The House You're Building

        Orient  John 9:1-41 John 9 turns us once again to the reoccurring task of the author, to convince the reader to believe in Jesus.  In the broader section, we see who Jesus is by another public miracle, the blind man healed of his sight.  Conflict with the Jews is again present (notice the repeated argument about the legality of healing on the Sabbath) and teaching his disciples is also included in this section.  As in previous miracles, there are responses to the miracle itself by different groups—the Jews, the man, and his parents.  In the opening, Jesus refers to Himself as “light,” a common metaphor that John introduced in the prelude and Jesus referenced previously at the Feast of Booths. The metaphor of blindness/sight is meant to point us to the spiritual realities of seeing our condition before God and need for the Savior Christ.     Introduction  When my daughter was younger, she played ...

        Orient The prologue concluded, John begins a new section which we will be in for the first half of the book, proving who Jesus is through signs and testimony.  In this section, he introduces John the Baptist (different than the John who wrote this book).  We see 2 main ideas emerge: first ,where John is identified as the forerunner to herald the Christ and secondly, where he gives his testimony to who Christ is.     Introduction Often when meeting people for the first time, a safe question to ask is “what do you do?” as if somehow their job defines a crucial aspect of who they are as a person.  In the passage we are about to read, a major character in the story of Jesus is introduced-John the Baptist.  Yet those sent to learn more about John did not come in a curious and friendly manner.  Instead, they were sent to find out if he might be the Messiah.  In the very beginning of our pass...

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1-7 God's purposes: calls apostles set apart for the gospel brings promises to pass tells us things in His word declares in the power of the Spirit bring about faith in His name This is my purpose.  To see everyday that my calling is clear.  To ...