Scriptures of the Day – Page 9

John 10:7–9

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” – John 10:7–9

He uses the imagery of a shepherd and his sheep to illustrate His relationship with those who believe in Him. For us to understand the illustration from the Lord, we must first visualize what the structure of a sheepfold is. A sheepfold had no roof, only four walls and one gate or door. Sometimes it was built next to the owner’s house; other times, it stood out in the open fields.

That single door was intentionally designed for the safety and protection of the sheep. Sheep are among the most helpless of all animals. They spend their days grazing, wandering from place to place without ever looking up, and as a result, they often become lost. Unlike other animals, sheep have no sense of direction or homing instinct. Even when the fold is within sight, they cannot find their way back on their own. By nature, they are followers, if one sheep steps off a cliff, the rest will follow without hesitation. They are easily injured and completely defenseless against predators. If a wolf enters the pen, they will not fight or flee; instead, they will huddle together, making themselves easy prey. If a sheep falls into moving water, it will drown.

Sound familiar? In many ways, we are just like sheep, wandering, vulnerable, and in desperate need of a Shepherd to guide, protect, and rescue us.

So the structure of the sheepfold was deliberately created for their safety, four walls, one door, complete protection.

In the ancient Near East, sheepfolds often had a single opening “a door or gate”, that served as both the entrance and the exit. At night, the shepherd would lay his body across that opening, protecting the sheep from harm and keeping them safe from thieves and predators. By doing this, the shepherd literally became the door. Jesus is declaring that He Himself is that Door. Just as there was only one entrance to the sheepfold, there is only one way to be saved and that through Jesus Christ. He is the Door through which we must enter to find safety, security, and salvation.

When Jesus says, “I am the Door,” He makes a bold statement about the exclusivity of salvation. Just as there is only one way into the sheep pen, there is only one way into the kingdom of God. There are many religions in the world and many supposed ways to reach God, but there is only one gate. Salvation is found in no one else except Jesus Christ. He is the gate for the sheep.

“This is the gate of the Lord, through which the righteous shall enter.” – Psalm 118:20

That gate is Jesus. He said the same truth again in

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” – John 14:6

These are not popular words in a diverse culture such as ours, but they remain the truth. Jesus is the one and only way to the Father. He is the Gate, and only those who enter through Christ will be saved.

Why is Jesus the only way to salvation? Because we are all sinners, and the wages of sin is death. Only Jesus offers the solution for sin.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

He died on the cross in our place, paying the penalty for our sins so that we could receive forgiveness and salvation through Him. There is no other way. As Paul writes in Galatians,

“…for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”” Galatians‬ ‭2:21‬ ‭

But Christ did not die in vain. He died for you and I, so that we may be saved. He is the Gate for the sheep. Salvation comes through Jesus alone.

When Jesus says, “All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers,” He is referring to those who were used by satan to steal the sheep from God. Anyone who tries to enter the sheepfold by any means other than the gate is a thief and a robber. In the same way, if someone enters a house without using the door, that person is not the owner but a thief. Likewise, anyone who tries to lead God’s people apart from Christ is also a thief and a robber. How can anyone truly lead others without having fellowship with the Lord Jesus Himself? We are all followers of Jesus, and as you and I continue to follow Him daily, Anyone we invited into the Kingdom of God , We all led them to follow Jesus, not us, but Him. Because He is the Gate for the sheep. Salvation comes through Jesus alone.

In context, the Lord Jesus was speaking about the Pharisees, who were also spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins. They tried to offer people spiritual life apart from Him. But how can anyone lead others to salvation without first recognizing their own sin and their need for a Savior? How can we offer direction to someone who is lost when we ourselves are lost as well? Jesus said,

“Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” – Luke 6:39,

Remember, one of the defining characteristics of sheeps is that they only listen to their shepherd voice. Just as the sheep spend their days listening to their shepherd’s voice as he speaks to them, guides them, and cares for their needs, they come to know his voice because they hear it every day. In the same way, those who truly know God and seek after Him will not listen to anyone who tries to lead them away from Jesus. But those who listen to false teachers show that they do not belong to God’s flock.

In ancient Israel, shepherds often mixed their flocks together at night. In the morning, each shepherd would call out, and his sheep would follow his voice, because they recognized it. Even today, Middle Eastern shepherds can separate their flocks simply by calling them. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice because they hear it daily. Likewise, those who truly belong to Christ recognize His voice through His Word and Spirit.

When Jesus says, “If anyone enters by Me,” we are reminded that God is sovereign, yet He never uses His sovereignty to control or dominate us. Instead, He always gives us a choice. He extends an open invitation to everyone, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what you’ve done. God wants each of us to decide whether to accept His offer of salvation or not. This is a promise of salvation for anyone who is willing to enter. But notice, there is an action required on our part. We must enter through the Door. We have to take that step of faith, an active faith that responds to His call.

Then the Lord goes on to say: “He will come in and go out, and find pasture”. Some people get confused about this part of the illustration. If Jesus is the gateway to salvation, what does He mean by “going in and out through the gate”? Is He talking about gaining and losing salvation?

Does the purpose of the pen is to keep the sheep safe and protected, not to trap them inside. Do the sheep ever go out without their shepherd? Of course not.

“Coming in and going out” does not refer to eternal life but to the quality of life we experience through Christ. It is not a picture of gaining and losing salvation, but of freedom in Him. “Coming in” represents the safety and rest the sheep experience when they enter the fold for the night, while “going out” represents our daily walk with Him, this is where our training happens. It’s where He teaches us to recognize His voice, to trust His guidance, and to follow His lead.

As the psalmist wrote,

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters” Psalm 23:2

The Lord doesn’t just offer us salvation to secure our eternity; He also gives us peace, provision, and guidance in our daily lives. Salvation is not only about being rescued from sin, it’s about being led into a life of abundance in His presence.

Jesus said,

…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundant – John 10:10.

Because when we come to the LORD Jesus for salvation, He doesn’t stop at forgiving our sins; He also restores our relationship with the Father and fills our lives with His goodness.
Think about it, what loving Father would delight in seeing His children, who have accepted His salvation, live in pain, lack, or constant fear? Of course not. Our Heavenly Father is a good, good Father. He loves His children and desires what is best for them. Because He is good, He will never give us anything that will harm us or lead us away from Him. Even when He allows trials to come, they are never meant to destroy us but to give us hope and future.

Today, Jesus is inviting you to enter through His Door.

October 13, 2025
John 8:12

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” – John 8:12

This is the second of John’s seven “I Am” statements.

These words were spoken shortly after the encounter with the woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees had brought her to Jesus, hoping to trap Him in His words. But instead of condemning her, Jesus said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” One by one, the accusers left, convicted by their own conscience.

When the LORD says, I am the light of the world. The Jewish people knew right away the LORD was trying to convey that He was pointing to Himself as God, who spoke light into existence at creation. He was the pillar of cloud by day and fire at night leading and guiding the people of Israelites in wilderness,

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.” — Exodus 13:21

I hope they understand that the LORD was telling them about His mission, that He came to save us from the ruler of the darkness of this world.

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” — Colossians 1:13

He came to set us free from the power of Satan and to bring us into His marvelous light.

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.” — Acts 26:18

The LORD Jesus came not only to forgive our sins but to deliver us from the grip of darkness and bring us into the light of His eternal Kingdom.

The Greek text emphasizes that Jesus is not simply “a” light but “the” light. “Egō eimi to phōs tou kosmou.” This means He is the source of the light.

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”– 1 John 1:5

John declared that “God is light.” In these words, we understand that the Lord Jesus is revealing His true deity, the eternal source of light has put on flesh. The invisible God has become visible. The light that once shone in creation now shines in human form, not only into the world, but into the hearts of those who believe.

As the Scriptures say:

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Just as the physical world depends on light to survive, every living thing needs it. Light gives energy for plants to grow, and those plants produce food and oxygen for all living creatures. Everything on earth continues because of light. It gives power to our homes, fuels our machines and technology, and brightens our cities at night. Even the electricity we use comes from energy that reflects the power of light. The world continues to function because of physical light, yet so few recognize their need for the spiritual light that sustains eternal life.

But how come the world does not recognize how dark it truly is? When you listen to or watch the news, you can see and hear that the world we live in is filled with violence, confusion, deception, and pain. We are so blind that we cannot see how deep the darkness has become.

The reason is that the world is under the rule of satan. The scriptures says,

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

“Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” (Ephesians 4:18)

Now we understand why the world cannot recognize its spiritual darkness because it has been blinded.

Then, Jesus says, “He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

As the Lord lives and reigns on His throne, He remains the source of light for us, providing not only for our physical needs but also for our spiritual sight. When Jesus came, the Light walked into a darkened world. When the LORD was on the earth, even His disciples, Nicodemus, and the people around Him had difficulty understanding His words.

“Then Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see,…

Here we see that only the LORD Jesus can give us sight. When He died on the cross, He paid for our sins and restored our relationship with the source of Light, God Himself.

Look at the disciples after the LORD died. They all went back to fishing because without the Spirit, our bodies have no power to resist the desires of the flesh. This is also why people living in the world do not recognize their sinful condition, for we are all dead in trespasses and sins.

But praise the LORD! After He ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples. Then we saw the power of God revealed, a true transformation. Peter, who once denied the LORD Jesus, stood boldly and preached the gospel. Their lives were changed. They received a clear understanding of their calling to walk with the LORD Jesus and to follow Him.

As we continue to walk in the Holy Spirit, we become more aware of sin because the Holy Spirit convicts us. Have you ever wondered how the apostles were able to write all those words of correction and awareness of sin? It was through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. We too are in this same process of transformation. Many times, we fall into sin without realizing it. It happens often, doesn’t it?

That is why the LORD Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, to convict us of sin, to make us aware of our sinful nature, and to give us power to overcome every fleshly desire that is not pleasing in the sight of God. He equips us to finish the task He has given us

When we encounter the Lord and believe in Him, Jesus does not expect us to stay where we first received Him. He expects us to follow Him. We must continually walk with Him and live in His Spirit, because only the Holy Spirit can give us life.

The pillar of fire that guided the Israelites to the Promised Land is the same as the tongues of fire given to all who believe in the Lord Jesus, lighting our path. He is the seal of our redemption. He will guide us not only to the truth but into all truth. The Holy Spirit will give us life and power to conquer our flesh. He is the one who transforms our lives.

Today, do not just stand and look at the light. Follow Him and walk in the Spirit. follow Him!

October 12, 2025
John 6:51

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” — John 6:51

Jesus had miraculously fed over five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. The crowd, amazed and satisfied, followed Him again the next day, hoping for more bread, more miracles, more signs.

But Jesus revealed their spiritual conditions, that their soul were hungry. He told them,

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life” (John 6:27).

He was pointing them to something deeper. A bread that would not simply fill their stomachs for a day but would sustains their souls for eternity.

We often try to fill the longing of our souls with the things of the world, convincing ourselves, “If I just have more of this, I’ll finally be satisfied.” But if we truly look back, none of it ever satisfies. Only Jesus does.

Then He said,

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven.”

The Jews had been saying that God fed their ancestors with manna, but Jesus was telling them, “I am not just regular manna that sustained life temporarily , because all who ate manna in the wilderness died. I am the living manna, meaning His body, which will ultimately offer eternal life to all of us.

And when He added,

“The bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world,”

He was speaking prophetically about His upcoming sacrifice on the cross. That sacrifice would drastically transform our lives and guarantee the salvation of our souls.

By His death, He conquered sin whose wages is death and by His life, He gives us life eternal.

Do you know how the Israelites prepared unleavened bread for the Passover? They had to pierce and stripe it. So too, the body of our Lord was pierced and beaten for our redemption. What they did symbolically in their feast, Jesus fulfilled literally in His suffering.

Every stripe He received, we receive healing. His broken body became the true Passover bread that made us whole.

Then He said,

“If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.”

He’s inviting us into deep, personal communion with Him.

When Jesus used the word “eat,” He meant receiving Him fully, to internalize His Word. “Eating” of Him is a metaphor for believing, trusting, and fully receiving Him into our lives. It means more than just knowing about Jesus, it means making Him the very center and sustenance of our being.

We consume food many times a day, daily. So we should have that same desire to have fellowship with Jesus many times a day. Our relationship with Him is not a one-time event but a continual, daily walk.

The food we eat must be broken before it can nourish our entire body, so Jesus’ body had to be broken for our redemption.

Food must be received to sustain life, so we must receive Christ to sustain us unto eternal life.

Just as we need food daily to sustain our physical bodies, we need Jesus daily to sustain our spiritual lives. The bread of life is not something we partake of once; it is a continuous relationship with Christ, feeding on His Word, dwelling in His presence, and allowing His Spirit to guide and strengthen us each day.

Take a moment to pause and reflect right now and ask yourself, What am I feeding my soul?

Are you seeking satisfaction in temporary things, or are you drawing strength from Jesus who gives eternal life?

The world offers many forms of “bread,” but none can satisfy the deep hunger within. Only Jesus can fill the emptiness of the heart.

October 12, 2025
John 6:35

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” – John 6:35

Jesus spoke these words to a crowd that had just witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Yet even after seeing such a great sign, they still asked Him for proof that He was truly the Messiah, as if the miraculous feeding weren’t enough. They followed Him not because they understood who He was, but because they wanted another “free meal.”

Do they sound like us? Even though we’ve seen so many miracles of God in our own lives, His protection, provision, healing, and grace but we often forget them and still doubt. So often, we come to Jesus because we see Him as useful, not precious. We seek His blessings more than His presence. We desire His hands more than His heart.

When the Lord said, “I am the bread of life,” He was declaring, “I am the bread that never perishes, the bread that truly satisfies. I am the One who gives life just as physical bread is essential for your body, I am essential for your soul.”

Jesus was teaching that He is essential for life. Just as bread sustains the physical body, Jesus sustains spiritual life. Without Him, our souls remain dead. As Scripture says, “He made us alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”

When Jesus said, “He who comes to Me shall never hunger,” He meant that whoever truly encounters the Lord will find satisfaction for every longing of the heart. The desires we once chased in the world fade in His presence, for those who walk with Him lack nothing.

And when He said, “He who believes in Me shall never thirst,” He was revealing that true belief transforms our hearts. When we believe in Jesus, we no longer come just for what He can do, we come because of who He is. We long for fellowship with Him, not just favor from Him.

The more we know Him, the more we realize He is the One we’ve been seeking all along. Only He can fill the void, heal the emptiness, and satisfy the deepest hunger of our souls.

So now, the invitation remains: Come to Jesus. Not for what He gives, but for who He is.

October 12, 2025
Acts 10:5–6
“Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” – Acts 10:5–6

In this passage, God sent an angel in a vision to Cornelius, a Roman centurion who was described as devout, prayerful, and generous. The angel instructed Cornelius to send men to Joppa to find Peter, who would tell him what he must do.

If God sent an angel, why didn’t the angel just share the gospel himself? Why send Cornelius on a mission to find Peter?

This passage in Acts gives us a clear answer to questions many of us wrestle with:
- If God is all-powerful, why does He need us?
- Why doesn’t He just fix everything instantly?
God is faithful to His divine purpose. From the beginning, God gave the earth to mankind to steward and rule over.

“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men.” — Psalm 115:16

For many Christians who haven’t grasped this yet, the earth is our territory, given by God, and we are accountable for what happens here. That’s why God often chooses to work through people, not apart from them. Think these for a moment, the Lord Jesus had to be born as a human? Because God is holy, and His Word becomes law. He knew that we had messed up the earth He entrusted to us, even in Romans it says that “all creation is groaning” because we are slowly destroying it.

The Lord had to put on human flesh to deal with our sins because we were all walking toward destruction(Hell). He came to regain the keys from the devil, the authority Adam lost through sin. Jesus conquered death through His death, and His resurrection is the guarantee of our faith.

We see this pattern all throughout Scripture:
- God sent Moses to deliver Israel, even though He could have done it with a word.
- God fought with Joshua and Israel to drive out the Canaanites.
- God sent Philip to explain the Scriptures to the Ethiopian eunuch so that he could believe and be saved.
- God sent Ananias to minister to Saul (Paul), to restore his sight and confirm his calling.
- And now, in Acts 10, God sent Peter to preach salvation to Cornelius and his household.
Even the angel who appeared to Cornelius respected and was aware of this divine order. His role was to give direction, not revelation. The gospel of the Lord Jesus “the good news that brings salvation to mankind” is entrusted to men and women, not to angels, because the Earth is our domain.

The Lord Jesus, before He ascended to heaven, left a commission to all the disciples who were present and to you and I as well.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” — Matthew 28:19–20

And in Acts 1:8, He said:

“You shall be witnesses to Me… to the end of the earth.”

My friend, We are God messengers and His ambassadors here on Earth. Our obedience to His call is how His Kingdom advances on the earth. God still works through people today, through you.

You must be sensitive to the leading of the LORD Jesus and His voice. Don’t underestimate the power of simple obedience. Just as Peter’s obedience led to the salvation of an entire household, your obedience might be the key to someone else’s breakthrough, healing, or salvation.
October 10, 2025
Acts 11:26

“The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” — Acts 11:26

In this verse, we read that the disciples did not call themselves Christians, the people of Antioch did. At first, the term was meant as an insult, a label used to mock those who followed Jesus. But over time, what began as ridicule became their greatest identity.

The people of Antioch called them Christians because they intently followed the LORD Jesus Christ. Their lives, words, and actions reflected His love and His character so clearly that others couldn’t help but associate them with Him.

When we read through the New Testament, we see that believers were often named after their regions, the people of Ephesus were called Ephesians, those in Galatia were called Galatians , but those who belonged to Christ were called Christians.

The believers in Antioch lived in such a way that the world around them could clearly see Jesus in them. Their character, humility, and compassion revealed the very nature of the One they followed. Being called a Christian wasn’t a title they gave themselves, it was a testimony that others saw in the way they lived.

Sadly, today the word Christian is used everywhere, yet not everyone who claims the name truly understands its meaning. Being a Christian is not about belonging to a religion, attending church, or knowing about Jesus, it’s about becoming like Him. The name Christian loses its power when it becomes a label instead of a lifestyle.

To be a Christian means to carry the presence of Christ into every part of our lives not perfectly, but sincerely.

Ask yourselves today,

Are you just calling yourselves Christians, or are you actually living like the LORD Christ?

When people look at you, do they see Jesus, or do they just see someone who talks about Him?

Do your words, your choices, your love, even when no one’s watching, prove that you belong to Him?

It’s easy to wear the name. It’s harder to live the life.

October 9, 2025
John 2:4

“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.’” – John 2:4

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus replied to His mother in a way that might sound harsh in English, but it wasn’t rude at all in His time. When Jesus called His mother “Woman,” it was actually a respectful and gentle way of speaking, similar to saying “Ma’am” today. He even used this same word with love when He spoke to her from the cross, saying, “Woman, behold your son” (John 19:26). By using that word, Jesus showed that His mission now went beyond His role as her Son. He was acting according to His Father’s will.

The phrase “What does your concern have to do with Me?” comes from the Greek expression “ti emoi kai soi, which literally means “What to me and to you?” or What do you and I have in common about this matter? It was a common idiom used to express a difference in perspective or purpose. Jesus was not rebuking Mary, but clarifying that His actions were governed solely by His Father’s will, not by human influence, even from His earthly mother. He was making it clear that His mission and timing came from God alone, not from family expectations or social pressure. His words established that divine authority would guide His ministry from beginning to end.

When Jesus said, “My hour has not yet come,” He referred to the divinely appointed time of His glorification, the sequence of events that would lead to His crucifixion, resurrection, and exaltation. Throughout the Gospel of John, “the hour” represents the moment of His ultimate obedience to the Father’s will and the fulfillment of His redemptive work. At Cana, that hour had not yet arrived, so Jesus was reminding Mary that the revelation of His glory would unfold only as the Father directed. Yet, even in this early miracle, His transforming power was revealed as a sign of what was to come.

Many people have used this verse, John 2:4, to support beliefs or traditions that are not truly aligned with God’s Word. Some have taken Mary’s role at the wedding in Cana to mean that she holds special authority or power to influence Jesus or to intercede in ways that others cannot. However, this passage, when read carefully, teaches the exact opposite. Jesus’ response to Mary shows that His actions are not directed by human influence, not even by His mother. His mission was given to Him by the Father, and everything He did was in obedience to the Father’s will, not to please people or to follow human expectations. Jesus was gently reminding Mary—and through her, reminding us—that no human being, no matter how honored or blessed, has the right to direct the divine plan of God.

Mary indeed played a very important and unique role in God’s plan. She was chosen to bring the Son of God into the world. A role of immense honor and grace. Her obedience and humility are powerful examples of faith. When the angel told her she would conceive by the Holy Spirit, she answered, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). This shows her total surrender to God’s will. Yet, while she was chosen and favored, her role was to deliver the Savior into the world, not to guide or direct His divine mission. After Jesus’ birth, her purpose was fulfilled in that calling, and from that point on, she, like everyone else, was called to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.

John 1:13 makes this truth clear: “who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

This verse teaches that spiritual life and salvation come only from God’s will, not from human effort, lineage, or connection. In the same way, Jesus’ birth and purpose were entirely the result of God’s divine plan, not human will or desire. Mary was not the source of His divine nature, she was the vessel God used. The power of the Holy Spirit brought about the incarnation. Mary simply believed and obeyed. This shows that while God used her mightily, she did not share in Christ’s divinity, nor did she have authority over Him.

Mary was blessed and chosen, but she was still human. She needed grace and salvation just like everyone else. Later in Scripture, we see that she remained among the believers who followed Jesus in faith and prayer

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Acts‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭

Mary, the mother of Jesus, sat among His disciples, worshiping Him as Lord. She fully understood her purpose and never thought of herself as someone to be exalted or treated differently. She was simply a humble servant, willing to be used by God for His glory alone. Just like us, who desires to follow the LORD Jesus will and bring honor to His name.

The key lesson here is that our faith must always be centered on Jesus alone. We honor Mary for her obedience and faith, but we worship only the LORD Jesus Christ. He alone is our Savior, our Mediator, and our LORD. The Bible says, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Any belief or teaching that gives Mary or any other person a role equal to or above that of Jesus is not in line with God’s Word. True faith exalts Jesus alone, trusts His timing, and submits fully to the will of the Father, just as Mary herself did.

October 5, 2025
John 1:46

“And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” – John 1:46

This verse teaches us how to evangelize effectively. When Philip told Nathanael that they had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael’s skeptical response was, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

To understand the weight of that question, we must look at Nazareth itself. Nazareth held a poor reputation as a city. There was a certain contempt toward Nazareth even among other cities in Galilee because it was an insignificant and rugged town, not known for scholarship, wealth, or religious prominence. Perhaps Nathanael thought Jesus should have come from a major city such as Jerusalem, the city of David, with its royal heritage.

Nathanael’s question was not a careless remark about something irrelevant; it was a genuine difficulty and an honest doubt about the origin of the Messiah. As a devout Jew who had been taught about the coming of the Messiah, Nathanael would naturally be cautious. Whenever someone claimed to have found the Messiah, the Jews would search the Scriptures to verify the truth of that claim.

“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” The surprising answer is yes. God chose to have His Son, the Savior of the world, live in Nazareth.

Matthew 2:23 says about Jesus,

“And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.””

This raises an important question: Where is this prophecy in the Old Testament?

Matthew is not quoting a specific verse directly, since no Old Testament passage uses the exact wording he cites. There are three main ways to understand what Matthew meant.

First, Matthew may be connecting the word Nazarene with the Hebrew word neser, meaning “branch” or “sprout.” The “Branch” was a well-known title for the Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures, as seen in Isaiah 11:1,

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”

Hebrew was written using only consonants, so neser would have appeared as NZR, the same consonants found in Nazareth. In Aramaic, the everyday language of Jesus’ time, the words for Nazareth and branch sounded almost identical. Matthew’s point may therefore be that Jesus, the promised “Branch,” grew up in a town whose name echoed that very prophecy. In other words, Jesus “sprouted up” from an obscure and unlikely place in Galilee, just as the prophets foretold.

Second, Matthew could have been referring to a prophecy not recorded in the Old Testament but known through oral tradition. This would mean he cited a prophecy familiar to his original audience, though lost to us today. However, this interpretation is less likely, as it relies on evidence we do not possess.

Third, and perhaps most compelling, is that Matthew used the word Nazarene to describe someone who is despised and rejected. In the first century as we discussed that Nazareth was a small and insignificant town about fifty-five miles north of Jerusalem. It had a poor reputation among the Jews. Galileans were often looked down upon by those in Judea, and Nazareth was viewed with particular disdain why Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

If this was Matthew’s intent, he may have been referring to prophetic passages that describe the Messiah as one who would be scorned and rejected. For instance, Psalm 22:6–7 says,

“But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,”

Just as Nazarenes were “scorned by everyone,” so too was the Messiah, who bore the contempt of humanity to bring salvation to all.

Philip’s response teaches us how to respond to critics. When Nathanael questioned whether anything good could come out of Nazareth, Philip did not argue or try to reason with him. Instead, he invited Nathanael to come and see for himself, to meet the Lord Jesus personally, to listen to His words, to lay aside his prejudice, and to judge through an honest and firsthand encounter. His simple invitation, “Come and see,” revealed gentle yet confident faith.

When we face criticism or skepticism about our faith, we do not need to debate endlessly or try to prove God’s truth through our own understanding. Like Philip, we can invite others to experience Jesus for themselves. The most effective witness is not found in winning an argument, but in allowing others to encounter the living Christ through our actions, our words, and our love.

Many people today are like Nathanael. They think they know who Jesus is based on the opinions of others or on how some have misrepresented Him. That is why it is so important for every Christian to allow the Lord Jesus to be manifested in their life. Their lives should not be an offense to others, but a living testimony that reflects the character of the LORD Jesus Christ.

And for those who are searching, I challenge you as Philip did, Come and see! Come directly to Jesus and discover who He truly is. Because when Nathanael met Him face to face, his doubt turned to faith. His tone changed completely, and he proclaimed,

“Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”” – John‬ ‭1:49‬

October 5, 2025
John 1:29

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” – John 1:29

What makes this moment interesting is that Jesus had already been baptized. John had already witnessed the Spirit descend upon Him like a dove. Yet now, Jesus returns exactly as John is being interrogated by the priests and Levites sent by the Pharisees. They were questioning him about his identity, asking, “Who are you? Are you the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet?”

Right in the middle of that conversation, John sees Jesus coming toward him. Without hesitation, he points to Him and boldly proclaims, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” In other words, John is saying, “Here is the One you were asking about, your Messiah has come!”

John the Baptist carried a priestly lineage because his father, Zechariah, served as a priest in the Temple. In a sense, John was acting as a priest himself, presenting the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, not one raised or chosen by man, but one prepared by God Himself. Scripture says,

“Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.” – Hebrews‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭

John’s announcement was not only for the crowd but also for the priests and religious leaders who oversaw the temple sacrifices. Just as the angels announced the good news of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem to the shepherds who cared for the lambs used for temple offerings, John now makes a similar announcement.

As a priest, he was declaring to his fellow priests, “Our work of preparing lambs for sacrifice is coming to an end because God Himself has provided the perfect Lamb. This Lamb will take away sin, not just for a day, but for the entire world, forever.”

The Pharisees, well-versed in the Law and the Prophets immediately recognized the weight of John’s words. Lambs were required as a yearly sacrifice for all Jewish families during the celebration of Passover. This holy day looked back to the time of Moses, when the blood of the lamb was placed on the doorposts of Israel’s homes so that God’s judgment would “pass over” them. (Exodus 12). This foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah, who would be beaten, bleed, and be crucified as the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, so that through His blood we might be passed over from judgment and spent our eternal life in His Kingdom. The prophet Isaiah had also foretold that the Messiah would be “led like a lamb to the slaughter” and would “bear the sins of many” (Isaiah 53:7, 12).

By calling Jesus the Lamb of God, John was declaring that Jesus is the fulfillment of all those prophecies, the perfect and sinless sacrifice who would take away the sins of the whole world. He was also publicly proclaiming to Israel that this is the long-awaited Messiah.

Even the details of Jesus’ crucifixion mirror the sacrificial ordinances. Just as the sin offerings on the Day of Atonement were taken outside the camp, Jesus was crucified outside the city walls during Passover, bearing our sins in His body on the cross.

Now Jesus has already sacrificed His life so that we may have abundant life, and offered an eternity with Him. And just as John once announced Him, I will do the same today. Only Jesus can take away your sins and bring you into His Kingdom.

October 5, 2025
John 1:14

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

God is the Word John 1:1. The Word (Logos) is the very expression and mind of God Himself. This Word became flesh, entering the limits of humanity. This is not poetic language or spiritual metaphor. It is the literal enfleshment of God. Jesus was fully human. He grew tired, felt pain, wept, and suffered, yet He remained fully divine, radiating the exact nature and character of God. As the author of Hebrews declares, ““who (Son) being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…” (Hebrews 1:3).

The word “dwelt” (Greek: skēnoō) literally means “to pitch a tent” or “to tabernacle.” This calls us back to the Old Testament Tabernacle, where God’s presence rested among His people in the wilderness. Just as Yahweh’s glory once filled the tent of meeting, now that same divine glory takes up residence in the person of Jesus Christ. He is God’s glory made visible, “Immanuel”, God is with us.

When John writes, “we beheld His glory,” was giving eyewitness testimony to the incarnation, that God Himself had come to earth embodied in the Son. This connects directly to the Shekinah glory that once hovered over the earthly tent of meeting, where Yahweh’s presence visibly manifested among His people. Now, in Christ, that glory walks among us, not hidden by a cloud nor fire but revealed in human form.

Not only John, but all the disciples saw Jesus and beheld His glory with their own eyes. They testify firsthand that the Father had sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. Both then and now, false teachers have spread distorted views of Jesus, claiming He was only a man, or merely a spirit, or an illusion. John and the other apostles directly confronted these errors from their own firsthand experience. They had heard Him, seen Him, and touched Him. Their message was not secondhand speculation, but the living truth of the God who became man and dwelt among us.

If someone teaches that Jesus is only a man, or that He is not truly God, then that teaching follows the same falsehoods John and the disciples opposed. The apostles proclaimed with absolute certainty that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man—the eternal Word made flesh, the visible glory of the invisible God.

October 5, 2025