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.

Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 1 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 66.

“glory” – dŏxa, glory (as very apparent):— dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

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.

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.

S – And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine ³⁷ and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!

Luke 23:35–37 ESV

O – Bible Dictionary:
“Safe” – sōzō; to save, i.e. deliver or protect (lit. or fig.):— heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

To the people murdering him, the sign of his power was for him to save himself.

A – He did save himself…for you and I.  He made an exchange with the powers of evil – you kill me and everyone else is “safe.”  Everyone has the opportunity for deliverance, protection, preservation, be well and made whole.  Me for you.  What the enemy didn’t understand in the end of the exchange, he didn’t have the ability to keep him in the grave. He did exactly what the leaders, scoffers and those who held him in contempt asked him to do…he saved himself, proving he was the Chosen One.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the One, True God.  No matter the form of a God, Messiah or Holy Spirit, there is none like you.  Thank you for your incredible mercy, grace and love for us that compelled you to exchange you for us.  We didn’t deserve it but we are grateful you did it.  We choose you today.

S – ²² For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” ²³ And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. 

 Luke 22:22–23 ESV

O – Commentary:

Jesus had to die, for His death was the basis of salvation for all mankind and the only means for lifting the curse of sin. But the betrayer was accountable for his actions.

 John A. Martin, “Luke,” 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), 259.

A – This is a pivotal moment in the story of Jesus going to the cross.  It is a perfect blend of God’s sovereignty and man having free will.  Jesus knew the plan was for him to go to the cross  but the betrayer had to decide to betray him based on his own beliefs and convictions.  God uses all things – good and bad – to his his will accomplished.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Sovereign.  Help us grow in our heart and convictions about the things that matter to you.  Our desire is for our character to become more like you so that our choices will be more like yours as well.

S – Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, ² and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. ³ And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. ⁴ For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” 

Luke 21:1–4 ESV

O – Jesus “saw” the woman.   His observation was in the physical realm (what she was doing) and the realm beyond the natural.  He sees us in all realms.  Man looks at the outside but God looks at the heart.

A – Many times in Luke, Jesus tells the physical and spiritual dynamic of a situation.  He has that ability to do that with us as we go through our day.  When we invite the Holy Spirit into our day, we can do the same thing.  We can participate in the physical realm while being lead by the Holy Spirit in the spiritual realm through discernment and promptings.  It isn’t weird and spooky – it aligns with God’s character and word.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all knowing and all powerful.  We invite your Holy Spirit to give us discernment and leading to operate in the physical and spiritual realms.  We want to impact our environments today with your love, compassion and courage.

S – Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” ²³ But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, ²⁴ “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” ²⁵ He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

Luke 20:22–25 ESV

O – Commentary:

Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? But this question was not merely about money. It pertained to politics and religion as well. If Jesus gave either a yes or a no answer He would lose support. If He said it was proper to pay taxes to Caesar, a foreign ruler (viz., Tiberius Caesar, a.d. 14–37), the zealots (who opposed Roman rule and favored Jewish autonomy) would be offended by His answer. If He answered that it was not proper to pay taxes (which the religious leaders might have suspected because He had been teaching about the kingdom), then the Romans would be displeased and the religious leaders would be able to turn Him over to their authority.

Jesus, pointing to the portrait and inscription of Caesar on a denarius coin (cf. 7:41; 10:35), answered in the affirmative: Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But He also used the occasion to teach that one should give to God the thing that bears His image—oneself (and to God what is God’s).

This astonishing answer silenced the spies (20:26). Interestingly the religious leaders used this incident against Jesus in His trial

 John A. Martin, “Luke,” 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), 255.

A – The brilliance of this answer continues to amaze.  Hearing the context of the question and realizing there wasn’t a “right” answer, Jesus gave the perfect response.  That is discernment, wisdom, knowledge, and courage all working at the same time.  All of those are characteristics of the Holy Spirit empowering Jesus to navigate the difficult question.  We have the same opportunity to act with such qualities when we invite the Holy Spirit into our day and empower us in such situations.

R – Heavenly Father, the Lord God is One.  Thank you for Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the roles they play in our daily lives.  We invite the Holy Spirit to empower us in all situations with wisdom, discernment, knowledge and courage.  Help us to impact others in a way that draw them to you.