The Daily Devotional of The First United Methodist of San Diego, California, United States from Monday, 5 February 2018 through Sunday, 11 February 2018 - Sermon Theme: "Three Simple Rules" Text to read: John 10:22-42

First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, California 92108, United States
(619) 297-4366
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The Daily Devotional of The First United Methodist of San Diego, California, United States from Monday, 19 February 2018 through Sunday, 25 February 2018 - Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion" -Text to read: John 9
Scripture Text to read: John 9
John 9:1 As Yeshua passed along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His talmidim asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned — this man or his parents — to cause him to be born blind?” 3 Yeshua answered, “His blindness is due neither to his sin nor to that of his parents; it happened so that God’s power might be seen at work in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must keep doing the work of the One who sent me; the night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, put the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash off in the Pool of Shiloach!” (The name means “sent.”) So he went and washed and came away seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who previously had seen him begging said, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “Yes, he’s the one”; while others said, “No, but he looks like him.” However, he himself said, “I’m the one.” 10 “How were your eyes opened?” they asked him. 11 He answered, “The man called Yeshua made mud, put it on my eyes, and told me, ‘Go to Shiloach and wash!’ So I went; and as soon as I had washed, I could see.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” and he replied, “I don’t know.”
13 They took the man who had been blind to the P’rushim. 14 Now the day on which Yeshua had made the mud and opened his eyes was Shabbat. 15 So the P’rushim asked him again how he had become able to see; and he told them, “He put mud on my eyes, then I washed, and now I can see.” 16 At this, some of the P’rushim said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep Shabbat.” But others said, “How could a man who is a sinner do miracles like these?” And there was a split among them. 17 So once more they spoke to the blind man: “Since you’re the one whose eyes he opened, what do you say about him?” He replied: “He is a prophet.”
18 The Judeans, however, were unwilling to believe that he had formerly been blind, but now could see, until they had summoned the man’s parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind; 21 but how it is that he can see now, we don’t know; nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him — he’s old enough, he can speak for himself!” 22 The parents said this because they were afraid of the Judeans, for the Judeans had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged Yeshua as the Messiah would be banned from the synagogue. 23 This is why his parents said, “He’s old enough, ask him.”
24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind; and they said to him, “Swear to God that you will tell the truth! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he’s a sinner or not I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, now I see.” 26 So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 “I already told you,” he answered, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Maybe you too want to become his talmidim?” 28 Then they railed at him. “You may be his talmid,” they said, “but we are talmidim of Moshe! 29 We know that God has spoken to Moshe, but as for this fellow — we don’t know where he’s from!” 30 “What a strange thing,” the man answered, “that you don’t know where he’s from — considering that he opened my eyes! 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners; but if anyone fears God and does his will, God does listen to him. 32 In all history no one has ever heard of someone’s opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing!” 34 “Why, you mamzer!” they retorted, “Are you lecturing us?” And they threw him out.
35 Yeshua heard that they had thrown the man out. He found him and said, “Do you trust in the Son of Man?” 36 “Sir,” he answered, “tell me who he is, so that I can trust in him.” 37 Yeshua said to him, “You have seen him. In fact, he’s the one speaking with you now.” 38 “Lord, I trust!” he said, and he kneeled down in front of him.
39 Yeshua said, “It is to judge that I came into this world, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” 40 Some of the P’rushim nearby heard this and said to him, “So we’re blind too, are we?” 41 Yeshua answered them, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you still say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes: Text to read: John 9
Verse 3
[3] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents — It was not the manner of our Lord to answer any questions that were of no use, but to gratify an idle curiosity. Therefore he determines nothing concerning this. The scope of his answer is, It was neither for any sins of his own, nor yet of his parents; but that the power of God might be displayed.
Verse 4
[4] I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
The night is coming — Christ is the light. When the light is withdrawn night comes, when no man can work - No man can do any thing toward working out his salvation after this life is ended. Yet Christ can work always. But he was not to work upon earth, only during the day, or season which was appointed for him.
Verse 5
[5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
I am the light of the world — I teach men inwardly by my Spirit, and outwardly by my preaching, what is the will of God; and I show them, by my example, how they must do it.
Verse 6
[6] When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay — This might almost have blinded a man that had sight. But what could it do toward curing the blind? It reminds us that God is no farther from the event, when he works either with, or without means, and that all the creatures are only that which his almighty operation makes them.
Verse 7
[7] And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Go, wash at the pool of Siloam — Perhaps our Lord intended to make the miracle more taken notice of. For a crowd of people would naturally gather round him to observe the event of so strange a prescription, and it is exceeding probable, the guide who must have led him in traversing a great part of the city, would mention the errand he was going upon, and so call all those who saw him to a greater attention. From the fountain of Siloam, which was without the walls of Jerusalem, a little stream flowed into the city, and was received in a kind of basin, near the temple, and called the pool of Siloam.
Which is, by interpretation, Sent — And so was a type of the Messiah, who was sent of God.
He went and washed, and came seeing — He believed, and obeyed, and found a blessing. Had he been wise in his own eyes, and reasoned, like Naaman, on the impropriety of the means, he had justly been left in darkness. Lord, may our proud hearts be subdued to the methods of thy recovering grace! May we leave thee to choose how thou wilt bestow favours, which it is our highest interest to receive on any terms.
Verse 11
[11] He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
A man called Jesus — He seems to have been before totally ignorant of him.
Verse 14
[14] And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
Anointing the eyes — With any kind of medicine on the Sabbath, was particularly forbidden by the tradition of the elders.
Verse 16
[16] Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
This man is not of God — Not sent of God.
How can a man that is a sinner — That is, one living in wilful sin, do such miracles?
Verse 17
[17] They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
What sayest thou of him, for that he hath opened thine eyes? — What inference dost thou draw herefrom?
Verse 22
[22] These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
He should be put out of the synagogue — That is be excommunicated.
Verse 27
[27] He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
Are ye also — As well as I, at length convinced and willing to be his disciples?
Verse 29
[29] We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
We know not whence he is — By what power and authority he does these things.
Verse 30
[30] The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
The man answered — Utterly illiterate as he was. And with what strength and clearness of reason! So had God opened the eyes of his understanding, as well as his bodily eyes.
Why, herein is a marvellous thing, that ye — The teachers and guides of the people, should not know, that a man who has wrought a miracle, the like of which was never heard of before, must be from heaven, sent by God.
Verse 31
[31] Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
We — Even we of the populace, know that God heareth not sinners - Not impenitent sinners, so as to answer their prayers in this manner. The honest courage of this man in adhering to the truth, though he knew the consequence, John 9:22, gives him claim to the title of a confessor.
Verse 33
[33] If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
He could do nothing — Of this kind; nothing miraculous.
Verse 34
[34] They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Born in sin — And therefore, they supposed, born blind.
They cast him out — Of the synagogue; excommunicated him.
Verse 35
[35] Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
Having found him — For he had sought him.
Verse 36
[36] He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Who is he, that I may believe? — This implies some degree of faith already. He was ready to receive whatever Jesus said.
Verse 37
[37] And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
Lord, I believe — What an excellent spirit was this man of! Of so deep and strong an understanding; (as he had just shown to the confusion of the Pharisees,) and yet of so teachable a temper!
Verse 39
[39] And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
For judgment am I come into the world — That is, the consequence of my coming will be, that by the just judgment of God, while the blind in body and soul receive their sight, they who boast they see, will be given up to still greater blindness than before.
Verse 41
[41] Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
If ye had been blind — Invincibly ignorant; if ye had not had so many means of knowing: ye would have had no sin - Comparatively to what ye have now.
But now ye say — Ye yourselves acknowledge, Ye see, therefore your sin remaineth - Without excuse, without remedy.
***
Daily Devotional
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 9

• Pray for all those who feel cursed by God.
• Pray for their healing.

Daily Devotional 
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Posted: 23 Feb 2018 12:00 AM PST
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 9

• Where in your life do you need to be more just and compassionate?
• What are the things that irk you?

Thursday, February 22, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 9

• How have you been the recipient of radical compassion this week?
• When did you offer it?

Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 9

• Why do you suppose spit and dirt are used to heal the man?

Daily Devotional
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 9

• Why is blame important in this story?
• How do we do the same thing?

Daily Devotional Monday, February 19, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 9
Read this story from John 9.

• Who do you identify with most?
• Why?

***The Daily Devotional of The First United Methodist of San Diego, California, United States from - Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion" - Text to read: John 4:1-38
Scripture Text to read: John 4:1-38
John 4:1 When Yeshua learned that the P’rushim had heard he was making and immersing more talmidim than Yochanan 2 (although it was not Yeshua himself who immersed but his talmidim), 3 Yeshua left Y’hudah and set out again for the Galil. 4 This meant that he had to pass through Shomron.
5 He came to a town in Shomron called Sh’khem, near the field Ya‘akov had given to his son Yosef. 6 Ya‘akov’s Well was there; so Yeshua, exhausted from his travel, sat down by the well; it was about noon. 7 A woman from Shomron came to draw some water; and Yeshua said to her, “Give me a drink of water.” 8 (His talmidim had gone into town to buy food.) 9 The woman from Shomron said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for water from me, a woman of Shomron?” (For Jews don’t associate with people from Shomron.) 10 Yeshua answered her, “If you knew God’s gift, that is, who it is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink of water,’ then you would have asked him; and he would have given you living water.”
11 She said to him, “Sir, you don’t have a bucket, and the well is deep; so where do you get this ‘living water’? 12 You aren’t greater than our father Ya‘akov, are you? He gave us this well and drank from it, and so did his sons and his cattle.” 13 Yeshua answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again! On the contrary, the water I give him will become a spring of water inside him, welling up into eternal life!”
15 “Sir, give me this water,” the woman said to him, “so that I won’t have to be thirsty and keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” 17 She answered, “I don’t have a husband.” Yeshua said to her, “You’re right, you don’t have a husband! 18 You’ve had five husbands in the past, and you’re not married to the man you’re living with now! You’ve spoken the truth!”
19 “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet,” the woman replied. 20 “Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that the place where one has to worship is in Yerushalayim.” 21 Yeshua said, “Lady, believe me, the time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Yerushalayim. 22 You people don’t know what you are worshipping; we worship what we do know, because salvation comes from the Jews. 23 But the time is coming — indeed, it’s here now — when the true worshippers will worship the Father spiritually and truly, for these are the kind of people the Father wants worshipping him. 24 God is spirit; and worshippers must worship him spiritually and truly.”
25 The woman replied, “I know that Mashiach is coming” (that is, “the one who has been anointed”). “When he comes, he will tell us everything.” 26 Yeshua said to her, “I, the person speaking to you, am he.”
27 Just then, his talmidim arrived. They were amazed that he was talking with a woman; but none of them said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water-jar, went back to the town and said to the people there, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could it be that this is the Messiah?” 30 They left the town and began coming toward him.
31 Meanwhile, the talmidim were urging Yeshua, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he answered, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” 33 At this, the talmidim asked one another, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 Yeshua said to them, “My food is to do what the one who sent me wants and to bring his work to completion. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then the harvest’? Well, what I say to you is: open your eyes and look at the fields! They’re already ripe for harvest! 36 The one who reaps receives his wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the reaper and the sower may be glad together — 37 for in this matter, the proverb, ‘One sows and another reaps,’ holds true. 38 I sent you to reap what you haven’t worked for. Others have done the hard labor, and you have benefited from their work.”
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes: Text to read: John 4:1-38
Verse 3
[3] He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
He left Judea — To shun the effects of their resentment.
Verse 4
[4] And he must needs go through Samaria.
And he must needs go through Samaria — The road lying directly through it.
Verse 5
[5] Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
Sychar — Formerly called Sichem or Shechem.
Jacob gave — On his death bed, Genesis 48:22.
Verse 6
[6] Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
Jesus sat down — Weary as he was.
It was the sixth hour — Noon; the heat of the day.
Verse 7
[7] There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
Give me to drink — In this one conversation he brought her to that knowledge which the apostles were so long in attaining.
Verse 8
[8] (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
For his disciples were gone — Else he needed not have asked her.
Verse 9
[9] Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
How dost thou — Her open simplicity appears from her very first words.
The Jews have no dealings — None by way of friendship. They would receive no kind of favour from them.
Verse 10
[10] Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
If thou hadst known the gift — The living water; and who it is - He who alone is able to give it: thou wouldst have asked of him - On those words the stress lies.
Water — In like manner he draws the allegory from bread, John 6:27, and from light, 8:12; the first, the most simple, necessary, common, and salutary things in nature.
Living water — The Spirit and its fruits. But she might the more easily mistake his meaning, because living water was a common phrase among the Jews for spring water.
Verse 12
[12] Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Our father Jacob — So they fancied he was; whereas they were, in truth, a mixture of many nations, placed there by the king of Assyria, in the room of the Israelites whom he had carried away captive, 2 Kings 17:24.
Who gave us the well — In Joseph their supposed forefather: and drank thereof - So even he had no better water than this.
Verse 14
[14] But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Will never thirst — Will never (provided he continue to drink thereof) be miserable, dissatisfied, without refreshment. If ever that thirst returns, it will be the fault of the man, not the water.
But the water that I shall give him — The spirit of faith working by love, shall become in him - An inward living principle, a fountain - Not barely a well, which is soon exhausted, springing up into everlasting life - Which is a confluence, or rather an ocean of streams arising from this fountain.
Verse 15
[15] The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
That I thirst not — She takes him still in a gross sense.
Verse 16
[16] Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
Jesus saith to her — He now clears the way that he might give her a better kind of water than she asked for.
Go, call thy husband — He strikes directly at her bosom sin.
Verse 17
[17] The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
Thou hast well said — We may observe in all our Lord's discourses the utmost weightiness, and yet the utmost courtesy.
Verse 18
[18] For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
Thou hast had five husbands — Whether they were all dead or not, her own conscience now awakened would tell her.
Verse 19
[19] The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Sir, I perceive — So soon was her heart touched.
Verse 20
[20] Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
The instant she perceived this, she proposes what she thought the most important of all questions.
This mountain — Pointing to Mount Gerizim. Sanballat, by the permission of Alexander the Great, had built a temple upon Mount Gerizim, for Manasseh, who for marrying Sanballat's daughter had been expelled from the priesthood and from Jerusalem, Nehemiah 13:28. This was the place where the Samaritans used to worship in opposition to Jerusalem. And it was so near Sychar, that a man's voice might be heard from the one to the other.
Our fathers worshipped — This plainly refers to Abraham and Jacob (from whom the Samaritans pretended to deduce their genealogy) who erected altars in this place: Genesis 12:6,7, and Genesis 33:18,20. And possibly to the whole congregation, who were directed when they came into the land of Canaan to put the blessing upon Mount Gerizim, Deuteronomy 11:29.
Ye Jews say, In Jerusalem is the place — Namely, the temple.
Verse 21
[21] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Believe me — Our Lord uses this expression in this manner but once; and that to a Samaritan. To his own people, the Jews, his usual language is, I say unto you.
The hour cometh when ye — Both Samaritans and Jews, shall worship neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem - As preferable to any other place. True worship shall be no longer confined to any one place or nation.
Verse 22
[22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Ye worship ye know not what — Ye Samaritans are ignorant, not only of the place, but of the very object of worship. Indeed, they feared the Lord after a fashion; but at the same time served their own gods, 2 Kings 17:33.
Salvation is from the Jews — So spake all the prophets, that the Saviour should arise out of the Jewish nation: and that from thence the knowledge of him should spread to all nations under heaven.
Verse 23
[23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
The true worshippers shall worship the Father — Not here or there only, but at all times and in all places.
Verse 24
[24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God is a Spirit — Not only remote from the body, and all the properties of it, but likewise full of all spiritual perfections, power, wisdom, love, holiness. And our worship should be suitable to his nature. We should worship him with the truly spiritual worship of faith, love, and holiness, animating all our tempers, thoughts, words, and actions.
Verse 25
[25] The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
The woman saith — With joy for what she had already learned, and desire of fuller instruction.
Verse 26
[26] Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
Jesus saith — Hasting to satisfy her desire before his disciples came.
l am He — Our Lord did not speak this so plainly to the Jews who were so full of the Messiah's temporal kingdom. If he had, many would doubtless have taken up arms in his favour, and others have accused him to the Roman governor. Yet he did in effect declare the thing, though he denied the particular title. For in a multitude of places he represented himself, both as the Son of man, and as the Son of God: both which expressions were generally understood by the Jews as peculiarly applicable to the Messiah.
Verse 27
[27] And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
His disciples marvelled that he talked with a woman — Which the Jewish rabbis reckoned scandalous for a man of distinction to do. They marvelled likewise at his talking with a woman of that nation, which was so peculiarly hateful to the Jews.
Yet none said — To the woman, What seekest thou? - Or to Christ, Why talkest thou with her?
Verse 28
[28] The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
The woman left her water pot — Forgetting smaller things.
Verse 29
[29] Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
A man who told me all things that ever I did — Our Lord had told her but a few things. But his words awakened her conscience, which soon told her all the rest.
Is not this the Christ? — She does not doubt of it herself, but incites them to make the inquiry.
Verse 31
[31] In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
In the meantime — Before the people came.
Verse 34
[34] Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
My meat — That which satisfies the strongest appetite of my soul.
Verse 35
[35] Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
The fields are white already — As if he had said, The spiritual harvest is ripe already. The Samaritans, ripe for the Gospel, covered the ground round about them.
Verse 36
[36] And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
He that reapeth — Whoever saves souls, receiveth wages - A peculiar blessing to himself, and gathereth fruit - Many souls: that he that soweth - Christ the great sower of the seed, and he that reapeth may rejoice together - In heaven.
Verse 37
[37] And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
That saying — A common proverb; One soweth - The prophets and Christ; another reapeth - The apostles and succeeding ministers.
Verse 38
[38] I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
I — he Lord of the whole harvest, have sent you - He had employed them already in baptizing, John 4:2.
***
Daily Devotional
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 4:1-38

• Pray for those thousands of people who will walk to get their water today.

Daily Devotional Saturday, February 17, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 4:1-38

• After reading John 4, can you imagine a time where something similar might happen to you?
• Why?

Daily Devotional
Friday, February 16, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 4:1-38

• How is this woman transformed by her encounter with Jesus?

Daily Devotional
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 4:1-38

• What truth is Jesus giving this woman at the well?
• What makes that true for us as well?

Daily Devotional
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 4:1-38
Read this text from John 4.

• How do you see compassion at work here?

Daily Devotional
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 4:1-38

• When was the last time you displayed “radical compassion?”

Daily Devotional
Monday, February 12, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Radical Compassion"
Text to read: John 4:1-38

• Can you remember a time when you received “radical compassion?”

***
The Daily Devotional of The First United Methodist of San Diego, California, United States from Monday, 5 February 2018 through Sunday, 11 February 2018 - Sermon Theme: "Three Simple Rules" Text to read: John 10:22-42
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Scripture Text: John 10:22 Then came Hanukkah in Yerushalayim. It was winter, 23 and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Shlomo’s Colonnade. 24 So the Judeans surrounded him and said to him, “How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us publicly!” 25 Yeshua answered them, “I have already told you, and you don’t trust me. The works I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf, 26 but the reason you don’t trust is that you are not included among my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice, I recognize them, they follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. They will absolutely never be destroyed, and no one will snatch them from my hands. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hands. 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 Once again the Judeans picked up rocks in order to stone him. 32 Yeshua answered them, “You have seen me do many good deeds that reflect the Father’s power; for which one of these deeds are you stoning me?” 33 The Judeans replied, “We are not stoning you for any good deed, but for blasphemy — because you, who are only a man, are making yourself out to be God [John 10:33 Hebrew: Elohim].” 34 Yeshua answered them, “Isn’t it written in your Torah, ‘I have said, “You people are Elohim’ ”?[John 10:34 Psalm 82:6] 35 If he called ‘elohim’ the people to whom the word of Elohim was addressed (and the Tanakh cannot be broken), 36 then are you telling the one whom the Father set apart as holy and sent into the world, ‘You are committing blasphemy,’ just because I said, ‘I am a son of Elohim’?

37 “If I am not doing deeds that reflect my Father’s power, don’t trust me. 38 But if I am, then, even if you don’t trust me, trust the deeds; so that you may understand once and for all that the Father is united with me, and I am united with the Father.” 39 One more time they tried to arrest him, but he slipped out of their hands.

40 He went off again beyond the Yarden, where Yochanan had been immersing at first, and stayed there. 41 Many people came to him and said, “Yochanan performed no miracles, but everything Yochanan said about this man was true.” 42 And many people there put their trust in him.

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John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes: John 10:22-42
Verse 22
[22] And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
It was the feast of the dedication — Instituted by Judas Maccabeus, 1 Macc. iv, 59, when he purged and dedicated the altar and temple after they had been polluted. So our Lord observed festivals even of human appointment. Is it not, at least, innocent for us to do the same?
Verse 23
[23] And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
In Solomon's portico — Josephus informs us, that when Solomon built the temple, he filled up a part of the adjacent valley, and built a portico over it toward the east. This was a noble structure, supported by a wall four hundred cubits high: and continued even to the time of Albinus and Agrippa, which was several years after the death of Christ.
Verse 26
[26] But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Ye do not believe, because ye are not of my sheep — Because ye do not, will not follow me: because ye are proud, unholy, lovers of praise, lovers of the world, lovers of pleasure, not of God. 27, 28, 29. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, etc.-Our Lord still alludes to the discourse he had before this festival. As if he had said, My sheep are they who, 1. Hear my voice by faith; 2. Are known (that is, approved) by me, as loving me; and 3. Follow me, keep my commandments, with a believing, loving heart. And to those who, 1. Truly believe (observe three promises annexed to three conditions) I give eternal life. He does not say, I will, but I give. For he that believeth hath everlasting life. Those whom, 2. I know truly to love me, shall never perish, provided they abide in my love. 3. Those who follow me, neither men nor devils can pluck out of my hand. My Father who hath, by an unchangeable decree, given me all that believe, love, and obey, is greater than all in heaven or earth, and none is able to pluck them out of his hand.
Verse 28
[28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
See note ... "Joh 10:27"
Verse 29
[29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
See note ... "Joh 10:27"
Verse 30
[30] I and my Father are one.
I and the Father are one — Not by consent of will only, but by unity of power, and consequently of nature.
Are — This word confutes Sabellius, proving the plurality of persons: one - This word confutes Arius, proving the unity of nature in God. Never did any prophet before, from the beginning of the world, use any one expression of himself, which could possibly be so interpreted as this and other expressions were, by all that heard our Lord speak. Therefore if he was not God he must have been the vilest of men.
Verse 34
[34] Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Psalms 82:6.
Verse 35
[35] If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
If he (God) called them gods unto whom the word of God came, (that is, to whom God was then speaking,) and the Scripture cannot be broken - That is, nothing which is written therein can be censured or rejected.
Verse 36
[36] Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world — This sanctification (whereby he is essentially the Holy One of God) is mentioned as prior to his mission, and together with it implies, Christ was God in the highest sense, infinitely superior to that wherein those judges were so called.
Verse 38
[38] But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
That ye may know and believe — In some a more exact knowledge precedes, in others it follows faith. I am in the Father and the Father in me.
I and the Father are one — These two sentences illustrate each other.
Verse 40
[40] And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
To the desert place where John baptized, and gave so honourable a testimony of him.
Verse 41
[41] And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
John did no miracle — An honour reserved for him, whose forerunner he was.
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Daily Devotional
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Three Simple Rules"
Text to read: John 10:22-42

• Pray for those who feel like they have lost their place in life.

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Daily Devotional
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Three Simple Rules"
Text to read: John 10:22-42

• Consider again God’s claim on your own life.
• Where are you not fully living into this?
  

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Daily Devotional
Friday, February 9, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Three Simple Rules"
Text to read: John 10:22-42

• How has God laid claim to your own life?
• Where are you fully living in love for God?

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Daily Devotional
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Sermon Theme: "Three Simple Rules"
Text to read: John 10:22-42
Read John 10:30.

• What makes this statement so controversial that people want to stone Jesus to death?

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The Daily Devotional for Wednesday, 7 February 2018
Sermon Theme: "Three Simple Rules"
Text to read: John 10:22-42

• Jesus says that His sheep will hear His voice. 
• How?

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The Daily Devotional for Tuesday, 6 February 2018
Sermon Theme: "Three Simple Rules"
Text to read: John 10:22-42

• How can this new relationship teach us how to “stay in love with God?”

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The Daily Devotional for Monday, 5 February 2018
Text to read: John 10:22-42
Read the text from John 10.

• What kind of relationship does Jesus offer us?

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