Day 139 Bible Readings – John 11: 20-22 (ESV)

1 Samuel 22: 27-36, 1 Samuel 3 & 4, John 11: 1-44, Psalm 81: 1-7

John 11: 20-22 (ESV)

“So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

In verses 20 through 22 from John 11, Martha the sister of Lazarus who was dead greets Jesus and tells him she knows that Jesus could have healed her brother, and he would not have died. Then Martha tells Jesus that even though her brother died, she still trusted him. Martha’s statement to Jesus shows her faith in him, even though he wasn’t there to heal her brother. I love this demonstration of Martha’s faith. She believed in Christ even though her brother died. I know for myself that my faith reached its lowest point when I was in difficult times, and I felt that Father-God hadn’t answered my prayers about my situation. During these times I was angry at Father-God and swore never to believe in him again. But even in these darkest times. I felt Father-God’s love surround me and I felt that “peace that is beyond understanding” overtake me. And situations that seemed so hopeless in life miraculously worked out or I felt peace about them. And now I believe my faith has progressed to the point where I can say when I am in a difficult season, that Father-God is working this season for my good and he is sovereign in all things. I may not have Martha’s great faith, but I am getting closer to it every year.

Day 138 Bible Readings – John 10: 27-29 (ESV)

1 Samuel 1, 1 Samuel 2: 1-26, John 10: 22-42, Psalm 80: 8-19

John 10: 27-29 (ESV)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”

In verses 27 through 29 from John 10, Jesus tells the religious leaders why they don’t believe him. The religious leaders did not believe anything Jesus said to them because they didn’t have a relationship with him. The people who believe in Jesus know him and recognize his voice, and they follow him. They know they will have eternal life with him, and that Jesus will take care of them, and no one will be snatched out of his hand. Then Jesus emphasized again that he is the son of God the father, and that they are one. Believers in Jesus are assured that that since his Father-God is greater than all other Gods, no human can remove them from God’s protection. I love this metaphor of Jesus as a shepherd and his believers as sheep. A shepherd has a close relationship with his sheep, and he cares for them. A sheep is protected by the shepherd, as Jesus protects his believers. And since Jesus is the son of God the father, then believers have the protection of God the father as well. Even when we are going through trials, God will also protect us his believers and rescue us from danger.

Day 137 Bible Readings – Ruth 4: 13-15 (ESV)

Ruth 3 & 4, John 9: 35-41, John 10: 1-21 Psalm 80: 1-7

Ruth 4: 13-15 (ESV)

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”

In verses 13 through 15 from Ruth 4, we find out the happy ending to Naomi’s story. When her husband and her sons, Naomi became bitter against God and thought that God had gone against her. But through her daughter-in-law Ruth, God showed his love to Naomi and gave her a grandchild through Ruth. The women who knew Naomi recognized God’s blessing to her and Ruth and said to Naomi that God had restored her life and she would become a nourisher to the son of Ruth. During the time of Naomi and Ruth, children were considered a blessing and a source of security for the future for a person in old age. Ruth’s son Obed would become a descendant of David and Jesus. The story of Naomi shows us that God can renew and restore our life, even when we have given up hope and think that God has abandoned us. Even if our circumstances seem impossible, if we have truth and faith in God, we can trust in God’s timing and provision to always restore us and nourish us.

Day 136 Bible Readings for May 17 – John 9: 1-3 (ESV)

Ruth 1 & 2, John 9: 1-34, Psalm 79

John 9: 1-3 (ESV)

“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

In verses 1 through 3 from John 9, Jesus teaches us a lesson about suffering and physical disabilities. During the time of Jesus, people had a common belief that physical disabilities were a punishment for personal sin or the sins of your ancestors. Jesus told his disciples that not all suffering comes from sin, but God was going to use the circumstances of the blind man’s life for a greater purpose. Jesus was trying to emphasize how powerful God is and that he is sovereign and can bring good out of any difficult situations. Jesus heals the blind man and demonstrates God’s power and compassion.

These verses tell us that when we are facing difficult circumstances in life, even if they are from birth, we need to seek God always. God is sovereign over all things, and can use any situation to show is power, compassion, and mercy to his children. Any difficult we have is an opportunity for God’s work to be revealed to us through our faith in him. We just need to believe in faith that God is all powerful and the divine healer in our lives.

Day 135 Bible Readings – John 8: 47 (ESV)

Judges 20 & 21, John 8: 31-59, Psalm 78: 56-72

John 8: 47 (ESV)

“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

In verse 47 from John 8, Jesus tells the Pharisees that only those who belong to God will hear and understand his words, because they have a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ. Biblical scholars call spiritual discernment a gift from God which allows believers to recognize God’s voice. Jesus tells the Pharisees that the reason they do not hear the words of God through Jesus is because they don’t have a relationship with God. Verse 8 must have been so insulting to the Pharisees since they thought they had a relationship with God through being descendants of Abraham and following all the laws set forth in the Torah. When I listen to a live sermon, I do not like to take notes because I feel that I have to listen intently with the head and heart to get the gist of the message. I have to use spiritual discernment when I listen to a sermon. Since the services at my church are streamed live, I sometimes relisten to the sermons that stir me and then take notes so I can reflect further on the message of the sermon. I’ve also had the experience of relistening to sermons I like and getting a very different message from the sermons, and I’ve decided this change means I am deepening my relationship with God and with his word. Verse 8 also explains to me when other people who are not believers do not resonate with a sermon that deeply moved me. And even when I disagree with a sermon, I know I have to use my spiritual discernment to analyze if I am resisting the words of God because of a sin or unbelief that I don’t want to let go.

Day 134 Bible Readings - John 8: 12 meaning

Judges 18 & 19, John 8: 12-30, Psalm 78: 40-55

John 8: 12 (ESV)

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

In verse 8 from John 8 Jesus was again teaching in the temple courts during the Feast of Tabernacles (booths) and told the crowd, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus then says if you follow him, you will not walk in darkness but you will have the light of life. The authors of a Bible Study I read wrote that “light” means guidance and truth, but also eternal life. Jesus serves as an external guide, but he is also the source who will sustain a believer in their spiritual life. Jesus’ role in the world is to reveal truth, guide humanity, and dispel spiritual darkness in his followers. Following Jesus means you need to believe in his teachings which will lead to a life that is illuminated by his truth and presence. Jesus teaches us to choose the path of righteousness and truth in life, and when we do that our life will be abundant and eternal. If you are a follower of Jesus, you need to make conscious choices and decisions that reflect your faith and commitment to Christ.  For me, Jesus has always represented the light in the darkness of my life. As long as I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, my life is filled with light and life.

Day 133 Bible Readings – Psalm 78: 36-39 (ESV)

Judges 16 & 17, John 7: 45-53, John 8: 1-11, Psalm 78: 32-39

Psalm 78: 36-39 (ESV)

“But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.”

In verses 36 through 39 from Psalm 78, we read about the compassion of Father-God to his children. In this historical Psalm written by Asaph who as a singer and musician during the reigns of David and Solomon, we read about how the people of Israel still sinned even after God provided them with quails for meat while they were in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. Then when God told the people of Israel that they would not enter the promised land they repented, and they praised God with their mouths, but their praises were not sincere. The people praised God, but Asaph writes the people were not steadfast and did not follow God’s laws which was part of the covenantal relationship with him. But because God is compassionate, he did not destroy them and restrained his own anger. Father-God remembered that his children were frail and mortal, and that human life was transient and short like the wind. These verses tell us that our Father-God has infinite patient and compassion for us children, and that he will show us mercy while he waits for our repentance. This doesn’t mean that Father-God will not punish us for our sins, but he will hold back his anger because he desires our repentance above all else.

These verses also show us that we need to mirror God’s compassion and mercy in our relationships with other people. We must always ask Father-God for his discernment and guidance when people sin against us. It doesn’t mean we don’t get angry at other people, but we need to show compassion and forgiveness as God has shown us compassion, mercy and forgiveness.  

Day 132 Bible Readings – John 7: 37-39 (ESV)

Judges 14, Judges 15, John 7:14-44, Psalm 78:17-31

John 7: 37-39 (ESV)

“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

In verses 37 and 38 from John 7, Jesus makes an analogy to himself and water during the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles (booths or Sukkot) was celebrated among the people of Israel to remind everyone that God miraculously provided water and food when they made their exodus from Egypt. Jesus says if you are spiritually thirsty, you need to come to him and drink. Jesus says that if you believe in him, he will provide you with rivers of an eternal flow of “living water”. The “living water” is the Holy Spirit which will given to those who believe in him, although it will not be given until he is glorified.

I love these verses because Jesus reminds us that only he can offer us the “living water” or Holy Spirit which we hunger for when we are spiritual thirsty. I was one of those people who explored many different religious and spiritual practices because I had a deep spiritual thirst. Although I was raised as a Christian, I know I need to satisfy for myself if there was something else that was better than Jesus Christ. Other religious and spiritual practices satisfied my hunger for a while but it didn’t last, so I kept searching. After many years of searching, I now know that only the “living water” of Jesus Christ is truly an eternal river that can satisfy my spiritual thirst. But I didn’t come to this conclusion until I was “born again”, and began to truly understand the role of the Holy Spirit in my life. If Christianity is not satisfying your spiritual thirst, find a Christian church that emphasizes the Trinity and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Without a deep understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit and the Trinity, you will always be “spiritually thirsty”.

Day 131 Bible Readings – John 6: 63 (ESV)

Judges 12 & 13, John 6: 60-71, John 7: 1-13, Psalm 78: 9-16

John 6: 63 (ESV)

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

In verse 63 from John 6, the disciples were complaining to Jesus that many of the things he was teaching were hard to accept, and Jesus was explaining to them why his teachings were hard to accept.  Jesus tells his disciples that it is the Holy Spirit who gives life, and that the flesh or human efforts cannot grant life. The writers of a Bible Study I read wrote that “flesh” could also mean adherence to law or traditions, and that you need the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit to understand their spiritual significance. In other words, it would be hard to accept the teaching of Jesus without help from the Holy Spirit. Then Jesus tells them that his words and teachings are spirit and life, meaning that they are transformative because they carry information and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ words are full of spiritual life and power. This verse teaches how important it is for believers to read out loud and study the word of God, because the words themselves are alive with spiritual power and life. The words of God have the power to transform our lives just to speak them out loud, but we need the help of the Holy Spirit to help discern them. We cannot accept or understand God’s words by using our human faculties alone. I know for myself I have a hard time understanding the teachings of Jesus, but when I pray to the Holy Spirit to help me then a whole world and new level of understanding opens up for me.

Day 130 Bible Readings – John 6: 28-29 (ESV)

Judges 10, Judges 11, John 6:25-59, Psalm 78:1-8

John 6: 28-29 (ESV)

“Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

In verses 28 and 29 from John 6 Jesus answer the question from the crowd, who followed him  after the feeding of the 5,000, when they asked him what they must do to do the works of God. Jesus tells them that they need to believe in him whom God sent, which is Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus told them if they want to do the work of God, they need to do anything but first trust him. The Jewish people were used to following the laws of Moses, which were based on performing good works and adhering the laws in the Torah or the first five books Old Testament. Adhering to the laws and doing good works was a pathway to righteousness. The authors of my Bible study wrote that in verse 29, Jesus redefined “work” not as a series of actions but as a single act of faith. Jesus was in essence telling the crowd that salvation is by faith and not be works.

This belief or faith means a personal trust and reliance on Jesus. Jesus shifted the focus of belief from human work and adherence to the law to divine grace and faith to achieve righteousness.  Jesus wants us to have a personal relationship with him, where we trust and believe in his identity and his mission. In shift to divine grace and faith, Jesus made righteousness accessible to all regardless of works, background, and status. Belief in Jesus will transform every area of our life by influencing our decision, our actions, and interactions with other people.

Day 129 Bible Readings – Psalm 77: 11-12 (ESV)

Judges 9, John 6: 1-24, Psalm 77: 10-20

Psalm 77: 11-12 (ESV)

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.”

When I read verses 11 and 12 from Psalm 77, tears came to my eyes. When I read through several Bible studies on this psalm, the Biblical scholars wrote that the message of this psalm is that you shouldn’t brood on your sorrow because it will make you feel broken and disheartened. Instead, you should be determined to remember the miracles of God in your life, think about what happened, and meditate of them. I can feel the anguish in the Psalm prior to these verses, so when the writer of Psalm 77 instead chooses to remember God’s miracles I can also feel how he had to will himself to do it. I know for myself how hard it was to remember how good God has been in my life when I was in the depths of pain and sorrow. But to praise God when you feel broken is the ultimate act of faith because it shows you have total trust that God the father is greater than your feeling of brokenness. That the sorrow and pain you feel is temporary because God is always faithful and will help you find your way to the light once again.

Day 128 Bible Readings – John 5: 45-47

Judges 7:9-25, Judges 8, John 5:30-47, Psalm 76

John 5: 45-47

“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

In verses 45 through 47 from John 5, Jesus tells the religious leaders that he will not accuse them to his Father-God because that is not why he was born on earth. Instead, Jesus tells them that it will be Moses who will accuse them. Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament which is known as the Torah to the Sanhedrin. The Torah is the foundation to the Jewish faith and is the authority for how Jewish people live their live since follow the laws set forth in the Torah which is called “Mosiac law”.  Jesus tells them that since they believe Moses, they should believe him because there were prophecies from Moses of Jesus in the Torah. I love how Jesus told the religious leaders that he is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy including the ones made by Moses in the Torah. Jesus then accuses the religious leaders of not believing the writing of Moses, which is harsh because the Torah is the foundation of their faith and their authority in life. The religious leaders were so focused on having a king like David that they couldn’t accept Jesus. They wanted a king who would free them from Roman rule, and not a king who wanted to free them from sin. I can understand why the religious leaders had a such a hard time accepting Jesus. Sometimes you pray for God to do something in your life and when it doesn’t happen the way you want, you get frustrated and lose faith. Perhaps this is what happened to the religious leaders; they lost their faith in prophecies of Moses since they wanted something other than what Jesus was offering them.

Day 127 Bible Readings – John 5: 19 (ESV)

Judges 6, Judges 7:1-8, John 5:16-29, Psalm 76

John 5: 19 (ESV)

“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

In verse 19 from John 5, we read about Jesus’ response to the religious leaders who were questioning His authority and actions after he healed the crippled man on the Sabbath. Jesus tried to explain to them his relationship with God the father. Jesus first tells them that he is completely dependent on his father, and that he can nothing on his own. Jesus was totally submitted to his father’s will by choice, and not by force or because he had an inferior nature. He and God the father are fully unified. Secondly, Jesus says that he only does what his father is doing, because of their unity and perfect alignment. This unity also means that Jesus and God the father are equal, and that his works are also the works of God. This verse shows me that we can study how God responds and acts through the actions of Jesus. As Jesus imitates God his father, we can imitate Christ with our actions to align with him and his teachings. Jesus’ submission to God his father is a model for a believer to submit his will to God, and to be obedient to him even if it challenges what is normal in current society and even our personal desires.

Day 126 Bible Readings - John 5: 8-9 (ESV)

Judges 4, Judges 5, John 4:43-54, John 5:1-15, Psalm 75

John 5: 8-9 (ESV)

“Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.”

In verses 8 and 9 from John 5, we read about the incredible miracle of Jesus healing the man who had been a cripple for 38 years at the pool on the Sabbath. I love the faith of the crippled man when Jesus told him “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” The man was so obedient to Jesus, who was a total stranger to him. Did he feel his legs come to life? Since he had been crippled for over 30 years, how did he even remember what it felt like to have feelings in his legs. The power of Jesus to heal ailments was so all-encompassing the powerful that I’ve always imagined that Jesus healed not only the man’s crippled legs, but also his mind. There must have been so much resistance in the man’s mind since he had been crippled for 38 years, but Jesus healed his mind so he could immediately feel his legs.

The writers of The Chosen series Season 2 Episode 4 did a great job of showing in a creative way the miracle of Jesus healing a man by the pool. The actor who portrayed the man at the pool looked so dirty, ragged, and sad, that it was easy to imagine that he smelled as bad as he looked. His healing by Jesus looked so dramatic so kudos to the writers and actor who portrayed the man at the pool for making this miracle story such a joy to watch.

Enjoy The Chosen series, Season 2 Episode 4. 

Day 125 Bible Readings – John 4: 27-29 (ESV)

Judges 2:6-23, Judges 3, John 4:27-42, Psalm 74:18-23

John 4: 27-29 (ESV)

“Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

I love this scene of the Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. Verses 27 through 29 shows us her reaction to Jesus when she realizes that he is the Christ, the Messiah. I’ve always wondered how she sounded and what her emotion were when she tells the disciples “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” Her reaction to realizing that Jesus is the Christ was to immediately go out and tell everyone. The Chosen series in Season 2 episode does a recreating in a dramatic and creative way the scene between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. There are words from Scripture in the scenes, but the writers of the Chosen series have also added other dialog for context. Seeing the reaction of the Samaritan woman at the well was so endearing. The actress who played the Samaritan women did a great job of showing her reaction to Jesus. It makes me wonder what my reaction would have been had I come across Jesus in person and realized to whom I was speaking.

Enjoy this wonder dramatization of these verses from The Chosen series Season 2 episode 1.

Day 124 Bible Readings – John 4: 16-19 (ESV)

Judges 1, Judges 2:1-5, John 4:1-26, Psalm 74:10-17

John 4: 16-19 (ESV)

“Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.”

I’ve read the story of the Jesus meeting the woman at the well in Samaria many times, and verses 16 through 19 stood out to me today. Jesus tells the woman at the well to call your husband, and she tell him she has no husband. Then Christ tells the woman at the well her history of being married and that the man she has now is not her husband. The woman confirms that what Jesus said is true and calls him a prophet. These verses show us that we cannot lie to Jesus or try to hide anything from God. God knows us inside and out because he created us, and even without all of our failings and sins he still loves us. We are all children of God, and our heavenly father loves us, wants to help us, and above all wants to have a relationship with us. And like in any good relationship, you cannot hide things from the one who loves you. I think of all the times I’ve wondered in the past if God really sees me or cares what I am doing. Or how I’ve tried to hide from God all the sins I’ve committed by just not mentioning them. I know that God does see me, that he does care about me, and that I can’t hid anything from him. I know that God knows me better than I know myself, and it is after all these years still so surprising that God sees and knows everything about my life and still totally loves me.

Day 123 Bible Readings – John 3: 34-35 (ESV)

Joshua 23 & 24, John 3:22-36, Psalms 74:1-9

John 3: 34-35 (ESV)

“For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.”

In verses 34 and 35 from John 3, John the Baptist tells us we know that Jesus was sent from God because the says the same things as God. Jesus also has the Holy Spirit fully within in because he comes from God. Since Jesus is the son of God, God has given Christ authority over all things. I love these verses from John the Baptist. Jesus was able to perform so many miracles because he had God’s authority. These verses also point to the concept of the Trinity; that God the father, Jesus the son, and Holy Spirit are one being. John the Baptist mentions the Trinity in these verses. But we also know that even though Jesus and God are the same being, Jesus was still subject to his father’s will and divine plan while on earth and that even Jesus did not know fully the plans of God.

Day 122 Bible Readings for May 3 – John 3: 19-21 (ESV)

Joshua 21: 40-45, Joshua 22, John 3: 1-21, Psalm 73: 15-28

John 3: 19-21 (ESV)

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

I love verses 19 through 21 from John 3 and how he compares Jesus to light. John tells us that people love the darkness or sin rather than the light. If you do evil things or sin, you will hate the light and Jesus. On the other hand, the people who love truth and do not love sin will come to the light and Jesus. Anyone who believe in Jesus will love the light and will not do evil things or sin. By comparing Jesus to light, I think John is also telling us that Jesus was crucified because he was exposing the evil deeds of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin wanted to keep sinning and did not want Jesus to keep exposing them. As a follower of Christ, I love thinking of him as the light who is helping me to expose my darkness so I can become more a person of light.

Day 121 Bible Readings – John 2: 23-25 (ESV)

 Joshua 19 & 20, Joshua 21: 1-19, John 2, Psalm 73: 1-14

John 2: 23-25 (ESV)

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.”

In verses 23 through 25 from John 2, we read that Jesus performed many miracles during the Passover feast in Jerusalem which made many people believe in him. But Jesus did not place much faith in people who only believed in him because they saw him perform miracles. Jesus knows what is in our hearts, but he still loves us anyway. The author of a Bible study I read, wrote that Jesus gives us example in these verses on how to have discernment when it comes to people. We need to cautious about trusting people and trust in God’s wisdom to guide us. I think that Jesus also knew that it would be hard to hold on to a faith that is based on seeing miracles. This kind of belief is thin and superficial. Jesus knew that the real test of faith only comes when we can still believe even when things are not going the way we want them to in life. Do we lose our faith when things don’t go our way? Or do we trust in God to know that everything that happens to us, good and bad, is part of God’s plan or can be used by God to further his divine plan.

Day 120 Bible Readings – John 1: 29 (ESV)

Joshua 17 & 18, John 1: 29-51, Psalm 72

John 1: 29 (ESV)

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

In verse 29 from John 1, John the Baptizer saw Jesus and immediately greeted him with his future. Jesus was going to be the lamb that was to be sacrificed so he could take away the sin of the world. It took me a long time to realize that Jesus was the sacrificial lamb, and that both and John the Baptizer knew of his destiny. Did the disciples realize the metaphor of Jesus being the sacrificial lamb when they heard John the Baptizer says these words about Jesus? Since it took me a long time to get the connection, I’m sure they had a hard time getting the connection as well. They all thought at the time that Jesus was going to be like David and be another king. Jesus was going to unify all of Isreal to rise up against the Romans and free them from their occupation. But God had a better plan in mind. Jesus came to free us from the our sins, which is much worse than physical occupation.