In this passage, we encounter Jesus spending time with his friends. Elsewhere in the Gospels we read this is the home of ‘Simon the leper’ (Matt. 26:6; Mark 14:3; see also John 12:1–3), but here we see that it is Martha – possibly Simon’s daughter or wife – who is opening up her home to Jesus and His disciples.

What a great picture this parable paints of who God really is! The son leaves home, effectively wishes his father dead by taking his portion of the inheritance, throws his money away on wild living and fickle friends, then the wealth runs out and so do his options. He’s feeding pigs, and thinking fondly of home.

In this passage, Jesus is calling Himself the Good Shepherd, an excellent picture of love and provision. He is the Shepherd who looks after the sheep. Anyone who doesn’t genuinely care won’t stick around; but if it’s the Shepherd’s own flock, then He will protect them.

It’s obviously a trap. A woman has been caught in the act of adultery, but interestingly, the man concerned has not also been brought forward for punishment! At any rate, it’s a clear indication that the leaders of the Jewish community want to force Jesus’ hand in a difficult situation, as they bring the woman to Him.

In the famous story of the feeding of thousands of men, women and children, we see how a small amount of food went a long way in Jesus’ hands! The disciples are concerned about feeding so many people, and all they have is two fish and some barley loaves – a boy’s lunch.

In John 3 we read about a secret believer. It appears that the Pharisee Nicodemus was meeting Jesus at night, away from his fellow religious leaders. We can guess his reasons for doing so! We see him speaking with Jesus and learning about the change that needs to be made to a heart, if someone wants to live in right communion with the Lord.

John calls Jesus’ works ‘signs’ regarding His identity. The things He does point to who He is (v11). In the first of His signs, which we are reading about today, we see that He is able to turn the very elements of the universe into something completely different – and why not?

What amazing words we find here, echoing the first words found right at the start of the Bible – see Genesis 1:1–2! In the beginning, there was God, the Word and the Spirit in the work of creation. These verses in John are breathtaking in their awesomeness, as they tell us Jesus is the Word: the One who comes to communicate who God is to a broken world.

Have you ever felt ‘not seen’? Hagar must have felt that, when she ran away into the wilderness, away from her mistress, Sarai (later Sarah). While attempting to work God’s plan out themselves, Abram and his wife had come up with a plan: Abram would have his much-wanted child by the slave Hagar, circumventing God’s agenda.

Abraham has some visitors! He welcomes them with a generous spirit. But these visitors are no ordinary travellers. One of them makes an astounding promise. Sarah – Abraham’s wife – is, like her husband, elderly, and the times of childbearing are well past. And yet a promise is made.