesus explained the authority of His message as coming from the Father. As well, we saw Jesus proclaim concerning the Holy Spirit and how that through Jesus, we would be able to receive the Holy Spirit into our innermost being.
Before heading out on today’s excursion, let’s see the new people to whom we were introduced last time:
>Jesus’ brothers - Although we heard mention of Jesus’ brothers on “Day 4” of our journey with John, last time, we had the opportunity to hear them speaking, and we came to understand that even they did not believe in Jesus
> The Holy Spirit of God - although there are several references to the Holy Spirit throughout the Book of John, here we see a direct reference by Jesus to the fact that He is the dispenser of the Holy Spirit to us
> Temple officers - sent by the religious leaders to bring Jesus in, although they did not do so at this time
Well, let’s head out with our guide and rendezvous with Jesus. It seems that the scribes and Pharisees have cooked up a plan to be able to accuse Jesus:
After the incident of Jesus teaching in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, we see that Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives. However, He returns back to the temple early in the morning, and begins to teach. Suddenly, we see the scribes and the Pharisees, bringing a woman before Jesus, saying that she has been caught in the very act of adultery. They present Jesus with the fact that Moses said that she deserved to be stoned and asked what He thinks should be done. Rather than Jesus answering their question directly, He simply instructs that the person there who has no sin, should be the first one to throw a stone. We watch, as one by one, all of the accusers walk away. Jesus then tells the woman that He will not condemn her either, and that she should go and not sin any more. Jesus went on to teach the people about the fact that He is the light of the world and those who follow Him will never walk in darkness. At this point, the Pharisees accuse Him of bearing His own witness. Jesus says that it is appropriate that He bears witness of Himself, and that the Father also bears witness of Him. He tells the people that their problem is that that they don’t know Him or His Father, at which point, an argument breaks out about whether they are free or are slaves. Jesus reminds them that a person who sins, is a slave of sin. The people seem to be very arrogant about the fact that they are Abraham’s seed; but Jesus tells them that if they were Abraham‘s children, they would believe in Him. He tells them that they don’t know His Father and that they are doing the work of their father: the devil. They accuse Jesus of having a demon, to which Jesus answers that He honors His Father and that they are dishonoring the Father. Jesus then tells them that if anyone keeps His words, they will never see death. The Jews challenge him with the fact that Abraham indeed saw death. So, how could He say that He would not see death? Then Jesus says something that leads them to try to stone Him again. He says: “Before Abraham was, I Am.”
Our highlighted verses for today:
“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”
John 8:3-5, 7, 10-12, 14, 19, 21, 28, 31-32, 34, 36, 44-45, 47, 49, 51, 57-59 NKJV
Question for reflection:
Why did Jesus say that the religious leaders did not know His Father, but were of their father the devil?
Next time, our guide will take us to see another miraculous sign that causes yet even more confusion to break out.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 10
- 4 min read
Last time, our guide took us to hear a very special sermon from Jesus, in which He boldly proclaimed that He was the true bread from heaven, and that His body and blood are the food that lead to eternal life. Many of Jesus’ disciples found this so offensive and hard to understand, that they left following after Him. Jesus gave the Twelve the opportunity to do the same, but they remained with Him, believing that He was Who He said He was.
Before heading out on today’s excursion, let’s see the new person to whom we were introduced last time:
>Judas Iscariot - In John 6:71 we find the first mention of his name and are also told that he was the one who would betray the Lord.
Well, fellow journeyers, let’s catch up with our guide:
We start today’s excursion in Galilee, where Jesus is now staying, because the Jews were seeking to kill him in Judea. We see that the Feast of Tabernacles is at hand and Jesus’ brothers are going to it. As well, His brothers heckle Jesus, because they do not believe in Him. Jesus says He will not go up to the feast because His time has not yet come. However, when the brothers get on their way, Jesus goes secretly to Jerusalem for the feast. The Jewish leaders—already at the feast—are looking for Him and there is much disagreement among all of the people as to whether Jesus is good or bad. In the middle of the feast, Jesus goes up to the temple and is teaching, informing the people that what He speaks, is what the Father has given Him to speak. He also chastises them for condemning Him for healing a man on the Sabbath, as they also break the Sabbath by circumcising on the Sabbath. Because of the power of His teaching, many of the people are beginning to consider that He truly is Who He said He is. The Pharisees, having heard this, determine all the more to take Jesus in, sending officers to do exactly that. However, because of Jesus’ powerful teaching, they did not bring Him in, causing the Jews to become enraged. On the last day of the feast, Jesus cries out in the presence of the multitude in attendance, that He has living water; and He’s willing to give it to whoever will come to Him to receive it. Our guide tells us that He is speaking of the Holy Spirit, Who had not yet been given, because Jesus has not yet been glorified. When the Jews become angry concerning the fact that Jesus has not yet been taken in, Nicodemus reminds them that they are not to judge a man, before giving him a chance to defend himself. Of course, they rebuff Nicodemus‘s premise, saying that no prophet has ever risen out of Galilee.
Our highlighted verses for today:
“Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For even His brothers did not believe in Him. Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?” The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.” On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. So there was a division among the people because of Him. Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.””
John 7:2-3, 5-8, 11, 14-16, 23, 31-34, 37-39, 43, 50-52 NKJV
Question for reflection:
How could different people all hear the same thing from Jesus, yet some believe Him, and others not only don’t believe in Him, but want to see Him killed?
Next time, we’re going to meet another wayward woman and see what happens to her.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!