Do you notice the contrast of the shepherds described in Ezekiel 34 with the Good Shepherd? Those shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves. The Lord was against those shepherds and will hold them accountable. Jesus is talking about the Pharisees. Those shepherds …
Bible Gem 69 – Good Shepherds vs Bad Shepherds (John 10:11)
Bible Gem 68 – The Good Shepherd: Solving Riddles (John 10:24-33)
“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Why did they say this? He didn’t say He was the Christ, did He? John 10:24 Why did they pick up stones to kill Him? What did he do …
Bible Gem 67 – Does John 10 Break the Flow or Continue the Themes? (John 10)
How does this fit with John’s themes? At first this passage in John 10 seems devoid of John’s themes and it is like there is nothing of what has gone before, just new material. But a closer look reveals: The opposition debate as to who …
Bible Gem 66 – Flash Back to the Writing in the Dust (John 8:6+8)
I have been asked by a couple of you to address the matter of what Jesus wrote in the dust (John 8:8). I told you the Bible Gems would be interactive. There are and will be times when you (pl) ask me questions and I …
Bible Gem 65 – The Cultural Elements – Shepherds and Shepherding (John 10:1-16)
Shepherds and Shepherding The sheep owner frequently tends the flocks himself. In such cases the sheep have good care because the keepers have a personal interest in the well-being of the animals, but when they are attended by a hireling (1Sa_17:20) the flocks may be …
Bible Gem 64 – Like Sheep without a Shepherd (John 10)
We are entering a new section (John 10) that requires some thought. So take some time to think about it. Like sheep without a shepherd, I will leave you on your own for the moment to give you time to read the entire chapter and …
Bible Gem 63 – Another Miracle – to show the Power of God (John 9:1-41)
In Chapter 9, John continues the themes. He / Jesus uses another miraculous sign (9:16) to show the power of God (9:3). Notice the links to earlier comments and themes and connections to the Feast of Tabernacles: I am the light of the world (vs …
Bible Gem 62: Before Abraham Was, I Am (John 8:58)
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” John 8:58 What an amazing verse. Notice Jesus starts it with a truly, truly saying. What an amazing statement. “Before Abraham was I am”. Why didn’t Jesus say what was grammatically …
Bible Gem 61 – Playing the Joker Card – (John 8:17-18)
What an interesting statement. Talk about overkill or playing the Joker card. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and My Father who sent Me is the other.” Joh 8:17-18 Jesus …
Bible Gem 60 – A Knotty Textual Problem – The Link (John 7:52 ~ 8:12)
Well what do you think now that you have done all that? For the first time in my life I have read John through in a chunk missing out the section in question. Wow. It is very clear to me. I believe John never meant …