THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS

John 11:45-57 / Keywords 11:45-46

 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

 

The Plot to Kill Jesus

11:45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

1. False news, misinformation, and partisan politics cast a shadow on objectivity and polarize our society. It was no different in Jesus’ day. Those in power could dictate what was right and wrong while those who thought differently were labeled as heretics and outcasts. Sometimes, it seems like our life is at stake for what we believe. It may be easier just to agree with others, to turn in our consciences, and to judge and condemn those who think differently.

 

2. Jesus stood up for and loved those who had no right to speak up, who lived in the shadows of society. He raised the dead to life. When people believed in him, a new life was being born, only it seemed to threaten those in power. Caiaphas, the high priest, determined that Jesus must be put to death to save their people— and their own power and influence. While his motive may not have been pure, the words spoke true to what Jesus was trying to accomplish.

 

3. Being a marked man was not easy for Jesus. But he did not shrink into oblivion. In God’s time, Jesus would triumph, not through political power, but through death and resurrection.

 

Prayer Lord, you loved us enough to die for us. Give me courage to live with resurrection faith.

One Word Believe in Jesus

JESUS RAISES LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD

 John 11:28-44 / Keywords 11:36

 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

 

11:28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

1. Jesus arrived 4 days too late. Lazarus was already dead and buried. When Jesus saw Mary and the others weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and wept. Jesus not only empathized with those around him, but he was also sad for the death of someone he loved. He was also sad that the power of death existed in this fallen world. But Jesus came and went to the tomb where Lazarus lay and raised him from the dead.

 

2. As Christians, we believe that death is not the end. Still, we cannot but feel sad, a sense of loss, and maybe even guilt. We pray hard that God will heal and strengthen our weak and failing bodies. When a loved one dies, we wonder why God wasn’t there or didn’t hear our pleas for help. Did we not have enough faith, or was God punishing us for that thing we did a while back?

 

3. Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you will see the glory of God?” While Jesus doesn’t ignore the reality of death, he demonstrates that there is resurrection and life after death. God’s love still reigns over us. If we believe, we can experience the power of resurrection and victory over the power of death. Love overcomes death.

 

Prayer Lord, we experience death, regret, and guilt. Pour out your love and mercy and give us new life.

One Word See how he loves you!

JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

John 11:17-27 / Keywords 11:25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

 

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Footnotes

a. John 11:16 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.

b. John 11:18 Or about 3 kilometers

1. Four days after Lazarus was buried in the tomb, Jesus arrived in Bethany. Jesus found the people of Bethany full of sorrow and despair under the power of death. Martha believed that Jesus could have healed her brother if he had been there. She was disappointed at his late arrival. Though Jesus promised to bring him back to life, she interpreted it as the future resurrection on the last day. Her theological knowledge had no power to change her present life.

 

2. Jesus declared “I AM the resurrection and the life” at present as well as in the future. Where Jesus is, there is no death. Death has no power over him. Jesus is the Creator, the Author and Origin of life (Jn 1:3-4). Jesus came to give life to Lazarus who was dead in the tomb and to plant resurrection faith in Martha and Mary. Martha did not need to wait for the last day to experience the resurrection. Jesus wants us to have hope even in spite of death “right now” by having faith in him. He promises that anyone who believes in him will live, even though they die physically. Do you believe this?

 

3. Martha believed it and confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Whoever believes in Christ experiences His resurrection power and will have the assurance of eternal life now.

 

Prayer Lord, you are the resurrection and the life. Help me live by faith in the resurrection today.

One Word Live by resurrection faith

IT IS FOR GOD’S GLORY 

John 11:1-16 / Keywords 11:4

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

 

The Death of Lazarus

11:1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Footnotes

a. John 11:16 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.

1. When Lazarus fell into a deadly illness, his sisters informed Jesus that the one he loved was sick. Confident of His love for them, they expected that Jesus would come immediately. Jesus’ response to the news however was quite shocking. Jesus delayed going and instead waited two more days purposefully. He knew that Lazarus would die and that his sisters would suffer much pain and sorrow. Yet, he saw Lazarus’ death as an opportunity to glorify God and to help them and the disciples to believe in him as the Resurrection and the Life. Sometimes, God brings hardships in our lives, including the painful and sorrowful ones such as the death of loved ones. This, however, is always done with our soul’s good in mind, as trials refine our faith and secure our hope of the resurrection.

 

2. When Jesus decided to go to visit Lazarus in the tomb, the disciples were fearful because they had no light in their hearts. We must remember however that, as long as we follow Jesus (9:5), we will not stumble. As no one can change twelve hours of daylight that God set, no one can change our lifespan that is in God’s hand. Those who walk by day, therefore, will be confident and victorious in their service to God. Jesus saw death as a short time of sound sleep. In Jesus, there is no element of death.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to trust in you in my trials, as opportunities to glorify you and walk in your light.

One Word God works sovereignly in our pain

I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE

John 10:22-42 / Keywords 10:28

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

10:22 Then came the Festival of Dedication[b] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’[d]? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Footnotes

b. John 10:22 That is, Hanukkah

c. John 10:29 Many early manuscripts What my Father has given me is greater than all

d. John 10:34 Psalm 82:6

 

1. The Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem were perplexed when they saw Jesus’ powerful teachings and miraculous works. They had an erroneous view of the Messiah. They believed that the Messiah would be a future Jewish king and rule physically in great power. As a result of this they responded to Jesus with unbelief. Jesus proved that his works gave credence to the fact that he was the Messiah. The religious leaders did not listen to his voice nor follow him for they were not Jesus’ sheep. Those who respond in repentance and faith are Jesus’ true sheep. He gives them the promise of eternal life. No one can snatch his sheep from the Father’s hand, because he would pay the full ransom for their sins on the cross, and secure their eternal life through his resurrection. In Jesus’ love and protection, his sheep are free from the condemnation of sin.

 

2. The Jewish leaders also rejected Jesus’ testimony, “I and the Father are one,” and tried to stone him. Jesus defended himself by quoting Psalm 82:6 of the judges of Israel. Jesus is the Son of God whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world for his work of salvation. Jesus’ messianic works were clear evidence that God is in him and he is in God.

 

Prayer Lord, you are the Son of God who gives us eternal life. Help me listen to you and follow you.

One Word Jesus gives eternal life

JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD 

John 10:11-21 / Keywords 10:11

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

 

10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

1. This passage shows us that a hired hand of the sheep works in order to get paid. However, when the time of adversity comes, they abandon the sheep. They do not have a shepherd heart and are not willing to risk their lives for the sheep.

 

2. Jesus is the good shepherd because he lays down his life for his sheep. He sacrifices his own life for sinful, weak, and rebellious sheep. He is the good shepherd because he knows each of them and cares for them with a shepherd heart. His sheep know their shepherd and listen to his voice. He is the good shepherd because he also cares for those outside the pen. Jesus offers himself as the Savior of the world and has concern for lost souls. God loves his Son who willingly laid down his life in obedience to God. He is the giver of eternal life for his sheep. Furthermore, Jesus has the authority to rise again from the dead.

 

3. Jesus’ sheep know that he is the good shepherd who laid down his life voluntarily and rose again from the dead to give them eternal life. They listen to his voice, trust his words, and follow him to the end.

 

Prayer Lord, you are my good shepherd. Help me to be a good sheep to you. Grow me as a good shepherd like you.

One Word Jesus, the good shepherd

JESUS IS THE GATE 

John 10:1-10 / Keywords 10:9

 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

 

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10:1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Footnotes

a. John 10:9 Or kept safe

1. The true shepherd and a thief differ in their motives of approaching the sheep. The thief comes to the sheep to steal and use them for his benefit. The shepherd calls them by name and leads them to the pasture. He knows each sheep by its strength, weakness, problems, and the like. He leads them by his example by going on ahead of them. Sheep know, trust, and follow their shepherd. Jesus knows each of his sheep individually, and guides them very personally. His sheep know that Jesus is the good shepherd who loves them and leads them by his examples. They trust his words and follow him. Those who have the good shepherd Jesus are truly blessed and cared for.

 

2. Jesus is the gate. No one could enter or leave the sheep pen except by crossing over the shepherd. Jesus is the gate to heaven. No one can go to God and his kingdom except through Christ Jesus. He is the only gate to salvation and an abundant life. Thieves come to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep. But Jesus came to give his life to the sheep so that they could have salvation and life to the fullest. Hence, Jesus’ sheep have the privilege of going “in and out” and finding pasture.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for giving me salvation and life in its fullness. Help me trust and follow you as the shepherd who leads my life to your kingdom.

One Word Jesus is the gate to God’s kingdom

I WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE 

John 9:8-41 / Keywords 9:25

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

 

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Spiritual Blindness

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

Footnotes

a. John 9:39 Some early manuscripts do not have Then the man said … 39 Jesus said.

1. The man who identified himself as formerly blind testified about what Jesus had done to him to the Pharisees. He believed that the one who had opened his eyes was a man of God. When the Pharisees pressured him to glorify God by testifying that Jesus was a sinner, he remembered God’s grace in his life and said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see.” Remembering the Lord’s grace and work in our life enables us to overcome temptations, to stand firmly, and to testify the truth. It is the way to give glory to God.

 

2. The Pharisees kept asking him what Jesus had done to him. He was perplexed at their unbelief. He challenged them with the obvious truth that God listens to the godly person, not sinners. In anger, they threw him out. Jesus visited him and helped him to believe in Jesus who could give him eternal life and the kingdom of God. Then the man found the one worthy of his worship and responded in worship to him.

 

3. The Pharisees were blind due to their hardness of heart. As a result, they rejected the light Jesus, and could not taste the grace of God. Those who reject Jesus cannot taste his amazing grace.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to receive your grace and testify that you are the Christ, the Son of God.

One Word Jesus is the Son of God

JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

John 9:1-7 / Keywords 9:5

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 

9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 

1. Blind from birth. The disciples pondered whether his blindness was due to either his own sin or his parents’ sin. Their question reflected the typical Jewish thought that suffering was a consequence of people’s sin. Jesus did not try to find the cause of the man’s blindness. Instead, he saw that the man was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him. While the man seemed to be in a hopeless condition Jesus revealed God’s purpose in his life. We don’t always understand why certain things happen in this world. Yet, God created us with a sure purpose in life to display His work. God is good. He has good will and purpose in all things, even in the difficult circumstances in our lives.

 

2. Jesus invites his disciples and all His followers to do the work of God. He demonstrated how to do God’s work, even in situations that appear to be hopeless. Jesus had nothing in his hand to heal the man, but he was not fatalistic. Instead, he applied mud on the man’s eyes, and commanded him to go and wash. The man was healed and the work of God was revealed. In Jesus, there is no hopeless person or situation. In Jesus, we are called to do the work of God in any situation and problem.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to do the work of God no matter what situation I am in.

One Word Display God’s work

THE FALL OF JERUSALEM

Jeremiah 52:1-34 / Keywords 52:27b

So Judah went into captivity, away from her land.

 

The Fall of Jerusalem

52:1 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. 3 It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence.

Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

4 So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. They encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it. 5 The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

6 By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat. 7 Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled. They left the city at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians[a] were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah,[b] 8 but the Babylonian[c] army pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, 9 and he was captured.

He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. 10 There at Riblah the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah. 11 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon, where he put him in prison till the day of his death.

12 On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 13 He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. 14 The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. 15 Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the rest of the craftsmen[d] and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon. 16 But Nebuzaradan left behind the rest of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

17 The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried all the bronze to Babylon. 18 They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service. 19 The commander of the imperial guard took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, dishes and bowls used for drink offerings—all that were made of pure gold or silver.

20 The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands, which King Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed. 21 Each pillar was eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference[e]; each was four fingers thick, and hollow. 22 The bronze capital on top of one pillar was five cubits[f] high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. 23 There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; the total number of pomegranates above the surrounding network was a hundred.

24 The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers. 25 Of those still in the city, he took the officer in charge of the fighting men, and seven royal advisers. He also took the secretary who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land, sixty of whom were found in the city. 26 Nebuzaradan the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 27 There at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.

So Judah went into captivity, away from her land. 28 This is the number of the people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile:

in the seventh year, 3,023 Jews;

29 in Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year,

832 people from Jerusalem;

30 in his twenty-third year,

745 Jews taken into exile by Nebuzaradan the commander of the imperial guard.

There were 4,600 people in all.

Jehoiachin Released

31 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison. 32 He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. 34 Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death.

Footnotes

a. Jeremiah 52:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 17

b. Jeremiah 52:7 Or the Jordan Valley

c. Jeremiah 52:8 Or Chaldean; also in verse 14

d. Jeremiah 52:15 Or the populace

e. Jeremiah 52:21 That is, about 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference or about 8.1 meters high and 5.4 meters in circumference

f. Jeremiah 52:22 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters

1. Just as Jeremiah had prophesied, the nation of Judah fell. (The full accounts can be seen in 2Ki 24-25 & Jer 39.) God repeatedly told his people that they shouldn’t resist, but King Zedekiah ignored God’s warning and acted in his own way. He brought down the wrath of the Babylonians on his people and on himself. The temple of the Lord was desecrated and robbed, Zedekiah’s sons were killed before his eyes, then his eyes were put out. It was unspeakable tragedy, ending when Judah went into captivity away from her land (27b).

 

2. Jehoiachin had been taken to Babylon in an earlier invasion. Zedekiah had been appointed king in his place. After the fall of Jerusalem, Jehoiachin was released from prison. He was treated kindly, but in reality, he only went from prisoner to beggar, humiliated and dependent on the Babylonian king. The Babylonian captivity lasted 70 years (Jer 29:10).

 

Prayer Lord, raise up prophets who can obey you and proclaim your truth in our times.

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