John by Scott Risley (2024)

Jesus asked the the crowd why they were there and were they hungry.  The crowd was hungry for regular bread and wanted to see a miraculous sign, but Jesus wanted to give them the bread of life so that He could fill the God-shaped hole in their lives.

Who is Jesus? A good man?  A deceiver?  A demon-processed man? Or is He the Messiah He claimed to be who can give rivers of living water to anyone who believes in Him?  Search the Scriptures for yourself and see!

Jesus turns the tables on the Pharisees who were trying to trap Jesus by bring to Him a woman caught in adultery.  If He defends her, He is in violation of the Law, and if He condemns her, He will offend the crowds.  Instead, He calls out the Pharisees to cast the first stone IF they had no sinful involvement in this woman's predicament.

We all are born spiritually blind. God allows suffering to open our eyes to the works of God.  Will you let God change your life for the world to see?  Will you testify to God's healing power?

John teaches that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He is The Door to the sheepfold that leads to eternal life.  All the "sheep" that know Him, recognize His voice and follow Him.  He leads them to an abundant life here and eventually to eternal life with Him.

The miracle Jesus performed to raise Lazarus from death confirmed to the world the truth of Jesus' claims.  His resurrection anticipates the greater resurrection of Jesus Himself, which guarantees our own resurrections so that we can face death with hope.

As Mary poured out that expensive perfume onto Jesus, she was pouring out everything she owned or cared about. She was trusting Jesus to care for her every need. Although the disciples rebuked her for the waste, Jesus praised her for her love and sacrifice.

Finally, after years of saying His time had not come, Jesus is ready to reveal His true identity.  He rides into Jerusalem on a donkey's colt just as Scripture had prophesied in Zechariah.   

The Holy Spirit is the key to true spirituality.  He offers power, guidance and closeness that only he can provide.

John describes three types of vines: those not in Christ, those in Christ but without fruit and those in Christ and bearing fruit.  Only those in Christ can bear fruit if they abide/remain in Him.

As Jesus approaches His death on the cross, He gives some final encouragement to His disciples.  He warns them that after He leaves this world, the world will treat them the same hostile way it treat Jesus.  He promises them after a period of sorrow, they will experience wonderful joy that no one can take away from them.

As Jesus meets with His disciples for the final time before facing the cross, He prays His longest prayer.  He prays for Himself, for the disciples and for future generations of followers of Jesus.

Both Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus, both were sorry.  Judas felt worldly sorrow that resulted in death but Peter felt godly sorrow leading to forgiveness and life.

Jesus came to earth to pay for all your sins.  He fulfilled all the prophecies.  You could let Him nail your sins to the cross or you can pay for them yourself.  The choice is up to you.

Scott Risley harmonizes the differing accounts of Jesus' resurrection and refutes common objections to Jesus' bodily resurrection.

In the fourth Gospel, John reveals how graciously Jesus restored Peter after he denied Jesus three times in one night.  Since we also will inevitably fail, we can be encouraged knowing we, too, can receive forgiveness and restoration.

What is often missed in the story of the prodigal son is that there were two prodigals, the younger wild-living son and the self-righteous older son.  Luke shows us how both sons' hearts were far from the father's heart and how we as prodigals can return home to the Father and receive a joyous welcome.