Scripture Meditations

      In this passage, we read about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus' sisters Mary and Martha are grief-stricken. Jesus tells Martha that Lazarus will rise again. Martha assumes Jesus is referring to the final resurrection of Judgment. But Jesus then proclaims His next 'I AM' statement: I Am the Resurrection and the Life.  This tells us that Jesus has absolute authority and power over Death itself and that He Himself is (Eternal) Life. Jesus is the One Who will judge the Living and the Dead on the last day. He is the One Who will raise everyone from their graves. Lazarus' resurrection was a demonstration of Christ's power as the Son of God.         Another component I see to this story is the compassion of Jesus. Verse 35 just has two, yet profound words: Jesus wept. This is profound because it shows us that Jesus has real emotions and that He feels sadness. Jesus was a man. Two verses in this chapter state that Jesus groaned wit...

     In this chapter, we see two more 'I AM' statements of Jesus. He declares  'I Am the Door' and 'I Am the Good Shepherd.'  The imagery Jesus uses includes sheep (His followers), pastures and predators (false teachers). Jesus is the Door in the sense that He is the Only Way into His sheepfold (or Kingdom). Pasture is where sheep are fed and able to rest. This is what Jesus provides for us. As the Good Shepherd, Christ protects us, leads us, guards us and defends us. He sacrificed Himself for our wellbeing. Whereas a hireling (a false minister)  would never do that.   Later, the Jews demand that Jesus tell them plainly Who He is. But Jesus reminds them that He has demonstrated who He is through His works, but they refuse to believe because they aren't His sheep. He makes a bold claim, stating that Him and the Father are one. And Jesus is almost stoned for it. It's interesting that Jesus states His equality with God right after He proclaims Himsel...

      Jesus encounters a man who was blind from birth. The disciples wonder why this man was born blind and begin to speculate that perhaps the man was reaping the consequences of his own sin or his parents' sins. Jesus replies that neither of these are true and that the blind man's disability was the opportunity for God to show forth His work and power.  Jesus heals the man by placing mud on the man's eyes (that He made) and having him wash in the pool of water. The Pharisees notice the man healed and are livid. They are upset that Jesus healed on the sabbath and begin to interrogate the man and even his parents. In this interrogation, the man testifies that Jesus healed him while the Pharisees simultaneously accuse Jesus of being a sinner. However, when the previously blind man meets with Jesus again, he confesses to Jesus that he believes that He (Jesus) is the Son of God.  Jesus then goes on to state in verses 39-41 that He came that those which don't see mi...

There are three accounts in this passage. The first one is the woman caught in adultery. The scribes and Pharisees brought Jesus a woman that was accused of adultery and tried to trap Him with a legal predicament. If Jesus denied she deserved to be stoned, He would be accused of going against Jewish law. If He agreed to stone her, then He would be guilty of enacting capital punishment, something that only the Roman authorities could enforce. But Jesus challenges the men to cast the first stone if they were truly without sin. They all felt guilty and left. Jesus forgave this woman and told her to go and sin no more. This account demonstrates the mercy of our Savior and his willingness to protect us from shame. But Jesus also makes it clear that He doesn't tolerate sin, hence why He told her to sin no more. Christ has more than enough mercy, but I must repent and not take that mercy for granted. I'm thankful that God doesn't condemn me, but I must pursue holiness and live a l...

This passage begins with Jesus arriving in Galilee. At this time, The Feast of Tabernacles was approaching. Jesus' brethren try to encourage Him to go to Judea to perform miracles. But Jesus responded that it wasn't His time yet. What really stands out to me is when Jesus tells them to go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, but He cannot celebrate with them because it wasn't His time. Later, as Jesus was teaching in the Temple, they sought to arrest Him. Yet, they couldn't because it wasn't His time.  Jesus had perfect timing regarding His acts and His ministry. It was important that Scripture be fulfilled, considering He is The Messiah. It wasn't His time to celebrate The Feast of Tabernacles because that will be fulfilled on His Second Coming. Jesus couldn't be arrested and killed yet because certain events had to precede His arrest.  This is where I see God's sovereignty. He does everything in perfect timing, even when I can't see it. It...