01/01 John 2:1-2
The next day Jesus’ mother was a guest at a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.
MARY
Mary loved her son and was willing to listen to Him even when she didn’t understand what was happening. When you love Jesus you obey Him. What are you doing that Jesus has directed you to quit doing? What are you not doing that Jesus has called you over and over to do? Do it and you will be changed.
01/02 John 2:3-5
The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother spoke to him about the problem. “They have no more wine,” she told him. “How does that concern you and me?” Jesus asked. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
MARY
Again Mary believes her son and does what He has asked her to do. The end result is amazing and far beyond what anyone had though about. Jesus is announcing His arrival as a change agent in the world. He changes us from dead without Christ to alive in Christ Jesus.
01/03 John 2:6-9
Six stone water pots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held twenty to thirty gallons each. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled to the brim, he said, “Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So they followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over.
AMAZED
The servants were amazed. They knew who had done this. This first miracle is significant of the rest of His ministry. Jesus is always changing the good to best, the worst to excellent, a failure to victory. Jesus is alive and He is here with us even now.
01/04 John 2:10-11
“Usually a host serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone is full and doesn’t care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now!” This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was Jesus’ first display of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
JESUS
Jesus will help us deliver a life that glorifies the Lord until the day we crossover into heaven. Our life is but a mist. We are here and gone. But when we leave we are going to be with Jesus. Rejoice about your unique and valuable life. Jesus died for you.
01/05 John 2:12
After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
JESUS
Capernaum, the hometown of Jesus was only 20 miles from Cana so it was an easy walk. This was a relaxed time for Jesus and His disciples. This was a time of rest before they would head to Jerusalem. We all need rest. Even the Son of God had to take a bit of a rest. An old saying says that exhaustion makes cowards of us all. Be careful with your life and get enough rest or you may find your self overwhelmed by the world.
01/06 John 2:13
It was time for the annual Passover celebration, and Jesus went to Jerusalem.
JERUSALEM
The entire land bustled with activity getting ready for the Passover. The roads were congested. It was a festive time of year. Jesus was going to Jerusalem. Everything Jesus did was preceded by fervent prayer. We know He prayed about this trip and was ready for the things that He would face. Have you prayed about your day? I know we often think our lives are unimportant but that isn’t true. Jesus places great value on you and your life. He died for you. He has a plan for you life and you will need to spend time with Him in prayer to know each day how to deal with that day. Stay on track. Spend time with Jesus.
01/07 John 2:14
In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; and he saw money changers behind their counters.
JESUS
This made Jesus angry. I suspect that you like me have sometimes felt that we were angry for the Lord. Somebody offends the church and we might be ready to jump back at them. Did you spend time with Jesus today? Do you know how Jesus would have you react? Make sure you are on solid ground when you get angry for the Lord.
01/08 John 2:15-16
Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and oxen, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Don’t turn my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
MERCHANTS
These merchants were crooks and scalawags. They charged usurious fees, extorted money from the people, sold unclean animals at exorbitant prices, had kickback arrangements with the religious leaders and many other evil things that were besmirching the House of God: the Temple. Jesus knew this and demanded that these evil ones immediately leave the Temple area. Remember the importance of bringing a clean heart before the Lord. Our faith isn’t just another part of our busy lives, it is our life.
01/09 John 2:17
Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house burns within me.”
JESUS
Jesus was totally committed to the Father. He spent the time He needed with the Father to live a perfect life. We too can live a perfect life before God but we cannot do it without devoting ourselves to the Lord.
01/10 John 2:18
“What right do you have to do these things?” the Jewish leaders demanded. “If you have this authority from God, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
MIRACLE
Always the people wanted a miracle. Jesus had already done so many miracles. One more miracle on demand wouldn’t change how these leaders thought. They hated Jesus. We must be careful not to think that we can’t do anything for the Lord because we can’t do miracles. Miracles don’t change people, Jesus does. Tell them about Jesus. We do not have to fear anyone. If God is for us who can be against us?
01/11 John 2:19
“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
TRUTH
Jesus always told the truth. Even if the people didn’t want to hear the truth Christ told the truth. We should examine our conversations. Are we committed to telling the truth or just to tell a convenient word? Speak the truth with kindness.
01/12 John 2:20
“What!” they exclaimed. “It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can do it in three days?”
VISION
We are so limited in our wisdom and knowledge. Even the most brilliant of us knows so very little about our universe. Jesus created all things and knows all things. We can have fellowship with Him. He will tell us what we need to know for our daily life.
01/13 John 2:21-22
But by “this temple,” Jesus meant his body. After he was raised from the dead, the disciples remembered that he had said this. And they believed both Jesus and the Scriptures.
SACRIFICE
Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for us. He died in our stead. Think today about the magnitude of His sacrifice for you. Remember when you were dead in your trespasses and sin. Can you imagine still being lost and away from God? Thank Jesus today for His gift of life to you.
01/14 John 2:23
Because of the miraculous signs he did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many people were convinced that he was indeed the Messiah.
SIGNS
Many folks think that if they saw a sign from Jesus that they would believe. Faith is believing without seeing. Christ was here and He died for us. His sacrifice pays the price of our sin. A miracle will not help us see that any better than the Word of God presents it to us now.
01/15 John 2:24
But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew what people were really like. No one needed to tell him about human nature.
PEOPLE
People are dead in their trespasses and sin. Jesus is a choice. Tragically too few choose Jesus. Many choose to live fearful lives that testify to the meaninglessness of life without Christ.
01/16 John 3: 1-2
After dark one evening, a Jewish religious leader named Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to speak with Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you.”
PEOPLE
People do a lot of talking. Sometimes they even talk just to hear themselves talk. Nicodemus was talking and not connecting. He was on the fence. He wanted to believe in Jesus but he didn’t. Make sure you aren’t sitting on the fence waiting for another miracle to bolster your belief. Believe in Jesus.
01/17 John 3: 3
Jesus replied, “I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.”
JESUS
Jesus knew what was in the heart of Nicodemus. He got straight to the point-Nicodemus until you believe we can’t talk. His point went right over Nicodemus’ head. Lest you believe you will not have the life and light to discuss spiritual things. Believe in Jesus and you will be saved.
01/18 John 3: 4
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
JESUS
Jesus was speaking plainly and Nicodemus was just not getting it. People too often just don’t get it. They want to decide how they are going to develop a relationship with God. They want their way. There is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ the Lord.
01/19 John 3: 5-6
Jesus replied, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.
LINE
We cannot cross the line from human life to spiritual life except through Jesus Christ. Christ gives us new life. Holy Spirit life comes from Jesus and is a gift that we can receive by believing in Him.
01/20 John 3: 7-8
So don’t be surprised at my statement that you must be born again. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
SPIRIT
We are not in control. Try as we might our life is at the mercy of time. Pain, sorrow, loss and other things that plague us happen and we are helpless to stop them. What we can do is accept Christ as Lord and He will give us new life. That new life will equip us to deal with all of the ups and downs of life and a solid foundation to overcome that vagaries and frustrations of life. Life in Christ is a life that is under the control of the Lord.
01/21 John 3: 9
“What do you mean?” Nicodemus asked.
DEAD
Nicodemus did not have spiritual life. He may have gotten it later but at this point he was lost. Christ had already outlined what new life meant and how the Lord was willing to freely give this new life. Anytime you talk with someone that is lost they will not understand what you are talking about when you talk about spiritual things. They may know the right answers but if they don’t know Jesus they don’t have spiritual life.
01/22 John 3:10-15
Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, I am telling you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe us. But if you don’t even believe me when I tell you about things that happen here on earth, how can you possibly believe if I tell you what is going on in heaven? For only I, the Son of Man, have come to earth and will return to heaven again. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.
POWER
Jesus has the power to give us new life, eternal life, that is like the life that He has. We can come into the family of God and be a partner together with Jesus sharing the Good news. This is a choice that we have to make.
01/23 John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
LIFE
God’s Word to you is that you can have eternal life. This life is in the Lord Jesus and we can only have it by faith in Him. Listen to the Word of God and if you don’t know Jesus ask Him into your heart today.
01/24 John 3:17-18
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. “There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.
TRUST
Trust is a choice. Do I believe God and accept His gift or do I think that I can do it myself? Trust God. Learn about Him. Spend time with Him and rejoice.
01/25 John 3:19-21
Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But any who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.”
LIGHT
Jesus Christ is the light of the world. We can choose to accept Him as Lord and Savior. But many people refuse to bend the knee to Christ. They are arrogant and stubborn thinking that they can provide for themselves. This is tragic. We cannot demand that God do things our way.
01/26 John 3:22-23
Afterward Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem, but they stayed in Judea for a while and baptized there. At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there and people kept coming to him for baptism.
JESUS
Jesus knew everything that was happening. He bent His will to the will of the Father and proceeded to do those things that would take Him straight to the cross. The Lord knows what you are struggling with and what you will struggle with in the future. He is seeking time with you so that He can equip you to accomplish your plan that the Father has laid out for you. Spend time with Jesus.
01/27 John 3:24-26
This was before John was put into prison. At that time a certain Jew began an argument with John’s disciples over ceremonial cleansing. John’s disciples came to him and said, “Teacher, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you said was the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going over there instead of coming here to us.”
JOHN
No one was greater than John. Jesus paid him a high accomplishment. John simply wanted to do those things that were pleasing to the Father. He did. We might say no but the truth is that John did exactly what the Father called him to do and he gave his life to do it.
01/28 John 3:27
John replied, “God in heaven appoints each person’s work.
VALUE
God assigns each one of us work to do. We choose whether we will accept His assignment. His personal attention to our life gives us value. Each one of us has significant value and as a creation of His we have built in value. Next time you are feeling like a failure or feeling lonely and blue remember God loves you.
01/29 John 3:28-31
You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him – that is all. The bride will go where the bridegroom is. A bridegroom’s friend rejoices with him. I am the bridegroom’s friend, and I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. I am of the earth, and my understanding is limited to the things of earth, but he has come from heaven.
WISDOM
Wisdom comes from God. It is an insight that we cannot learn by study but instead is a step from known to known through the unknown. John spoke as directed by the Spirit of God. We now have knowledge as a result of the wisdom given by God to John so that we would hear proclamation that Jesus came to us from the Father.
01/30 John 3:32-34
He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Those who believe him discover that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God’s Spirit is upon him without measure or limit.
JESUS
Jesus said that we would have the opportunity to have a greater ministry than He had. We only have to obey the Father and trust Him to do the kind of ministry that Jesus did. He healed the sick, raised the dead, loved the poor and the down and out and He was always careful to do all those things that gave glory to God. Go and do likewise.
01/31 John 3:35-36
The Father loves his Son, and he has given him authority over everything. And all who believe in God’s Son have eternal life. Those who don’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them.”
OBEY
Obey Jesus. Do what He says. Live the way He lived. Get to know Him better each day. Obey Jesus.
