Focal Passage: John 9:1-7; 32-33, 35-38 

Why? This is one of the primal questions of life, along with How? When? Where? Who? We want to know why things happen, especially if those things cause suffering. Often, God will give us whole or partial answers to these questions. At other times, God remains silent reminding us that He has reasons for how He providentially cares for His creation that are above our “pay grade.” 

But why would I raise the issue of asking Why? The events surrounding the healing of the blind man at the Pool of Siloam raises the question of why so that we can see through the lens of this event to the truth of who Jesus Christ is.

God the Son glorifies God the Father (John 9:1-7.) On observing a man blind from birth, the disciples asked Jesus who had sinned to cause this man’s blindness — him or his parents. The thinking at that time (and still is) was that all suffering was a direct result of sin. To be clear, we can suffer because of our sins (Galatians 6:7-10). But not always. God may have other purposes in our sufferings (II Corinthians 12:1-10). [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 8:2-11 

Though we sing and preach about it all the time, we don’t know much about grace. Yes, we might say, God’s grace is the undeserved, unmerited favor of God. But when it comes down to it, most of us have been raised to believe that unless one works for something we haven’t earned it.

Yes, we are to work for our wages. But when it comes to our relationship with Jesus we can’t work for our salvation; it’s all grace. We could never deserve our salvation. We are the recipients of God’s undeserved kindness (Ephesians 2:1-10). We do not work for our salvation; we work for God because of our salvation. The extra-canonical, John-like story of the woman caught in adultery is a perfect example of God’s grace. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 5:2-11, 19-21 

Words like restoration, restitution and reparations are “hot topic words” these days. 

Often, they are used in ways that are harmful and unrealistic. At other times, they are mocked as impossible goals. These words have been politicized. Though Jesus seemed to be uninterested in using political means for spiritual ends, He was consummately interested in restoring the lives of broken people. Take for example the paralyzed man of Bethesda.

Restoring the helpless (John 5:2-7). Paralyzed for 38 years, this unnamed man of Bethesda was living by a pool near the Sheep Gate of the city. He was not only physically impaired, but he was spiritually dead, putting his hope in a myth that at the stirring of the pool by an angel he could slip in and be healed. It never happened.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 4:7-18; 25-26 

Have you ever met a famous person? If so, you might remember how it made you think or feel at the time. In some small way, that encounter changed your life, an encounter that became a talking point for you in future conversations with friends. 

John 4 tells us the story of Jesus with the nameless, but needy “woman at the well.” Her encounter with Jesus would prove to be the single greatest event in her life, an event that met her need and changed her life forever. What happened in this encounter with Jesus that still happens to this day whenever the repentant sinner encounters the righteous Savior? [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Colossians 3:1-14 

Since Jan. 22, 2023, the Bible Studies for Life have been focused on the issue of discerning the voice of God. Issues such as biblical faithfulness, convictional living, in addition to trusting and honoring God have all been in focus. But what’s the ultimate purpose of this series? The final lesson in this series sums up the intent of the series — discerning the voice of God leads us to be more like Jesus. But how? Colossians 3:1-14 is instructive.

God’s voice, our thoughts (Colossians 3:1-4). Being more like Jesus is not just a matter of the heart, but of the mind as well. Often, we ask, “Have you given your heart to Jesus?” We rarely ask, “Have you given your mind to Jesus?”  [Read more…]