Are you one of the sheep? I know of many who struggle with whether they are saved or not… I feel that this passage should help with that (not this passage alone – we will get to Romans later). Jesus is saying that His sheep know His voice. We know Him and know that He is our answer for salvation. Many that I speak to are struggling because their actions don’t always honor God, so they question salvation. We are on a lifelong journey of becoming more like Him. That takes time! However, at the same time, we are saved if we cling to Him as our source for salvation. The longer we do that, we look and act more like the sheep we are supposed to be: loved by Him and welcomed in.

Are you His sheep?

The drama unfolding in this passage… a man receives sight, the leaders freak, Jesus makes them all look dumb and the blind man does the same. He is amazing!

Two quick things: the Sabbath and judgment.

People keep saying Jesus doesn’t keep the Sabbath and therefore can’t be of God. It has come up before and has been dealt with in various ways on this blog. Today, I just want to point out that the only people who are saying this are those that claim to have a corner on interpretation of the law. They tell others how it should be understood. Yet Jesus is the embodiment of the law (fulfillment and perfect follower of it) so His interpretation would trump theirs, right? If Jesus heals on the Sabbath, He knows if He has broken the law (which He hasn’t) and chooses not to defend that, but to challenge their thinking in other ways. We must learn this and practice it – you can’t tell someone they are wrong too often and get the results you want, they often must come to that conclusion themselves. Jesus allows this, which shows how much He loves them! He wants them to turn to Him and will use any tactic available! Let’s pray that we follow the Spirit’s leading and do likewise.

Judgment is a common theme in John, but 9:39 and 12:47 seem at odds with one another at first. Yet they aren’t at odds at all. The passage of 12:47ff explains that Jesus did not come to judge, but that the world is judged by His presence. His being on this planet shows us our failure and need for a Savior. This is judgment! So He didn’t come to judge (action) but came to save (action). However, we are judged (status) by His walking on this planet. In His perfection and glory, we see our shortcomings and sin. So, in this way 9:39, the blind will see and those who think they are seeing clearly are confronted by their blindness. I hope that helps!

When Jesus is challenged, His answers are never what you expect! He’s confident, truthful. To the outside observer He could seem arrogant. Unless He is right. Then He’s just right! “I am the light of the world.” If I said that, it’d be arrogant. Even Kanye wouldn’t say that. (Maybe he would, but that’s crazy arrogant) When Jesus says it, it just happens to be true.

They call Him on it. They say He needs testimony to prove it. He says that even if it was only His testimony, it’d be right because He knows who He is and what that means. Then He answers them by saying that His Father gives testimony – and the trap is set!

Then He pushes them some more and challenges them with the statement that He spoke to Abraham. This would be crazy if not true. When He rises from the grave, it is proven to be true! We can trust Him and His testimony! So then what does He say about you and I? We are loved. Bought with a price. Meant to walk in the light. Freed by the truth (Him) to live as we were meant. Do you believe this?

Nicodemus shows up again (keep watching).

Also, the feast of booths is not an insignificant detail for us to notice. Sukkot, the feast of booths or tabernacles is celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month. This is around harvest and commemorates the goodness God gives His people. Also, they live in booths to remember the wilderness period before settling the promised land. In the middle of the 7-day Festival, a priest would go down to the pool of Siloam and draw water and bring it to the temple. It was a raucous occasion, with dancing, singing, juggling and readings! It denoted another good year from God and beckoned rain to come (also reminding of the flood and God’s judgment and salvation).

So, when Jesus stands up at the end of the festival and says “If anyone is thirsty, let him drink” and talks of living water, this is no small thing! Jesus is saying that in Him is the fulfillment of all the celebrations and a beckoning to people to really “taste and see.” This high holiday would have been interrupted by the One and would have made for some interesting conversations, which are seen at the end of the chapter. He is saying that He’s the ultimate festival, and the source of living water. Do you believe that?

Did you notice verse 6:66? It’s a dubious number, but a crazy message – many left Him that day!

Sure Jesus taught a very difficult teaching that day. He knows they only came for another feeding. He’s able to read their hearts and push back. They don’t love that and leave Him. How many left? How many did He still have? At least 12, for sure… but was it a 1000 to 100 drop off? Bigger? Smaller? We don’t know and perhaps it doesn’t matter. It makes me wonder if I’d stayed true! It makes me wonder if I’m all in! Are you?

One seemingly little detail occurs at the end of John 5 and elsewhere in the Gospels. The idea is that the prophets had written about Jesus and there was enough evidence to 1) guide people to Jesus and 2) give ideas to live by. He says Moses condemns them and then in His implications is the fact that God is still working – like they missed the point.

If Moses has given them enough, why the confusion? Man-made interpretations of the law leave us wanting for more – as if He has/had a better way. He does! We need to believe that and live accordingly?!

What is a Samaritan and why is that detail mentioned a lot?

Good question.

In 722BC, when Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and destroyed the capital, Samaria, a change was afoot. Some Assyrians married Jewish people and settled in the area once called Israel. The nation of Judah still existed for 140 or so more years, but Israel was never the same. These “half-breed” individuals began to be looked down upon by the “pure-blood” Jews still living in the area, and especially within the nation of Judah. Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586BC and lost its capital, Jerusalem. When Cyrus and other kings allow for the walls and temple to be rebuilt, a belief in the old ways was stirring that they were superior. This led to bad blood.

The “half-breed” people became known as Samaritans. The bad blood led the Samaritans to rob Jewish people and other atrocities. So, Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman is no little detail. His using a Samaritan in a story to make a point is huge. Jesus crossed boundary lines to share His plan with people. Are we?

One thing to watch as you read John is to notice Nicodemus every time he comes into focus.

Watch him move from casual observer to member of the burial party.

Watch him go from night time visitor to potential daytime follower.

Something happens with him for sure. I speculate that he becomes a follower in the new church and is used in John to show the progression – the “how” – and then to validate his story to others. Again, speculation, but not far-fetched.

How much of an indictment is it that Jesus did not entrust Himself to us? We are fickle, small and untrustworthy, aren’t we?

Humans are great at making ourselves look bad. Unfortunately the church can take on the look of human too much. We create power structures, stab one another in the back and do not live out Biblical values. Right?

What I love about Jesus (among many things) is that He is who He is no matter what! He doesn’t need us to tell Him who He is. He just is. We’re the ones who have to decide whether we’ll give Him a chance. Either way, that doesn’t diminish that He’s God. I will follow that person anywhere.

John’s Gospel is different and incredible! He starts with the theological explanation of why Jesus is so significant. Then he introduces us to John and builds Jesus up quickly to be the one we should look for in the ensuing story. Then some guys spread the word about Him (Good News = Gospel!). Then Jesus gives two simple commands – “come and see” as well as “follow.” What have you seen Jesus do? Who have you invited along to see Him? Are you following? He’s worth it, I promise!!