Cover-to-Cover

John 14 This chapter is packed with revelation. Let’s look at some points: In verse 1, we read that Jesus said “Let not your heart be troubled.” Not only did Jesus express His desire for us to have peace; He also shows us that we have authority to decide what the heart will do. Verse 2 says, “In My Father’s house are many mansions. This means “dwelling places.” In verse...

John 13:18-38 In these verses, Jesus identifies his betrayer and Peter denies he knows His Master. In verse 34, Jesus gives a new commandment, “Love one another, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.” Not only were they to love; but they were to love the way they experienced being loved by Jesus. We are to do the same. Before we can do that, we need to experience the love of Jesus....

John 13:1-17 In John 13 is the story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. In verse 14, Jesus tells the disciples that if He, as their authority, served the people by humbling Himself to wash their feet, then they should have the same mind and heart to serve others. In verse 16, Jesus says they are not greater than Him, and He says He is not greater the Father who...

John 12:20-50 In verses 20-26 describes a spiritual principle of increase through dying to self. Jesus would physically and spiritually die, and we enter into His death when we surrender to Him, dying to our own self-sufficiency, self-centeredness, and self-promotion. Our surrender is a welcome to God’s grace, a grace that takes us over and above our limited ability and resources. A new life is experienced and shared in love...

John 12:1-19 Lazarus was just raised from the dead, giving attention to Jesus. Not only did the religious Jews plot to kill Jesus; but they also planned to kill Lazarus. He most likely drawing people with questions about Jesus and the afterlife. Jesus was anointed in Bethany six days before Passover by Mary, anointing Him with perfume for His burial, wiping His feet with her hair. Lazarus was there. Martha...

John 11:47-57 When the Pharisees heard about Jesus raising the dead, they got together to discuss what they should do about His influence over the people. They mention the many signs He performs, but they do not believe He is the Christ. They also were concerned about the Romans. If the Jews look to Jesus as king, then they will remove the Jewish religion and nation. Less than forty years...

John 11:18-46 Martha has often been seen as the woman who was wrong to be so busy and distracted by work that she missed her opportunity to be with Jesus, unlike her sister, Mary, who sat at His feet. John 11 gives us another perspective of Martha. In verse 22, Martha runs to meet Jesus, hearing He was just outside of Bethany. Martha was a woman of action. She believed...

John 11:1-17 Close to Passover, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead as an obvious, miraculous act to get attention before His triumphal entry where He is declared King. In fact, Jesus waited several days before heading to Lazarus in order to allow Lazarus to die, so He could raise him from the dead. Jesus’ time to be crucified was near, but first, He needed to be accepted as the king,...

John 10:22-42 In verse 22, we read that it is now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, a celebration that was added to the already existing 7 feasts. This feast celebrated the rededication of the temple after it had been defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes. Unbelieving Jews approached Jesus, demanding He plainly state that He was the promised Messiah, the Christ. They would consider...

John 10:1-21 Chapter 10 is a continuation in the conversation in chapter 9 with the Pharisees. In chapter 9, Jesus told the Pharisees they were failing at good leadership. He then speaks about Himself as the true shepherd of the sheep. He referred to the Pharisees as a thief and a robber, coming into the sheepfold through another entrance other than the door of the sheepfold. The sheep hear the...

John 9:24-41 The Pharisees bring back the man who was healed from blindness. They told the man they could agree that God healed him, but not through Jesus Christ, saying He was a sinner. They continue to question the healed man, and he does talk back with the Pharisees, stating that Jesus could not have done such a miracle without God. They cast him out, not just that day, but...

John 9:1-23 Jesus heals a man who was born blind. Let’s look at a few points: Jesus saw the man as He was leaving the temple, escaping death by stoning. Love will notice others even when we are dealing with our own concerns. Jesus notices us. The disciples called Jesus, “Rabbi,” meaning Teacher. The disciples noticed the blind man, too. They were curious and wanted to learn, so they asked...

John 8:37-59 In verse 48, the religious Jews had told Jesus He was a Samaritan and had a demon. A Samaritan was a half-breed Jew that worshipped differently from the traditional Jew. A demon was an unredeemable, wicked being that rebelled against God and followed Satan. Parents teach their children values and beliefs in the hopes that their children will carry on those values and beliefs generation after generation. God’s...

John 8:21-36 In verse 29, Jesus says, “I always do those things that please Him (the Father).” Jesus lived a life of dependent faith, just as we are required to do. In verse 28 He says, “I do nothing of Myself.” What an incredible thought! Jesus also said, “as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” Then in verse 31, Jesus continued to speak about TRUTH and WORDS. Just...

John 8:1-20 In the account of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus, knowing that everyone was aware of their own sin in their lives, said, “Those who are without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” They began to leave, from the oldest, who had lived longer with more opportunities to sin, to the youngest. Sin causes a person to feel guilt, shame, and fear. To find freedom...