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Weekly Devotion

5-11-25

Intro to the Readings: In today’s reading from Revelation Christ is the shepherd who leads his faithful to springs of the water of life. Christ is also the lamb who vanquishes sin and suffering. In today’s gospel Jesus responds to questions about his identity with the remarkable claim that he and the Father are one and those who follow him will never be snatched from his hand. Our first reading comes from Revelation, the seventh chapter...

Revelation 7:9-17 The Multitude from Every Nation

9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!”

11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor

and power and might

be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 For this reason they are before the throne of God

    and worship him day and night within his temple,

    and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

16 They will hunger no more and thirst no more;

    the sun will not strike them,

    nor any scorching heat,

17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,

    and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

John 10:22-30 Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews

22 At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah,[a] tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me, 26 but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all, [b] and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

Opening Discussion:

1. What is the big annual “feast day” for your family? Who usually comes? What is served? What is the big “pastime?”

2. What family traditions are you going to preserve for your kids?

Digging Deeper:

3. Given the meaning of Hanukkah, when Jews celebrate their deliverance during the Maccabean revolt, what feelings about Rome‘s authority might surface among the crowds? How would the Roman authorities prepare for this feast? Given these intentions, what might be the real intent of the Pharisees question and verse 24?

4. How does Jesus push things even further? Why? How does he diagnose the problem?

5. How did the leaders interpret Jesus claim to be one with God? How does Jesus sidetrack them verse 34 (Psalm 82:6)? What evidence does he offer?

6. What could account for the difference in reception Jesus received across the Jordan?

Reflect:

7. What has convinced you that Jesus is the Messiah? What “old ways“ of looking at Jesus, must you overcome by faith?

8. What difference does it make that Jesus is God and not just a man? With the premise of verse 28 mean much otherwise?