• after Feast of Tabernacles, light/darkness imagery continues, healing of man born blind
• healing on Sabbath 9:1-7, interaction with neighbors 9:8-12, preliminary discussion 9:13-17, examination of parents 9:18-23

• pious and blasphemous attack
• sticking with the facts
• a pointed question

• Jesus and Moses
• repetition of “know”

• the truly amazing thing
• matching their use of “know”
• implication and expulsion

• “The Jews cast him out from the Temple, and the Lord of the Temple found him.” (Chrysostom)
• disclosure of Jesus
• confession and worship
• condemnation of unbelief

• Knowing that Jesus does the works of God and seeks worshipers, confidently and courageously worship Him.
• “Application is the alignment of God’s people to God’s demand.” (Kuruvilla)
• “There are only two ways of dying: in your sins or in Jesus Christ.” (Lloyd-Jones)

• part of sixth discourse (8:12-59)
• preceded by account of woman caught in adultery (8:1-11)
• in the treasury following the Feast of Tabernacles

• second “I Am” statement: against backdrop of quenched lights
• light/darkness imagery (pillar of cloud/fire in Num. 9:15-23)
• promise connected to the declaration (1:4)

• intensifying opposition
• legal technicality (Deut. 19:15)
• charge of contradiction (5:31-46)

• affirmation of origin and destination
• disqualification of Pharisees (9:39)
• the sense in which Jesus judges
• intimacy with the Sender: why Jesus is the “Light of the World”

• question of the Pharisees
• you know my Father as little as you know Me
• reminder of divine chronology

• Because Jesus is the exclusive source of illumination for a dark world, keep on following Him.
• Recognize the distinction between continual following and casual adherence.
• “When He puts forth His sheep, He goes before them.” (Maclaren)
• “A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, who gave His Son my soul to save, and fit it for the sky.” (Wesley)

• after the bread of life discourse (6:22-59)
• at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem

• a brief crowd analysis
• the issue of identity
• you do not know God
• divided opinions and intensified opposition

• officers sent to arrest Jesus
• futility of the foes of Jesus
• a clueless response

• an inclusive and free offer (Ex. 17:1-7, Isa. 55:1-2; 58:11)
• qualification: thirst
• consequence: lasting, overflowing satisfaction

• Because Jesus is who and what you need more than anything, satisfy yourself in Him.
• Rejecting Jesus is rejection of God.
• Is your satisfaction flowing out to others?
• “To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus, all the glory evermore to Him, when the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat, yet not I, but through Christ in me.” (Farren/Thompson/Robinson)

• following feeding of 5000 and Jesus walking on water (1-21)
• part of John’s fourth discourse (22-66)
• the crowd gathers-again! (22-24)

• a question left unanswered
• a piercing analysis
• emphasis on enduring food
• the divine seal of approval

• a question answered
• the work of God
• demand for a sign
• corrective response of Jesus
• continued dullness

• I am the bread of life…
• the language of satisfaction
• repetition of “believe”
• emphasis on the will of the Father

• Because Jesus alone saves and satisfies, come to Him and remain in Him.
• “The plain truth is that it is want of heart, not want of evidence, that keeps people back from Christ.” (Ryle)
• “Jesus did not come to be useful but to be precious.” (Piper)
• “He Is So Precious to Me” (Gabriel) and “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” (Williams)

• third recorded miracle
• Jesus in Jerusalem at feast time
• gathered multitude and its perception
• encounter with a sick man: question and command

• charge of Sabbath violation
• response of a healed man
• withdrawal of Jesus

• found him in the temple
• connection between sin and affliction
• caution about future consequences
• identification of Jesus as Healer
• response to persecutors and rationale for their pursuit

• Because Jesus is the Master of Mercy, worship Him as your only hope and ultimate healer.
• Rest in the comprehension, compassion and capability of Jesus.
• Remember that the Lord never takes a day off.
• “O Merciful Redeemer Whom yet unseen we love, O Name of might and favor, all other names above! O bringer of salvation who wondrously hath wrought Thyself the revelation of love beyond all thought! We worship Thee and bless Thee! To Thee alone we sing! We praise Thee and confess Thee, our gracious Lord and King!” (“O Merciful Redeemer” Havergal)

• from Galilee to Samaria
• weary and by the well at noon

• comes to draw water
• a request and the resulting conversation

• speaking uncomfortable truth
• a sidetrack to reality
• worship in spirit and truth
• a stunning confirmation

• Because who God is determines how you must worship Him, prioritize His word and prize His Son.
• “Worship is a transitive verb, and the most important thing about it is its direct object.” (Carson)
• Elements of true worship: Word-based, God-centered and Christ-exalting
• “Worthy of Worship” (York/Blankenship)

• book of “genesis” and significance of its names
• flowing forward from Abraham to Jesus
• structure: 42 generations in 3 groups of 14 generations each
• Jesus as rightful heir to the throne

• Christ
• son of David (2 Sam. 7:12-16)
• son of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3)

• Tamar (Gen. 38:1-30)
• Rahab (Josh. 2:1)
• Ruth (Gen. 19:30-38, Deut. 23:3)
• wife of Uriah (2 Sam. 11)
• Mary (Matt. 1:18-25)

• Remember that everything we celebrate at Christmas hinges on who Jesus is.
• See the genealogy as the receipt that proves the reliability of God’s promises.
• Recognize God’s capacity to overcome the effects of sin and shame as He works out His purpose.
• Because of God’s mercy and grace in Jesus, you can come home for Christmas.
• “Child in the manger, Infant of Mary, Outcast and Stranger, Lord of all, Child who inherits all our transgressions, All our demerits on Him fall. Once the most holy Child of salvation gently and lowly lived below; now as our glorious mighty Redeemer, see Him victorious o’er each foe.” (“Child in the Manger,” Mary Macdonald)