Thursday, December 31, 2020

John 11:1-3 Part 2 of 2

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." 

(This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 
Mark 14:3  While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Luke 7:37-38  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
John 12:3  Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Lord, the one you love is sick 
John 11:5  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
John 11:35-36  Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

John 11:1-3 Part 1 of 2

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." 

He was from Bethany 
Matthew 21:17  And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
Matthew 26:6-7  While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
Mark 11:1-2  As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here."
Luke 24:50-51  When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
John 11:18-19  Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.
John 12:1  Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

the village of Mary and her sister Martha 
Luke 10:38-39  As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

John 10:40-42

Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true." And in that place many believed in Jesus. 

Then Jesus went back across the Jordan 
John 1:28  This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 3:26  They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

Though John never performed a sign 
John 2:11  What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

all that John said about this man was true 
John 1:26-27  "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
John 1:29-30  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me."
John 1:34  "I have seen and testify that this is God's Chosen One."

And in that place many believed in Jesus 
John 7:31  Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, "When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?"
John 11:45  Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
John 12:42-43  Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Monday, December 28, 2020

John 10:37-39

"Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp. 

Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father 
John 10:25-26  Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep."

believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father 
John 14:10-11  "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves."
John 14:20  "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you."
John 17:20-21  "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

Again they tried to seize him 
John 7:30  At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.

but he escaped their grasp 
Luke 4:29-30  They got up, drove him out of town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
John 8:59  At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Sunday, December 27, 2020

John 10:34-36 Part 2 of 2

Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are "gods" '? If he called them 'gods', to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be set aside--what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?" 

what about the one whom the Father set apart 
Jeremiah 1:4-5  The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

as his very own 
John 6:68-69  Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God."
Mark 1:24  "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
Mark 8:29  "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah." (also Luke 9:10)
John 1:49  Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel."

and sent into the world 
John 3:17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 6:29  Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
John 17:8  "For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me."

Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 
John 5:17-18  In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working." For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 

(parentheses are mine)

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Saturday, December 26, 2020

John 10:34-36 Part 1 of 2

Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are "gods" '? If he called them 'gods', to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be set aside--what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?" 

Is it not written in your Law 
John 8:17  "In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true."
John 12:34  The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"
John 15:25  "But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.' (Psalm 35:19; 69:4)"
Romans 3:19  Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
1 Corinthians 14:21  In the Law it is written: "With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord." (Isaiah 28:11-12)

I have said you are 'gods' 
Psalm 82:6  "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.' "
Psalm 82:1  God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the "gods" (rulers, judges). (for context see all of Psalm 82)

If he called them 'gods' to whom the word of God came 
Hebrews 4:12-13  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

and Scripture cannot be set aside 
Matthew 5:17-18  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

(parentheses are mine)

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Friday, December 25, 2020

John 10:31-33

Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"  "We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." 

Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him 
John 8:57-59  "You are not yet fifty years old," they said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"  "Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me? 
Matthew 5:15-16  "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
1 Timothy 5:25  In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

We are not stoning you for any good work, ... but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God 
Leviticus 24:16  " '... anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.' "
Matthew 26:63-66  But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God."  "You have said so." Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"  "He is worthy of death," they answered.
John 5:18  For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Thursday, December 24, 2020

John 10:28-30 Part 2 of 2

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." 

no one will snatch them out my hand 
John 6:39  "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day."
John 6:44  "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day."

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all 
Deuteronomy 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Deuteronomy 4:35  You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.
Deuteronomy 4:39  Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
Psalm 86:10  For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.
Isaiah 44:6  "This is what the LORD says--Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God."
James 2:19  You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.

I and the Father are one 
John 17:20-23  "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one--I in them and you in me--so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

John 10:28-30 Part 1 of 2

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." 

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish 
Matthew 25:46  "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Matthew 19:29  "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."
John 3:14-16  "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness (Numbers 21:8-9), so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life." For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:36  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.
John 17:2-3  "For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
1 John 5:11-13  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
John 6:40  "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."

(parentheses are mine)

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

John 10:25-27

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

I did tell you, but you do not believe 
John 4:25-26  The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I, the one speaking to you--I am he."
John 8:57-58  "You are not yet fifty years old," they said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"  "Very truly I tell you, "Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"

The works I do in my Father's name testify about me 
John 5:36  "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish--the very works that I am doing--testify that the Father has sent me."
John 14:11  "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves."

but you do not believe because you are not my sheep 
John 8:47  "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them 
John 10:14-15  "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep."

and they follow me 
John 10:3-4  "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
 
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Monday, December 21, 2020

John 10:22-24 Part 2 of 2

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."

If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly 
Luke 22:66-68  At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. "If you are the Messiah," they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer."
John 16:25-30  "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the  world and going back to the Father." Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Sunday, December 20, 2020

John 10:22-24 Part 1of 2

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."

Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon's Colonnade 
Acts 3:11  While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.
Acts 5:12  The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.

The Jews who were there gathered around him 
John 1:19  Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
John 2:18  The Jews then responded to him, "What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
John 5:9-10  At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat."
John 5:16  So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.
John 6:41  At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."
John 6:52  Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
John 7:1  After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Saturday, December 19, 2020

John 10:19-21 Part 2 of 2

The Jews who heard these words were again divided. Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?" But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" 

and raving mad 
2 Kings 9:11  When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, "Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?"  "You know the man (Elisha) and the sort of things he says," Jehu replied.
Jeremiah 29:26-27  "The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the LORD; you should put any maniac who acts like a prophet into the stocks and neck-irons. So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you?" 
Mark 3:21  When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon 
Matthew 4:24  News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.

Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? 
Exodus 4:11  The LORD said to him (Moses), "Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD?"
John 9:32-33  "Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

(parentheses are mine)

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Friday, December 18, 2020

John 10:19-21 Part 1 of 2

The Jews who heard these words were again divided. Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?" But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" 

The Jews who heard these words were again divided 
John 6:52  Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
John 7:40-43  On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet." Others said, "He is the Messiah." Still others asked, "How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David's descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" Thus the people were divided because of Jesus.
John 9:16  Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others asked, "How can a sinner perform such signs?" So they were divided.

Many of them said "He is demon-possessed" 
Mark 3:22  And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."
Matthew 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
John 7:20  "You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered. "Who is trying to kill you?"
John 8:48  The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"
John 8:52-53  At this they exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Thursday, December 17, 2020

John 10:17-18

"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." 

I lay down my life 
John 10:11  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
John 10:14-15  "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep."

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord 
Matthew 26:53-54  "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
2 Kings 6:17  And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Daniel 7:9-10  "As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened."
Matthew 4:11  Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

This command I received from my Father 
John 15:10  "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love."
Philippians 2:8  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross!
Hebrews 5:8-9  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ...

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

John 10:14-16 Part 2 of 2

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." 

They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd 
John 11:51-52  He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.
John 17:20-21  "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Ephesians 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:15b-16  His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
Ephesians 2:19-20  Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

and one shepherd 
Ezekiel 34:23  " 'I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.' "
Ezekiel 37:24  " 'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.' " 

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, 
Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 
Limited to 15 verses per post.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Ever since the creation of the world and God formed the first man and breathed into him the breath of life, He has desired a close personal relationship with people and was grieved that some of them did not want a relationship with Him. Throughout the Bible the story of that relationship has gone through many ups (blessings) and downs (judgments). But God had a plan and sent His one and only Son to earth to draw all men to Him, by offering eternal life to those who would believe in Him. That is the beginning of the good news, the Gospel.

 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Today is the day of Salvation:  Why would anyone put off the most important decision they could ever make in their lives concerning eternal life?     If you die today are you going to heaven?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - The apostle Paul tells us what the gospel is: "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

Gospel means "good news."   Your debt has been paid, the death penalty has been paid, you are free.

Here's the Gospel of Jesus Christ: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.   

Jesus brought in a little child as a living object lesson to show who enters the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 - Jesus said: "Unless you become like this little child you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."  This is how to be saved, it is simply child like, as simple as ABC:

A                  - Admit that you are a sinner.  This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out.

Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one."

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven).

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news.  But here's the good news:  The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.                 

 

B                  - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead.  This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was.

Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

C                  - Call upon the name of the Lord.  Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings.

Romans 14:11 -  For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."                                                

Don't wait until later — do this now.

Romans 10:13 -  For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

"O God, I am a sinner.  I'm sorry for my sin.  I want to turn from my sin.  I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

 

Begin your new life by reading the Bible to learn more about who God is.

Ask Him to show you a friend who is a believer, someone you can talk to about your new faith.

Ask Him to guide you to a Bible-believing church where you can meet other believers and fellowship with them as you learn more about your faith. 

 

Some suggestions about where to begin in the Bible are: 

To know Jesus read the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

To know more about God read Genesis, Job, Psalms for a start, the whole Old Testament is the story of God’s love for Israel and His desire for all men and women to know Him.

To know what is coming in the future, and from what we see in the world today, it seems like it is coming soon, read Daniel and Revelation. There are many other prophecies in the Old Testament that have yet to be fulfilled regarding the end times.

To learn how to live your new life in Jesus Christ, read the rest the New Testament, letters to the churches from the apostles that explain the Christian life.

 

May God bless you as you learn to trust Him and live for Him.