Spiritual Food for Women

John 7:35-38

35 Then the Jews said among themselves, “Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 

36 What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?”

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 

38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

“Are You Thirsty? Come and Drink.”

In response to Jesus’ words in verse 34, the Jews asked, paraphrasing, “Where is He going that we can’t find Him? Is He going to teach our people who are dispersed outside of our country? Is He going to teach the Greeks? What does He mean, ‘we will not find Him and cannot come where He is’?” Again, instead of listening to Jesus, they question Him and complain against Him. Instead of having open hearts to try to understand, they set their hearts against Him.

In verse 37, the writer makes it a point to tell us that it is the last day of the feast, and Jesus stood up to speak. Again, it says that He “cried out”! He was pleading for someone, anyone, to listen to Him. The words that Jesus says in verse 37 are full of symbolism. Jesus says, “If you are thirsty, come to Me and drink.” Why is Jesus using the symbolism of being thirsty here? Well, as always, Jesus’ teaching methods make perfect sense. The Feast of Tabernacles lasts eight days. On each of the seven days, priests would draw water from the Pool Siloam in a golden pitcher, carry it to the temple, and pour it around the altar. When the priests got near the gate, the shofar (a ram’s horn trumpet) was blown, and then they would sing psalms of praise and thanksgiving to God for the harvest. (Borchert, New American Commentary) The pouring of the water was in remembrance of when God provided water for their ancestors in the desert. It also represented the pouring out of God’s Spirit in the last days. The pouring of the water at this Feast symbolized the coming of the Messianic age in which a stream from the sacred rock would flow across the whole earth. (Carson, Pillars New Testament Commentary) The Feast also included prayers for rain, since it was in the fall after a hot, dry summer. Now, knowing all that, imagine Jesus getting up and saying, “If anyone thirsts, let Him come to Me and drink.” He is everything the Feast of Tabernacles represents. He is the fulfillment of all the symbolism found in the Feast. Amazing! I would have never learned so much about the Feast of Tabernacles and what it all meant if I hadn’t done this scripture writing and study. I am so amazed by what I have learned. 

 In verse 38, Jesus says, paraphrasing, “Anyone who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have living water flowing out of his/her heart continually.” Who did Jesus discuss living water with first? Remember His discussion with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well? She was the first to hear about the “living water” that Jesus would provide. We know why Jesus used the symbolism of “living water” with the woman. He was at a well, Jacob’s well, to be exact, where God had provided water for Jacob’s family in the past. Now we know why He brings “living water” up again here during the Feast of Tabernacles. When Jesus says “as the Scripture has said” in verse 38, He could be referring to several scriptures that speak about water. Isaiah 44:3 refers to “pouring water on a thirsty land” and “pouring my Spirit upon your offspring”. Zechariah 14:8 refers to “living waters” flowing out of Jerusalem. 

What is the keyword that Jesus uses in verse 38? What is the key to all of this, the living water, never thirsting again, all of it? The keyword is “heart”. If we truly believe in Jesus with all of our hearts, then that belief will lead to obedience. Obedience to Jesus will lead to constant spiritual satisfaction. We will have a never-ending fountain of fresh water that quenches our spiritual thirst forever. That fresh water is Jesus. These Jews who were against Jesus had a heart problem. They went through the motions of all their rituals and ceremonies of the law, but that’s all they did; they went through the motions. They punched a clock, as we would say today. They had not given God their heart. If they had, then they would have accepted Jesus. If we don’t fully give our hearts to Jesus, we don’t have the satisfying, thirst-quenching, life-giving “living water” that He promises us. It is a transformation of the heart. There can be no more of this “I am who I am” attitude. That attitude has to change into an “I am who Jesus wants me to be” attitude. We all have tendencies to fall to different temptations that Satan puts before us. Everyone has weaknesses. But Jesus, the “living water”, will satisfy us if we will only “come and drink”. He will satisfy us in a way that the temptations of the world could never even begin to satisfy us, if we will only “come and drink” and let His Word flow through our hearts continually. How peaceful and satisfying does that sound to you? It sounds like heaven to me. 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:31-34

31 And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. 

33 Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. 

34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.”

“You Can’t Come Where I Am”…Such Scary Words!

“If another man is coming who is the Christ, how could he possibly do more signs than this man has already done?”, the believers in the crowd murmured amongst themselves. The Pharisees and chief priests heard all this and sent officers to arrest Jesus. The hardness of these Jewish leaders’ hearts is unbelievable to me. They have seen the same signs as all these other people, but they won’t budge. They don’t want anyone else receiving attention from the people other than themselves. These Pharisees and chief priests believe they are closer to God than anyone else. No one else is to put themselves above them in matters of religion or the law. Do we see people like this today? Do we see people who claim to be “religious” who think they are above others? The Pope is called the “holy father” and makes all decisions on matters of faith and morality for the Catholic Church. He is considered infallible and a representative of Jesus Christ here on earth. I believe these Pharisees thought so highly of themselves that they believed they were infallible.

A Catholic priest is called “father” and claims to forgive a person’s sins at confession. How can anyone think that a man has the authority to forgive sins? Some denominational preachers are called “reverend,” which elevates them above other men in the congregation. All of this is elevating men to the status of God. No one is above anyone else here on this earth. We are all supposed to represent Jesus Christ here on earth, not just one man. Why would we want a man to forgive our sins when we have Jesus as our high priest? We don’t need anyone else to give us access to God except Jesus Christ. What about us in the Lord’s church? Is it possible for us to think too highly of ourselves because of who we are and what we know? It certainly is! Sadly, I’ve seen it, and I’ve heard it in my past. I saw and heard things when I was very young that could have pushed me away from the church. Thankfully, I had humble parents who helped my young mind sort through things like that.

In the church today, some people appear to be strong Christians, but think and act like the “Pharisees”, just like there are people in the church who aren’t strong spiritually and are unfaithful. Both types of people are in the same boat with God. He is not pleased with either group. God wants us to do all we do in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). God doesn’t want us to elevate ourselves above anyone else (Philippians 2:3-4). I need to examine myself daily to make sure that I am a faithful Christian whose motive is purely love for God and others. 

In verses 33-34, Jesus says that He won’t always be with them. He was saying, “This is your opportunity to believe in Me. I won’t always be with you. I’ll soon be going back to My Father.” Then, He says some sad words, “You will look for Me, but you won’t find Me, and you won’t be able to come where I am going.” Someday, these unbelievers will beg for Jesus, but He won’t be there. They will want to be where Jesus is, but won’t be able to go there. Judgment day will be this way for people who are not Christians. Every single person who has rejected Jesus will want Him to advocate for them on that day, but He won’t be there. Every knee will bow before Him at that time, but it will be too late.  However, let’s look at the opposite side of this, though, the happy and joyful side that we read about in John 14:1-4, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go, you know, and the way you know.” Those verses are the opposite of what He told the unbelievers in John 7:34. As long as we obey Jesus, we will get to be with Him someday! Nothing on this earth is worth missing out on that! It is so important for those of us who know the truth to try our best to spread it to those who haven’t been taught. I always think of that song, “You Never Mentioned Him to Me”, and it cuts my heart. It hurts me to think of all the people that I haven’t talked to about the gospel in the past, simply because I wasn’t right with God myself. I had the Christian home. I had the upbringing, and didn’t follow it as I should have. I had the truth taught to me, but I didn’t share it, and I wasn’t a Christian example. I pray for opportunities to share it now and throughout the remainder of my life.

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:27-30

27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”

28 Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 

29 But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

30 Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

“Do You Really Know Me?”

“Isn’t this the man that they want to kill? Why aren’t they stopping Him from speaking so boldly in the temple? Do the rulers actually know that He is the Christ?” This was the conversation among the people as Jesus was speaking in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles. Then, in verse 27, we see just how confused the people were about the Old Testament scriptures. They said, paraphrasing, “But we know where this Man is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where He came from.” It is unclear why they thought this or where they got the idea. The scriptures never said that the Christ would come from some unknown place. In fact, they tell us exactly where He will come from. He will come from the tribe of Judah. (Genesis 49:8-12) He will be from the lineage of David. (2 Samuel 7:12-13) He would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2) So why would they say that they wouldn’t know where He came from? From what I have read, they believed that the Messiah would come out of nowhere in some kind of fantastic way. This false idea was another obstacle holding them back from seeing the truth clearly… from seeing Jesus the Christ clearly. People were spreading false teachings based on this idea. Don’t we see this all around us today? There is nothing new under the sun! We see all kinds of false teachings, ideas, and speculations today. It is another ploy by the devil to keep people confused and blinded to the truth. 

In verses 28-29, Jesus cries out to them. I can only take this to mean that He was pleading with them to open their eyes! He knows all of their thoughts, all of their doubts, and all of their false speculations. He cries out, paraphrasing, “You know Me, and you know where I am from! I am not here by My own will! I am here by the will of Him who sent Me, and He is true! You do not know Him (God), but I know Him! I am from Him! He sent Me to you!” Jesus just told all the Jews, God’s chosen people, that they did not know God. These words had to be a gut-punch, especially to the Pharisees and the chief priests. How dare this Man say that He knows God and we don’t! 

In verse 30, it says that they tried to take Him, but couldn’t lay a hand on Him, because His time was not at hand. Here we see God’s timetable yet again. They were not allowed to lay a finger on Jesus at this time. 

These people had Jesus standing directly in front of them, teaching them in a way that they had never been taught before. Yet… they didn’t believe. They had Him performing miracles right in front of them. Yet… they didn’t believe. Isn’t it the same today? No, we didn’t physically hear Him speak. No, we didn’t see the miracles. But, how could Jesus still be the historical figure that He is today if none of it were true? Time, as we know it, is based on the fact that Jesus was here. He was born. He lived about 33 years. He died a horrible death as an innocent man. And then there’s the tomb… it was empty. And, of course, the testimonies of all the people who saw Him alive when He was resurrected.

The evidence is all out there, and it is sound evidence. And, on top of all that evidence, there’s the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus that line up perfectly with His life. The Bible is the Living Word of God… the God-breathed Word… that has never been destroyed despite many attempts. Attempts were made in 303 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, throughout the Dark Ages by Rome between 500-1500 A.D., and by the Council of Trent between 1545-63 A.D. But it has stood the test of time! God said that no one would ever destroy His Word, and that it would remain forever. (Matthew 24:35, 1 Peter 1:25, Isaiah 40:8) 

How clearly do I see Jesus for who He is to me personally? Do I talk to Him enough? Do I consider Him in every decision that I make? How clearly do I see His purpose for my life? Do I really SEE Him? Jesus is absolutely everything to every single one of us! Can you imagine being everything to every person in the world… past, present, and future? He wants to be our everything! That is Jesus. It is just really sad that everyone doesn’t see Jesus as everything to them. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:23-26

23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 

24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

25 Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill?

26 But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?

“Does My Judgment Pass the Three Tests?”

What happens when the eighth day of a baby boy’s life falls on the Sabbath? Jesus says, paraphrasing, “You perform the circumcision on the Sabbath to keep the law of Moses, so why are you angry at Me because I completely healed a man on the Sabbath?” Circumcision on the eighth day, even on the Sabbath, made the person complete under the law. When Jesus healed the man by the pool, He made the man complete under the law as well. Now, the man would be physically able to keep the law. Jesus is basically calling them hypocrites in verse 23. 

In verse 24, Jesus says not to judge by appearance, but to use righteous judgment. He doesn’t say that we can never judge, but we do have to be very careful when we do. The world today wants to quickly quote Matthew 7:1, which says, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” However, they don’t read the rest of the verses after verse 1. Jesus explains in Matthew 7:2-6 exactly how to judge with “righteous judgment”. As Matthew 7:5 says, “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” For our judgment to be righteous, it has to pass three tests. First, we have to use God’s Word as our standard of judgment. Secondly, we have to be right with God ourselves before we can judge righteously. And thirdly, and this is so important, we must have the right motives for our judgment to be righteous. Do we truly have the person’s best interest at heart? Are we doing it to save the person’s soul? The judgment that these Jews were placing on Jesus was not righteous. It failed in all three areas. Their judgment was not from God’s Word. It was hypocritical because these Jews were not right with God. And the motives behind their judgment were not pure. Here’s a question for myself and everyone else. Do I want God to judge me in the same way that I judge other people? Just food for thought… because that is exactly what Matthew 7:2 says will happen to us. We will be judged in the same way in which we judge other people. 

In verses 25-26, we see that some of the people are confused. They are asking, “Isn’t this the man that they want to kill?” They are wondering why the Jewish leaders are allowing Him to speak so boldly in the temple. If they want Him dead so badly, then why are they allowing this to continue? Because of the Jews’ hesitance to stop Jesus from teaching, they begin to wonder if He is actually the Christ. The people were saying, paraphrasing, “Do they know He is the Christ? Is this why they aren’t trying to stop Him?” So the word had gotten around that the Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead, yet they allowed Jesus to question their actions, and speak to them as if He had authority…which of course He did. Jesus had ALL authority!

Let’s go back to verse 24 for a moment. Jesus tells us not to judge by appearance. We aren’t to look at a person’s outward appearance, such as their clothing, height, weight, makeup, hair color, tattoos, piercings, etc., and decide what kind of person they are based on it. We certainly can’t decide, by looking at someone, whether they deserve the gospel taught to them or not. Everyone equally deserves the gospel. Well, actually, none of us deserves the gospel! God sent Jesus to save us out of pure love. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost (2 Peter 3:9). He is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). It is certainly nothing that any human has done to deserve such a gift. God looks at the heart as we should. God looks at our hearts to see whether we appropriately view others as souls who need saving. Am I looking at others in this way? Am I seeing opportunities to share the gospel? Like the picture at the top says, “Am I looking beneath the surface?”

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about being saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t, or if you’re not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan God has outlined in His Word for humankind to receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:15-18

15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”

16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 

17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 

18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

There is Only One Doctrine…The Doctrine That Came From God

As Jesus was speaking in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, the Jewish leaders were surprised at how well-spoken He was. The Greek word for the term “letters” that we see in verse 15 is “grammata,” meaning “literate” or “a person with educational skill”. They are asking, paraphrasing, “How is this man literate?” or “How does this man sound so educated?” They considered Jesus to be an uneducated man because He had never had formal rabbinic training. He spoke like no other rabbi they had ever heard before. I would assume that most rabbis would refer to the teachings of other rabbis on the law. But Jesus needed no teachings from past or present rabbis, because His teaching came straight from God. 

The word “doctrine” in verse 16 means teaching or instruction. Jesus says, “My teaching or instruction is not Mine, but His who sent Me.” We have so many different “doctrines” or “teachings” floating around in the religious world today. It seems to me that this word is used loosely today to validate different opinions on scripture. This is how I see this word used today. If they call what they are teaching a “doctrine”, then it makes it sound more official or more real. People will be more likely to believe it if it is called our “doctrine”. That may not make sense, but it is how I view the use of the word in today’s religious world. I can hear people saying things like, “Well…that is your doctrine, but this is our doctrine. But…they are both “doctrines”, so they are both fine to live by.” It is very sad that men have come up with all these “doctrines”, and put them out in the world as truth. It is very confusing. There is only one “doctrine”, and that is the “doctrine” that Jesus is speaking of here in John 7:16…..the doctrine that comes straight from God. I am reminded of Romans 16:17, where Paul says, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” The word “doctrine” that Paul uses is singular.

In verses 17-18, Jesus says, paraphrasing, “Anyone who aligns his own will with God’s will, shall know for certain whether the doctrine that I speak is from God or if I’m just making it up for My own glory with my own authority. Anyone who speaks a doctrine on his own authority is only wanting glory for himself, but the doctrine of a person who is seeking to give all glory to God is speaking the truth, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Being a disciple of Jesus means that we don’t seek any glory for ourselves. And Jesus plainly said that anyone who makes up a doctrine that does not align with Jesus’ doctrine is seeking his own glory. We are to strive to bring God glory in everything we do. And part of bringing God glory means that we are to keep His doctrine intact. Human nature causes us to want to be noticed or recognized for the things that we do. We worry about whether other people agree with or like what we are doing or saying. However, it should never be about what other people like or don’t like. It shouldn’t be about what we ourselves prefer or don’t prefer. It should be about what pleases God, and nothing else. We tend to rely on other people’s opinions of what we are doing for validation. It is something we have to fight against even as we work in the Lord’s kingdom. Being a disciple of Jesus is all about diverting 100% of the glory away from us and onto God…100%. John the baptizer said, “He must increase, I must decrease.” This should be my attitude… zero attention for me, ALL attention for the One who created me. 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about how to be saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves… and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t or you are not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are… believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better… to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what is going to happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you, Father, for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has outlined in His Word so that humankind can receive His grace, which leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:11-14

11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” 

12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 

13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

Am I Willing to Speak “Openly of Him”, or Am I Fearful?

Why were the Jews looking for Jesus at the feast? Well…..since all Jewish men were required to attend, I would say that they were hoping He wouldn’t. If He didn’t show up, then this would give them something to hold against Him. Wasn’t this what they were always doing to Jesus? They were always trying to test Him, trap Him, or catch Him not keeping the law. Verse 12 makes it very plain that the subject of conversation at the feast was Jesus. Some spoke positively about Him, and some spoke negatively. Isn’t this how the world speaks about Jesus today? Some speak positively, and some don’t. Some believe in Him, and some don’t. But, even the people who believed in Him were afraid to speak up. 

Verse 13 is where the real lesson is found for me. The people at the feast were afraid to speak openly about their true feelings about Jesus, because of fear of the Jewish authorities. Isn’t fear a problem for us as Christians today? I know it has been for me in the past. I wanted to fit in with the world too much, and this caused me to not speak up for the truth or live out the truth. Fear caused me to be in a lost condition for a long time. What will people think of me? Will people think I’m weird? Will I lose friends over my beliefs? If I say what I really believe, will I be made fun of? You know…..the older I get, the less I fear. I have grown more and more concerned about what My Savior thinks, and less and less concerned about what people in the world think. I still have ups and downs. I have times where fear tries to creep in. I’m sure most people do. Sometimes I let fear get a foothold, but when I realize it’s there, I kick it to the curb as soon as I can.      2 Timothy 1:7 says this, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” This clearly says that fear does not come from God, so where does fear come from? Fear comes from Satan. He causes us to doubt God, and doubt ourselves. What a scary thought! Ok, I need to clarify something. Earlier in this post, I said that as I get older, the less I fear. That’s not entirely accurate. I have been in God’s Word more in the last few years than ever before in my life. So…..the answer for fear is God. I promise you…..the more that you are in God’s Word, the more courageous God will make you. It is not about age. There are a whole lot of people way younger than me who don’t let fear hold them back the way that I did at their age. It’s called spiritual maturity, and it has no age. It is about allowing God to infiltrate our very beings through His Word. We are either filled with fear, or filled with trust in God. The two can’t coexist. A lack of fear equals a deep trust in God. Fear equals a lack of trust in God. Here is the truth…..we can trust in God no matter how many times the world hurts us. Trusting God is about knowing…..beyond a shadow of a doubt…..that God has us in the palm of His hand forever…..no matter the physical pain we endure…..no matter the mental anguish we experience…..no matter the obstacles that are put in our paths. It makes me think of Paul and all that he endured while spreading the gospel. The trust that he had in God was immeasurable. 

As we move into verse 14, we see the Father’s timetable for Jesus coming full circle. When and how does Jesus decide to make Himself known to everyone at the feast? In the middle of the week, when the feast was in full swing, Jesus went to the temple and taught. Jesus wanted as many people to hear Him as possible. He obviously showed no fear as He went straight to the heart of the feast…..the temple, and began to speak God’s Word to the Jews. Jesus was the definition of fearless. His trust in His Father was beyond our capability or understanding.

So….I ask myself…..do I fully trust in My Savior, Jesus Christ? When I find myself struggling with fear, I turn to Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” I mean, think about that…..who can? Who or what do we have to fear if we have God, the Creator of the universe, first in our lives and on our sides? And then…..I read Romans 8:37-39,  “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” These verses are some of the most courage-building verses in the Bible for me personally! Nothing can separate us from Jesus! We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us! Jesus’ love is perfect, and perfect love casts out fear! (1 John 4:18) So…..my Sisters in Christ, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” These are the inspired words of Moses as he spoke some of his last words to God’s people before turning his leadership role over to Joshua. That word, “One”, with the capital letter stands for Jesus as well as God the Father,…..because Jesus was with the Father when Moses spoke those words. Jesus was always there…..just waiting on God’s perfect timing to make His entrance into the world, and turn it upside down for our salvation. Those words in Deuteronomy 31:6 are just as true for us today, as they were for them long ago. Jesus will NEVER leave us! He is our courage! He is our strength! He is our confidence! He is our only hope! We’ve got this, Sisters! No fear! 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about how to be saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus, and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves…..and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t or you are not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are…..believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better…..to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you Father for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has set forth in His Word, for humankind to receive His grace that leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:7-10

7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” 

9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee

10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

“The Hatred of the World For Jesus…..and God’s Perfect Timing”– The World’s Persecution and  The Divine Timing of God

In these verses, Jesus is in the middle of a conversation with His unbelieving brothers. In verses 6 and 7, Jesus says paraphrasing, “It is not time for Me to go to Jerusalem, but you all can go anytime you want. The people of the world don’t hate you, but they hate Me because I tell them about all the evil things they are doing. I am honest with them, and they hate Me because of that. You guys go along with the evil that everyone is doing, and that is why they don’t hate you.” Let’s personally ask ourselves these questions: What about me? Am I going along with the world too much? Does the world hate Me, because I am honest about the truth of God’s Word? 1 John 3:13 tells us this, “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.” We shouldn’t be surprised if we are made fun of, mocked, or treated scornfully by the world. Jesus told us we would be. 2 Timothy 3:12 says this, “…..all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” It doesn’t say we “might” suffer persecution. It says we most definitely “will” suffer persecution. We are not supposed to blend in with the world. We are supposed to “stick out like a sore thumb” as the saying goes. Now, are we supposed to act “holier than thou” or “beat people over the head with the Bible” so to speak? Well…..not if we want to win anyone to Christ. We should “stick out” by the way we live our lives…..by our language, our actions and behavior, our reactions when things don’t go our way, our kindness towards everyone, our understanding towards others, our adherence to God’s Word, and our willingness to help others. Most of all, we are to stick out because of our honesty with others, but not honesty just to prove someone wrong…..honesty in order to save someone’s soul. We need to “stick out” in such a way that others will want what we have. Am I “sticking out” enough? Personally, I am a work in progress. I do “stick out” more than I used to! But, I need to do more to let people know that I belong to Christ, and not the world.

Then, in verses 8-9, Jesus tells them to go on ahead to the feast, but that He would not be going yet. It was not the right time for Him, so He stayed in Galilee. Jesus was on the Father’s perfect timetable, and nothing else mattered. We need to realize that we are also on the Father’s perfect timetable. We all get impatient when things aren’t going our way. We all want our prayers answered now, don’t we? But…..we have to wait on the Father’s timetable. It takes patience which I am lacking in for sure. Jesus was God so He knew the Father’s timetable. He was in perfect harmony with it. We don’t know what God’s timetable is so sometimes we lose patience, and try to do things on our own without God. Let’s just remember to be patient, and wait on the Lord to do His thing. Let’s all remember Isaiah 40:31, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” What a beautiful verse! If only I could live by it all the time! And here is one more beautiful passage about waiting on God’s timetable, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25-26) 

In verse 10, we see that Jesus eventually went to the feast, but not in a public way. He went in secret, but not because He was afraid of the Jewish leaders who were after Him. He went in secret so that He would be ready to reveal Himself when it was the Father’s perfect timing, and not a minute sooner. 

1 Peter 4:14 says this, “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter 4:16 says this, “ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” It is very hard to endure the hate of the world as a Christian, but the reward of heaven will be worth every ounce of hate that we receive. So Sisters…..let’s encourage each other to be brave! And remember, Jesus is right by our sides through it all.

“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about how to be saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus, and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves…..and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t or you are not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are…..believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better…..to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you Father for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has set forth in His Word, for humankind to receive His grace that leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 7:3-6

3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 

4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”

5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.

6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.

“Stop Hiding and Prove it IF…. You are the Son of God”

The world’s unbelief in Jesus was growing. Let’s look at the pattern. First, His own countrymen, the Jews, did not believe Him. They were so against Him that they were already plotting to kill Him. Next, some of His own disciples stopped following Him. And now, the ultimate betrayal, Jesus’ own family members, His flesh and blood brothers, did not believe in Him. When you read verses 3 and 4, it might sound for a moment like they do believe, but when I picture this scene in my head, I sense a sarcastic tone, and a condescending attitude from Jesus’ brothers. I can just see them cutting their eyes toward one another,  snickering to one another, and making fun of their older brother. You see…..all they saw was their older brother whom they had grown up with…..possibly whom their parents had treated with extra special care. Do you think that Mary and Joseph told the other children who their brother Jesus was? Did she tell them that He would be the Savior of the world? I would think so, but we don’t know for sure. Jesus’ brothers only saw the boy who had worried their parents to death when He was twelve years old when He went to “show off”, as the brothers might have seen it, for the teachers of the law at the temple. I can just picture the sibling rivalry. Now, they saw their older brother stirring up all kinds of trouble with the Jewish leaders that could possibly have an impact on them. I can see some of the unbelieving Jews saying to these brothers of Jesus, “Aren’t you the brothers of this Jesus character who says He’s the Son of God? Surely you don’t stand for this kind of blasphemy.” And I’m not trying to put words in the Bible. I’m just trying to picture how it might have been for Jesus’ brothers. “Your brother says He is the Son of God! Does that mean you guys are sons of God too?” So here is what Jesus’ brothers said to Him in verses 3 and 4 in my own words, “You need to go on to Judea so your followers can see all these miracles you are supposedly performing. If you are the Son of God, then why are you hiding from everyone? Why don’t you go prove it to everyone? Why are you afraid to go to Judea if you can do all these great things? There will be so many people there for the feast. This is your opportunity to show everyone what you can do, and prove it…..if…..you are actually the Son of God.” Of course, verse 5 plainly says that they don’t believe in Him. Jesus knows they don’t, because He can read their thoughts. Then, He says something interesting in verse 6, paraphrasing, “It is not time for the world to see Me yet…..” Jesus was on a strict timetable which came straight from His Father. Every move He made, every person He met, and every place He went was mapped out perfectly. Jesus’ brothers were tempting Him to stray away from that timetable, and do His own thing. This was not possible for Jesus. Jesus was immersed in the Father’s will and plan for Him, and nothing else. Jesus was tempted in this way once before by Satan himself. In Matthew 4:5-6, it says, “Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Satan was tempting Jesus to show off His power, just like His brothers were doing. Let’s finish verse 6, Jesus says, paraphrasing, “It is not my time yet, but it is certainly always your time.” This statement means more when it is put together with verse 7. He is telling His brothers that it is always their time to be of the world. He is basically telling them that they are not of God, but they are of the world. We will discuss this concept more in the next few verses. 

In Mark 6:3, when Jesus was rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, it lists the brothers of Jesus: James, Joses, Judas (Jude), and Simon. It also says that He had sisters. We know that Jesus’ brothers eventually believed in Him. In Acts 1:14, we read, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Jesus’ brothers were with the apostles in the upper room praying after Jesus’ ascension. Jesus’ brother Jude wrote the book of Jude, and then there was James. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul is listing all the people whom Jesus appeared to after He rose from the dead. He apparently appeared to His brother James alone, and then to the rest of the apostles. (1 Corinthians 15:7) Wouldn’t you have liked to have heard that conversation between Jesus and His brother James? James became an elder of the Lord’s church, and also wrote the book of James. Wonder what He said to James? Maybe something like this, “James, I’m counting on you, brother. I need you to be a servant and a leader in my kingdom.”

One lesson we can take from these verses is to always give glory to God, and not seek glory for ourselves for things we accomplish, whether it is accomplishments in the world or in the church. Our accomplishments are for His glory. Everything we accomplish is only because God has allowed us to accomplish it. We are nothing without Him. Jesus’ brothers wanted Him to seek glory for Himself. They wanted Him to “show off”. It’s interesting that they said all this to Him, when they didn’t believe in Him in the first place. They had no faith in their brother. “Prove it!” they said. Well…..Jesus would prove it, but it would be the will of the Father as to when and how He would prove it. It would be on and after that third day…..when that tomb was empty, and His resurrected body was seen. That is when Jesus would truly reveal Himself. Jesus brought glory to God in everything He did, especially His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension back to the Father. Question for myself: How do I bring glory to God through my life? 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about how to be saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus, and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves…..and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t or you are not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are…..believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better…..to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you Father for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has set forth in His Word, for humankind to receive His grace that leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 6:71-7:2

71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 

2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.

John’s Symbolism and God’s Amazing Word

Chapter 6 ends with John revealing that Judas Iscariot was the disciple that Jesus referred to in verse 70 as “a devil”. He would be the one who would betray Jesus. 

Chapter 7 begins with Jesus walking or traveling in Galilee. It was not safe for Him in Judea anymore. The Jewish leaders wanted Him dead. They did not believe He was the Messiah, and saw Him as a blasphemer.

In verse 2, it says that the “Feast of Tabernacles was at hand”. This was also referred to as the “Feast of Booths”. The Feast of Tabernacles or “Sukkot” was instituted by God in Leviticus 23:33-44. It was celebrated in the seventh month beginning on the fifteenth day of that month. It was an eight day celebration where people would live in tents or “booths” during the feast to remind them of the time when their ancestors were wandering in the wilderness living in tents after Mt. Sinai. This feast took place at the end of the harvest, and was a time to give thanks for all of God’s blessings. We have learned that John’s gospel has lots of symbolism in it, and holds much deeper spiritual connections than the other three gospels. In chapter 6 John used the Passover feast as a symbolic backdrop for the miraculous feeding of the 5000. The Passover commemorated God delivering the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. The connections that John makes to the exodus from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the mountain at Sinai, the wilderness wanderings, and the manna from heaven in his account of this miracle are amazing. This miracle or “sign” as John called it, led up to Jesus’ revealing and teaching throughout the rest of chapter 6 that He is the “bread of life”. The mention of this “Feast of Tabernacles” at the beginning of chapter 7 will hold this same type of symbolism as we read and write through this chapter and the next two. 

If the world could only see the magnificence of the Bible…..the connections between the Old and New Testaments, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the common thread throughout its entirety, the providence of God working throughout it, and the grace and mercy that God has shown humankind since the beginning. If only the world could see that everything God has done has been to bring salvation, through His Son, to His created people whom He loves beyond measure. He did all this for us, even though we don’t deserve any of it. God could have given up on us, but He didn’t. He hasn’t. He is such a patient Father, and I am so thankful for Him. God’s Word is perfect, and has everything in it that we need to know in order to live a blessed life while we are here, and then live eternally with Him in heaven. 

Below are two of my favorite verses. Together they express how I feel about God’s Word. His Word is my lamp. It sheds light on which path I need to take, and keeps me on that lighted path. I believe 100% of God’s Word to be truth, because it is inspired by God Himself. It is 100% perfect. God’s Word convicts me when I need it, completes my life, and equips me for anything that I might have to face in this life, and finally……it lights the path to heaven for me.

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man (or woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

I have one piece of advice for everyone reading this right now. Find a way to let God speak to you through His perfect Word every day. You need it. You crave it, and you don’t even realize it. We don’t miss what we never experience. Find a way to experience His Word, and let it work in your life. You will never regret the time that you spend with Him. 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about how to be saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus, and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves…..and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t or you are not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are…..believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better…..to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you Father for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has set forth in His Word, for humankind to receive His grace that leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

John 6:68-70

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 

69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

“Jesus…..the Only ONE With the Words of LIFE”

As some of Jesus’ disciples turn away from Him and walk with Him no more, Jesus turns to the twelve, “Will you all leave too? Is following Me too hard for you as well?” At that point, Peter speaks up as He so often will in the future, and answers a question with a question. Peter says paraphrasing, “Lord, who else would we follow? There is no one else who speaks as You speak. You are the only one who offers eternal life. Why would we walk away from eternal life?” (vs. 68) Then, in verse 69, Peter spoke that beautiful confession…..that confession which, if we are Christians, we have all spoken on the day we were baptized. He confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. I love how Peter says, “We have come to believe and know…..” The words “believe” and “know” prove that Peter’s heart had been transformed. But there is something else that sticks out to me in Peter’s statement. Peter made himself the spokesperson for the other eleven men when He used the pronoun “we”. Peter had all the qualities of a leader in the making, and Jesus knew this. This is why Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter, which means “rock” or “stone”. Peter would be a “rock” solid leader in the church one day. But Jesus knew that Peter had to be humbled. He had to be molded into a humble leader the way an elder in the church is supposed to be. In verse 70, Jesus let Peter know very quickly that He didn’t know the hearts of these other eleven men. Jesus let Peter know that He was the only one who truly knew the hearts of the men standing before Him. Jesus spoke of one of them being “a devil”. It is as if Jesus was saying, “Peter, you don’t know all of the hearts of these eleven men like you think you do…..but I do, and one of them has a heart of stone.” Peter was an impulsive person who sometimes jumped to conclusions, and sometimes tried to take over in situations where he shouldn’t. We saw Him do this at the transfiguration when He wanted to build the temples to Elijah, Moses and Christ. Before Peter could even get all the words out, God spoke out of a cloud and said, paraphrasing, “This is my Son whom I’m pleased with. Stop making all these big plans, Peter. Listen to Him, Peter!” (Matthew 17:1-9) We saw this again when Jesus predicted His own death, and Peter spoke up and said that he would not allow that to happen. Jesus actually called Peter “Satan”, and told him he was only concerned with worldly things. Peter was interfering with God’s plan by trying to stop the inevitable. (Matthew 16:21-23) Then again in the garden when Jesus was arrested, and Peter drew his sword, cutting off the ear of one of the Roman soldiers. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” (John 18:10-11) Of course, Peter meant well in all of these situations, but just because he meant well, didn’t make him right. So where am I going with this? Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Don’t we see this in the religious world today? For example, a person or a group of people decides to establish their own church with their own doctrines and practices. I mean…..they are still talking about Jesus in their assemblies, right? Don’t they mean well? I’m sure they do, but does it make them right? When we look at all the denominations in the world, that is exactly what has happened down through the ages. One day someone thought, “If we add musical instruments, people will enjoy the service more. We will get more people to show up.” Another person thought, “If we have special guests come and perform, maybe people will enjoy worship more.” Then someone in the Lord’s church thought, “Hey, I have an idea, let’s add an extra contemporary service for people who enjoy the accompaniment of instruments in the worship. We will still have the traditional acapella service for those who want it. We are still the Lord’s church.” No, you are not. That is man’s idea, not God’s. Back to Peter, “Hey, I have an idea, let’s build temples to Elijah, Moses, and Christ to honor them.” No Peter, that’s not what God wants. That is your idea…..not God’s. Do you see the connection?

I may be “reaching” with what I am getting out of these verses, but this is where my mind went. This is what I got out of these verses. I believe Jesus began Peter’s training in leadership and humility right here in these verses that we are writing today. Jesus began His lesson on humility with Peter by letting Him know that he didn’t know as much as he thought he did about the hearts of the other eleven men. Jesus said, paraphrasing, “You don’t know this, Peter, but I chose y’all. And one of you is a devil.” Lessons in humility would be ongoing for Peter. In Matthew 26:31-35, Jesus told His disciples that “all would stumble” on the night Jesus was arrested. Peter said that everyone else might stumble, but not Him. (Because Peter was so much stronger than the other disciples, right? Nope.) Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times. To which Peter said, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” Well….we know what happened. Do we sometimes think that we know more than God about a situation? Do we, like Peter, speak or act impulsively without knowing all the facts? Do we try to fix things without consulting God? Do we think that we can’t fail as Christians? Let’s all remember Paul’s words, “Take heed lest you fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). On that day, when Peter spoke for the twelve, and said “we” believe and know that you are the Son of God, I’m sure that He didn’t think that he would ever deny Christ. “I’ll die with you!”, he said. What about me? Can I say that I would die for the cause of Christ? Only Jesus knows if I truly would or not. And when Jesus said, “one of you is a devil”, I wonder, did Peter give that much thought at the time? Probably not, but I bet he remembered it later. Peter was an amazing Christian and leader in the first century church, only because Jesus reprimanded him, and put him in his place every time he tried to overstep. Peter’s personality was not a humble one in the beginning, but he learned to be humble. Some people are more naturally inclined to humility than others. Peter was not naturally humble, but his heart was soft and pliable for Jesus to mold and shape into the leader that He knew he could be, and that is all that matters. 

God means for everyone to learn what the Bible teaches about how to be saved. It only takes an open heart for Jesus, and a willingness to put away what we’ve been taught in the past, and truly read what God’s Word says for ourselves…..and then accept what it says and obey it. If I can help you in any way, I would love to! Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? Are you saved? If you aren’t or you are not sure if you are, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are…..believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

I love God’s Word. It challenges me to be better…..to do more in His service. It is interesting and keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. It gives me confidence and builds me up, and it brings me to my knees when my soul needs convicting! Thank you Father for the wonderful gift of Your Word!

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has set forth in His Word, for humankind to receive His grace that leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)