Category: Scripture

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“”Then Jesus and His disciples left Jerusalem and went into the Judea countryside. Jesus spent some time with them here, baptizing people.

At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aeon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism (This was before John was thrown into prison). A debate broke out between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over ceremonial cleansing. So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to Him instead of coming to us.”

John replied, “No man can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for Him. It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with Him and hear His views. Therefore, I am filled with joy at His success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”

“He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but He has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. He testifies about what He has seen and heard, but how few believe what He tells them! He speaks God’s words, for God gave Him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves His Son and has put everything into His hands. An anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”” (John 3: vv. 22-36, NLT)

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“”There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus, “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent You to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

“What do You mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into ones mother’s womb and be worn again?”

Jesus replied,” I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but you can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

“How are these thins possible? Nicodemus asked.

Jesus replied, “You re a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand the things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when it tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly tings?No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.”

“For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son , so that who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world though Him.”

“There is no judgement against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come into the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”” (John 3: vv1-21, NLT)

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“”The following day John as again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked up at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked them.

They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are You staying?”

“Come and see,” He said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with Him to a place where He was staying, and they remained with Him the rest of the day.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his bother, Simon, and told him “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).

Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John – but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.

Phillip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

“Come see for yourself,” Philip replied.

As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel – a man of complete integrity.:

“How do you know about me?”Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Sone of God – the King of Israel!”

Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Then He said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the S0n of Man, the One who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” (John 1: vv. 35-50, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“”This was John’t testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you, Elijah?”

“No”, he replied.

“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”

“No.”

“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?” John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“I am the voice shouting in the wilderness, Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!”

Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”

John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though His ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandal.”

This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.”” (John 1: vv. 119-28, NLT)

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“”So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John testified about Him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the One I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for He existed long before me.'”

From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is Himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.””

(John 1: vv 14-18, NLT)

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“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 light to everything that was created, and His light brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

God sent a man , John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming to the world.

He came into the very wold He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. But to all who believed Him, and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting form human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (John 1: vv. 13, NLT)

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“Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshipped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spend all of their time in the Temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:vv 50-52, NLT)

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“Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized Him as He was breaking bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus Himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, think they were seeing a ghost!

“Why are you frightened?” He asked. “Why are you hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that I am not a ghost, because ghosts do not have bodies, as you see that I do.” As He spoke, he showed them His hands and His feet.

Still they stood in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then He asked them, “Do yo have anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He at it as they watched.

Then He said,”When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and they prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He said,” Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: “There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.” You are witnesses of all these things.”

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as My father. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
(Luke 24:vv. 35-49, NLT)

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“”That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing Him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along.?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened here the last few days.”

“What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. All the happened three days ago. “

“Then some women from our group of His tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said His body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, His body was gone, just as the women had said.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?” Then Jesus took them through all the writings of Moses and al the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if He were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So He went home with them. As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment He dissappeared!

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour, they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and there others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”” (Luke 24: vv. 13-34, NLT)

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“”But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name, You are mine.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. when you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to Me. You are honored, and I love you.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather your children from east and west. I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. Bring all who claim me as their God for I have made them for My glory. It was I who created them'””
(Isaiah 43: vv. 1-7, NLT)