Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead…
We have no idea how deep and how profound and how deadly our sin is.
So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one…
Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked. (John 7:14-15) Read: Proverbs 5:1 – 7:27 Relate: What good is a college education? What is the point behind the tens…
But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others…
“You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee. (John 7:8-9) Read: 1 Kings 4:1-34, Psalm 72, Psalm 127 Relate: It’s all in the timing. In baseball, a pitcher stands sixty and a half feet from the plate. When he is pitching a…
Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. (John 7:6-7) Read: 1 Kings 9:15 – 10:29, 2 Chronicles 1:14-17, 2 Chronicles 8:1 – 9:28 Relate: Pick your fights. That is a…
After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous…
Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him. (John 6:70-71) Read: 1 Kings 8:1-53, 2 Chronicles 5:1 – 6:42 Relate: I remember a prayer a prayer I used to pray often when I…
At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” (John…
THE RIVER WALK 