Have You Been Born Again?

N.T.#697 "Have You Been Born Again?"

Dec. 18, 2025 

John 3 

LET IT GLOW

How can a person be born again? Read on and find out.

In this chapter, we read of a Pharisee named Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night.

Who was Nicodemus?

• A man of the Pharisees. (verse 1) Pharisees clung to the law of Moses, a tight-knit brotherhood, a political and religious party. they knew the Scripture and applied it to everyday life, to a very restrictive sense. 
• A ruler of the Jews. Jews looked to the high priest for leadership while foreign governors ruled the land. Rome dominated Israel; the high priest presided over a council of 70 statesmen and notable religious figures. This was called the Sanhedrin. It was like a Congress and Supreme Court or a Parliament.
• The teacher of Israel. (verse 10) He was regarded as the most preeminent voice of religious teaching in Israel. He had a remarkable astute theological mind. (Perhaps like a seminary professor?) 
• Nicodemus called Jesus "Rabbi," referring to Him as a teacher come from God because of the miracles He did. (Swindoll's Insights on John)

LET IT GROW

Why did Nicodemus go to Jesus? He sort of interviewed Jesus from verses 1-21; the two had a conversation. Jesus knew Nicodemus' heart and what he needed.

Jesus contrasted the physical birth with the spiritual birth. In order to enter God's kingdom of heaven, you must be supernaturally born of the Spirit. God works on and in the heart of a person. That one first realizes their sins separate them from God. They believe Jesus can forgive their sins and be their Savior; Jesus is the only way to God. They ask forgiveness of those sins. God cleanses the heart.

Friend, have you sone this? Is Jesus in yur heart? What about family members?

LET IT GO

Come to Jesus.

He can forgive our sins.

Thank You Jesus for Your salvation, love, and mercy!

A Cleansing is Needful

N.T.#696 "A Cleansing is Needful"

Dec. 17, 2025 

John 2-Part 3 

LET IT GLOW 

Don't we spend a lot of time keeping our body clean? From our head to our toes, fingernails to our feet. We do want to be presentable whenever we go out in public. But how much time do we spend focusing on our soul? In today's lesson, we read about Jesus cleaning up the Temple. He drove out those sinful, corrupting people from it. What does the Lord want to drive out in our life?

The faith of the disciples was strengthened because of their seeing Jesus turn water into wine at the weeding celebration. This was the first of many signs, as John calls it. Today we study about the time Jesus cleansed the temple. Is our temple (body) needing cleansed from sin?

Then Jesus, His 5 disciples, mother, and brethren went to Capernaum for a few days. this was the home of James and John. No mention of Joseph has been since Jesus was 12 years old. We assume he had died by this time. Mary may have been staying with Jesus' half-brothers. Every year Jesus and His family visited the Temple to celebrate festivals, observe sacrifices, and glorify God as faithful Jews did.

How faithful are you to attend services to celebrate Jesus' birth and resurrection, to worship each week?

LET IT GROW

The Jewish Law required every male Jew 12 years old and older to attend the Passover. So Jesus and His disciples went to Jerusalem.

In what condition did Jesus find the Temple? 

• People selling oxen, sheep, and doves in the court of the Gentiles. What a terrible scene. The Son of God. 
• The Sanhedrin permitted the selling of sacrificial animals at exorbitant prices. 
• Jesus found money changers allowed to change foreign currency into Jewish money there, also. (verse 14)
• Christ makes a whip and drives out both the animals and wicked merchants. 
• He overturns the tables and scatters the coins across the floor. (verse 15)
• Jesus tells those men to Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (verse 16)
• The Jews were shocked by the action of Jesus, His authority, and conduct. 
• The Jews wanted a sigh for all of this. 
• Jesus answered and said them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (verse 19) 

[Resource: Liberty Bible Commentary]

Jesus was referring to His body. The Jews were going to hand Him on a cross to die, but He was going to rise from the dead-The Son of God. Many believed in His name when they saw Jesus' miracles. (verse 23) They did not accept Jesus with saving faith, but as a powerful miracle worker. 

What does the Lord want to drive out in our life? Do we have sinful habits which need removed?

Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior yet?

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for dying for us sinners.

Thank You we come to God through faith in You.

Thank You for grace and mercy!

Help us keep our temple (body) free of sin.

Jesus Can Change Anything

N.T.#695 "Jesus Can Change Anything"

Dec. 16, 2025

John 2-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

What is your need today? Do you need someone's heart changed? Bring them to Jesus. He can change anything.

There are many things to glean from Jesus and His 5 disciples attending a wedding celebration in Cana. John identifies 8 miracles in his Gospel that constitute "signs" or confirmation of who Jesus is. 

In The MacArthur Bible Handbook, MacArthur lists 37 miracles Jesus did. So John only mentions 8 out of 37. (Just a tidbit thrown in here.)

Did you notice in verse 2 the word called, which means bid; call forth; whose surname was called. 

• Jesus was invited to this wedding celebration, and He took His 5 new disciples with Him. Jesus graced the party with His spiritual presence, as well as with His first miracle according to John. Christians should invite Jesus into their marriage between a man and a woman.
• There was a need-the wine ran out, perhaps due to more guests attending the feast than were planned. Mary went to Jesus to supply that need. Did she expect a miracle? She got one whether she expected it or not. (The bridegroom could have sent out for more but did not. Maybe only the servants knew about those empty barrels.)
• Jesus did rebuke Mary in a way yet did not dishonor her.  Notice Jesus did not call Mary "Mother." As many as Christ loves, He rebukes and chastens. He was 30 years old by now. Their relationship has changed. Mary is not our advocate to the Father God, but Jesus is our advocate.
• Jesus' hour had not come yet for Him to reveal His deity and working miracles was not yet purposed. Did Mary have the faith that Jesus could provide what was needed? Do we?
• Christ Jesus granted Mary's desire. We must against hope believe in hope. (Romans 4:18)
• Jesus could have recommended the servants simply water down the wine to make it last, yet He did not. 
• Whatever Jesus tells you to do, do it. (verse 5)

Christ emphasized that Mary, His mother should no longer think of Him as her son. Jesus' hour had not yet come. She had to have faith in Jesus as Savior, just like you and me. 

LET IT GROW

What were Jesus' instructions to the servants:

• Fill the 6 stone waterpots with water. (17-25 gallons each) 
• They filled the waterpots to the brim. (Complete obedience, not half hearted obedience is what Jesus expects from us.)
• Dip the liquid and take some to the head waiter.
• Jesus changed the water into wine. It could have been as much as 150 gallons. It was superior quality wine.
• The head waiter told the bridegroom he had not used the good wine at the beginning of the feast, but kept the good wine for the last. (verse 10) It was the best and richest kind of wine.

We see the power of God and the grace of the Savior in this miracle. Jesus showed His glory and His disciples believed on Him. (verse 11)

[Resource: Matthew Henry's Commentary]

Do you believe in Jesus as the Son of God and only way to heaven?

LET IT GO

What will it take for you to believe in Jesus?

When the Barrel is empty, Where Do You Go?

N.T.#694 "When the Barrel is Empty, Where Do You Go?"

Dec. 15, 2025 

John 2 

LET IT GLOW

I wonder while Jesus grew up if he did some special little things for His mother. By this time (age 30), Mary knew Jesus had the power of God on Him. 

The scene involves Jesus and His 5 disciples going to a wedding. We aren't sure how this came about. Perhaps it was since Nathanael was from Cana. Maybe the wedding was of a close family member and Mary, Jesus' mother was there.

In the East at that time, marriages were arranged by parents, a contract was prepared, vows were spoken in the synagogue, tokens were exchanged, and then the couple returned to their respective homes. They were considered legally married yet lived apart during a betrothal period. That could last 2 months up to a year.  (Swindoll's New Testament Insights on John)

What happened at the celebration and wedding feast? 

When the wine ran out, Mary went to Jesus for help. The barrels of wine were empty. It would have shamed the host if his wine ran out for his guests. (Of course, the host had 6 extra guests, too.)

Where do we go whenever we are at the bottom of the barrel? When our life is empty, who fills it?

LET IT GROW

Why? Because Mary knew who Jesus really was-deity. Before He was conceived, an angel told Mary her son would be the Son of the Highest. (Luke 1) Jesus was the Messiah.

How did Jesus respond?

• Jesus called Mary "woman." It was not disrespectful to her, like we say "Ma'am" or "Madam."
• "What is it to me and you?"  That was the Greek behind the phrase Jesus used.
• "My hour has not yet come." Five times in Jesus used this phrase. Three times He said His time had come. Time is referring to His glorification, which was after Jesus' resurrection, from God, and on the Father's timetable. The Messiah's glory would not come from a razzle-dazzle show, not from people, and certainly not on people's timetable.
• Jesus showed kindness to his mother and host by helping them out of a situation. They were in a pickle all right. 
• Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. (verse 5) Mary told the servants that.

Notice that Mary submitted to Jesus' way of doing things. She knew Jesus was not just her human son, but the Son of God as well. 

Now that is good instruction for us today. Are Mary's words ringing in our ears? The Lord wants us to "do whatever He tells " us to do. He may not describe the path ahead for us. He may not explains His solution to our problems. Jesus simply calls us to obey His revealed Word and direction of the Holy Spirit.  

Are we submitting and allowing Jesus to deal with our problems as He sees best?

LET IT GO

Help us turn to You first, Jesus, with our problems and situation.

Give us faith to obey and follow You.

Fill my cup, Lord.

I lift it up, Lord.

Come and fill this thirsting of my soul.

You are Living Water, Lord Jesus, for our soul.

 

Are You Found?

N.T.#693 "Are You Found?"

Dec. 12, 2025 

John 1-Part 11 

LET IT GLOW 

Since I have gotten older, I seem to loose things more often, thinking I put them where I can find them. So I turn to Jesus, because He is all knowing. Yep. Jesus helps me find things, for which I am grateful. I wonder if He smiles when I ask for help. I tend to tell Him it is me again, looking for something.

So far, Andrew and Simon Peter, along with James and John became Jesus' disciples. (Matt. 4:18-22) Then Jesus wanted to go to Bethsaida, which was along the Sea of Galilee. It was the home of the two fishermen Jesus had called to follow Him. It was about a 3 day walk from Jerusalem for them. (Peter lived at Capernaum, the next village, but he and Andrew may have grown up in Bethsaida.) 

At Bethsaida, Jesus invited Philip to follow Him, become a disciple. Meeting Jesus had an effect on Philip, since he immediately went out and found his friend Nathanael, sitting under a fig tree. Philip told him about meeting the Messiah, the One which Moses and the prophets wrote about. What an effect Jesus had on Philip. It didn't take long for him to be a witness of Jesus. (verses 43-45)

Are we sharing Jesus with our friends and family during this time of year?

LET IT GROW

How did Nathanael react to Philip's message? 

Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, come and see. (verse 46)

What happened next?

• Jesus described Nate as an Israelite in whom is no guile when seeing him. (verse 47)
• Also, Jesus told Nate that Philip found him under a fig tree. 
• Nathanael asked Jesus how He knew him. 
• Jesus answered, "Before Philip called thee when under the fig tree, I saw thee." (verse 48)
• Jesus reveals the penetrating eye of deity. (Falwell)
• Nathanael proclaims Jesus to be the Son of God, King of Israel. (verse 49)
• Because Nate believed, he would see greater things than these. (Jesus told him.) (verse 50)
• They would see as Jacob's ladder, the angels ascending and descending upon Christ. He is the Ladder between God and man since Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of man. (verses 49 and 51)

Not only did Jesus know Nathanael's character, where he was found by Philip, but also what Nate had been thinking. Nate had been thinking about Jacob's ladder while under the fig tree. Jacob had dreamed about such a ladder with angels going up and down on it from earth to heaven.

Jesus is our bridge between heaven and earth. He is the way to heaven. No one comes to Father God except through Jesus. (John 14:6)

Nathanael overcame his skepticism; have you?

John gives us 5 times found (to locate by searching) is used here:

• Andrew found Simon, claiming to have found the Messiah.(verse 41)
• Jesus found Philip. (verse 43)
• Philip found Nathanael, claiming to have found the Messiah. (verse 45)

Dear one, have you found Jesus as your Savior?

LET IT GO

Draw us by faith to You, Jesus.

Help those doubters to let go of any doubt and believe in You, the Son of God.

Is God Calling You?

N.T.#692 "Is God Calling You?"

Dec. 11, 2025 

John 1-Part 10  after 

LET IT GLOW

When the Holy spirit calls you to salvation in Jesus, do not put it off. I was attending a Vacation Bible School at a different church when the Lord first spoke my heart. I put off salvation a couple of years. It took the death of a classmate and friend to show me death could come at age 16. I realized that I was headed to hell without Jesus.  I surrendered to Jesus one night in my bed. I didn't know the right words, but He knew my heart. Friend, have you surrendered to Jesus as your Savior?

We have read about Andrew and John being followers of John the Baptist when they encountered Jesus. They spent the night with Jesus, of which I wonder what questions they asked the Messiah, the Son of God. Did they examine Him more closely because of John's testimony-Jesus is the Lamb of God?

Eventually, they dedicated their lives to Jesus as true disciples and apostles when He called them to permanent service after these events. At this point John the Baptist fades from the scene and attention focuses upon the ministry of Christ. (MacArthur)

Andrew went to Simon Peter to tell him they had found the Messiah. Whenever Simon encountered Jesus, Jesus changed his name to Peter. It was upon this rock (Peter) that Jesus would build His church.

In Matthew 4 and Mark 1, we find Peter and Andrew back at their job of fishing. Then Jesus said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matt. 4:19)

How did the two men react? Straighway they left their nets and followed Jesus. (Matt. 4:19)

Straightway means at once or soon; immediately.

Jesus wanted Peter and Andrew to be part of His ministry and His disciples. Are we obedient to the calling of Jesus on our life?

LET IT GROW

Have you noticed that John did not tell about his calling to the kingdom work? 

Matthew 4:21 tells us about it. John and his brother James were fishing with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Then Jesus called them, too. 

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him. (Matt. 4:22)

Those 4 men responded by faith to Jesus' calling upon their lives and His lordship. 

When the Spirit calls you to salvation, do it immediately. 

LET IT GO

Help us let go of pride and surrender to You, Jesus, today.

Come and See

N.T.#691 "Come and See"

Dec. 10, 2025 

John 1-Part 9 

LET IT GLOW

Have you been curious as to whom Jesus is? So were two men in our reading today.

John wrote about 4 consecutive days as he observed John the Baptist and events during those days:

Day 1: John admitted he was not the Messiah. (verse 19)

Day 2: He identified Jesus as the Messiah. (verse 29)

Days 3 and 4: Jesus called His first 5 disciples. (verses 35-43)

John the Baptist was with two of his disciples, Andrew and John the author, when John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and proclaimed Him to be the Lamb of God.  Andrew and John trailed after Jesus. He asked the two what their intentions were. Were they desiring to become Jesus' disciples/followers? Apparently so, since they asked where Jesus was staying. 

Jesus accepted Andrew and John since He told them to come and see. The two did so and stayed with Jesus that night. We don't know what Jesus taught or revealed to the two. 

Who do we seek?

When Jesus bids us to come and see, do we? 

LET IT GROW

Andrew must have been excited to have found Jesus because he went 70 miles north of Jerusalem to share the Good News with his fisherman brother Simon (later named Peter). Simon owned a fishing enterprise in Galilee. Maybe Simon was nearby visiting the Temple in Jerusalem. We aren't told for sure where Simon was at that time. At any rate, Andrew announced that he had found the Messiah, the Christ, and brought his brother to see Jesus. 

Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (verse 42)

Simon's new name would be Kepha, which means rock in Aramaic; Cephas in Greek and Petros/Peter meaning stone in Greek. (Swindoll)

We can read how God used Peter later in his life for kingdom work. Peter did not know what lie ahead of him. 

Jesus saw people not as what they were, but as who they would ultimately become. The same is true today for you and me. 

LET IT GO

What do you need to let go when coming to Jesus?

Has He changed your heart?