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A righteous man, Zechariah, has a supernatural experience that begins the story of Jesus. Previous Next Luke List Luke 1:5-24 A righteous man, Zechariah, has a supernatural experience that begins the story of Jesus. Image by Julian Hanslmaier, provided by Unsplash via Wix. Tom Faletti Luke 1:5-14 In this passage, a priest has an overwhelming, spiritual experience in the Temple in Jerusalem. How is Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth described? What kind of people are they? What kind of life do they live? If someone were summarizing your life in a couple of sentences, could they say that about you? What would they say about your faith life? (to be continued) Bibliography See Luke - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/luke/bibliography . Copyright © 2026, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Luke List

Bible Study resources for the Gospel of Luke, to help individuals and small groups explore how the Bible applies to life today: background, commentary, questions. Luke Introduction to Luke Luke provides an orderly account of the life and teachings of Jesus, explaining the significance of Jesus for all nations. His Gospel places a special emphasis on the lowly, outcast, and marginalized, and God's concern for them. Luke 1:1-4 Prologue to Luke's Gospel: Why is he writing and for whom? Luke 1:5-24 A righteous man, Zechariah, has a supernatural experience that begins the story of Jesus. Luke - Bibliography Bibliography of major sources and additional sources used in this study of the Gospel of Luke. Image at top by wisconsinpictures, provided by Unsplash via Wix.

Bibliography of major sources and additional sources used in this study of the Gospel of Luke. Previous Next Luke List Luke - Bibliography Bibliography of major sources and additional sources used in this study of the Gospel of Luke. Some of the resources on the author's bookshelf. Tom Faletti April 14, 2026 Major Sources Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament . Yale University Press, 1997. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The New Testament, Revised Standard Edition, Second Catholic Edition . Ignatius Press, 2010. Interlinear Bible. Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/interlinear/ . The International Bible Commentary: With the New International Version . F.F. Bruce, General Editor. Marshall Pickering/Zondervan, 1986. Karris, Robert J., O.F.M. “The Gospel According to Luke.” The New Jerome Biblical Commentary . Edited by Raymond E. Brown, et al. Prentice Hall, 1990. Kodell, Jerome, O.S.B. The Gospel According to Luke . Collegeville Bible Commentary. The Liturgical Press, 1983. Larson, Bruce. Luke . The Communicator’s Commentary (Mastering the New Testament) , Lloyd J. Ogilvie, general editor. Word Books, 1983. Liddell, Henry George and Robert Scott . A Greek-English Lexicon . Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1940. Internet Archive , Volume I: https://archive.org/details/b31364949_0001/mode/2up , Volume II: https://archive.org/details/b31364949_0002/mode/2up . Also at Furman Classics Editions, http://folio2.furman.edu/lsj/ . New American Bible, revised edition (NABRE) . Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2010. Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary . Edited by Raymond E. Brown, et al. Prentice Hall, 1990. The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version: With the Apocrypha: An Ecumenical Study Bible . Eds. Michael D. Coogan, Marc Z. Brettler, Carol A. Newsom, and Pheme Perkins. 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2010. New Revised Standard Version Bible , copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Porter, Laurence E. “Luke.” The International Bible Commentary: With the New International Version . F.F. Bruce, General Editor. Marshall Pickering/Zondervan, 1986. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance . Bible Hub , https://biblehub.com/greek/21.htm . Vine, William E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary , 1940, StudyLight.org , https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/ved.html . Additional Sources Copyright © 2026, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Luke List

Bible Study resources for the Gospel of John, to help individuals and small groups explore how the Bible applies to life today: background, commentary, questions. John Additional passages of the Gospel of John will be added approximately once a week, after I test-drive them with my Bible Study group and refine them. John 1:1-18 In the beginning, the Word was with God and was God, yet he chose to come and live among us. His life is the light that enlightens us, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:10-18 (Continuation of John 1:1-18) When John says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, he is talking about Jesus, the only Son of the Father. Jesus invites us to be sons and daughters of God also. Introduction to John The Gospel of John shows us Jesus Christ, who is both God and man and Son of the Father. It provides spiritual insights that go beyond what the other Gospels have, so that we can believe and have life. John 1:19-34 The religious authorities want to know who John the Baptist is. John is more interested in identifying who Jesus is. That's the central question for us, too. John 1:35-51 As Jesus gathers disciples, they try to decide who he is. He invites them to “Come and see.” Jesus says that to us, too. What is he inviting you to see right now? John 2:1-12 At the wedding feast at Cana, Jesus turns water into wine. It is far more than a miracle; it is a sign that God is present, calling us to “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:13-25 Jesus cleanses the Temple, removing the sacrificial lambs he will one day take the place of. Where do we need his cleansing in the “temple” of our own life? John 3:1-15 Jesus tells us we need to be born again/from above in order to enter his kingdom. What does this mean, and what might our life look like if we are born from above? John 3:16-21 God loves us with an incomprehensibly immense love. But he doesn’t force us to accept it. People can choose to live in the darkness without him. John 3:22-36 John the Baptist sees from God’s perspective and provides a role model for avoiding jealousy. How can we allow Jesus to increase in our lives? John 4:1-42 Jesus helps the Samaritan woman sort out some religious questions and come to faith in him. How do we move from know about God to having faith in him? John 4:27-42 (Continuation of John 4:1-42) The fields are ripe for harvest. What can we learn from the Samaritan woman and Jesus about how to tell others about Jesus? John 4:43-54 Jesus’s word was enough for the royal official. How much faith do you place in Jesus’s word? John 5:1-9 Jesus told the paralytic man to “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.” Where is Jesus calling you to take a step of faith right now? John 5:8-18 Jesus gets in trouble for healing a man on the Sabbath. No one seems to care that God has done a marvelous deed. In what ways do we miss what God is doing by being too focused on rules and protocol? John 5:19-47 Jesus provides evidence that he comes from the Father and challenges the religious leaders to search the Scriptures to find him. How eagerly do we search the Scriptures and accept what he says? John 6:1-15 Jesus feeds a multitude by multiplying loaves of bread. The people miss the point. How are we vulnerable to missing the point of what God is trying to do? John 6:16-21 Jesus spends time alone, leaving the disciples to get across the lake without him. When he walks on the water and joins them, they reach their destination. How do we handle the times when we don’t feel his presence? John 6:22-33 The work of God is that we believe in Jesus. How can we treat believing as an action that brings us into relationship with the person Jesus? John 6:34-47 When Jesus says that he is the Bread of Life, some people grumble. Jesus calls us to believe him and have eternal life. How might grumbling undermine our faith? John 6:48-59 Jesus tells us to eat his flesh and drink his blood. How does your celebration of the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist/Holy Communion reflect this teaching? John 6:60-71 Some disciples leave Jesus. Peter says, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” How is your life built on that kind of commitment to Jesus? John 7:1-13 Jesus had a clear awareness of his overall mission and when was the right moment for specific actions, and he did not let any temptations get in the way. How can you cultivate your sense of God’s timing and avoid temptations that might keep you from your mission? John 7:14-53 Jesus offers rivers of living water, referring to the Holy Spirit. Some believe in him, some have questions, and some reject him. How can you let the Holy Spirit flow more fully through you? John 8:1-11 Some men asked Jesus if would support the execution of a woman caught in adultery. Jesus’s response models mercy and does not support executing people. Can we embrace his approach? John 8:12-30 Jesus is the light of the world who gives us the light of life so that we do not have to walk in darkness. To know him is to know the Father. How can we embrace Jesus as the light of our lives and keep knowing him better? John 8:31-59 Jesus tells us to abide in his word and know the truth, which will set us free. He tells the religious leaders who relied on the fact that they were children of Abraham: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” How can we abide in him, know the truth, and allow him to set us free? John 9:1-41 Jesus illustrates that he is the light of the world as he heals a blind man and addresses the spiritual blindness of those who reject his work. How can we embrace Jesus’s light? John 10:1-21 Jesus is the Good Shepherd who provides for his sheep and lays down his life for his sheep. How does Jesus act as a good shepherd in your life? John 10:22-42 Jesus says, “My sheep follow me.” We are his sheep. How do we follow him? Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” Why is that important? John 11:1-44 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. How does he want to give new life to you, and how can you receive it? John 13:1-20 Jesus asks us to take a towel and wash each other’s feet. He modeled it first and then told us to do the same. Where is the towel that is waiting for you? John 20:1-18 The disciples don’t understand the Resurrection at first. Why is it so central to the Christian faith? John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to the disciples, imparts the Holy Spirit to them, commissions them, and gives special attention to Thomas’s need to see him. What do you need to hear from the risen Lord? John - Bibliography Bibliography of major sources and additional sources used in this study of the Gospel of John. Image at top by Travis Emmett, provided by Unsplash via Wix.

Jesus appears to the disciples, imparts the Holy Spirit to them, commissions them, and gives special attention to Thomas’s need to see him. What do you need to hear from the risen Lord? [John 20:19-23; 20:24-29; 20:30-31] Previous Next John List John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to the disciples, imparts the Holy Spirit to them, commissions them, and gives special attention to Thomas’s need to see him. What do you need to hear from the risen Lord? Guercino (1591-1666). The Incredulity of Saint Thomas . 1621. Cropped. The National Gallery, London, UK. Photo by Tom Faletti, 28 May 2025. Tom Faletti April 6, 2026 Read John 20:19-23 Jesus appears to the disciples (but Thomas is not there) Why are the doors locked? What does this tell you about how the disciples are feeling? What is the first thing Jesus says to them? Although “Peace be with you” was a standard greeting among Jews, why is it a particularly appropriate greeting at this point? When have you experienced the peace of Jesus and what difference did it make? How do we sometimes hide beyond locked doors, figuratively, and how can Jesus’s peace free us? Why do you think Jesus shows them his hands and his side (verse 20)? This shows that it is the same person, Jesus. But it also shows that his resurrected body is the same body that was crucified for us, not a new body. How do the disciples react, and why? Notice that Jesus’s resurrected body can go through locked doors or appear in some other way, but it still shows his scars. It’s still his body, not some new body. Why do you think Jesus says “Peace be with you” again in verse 21? John does not tell the story of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit is given widely to the church. He focuses on this moment, where Jesus imparts the Holy Spirit to his inner circle of disciples. Why is this moment important? In verse 21, Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” What does he mean when he says he “sends” them, and why is that important? The word “sent” can be interpreted in various ways. One way to think about it is this: John never uses the word “apostle” to describe the disciples, but “apostle” means “one who is sent,” and here Jesus is “sending” them. So John may see this as the moment when they are commissioned as apostles. Is what ways does Jesus still send his followers out today? Why is being sent out by Jesus linked with the giving of the Holy Spirit? How is the Holy Spirit central as followers of Jesus are commissioned or sent out? In verse 22, Jesus breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” What is the significance of his breathing on them? John does not describe what happens, and whatever happened inside of them was more important than whatever it looked like on the outside. What do you think happened, inside of them? How have you received, or how do you experience, the Holy Spirit? In John 14:25-27, Jesus said that he would send the Holy Spirit and then added, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Why is the Holy Spirit so intimately associated with peace? In verse 23, Jesus says, “If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven them; if you retain any, they are retained.” What does this mean? How do you see this ministry of forgiveness in the church today? In Matthew 16:19 there is no reference to the Holy Spirit when Jesus imparts the power to forgive sins, but John places it at the same moment as the giving of the Holy Spirit. Why is the Holy Spirit so central to the forgiveness of sins? Read John 20:24-29 Thomas does not believe the disciples until Jesus appears again while he is there Recall that Thomas is the one who, when Jesus said he was going back to Jerusalem, said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). What does that tell you about Thomas? Thomas is a solid, committed follower of Jesus. His faith is not erratic or capricious. He is the kind of person who is willing to face the facts but wants to know all the facts so that he can be a fully committed disciple. None of the disciples, other than John, believed that Jesus had risen until they saw him alive. Why do you think Thomas did not believe them when they said they had seen Jesus? Thomas gets a bad rap for his doubts, forever earning the moniker “The Doubting Thomas.” Would you have believed it if your friends said they had seen your dead leader alive again, or would you have wanted to see it for yourself? Why do you think Thomas specifically said he needed to see and touch the nail marks and the wound in his side? What does the fact that Jesus appears to them despite the locked doors tell you about his resurrected body? Jesus again begins with “Peace be with you.” Where do you need to hear those words, “Peace be with you,” from Jesus right now in your life? Jesus takes Thomas seriously and meets him where he’s at, offering his hands and side to Thomas. What does that tell you about Jesus’s patience with us in our times of doubt? How has God responded when you needed an assurance that he is real? Jesus then urges Thomas to believe (verse 27). How does God do that in your life? Thomas’s answer, “My Lord and my God” (verse 28), is not just a statement that he now believes Jesus is alive; it is a statement of faith declaring who Jesus is. What does it mean when Thomas calls Jesus his “Lord”? When Thomas says, “my God,” he takes a step further than any other human has taken in the Gospels. Until now, only Jesus has said he is God. The disciples, even in their breakthrough moments, have only declared him to be the Messiah, the Son of God, the Holy One of God. (The title “Lord” was often applied to humans, so it is not a clear declaration of divinity.) Thomas calls Jesus “God.” Why do you think it is Thomas who first says clearly that Jesus is God? When John gives us Thomas’s declaration that Jesus is God, it is a central point about Jesus that he first stated in the very first verse of his Gospel: that “the Word” – i.e., Jesus – is God (1:1). Skeptics claim that the disciples did not think Jesus was God. How would you respond? See Who Was the First to Say Jesus is God? for more on Thomas’s role as the first person to explicitly say that Jesus is God. We sometimes suppress our doubts rather than confronting them. How can wrestling honestly with our doubts lead to insights and spiritual advances that might never happen if we didn’t voice our doubts? God can handle your doubts. Are there any doubts you could bring to him right now, and let him respond, as Jesus responded to Thomas? Jesus’s final comment here (verse 29) is, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” He is not rebuking Thomas but encouraging people in the following generations, including us. What does this blessing from Jesus say to you? You have never seen Jesus, nor the nail marks in his hands, nor the wound in his side. Why do you believe? What do you need to hear from the risen Lord right now? Read John 20:30-31 Conclusion These verses provide a conclusion to John’s Gospel. Chapter 21 serves as an epilogue that, at least in its final verses, was added by others in his community. In verses 30-31, what does John say about the stories he hasn’t told us in this Gospel? What does John say his purpose was in writing this Gospel? John hoped that by reading his Gospel you would believe and have life (verse 31). Do you? Is there anything that might help you believe more or experience more fully the life Jesus offers you? What might your next step be? Take a step back and consider this: It is very common for people to pick one incident in a person’s life and act like that little story tells you everything you need to know about the person. Or they may focus on one incident in an event and ignore the bigger picture of what happened. The apostle Thomas is known mostly for this incident where he expressed his doubts, while his years of formation with Jesus are ignored and his decades of ministry preaching the Gospel in many foreign lands are forgotten. Similarly, people remember far more about Jesus’s appearance to Thomas than they do about his first appearance to the disciples the evening of his resurrection. John certainly wanted us to hear Jesus’s blessing on those who have not seen but believe: few eyewitnesses to the risen Jesus were still alive. But he would not have wanted us to miss the rest of the story: Jesus called his followers to be at peace. He gave them the Holy Spirit. He sent them forth. He gave them a ministry of forgiveness of sins. Let us keep the whole story in mind. In his first appearance to the disciples, Jesus called them to be at peace, gave them the Holy Spirit, sent them forth, and gave them a ministry of forgiveness of sins. Which of those do you feel needs special attention in your life today, and why? Which needs greater attention among the followers of Jesus today, and why? If you look beyond a moment of doubting and see the whole Thomas, what can you learn from him and apply in your own life? Bibliography See John - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/john/bibliography . Copyright © 2026, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous John List Next

Luke provides an orderly account of the life and teachings of Jesus, explaining the significance of Jesus for all nations. His Gospel places a special emphasis on the lowly, outcast, and marginalized, and God's concern for them. Previous Next Luke List Introduction to Luke Luke provides an orderly account of the life and teachings of Jesus, explaining the significance of Jesus for all nations. His Gospel places a special emphasis on the lowly, outcast, and marginalized, and God's concern for them. Image by James Coleman, provided by Unsplash via Wix. Tom Faletti This article will provide an introduction to the Gospel of Luke, including what we know about its author, when it was written, who the intended audience was, Luke's purposes/goals, etc. Bibliography See Luke - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/luke/bibliography . Copyright © 2026, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Luke List

Prologue to Luke's Gospel: Why is he writing and for whom? Previous Next Luke List Luke 1:1-4 Prologue to Luke's Gospel: Why is he writing and for whom? Image by Kelly Sikkema, provided by Unsplash via Wix. Tom Faletti Luke 1:1-4 What does Luke say that others have done before him? What does Luke say that he has done? What do you think an "orderly account" means? He refers to events that have been "fulfilled among us." Who is "us"? What do you think it means to say that these events have been "fulfilled" among us? What does Luke want Theophilus to know? Who do you think Theophilus is? "Theophilus" means "friend of God. The style of Luke's writing at this point, with his reference to the "most excellent" Theophilus, is the way one would refer to an official or other prominent member of the community. However, the meaning of the name is convenient for indicating that anyone who is a friend of God would welcome this account. It is therefore possible that "Theophilus" is not a specific person and that Luke sees himself writing for all the Theophiluses of the world -- all the friends of who want to know the truth about what they have been taught. (to be continued) Bibliography See Luke - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/luke/bibliography . Copyright © 2026, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Next Luke List

John the Baptist comes to prepare the way for one greater than him. Previous Mark List Next Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist comes to prepare the way for one greater than him. Image provided by Wix. Tom Faletti Mark 1:1-8 In verse 1, how does Mark describe this book he is writing? Leaving aside the religious meaning for a moment, what does it mean to you when you have "good news"? In the context of our faith, what is "the good news of Jesus Christ"? Mark describes Jesus using two titles in verse 1. What are those titles and what do they mean? The first term is "Christ," which is a Greek translation of the Hebrew term "Messiah" – both meaning "anointed one." Why did it matter to the Jews whether Jesus was the "Messiah"? What did that word mean to them? Jews expected a messiah who would overthrow the Romans, end their oppression, and usher in a new age of freedom and peace. The other title in verse 1 is "Son of God." This phrase does not appear in many of the earliest manuscripts but was a well-established part of the Gospel by the second century (Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., "The Gospel According to Mark," The New Jerome Biblical Commentary , p. 599). Since Jesus's identity as the Son of God seems to be a key theme for Mark, it is fitting for the title to be used here at the beginning of his Gospel. In the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), references to a "son of God" or "sons of God" generally appear to mean angels, so for the Jews of Jesus's time this phrase would have been more ambiguous than it is to Christians. Jesus's appropriation of the term and assertion that he is not only the Son of God but one with the Father leads us to understand the term literally. What does "the Son of God" mean to you? (to be continued) Bibliography See Mark - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/mark/bibliography . Copyright © 2025, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Mark List Next

Jesus is baptized, subjected to temptation, and starts preaching. Previous Mark List Next Mark 1:9-16 Jesus is baptized, subjected to temptation, and starts preaching. Image provided by Wix. Tom Faletti Mark 1:9-15 Why do you think Jesus chose to be baptized by John? (to be continued) Bibliography See Mark - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/mark/bibliography . Copyright © 2025, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous Mark List Next

Bible Study resources for the Gospel of Mark, to help individuals and small groups explore how the Bible applies to life today: background, commentary, questions. Mark Introduction to Mark Mark presents Jesus as the Messiah (the Christ) and the Son of God. Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist comes to prepare the way for one greater than him. Mark 1:9-16 Jesus is baptized, subjected to temptation, and starts preaching. Image at top: First lines of Mark 16, Codex Sinaiticus. Late 2nd century or early 3rd century. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:P.Oxy_LXXXIII_5345.png .

Jesus says, “My sheep follow me.” We are his sheep. How do we follow him? Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” Why is that important? [John 10:22-30; 10:31-39; 10:40-42] Previous Next John List John 10:22-42 Jesus says, “My sheep follow me.” We are his sheep. How do we follow him? Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” Why is that important? Jan Luyken (1649-1712). Christus als de Goede Herder (Christ as the Good Shepherd) . 1712. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christus_als_de_Goede_Herder,_RP-P-OB-46.009.jpg . Tom Faletti April 11, 2026 Read John 10:22-42 My sheep follow me; the Father and I are one The Feast of Dedication is what we call Hanukkah, the 8-day festival of lights in December that celebrates two things: the revolt led by the Maccabees that liberated Israel from Greek domination, and the subsequent re-consecration of the Temple in 164 BC after it had been desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. In verse 24, what do the Jewish leaders demand that Jesus tell them? Previously, Jesus has avoided saying explicitly to the religious leaders that he is the Messiah, probably because that title means something different to them than it means to him. He has only said it more clearly to people who believe in him (explicitly to the woman at the well and implicitly to the blind man he healed). Jesus says that his works already testify to who he is, but they don’t believe because they are not part of his sheep (verse 26). This suggests that only those who follow Jesus can really understand who Jesus is. Why does greater understanding come only to those who decide to follow Jesus? Jesus then continues his discussion of sheep from the previous passage. In verse 27, he says that his sheep hear his voice. Where do you go to hear the voice of Jesus? Jesus repeats in verse 27 that he knows his sheep and they follow him. We know that even Jesus’s sheep don’t always follow, or Jesus would not have told the parable of the man who left the 99 sheep to go and rescue the lost one (Matt. 18:12–14; Luke 15:3–7). What can we do about the fact that, sometimes, Jesus’s sheep know his voice but still wander off? What can we do about the fact that, sometimes, it is us who know Jesus’s voice but wander off? What assurance does Jesus give in verse 28, and how does he strengthen his point in verse 29? In verses 28 and 29, Jesus says that no one can take you out of his hand or the Father’s hand. What does this assurance mean to you personally? Clearly, this promise only applies to those who are part of Jesus’s sheep in the first place, not to the leaders whom he said are not among his sheep. (Similarly, in the story of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46, only some are sheep; those who have refused to care for the least among us are identified as goats and are not among Jesus’s sheep.) Here, Jesus seems to indicate that the defining characteristic of his sheep is that they hear his voice and follow him. What is Jesus asking you to do as a member of his flock? In verses 28 and 29, Jesus again equates himself with the Father when he says that no one can take his sheep out of his hand and no one can take his sheep out of his Father’s hand. He has again equated himself with the Father. But in case that wasn’t obvious enough, he ends in verse 30 with “I and the Father are one.” (Some translations reverse the order, perhaps to follow the rules of modern English grammar, but in the Greek it is “I and the Father are one.”) In verse 30, Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” This is his clearest statement that he is God. How does this strengthen your faith in Jesus? The religious leaders recognize that what Jesus has said is blasphemous, unless it is true, so they pick up rocks to try to stone him for blasphemy. Jesus asks, “For which of my good works are you trying to stone me?” They respond that they are not trying to stone him for his work but for making himself God. People sometimes accuse the Jewish authorities of just being political. How does this incident show that some of them are very serious about trying to follow their faith? Verses 34-36 do not appear to respond directly to the complaint in verse 33 that Jesus is equating himself with God and instead seem to say that humans can be called “gods.” These verses could be interpreted as a separate point from what surrounds them. However, scholars think that Jesus is making a kind of argument known as an a fortiori argument, which was used by the rabbis and others throughout history, in which the speaker is saying that if a lesser thing is true then a greater thing must all the more be true: If even humans can be called gods, then it is all the more true for Jesus, who is consecrated (verse 36) by God. Here is what the verses mean: In verse 34, John uses the Septuagint (Greek) translation of Psalm 82:6, which says, “You are gods.” (Most Bibles translate the Old Testament from the Hebrew, so Psalm 82:6 reads slightly different there.) Psalm 82 denounces the gods of other nations for not providing justice and protecting the lowly, but this psalm was also interpreted as an indictment of the corrupt leaders of the nation of Israel, who failed to provide justice and protect the poor in Israel. The Old Testament in some places describes those in authority as having the function of God because their authority comes ultimately from God (for example, Deut. 1:17; Ex. 21:6). Psalm 82:6 refers to them as “gods” and calls them “sons of the Most High” but adds that they will die like any mortal; so it uses the word “gods” for humans. Jesus uses this verse to tell them they should not object to him calling himself the Son of God. Although Jesus points out that the Old Testament sometimes refers to people as “gods” (for example, judges/leaders) in what ways is Jesus different from humans who because of their positions might be called “gods”? After arguing that it is appropriate to call him the “Son of God,” Jesus makes another claim that he is greater. In verse 36, he says that “the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” How does this indicate his uniqueness and difference from mere humans? In verse 36, Jesus says he has been “consecrated” by the Father. To be consecrated means to be holy and set apart for a particular purpose. The Feast of Dedication celebrated the re-consecration of the Temple and its altar to serve God’s purposes after it had been desecrated. Jesus may have had that feast of re-consecration in mind when he used the word “consecrated.” How does Jesus, as the One consecrated by God, ultimately replace the altar and the sacrifices of the Temple? In verses 37-38, Jesus says again that, even if they do not believe him because of his words, they should believe him because of his works, which show that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. To what extent is Jesus’s miraculous work reason enough to believe in him? Jesus returns to the place across the Jordan River where John the Baptist was first baptizing people – where Jesus was baptized by John and where he gathered his first disciples. How might this be a special place for Jesus to gather spiritual strength as he prepares to face what he knows lies ahead? When you are facing difficult challenges, what are the places you can go to physically, or the spiritual foundations you can call to mind, to help you stay grounded in God’s purposes for you? Verses 41-42 tell us that the local people remembered that John had pointed them to Jesus. They thought about Jesus’s signs, and many of them came to believe in him. This is a contrast with the religious leaders, who refuse to believe despite all the evidence. What can we learn from this interlude in Jesus’s life? Looking at this whole passage from verse 22 on, what stands out to you as something you can take with you and apply in your life? Take a step back and consider this: There are two major places where Jesus uses the imagery of sheep for his followers: here in John 10 and in the Last Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. It might be instructive to compare what Jesus says about sheep in the two passages. In John 10:27, Jesus says that his sheep hear his voice and follow him. In Matthew 25, he says that some sheep don’t realize that when they have fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger, visited the sick or imprisoned, etc., it is Jesus they have served. Did the sheep in Matthew 25 “hear” his voice and follow him? They heard enough to understand the call to love one another, and they followed his command by showing love for those in great need. Perhaps his commands were so internalized in them that they didn’t even think about whether they were serving Jesus; they just knew they were following the law of love, the Golden Rule to do for others what you would want them to do for you. In contrast, the “goats” did not care follow the law of love, did not follow the Golden Rule, and so they did not see Jesus in the ways he shows himself to us in the least among us. They did not follow his commands. They did not show any evidence that they actually “heard” his voice. And yet they are surprised. They somehow think they should have the same judgment as the sheep even though they have not acted the way the sheep have acted. They think they should be ushered into eternal life even though they have not followed Jesus’s commands. When Jesus says that his sheep “hear” his voice and “follow” him, what do you think he expects that to look like? What do you think he expects them to be doing? Interestingly, Jesus does not say in these sheep stories that the sheep go to church, pray, study the Bible, or do any of the other “spiritual” things Christians often emphasize. That doesn’t mean those other things aren’t important. But it does indicate that Jesus wants more than just “spiritual” practices. Does he only want us to follow him into places of good pasture? Or does he also want us to follow him into service to people in need? Later in this Gospel, Jesus will tell us to love one another as he loves us, to keep his commandments, and to remain in him; and he will pray that we all may be one. How are those also things that a sheep does if the sheep is hearing his voice and following him? Bibliography See John - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/john/bibliography . Copyright © 2026, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous John List Next

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who provides for his sheep and lays down his life for his sheep. How does Jesus act as a good shepherd in your life? [John 10:1-10; 10:11-18; 10:19-21] Previous Next John List John 10:1-21 Jesus is the Good Shepherd who provides for his sheep and lays down his life for his sheep. How does Jesus act as a good shepherd in your life? One of the earliest known depictions of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Unknown artist. Circa AD 300-400 or earlier. Fresco. Catacomb of Domitilla, Rome, Italy. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Good_Shepherd_04.jpg . Tom Faletti April 5, 2026 Read John 10:1-21 The Good Shepherd Jesus uses several different analogies in this passage to describe his relationship with us. Verses 1-6 what a true shepherd does, compared to those who want to harm the sheep To understand this passage, we need to know that a sheepfold was an outdoor space enclosed by a low stone wall. It had a single entryway. If it was large enough, it was used by more than one shepherd and controlled by a gatekeeper. In a smaller sheepfold, the shepherd would lie in the doorway at night to prevent any predators from entering and any sheep from wandering off. The entryway is here called a “gate” (or “door,” in some translations). In verses 2-4, what does a true shepherd do? In contrast to a true shepherd, Jesus describes two sources of danger for the sheep. In verse 1, what does Jesus say about the thief and robber? In verse 5, what does Jesus say about the stranger? Verses 1-6 immediately follow a passage where Jesus described the Pharisees as blind, and in verse 6 John says that they did not understand what he was trying to tell them. What does Jesus appear to be saying about the Pharisees and religious leaders here? What is Jesus saying about himself here? In verse 3, Jesus says that the shepherd calls his own sheep by name. Throughout history, shepherds and people who care for livestock have often given their animals names and called them by name. In what ways does Jesus call you by name? How do you experience him doing that, and what does this tell you about him or about your relationship with him? In verse 4, Jesus says that the shepherd walks ahead and his sheep follow because they recognize his voice. How is that a good description of the Christian life? How do you learn to follow Jesus, and in particular, how do you learn to hear his voice so that you can follow? Verses 7-10 Jesus is the gate What does Jesus mean when he says that he is the gate? In what ways is Jesus a gate for us, and what does this gate lead to? His gate leads to salvation, where we can find pasture (verse 9). It allows us to find abundant life (verse 10). In verse 9, Jesus says that his sheep find pasture. What does that look like in your life? How does Jesus help you find spiritual “pasture”? In verse 10, Jesus says he came so that people might have “abundant” life. What do you think it means when Jesus says he provides abundant life to his followers, his “sheep”? In what ways have you experienced an “abundance” of life with Jesus? Different people experience this in different ways. We may find an abundance of life in our inner experience of God, in the peace and joy we experience despite trials, in positive relationships with others, etc. There is more to come on this point. In chapter 11, Jesus will say that he is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25); and in chapter 14, he will say that he is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). What does Jesus say about the thieves and robbers in verses 8 and 10? The Old Testament describes the Lord God as the shepherd of the people of Israel (Gen. 49:24 and Psalm 23). In Ezekiel 34, God denounces the leaders of the people as bad shepherds who don’t care about the people but instead fatten themselves at the people’s expense (Ezek. 34). God says that the people are scattered for lack of a shepherd, so he will take the sheep from the leaders and shepherd them himself. At the end of the oracle, God says to the people, “You are my flock . . . the flock of my pasture” (Ezek. 34:31). In verse 8, Jesus says that those who came before him were thieves and robbers. This refers to Israel’s long history of poor leaders, who were often denounced by the prophets. In what ways were the religious leaders of Jesus’s time like spiritual “thieves”? Verses 11-15 Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd” In verse 11, how does Jesus describe what a good shepherd does? In what ways is Jesus like a good shepherd? How do you see Jesus acting as a good shepherd in your life? How is a hired man different from a good shepherd (verses 12-14)? In verse 12, Jesus refers to the wolf. When the wolf comes, the hired man runs away and does not protect the flock, so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters the flock. In the New Testament, the wolf is often used as a metaphor for false prophets who lead the people astray or people who persecute Christians (Matt. 7:15; Matt. 10:16; Acts 20:29). Where are Christians vulnerable to “hired hands” and “wolves" today, if they do not listen to the voice of Jesus and follow him? In verse 14, Jesus says that he knows his sheep and they know him. What do you think it means when Jesus says he “knows” his sheep, and how does that apply in your life? What do you think Jesus means when he says that his sheep know him, and how does that apply in your life? When Jesus says he knows his sheep, it suggests a very personal relationship. His flocks are not run by a far-off corporation. He knows each sheep – each one of us – by name. How can you cultivate that personal relationship with Jesus that he has with you? What does it mean to you personally when Jesus says that he lays down his life for the sheep? Verses 16-21 Jesus says he also has other sheep, but there will be one flock, one shepherd In verse 16, Jesus refers to “other sheep” that are not part of “this fold.” This most likely refers to the Gentiles, who are not yet part of the “fold” of Jesus’s followers at the time he is speaking, but it may also refer to future generations. And in John’s mind, it may refer to Christians who are not in the Johannine tradition of Christianity as practiced in John’s community but are still followers of Christ (like our different denominations today). Jesus says that the sheep in those other folds will also hear his voice and there will be “one flock, one shepherd.” In our time, who might be some of those groups of Christians whom we might think of as “not part of this fold” but who are still part of Jesus’s “one flock”? When Jesus refers to one shepherd, he is referring to himself. Why is it important that there be “one flock, one shepherd”? In the Nicene Creed, which has been the definitive statement of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity for more than 1500 years, Christians profess that they believe in “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic” church. Christianity is so fractured today. How can we work to restore the unity intended by that word “one” that Jesus uses and our common creed uses? In verse 17, Jesus makes a startling point. He already said that he lays down his life for his sheep. Now, he says that he lays down his life that he might take it up again . In verse 18, he emphasizes that he has the power to take up his life again. Many people throughout history have realized that they were on a path to martyrdom and they would have to lay down their life for their cause. But no human can claim that he or she would “take it up again.” What does this mean, and what does it tell us about who Jesus really is? Does the fact that Jesus says he has the power to lay down his life and to take it up again offer you any new perspective on the crucifixion? Although in one sense Jesus was being obedient to the Father, in another sense the Second Person of the Trinity, having taken human form as Jesus, had the power to lay down his life and take it up again – and he willingly did so. What does this tell you about Jesus’s love for us? We see in verses 19-21 that people are again divided about Jesus, with some saying he is possessed by a demon and out of his mind (i.e., insane), and others saying that a person who is possessed by a demon could not have healed a man born blind. When you hear that Jesus says he has the power to lay down his life and take it up again, what is your conclusion about him? Looking at the whole passage, what does Jesus’s description of himself as the Good Shepherd say to you personally? What insights does it give you into Jesus’s role and work in your life? How might you adjust something in what you do or say or think, based on your insights about how the Good Shepherd is at work in your life? Take a step back and consider this: In verse 17, Jesus says that he lays down his life and takes it up again. Other New Testament passages say that the Father raised Jesus from the dead (for example, Acts 2:24; Romans 4:24). People sometimes get hung up on terminology. Who raised Jesus from the dead? From a human perspective, God raised the man Jesus. But Jesus is also God. God exists as three divine Persons, one of whom is the Son, who is (a) fully human by his choice to become incarnate and (b) also fully divine. From the perspective of the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son takes up his life by the command he has received from the Father. The Father and the Son are one (we see that in the next passage, in John 10:30) in sharing one divine will. So it is true both that the Father raised Jesus and that the Son of God has all power and takes up his life again. Jesus made it very clear that his death was not an accident and did not happen because he was powerless to prevent it. He is God and had power over his life even as he submitted to death on the cross for our sake. If we look at it from the perspective of the human Jesus, the Father raised him. If we look at it from the perspective of the divine Second Person of the Trinity the preexistent Son who was made incarnate in Jesus, he had the power to lay down his life and take it up again. But he is the same person: the God-man Jesus Christ. So there is no contradiction. Both statements are true. Nevertheless, one perspective or the other might speak to your heart at different times. What special insights do you see at this moment in your life as you ponder this mystery? What does Jesus’s total power as he chose the cross and his total submission as he gave up his life, his total power to take up his life again and his total submission to the Father who raised him from the dead, say to you today? Bibliography See John - Bibliography at https://www.faithexplored.com/john/bibliography . Copyright © 2026, Tom Faletti (Faith Explored, www.faithexplored.com ). This material may be reproduced in whole or in part without alteration, for nonprofit use, provided such reproductions are not sold and include this copyright notice or a similar acknowledgement that includes a reference to Faith Explored and www.faithexplored.com. See www.faithexplored.com for more materials like this. Previous John List Next