OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: John 20 (Focus vs. 26–31)
MEMORY VERSE
“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.” John 20:31
BACKGROUND
When Doris Kearns Goodwin decided to write a book about Abraham Lincoln, the fact that some fourteen thousand books had already been written about America’s sixteenth president intimidated her.
What could be left to say about this beloved leader? Undeterred, Goodwin’s work resulted in A Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Her fresh insights on Lincoln’s leadership style became a top-rated and top-reviewed book.
The apostle John faced a different challenge as he wrote his account of the ministry and passion of Jesus. The final verse of John’s gospel says, “Jesus did many other things as well.
If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). John had more material than he could possibly use!
So John’s strategy was to focus on only a few selected miracles (signs) that supported Jesus’ “I am” claims throughout his account.
Yet behind this strategy was this eternal purpose: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (v. 31).
Out of the mountains of evidence, John provided plenty of reasons to believe in Jesus. Who can you tell about Him today?
By: Bill Crowder
INSIGHT
Life is a central theme in the book of John. The book begins introducing Jesus as God’s Word and the source of life: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4). Life is identified as being found in the Father and Son (5:25–26) and the Spirit (6:63).
Jesus describes Himself as the “bread of life” (v. 35), coming to earth so that “they may have life, and have it to the full” (10:10). After the death of Lazarus, Jesus revealed Himself to Martha as “the resurrection and the life” (11:25) before raising Lazarus from the dead (v. 43).
Nearing the close of the book, John emphasized once more that the purpose of all that’s recorded in his gospel is “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (20:31).
By: Monica La Rose
APPLICATION
How do you view the biblical evidence for Jesus and His claims? What does it mean for you to believe in Him?
PR’s PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. – Case Close (John 1:1-4 nlt)
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“…the purpose of the gospel is (that): “you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name””
PRAYER
“Heavenly Father, please strengthen my faith with solid evidence so that I may truly live for Jesus.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“TO GOD BE THE GLORY”
To God be the glory,
Great things He has done;
so loved he the world that
He gave us his Son,
Who yielded His life
An atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate
That all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord;
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord;
let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father
Through Jesus the Son,
And give him the glory;
Great things He has done.
O perfect redemption,
The purchase of blood,
To every believer
The promise of God;
The vilest offender
Who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus
A pardon receives.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord;
Let the earth hear His voice!…
Great things He has taught us,
Great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing
Through Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher
And greater will be
Our wonder, our transport,
When Jesus we see.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord;
Let the earth hear His voice!…
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE DAILY IN 2023
Leviticus 13
Matthew 26:26-50