John 21:12  

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus called to the disciples to come and enjoy the catch that He had directed them to. Jesus had previously told Peter that He would be fishing for men Lk 5:10 and now Jesus demonstrates the magnitude of the calling through the 153 fish caught. He prepared Peter by first forgiving His failure and re-establishing his love. He left Peter with hope, purpose and an opportunity to redeem himself.

Application: Jesus calls us to come and have breakfast each morning, to be feed through His Word Mt 4:4. Inspiration, hope, gratitude and direction will be given daily, to keep us spiritually healthy and fulfilled. If we have failed in the past as Peter did, know that Jesus is preparing a delicious breakfast to give us hope and another opportunity to be faithful. Let us enjoy the fellowship while we feast with Jesus each morning.

John 20:22 

And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit: God breathed physical and spiritual lives into Adam Gen 2:7 (the Hebrew word for “life,” ḥay-yîm is N-mp Noun-masculine plural, thus referring to two kinds of lives that was breathed into Adam).  He was able to communicate with God and was commanded what was acceptable and what wasn’t Gen 2:16,17.

The tree of Life symbolized dependency on God, whereas the tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented independence, man as god.

After Adam sinned, by disobeying God’s command Gen 3:6, the conscience was generated. Its’ purpose was to aid man in deciding for himself, what was good and what was evil Gen 3:22. Adam immediately recognized that he was naked Gen 3:7a. He tried to cover up his guilt Gen 2:25 by clothing himself in fig leaves Gen 3:7b (this symbolized man’s righteousness, his work). In God’s grace, an animal was killed, signifying that Adam’s sin was covered by the blood sacrifice, and its skins clothed Adam, foreshadowing God’s future system of forgiveness and fellowship restoration Heb 9:22. Jesus’ better sacrifice Heb 9:14 would introduce God’s final plan of eternal forgiveness and fellowship Heb 9:28 with all believers clothed in Christ’s righteousness 2 Co 5:21.

If Adam had eaten from the tree of Life and not from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would have experienced eternal life, as this tree portrayed the decision to trust and be dependent upon Jesus Jn 15:5, Jn 6:55, the eternal Life Jn 11:25, Jn 14:6, Jn 10:10. However, Adam chose the opposite. God, in His mercy banished Adam from the garden Gen 3:24 and placed cherubim guarding the way back to the Tree of Life, to prevent Adam from eating and living forever. Why would this not be a good outcome? In a sinful state, Adam would have been eternally separated from God. Dead Old Testament saints waited at Abraham’s side Lk 16:22,23,26 (Jesus called this place, Paradise Lk 23:43, which at this time was not in heaven Jn 20:17, although was transferred at Jesus’ ascension Eph 4:8-10  into the third heaven where God resides 2 Co 12:2,4). They were not allowed to dwell with God in heaven because their sins were not yet paid for Ro 3:24.

Since Adam’s sin, man has been born spiritual dead, born, not in God’s likeness Gen 5:1, but in man’s Gen 5:3, separated from the life of God Eph 2:1-3, having no interest in God or His ways. Old Testament believers, who were drawn by God and trusted in Him, could experience God’s intimacy, but sin could separate that unique fellowship Isa 59:2; Ps 51:11; 1 Sa 16:14.

The first Adam became a living being when God breathed in the breath of lives Gen 2:7, but the Last Adam was the life-giving spirit, who came to restore man both spiritually and bodily 1 Co 15:45. Jesus was the First Fruits 1 Co 5:20, who was resurrected from the dead with a spiritual body and will resurrect those who belong to Him, bodily, when He returns 1 Co 15:22. He, also came to give spiritual life, which He imparted to His disciples, by breathing on them, reminding us of Gen 2:7, now the spiritual counterpart (the spiritual First Fruits Jas 1:18; Ro 8:23), and they received the indwelling Holy Spirit. Later, at Pentecost, they would receive power to fulfill their evangelistic ministry Lk 24:49; Ac 1:8.

Application: Jesus told Thomas that he had believed because he had seen the physical nail prints, but blessed would be all, who believed that had not seen Jn 20:29. That word is for us today, for we have the testimony of Jesus and his disciples and must believe in faith and continue to live by faith and not by sight 2 Co 5:7.

John 19:34 

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water: Adam was placed in a deep sleep and received his bride, which taken from his side Gen 2:21. Jesus, figuratively was also in the deep sleep of death Jn 11:13 and with the piercing of His side came His bride. The blood represented the forgiveness of sins Heb 9:22 while the water symbolized spiritual life Jn 4:14.

Application: This is the Gospel message for all who want to become His bride. His blood provides forgiveness to guilty sinners Jn 1:29 and His water gives eternal life to all who partake Jn 10:10.

John 18:38  

“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him: Pilate had ascertained that Jesus was not a political rival of Caesar’s, recognizing Jesus’ kingdom was a spiritual one, and therefore had little interest in listening to Jesus’ teachings. His only concern was to solve his political problem which was handed to him. Jesus’ comment: everyone on the side of truth listens to me led Pilate to answer, “what is truth?” But he didn’t even wait for Jesus’ response, as he departed to deal with the issue.

Application: today many are too busy to research the facts to discover if Jesus is who He said He was: the Truth. They believe truth is subjective and believe whatever is expedient to their circumstances. Unfortunately for these people, truth is objective and a day of judgment is coming for all. You cannot distort the truth as all will end up reaping what they sowed Gal 6:7,8.

John 17:3  

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. The only true God is contrasted with false gods, who cannot provide eternal life. Then Jesus added, the Savior whom God sent as a man. Only a sinless man could pay for the sins of the world, and only the God-Man could fulfill this role Heb 2:9, who was made a little lower than the angels to accomplish this goal but for only a little while Jn 17:5.

Application: Eternal life’s goal is for man to establish an eternal relationship with the Father and the Son. Just as the Son was submissive to the Father Mt 26:42, we are to follow and obey the Son  Jn 17:18.

John 16:2  

They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God: after Jesus is crucified, Satan will deceive the people and put hatred in their hearts for all Christians, not wanting the spread of the Gospel. The religious leaders will be fearful of losing control of the people and will ban Christians from the synagogues. This deception will be so great that when Christians are killed like Stephen, the people will believe they are doing God’s will Ac 7:59, 60.

Application: today, government officials are demanding the people to be vaccinated and forcing employees to be fired, if they refuse. They have put Christian pastors in jail for allowing too many people attend church, while BLM and Antifa members burn down cities and are not even tracked down. Jesus warned us of peril times, however He also shared the glorious victory of His return, so Christians cherish this hope, until God triumphs over Satan.

John 15:4  

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me: Jesus illustrated the necessity of intimacy by using a vine to represent Himself and a branch to portray followers. Those who tried to produce fruit apart from Jesus, were cut off by the Father and later gathered and burned Jn 15:6. Only those who regularly seek the Lord and obey His Word bear Jesus’ fruit. It is this type of believer that Jesus exhorted to ask whatever and he will be granted that request Jn 15:16 for he is one in spirit with the Lord 1 Co 6:17.

Application: If you are producing the fruit rather than bearing Jesus’, you have not submitted to the Gospel, which requires making Jesus Lord Ro 10:9.  Baptism is a picture of self-death that allows Jesus to rule your being Gal 2:20.

John 14:3  

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am: Jesus told His disciples that after He was killed, He would return to heaven and prepare a place for them Jn 14:2. He promised that He would come again, to take them back with Him, so they could be together forever 1 Th 4:17. Jesus has painted a picture of a Jewish wedding, where the groom is betrothed to his bride and returns to his father’s home to build a place for her. When it is completed, he returns for her and the wedding takes place. Jesus is referring to the “rapture”—the catching up in 1 Th 4:16,17.

Application: Jesus told a parable about this coming event with a clear message that His people need to be ready and watching for His return Mt 25:6,13. We have been given a wonderful gift prepared by Jesus, so we need to be obedient to His words and be prepared and ready, watching for His return.

John 13:15  

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you: Jesus had just washed the disciples’ feet and thereby had set an example, a follower of Christ must place others’ needs before his own Jn 13:14. If one wants to be first, he must be servant of all Mk 9:35. Jesus came to serve, not to be served Mt 20:28. The disciples had been arguing who was the greatest Lk 22:24 and Jesus makes it very clear to His followers that they are to be servants not leaders.

Application: It is easy for one to desire to be first and prioritize his or her needs at the expense of others. Jesus taught that His kingdom goal was to promote the Gospel and not our own agendas. People should come before personal benefit and pleasing God through servitude should be our highest calling.  

John 12:28 

Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Jesus’ soul was troubled because He knew what He was about to face—the Cross. However, He placed the Father’s will above His own and spoke His will, which was to glorify the Father’s name. The Father’s response was that He had and would do it again by crucifying His Son on a cross Isa 53:10.

Application: What obedience the Son displayed for His Father by submitting to the Cross and what love the Father demonstrated for the world Jn 3:16 by crucifying His only Son! In response, how we should serve our God through love and obedience! Let us say to God, “Father, glorify Your name through me!”

John 11:10  

It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light: Jesus was given a mission by His Father and would be protected from the Enemy until His time had come. Until then, He had to make use of all days that the Father had given Him. When nighttime came it would be too late to work for darkness would rule.

Application: Jesus is our light and only walking in His light do we have true fellowship with Him 1 Jn 1:6,7. If we love God, we will desire to obey His will. God has a plan for everyone Eph 2:10, and each has been given a certain amount of time to complete it. Let us not waste it foolishly, for when we are called home, there will no longer be opportunity to work.

John 10:30  

I and the Father are one: Jesus claimed equality with the Father, not that He and the Father were the same person, as Jn 1:1 presented the Word (Jesus) as being withGod (Father) and was God, thus describing the Trinity—as equal Persons. Jesus explained in Jn 10:38 that the Father was in Him, and He was in the Father, here describing the Trinity as one God, not multiple Gods. Combining these two statements, we discover the basic definition of the Trinity—three Persons in one God. How can this be? If Jesus taught that God was three Gods in one God, or three Persons in one Person that would be a contradiction, an impossibility. However, the two statements are in harmony because they are equating two different categories—essence and persons. In essence, God has one nature—one spiritual DNA, which all three Persons possess, but in Persons, each is individually unique with different roles. A human analogy would be three identical triplets, each has matching human DNA, yet are three separate persons. The only inconsistancy in this analogy is that the three human triplets are three separate beings whereas God is three unique Beings, not separate. Since God is omnipresent, He fills the universe Jer 23:23,24 (Father); Mt 28:19,20 (Son); Ps 139:7,8 (Holy Spirit) and therefore cannot be separated from each other. God can appear to man as separate individuals but in reality is not, for God is spirit Jn 4:24. An example of this is the baptism of Jesus. He was in the water, when the Holy Spirit lighted on Him, while the voice of the Father spoke from heaven Mt 3:16,17. God’s oneness is confirmed in Mt 28:19 when Jesus stated to baptize believers in the name not names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Application: it is unbelief that keeps one from the kingdom of God, not understanding, just as the Pharisees understood Jesus’ claims Jn 8:33 but didn’t believe Him.

John 9:39  

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Jesus came to earth to make man choose whom he would serve. The humble of heart will have their blind eyes opened and will worship Jesus as the blind man did Jn 9:38, while arrogant people like the religious leaders will be blinded because they refuse to see the truth. Condemning Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath demonstrated the Pharisees jealousy and irrationality, thinking that it was better to keep the Sabbath than to do good. Jesus previously pointed out that even they would rescue an animal that fell in a pit on the Sabbath Mt 12:11.

Application: a hypocrite cannot see his own double standards and thus is blinding himself from the truth. The Bible in many places remind people that the humble are giving grace while the proud will be resisted by God Jas 4:6.

John 8:58 

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” The Pharisees had challenged Jesus’ statement that Abraham saw His day and was glad Jn 8:56. How could Jesus know this, since He was a young man and Moses lived twenty centuries ago? Jesus’ response was that He was the eternal God (I am), and thus existed before Abraham was born. The Jews understood that Jesus was claiming to be Jehovah Ex 3:14, for they picked up stones to stone Him for blasphemy Jn 10:33.

Application: If anyone denies that Jesus is God, they have a false saviour, and do not have the Father either 1 Jn 2:23. Salvation is in the One who can save, Jesus, the Son of God.

John 7:24  

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment: the teachers of the Law wanted to kill Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath. Jesus used their own rational to show their hypocrisy. If no work could be done on the Sabbath, why did the priests break the Sabbath by circumcising eight-day old babies? Jesus was teaching a biblical principle that when a higher law came into conflict with another law, the higher law should be obeyed. This is exactly what the religious leaders had done when the circumcism of a child fell on a Sabbath. However, when Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, they accused Him of breaking the Law. Surely this good deed superseded the keeping of the Sabbath. Jesus summarized His argument by saying that God desired His people to use righteous judgment, not judgment based on appearances.

Application: whenever we make decisions to appear favourable to others, and base it not on the truth, we are being hypocrites like the Pharisees. God wants His people to be sincere and do what is right, regardless of the consequences to us.

John 6:65 

He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” The Bible doesn’t contradict itself. An important interpretation rule is to use plain spoken text to interpret obscure language. The Bible makes it clear that Man has been given the choice to receive or reject the Gospel. Jn 3:16 states that the Gospel can be received by whoever believes in Jesus, not specific ones that the Father has preordained, for God loves the world—all of His creation. 2 Pe 3:9 revealed the Father’s heart, not wanting anyone to perish, which would make no sense if He predestined only certain individuals. In Mt 23:37 Jesus longed to gather the Jewish people, but He stated that they were not willing to come, not that the Father hadn’t enabled them to come. Jesus tasted death for everyone Heb 2:9 and His sacrifice propitiated the sins of the whole world, not just believers 1 Jn 2:2. Rev 22:17 would be insincere of the Holy Spirit to tell those who are thirsty to come, if they couldn’t come. Yes, God creates the thirst, for no man seeks after God Ro 3:11. How does He create the thirst? He draws men  Jn 6:44 by making them aware of their thirst through the Holy Spirit, who convicts the world of their sins Jn 16:8 NASB, then hearing the solution, which is the Gospel Ro 10:17 and then learning about God’s purpose for their lives Eph 2:10. The Father enables when we hear and learn from Him Jn 6:45.

Application: God has given us a conscience, which lets us know when we are guilty of wrongdoing. The Holy Spirit uses the Law to help us recognize our sinfulness Ro 7:7. However, if we sear our conscience by rejecting its counsel, it will no longer be reliable in reminding us of guilty actions. There is a point of no return 1 Jn 5:16.

John 5:6 

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” It seemed like a strange question to ask a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, but Jesus never asked a foolish question. I believe some people use their sickness to cover up flaws, such as laziness, a need for sympathy to feel loved, or to receive financial support. The invalid explained that he truly wanted to be healed but didn’t have anyone to help him into the pool Jn 5:7. Instead of helping the man into the pool, Jesus commanded him to do three things: get up, pick up the mat and walk. “Get up,” has to do with faith, believing Jesus. The Scriptures pointed out that Jesus didn’t do many miracles in His hometown because there was a lack of faith Mt 13:58. So, this man didn’t inform Jesus that he had tried for thirty-eight years to get up and hadn’t been successful, instead he obeyed the command. The next directive, “to pick up the mat” meant that the invalid wouldn’t be coming back, so he must leave unbelief behind, no need for an insurance policy, if the sickness returned. Finally, Jesus told him to “walk,” to fulfill his purpose in life, not to find a new spot to lie down, for God has a calling for everyone to complete.

Application: Jesus asks each of us, this same question, do you want to get spiritually well? Many, love their sin too much and don’t want to get well, so Jesus will walk on by. He will only heal those who are willing to die to themselves Gal 2:20, and to continue to walk in the good deeds Lk 9:62 that He has planned for us Eph 2:10.

John 4:14

But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life: the woman wasn’t initially interested in spiritual truth, but was intrigued with the possibility of not having to gather water for her physical daily thirst. It was when Jesus exposed her past that she recognized that He was someone special and took heed to His words. She was trying to satisfy her needs by external means—husbands. While working on her sixth, Jesus was convincing her, that her thirst would never be satisfied by husbands.

Jesus described that His water would satisfy one’s thirst for meaning and purpose in life. Man searches to fill this hole with many things: wealth, fame, sex, pleasure but these never completely satisfies. However, knowing Jesus in an intimate relationship does fulfil. It is an inner fulfillment—God living inside you, which no external item can match.

Application: Jesus said there would be rivers of water bubbling up from within us, to share with spiritual thirsty people. If all that’s coming out is a few drips, then that will never quench the unbeliever’s thirst. He wants to see a difference in our lives: real peace, joy, being unconditionally loved and having eternal hope, not the same unsatisfying emotions that he has lived with (fear, depression, feeling unloved and hopelessness and uncertainty). Let your light shine or your water flow by drawing your strength from God’s Word and communion with Him.

John 3:6 

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit: Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven. He didn’t understand, thinking only in physical terms Jn 3:4. So, Jesus explained that there were two births one had to experience to enter the kingdom. The first was natural birth which every individual, other than Adam and Eve, experienced from their mother’s womb (water sac) Jn 3:5. The second birth was supernatural and came from above (from the Holy Spirit/born again can be translated born from above) Jn 3:3 YLT. Paul stated that flesh and blood could not enter the kingdom of God 1 Co 15:50 and therefore the necessity of the new birth to be united with God.

Application: no amount of good deeds will ever bring about salvation, it is granted only from Jesus, who paid the price of sin through His shed blood on the cross. John gave a wonderful example of Moses lifting up the bronze serpent on a pole Jn 3:14, a picture of healing for anyone who had been bitten by the snake, if they looked at the object. The snake represented sin and was made from bronze picturing judgment. It was placed on the pole foreshadowing the cross, which Jesus endured, to save all who look to Him for their forgiveness of sins and trust in Him.

John 2:10 

“Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” In our world, we serve the choice wine first, then the cheaper one after we have gotten what we wanted. Take as an example, a young man wanting to win over a potential bride. He will wine and dine her in the best restaurants during the dating period but once the marriage is sealed, all she’ll get is McDonald’s.  

Application: But this is not the way for a Christian. Jesus set the example, we are to give our best—the choicest wine, not only in the beginning but always for we are serving the King Col 3:23,24.