Covering John 10:14-27, Jesus continues on with the metaphorical teaching of  Him being the Shepherd and we the sheep.  The primary focus of what Jesus was trying to tell those around him was that a true follower of Jesus will hear and know His voice .  How do we hear the voice of the Shepherd, Jesus Christ?  This message will focus on the various ways we can know if Jesus is talking to us.

Covering Jn. 9:32-41, after the Pharisees threw the blind man whom Jesus had healed out of the assembly; Jesus sought out the man. Having already healed him physically, He then healed his spiritual blindness as well. Jesus then turns his attention to the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. What is the judgment that Jesus said was the reason He came into the world? John chapter 9 shows us that the blind man’s discovery of Jesus goes through three stages that mirrors our own. What role does Jesus serve in your own journey?

Covering Jn. 9:1-12, The disciples pointed out a man born blind to Jesus and asked “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” It is hard for us to comprehend why God allows things in our world; a child born with a defect or disease, a natural disaster that takes the lives of many, cancer, suffering; or why God allows our enemy to continue to wreak havoc in our world. Does our sin cause this? These are all difficult questions to answer and perhaps not all questions allow for the same answer. Jesus responded in this instance, that neither the man nor his parents sinned, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life”. That is the one certainty that we have: God continues to be at work and is very active in displaying His power in our lives!

 

Covering Jn. 7:25-39, Jesus proclaims those who are thirsty for the Spirit of God should come to him and drink. Thirst (Have a deep desire for); Come to Jesus (ask for and seek it); Drink (believe and receive it). The baptism of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life is essential to being His witnesses.

Jesus’ brothers suggested to Jesus that he should go to Judea during the Feast of Tabernacles and “show yourself to the world” so they may see the miracles you do as any self-respecting person who wants to be a public figure would do! Jesus replies that it is not the right time. Jesus was very aware of the Father’s timing. This happening during the Feast of the Tabernacles is not a minor detail either. This particular Jewish feast says volumes concerning God’s perfect timing!

 

Jesus walks on water; Peter begins to do the extraordinary; then loses sight of Jesus instead focusing on his circumstance and begins to sink; the disciples’ hearts do not fully understand and are hardened. All of this in the midst of amazing miracles, salvation, and provision from Jesus! The three Gospel accounts of Jesus’ walking on water point to hardened hearts that have trouble believing because of circumstances.

Jesus heals the invalid at the pool of Bethesda. Centering around the dialog of Jesus and the paralyzed man; Jesus asks "Do you want to get well?" The man replies, "I have no one to help me". Jesus continues to ask if we want to get well. We continue to look for help outside of Jesus.