John

Check out all the previous John readings here.

John Reading Plan | Week 14, Day 4

Prayer

Pause for a moment of quiet and calm. To be fully present in both body and mind, inhale deeply and exhale slowly. Repeat this three times. Ask God to grant you His wisdom today.

Bible Reading: John 10:22-33

Read these verses three times slowly.

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 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 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.”

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.”

Reflection & Questions

There are some who will say that Jesus never claimed to be Messiah or God. They haven’t read these verses today. It is so clear that the Jewish opponents tell Jesus, “We are not stoning you for any good work, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” The Jewish opponents knew exactly what Jesus was claiming. So there is no room to look at Jesus as simply a “good teacher” or “good example.” He claimed to be God and so either must be fully rejected for saying so, or fully received and believed as God. There’s no middle ground.

And what benefits there are for those who believe in Him! He “knows [us]”, he gives us “eternal life”, he watches over us and “no one will snatch [us] out of [His] hand.” As we saw again and again this week, there is no one and there is nothing that compares to the greatness of knowing Jesus. There is nothing like having a relationship with Him. But that doesn’t mean everyone will receive Him. There are those who are not His sheep and they will not believe.

1. What word or phrase from these verses sticks out to you today? Why?
2. Are you taking the middle ground with Jesus or are you fully in with receiving and following Him? How do you know?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?