John

Early in his ministry, the religious leaders challenged Jesus, and they seemingly had many reasons to do so. The law of Moses required the Sabbath to be kept holy, and the religious leaders had set strict rules about what could and couldn't be done. One major issue they had with Jesus was that he healed on the Sabbath (John 5:1-17; Mk. 3:1-6; Lk. 13:10-17; Lk. 14:1-6). The recent healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda was problematic for them. But there was an even more troubling issue — this statement: “But Jesus answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I am working’” (John 5:17). 

After spending two days in Samaria, Jesus traveled north to Galilee. The text notes that Jesus said a prophet is never honored in his hometown (John 4:44), so he stayed away from Nazareth and was welcomed by the Galileans who had seen his miracles in Jerusalem during Passover (John 4:45). Jesus also visited Cana, where he had performed his first miracle by turning water into wine. 

She was no longer young or beautiful. Worn down by life, she looked many years older than her actual age. Her life had been marked by rejection after rejection. She had been with many men, staying until they grew tired of her and threw her out onto the street. 

The new birth we’ve been exploring in the gospel of John is truly an “interesting study” that offers eternal rewards. We continue that study today, beginning with one of the most well-known passages in the Bible. 

WEEKEND RECHARGE!
God’s Story in Our Savior

In John 3, we meet a man named Nicodemus who was highly educated and well-credentialed. He was one of the Pharisees, a strict religious and political group that carefully followed the Old Testament laws. The name Pharisee means “separated ones.” Nicodemus also served on the Jewish ruling council, called the Sanhedrin, an elite group of seventy men responsible for making religious and civil decisions under Roman rule. 

In John 3, we meet a man named Nicodemus who was highly educated and well-credentialed. He was one of the Pharisees, a strict religious and political group that carefully followed the Old Testament laws. The name Pharisee means “separated ones.” Nicodemus also served on the Jewish ruling council, called the Sanhedrin, an elite group of seventy men responsible for making religious and civil decisions under Roman rule. 

After Jesus turned the water into wine in Cana, he headed to Capernaum with his family and disciples to rest for a few days. Then he and his disciples traveled to Jerusalem (John 2:12-13).

After establishing that Jesus was God in the flesh and introducing him as the Lamb of God in chapter 1, John shifted his focus to seven signs or proofs that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of God.” There are thirty-five miracles recorded across the four gospels.