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John 12 - Mary's Extravagant Act of Worship!

John 12 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Jesus Anointed at Bethany 12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.  7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but ...
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John 11 - When Jesus said, "I Am the Resurrection and the Life" He Was Not Kidding Around!

John 11 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Verses for the Day Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus 17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.  21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”  23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are t...
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John 10 - The Life You've Always Wanted!

John 10 - NIV Verses for the Day 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep Commentary As I have mentioned a few times, the gospel of John uses " I am" statements to signify that Jesus is truly God. They also point to unique attributes of who he is and what he does for us.  Today Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd ".  The shepherd motif was a popular one in Jesus' day, because so many men were...
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John 9 - I Was Blind But Now I See!

  Key Verses Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind 9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.  8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 1...
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John 8 - The Truth Will Set You Free!

John 8 - NIV John 8 - Enduring Word Commentary Key Verses 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Commentary When Jesus said, " If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples ", he meant that being his follower is not just about words but about a way of life. It seems as though these Jews had already taken a step toward believing in Jesus. Now he lets them know that if they are going to follow him, they are going to need tol make a commitment to obeying his teachings. Their thoughts, wo...
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John 7 - Does Your Life Make People Curious About Jesus?

John 7 - NIV John 7 - Enduring Word Commentary Verses of the Day - John 7:14-18 Jesus Teaches at the Festival 14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”  16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.  Commentary You may not be familiar with the Feast of Tabernacles, so here are some facts about it.  1. It was a seven day feast, celebrated 5 days after Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) in the Fall. 2. The tabernacles were symbol of the the booths God provided for the Israelites to live in the wilde...
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John 6 - Pass the Bread!

John 6 - NIV John 6 - Enduring Word Commentary Key Verse - John 6:35 "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." Commentary This is one of seven "I am" statements that Jesus made about himself in John's gospel. They not only reveal Jesus' divine nature, but also reveal the role he plays in our lives. Today, Jesus says, after feeding the the 5,000, "I am the bread of life. " Although Jesus met a very important physical need when he fed the 5,000, they would get hungry again. But if they believed in Jesus, they would never be hungry again.  Bread was a staple in Jesus' life and very symbolic in Israel's history, as when the Israelites wandered in the wildnerness, God provided daily manna for them. They were a sign of God's provision and also an affirmation of Moses' leadership.  A little earlier in this passage Jesus describes the unique na...
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