November 3 - John 10-12
Often, we talk about the Christian life being a relationship with Jesus, not a religion. That is true. How can we have a relationship without communication? We can't! If there is not communication, there is no relationship. This passage is filled with the reality that Jesus communicates with His disciples. I pray that it will speak to your heart today. Then, I pray that you will have a conversation with Jesus all day.
In chapter 10 Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd. He says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (v.27) He says basically the same thing several times in this chapter to make His point. The sheep followed the shepherd, because they knew he would care for them. They had to listen to his voice to follow him. This is the way it works with us. Jesus speaks to us, so we know what to do, and we follow Him. How else can we know what to do? Yes, Jesus speaks to our hearts directly, and He speaks through the Written Word of God, but He does communicate clearly, so He can care for us, when we follow Him.
Chapter 11 is an example of this. Jesus was called to come, because Lazarus was sick. Jesus did not go immediately, because He knew it was not the Father's will. Then, He went to raise Lazarus from the dead. He spoke to Mary and Martha, but they did not understand until they saw their brother alive again, that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. (.v25) Before Jesus raised Lazarus, He stopped to pray, "Father, I thank You that You heard Me."Then, He said, "You always hear Me." As our example, Jesus did not do or say anything He did not receive from the Father. That is how we should be. John 17 tells us that Jesus desires for us to be one with Him, as He is one with the Father, so the world will see our relationship and come to know Him, too.
Then, in chapter 12 when the disciples did not understand everything Jesus did the first time, the Bible tells us in verse 16 that they "remembered that these things were written about Him." In other words, God used the written Word to communicate His Truth to them in this case. Then, God, the Father, even spoke to Jesus from heaven. (v.28) Finally, Jesus tell us that we will be judged by the words we receive from Him. Our judgment will be based on whether we followed His words to us. (v.48) How much more emphasis on communication could we have in this passage? How could we misunderstand? It is evident to me that Jesus loves us so much that He wants us to know His will, so we can be cared for and live the abundant life. (10:10) If we do not hear from Him and follow what He says, we can't have that abundant life. I pray that you will grow in your relationship with Him each day.
Tomorrow, I intend to read John 13-15.
In chapter 10 Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd. He says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (v.27) He says basically the same thing several times in this chapter to make His point. The sheep followed the shepherd, because they knew he would care for them. They had to listen to his voice to follow him. This is the way it works with us. Jesus speaks to us, so we know what to do, and we follow Him. How else can we know what to do? Yes, Jesus speaks to our hearts directly, and He speaks through the Written Word of God, but He does communicate clearly, so He can care for us, when we follow Him.
Chapter 11 is an example of this. Jesus was called to come, because Lazarus was sick. Jesus did not go immediately, because He knew it was not the Father's will. Then, He went to raise Lazarus from the dead. He spoke to Mary and Martha, but they did not understand until they saw their brother alive again, that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. (.v25) Before Jesus raised Lazarus, He stopped to pray, "Father, I thank You that You heard Me."Then, He said, "You always hear Me." As our example, Jesus did not do or say anything He did not receive from the Father. That is how we should be. John 17 tells us that Jesus desires for us to be one with Him, as He is one with the Father, so the world will see our relationship and come to know Him, too.
Then, in chapter 12 when the disciples did not understand everything Jesus did the first time, the Bible tells us in verse 16 that they "remembered that these things were written about Him." In other words, God used the written Word to communicate His Truth to them in this case. Then, God, the Father, even spoke to Jesus from heaven. (v.28) Finally, Jesus tell us that we will be judged by the words we receive from Him. Our judgment will be based on whether we followed His words to us. (v.48) How much more emphasis on communication could we have in this passage? How could we misunderstand? It is evident to me that Jesus loves us so much that He wants us to know His will, so we can be cared for and live the abundant life. (10:10) If we do not hear from Him and follow what He says, we can't have that abundant life. I pray that you will grow in your relationship with Him each day.
Tomorrow, I intend to read John 13-15.