This week we read John’s record of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem before his final Passover celebration with the disciples. All four gospels contain this event; you might want to compare and contrast the accounts to better envision this scene in Jesus’ earthly ministry. Many scholars have written about the…
In our reading last week, after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he escaped to Ephraim—but the time was close enough to the Passover that many Jews had already come to Jerusalem. John recorded the exact point in the timeline for this scene: six days before the Passover, Jesus returned…
Last week I traveled, with a laptop, without a charger. Which delayed this post. As we reflected in our last reading, Jesus meets us in the busy times and the pauses. He showed up last week with new insight as I read about the Pharisees’ plot to kill Jesus in…
Fall entered with details and events and leaves not-quite-yet swirling, which created a delay sending out this week’s reading. Yesterday I recorded two Bible study talks, braved the maze of Medicare enrollment, encountered toxic shrimp, and changed dinner plans. In the midst, I enjoyed beautiful sun. Today it’s overcast with…
We’ve reached chapter 11 in our reading through John’s gospel. This passage includes the story of Lazarus’s death and rising from the dead, Jesus’ seventh miracle as recorded by John. Lazarus was from the same village as his sisters, Mary and Martha. John identifies Mary by her devotion shown to…
In this passage, Jesus still referred to sheep. Some translations head this section, “reassurance for believers.” We must read carefully, though, to understand who receives Jesus’ promise and its context. Still, we rejoice in our position close to Jesus. As we begin reading this passage, two-thirds through chapter 10, John…
Do we ever tire reading how Jesus is our Shepherd, who lovingly takes care of his sheep? In this passage, Jesus contrasted his role as our good Shepherd with the behavior of a false, or hired shepherd. Read John 10:11-13. Jesus is our good shepherd. Not adequate, but good, a…
This week’s post is late because real life trumps computers. Helping my son and his family took me away from the computer Thursday and Friday. All on the mend now with other family members there this weekend to support. This week we read a familiar passage, in which Jesus declared…
Picking up where we left off in John chapter 9, Jesus healed a man born blind, and the Pharisees questioned the healing. It didn’t help that Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath. Read John 9:35-38. The Pharisees forcefully cast the man out of their presence.1 They refused to acknowledge…
According to the Berean Bible Society,* Jesus healing the man born blind counts as one of seven miracles Jesus performed as part of his divine mission during his earthly ministry. Read John 9:13-15. Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath. The man received (physical) sight he never had before.1 The…