Deuteronomy 5  Moses repeats the 10 commandments - the foundational Law that makes up the covenant between the Lord and Israel.  These commandments are timeless and flawless.  They are as true for us as they were for the people who had wandered in a wilderness for 40 years.

"You shall have no other gods before Me."  and " You shall not make for yourself an idol.."
- God is God alone.  To give worship or service to any other person or thing is to diminish the Sovereignty and Holiness of the Lord God, Who is Almighty, Infinite, Transcendent and Eternal.   He is a "jealous" God and a consuming fire.  He will not share His glory with any false idol.   He will punish those who disobey and show lovingkindness to those who love Him and obey Him.

"You shall not take the name of the Lord Your God in vain."   To lift up, raise, or even magnify His Holy Name in any way that is vain- evil, destructive, useless, deceptive or idolatrous - is to ask for punishment.   God desires us to honor His Name.  Jesus taught us to pray, "... Hallowed be Thy Name".  This is more than just using His Name as a swear word... it is any misuse of His Name, anything that does not show honor to Him.

"Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy."   A day of rest.  A day to cease working and to allow others to cease working.  A day to remember the deliverance that God provided.  We need to set aside a day to rest and remember the Lord's provisions for us too.

" Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord you God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you. "
Family is so important to God.  He has created it as a foundation for society.  Respect for the authority of your parents will lead to prosperity and wholeness.  Where there is no honor for parents, we see chaos and catastrophic failure.

" You shall not murder."
"You shall not commit adultery "
"You shall not steal"
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." 
" You shall not covet your neighbor's wife..."  or anything that belongs to him. 

Foundational truths to establish a nation.  Truths that will serve to make any nation wise and understanding, prosperous and righteous.

Father, You Word is perfect.  Thank You for giving us these Laws.  They show us what is right and good in Your eyes.  They lead us in paths of righteousness.  They help us to know Your heart.  We know that no one is able to keep the Law perfectly, but we thank You that Jesus did and that we are in Him. Give us pure hearts and clean hands, to walk in Your ways and bring glory and honor to Your Name. Amen.

Deuteronomy 3-4     Moses reminds Israel that God has given them land to possess and that He will continue to deliver the whole kingdom into their hands.  They need to remember that it is God Who is fighting for them.  They have seen His Works.  3:24 " O Lord God, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness and Thy strong Hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Thine?" 

The Law has been given to Israel in order that they may " live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. " 

The Law is to be kept.
It is not to be added to or taken away from.
It is to give wisdom and understanding in the sight of all the peoples.
It is a law of righteousness given to no other nation.
It is not to be neglected but taught carefully from one generation to the next.

Israel is to "hold fast" to the Lord, the One they heard from the midst of fire, but saw no form...
They must not "act corruptly" by making a graven image of any kind to represent Him.

The Lord our God is not like any graven image.
He can see and hear and smell.  He can speak and be heard.  He can be found when we seek Him with all of our heart and soul.
He is the only God Who has taken a nation and made it His own.
He is the only God Who had done signs and wonders like these.
He is the only God Who loves...
"Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other. " (4:39)

Father in heaven,  You are the only True God.  You are the Lord Who rules in heaven and on earth.  You do not change.  You see each of us.  You hear our thoughts and prayers.  You know us inside and out.  You alone give the Words of Life.  We worship You.   May we live this day in obedience and love, filled by Your Spirit and the Life of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 1-2 It is the 40th year and 11th month.  Moses begins to speak to all of Israel, a recounting of all that has happened, a summary of their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.  It is a reminder of God's promises and of their failures.  A recounting of God's Laws and His Providence. And a call to obedience and trust in He Who is able.
"Begin to occupy..."  The Lord directs His people.   They had stayed on the mountain " long enough". (1:6)  It was time to go in and do what they should have done 40 years before.  Like Caleb, they needed to " follow the Lord fully" ( 1:36)

Moses reminds the people that God keeps His promises.  They could not touch the land that God gave to Esau, or to Lot's descendants.  They could only take what God would deliver to them.  But they did have to take it.  They had to "occupy"  or possess it in order to possess it.  ( 2:31)

We, also, have been given a promise - an abundant, eternal life.  A oneness with Jesus.  A fullness of joy.   Perhaps God is calling us to "occupy" or "possess" this LIFE.  We've been circling the mountain long enough ! We need to be like Calab and follow the Lord fully.... occupying the promised Land of God's power and grace.  Living the Life of Christ with full and complete surrender to His Spirit.


Father in Heaven,  to this call we respond, bowing in worship of our King.  You are worthy of all our praise and honor and obedience.  Fill us again! That we might truly live the life of Christ, here and now.  We are Your possessions.  Amen

John 19-21    Jesus, the Son of God, the King of the Jews,  is presented to His people.. and is utterly rejected.  Placed into the hands of Roman soldiers, He is crucified.   His body is laid in a tomb by Joseph and Nicodemus, two secret disciples from among the Jewish leaders.

But then the morning of the 3rd day comes.... and Mary arrives at the tomb and finds it empty!  The words of Jesus are true... their joy is greater than ever as the disciples see their Lord face to face once again!  Thomas needed to see in order to believe and Jesus allowed him to do so.  But He says to us who have not yet seen Him, " Blessed are they who did  not see and yet believed."

Jesus calls us, along with Peter and the disciples, to follow Him.  To love Him.  To feed and tend His sheep... those who belong to Him.   Like John, we are to bear witness of those things we see and know are true about Jesus.  To bear witness of the fact that we are also, individually, " the disciple whom Jesus loved"...

John tells us that he wrote these words, " that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." ( v31)

Father in heaven,  great and mighty and holy are You!  Thank You for sending Jesus to lay down His life in order to give us true life.  May we follow Him every day, every moment, in all ways. That You will be glorified and honored by our lives as well.   Help us Lord, for we are in need of You.  Heal our bodies and give us strength for today.  In His Name we ask this. Amen

John 18   Jesus has said all He needed to say to His disciples.  He is ready for what is coming..  They enter the garden,  He is betrayed by Judas,  He is denied by Peter, and He is questioned by Pilate.

Two things strike me in this chapter -

Verse11 " ... the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

Verse 36  "  My kingdom is not of this world... My kingdom is not of this realm."

Jesus says, ".... For this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." (verse37)

Jesus came to do the Father's will, which included drinking "the cup".   And He came to establish His kingdom,  a kingdom unlike any known on earth.  Here are 2 of the truths that He came to bear witness of...   This kingdom is established in a way that is opposite of any on earth.  A kingdom that comes through such great love.. to drink the cup of the Father's wrath against sin.  No other king would give his life for his citizens.  Only Jesus could begin a Kingdom through  His death and resurrection.  What amazing grace!   He had all power and authority.. more than any earthly ruler; but He did not choose to take His kingdom by force - instead He chose to offer His Kingdom in love.

Father,  May Your Kingdom come !
Amen

John 17  The prayer of Jesus is a model and a gift to us.  Jesus sits at the right Hand of God and makes intercession for us... Perhaps this prayer reveals what He asks the Father for on our behalf?

He asks that He may continue to be glorified on earth.. by giving eternal life to those who are God's chosen ones.  
He asks that we may be kept in His name, becoming one with the Father and the Son.
He asks that we might be made full with His joy.
He asks that we be kept from the evil one.
He asks that we be sanctified in the truth... His Word.
He asks that through our unity with God the world will believe.
He asks that we might be with Him and behold His glory.
He asks that we might know His love.

These requests that Jesus prayed on the night that He was betrayed, are the requests that we can also present to the Father in the Name of Jesus.  The prayers that God will answer.

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name!  Father, keep us in Jesus.  Unite us together with You.  Fill  us with the joy of Jesus.  Keep us from the evil one.  Sanctify us by Your Word. Renew our minds and transform our lives by Your Truth.  As we abide in You and You abide in us, be glorified!  May the world witness the love and glory of Christ in us and come to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, sent from God the Father.  May they know Your great love.  May Your kingdom come and Your will be done, in the Name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

John 17  Jesus prays for His disciples.  Since we are included in this prayer ( v20) it is so important that we know this prayer intimately and personally.  What exactly did He pray for?   Notice that all the way through this prayer, Jesus follows His request or statement with a "that" statement....

Father,  "glorify Thy Son.... that the Son may glorify Thee." v1
"Thou gavest Him authority.... that ... He may give eternal life."  v2
"And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." v3
" I glorified Thee.." - accomplishing the work, manifesting Thy Name, giving them Thy Word...v4-6 -  so that they would understand - " that I came forth from Thee, and they didst believe that Thou didst send Me. " v8

"Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as we are." v11

"Sanctify them in the truth, Thy word is truth."v 17 .... "that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth." v19

" I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, are in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me." ( v20-21) 

The glory given from the Father to the Son, " I have given to them; that they may be one just as We are." v22

That -:
      " they may be perfected in unity." 
       - " the world may know "
      - " Thou didst send Me"
     - and " Thou didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me."  ( v23)

"Father, I desire that they also whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory... "    

" And I have made Thy name known to them, and will make it known; that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them, and I in them." 

 What a precious prayer.... Meditate on these words.
More tomorrow.

John 16   Verse 1 " These things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling." 
The time is coming for persecution and tribulation.  Like the disciples, we face opposition and the assault on Christianity.  We also need the Words of Jesus to keep us from being trapped and tripped up.  We also want to stand firm in Christ.  We need to remember the things that Jesus told His disciples on that last day before He was crucified, to remember that:

The world will hate us because it hates Christ.
We are not of the world, but were chosen out of the world.
We are not greater than our master, so we will face the same kind of opposition that He did.
We are meant to bear witness of Him.
The Spirit of Truth comes to help us.

4 times in this dialogue with His disciples, Jesus talks about prayer:

John 14:13-14 " And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.   If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."  ( prayer in the context of unity with the Father)

15:7-8  " If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."
 ( prayer in the context of dependence on the Vine and bearing fruit)

15:16  " You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give you." ( prayer in the context of the Lord's command to love one another.)

16:23-24 " And in that day you will ask Me no question.  Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name.  Until now you have asked nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, that your joy may be made full." ( Prayer in the context of His death and resurrection)

When we pray in the Name of Jesus - the Father is glorified; we will bear much fruit;  the fruit will be eternal; and our joy will be full!!

Remember these things, Jesus tells us, for tribulation is in the world.  We see that truth in the headlines of our daily news.... and we need to cling to the Truth - we have a joy that none can take away; we have a peace that rests on the fact that our Savior has overcome the world; and we have  been given a Helper Who will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement. He will guide us into the Truth and remind us of all that Christ has said.


Father in Heaven, how we bless You and exalt Your Name!  You are worthy of all our praise and worship!  Thank You for the Kingdom of God has come and is being expanded in spite of the opposition of the world; for Jesus Christ has overcome the world.  May Your perfect will, that which is good and acceptable and perfect be done on earth as it is in heaven.  We need You Lord, teach us to pray in Your Name, so that the Father is glorified in You, Jesus. May we pray for Your priorities - for fruit that is eternal; for the things that will fill us with joy - for lives forever changed by the power of Your great Love.  Bring us into unity with Yourself, for we do ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

John 15:12-27  "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

Love, agape love, love that gives; love that sacrifices. This love is a verb, not an emotion.  It is the greatest kind of love.  Love that gives up self for others. Love that comes from God.
Jesus told His disciples that He would call them "friends". Friend - ( philos) - dear, fond, associate.  He chose them and appointed them to bear fruit.  He gave them the promise of the Father, that they might ask and be granted fruit that would remain. He loved them that much.  He loves us that much.

The world does not know this kind of love.  They actually hate it.  They hate Jesus and they hate the Father.  They hate the followers of Christ also, for we bear the likeness of our Savior.
Hatred - love-less; to detest; to persecute. They hate without a cause. ( v25).  They hated Jesus then and they hate Him now.  It always amazes me that the Christians are persecuted the most.  They are the least likely to harm anyone else, so why?  It is only because the world still hates Jesus.

Father in Heaven,  we honor Your holy Name.  We desire Your kingdom to come... where love will be freely given and hatred will be no more.  We pray for Your will to be done, here on earth, in this world where hatred seems to dominate, may Your love abound more and more.  Help us to love, more and more. To lay our lives down for our friends. To give them the good news of Your love by all we say and all we do.  Give us all that we need to accomplish Your purposes.  Forgive us for failing to love. Help us to love and forgive those who have hated us.  Lead us away from the temptation to return evil for evil, but may we overcome evil with good.  Deliver us from the deceiver, the evil one, who tries to lead us away from You.  We desire to obey the command of Christ, to love one another.
We ask that You will enable us to do so, for we ask it in His Name. Amen.

John 15: 1-11  As the disciples and Jesus leave the upper room, perhaps walking through a vineyard, Jesus  continues to speak to them the Words that they will need to believe and cling to when He is betrayed and crucified.  Words that bring clarity and comfort.  " I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser."  Jesus tells them. " ... you are the branches.."

A vine is meant to produce fruit on its branches.  The Vinedresser's work is to keep the branches pruned and producing.  He does this by removing any branches that are barren and by pruning back any branches that have born fruit, so that they will produce more.  It is the will of the Vinedresser that the branches of the Vine produce fruit!  

Jesus tells us how:
The branches - us - must abide in the Vine - Jesus.   Apart from Him we can " do nothing". Abiding means to stay, endure, and be present in relationship.  "Abide in Me."  Jesus tells us. ( v4) " If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you."  (v7)
"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." ( v11)

Abiding in Jesus is a permanent, 24/7, relationship.  A branch can't take a day off!  The second it is detached from the vine, it is dead.
Abiding in Jesus is directly related to having His Words in us.  We need to hide God's Word in our hearts, have them etched on our hearts, have them in our minds and on our hearts, constantly.  If we neglect His Word, we are not abiding and will not bear fruit.
Abiding in Jesus brings an amazing promise - we can ask for whatever we wish and it will be done for us.
Abiding in Jesus is necessary to keep His commandments. We cannot do it on our own.
Abiding in Jesus is abiding in His love.  This love reflects the same love between Jesus and His Father.

Father in heaven, how lovely is Your Name!  You are the Vinedresser.  You have made us and You are growing us so that we will be fruitful branches. We are in Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who is the true Vine.  Your Kingdom, majestic with glorious splendor, is an everlasting Kingdom, full of Light and Truth and Goodness.  Fruitfulness abounds!  The fruits of love, peace, kindness, patience, goodness, endurance, self-control.  Lord, help us to constantly abide in You.  May we never neglect Your Word or our relationship with You.  We love You and desire to do Your will, on earth as it is in heaven.
This is what we ask, Jesus, that the Father be glorified by this, that we" bear much fruit", proving to be Your disciples.  Amen.

John 14  Twice in this chapter Jesus tells the disciples, " .. Let not your heart be troubled..."  ( v1, 27)
He knows that they are about to be overwhelmed, scattered, tried, and shocked... but He wants them to have peace through it all, His peace, which "passes understanding".   How could they have that kind of untroubled peace?  He gives them these Truths to cling on to and believe:

The Father has a house that Jesus is going to prepare for them. ( v2)
He is coming again to take them to be with Him. ( v3)
They already know the "way" - for He is "the way, and the truth, and the life..." (v4-6)
To know Him is to know His Father, to see Him is to see the Father. ( v7-9)
Because Jesus is in the Father and His Father is in Him; because His Father abides in Jesus and does the works that He does... believe.  Because Jesus goes to the Father, we will also do these greater works; we will be able to ask Him anything in His name and He will do it.  Because Jesus is going to the Father, He will send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth to help us, to abide in us and with us; to teach us and remind us of all that Jesus taught.
For these reasons, our hearts should not be troubled either. 

v15 " If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
V21 " He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father; and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him." 
v 23 " If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him , and make Our abode with him." 
v24 " He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."
v28 ".... If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the  Father; for the Father is greater than I." 
v31 " .. but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do.."

Loving Jesus and doing what He has commanded us to do - love one another - are 2 sides of the same coin.  You can't have one without the other.  We can't "love" Jesus or the Father and not obey His command to love.  We cannot "love" enough or obey the commandments without loving Jesus and our Father.   If we don't love Him, we won't do what the Word says.  If we do love Him, we will "keep" His Word - We will guard it, fulfill it, keep our eyes on it, preserve it, and DO it. 

And we won't be on our own .. we can't do it on our own,  but we will have God abiding in us and with us - The Father and the Son will come and "make their abode with " us.  The Spirit of Truth will abide with us and in us.  Let our hearts not be troubled!  No matter what we are facing, we can also have His Peace by believing and clinging to these Truths. 

Father in heaven, thank You for Your Word.  Thank You for loving us and giving us Your commandments, for giving us the Lord Jesus to bring us into the Way, Truth and Life ; and thank You for sending Your Spirit to help us and teach us all that Jesus said.  We willingly obey Your Word and put our trust in You, Jesus.  We await the day when You come for us to take us to where You are that we might abide with You forever.  Until that day, help us to abide in Your Word and to keep Your commands.  We ask this in Your Name. Amen.

John 13 It is the day of Passover, before morning Jesus will be arrested and tried, before the next day is over He will be dead.  He knows this.... He also knows:
v. 3 - "that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God,"
and
v. 11 - ".. He knew the one who was betraying Him; " 

There were no surprises awaiting Jesus.  He was prepared and ready for this hour.  He said and did what He did in the upper room with great purpose and intent.
He "loved them to the end". 
He washed their feet.
He set an example.
He released the betrayer.
He glorified God.
And He gave a new commandment - "... love one another, even as I have love you, that you also love one another." ( v34) 

Jesus loved these men, His close followers had become friends. He was greatly troubled when He let Judas go.  He was very truthful when He told Peter that he was going to deny that he even knew Jesus.  He loved them both, even knowing that one would never come back to Him.

What Jesus did and taught in this upper room is so important that John records it with 5 chapters, almost 1/4 of his whole book.  And it starts here - with washing their feet, dismissing the betrayer and giving the commandment to love one another.  " If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them." He says. ( v17).   To do what He has done, to receive Him and to receive the Father who sent Him.  To glorify God and to love.   Jesus provides the perfect picture of humility and servanthood by washing the feet of His disciples.  The Master became the slave.  The Teacher became the lesson.

How do we do this? By knowing Him. REALLY knowing Him.
Judas did not know Jesus, for if he did, he wouldn't have betrayed Him.
Peter did not even know Jesus at that point, for he would not have denied Him if he did.
So, how do we KNOW Him... it starts with believing what Jesus said.

We need to know that Jesus came from God, went back to God, and was given all things into His hands.  We need to know that He loves those He has chosen.  We need to know His Word and to do it.

Father in heaven, You are Good.  Your Kingdom is glorious and wonderful.  Your will is perfect.
Help us, Father.  Help us with our physical needs - food, health, jobs, finances, safety, and strength.
Help us with our spiritual needs - forgiveness and forgiving, loving others and serving others, walking in right ways and avoiding temptations, deliver us from the evil one.  Grant us wisdom that only comes from above. Give us understanding to do Your will.
Help those in need around us, especially the lost and dying, to find life in Jesus Christ.  Use us to share the good news and shine Your Light today.  We pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

John 12  Jesus comes back to Bethany and enters into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, fulfilling prophecy.. and many recognize Him as Messiah and celebrate His coming.  But, many others are plotting His death.  Again, Jesus prepares His disciples and friends for what is coming, although they still don't understand.  When Mary anoints His feet, Jesus tells them straight out that it is for His burial. When the Greeks come to Phillip and he goes to Andrew to tell Jesus, it is like a sign has been given and Jesus tells them, " The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."

His message is clear:

He is like a seed that will be planted and will die but then bear fruit.

His purpose was always for this hour.

His desire is that the Father be glorified.

His light is given so that the darkness will not overtake them. 

To believe in Him is to believe in the Father.

To see Him is to see the Father.

He came to give light.

He came to save the world.

He came to keep men from the judgement.

He spoke only what the Father desired. 

He obeyed the Father's commandment which is eternal life. 

The hour has come.  One day those words will be spoken once again.  Time will stop. Eternity will begin. Those who believe in Jesus and do what He said, will have eternal life.  Those who walk in darkness and reject the Light, will have eternal judgement.  Jesus made it clear in His teaching.  Believe and follow.  Trust and obey.  More important than anything this world has to offer.  To know and walk in the Truth is more vital than food for the body.  To thirst for His righteousness is more vital than thirsting for water in the midst of a desert.

Father in heaven, we need You.  We need You every day and every hour.  May we walk in the Light. May we glorify Your Name.  May we follow Jesus and do what He has told us to do . ... to lay down our lives and take up His cross and follow Him.  To love You with all of our being and to love others as we love ourselves.  To be filled with Your Spirit and to walk in the Spirit.  Be our vision and be our  Rock.  We ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen

John 11  Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, the friend of Jesus, became sick and died.   The sisters sent word to Jesus to come.  Jesus knew that He could have healed Lazarus by just saying the Words, but He did not.  He had a greater plan, a plan that would "be for the glory of God".   A plan that would also glorify the Son.  After 2 days Jesus and His disciples headed to Bethany to see Mary and Martha.  By the time they got there Lazarus had been in the grave for 4 days.

Both Martha and Mary profess their faith in the Lord's ability to heal... " Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died," ( v. 21, 32).   What they didn't believe yet, was that Jesus could bring Lazarus back from the dead into life.   Jesus uses this situation to reveal something greater than they ever expected.

Jesus is more than a healer of sicknesses.  He is the Giver of life.  He is the Resurrection and the Life.
The resurrection to come "on the last day", was a firm belief that most of the Jews believed.  Jesus came to tell us and show us that the resurrection was under His authority.   This miracle was meant to give them a "sign", that they could know His identity as the Son of God.  And many did believe because of it.

But, the priests and Pharisees, began plotting even more to put Jesus to death.  They knew what He did was the sign that they had been asking for... but they refused to accept Him as the Messiah anyway.

Father in Heaven, we wonder at the unbelief and rebellion of men who stood at a grave and watched a dead man walk out alive.   They saw death conquered and life resurrected and still hated the life giver.  Oh the heart of man is dark!  Father, You sent the Light of the world and they refused to see.
May our hearts break and our prayers multiply for the many who still walk in darkness on this earth.
Send the Light! Shine in us and through us.  Fill us with Your Spirit today we pray, in Jesus' Name.  Amen

John 10  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He uses this parable to help the Jews to understand Who He really is:

He comes in through the "right" door - He doesn't come in like a thief or a robber;  He comes legitimately to receive His own sheep.  They recognize Him and follow Him because they know His Voice.  ( verses 1-5)

He IS the door - He is the only legitimate way for the sheep to be safe.  A thief will not come to care for the sheep, but instead will come to steal them, kill them, or destroy them.  Only the good Shepherd will come to give the sheep life. ( verses 7-10)

The Good Shepherd will give His life for His sheep.  A hired man will run from the wolf, but the Shepherd will give Himself for His sheep.
He knows His sheep.  
He cares for His sheep.  
He is known by His sheep.
His sheep will follow Him because they belong to Him.  They will never be snatched away.  They will never perish.  They are secure in His Hand and in the Father's hand. 

Jesus bears witness of His authority to lay down His life and to take His life up again.  This authority has come from the command of the Father .  He also bears witness that He and the Father are one.  The works that He has done are the works of the Father.  These prove that He came from the Father, was sanctified by the Father, and is in the Father. 

The Jews really have a problem with these statements and would have killed Jesus on the spot if they could have.  But, others understand and believe what Jesus is saying.  These are His sheep because they hear His voice and follow Him. 

Our Father in heaven, we come to You because of the Good Shepherd, Who laid down His life for us.
Thank You for receiving us into Your fold, safe in Your Hand, to never be snatched away by the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  Praise and honor and blessings we give to You!  You are so good to us, Jesus, giving us life, real life that will never end.  Thank you for caring for us.  For guarding us.  For loving us.  May we hear Your voice and follow You every day and every hour. We pray this in Your Name. Amen.

John 9 Jesus heals the man who was born blind.  Jesus says that the purpose of this miracle is to display the works of God.  Everything that Jesus did and what He was teaching his disciples to do was for this one purpose - to do the works of God.... to be Light .

The Pharisees still couldn't accept Jesus because they were spiritually blind, although they thought that they could  see... Their questioning of the formerly blind man and his parents show just how hard they tried to go around the truth.  If they were being truthful they could in no way deny the fact that Jesus was the Messiah.  No other could do the things He did.  They knew it, but refused to allow themselves to believe. They were working harder to NOT believe than if they had just accepted the truth.

Jesus says that He came into the world to bring sight to the blind and to make those who see - blind.
The blind man had no problem admitting his blindness.  He was willing to do whatever it took to have his sight.
But the Pharisees wouldn't even admit their blindness.  They didn't want to see any differently.
Jesus said to them, " If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ' We see', your sin remains."  ( v 41) .


Father in heaven, help us to have sound judgement and understanding of spiritual things.  Lead us to recognize our own blindness and come to the Healer to have our eyes opened.  We are so thankful that Your Works are still being accomplished and Your purposes still being fulfilled.  Shine Your Light into our lives and into our churches so that many will come to the Truth.  We ask this Jesus in Your Name. amen.