Jesus' brothers went to the Feast of Tabernacles but Jesus went secretly alone and the Jews were looking out for him. Only half way through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple and begin to teach. The Jews were amazed and Jesus said: "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me". Then some questioned if Jesus was the Christ and others tried to seize him unsuccessfully because his time had not yet come. On the other hand "many in the crowd declared their faith in him" amazed at his miraculous signs. Then Jesus said: "I am with you for a short time... you will look for me and not fine me, and where I am you cannot come". Then on the last day of the Feast Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice: "If a man is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me streams of living water will flow from within him". Such declarations by Jesus generated conflicting opinions with some in favour and some against.
Monday, 24 August 2026
John 6 (résumé): Jesus feed 5,000 and walks on Water
Jesus saw a great crowd and questioned how to feed them and the disciples said it would cost a fortune! However Andrew presented a boy with 5 loaves of barley bread and 2 fish so Jesus gave thanks and then proceeded to distribute to all 5,000 men, and 12 basketfuls were left over at the end! After this the disciples went across the lake in a boat and had gone 5 or 6 kilometers when Jesus caught them up walking on the water, and the disciples were terrified! The crowds then went after Jesus and he said they wanted more loaves and fishes, but they should rather focus on "food that endures to eternal life... for the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world... give us this bread they said... Jesus answered I am the bread of life... he who comes to me will never go hungry... and everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life... everyone that listens to the Father comes to me... I am the living bread that came down from heaven... and whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life... this is the bread from heaven which makes you live forever". Many disciples deserted Jesus because they found his teaching hard but Jesus said "the words I have spoken are spirit and they are life". In the face of many deserting Jesus he asked the 12 disciples if they wanted to leave also? Peter replied: To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life".
John 5 (résumé): The Pool Legend
John 5 tells the unusual story of a legendary pool which was said to have healing powers "when the water is stirred" and first in the pool after this was healed. However a man who had been an invalid for 38 years was healed by Jesus by the pool and was criticized for having picked up his mat on the Sabbath! The Jews persecuted Jesus for doing things on the Sabbath and because he referred to God as his own father. But Jesus said: "whatever the Father does the Son does also... and the Father has entrusted all judgement to the Son... and he who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him... I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life... and I seek not to please myself but him who sent me". Then Jesus said that "the very work that the Father has given me testifies that the Father has sent me... the Scriptures testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life... if you believed Moses you would believe me".
John 4 (résumé): The Woman at the Well
Jesus went through Samaria and stopped for water at Jacob's well. He asked a Samaritan woman for a drink which she found strange as Jews don't normally associate with Samaritans. Jesus said he could give her living water which was again odd as he didn't have anything to draw water with from the well. Where can you get this living water, she asked? Jesus said: "Whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst again... so the woman requested this water... but he told her to call her husband which she didn't have although she had had 5 and Jesus knew all about her! She said I can see your are a prophet... and Jesus said God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship him in spirit and in truth. Then the woman went to the town and called people to come and see a man who knew all about her. Jesus said look at the fields which are ripe unto harvest. Then many Samaritans from the town believed in him and Jesus stayed two days with them and many more got saved and said they realized that Jesus was the saviour of the world. Next Jesus healed a royal official's son at a distance, and this was Jesus' second miracle.
John 3 (résumé): Jesus teaches Nicodemus
Jesus received a discreet night-time visit from a leading Pharisee called Nicodemus and Jesus told him straight that "unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... Nicodemus questioned this and Jesus said... unless a man is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God... so it is with everyone born of the Spirit... and Jesus laments Nicodemus's lack of spiritual understanding... saying that just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes might have eternal life in him... for God so loved the world that he gave his only son... to save the world through him... and whoever lives by the truth comes into the light". Then John the Baptist repeated that he was not the Christ and "he (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less... the one who comes from above is above all... the friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice... the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God... to him God gives the Spirit without limit... and whoever believes in the Son has eternal life".
John 2 (résumé): Water into Wine!
Jesus, his mother and disciples went to a wedding at Cana in Galilee and at the banquet they ran out of wine. When Mary told Jesus about the embarrassing situation Jesus initially didn't want to get involved but eventually he did by changing at least 120 gallons of water into wine, and it was commented by the guests that they had kept the best wine till last! Hence this was Jesus' first miracle. Then nearing the Passover Jesus went to Jerusalem and he was horrified seeing all the commerce going on in the temple court and he made a whip and drove the animals and people out and the disciples remembered Psalm 69:9 - "Zeal for your house will consume me". Then the Jews demanded a sign to authenticate his authority and he said: "Destroy this temple (his body) and I will raise it again in 3 days". After the resurrection the disciples recalled these words.
John 1 (résumé): The Word became Flesh
John 1 introduces Jesus as the eternal Word of God who became flesh. "Through him all things were made... in him was life... John (the Baptist) was sent from God to be a witness of Jesus... so that men might believe... but the world didn't recognize Jesus... his own didn't receive him... but to those who believe he gave the right to become children of God... we have seen his glory... full of grace and truth... the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ". Then John the Baptist says "I am not the Christ... who are you then they asked? John said I am the voice of one calling in the desert, prepare the way for the Lord... so they asked why he baptized if he wasn't the Christ?... and he answered I baptize with water but the one coming after me I am not worthy to untie his sandals!" The next day John saw Jesus and declared: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!... and John saw the Spirit come down on Jesus like a dove.... I baptize with water but he will baptize with the Holy Spirit!" Then the next day Jesus called Andrew and his brother Simon, whom Jesus called Peter, and they were Jesus' first disciples. Then Jesus called Philip to follow him, and he passed on the word about Jesus to Nathanael but he questioned about Jesus being from Nazareth, but soon his eyes were open and he declared: "You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel".