Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

John 12. 37  Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38  This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message      and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” [ h ] 39  For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40  “He has blinded their eyes      and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes,      nor understand with their hearts,      nor turn—and I would heal them.” [ i ] 41  Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

John 12 34  The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’ ? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35  Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36  Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

John 12 20  Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21  They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22  Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23  Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24  Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25  Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26  Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 27  “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28  Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and

Thanksgiving Thoughts (longer version) I'm thankful that the Indians were kind to the pilgrims. Thankful for the teaching of my parents to love our nation, the church and people in other religious groups.  My dad did not appreciate religious people being arrogant and self-righteous while attacking and making fun of people of other "faiths". He wanted us to do our best to follow Jesus and leave others alone to do their own work.  There is a verse I read in my reading yesterday that I don't ever remember being taught in church or any other studies in church or ministry training.  It has become one of my favorite verses of Jesus. Luke 9. 46  An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47  Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48  Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the

John 12. 12  The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13  They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! [ d ] ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” [ e ] “Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14  Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15  “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;      see, your king is coming,      seated on a donkey’s colt.” [ f ] 16  At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. 17  Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18  Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19  So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the w

John 12. 12  Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2  Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3  Then Mary took about a pint [ a ] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4  But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5  “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. [ b ] ” 6  He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7  “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8  You will always have the poor among you, [ c ] but you will not always have me.”