John 12: Is Your Soul Troubled?
Verse of the Day: (V27) “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.”
1. Spikenard (V1-22)
V3 “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”
When Mary anointed Jesus with an expensive ointment of spikenard or perfume, Jesus knew that she understood His impending death. The spikenard was used by the rich for the burial of their dead. Mary’s willingness to invest in the spikenard demonstrated her belief that Jesus was the Son of God. However the disciples were shocked, particularly Judas Iscariot who later betrayed Jesus, as they thought that it was a real waste of money.
V7 “Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.”
2. Soul (V23-36)
V27 “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.”
Jesus’ soul was troubled as He who was sinless was about to die for the sins of the whole world. However, Jesus humbly obeyed God, His Father’s will, and went to the cross to shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world, and thereby glorified His Father.
V28 “Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
3. Save (V37-50)
V47 “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”
Jesus told the people that He came to this world not to judge them, but to save them. Though the people had sinned against God, yet God loves the world that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for their sins. Jesus’ first coming to this earth was as a Son of man to save the whole world. Whosoever therefore believes in Jesus shall not perish, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. However, Jesus’ second coming to this earth shall be as the King of kings and the Lord of lords to judge the sins of the whole world.
V48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, I commit my troubled soul to You, and fully trust You for everything.
John 11: Who Is The Resurrection?
Verse of the Day: (V25) “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall be live:”
1. Rise (V1-24)
V17 “Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.”
Before Jesus could heal Lazarus, Martha and Mary’s brother, Lazarus died. The sisters wept for their brother’s death, and they were thinking that if only Jesus was with Lazarus, he would not have died. However, when Jesus went to Lazarus after he was dead for four days, He miraculously raised him from the dead. Indeed, Jesus is truly the Son of God.
2. Resurrection (V25-46)
V25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead because Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Jesus is truly the Son of God who gives life, and not just life on earth, but life everlasting in heaven if we believe and receive Him as our Saviour. Whosoever believes in Jesus, though he may die physically on earth, yet his soul will live forever with God in heaven.
V26 “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
3. Romans (V47-57)
V48 “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”
The religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus’ influence over the people of Israel, as Jesus performed many miracles. They were fearful that the Romans, who at that time had great influence over Israel, would remove them from power if they failed to stop Jesus’ influence over the people. The Romans and the religious leaders believed that Jesus would be the next King of Israel, and He would rally the people to undermine the Romans’ influence over Israel. Hence, the religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus for their own survival. However, this was the fulfilment of prophesy, as Jesus, the Son of God, was subsequently crucified, and He shed His blood for the sins of the world. Whosoever truly believes in Jesus shall never perish, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven.
V51 “And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are the Resurrection, and I believe in You.
John 10: Do You Know The Good Shepherd?
Verse of the Day: (V11) “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
1. Shepherd (V1-21)
V10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Jesus declared that He was the good Shepherd who loved His sheep, and willingly gave His life for them. Indeed, Jesus left the throne of heaven to live among man, and subsequently died on the cruel cross and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. Whosoever therefore believes in Jesus shall never perish, but shall have abundant life with Him now and ( forever in heaven. Jesus warned the people to watch out for the thief or the hireling or the devil, who would come and steal their joy and peace, and eventually would destroy and kill them, and condemn their souls to the fiery pits of hell.
V11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
2. Sheep (V22-30)
V27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
Jesus, the good Shepherd, assures His sheep that He will always be with them, and they will hear His voice and follow Him. Once we believe and receive Jesus as our personal Saviour and Lord, we will be God’s children forever, and no one, not even the devil, can take away our abundant life, and relationship with Him. Indeed, God knows His precious sheep, and only those who trust and obey Him, are truly His sheep and His children.
V29 “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
3. Stone (V31-42)
V31 “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.”
Though Jesus time and again declared that He was the Son of God, many of the Jews stubbornly refused to believe Him, and instead they tried to stone Him to death for blasphemy. The Jews were blinded by the devil, and insisted that Jesus was just a man, and not God. In fact, they plotted to kill Jesus, however this was exactly God’s perfect plan of redemption for mankind. Indeed Jesus must be betrayed and crucified so that He could shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. Whosoever therefore believes in Jesus will never perish, but have everlasting life with Him in heaven one day.
V33 “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for being my good Shepherd who gave Your life for me.
John 9: Who Sin?
Verse of the Day: (V3) “Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”
1. Sin (V1-12)
V1 “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.”
Jesus explained to His disciples that the man who was born blind was not because he had sinned against God, or that his parents had sinned, but that God had a purpose for him to be born blind. After Jesus had miraculously healed the blind man, he and his parents and those who witnessed the miracle began to glorify God. Let us therefore not go around judging others who are blind or handicap as though they have sinned against God, or their parents have sinned, but to know that God has a purpose for them to be blind or handicap. Even if Jesus did not physically heal them, He will heal their spiritual blindness, so that they will have everlasting life with Him if they believe that He is the Saviour of the world.
V3 “Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”
2. Sabbath (V13-38)
V14 “And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.”
The Pharisees not only refused to believe that Jesus had healed the blind man, but they falsely accused Him of breaking the sabbath, which was a day of rest and no one should work. However, they failed to realise that Jesus was healing the blind man and giving him sight and salvation. Jesus is indeed the Physician, the God of sabbath and salvation.
V33 “If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.”
3. See (V39-41)
V39 “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees who saw Jesus miraculously healing the blind man, yet they stubbornly refused to believe that Jesus was the Son of God. They were spiritually blinded with their sins and unbelief. Indeed, let us have the eyes of faith, and believe that Jesus is truly the Son of God who came to this world to live, suffer, and subsequently died on the cruel cross, and shed His blood for the sins of the world. Whosoever therefore believes in Jesus shall never perish, but have everlasting life with Him for all eternity.
V41 “Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for saving a sinner who was once blind, but now I see.
John 8: Who Is Without Sin?
Verse of the Day: (V7) “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
1. Sin (V1-11)
V7 “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
The scribes and Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus as they brought a woman caught in adultery. They asked Jesus whether they should stone her to death as in the Law of Moses, or to have Jesus forgave her sins since He claimed to be God. Jesus told them to cast a stone at the woman if they had no sin. Jesus then wrote on the ground, and whatever He wrote, it must have convicted them of their own sins, as one by one, they left Jesus with the woman. Indeed, only Jesus can forgive our sins, as He died and shed His blood for our sins. Let us repent our sins, and believe and receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour.
V11 “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
2. Son (V12-32)
V28 “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”
Though Jesus told the Pharisees that He was the Son of God, and He did everything for His Father, they refused to believe Him. They failed to understand God’s prophecies that Jesus’ first coming to earth was to die for the sins of the whole world, and that only at His second coming shall He come as the King of kings to rule His kingdom on the new earth.
V29 “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”
3. Stones (V33-59)
V58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
Jesus proclaimed to the Pharisees that He was before Abraham, in other words, He was God, since Abraham died many years ago. They refused to believe that Jesus was God, and they took up stones to kill him. Jesus then went into hiding, and eventually left them.
V59 “Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for forgiving my sins, and saving a sinner like me.
John 7: Are You Thirsty?
Verse of the Day: (V37) “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
1. Time (V1-13)
V6 “Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.”
Jesus referred His time as the time of His death on the cross, while his brothers’ time was the time of attending the Jews’ feast of tabernacles which was a great feast of celebration thanking God for His great deliverance of the people of Israel out of Egypt. Jesus did not go with his brothers to the feast, because He was preparing Himself to be offered as the ultimate sacrifice on the cruel cross, and to shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world. On the third day, Jesus would then be raised from the dead, and whosoever believes in Him shall never perish, but have everlasting life with Him for all eternity.
V8 “Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.”
2. Thirst (V14-39)
V37 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
At the end of the feast, Jesus invited the people that whosoever would come to Him and drink of His living water shall never thirst and perish, but shall have everlasting life with Him. Jesus was prophesying His death, burial and resurrection, and indeed, whosoever would believe in Him shall have rivers of living water or the Holy Ghost in him forever.
V38 “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
3. Town (V40-53)
V41 “Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?”
The people of Israel failed to realise that it was the fulfilment of God’s words and prophecies that Jesus was indeed Jesus Christ, the seed of David, and from the town of Bethlehem, though He was often seen at Galilee. God’s words and prophecies are always true and accurate, however, it is man who often fails to understand and comprehend them.
V42 “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You have quenched my thirst now and forever.
John 6: Who Is The Bread Of Life?
Verse of the Day: (V35) “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
1. Baskets (V1-21)
V9 “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”
Jesus had compassion for the five thousand people who followed Him. Not only did He teach them God’s Word, and healed their diseases, He also fed them while they were with Him. When Jesus knew of a boy who had five loaves and two fishes, He took the food, and gave thanks to God, and began to distribute to His disciples, who in turn distributed to the multitude. All in all, they not only miraculously fed the five thousands, but they had remainders that filled up to twelve baskets full! Indeed, Jesus is truly the Son of God.
V13 “Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.”
2. Bread (V22-65)
V32 “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.”
The people of Israel thought that the manna that God supplied from heaven to feed them during their forty years in the wilderness was the true bread from heaven. But Jesus told them that the manna was not the true bread, as only He was the true Bread. God sent His Son, Jesus, from heaven to earth, to live among man, and then to die and shed His blood for the sins of the world. When we believe in Jesus, the true Bread of Life, we shall never hunger or thirst again, because He shall forever satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst.
V35 “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
3. Betray (V66-71)
V70 “Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
The twelve disciples were shocked when Jesus told them that one of them would actually betray Him, because Jesus was such a loving, compassionate and understanding Master.
V71 “He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I shall never hunger because You are my Bread of Life.
John 5: Who Make You Whole?
Verse of the Day: (V15) “The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.”
1. Whole (V1-16)
V5 “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.”
There was a man who had an illness for thirty eight years, and had been waiting by a pool called Bethesda to be healed. At a certain time, an angel would come to the pool to stir the water, and whoever reached the pool first, shall be healed. This man waited for thirty eight years, and each time when he got closer to the pool, someone else would have gone into the pool, and was healed. This was why he was thankful to Jesus as Jesus immediately made him whole without him going to the pool. Hence, he believed that Jesus was the Son of God who could make him not only physically but spiritually whole.
V15 “The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.”
2. Will (V17-38)
V19 “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”
Jesus explained to the Jews that whatever works He was doing, He was doing all for God, the Father, and not for Himself. Indeed, Jesus left the throne of heaven to live among the people, then taught and preached to them, healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, and subsequently was betrayed, arrested, crucified, buried and rose again, was all according to the will of God. There was nothing that Jesus did which was for Himself.
V30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
3. Words (V39-47)
V44 “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”
Jesus rebuked the Jews that instead of honouring and praising Him as He was the Son of God, they were honouring and praising one another. Jesus knew that their hearts were hardened. They refused to hear and obey Jesus’ words, just like they refused to believe in Moses’ writings when Moses had time and again mentioned Him as the Son of God.
V47 “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that the Lord Jesus Christ has made me spiritually whole.
John 4: Who Is The Saviour Of The World?
Verse of the Day: V42 “And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
1. Samaria (V1-30)
V4 “And he must needs go through Samaria.”
During Jesus’ time, no Jew would go through Samaria in order to get to Galilee, because the Jews despised the Samaritans who were mostly poor and of a mixed multitude as a result of the intermarriage between the Jews and the Gentiles. However, Jesus, being a Jew, did not despise the Samaritans and still chose to go through Samaria, because He knew that there was a Samaritan woman as well as the entire city of Samaria, who needed to hear His message of salvation, and believe and receive Him as their Christ and Saviour.
V29 “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”
2. Saviour (V31-42)
V41 “And many more believed because of his own word;”
When the Samaritan woman introduced Jesus Christ to the people in the city of Samaria, they quickly went to Jesus to see for themselves whether Jesus was truly Christ, the Saviour of the world. When they finally saw and heard Jesus, they immediately believed that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Saviour, and in particular, their personal Saviour.
V42 “And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
3. Seventh (V43-54)
V52 “Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
A nobleman went to Jesus believing that Jesus would heal his dying son. When he returned home, his servants told him that his son was healed. When he enquired of them of the hour his son was healed, they told him he was healed at the seventh hour, which was exactly the same hour which Jesus said to him that his son shall be heal. As a result, he and his entire family truly believed that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, the Saviour.
V53 “So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that the Lord Jesus Christ is my personal Saviour.
John 2: Do You Believe In Miracles? Verse of the Day: V23 “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.”
1. Marriage (V1-14)
V2 “And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.”
Jesus performed His first miracle at His friend’s marriage when He turned water into wine, and immediately His disciples believed on Him. Jesus was helpful when He was on earth, as He did not hesitate to help the bridegroom when there was no wine for his guests.
V11 “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”
2. Merchandise (V15-22)
V15 “And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;”
Jesus was angry with the people because they had made the house of God as the house of merchandise. Instead of praying and worshipping in God’s house, they were buying and selling their merchandise, such as sheep, oxen and doves, and changing money. They were more interested in making money and enriching themselves materially, than seeking God and enriching themselves spiritually. Hence Jesus chased them out of God’s house. Indeed, let us make God’s house as the house of prayer for us to worship and pray to Him.
V16 “And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”
3. Miracles (V23-25)
V23 “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.”
Though many believed in Jesus because He had performed many miracles, yet Jesus did not fully believe them as He knew the hearts of man. He knew that many of them only believed Him because they had witnessed His miracles of turning water into wine, healing the blind, raising the dead, etc., but deep down in their hearts, they had doubts. Indeed, when Jesus was betrayed, arrested and subsequently crucified, many of His disciples forsook Him. Let us know that God can truly perform miracles not just in the past, but in the present, as well as the future, and there is nothing impossible with God.
V24 “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, I believe in miracles and there is nothing impossible with You.
