Jesus was the Son of God and the Man of God. He walked the earth as any other person, but, through every word and action, He expressed the nature of God. The scenes recorded in John 6–14 portray a beautiful balance of Jesus’ humanity and divinity. He heals the lame man, feeds the hungry masses, stills the stormy sea, gives sight to the blind, and raises Lazarus from the dead. Such divine power, such human compassion!
John invites us to walk by Jesus’ side as He models love, grace, and humility. Place yourself in each scene. Grasp every detail. It’s impossible to closely follow Jesus and remain unchanged.
In these chapters, we find spiritual truths designed to leave their marks on our lives. Take them in and allow the Living Water and the Bread of Life to quench your thirsty heart and feed your hungry soul.
We live in an era of specialization. Specialists occupy every field from medicine to law to education. No human, however, qualifies as an expert in impossibilities. Only God can solve an unsolvable problem.
In the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus contrasts physical and spiritual hunger. We work for bread to feed our bodies, but to feed our souls, we need God’s gift of life. The Jews sought proof—bread supplied from heaven like manna in the wilderness. But Jesus offered a better provision: Himself. “I am the bread of life.”
Jesus faced His attackers, including the Jewish leaders, the Jerusalem crowds, and even His own brothers. Although some opposed His ministry, Jesus offered Himself like water in a barren wilderness: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!” (John 7:37). Believe in Him, and receive Christ’s living water.
Jesus confronted the Pharisees with their own law when they brought an adulterous woman to Him. Jesus, the one true judge, forgave her: “Go and sin no more,” He said (John 8:11). Whenever we confront, condemn, and correct wrong, we must demonstrate humility, righteousness, and a spirit of forgiveness.
The Pharisees reacted to Jesus over His claim, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Their hostility escalated from opposition to insult to violence, displaying traits of those who reject Jesus—a lack of knowledge, perception, and humility.
When Jesus, the Light, healed a man born blind, the Pharisees condemned Him for breaking the Sabbath. They were the real blind men who live in the darkness of their spiritual pride and wouldn’t admit their need for Jesus.
Jesus claimed to be the Door. Only through Him can people enter the door of salvation, just as only through the gate of the sheepfold can sheep enter the safety of their pen.
To those who weep from loss, Jesus offers hope—a future resurrection and eternal life to all who believe. When God delays answering our prayers, remember that He has a better time and way. When facing our old enemy death, remember that Jesus has charted a redemptive plan that leads us to eternal life.
Jesus’ final week began with Mary anointing Him with costly perfume. He entered Jerusalem as the Messiah, riding on a donkey as throngs of His followers welcomed Him as their Prince of Peace. Responses to His teaching varied. Some clung to His side, but in the end, all fled. How should we respond to Jesus, our suffering Saviour?
Jesus took the role of a servant and washed the disciples’ feet. He who displayed the highest form of humility was not self-exalting but always seeking the best for others.
Jesus revealed a high Acceptance Quotient with Judas, His betrayer. Even though Jesus knew Judas’ evil plan, He gave Judas the seat of honour and loved him. Acceptance doesn’t nullify discernment or deny depravity but seeks peace. To accept others without partiality or prejudice is the highest form of love.
Jesus loved others to the utmost and mandated His disciples to love each other as He did. Not knowledge but our authentic agape-love marks us as Christ followers. This love seeks the highest good for others; it is unconditional, unselfish, and unlimited.
So far, Jesus has served up sombre topics of death, trials, and Peter’s denials. To calm troubled hearts, He taught His disciples about personal faith, preparation for heaven, God’s sovereign hand, and answered prayer.
Jesus urged His disciples, who were still shaken by His talk of death, to overcome their fear by depending on the Holy Spirit, claiming Christ’s peace, accepting God’s plan for the future, and following His pattern of obedience to the Father.
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Insight for Living is committed to excellence in communicating the truths of Scripture and the Person of Jesus Christ in an accurate, clear, and practical manner so that people will come to an understanding of God’s plan for their lives, as well as their significant role as authentic Christians in a needy, hostile, and desperate world.
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