John 12:19-21 At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
 
JESUS has just offered himself to the Jews and to the world. He is the one who spoke the world into existence; yet, his words of humble, loving sacrifice raised up strife and contention in many hearts.
   One truth we see here – and it’s a truth we all know – is that it is very, very difficult for sinful mankind to believe in the Savior. For most of us, when we first hear of Jesus dying and rising again, we are incapable of understanding this stunning miracle. I remember struggling for years at Easter with the question, “Did Jesus really rise?” This we must believe. But until we do, Jesus remains a man wrapped up in mythology or even lies. Thus, when Jesus said, “I lay down my life – only to take it up again.” who could believe? No man – not even the one who fit the Jews’ view of the Messiah – could lay down his life and raise himself back to life! Who would even want to do that? What kind of man is this? Was he suicidal and hoping to come back to life? Certainly, this is a sign of demon possession!
   There is the problem. Many did not know Jesus as Savior. Thus, it was impossible to believe him. Others believed Jesus’ miracles and pointed to him as one from God. If he were, indeed, sent from God, perhaps he could indeed “lay down my life – only to take it up again.” If he can make the blind see, there is the possibility he can die and rise again.
   Soon, we’ll be reviewing Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the tomb. He has already raised others. Perhaps, though, the Jews’ continuing unbelief points to the reason for Lazarus’ death and resurrection. Many people, likely some of those who stood before Jesus here, would be comforting Lazarus’ sisters Martha and Mary at their brother’s death. Some who called him demon possessed would witness Jesus command, “Lazarus, come out!" and hear him instruct, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:43-44) Even then, many would remain unbelievers. Some resurrection witnesses would even plot to kill him.
   But God was working his plan. More and more, Jesus would reveal God’s power come to earth. Eventually, he would fulfill these words he prophesied here. People, including his closest disciples, would come to faith. And the gospel would go to all the world. People dead in sin would rise in the Spirit’s power to proclaim, “Jesus is crucified, dead and buried. Jesus is risen on the third day. Jesus is ascended to heaven. Jesus saves!”
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for commanding death be gone from my soul. Amen. 
 

John 10:11-18 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
 
JOHN has a wonderful way to share our Savior’s commitment to the Father and to mankind. The Servant Savior firmly and gently commits himself to you. Three times he refers to laying down his life for his sheep. The Father and the Spirit are not forcing him. No one takes Jesus’ life from him. He loves the Father. He loves you. The loving Savior willingly dies, so you will be alive forever. Humble, submissive and loving, the Savior offers himself to you and the entire world.
   See, too, he teaches his salvation is universal. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” The Son of God has come for all people. The Gentiles are not yet in the sheepfold. Soon, though, they will be welcomed into God’s flock. Jesus’ Jewish disciples and early church leaders found this difficult to accept. But Peter was first sent to the Gentiles, paving the way for Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles. Even though Jesus said he came for all the world, they first rejected this universal view of the Messiah. They did not listen closely to their gentle, committed Savior. I hope we do.
   I hope, indeed, we savor the Savior’s love and obedience to God’s grand plan to save people of all the world into his sheepfold. Praise God you are among those called. Pray for those who have not yet received the Savior’s eternal gift. Be his committed, gentle disciple to tell the gospel news.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being a Good Shepherd. You lead us not into temptation, but you deliver us from evil. Amen.
  
 
 
 

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”
 
THERE are many times in John’s gospel when Jesus describes who he is. Here he identifies himself as the Savior. “I have come that they (all believers) may have life.”
   Here is the God of creation, who has humbled himself to come to a wretched people. (That’s us, wretched in our sin.) He comes not to steal our joy, not to ridicule our weaknesses, not to subject us to slavery, not to hurt or destroy us. He comes that we may have life!
   Life from Jesus is more than simply waking up in the morning and being able to breathe and exist. Life from Jesus is savoring his presence, enjoying each moment because you know he loves you. Have you ever been in love? You smile inside when you think of the person. You love the sound of his/her voice. Eagerly, you set aside time to be with your love. Your purpose is to please and protect your loved one. That is the way of a living relationship with Jesus.
   What’s more, you eagerly anticipate where Jesus invites you to go with him each day. Life is loving him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Life is loving your neighbor as yourself. Life is believing in Jesus’ love for you.
   Life in Christ begins with an active love. He loves you to come that you may have life. You love him to actively respond to him. Celebrate and receive your Savior’s gift of life to the full.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you invite us to join with you in a full life now and forevermore. Amen.

John 10:7-9 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.”
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John 10:17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life –  only to take it up again.  
 
A gate is a thing. It’s not alive. Why would Jesus define himself as an object?
   The gate image is a living illustration of our Savior. Shepherds would lie down across the opening to the sheep pen at night. Amid their sleep, they would become alert to any sheep that tried to leave the sheepfold’s safety or any thief or animal that attempted to enter to steal away a lamb.
   A shepherd must be willing to sacrifice for his sheep. It is a very appropriate image for Jesus, isn’t it? He is the Good Shepherd, who lay down his body on a cross to be the eternal gate to protect your security with God. Receive his words with gratitude: “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life –  only to take it up again.”
   Be mindful that Jesus willingly lay down his life. He loves the Father completely to live then die as a man in the Father’s will. This Trinitarian love relationship is the Living Gate for you. The Father, Son and Spirit mercifully and sacrificially act to save you from the thief, Satan. The Gate is alive, guarding you each day. The Comforter – the Helper – is within you. He lies down at night with you. He rises with you in the morning, and he walks with you protect your soul. What pleasure it is to know our Gate is constantly vigilant to keep us in the sheepfold and to keep the thief away.
   Christians, you are called to be a living gate for your family, church and community. As Jesus loved the Father, so should you love the Triune God. Guard against evil. Trust his care. Rest in his promise. Protect his own.
 
Prayer: Lord Jesus, may your church on earth be a Living Gate against evil’s attacks. Amen.    

John 10:1-6 “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
 
WE often see some very comforting images of Jesus as a good shepherd. Scenes show peaceful sheep in green pastures while the shepherd quietly watches over them. Dangers and threats are not in the scenes. A good shepherd has a flock of peaceful sheep.
   In reality, to have a quiet, resting flock, Jesus’ shepherd images reflect sacrifice and struggle. For example, with the man who…is a thief and a robber, Jesus describes personal threats to a shepherd. A thief not only steals, he is often aggressive to harm those who defend their property. A thief causes lost income. A shepherd must be strong, alert and aggressive to defend against the aggressor. Spiritual robbers violently destroy our peace. We must be diligent to defend ourselves and loved ones from those thieves.
   Consider, too, a shepherd who goes on ahead of his sheep. This describes one who is sacrificially willing to encounter danger first. On a military squad, he is the point man, the first to alert to danger and the first the enemy attacks. The shepherd sacrificially leads to assess the trail while risking his own life.
   These two elements of sacrifice are necessary for the sheepfold to be a safe place for the sheep. The sheep follow the shepherd because they have come to know he will lead them into the protective, restful sheep pen. They will then follow his voice out in the morning for food and water. A shepherd is also the sheep owner’s protector. The owner trusts the shepherd to care for the proprietor’s wealth. His financial security depends on a good shepherd’s commitment.  
   Jesus uses this illustration to define the differences between himself and those who oppose him. Many religious leaders then and now lead with their own designs in mind. God has entrusted them with his Word and his children, but too many represent themselves. They allow greed and pride to steal away the Lord’s commands, grace and mercy. The caretakers have left the fold. The green pastures God promises his people became dry deserts of hypocrisy.
   But now Jesus declares a true shepherd has come to lead his people. They will follow his voice as they come to believe he is the one to safely lead them to heaven’s rest. The Son of God will feed them the Bread of Life. They will drink of his Living Water.
  
Prayer: I pray, Lord, I will be faithful to sacrifice for my family’s well-being and lead them to safety with you. Amen.    

John 9:35-36 Jesus heard that they had thrown out the healed man, and when Jesus found the man, Jesus said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
 
LET’S remember that the man whom Jesus had healed of blindness did not know Jesus’ appearance. Jesus then introduces himself in a way to help us know how to introduce Jesus to those who don’t know him.
   As Jesus often does with his teachings, he begins with a question, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” An important step in evangelism is to first know what the other person knows and believes. We are prone to tell people, “You need to believe in Jesus. You need to repent and be saved.” Yes, I know those words are necessary, but usually they are to come later. It’s always good to help people come to the palce whre they ask you, “What must I do to be saved?” (see Acts 16:30.)
   With different words, that is what the healed man asked Jesus. His question, “Who is he, sir?” indicated he was ready to hear about the Son of Man. He then affirmed this with, “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”  The unknowing man is ready to know Jesus. The once blind man is now ready to gain the spiritual eyes to see the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, Savior of the World.
   This is Jesus mission and purpose for the healing.  Go back to the reason the man was born bind: John 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” The work of God is twofold in the man: physical sight and spiritual sight. Indeed, the glory of God has come over this man to demonstrate God’s grace, love and mercy.
   See, too, this also reminds us of God’s sovereignty. The man did not wake up that morning expecting his earthly and eternal life would be transformed. Yet, it was God’s declaring will for this to be. The Son of God went to the man. The Spirit of God changed his eyes and his heart. The Father is glorified as he welcomes another child into his eternal home. I pray we can be God’s evangelists, his story tellers to help people ask, “What must I do to be saved?”
   Psalms 105:1 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
 
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to love you and to love my neighbor to tell what you have done. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
 
 

John 9:30-34 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from; yet, he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.  
 
DARKNESS will not overcome the Light. Oh, it appears darkness’ loud voice silenced the light here. The sounds against Jesus in our world seem to be louder than the Lord’s Truth. Yes, a limited view of today or a particular circumstance can cause us to believe evil is winning. But we must keep our eyes toward the Light. This is what the once blind man does here. He is a good discipleship model. With faith, passion and hope, the man tried to teach the Jews. But they had heard enough. They did not want to hear Jesus’ new disciple teach them. It is easy to see why the Jews are ignorant of Jesus. They didn’t want to know him. Their only purpose was to accuse him.
   Where else could healing’s transforming power originate but from YWH – the eternal God? The Pharisee Nicodemus confessed this in his midnight conversation with Jesus: John 3:2b “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Then the Light affirmed Nicodemus’ faith: John 3:3 “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Although the newly sighted, transformed child of God had not yet seen Jesus in the flesh, he now saw God’s kingdom come. This simple man, uneducated in the Jews’ religious system, taught clearly of Jesus’ divine home. “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” Afraid of the man’s clear confession, the Jews removed him from the temple. They threw away the faith, so they could hold fast to their fears and self-belief.
   Then the Jews accuse the man of being steeped in sin at birth. Were the Jews also not steeped in sin here? Sin is too blind to see itself. To see our need for healing, the Light must reveal to each of us, “I am a sinner.” Hear David’s confession and prayer in Psalms 51:4 & 7 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge…7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.   
   The educated Jews should have learned their Scriptures. I hope the seeing man is a model for us to see and speak of the Light, who has come from heaven to redeem us into his healing life everlasting.
 
Prayer: I have sinned, Lord God. Cleanse me. Free me from any darkness and draw me into your glorious light. Amen.  

 

John 9:24-29 A second time the Jews summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 Then the Jews hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from.”
 
LIGHT overcomes emptiness and confusion. That’s what happened to begin creation. Genesis 1:2-3 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
   See how the Jews are formless and void. They claim, “Give glory to God.” Then they said, “We know this man (Jesus) is a sinner.”  They spoke of God; then they denied and challenged him. They’re as the people we meet who say, “I believe in God.” Then speak a void, formless faith, “I can sin as I please. God will forgive me. God’s rules are old-fashioned. Church membership is unnecessary. We don’t need God’s rules. They restrict us and are hateful.”
   The Jews were also confused about being Moses’ disciples. How could they be Moses’ disciples – ones who learn from a master – and yet deny the Messiah? Apparently, they had not learned the law’s full meaning. Jesus had previously called them to account for their learning in John 5:46 “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.”
   In the Bible’s first five books – the Torah - the law, Moses referred many times to the Savior. For example: Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Seth.  And learn from Deuteronomy 18:15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. Jesus was also foretold in the story of Joseph, the Passover, the daily manna, the tabernacle lampstand and the pillar of light by night. Prophecies and images of God’s Savior abound in Moses’ words.
   But the Jews blindness seemed to be increasing. Desperately, the spiritual warfare in their souls fought to keep the Light from their eyes.
   The healed man saw the Light. He almost seems to mock the Jews as he asked, “Do you want to become his disciples, too?” But perhaps he was truly offering to them the same gift Jesus had offered to him. Let’s see him as an evangelist saying, “Remove the confusion. The Light is come. Open your eyes to see and be saved.”         As the world often does, the Jews rejected the man’s offer. Confusion kept their hearts dark.
 
Prayer: Is their confusion in my soul, Lord? Open my eyes to be a clear-sighted disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

John 9:17-23 Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
 
SEVERAL times the gospels record the Jewish authorities asked Jesus for a sign to convince them he was the Messiah. Here’s one reason Jesus refused them. Their hard hearts rejected the truth. They refused to believe what they saw. And they rejected Jesus’ and others’ testimonies of the Lord’s magnificent work on earth. It seems they were afraid to believe, “Jesus is Lord.”
   The devil uses fear to block the Light. Fear marks all false religions, holding people captive to precise actions and meaningless “works”. Fear, too, kept these Jews from looking past the stringent “do’s and don’ts of the law to see God’s grace and salvation in the Light. Jesus had come to open their eyes to God’s remarkable grace; yet, they fearfully held to the law’s restrictions, blind to the law’s promises. The Light stood among them, but the fearful Jews could not see.
   This is the world’s way. Governments throughout time have sought to silence God’s people with threats, imprisonment and death. Our own U.S. culture induces Christians to silence, convincing us to be afraid of their threats.  
   Sin is afraid of God. The devil knows he is condemned to an eternal lake of fire. He will do all he can to imprison mankind in those same chains. Fear is his unbreakable lock until the Light says, “Be healed. Be saved. Be new. I have come to seek and save. You are new in me. Believe. I am the truth. Fear not. I am with you always.” The Jews’ attacks on the man and his parents is their attempt to keep the Light outside the temple and away their lives. Sadly, they would remain outside of God’s Kingdom. See their loss: Titus 3:3-4 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
   Be sure and bold against the fearful culture. See the Light. Put aside your fears. Live in God’s kindness, love and mercy.
 
Prayer: Lord, you are my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? You, Lord are the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? (From Psalm 27:1) In Jesus’ name, amen.

John 9:10-16 “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don't know,” he said. 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided.
 
THE healed man becomes the center of attention, doesn’t he? He is a powerful witness to Jesus’ transforming power. But did you notice he doesn’t know what Jesus looks like? Jesus didn’t go to the pool with the man. The Lord instructed the man, and he faithfully went. He found his vision.
   Then the questions come. Who did this? Where is he? How did this happen? Are you sure? The crowd is incredulous. They have watched this man beg for years. Suddenly he sees! We cannot imagine witnessing such a wonderous display of God’s glory. We, too, would surely ask, “Who did this? Where is he?”
   Perhaps the people hoped their own sicknesses would be healed. Wouldn’t they be eager to find Jesus? “Let’s find this man to see what else he might do! If he is the Messiah, we want to see for ourselves!”
   Maybe that’s why they went to the Pharisees. Possibly their religious leaders would know where to find the Light! But the Pharisees’ opposition and accusations surprised them. While the man and his friends looked for the Light, the religious leaders dwelled in the dark. Again, these law-centered scholars had made the Sabbath a rule day instead of a restoration day. The Pharisees called Jesus a sinner. The crowd wanted to name Jesus “Savior”.
   Is the Light in you, in your church? When you go to church are you eager to tell how Jesus has touched you? Does the church believe in and celebrate his power to heal, restore and resurrect lives? When someone says, “God has touched me.” “God has healed me!” “God has saved me!” do you reject the testimony? Or do you rejoice in the Light?
   In some way, we all deny God’s personal Light power within us. Pray for faithful eyes to see him clearly. When Jesus says, “Go.” what joy it will be for you to testify, “So I went.” as you tell the church, “I see the Light.”
    
Prayer: Open my eyes to see your power within me, Holy Spirit. Amen.