How Jesus brings us life – John 5:16-30, Part 4

As we learned in the previous post, Jesus not only disobeyed the law, he said that could do so because he is God. Thus he put himself in a very precarious position.  Some of the most powerful leaders in the land want to kill him on what they believe are justifiable grounds.  What will JesusContinue reading “How Jesus brings us life – John 5:16-30, Part 4”

Why Jesus sometimes disobeyed the law – John 5:16-30, Part 3

Did you know Jesus was a law-breaker? In fact, he broke the law so much, it got him in big trouble. In the previous post about John 5, verse 16, we read that the religious leaders are persecuting Jesus.  When you read that word, “persecute,” don’t think of it as extreme.  They’re not whipping him,Continue reading “Why Jesus sometimes disobeyed the law – John 5:16-30, Part 3”

What is the Sabbath? – John 5:16-30, Part 2

What is the Sabbath? It goes back to Genesis chapter 2, verses 1-3.  Page #2 of your pew Bibles, so you know this is going back to the beginning.  Well, almost.  Actually, we’re going back to the story of creation, and we read it described like a week.  God creates the universe on the firstContinue reading “What is the Sabbath? – John 5:16-30, Part 2”

Is Chick-fil-A’s decision to close on Sundays really necessary? – John 5:16-30, Part 1

My son will nearly every Sunday on our way home from our church’s worship service ask if we can get Chick-fil-A. If you know about Chick-fil-A, you know that my son is either being very forgetful or joking. I can tell you that he’s not forgetful, at least when it comes to getting Chick-fil-A. Instead,Continue reading “Is Chick-fil-A’s decision to close on Sundays really necessary? – John 5:16-30, Part 1”

Are you living your best life? – John 5:16-30, Preview

A group of friends are joking around on a hill overlooking a town, so they take a photo and post it on Facebook with the caption, “Living our best life!” A person is enjoying their bowl of Lucky Charms one morning, so they take a selfie of the moment, post it on Instagram, captioning itContinue reading “Are you living your best life? – John 5:16-30, Preview”

What we can learn from Jesus’ ominous warning to a man he has just healed – John 4:43-5:15, Part 5

Jesus heals a man, and then he says something ominous to the man. John 4, verse 14: “Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Woah. What got into Jesus? Why so dark after healing the man? IContinue reading “What we can learn from Jesus’ ominous warning to a man he has just healed – John 4:43-5:15, Part 5”

Has fear kept you quiet about God – John 4:43-5:15, Part 4

In the previous post, we studied John 5:1-6, the story of Jesus’ in Jerusalem, asking a hurting man if he wants to be healed. What does the man want?  We find out in verses 7-9.  “’Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘“’I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. WhileContinue reading “Has fear kept you quiet about God – John 4:43-5:15, Part 4”

The important reason Jesus asked permission before healing a man – John 4:43-5:15, Part 3

In Tribe, Sebastian Junger points out that in our nation’s history, there were plenty of English people who for one reason or another became part of Native American tribes.  What might be shocking is to learn that when English people acclimated to tribal life, they almost never wanted to go back to colonial life.  EvenContinue reading “The important reason Jesus asked permission before healing a man – John 4:43-5:15, Part 3”

The right response to miracles – John 4:43-5:15, Part 2

It’s early in his ministry years, and after having been away from home for awhile, Jesus is heading home. Will he, like he mentioned in John 4, verse 44, be treated with contempt? Or will he receive a hero’s welcome? John writes this in John 4, verses 45-47: “When he arrived in Galilee, the GalileansContinue reading “The right response to miracles – John 4:43-5:15, Part 2”

Questioning Miracles – John 4:43-5:15, Preview

Have you ever experienced a miracle?  I’m talking a bona fide miracle?  I’m not talking about the non-supernatural way we can use the word “miracle”.  If we’re honest, we can use the word “miracle” in some very mundane situations.  For example, “It was a miracle I got to work on time because Route 30 wasContinue reading “Questioning Miracles – John 4:43-5:15, Preview”