This week we’re looking into John, Chapter 6 with our focus today being on John 6:25-29. Some of those who had eaten with the five thousand had remained on the seashore until morning. When they discovered Jesus was no longer there, they secured passage across the sea on boats that had arrived after the disciples set sail. This encounter took place in the synagogue (John 6:59), likely on the sabbath. This crowd had made much effort to follow and find Him, first as He went away with the disciples to a solitary place, and now back across the sea to Capernaum. But all this toil had little to nothing to do with faith. They first followed the signs and now they were following the meal that had satisfied their hunger a day earlier. Jesus strikes at the heart of their chief need, to lift their eyes from their temporal, physical needs to that which endures to eternal life. This remains man’s chief need: to find that which endures for eternity. Now the question becomes “what must we do, to be doing the work of God?” This crowd had in mind any number of works in which they could habitually engage to earn and keep God’s favor. Surely, if they just had the list of requirements, they could meet them and earn God’s favor. They already had a list – The Law – which neither they nor we have ever been able to keep. Jesus boiled it down to one thing – to believe in Him whom the Father has sent. That’s not really a work for us; it is an act of faith in response to the work of the Father in drawing us to Jesus (v. 44). We come by faith alone, not of ourselves (Ephesians 2:9), and that faith becomes the foundation for our obedience to Him, for a life of good works that have been prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10). A genuine coming to Christ will produce a new creation that endures to eternal life. Consider this admonition from the Sermon on the Mount: Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. (Matthew 6:31-33) By Jess Smith

This week we’re looking into John, Chapter 6 with our focus today being on John 6:16-21. After the crowd had been fed and the disciples had gathered the leftovers, Jesus perceived that the crowd was ready to take Him by force and make Him king (v. 15). In Matthew 14:22-23 and Mark 6:45-46, the writers tell us He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him, while He dismissed the crowd and went again to the mountain to pray. These were fishermen, familiar with the sea even at night. They had just witnessed a great miracle in a situation that was impossible for them. Now they are crossing back over the sea, a task entirely within their skill set; no miracle required here. On this occasion a storm arises from the west, blowing against the boat. This is not the first storm these men have encountered on the sea (Matthew 8:25). These storms can be sudden and violent, turning the calm surface into a roaring cauldron. These men are following the command of the Lord, yet they are buffeted by a storm. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land. He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea... (Mark 6:47-48)  It was between 3 am and 6 am, during the fourth watch, and these experienced fishermen had not yet reached their destination. They had been rowing against the wind for hours but only made it halfway across the sea. And then Jesus, who had been watching them as they strained to row against the wind, came walking to them on the water. Don’t miss this: even amidst the storm, Jesus has not lost sight of you. If you are faithfully following Him, don’t give up or turn back in the face of the storm. When you find yourself in the middle of a storm, remember these words from the “Eye of the Storm.” In the eye of the storm You remain in control And in the middle of the war You guard my soul You alone are the anchor When the sails are torn Your love surrounds me In the eye of the storm By Jesse Smith

This week we’re looking into John, Chapter 6 with our focus today being on John 6:11-13. Jesus then took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:11-13) There is an old song that says, “little is much when God is in it” -- and we see that truth on grand display in the feeding of the 5000. Let’s take a few minutes to consider how little the supply and how great the provision in this miracle. It was Andrew that reported a lad (a young boy) who had five loaves and two fishes. These were not loaves of bread as we might think of them. They were small cakes made of barley. Barley was not the grain of choice; it was a grain of necessity. What about the two fish? The original language indicates these were small fish. Most commentators suggest these were small, smoked fish – think anchovies or sardines. This was a meagre meal for the lad, not enough to share with one other person, let alone 5000. Is it any wonder that Andrew asks, “but what are they among so many?” In the hands of the Lord, and with His blessing, the meagre provision becomes a vast supply. They ate as much as they desired (v. 11) until they were filled (v. 12). But what about the leftovers; the twelve baskets that were collected by the disciples? It is the Apostle Paul who reminds us in Ephesians 3:20 that he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.  There are moments when His provision exceeds our vision, but not His purpose. We are called to be good stewards of His gifts, never wasteful or neglecting the Father’s provision. What is it that you have deemed too small or insignificant to have an impact? Where have you, or perhaps someone in your circle, been called to serve but it doesn’t seem practical? Can I remind you that He is our source, the gift is from Him and the work belongs to Him. Our best response is to be obedient, to surrender what we have, and join Him in His work. By Jesse Smith

This week we’re looking into John, Chapter 6 with our focus today being on John 6:5-11. In this passage, which took place at the time of the Passover, we read that the crowds had been following Jesus from place to place as He healed the sick. The Gospel of Mark (6:30-34) tells us the crowd had followed Jesus and the disciples as they withdrew to a solitary place for rest. Seeing the crowd, Jesus had compassion on them and began to teach them. As evening approached, the disciples suggested that Jesus should send the crowd away to find food and lodging. Jesus had another plan (Matthew 14:15-16). He instructed the disciples to feed the crowd, which sets the stage for the only miracle recorded in each of the four gospels. Jesus asks Philip where they can buy bread for the crowd, and Philip responds with a practical common-sense answer: 200 denarii (200 days wages) will purchase only a little for each one. Aside from the cost, where were they going to find food for 5000 -- not counting the women and children? Andrew reports there is a young boy with five loaves and two fishes, but what is that in the face of such a crowd? Jesus had questioned Philip as a test, knowing what He was about to do; and Philip had whiffed on the answer. The only answer here was to recognize the task was impossible with them, but possible with Jesus. How often, under the cover of being practical, do we frustrate the work of God in our lives and miss His blessing? May we be people who get our eyes off our limitations and focus on Him with whom all things are possible. After instructing the disciples to have the men sit down, Jesus proceeds to bless the loaves, and give them to the disciples to distribute to the crowd. Likewise with the fish. We don’t know all the details of the miracle, but we do know the entire crowd ate till they were filled.  John tells us that Jesus questioned Philip, already knowing what He was going to do. Jesus involved the disciples in the distribution; but the work, the miracle, belonged solely to Jesus. When God chooses to use you, don’t be limited by what is impossible with you and remember that the work belongs to Him. By Jesse Smith

What comes to your mind when you hear the word love? We love so many things in so many different ways. I love the Lord. I love my family. I love the mountains. I love tortilla chips. This time of year, love is the theme all around us. The store aisles are filled with pink and red gifts, from clothing to sweets. All our favorite movies celebrating romance and friendship are a click away on every streaming service. Yet even the best love stories could never compare to the most perfect love of all. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (1 John 4:9-10 NLT) Wow! Did you catch that? The Bible is clear that before we ever had a loving thought or feeling toward our Heavenly Father, He demonstrated real love for us by sending His Son to rescue us from our sin and shame so that we might live with Him forever! What could we do to earn or deserve this kind of sacrificial love? Nothing. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8) It is not because we were exceptionally good or supremely lovable. It was while we were still against God. He loved first. The Greek word agape is used in Scripture to describe the love of God. Agape is a willful action, not simply an emotion. It is not based on the object’s worthiness, nor does it change with a mood or feeling. The perfect love of God is given without expecting anything in return. In The Jesus Storybook Bible , Sally Lloyd Jones beautifully describes God’s love as a “ Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.” Friends, God’s love for you is unconditional and steadfast. Praise Him today for His faithfulness and respond to the greatest expression of true love the world has ever known—or will ever know. For if we have been loved so extravagantly by our Heavenly Father, how can we not love Him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength? By Jessica Fox Jessica is an early childhood teacher and pastor’s wife. She and her husband, Travis, have been married for over 23 years and attend Immanuel Baptist Church at Armstrong Mill with their children, Kaleb, Journey, and Sadie. (And she really does have an unhealthy affection for tortilla chips.)

Years ago, when I was dealing with a chronic illness, someone approached me and asked, “Do you think perhaps it’s because there is some sin in your life?” I was a bit taken aback by the question, and the only thing I could think to say was, “Probably.” We know that all illnesses are not the result of sin in a person’s life, but there are some cases where an illness is a direct result of moral depravity or physically damaging sins. And that seems to be the case in the one who was healed at the pool of Bethesda. After this, Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him, “See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. (John 5:14-15) The encounter with Jesus at the temple complex offered a challenge and an opportunity for the man to put a sinful life behind him – and also answered the man’s question about who had made him well – so he reported that back to the Jewish leaders. The Jewish leaders had already reprimanded the healed man rather royally for carrying his pallet on the Sabbath – to which he responded that he just did what the One who healed him told him to do! This scene is the moment when things began to turn in the earthly ministry of Jesus. Now that the religious leaders knew it was Jesus who healed on the Sabbath, they sought ways to end His life. And there was no room in their hearts for a change of mind or change of focus from that time forward. When Jesus told the religious leaders that “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:17), that was the last straw, because Jesus was implying that He was God. Blasphemy… unless, of course, He was actually God!  Jesus didn’t heal all the people at the pool of Bethesda that Sabbath day – but one day several years later, as Jesus was being nailed to the cross, those religious leaders no doubt thought they had won. Little did they know that He was in that very moment giving His life… for them! And for you! Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! (Psalm 32:1) By Judy Shrout

One man was there who had been sick for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the sick man answered, “I don’t have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.” (John 5:5-7) You may think it a bit odd that Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well. But I think, as Jesus often did, He used this moment as an attention-grabber. For years, the sick man’s eyes had been totally focused on the pool of water – feeling that his only hope was in those stirring waters. When Jesus asked the question, I can just see the man’s head jerking around to see who on earth asked such a ridiculous question. And that was exactly what Jesus wanted – He wanted the man to focus on Him and not on that pool of water. Yet as the man looked into the face of Jesus, he still maintained a mental focus on that pool, as he explained he needed someone to help him get in the pool when the water was stirred – hoping Jesus was that helper. As he hopefully gazed at the face of Jesus, he heard an unexpected command come from the lips of this stranger: “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk!” Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk. (John 5:8-9) The strong voice of authority and the eyes of compassion in this stranger left no room for doubt or distrust. The man immediately did what he was commanded to do -- he got up, picked up his mat, and walked away from his old life.  What has been your focus for far too long? Are you willing to focus your eyes on the One who sees you, the One who knows you, and the One who wants to do something amazing in and through you? Are you willing to leave behind the old way of life and let God do something new in you? … let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2 CSB) By Judy Shrout

During the Vietnam Conflict, I was visiting a friend at Walter Reed Military Hospital when I was asked if I would be willing to visit one of the wards filled with severely injured Vietnam veterans. The enormous room had at least 10-15 beds on each side of a long walkway – around 30 patients in all. Their injuries were profound and yet their spirits were high! It was Christmas, and they were brothers in arms with the shared experience of war trauma. As I talked with the guys, they were yelling across the room at each other, teasing each other and laughing together – just like family. After my visit with our brave and wounded warriors, the Today Show camera crew came in to interview and film the guys for an upcoming Christmas special. A few days later when the special program aired, I couldn’t quit crying for those precious young men – knowing that the happiness and camaraderie in that ward would not last – that the cruel world would not welcome them home. The cruel world would spit on them, ignore them, and fail to care for them. The multitude of sick and injured lying around the pool at the Sheep Gate no doubt experienced that same kind of ostracizing. After a time, hopelessness would set in, so they put their hope in a pool they believed had special healing powers. Intermittent springs fed into the pool and caused the water to be disturbed, but some thought it was an angel stirring up the waters. Within these [colonnades] lay a large number of the sick—blind, lame, and paralyzed [waiting for the moving of the water, because an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water]. (John 5:3-4) Although there were plenty of people around the pool that needed healing, Jesus focused His attention on one man. One man was there who had been sick for 38 years. When Jesus saw him… (John 5:5-6) One man. Was this the first time in a very long time that anyone had taken time to really look at this man? What did Jesus see in him? And what did the man see in the face of Jesus?  Let’s take a moment to slow down and quit being overwhelmed by the multitude of hurting people in our world. Instead, let’s lock our eyes and our prayers on ONE person that needs the hope that we have in Jesus. Who is your one person? What do you see in that person? And what do they see in you? By Judy Shrout

After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five colonnades. Within these lay a large number of the sick—blind, lame, and paralyzed… (John 5:1-3 NKJV) We don’t know the specific festival Jesus was attending in Jerusalem, but it was probably Passover, Pentecost, or the Feast of Tabernacles. These Jewish religious festivals were celebrations in remembrance of how God had provided for His people. Can you imagine the Son of God attending these festivals knowing that one day He would say these words, “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19 NKJV)? As Jesus was making His way to the festival, he came to the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem -- a small entrance in the northeast corner of the city wall and probably the entrance used to bring in sheep for the temple sacrifice. I find it to be a rather tender moment as the Lamb of God walked into the city through the Sheep Gate – with no one around Him being aware that THIS Lamb would be the ultimate sacrifice. Although one might expect the area around the Sheep Gate to smell somewhat sheepy, that’s not the smell that permeated the air. Instead on this day, one would have noted the smell of sickness and disease – and the smell of hopelessness. Around this area, Jesus saw “a large number” of sick people lying around – some with diseases, some blind, lame, or paralyzed. Some had been there a very long time. The pool near the Sheep Gate was said to be red with minerals, so it might have had some medicinal value. The people lying around and tucked into those arched and probably covered porches may have held onto a teeny bit of hope just being near that pool. But when Jesus saw all those people crowded around that pool at the Sheep Gate, He no doubt saw sick and hurting sheep that needed a shepherd – people who needed healing and the hope only He could give. He saw not a mass of humanity, but individual people with real needs.  When we encounter hurting people in our world, what do we see? Do we lump all the hurting people into a category – the homeless, the addicts, the mentally ill? If we are believers and Christ is in us, we need to step back and see others as He does – not lumping them into categories – but seeing each one as God’s special and unique creation – a person with a name. Do you see what He sees – people in need of hope and a Savior’s healing -- just like us? By Judy Shrout