January 3, 2026

He Must Increase, But We Must Decrease

After finishing the conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus and his disciples venture into Judea, away from the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem, where he could teach freely. They ended up in an area with lots of water, where they could baptize those who came to repent. John the Baptist was there with his disciples. They felt rivalry toward Jesus and his disciples, even though they were on the same team. I can’t help but notice that it is not unlike the Church today, with different denominations feeling rivalry with one another, even though we are all part of The Church. We are all one in Christ, yet we find ourselves at odds. Such division makes the enemy smile. John knew his mission, as he explained to his disciples, was very clear from the beginning that he was not the Christ, but the one sent before him to pave the way for his ministry, to get things started as a witness to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah, and then decrease his ministry. Thus comes the scripture that many pastors and teachers use as part of their prayer, ‘Lord, may you increase, and I decrease.’ We always want Jesus to shine brighter than us; that’s our commission and our purpose as followers of Christ. 

He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.  John 3:30-31

January 2, 2026

Give Yourself A Break By Believing In Jesus

We all know, and most can recite John 3:16, and that is all well and good, but did you know that Jesus’s discourse didn’t end with that? He goes on to say that he didn’t come to condemn, but those who don’t believe in him are already condemned.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18

Why? Because of the Law of Moses. God gave us commandments, and when we break even one of them, we are guilty. People break the law of the land all the time without knowing the law; they can still be arrested, sent to jail, and found guilty, even though they didn’t think it was a law. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Evil lawbreakers realize they are being evil and deserve the punishment they receive. However, it’s good people breaking laws they deem insignificant that makes them think they do not need a savior. It’s that way of thinking that sends them to hell for eternity. It’s too much to deal with! People need to give themselves a break and rest their weary heads on the shoulders of Jesus, begin their transformation into his likeness, and stop worrying about whether they break a commandment that he has already paid the price for. 

January 1, 2026

Look Up To Jesus And Be Healed

Jesus, still in a conversation with Nicodemus, reminded him of the serpent of brass on a pole when the Israelites were in the wilderness. 

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15

They were whining about their situation and spoke against God and Moses, so God sent the poisonous snakes. It’s as if God said to them, ‘If you don’t stop crying, I’ll give you something to cry about!’ And He did, and a lot of people died. God sent the snakes, but also gave the remedy.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. Numbers 21:8

Think about this: God created Satan and his minions; they are in no way, shape, or form equal to God; they are His creation. They were once rebellious angels who were thrust to earth. Now we are having to deal with them. They are always biting at our heels, sometimes visible where you can see their intentions, but it’s the more cunning ones that seem to cause us the most issues. Either way, they can cause us to stumble and die in our sin. Remember, God created evil, but also gave us the remedy. Our brass snake on the pole is Jesus lifted up on the cross. We must look to him so we don’t die from the venomous strikes from the evil amongst us. This story shines a different light on the crucifix, doesn’t it? May we remember Jesus on the cross for the healing of our sins, but honor him as our God and King, risen from the dead.  

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

December 31, 2025

You Must Be Born Again 

Nicodemus was a Pharisee who wanted to know more about Jesus's teachings, so he met with him in the evening, when he was away from other people. Surely he didn't want anyone to know he was with Jesus; his reputation with the other Pharisees would be tarnished. They probably thought Jesus was some cult leader, but couldn't explain the miracles or the fact that he knew everything they knew, but more, and with power behind his knowledge. Jesus explained to him a hard teaching, something that ordinary people might not understand; not only was Nicodemus a wealthy man, but he was likely a philosopher. Here's what Jesus tells him:

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3

Nicodemus began to question him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" 

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7

This teaching is hard, and I understand why Nicodemus questioned it. He's an intellectual and needed a deep dive, and Jesus gave him one. Water baptism is symbolic of us leaving our past, fleshly desires behind, being reborn, and being filled with the Holy Spirit; water and Spirit. However, it's more than that; it's a change of mindset, to immerse ourselves in the ways of Jesus, leave our worldly cares behind, and be transformed into the likeness of Jesus. However, we don't know how we get it or where it comes from; the Spirit goes wherever he wants and calls whomever he wants. I'm grateful for that calling; so what if people think we are a little out of touch? We are completely in touch with our Savior, and that counts more than any worldly pursuit. 

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

December 30, 2025

Jesus Knows You

It is both a fearful thing and a comforting thing that Jesus knows our thoughts. The Bible gives us an example of Jesus's earthly all-knowing ability. We know he was perfect as a human, but he was also God in the flesh. 

But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. John 2:24-25

He was in Jerusalem for Passover and performed many miracles there. He didn't trust all the people there, nor did he need them to testify on his behalf, because he knew what was in their hearts. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. We may think we know what is best for us, but he knows us in depth, sees what's coming, and beyond our flesh, deep into our hearts. How many times have you wanted something and didn't get it, and are grateful that God didn't answer that prayer? That prayer wasn't answered because God sees what's coming and has something better for us. But also, have you ever thought things and are grateful no one can hear them? Jesus perceives our every thought. That's why we must repent of those pesky fleeting thoughts that are sinful in nature. Where do those things come from anyway? We are sinful beings, and we sin without even trying. That's why we need Jesus and why we need to make repentance a daily habit. 

December 29, 2025

Jesus Purged the Temple

Jesus was not opposed to business. However, the temple was sacred, and the priests were corrupt and rented out space to those who were selling the animals for sacrifice to those who were coming from a long way off. God included in the law that it was legal for them to sell their animals before they came from afar and use the money to purchase their sacrifice. However, it was improper for merchants to set up shop inside the temple. Because of the corruption, Jesus didn't go to the priest to have them handle the situation, since they were financially benefiting from this setup. Jesus, being the Son of God, had every right to do what he did, and he asserted his authority over his home, the house of God. 

Before he went into the temple, he fashioned a whip from some string to help him drive out the livestock, along with the people selling them. One thing to note is that he didn't take anything from the merchants; he only made them remove their merchandise from the temple. The reason I know this is that he didn't set the doves free, but made the merchants get them out. 

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. John 2:16

When he turned over the money tables, those people were still able to pick it up off the floor, so nobody lost anything except the priest who was renting the space. I have no doubt that they set up their merchandise somewhere outside the temple until Jesus had left. We know from other scripture that he cleaned the temple twice. 

If you think about it, this is a good example of our own temple, our body. When we believe in Jesus, we are immediately cleansed of unrighteousness. After some time, especially for those of us who were saved in our youth, we go back to our old ways because our hearts were not completely changed. Most of us eventually come back, like a prodigal child, and receive a second cleansing. The second time hurts the most because of the Holy Spirit's conviction. Because of this, we should give thanks to God for His grace. Let this be a lesson to keep your body holy because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit of God. 

This portion of scripture is where Jesus calls himself the temple, and the priests thought he was talking about the building. 

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. John 2:19

December 28, 2025

The Wedding at Cana, Jesus’s First Miracle. Turning Water Into Wine

One question I've always had is, why would he talk to his mother in such a harsh tone? Here is the scripture I'm referring to:

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. John 2:3-4

As a mom, I would never have allowed my child to speak to me like that, no matter how old they were. However, Mary was aware of his deity, knew the reason he was born through her, and not only respected him as her son but respected him as her Savior. However, that doesn't answer why he would use that tone. The answer: because he was God, he must not have any regard for his kindred in the flesh. She knew why he spoke to her that way and continued, not in hope of the miracle, but as if it had already happened. Jesus had respect for her because, as we knew, he never broke any of the commandments. Also, because he was already calling his disciples, some of whom were at the wedding with him, she knew he was beginning his ministry. He may have used that tone so that we would understand her place and wouldn't worship Mary, as some seem to do by venerating her as a deity. However, we should give her respect, because she was chosen to bear God in the flesh; that is commendable in itself. 

The following verse is the reason we know this was the first miracle. 

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. John 2:11

Another point of interest in this story is that the servants were the ones who saw his first miracle, but it was later confirmed by the ruler of the wedding feast, who, I expect, was a priest or other official. But the official still didn't know where it came from unless one of the servants told him, but it doesn't record that in the Bible.