July 29
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THE FATHER AND THE SON ARE ONE
22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. 24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” – John 10:22-30
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In this account, the Jews kept asking Jesus if He was the Christ. They said that they can no longer wait for His answer. It is interesting that in previous accounts, Jesus has already told them many times about His deity, but they wanted to hear Jesus outrightly declare that He is the Christ. The signs and wonders that Jesus showed them wasn’t sufficient enough for them to believe. Jesus explains to them on verse 26 the reason why despite all the things they have seen and heard Him say, they still continue to reject what He was telling them. It is because they do not belong to His flock. They cannot hear His voice simply because they were not chosen to be part of His kingdom. They do not belong to Him, so they don’t know Him nor recognize where He is from or hear His voice.
In this part of John’s gospel, Jesus repeats His claim that He and the Father are one. What Isn’t Jesus so direct with His answers to their queries?
2 Corinthians 4:4 explains the reason why they couldn’t hear or understand Jesus. it says in this verse that Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. Jesus has repeatedly revealed Himself to them, but they still couldn’t comprehend spiritual things that Jesus was revealing. They are so blinded by their unbelief because they have allowed Satan to rule their minds and hearts. This is what happens when people try to figure things what has already been revealed right before their very eyes. They miss it.
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REFLECTION
• How do we give Satan ammunition to blind us when we disbelieve Jesus?
• What happens when you constantly live in unbelief?
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THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP ILMA’S VLOG
July 28
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THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” 19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?” – John 10:11-21
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Jesus continues to reveal His deity to the Jews in this account. He uses the shepherd and the sheep as an example to clearly define the relationship of the Good Shepherd to his sheep. He declares how the Good Shepherd is very different from those hired hands who do not care about their flock for they don’t own them. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His flock. He describes those counterfeit shepherds who only care for their own welfare and not for the sheep. Isn’t this so true with our leaders and pastors in this day and age? Many are not true shepherds but are only after their own agendas. They do not lay down their lives to give God the glory. They do it for their own increase. They give glory to themselves but not to God.
It is sad to watch many false teachers, pastors and leaders who lead their flock astray and preach a different gospel other than what Scriptures say. They are only after their own selfish ambitions.
Jesus is concerned with those sheep who belongs to Him who are being misled by these counterfeits and false leaders. He wants them back to His fold.
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REFLECTION
• How do you know if you are being misled by false prophets, teachers or pastors?
• What is your responsibility as a Christian when you know you are being misled?
THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP ILMA’S VLOG
July 27
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THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. – John 10:1-10
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In this story, Jesus explains the purpose of His life, to be the Savior of the world. He begins by explaining the difference of the legitimate shepherd against those are counterfeits and who only wants to snatch away the sheep. The doorkeeper opens for the shepherd but the thieves come in on a different door because since they are hiding their agenda to steal. Jesus was speaking to the crowd in figures of speech because He only reveals Himself to those who belong to his flock. In verse 7, He declares his role as the only door for the sheep to enter because all the other ones who came before him are thieves and robbers. In verse 10, he differentiates himself from the thief whose purpose is to steal, kill and destroy while his purpose is to give life lavishly.
We also get a glimpse of how those sheep who belongs to the good shepherd behave. They know their shepherd’s voice and they do not follow the voice of strangers. Perhaps this is why Jesus uses sheep as a symbol for those who believe Him. Sheep are very obedient and faithful. They follow without too much resistance their shepherd. They are only going to heed his voice whom they were trained to follow. This explains clearly how believers should be: that they only listen and know God’s voice. They don’t hear other voices that do not belong to their Master. They are not led by counterfeits for they are loyal to the Good Shepherd, who is Jesus. They only walk in truth and not in lies.
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REFLECTION
• How can you differentiate a true believer from a false one?
JESUS DECLARES HIS DEITY ILMA’S VLOG
July 26
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JESUS DECLARES HIS DEITY
35 Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. 39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. – John 9:35-41
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When Jesus heard that the blind man he healed was questioned and put out by the Jewish leaders, He talked to the man. Since Jesus is all knowing, He already knew that the man believed him before He asked him. Why then did He had to ask him? It is essential that the man recognize Him, who gave Him sight as from God. Of course, Jesus knew exactly the conversation that transpired earlier between the healed man and the Jewish leaders. He knew that this man believed in Him and that is why He was able to tell the Pharisees that He knows that only someone from God can heal a man born blind like him. As soon as we believe in Jesus, we are given the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Because the Holy Spirit is our counselor, helper and teacher, we immediately get revelations about the deity of Christ. It is also the Holy Spirit that makes us see things that we naturally won’t see. We are also gifted with worshiping God when we are filled with His Holy Spirit. That’s why the healed man praised Jesus as soon as He declared He is the Son of Man.
When the Jewish leaders saw that the man worshiped Jesus, they came and asked Jesus if He thinks they are blind too. Another trick question they ask Jesus so they can find something to reject Jesus with. But Jesus gives back to them a response that clearly says that they are sinners because declare they can see. In those times, blindness was associated to sin. Jesus changed that belief. He actually says that the blind are those without sin. So, when the leaders declare that they can see, He actually points out to them how sinful they are. I Corinthians 1:27 says “Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” This verse is almost what Jesus did to the Jewish leaders who think they know it all.
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REFLECTION
• How has Jesus shown His divinity in your life?
THOUGH I WAS BLIND, NOW I SEE ILMA’S VLOG
July 25
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THOUGH I WAS BLIND, NOW I SEE
24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?” 28 They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. 32Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So, they put him out. – John 9:24-34
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This conversation transpired between the Jewish leaders and the blind man that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. After the leaders talked to the parents of the blind man, they still aren’t convinced that the man could possibly be healed. So, they went and called for the man again to interrogate him. The Jews were insisting that he tells them the details of his healing and the man told them that he already explained it to them earlier. What was interesting in this exchange was that the man declared that once he was blind, and now he can see. It seemed more than physically seeing because as he spoke to the leaders, he sounded very wise. As the leaders try to convince him that Jesus wasn’t from God, he responded in verse 30 by asking them how they could possibly not know where Jesus came from. In verse 31, he spoke from Scripture saying that if someone is God fearing and obedient to God, that person is heard by God. The ensuing verse is a declaration of Jesus’ origin. He says that if he is not from God, how could he do such a thing as it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a blind person. The leaders were pissed at him do because that would negate all their legalistic beliefs. It is sad to watch people continue in disbelief even though they witness miracles already.
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REFLECTION
• How has the Lord made you see? Share a testimony about it.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD GIVES SIGHT TO THE BLIND ILMA’S VLOG
July 23
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THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD GIVES SIGHT TO THE BLIND
As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So, he went away and washed, and came back seeing. 8 Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?” 9 Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.” 10 So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know.” – John 9:1-12
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In this account, we witness another miracle that Jesus did while he was here on earth. It was giving sight to a man born blind. In those time, whenever someone is blind, they associate it with sin. Light is associated with God and darkness represents Satan’s territory. Genesis 1:2-3 gives us a picture of how God created his first work, which is light. It says: The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. From the creation story, it is obvious that without light, we will still be formless and full of darkness. It was God who brought us light. Jesus declares that He is light of the world in verse 5.
When the disciples asked who sinned in this blind man’s family, Jesus claims that it is to display God’s glory and power that’s why this man was born blind. We hear Jesus say once again about his divinity to His disciple. Only God can bring light and sight to the blind. The restoration of sight for this blind man is so that all will magnify at the greatness and power of God. It is only God who can totally restore sight to anyone living in darkness.
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REFLECTION
• How can physical blindness be synonymous to spiritual blindness?
GOD’S WORD KEEPS YOU AWAY FROM DEATH ILMA’S VLOG
July 21
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GOD’S WORD KEEPS YOU AWAY FROM DEATH
48 The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.’ -John 8:48-52
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In this account in John’s gospel, we clearly see how the Jews were relentless in their pursuit to find something about Jesus that they could use to stop Him from saying truth. They don’t want to hear anything true because that would mean that they will have to give up their reputation. Jesus was exposing them and they know that Jesus sees through their schemes and plots. So, they try their best to avoid knowing the truth so they could dwell on their love for power and prestige from the public.
Aren’t many of us this way: we reject the truth that will set us free because we want to stay in bondage? We have been slaves of sin for so long that righteousness is something that is naturally unattractive. The flesh wants to cater to its instinctive desire to serve and please the “self.” It wants to protect the image that ensures that people see the image they are trying to project, even though deep inside, they know that they are counterfeits.
There is a very strong reproach and a promise that Jesus is telling them in this account. In verse 49, Jesus reveals to them that He Himself, honors and respects His own Father. He confronts the Jews how they dishonor Him. Of course, this sounded like an insult to these legalistic Jews because they think highly of themselves and who does this Jesus think He is to tell them that they don’t honor God. In verse 50, Jesus exposes their idols: their own selves. He said that He doesn’t seek His own glory, but God’s. On the other hand, they are only concerned to give themselves the glory. The promise he offers to them is that if they keep and follow God’s word, they will never taste or experience death. Jesus was talking here of the importance of Scriptures. Without it, we will perish. The Jews once again didn’t get this. They use Scriptures as a means of bringing honor to themselves. They fail to see that God’s word will free them and give them life.
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REFLECTION
• How can feeding, meditating and following Scriptures keep you away from death?
HE WHO IS OF GOD HEARS THE WORDS OF GOD ILMA’S VLOG
July 20
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HE WHO IS OF GOD HEARS THE WORDS OF GOD
39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40 But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason, you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” – John 8:39-47
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Once again, the Jews exhibit their hypocrisy in verse 41 claiming that God is their Father. Jesus vehemently claims that if they were really Abraham’s children, they will never seek to kill Him. He tells them that if God is their Father, they will love and accept Him, but they have continuously rejected Him. It is strong language when Jesus tells them that they are children of the devil and explains to them the nature of their father. He is a murderer and cannot stand the truth. He is a liar and the father of lies. Jesus tells them that the reason why they cannot stand the truth that He reveals to them is because they thrive in lies. He exposes the reason why they cannot hear what He is saying. They do not hear His words because they do not belong to God.
It is interesting to watch how some Christians I know do not want the truth either. It is sad to witness these people think that they are followers of Jesus when they do not even want to know the truth. They may read the bible, but they never really reflect, follow and live the truth that comes from God’s word. They choose to live in lies and sin. They have no qualms in continually serving their own selves. They cannot belong to God if they are concerned only with their own desires and cravings.
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REFLECTION
• How is hearing the Word of God a clear indication that you belong to God?
THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE ILMA’S VLOG
July 19
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THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore, you also do the things which you heard from your father.” – John 8:31-38
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In this account Jesus tells them the pre-requisite of being His disciples. They must continue in His word so they can know the truth so they will be free. The Jews didn’t understand what Jesus was saying about being free. As far as they were concerned, none of them were slaves. Jesus was speaking to them about spiritual slavery. When they commit sins, they are slaves of sin. And those who are enslaved by sin will not enter God’s kingdom. Jesus claims his power as the Son of God when He said that if He makes them free, they will be free forever. He confronts them about their claim as Abraham’s descendants because they were seeking to kill Him. In verse 38, Jesus separates Himself from those who do not belong to His Father, insinuating that their father must be the devil because they do not speak of what His Father says.
We get another glimpse of the character of those who do not belong to God’s kingdom. The Jews constantly defy whatever Jesus reveals to them. They reject it and won’t have anything to do with truth. They were relentless in putting a stop to these truth Jesus were telling them. They are so arrogant to claim that they were Abraham’s descendants, yet they do not have the faith like Abraham had. Jesus hates sin and hypocrisy. He confronts them openly and so should all believers do. Sadly, like the Jews, many people do not want to confront sin and truth. They like to stay slaves of sins and lies. When they are faced with these things, they defend themselves and reject the chance to be saved. What a shame when we knowingly choose lies than truth or sin than righteousness.
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REFLECTION
• Why are some people afraid to face truth?
IF YOU KNEW ME, YOU WOULD KNOW MY FATHER ILMA’S VLOG
July 17
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IF YOU KNEW ME, YOU WOULD KNOW MY FATHER
12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. 16 But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17 Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” 19 So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” 20 These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.– John 8:12-20
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The Pharisees were relentless in contradicting Jesus’ claim about being the Light of the world. They were constantly contesting how his testimony cannot be true because He is alone. They didn’t believe that Jesus was sent by God the Father and that He isn’t alone. Jesus reminded them that in their law, the testimony of two men were crucial for a testimony to be true. Yet, they could not accept what Jesus was saying. They still couldn’t fathom who His Father was. Once again Jesus tells them that they do not know where He is from or where He is going. He proclaims his deity to them when He said that if they knew Him, meaning if they believe in Him, they would also know His Father.
In this gospel account, Jesus declares that He is the light of the world. In other words, He is the only source of light here on earth. Without Him, darkness will prevail. He also invites us all to follow Him so that we will have the light of Life. Light and life go together. Darkness and death come as a package. Those who believe in Jesus will be given the light which will make them thrive in this dark and corrupt world. The Pharisees ignored the invitation to believe Him, instead, they raised another legalistic question about where Jesus could have possibly come from. They couldn’t get over the fact that someone who have never studied is much wiser than them. Jesus was a threat to their status and honor.
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REFLECTION
• How can unbelief hinder one from knowing Jesus and God the Father?