John: A Reason to Believe: Recent Episodes
Barry Wiseman
Studying the Gospel of John to understand why we should believe in and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Jesus dies in the cross. How do we know? Jesus was resurrected from the dead. How do we know? Many people try to explain away these fundamental truths. Using John 19 and 20, we can understand that the only reason people came to the trombone on Sunday was that Jesus had indeed died, and the only reason the tomb was empty was that Jesus had indeed come back to life miraculously.
Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is often quoted to point to unity, but how is that accomplished? What does Jesus say that points to the important aspects of unity that allows us to reach that’s goal?
The Spirit is an uncomfortable subject for some because He defies mortal explanation. We will attempt to clear up some of the fog concerning our understanding of the Spirit.
Jesus washing the feet of His disciples is an example of attitude more than of explicit action. Judas’ betrayal seems to take the others by surprise, which exposes the deception of sin and temptation.
John includes many statements to help us understand what was going on in people’s minds. One statement is missing. When Greeks Cana and asked to see Jesus, why did Jesus launch into a very direct declaration of His impending death? Was He ignoring them?
The story of Lazarus rising from the dead is well known, but why did Jesus weep? Was it just compassion, or was Jesus seeing the response to Lazarus coming out of the tomb and weeping tears of joy at the Glory of God? Is there only one reason for our tears?
The man born blind who is healed in John 9 makes a progression of faith that we all should emulate.
Jesus faces very personal attacks but focuses on the important things. The man born blind (John 9) experiences a tremendous change in life and outlook after his encounter with Jesus.
The story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery is controversial, to say the least. Jesus did pronouncement the woman guilty, yet extended mercy. Do we do the same?
Jesus’ experiences at the Feast of Tabernacles continues as He confronts the Jews and the Pharisees with His teaching. We also see how prude and ignorance keeps so many from accepting Jesus as the Messiah.
So many people today holler that they’re offended by one thing or another. What did Jesus mean by that word? How do we avoid it? By judging correctly.
When Jesus walked in the water to His disciples, they seemed at first at to be unwilling to let Him in the boat. That begs the question: What keeps Jesus at arms’ length from you, Him or you?
Jesus performs miracles that challenge the imaginations of His disciples. What limitations of imagination bind us to ineffectiveness in the Lord’s work?
Jesus calls us out of our comfort zones to believe in a radical truth. There is not a variation that brings us life, simply that Jesus is Life!
Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman illustrates how we need to break out of our own comfort zones to see all people as created in God’s image. Dealing with our own sin leads to amazement at God’s grace which leads to sharing that amazement with others.
John 3 has what is arguably the more famous verse in the Bible. But this chapter is a challenge to our mindset concerning salvation and spiritual things. It’s not a matter of understanding, that’s all about our intellect. It’s a matter of know to enough to trust God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
The stories of Jesus changing water into wine and then driving the money changers out of the Temple provide us an extraordinary picture of the grace we receive through Jesus Christ.
Why did John baptize with water? How was it that John could recognize Jesus from the hundreds coming to him to be baptized? The presence and promise of the Holy Spirit is what differentiates John’s baptism from Christian baptism today.
Opening up a study of the Gospel of John: purpose of writing; reasons Jesus is our Lord.