How do you determine what to believe and what not to believe? Jesus knew the importance of time, the priority of his calling, and the value of proper judgment. Can we begin to look at the big picture?

Some of the sayings of Jesus have to be recognized as 'hard' sayings. What did he mean when he said that we must eat his flesh to live? How does this fit in with the theme of John 6 where we find Jesus as the giver of bread becoming 'the bread of life'?

As I child my mother used a lot of bread to make sure I was satisfied. True satisfaction is found only in Jesus Christ... "I AM the bread that came down from heaven." The first of seven "I am..." sayings. But what does it mean to you?

They were frightened and why not! The storm was fierce and Jesus wasn't with them. But soon He appeared walking on the water. Ego eimi - "I am" - the Great I Am was now on the scene taking their fears and giving peace.

Who is Jesus to you? Is He the desired source of you earthly, physical needs? Or, do you take Him to be the source for your spiritual life - the Manna come down from heaven, the Bread of Life?

Did Jesus claim to be divine? Did he claim to be equal in action, able to give life, and the judge?

Would it dampen you spirits to know that over 400 years has passed and the promises / prophesies of Isaiah 35 had not been fulfilled? Maybe you, too, would have been dealing with unfulfilled expectations. So, Jesus question is pertinent - "Do you want to be healed?" - not only for the paralytic, but for us also.

Whether demonstrated in the healing of the Official's son from 20 miles away or the Resurrection and empty tomb, there is power in the Word of God!

Change! It is inevitable. But what can we do to ease the tension? John the Baptist shows us a way of humility.

Has being 'born again' become a flattened term for you? What if I told you that there were three other metaphors used by Jesus with Nicodemus: being born again, wind, a serpent, and light/darkness. And the emphasis? Conversion! There is more to it than just 'believing,' the demons knew and believed that Jesus was the Son of God -- but that didn't bring them salvation.