S – Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
O – The blind man is healed and Jesus goes looking for him. He didn’t leave him alone to deal with it…he found him to bring him to resolution. Even in his initial disbelief, Jesus answers his questions back to belief.
A – In our unbelief, God goes looking for us. He meets us in where we are and continues to reveal himself until we choose. We all have blind spots. This is a great illustration of God’s heart as he walks with us.
R – Heavenly Father, you are Jehovah Rophe our healer. Thank you for meeting us in our blind spots and helping us to see you more each day
S – Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
John 8:58 -59 ESV
O – Commentary:
Jesus then affirmed His superiority over the prophets and Abraham. Abraham came into being; but when he was born, Jesus was already existing. I Am is a title of Deity (cf. Ex. 3:14; Isa. 41:4; 43:11–13; John 8:28); the Jews’ response (v. 59) showed they understood it that way. Jesus, because of His equality with God (5:18; 20:28; Phil. 2:6; Col. 2:9), existed from all eternity (John 1:1).
8:59. Jesus’ clear affirmation of His deity evoked a crisis. They had to decide whether He was what He claimed or was a blasphemer (cf. 5:18). Stoning was the normal punishment for this sin. The words, but Jesus hid Himself, could refer to a supernatural means of escape. The NIV‘s slipping away (lit., “He went out”) implies ordinary means (cf. 5:13; 10:39; 12:36). Once again His time had not yet come
Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 306–307.
A – Jesus makes the bold statement. He angers the crowd by claiming to be God and their reaction aligns with the custom of the day. One of the attributes of the Holy Spirit is courage. (Isiah 11:2). We need to be bold and courageous when it comes to speaking the truth. We don’t have to be demeaning or disrespectful. We can speak the truth in love, courage and certainty when it lines up with God’s word and character.
R- Heavenly Father, you are the Truth and Life. Empower our words to align with your word and character. Give us courage to speak them with a heart that honors You and people.
S – After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.
John 6:66–69 ESV
O – Commentary:
6:66. His rejecting their desire to make Him their political king; His demand for personal faith; His teaching on atonement; His stress on total human inability and on salvation as a work of God—all these proved to be unpalatable for many people. They gave up being His disciples (“disciples” here refers to followers in general, not to the 12 Apostles; this is evident in v. 67).
6:67. You do not want to leave too, do you? He framed this question to encourage their weak faith. The Twelve were affected by the apostasy of the many, and Jesus used that occasion to refine their faith. They did not fully understand His words either and would not until after the Resurrection (20:9).
6:68–69. Peter, as a spokesman, gave his confession of faith. The path may be difficult, but he was convinced that Jesus’ words lead to life. No one else has the gift of eternal life. “We have believed and have known” is a better translation of the Greek perfect tenses (niv: We believe and know). Peter was confident of the apostles’ commitment to Jesus as the Holy One of God. This title is unusual (a demon addressed Jesus that way; Mark 1:24). It suggests Jesus’ transcendence (“the Holy One”) and His representation of the Father (“of God”); thus it is another way of confessing Him as Messiah
Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 298.
A – Lots of great principles here. Jesus knew they wanted to make him the “earthly” king of the Jews and that was not his mission. As he unveiled God’s plan and claimed to be God in human form, he made them choose who they thought he was. Many today will walk away from God because he isn’t tangible enough. Secondly, this discourse challenged the disciples’ core faith and belief. As believers, our faith is tested by God, the enemy, circumstances and life – all pointing to the same question – “Do you want to leave Jesus too?” Finally, Peter speaks for the disciples and us – When you truly believe in Jesus as a savior, where else can you go to find salvation, relationship with God and eternal life?
R – Heavenly Father, you Holy and Yahweh. There is only you that is God, Savior and the Holy One. We choose you today in the testing of our faith and trust in you. Empower us to grow in our faith and love so as the tests grow, we meet them with more conviction and resolve in our relationship with you.
S – 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
John 5:17–18 CSB
O – Commentary:
But Jesus pointed to the continuous work of God as a justification for His Sabbath activity. God sustains the universe, begets life, and visits judgments. It is not wrong for His Son to do works of grace and mercy on the Sabbath. The words My Father should be noted. Jesus did not say “your Father” or even “our Father.” His opponents did not miss His claim to Diety.
5:18. The Sabbath controversy was enough to cause them to hate Jesus, but the implication of His claim that God is His own Father was impossible for them to accept. To them, God has no equals. Jesus’ claim, in their thinking, was a monstrous blasphemy. To be equal with God suggested, they thought, two gods and therefore polytheism. To make oneself “equal with God” was a claim of arrogant independence.
Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 290.
A – The Jews were right – God has no equal. But, they were wrong, Jesus is God in human flesh. Who would be so arrogant to act like they were God? We do that today. God has given us direction in the Bible and his Holy Spirit to help us live a life that honors God. There are those who reject Jesus all together and those who acknowledge him but live life by their own rules and standards. The big question we will answer is what did we do with Jesus. He said, “I am the way, truth and life.”
R – Heavenly Father, you are God. We acknowledge that Jesus is God and so is the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ role is to be our savior and we accept him. We also choose to live a life according to your word and promptings. Empower us to do that today.
S – But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:23–24 ESV
O – Commentary:
With the advent of the Messiah the time came for a new order of worship. True worshipers are those who realize that Jesus is the Truth of God (3:21; 14:6) and the one and only Way to the Father (Acts 4:12). To worship in truth is to worship God through Jesus. To worship in Spirit is to worship in the new realm which God has revealed to people. The Father is seeking true worshipers because He wants people to live in reality, not in falsehood. Everybody is a worshiper (Rom. 1:25) but because of sin many are blind and constantly put their trust in worthless objects.
4:24. God is Spirit is a better translation than the KJV‘s “God is a Spirit.” God is not one Spirit among many. This is a declaration of His invisible nature. He is not confined to one location. Worship of God can be done only through the One (Jesus) who expresses God’s invisible nature (1:18) and by virtue of the Holy Spirit who opens to a believer the new realm of the kingdom
Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 286.
A – Jesus is the bridge to God in salvation, worship and relationship. Our worship to God is not confined to music. Yet, it is a a whole life that brings honor and glory to him. We have the Holy Spirit to empower us to use every aspect of our life as a way to give back to God the reverence he deserves.
R – Heavenly Father, you are worthy of our worship. You alone are God and worthy of our worship. Empower every aspect of our lives to point back to you our reverence and awe of your character, power and love. We worship you through your son, Jesus. We love you today.
S – Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
John 3:5–7 ESV
O – Commentary:
Various views are given to explain Jesus’ words about being born of water and the Spirit: (1) The “water” refers to the natural birth, and the “Spirit” to the birth from above. (2) The “water” refers to the Word of God (Eph. 5:26). (3) The “water” refers to baptism as an essential part of regeneration. (This view contradicts other Bible verses that make it clear that salvation is by faith alone; e.g., John 3:16, 36; Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:5.) (4) The “water” is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37–39). (5) The “water” refers to the repentance ministry of John the Baptist, and the “Spirit” refers to the application by the Holy Spirit of Christ to an individual.
The fifth view has the merit of historical propriety as well as theological acceptability. John the Baptist had stirred the nation by his ministry and stress on repentance (Matt. 3:1–6). “Water” would remind Nicodemus of the Baptist’s emphasis. So Jesus was saying that Nicodemus, in order to enter the kingdom, needed to turn to Him (repent) in order to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
3:6–7. There are two distinct realms: one is of fallen man (the flesh) and the other is of God (the Spirit). A fallen person cannot regenerate himself; he needs a divine operation. Only God’s Holy Spirit can regenerate a human spirit.
People should not stumble at or reject the importance of Jesus’ words. They must be born from above. The necessity is absolute and is universally binding.
Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 281.
A – Jesus lays out how to have access to “The Kingdom of God” on earth and heaven. Repentance and the work of the Holy Spirit to regenerate us are the essential components. A challenge for Nicodemus who had hundreds of years of Jewish history and culture to overcome. A challenge for us because it is so simplistic we wonder is it true and necessary. We all have a choice to make and live out.
R – Heavenly Father, you are the source of repentance and new life. We choose both from you today. We repent of our sin, human failures and actions of our own will. We invite your Holy Spirit to make us new in you and give us a new character that aligns with you. We want to live a life that exemplifies our love for you and others.
S – “…and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”
John 2:10–11 ESV
O – Bible Dictionary: “signs” –
Mighty works (δυνάμεις). The supernatural works of Christ and his apostles are denoted by six different words in the New Testament, exhibiting these works under different aspects and from different points of view. These will be considered in detail as they occur. Generally, a miracle may be regarded: 1. As a portent or prodigy (τέρας); as Acts 7:36, of the wonders shown by Moses in Egypt. 2. As a sign (σημεῖον), pointing to something beyond itself, a mark of the power or grace of the doer or of his connection with the supernatural world. So Matt. 12:38. 3. As an exhibition of God’s glory (ἔνδοξον), Luke 13:17; glorious things. 4. As a strange thing (παράδοξον), Luke 5:26. 5. As a wonderful thing (θανμάσιον), Matt. 21:15. 6. As a power (δύναμις); so here: a mighty work.
A – Jesus began his ministry with a sign similar to Moses, who turned water into blood. Jesus turned it into wine (could be symbolism of the new covenant he was ushering in.). It “manifested his glory” and the disciples believed. It wasn’t his time, his idea, for his own benefit and it wasn’t made as a spectacle to draw attention to himself. Yet, in the quiet of a couple words, he changed the entire situation and those close to him took a step closer in belief. That is what he can do for us in our disbelief or need of a reminder of who He is.
R – Heavenly Father, you are glorious and worthy of our faith and honor. We recognize our own disbelief can challenge this in you. Empower us to grow in our faith and trust so we don’t put limitations on you. We give you all honor and glory.
S – He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:11–13 ESV
O – Commentary:
In some ways this is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. The Logos went to His own home but He had no welcome. Jesus went to His own people, the nation Israel, but they as a whole rejected Him. In rejecting Him, they refused to accept Him as the Revelation sent by the Father and refused to obey His commands. Isaiah long before had prophesied of this Jewish national unbelief: “Who has believed our message?” (Isa. 53:1)
1:12. That unbelief, however, was not universal. Some received Jesus’ universal invitation. To all who accepted Jesus as the Revealer of the Father’s will and as the Sacrifice for sin, He gave the right to become children of God. The word “right” (exousian) is a needed improvement over the KJV‘s “power,” and “children” (tekna) is better than the KJV‘s “sons.” People are not naturally children of God but can become so by receiving the gift of the new birth.
1:13. The new birth does not come by natural descent (lit., “of bloods”), nor is it the result of a human decision (lit., “the will of the flesh,” i.e., the natural human desire for children), nor is it the result of a husband’s will. The birth of a child of God is not a natural birth; it is a supernatural work of God in regeneration. A person welcomes Jesus and responds in faith and obedience to Him, but the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit is “the cause” of regeneration (3:5–8)
Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 272–273.
A – Jesus was rejected by his own people and is also rejected today. People make a choice on accepting him as God or they do not. Those that do become children of God with the benefits of being a “family” member. This is a work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot do it. God alone does the work in us so we can be in relationship with him.
R – Heavenly Father, you are God. We choose you today and aceept that Jesus is your son, God in human form. We want the relationship with you that accepting Christ offers. We want that relationship to grow and flourish today.
A new year with a clean slate of opportunities, challenges, times of wonder and moments of reflection! I am challenging myself to write a weekly blog. Not sure what the topic will be but rest assured it will reflect the week that I just experienced. You may find it boring, entertaining, gratifying or just wonder that God uses people like me in ministry. Let’s find out what 2026 looks like from my lens of my life together, through this blog.
I am writing this hours before doing a wedding for a young man that I have known for the entire thirty one years that Kristin and I have been in Tampa. He was five when I met him. As we were enjoying the stories from loved ones during the rehearsal dinner, God unloaded a wonderful principle to me. His sister was sharing about their relationship – it was amazing – funny and full of passion for her brother. She then made this statement – (I changed his name) “I love Bob! When something is happening and Bob was there, I wanted to be there too. Now that Bob is marrying Wilma (changed hers too), I want to be there when Bob and Wilma are there!” She recognized that her brother wasn’t doing life alone anymore. He picked this tremendous woman to be his bride and wife. In their courtship, they unpacked the ways the complimented each other. Even before they were married, they demonstrated a unity that was so healthy and good for the other person. Now, as they take that step before God and their loved ones, his sister recognized that unity and it made her take a step towards both of them.
I have been working through the joy she in how she expressed it last night. What a positive, vibrant statement about a couple to recognized they need each other. The need allows an openness by both of them to vulnerably welcome the other person to fill that void in their lives. The result is a relationship that is founded on love, respect and authenticity.
Here is my question – Isn’t it the same that Christ does for us? Doesn’t he meet us where we are at and see the “void” in our lives and offer to fill it? He doesn’t ask us to change ourselves or clean up our act so we can be in relationship with Him? He just wants a relationship with us based on love, respect and authenticity. In the end, there will be a joy in that relationship because it is mutually giving back forth with us and God. And like the sister demonstrated, others will notice something about that relationship and be drawn to it.
S – Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem
Luke 24:45–47 CSB
O – Jesus allows them to understand the Old Testament scriptures in a new way. Through those texts, he demonstrated how he was indeed the Messiah. Then, he outlines how the message of repentance and forgiveness is for all nations.
A – Like a good mystery, the reveal of all that Jesus was doing before the cross comes to understanding. Each of us face mysteries in our own lives as we seek to honor God daily. As we continue to press into God, he will show us what we need to know to accomplish his will.
R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you. Give us greater understanding of your word and character so we may do your will. Open our minds and hearts to see your direction and to follow it without hesitation.
Just Add Water . Chris Bonham 