As we continue to walk through Jesus’ seven “I AM” claims in the Gospel of John, this week we listen to Jesus say, “I AM the gate for the sheep.” We, the sheep, will explore what it means that Jesus is the only gate, that he is the gate through which we can go in and out from “pen to pasture,” and that Jesus the Gate opens our lives to their fullest potential and best blessings. May we recognize Jesus’ voice this morning and follow him.
The day after Jesus miraculously feeds 5000 people, they come back looking for more miracle bread. When Jesus responds, "I am the bread of life," the crowd finds that bread hard to swallow. As Jesus pushes them further, they find the Bread of Life hard to follow, and many of his disciples leave. Are we willing to accept all of Jesus and metabolize him into every part of our lives? May we joyfully feast on the Bread of Life.
When Jesus encounters a man born blind, he tells his disciples, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” The healing story not only reveals sight to the blind, it reveals the blindness of the leaders who refuse to recognize Jesus. As lovers of Jesus, do we still have spiritual blind spots? Are they more than just spots? May Jesus, the Light of the world, open our eyes to see him at work, and may the Holy Spirit kindle our hearts to join him in his mission.
In the often-forgotten ending of this book, the prophet Jonah is Offended by Grace. Jonah knows God is “a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity” (verse 2), but he doesn’t think Nineveh deserves God’s Unrelenting Grace. Although Jonah voices his disgust, God speaks the final word as he exercises his concern for the great city simply because that is what kind of God he is. May we reflect God like this to the world around us as we celebrate and worship our gracious and compassionate God.
God is the God of Second Chances. His mercies and grace are new every morning. This week we see the big miracle in the story of Jonah, but it has little to do with the reluctant prophet. Jonah’s final words in the fish come true in Nineveh in miraculous ways: “Salvation comes from the LORD.” Unlike Jonah, may our hearts be open and receptive to God’s Unrelenting Grace.