Randy Boldt leads a very personal journey through the Gospel of John in a series of short videos designed to provide a daily devotional experience.

The John Project

When my wife and I moved to the Los Angeles area, I began power walking down to the Manhattan Beach pier on most days. That’s a three-mile round trip from our home and involves climbing several steep hills. 
 
At first, the trek was quite taxing, and I couldn’t imagine going any farther. In my mind, I saw that pier as my terminus, the point where I had to turn back if I was going to have the energy to make it home. But an interesting thing happened. Over time, as my fitness increased, I began to see beyond the pier. I found myself able to walk farther along the beach before heading back. And now, I no longer see that pier as the end of my route. It’s just a landmark on a longer journey. 
 
As a Jesus-follower, a similar thing happened regarding how I see death. Because of the grace of Christ, I no longer view it as the end of my life. It doesn’t mark the conclusion of my hopes, dreams, expectations, and desires. It’s just a milestone I will pass along my eternal journey. And that’s what Jesus was referring to in John chapter 8 verse 51. 
 
He was continuing his response to a verbal assault from the religious leaders. He told them that anyone who keeps his word will not see death. And I’d like to stop and consider the three key words in that statement: anyone, keep, and see. 
 
First, take note that he addressed the promise to anyone. And that had to include the Jewish leaders he was addressing and had just accused of seeking to kill him. Imagine that! Even after exposing their hatred toward him, he still offered them a pathway to the grace of God. And if that’s true, then his invitation clearly extends to every one of us. 
 
Second, this promise is available to those who keep his word. Jesus was clarifying that there’s a difference between those who receive his message and those who keep it, between those who hear it and those who hold on to it. It’s not enough to just be acquainted with it, we need to embrace it. 
 
And finally, he said those who do will not see death. It’s clear from the following verses (52-55) where he ceded the point that Abraham and the prophets have all died, that he wasn’t saying his followers wouldn’t die physically. Instead, he was promising that they would no longer see death in the same way. They would view their lives as extending beyond it into eternity. Instead of marking life’s final boundary, it would be seen as merely a mile-marker along a wondrous journey in relationship with him toward an infinite horizon. 
 
Hebrews chapter 2 verse 15 tells us that part of the victory of Christ’s cross was the release of all those who have been bound by a fear of death. Jesus has defeated it on our behalf and made it possible for us to see beyond it and experience the security that comes from knowing the journey continues. 
 
Through faith in Jesus, we can all find rest in the peace of that promise right now.

When my wife and I moved to the Los Angeles area, I began power walking down to the Manhattan Beach pier on most days. That’s a three-mile round trip from our home and involves climbing several steep hills.

At first, the trek was quite taxing, and I couldn’t imagine going any farther. In my mind, I saw that pier as my terminus, the point where I had to turn back if I was going to have the energy to make it home. But an interesting thing happened. Over time, as my fitness increased, I began to see beyond the pier. I found myself able to walk farther along the beach before heading back. And now, I no longer see that pier as the end of my route. It’s just a landmark on a longer journey.

As a Jesus-follower, a similar thing happened regarding how I see death. Because of the grace of Christ, I no longer view it as the end of my life. It doesn’t mark the conclusion of my hopes, dreams, expectations, and desires. It’s just a milestone I will pass along my eternal journey. And that’s what Je

John 8:51-55 • The Journey Continues

As a kid, I learned to repeat this little schoolyard rhyme as a means of countering the verbal cruelty of other children: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Sadly though, it didn’t take long before I discovered that words could cause pain, and the wounds they inflict can be deep and lasting. 
 
Have you ever been subjected to verbal abuse? Jesus has. And one of those occasions is found in John chapter 8 verse 48 where the religious elite – having been stung by what Jesus exposed about them in the preceding passage – struck back with name-calling and a false accusation. They labeled him a Samaritan and accused him of being demon-possessed. 
 
The Jews held the Samaritans in deep disgust. They considered them interlopers, half-breeds, perverters of the sacred faith, and more. They knew that Jesus wasn’t ethnically a Samaritan, but they used that term as a slur meant to carry a heavy payload of defamation. And by also describing him as demonized, they sought to discredit him along with his very-public exposure of their wicked hearts. 
 
They did what insecure bullies do when their masks are pulled down and their vulnerabilities are exposed. Instead of responding with humility and repentance, they punched back and with as low a blow as possible. And if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of that kind of attack and have the scars to show for it, paying close attention to how the Lord reacted in verses 49 and 50 may provide you some much-needed wisdom, perspective, comfort, and healing. 
 
First, he didn’t respond to the name-calling. I know it’s hard to resist, but it’s almost impossible to win a war of verbal mudslinging. And if you do, the battle fatigue and shame you experience afterward usually exact a heavy emotional and spiritual toll. It’s best to follow Jesus’ example and deprive the attack of any traction by just ignoring it. 
 
Second, he made the choice to remain focused on honoring his father instead of defending himself against their slander. He simply made a straightforward statement rejecting their accusation and then refused to become distracted by it. He trusted God with the promotion and defense of his reputation. And when we follow in his footsteps, we discover that the Heavenly Father is faithful to do the same for us. 
 
We live in a world filled with spite, prejudice, malice, and just plain old meanness. And it’s impossible to avoid being the target of some of it. But Jesus taught us how to keep from becoming what I call prickly – always in a defensive posture when it comes to how others perceive us. Owning the responsibility for bearing the burden of retaliating when we’re slighted, mocked, denigrated, or maligned usually results in a life stained with bitterness, exhaustion, and isolation. How much better to run to the refuge of the one who daily honors us with his love and provides a shelter of absolute security against any sticks, stones, or words. 
 
So, let’s meet him there today. And from within the safety of his strong embrace, let’s stay focused on bringing honor to him by the way we release with forgiveness all those who’ve hurt us and trust him to promote and defend our reputations.

As a kid, I learned to repeat this little schoolyard rhyme as a means of countering the verbal cruelty of other children: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Sadly though, it didn’t take long before I discovered that words could cause pain, and the wounds they inflict can be deep and lasting.

Have you ever been subjected to verbal abuse? Jesus has. And one of those occasions is found in John chapter 8 verse 48 where the religious elite – having been stung by what Jesus exposed about them in the preceding passage – struck back with name-calling and a false accusation. They labeled him a Samaritan and accused him of being demon-possessed.

The Jews held the Samaritans in deep disgust. They considered them interlopers, half-breeds, perverters of the sacred faith, and more. They knew that Jesus wasn’t ethnically a Samaritan, but they used that term as a slur meant to carry a heavy payload of defamation. And by also describing him as demonized, they sought

John 8:48-50 • Sticks, Stones, or Words

I have often been struck by the deep need people have for assurance of belonging. And this is nowhere more evident than in the way we’re driven to locate ourselves and others within families. For instance, when a child is born, I’ve noticed that an immediate and almost involuntary search is engaged by people to identify and catalog the traits and characteristics that link the baby to his or her relatives. Evaluations are made about eye and hair color along with shape, size, and a multitude of other qualities that note similarities with parents and other members of their clan. And it always amazes me to observe the sweet peace that seems to settle over people when they’re able to rest in the confidence of the child’s connection to the tribe. 
 
In the section of John chapter 8 bounded by verses 37 and 47, Jesus responded to the assertion by the Jewish leaders that they held a privileged connection to God. They laid claim to being Abraham’s descendants. But Jesus pushed back by saying if they really were, they wouldn’t be seeking to kill him. And when they responded by taking things a step further and insisting God was their father, Jesus strongly contradicted them and flatly stated that in fact the devil was. 
 
That must have stung! But the Lord wasn’t just trying to antagonize them. He was pointing out that as surely as our physical characteristics connect us to our birth families, there are qualities that reveal our spiritual families as well. He said they had inherited their desire to kill him from Satan who was a murderer from the beginning. And he pointed out that their inability to perceive the truths he was teaching was because they were offspring of the father of lies. 
 
But in this same passage, Jesus also pointed out two traits that are common among those who are part of God’s family. In verse 42, he said God’s children love Jesus. Then in verse 47, he said they also hear God’s words. And he wasn’t just referring to the vowels, consonants, and syllables. He meant the message the words convey. 
 
The Lord was describing a couple of very key elements of family resemblance among his kids. And that makes me want to pause, look myself in the mirror, and sincerely ask, “Does my life bear the characteristics of the family of God? Do I evidence a sincere love of Jesus in the way I live, and am I quick, thorough, and joyful in the way I respond to what God has said?” 
 
According to Jesus, these are the traits that settle the question of belonging. They bring into sharp focus what defines the only family relationship that ultimately matters. 
 
And the most wonderful thing about this is that no matter what characteristics we’ve inherited from our physical families we all have the same opportunity to experience a new birth through faith in Christ, his cross, and resurrection that reshapes everything about us so that we can start to look more like our heavenly father. 
 
It doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen. 
 
I was born with features that were noticeably similar to my dad’s. But with every stage of my physical growth, those similarities have become more pronounced. And in the same way, as we progress in a born-again relationship with God, our resemblance to him increases. 
 
So, let’s make this our prayer: “Lord, may my love for Jesus and responsiveness to your message cause me to reflect your image into this world with increasing clarity today and every day that follows.”

I have often been struck by the deep need people have for assurance of belonging. And this is nowhere more evident than in the way we’re driven to locate ourselves and others within families. For instance, when a child is born, I’ve noticed that an immediate and almost involuntary search is engaged by people to identify and catalog the traits and characteristics that link the baby to his or her relatives. Evaluations are made about eye and hair color along with shape, size, and a multitude of other qualities that note similarities with parents and other members of their clan. And it always amazes me to observe the sweet peace that seems to settle over people when they’re able to rest in the confidence of the child’s connection to the tribe.

In the section of John chapter 8 bounded by verses 37 and 47, Jesus responded to the assertion by the Jewish leaders that they held a privileged connection to God. They laid claim to being Abraham’s descendants. But Jesus pushed back by saying if t

John 8:37-47 • A Family Resemblance

The religious leaders who dialogued with Jesus as well as the people who overheard those exchanges, just couldn’t seem to grasp what he’d said about his relationship with the Father. He’d made several attempts to explain that he’d been sent by God and was in all ways and at all times representing him. But their hardened and sin-scarred hearts were deaf to those truths. So, in verse 28 of John chapter 8, he lamented that they wouldn’t understand until after they’d lifted him up, or in other words, crucified him. 
 
How sad that it would require the aftermath of his sacrifice to open their eyes to see who he was and why he’d come. But the reality is, much about Jesus can’t be fully grasped except in the light of the cross. That icon memorializes the loving Father and submitting Son settling the sin issue and purchasing our salvation. It possesses the power to penetrate our spiritual blindness and illuminate the magnitude of God’s gift of grace in Christ. 
 
The cross defines God’s strategy and story of redemption as he purposefully pursued the rescue of our fallen race. It confirms the identity of the Seed of the woman described in Genesis 3:15 as the one who would crush the serpent’s head. It’s what elevates John 3:16 to towering heights as a majestic expression of God’s love. It’s what empowers the offer of complete forgiveness recorded in 1 John 1:9. And it’s the key that unlocks chains of bondage and sets free the souls of repentant sinners like me. 
 
When viewed through its lens, the life, words, and ministry of Jesus come into a focus that ignites understanding, overwhelms with humility, releases faith, and inspires the kind of worship captured in these words penned in 1912 by the hymnist, George Bennard. 
 
On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross 
The emblem of suffering and shame 
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best 
For a world of lost sinners was slain 
 
The cross of Christ stands forever as the unique and unparalleled symbol of a saving God. And if you, like me, stand today within its glow as a lost-one-now-found, let’s pause together at the foot of that beacon of hope and offer there our humble praise.

The religious leaders who dialogued with Jesus as well as the people who overheard those exchanges, just couldn’t seem to grasp what he’d said about his relationship with the Father. He’d made several attempts to explain that he’d been sent by God and was in all ways and at all times representing him. But their hardened and sin-scarred hearts were deaf to those truths. So, in verse 28 of John chapter 8, he lamented that they wouldn’t understand until after they’d lifted him up, or in other words, crucified him.

How sad that it would require the aftermath of his sacrifice to open their eyes to see who he was and why he’d come. But the reality is, much about Jesus can’t be fully grasped except in the light of the cross. That icon memorializes the loving Father and submitting Son settling the sin issue and purchasing our salvation. It possesses the power to penetrate our spiritual blindness and illuminate the magnitude of God’s gift of grace in Christ.

The cross defines God’s strategy a

John 8:27-29 • That Beacon of Hope

Jesus invaded the world beneath from the world above in order to provide – by means of faith in his sacrifice – the only bridge leading back. In John 8:21-24, Jesus described the impassible chasm sin has opened between the two worlds and repeated the warning he’d made to the religious leaders in the previous chapter concerning the urgency of their need to place trust in his messiahship. 
 
His message was straight and strong. But their jealousy and pride had produced a faithlessness that continued blinding them to the light of the world – as Jesus had described himself in verse 12. They refused to grasp the simple clarity of his words. Instead, they chose to accuse him of being suicidal and completely ignored the offer of salvation he was extending by confronting them with the consequences of their unbelief. 
 
So sad… 
 
But there are at least two things described in these verses that should stir us to deep gratitude. 
 
First, Jesus didn’t give up on the jewish leaders. He certainly could have, and I certainly would have. Yet, twice in as many days, he warned them that his time among them was short and that the path of unbelief they were travelling would lead to eternal separation from God. Instead of dismissing or damning, he was urging them to change course while he was still physically in their midst. 
 
What a demonstration of our Savior’s love, pursuing to the last even the hardest-hearted that they might turn from their sin and know his grace! It’s humbling to realize we’ve been loved like that. The forgiveness that secured our eternal destiny is not the result of anything we’ve done but is the fruit of his relentless pursuit of our lost souls. 
 
Second, the Lord’s statements that he is not of this world and would be returning to the world above when his redemptive work was done brings such peace to our lives. In John 16:33, Jesus said that we can be of good cheer because he has overcome the tribulations of this world on our behalf. In other words, His triumph over all the brokenness in this world beneath has become our victory too. He is our bridge to the heavenlies not just for the day we pass from this life but for the many days we’re tempted to lose hope in the midst of it. 
 
Let’s allow our spirits to fill and our worship to overflow with praise for the one who refused to give up on us and who is daily introducing us to the joys of a life focused on the world above. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Find more at TheJohnProject.com

Jesus invaded the world beneath from the world above in order to provide – by means of faith in his sacrifice – the only bridge leading back. In John 8:21-24, Jesus described the impassible chasm sin has opened between the two worlds and repeated the warning he’d made to the religious leaders in the previous chapter concerning the urgency of their need to place trust in his messiahship.

His message was straight and strong. But their jealousy and pride had produced a faithlessness that continued blinding them to the light of the world – as Jesus had described himself in verse 12. They refused to grasp the simple clarity of his words. Instead, they chose to accuse him of being suicidal and completely ignored the offer of salvation he was extending by confronting them with the consequences of their unbelief.

So sad…

But there are at least two things described in these verses that should stir us to deep gratitude.

First, Jesus didn’t give up on the jewish leaders. He certainly could ha

John 8:21-24 • Two Worlds

In John 8:7-11, the confrontation of Jesus by the Jewish elite over their arrest of an adulterous woman concluded in an unexpected way as the Lord demonstrated the dramatic difference between condemnation and conviction. 
 
The religious leaders continued insisting that Jesus take a stand on the issue of the woman’s punishment. Her guilt was not in question. She’d been caught in the act. This was about whether she should be stoned to death for her crime. And it seemed Jesus was hesitating because of the cleverness of their trap. If he agreed with their judgment, he would alienate the crowds. If he didn’t, he would be guilty of not upholding the law. Either way, the scribes and Pharisees would win. So, they pressed him for a response. 
 
But he refused to play their game. Instead, he issued a statement that acknowledged the seriousness of the sin without joining the chorus of condemnation. He simply invited anyone who was guiltless among the accusers to throw the first rock. Then, he went back to writing in the dirt. 
 
Stunned by the power of what he’d said, verse 8 tells us everyone who heard it was convicted and began to quietly slip out one by one until Jesus was left alone with the woman. And after confirming that no one was left to condemn her – without condoning, excusing, or turning a blind eye to what she’d done – he sent her away into the hope of a different future than the one she’d arrived with by saying, “Go and sin no more.” 
 
And that’s what conviction always does. It creates the potential for a different outcome when combined with our confession and repentance. Condemnation passes judgment on sin for the purpose of punishment. Conviction acknowledges sin for the purpose of redirecting future behavior. The Lord refused to condemn. But his direct confrontation of the sin of both the leaders and the adulteress resulted in conviction that changed the course of their actions. 
 
Condemnation only deepens patterns of iniquity. Conviction empowers redemption. Condemnation is used by the Devil to imprison us. Conviction is used by the Holy Spirit to set us free (John 16:8). 
 
Two nights ago, I was jolted awake by the realization that I’d left a restaurant that evening without paying the bill. My heartrate climbed with the realization that I’d stolen from that business. I began imagining what the waitress must have thought of me and worse, the damage I’d done to my gospel testimony with the people at the neighboring table I’d had a conversation with about Jesus. And even though my failure was not intentional, suddenly, there it was – condemnation. 
 
But just as I could feel that wave of shame about to break over me, I found myself responding to the hope-filled voice of conviction instead. Before God, I confessed my irresponsibility and formed a plan of repentance that involved returning to the eatery as soon as they opened the next day to make things right. As I did, my soul settled, and instead of spending the night in restless guilt, I was at peace. 
 
The next day, when I went back to straighten things out, not only was the staff not angry, they actually thanked me and remarked several times about how impressed they were with my honesty – clearly a different outcome than I deserved. 
 
If you find yourself coming under the weight of condemnation today, reject it. On the other hand, be quick to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and you’ll find him redirecting your future.

In John 8:7-11, the confrontation of Jesus by the Jewish elite over their arrest of an adulterous woman concluded in an unexpected way as the Lord demonstrated the dramatic difference between condemnation and conviction.

The religious leaders continued insisting that Jesus take a stand on the issue of the woman’s punishment. Her guilt was not in question. She’d been caught in the act. This was about whether she should be stoned to death for her crime. And it seemed Jesus was hesitating because of the cleverness of their trap. If he agreed with their judgment, he would alienate the crowds. If he didn’t, he would be guilty of not upholding the law. Either way, the scribes and Pharisees would win. So, they pressed him for a response.

But he refused to play their game. Instead, he issued a statement that acknowledged the seriousness of the sin without joining the chorus of condemnation. He simply invited anyone who was guiltless among the accusers to throw the first rock. Then, he went b

John 8:7-11 • Redirecting Your Future

The precious scene described in the first two verses of John 8 turned just about as dark and ugly as can be imagined when the scribes and Pharisees showed up in the next verse. They shoved a woman to the center of the crowd who’d been caught in the act of adultery and demanded to know whether Jesus would support enforcing the death penalty in her case. 
 
But the passage makes clear that they really weren’t concerned about the law they were citing. Otherwise, the man involved would have been dragged out of bed and paraded through town to be judged as well. Adultery does require two sinners. 
 
No, their misogynistic, crude, and cruel behavior was focused on one thing only. They were trying to set a trap for Jesus. They were certain that if he agreed with their brutal enforcement of the law, the crowd would turn against him, and if he responded with mercy, they could accuse him of violating Scripture. Either way they were sure they had him cornered. 
 
But as usual, our Lord did the unexpected. He submitted his response in writing. 
 
Verse 6 tells us that Jesus stooped down – refusing to join the crowd in gawking at the woman – and wrote something in the dust on the floor of the Temple. We’re not told, so we can’t know the content of his inscription. But the fact that this is the only description of a handwritten communication from Jesus is worth contemplating. 
 
He wasn’t just doodling. The original language used here is clear about that. He was saying something. The hand of God had engraved on a tablet of stone (Exodus 20:14), “You shall not commit adultery.” And now, the hand of the Son of God was writing a response to the merciless enforcement of that command. 
 
Was Jesus undermining the seventh commandment? Clearly not. Through this entire episode he never once exonerated the woman or rejected the validity of the proposed punishment. But he did refuse to condemn her. And that’s exactly what he’d said was part of his divine commission. He told Nicodemus in John 3:17 that, “…God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” 
 
We are all guilty of sin. Romans 6:23 says every one of us is under the death penalty for our rebellion against God. But I’m glad that’s not the end of the story. That same verse also describes the gift of eternal life available to us in Christ. 
 
What was Jesus writing in the dirt on the floor? I don’t know, but I’ll bet handwriting analysis would reveal it to have been the work of the same person who stooped under the weight of a cruel cross refusing to gawk at or condemn us in our sin and instead penned our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 21:27). Let’s live today with grateful hearts for the overwhelming grace and mercy of the one who loves us that much.

The precious scene described in the first two verses of John 8 turned just about as dark and ugly as can be imagined when the scribes and Pharisees showed up in the next verse. They shoved a woman to the center of the crowd who’d been caught in the act of adultery and demanded to know whether Jesus would support enforcing the death penalty in her case.

But the passage makes clear that they really weren’t concerned about the law they were citing. Otherwise, the man involved would have been dragged out of bed and paraded through town to be judged as well.  Adultery does require two sinners.

No, their misogynistic, crude, and cruel behavior was focused on one thing only. They were trying to set a trap for Jesus. They were certain that if he agreed with their brutal enforcement of the law, the crowd would turn against him, and if he responded with mercy, they could accuse him of violating Scripture. Either way they were sure they had him cornered.

But as usual, our Lord did the unexpect

John 8:3-6 • Handwriting Analysis

As we open the eighth chapter of John together, let me acknowledge that the first 11 verses along with the last one of the previous chapter is among the passages most argued about by New Testament textual scholars. Very simply, their contention has to do with whether this section is inspired, and if so, where it belongs in the Gospels. 
 
Now, I don’t consider myself qualified to comment on this debate. So, I rely on the hard work of others with far better credentials to explore the issue. And I find Jameison, Fausset, and Brown to be very thorough, balanced, cogent, and scholarly. I agree with their assessment that although the arguments to the contrary are worth exploring, the evidence for considering these verses as Scripture and rightly located is conclusive. 
 
So, with that said, let’s dive in. And I’d like to start by considering verses 1 and 2. Here we’re told that after spending the night under the stars on the Mount of Olives, Jesus entered the Temple early the next morning, sat down, and taught a crowd of people who had gathered. 
 
Oh, I wish I could have been there. Don’t you? I can’t imagine anything better than to have had the opportunity to start the day in the presence of Jesus, who was seated among them – not postured for just putting in an appearance before rushing off to more important things – and with loving patience, pouring out his heart into theirs. Oh my gosh! It moves me now to think of it. 
 
But wait a minute. Hasn’t the Lord invited each of us to enter this scene every day of our lives? Doesn’t Revelation 3:20 articulate this standing offer? And what about Matthew 6:6 where we’re welcomed to regularly encounter him not just in a crowd but in the privacy of the secret place? 
 
Perhaps the heart-yearning these verses stir in me isn’t really about the possibility of being with Jesus in this way but about the missed opportunities. Sadly, I often make the choice to begin my day without him. How about you? 
 
It may not be morning where you are as you hear this, but it’s not too late to start the rest of the day with him. Let’s do what we can to make that happen. Mute the phone, step away from the desk, grab a Bible, find a crevasse of solitude, and sit with him while he infuses our lives with his. 
 
See more at randyboldt.com/john

As we open the eighth chapter of John together, let me acknowledge that the first 11 verses along with the last one of the previous chapter is among the passages most argued about by New Testament textual scholars. Very simply, their contention has to do with whether this section is inspired, and if so, where it belongs in the Gospels.

Now, I don’t consider myself qualified to comment on this debate. So, I rely on the hard work of others with far better credentials to explore the issue. And I find Jameison, Fausset, and Brown to be very thorough, balanced, cogent, and scholarly. I agree with their assessment that although the arguments to the contrary are worth exploring, the evidence for considering these verses as Scripture and rightly located is conclusive.

So, with that said, let’s dive in. And I’d like to start by considering verses 1 and 2. Here we’re told that after spending the night under the stars on the Mount of Olives, Jesus entered the Temple early the next morning, sat 

John 8:1-2 • Missed Opportunities

Sometimes people are so desperate to be right about something that even in the face of undeniable data they will distort the facts in order to create an alternate reality that supports their viewpoint and then adopt that distortion as truth. 
 
One extreme example of this is the hundreds and perhaps thousands of people who persist in claiming the earth is a flat disk not a sphere despite the overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. The pretzel logic required to support this is just absurd. 
 
And this is the kind of thing the closing section of John 7 describes. In verses 47-53, having just been confronted by members of their own police force with the power of Jesus’ words, the religious leaders doubled down on their position that he was a fraud, a threat, and worthy of death. They ridiculed the police officers. Then, they expressed their contempt for the faith of the common people. And next, they belittled one of their own members for suggesting they should follow legal procedures before condemning a man to death without a trial. 
 
Then, they just went off the rails. Determined to hold their position at all costs, they made a statement that was both false and illogical. They said that no prophet had ever come from Galilee. 
 
Of course, they were ignoring the fact that the prophets Jonah and Nahum were both from Galilee. And according to many scholars, Malachi was as well. But even if all this had somehow just slipped their minds, their implication that no prophet could come from Galilee because none had, was just preposterous. 
 
This kind of delusional thinking is symptomatic of people who have become thoroughly invested in maintaining a false claim. 
 
What does this have to do with you and me? It’s easy to point fingers at Pharisees and flat-earthers, but I think we need to confront our own tendency to dig our heels in to protect a position or belief we want to be true. 
 
There’s always a temptation to put words in God’s mouth to authorize our desires and then barricade ourselves behind phrases like, “God told me” or “God said” so we can ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit or the loving correction of friends. And this was true of a dark period in my own life. 
 
I read 2 Corinthians 5:7 which says, “...We walk by faith, not by sight,” and decided this verse gave me the permission to ignore the negative balance I saw in my checkbook register. I also misappropriated Philippians 4:19 which says, “...God shall supply all your need,” and used it to justify continuing to write bad checks all over town. 
 
I bet you can imagine how that turned out. Sadly, it wasn’t until I experienced much unnecessary hardship and heartache that I finally stopped attempting to defend the indefensible and admitted to myself and before God my sinful presumption. I so desperately wanted to believe God would support my lazy and irresponsible behavior that I twisted his words to suit my desire. 
 
Oh man! I wish I had that part of my life to relive. But my point is we all need to be careful of the spiritual blindness that can overtake us when we choose to fight for what we want instead of stand on what’s true. And if that last statement illuminates something going on in your own life, bring it to Jesus in repentance and let him straighten out the pretzel…right now!

Sometimes people are so desperate to be right about something that even in the face of undeniable data they will distort the facts in order to create an alternate reality that supports their viewpoint and then adopt that distortion as truth.

One extreme example of this is the hundreds and perhaps thousands of people who persist in claiming the earth is a flat disk not a sphere despite the overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. The pretzel logic required to support this is just absurd.

And this is the kind of thing the closing section of John 7 describes. In verses 47-53, having just been confronted by members of their own police force with the power of Jesus’ words, the religious leaders doubled down on their position that he was a fraud, a threat, and worthy of death. They ridiculed the police officers. Then, they expressed their contempt for the faith of the common people. And next, they belittled one of their own members for suggesting they should follow legal procedure

John 7:47-53 • Pretzel Logic

On the eighth and final day of the Feast of Tabernacles, at the apex of the celebration, Jesus spoke some of the most beautiful and moving words of his ministry. They’re found in John 7:37 and 38. 
 
He captured the attention of the crowd and then issued a thrilling invitation. He offered to quench the heart-thirst of anyone who would place their faith in him. Then he went on to say that after relieving their spiritual longing, he would release a torrent of what he called living water from their once-parched souls. 
 
Verse 39 clarifies that Jesus was describing the ministry of the Holy Spirit through whom he would both satisfy our deepest yearning and overflow us with rivers of his life-giving power. 
 
Although we can’t know for certain, it seems most likely that this happened at the point in the day’s ceremonies when a priest brought water from Jerusalem’s Pool of Siloam and poured it out on the altar. Siloam is the endpoint of an aqueduct that carries water into the city from beneath the temple mount, and as such, symbolizes the spiritual refreshing that flows from God. 
 
So, the Lord’s choice of this occasion and location were not accidental, and neither was the time of day. This would’ve happened during the morning sacrifice – the third hour or nine o’clock in the morning. And this is exactly the same time the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon the first church on the Day of Pentecost following his resurrection (Acts 2:1-4, 15). 
 
As usual, Jesus was speaking volumes here in these few and magnificent words. But at the heart of it, he was describing the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers as being two-fold. There’s a pouring in and a pouring out. Belief in Jesus initiates an inflow of the living water of the Spirit that regenerates us and an outflow of that same stream that – according to Jesus in Acts 1:8 – enables us to live out his plans for us in this world. 
 
The Lord clearly meant for us to experience both. And yet it often seems that presentations of the gospel focus on the inflow that causes rebirth but neglect the outflow that unleashes Christ’s power in and through us. As certainly as we need to be born again by the Spirit, we need to be baptized in or empowered by him as well. 
 
Thank God! Jesus has invited us to have it all. So, if you have expressed your faith in him and taken a deep drink from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3) but sense there’s more, you’re right, there is. But the more you’re waiting for is already yours. Just pause right now and welcome the Holy Spirit to unleash the living water you’ve already received as a river he wants to pour through your life to a thirsty world.

On the eighth and final day of the Feast of Tabernacles, at the apex of the celebration, Jesus spoke some of the most beautiful and moving words of his ministry. They’re found in John 7:37 and 38.

He captured the attention of the crowd and then issued a thrilling invitation. He offered to quench the heart-thirst of anyone who would place their faith in him. Then he went on to say that after relieving their spiritual longing, he would release a torrent of what he called living water from their once-parched souls.

Verse 39 clarifies that Jesus was describing the ministry of the Holy Spirit through whom he would both satisfy our deepest yearning and overflow us with rivers of his life-giving power.

Although we can’t know for certain, it seems most likely that this happened at the point in the day’s ceremonies when a priest brought water from Jerusalem’s Pool of Siloam and poured it out on the altar. Siloam is the endpoint of an aqueduct that carries water into the city from beneath the

John 7:37-39 • There’s More

In John 7:32-36 we’re told that having heard the expressions of faith in Jesus that were beginning to bubble up from among many who were in the crowd hearing him speak, the religious leaders decided it was time to act on their determination to kill him. So, they sent subordinates to make the arrest. And we’ll find out how this turned out when we get to the final section of the chapter. 
 
But meanwhile, Jesus continued speaking and said he would soon be returning to the one who sent him – God the Father – and that when he did, no one would be able to find or follow him. 
 
He wasn’t saying that he’d decided to give up on humanity and was just going to cash in his chips and go home. He simply meant that he wouldn’t be with them in person much longer. There was a time limit on his physical presence. He would be fulfilling his redemption assignment and returning to the heavenly realm. And even then, it wouldn’t be to abandon us but to make way for the ministry of the Holy Spirit he will begin to introduce in the subsequent passage. 
 
But this completely confused the Jewish elite. And even though Jesus had been perfectly clear, they began debating among themselves concerning what he meant about where he’d be going. 
 
As usual, their spiritual pride rendered them completely blind to his point. He was issuing a call to action. It’s as though he were saying, “The time to believe is now while we’re literally in the same room together – where you can hear my teachings with your own ears and see my miracles with your own eyes. Don’t put it off. It won’t be easier after I’m gone.” 
 
That doesn’t mean exercising faith requires the physical presence of Jesus. Billions of us have become Christ-followers in the two millennia since his ascension. But the time to believe him and to act on that faith is always now not later. 
 
And here is where this get personal for me. Whenever circumstances challenge me to trust Jesus, I want to be immediate in my response. I don’t want to hesitate while I consider alternatives. But the reality is sometimes the little Pharisee that hides out in my soul resists belief. I give place to confusion or fear, drag my spiritual feet, and miss the opportunity to see God do something wonderful in response to my faith. But I am determined to make sure that happens less often. 
 
Perhaps you feel the same. If so, I encourage you to scroll through the list of your life’s challenges today and sincerely decide that now is the time to trust Jesus with them. What are you waiting for?

In John 7:32-36 we’re told that having heard the expressions of faith in Jesus that were beginning to bubble up from among many who were in the crowd hearing him speak, the religious leaders decided it was time to act on their determination to kill him. So, they sent subordinates to make the arrest. And we’ll find out how this turned out when we get to the final section of the chapter.

But meanwhile, Jesus continued speaking and said he would soon be returning to the one who sent him – God the Father – and that when he did, no one would be able to find or follow him.

He wasn’t saying that he’d decided to give up on humanity and was just going to cash in his chips and go home. He simply meant that he wouldn’t be with them in person much longer. There was a time limit on his physical presence. He would be fulfilling his redemption assignment and returning to the heavenly realm. And even then, it wouldn’t be to abandon us but to make way for the ministry of the Holy Spirit he will begin

John 7:32-36 • Now is the Time

John chapter 7 verse 15 records a question the Jewish religious leaders were posing in response to a teaching Jesus had given in the Temple. It wasn’t about what he’d said – the content of his message – it was about the source of his theological training. Since he hadn’t studied under the scholars in their system, they questioned the validity of his doctrine. 
 
So, in verse 16, Jesus responded by saying he wasn’t reliant on any human source for his teaching. He said it came directly from his Father. 
 
Then, he gave them two essential metrics for judging authenticity when a person claims to have a message from God. And we definitely need to consider these when it comes to who we’re listening to. 
 
There are a lot of people in the spiritual communication business – pastors, authors, bloggers, talk show hosts, musicians. How should we determine which of them to pay attention to? Is it about the educational degrees they hold, their popularity, the effectiveness of their style? 
 
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a proponent of theological scholarship, and I definitely take it into consideration when I evaluate whose words I’ll expose my soul to. I also think it’s wise to consider popularity at least in terms of questioning who else is listening to this person and why. And I think communication skill is a worthy marker too. 
 
But ultimately, the Lord said it’s about heart motivation – both ours and theirs. 
 
In verse 17, he said we need to honestly check our own desires. Are we ready to actually do whatever’s necessary to align our lives with what the Lord may be saying through the messenger or are we content to simply be intellectually and emotionally stimulated by the words we hear? Jesus said the answer to this question is what shapes our ability to discern the spiritual authority of what we’re exposed to. 
 
Then, in verse 18, he said we need to also evaluate the motive of the speaker. Is it to glorify themselves – to gain a following, impress others, enrich their bank account – or is it to glorify God regardless of what it may cost them personally? Admittedly, this isn’t always easy to tell at first. But according to Jesus, it’s important. So, we need to give attention to it if we’re going to carefully steward our souls. 
 
When it comes to determining who we’ll listen to, let’s not make the mistake of the Jewish leaders by focusing on externals. Let’s pay attention to the internals.

John chapter 7 verse 15 records a question the Jewish religious leaders were posing in response to a teaching Jesus had given in the Temple. It wasn’t about what he’d said – the content of his message – it was about the source of his theological training. Since he hadn’t studied under the scholars in their system, they questioned the validity of his doctrine. 

So, in verse 16, Jesus responded by saying he wasn’t reliant on any human source for his teaching. He said it came directly from his Father.

Then, he gave them two essential metrics for judging authenticity when a person claims to have a message from God. And we definitely need to consider these when it comes to who we’re listening to.

There are a lot of people in the spiritual communication business – pastors, authors, bloggers, talk show hosts, musicians. How should we determine which of them to pay attention to? Is it about the educational degrees they hold, their popularity, the effectiveness of their style?

Don’t get me 

John 7:15-18 • Who are you listening to?

The sixth chapter of John’s Gospel concludes with a soaring declaration of faith along with a sobering reminder. 
 
In verse 67, Jesus turned his attention from the many to the few. For most of this chapter, Jesus was focused on the multitude. He had compassionately and skillfully revealed Himself to them and led them to a decision point regarding His Messiahship. But when they reached that point, sadly, most of them chose to remain in their unbelief and walked way. 
 
Then, as the crowd was deserting Him, He turned and confronted the Twelve – the capital “D” Disciples – and asked if they were going to abandon Him as well. Peter’s response was literally one for the ages. He said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” And then he said, “We have come to BELIEVE and KNOW that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” 
 
His statements are so powerful! And I’d like to draw your attention to his use of two specific words: believe and know. With them, he articulated the breadth of what it means to have faith in Christ. The word translated as believe is pisteuo, and it describes a belief that chooses to commit. The other word, know, is translated from the word, ginosko, and it refers to a knowledge that is more experiential than intellectual. 
 
The faith Peter described is the result of both a choice and an experience, a decision and a relationship. We can’t have one without the other and we can’t reverse the order. Without choosing to commit, there can’t be an experience. And a decision to believe that doesn’t result in a relationship is incomplete. 
 
Behind me is a wedding chapel. And it’s a good backdrop for this because true faith is like a marriage. It begins with a choice to commit, but unless that decision results in a relational experience, something’s seriously wrong. 
 
And that’s why on the heels of Peter’s soaring statement that he assumed was true for all of them, Jesus’ next question is a sobering reminder. In a sense He used the question to say, “Peter, the faith you’ve so eloquently defined is not true for all of you.” And we’re told He was referring to Judas, who would eventually betray Him. 
 
Now, it’s not possible to know exactly what was insufficient with Judas’ believing that allowed for his betrayal. But it’s clear that he’d made some kind of commitment to follow Jesus. That’s why he was there that day counted among the Disciples. But my hunch is that something was deficient in his pursuit of an experience with Jesus. 
 
May that not be true of you and me, dear one. As we close this chapter, let’s invite the Holy Spirit to reveal anything about our faith that looks like a commitment without a relationship. Let’s daily choose to pursue the One who has invited us into a belief that results in an experience. 
 
randyboldt.com/john

The sixth chapter of John’s Gospel concludes with a soaring declaration of faith along with a sobering reminder.

In verse 67, Jesus turned his attention from the many to the few. For most of this chapter, Jesus was focused on the multitude. He had compassionately and skillfully revealed Himself to them and led them to a decision point regarding His Messiahship. But when they reached that point, sadly, most of them chose to remain in their unbelief and walked way.

Then, as the crowd was deserting Him, He turned and confronted the Twelve – the capital “D” Disciples – and asked if they were going to abandon Him as well. Peter’s response was literally one for the ages. He said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” And then he said, “We have come to BELIEVE and KNOW that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

His statements are so powerful! And I’d like to draw your attention to his use of two specific words: believe and know. With them, he articulate

John 6:67-71 • Believe and Know

The Voice and the Word 
-------------------------------------- 
 
In John chapter 1 verses 35 through 37, it talks about John – who had previously described himself as the voice of one crying in the wilderness – standing with two of his disciples. He saw Jesus and said to them, "Behold the Lamb of God!" And then it says his two disciples – John’s two disciples – followed Jesus. And just like that, the voice took a backseat to the Word. And from then on, the ministry of John the Baptist faded to the background, and the ministry of Jesus took the foreground. And that’s as it should be. 
 
I travel frequently to a suburb of Taipei, Taiwan, called Danshui. And when I’m there, I’m reminded of the fact that it’s really the word that’s the important thing, not the voice. I don’t speak Mandarin Chinese. And so, my attempts to communicate with locals is not very elegant. I kind of point and grunt and use exaggerated gestures hoping they will understand what I’m trying to say. But in the end, it’s what I’m trying to say that’s the important thing not the way I say it. And that’s true for us as believers. But we kind of forget that sometimes. 
 
We become very enamored with the voice. We record it, we video it, we film it, we publish it, we platform it with smoke and lights and guitars. And we market it, and distribute it, and promote it. And sometimes we forget that it’s not the voice that matters. It’s the Word that matters. 
 
May we remember what’s important: Jesus, the Word of God. Let’s be careful as we seek to communicate Him that we don’t promote the voice over the Word. 
 
randyboldt.com/john

The Voice and the Word
--------------------------------------

In John chapter 1 verses 35 through 37, it talks about John – who had previously described himself as the voice of one crying in the wilderness – standing with two of his disciples. He saw Jesus and said to them, "Behold the Lamb of God!" And then it says his two disciples – John’s two disciples – followed Jesus. And just like that, the voice took a backseat to the Word. And from then on, the ministry of John the Baptist faded to the background, and the ministry of Jesus took the foreground. And that’s as it should be.

I travel frequently to a suburb of Taipei, Taiwan, called Danshui. And when I’m there, I’m reminded of the fact that it’s really the word that’s the important thing, not the voice. I don’t speak Mandarin Chinese. And so, my attempts to communicate with locals is not very elegant. I kind of point and grunt and use exaggerated gestures hoping they will understand what I’m trying to say. But in the end, it’s wh

John 1:35-37

I love it when Jesus quotes Scripture! And that’s what happened in John 6:45. So, we have the Word of God quoting the word of God. It’s just so cool! 
 
And He uses an interesting communication technique here – one He employs in other places in the Gospels as well. He quotes just the first part of Isaiah 54:13 confident that it’s so familiar His hearers will automatically recall the rest of the context. 
 
It’s like what happened the other day when a friend commented on the tendency of people to associate with others who share similar interests. My friend said, “Birds of a feather…” And he didn’t have to finish the saying because he knew my mind would search my memory and fill in the rest, “flock together.” I knew the whole quote, “Birds of a feather flock together.” 
 
This technique stimulates a person to think more deeply about what’s being said, and that’s what Jesus wanted. 
 
As His audience continued wrestling with His claim to be the Bread of Life, He wanted to lead them beyond the shallow, literal thinking that was constraining their ability to hear what He was really saying. So, He injected into the conversation a small piece of a very familiar and much-loved passage of Scripture that at first glance seems completely unrelated. But as their minds reflexively became engaged in the process of completing the quote, He knew they would find themselves recalling the sweet promises of God’s grace contained in those verses. 
 
He wanted them to see His role as Bread of Life in the context of that flow of God’s redeeming love to them. 
 
It’s amazing how God’s word can do that, take us to a deeper and richer place when we get stuck on the surface. And that’s part of the reason why it’s so important to read the Bible and allow its treasures to become stored in our memories. It gives the Lord something to draw on when He needs to point our minds and hearts toward an unexpected discovery. 
 
The direction of my entire adult life hinges on one of those times. 
 
As a young man in my early twenties, I’d reached a point where my future was completely uncertain. It seemed that the trail I’d been following suddenly disappeared. My heart began to fill with anxiety and my mind became exhausted from running what-if scenarios. 
 
Then, out of the blue, as I sat alone on a lunch break at my warehouse job, the first part of 2 Timothy 2:15 bubbled up unbidden into my thoughts from the place in my memory where I had stored that verse as a child. And as my mind filled in the balance of the quote, I knew God was speaking to me through it. He was restoring a calling to pastoral ministry I thought I’d disqualified myself from, and He was preparing me for the next steps along that journey. 
 
The door to the rest of my life opened in that moment and having that little verse of Scripture committed to memory was the key. 
 
Dear one, let’s make a fresh commitment to having more keys on the ring by soaking in God’s word today.

I love it when Jesus quotes Scripture! And that’s what happened in John 6:45. So, we have the Word of God quoting the word of God. It’s just so cool!

And He uses an interesting communication technique here – one He employs in other places in the Gospels as well. He quotes just the first part of Isaiah 54:13 confident that it’s so familiar His hearers will automatically recall the rest of the context.

It’s like what happened the other day when a friend commented on the tendency of people to associate with others who share similar interests. My friend said, “Birds of a feather…” And he didn’t have to finish the saying because he knew my mind would search my memory and fill in the rest, “flock together.” I knew the whole quote, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

This technique stimulates a person to think more deeply about what’s being said, and that’s what Jesus wanted.

As His audience continued wrestling with His claim to be the Bread of Life, He wanted to lead them beyond the sha

John 6:45-46 • Keys on the Ring

John 6:30-36 records an example of how spiritually blind we can be when we become fixated on something we want. 
 
Jesus had just told the people that believing in Him as Messiah is the one thing God is asking us to do. And to paraphrase, they responded by saying, “If You really want us to believe that You’re the Son of God, what miracle will You perform to convince us? Yes, we enjoyed the free meal You provided us the other day. But You only fed thousands and just once. Moses gave manna – the bread of heaven – to more than a million Israelites every day for forty years.” 
 
Jesus corrected them by clarifying that it wasn’t Moses but God, the Father, who provided the manna during the wilderness wonderings and that it was meant to symbolize His ultimate provision of the true bread of heaven – the sending of His Son to give life to the world. 
 
Their reply sounds good: “Lord give us this bread always.” But it’s clear by the Lord’s immediate response as well as what follows in the rest of the chapter that they still didn’t get it. He bluntly stated, “I am the bread of life.” And He went on to say that anyone who would come to Him could have their spiritual hunger and thirst completely satisfied. Then He sadly added, “And yet you do not believe.” 
 
They were like a dog on a bone. They just could not let go of the dream of having Jesus provide them with free food. But their insistence on the satisfying of that desire caused them to miss the bigger picture altogether. And I’ll bet you’ve experienced that yourself. I certainly have. 
 
In fact, just a couple of weeks ago I became infatuated with the idea of getting a pair of hiking boots like the ones I bought on our honeymoon when I was nineteen. I know it sounds crazy, but for several days there I spent all my free time dreaming about how much better my life would be if could just relive that part of my wardrobe history. And after several internet searches, I actually found some for sale. I came this close to spending $150 plus shipping on a pair of 44-year-old used boots. Now, that’s nuts! 
 
What did I miss of my Savior’s voice and the ministry of His Spirit during those days when I was so determined to fulfill that desire? What spiritual hungers went unsatisfied by the bread of heaven while I pursued that temporary satisfaction? 
 
And the same thing can happen when we get it in our heads that God ought to do what we think He should, when we think He should, and in the way we think He should. That presumption, if not quickly repented, can grow to the point where it chokes off our spiritual sensitivities. 
 
Be careful not to let that happen. Is there any desire that you’re consumed with or insisting on today? Is the white-knuckled grip you have on that desire flowing out of your relationship with Jesus or something else? I encourage you to be honest with yourself and willing to surrender that hunger to the true bread of heaven.

John 6:30-36 records an example of how spiritually blind we can be when we become fixated on something we want.

Jesus had just told the people that believing in Him as Messiah is the one thing God is asking us to do. And to paraphrase, they responded by saying, “If You really want us to believe that You’re the Son of God, what miracle will You perform to convince us? Yes, we enjoyed the free meal You provided us the other day. But You only fed thousands and just once. Moses gave manna – the bread of heaven – to more than a million Israelites every day for forty years.”

Jesus corrected them by clarifying that it wasn’t Moses but God, the Father, who provided the manna during the wilderness wonderings and that it was meant to symbolize His ultimate provision of the true bread of heaven – the sending of His Son to give life to the world.

Their reply sounds good: “Lord give us this bread always.” But it’s clear by the Lord’s immediate response as well as what follows in the rest of the 

John 6:30-36 • A Dog on a Bone

In John 6:43-44, Jesus responded to the faithless murmurings of the Jewish religious elite regarding His claim of divinity. He said that embracing this truth is a response to something God initiates. It starts with Him not us. The process that results in placing faith in Christ begins with God drawing us toward belief. 
 
There’s something wonderful about that don’t you think? To realize that my faith in Jesus as Savior began with the Heavenly Father pursuing me – enticing me – takes my breath away. I am His child because He WANTED me. And if that weren’t amazing enough, Jesus went on to say that my relationship with Him will endure through the last day of my life in this world, and then, He will raise me up into His eternal presence. 
 
And that reminds me of something. 
 
Our youngest grandchildren are one-year-old twin girls. And the other day, I was watching one of them playing on the floor. I called out her name. And when she turned to look at me, I reached out to her, and she started crawling toward me. I gathered her up in my arms, snuggled her, kissed her cheek, told her I loved her, and would have held her like that all day if I could have. 
 
Now, I know it’s an imperfect example, but a relationship with Jesus is like that. It’s all Him not us. It’s not about us finding Him or trying desperately to hold on to Him once we do. He reaches out to us. And then, when we respond to His great love, He wraps us in his embrace and holds on forever. 
 
Dear One, rest in His love today. He desires you. He’s holding on to you. And no matter what, He won’t let go.

In John 6:43-44, Jesus responded to the faithless murmurings of the Jewish religious elite regarding His claim of divinity. He said that embracing this truth is a response to something God initiates. It starts with Him not us. The process that results in placing faith in Christ begins with God drawing us toward belief.

There’s something wonderful about that don’t you think? To realize that my faith in Jesus as Savior began with the Heavenly Father pursuing me – enticing me – takes my breath away. I am His child because He WANTED me. And if that weren’t amazing enough, Jesus went on to say that my relationship with Him will endure through the last day of my life in this world, and then, He will raise me up into His eternal presence.

And that reminds me of something.

Our youngest grandchildren are one-year-old twin girls. And the other day, I was watching one of them playing on the floor. I called out her name. And when she turned to look at me, I reached out to her, and she started c

John 6:43-44 • It’s All Him

Earlier in John chapter 6, Jesus had announced to the crowd that He was the bread of life sent from God, His Father, to satisfy their spiritual hunger. But now, in verses 41-42, we’re told that they – especially the religious elite who are described as “the Jews” – we’re choking on this truth and unable to receive it because of what they thought they knew about Jesus. They thought they knew where He came from. They knew He was raised in Joseph and Mary’s household. So, they just could not accept it when He claimed God was His Father. Their familiarity with Jesus hindered them from hearing what He said about Himself – a truth they desperately needed to embrace. 
 
We all face a withering assault from the Devil attempting to keep us from the spiritual fulfillment God has provided in His Son. And he does this by trying to convince us we are unloved, forsaken, and forgotten. If he can’t undo our salvation, he intends to at least diminish its impact on how we live by using those lies about God’s heart toward us to keep us bound in lives of frustration, discouragement, depression, dishonor, and destruction. 
 
But the truth set us free. When we believe what our Savior declares is true about Himself and His love for us, chains shatter, strongholds break. I’ve witnessed this miraculous transformation in people’s lives countless times over the years of my pastoral ministry. And I’ve experienced it myself. 
 
But I’ve also noticed that one of the greatest challenges to being able to hear Jesus when He speaks truth over us is familiarity – that sense that we already know where He’s coming from so to speak. Our knowledge ABOUT Him can get in the way of our knowing who He really is. 
 
This morning, I was trying to connect a credit card reader to my phone via Bluetooth. Now, I’m computer savvy and I know my way around digital gear. But I just couldn’t get it to work. So, after several failed attempts, I determined it must be broken. Have you ever been there? I was just about to go buy a new one when I decided to try one more time. But this time, I opened the device’s app on my phone first before doing the Bluetooth pairing. And for some reason, that did the trick. Everything worked perfectly. But I came very close to allowing my familiarity with technology to keep me from discovering something I needed know to be able to benefit from using that device. 
 
I think you can tell where I’m going with this. Is there an area of your life that isn’t working and has left you feeling spiritually trapped? If so, there’s a lie from hell keeping that chain in place. Can you identify it? Jesus wants to shatter that with the truth. What falsehood has the enemy convinced you of regarding who the Lord is and wants to be for you? Don’t allow your familiarity with where you think the Lord is coming from regarding your bondage to keep you from hearing what He’s trying to say. 
 
Lay that lie out before Him. Open His Word. Quiet your heart. Hear His voice. Live free.

Earlier in John chapter 6, Jesus had announced to the crowd that He was the bread of life sent from God, His Father, to satisfy their spiritual hunger. But now, in verses 41-42, we’re told that they – especially the religious elite who are described as “the Jews” – we’re choking on this truth and unable to receive it because of what they thought they knew about Jesus. They thought they knew where He came from. They knew He was raised in Joseph and Mary’s household. So, they just could not accept it when He claimed God was His Father. Their familiarity with Jesus hindered them from hearing what He said about Himself – a truth they desperately needed to embrace.

We all face a withering assault from the Devil attempting to keep us from the spiritual fulfillment God has provided in His Son. And he does this by trying to convince us we are unloved, forsaken, and forgotten. If he can’t undo our salvation, he intends to at least diminish its impact on how we live by using those lies about Go

John 6:41-42 • The Issue of Familiarity

In John 6:27, Jesus told the crowds to spend their labor on that which is eternal not temporary. And in verse 28, they responded by asking Him to explain. They wanted to know – as most people do – what kind of WORKS please God. And in verse 29, Jesus answered them in a completely unexpected way. Instead of telling them to pray, read the Bible, attend church, evangelize, tithe, love enemies, and feed the poor – along with a hundred other things we might have expected Him to say – He told them that BELIEVEING in HIM is the DOING God is looking for from us. 
 
Now, when we hear this, most of us can’t help but think there’s got to be more to it. That’s just too easy. Surely, pleasing God requires something more labor-intensive than that. Belief is just too simple. 
 
But hold on, just because something is simple doesn’t mean it isn’t challenging. Climbing a mountain isn’t complicated but it’s also not easy. Placing my faith in Jesus is pretty straightforward but living it out requires everything I’ve got. Trusting Him means placing my life, my future, my security, my provision – all that I am – in His hands. 
 
And that’s why John 6:29 makes a lot of us uncomfortable. We’d prefer a list – no matter how long and complex – of things we need to DO to please God because checking off a to-do list doesn’t require surrendering control. Belief does. 
 
So, we tend to want to add layers of DOING to our relationship with God. It makes us feel like we’re in the driver’s seat. But it also leads to spiritual exhaustion because our sin has made it impossible to ever DO enough. 
 
So, let’s keep it simple. Let’s just scoot over to the passenger side and give Him the wheel. Let’s give up our DOING and rest in what He’s DONE.

In John 6:27, Jesus told the crowds to spend their labor on that which is eternal not temporary. And in verse 28, they responded by asking Him to explain. They wanted to know – as most people do – what kind of WORKS please God. And in verse 29, Jesus answered them in a completely unexpected way. Instead of telling them to pray, read the Bible, attend church, evangelize, tithe, love enemies, and feed the poor – along with a hundred other things we might have expected Him to say – He told them that BELIEVEING in HIM is the DOING God is looking for from us.

Now, when we hear this, most of us can’t help but think there’s got to be more to it. That’s just too easy. Surely, pleasing God requires something more labor-intensive than that. Belief is just too simple.

But hold on, just because something is simple doesn’t mean it isn’t challenging. Climbing a mountain isn’t complicated but it’s also not easy. Placing my faith in Jesus is pretty straightforward but living it out requires everythi

John 6:28-29 • Scoot Over

John chapter 6 verse 5 moves us into the “loaves and fishes” narrative. A massive crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children was approaching. And when Jesus saw the multitude, He asked one of the Disciples a question: “How are we going to feed all these people?” 
 
Then, verse 6 tells us two very important things WE should remember whenever WE encounter a need that has the potential to overwhelm us whether it’s spiritual, physical, financial, or relational. 
 
First, we’re told the Lord was using it as a test. Need always does that – tests our faith. And although these trials can seriously rock our world and challenge us to our core, God’s purpose in allowing them is NEVER to disqualify or defeat us. It’s always to reveal both how far He’s already brought us and to expose areas of trust He wants to help us grow into. 
 
It’s like the gym that a friend of mine manages. All day, every day, people walk through his doors determined to put their bodies to the test. They pay my friend’s company for the opportunity to be challenged with weights, machines, and instructors for the benefit of seeing their health, strength and fitness increase. 
 
In the same way, the Bible tells us to REJOICE when our faith is tested because it’s increasing our spiritual health. God is using it for our good. 
 
The second thing verse 6 tells us is that Jesus knew in advance what He was going to do. The outcome was NEVER in doubt. God is in control. And oh, how good is that! As believers, these what-in-the-world-am-going-to-do kind of situations always reach us through the filter of God’s love, mercy, and grace. We square off against them in an environment managed by the power of the Sovereign God. As His kids, we are never – and I repeat, NEVER – in jeopardy. 
 
Now, I can’t know what kind of need may be testing you today. But Jesus does. And as challenging as it may seem, remember these soul-securing truths. One, if you let Him, your Savior will use it to strengthen your faith muscles. And two, Jesus already has a rock-solid plan for meeting that need. 
 
Trust Him!

John chapter 6 verse 5 moves us into the “loaves and fishes” narrative. A massive crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children was approaching. And when Jesus saw the multitude, He asked one of the Disciples a question: “How are we going to feed all these people?”

Then, verse 6 tells us two very important things WE should remember whenever WE encounter a need that has the potential to overwhelm us whether it’s spiritual, physical, financial, or relational.

First, we’re told the Lord was using it as a test. Need always does that – tests our faith. And although these trials can seriously rock our world and challenge us to our core, God’s purpose in allowing them is NEVER to disqualify or defeat us. It’s always to reveal both how far He’s already brought us and to expose areas of trust He wants to help us grow into.

It’s like the gym that a friend of mine manages. All day, every day, people walk through his doors determined to put their bodies to the test. They pay my friend’s company fo

The John Project Videos