John Chapter 8

The Pharisees and the adulteress. (1-11) Christ’s discourse with the Pharisees. (12-59)

Verses 1-11: Christ neither found fault with the law, nor excused the prisoner’s guilt; nor did he countenance the pretended zeal of the Pharisees. Those are self-condemned who judge others, and yet do the same thing. All who are any way called to blame the faults of others, are especially concerned to look to themselves, and keep themselves pure. In this matter Christ attended to the great work about which he came into the world, that was, to bring sinners to repentance; not to destroy, but to save. He aimed to bring, not only the accused to repentance, by showing her his mercy, but the prosecutors also, by showing them their sins; they thought to insnare him, he sought to convince and convert them. He declined to meddle with the magistrate’s office. Many crimes merit far more severe punishment than they meet with; but we should not leave our own work, to take that upon ourselves to which we are not called. When Christ sent her away, it was with this caution, Go, and sin no more. Those who help to save the life of a criminal, should help to save the soul with the same caution. Those are truly happy, whom Christ does not condemn. Christ’s favour to us in the forgiveness of past sins should prevail with us, Go then, and sin no more.

Verses 12-16: Christ is the Light of the world. God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God. One sun enlightens the whole world; so does one Christ, and there needs no more. What a dark dungeon would the world be without the sun! So would it be without Jesus, by whom light came into the world. Those who follow Christ shall not walk in darkness. They shall not be left without the truths which are necessary to keep them from destroying error, and the directions in the way of duty, necessary to keep them from condemning sin.

Verses 17-20: If we knew Christ better, we should know the Father better. Those become vain in their imaginations concerning God, who will not learn of Christ. Those who know not his glory and grace, know not the Father that sent him. The time of our departure out of the world, depends upon God. Our enemies cannot hasten it any sooner, nor can our friends delay it any longer, than the time appointed of the Father. Every true believer can look up and say with pleasure, My times are in thy hand, and better there than in my own. To all God’s purposes there is a time.

Verses 21-29: Those that live in unbelief, are for ever undone, if they die in unbelief. The Jews belonged to this present evil world, but Jesus was of a heavenly and Divine nature, so that his doctrine, kingdom, and blessings, would not suit their taste. But the curse of the law is done away to all that submit to the grace of the gospel. Nothing but the doctrine of Christ’s grace will be an argument powerful enough, and none but the Spirit of Christ’s grace will be an agent powerful enough, to turn us from sin to God; and that Spirit is given, and that doctrine is given, to work upon those only who believe in Christ. Some say, Who is this Jesus? They allow him to have been a Prophet, an excellent Teacher, and even more than a creature; but cannot acknowledge him as over all, God blessed for evermore. Will not this suffice? Jesus here answers the question. Is this to honour him as the Father? Does this admit his being the Light of the world, and the Life of men, one with the Father? All shall know by their conversion, or in their condemnation, that he always spake and did what pleased the Father, even when he claimed the highest honours to himself.

Verses 30-36: Such power attended our Lord’s words, that many were convinced, and professed to believe in him. He encouraged them to attend his teaching, rely on his promises, and obey his commands, notwithstanding all temptations to evil. Thus doing, they would be his disciples truly; and by the teaching of his word and Spirit, they would learn where their hope and strength lay. Christ spoke of spiritual liberty; but carnal hearts feel no other grievances than those that molest the body, and distress their worldly affairs. Talk to them of their liberty and property, tell them of waste committed upon their lands, or damage done to their houses, and they understand you very well; but speak of the bondage of sin, captivity to Satan, and liberty by Christ; tell of wrong done to their precious souls, and the hazard of their eternal welfare, then you bring strange things to their ears. Jesus plainly reminded them, that the man who practised any sin, was, in fact, a slave to that sin, which was the case with most of them. Christ in the gospel offers us freedom, he has power to do this, and those whom Christ makes free are really so. But often we see persons disputing about liberty of every kind, while they are slaves to some sinful lust.

Verses 37-40: Our Lord opposed the proud and vain confidence of these Jews, showing that their descent from Abraham could not profit those of a contrary spirit to him. Where the word of God has no place, no good is to be expected; room is left there for all wickedness. A sick person who turns from his physician, and will take neither remedies nor food, is past hope of recovery. The truth both heals and nourishes the hearts of those who receive it. The truth taught by philosophers has not this power and effect, but only the truth of God. Those who claim the privileges of Abraham, must do Abraham’s works; must be strangers and sojourners in this world; keep up the worship of God in their families, and always walk before God.

Verses 41-47: Satan prompts men to excesses by which they murder themselves and others, while what he puts into the mind tends to ruin men’s souls. He is the great promoter of falsehood of every kind. He is a liar, all his temptations are carried on by his calling evil good, and good evil, and promising freedom in sin. He is the author of all lies; whom liars resemble and obey, with whom all liars shall have their portion for ever. The special lusts of the devil are spiritual wickedness, the lusts of the mind, and corrupt reasonings, pride and envy, wrath and malice, enmity to good, and enticing others to evil. By the truth, here understand the revealed will of God as to the salvation of men by Jesus Christ, the truth Christ was now preaching, and which the Jews opposed.

Verses 48-53: Observe Christ’s disregard of the applause of men. those who are dead to the praises of men can bear their contempt. God will seek the honour of all who do not seek their own. In these verses we have the doctrine of the everlasting happiness of believers. We have the character of a believer; he is one that keeps the sayings of the Lord Jesus. And the privilege of a believer; he shall by no means see death for ever. Though now they cannot avoid seeing death, and tasting it also, yet they shall shortly be where it will be no more forever, (Ex 14:13).

Verses 54-59: Christ and all that are his, depend upon God for honour. Men may be able to dispute about God, yet may not know him. Such as know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ, are put together, (2Th 1:8). All who rightly know anything of Christ, earnestly desire to know more of him. Those who discern the dawn of the light of the Sun of Righteousness, wish to see his rising. “Before Abraham was, I AM.” This speaks Abraham a creature, and our Lord the Creator; well, therefore, might he make himself greater than Abraham. I AM, is the name of God, (Ex 3:14); it speaks his self-existence; he is the First and the Last, ever the same, (Re 1:8). Thus he was not only before Abraham, but before all worlds, (Pr 8:23; Joh 1:1). As Mediator, he was the appointed Messiah, long before Abraham; the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, (Re 13:8). The Lord Jesus was made of God Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, to Adam, and Abel, and all that lived and died by faith in him, before Abraham. The Jews were about to stone Jesus for blasphemy, but he withdrew; by his miraculous power he passed through them unhurt. Let us stedfastly profess what we know and believe concerning God; and if heirs of Abraham’s faith, we shall rejoice in looking forward to that day when the Saviour shall appear in glory, to the confusion of his enemies, and to complete the salvation of all who believe in him.

John Chapter 7

Isn’t it amazing? Here was God the Son, on earth to save us from our sins, and those He came to first (the Jews), wanted to kill Him. Actually, it was the Jewish LEADERS who hated Him because He is God and they wanted to do things THEIR way, not His.

“Booths” or “Tabernacles” was a feast of the Jews in which they remembered the time they (Israel) had lived in tents (“booths”) in the desert, after leaving Egypt. They also worshipped God in a tent (called The Tabernacle).

“His brothers” were Jesus’ half-brothers: named James, Joseph, Simon and Judas, as we see in Matthew 13:55. They were criticizing Him and telling Him He should to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem to show everybody His miracles. Jesus’ half-brothers were criticizing Him. They had seen Him do miracles but did not trust in Him. They should have, just as we should. They wanted Him to do miracles for “the world”. All we need to do is love the Lord, trust Him, and turn our lives over to him completely.

Jesus’ brothers had been telling Him what they thought He should do, and this is so much like us. We often think God should do something that WE want Him to do, when in fact, we really should just BELIEVE in Him.

Jesus depended completely on the Holy Spirit of God, in what He said and did. He would know in the Spirit when it was time for Him to go to Jerusalem. His brothers wanted Him to be impulsive, but He was faithful to God. Jesus’ half-brothers wanted Him to do “tricks” (miracles) in front of everybody, so they could say “that’s my brother!” They were embarrassed by Him and did not know Who He was (and is). They needed to see that all people are sinners in need of the Son of God.

It was not yet time for Jesus to go to the Feast of Booths, for the Holy Spirit had not yet revealed to Him that it was time to go. He told his half-brothers to go to the Feast without Him. Jesus’ half-brothers went to Jerusalem  but Jesus did not go with them. He stayed in the place called “Galilee”, which was north of Jerusalem. After Jesus’ half-brothers had left for the Feast, the Holy Spirit revealed to Him that it was now time for Him to go. He did not make some big announcement about it, but just quietly went.

The “Jews” were religious people who were attending the Feast of Booths, and they were arguing among themselves about Jesus. Some thought He was a “good man” and others did not agree. None of them understood that He was God. The arguments about Jesus were in whispers, because the people at the Feast were afraid of what the Jewish leaders might say.

The Feast of Booths lasted seven days and now it was right in the middle of that time. The Holy Spirit had indicated to Jesus that “now” was the time, and He began to openly teach the people. Can you imagine hearing Jesus teach? Actually, we CAN hear Him – all we have to do is open the Bible and read His words. Jesus had not gone to the same schools as the Jewish leaders. They were amazed at His teaching, for He knew much more than they did.

Everything Jesus taught during the time that He was a man on this earth came from God the Father, through the Holy Spirit of God. We see in this chapter of John that Jesus did nothing and said nothing, except what He was led to do by the Holy Spirit. If you are willing to trust in God and look to Him, you will KNOW that the teaching and actions of Jesus came from God the Father. Nothing He did was of Himself but all was done because the Holy Spirit led him.

Jesus’ brothers had wanted Him to do things for “his own glory”, but Jesus always sought to glorify God the Father who sent Him. God is simply the TRUTH – and there is no sin in Him. We are sinners but He is not.

The Law of God was given through Moses, as we see in the Old Testament Book of Exodus (and in other Scriptures). The Jewish leaders were pretending to keep the Law but they did not. Jesus now suddenly asked them, “Why do you want to kill Me?” (for if they wanted to kill Him, they broke the Law).

Those who were listening to Him started shouting, “You’re nuts! You’re possessed by some kind of demon! We’re not Lawbreakers!” They did not want to be sinners, and so they started blaming HIM for who and what they were.

The “deed” they were all talking about, was the healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda, in Chapter 5. Jesus had healed him on the Sabbath (Saturday – the “day of rest”) and He was thought by the Jewish leaders to be a Lawbreaker. They were amazed by what had happened.

A Jewish boy was to be circumcised when he was 8-days old, and it would be done even when the 8th day was on the Sabbath. Jesus told them it was for that very reason circumcism had been given – that we might understand it is always right to do good, and when we do it is less important.

Jesus continues to teach them that doing something good for another person is always a good thing to do. If it’s OK to circumcise a child on the Sabbath, He was telling them, why were they upset that He healed a man on the Sabbath? It is better to follow God than just the commands of men. All people are judges because all of us make decisions by what we see. The best way to judge is to look to God. He is righteous and He will help us to understand. Jesus’ teaching was really wonderful and they were amazed by what He said. In spite of what they had said in verse 20, the people knew that the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus. They now noticed that Jesus spoke openly and the leaders did nothing to Him. The people were wondering, “do the leaders know He is the Christ but they are just not telling us?”

The people were troubled about Jesus. They wanted the Christ, the Messiah, to be someone mysterious and amazing; but they knew that Jesus was from the area of Galilee. They thought they knew where He was from, but they did not – He was sent to them (and to you and me) from God the Father. Jesus knew their thoughts, and shouted, “You only think you know Me and where I am from. There’s so much more you don’t understand. The Father sent me, and He is true. You don’t know Him and that is why you don’t understand.”

We need to listen to Jesus, because He is the Son of God, sent to us by God the Father, and He is the One who has been with God and has come to earth. Some think Jesus’ death was an “accident”, something out of His control. But that’s not true. They could do NOTHING to Him, until it was His “hour” when He was to die for our sins.

Many people at the Feast LISTENED to Him and believed in Him. They saw that what He had done was WONDERFUL, and they had seen all they needed in order to trust in Him. We should trust in Him, too.

The Pharisees were religious leaders among the Jews. They saw that the people were trusting in Jesus, and they did not want the people to believe, so they sent men to arrest Him. Jesus knew it would soon be time for Him to die for our sins, and then He would go back to His home with God the Father.

Jesus, God the Son, was openly here on earth, speaking with people. But He would soon leave, and He would be gone. Then the only way they would be able to find Him would be to trust in Him, for He is the way (John 14:6). The Jewish leaders would not believe in Jesus, and therefore they could never be with Him.

The Jewish leaders did not understand Jesus. They thought He might mean He would go to other Jews who were in different countries, and teach them. It never occurred to them that He was going to die for our sins.
Jesus correctly taught them that, after His death and resurrection, they would no longer be able to find Him. For they did not believe. The only way to find God is to trust in Jesus. There is no other way.

Do you “thirst” deep inside? Do you want something in life and do not know what it is? Your deepest need will be met in Christ Jesus. You will no longer be “thirsty” when you trust in Him. To believe in Him is very much like a drink of water to a thirsty man. Something happens to us when we believe (trust) in Christ. The Holy Spirit, who is like “living water” to a dead, thirsty world, comes and lives in us. He is the source of this “living water” that flows out of ordinary people, like you and me.

Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who is given to those that believe in God through the Son. This would happen on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:2-4). It had not yet happened because Jesus had not yet been “glorified” (He had not yet died for our sins).

Hundreds of years before, Moses had told the people, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren, Him you shall hear” (Deuteronomy 18:15). Some of the people were saying, “This is Him” and they were right.

The Jews who lived in the area of Judea, around Jerusalem, did not like the people that lived near Lake Galilee. They knew Jesus was from that place, and some did not want to believe, because of their prejudice. They just did not LIKE the people of Galilee.

They knew the Scriptures to some extent and understood that the Christ (the “Anointed One” or “Messiah”) would be descended from King David. They knew that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem just like it says in Micah 5:2. But Jesus WAS born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1) and He IS the Christ.

The people started arguing because of Jesus. And that’s still true today. Some like Him and some don’t. But the truth is – He IS the Son of God. There were some who were so angry they wanted to grab Him and hurt Him. But “His hour had not yet come” and they were unable to touch Him.

The “officers” were men sent by the religious leaders to arrest Jesus (verse 32). They came back to the leaders empty-handed. They had not arrested Him. The priests and Pharisees asked, “Why didn’t you grab Him?” The officers had been told to arrest Jesus but they did not. They were filled with wonder at Him and His words. They could not and would not touch Him. The answers of the “officers” (verse 46) made the Pharisees (Jewish leaders) worry and wonder if the men (the officers) had believed in Jesus. The Pharisees (religious leaders) wanted to make sure these “officers” had not believed in Jesus. They said, “WE haven’t believed, and the Chief Priests haven’t believed, so you shouldn’t, either.

The Pharisees did not like the people they were supposed to lead. They called them “accursed”, sneering that they did not “know the Law.” Actually, it was the Pharisees themselves who did not know the Law – their hatred showed they did not know God, who created the world. Nicodemus was one of the leaders of the Pharisees, and we first saw him in John Chapter 3. He was the one who came to Jesus by night and asked Him a lot of questions.  Nicodemus was telling them that it was unlawful for them to condemn Jesus without first giving Him a fair trial in court.

The other leaders sneered at Nicodemus, accusing him of being a “Galilean”. And they were wrong, for the Christ WOULD come from Galilee. Isaiah (9:1-2) said, hundreds of years before, that “In Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who walked in darkness, have seen a great light…” The Messiah would come from Galilee. The people and leaders didn’t know what else to do, for the Feast was over, Jesus had left, and they had jobs and families. So they all went home.

John Chapter 6

Much of Jesus’ ministry is connected intimately with the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is 650 below sea level, 150 feet deep, and surround by hills.  These physical features cause exceptionally high winds that would cause exceptionally high waves. Additionally, the hills around Galilee are formed in such a manner as to cause a giant amphitheater.

Jesus sent his disciples to the far shore of Galilee. A great storm arrived and they were scared.  Then they saw Jesus walking on the water, 3 ½ miles from shore.  Jesus entered into the boat and the storm was calmed.   John tells of a large crowd that follows Jesus, presumably by land rather than by sea, because of Jesus’ healing abilities. No mention is made of their being sick amongst this crowd; they seem more attracted by the possibility of a miracle than by anything else.

There is possibly some imagery in verse 3 that is reminiscent of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (5:1). Seemingly the Lord and His disciples have arrived by themselves, and have gone up into “the” mountain alone. If Jesus was wishing to privately speak to the disciples John does not mention it. What he does mention, however, is the fact that the Passover was near. Bearing in mind the non-Jewish character of his audience, John mentions that the Passover is the feast of the Jews – an item that would be surely unnecessary were his audience primarily Jewish. John may just be placing the events in their historical setting. Or, he may be attaching importance to Jesus’ actions in what is going to follow. Is Jesus setting Himself up as the bringer of the true Passover? If the Passover was near, why were these people not going up to Jerusalem? Was Jesus pointing to Himself as the fulfillment of the Passover? The next chapter begins with the Feast of Tabernacles – which would be nearly six months after the Passover, itself. Therefore, there seems to be a time gap between the two chapters, and a real purpose behind John’s mentioning of the Passover Feast.

John pictures Jesus seeing the multitude coming to Him from a distance. It would seem that He realizes that they will be hungry, for they would have traveled a long distance. The synoptics, however, indicate that a period of teaching intervened, and by the time the teaching was over, it was too late for them to return to their homes – so there was the need for food.

Philip seems the best choice for the Lord’s question, as Philip was from Bethsaida, and if this took place “across the sea” from Capernaum, Bethsaida would be somewhat close by. Hence, turning to the local boy, Jesus asks about sources of food in the neighborhood. But John is quick to point out that Jesus knew all along what He was going to do – the question was to test Philip’s understanding of His own person and His power.

Philip’s response is one of surprise – the entire apostle band’s treasury probably did not contain enough money to purchase such a vast amount of food, even had such supplies been available. Not catching onto the Lord’s purpose as yet, Andrew (who seems to have been one observant person, always bringing people to Jesus) brings to the Lord’s attention the seeming only source of sustenance – a young boy who had five barley loaves (poor man’s food) and two little fishes. But even Andrew has to add, “but what is that amongst so many?” He does not yet know the sufficiency of the little in the hands of Jesus.

John roots this, the most popular of Jesus’ miracles (judging by the inclusion of this story in every gospel) firmly in history – Jesus gives mundane commands (Luke the historian notes that they were to be grouped by 50’s) and John remembers visual details – there was much grass in the place. The image is striking – a cool spring day – a large group of men and women – well over 5,000, reclining upon the green grass, the harried disciples wondering what in the world their Lord was going to do now. One can see John’s smile as he writes (or dictates) this part of his book – what a longing he must have had to be there again.

Jesus took the bread, and, as was His custom, He gave thanks for it. Unfortunately the exact wording of this prayer is not given to us – we might wonder just how Jesus gave thanks over those little loaves and dried-up fishes. John attaches importance to this act, for he mentions it again in v. 23.

In typical style, the miracle it narrated without flash and fancy. It is simply stated that the food was distributed to the ones reclining – each one taking his fill. The miracle is implied rather than directly stated, though the fact of the miracle is not left in doubt.

John continues on to make yet another point – that not only was there sufficient food for all, but actually more than was needed. God’s grace was greater than the need itself. The disciples gather up twelve baskets full. Interestingly, in the narrative of the synoptics when Jesus feeds the 4,000, seven larger baskets are taken up, seemingly Indicating even greater excess with the feeding of the 4,000 than with the 5,000.

As a result of the sign (not of the teaching) the men are convinced that Jesus is “the Prophet”. Many saw this as a referent to a first century belief in “the Prophet” like Moses (Dt. 18:18) to be distinguished from the Messiah himself, others see a synonymous relationship between the Messiah and “the Prophet”. I prefer the first thought.

Jesus over and over again is portrayed by John as having the ability to know men’s thoughts. It seems beyond question that John presents this as supernatural ability and power – yet this is not just John’s presentation. Mark (2:4-8) gives the same information, though not in quite as strong a way as John gives it.

The men were about to come and make Jesus “king”. The crowds, as always, were seeking the political/military conqueror who would relieve them of the Roman tyranny. Yet, if these men were looking for the “Prophet” rather than the Messiah, there is the possibility that we have here the connection made later by Jesus Himself – the “Prophet” will be like unto Moses, and Moses gave the people the manna in the wilderness. Therefore, if Jesus is able to give “manna” in the modern wilderness, must He not be the “Prophet” like Moses? Exactly how “the Prophet” and “make Him king” fits together is difficult to determine, and is dependent upon which theory of first century Messianic belief one adheres to. Though the military aspect is strong in the synoptics, it doesn’t seem to be as prevalent here.

Jesus heads off the men’s rash plans by going away into the mountain by Himself. Possibly the disciples themselves were in danger of being carried away by the frenzy of the crowd – they never quite give up their military hero/Messiah hopes in the synoptic accounts, and this might be present here as well.

John transitions quite naturally into the next part of this very busy day – and the next miracle as well. The disciples decide to go to Capernaum. Jesus’ sudden withdrawal at the very time when they would expect Him to be accepting the accolades of the crowd must have caused them consternation. Had Jesus left them instructions to go across to Capernaum? Did they figure Jesus had left them to go there? Were they abandoning Jesus? John does not tell us their thoughts, and we are left only with questions. John notes that it was already dark when they entered into the boat – a dangerous thing to do on the treacherous waters of the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps they had waited as long as they could, and only now gave in and began to cross the sea.

While they were on the sea a “great wind” came up – a common occurrence in desert climates. John tells us that the men were only about halfway across the sea by the time Jesus came to them – not very far given the fact that many of them were fishermen and would be skilled at aquatic travel. The wind was, obviously, contrary to them. The synoptics tell us that it was now very late in the evening – Mark tells us it was the fourth watch (Mark 6~48).

We do not know whom the first one was who saw Jesus walking upon the water. But the shock must have been something. Every possible naturalistic explanation has been voiced for this miracle, but the text simply will not allow for it. Jesus comes toward the boat, walking on the water, and the men become afraid. Given the current situation, this is quite understandable.

Jesus quickly identifies Himself, realizing their fear. John does not give as many details as Matthew does (Matthew 14:22.27) – his narrative is quite Spartan. Jesus’ identification calms their fears, and He embarks into the boat.

The next clause seems to indicate yet another miraculous event – the immediate transportation of the boat and the men to the place of their destination. The synoptic accounts do not give any hint of this, and Matthew 14:34 would scam to indicate otherwise. The miracle noted by the synoptic writers is the immediate cessation of the storm – which may be what John is alluding to here – not that a miracle took place, but rather that, given the now calm sea, they reached their destination quickly (or “immediately”).

This new paragraph introduces the new setting, yet provides continuity with what came before. The multitude, which seems to have stayed the night in the surrounding countryside, sees that the disciples have left, yet without Jesus. They are obviously perplexed as to where the Lord could be. So, embarking in small boats that come from Tiberius, they cross the sea and return to Capernaum in search of Him.

The phrase “…after the Lord gave thanks.” in verse 23 is somewhat awkward, and has engendered some textual variance. One could almost get “after giving thanks to the Lord” Out of it, though the genitive is not normally found in this way.

Here the crowd finds the Lord Jesus and immediately asks the obvious question: ‘how did You get here?” Jesus does not answer the question, but drives directly to their motivations for seeking Him. He declares that what He did He did not simply to feed a large group of people, but rather for a reason. It seems obvious that the entire miracle was meant to point to Jesus as the new Moses – yet more; the fulfillment of Passover. As Jesus will soon say, the bread, which He gave to the men, is representative of much more – indeed, it represents the “bread of life.”

Jesus warns his listeners to get their priorities straight. The wrong emphasis, which they obviously have, as seen in their motivation for seeking Him is here likened to seeking after bread, which perishes rather than bread, which “abides unto eternal life”.  This bread is found in only one – the Son of Man. This is the one which the Father – God Himself – has sealed or set apart – placed His mark on, so to speak. Throughout this discourse Jesus will intimately connect His person with the eternal life He gives. One cannot have eternal life outside of a proper understanding of the One who gives it – the Lord Jesus Christ.

The usage of the term “work” in verse 27 prompts the question of the Lord, what must we do to work the works of God?’ There seems to be a shifting of proper focus here, for it is likely that the crowd is still stuck on the sign rather than its meaning – how can they do the things that Jesus does? Jesus’ answer, much like His answers to the woman at the well, masterfully redirect the conversation toward His goals. The work of God, Jesus says, is to believe in Him! This is the work of God. Our senses are frequently dulled to the tremendous impact of such statements as this due to our familiarity with the person of the Lord Jesus. But it is important to try to understand this kind of statement against the backdrop in which it was originally uttered. No prophet of Israel had ever dared utter such words! They always pointed away from themselves and solely to God. To equate the “work of God” with faith in the person of Jesus of Nazareth – how brash! Unless, of course, Jesus is as He claims to be all through John. The modernistic concepts of a forward-looking prophet/teacher from Galilee who was a good man but certainly no divine Messiah are made ridiculous by such statements as these, for no “good man” equates the very work of God with faith in himself! The immensity of this Divine Person is clearly portrayed here, though so often missed in a casual reading!

The quotation from Psalm 78:24, which is given by the people, specifically identifies Yahweh as the “He” who gave them bread in the wilderness. Possibly they were referring this to Moses either directly or by implication, and hence Jesus corrects them. Either this or they are making the comparison between Him (whom some had said “this is truly the Prophet..”) and Moses, and Jesus is correcting their misunderstanding of His person. Rather, the one source of the “true bread” is the Father- He gave the manna in the wilderness, but is now giving (present tense) the “true bread from heaven” which is not a perishable food, but rather a person – “the one coming down from heaven.” Again the magnitude of these words must be grasped. In each instance the former things, so precious to the people of Israel, is shown to be eclipsed in the life and ministry of Jesus, and even more so by His own person! The true bread is a person – who has come down from heaven. It is no wonder that liberal interpreters, wishing to hold onto their mythical “psychologizcd” views of Jesus and His supposed lack of knowledge of His divine mission until later in His ministry, reject the historicity of John’s work.  Outright – men who described themselves as “coming down out of heaven” obviously have a divine view of their origins!

There is also another parallel (but an incomplete one, of course) – just as the manna came down from heaven and provided sustenance for the people of God during their sojourn, so too Jesus has come down out of heaven to be the sustenance of God’s people – and their salvation. Jesus will utilize this kind of dualistic symbolism throughout this discourse – referring to the physical reality of the manna to represent the spiritual reality of faith in Him. Sadly enough, this dualism has been missed by the Roman church, which reads into this passage their own erroneous doctrine of transubstantiation in the mass – and in so doing they reverse the very direction the Lord is taking the conversation. They, like the first century listeners, cannot see past the symbol to the reality beyond.

The crowd continues in its blindness, unable to see the real significance of Jesus’ words. Still recalling the feeding of the 5,000, they clamor for a continuous supply of the heavenly bread. In response Jesus gets quite specific – He Himself is this bread. The one who “comes to Me” – a clear reference to faith (as the parallel will show) will not hunger (hence, the bread is spiritual, not natural) and the one who “believes in Me” will never thirst. The reference to thirsting” seems somewhat out of place here, given that only food has been in view up to this point; but in actuality there is no difficulty, as Jesus is not referring to actual physical consumption of food – He is referring to spiritual need. Man has a need spiritually (symbol: hunger and thirst) and Jesus meets that need completely and eternally. “Coming” and ‘believing” will become “eating” and “drinking” in verse 54. There is a clear progression in these terms that will be noted in the commentary.

The Lord knows their hearts, their thoughts, their minds. He knows they have not “believed” in Him – though they confessed He was a prophet (v. 14) this is not enough – this is not the highest, truest level of faith as used in John. Though they have looked upon the bread of life, they have not believed. They are faced with God’s very revelation of Himself, but they don’t ace It. In verse 40 He will say that all who “look” upon the Son might have eternal life. Here He says they have seen (heorakate) Him – later in verse 40 He will say that all who look (thereon) will be saved.  What follows, through verse 47, seems to be an explanation of the rejection of even those styled “disciples” (v. 66) when faced with the reality of His person. The difference between those who will stay with Jesus and those who will walk away is simply this – the drawing of the Father.

This section continues the thought brought out in verse 36. Jesus presents the complete sovereignty of God in salvation. All that the Father gives to Jesus – everyone – will come to Him. The operative factor in answering the question of why some come and others, presented with the same opportunity, do not, is simply the nature of the Father’s choice. The Father “gives” persons to the Son – a gift of love, to be sure. When the Father “gives” to the Son a person, that person will come to Christ (as the one avenue to the Father). There is no question that if a person is so given to Christ (or, to use the terminology of verse 44, is so “drawn” by the Father) that he/she will come to Christ. This is the “Godward” side of salvation – absolute certainty and security. Yet, He says that they will “come to Me” which speaks of the human response – not that the human can change the decision of God – but that the response is there all the same. Man is not pictured simply as a “thing” that is bounced around like a ball, but rather a vastly important person who comes to Christ for salvation, all as the result of the gracious working of God in his/her life.

Jesus continues by stating that when one is so given to Him by the Father, and comes to Him, that one is secure in their relationship with Him – He will mover cast them out. The aorist subjunctive of strong denial makes it clear that rejection of one who seeks refuge in Christ is a complete and total impossibility. What words to a sinner’s heart! Those who come to Christ will find Him a loving Lord who will never cast out those who trust in Him!

Why will the Lord never cast out those who come to Him? Verse 38 continues the thought with the explanation – the Son has come to do the will of the Father. And what is the will of the Father? That “of all which He has given Me from Him I lose nothing but raise it up at the last day.” Can we doubt that Christ will do what He promises? Will the Lord Jesus ever fail to do the Father’s will? Here is eternal security beyond dispute. But note that again all is pre-eminently balanced – the security of the person is based on two things – the will of the Father that none be lost, and secondly, the fact that those who are not lost are those who are given to the Son by the Father Himself. So, in reality, there is security in the Father (He gives us to Christ) and security in the Son (He always does the Father’s will).

An interesting note is to be found in the fact that in verse 37 the first “everyone” is literally “every thing” – that is, the Greek term is neuter, not masculine. But in the next phrase, where we read “and the one coming to Me I will never cast out…” the term “one” is masculine – that is, personal. To me, this seems to be purposeful on John’s part, and the same differentiation of neuter/masculine, thing/person is carried on in verse 39 as well. I think that the differentiation I. due to this – that when God’s absolute and eternal decree is in view, John uses the neuter to refer to the whole of that decree, including each individual person included in that decision of God. But when referring to the personal response of the individual, he returns to the personal, masculine pronoun.

The “will of the Father” for the Son was expressed in verse 39 – now, the “will of the Father” is expressed differently. Again, the perfect and complete balance of God’s role and man’s response is brought forward. In verse 39 is the assurance of the Son’s success in saving those given to Him by the Father. In verse 40 is the promise that all the ones looking upon the Son and believing in Him might have eternal life. From above it is evident that many look upon the Son but do not believe – the operative difference was the drawing (or “enablement”) of the Father. Here it is clear that the “all” refers to those mentioned in the immediate context – all those whom the Father has given to the Son. For them, It is the looking and believing that brings eternal life – the Father’s drawing is to them invisible – they see only Christ.

It should be noted that this is exceptionally high “doctrine” that is here presented. Isn’t this out of place? One would expect this kind of teaching in Ephesians, or maybe Philippians, or might expect it to be more at home in Calvin’s Institutes – but amongst a crowd of Galileans in the synagogue at Capernaum? Is it any wonder that the people found these sayings “hard to hear”? Why then the “high doctrine”?

I feel that the response of the men on a purely physical plane to the spiritual teachings of Christ, demonstrated by their inability to get past the physical symbol and penetrate to the spiritual reality, prompted an explanation on Jesus’ part. Why do people respond to His words and His works in such different ways? Jesus is not seeking followers on the level they are pursuing – they need to know the truth of His mission. He came to seek and save the lost – but, not all of the lost. Those whom the Father leaves in their darkness will respond to Christ in very different ways than those who have been given to Him by the Father. It is time to separate the true disciples from the false – the called from the whimsically interested. “High doctrine” is nothing more than the truth at its purest. It is meant for the peasant farmer as well as the theologian.

The human reaction of the crowd is not surprising. Jesus’ claims finally begin to sink in, though they seem to be running a little behind the Lord’s message! They grumble because of His claim to heavenly origin. Their questions are straightforward – isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We might object to the term “son of Joseph” here in regards to the virgin birth, but this may not be in John’s mind at all – at least right here. The emphasis is more upon the tact of Jesus’ family and His origins – they knew the family of the Lord – Joseph and Mary were known in the synagogue of Capernaum. Thinking in strictly human terms (not understanding John’s own statement of the Word becoming flesh – the dual nature of the Lord) how could this one whose parents we know claim to “come down out of heaven?”

Jesus brushes aside the grumbling and objections of the crowd by pinpointing their inability to accept His claims about Himself. In even stronger terms He reiterates that which He has said before – no. one has the ability in and of themselves to come to Him unless the Father draws him. The construction is precise – no one is able – ou dunatai — a phrase of ability. As Paul would later state, it is a principle of the spiritual realm that the natural man is not able to take in spiritual things. This is here expressed by Jesus as the reason the people are unable to understand or accept His divine origin. Absolutely necessary is the “drawing” of the Father. The term helkuso is used elsewhere in John of Jesus drawing all to Himself when He is lifted up (John 12:32 – though here it is Jesus who does the drawing) and at the end of the gospel when Peter “drags” the net full of fishes onto the shore. It is impossible to maintain a “universal” drawing here, for all who are drawn are also raised up – the Father draws, and the Son raises up those who are drawn. This is exactly parallel to verses 37-39 above, only in more stark terms. This is election on a par with Ephesians 1 and Romans 8-9.

In defense of His teaching in v. 44, Jesus points out that the Scriptures themselves had indicated this – Isaiah 54:13 is the reference. In this context Jesus is referring this specifically to the “hearing” of the words of the Father. “Hearing” is yet another of those words used by John in a dualistic manner – some hear, but don’t. Others hear and believe. All who “hear” in this manner (from the Father) come to Christ – divine election again. Jesus says that the ones who hear the Father and learn from Him come to Christ – continuing the “Father gives to the Son” motif that is all through this section. Again, the response of man is to come to Christ. This format is seen again later in chapter 17 when Jesus prays and says, “They (the disciples) were yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept your word.” The formula is the same here – the Father sovereignly owns the elect; He graciously gives the elect to the Son; the elect respond by faith in the Son. The repetition of this truth throughout the book is evidence of its importance to Jesus.

Verse 46 is parallel to John 1:18: “No one has seen God at any time; the unique God, the one who eternally exists in the bosom of the Father, this One has made Him known.” Jesus is the main avenue of knowledge about the Father (Matthew 11:27/John 14:6). This has great ramifications for the study of “other” religions and Christianity’s ingrained exclusivism and rejection of relativism.

The one, who believes, Jesus says, has (present tense – continuous action) eternal life. Eternal life is not simply duration of life, but quality of life as well – not something-just future, but present, too. But what is the person “believing”? Faith in the Bible always has an object – it never exists in a vacuum – faith is not a separate entity with an existence of its own. It seems that, in the context, the main object of faith is the person of Jesus Christ Himself – this is seen in a few ways. First, in verse 46 He speaks of being the “one who is from Gad.” In verse 48 He speaks of being the bread of life. Both of these statements arc assertions about who Jesus us – and hence are fitting objects of faith. Also, the majority of the textual tradition reads “believes in Me.” Seemingly many later scribes saw the faith as being exercised in the Lord Jesus, and this fits with the context quite well.

Upon the assertion again of His being the bread of life, we seem to be re-entering the original conversation after having digressed (needful) in regards to where real faith comes from – the Father. Jesus now resumes the pursuit of the original topic. The fathers of the exodus ate the manna in the wilderness and died.  But the bread which comes down from heaven (Himself) is vastly superior (picking up the earlier comparison between the manna and His own miracle of the feeding of the 5,000) to the manna which was simply a picture of what comes later in Christ. “The one who “eats” of this bread will never die.” The “eating” here is paralleled with the “believing” of verse 47 – any attempt to make this a physical action misses the entire point being made by the Lord. He who believes has eternal life – he who eats of the true bread from heaven will never die. Eating = believing.

This faith is a personal one, because it involves the “eating” of this true bread – which is Jesus Himself (v. 51). The eating of the true bread means eternal life, and this bread, Jesus says, is His flesh “which is given for the life of the world.” it is not Jesus’ flesh, per se, which is the object here – it is His flesh as given in sacrifice which brings eternal life. It is the sacrifice that gives life, not simply the flesh. In His giving of His life, the Son provides life for the world. The context again demands a strict interpretation of “world”. John uses kosmos in many different ways, but here it is clear that the kosmos is just those who are drawn by the Father, given by the Father to the Son, and who respond by faith in the Son. Consistency demands the continued emphasis on this group.

The Jews, continuing to dwell simply on the physical plane, and refusing to follow Jesus above to the spiritual truth underlying the symbol of His words, begin to quarrel among themselves about this. It is intriguing that often men quarrel amongst themselves about theology, rather than asking the Word about it. Same holds true today. Things change little over time. The men ask how Jesus can give his flesh for them to eat. Of course, Jesus is not saying that He is going to do so – He is speaking of His coming sacrifice and the resultant forgiveness of sins and eternal life for all who are united to Him.

Jesus decides to come down to their level in an attempt to bring them up to His. He moves on with the metaphor, already firmly established, of “eating = believing”. The only way to eternal life is through union with the Son of Man. This involves a vital faith relationship with Him, symbolized here by the eating of His flesh and the drinking of His blood. Jesus places “eating My flesh and drinking My blood” in the exact same position as hearing His word and believing on Him.  Believing and hearing who sent Jesus in John 5:24, or as being drawn by the Father in 6:44, or as looking to the Son and believing in 6:40, or simply believing in 6:47. The result is the same in each case – eternal life, or being raised up at the least day. Hence, we here have a clear indication of Jesus’ usage of the metaphor of eating His flesh and drinking His “blood” in John 6.

Hence, the sacramental interpretation of this passage is left with no foundation at all.  Jesus is obviously not speaking of some “sacrament’ of the “Eucharist” established years later – His referring to His body and blood here is paralleled clearly with belief in the Son and the drawing of the Father – the same themes struck above. Consistency of interpretation must lead one to reject a sacramental interpretation of this passage.

The reason that one will have eternal life through feeding on the Son is simply that the Son is “true food and drink” – He is the sole source of true spiritual sustenance. It is by vital faith that one is united with Christ (John 15:4-8). This is where life is to be found. Apart from Christ, the believer can do nothing (15:5) for Jesus is the source of all life. Life comes from the Father, it is given to us in the Son and is ours only in and through Him. As we know that eternal life comes by faith, then the eating and the drinking is a symbol of the continuous reliance in faith upon Christ. Here is the key to Christian life – reliance up the Lord Jesus Christ in all things. There is no other path to eternal life.

This fantastic discourse ends with the solemn warning – the fathers did not eat of this bread, and they died. Will His hearers understand this warning? John will tell us that all but a very few – and those only being the ones chosen by God – hear and believe. Men will continue to seek the natural – the physical bread – and ignore the true spiritual bread offered in Jesus Christ.

John tacks down the other end of this sermon in history again – these words were spoken in the synagogue in Capernaum, a real place, in a real time. The mystery of the Divine One speaking these words in history,  the greatest mystery of all.

It is sad to see John’s usage of the term “disciple” here – many had followed after Jesus in a way that could be called “discipleship” but which was not a heart-felt conviction – there was not drawing or enablement of the Father within them. They were “scandalized” by the harshness of Jesus’ words. Many people are. Many hate the strong teaching of the Bible – relativism is the deadly poison of modern man. Their question, “who is able to hens it” goes to John’s double usage of the word “hear” in his gospel. Only those who “hear” from the Father and learn from Him have eternal life.

Jesus knows the thoughts of these surface followers and asks them a simple question. If they are scandalized by these basic truths about His person, what are they going to do if they see Him in His glory – the very glory He shared with the Father before the world came into existence (John 17:5)? Surely this would be even more difficult for them to handle. As Jesus said to Nicodemus, “If I speak to you of earthly things and you do not believe, how, when I speak to you of heavenly things, shall you believe?”
There may indeed be a note of exasperation in Jesus’ voice here – can not even these disciples” understand the difference between spirit and flesh? Have they not followed the obvious duality here? It is the Spirit which gives life – the flesh is of no use. These words of Jesus are spirit and life – yet they do not understand, because they do not believe. Jesus knew who didn’t believe just as He knew who would betray Him.

The imperfect tense here indicates a continued action (or probably an iterative action in this case) in the past- Jesus did not just once say this to them, but often – “no one is able to come to Me except it is given to him by the Father”. Some translations say “unless the Father enables him”. Coming to Christ is not something that is the result of persuasive speaking – Jesus was the greatest speaker of all time, yet many of his disciples “went away from following Him and no longer walked with Him.” If man could be convinced in this way, these men would have been. But the operative factor was missing . the enablement of the Father. Jesus’ soteriology is decidedly “God-sided”. One sees the foundation of Paul’s theology here explicitly expressed.

One can see the Lord Jesus turning to the small disciple band. It has been a difficult day for them. They have seen the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 followed by the rejection of kingship on their Master’s part. They have seen Him walk upon the water. But this has been followed by the most difficult sayings of Jesus to date – this Messiah is quite different than they expected! Now, the great crowd is leaving. Many are walking away. It all seems to be ending in failure. And Jesus turns to them and asks, “You are not also going away, are you?”

Impetuous Simon Peter replies for the disciple band – “Lord, where would we go?” What these words must have meant to the Lord! Peter confesses that these men understand that His words are eternal life, and that they have believed and known (both perfect tense verbs) that Jesus is the Holy One of God. What a comfort this would be to His heart. Gods purposes will be fulfilled. These are some of those given to the Son by the Father, and the Father is keeping His promise to “teach” them. He has done so, and they respond by following Christ, even when they are in the vast minority.
There is love in Jesus’ voice when He speaks of His choice of these men – yet, even here, the terrible betrayal is kept in view. One of these men does not understand Jesus’ love. One of these men is the “son of perdition”. It is not until Judas leaves the company on the night of the betrayal that Jesus has full freedom to open His heart to these men whom He loved “completely” (John 13:1).

John Chapter 5

We must understand that between Chapters 4 and 5 of John, Jesus ministered throughout Galilee, especially in Capernaum.  He had been calling certain men to follow him, but it wasn’t until after this trip to Jerusalem that he chose his 12 disciples.

We must also remember that the Gospel of John is not a Synoptic Gospel (Only Matthew, Mark, and Luke).  The reason they are called Synoptic is because all three express their views in basically the same way. Matthew is one of the three synoptic gospels and is the first book of the New Testament. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from his genealogy to his Great Commission. Matthew is the gospel most closely aligned with first-century Judaism, as it repeatedly stresses how Jesus fulfilled Jewish prophecies. Matthew only relates certain details of Jesus’ life, of his infancy in particular. Matthew is also the only Gospel to mention the Church or ecclesia. 0f 666 verses in Mark, 661 is also listed in the Book of Matthew.  The gospel of Mark narrates the life of Jesus of Nazareth from his baptism by John the Baptist to the resurrection (or to the empty tomb in the earliest manuscripts), but it concentrates particularly on the last week of his life (chapters 11-16, the trip to Jerusalem). Its swift narrative portrays Jesus as a heroic man of action, an exorcist, a healer and miracle worker. It calls him the Son of Man, the Son of God, and the Christ (the Greek translation of Messiah). Luke’s writing from a Gentile perspective, is characteristically concerned with social ethics, the poor, women, and other oppressed groups. Certain popular stories on these themes, such as the prodigal son and the Good Samaritan, are found only in this gospel.  John’s gospel has a special emphasis on prayer, the activity of the Holy Spirit, and joyfulness. This doesn’t cover much of Jesus’ 3 ½ years of ministry. John’s gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details the story of Jesus from his Baptism to his Resurrection. The Synoptic Gospels cover most of the events of Jesus’ three and a half years ministry, however that was not God’s intent in inspiring John to write this Gospel. John only covers about twenty-two days in the life of Christ.

Chapter Five begins stating that there was a feast of the Jews and that Jesus went up to Jerusalem. The Synoptic Gospels do not tell us much about Jesus’ trips to Judaea, but John specifically mentions three trips there to observe the Passover.  There were three feasts that required all Jewish males to come to Jerusalem. First, the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread (is a Jewish and Samaritan holy day and festival commemorating the Hebrews’ escape from enslavement in Egypt). Secondly,  the Feast of Weeks (also called Pentecost) (is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (late May or early June). Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.). Thirdly, Feast of Tabernacles (a week long holiday that occurred on the 15th of the month between late September to late October.) is a seven-day Jewish festival also known as Sukkot or the Feast of Booths . It is immediately followed by the eighth day which alludes to the redemption at the end of days and where shelter is no longer required as protection against physical elements.The feast of Tabernacles is one of the most important days in the Judaic tradition and is celebrated on the 15th of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar.

In Jerusalem there was a gate into the city called the Sheep Gate, which was where the sheep that were to be sacrificed in the temple were brought into the city. The building of this gate is mentioned in Nehemiah 3:1, 32; 12:39 and is believed to have been located near the northeast corner of the city.

John says that at the Sheep Gate there was a pool of water called “Bethesda.” The word “Bethesda” translated from Hebrew means a “house of kindness, grace or mercy”. This was a pool that had Roman arch supported porches. It was believed to be outside the Jerusalem wall below the Tower of Antonia that as discovered in 1888. Archaeologists unearthed a rectangular pool with a portico on each side and a fifth one dividing the pool into 2 separate compartments, which fits the Bible’s description.

“In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had” (John 5:3-4).

Gathered around the pool were many people with various ailments such as the blind, crippled or lame, and those who had palsy which withered up some part of their body. This pool was supplied by water from underground springs. We are not told what it was used for other than the tradition that at times an angel would “trouble” or stir up the waters. The belief was that an angel would come and stir up the waters and the first person that entered the pool when waters were stirred up would be healed of their infirmaries. Nothing like this is recorded in the Bible and it is believed to have been more of a tradition than fact. The source of the myth could have come from the waters of the pool having a mineral content with medicinal properties. The waters of the spring would be occasionally agitated by the release of these minerals and healing effected. John simply states the belief of those gathered at the pool without any explanation, so we just do not know. What is important is that those there believed they could be healed if they were the first into the pool. The lame men like others were hoping to be healed.

“And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” (John 5:5-6).

Those who have chronic diseases, which are normally incurable, will go to great lengths to find relief and healing. When Jesus approached the pool he saw a man there who had been crippled for thirty-eight years. Jesus being omniscient knew the man had been there a long time and asked him did he want to be healed.

Jesus asks the lame man did he want to be whole? That question is a vital one for all who have physically infirmities, but more importantly for those who being lost in their sins have the need of being made spiritually whole. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners and whosoever will believe in Him will be saved. But throughout the ages few have been saved. The reason is because most do not want to be spiritually cleansed.

“The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me” (John 5:7).

Healing only comes for those who want it. Clearly this man wanted to be healed and that was the reason he was waiting by the pool. Evidently the man could get around to some degree, but was not fast enough to be the first into the pool. This had happened several times before, but it showed the man had real character in his persistence. He kept trying and did not give up. As difficult as the task was in getting up and getting into the pool, he was not deterred. The man could have said, “It is no use. I will go home and die.” God had a plan for this man.

Some might suppose that God imposed His will on the lame man and made him persistent, but a better explanation is that God knew the man’s character and this made his healing possible. This does not mean the man deserved to be healed, but the man exercised a great deal of faith in the healing properties of this pool. Jesus knew the man’s heart was one of humility and fertile ground for receiving saving faith. There were many others by the pool desiring to be healed, but Jesus chose this man.

“Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath” (John 5:8-9).

Instantly, as Jesus spoke the words, the man was completely healed. To show he was fully healed, the man picked up his bed and began to walk. He did not need to go to “rehab” to learn to walk again. He was healed mind and body and such is a true miracle healing by God.

“The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the Sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place” (John 5:10-13).

This incident gives us some real insight into the wicked hearts of the Jews. The Jews witnessed the healing of the lame man, but instead of rejoicing with him, they rebuked him for carrying his bed on the Sabbath. Clearly, this healing was done by Jesus, was not only heal the man, but to show the hardness of the hearts of these religious Jews. If a true believer saw a great miracle of God, certainly they would be rejoicing with the man and praising God for the healing. Yet, the first thing in the minds of these blind Jews was it was the Sabbath and work was forbidden.

Exodus 16:23-29 records God the first mentions the keeping of the Sabbath to the Jews. After Moses lead Israel out of Egypt, God told them to gather enough manna on the sixth day of the week to cover the seventh day, which was the Sabbath. God instructed them to keep the Sabbath day holy, which means it was a day of worship and not for working to provide themselves substance. God was teaching them to rely upon Him and the importance of the day of rest and worship. On the sixth day God provided manna for the Sabbath. Although the Sabbath was a special day given by God to Israel, the principle of believers today of observing a day of rest and worship is still valid. Because Christ arose on the first day of the week, early Christians and those of today worship on Sunday. Exodus 31:12-18 says the Sabbath was a special sign between God and Israel. Sabbath keeping was a part of the Mosaic Law and was not given to Christians in this dispensation of the Church Age.

Matthew 12:1-13 records that Jesus and his disciples were hungering on the Sabbath day and they pluck ears of corn. When the Pharisees saw it they accused Jesus, the author of the Sabbath day, of being unlawful in gathering barley on the Sabbath. Jesus immediately rebuked them by reminding them that David and his men, when hungry ate the shew bread in the Tabernacle. That too was unlawful, but because of the circumstances was not wrong. He also reminded them that their priests profaned the Sabbath day by carrying on their temple duties, and under the law they were blameless

Jesus later strongly rebuked the Pharisees telling them, “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24). Paul explained, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). The Jews prided themselves in their self-righteousness. The outward keeping of the law was their badge of their religious zeal. They had no concept of the spiritual nature of God and of true believers. Therefore when they saw someone supposedly breaking the law they would piously and vehemently attack them as being “law breakers.” They thought in their minds that this showed them selves to be better than others. Paul wrote, “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” (Romans 10:2) Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

The lame man responded that the man who healed him told him to take up his bed and walk. Verse 13, explains that the man did not know who Jesus was and that Jesus as soon as He had healed the man slipped away because of the multitude in the place. Jesus apparently moved away from the man, who did not have time to even ask who it was that had healed him. Probably seeking avoid a confrontation with the Jews and a possible riot, Jesus left the area.

“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole” (John 5:14-15)

.      After healing the man Jesus went to the temple and found the man. The man did not know who Jesus was, but he knew it as God that had healed him. So, he immediately went to the temple to give thanks to God for making him whole. It shows the man believed in God and wanted to give Him thanks for the blessing he had received. As mentioned earlier this is probably why Jesus chose him to be healed over the many others there.

Jesus finding the man tells him that he is made whole and to go and sin no more. Jesus’ statement to the man was made to address his spiritual condition. Jesus said he had been made physically whole. Now go and sin no more, That referred to being spiritually made whole as well. Many believed that his being lame was the result of past sins and Jesus was showing him He knew the past and the future. Jesus was giving a stern warning. Being lame was a terrible thing, but being spiritually dead was much worse. Sin separates us from God and eternal life. Thirty-eight years of being lame was bad, but a lot worse was being unrepentant and losing one’s soul. There was no comparison between being lame all those years and spending eternity in hell.

The man then went and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. It is doubtful that the man had any ill intent in returned to the Jewish leaders and telling them who had healed him. Rather it was probably because he wanted to give Jesus the credit for this miracle that had been preformed on him. The Jews had attacked the man for carrying his bed on the Sabbath, so the man went to them to explain who it was who had healed him and told him to take up his bed.

“And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:16-18).

When they heard it was Jesus who had healed the man and told him to take up his bed they were infuriated. Jesus had taken upon himself the authority to tell someone to violate the Sabbath. They had seen His miracle and heard his preaching, which authenticated that He was the Messiah, but they refused to accept the truth. Nicodemus, a Pharisee himself, revealed what everyone knew, that “. . .no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:1) These religious leaders knew it as well. But their response was not to recognize this obvious truth, or even to inquire of it, but to off handedly reject it and seek to silence Jesus by killing Him.

This time Jesus did not avoid the conflict with them. His response was that God the Father had His work to do and on an equal par with God He too had His work. This is an absolute declaration of Jesus’ deity. Some have falsely suggested that Jesus never claimed to be God. Jesus’ response refutes that misguide idea. The evidence is clear in this passage. The Jews certainly understood His statement and sought even more to kill Him because in their own words, “. . .he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his father, making himself equal with God.” (John 5:18)

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will” (John 5:19-21).

Verses 19-47 record Jesus’ long reply to the Jewish leaders who were seeking to kill Him. Jesus gave them a stunning declaration of His deity and ministry. He began with the reply with the words, “Verily, verity” which means “amen and amen” or “so be it, so be it.” The sinful pride and self-righteous religious zeal blinded the Jews. Jesus explains to them plainly what they refused to see and exposes their blindness to the truth. He had stated in verse 17 His ministry and purpose was equal with God the Father. He now explains this truth further.

Jesus declares that the Son can do nothing independent or separate from God the Father. Bare in mind that Jesus stated He was equal with the Father. His point is that He cannot do anything contrary to God, because He is God. He cannot do anything that would oppose Himself. Jesus in His humanity before His crucifixion dreaded the terrible suffering He was about to under go, but He stated, ” nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Being God Jesus could not go contrary to His nature of being absolutely righteous in all things.

Jesus and God the Father are One and could not do anything against Himself and that is the meaning of the “Father loveth the Son.” The Jews were denying what Jesus was doing was from God. They knew that only God could heal as Christ did, but in their slavery to their self -righteous works religion they refused to accept that Jesus was doing the Father’s will.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (John 5:24-25).

In this Chapter, John refers back to the Old Testament where three signs of the coming Messiah are given.  John shows that Jesus has fulfilled all three signs.  All power and authority are given unto him as the Son Of Man (Daniel 7:13-14) the lame and sick are healed (Isaiah 35-6), the dead are raised to life (Deut: 32-39; 1 Samuel 2:6, 2 Kings 5-7).

Jesus plainly tells them that the only way to receive eternal life and avoid condemnation was to believe in Him. He states those that believe in Him shall pass from death unto life. The Jews, even in the blindness of their false religion, recognized that only God can forgive sins. Thus Jesus again is declaring that He is God, because those that believe in Him will have their sins forgiven. That was only an act that God could do.

The miracles that Jesus performed were done in accordance with God the Father’s will and in His power. Jesus is God come in the flesh, and as the doctrine of the Trinity reveals He and the Father are One. They are One yet Jesus was separate and independent of the Father. His responsibility or task, as the Son in the Godhead, in His Oneness with the Father, was to accomplish the will of God the Father, because God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One. Jesus’ purpose was to fulfill God’s plans. With Jesus the Son, and God the Father, there was complete unity. Jesus’ point in this passage was to emphasize that as God come in the flesh all He did was in accord with the Father. The Jews claimed that they knew God the Father and worshipped Him, yet they were blinded by their sin and religious pride. They did not really know God the Father.

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Does God Exist

By Marilyn Adamson

Just once wouldn’t you love for someone to simply show you the evidence for God’s existence? No arm-twisting. No statements of, “You just have to believe.” Well, here is an attempt to candidly offer some of the reasons which suggest that God exists.

But first consider this. If a person opposes even the possibility of there being a God, then any evidence can be rationalized or explained away. It is like if someone refuses to believe that people have walked on the moon, then no amount of information is going to change their thinking. Photographs of astronauts walking on the moon, interviews with the astronauts, moon rocks…all the evidence would be worthless, because the person has already concluded that people cannot go to the moon.

When it comes to the possibility of God’s existence, the Bible says that there are people who have seen sufficient evidence, but they have suppressed the truth about God.1 On the other hand, for those who want to know God if he is there, he says, “You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you. Before you look at the facts surrounding God’s existence, ask yourself, If God does exist, would I want to know him? Here then, are some reasons to consider…

Does God exist? The complexity of our planet points to a deliberate Designer who not only created our universe, but sustains it today.

Many examples showing God’s design could be given, possibly with no end. But here are a few:

The Earth…its size is perfect. The Earth’s size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth’s surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter. Earth is the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.

The Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth’s position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day.

And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet our massive oceans are restrained from spilling over across the continents.

Water…colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals and human beings consist mostly of water (about two-thirds of the human body is water). You’ll see why the characteristics of water are uniquely suited to life:

It has an unusually high boiling point and freezing point. Water allows us to live in an environment of fluctuating temperature changes, while keeping our bodies a steady 98.6 degrees.

Water is a universal solvent. This property of water means that thousands of chemicals, minerals and nutrients can be carried throughout our bodies and into the smallest blood vessels.

Water is also chemically neutral. Without affecting the makeup of the substances it carries, water enables food, medicines and minerals to be absorbed and used by the body.

Water has a unique surface tension. Water in plants can therefore flow upward against gravity, bringing life-giving water and nutrients to the top of even the tallest trees.

Water freezes from the top down and floats, so fish can live in the winter.

Ninety-seven percent of the Earth’s water is in the oceans. But on our Earth, there is a system designed which removes salt from the water and then distributes that water throughout the globe. Evaporation takes the ocean waters, leaving the salt, and forms clouds which are easily moved by the wind to disperse water over the land, for vegetation, animals and people. It is a system of purification and supply that sustains life on this planet, a system of recycled and reused water.6

The human brain…simultaneously processes an amazing amount of information. Your brain takes in all the colors and objects you see, the temperature around you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of your body like your breathing pattern, eyelid movement, hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands.

The human brain processes more than a million messages a second. Your brain weighs the importance of all this data, filtering out the relatively unimportant. This screening function is what allows you to focus and operate effectively in your world. The brain functions differently than other organs. There is an intelligence to it, the ability to reason, to produce feelings, to dream and plan, to take action, and relate to other people.

The eye…can distinguish among seven million colors. It has automatic focusing and handles an astounding 1.5 million messages — simultaneously.8 Evolution focuses on mutations and changes from and within existing organisms. Yet evolution alone does not fully explain the initial source of the eye or the brain — the start of living organisms from nonliving matter.
2. Does God exist? The universe had a start – what caused it?

Scientists are convinced that our universe began with one enormous explosion of energy and light, which we now call the Big Bang. This was the singular start to everything that exists: the beginning of the universe, the start of space, and even the initial start of time itself.

Astrophysicist Robert Jastrow, a self-described agnostic, stated, “The seed of everything that has happened in the Universe was planted in that first instant; every star, every planet and every living creature in the Universe came into being as a result of events that were set in motion in the moment of the cosmic explosion…The Universe flashed into being, and we cannot find out what caused that to happen.

Steven Weinberg, a Nobel laureate in Physics, said at the moment of this explosion, “the universe was about a hundred thousands million degrees Centigrade…and the universe was filled with light.

The universe has not always existed. It had a start…what caused that? Scientists have no explanation for the sudden explosion of light and matter.
The universe operates by uniform laws of nature. Why does it?

Much of life may seem uncertain, but look at what we can count on day after day: gravity remains consistent, a hot cup of coffee left on a counter will get cold, the earth rotates in the same 24 hours, and the speed of light doesn’t change — on earth or in galaxies far from us.

How is it that we can identify laws of nature that never change? Why is the universe so orderly, so reliable?

“The greatest scientists have been struck by how strange this is. There is no logical necessity for a universe that obeys rules, let alone one that abides by the rules of mathematics. This astonishment springs from the recognition that the universe doesn’t have to behave this way. It is easy to imagine a universe in which conditions change unpredictably from instant to instant, or even a universe in which things pop in and out of existence.

Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize winner for quantum electrodynamics, said, “Why nature is mathematical is a mystery…The fact that there are rules at all is a kind of miracle. The DNA code informs, programs a cell’s behavior.

existence of GodAll instruction, all teaching, all training comes with intent. Someone who writes an instruction manual does so with purpose. Did you know that in every cell of our bodies there exists a very detailed instruction code, much like a miniature computer program? As you may know, a computer program is made up of ones and zeros, like this: 110010101011000. The way they are arranged tell the computer program what to do. The DNA code in each of our cells is very similar. It’s made up of four chemicals that scientists abbreviate as A, T, G, and C. These are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. There are three billion of these letters in every human cell!!

Well, just like you can program your phone to beep for specific reasons, DNA instructs the cell. DNA is a three-billion-lettered program telling the cell to act in a certain way. It is a full instruction manual.

Why is this so amazing? One has to ask….how did this information program wind up in each human cell? These are not just chemicals. These are chemicals that instruct, that code in a very detailed way exactly how the person’s body should develop.

Natural, biological causes are completely lacking as an explanation when programmed information is involved. You cannot find instruction, precise information like this, without someone intentionally constructing it.We know God exists because he pursues us. He is constantly initiating and seeking for us to come to him.

What is it about atheists that they would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don’t believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people…to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life.

I didn’t realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn’t escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God’s existence, my prayer began with, “Ok, you win…” It might be that the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them.

I am not the only one who has experienced this. Malcolm Muggeridge, socialist and philosophical author, wrote, “I had a notion that somehow, besides questing, I was being pursued.” C.S. Lewis said he remembered, “…night after night, feeling whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all of England.”

Lewis went on to write a book titled, “Surprised by Joy” as a result of knowing God. I too had no expectations other than rightfully admitting God’s existence. Yet over the following several months, I became amazed by his love for me.  Unlike any other revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God revealing himself to us.

Look throughout the major world religions and you’ll find that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and Moses all identified themselves as teachers or prophets. None of them ever claimed to be equal to God. Surprisingly, Jesus did. That is what sets Jesus apart from all the others. He said God exists and you’re looking at him. Though he talked about his Father in heaven, it was not from the position of separation, but of very close union, unique to all humankind. Jesus said that anyone who had seen Him had seen the Father, anyone who believed in him, believed in the Father.

He said, “I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” He claimed attributes belonging only to God: to be able to forgive people of their sin, free them from habits of sin, give people a more abundant life and give them eternal life in heaven. Unlike other teachers who focused people on their words, Jesus pointed people to himself. He did not say, “follow my words and you will find truth.” He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.

What proof did Jesus give for claiming to be divine? He did what people can’t do. Jesus performed miracles. He healed people…blind, crippled, deaf, even raised a couple of people from the dead. He had power over objects…created food out of thin air, enough to feed crowds of several thousand people. He performed miracles over nature…walked on top of a lake, commanding a raging storm to stop for some friends. People everywhere followed Jesus, because he constantly met their needs, doing the miraculous. He said if you do not want to believe what I’m telling you, you should at least believe in me based on the miracles you’re seeing.

Jesus Christ showed God to be gentle, loving, aware of our self-centeredness and shortcomings, yet deeply wanting a relationship with us. Jesus revealed that although God views us as sinners, worthy of his punishment, his love for us ruled and God came up with a different plan. God himself took on the form of man and accepted the punishment for our sin on our behalf. Sounds ludicrous? Perhaps, but many loving fathers would gladly trade places with their child in a cancer ward if they could. The Bible says that the reason we would love God is because he first loved us.

Jesus died in our place so we could be forgiven. Of all the religions known to humanity, only through Jesus will you see God reaching toward humanity, providing a way for us to have a relationship with him. Jesus proves a divine heart of love, meeting our needs, drawing us to himself. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, he offers us a new life today. We can be forgiven, fully accepted by God and genuinely loved by God. He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”17 This is God, in action.

Does God exist? If you want to know, investigate Jesus Christ. We’re told that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God does not force us to believe in him, though he could. Instead, he has provided sufficient proof of his existence for us to willingly respond to him. The earth’s perfect distance from the sun, the unique chemical properties of water, the human brain, DNA, the number of people who attest to knowing God, the gnawing in our hearts and minds to determine if God is there, the willingness for God to be known through Jesus Christ. If you need to know more about Jesus and reasons to believe in him, please see.
If you want to begin a relationship with God now, you can.

This is your decision, no coercion here. But if you want to be forgiven by God and come into a relationship with him, you can do so right now by asking him to forgive you and come into your life. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. He who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him [or her].  If you want to do this, but aren’t sure how to put it into words, this may help: “Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. You know my life and that I need to be forgiven. I ask you to forgive me right now and come into my life. I want to know you in a real way. Come into my life now. Thank you that you wanted a relationship with me. Amen.”

God views your relationship with him as permanent. Referring to all those who believe in him, Jesus Christ said of us, “I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.

So, does God exist? Looking at all these facts, one can conclude that a loving God does exist and can be known in an intimate, personal way.

John, Chapter 4 (Woman at the well)

You can read and cross-reference John, Chapter 4.  I believe it’s important to look at some background information that may help to understand the events of Chapter 4 in their proper context.

Palestine at the time was divided into 3 sections: Judea in the South, Galilee in the North, and Samaria in between. North to South, the entire area ran only 100 to 120 miles. During the time of the Assyrian captivity, Jews were taken to Assyria and other races were brought in to replace them. These people intermarried with the Jews that remained in Samaria, creating a mixed breed of people that were detested by the Jews of Judea and Galilee. The Samaritans only recognized the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament also known as the Torah) as their inspired Scripture. They had set up worship on Mt. Gerazim.   The Jews had worship in the Temple at Jerusalem.

Since the Jews wanted nothing to do with Samaritans, when traveling from Judea to Galilee they would take the much longer route around Samaria.  This required traveling along the coast or through Perea, rather than through it (a difference of 3 or 4 days travel). It would be like leaving Texas on your way to Kansas and going around Oklahoma. Jesus, however, went straight through the heart of Samaria, and in so doing, provided us with a model for how to carry out the Great Commission.

Jesus went to where the people who needed his message were. Jesus “needed to go through Samaria”. He would save a great deal of time going through Samaria to get to Galilee. But, when the emphasis on “needed” is seen in relation to Jesus’ overall mission (“the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10) and specifically what happened at the well.  I think we see that the need for Jesus to go through Samaria had much more to do with the souls of the people of Sychar than with quick travel.

For us, I think the lesson is simply that we need to be on the lookout for opportunities to share the gospel, and that means getting out into the world. We may not get the lost to come into our specific church, even if we invite them; if not, our mission is to go out there and meet them where they are.

Jesus met people where they were. Jesus met this woman at the exact time and place that she would be most receptive. The time was important enough that John recorded it for us. She would never have entered a synagogue or the courts of the Temple to hear Him teach. We need to realize that most of the time, if people are going to come to know Christ, they are not simply going to wander into our churches: we have to go out and get them.

This also means meeting people where they are spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Here is an example of meeting people where they are.  This pastor had a heart for the lost, and as a result, many of the “flower children” in the area began attending his church. About this time new carpet was installed in the foyer and sanctuary.  It was thick, beautiful, and baby blue. One evening the deacons complained that these street kids were coming in with sandals, or no shoes at all, and tracking dirt on the new carpet, and something must be done about it. The pastor left, and when he had not returned for some time, the deacons went to look for him. They found him on his hands and knees, ripping up the new carpet. He looked up at them and said: “We do not need this carpet, but we MUST have those kids.”

It seems that sometimes we don’t take the phrase “come just as you are” as literally as we should. Jesus met this woman where she was, and He accepted her as she was, but He loved her too much to leave her as she was.

He had a sense of urgency. We need to go now. Jesus tells the disciples “Do you not say, ‘there are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! (John 4:35)”. We have a tendency to look at evangelism as something we’ll do later, when we’re more equipped, or when the time is more appropriate. This is something that I think is happening to many people and churches all over America right now. Everyone is preparing for some large outreach program or event that will happen in the future, and certainly we should be doing this. But while some look ahead several months to what they expect will be a great harvest, how many people are ready to hear the Good News right now? And how many of them will never hear because we waited to tell them and missed the opportunity?

Now I would like to compare the response of the woman at the well with the actions of the disciples. Each had spent time with Jesus, although the woman’s time was far, far shorter, and each had a very different response to His message. The disciples had been in the city buying food during the time that Jesus had the conversation with the woman, and they returned at the end of the encounter. It was obvious that they had succeeded in bringing food back to Jesus; it was equally obvious that they failed in the far greater mission of bringing lost souls to Him. They had been in the city of Sychar, walking through the shops and mingling with the people, and yet the twelve of them did not bring a single person to meet Jesus.

There are several possible reasons for this failure:

a. They were so preoccupied with their own needs they did not think of the needs of others. Preoccupation is a great danger for us as well. We can become so wrapped up in work, school, family, soccer games, etc. that we don’t leave room for eternal things. We can focus on our own needs and wants so much that we forget about the needs of others. We can become so consumed with the physical that we too forget the spiritual.

b. As faithful Jews, the disciples had an almost inbred hatred of Samaritans. It may have never occurred to them that God could love these people or that the Samaritans might long to know God. The Samaritans were not their kind of people. They were of a different race, a different religion, and a different culture. Because of their prejudice, the disciples essentially saw the Samaritans as inferior, and therefore missed the fact that they too needed a relationship with Christ. We do the same thing today. The only truly segregated institution left in America today is the Church. We overlook (intentionally or not) many of those who are different from us, from the homeless to the Muslims to the kid with more body piercings than teeth. But when Jesus tells us to go to the entire world, He means everyone.

c. They were so concerned with doing work for Jesus (buying bread) that they forgot to be about the work of Jesus. They missed the individuals they came into contact with and the needs of these individuals because they were “on a mission” to get bread.  We too can become so caught up in committees and programs and church functions that we forget why Christ left us here after He saved us.  We need to be about His work. And this work always involves leading individuals to Christ. Even the huge numbers that are saved at large Crusades are in reality saved as a bunch of individuals.

The woman has a response that is completely different than that of the disciples. In contrast to their indifference, she can hardly wait to run back to the city to tell everyone who will listen about Jesus. She is acting on Romans 10:14-15 years before it’s even written:

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

We need to remember that this woman was a virtual outcast even among the Samaritans. She came to the well in the middle of the day because it was a time when no one else would be there. Her reputation was certainly not pristine. And yet she ignored the possibility of rejection and ridicule in order to tell these people about Jesus. And they came on the strength of her testimony. She told them, and the Holy Spirit did the rest. And unlike the disciples, who were basically chastised by Jesus for not recognizing that the harvest was at hand, she was able to see fruit from her testimony.

“Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world’.”

This is not unusual even today. Many times it is the new believer that is most effective in the work of evangelism. They may not know all the verses or all the answers to objections, but they are on fire to do one thing: tell people what Jesus has done in their life. That’s exactly what we are called to do every day. Even though the disciples, like many of us, missed out on an opportunity that was right in front of them, Jesus gives them, and us, assurance of blessings when we are obedient to the Great Commission.

“And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Contained within these verses are the promise of three distinct blessings:

a. The promise of reward (“wages”) for doing the work of evangelism

b. Fruit that brings eternal rejoicing

c. The joy of sharing this task with other believers

Who do you most identify with? Is it the woman, who ran off without fear to tell others about Christ? Or is it the disciples, who missed numerous opportunities but are given the chance to do better? Whichever more fits you, you cannot rest on your past accomplishments or lament your past failures. The harvest is now, and the Lord needs laborers. (John 4:36-38) (John 4:42)

Faith Healing

We all suffer pain.  Many of us may be in agonizing pain.  As a child of God, we go before our Pastor (or other titles such as Reverend, Father, Minister, etc) and request to be prayed for.  I have seen miracles all my life and I see them happening now.  But when a pastor makes a comment such as “you must have the faith to be healed”.  I or we can pray for you in faith, but you must accept in faith.  This, in my opinion, is very misleading.  Regardless of that individual’s faith, he may or may not be healed while upon the face of the Earth.  We can rest assured when Jesus Christ comes back, those who have accepted him as Lord and Savior will have a new glorified body.  Amen!!

Throughout the Bible healing and resurrection occurred.

The reason I say this is misleading is because although God has the power to heal instantly, he may decide not too for whatever reason.  As a new Christian or maybe even an old Christian, I am basically being told I do not have sufficient faith to be healed.  Just imagine for a moment, if you will, everyone who has ever lived since the beginning of time, received healing.  How many people would be upon the face of Earth now?   And, I just wonder, what Moses, Job, John The Baptist, and many others throughout our bible would have to say!  I am not saying stop praying for the sick.  We must have the faith in KNOWING that God has the power and the authority to heal us.  But don’t lose faith nor doubt your faith if he doesn’t heal you.

Faith Healing – The Need
When people are faced with a serious or debilitating illness, they often consider supernatural healing or faith healing as the final option. Our expectations for divine healing are often placed in a variety of sources, which present themselves as the only hope for a miraculous recovery. Some individuals will pursue the avenue of faith healers or those professing to have an “ability to heal.” Objects such as handkerchiefs, religious icons, or pilgrimages to holy sites are said to offer hope to those in desperate circumstances.

When faced with intense suffering, we may even be tempted to doubt the character of God. “Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?” (Jeremiah 15:18).

Others try to encourage us by confirming that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). Yet our suffering presents our greatest challenge to our faith. At some point we may even blame God for allowing our pain to continue. Or we may ask ourselves, “How much more faith do I need to be healed?”

Faith Healing – The Lesson – Jesus loves reaching out to people. He is well acquainted with pain and suffering. “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn [God’s] decrees” (Psalm 119:71).

Faith Healing – The End Result
Healing is an act of unmerited mercy from a sovereign God. We do not put faith in faith itself (or men or objects), but rather in the grace and mercy of Jahveh-Ropheka, “God the Healer.” There is no doubt that Jesus cares deeply for us — He suffered and died so that we could live forever in God’s love. His healing doesn’t follow a process that would seem logical to us. Jesus healed blind eyes by applying mud, made from “divine spittle” (John 9:6–7)! Jesus was often unconventional, raising a dead widow’s son out of compassion, not because of her faith (Luke 7:13). Faith is not something we need to “conjure up” in order to be healed. God is ultimately in control of healing. Whatever the outcome, God is always with those who suffer and He understands their every pain and need. The cross reminds us that God always cares. God is offering us a wholeness that is even more perfect than physical or emotional healing. Perfect health is waiting for us in the resurrection. “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:16–17).

In my opinion, the FAITH is knowing that I know that I know that God Has the power to heal instantly.  It is not by lack of faith that I am not healed.

What? Jesus? Eternal Life?

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The time of having to offer a sacrifice was over. No longer did lambs have to be slaughtered. God has sent His only begotten Son as the purest of sacrifices.

John – Chapter 3

To have a through understanding of John, Chapter 3, we must clearly understand the last two or possibly three verses of John, Chapter 2. I will list the last three verses”

Verse 23 – Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding the signs which he did.

Verse 24 – But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men.

Verse 25 – And because he needed not that any should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.

The group had faith in Jesus because of the miracles they had seen or heard about. But they did not have the life-saving faith of accepting him as the Lord and Savior or the Baptism of being born again and all things becoming new. They saw him as the leader of a mighty army that has come to set them free from Roman Rule instead of the Son of God that has come to offer eternal life. Jesus, knowing men’s hearts, knew the ones that was giving him glory and honor now would soon be denouncing his name, scorning him, and yelling, “Crucify Him, King Of The Jews”.

Now while in Jerusalem, at Passover, a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the ruling council came to Jesus during the darkness of the night. When Nicodemus truly believed that Jesus was the Son Of God, he spoke and acted boldly for the Messiah. He knew the Kingdom of God was going to for everyone and not just the Jews. He knew the Kingdom was going to be restored on earth and God would rule it. Nicodemus also knew he had to be born again!

Jesus spoke of being born of water and baptism. Verse 3 and Verse 5 are exactly parallel. Jesus is restating His point so Nicodemus can understand what He meant the first time. The restatement shows that “born again” means, “born of water and the Spirit.” Verse 5 is not describing two different births, as many people claim. It is describing further the new birth, stating that the new birth involves two elements: water and Spirit.

Other important passages regarding the new birth help us understand this one. One can only be born again by obeying the gospel: 1 Peter 1:22-25. Hearing and believing gives one the right to become a child of God, but does not automatically make one a child of God: John 1:12. To be born again, one must come into Christ : 2 Cor. 5:17. To come into Christ and thereby become a child of God, one who believes must be baptized : Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27 (see also Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).

“Born of the water” must refer to water baptism. Reason being: (1) Baptism is the only command in the New Testament that requires the use of water (Acts 8:35-39; 10:47; John 3:23; Heb. 10:22; etc.). (2) Many other passages, already cited, show that water baptism is essential to forgiveness. (3) Further, other passages, already cited, show specifically that water baptism is an essential element of the new birth. (4) We will also notice later several verses that tie baptism to hearing the gospel like John 3:5 does.
Some people claim the water of John 3:5 refers to the physical birth (the “water” surround-ing the baby in the mother’s womb). However, (1) the parallel to v3 (above) shows that v5 is not talking about two separate births nor about physical birth at all. It is explaining two elements involved in one birth, the new birth. (2) “Water” is nowhere in the New Testament used to refer to physical birth. (3) V6 refers to physical birth as born of the “flesh.” If physical birth is meant in v5, why say “water” in v5 and then say “flesh” in v6? Why not use the same term both times if He meant the same thing?
(4) Physical birth is mentioned in John 3; but it was brought up, not by Jesus, but by Nicodemus as a result of his confusion and misunderstanding (v4). Jesus restated the truth about the new birth (v5), then He contrasted the physical birth to the new in v6. But He never included physical birth, along with the new birth, as something essential to enter the kingdom in v5. He discussed physical birth only to correct the confusion Nicodemus had introduced.
So Jesus here emphatically stated that baptism is essential to enter the kingdom of God. No one can be born again without it. When people seek to deny that Jesus ever taught the necessity of baptism to salvation, they need to consider carefully this passage along with Mark 16:16 and the other passages cited above.

The Holy Spirit revealed the message of the gospel, which one must learn and believe in or-der to be forgiven. The word is the “seed” by which one is born again (1 Peter 1:23; etc.). The word is the “sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17). It is the tool or means used by the Spirit to accomplish His word in conversion (2 Peter 1:21; Eph. 3:3-5; John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Cor.
2:10-13; etc.).

“Born of the spirit” must refer to receiving the Holy Ghost. Scripture specifically states 9 gifts from the Holy Spirit: (Galatians 5:22)

* Love
* Joy
* Peace
* Longsuffering
* Kindness
* Goodness
* Faithfulness
* Gentleness
*Self-control

A manifestation of the Holy Spirit is the gift of speaking in a heaven language called “tongues’. Many denominations do not practice this. However, the Pentecostal do.

After the meeting with Nicodemus, Jesus went about baptizing like his cousin, John The Baptist.  For those who seek God’s face and accepts His son Jesus, eteranl life will be given.  For those who reject the Son of God, will face eternal damnation.

In closing, I would like to leave you with this thought: Mark Twain once said, “It is not what I don’t know about the Bible that troubles me, it is what I do know!” He was not doing what he knew. This is the real problem. Most people know what is right but they do not do what is right. The reason they do not do what is right is because there is something wrong about who they are. That is true of us all.

God Bless you and Merry Christmas

Pastor Rocky

John – Chapter 2 – Jesus’ first miracle –

John – Chapter 2

John stresses the deity of Jesus Christ.  He gives seven miracles that serve as signs that Jesus is the Messiah.  In Chapter 2 of John, he records Jesus describing himself as the Bread Of Life, The Water Of Life, The Light Of The World, The Door, and The Good Shepherd.  John provides teachings of Jesus’ found nowhere else, including the other Gospels.  The book of John is the most theological of the four gospels.

Being a disciple of Jesus and having the deep sense or longing of wanting to save the world, God expects us to take care of ourselves in the process.  How can we minister to the sick if we are sick?  How can we feed the hungry if we allow ourselves to be malnourished? How can we have the strength to fight battles if we are weak?  Do not misunderstand what I am saying.  I know I can accomplish anything provided I am in Gods’ will.  But God also says to have wisdom.

The Bible says in Proverbs 4:6-7, “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

Job 12:12
Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old

Job 28:28
Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding

Colossians 2:2-3
My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Chapter 2 of John explains how Jesus, the one that was to save the world, took time off to attend a wedding.  Keep in mind, the marriage festivities of the Jewish lasted for a week.

Now this was the third day since Jesus has returned to Galilee and met Philip. (John 1:43) There was a marriage in the town of Cana and Jesus’ mother was attending. Cana was a town in Galilee about six miles north west of Nazareth. John 21:2 says that Nathanael was born in Cana. The name “Cana” means a “place of reeds.”  Jesus and his disciples were probably invited because Mary, Jesus’ mother was invited.

As the marriage ceremonies continued, the wine ran out.  “And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said unto him, They have no wine. Jesus said unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother said unto the servants, Whatsoever he said unto you, do it” (John 2:3-5).

It seems that Mary was being presumptuous in hinting that Jesus to solve this problem. Jesus’ response was to say, “Woman, what have I to do with thee?” He does not call Mary, “mother,” which is an endearing term, but rather simply “woman” This was not a sign of disrespect. Mary may had thought that because she was His mother she had some special hold on or control of Jesus as a miracle worker. She may have seen this as a opportunity for Him to reveal Himself she knowing in her heart who He truly was. However, Jesus however, mildly corrects her. No man or woman has any special position manipulate the Lord. This event shows that Mary, although a godly woman and Jesus’ earthly mother, she had no special position with Him. This contradicts the Roman Catholic deification of Mary and the false assumption that she was the Mother of God. The practice of praying to Mary and exalting her, as the Roman church has done, has no precedent in the Scriptures. Mary served the Lord like many others, but she was just an ordinary person.

Based  upon the request from His mother Mary, Jesus performed his first miracle.  That was. “Turning water into wine’.

After the marriage festivities, Jesus, Mary, his brothers and Jesus’ disciples left Cana and headed east about 16-18 miles to Capernaum. Capernaum is mentioned in each of the Gospels and is located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee near a main ancient highway that connected the lake with Damascus about 75 miles to the north. Capernaum was an important city in the life of Christ. Jesus remained for a short time in Capernaum and then journeyed south about 90 miles to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. All male Jews were required by law to attend go to Jerusalem for the Passover. The Passover was observed on Nisan 14th, which falls within the time frame of March-April. The Passover was a supper on Nisan 14th and was followed by the Feast of Unleaven Bread that lasted seven day until the Nisan 21st.

Upon arriving in Capernaum, Jesus found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.  When Jesus had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables.   Jesus said unto them that sold doves, “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise”. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (John 2:14-17).
Verse 23, seems to imply that Jesus cleaned the Temple of the moneychangers before the Passover. He then on during the subsequent seven days of the feast (Feast of the Unleaven Bread) did many miracles and many people on seeing His miracles believed on Him. The actual miracles that Jesus did are not recorded, but many that were in Jerusalem for the feast surely witnessed them. The belief of these who believed was because they saw His miracles seems to be suspect. Their’s was a belief of seeing a sign. It is not likely their belief was saving or justifying faith, but merely a superficial belief in Him as a miracle worker. There is no record of any of these people later following the Lord. To believe on Jesus Christ, is to believe in who Jesus is, which is the Messiah, God incarnate in man. Further saving faith comes from conviction of one’s sin. True faith comes upon realizing that Jesus is God, that truth sheds a revealing light on our sinful condition and that brings genuine conviction and repentance. Saving faith in more than believing that Jesus did a miracle, but more in that we believe in Him as our Savior. Verse 24, sheds more light on the matter.

God inspired the Apostle John to write this Gospel to clearly assert the deity and majesty of Jesus our Savior. Truly, He is Almighty God, come to earth incarnate in man, and who demonstrated His all consuming and gracious love in suffering and dying for the sins of all men. We have the testimony of God’s very word and we who have believe on Him, have His abiding and eternal presence. Oh, what a wonderful Savior is our God!

The last 2 verses of John, Chapter 2, prepares the beginning for Chapter three.

24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

What these two verses mean:

The son of God Knows all human nature.  Those that were proclaiming Jesus would soon be shouting, “Crucify Him”.  Those that praising him were doing so because that is what the majority was doing.  Jesus knew these praises were superficial.  The bottom line is, no matter what the multitude may be shouting, keep your faith, stand, believe, and be firm.

God Bless You and Merry Christmas

Pastor Rocky