Trust

You put your trust in something everyday.

Are you looking for something

you can rely on?

Trust in Me with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

#TrustMe

The Father loved everyone in the world so much that He gave Me, His only begotten Son, to die for each of them. Now everyone who believes in Me will not perish but will have eternal life.

Love

I designed you to love and be loved.

Are you satisfied?

#LoveMe

Walk

Stay on the path that I have commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives.

Are you pursuing a path that is meaningful?

I created you with a purpose for good.

Jesus

#WalkWithMe

I Am the life of God, Who is the light to all who are lost in a dark, forbidding world.

ONE

This is Why I Came to the

Earth I Created

I Am Light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Me. So now you can declare this message to everyone.

I Created You for a Purpose – John 1:1-5

I began My ministry at age 30. John the Baptizer was a prophet sent by Me, who came to tell all about the shining Light, that through Me, the Light, all might be saved. John the Baptizer was not the saving light but was the human sent to point everyone to Me, the Light of the world.

I am the true saving Light, Who offers spiritual light to everyone in the world. I came to the world that I created, but those living in the world did not recognize Me as their Creator Savior. I came to My own people—the Jews—and they refused to recognize Me.

But as many as recognize Me, and receive Me, I will make them children of God, simply because they believe in the authority of My name. They will be born again by My power, which is not a birth of blood, or the choice of people, or of flesh, but of God.

I had all the celestial glory of heaven, but I clothed My heavenly glory with human flesh. God living in the flesh was the greatest glory of all. I am the uniquely begotten Son and have all the grace and truth of God.

John the Baptizer said of Me, “This is the Messiah whom I introduced to the world. Jesus comes after me, but He was alive before I was.”

My grace was offered, and your need of grace was fulfilled. The law of Moses condemned you to death, but grace and truth, by Me, gave you life. You could never have seen the eternal Father, but I came from His heart to show you what your Father is like.

#LoveMe.—Commit your life to Me. I became flesh and lived among the mortals I created. I am the truth and spoke the truth to you. Now, you can experience the riches of eternal life because of Me.

John Was My Witness – John 1:6-18

The religious establishment sent delegates to ask John the Baptizer this question, “Who are you?”

John clearly told them, “I am not the Messiah.”

Then they asked him, “Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

They asked, “Are you the prophet who will come at the end of the age?”

John answered. “No.”

So they said, “Give us an answer to report to our authorities.”

John quoted Isaiah, answering, “I am a voice crying in the wilderness; prepare the way for the Messiah.”

They were Pharisees who questioned him. They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

He answered, “I baptize with water, but there is One standing among us who will baptize with the Spirit of God. He who is coming after me is preferred before me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal.”

These things took placed in Bethany, across the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

#WalkWithMe.—When I do a great work in your heart, it is hard to keep quiet. Just as a light must shine, you will want to tell others what I’ve done for you.

Religious Leaders Questioned John

– John 1:19-28

John Baptized Me – Matthew 3:13-17

Then I came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to stop Me. “You need to baptize me,” the Baptizer said. “Why do you come to me?”

But I replied, “It is the right thing to do. This will meet all the law’s demands—let it be done now.”

Then John agreed to baptize Me. I came up out of the water, and suddenly the heavens opened, and I saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on Me. A voice spoke out of heaven saying, “You are My Son, the One I love, in You I am well pleased.”

#TrustMe.—To understand the Trinity you must first, watch Me, God the Son, being baptized. See God, the Holy Spirit, come on Me as a dove. Listen to the voice of God, My Father, saying, “You are My beloved Son. In You, I am well pleased.”

Then I was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and nights, I was hungry. “If you are the Son of God,” said the tempter, “tell these stones to turn into bread.”

I answered, “The Scripture says, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took Me to the holy city and set Me on the highest pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “jump down. For the Scripture says, ‘He shall give His angels charge over you and on their hands they shall lift you up, so that you will not smash your foot against a stone.’”

I answered, “And the Scripture also says, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

Again, the devil took Me to a high mountain and showed Me all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give you these kingdoms,” he said to Me, “if you will fall down and worship me.”

“Get out of here, satan!” I replied. “The Scripture says, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’”

Then the devil left Me alone, and angels came to strengthen Me.

#TrustMe.—I have given you all the resources you need to resist every temptation. I understand you and sympathize with your weaknesses because I was tempted in all parts of My being, just as you are, yet I did not sin. So come boldly to My Father’s throne and receive mercy and find grace in your hour of need.

I Was Tempted by Satan to Sin—I Didn’t

– Matthew 4:1-11

My Baptism Began My Ministry For You

– John 1:29-34

The next day John saw Me coming to him and told the crowd, “See that Man. He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. This is the One I was talking about when I said, ‘There is a man coming after me Who is greater than I am, because He was living even before I was born.’” He said this to let everyone know I was the One coming after him.

John added, “I didn’t know who He was, but for this purpose, I came baptizing with water.” Then he testified, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I did not know Him, but the Lord, who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One on whom the Spirit comes, and stops there, this is the One who is the Messiah. He will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’”

Then John said, “I then noted and have borne witness that He is the Son of God.”

#WalkWithMe.—Follow Me wherever I lead. I will give you a willing spirit, courage to endure, and strength to do it.

The next day John the Baptizer stood with two of his disciples. As they saw Me walking, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God.”

Andrew and John, who were following Me, heard what he said. I turned to ask, “What do you want?

They asked Me, “Teacher, where are you staying?”

I said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where I was staying, and remained with Me that day. Now it was about 4 pm. That evening Andrew and John talked at length to Me.

The next day Andrew told his brother Simon, “We have found the Messiah,” and Andrew brought him to Me.

When I looked at him, I said. “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Peter.”

The next day, I decided to go to Galilee. When I saw Philip, I said, “Follow Me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, the same hometown as Andrew and Peter.

Philip told his friend Nathaniel, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Nathaniel was skeptical, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

Philip just said, “Come and see.”

When I saw Nathaniel, I said, “You are a sincere Israelite. You are an honest seeker.”

Nathaniel asked, “How do you know me?”

I revealed My divine omnipresence by saying, “I saw you talking under the fig tree to Philip when he told you about Me.”

Nathaniel responded, “Jesus, You are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.”

Nathaniel believed in Me because of what Philip told him. I answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You’ll see much greater things than this. You’ll see heaven opened and the angels of God going up and down uponMe, the Son of Man.”

#WalkWithMe.—Tell your family and friends about Me, and bring them to know Me as their Lord and Savior. You can find answers to all of your questions in Me. Focus your sight on Me, and see the greatness of My character, the beauty of My love, My compassion for those who are hurting, My forgiveness for all sin, My friendship to the friendless, My joy that comes from seeing the happiness and the harmony of those who believe in Me.

I Met Six Disciples – John 1:35-51

TWO

I Will Supply Your Needs

I Performed a Miracle at a Wedding Ceremony – John 2:1-12

On the third day, I was in Cana where a marriage ceremony was held; My mother was also there. My six disciples and I were invited to the meal. When the wine ran out, My mother said to Me, “There is no more wine.”

I answered, “Why do you turn to Me for help? It is not the time to reveal who I am.”

My mother told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

There were six stone waterpots available to them, and each one held twenty to thirty gallons. I said to the servants, “Fill them to the brim with water.” Then I said, “Take them to the master of ceremonies.”

The servants carried the water to the one in charge. When they had arrived, the water had turned to wine; then the master of ceremonies tasted the wine. The servants who carried the waterpots knew what happened. “Why have you kept back the best wine until now? People usually serve their best wine first. When the guests have drunk a lot, then a poorer quality is served.”

Turning the water to wine was the first miracle I did that manifested My glory, and My disciples believed in Me.

After this, I changed My base of operation, for a few days, from Nazareth to Capernaum, which is located by the Sea of Galilee, along with My mother and brothers, and My disciples.

#WalkWithMe.—I give everyone the choice of life or death. Everyone knows I am the Creator, and they are responsible to Me. As for you, choose eternal life.

I Cleansed the Temple, I Can Cleanse You!

– John 2:13-23

When the Passover came, in the spring of AD 26, I went up to Jerusalem with My disciples. I found people in the temple selling animals and birds for sacrifice—cattle, sheep, and pigeons. Money changers had set up tables to exchange foreign coins into Jewish money because the foreign coins had images of false gods. I made a whip out of some rope, and drove the animals out of the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers. I commanded, “Stop turning My Father’s house into a market to sell your sacrifices.”

The disciples were amazed at My anger and said, “His devotion to the Lord’s house burns in Him like a fire.”

The Jewish leaders challenged Me, “What miracle can You show us that gives You the authority to do this?”

I replied, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.”

They said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple. Do You think You can rebuild it in three days?” But I was speaking about the temple of My body.

After the resurrection, My disciples remembered I spoke about this event earlier, and that it was not about rebuilding the temple.

While I was in Jerusalem for the Passover, many believed in Me, because they saw the miracles I did. But I did not entrust Myself to them because I knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about human nature for I knew what was in their hearts.

#TrustMe.—I know what is in your heart. I know how hard it is for you to place your complete trust in someone. I am not like anyone you have ever met. I Am God. Trust Me!

Nicodemus was a Jewish leader who observed the law. He came to Me at night to compliment Me, saying, “Jesus, You are a Teacher Who comes from God, because You perform miracles that couldn’t be done without God’s help.”

I told him, “I say to you, you must be born again to see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus replied, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he go back into his mother’s womb to be born again?”

I answered, “I say to you unless you are born again of water and the Spirit, you will not enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of Spirit is Spirit. Do not be surprised when I say you must be born again.

“The wind blows anywhere it pleases. You can hear its sound, but you can’t tell where it comes from or goes. That describes those who are born of the Spirit, and how the Spirit bestows life on them.”

Nicodemus asked, “How can this happen?”

I answered, “You are a respected teacher, yet you do not understand these things.”

I continued, “I say to you, I am telling you what I know, but you will not believe Me. If you do not believe what I say about this world, how can you believe heavenly things?

“Since I have come to earth from heaven, I can explain heavenly things to you. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, by looking to the serpent people could repent. In the same way, I, the Son of Man, will be lifted up so that everyone who looks to Me in belief will be saved.

“My Father loved everyone in the world so much that He gave Me, His only begotten Son, to die for each of them. Now everyone who believes in Me will not perish but will have eternal life.

“For My Father did not send Me to condemn the people of the world, but that they might be saved through belief in Me. No one who believes in Me will be condemned, but those who refuse to believe in My name are condemned already.

“The verdict of death is handed down because light has shined on the people of the world, but people love darkness more than light, because of their love of evil things.

“Everyone who continually does evil things hates the light and rejects it because it exposes their motives and actions. Those who believe the truth and come to the Light will be saved. Their deeds verify their faith that they are of God.”

#TrustMe.—God loves you so much that He graciously did not spare My life, but allowed Me to die to save you from an eternity separated from Him. Because of My death on the cross all the destructive power of sin in your life, every pressure, and every pain is taken away. Nothing in this world will succeed against you. It is as sure as the certainty that God loves you. I want you to know that you can have this eternal life, “You must be born again.”

THREE

I’m Not Here to Condemn You!

You Must be Born Again to see Heaven

– John 3:1-21

My Baptism and John the Baptizer’s Baptism

– John 3:22-36

My disciples and I left Jerusalem for the land of Judea where many people were baptized by My disciples. John the Baptizer was also baptizing nearby at Aenon, for he had not yet been thrown into prison.

Many also came there for baptism. The Jewish leaders tried to tell the disciples of John the Baptizer that My baptism was better than their baptism, and there arose a dispute.

John’s disciples came to tell John, “The man you baptized, the One you called Messiah, He is baptizing more than you are.”

John the Baptizer answered, “God in heaven gives each man the work he is to do. I told you I am not the Messiah. I am sent to prepare the way for Messiah. The crowds—the Bride of Christ—will naturally go where Christ, the Bridegroom, is located. I am afriend of the Bridegroom. I rejoiced when I answered His voice calling to me. He—Jesus—must increase, I—John the Baptizer—must decrease.

“He comes from heaven, and He is greater than all. We who are born on this earth only understand the things of earth. He testifies what He has seen and heard, and no one receives His testimony. Those who believe in Jesus have discovered the truth of God thathas come from heaven. He speaks the words of God because He has the Spirit of God on Him. The Father loves Jesus, the Son, and has given everything to Him. Those who believe in the Son already have eternal life, and those who have not believed in the Son donot have eternal life, but the punishment of God rests on them.”

Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I give will never be thirsty again.

The water I give will be an

artesian well inside them that gushes up into eternal life.

-Jesus

I learned that the Pharisees were told that I was winning and baptizing more followers than John the Baptizer, although I didn’t actually baptize, My disciples did it, so I left Judea to go home. When I left Jerusalem, I surprisingly went home through Samaria, because the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

So I came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. I sat on Jacob’s well because I was worn out from the hot journey, and it was noon.

A Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well where I was sitting, and I said to her, “Give Me a drink.” The disciples had gone into the town to get food.

She was surprised that a Jew would ask her for water, because the Jews despised the Samaritans. She said, “Why would You, a Jew, ask water from me, a Samaritan?”

I said, “If you only knew God’s gift and Who it is that offers you water, you would have asked Me for a drink, and I would have given you living water.”

The woman replied, “You don’t have a bucket; how could You get water from this deep well?” She continued, “Are You greater than Jacob who drank from it with his family and cattle?”

I answered, “Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I give will never be thirsty again. The water I give will be an artesian well inside them that gushes up into eternal life.”

The woman said, “Give me some of that water so I will never get thirsty again, and have to come to this well for water.”

I abruptly said, “Go call your husband!”

She answered, “I have no husband.”

I replied, “You have correctly answered because you have had five husbands, and now you’re not married to the one you’re living with; in that, you have spoken the truth.”

She exclaimed, “You must be a prophet to know this.” Then she argued, “Our fathers worshiped here on this mountain. The Jews say Jerusalem is the place to worship.”

I interrupted to say, “The hour is coming when no one will worship on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You don’t know whom you worship, but the Jews know whom they worship, for salvation is of the Jews; for My Father is seeking those to worship Him. In fact, the hour is already here when true worshipers will worship My Father in Spirit and truth. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in their hearts and truthfully.”

The woman said, “I know that Messiah is coming, Who is called Christ; He will tell us everything when He comes.”

I answered, “I am He.”

Then My disciples came and saw that I talked with a woman, but no one asked, “What do you seek? or, “Why are You talking with her?”

The woman left her waterpot and hurried off to tell the men in the village, “Come see a man Who told me everything I’ve ever done.” She asked, “Could this man be the Messiah?” They left the town to meet Me.

Meanwhile, the disciples told Me to eat, but I said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” The disciples thought someone else had brought Me food. I said, “My food is doing the will of My Father and completing His work.

“People say, ‘Harvest comes four months after planting,’ But I say, ‘Look around at the fields, they are already ripe for harvest.’ Everything is ready for the reaper to go to work to bring in the ‘grain’ of eternal life; then the sower and reaper will rejoice together.”

Then I explained, “One sows, and another reaps. I send you to reap where you didn’t sow, and you will get rewards for their effort.”

Many Samaritans believed in Me because the woman said, “Come see a man Who told me everything I’ve ever done.” The Samaritans begged Me to stay with them, and I stayed two days, and many got saved.

The Samaritan men told the woman, “Now we believe because of what we have heard for ourselves, not just because of what you said, and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

#TrustMe.—Believing in Me is eating and drinking from all that I am. It goes beyond what your soul thirsts for. I will satisfy you so that you will never thirst again. I am the end of your quest for satisfaction. There is nothing beyond, and nothing better for your life. When you trust Me the way God intends for you too, My presence in your life and My promises will be so satisfying that you will not be dominated by the alluring pleasures of sin. Faith in Me nullifies the power of sin in your life and enables obedience to Me alone.

A Life Changed Forever – John 4:1-42

FOUR

When You Are Thirsty,

I Will Give You Water

Healing the Nobleman’s Son – John 4:43-54

After two days I left and continued to Galilee. But that was My home area, so I said, “A prophet is not respected in his home country.” But when I got to Galilee, the crowds welcomed Me, having seen all the things I did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they also had gone to the feast.

I returned to Cana, where I had turned water to wine. There, an official from Herod’s court came begging Me to heal his son. The official had sought to find Me in the area because his son was very sick. I said, “Why is it that none will believe in Me unless they see miracles?”

The official answered, “Come down to Capernaum and heal my son before he dies.”

I answered, “Go home, your son will live.” The official believed My words and turned to start his journey home.

While he was on the road, his servants met him to say his son had recovered. The official asked what time the fever had broke. The servant told him, “4 p.m.”

The father realized that was the same hour when I said, “Your son will live.” And the official and his family believed in Me.

This was the second sign–miracle I did When I had come out of Judea into Galilee.

#WalkWithMe.—Living with Me in the future will be healthy. I promise, “The eyes of the blind shall see, and the deaf shall hear. Disabled people shall jump like deer, and those who cannot talk will shout with joy.” My healing will come to earth. While now, only some are healed. When you get to heaven, all will be healed.

FIVE
BECAUSE I AM GOD, I CAN DELIVER

I obeyed the Old Testament command to attend the Festival of Passover at Jerusalem at the end of My first full year of ministry. I went by the pool of Bethesda, a name that means “House of Mercy.” There were five porches where a great number of sick invalids were waiting for an angel to come and stir the waters in the pool. The sick believed that the first one into the water would automatically get healed. There was a man who had waited unsuccessfully for 38 years. I went only to him because he had been there a long time. I asked, “Would you like to be healed?”

The lame man answered, “I don’t have anyone to put me in the waters after it is stirred up. When I am going to the water, someone jumps in before me.”

I said, “Take up your bedroll and walk!” Immediately, the man was healed, and he picked up his bedroll and walked. That day was the Sabbath.

#TrustMe.—I see your need when no one else does. You are valued as a person worth caring about. I will give you faith to believe that I can heal, and answer when you call to Me for healing.

A Visit to A Pool – John 5:1-9

The Man I Healed Went to the Temple

– John 5:10-16

The healed man walked through the crowd to the temple. The Jews told him it was wrong to carry any burden, even a bedroll, on the Sabbath. The man told them, “The One who healed me said, ‘Take up your bedroll and walk.’”

The Jews asked, “Who healed you and told you to break the Sabbath law?” But the healed man did not know who healed him because I left him to walk through the crowds.

Later, I found the healed man in the temple and told him, “Go and don’t do the sin anymore that was responsible for this lame condition, because a worse thing will happen if you do.”

The healed man went and told the Jews that it was Me who healed him. The Jews confronted Me because I told the healed man to carry his bedroll on the Sabbath.

#TrustMe.—Invite everyone to look to Me for salvation. I am God, and there is no other. What I have said will come true. Everyone will bow down and worship Me. They will admit that I am just. And anyone angry with Me will come to Me and be ashamed.

I Am Equal to God in Nature, Power, and Authority

– John 5:17-30

I answered the Jewish leaders, “My Father, who is just like Me, has worked up until now, but now I work.” The Jewish leaders sought to kill Me because I said I was just like My Father, and because I had broken their law, and because I said the Father and Son are equal in nature.

I answered the Jewish leaders, “I say to you, I do nothing by Myself. But when I see the things God, My Father, does, I do the same things. God the Father and God the Son are equal in power.”

Then I said, “My Father loves Me as His Son and shows Me everything He does. My Father will do greater miracles than healing the lame, so you’ll marvel. As My Father raises the dead and gives them life, so I, the Son of God, will also raise the dead. The Father and Son are equal in authority.

“My Father does not judge the sins of everyone. All judgment is given to Me. He who does not honor Me honors not My Father.”

I said, “He who receives My Word and believes in Me, has eternal life and will not be judged for his sins, but has passed from death unto eternal life.

“I tell you, an hour has been coming, but now it has arrived when spiritually dead people will hear My words and receive eternal life. My Father has this life in Himself, and I also have it and give it to those who believe in Me. My Father has given Me the authority to execute judgment; therefore, the time is coming when all in their graves will hear My voice and be raised. They who have obeyed My Father will be raised to the resurrection of life. They who have disobeyed My Father will be raised to the resurrection of the damned.” I told them, “I can do nothing by Myself, but I do the will of My Father who sent Me.”

#TrustMe.—The resurrection of life is the promise of My Father that everyone who trusts Me will be the beneficiaries of His power to lead them down the right path in life and one day to heaven. Therefore, believing in your heart that My Father raised Me from the dead means being confident that He is for you, and that He will save you for eternal joy.

I Had Four Witnesses to Prove That I Am God

– John 5:31-47

John the Baptizer: I said, “No one can bear witness of himself, and have other people believe him. If I only tell how great I am, don’t listen to Me. John the Baptizer told you about Me, and he told the truth. The Old Testament said at the mouth of two witnesses shall every testimony be established. The testimony of John the Baptizer was a light that shined, so people could believe what he said about Me.”

My Miracles: “But the testimony of My miracles was even greater. They proved that My Father sent Me into the world.”

God, My Father’s, Voice: “A third testimony is the voice of My Father that thundered at My baptism. The day I was baptized, immediately, after coming out of the water, I saw heaven open, and the Spirit descended on Me like a dove. I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘You are My Son whom I love; I am well pleased with You.’”

The Scriptures: I told them, “Search the Scriptures, these words testify of Me that I am from My Father, but you will not come to Me to have eternal life. You think you have eternal life, but you don’t. Because you refuse to believe in Me, you do not have the love of God in you.”

I said, “I have come in My Father’s name, and you will not receive Me, yet you receive others coming in their own name. You seek glory from other Jewish leaders and do not seek the glory that comes from My heavenly Father. I will not accuse you in the final judgment. Moses, whom you revere, he will accuse you in the judgment. If you believe Moses, and you don’t, then you would believe Me, because Moses predicted my coming.”

#TrustMe.—Search the Scriptures to know Me in salvation, and to know Me in order to grow in grace. I will open your spiritual eyes as you study the Bible. You will find My presence concealed in the written Word.

SIX

I Will Feed You When You Are Hungry

Five-Thousand are Fed – John 6:1-14

There was a great multitude following Me, so I went up into a mountain near Tiberias. The multitude followed Me because of My miracles, and because I healed the sick. I then went up into the mount to sit with My disciples.

We were on our way to Jerusalem to celebrate the springtime festival of Passover. I surveyed the multitude, and then said to Philip, “Where can we buy food for them?” I knew that I would feed them with a miracle. I was testing Philip’s faith in Me.

#WalkWithMe.—Be faithful when you are tested. Those who endure testing for a season know that joy comes in the morning.

Philip answered, “If we had the day’s wages of two hundred servants, there would only be a little bit for each one.”

Andrew heard the conversation and found a young boy with five loaves of bread and two small fish. Then Andrew said, “This isn’t enough for all the crowd.”

I said, “Make the men sit down in groups of fifty and one hundred to make distribution easy.” The number of men among them was about 5,000, plus women and children. They sat on the grass in the area. I looked to heaven to bless the food, then I gave it to the disciples, and they distributed it to the multitude. Everyone had as much as they could eat. Then I said to My disciples, “Gather the food that is left over.” So they gathered up twelve full baskets.

After the people saw the miracle, they said, “This is the One whom the prophet Jeremiah predicted was coming into the world to feed us bread.”

#TrustMe.—I will feed you when you are spiritually hungry, just as I fed the five thousand by the sea.

I fed five thousand with a few loaves and some fish…

I Walked on the Water, I Can Carry You

– Matthew 14:22-36

Immediately the disciples got into a boat to cross over to the other side ahead of Me. After I had dismissed the crowds, I climbed up a hill that evening to pray alone.

The disciples in the boat were a long way from shore, struggling against the waves, for the wind was blowing in their faces.

In the fourth watch, I went to them, walking on the water. And when the disciples saw Me walking on the water, they were terrified, and cried, “It’s a ghost!” screaming with fear.

Immediately I spoke to them, “Be of good cheer. It is I; stop being afraid.”

Peter yelled, “Lord, if it’s You, invite me to walk on the water to You.”

I said, “Come!” So Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water, and walked toward Me. But when he felt the force of the wind and saw the waves, he was frightened and began to sink.

Immediately Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!”

I reached out My hand and grabbed Peter, and said, “You have little faith! Why did you doubt?” And when we got into the boat, the wind suddenly died down.

The men in the boat worshiped Me and said, “Truly You are God the Son.”

We crossed over and came to Gennesaret. And the men of that place recognized Me and told everyone about Me. They brought to Me the sick and begged Me to let them touch the hem of My coat, and the sick, who touched it, were healed.

#TrustMe.­—I will allow storms in your life that test your faith. I will also help you to be faithful to Me in every storm that comes. So be like the disciples, who worshiped Me, after I deliver you from your storm.

I Will Give You a Different Kind of Bread

– John 6:22-41

The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that I had not entered the boat with My disciples, but that My disciples had gone away alone.

Then, other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after I had given thanks. When the crowd saw that I was not there, nor My disciples, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Me.

When they found Me on the other side, they asked Me, “Rabbi, how did You get here?”

I answered and said, “You seek Me because you saw the miracles. Yesterday you ate of the bread and fish.” I told them, “Don’t work for food that perishes, but work for the bread of eternal life which I, the Son of Man, offer you.”

The crowd asked, “What must we do to perform the works of God which You do?”

I answered, “The work of God is to believe in Me, the Son whom My Father has sent.”

The crowd answered, “Do a miracle for us so we can believe in You and follow You. Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness that Moses gave to them during the forty years of wilderness wanderings.”

Then I said to them, “I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven. My Father gives true bread out of heaven. I am the Bread of God Who comes from heaven to give life to the world.”

The crowd said, “Please give us this bread always.”

I said, “I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never hunger. He who believes in Me will never thirst, but you don’t believe in Me. Everyone My Father gives Me shall come to Me, and I will not turn them away because I come from heaven to do the will of My Father and not My will. It is the will of My Father, Who sent Me, that I should lose no one who believes in Me, and I should raise them up in the resurrection. And this is the will of My Father, Who sent Me, that everyone who believes in Me will have eternal life and that I will raise them up in the last day.”

The Jewish leaders complained because I said, “I am the Bread Who comes from heaven.”

#TrustMe.­—I Am the Creator, God the Son, and I Am the Bread of Life. I will provide physical food for you when you are hungry. I will fill you spiritually with the Bread of Life when you are weak.

Mahane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem, Israel

Many Rejected Me – John 6:42-59

They argued, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know His father and mother; how can He say, ‘I come from heaven?’”

I answered, “Don’t complain! No one comes to Me except My Father draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in Isaiah, ‘All will be taught by God. Everyone who believes what I say will come to Me.’ No one has seen My Father except Me, the One who comes to you from My Father. I have seen My Father.

“I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. I am the Bread who comes from heaven that you may eat and not die. The Jewish forefathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. If you eat of My Bread, you will live forever, and the bread I give you is Myself, it is given for the world.”

The Jewish leaders argued among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us Himself to eat?”

I answered them, “I say to you, except you believe in Me, and accept Me as Savior, you will not have eternal life. He who believes in Me and accepts Me as Savior has eternal life, and I will raise him up from the dead in the last day. I am true spiritual meat to eat, and true spiritual water to drink; and the one who believes in Me, and accepts Me as Savior, will live in Me and I will live in Him. I live, because the living Father sent Me, and the one who believes in Me and accepts Me as Savior, will live because of Me.

“This is the Bread Who comes from heaven. It’s not like the bread the forefathers ate and died. He who eats this Bread will live forever.”

I ended these things I taught in Capernaum.

#TrustMe.—I Am the Bread of Life. I will provide physical food for you when you are hungry. I will fill you spiritually with the Bread of Life when you are weak. Accept Me today as your Savior and Lord.

Many of My Disciples Left Me – John 6:60-71

Many of My disciples said “This sermon was too difficult to believe. Who can understand it?”

But I knew they were complaining, so I said, “If this sermon causes you problems, what will you think when you see Me ascending back to heaven where I was previously? The words I spoke are Spirit and life. The Spirit will give you eternal life. The flesh cannot help you. Some of you have not put your faith in Me.” I knew from the beginning those who believed in Me, and who would betray Me. So I said, “No one can come to Me except My Father draws Him.”

Therefore, many disciples stopped following Me.

Then I said to the twelve, “Will you also stop following Me?”

Peter answered, “Who else can we follow? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

I answered them, “I chose all twelve of you; yet one of you is a devil.” I was referring to Judas Iscariot, the one who would betray Me, being one of the twelve.

#TrustMe.—My Father chose you in love before the creation of the universe so that you can be holy—set aside from sin and imperfection. I want you to enter My presence to worship and praise Me. You were chosen to be My Father’s children according to His plan of salvation. I have already accepted you according to the good pleasure of My love.

SEVEN

I Will Help You to Believe

My Brothers Did Not Believe in Me – John 7:1-10

After this, I stayed in Galilee because the Jewish leaders sought to kill Me in Judea. The Festival of Shelters was approaching, and every Jewish male was to attend once. My unsaved brothers counseled Me to go to the Festival of Shelters in Jerusalem. They said, “Go do miracles so the multitude will believe You and follow You. A person who wants to be known doesn’t do things in secret, but he manifests himself to the world.”

My brothers did not believe in Me. I told them, “This is not the hour for Me to manifest Myself. The world does not hate you, but it hates Me because I tell them their works are evil. It’s not the time for Me to manifest Myself,” so I didn’t do what they suggested.

After My brethren went to the festival in Jerusalem, I privately went on an out-of-the-way road, arriving in the middle of the week.

#TrustMe.—This is what believing in Me is like. I will give you eyes to see My truth, and I will take away your blindness. I will give you a heart to obey My commands, and I will take away any doubt.

I Will Take Away All of Your Confusion

– John 7:11-36

The Jewish leaders were looking everywhere saying, “Where is Jesus?” The crowd was confused. Some said, “Jesus was a good man.” Others said, “He leads the multitude astray.” Yet no one supported Me publicly because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.

I went into the temple on Wednesday and taught. Everyone marveled at My knowledge because I hadn’t graduated from the best schools. I answered, “I don’t think up the things I teach, this doctrine comes from My heavenly Father. If anyone is yielded to do My Father’s will, he shall understand this doctrine whether this is My idea or My Father’s. He who does his own will also seeks his own glory, but he who seeks to glorify My Father, there is no unrighteousness in him. Moses gave you the law, but none of you keeps it; none of you is righteous before God.” I asked, “Why do you want to kill Me?”

The Jewish leaders said, “You have a demon because You think someone is trying to kill You.”

I said, “I healed a lame man on the Sabbath eighteen months ago, and you hate Me for it. Moses gave you the law to circumcise a boy, and you circumcise on the Sabbath, yet you are angry with Me because I healed on the Sabbath day. Aren’t healing and circumcision both a work of God? Let’s judge according to God’s perfect judgment. Did we not both do right on the Sabbath?”

The crowd began talking among themselves, “Isn’t this the man the leaders want to kill; yet they say nothing when He speaks openly? Maybe they think He is our messianic Deliverer, so they don’t do anything to Him.

But we know where this man comes from, and when the Messiah appears, no one will know where He comes from.”

I preached loudly to the crowd, “You know Me, and you know where I come from, but you don’t really know My Father, who sent Me. He knows Me, and I know Him because I come from Him.”

The crowd wanted to take Me to the Jewish leaders, but no one laid a hand on Me because My hour had not come. Yet many in the crowd believed in Me saying, “The Messiah won’t do more miracles than this man has done.”

When the Jewish leaders heard I was preaching to the multitude, they sent officers to arrest Me. I responded, “I will be with you for only a little while, then I’ll go to the One who sent Me. You will look for Me, but not find Me because I’m going where you can’t come.”

The crowd talked among themselves asking, “Where is He going that we can’t find Him? Is He going to the Jews in the dispersion or is He going to teach Gentiles?” Also, they asked, “What does He mean when He says we can’t go where He is going?”

#TrustMe.—I am God. I know the future because I live there. Live for Me today. Yield your future to Me. I will tell you how to serve Me best.

I will Give You Water When You Are Thirsty – John 7:37-53

On Sunday, the last day of the Festival of Shelters, when thousands of priests were parading with pots of water to pour out as a drink offering to God, I shouted to the crowd, “If anyone is thirsty, come to Me for satisfaction. He who believes on Me will have living water flowing out of his inner being.” I was referring to the indwelling Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit had not yet been given because I had not yet gone to glory.

Someone, who had been in the crowd, said of Me, “Jesus is a true prophet!”

Others said, “He is the Messiah!”

But the crowd argued, “The Messiah doesn’t come from Gentiles, but from Bethlehem, the village where David was born.” The crowd was divided because of Me, and no one laid a hand on Me.

The Jewish leaders asked the officers why they didn’t arrest Me. They answered, “No one speaks like Him.” Some said, “This Man is not the Messiah. We know this Man comes from Nazareth, but we don’t know where Messiah comes from.” 

The leaders rebuked them, “Does this Man also deceive you? Have any of our leaders believed Him?”

The Pharisees said, “The crowd is cursed because they don’t know the law.”

Nicodemus, by this time a believer, said to them, “Does our law judge a man before we hear Him?”

The leaders ridiculed Nicodemus, accusing him of coming from Galilee, “Search the record; no prophet comes out of Galilee.” After the festival was over, they all went home.

#WalkWithMe.—I invite you to come to Me and drink of the Water of Life freely, to find energy and satisfaction. When you are weak, come to drink of Me for strength to continue on. When you can’t find happiness or satisfaction, come to Me to drink and to find purpose in life, and peace. I will fill you with My presence. Trust the future I have for you.

EIGHT

I Know Your Needs Before You Do

I Am the Light of the World – John 8:1-11

I went to the Mount of Olives for the night, but early the following morning I went to the temple and sat down in the middle of the multitude to teach. The religious leaders threw a woman in the middle of the crowd who was caught in the very act of adultery. The leaders said to Me, “This woman was caught in the very act of adultery. The law demands that she be stoned, but what do You say we should do?”

The Jews used this occasion to try and trap Me so they would have an accusation against Me. I stooped to write with My finger on the ground, but the leaders continued to question Me. Then I stopped to say, “He who has not committed this self-same sin, let him cast the first stone.”

Again I stooped to write on the ground, then the eldest leader left first and eventually all the other leaders left. Then I said to the woman, “Where are those who accuse you of sin?”

She answered, “They are not here to accuse me.”

I said, “Neither do I accuse you, go from here and sin no more.”

#TrustMe.—May you obey when I enter your life. I will keep reminding you that no one who is too hardened to follow Me as a dedicated disciple.

I said, “I am the Light of the world. Those following Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life.”

The religious leaders snarled, “You bear witness to Yourself. You are bragging and lying.”

I answered them, “My claim is true, I know where I came from, and I know where I am going. But you don’t know anything about Me. You judge according to the flesh; you don’t know the facts. I will not judge you now, but I will in the future. The law says to accept a statement if two agree about what happened. Then I am one witness to My claims, and My Father is the other witness.”

“Where is Your Father?” they asked.

I answered, “If you had known that I Am God the Son, you would have known God, My Father.”

#WalkWithMe.—There will be times when you won’t know which way to turn. I will shine a light in your soul, so you will know the plan I have for you. Walk with Me, and I will show you where to go. With My light, you will see dangers on the path as well as safe places when you need protection.

I Argued with Religious Leaders

– John 8:12-19

You Can be With Me in Heaven Forever

– John 8:20-59

Later, I was sitting where money was received, but the officials didn’t arrest Me because My hour had not yet come. I said to the crowd, “I am going away. You will search and not find Me because you can’t come to where I’m going.”

The Jews didn’t understand, so they asked, “Will You commit suicide?”

Then I said to them, “I am from above, you are from this world, and you shall die in your sins unless you believe that I am the Messiah.”

The Jews asked again, “Who are You?”

I answered, “I am the One I claim to be. I could teach you much, but that would condemn you. I am the One My Father sent to you, the One who sent Me is true.” But the Jews still didn’t understand I was telling them I came from God, and that I am God theSon. Then I said, “When you have lifted up the Son of God, then you will realize I am the Messiah from heaven. The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not deserted Me. I always do the things that please the One who sent Me into the world.” Many people believed the words I spoke. Then I explained to them, “If you abide in My words, then you are truly My disciples, and you’ll know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Then the Jewish leaders answered, “We are Abraham’s descendants, we have never been slaves to anyone. How can You make us free?”

I answered, “I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a bond slave to sin. A slave does not live in the house forever, but a son lives there forever. If the Son makes you free, you shall be truly free. Yes, you are descendants of Abraham, but some of you are trying to kill Me because My words have not set you free. I speak what My Father tells Me to say, but you speak what your father tells you.”

The Jews answered, “Our father is Abraham.”

I answered, “No! If Abraham were your father, you would do what Abraham told you to do. Instead, you are planning on killing Me just because I told you the truth.”

The Jews said sarcastically, “We were not born out of wedlock,” suggesting I didn’t have a father. The Jews bragged, “Our Father is God.”

I answered, “If God were your Father, you would love Me because I come from My Father.” Then I told them plainly, “Your father is the devil, and you do the lustful sins of the devil. The devil is a murderer from the beginning and doesn’t have any truth in him. The devil is a liar and doesn’t speak the truth. I tell you the truth, and you do not believe Me. None of you can point out any sin that I have ever done. If you were of God, you would listen to My words, but you don’t understand them because you are not of God.”

The Jews accused Me of being a Samaritan and being possessed with a demon. I answered, “I do not have a demon, and I honor My heavenly Father. I have no desire to make Myself great; My Father will do this for Me.” Then I said, “I say to you, if you will  My words, you will never taste death.”

“Now we know you have a demon,” the Jews answered. “Even Abraham died, and You claim if a man obeys Your words he shall never die.” The Jews asked, “Who do You think You are—God?”

Then I answered them, “If I am just bragging, it doesn’t mean anything; it is My Father who will glorify Me. But you do not know My Father. If I said you knew My Father, I’d be lying as you lie. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day. He knew I would come into the world, and Abraham rejoiced to see My day.”

The Jewish leaders said, “You aren’t even fifty years old, and You said, You’d seen Abraham.”

I answered, “You’re right; before Abraham was even born, I existed.”

The Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill Me, but I hid Myself and walked past them out of the temple.

#TrustMe.—When you complain about circumstances because you don’t see My larger plan for your life, open your eyes to see My “perfect will” for your life, then yield to do My will.

As I left the temple, I saw a blind man, and My disciples asked, “Who sinned, his parents or this man that he was born blind?”

I answered, “Neither did this man nor his parents, but his blindness demonstrates the power of God. Each of us is given a task in life. We must do it in the daylight because the night comes when work ends. While I’m still in this dark world, I am the light of the world.”

Then I spat on the ground to make clay and then rubbed it on the blind man’s eyes and told him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam.” So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

The neighbors, who knew he was blind, were dumbfounded. “Is this the same one we knew who begged?”

Others said, “It looks just like him.”

The healed man said, “I’m the one who was blind!”

They said, “How were you healed?”

#WalkWithMe.—My healing power demonstrates that I Am a powerful God. My tenderness shows that I Am a loving God. Pray for my healing power in your life, but show My kindness to everyone with whom you come in contact.

He answered, “A man named Jesus made clay and rubbed it on my eyes and said, ‘Go wash in Siloam.’ I did, and now I see.”

He answered, “I don’t know!” The crowd brought the healed man to the religious leaders; it was the Sabbath. They also asked how he was healed. The healed man answered, “Jesus put clay on my eyes, and now I see.”

The religious leaders criticized, “This Jesus is not from God, because He breaks the Sabbath.”

But someone in the crowd answered, “How can a sinner do such a great miracle?”

The religious leaders asked the healed man what he thought of Me. He answered, “Jesus is a prophet!”

The religious leaders said, “This man wasn’t blind.” So they asked his parents if the man was born blind.

The parents answered them, “We know that he is our son and that he was born blind, but we don’t know what happened to him. Ask him; he is old enough to speak for himself.” The parents were afraid of the Jewish leaders because anyone saying I was the Messiah would be excommunicated from the temple.

His parents again said, “Ask him, he is of age.”

Then the Jewish leaders asked the man a second time, “Give glory to God, not to this Jesus fellow. We know He is a sinner.”

The healed man said, “I don’t know if Jesus is evil; all I know is that I was blind, and now I see.”

The religious leaders kept demanding, “How did Jesus heal you?”

The healed man became exasperated. “I told you once, do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become Jesus’ disciple?”

They cursed him, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know this fellow.”

The healed man was incredulous, “Why, here is a miracle, and you don’t realize Jesus opened my eyes. We know God does not hear the prayer of sinners, but He answers those who worship Him and do His will. Since the world began, no one has opened the eyes of a blind man. If this Jesus is not of God, He could do nothing.”

The religious leaders shouted, “You were born in sin. Are you trying to teach us anything?” So they excommunicated him from the temple.

I Will Give You Spiritual Sight

I heard they excommunicated him, so I found him and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”

The healed man answered, “Who is He?”

I answered, “You are looking at Him. I am the One Who healed you.”

The blind man said, “Lord, I believe,” and then he worshiped Me.

Then I announced to the crowd, “I come to judge so that those who think they see will become blind, and those who are blind will see.”

The religious leaders asked, “Do you think we are blind?”

I answered, “If you were blind, you would want Me to heal you. But because you don’t understand who I Am, you are blinded to the truth of God.”

#WalkWithMe.—You received physical life when you were born physically. I will give you spiritual life when you pray to receive Me as your Savior. God, My Father, intended for you to make your physical life a dwelling place for Me to live in you. Accept My free gift right now.

NINE

I Healed a Man Born Blind, I Can Heal You!

I Am the Good Shepherd…

Do You Hear My Voice? – John 10:1-21

TEN

I Will Protect You From Thieves

Isaid, “Those who don’t follow Me, but climb over the wall into the sheepfold, are thieves. My sheep enter by the Door, because I am the Shepherd of the sheep. The sheep hear My voice, and I call My own sheep by name and lead them out.

“I go before them and call them, and they follow for they know My voice, but will not follow a stranger.” When I used this extended metaphor, the crowd didn’t understand what I meant. So I said, “I am the Door for the sheep. Those who came before are thieves and robbers, but My sheep didn’t obey their voice.”

I repeated Myself, “I am the Door, all who enter by Me will be saved, and they will go in and out to find pasture. The thief comes to kill and destroy the sheep, but I come to give sheep the fullness of life.”

I said, “I am the Good Shepherd, Who gives His life for His sheep. A hired man will run away when the wolf attacks because the sheep don’t belong to him, and he isn’t their shepherd. The wolf attacks the sheep and scatters the flock. The hired man runs away because he is hired. He doesn’t really care about the sheep.”

I said, “I am the Good Shepherd and know My sheep, and My sheep know Me and follow Me. Just as My Father knows Me, and I know My Father, I know My sheep and will lay down My life for them. I have other sheep who are not in this fold; they are the Gentiles who will believe in Me. I will lead them also. These other sheep will listen to My voice, and then all My sheep will be one flock, and all will live in one sheepfold—heaven.”

I said, “My Father loves Me because I lay down My life, but I will take back My life. No one can take My life from Me. I willingly die, and I have the power to raise Myself from the dead. This is the assignment I was given by My Father.”

The crowd was divided over what I said. Some said, “He raves like a man possessed by a demon. Why should we listen to Him?” Others said, “Can a demon–possessed man cause the blind to see? He doesn’t sound like one possessed by a demon.”

#WalkWithMe.—I promise that if you enter the Door of salvation, you will enjoy the freedom of coming and going into My sheepfold. Also, I promise that you will eat abundantly and will enjoy life more abundantly. If you pray for salvation, you will enjoy fellowship with Me for eternity in a place called Heaven.

I Spent the Winter in Jerusalem – John 10:22-42

When winter settled on Jerusalem, it was time for Hanukkah. I returned to the temple near Solomon’s Porch. The crowd surrounded Me, asking, “How long will You keep us in suspense? Tell us if You are the Messiah.”

I answered, “I did tell you, but you didn’t listen. I did miracles, but you wouldn’t believe them, because you are not sheep of My flock. My sheep know My voice and obey Me. I know them, and they know Me and follow Me.

“I give My sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one can snatch them from Me. My Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anything else so that no one can steal them from Me.” Then I said, “My Father and I are One.”

The Jewish leaders then picked up stones to kill Me. I responded, “My Father has directed Me to do many miracles to help people who are hurting; for which one of these miracles do you stone Me?”

They answered, “Not for works of mercy, but for blasphemy. You are a mere man like us, but You have said You are God.”

I quoted Scripture, “Your law says men are gods, so if the Scripture is always right, why did it call mere men gods? How can You say I blasphemed God, when My Father, Who sent Me, said I am the Son of God? Even if you refuse to believe who I am, at least believe the miracles I do. Then you will realize My Father is in Me, and I am in My Father.”

They tried to arrest Me, but I walked away from them and crossed over the Jordan to stay near the place where John the Baptizer first baptized.

My disciples said, “John didn’t do miracles, but everything he said about You is true.” At that time many people believed in Me.

#TrustMe.—When your faith makes you doubt, stretch your faith to believe in bigger miracles. You must first place your complete trust in Me, not only for this life but in the life to come.

I Raised Lazarus From the Dead…

ELEVEN

I Can Raise You to New Life

Only God Can Raise the Dead – John 11:1-44

I received a message from Mary and Martha telling Me that Lazarus was sick. This is the same Mary who anointed Me with oil and wiped My feet with the hair of her head. The sisters reminded Me that I loved Lazarus. Actually, I loved all three of them.

When I received the message, I told My disciples, “This sickness will not end in death, but I, the Son of God, will be glorified through it.” Now I loved Martha, her sister Mary, and Lazarus. I stayed where I was for two more days, then I told My disciples, “Let’s go to Judea.” They cautioned Me against making the trip because the Jews tried to stone Me the last time I was there.

I replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight for walking so you won’t stumble when there is light to guide you. Those who walk in darkness stumble because there is no light to guide them.” I then said, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps. I go to awaken him.”

The disciples answered, “It’s good if he sleeps.”

They didn’t understand what I meant, so I said plainly, “Lazarus is dead. Now I’m glad I wasn’t there when he died because now you will believe completely in Me.”

Then Thomas, the twin, said to the other disciples, “Let us go with Him, and die with Him.”

When I arrived, I found out Lazarus had been dead four days. Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem, so many Jews had come to sympathize with Mary and Martha. When Martha heard that I had arrived, she went out to the graveyard to meet Me. Mary stayed in the house grieving. Martha accused Me, “If You would have been here, my brother would not have died. But now I know that whatever You ask from God, He will give it to You.”

I told Martha, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha said, “I know he’ll arise in the resurrection at the last day.”

I said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, and those who believe in Me will never die.”

Martha answered, “Yes, I believe You are the Deliverer-Messiah, the Son of God Who was sent into the world.” Martha ran to whisper to Mary in a low voice, “The Master is here and wants to see you.” Mary immediately got up and went to Me outside town. When the Jews, who were mourning, saw Mary leave, they followed her thinking she was visiting the cemetery.

As soon as Mary saw Me, she threw herself at My feet, saying the same thing as her sister, “Lord, if You had been here my brother would not have died.”

I saw Mary’s tears and the mourning Jews following her. I said with a deep sigh, “Where is the body?” Then I wept.

The Jews responded, “Behold how much Jesus loved Lazarus.”

Other Jews said, “This man makes the blind see, why couldn’t He keep Lazarus from dying?”

I sighed deeply. When I got to the tomb—a cave—with a stone closing the opening, I said, “Take away the stone.”

Martha protested, “Lord, the body stinks; he’s been dead four days.”

I answered, “Have I not told you that if you will believe, you’ll see the glory of God.” They rolled the stone away, then I looked into heaven, “Father, I thank You for hearing Me before I pray so that the people here will believe in Me.” Then I yelled with a strong voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus came bound, hands and feet with swaths of cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face. I cried, “Unwrap him and free him.”

#TrustMe.—Only God can raise the dead to life. I raised Lazarus to life after he had been dead four days. I will do the same for you, so that you can live with Me in Heaven forever. Place your trust in Me today.

I Gave Lazarus His Life Back,

I Will Give You Life

– John 11:45-57

Then some of the Jewish leaders saw it happen and believed. Therefore, many Jews believed in Me, because I raised Lazarus from the dead, but others ran to tell the religious rulers what happened. They gathered in council to decide what to do.

One said, “What can we do? This man does miracles.”

Another said, “If we don’t do something, the Romans will come to punish the nation and us because they will think Jesus is fermenting a revolution.”

Caiaphas, the high priest, said, “You’re all wrong! Let this man die instead of our people. Why should our whole nation perish?”

This prophecy, that I should die for everyone, came from Caiaphas, the high priest, when he was inspired by God to make this prediction. So from that time on the religious leaders were convinced that it was right to plan My death.

I stopped preaching to the multitudes and went to the desert and stayed on the border of Ephraim and Samaria.

People were journeying to Jerusalem for the Passover; they were curious to see Me and kept asking, “Do you think Jesus will come to this Passover?”

Meanwhile, the religious leaders had announced that anyone seeing Me must report it to the authorities so I could be arrested.

#TrustMe.—Allow Me to sit on the throne of your heart to rule all you say and do. I want to give you an abundant life.

TWELVE

My Final Trip Into Jerusalem

Mary Anointed My Feet at a Banquet in Bethany

– John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover meal, I attended a banquet at the home of Martha in Bethany. Lazarus, her brother, sat with Me at the head of the table. Mary poured a jar of costly perfume over My feet and wiped them with her hair. The house filled with a beautiful smell.

Judas Iscariot complained that the perfume could be sold and the money given to take care of the poor. He didn’t care for the poor. He was a thief who was in charge of the money given to Me.

I answered, “Let her alone. She is preparing Me for burial. You can help the poor later, but you won’t have Me very long.”

When the crowds heard that I had come to Jerusalem, they came eagerly to see Me and Lazarus; the one whom I raised from the dead. Then the religious leaders decided to kill Lazarus also because many believed on Me because of Lazarus.

#TrustMe.—I know your thoughts, just as I knew the religious leaders’ thoughts when I was on this earth. I will forgive you for any sin or doubt that hides in your heart. I will teach you to think My thoughts.

My Entry Into Jerusalem – John 12:12-19

On Sunday morning many people who had come to the Passover Festival wanted to see Me. When they heard I was coming to Jerusalem, they cut palm branches to wave before Me.

They shouted, “HOSANNA, blessed is the King of Israel, who is representing the Lord.” I was riding on a young donkey that had never been ridden before.

I was fulfilling Scripture, ‘Fear not daughters of Zion. Your King is coming, riding on a young donkey.

My disciples didn’t understand what was happening that day. But after My resurrection, they understood the meaning of the triumphant entry because they saw it predicted in the Scriptures.

The people who saw Me raise Lazarus from the dead also witnessed this event. Because of Lazarus’ resurrection, many people came to see My triumphant entry.

The Pharisees were not impressed. They said, “We are not getting anywhere. The whole world is following Him.”

#TrustMe.—Follow Me wherever I lead. I will give you a willing spirit, courage to endure, and strength to do it.

The Greeks Wanted to See Me – John 12:20-50

There were some Greeks worshiping in the temple. They approached Philip asking, “We would like to meet Jesus.” Philip told Andrew, and they told Me.

I didn’t answer directly but said, “The hour has come for Me, the Son of Man, to return to heaven and be glorified. A grain of wheat must die when it falls to the ground; otherwise, it will remain only one grain of wheat. But if it dies, it yields a rich harvest of food. Those who love their life will lose it, and those who don’t live for this life will exchange it for eternal life. If anyone wants to be My disciple, including the Greeks, they must follow Me. Then they will be where I Am, and My Father will honor them when they follow Me.

“Now My soul is greatly troubled. Shall I ask My Father to deliver Me from the house of suffering? No! That is the reason why I came to earth. Father, glorify Your name through My coming death.”

Then everyone present heard a Voice from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Some, who heard the Voice, said, “It was thunder.”

Others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

I answered, “This sound was for your sake, not Mine, the time for judgment of sin has come. Satan—the prince of the world—will be cast out. When I am lifted up—on the Cross—I will draw all to Me.” I said this to predict the way I would die.

The crowd was astonished, answering, “We thought the Scriptures taught Messiah would live forever. Why are You saying the Son of Man must be lifted up in death? Are You talking about the Messiah?”

I said, “My Light will illuminate you only a short time. Learn from the Light while you can, or else darkness will come, and you’ll be lost in it. While you have the Light, believe the Light, and you’ll become children of the Light.”

Then I left, and they couldn’t find Me. Despite all the miracles I did, most of the people did not believe I was the predicted Messiah. This fulfilled the prediction of Isaiah, who said, “Lord they don’t believe, they don’t accept Your miracles.”

Indeed, they couldn’t believe, as Isaiah said in another place, “God has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their hearts, and turn to God, and I save them.”

Isaiah said these words when he saw the Lord glorified, sitting on the throne, and he was speaking of Me.

Nevertheless, many leading citizens believed on Me, but they didn’t confess Me openly for fear of social pressure. They were afraid of being excommunicated from the temple for they desired acceptance by people, more than from God.

I proclaimed loudly in the temple, “Those who believe in Me, also believe in My Father who sent Me. And those who understand what I am saying, also understand what My Father wants them to know.

“I have come as a light to all people, and those who believe in Me will not live in darkness. If anyone hears and understands My teachings, but rejects them, I will not judge them, for I come to save all people. But those who do not accept My teachings and reject Me will be judged in the last day by what I’ve said. My Father will judge him because My Father, who sent Me told Me what to say, and My words give life eternal. Therefore, everything I am saying to you comes from My Father in heaven.”

#TrustMe.—You are saved by grace because you put your faith in Me. It is not your own doing, but My gift to you. You cannot boast that you had anything to do with it. I will make you a new person created in Me to serve My Father by doing good works, which He planned for you to do. You don’t deserve salvation, because of your past sins, but My Father will give you the greatest gift of all—salvation. Then He will equip you to serve with good works. Accept My gift today!

THIRTEEN

Helping Others is Not Hard

I Washed My Disciples Feet – John 13:1-20

On Thursday night, before the Passover supper, I knew that My hour had come, the time for Me to die for the sins of the world. I would love My followers, having loved them to the end.

After the supper, the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Me. Knowing My Father had put all things into My hand, and that I had come from My Father, I knew I would return to My Father. I arose from the table, laid aside My tunic, and wrapped a towel around Myself as a servant. I poured water into the basin and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them dry with the towel. When I came to Peter, the fisherman asked, “Will You wash my feet?”

I answered, “You don’t understand now, but you’ll understand in the future.

Peter said to Me. “You shall never wash my feet!”

I answered, “If I don’t wash you, you’ll have no part with Me.”

So Peter answered Me, “If that’s the case, then not only wash my feet but my hands and head.”