This week I participated in more than one conversation about sickness, prayer for healing, and how God still works today. Good reminders for us to not put God “in a box.” To watch and notice in wonder God’s miracles, large and small today. Miracles are simply things that don’t make…
Two ideas stand out in this passage. John wrote several words to describe people speaking. We saw an earlier theme of conversations within Jesus’ ministry. Related, John also included a couple different terms to convey the thought of understanding, perception beyond what people see and know on the surface. This…
When I studied words in this passage, the word “speak” and its different forms stood out. John’s record allows us to listen in on a real-time conversation Jesus had with an individual and her acquaintances. John used five different words that relate to speaking, and one word he used four…
This week, we see God at work in one individual’s life, even as John’s narrative sets the stage for future opposition in response to Jesus’ invitation to all. Read John 4:1-9. John clarified Jesus was not baptizing—only his disciples. The Pharisees heard Jesus was gaining popularity, which sets the stage…
Last week we read God’s love letter to us declaring how much he loves everyone in the world. He wants us all to choose to trust in Jesus, believing God’s way is the best for our life. His wonderful gift to us is eternal life, a blessed life in his…
How wonderful that God allowed us to poke along reading and writing the first two chapters in John’s gospel. Therefore, we’re reading chapter 3 this week, when our culture celebrates Valentine’s day, which symbolizes love. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called…
This scene almost looks isolated. Jesus revealed his glory to his disciples through a miraculous sign in Cana. In John chapter 1, we read about the disciples’ first steps toward confident belief that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus added to their faith in Cana. In this second part of chapter…
As the Light of the world, Jesus revealed God’s glory. Jesus showed he is better than man’s plans and abilities. In the previous chapter, John recorded Jesus calling disciples by name. God gave Jesus the name Messiah, or Anointed One. He was anointed to call people to himself, for the…
Even though January feels like the longest month, it offers encouragement. When I read the time and date site1 for our area, we’ve gained 15 minutes of daylight since I posted last week. With sun instead of clouds, it feels like much more. Enough time has passed since the holidays…
What a feast we have in God’s Word this week! John included several names to introduce who Jesus is. In her book, Walking on Water, Madeleine L’Engle wrote, “To name is to love. To be Named is to be loved.”1 Earlier, on the same topic of names, a character in…