Daily Dose of Hope

October 10, 2025

Scripture – John 5

Prayer: Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today. You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us. We give you glory and praise. We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God. Help us see today's Scripture through fresh eyes. Keep teaching us, Lord. Continue to reveal yourself to us. We are open and grateful. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. As most of you know, we are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we dive into John 5.

The chapter starts with a narrative about the disabled man who had not been able to walk for thirty-eight years. There are a couple reflections I had from the text. You may have noticed them too.

First, when Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well, the man did not say yes. Instead, he blamed his circumstances for why he was disabled. "Well, no one will help me into the waters and then people go ahead of me." He takes no responsibility, and he puts all his trust in this mystical pool. How many times have we done the same thing? Maybe we haven't put trust in a pool, but we have wanted to blame others or blame the whole world for our deep-rooted problems.

Second, when the religious leaders find out Jesus healed on the Sabbath, they become angered. They say nothing about how this man experienced healing after thirty-eight years of disability. How crazy is it that all they care about are the rules? They have no concern for individual people.

Jesus turned social and religious norms upside down. He was less concerned with convention and more concerned about the souls of people. The Pharisees totally were missing the point. How often do we miss the point?

Healing on the Sabbath only makes Jesus more of a target for the religious establishment. This begins a discourse of Jesus' authority. One of the more important questions we have here is – what is the relationship between the authority of the Father the authority of the Son? Jesus says that the son can do nothing on his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. This is where we have to be careful in our interpretation.

What can we learn from these verses?

1. The Son doesn't operate independently of the Father.
2. The Son is in constant touch with the Father.
3. The Son does what he discerns the Father is doing.
4. The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing.

The key to Jesus' Sonship is constant communication with and obedience to the Father. Thus, he is the perfect expression of the Father here on earth. In chapter 1 we read, "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known." (1:18)

The chapter ends with testimonies about Jesus. The reality is that anyone could come and make claims about divinity and sonship. Jesus knew this. He says if it were just his personal testimony, then basically no one should believe what he has to say. But Jesus says there are other witnesses that can attest to who he is. First, there is God the Father. He comes in his Father's name. Then, there is John the Baptist. Next, there are many signs and wonders which attest to his divinity. There is plenty of testimony that Jesus is who he said he is. Basically, everything in the Scriptures points to Jesus. John says that if we fail to recognize that, then his Word doesn't dwell in us.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

October 9, 2025

Scripture - John 4:43-54

Prayer: Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth! We magnify your precious and powerful name. How often we forget how mighty you are. You created all. You created us. Thank you, Lord, for who you are. Most of all, thank you for loving us with all our flaws and brokenness. In all we do, in who we are, help us to be more like you. We pray for humility, mercy, and compassion. Help us see others through your eyes. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are finishing up John 4.

Today, we read about one of only three healing miracles in the book of John. But in this Gospel, Jesus is careful to call them signs, not miracles, and there is an important distinction. A sign is something that is not only a miracle but it also reveals Jesus' divinity and his mission. They point to who Jesus is as the Son of God and Messiah. Jesus himself functions somewhat like a sign in the book of John. We read in chapter 1 that he was with God in the beginning, he was the Word made flesh, and he makes the invisible God known.

John is really unique from the Synoptic Gospels. He very intentionally shares seven specific signs that Jesus performs and each one reveals something about Jesus' identity and why he is here. We already read about Jesus turning the water into wine in Cana, sign #1. Jesus made a tremendous amount of wine and it was the very best at the wedding, showing the amazing abundance of God in Jesus Christ.

Now, we have Jesus healing the son of an official, demonstrating his willingness and ability to restore health and life. It's interesting that Jesus ignores the official's first plea and instead kind of talks down to him for his need of signs. Jesus wasn't crazy about turning the water into wine either. Each sign so far has been met with what seems like reluctance or ambivalence.

Could it be that Jesus is concerned about how these signs will be interpreted? We know from the other Gospels that signs and miracles often led to Jesus being following by thousands of people. Might they get caught up in the sign and miss the importance of the one who actually allowed the signs to happen? Or maybe Jesus doesn't want people to simply come to him for signs of God's favor.

What were God's intentions here?

I do find the wording interesting in John. I tend to think of all of these signs as miraculous. Why not call them as such? I'm wondering if God wants us to see past the miracle here. God is present in so many other ways in our lives. Yes, he is present in the miraculous. But he also gives us many, many other signs. God gives us signs, nudges, or strong feelings that indicate he is at work in our lives. He gives us signs about whether or not to take a job, signs about which direction to head in educationally, and signs about how to continue in a relationship. God is always giving us signs, showing us he is right here, pointing us to him. It might not seem miraculous, like water into wine, but it's still real and powerful.

Regardless of the sign, God is always trying us to point us toward his love. Whether he is healing a friend, directing us to a certain job, or giving us the words to say to a friend in need, it's always signs pointing us toward his love. He loves us and he wants to be involved in our lives.

Is Jesus an everyday presence in your life? What signs does he give you?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

October 8, 2025

Scripture – John 4:1-42

Prayer: Holy God, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who was and is and is to come. We love you and give you praise. We rejoice in your powerful name. Thank you for how you call each of us. Thank you for how you provide for us and equip us with everything we need. You don't need to use us but you do; you allow us to be part of your work in this world. Thank you, Lord. Help us to see the blessing of serving you. We pray this in your name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts which will last through the end of 2025. Today, we begin John 4.

This is the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Many of you are familiar with this passage and it is an extraordinary one. Let's try to look at it with fresh eyes. There are some really fascinating aspects to this narrative:

· Jesus did not have to go through Samaria; he chose to. He was making a statement here. As we have mentioned before, the Jews and Samaritans hated one another. Usually, Jews went the long way around Samaria so they didn't have to be contaminated by the people who they called dogs and half-breeds. Remember, the region of Samaria was once the Northern Kingdom. They set up their own capital and their own temple. After the Assyrians conquered them, many people moved out and others moved in. Thus, the people who lived there during Jesus' day were a mix of cultures and nationalities.

· Jesus initiates a conversation with the woman at the well. Jews and Samaritans didn't have conversations. Honestly, men and women didn't have conversations. So many things about this situation were taboo. But Jesus doesn't care about social conventions, he cares about individual people.

· The woman was at the well in the middle of the day. That tells us that she was trying to avoid others. It was really, really hot at that time of day. Most women would have drawn water in the cool of the morning. This woman was avoiding the town women because she was probably the focus of their gossip. She had been married many times and she was, at the time, living with a man who wasn't her husband.

· We don't know much about this woman, but my guess is that she had a life filled with hardship and trauma. Jesus knew that. He saw her needs and her struggles and he offered her living water. She was open and receptive.

· This woman turns out to be one of the best evangelists in the New Testament. She goes and tells the townspeople about this man who knew everything about her life. Remember, these are the people who don't like her but she is boldly sharing about Jesus anyway. Thus, many of the Samaritans believed and became committed to following Jesus.

· Jesus is in the business of changing lives and whole communities. And he uses all of us. Our past does not matter to Jesus, only our hearts and desire to change.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

October 7, 2025

Scripture – John 3:22-36

Prayer: Almighty Father, You always know what is best for us. Thank you for that. We are sorry for the ways that we resist. Help us to want what you want for us. Help us to want to be patient, to want to be kind, to want to be obedient. Conform our will, Lord, In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Currently, we are doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish John 3.

After the nighttime conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus and John the Baptist are in the same storyline again. They are both baptizing in the same part of the river. John's disciples are a little miffed that people are headed over to Jesus for baptism and not to John. And this would have been understandable, as disciples had a tremendous amount of pride in their rabbi. When you were a student of a rabbi, you basically dedicated your life to that person. You sit under his teaching and learn everything about faith from him. So, there would be a certain amount of pride and protection of that rabbi. And that is kind of what we have here. They recognize Jesus as the one to whom John bore witness but they don't understand why he is now standing down.

John tells them that their ministry, as well as Jesus', receives what heaven gives, not what they earn or create with their own skill. John knows he isn't the Messiah, but Jesus is. John feels privileged to just be a part of what Jesus is doing. There is no envy.

Then John gives an analogy of a wedding. John basically describes himself as Jesus' best man – he does all the prep for the big day and he measures his success by the groom's happiness and joy at being united with his bride. Receiving the groom's kind words at the end of the day are the only reward he needs or wants.

It's interesting that John uses the picture of the bridegroom to describe his relationship with Jesus. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus refers himself as the bridegroom several different times and the New Testament letters describe the church as the bride. There was no way John could have known this, so we can see how the Holy Spirit was guiding his words even here. While John may not have understood his purpose initially, it's clear that he does now.

John tells his own disciples that being a rabbi is not the greatest thing one can be. Jesus came from heaven, and thus is greater than him or any other rabbi. But if we think of John like the best man, then it makes sense. He is there to support Jesus, to prepare the way for him, to point to him as the one who is the guest of honor. We really see John's heart here. There is no jealousy. He understands that he must decrease so that Jesus can increase because Jesus is the true Messiah. He is the Son of God.

John's joy will be complete when his disciples also understand that Jesus, the bridegroom, wants to have a relationship with them as well. John is willing to do anything, even look like a failure, if it means more people will come to Jesus.

Are we willing to do anything for Jesus? Take a moment and think about this today.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

October 6, 2025

Scripture - John 3:1-21

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are so amazingly grateful for your grace and love. Forgive us for the many times when we fall short, when we betray you, when we fail to be loving or faithful. We want to grow stronger, Lord, but we can only do so through your power. Lord, help us hear your voice. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Currently, we are doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin a deep dive into John 3.

In today's text, we meet Nicodemus, who is a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. He is someone who is well-trained in Jewish law and tradition and held in high esteem in his community. And he comes to see Jesus at night. To me, it's interesting that the Scripture points this out. Obviously, Nicodemus is intrigued by Jesus. He has seen the miracles. He has listened to Jesus' teaching. He knows that Jesus knows God in some way, Nicodemus acknowledges that, but he is probably a bit leary of being connected with Jesus. After all, what will the others think?

So we don't know if there is some pleasant chit chat between Jesus and Nicodemus, there may have been, but in the Scripture it seems that Jesus wastes no time --- he gets right to the point. He says to Nicodemus, "no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born again." Then, there is that interesting back and forth dialogue in which Nicodemus says, "well, how in the world can someone enter into their mother's womb a second time?" And Jesus doesn't even respond to that, he says it again "Dude, you can't get into the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. You must be born again!"

Now, Nicodemus would have probably thought that salvation was his because he was born a Jew. He was one of the "chosen people." Or, he would have thought salvation was his because he knew a whole lot about the law, he had accumulated a lot of information about God, and he was trying hard to apply it.

And Jesus is pushing back against that. He says you must be born again, Nicodemus. Yes, Nicodemus, you were born a Jew in your first birth but that isn't enough for you to be saved, to enter God's Kingdom. Yes, Nicodemus, you have lots of information about God, you may even be a really good person, you may attend synagogue, but that isn't enough either. Jesus is saying to Nicodemus, you have to be spiritually reborn. Jesus knew that Nicodemus needed a change of his heart—a spiritual transformation that could only come from above. The phrase "born again" can be translated "born from above."

What Jesus was saying to Nicodemus: Just as your mother gave physical birth to you, if you want to receive salvation and have eternal life, you need the Holy Spirit to give you a spiritual birth. Jesus says, flesh gives birth to flesh but only the Spirit can give birth to spirit. This rebirth is when we go from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive in Jesus Christ. And there is a certain mystery to it. Just as the wind exists in the earthly, physical realm but there is mystery to where it is going and coming from; so there is the same mystery with the Holy Spirit and how he moves and works. How can this be? That was the question Nicodemus asked. Yeah, how can this be?

Let's unpack this a bit more. When we were born the first time, we were born inclined to sin, inclined to make bad choices. Think about a toddler. Why do we have to put safety plugs in all our electrical outlets? Because no matter how many times we say no, our little ones defy us and they go straight for that outlet. Because they don't know what's best for them. Our natural inclination is to do what we want to do. From the time of the fall in Genesis to right now, this very second, we as human beings are sinful, broken people. Look at our world. We miss the mark of God's full intention for our lives. Even when we are generally good people, we are far from perfect. We still do things wrong, we hurt people's feelings, we are self-absorbed, we are fearful, we are weak, you get the idea. Just being a good person is not enough.

This is the thing - our sin, our brokenness, creates a barrier between us and God. God is holy, totally without sin, and we are a hot mess. If you are out there right now and you are like, "I'm not a hot mess." I will boldly say to you, "Yes, you are." We all are. And we can't jump that barrier between us and God. Nothing we can do will close that gap. Nothing. No striving to be good. No racking up spiritual merit badges. Not being born into a Christian family or having a really strong Christian mama.

God made a way for us to be right with him, to eliminate that barrier. God himself made a way for us to walk closely with him. You know God's solution to our sin ---- Jesus. (Today's Scripture includes John 3:16 ---- For God so loved the world, that he…)

Jesus was God with flesh on. He came voluntarily to demonstrate a different way of doing life AND then he went to the cross. He died on that Roman cross, serving as the final, ultimate sacrifice for sin. You see, when Jesus died on the cross, his blood atoned for our sins. For all of our sins. So, if we believe in him, turn away from our old way of doing life, then we receive salvation. We are spiritually reborn. BORN AGAIN by the Spirit. Jesus did the work and the Holy Spirit applies the blood.

You see, when we believe in Jesus Christ, God no longer sees our sin and our mess, he only sees the blood of Jesus. Not only does this ensure that we get to spend eternity with Jesus, we receive new life right now, today. We become new people, new creations (2 cor. 5:17). The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God himself, comes and dwells within us, changing us from the inside out. Being born again means:

1- Acknowledging your sin, turning away from your old life and turning toward God (repentance)

2- Saying yes to Jesus!

3- Being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes, we fail to talk about this last piece and it is so, so, so important. BORN AGAIN by the Spirit. It's the Spirit that allows us to take that first cry of faith, "Jesus, I need you. Jesus, you are Lord." (2 Cor. 12:3 … no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.). Remember, when we say yes to Jesus, the Spirit of the living God indwells us. And there is POWER is that! Jesus sending the Holy Spirit was how he intended to make his presence in this world real and evident. It's the Holy Spirit that let's us know when we have done something wrong, convicts us of sin. It's the Holy Spirit that helps us hear the voice of God. It's the Holy Spirit that makes our faith real and dynamic and alive. The Holy Spirit gives us boldness to proclaim the Gospel.

You can't have the Spirit of the Living God in you and not be changed. If someone is a Christian atheist, then I'm thinking they don't have the Holy Spirit in them. Intellectually consenting to the existence of God, intellectually assenting to the existence of Jesus, being a good person, attending church --- none of those things indicate true salvation, being born again. And we are kidding ourselves when we think that's going to be enough. We, as the church, have failed people, by allowing them to skid by a Christian atheists (A Christian atheist is someone who sees themselves as a Christian but it doesn't affect their life in any way.) Well, at least he is attending church sometimes. Well, at least he is a good guy. Y'all that isn't enough.

Going to church does not make someone a Christian.

Being a good person does not make someone a Christian.

Believing in God does not make someone a Christian.

Believing in Jesus, repenting of your sins, and being filled with the Holy Spirit is what makes someone a Christian. Period.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

October 3, 2025

Scripture –– John 2:13-25

Prayer: Lord, We come before you on this Friday, and we pray for you to speak to us. We need you. It's the end of the week and we need a new word from you. We need your guidance, your wisdom, your help. Help us set aside the distractions of our day, our many scattered thoughts, and focus on you. During these next few moments of silence, Jesus, help us remember that we belong to you...In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts which will last through the end of 2025. Happy Friday!

Today, we finish up John 2. Our reading for today begins with Jesus cleansing the Temple courts. It's interesting that this text is at the beginning of Jesus' ministry in John and at the end of Jesus' ministry in the other Gospels. As we will see as we walk through the Gospel of John, the author reorders several different events in the life of Jesus. Some scholars say there may have been two Temple cleansings but there isn't a lot of evidence for that. Most likely, John felt there was a theological need for moving up this story. For instance, beginning Jesus' ministry with the Temple clean-up may provide a kind of theme for the whole Gospel. It demonstrates the corruption present in first-century Judaism. It also speaks to who John believes Jesus to be. Remember, the Temple was typically seen as the dwelling place of God on earth. Now, John is making the point that God dwells in the person of Jesus (remember John 1:14). Jesus is taking on the role of the Temple and John wants to make that clear from the beginning of his Gospel.

Let's talk about the text itself. We've mentioned this before but the need to have the animal salesmen and the money changers was a necessary evil in the Temple. Being part of the Roman Empire, the rest of the country used a different currency from the Jewish shekel. But the law in Exodus stated that the temple tax was half a shekel so the money had to be changed. This ensured a very rigorous interpretation of the Old Testament scriptures. The Old Testament law also assumed that families would have their own animals to bring as offerings. By this point in time, not all families had their own flocks. People had other occupations or were day laborers. Thus, they had to purchase the animals for their sacrifice and this had become quite the money-making industry.

There are details in John's Gospel about the Temple cleansing that we don't find in the other gospels. For instance, Jesus prepares a whip. Thus, it seems Jesus knew ahead of time he would do this. In the other Gospels, it all feels very spontaneous. It's also a fairly detailed summary of the event. Read through it again and look at all the detail John uses to describe Jesus' anger. Jesus is livid that the place where God is to be worshiped has become a marketplace. Where God should be central, making money has become the focus.

After the turning of tables and the animals being thrown out (that had to have been quite the scene), the Jews ask by what authority Jesus is doing this. In fact, they ask for a sign to demonstrate his authority. Jesus replies that if they destroy the Temple, then he will raise it in three days. They are appalled at the idea of this, but what they don't understand is that Jesus is referring to his own body. His body, the temple of God, will be destroyed on a cross and raised again in three days. It says that it isn't until after his death and resurrection that his disciples remember his saying this.

The chapter concludes by saying that Jesus performed many signs and many people believed in him. But it also indicates he was wary of many of the people who said they followed him. He knew the nature of humanity and that many were simply following him for what they might get, not give.

Have a wonderful weekend. We will touch base on Monday.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

October 2, 2025

Scripture – John 2:1-12

Prayer: Amazing Father and Lord, Thank you for who you are. Thank you for how you care for us. We get distracted. We veer away from you and your Word. For that, we are so very sorry. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to abide in you. Help us to remain close so that we can be fruitful and effective for your Kingdom. Help us get outside ourselves and see others as you see them. And help us trust. Lord, we belong to you. In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope! This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin a deep dive into John 2.

We meet Jesus at a wedding celebration. Weddings are usually wonderful celebrations. And they are so different and unique. Some of you probably had huge, elaborate affairs, while others had small backyard barbeque weddings and most of us were somewhere in between. My wedding was very nice but not excessive in any way. I was the first of my friends to get married so I had nothing to compare it to, I didn't have any idea what was expected, and I think that was probably a gift.

Weddings in first century Palestine were very different from American weddings of today. In fact, they would last about a week. It was the responsibility of the groom to provide food and care for the guests for that week. In an honor-shamed based culture, which we find in this part of the world, that was a big deal. In this case, the groom runs out of wine three days in. This would have meant that the family was not prepared, it been a source of shame and embarrassment for them. Some of you might be thinking that after three days of drinking, they probably needed to be cut off. But this actually would have been very serious. I read that guests could actually have sued the family for their lack of care in this case.

This wedding must have been a relative or someone close to the family, as Jesus, his mother, and the disciples were there. And Jesus' mother is obviously pretty concerned about the wine issue. She knows that the family's reputation, their honor, is on the line. She cares for this family. So she goes to Jesus and she's like, ummm...there is no more wine. Hint hint. You wonder how she knew he could do something about it. What was it about his growing up years that she knew he could handle it? And his answer is, "Dear Woman, my time has not yet come." Some translations simply say, "Woman." He isn't being disrespectful but he is being kind of firm. My time has not yet come. I love this passage because there are so many layers of meaning. His time had not yet come.

And yet, Jesus takes matters into his own hands. He tells the servants to fill the jars with water. These would have been really large jars for storing clean water. Some pictures I've seen have the jars almost waste high. And then, after the jars were filled, some of the liquid from the jars was taken to the master of ceremonies. The Scripture says this, He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

Jesus does not make mediocre wine. When Jesus is involved, it's a miracle of abundance and excellence. Jesus made the best wine of the night. And the servants, who knew exactly what happened, their lives were changed forever. They had witnessed Jesus do something extraordinary.

This got me thinking. How often do we settle for mediocre wine? I'm not talking about wine here. How often do we ask Jesus to take care of something and then we step in and kind of take over. What would happen if we totally trusted Jesus to just take care of it all? We may just end up with the best wine of the night.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 30 and October 1, 2025

Scripture – John 1:19-51

Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth. Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we continue our deep dive into John 1.

Today's reading begins with John the Baptist, although the Gospel of John does not use the term Baptist to describe him. Earlier in the chapter, John had been called a witness to the light. So, the Jewish leaders sent people to ask John who he is, specifically is he the Messiah? Is he Elijah? Is he the prophet? Their frustration is evident. They want answers.

John will not be labeled. Instead, he describes himself using the words of Isaiah. He is the "voice of one crying out in the wilderness." John's call is to repent and be baptized. His message wouldn't be popular but it was necessary. In other Gospels, John makes it clear that he isn't the Messiah but he is preparing the way for the Messiah. This does not thrill the Jewish leaders. They want more concrete information. Why is he baptizing? John says that he uses water to baptize but one is coming that will be much greater than he who will do more.

As John continues to baptize, he begins to testify about Jesus. When he first sees Jesus, he calls him the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. As we move through the book of John, we will see how the author begins to make connections between Jesus and the Passover lamb. John the testifier describes Jesus as one who outranks him. He then describes Jesus' baptism, with the Spirit descending on him like a dove and a voice (presumably the Father) declaring that the man on whom the dove descends will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John then testifies that Jesus is God's chosen one.

Let's talk about that title, "God's chosen one." Other translations use the title, "Son of God." Clearly, John is making a statement that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the one they have been waiting for to save God's people. He is the one who God has sent, uniquely selected by God to fulfill a divine purpose. Jesus is God himself, sent to fulfill prophecy, to usher in God's Kingdom, and to redeem all of creation.

The remainder of this first chapter is Jesus calling his disciples. Andrew and John were the first two disciples Jesus called and they were originally disciples of John the Baptist. When they hear John the Baptist declare that Jesus is the Lamb of God, they acted immediately and boldly followed Jesus without any kind of hesitation.

It's as they begin to follow Jesus (literally follow him) that Jesus asks them a simple question, "What do you want?" They answer with a question of their own, "Where are you staying?" And Jesus then invites them to "Come and see..." They end up spending the day with Jesus.

Jesus invites all of us to "come and see..." where he is staying and what he is doing. Keep in mind that Jesus is always up to something, he is always at work among us.

He also invites Philip and Nathaniel to come and see and they choose to do so as well. It takes a bit of convincing for Nathaniel who is convinced that nothing good could come from Nazareth. But he sees Jesus' power and he too decides to follow.

I think sometimes we make an invitation to follow Jesus a little too difficult. What would it look like for us to simply invite people to "come and see" what Jesus is up to. A decision to follow Jesus may just start with curiosity. That's okay. Invite the people around you to come and see and Jesus will do the rest.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 29, 2025

Scripture - John 1:1-18

Prayer: Holy God, We come before you in this new week with humility and gratefulness. We praise your powerful name. Thank you, so much, Lord, that you came to earth to dwell among us and show us a different way of being. Help us to pay attention to your example. Help us to be more loving and more merciful in all we do. Help us to be even but a small reflection of you. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. Today, we are starting our final Gospel, John. And John is different from the other three Gospels, we will see that as we work our way through it. It's also a beautiful Gospel. It goes deep. Be prepared for life change as we engage with the book of John.

This first chapter is John's Christmas story. It's quite different from the other Gospels. In fact, the Gospel of John doesn't have any of the Christmas characters we know and love so well–no Joseph or Mary, no shepherds or angels, no manger and animals, no wise men traveling from the east. John didn't need to rehash those details of the incarnation. Afterall, the other Gospels had already been written and did a great job telling the story of baby Jesus. John chose to go about it differently, focusing less on how Jesus came and more on why Jesus came, and how the whole idea of the incarnation was so incredible, so mind-blowing, so amazingly significant for all people for all time. For in Jesus, God announced to the world that "I'm with you!" and that has made all the difference.

We find John's Christmas story in two verses in this chapter:

John 1:1,In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What does this mean? Both the Jewish and Greek listeners would have been familiar with the term "Word," which was Logos in Greek.

-Jews were in the habit of substituting the Word of God for God himself in their concept of wisdom/reason---wisdom/reason is one of the meanings for LOGOS.

-Greeks thought of Logos as the ruling principle of life and the universe.

-Gnostics–believed the Spirit was imprisoned in the physical body and the secret to get it out was gnosis, knowledge, logos. (They didn't believe Jesus possessed a true, physical body.)

So when John writes that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, he means that the Word, LOGOS, is Jesus Christ. Please know that this was a mind-blowing claim. Jesus wasn't just a little baby who was born under unusual circumstances when Caesar Augustus was governor of Syria. He wasn't just a wise man who told amazing stories and fed a lot of people. No, Jesus (the Word) was present at the very beginning of time, Jesus (the Word) was with God, and Jesus (the Word) was God himself. To the Jews, John says the Word of God (GOD) is Jesus. To the Greeks, John says the ruling principle of life/universe is Jesus. To the Gnostics, John says the secret knowledge that leads to freedom is Jesus who had a true, physical body and dwelt among us. Jesus was not some mental concept, some intangible thought life; No, Jesus, God himself, became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Let's unpack this a bit more because it's pretty amazing. Let's start with the Word dwelt among us. A more accurate translation of the term "dwell" actually is "tabernacle" or "pitched his tent." When a Jewish listener heard this, they would immediately think of the tabernacle in the Exodus. The tabernacle was where God met with his people before the temple was built---it housed the ark of the covenant and it represented God's presence/God's dwelling among his people. Now, John is saying, God has chosen to dwell among his people in an even more personal way, in the Word became flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God chose to dwell among his people.

What was the benefit of God dwelling among the people? Think about this. You can kind of know someone, but when you dwell with someone, when you live with someone, then you really get to know them. If you've ever had a roommate, you know this well. You might be friends and know about one another but when you dwell together, when you live with one another, then you know all the stuff–the good and the bad. It's the same when you get married and live together. You know if they put their dishes in the dishwasher, you know if they leave trash around, you know the thoughtful things they do, you know the annoying things they do .You don't just kind of know them. You truly know them.

When God came to earth to dwell among us in the person of Jesus, it was so humans could truly understand who God was, truly know God. God is Jesus and Jesus is God. So the character of Jesus was the character of God. The teachings of Jesus were the teachings of God. The miracles of Jesus were the miracles of God. When Jesus voluntarily gave his life on a cross for the sins of all humanity, it was a demonstration of God's amazing, expansive love for us. When Jesus was resurrected three days later, it was a demonstration of how God conquered death once and for all, meaning that we could have new life now and eternal life in the future. God dwelling among us in Jesus meant that God was not some distance, far off, hard to understand deity. No, the WORD was with us, hanging out in the living room, sitting at the kitchen table with us, and we could get to know him in a very personal, very intimate way. I love to think about Jesus walking with the disciples, dining with the tax collectors and prostitutes, spending a few days resting in the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. He dwelled with the people in a very intimate way.

So the WORD made his dwelling among us. But some of you might be like---but that was so long ago. We personally did not walk with Jesus and talk with Jesus. He didn't literally dwell with Us personally. I would argue that Jesus does in fact walk among us and speak to us today. Afterall, we serve a living God and God's presence is everywhere. There is no place that we can go where God's presence is not. God's presence is here through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

And we can also still dwell with the Word in another way – through the Bible. Just as the Word came to dwell among us, we can dwell in the Word. The Bible is the Word of God. We meet Jesus, Logos, God on the pages of Scripture. As we dwell in Scripture, we enter into the life of God and God enters into our lives.

The Bible is not simply for information but for transformation. The purpose of Scripture is for us to get to know and love God more fully and be drawn more deeply into the life of faith so we can be changed from the inside out. It is not a textbook---we don't simply study it to acquire information and show people how smart we are. This is God's story from Genesis to Revelation. We learn about God's character. We learn about how God has been present throughout history. We learn about God's mission and plan of redemption for all people for all time. We learn about Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection. We learn about the Kingdom of God and how Jesus demonstrated this new way of doing life, the way God always intended his world to be. We learn about the early church and the coming of the Holy Spirit. We learn about how God's mission continues through the church, through us, not in our own power but as God works through us.

And while God revealed himself in Scripture through a specific people group, the miracle of God's Word is that it transcends time and place. When we dwell in the Word, God continues to reveal himself to us in new ways, we get to know God better, we begin to be transformed little by little. As we dwell in God's Word, the WORD, Jesus, becomes more real to us. How has the Bible become more real to you as we have worked our way through Mark, Matthew, and Luke?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

September 26, 2025

Scripture - Luke 24:36-53

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are so amazingly grateful for your grace and love. Forgive us for the many times when we fall short, when we betray you, when we fail to be loving or faithful. We want to grow stronger, Lord, but we can only do so through your power. Lord, help us hear your voice. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. Today, we are finishing up our deep dive into the book of Luke. We are focusing on the second half of Luke 24.

The men from the road to Emmaus had found the other disciples and shared their experience. It's beginning to sink in that something extraordinary has occurred. And just like that, as the disciples are gathered, Jesus appears before them and says, "Peace be with you."

A couple things to note. We know immediately that Jesus' body is different. He has both a human and spiritual body. He came into the room without using a door (that isn't normal), but he also later asks for food. The risen Lord has a body that is different from before. Jesus also shows them his scars. They could touch the places the nails were driven into his body. It showed, once again, that this was really him. He was real – he wasn't a ghost or angel. He is physically resurrected and yet, something is also supernatural about him.

His very first statement to them is also fascinating. Peace be with you. They have experienced anything BUT peace over the last few days. They've dealt with grief, depression, anxiety, uncertainty, and probably even anger. But now, Jesus is saying that he is bringing peace. There is something about the presence of Jesus that brings peace. In fact, Jesus is intrinsically linked to peace, which he provides not in a worldly way but as an internal state of peace with God and tranquility amid life's problems, a gift secured by his sacrifice and available to those who have faith in Him. He is the one that provides the peace that passes understanding, it's a peace that only makes sense connected to him.

In a manner similar to what he did with the men on the road to Emmaus, Jesus then proceeds to walk them through the Scriptures. He shows where this had been prophesied and how God had a plan all along. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law. Jesus was the one that the prophets had been talking about. Jesus was the one that God sent. And while he had done this in other ways during his ministry, he now totally had their attention. Their minds were opened and they began to see.

I once had a Messianic Jewish rabbi tell me that he can share the Gospel message just using Old Testament texts. He says there is so much in the Old Testament that points to Jesus, he feels confident using those scriptures alone to provide evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Lord of all. That is essentially what Jesus is doing here.

How comfortable are you with the Old Testament texts? I would challenge you to look up the many places throughout the Old Testament that speak to Jesus coming to redeem the world. It is essential that we know the Old Testament to truly understand the New Testament.

We finally have the ascension. Jesus tells them to wait for the helper that is going to be sent (which we know is the Holy Spirit) and his body literally ascends into heaven. And we know that he now sits at the right hand of the Father. He is Lord.

What does it mean to you that Jesus is now sitting next to the Father? How does this affect your understanding of the Trinity? How does this affect your understanding of Jesus' work in the world?

Who is Jesus to you?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki