John 9:1-7
Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people? Maybe you look at the landscape of America today and see evil that abounds and wonder why the kind lady who works in the cubicle next to you has had to go through cancer or the loss of a child at an early age. I don’t have a specific reason why bad things happen to people, but one possibility is found in today’s reading.
The man who was born blind served as the illustration for the disciples that sometimes the reason has nothing to do with the one with the hardship. In his case this blind man received healing and when asked who had sinned the man or his parent to cause him to be blind, Jesus blew all of their theories out of the water. Their theory was if bad things happen it was because there was sin in someone’s life. That same theory was used by Job’s friends as they accused him of harboring sin in his life causing the great tragedy he was experiencing. God made Job’s friends apologize and corrected their theory by telling them Job had not sinned. In our story today Jesus plainly says the man’s blindness was not his sin or his parents. It happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Let’s make this a little more personal. Could it be that you or that precious one you work with have had to go through so much to be an example to other of the faithfulness of God. Could it be by your trust in God through your own tragedy that someone else will come to Christ?
I spoke at a retreat last week where I was introduced to a sweet lady named Robin. Robin was invited to the retreat by her new friend Theresa. Their lives collided when Theresa’s daughter was cruel murdered and Robin was babysitting the deceased daughter’s child. Both Robin and Theresa were deeply grieving, but Theresa had hope in Jesus. Robin did not. Theresa was able to share the gospel with Robin and many other as they saw her hope even in tragedy. Robin came to faith in Christ and was at the retreat to grow in her faith. God had used the tragedy of death to bring eternal life. I don’t know what earth shaking experience you might have had to go through, but I do know that God can use it to bring others to the Kingdom of God and He will be with you through it.

As a child did you ever do something hoping you would not get caught. Maybe it was something as simple as taking a piece of candy. Did you go into a store and see the candy and feel tempted to take a piece? Did you think, “no one will ever know if I take one.” Did you sneak it in your picket? You may have done it successfully util your mom saw you with something in your mouth or in your hand and asked “Where did you get that candy?” Did you have to confess the truth or maybe you even tried a lie first but eventually the truth came out. Did your mom do like my mom and march you back to the store and have you confess and pay for what you had stolen? I am sure you were never so brazen or guilty.
Maybe you were caught doing something much worse like cheating on a spouse, embezzling from your company or falsifying documents. No matter how great or how small we all do things we don’t want to be exposed doing.
Our passage today is about a man and woman caught in adultery by the church leaders. The woman was brought before Jesus. He did not shame her before the crowd but He did not act like she had done nothing wrong either. Instead He took His time. He dealt with her accusers by asking the one who was without sin to cast the first stone. When all of the religious leaders left then one on one Jesus dealt with the woman. Jesus asked her “where are your accusers?” She said there was none. Jesus then said, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” The woman did not need to be reminded what she should have received as just payment for her sin. She needed a change of heart and actions.
As a child of God acknowledging our sin is very important because it is where we agree with God that what we did was wrong. Just as in the Old Testament the sinner placed his hands on the head of the animal to be sacrificed for his sin, as we agree with God we are symbolically raising our hand to say “I did this, would you forgive me?” Jesus has already been the sacrifice for our sin once for all. No more blood needs to be shed. Our next step is to sin no more just as Jesus told the woman. Take time today to ask God if there is any sin you have not confessed to Him and found forgiveness for. Then walk in confidence knowing no matter how small or how big your sin is God does not condemn you and His message to you today is “Go and sin no more.”

John 8:31-36
Have you ever been bound by something or someone who controlled you? In our culture we see all kinds of things and people who control others. It starts early in life when you look around to see what others are wearing or doing and you just want to fit in and be accepted. I wish I could say that peer pressure died out the older yo get, but I think if anything it gets worse. We spend money we don’t have to keep up with people we don’t even like to be sure they think we are acceptable. The end result is we are bound up with debt and a fear of man. You may be saying, “Page I don’t have that.” Great! Maybe you have something more along the lines of an addiction to food, tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, drugs. The list could go on and on. The results of these addictions vary greatly, but each of them have an effect on our lives and health. Again you may say, “Not me!” Way to go! But the last bondage I want us to consider is one all of us have. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned. Yep all! It also tells us that the wages of that sin is death but that Jesus Brough the gift of eternal life to us! How do we get it? 1 John 1:9 says If we confess or agree with God that we sin and ask Him to forgive us, He will do it and cleanse us from all sin! That is what Jesus was saying not just to the woman caught in adultery at the beginning of chapter 8 but also to the most righteous of those religious elite who said they were slaves to no one. Jesus answered them “Truly truly I say to you everyone who prates sin is a slave to it.” “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
You may not consider yourself in need of being set free either, but we all need freedom from sin. Once we accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness we are set free, but our old nature still tries to rear its ugly head tempting us to selfishness satisfying what pleases us or makes us happy even if it is not what God desires. Not only are we set free, but God also gives us the Spirit to help us in our weakness. The Spirit helps us say no to ungodliness and yes to that which pleases God.
If you struggle with any of the first things mentioned in this devotion, take them to God. Ask Him to help you. Seek professional help if needed. Most of all realize you have what or really Who you need to be free!

John 6:66-69
How do you deal with rejection? Do you sulk or pout? Do you get mad or look for an opportunity to show that person what they are missing? Or do you continue in what you know is the right path keeping your eyes on your purpose and mission. I wish I could say I always do the latter, but that is not the case. I think we can learn a lot from the scripture passage today about dealing with rejection from Jesus.
To keep this in context remember the Jewish leaders were already looking to take Jesus down because He did not observe all of their laws and was calling Himself the Son of God. The crowds had loved Him because He was healing the sick, teaching the common man as well as religious and even providing food. They longed to make Him and earthly King who would defeat the Roman Empire and provide for their every physical need. They wanted the things He could do not Jesus Himself. So when Jesus started using the bread and wine as an example of His body and blood the people began to back up. Verse 60 records where his disciples say, “This is a hard saying. Who can listen to it.” Jesus is trying hard to help them understand that His kingdom is a spiritual one, and the only way to inherit it or be a citizen is to believe in God through Him.
At that point verse 66 records that many turned away. Jesus’ response was not to soften the message to make it more appealing. He spoke truth and moved forward with those who wanted to go. He even gave the disciples freedom to leave, but as Peter said, “to Whom would we go? You have the words of Eternal Life.” We believe and have come to know You are the Holy One of God.” Peter had his eyes on the most important goal. Jesus!
Jesus is who we must keep our eyes on as well. Then we set the course life and our days by Him and His will for our lives. Everything we say, do, everywhere we go, how we act must bring Him glory and be in His will. When this is your goal it may cause others to leave you or reject you. They may not understand your new life and goals, but these choices lead to eternal life. It pleases the Father and the end result is eternal reward. If they leave, let them go. Then run with those seeking after the same prize and goal that you are.

John 6:2-14
Do you ever come to the end of a month when there is more month than money? Maybe you can identify with the disciples feeling overwhelmed and frustrated when Jesus asked them about food to feed the masses. I have definitely though “what is so little among so many?” And yet I have seen God provide time and time again. You have probably heard the miraculous stores as well.
As I sit here in the Middle East in the apartment of our children I am blown away by God’s goodness and provision. They landed at the airport in this city a year and a half ago with a dream and an appointment at their language school. They knew no one and had no place to live. Little by little God put His plan into action. They walked the streets and found and apartment after a few nights in a bed and breakfast. In time they could afford furniture and appliances. Today I am sitting here on a comfy couch covered with a warm blanket and my feet are on a beautiful rug. We have eaten biscuits and eggs for breakfast and will have roast and potatoes for supper cooked on a stove God provided. They are a part of a house church where other faith family have taken them in and treated them as family. One even coached our children through labor and was present as they gave birth to their first child, a son. I am watching them hold their son as they are sharing how God has taken their little and given them much just like He did as He took the loaves and fish.
I hope you are smiling by this point thinking about God’s provision, but I also help you realize God can and will do the same for you. He is looking for a willing heart. He is looking for those who believe because with God nothing is impossible and the stories you read in the Bible or hear from other believers can be your story as well. Would you believe? What do you have? Give it to The Son and allow Him to make it much.

John 5:2-18
Are you a rule follower or a rule breaker? At our house it is a joke because there are times both Les and I are rule breakers and at other times rule keepers. Les would say it depends on whether it is a good rule or not. (insert smile here!)
I believe Jesus might have felt the same way. As He walked into the colonnade where the pools were there was a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. He had been at this colonnade many years asking those passing for money or help. Jesus saw the man and had compassion on him. Jesus told the man to take up his bed and walk. The man believed and was able for the first time in 38 years to walk. One would think everyone would rejoice, but instead the religious leaders wanted to know why he was carrying his bed on the Sabbath. When he told them the Man had healed him they wanted to know who the man was so they could hold him to account. The healed man did not even know who had healed him only that he was healed.
When the religious leaders found out the healer was Jesus they began persecuting him. They were angry because He was healing and doing good on the Sabbath. He really enraged them because when confronted Jesus called God His Father making Himself equal with God. God had sent Jesus into the world. When Jesus healed the lame man He was doing His Father’s will by bringing honor to Him. Jesus knew the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath. God had given the command to remember the Sabbath and keep it hoy. By healing Jesus was honoring God’s law but not the letter of man’s laws.
Think about your own life. Are you more concerned with being at church than worshiping the Creator while you are there? Is your daily time with God more about keeping laws or checking the box than spending time getting to know the One who loves you? Don’t get caught up in the doing. God said, “be still and know I am God.” Being obedient to what He says is more important than checking the boxes or doing religious activities. Don’t miss the Son while keeping the rules. 🙂

John 4:4-30
Do you ever get distracted or discouraged by interruptions in your day? Do the questions of others frustrate you? I wonder if the woman Jesus met at a well in Samaria felt the same way. She had come to get water and return because she had come at the heat of the day. As she arrived a Jewish man asked her for water. She was taken back because most Jewish people of that day saw Samaritans as unclean. He was asking her for water and he had not even brought his own jar or cup. I wonder if she questioned in her mind his intent. Their minor interruption became a conversation about a Living Water that would make it where she would never be thirsty again. She must have thought Him strange maybe even a prophet of some sort. So the conversation moved to Spiritual matters. She quickly pointed out not just their difference in religious practice, but also the fact that she had multiple husbands and the man she was now with wasn’t her husband at all. How did He know? Who told Him? How could He know He wasn’t even from her town. He must be someone special. He then claimed to be the Messiah! Did she wonder “could this really be Him?” He did know everything. This divine appointment could change everything. He saw her! He knew her and He did not condemn. With great urgency she ran back to her village to tell them about her divine encounter with the man who claimed to be God’s Son. Many came to see Him as well. He stayed with them a couple more days and during that time many in the village believed that Jesus was indeed the Promised Messiah. The Messiah had come not just to the Jews but to the Samaritans as well revealing this Living Water was for all who would come and drink
Today if you find yourself being interrupted, resist the urge to become frustrated or overwhelmed. Instead look at the person before you. Truly see them and listen to what they say. Then either be a blessed or give a blessing to them. You never know all that God may have in store for you!

John 3
As Jesus traveled throughout the country and performed miracle after miracle, new of Him spread quickly. The leaders of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem began asking the same question many others were. Who is this Man and where does He get His power? One of their leaders, Nicodemus, came at night to find out the answers to these and many other questions. Jesus told Nicodemus “Unless you are born again you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus was interested in the Kingdom of God but the thought of going back into the womb he knew was impossible so what was Jesus really saying? Jesus gave several illustrations but the bottom line was that to have eternal life one must believe that Jesus is the one and only Son of God sent by the Father. John 3:16 records “God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have Everlasting Life.” Verse 17 confirmed Jesus was not sent to condemn the world but that through Him the world would be saved.
There were foreign thoughts for the religious leader. He knew Messiah would come and that He would do great things but Jesus did not meet expectations of what he thought Messiah would be. Jesus was not an earthly king who would conquer the Roman Empire. He was so much more! He came to bridge the gap between God and man. No longer was the blood of lambs and goats going to be used to pay for sin. Jesus had come to pay the sin debt once for all. The righteous was given for the unrighteous. The end result was life that never ended for those who believed.
Though Nicodemus did not confess Jesus as Lord there and then, somewhere along the line he did. At Jesus’ death Nicodemus helped to bury Him. Nicodemus believed what he saw and heard. Have you believed? Don’t just follow religious practice or culture as Nicodemus had been doing. Believe because of what you see in God’s word. Go back and read it for yourself. Get to know the Son. Spend time praying and listen to hear Him speak to you. Ask Him to reveal any wrong perceptions you might have had in the past. Ask Him any questions you might have. Please feel free to ask me anything you would like to. I will do my best to let you know what God’s word says about your questions. Most of all don’t be afraid to come to the Son day or night. He longs for you to have Eternal life with Him.

John 2:1-11
In the book of John the writer’s purpose was to share stories to help he reader believe Jesus is the Son of God and to life in His name. John 2 records the first miracle in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus and His Mother were at a wedding and there was a huge problem, the wine had run out and the host was about to be embarrassed. Mary, Jesus’ mother tried to help by drawing Jesus’ attention to the need. Though we know very little about Jesus’ younger years, it is evident that He had provided when things were tight because Mary knew that He could and would help. As Mary drew Jesus into the drama of the moment she told the servants, “Do what He says.” I wonder if He had asked her to do some crazy things in the past and provision was made? She probably shook her head in disbelief yet what Jesus said to do brought the desired results.
In the case of the wedding servants, Jesus told them to fill the vats with water. This was not a small job. The vats were huge pots that wine was generally stored in. I can just imagine the servants under their breath saying “What does He think we are? Idiots? There is no way this is going to work.” Even as they were carrying the vats to the host I wonder if they were holding their breath praying the Master would not take out his wrath on them. When the Master of the wedding sampled the water, now win, he remarked they had saved the best for last. Most hosts serve the best wine first then when the people are filled with wine they would not care about the quality. The servants then were probably in shock thinking who can this man be? Indeed! That was the first of many miraculous signs that would cause many to ask “Who is He?” “What authority does He have that He should do such amazing things?” Many are still asking those same questions. As we walk through the book of Joh I hop you will find out just as those servants did that Jesus is and was the Son of God. The miracles He performed came from the power and authority that God gave Him. That same power is at work today in the lives of every person who confesses their sin and asks God to forgive the and come into their hearts. We will talk more about that part tomorrow. Today just know God has given us access to the power Jesus had. We too can see Him do miraculous things in our lives if we believe.

John 1:34
In our culture we have become familiar with a new phrase, “fake news”. When we hear this phrase we know we need to go back and check the accuracy of the source to be sure what we are being told is true. Our parents and grand parents would have said, “Consider the source.” In either case what is being said is check to make sure your facts are accurate. In John chapter 1 the source of our information is John the Baptist. To read John the Baptist’s complete background check out Luke 1:5-80. To summarize quickly John was born to Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah was serving as priest offering incense to God when he was informed God was giving him a son who would “be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.” Vs.15 This son would make “ready the way” for the Lord.
John was born as the angel had told his parents and he did make ready the way for Jesus. In John 1:30 It says, “This is the One I told you about. After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because he existed before me.” He was not saying Jesus was older than him chronologically. He was saying Jesus was God’s Son and He was from the beginning. Jesus was indeed the “Lamb of God” as he stated in verse 29. In verse 34 John the Baptists clarifies “He is the Son of God!” To John the Baptists’ Jewish followers, especially the religious elite that listened to him this was blasphemous, but John knew the Spirit had descended on Jesus like a dove declaring Jesus to be not a son, but The Son of God when Jesus was baptized. John heard God’s voice declaring Jesus to be His Son in whom He was well pleased. John knew without a doubt Jesus’ true identity.
In our world there are many who still question the validity of that claim. They might even consider it “fake news”, but John the Baptist knew by Spirit and by sight that Jesus was the true Son of God. His testimony and that of Zechariah the priest confirmed Jesus’ identity. I pray over the next couple of weeks you too will know by Spirit and truth that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God. Pray today that your mind will be open to hear God’s voice and to see what He has in store for you. Don’t be afraid to share who Jesus is to you with others just as John did.