CityReach Marion

Peter Budimir asks the question at the heart of this passage: Who is Jesus? Jesus is not presented as an ordinary man, but as the Son who does what the Father does, gives life, judges, and receives the same honour as the Father. Because such claims raise the question of how we can know they are true, Peter points to the witnesses that testify about Him.

As the evidence makes clearer who Jesus is, how will you respond to Him?

Jesus meets us in our need, but He is concerned with something deeper than simply changing our circumstances.

 

In John 5, Luke Watts looks at the man at Bethesda. Jesus personally seeks him out and restores him after 38 years of disability, but His work does not end with physical healing. He brings new life and calls those He restores to turn from sin and live in the life He has given them.

 

Do we want the restoration Jesus offers, and are we learning to live differently because of His grace?

Dr Les Crawford joins us from Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry to share on the important topic of staying true in a world of lies. When deception abounds and is getting worse and worse, followers of Jesus must go back to the reliable and powerful source of God's Word to avoid and confront deception. 

When life leaves you powerless, Jesus is still enough. Luke Watts shows how the official came to Jesus wanting his circumstances changed, but he was led to something deeper: taking Jesus at His word before he could see the outcome. That is where this account presses us too, because Jesus offers more than help in a crisis; He offers Himself. So when you come to Him, do you want Jesus for who He is, or only what He can give you?

No matter your background, God can use you to share the good news of Jesus. Scott Beeson looks at the Samaritan woman in John 4. Jesus crossed barriers to speak with her and reveal Himself to her, and she went back to tell her community about Jesus. Will you share Jesus with others, even with those you might normally avoid?

There is joy in knowing that Jesus is the One who matters most. Luke Watts reflects on John the Baptist’s words, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” calling us to see Jesus as central rather than ourselves. Jesus is above all, and the Father has given all things into His hands. The call is to believe in the Son, live under His authority, and point others towards Him.

 

Is Jesus truly central in the way you live?

God loves you, and He has shown His love by giving His Son. Luke Watts reminds us from John 3 that we cannot make ourselves new or work our way into God's kingdom - new life comes from God. Jesus calls us to look to Him, believe in Him, and find life in His name. If there is life in Jesus, what will you love first and most?

Darren Western leads us through the last section of John 2, when Jesus cleanses the temple. 

Peter Budimir leads us in looking at the first sign Jesus performed at the wedding in Cana - turning water to wine. We see in this sign another reason to behold Jesus and believe in him. He is always working, always turning water to wine, either in seasons or in marvelous moments. Will we believe and trust he cares for us and see his glory? Or will we just dismiss his glory?

Luke Watts shares from the end of John's first chapter that the first disciples were invited, but then became inviters, that Jesus truly sees & knows those who he calls to follow him, and those who follow him are changed & expectant.