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…
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 Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) Then he said, “That is why I said…
Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you?” (John 6:60-61) Read: Psalms 79 – 82 Relate: Cannibals. That is what Jesus was asking his disciples to be. Worse than that. He was asking…
I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live…
Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked. So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.…
I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. Very…
THE RIVER WALK 