Although judgment is coming to God's people, Isaiah prophesies of a time when light will pierce through the darkness and deliverance from oppression will come. This deliverance is promised and described in 9:1-7. He also tells us that this deliverance will come through a child, but a child who is the "mighty God." We celebrate the fulfillment of this promise in the coming of Christ and rejoice in the deliverance He brought.

God's promises are greater than all; they are guaranteed, and they are grounded in Jesus

In Paul's final instructions to the Thessalonians, he gives a list of commands exhorting the Thessalonians to live in light of eternity. In one section, he commands that believers rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and be thankful in all circumstances. Though these commands are difficult as we walk in this world, they are not unrealistic expectations.

Jesus answers the demand to declare himself plainly by showing the characteristics of His Sheep. His sheep believe, they hear and follow him, and they are secure eternally as His sheep.

Jesus continues speaking of the Good Shepherd as one who lays down His life for the sheep. He brings his own into the fold and gives them life.

Jesus illustrates His mission with the picture of the shepherd. The shepherd has the right to the sheep because he enters through the door. The thieves jump over the wall to steal and destroy. The shepherd also has relationship with the sheep, and the shepherd is responsible for the safety and protection of the sheep.

The man who had been healed of his blindness is interrogated about the miracle and about Jesus. We are told at the end of this chapter that what we are seeing is a man growing more and more into the light, and another group is growing deeper and deeper into blindness. The man, although not knowing everything about Jesus, holds to his confession that he once was blind but now can see.

Jesus heals a man who is born blind. He tells his disciples that the reason the man is blind is so that "the works of God" would be displayed in him. Then he tells his disciples, "We must work the works of God while there is time." - He demonstrates the priority and urgency of the disciples in making disciples, weeping with those who weep, and being instruments by which God changes lives.

Jesus recommissions Peter with a public, three fold confession of love for him. This was in direct contrast to Peter's earlier three fold denial of Jesus. Here in this short exchange, Jesus gives both the priority and the necessity of Love for Jesus as the impetus for service to the flock.

Jesus concludes his conversation with the religious leaders by explicitly revealing His identity to them and even now, giving them the invitation of promise. In this section, the believer finds great assurance that Jesus is able to fulfill His promise and there is nothing that can cause His promise to fail.