Day 309. John 3–4

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, revealing His authority over death and declaring Himself the resurrection and the life. This miracle leads many to believe, but it also intensifies the religious leaders' determination to kill Him. Mary anoints Jesus in preparation for His burial, and Jesus enters Jerusalem to the praise of the crowds. He then speaks about His approaching death, explaining that a grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die to produce much fruit.

Jesus heals a man born blind, and the resulting controversy exposes the spiritual blindness of the religious leaders. The man comes to recognise and worship Jesus, while those who claim to see refuse to believe. Jesus then describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep, calls them by name, and lays down His life for them. He promises that His sheep will receive eternal life and that no one can snatch them from His hand.

Jesus teaches during the Feast of Tabernacles, and people debate His identity and authority. He invites the thirsty to come to Him and receive living water, pointing to the Spirit. The religious leaders challenge Him, but Jesus declares that He is the Light of the World. He exposes the bondage of sin and teaches that true freedom comes through abiding in His word. The chapter culminates in His declaration, “Before Abraham was, I am,” revealing His divine identity.

Jesus heals a man who has been unable to walk for thirty-eight years, provoking conflict over the Sabbath. He explains His unique relationship with the Father and His authority to give life and judge. Jesus feeds five thousand people and walks on the sea, revealing His power. He then declares Himself the Bread of Life, teaching that true life comes through believing in Him and receiving what He offers, even as many struggle with His words.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that one must be born again, born of the Spirit, to enter God's kingdom, and reveals God's love in sending His Son to save the world. John the Baptist continues to point away from himself and toward Jesus. In Samaria, Jesus speaks with a woman at a well, revealing Himself as the source of living water and the Messiah. Many Samaritans believe, and Jesus later heals an official's son, showing that His word carries life-giving authority.

John opens by revealing Jesus as the eternal Word, who was with God and is God, and who became flesh to dwell among humanity. John the Baptist bears witness to Jesus as the Lamb of God, and Jesus calls His first disciples. At the wedding in Cana, Jesus turns water into wine, revealing His glory. He then cleanses the temple, declaring that His body is the true temple, and points toward His death and resurrection.

Jesus is condemned by Pilate, crucified, and buried, while a repentant criminal receives Jesus' promise of paradise. After His death, the temple curtain is torn, and Jesus is laid in a tomb. On the third day, the women discover that the tomb is empty. The risen Jesus appears to His followers, opens their understanding of the Scriptures, and commissions them to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations. The Gospel closes with His ascension.

Jesus commends a poor widow who gives everything she has, then speaks about the coming destruction of the temple, future persecution, and the need to remain watchful. As the Passover approaches, Judas agrees to betray Him. At the Last Supper, Jesus establishes the new covenant in His blood and teaches His disciples that true greatness is found in serving. In Gethsemane, Jesus submits to the Father's will, is arrested, and faces betrayal and denial.

Jesus calls Zacchaeus, a tax collector, to repentance and declares that the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. Through the parable of the ten minas, He teaches about faithful stewardship while people await the kingdom. Jesus enters Jerusalem to the praise of His disciples, weeps over the city, and cleanses the temple. Religious leaders challenge His authority, but His responses expose their resistance to God, and the parable of the wicked tenants warns of the consequences of rejecting God's Son.

Jesus teaches about forgiveness, faith, gratitude, and the coming of God's kingdom. He heals ten men with leprosy, but only one returns to give thanks, and he is a Samaritan. Through the parables of the persistent widow and the Pharisee and tax collector, Jesus encourages persistent prayer and humility before God. He welcomes children, challenges a rich ruler to surrender his possessions, predicts His death and resurrection, and restores sight to a blind man who calls out to Him in faith.