But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”

John 7:25-31

But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” John 7:27-29

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:25-31, where we see continued reactions to Jesus' teaching in the temple during the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus shares that His origin is from the Father who is True (vv28-29).  He also shares that the people do not know God the Father - He who sent Jesus (v29). In v30 we see that nothing will stop God's plan of Jesus' death and resurrection despite the Jewish leadership having opportunity to arrest Him.       
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The people of Jerusalem struggle to understand why the Jews - who are seeking to kill Jesus (v25) - are not confronting Jesus now that He is in plain sight and not avoiding the Jews (in contrast to vv1-3,6,8).  The people think they know Jesus based on where He is from and from their incomplete understanding of OT prophecies of Jesus (OT prophecies are clear that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, but prophecies of Jesus' hometown being Nazareth are inconclusive - see this).  Regardless, the people's understanding of scripture should lead them to believe that Jesus IS the Christ, the Promised Messiah. Many believed in Jesus - see v31 - although the text shares that they believed because of the signs He performed not that they believed He is the Promised Messiah.      
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid making claims about Jesus that are not scripturally accurate.  Claim the promise that Jesus was sent by the Father and the Father is Truth so Jesus is Truth because all things have been given by the Father to the Son.  Claim the promise also that nothing will stop God's plan - of course with certainty we can say that He will come again, and believers are saved.  Follow Jesus' example to challenge those who claim to know scripture but add to/subtract from the Word to support their own motives. Bring the Word everywhere! 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

 John 7:14-24

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.  John 7:16-18

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:14-24, where Jesus, now that He is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths, starts teaching in the temple.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Although initially hesitant to go into Judea from Galilee because "His time had not yet come" (vv6,8), once there Jesus goes straight to the temple to teach (v14).  RC Sproul identifies preaching of the Word is central to a church and Jesus squarely focuses on teaching as a priority with His ministry.  In response to the Jews who marveled at Jesus' "learning" without "stud[ying]," Jesus responds humbly and shares (vv16-18) that His learning and teaching is not His own but that of the Father who sent Him.  He then shares that anyone seeking to follow the Father's desires will "know" (with certainty or a promise implied) whether Jesus' teaching is from God or not.  This echoes words from Romans 12:2, where Paul writes that as we read God's Word (seek Him and His will for our lives), He renews our mind and gives us the ability to know the inerrancy of God's Word and His will for our lives.  Jesus then challenges the Jews (leadership) as He shares that they share falsehoods and act with hypocrisy because they seek their own authority/glory (v18) and not the will of the Father who authored the very Word they claim to follow.  Jesus' final statement (v24) in response to the Jews is quite pointed as He shares that they judge by appearances (external behaviors) vs understanding someone's heart and intent.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People often seek their own glory and emphasize their own authority vs that of God.  This drives pride, arrogance, envy, anger, etc.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeking your own glory and emphasizing your own authority.  Do not judge on appearances.  Claim the promise that if you seek His will, You will understand the authority of God and the inerrancy of His Word.  Follow Jesus' example in humility to know where our learning comes from - in fact - every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17).  Understand and do God's will.  Study His Word to discern His will and allow for the renewing of your mind.     

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My Prayer: Father God, Your are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

 John 7:10-13

Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. John 7:13

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:10-13, where Jesus, although initially remaining in Galilee and not going to Judea during the Feast of Booths, does go to Judea - albeit "privately" to avoid greater attention from the Jews seeking to kill him. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The text is not explicit why Jesus initially does not go to Judea during the Festival of Booths (see vv1, 8) and the other gospel accounts do not discuss this episode. Yet here Jesus apparently changes His mind - and because Jesus acts with intent and there is a plan, one can only surmise that there is a reason why Jesus goes to Judea and this is part of His plan.  Looking just at this text we are left with mystery as far as Jesus' intent. Perhaps text elsewhere in John in this and other chapters will give us more clarity.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: In Jerusalem, the Jews continue to look for Jesus - again seeking to kill him.  Among the people in Jerusalem, there was much chatter about Jesus both for and against Him. V13 shares how "no one spoke openly of Jesus" out of fear of the Jews.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We know ultimately that Jesus will be arrested and crucified - and the disciples scatter.  In John 16:33, the disciples are told by Jesus to take heart as He has overcome the world (in the face of persecution).  Jesus does not want us to be living in fear but instead to speak openly of Him and how He saves.  We must follow His example and command (Great Commission) to take the Word everywhere. We (believers) too have overcome the world - claim this promise!

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My Prayer: Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You have overcome the world and give me the gift of eternal life and the power to defeat sin in my life.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.

 John 7:1-9

You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come. John 7:8

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:1-9, where Jesus continues to remain in Galilee - having just taught at the synagogue in Capernaum.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Once again we see Jesus focused squarely on His plan - He will not be deterred by the prompting of the disciples to go to Judea - vv3-5.  Jesus will not leave Galilee and go into Judea as He knows the "Jews were seeking to kill him" (v1).  In response to the prompting to go to Judea where the Jews were celebrating the Feast of Booths, Jesus shares that His "time has not come yet, but your time is always here" (v6).  He repeats that His time has not come yet once again in v8.  Jesus also shares in v7 that world hates Jesus because "[He] testif[ies] about it that its works are evil."      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The disciples believe they have a better plan than that of Jesus - see vv3-5 where their argument to Him to go to Judea is that Jesus' works must be more visible for people to believe in Him.  Yet what the disciples don't know is that the greatest work of all time - the raising of Jesus from the grave - is on the way.  And....Jesus has more work to do both with the disciples and with His ministry.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeking not our own will but that of God.  Follow Jesus' example to focus on the Father’s will and not be deterred.   

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My Prayer: Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You followed the Father's will to be delivered to death only to be raised in three days....You stuck to this plan and would not be deterred to follow others' will for Your life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of what You did...for me personally and for all of humanity.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

 John 6:60-71

And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” John 6:65

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 6:60-71, where we see Jesus turning His attention to the disciples who are struggling to comprehend Jesus' words in response to the Jews vv41-59.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God wants us to follow Him even when we have doubts and questions about what He says...even when it is scary what He is asking us to do. Once again we should not grumble about (or to) God but do His will.  V65 reinforces how we are to lean into Him to help us with our unbelief - see also Mark 9:24 where the father of a son with a spirit that makes him mute" cries out to Jesus "help my unbelief." It is only Him who gives us faith - Ephesians 2:8-9. Stay close to God - maintain a daily practice of scripture study and prayer. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: It's not just the Jews who struggle to comprehend Jesus' words that He is the Bread of Life and that to abide and follow Him you must "feed on [His] flesh and drink [His] blood" (vv53-58).  The disciples struggle, sharing that "[t]his is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (v60).  The Gospel message trips up many people - see also the story of the rich young ruler from Mark 10:17-31, Matthew 19:16-30, and Luke 18:18-30.  Ultimately, there are those who cannot overcome their questions and doubts about the Gospel message, what it requires of them, and do not believe - it is these who are not believers anyway, they fall away and are condemned eternally - like we see with those who fall away in v66 and also with Judas in vv70-71.  In contrast, Peter has faith, sharing that he will not leave or betray Jesus, sharing "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God (vv68-69).  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid grumbling and complaining about what Jesus says or wants us to do, claim the promise that every word of God is perfect, follow the example of Peter who has nowhere else to go and is desperate for Jesus, abide in Him through daily study of His Word and through prayer.     

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God full of mercy and love.  Thank You for Your patience and mercy with me and for the love that You show me to save.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.

 John 6:52-59

This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. John 6:58

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 6:52-59 - where we continue to see a back and forth between the Jews (Jewish elders/leadership) and Jesus about who Jesus is and His authority.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Once again, emphasizing His authority (sent by the Father - v57) using the words "truly, truly," Jesus shares that we must "feed" on His body and blood to abide in Him and to have eternal life.  Believers now have the benefit of knowing what is coming - Jesus initiating a New Covenant based on His broken body and spilled blood (Last Supper - see also Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), followed by Jesus' death and resurrection.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The Jews continue to question the identity of Jesus and His authority.  They believe in Jesus' literal words (thinking He is crazy for saying that believers must eat His flesh - v52) vs looking at the broader context of all of His Word (all scripture) as a means to understand God's message to us.       
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We must avoid interpreting scripture in isolation from the entirety of scripture. We must follow the example of the Berean Jews from Acts 17:11 who examined all of scripture to test their knowledge of scripture.    

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God that loves and saves and provides Your Word to know and love You. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.

 John 6:41-51

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. John 6:44

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 6:41-51 - where we see the Jews (Jewish elders/leadership) grumble about Jesus after He shares that He is the Bread of Life. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  God does not want us to grumble about Him - v43.  We also see this in the OT in Exodus 16:2-26 where the Israelites in the wilderness grumble about their circumstances and Moses responds to them that he knows that the grumbling is not about Aaron and himself but about God.  Jesus repeats that He is sent by God and that He alone saves - v44. Another promise is that everyone who believes will have eternal life and that they (and their children will all be taught by God) - as Jesus quotes Isaiah 54:13. Jesus then prophecies His own death by offering of Himself as the Sacrificial Lamb of God (v51b). 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The Jews grumble about Jesus and share how they know Jesus as the son of Mary and Joseph - they can't believe that Jesus is sent by God and from Heaven.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not grumble or complain about Your circumstances as this is a complaint directed towards God.  Claim the promise of eternal life through Jesus and how He teaches. Trust in God and believe. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You alone save.  My sin is great (including grumbling!) and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me for my sin....including lack of patience also...Help me turn from such sin towards You and overcome my sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.