Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Woman Caught in Adultery:
Where is the man?!
Just wondering.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Outline of John 8
1. Woman caught in adultery
2. Jesus speaks to the crowd, the Pharisees, and Jews who believed
* Key question: Why did Jesus confront his Jewish supporters?

Sunday, June 28, 2009

John 7:45-52
The Pharisees were irate that Jesus escaped their vengeance. They focused on picky details and blamed Jesus' popularity on a curse.
How often do we deny the truth by citing marginal evidence and calling our detractors idiots?

Saturday, June 27, 2009

On a Soapbox

Jesus used "sidewalk preaching" to announce his divinity publicly in verses 37-38.

We read that the crowd was divided.

There is no such thing as consensus in the public domain. Consensus is only achieved under formal protocols.

The most important things in life generate vigorous debate. But there are right and wrong positions, better and lesser perspectives.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Your Time

Jesus continues his confrontation with the crowds and religious leaders.

In verse 30, we read that "they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come" (NIV).

This is an important point.

Do the right thing. As long as it's not your "time," you'll continue having the opportunity to do the right thing.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

You're Nuts!

In verses 19-20, the crowd accuses Jesus of making up the threat against his life.

How often is the crowd oblivious to reality?

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Who Sent You?

Jesus reminds us, in verses 16-18, that no one's teaching is entirely original.

Everyone, including Jesus himself, teaches lessons based upon someone else's expectations.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Verse 15
Jesus confuses the leaders with his great learning. They equated knowledge with teaching. Jesus illustrates that God can be our teacher.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Imagine if your brother were the Messiah

Jesus' brothers weren't any more open to the thought than we would be today!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Smart Move

Jesus left Judea in favor of Galilee, since people in Judea wanted to kill him.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Outline of John 7

  1. Jesus Teaches @ Feast of Booths / Tabernacles / Shelters
  2. Confusion, Crowds and Pharisees
  3. Key Question: Is Jesus the Christ?

Friday, June 19, 2009

Yeah, But...

It's awesome that Peter declared Jesus' divinity, but it was tempered by the reality that Judas Iscariot was preparing to hand him over to the authorities.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Transparent

In verses 59-65, Jesus reminds us that he knows what's in our hearts, sometimes even before we know ourselves.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Bread of Life

Jesus is so often misunderstood. It must have been so painful for him.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

"Rabbi, when did You get here?"

Great question, considering Jesus hadn't boarded the outgoing boat with the rest of the disciples!

Monday, June 15, 2009

We Left Behind Who?!

Jesus left the crowds to avoid being led into power by force.

Good move.

His disciples got on a boat and left Jesus behind.

Bad move.

Reminds me of when Jesus was twelve and his family left him behind in Jerusalem.

I wonder what it was about Jesus' personality that allowed him to be a brilliant leader and at the same time under the radar.

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Sunday, June 14, 2009

Good Start, Andrew

Barley is a major animal feed crop.Image via Wikipedia

In verses 1-14, we meet Jesus feeding a huge crowd of casual followers.

When Jesus challenges his disciples to find some food, Andrew brings a little boy with a box lunch.

Andrew reasonably asks, "There is a boy here who has five small loaves of barley bread and two fish. But what good is that with all these people?" (v. 9 CEV)

When do I ask God, "Here's what we have to start with. But what good will it do?" When do you, dear Reader?

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Saturday, June 13, 2009

Outline of John 6

Pure ShoresImage by Simon Grubb via Flickr

  1. Jesus Feeds 5,000
  2. Jesus Walks on Water
  3. Jesus Speaks Hard Words
    1. Hungry Followers
    2. Skeptical Jews
    3. His Many Disciples
  4. Peter's Confession
  5. 11 out of 12
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Friday, June 12, 2009

Men and Moses

Jesus knows that the crowd doesn't really believe in the writing of Moses.

Therefore, they're practically predestined to reject him.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Blind

In verses 37-40, Jesus convicts the crowd.

Jesus explains that although they relied upon the scriptures for life, they denied the scriptures when they denied him.

What do I both rely upon and reject?

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Greater than John

Jesus' testimony and activity is greater than John the Baptist's.

(cf. Matthew 11:11)

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Monday, June 8, 2009

Sabbath Healing?

Jesus is criticized for neglecting the Sabbath.

How encouraging to see that the Son of God acts with a great deal of common sense. Jesus considers healing someone bound by illness more important than following a religious custom.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Miraculous Pool of Bethesda

What a weird event described in John 5.

The regular stirrings at the pool of Bethesda seem like an odd way for God to express healing power. I wonder if it seemed bizarre to people 2000 years ago, or if it was more like visiting an oracle and seemed typical?

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Outline of John 5

  1. Jesus Heals a Man at the Pool of Bethesda
  2. God the Father Testifies to Jesus
  3. John Testifies to Jesus
  4. The Scriptures, through Moses, Testify to Jesus

Friday, June 5, 2009

Many more believed

"Many more believed because of His word" (v. 41 NASB).

How often do my words get in the way of Jesus' word?

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Inside Scoop

If the Samaritan woman were alive today, she'd have had the scoop of all time: "I who speak to you am He."

Jesus did not publicly delare his divinity to the religious leaders nor political powers of his day.

He identified himself openly to someone from another country and religious background. Jesus was less concerned about perfect theology and perfect living than an openness to his message.

This exchange reminds me that I focus on the wrong things sometimes.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Known

How precious to be truly known, entirely understood.

This is a gift Jesus gave the Samaritan woman at the well.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

The Core

The woman at the well was concerned about social conventions.

Jesus reframed their conversation in terms of spiritual truth.

How often and how effectively do I make this transition? How often do you, dear Reader?

Monday, June 1, 2009

Communication Styles

In Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman and follow-up with his disciples, he is at the same time both concrete and obscure.

It seems that Jesus keeps his listeners on their toes to keep up with him. It's an interesting teaching and communication style.