In this passage, we see that the Jewish leaders hated Jesus because they didn't understand what Jesus was saying and because they did understand what Jesus was saying. We have a choice before us: We will either love Jesus, or we will hate Jesus. As Jesus presents himself to us as the "I AM," may our hearts and eyes be open to see Jesus for who he truly is, and to live like we actually believe it.
In this passage, Jesus continues to say really hard things. But it's a good reminder that what we need is the truth of the gospel - that Jesus Christ lived the perfect life we could not live, that he died the death we deserved to die, and that he was raised from the dead in victory over sin and death, so that all who believe in him can be in the presence of a holy God forever and ever. This is the truth that will set you free.
In this passage, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." We live in a world that is increasingly dark and confusing. If we are stumbling in the darkness, we can embrace the light of the world in the person of Jesus Christ who alone can bring us out of darkness and into his marvelous light.
We come to a passage of Scripture that almost certainly is not in the Bible. But in this passage, we find the same good news that is found all throughout Scripture. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. We are free, not to keep on sinning, but to live a transformed life in Christ.
In this passage, Jesus invites all who are spiritually thirsty to come to him and drink. Do we know that we are thirsty? Many people realize that they are thirsty, but they try and quench their thirst in their own way. But we are invited to come to Jesus Christ, and to drink long and deep from the well of salvation, where we will find our soul's thirst truly satisfied.
In this passage, we see many different responses to Jesus. Whether we are opposed to Jesus, skeptical of Jesus, curious about Jesus, confused about Jesus, or indifferent towards Jesus, we are invited to respond in faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who came into the world to save sinners. What is our response to Jesus?
In this passage, Jesus addresses the nature of true discipleship. Whereas a fan of Jesus will abandon Jesus when they are confronted with something about Him they don't like, a disciple of Jesus will stay with Jesus because there is no one else who can offer the hope and peace that Christ provides. Do you want to go away as well, or do you want to come to Jesus who alone has the words of eternal life?
In this passage, Jesus is willing to be misunderstood. His discourse on eating His flesh and drinking His blood is actually an invitation into an abiding relationship with Him. Just as we wouldn't normally go one day without earthly food, so also we must not go one day without Christ. If we're spiritually hungry, and we know that we're spiritually hungry, then we should come to Christ and feast on Him by faith, for He alone can satisfy.
In this passage, Jesus confronts the crowd's misunderstanding of Him. They had asked for a daily dose of bread from heaven, but what Jesus came to give them was eternal life and the promise of resurrection from the dead. Is Jesus your bread of life? Is He your sustenance? Is He your eternal security? Only in Jesus will we find our fulfillment and satisfaction.
In this passage, we see two familiar miracles of Jesus - the feeding of the five thousand, and Jesus walking on water. We are being invited in these verses to trust in Jesus' sufficiency and sovereignty - how the One who fed the multitude and who calmed the storm is able to meet our needs and guide us through our storms. This is the kind of Saviour Jesus is – One who is more than enough. But do we believe Jesus is more than enough for us?