Devoted to Scripture

https://netbible.org/bible/John+7-8/

This is day 304 of our journey.

Today we read more of the interactions of Jesus with the religious leaders.  Jesus does not hold back the truth of who he is and continues to proclaim that he has come from the Father.  His claims are constantly rejected by the religious authorities as they quote their traditions and misunderstand the Scriptural truth of Jesus' origins.  Throughout this conflict, Jesus gives hope to those who are weak and thirsty and doesn't shy away from the difficult conversations.  He knows that his mission will be fulfilled in its proper time and until then, the leaders cannot touch him!

Join me in John 7-8 and go to Jesus to drink the living water!

Key verses:

John 7:37-38

On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and  38 let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’”  

John 8:36

So if the son sets you free, you will be really free.  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/John+5-6/

This is day 303 of our journey.

Jesus continues to speak in a way that is difficult for the Jews to accept.  They have a view of who the Messiah will be and Jesus takes every opportunity to counter those ideas.  As a result, many people stop following him.  Today this starts with another healing on the Sabbath day.  When confronted about it, it leads to a discussion of Moses and the fact that Moses will judge these people for their lack of faith.  Later, Jesus feeds 5000 men and their families.  This is followed up with a discussion of the bread of life.  Jesus claims that HE is the bread of life and that a person must eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to gain life.  This teaching is difficult, and many people walk away.  But Peter reiterates that he and the other disciples recognize that Jesus truly is the Christ.

Join me in John 5-6 let your preconceived notions be swept away and embrace Christ!

Key verses:

John 5:30

I can do nothing on my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.  

John 6:51

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/John+3-4/

This is day 302 of our journey.

Today's reading focuses on Jesus' interactions with two people.  First, Jesus is approached at night by Nicodemus, a member of the ruling religious council.  Jesus teaches him that in order to have eternal life, a person must be born of the spirit.  After this, Jesus travels through the Samaritan town of Sychar.  While there, Jesus approaches a Samaritan woman and teaches her about the living water that he can provide.  At first, the woman is confused, but Jesus leads her to understand that he is the Messiah!  She tells her neighbors and many of them believe in Jesus as well.

Join me in John 3-4 as Jesus teaches all people what it means to have life.

Key verses:

John 3:36

The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.  

John 4:24

God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/John+1-2/

This is day 301 of our journey.

Today we begin John's account of Jesus' life.  John places a strong emphasis on the diety of Christ.  We see this from the first few verses as John describes the Word as distinct from, but fully, God.  This Word became flesh and took up residence with us in the form of Christ.  After this prologue, we read the account of Jesus' baptism and the calling of his first disciples.  A few days later, Jesus is at a wedding, and although it is not yet his time, he respects his mother and assists the groom by turning 120 gallons of water into wine.  Jesus then went up to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover.  While he was there he went into the temple courts and drove the merchants and money changers out.  He continued to do other miracles and many people came to believe in his name because of these miraculous signs.

Join me in John 1-2 for the human incarnation of the Word of God!

Key verses:

John 1:29

On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  

John 2:19

Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.”

All Scriptures are from the NET.

Check out these links for more thoughts on the topic:

https://thebibleproject.com/explore/John/

https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+23-24/

This is day 300 of our journey.

As Luke recounts the trial of Jesus, he makes it clear that Jesus was innocent.  Jesus is passed from Pilate to Herod and back to Pilate again.  Neither of them find any fault with Jesus, yet Pilate agrees to have him executed to appease the riotous crowd.  While Jesus is hanging on the cross, even one of the criminals that is being crucified with him recognizes his innocence and calls on Jesus to save him.  Finally, when Jesus dies, the centurion in charge of the execution also proclaims that surely Jesus was innocent.  Jesus took my guilt upon himself to pay the punishment for me!  After Jesus' resurrection, Luke gives an account of the many people that had Jesus appear to them and encourage them.  Jesus opened the eyes of the disciples to finally understand the prophecies about the Christ and the necessity for his death and resurrection.

Join me in Luke 23-24 and rejoice that the innocent Savior carried our punishment on himself!

Key verses:

Luke 23:43

And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”  

Luke 24:5-6

The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  6 He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+21-22/

This is day 299 of our journey.

While in the temple courts, Jesus observes the people giving their gifts.  He surprises the disciples by praising a poor widow for her gift of two copper coins, everything she owned.  He then begins to speak of the signs of the end of the age.  He warns them to be watchful and pay attention to the signs so they won't be caught unprepared for his return.  When the Passover comes, Jesus and his disciples gather in a home to eat the Passover meal.  During the meal, Jesus institutes a worshipful practice that we now know as communion and warns of the things that will happen that evening.  After dinner, they go out to the Mount of Olives to pray.  Jesus is in such anguish that he actually sweats drops of blood!  In a quiet place, our Lord recommits himself to the will of the father and returns to his disciples.  Shortly thereafter, Judas arrives to betray Jesus and Jesus is taken captive to be condemned by the chief priests.

Join me in Luke 21-22 as Jesus submits himself to the will of the Father.

Key verses:

Luke 21:28

But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  

Luke 22:26

Not so with you; instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves.  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+19-20/

This is day 298 of our journey.

As Jesus was making his way through Jericho on his journey to Jerusalem, he encountered a man named Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus was a Jewish man serving as a tax collector for the Romans (making him an outcast in Jewish society).  Despite this fact, Jesus went and had dinner with Zacchaeus and his friends (who were also viewed as traitors and sinners).  When the crowds complained, Jesus made it clear that his mission is to seek and save the lost.  Jesus then continues his trip into Jerusalem and the crowds rejoice at his coming.  In the midst of celebration, Jesus mourns as he knows what will happen to Jerusalem in the years to come.  Once in Jerusalem, Jesus is approached by the religious leaders with many questions to try to trap him in his words, but Jesus answers wisely.

Join me in Luke 19-20 and rejoice that Jesus came for sinners!

Key verses:

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  

Luke 20:26

Thus they were unable in the presence of the people to trap him with his own words. And stunned by his answer, they fell silent.  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+17-18/

This is day 297 of our journey.

Today we see an emphasis on the state of our heart.  We are called to serve God faithfully.  We are called to humble ourselves.  We are called to be grateful for the blessings that we receive.  We are called to be persistent in prayer.  Pertaining to the second coming of the Son of Man, we are warned that his appearing will come without great signs, just like the flood in Noah's day came without warning.  Jesus will return to take his people home...are you living for him?

Join me in Luke 17-18 and set your heart on Christ our Lord.

Key verses:

Luke 17:3

Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.  

Luke 18:14

I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+14-16/

This is day 296 of our journey.

Our reading today begins with a discussion of priorities.  Jesus calls on us to have humility and integrity.  He also talks about the costs of following him and how we must be willing to give up everything to pursue Christ.  Jesus then uses parables to talk about his desire to seek out the lost and about the celebration when a lost soul returns home.  The last parable we see today is a warning that not everyone will recognize the truth, even when someone returns from the dead.  We shouldn't need to see great miracles in order to believe, the Scripture contains everything we need to choose Christ as our Lord!

Join me in Luke 14-16 be humble and seek the Lord through His Word!

Key verses:

Luke 14:11

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”  

Luke 15:32

It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”  

Luke 16:31

He replied to him, ‘If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”  

All Scriptures are from the NET.

https://netbible.org/bible/Luke+12-13/

This is day 295 of our journey.

Jesus' teaching today is all about having our focus in the right place.  We should fear God and not worry about the opinions of men.  We should trust God and not allow ourselves to worry.  We should serve God and not our own desires.  Jesus continues with a warning to the people of Israel, they must repent and bear fruit or they will be rejected.  He tells them that the way to heaven is narrow and few will find it.  Then, Jesus sets his direction toward Jerusalem, knowing that in Jerusalem he will complete his work on earth.

Join me in Luke 12-13 and set your focus on God Most High!

Key verses:

Luke 12:8

 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God’s angels.  

Luke 13:17

When he said this all his adversaries were humiliated, but the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.  

All Scriptures are from the NET.