Jesus, in describing Himself in contrast to the Pharisees, highlights a third role which the reader naturally places themselves in. That would be the role of the sheep.14 I am the good shepherd; and I...  Read More

The language used in this passage is very reminiscent of some Old Testament passages that would have drawn the readers attention. Passages like Jeremiah 23 condemns the shepherds that have scattered t...  Read More

Jesus continues in His discourse concerning the shepherd analogy. Drawing this critical distinction, Jesus is highlighting how the Pharisees fail to care for people. They are a counterfeit while He is...  Read More

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and...  Read More

If you who claim Christ have enemies around you seeking to steal, kill, and destroy, then your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ do as well. Pray for one another. Pray for the church. Pray for you...  Read More

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godline...  Read More

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.-John 10:10This is a verse that has been taken o...  Read More

The message that Jesus is giving is one that has been consistent throughout the whole book of John, and it will continue to be. He is the only way in which mankind can be saved. The Pharisees were put...  Read More

There are a lot of connections to historical references in this passage. However, the immediate context provides an interesting angle for how this conversation is taking place. Just prior to this disc...  Read More

In this section, Jesus is continuing his discourse with the Pharisees from the man who was blind being healed. He makes some clear statements that place the opponents of Jesus face-to-face with the co...  Read More

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the s...  Read More

I want to encourage us to pray that our eyes and ears would be opened and we would see and hear what the Lord is doing. We as believers have the responsibility to be attentive to the Lord and believe ...  Read More

There is a very tough challenge in the application of this practice. The Christian skeptic has been so highly elevated in our churches today that we are almost more commended for finding a natural ans...  Read More

It is unfortunate how quickly pride can come in and interrupt belief. As it did for the Pharisees is how it happens for us today.  The ironic part of it all is that I have so many "opening my eyes" ki...  Read More

The contrast between belief and unbelief, and the contrast between sight and blindness would be prominent to the reader of the time. It is a very clear message all throughout the Old Testament. Consid...  Read More

To the larger context, John is speaking into the narrative of Jesus fulfilling the role of the Messiah and the war between belief and unbelief. It is important to remember what John's goal in writing ...  Read More

After Jesus heals the blind man, this passage follows the reaction of the people as a result of this healing. People recognized the man and knew him as one who used to beg. He was poor and dependent a...  Read More

8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”He said, “I am he.”10 T...  Read More

Let pray for one another in our sufferings. Intercede on behalf of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for strength. Pray for endurance. Pray for healing. If you are in need of prayer, I encoura...  Read More

It is a fact that comfort is comfortable. It is easy to get caught up in comforts and become distressed when things get uncomfortable. I have been challenged many times over to pray differently when s...  Read More

Scholars and apologists have long studied the Scriptures in the pursuit of answering the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" There are a myriad of answers to this question and many ha...  Read More

Aside from the clear point John is making of Jesus being the Messiah, there is also the challenge of the previously held tradition that blindness was the direct result of sin. It was a widely held bel...  Read More

5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.6Then the lame shall leap like a deer,And the tongue of the dumb sing.For waters shall burst forth in the wilder...  Read More

The events that transpire in this section is laden with traditionally held beliefs being challenged by Jesus. While Jesus and His disciples are walking, they pass a man who was blind from birth. As wa...  Read More