Caleb Drahosh \\ In this passage, Jesus is told that His friend Lazarus is sick and dying. Surprisingly, Jesus waits two more days before heading to Bethany, where Lazarus is. In that time, Lazarus dies. Jesus' mission is to defeat sin and death, and He is preparing to fulfill that mission. Jesus courageously and faithfully calls out the enemy He came to put to death: death itself.

Caleb Drahosh \\ After claiming that He is one with the Father, the Jews again seek to stone Jesus. He asks which one of His good works is leading to this action, and they reply that it's not a good work, but blasphemy. In an act of mercy, Jesus asks the Jews to start by receiving His works so that their partial belief may grow into full-fledged saving faith — because unless you take all of Jesus, you get none of Him.

Kalen Heller \\ Guilt and shame are two of the greatest obstacles that keep us from fully worshiping the risen Christ. Outside of Jesus, there has never existed someone that has not been plagued with feelings of guilt and shame and that includes King David – the man after God’s own heart. In Psalm 51 we find a heartfelt, spirit-filled confession of the sins David has committed with Bathsheba, against Uriah, and most importantly against God Himself. In the psalm, David recognizes the gravity of his sin, God’s right standing in the way He responds to sin, and the healing that can occur through God’s justice, mercy, and grace.

Mark Reeves \\ In Hebrews 5:11-6:20 the reader is warned of the peril of spiritual dullness and is reminded of the provision God made so we might be fully alive in Christ. When we drift into worldliness we are in danger of neglecting God’s immeasurable provision and become blinded to the things which bring spiritual death. Christ’s sacrifice, however, empowers us to overcome spiritual dullness and live in such a way that the ‘fruit of righteousness’ is cultivated in our character.

John Baumgartner \\ What Peter wrote to these Christians under severe persecution can also help us. Unbelievers will accuse Christians of doing evil, but Christians’ good deeds will show that accusation to be a lie, and God will be glorified through it all. Christians are to respond to unjust suffering as subjects of government and as subjects of masters/employers by enduring it. Jesus conquered all the world by patiently enduring suffering, trusting Himself to God and His church fills the world with His gospel by doing just the same.

Caleb Drahosh \\ With the backdrop of more division among the Jews, and at the Feast of Dedication, the Jews ask again if Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus answers by pointing to the works He does in His Father's name––they bear witness to who He is. Jesus indicates that He and His Father are two distinct persons, and yet are one. Jesus can guarantee our eternal security because of His oneness with the Father while carrying out His unique role here on earth.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Jesus makes two "I am" statements in this text. Jesus is the door, providing access to relationship with God the Father, and He is the good shepherd who secures right passage for His sheep through His sacrifice. Jesus makes it clear that those who the Father gives to Him will enter by Him and follow Him. Unlike the traveler who is exposed to dangers and difficulties, Jesus gives His sheep access to a home that is perfectly secured by Himself.

Caleb Drahosh \\ In this passage Jesus heals a blind man. The disciples question if it's the man or his parents that sinned that caused him to be born blind. Jesus tells them that it's neither. Rather the man was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him. The Pharisees question the man and the others who observe the sign. They remain blind to the truth of who Jesus is, despite seeing Jesus do the works of God –– giving physical and spiritual sight.

Caleb Drahosh \\ In this passage we find an extended interaction between Jesus and the Jews. The Jews rely on their bloodlines for their inheritance, pointing backwards to Abraham. But Jesus says that if they don't have the faith that Father Abraham had, it proves that their true Father is the devil. And what was Abraham's faith founded upon? The eternal second person of the Trinity, Jesus Himself, coming into the world to deal with sin and death thereby granting Abraham's offspring with a glorious and eternal inheritance in Him.

Blaze Culliton \\ Jesus Christ, the righteous, is the propitiation for our sins and our advocate with the Father. In knowing Jesus, we have assurance of salvation and knowing Him is evidenced if we keep his commandments. Those who abide in Jesus Christ walk as He walks. A correct understanding of the advocacy and assurance that Christ provides are foundational elements to knowing and following Christ.