Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 7:25-36.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

John 7:25-26 (NIV)
25  At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?
26  Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ?
 
On verses 25-26:  Some in Jerusalem wondered why the Jerusalem authorities were allowing Jesus to preach publicly if they considered him to be public enemy number 1 (v25-26).  By not doing anything seemingly to stop Jesus, the religious leaders were seen by some as possibly approving of Jesus’ claims.  What can we learn from this?  When you’re silent on an issue, you may give others the impression that you accept the status quo as being okay.  May you have wisdom to know when to speak up and when to remain silent.  When you do speak up, may you speak up with wisdom, tact and courage.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 7:1-13.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

John 7:1-5 (NIV)
1  After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.
2  But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near,
3  Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do.
4  No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
5  For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
 
On verses 1-5:  The Feast of Tabernacles was the biggest festival in the Jewish calendar, so much so that it is sometimes in Scripture it is just called “The Feast”.  With the Feast closely approaching, Jesus’ brothers tell Jesus to go to Judea and show himself to everyone, since they know Jesus is claiming to be the Messiah, though they themselves did not believe him.  They tell Jesus to go to Judea for the Feast since naturally that’s what anyone who wants to get famous in Israel would do (v4). 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 6:60-71.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!
 
John 6:60-71 (NIV)
60  On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
61  Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?
62  What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!
63  The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

On verses 60-71:  Upon hearing Jesus talk about the importance of eating his flesh and drinking his blood (symbolic for believing in Jesus) (v51-58), many no longer followed Jesus (v66), leaving only a remnant such as Jesus’ 12 disciples (v67-69), although Judas would also later leave Jesus (v70-71).
What can we learn from this?  When you read the whole chapter of John 6, you will notice that people followed Jesus for different reasons. A great crowd followed Jesus at first because they saw him do miraculous signs for the sick (v2). People from that same crowd continued to follow Jesus because they had their fill of food that Jesus miraculously provided and were hoping to get more (v24-26). But then on hearing more of what Jesus had to say, many would desert Jesus (v66) leaving only a remnant who would continue to follow him. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 6:52-59.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

John 6:52-59 (NIV)
52  Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53  Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

On verse 52-59:  When taken out of context these words from Jesus may sound like Jesus is promoting cannibalism or a vampire culture.  But read these words in context and it is clear that when Jesus talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, Jesus is not talking about actually physically his flesh and drinking his blood; rather Jesus is talking about believing in him.  As Jesus says in verse 47, “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.”  Whenever you come across a verse or a passage in the Bible that you find hard to understand, always consider the context (i.e. what is written immediately before it and after it as well as the surrounding background behind it) so that you can better understand its intended meaning.