NT: The Book of John, Chapter 14

John 14:1-31

14:1 Jesus gently encourages us to be brave in welcoming love and guidance from God. He works with us to dissipate the anxieties in our lives. He gives us the wisdom and perception to evade, endure and prevent trouble. He requests our trust, for us to believe that He brought the true and pure message from God.

14:2 Jesus' work on earth was part of the beginning of our life with Him and God. Upon returning, His second purpose starts: and that is to create a haven for us to be welcomed after our lives here. Assuredly, the creator of our universe can create and foster life in any, and many, spaces. The word used in this verse, "mansions," is a mistranslated version of the original word, "mone" meaning: resting places. We learn from  this verse that there are an abundance of spiritual havens awaiting our arrival.

14:3 Our prophet promises to prepare a haven for us but also, He promises to return to us. He promises to personally lead us into that haven. Jesus will gather God's children and remain with them, a constant source of love and safety. Jesus speaks of the Second Advent. We read now of the First Advent, Jesus on earth as a teacher. The Second Advent, future to us now, Jesus will return to us as our guide, our shepherd. 

14:4 By now, Jesus has fully informed the disciples (and us) of where He is going (to be with God). He has also shown us the way to God. He has taught and shown us that the path is made up of the bricks of our compassionate acts.

14:5 We benefit from the disciples' struggle to grasp the metaphors Jesus teaches through -- because of them, we get to have the message broken down, reiterated and explained until it's simple and clear. Speaking in this verse is Thomas, since dubbed "Doubting Thomas" but through His doubt, we learn and will continue to learn from as we move through scripture.

14:6 You cannot reach God except through His philosophy of life which Jesus brought. Rather than condemn and force people (diverse cultures of humanity) to believe specifically in Jesus, we are meant to determine a person's kindness by their acts. If a person's behavior and way of life is kindness, then they have reached God through Jesus.

14:7 Having come as the embodiment of everything God is and stands for, Jesus has revealed our creator to us. He taught us how to reach God and build a relationship with God, He taught us to know Him and to allow God to know us; to work with us in our lives.

14:8-9 Philip requests to see God but Jesus is disappointed because through all of these chapters we have read, Jesus has been identifying God for us. Jesus wants us to think bigger, broader and deeper about the concept of God. He is so much more than a man on a throne, He's an entity of creation, life and wisdom. To know Him is to feel His love and guidance and to extend it to others. Listen for His voice in your life, He's talking but you must listen with perception to realize.

14:10 Jesus explains that everything even He is, everything He speaks, every aspect of His purpose is inspired, given and possible only through and because of God.

14:11 Not only does Jesus speak of God's truth but He also lives it. He is our living example. Jesus is saying, even if you do not understand these words, believe in the life of example I have lived. 

14:12 The stronger your spiritual relationship with God, the more you can accomplish. To whom much is given much is expected... (Luke 12:48), these are sweet words to God's children. We want more purpose. We want to do good in the world and with God, we are capable of so much. Through Jesus and the compassion that He taught, we become familiar to (and with) God and together we are formidable team against injustice. Great and wonderful things will come, and have come, from children of God because He equips us with the brains and material to accomplish amazing changes in the world.

14:13-14 Jesus promises to hear and answer your every request. Why? Because children of God know what to ask for. Children of God ask for the abilities and the tools to ensure the well-being of others. Children of God ask for wisdom, guidance and protection not for themselves but for humanity. In turn, God overflows their lives with love and abundance on top of everything they initially asked for.

It is Jesus' greatest joy to be with us, to work with us, to ensure our well-being. He will do anything for you. God has done and continues to do everything for you... He has created life inside of you. He is capable, He is willing, He is listening, He is answering you.

14:15 If you love Jesus, if you love the message, the philosophy of life He has taught, stick with it. Keep it in your heart, mind, soul and life. He taught you, He taught us, so that we would find and have comfort, love and protection. Keep it to keep safe. Keep it to keep sane.

14:16 Just in case you weren't yet assured... Jesus promises to send you a helper, a comforter, a manifestation of the protective spirit of God. Those who have developed their personal relationship with God have realized that this promise has been kept. We are never alone in any moment of our lives. Ride and rest and work on the wings of God's spirit, it enters our lives in many ways.

14:17 There is so much trouble, confusion and chaos in the world. Much of humanity has not kept their soul healthy, meaning that they have not fostered happiness and truth even within themselves. They are not able to obtain strength or guidance from God because they are completely unaware of their spiritual brokenness.  They cannot be healed because they do not believe in or acknowledge our Healer.

14:18 You are a child of God, you are not an orphan. You belong to Him and He is with you -- His presence in your life will only continue to increase until you are thriving within and around Him entirely, spiritually, beyond earth.

14:19 Although Jesus is about to physically depart from earth and return to God, He reminds them (and us!) that spiritually, He will have never left us. In an alternate capacity, He is a vibrant, wise and protective guardian in our lives. Children of God are able to see Him, always. Develop your personal relationship with Him and experience His bond and His presence in our lives grow in prominence.

14:20 In God's spiritual capacity, Jesus explains that we will finally realize ourselves as parts of one body. Like a tree: The trunk, each root, leaf and branch is connected. God's breath of life within us, our love for Him within Him, we each a part of each other through compassion and respect for one another.

14:21 Jesus is able to identify God's children by their kindness. Upholding God's philosophy is our way of showing agreement, appreciation and like-compassion with and for Him. God and Jesus will always manifest to the kind and humble.

14:22 The disciples do not quite yet understand the concept of spirit after earth. God's existence is unique, manifests in ways we cannot understand until we experience them. The disciples are on the cusp of understanding; Jesus' return to them after His death on earth will be the living explanation they need to understand.

14:23 To have a home with our creator, who loves us more than we could ever be loved by anything or anyone else... it the best promise we could receive.

14:24 Jesus consistently reminds us that the message and promises He brings are from God. There is no comfort or guidance or love for the unjust, the unkind, or the selfish -- this is not a punishment. If a person denies the compassionate message God has implemented, they have also denied the benefits that come with it. 

14:25 At that moment in time and in their lives, the disciples were with in physical form Jesus. Yet, a time was coming (and one which we live in today) were we have to be more spiritual perceptive to become aware of His presence.

14:26 Rest assured, Jesus informs us that He and God will always be with us. Their spirit will embrace, instruct and guide us through our lives if we listen for it.  The compassionate philosophy of God will remain with humanity no matter what happens on earth.

14:27 Absorb the peace God's exudes; let it form a healing balm on your life. Jesus reminds us that God's love and peace is unlike the love and peace that is offered in the world-- God's love and peace is infallible, impartial, immortal. He is your everlasting, sturdy pillar and foundation.

14:28 We should celebrate Jesus' return to God; it's where we all return to. When you truly love somebody, you want the best for them, and returning to God when it's our time is a wonderful thing. We miss our loved ones when they return before us but we can rest knowing they are well cared for and deeply loved where they go.

Jesus reminds us that if we love Him -- if we love the philosophy of life He brought, the compassion, then we will always remember that there is no death for God's children. If you love His message, absorb it, believe it, trust it.

14:29 Jesus' statements foretold events that had not happened yet -- after the crucifixion, the disciples would see and understand that Jesus' predictions all come true exactly as He told them they would. In this way, they would ensure the truth of His words and the omniscience of God.

14:30 Jesus is speaking His final words to the disciples (and to us) until they (and we) meet Him again. He is about to give Himself over to His adversaries, who have none of God inside of them.

14:31 What a way of life to emulate! To love our creator and to follow His wise love and advice. To rise and do His work.

NT: The Book of John, Chapter 13

John 13:1-38

13:1 Jesus is reflecting on this moment: His love and passion for God and humanity is reiterated in His reflection. His earthly death imminent, His final thoughts are of us and how much He loves us. Jesus undertook a selfless mission in order to awaken and inspire God's lost children and at the moment of near completion, He is as purposeful and compassionate as He was when He first volunteered. His love extended even past that generation, into our generation and beyond even it. To the end of earth He reflected on His love for each human soul who would live and come through this earth. You specifically were in His heart and mind, even then. You were His reason for being here, so that He could reach you and comfort you.

13:2 Jesus' death was made imminent; He released Himself to His adversaries... His death would be His final lesson to humanity, a catalyst to teach and exemplify spiritual life, eternal life with God after earth. Jesus is about to teach us the message that no matter how robust our enemies are, we are alive in and with God. We cannot be muted by evil. 

13:3 Even knowing that He would soon be captured, mocked, tortured and killed, Jesus rises with humility to continue His purpose as a compassionate worker of God. In the forefront of His every thought and move, Jesus remembers that His purpose is from God and He's dutiful in fulfilling it.

13:4 The meal Jesus shared with the disciples was the first true rest and celebration they had with Him. Together, they constantly walked and worked teaching and healing throughout many cities. While there is abundant work to do for God, there is also time to sit and reflect on our relationship with Him, and our shared love and purpose. However even at the table, Jesus was initiating plans, setting into motion the completion of His purpose. Immediately after, Jesus is motivated with another message. At all times He is aware that His life is the instrument which guides and teaches, so Jesus gets up from the table to guide and teach.

13:5 Jesus begins a metaphor of the process of cleansing and humility.  He begins to wash the feet of His disciples. This is symbolic because the philosophy of life that Jesus spreads throughout the world is indeed a cleansing in itself: ridding our paths of  the muck life often throws at it. The muck being: frustration, sadness, confusion, purposelessness...

13:6 Simon Peter does not understand this spiritual metaphor. Jesus is cleaning the feet of His disciples; He is metaphorically explaining that He guides their footsteps along God's wise path. When our spiritual selves are focused and filtered from the fray, our purposes on earth become clearly defined and because we are with God, we fulfill them without hindrance.

13:7 Jesus explains to Simon Peter that He will understand this spiritual metaphor in time. Simon Peter is going to soon experience a test of faith. This test of faith will be a lesson for him, prodded by his own bravado, to strengthen his faith and his trust in God.

To inspire God's philosophy in the world, God's children are required to be courageous. As Jesus explained to us, it is not the healthy who need a doctor... therefore, God's children are needed in places where the circumstances are, keeping with the metaphor, "unhealthy." God's children often ruffle feathers -- promoters of justice, they must contradict and confront the unjust.

Simon Peter believes that his faith is strong and unbreakable -- and he's half-right, it is strong... but at this point in scripture, it is not yet unbreakable. Simon Peter will falter in fear at the first confrontation which requires him to identify with Jesus. God's children must work to never falter in fear because we are the defenders against fear.

Rest assured realizing that even though Jesus knew Simon Peter would falter, He loves him so much and works with him to strengthen his faith (for Simon Peter's own benefit as much as the world's).

13:8 Simon Peter reveres Jesus, the thought of Jesus performing such a humble act on him is crazy to him. However, this what Jesus humbly does do for us: He cleans us. He cleanses us from such impurities as confusion, desolation, selfishness, sadness... He's life's work is our well-being.

Jesus explains that without receiving the spiritual cleansing that is the philosophy of God (to live, behave and interact humbly and compassionately) one cannot possibly be of God.

13:9 In that case, Simon Peter is saying, clean all of me! Simon Peter loves Jesus and trusts Him, but has not yet identified the metaphor.

13:10 When God's hand is in our lives, it is thorough and precise. Think of God's children as leaky, creaky old houses. When God restores the house, it is made brand new. He doesn't just fix the leaks and leave the creaks... He rebuilds it from the foundation in the ground up to the roof.

It is a process and our effort must contribute as much as God. We must not only be willing but also active in the restoration of our spiritual selves.

Simon Peter is mid-process in his own restoration, Jesus' teaching and compassion for Peter has inspired his faith and love of God but he has not yet solidified his faith and love with courage and action. If Simon Peter is to be a worker of God, as he desires to be, he will need to be bold and determined even against his enemies. It's easy to believe something when you're safe and warm in your comfort zone... but once you are beyond those boundaries, you have to uphold  and defend your beliefs with actions. In order to make a difference you think the world needs, you must be brave enough to enforce it.

Simon Peter is not yet entirely "clean" because he's halfway in his spiritual journey -- faithful, but not yet productive and bold in his faith (a necessary component).

13:11 Simon Peter, as we spoke of above, will deny his relationship to Jesus when in the company of enemies and feeling vulnerable. Jesus knows that this is necessary to embolden Simon Peter in his faith and courage. Our lives are filled with lessons and our "mistakes" only become actual mistakes when we refuse to learn from them. Simon Peter will learn from his lesson. 

13:12-13 Jesus begins the heartfelt lesson behind the washing with the disciples. They are comforted and humbled and healed by Jesus and Jesus wants them to know why He gives them His humble efforts, His comfort and healing.

13:14-15 Come to earth the prophet of God, Jesus explains that even He, who could have come to earth with authority and pretension, instead came to work. He humbly works because He is empathetic toward humanity. He wants to be the living example who encourages and inspires us to humble work with empathy for humanity as well. Our purpose, our work*, is to defend, promote, ensure, inspire, create, and return happiness, health, safety, and warm to our fellow humans.

13:16-17 Jesus shows deference to God, who created and loves Him and us. By examples and instruction He teaches us not to be arrogant or too proud to work. *Work is qualifies us for blessings from God, but work is also what gives us self-worth and purpose.

13:18 It is with interesting language that Jesus speaks of His betrayer. Like Simon Peter, each of the disciples (and each human) has their own set of lessons and instructions to learn from. Judas' lesson will be painful but it will maintain an integral part of God's plan and Judas will learn from it.

Judas takes a lot of heat for his actions but remember that Jesus could not truly be killed -- and also, in the process of enabling Jesus' death, through Judas, we learn the true price and repercussion of greed: we inevitable lose those we love.

With overwhelming angst, Judas will immediately regret his negotiations against Jesus. Sometimes our choices bring tragedy but we can choose to rise from the embers, dutifully regretful and wiser, and therefore just as loved by God. Judas included.

Judas was chosen to fulfill scripture -- and maybe he doesn't appear have the starring role, his betrayal eventually led to honest, wise, faith. Judas was chosen to be the lead role in Jesus' betrayal because of his deep down, compassionate soul. Judas was conflicted: enthralled with the idea of wealth yet in love with the message of God Jesus brought. He had not yet been able to overcome his greed but when faced with a lesson from God, he was able to ultimately and fully choose God over money.

Likewise, many of us, at our core, are good, compassionate people. Yet, our souls become layered with our short-comings and the temptations of our desires (ex: modern day consumerism). We become tainted -- all of us, without exception, by many different things. By learning from the lessons in our lives, we begin to peel those layers off and become our true, compassionate selves.

13:19-20 Jesus is speaking of the time after His "death" on earth: It will be made quite clear to the bystanders and people of the earth at the time that Jesus was indeed a prophet sent directly from God. In that time, Jesus instructed them, know that any teacher of this word, this philosophy of God, is received and loved by Jesus... and in turn, loved by God (because it is His message Jesus came and brought to the world).

Jesus' message inspired (still does), sends many other teachers out into the world... the family gets bigger and bigger each day. God sent Jesus, Jesus sent the disciples... the disciples sent their faithful students... (sent out to continue to spread the compassionate word) the message travels through humanity's time here.

13:21-22 Jesus is fully informed of God's plan; He knows who will betray Him. The disciples are alarmed even at the thought.

13:23-25 We get a sense of how comfortable the disciples were with Jesus. Like the relationship between parent and child, they sought solace and love from Him. They ask who will betray Him.

13:26 Jesus symbolically handed Judas a place in the fulfillment of scripture. Here is your task, here is your lesson...

We are reminded of Jesus' selfless willingness to give His whole self to this purpose. He allows Judas and His adversaries to capture Him for a purpose. Nobody can overcome Jesus on their own accord.

13:27 Even when the scripture concerns His death on earth, Jesus instructs Judas to act with haste. Jesus is brave and eager to fulfill God's message. Why? Because it would guide the earth for generations upon generations after.

13:28-30 Jesus has informed His disciples of the coming events but they do not yet understand. Judas sets in motion the crucifixion of Jesus. We, each of us, seem to only catch on to the direct messages and lessons from God when we are quite able to properly interpret them and implement them into our lives.

13:31-32 Jesus was glorified because, at this point, He had done everything He was sent to do. He followed through with humility, compassion, grace and faith. God was glorified because the philosophy He sent to the world was well-received, tested and proven to be honestly compassionate and wise. It had healed, guided, and lighted the souls of the people of the world it reached (and would continue to do so, does continue to do so). For His efforts, Jesus would immediately return with God in grace and glory.

13:33 Jesus was about to return to the spirit with God, a place we only enter after our life on earth. Jesus taught the disciples (and us throughout these gospel chapters) that allow we were not yet in that place, we would always have the comfort and protection from God while here on earth.

13:34 This verse only need be repeated: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. Jesus devoted his entire life to humanity and ensuring their safety, health and strength of spirit.

13:35 We must represent God well: our kindness, justice, honesty and compassion must be the qualities through which people can also find Him for themselves.

Sadly, God is not represented very well these days by many people and organizations. In fact, people have used God and scripture violently, selfishly and intolerantly -- this has turned people away from God's philosophy. It has not been represented well. As God's children, we have a lot of work to do.

It's so important that we correct these misconceptions -- look at the light, guidance, wisdom and comfort God brings to our lives, everyone should feel safe and able to speak to Him, who He truly is.

Jesus loved without judgement, without selfish-motive, without enforcement. He loved all no matter their short-comings or their mistakes. Someone humans have manipulated scripture to judge, condemn and exclude each other. Jesus taught us that every faith is to be respected, that all who upheld compassion (no matter how they did so) were a part of His family.

13:36 Simon Peter does not understand yet where Jesus is about to return to. It's a complex conception, even today. Trust that in whatever form the spirit exists, it is filled with God's love and wisdom. We all follow Jesus after our lives on earth... whether or not we stay there is up to us and how we live our lives.

13:37-38 We spoke of this earlier: Simon Peter has strong faith but his faith is still vulnerable to fear. He does not yet realize that he's still afraid of his enemies. We read of this in previous chapters but will cover it again, in more depth, in the following chapters. This test of faith will enable Simon Peter to strengthen his faith and become a teacher of God's word after Jesus' return to God.

We all must be strong, but also brave in our faith -- the lives and well-being of others depend on it.

NT: The Book of John, Chapter 12

John 12:1-50

12:1-2 Jesus returned to be with the family of Mary and Lazarus, with Him were the disciples. Martha served, and this is precisely what we all do for God: we humbly, gratefully serve and work to inspire and promote His philosophy in the world. 

12:3 To express her faith and love of Jesus, Mary is attentive and delicate in pampering Jesus. She's grateful to Him but she also deeply, faithfully cares for Him and His well-being. She uses her most valuable possession to show that He is worthy of even the best of what she has. 

12:4 It's easy to dislike Judas -- but remember that Judas was an integral part of God's plan. Judas' short-comings would eventually teach him and heal him from his selfishness, and what more can we hope for even for ourselves? To be guided and healed from our mistakes. 

12:5-6 In this verse, Judas has not yet learned from his short-comings and he is behaving greedily. Although he speaks of the expensive oil being sold for the impoverished's benefit, he's actually troubled by the thought of losing assets which make him money.

12:7-8 Jesus explains with perception, Mary's faith. She believes what Jesus had foretold them all: that He will leave earth soon. Until then, she wants to express her love of Jesus. Jesus asks Judas to cut her some slack, even though the money could have been used to help others, her faith and work with God after Jesus' passing would accomplish more than any amount of money could. Moreover, the help and wisdom she would bring to the world was dependent on her having a strong relationship with God. This small but loving act worked to solidify her faith.  

12:9-11 Jesus' adversaries mean business: they want Him gone and along with Him, they want to remove any evidence of the good and healing He did on the earth. To retain their power, they seek to rid the world of their competition. They do not realize that one (or even many) cannot compete with God.

12:12-13 More and more, people are understanding and believing Jesus' holiness. They are accepting Him as the Son of God, the bringer of miracles of healing, wisdom and empathy. They are zealous in their love and belief.  

12:14-16 Jesus fulfills scripture of the Old Testament, Zechariah 9:9 which foretold, specifically of Jesus' coming. He's a prophet and foretold scripture solidifies the evidence of Him being so. 

12:17-18 Multitudes of people began to gather and believe. Jesus was proving Himself through action, teaching, scripture and miracle. His compassionate message, the wise philosophy of God He brought to the world was captivating and healing the minds and bodies of so many. They believed and strongly. He filled them with life and joy. 

12:19 The Pharisees were panicking among themselves. They felt they were reaching a point of no-return (and they were quite right in a sense). People were so deeply in love and enthusiastic for the message Jesus brought and Jesus Himself that their power over them had drastically diminished. 

12:20-22 People want to meet Jesus. The current circumstances however, required that Jesus begin His exit from the world. His mission nearly accomplished, with the most integral piece remaining, He need to remain a productive servant of God. There was no time for Him chat and greet at this time, His earthly sleep so soon impending.

12:23 The celebration and glorification of Jesus would come after His Resurrection, after the purpose was entirely, flawlessly complete and not before. He remained a humble worker of God while He was on earth. 

12:24 Through metaphor nature, Jesus explains how the the word/philosophy of God is spread throughout humanity. God uses one believing, kind, faithful soul and "plants" them into a specific "ground" (place/family/organization) in order for them to become the source with which others grow and nourish their own faith.

12:25 This verse means that, the person who devotes all of their love and effort to obtaining a wealthy, famous, powerful life for themselves will be eliminated from existence; they will lose their life after earth. However, the person who devotes all of their love and effort to obtaining a safe, loving, healthy, compassionate life for others will obtain eternal, spiritual life after earth.

The metaphor of "losing" your life means to give your whole self over to the purpose of promoting and creating fair and kind life for others. God's children quickly find that their lives are enhanced even the moment they devote themselves to bringing joy and saftey to others.

12:26 To serve Jesus is to serve God's philosophy of love for all. God honors His compassionate children. Jesus', Gods, fellow workers (1 Corinthians 3:9)  always remain with them and follow them to the places of darkness to bring light.

Remember that a kind soul is a kind soul... is a kind soul. Meaning that all of God's children, regardless of the details of their religion, are welcome and loved in His family when they are kind, productive souls.

12:27 Jesus was overcome with the full weight and meaning of this moment. His transfiguration would propel God's philosophy throughout the world for generations to come. Yet before that would happen, stood Jesus on earth, contemplative and knowing of all that humanity would endure in the thousands of years to come. Jesus remains firm in knowing and accepting His purpose on earth but His love for humanity is contemplated with God before its completion -- He wants to ensure that this is the best option for all of God's children. He knows and feels all the emotions of humanity, He carries the weight of them and He wishes fervently that there were another, easier way to discern good from evil. But at the core of His being, Jesus knows that our life on earth is the most fair, the most authentic and free way for us to create who we are and thereby decide for ourselves if we wish to be with God. Still, He aches at the thought of the chaos and suffering evil will produce. He finds comfort in the truth that God's children return to Him and that God strengthens and heals all souls through their adversity.

12:28 For the benefit of those with Him, and humanity, Jesus beckons God's solemn voice. He beckons a blessing for them and also the guidance and assurance from God for them to receive perseverance. Jesus asks God to glorify, officially, this purpose He came to earth for -- to further evidence to humanity that they are in kind, wise hands.

12:29 People are aware of the presence of a luminous spirit and maybe this is a hard concept to grasp. God is with us spiritually and although His presence cannot be quantified, it is very much present and tangible, very prominently felt by the children who are perceptive and humble enough to receive it.

12:30-31 Jesus is focused and faithful. He believes and trusts God; for humanity's benefit He requests the back-up of God's direct assurance. Jesus wants people to right-then, right-now solidify their faith because He must return with God for a time. During the time we now live. He knows we will need strength of faith to endure.

This prophet who led so many multitudes of people out of oppression and into productivity and life was going to return to the spirit with God and Jesus needed them to remain sharp and alert in their faith in order to remain changed, healed and guided.

12:32-33 Jesus know exactly how He would die and He also knew that His "death" would gather many people and bolster the philosophy He taught to thrive throughout the world. The philosophy of God indeed gathers all people, all compassionate souls.

12:34 Without seeing it unfold before their eyes, people did not understand. Christ certainly does remain forever, but He remains in the spirit... the perfect eternity. They did not yet grasp the concept of life superseding earth. They would of course, after His "death" and then transfiguration -- the final purpose of His life, to teach them of the spirit.

12:35-36 The philosophy of God is our light. Rejecting and neglecting His philosophy, we plummet ourselves into darkness. Jesus is the embodiment of that light and therefore, to walk with Him is to walk in the light. To work with Him is to walk in the light. Work, bringing, promoting and sustaining compassion for humanity. We are ever the children of light so long as we are kind and productive in our kindness.

12:37-38 Even though Jesus fulfills scripture they claim to believe in, they refuse to listen or join Him.

12:39-41 Here is the kind and forgiving nature of God: He knows that to whom much is given, much is expected. So, when a person shows Him that they will reject His philosophy, He limits their ability to perceive His philosophy. Because, if they know of it's truth and still deny it, they lose their existence.

Earth is a place and opportunity for each person to somewhat-fairly deny, ignore, disbelieve in God. This is a gift, not a punishment. This verse explains to us that a child is only guilty when they know better. So that we have room for error, God "closes the eyes" and "hardens the heart" of many of His children -- He distances them from spirituality because without the tangible proof that He exists, they cannot therefore solidify their rejection of Him (and in-turn lose their existence).

However, the truth is abundant and fervently available to any person who seeks it: Jeremiah 29:12. Remember though, once you seek it and see the truth, you are quite responsible for what you do with it -- but I'm not worried, God's children are happy to accept the work and purpose that comes with His truth.

12:42-43 Jesus reached so many people, even people who had positions of authority in the church. They even converted to His way. Yet there still remained those who valued power, fame and wealth above truth and kindness.

12:44 Jesus' humility teaches us to always remember that God is our creator, our source of love, life and wisdom. Jesus proclaims Himself to be a fellow worker of God, just like the rest of us. He wants none of the glory that belongs to God.

12:45 Jesus is the living, breathing manifestation of all that God embodies -- to know one, is to know the other. To know compassion is to know them both.

12:46 Jesus is the light because He brought the light (God's love and wisdom) to the world. God's children forever abide in His love and wisdom, His light.

12:47 He did not come to condemn or punish. He came to heal and guide people toward life and love. Be observant of the people who hold positions of authority in the world, of people who have followers, do they lead for the benefit of their following or to promote themselves? Jesus led for our benefit.

12:48 Our own choices, our own actions, our own beliefs are how we actually judge ourselves. God places us where we choose to be: kindness is placed in His eternal family, evil is placed in non-existence. We chose were we want to be.

12:49 Jesus' wisdom comes directly from God. God's wisdom is alive in every of Jesus' words and actions. God's omniscience enables perfect guidance... He knows precisely how to save and lead the world.

12:50 Jesus' faith laid strong and pure for us: He trusts in God's wise compassion so faithfully that He serves and devotes His entire being, His whole body, mind and spirit to Him.

NT: The Book of John, Chapter 11

John 11:1-57

11:1 Lazarus is a Greek name, derived from a Hebrew name: Eleazar. The meaning of Lazarus is: God Helps. 

11:2-4 Similarly to the blind man in the previous chapter, Lazarus' ailment was the opposite of happenstance and illness. Lazarus' predicament was guided by God and through him would come an integral part of God's plan: to familiarize humanity with the spiritual eternity that exists for God's children. People required tangible proof of this concept and therefore God chose His kindest, most courageous (yet humble) children to bring it forth. Jesus' promises that Lazarus' illness will not result in death.

11:5-6 To bolster their strength for the coming lesson of which they were a part, and also to express His love and care, Jesus remained with Martha and Lazarus for some time. Jesus has the details of an intricate plan, created by God, in His mind. 

11:7 After spending time with Lazarus, knowing He would return to join him again soon, Jesus  travels to Judea. Here is a preview of the plan: Lazarus is going to be a living example that there is no death for God's children, in order to prove that, Lazarus must die (on earth). For people to believe that Lazarus truly passed, Jesus needed to be away from Him for several days.

11:8-9 The disciples are weary about entering such a dangerous place but Jesus reminds them that those who walk in the light of day (a symbol for: those who walk in the philosophy of God's light/wisdom) must work productively and compassionately without fear. For those who walk in the light, work with God, will not stumble in their task. Jesus explains that as long as there is work to be done, it must be worked -- and without fear because a purpose aligned with God is without insurmountable barrier. 

11:10 However, when someone walks in the night (a symbol for working deceptively, selflessness, greedily) will find many insurmountable barrier. Their lives will be lived with discontent, fear, frustration, and anger. The light is not in that person because the light is the philosophy of God and their selfish actions deny and reject that philosophy. 

11:11 The moment Lazarus' spirit leaves the earth (due to his illness), Jesus is aware. Interestingly, Jesus does not call Lazarus' passing a "death," he calls it "sleeping." The reason for this is because Jesus is keenly aware that God's children immediately open their eyes with God the very second they close their eyes on the earth. Additionally, Jesus knows that God can place a spirit right back on earth if and when He wishes to. In that way, death truly is a slumber -- something we can and do, easily wake from. Usually we wake in the spirit with God... but Lazarus will awake again on earth to exemplify to humanity that death is not final. 

Side note: derive also from this verse how precisely aware Jesus and God are of our specific, individual lives and spirits. They know us. They love us. They are always with us. They miss nothing.

11:12-13 The disciples do not yet understand this concept of death as sleeping. This is precisely why Jesus and God worked through Lazarus to teach them. 

11:14 Jesus explained to them plainly, Lazarus is dead. Do you know why He said it "plainly?" Jesus was not upset because He knew that Lazarus was as alive as any of them, very much alive indeed. And even better: was alive with God. He also knew that those who loved Lazarus would see him come alive again on earth and would be reassured that life is eternal for God's children in spirit.

11:15 The plan is set expertly in motion. Jesus was away during the time of Lazarus' death, giving the people time to contemplate his death (death as they knew it). Jesus moves to rejoin Lazarus' family and Lazarus himself.

Jesus is "glad" that He was not their for the sake of the disciples -- so that they would personally experience that Jesus knew the exact moment Lazarus died without even being anywhere near Him. It's important to Jesus to show the disciples that He truly does have the plan of God in His mind -- privy to information that He had not yet been informed of and often had not even occurred yet.

He wants them (and us!) to realize how passionately woven our lives are with God's love, awareness and plan.

11:16 Thomas agrees to join Lazarus and the family to mourn with them. Not yet do they know, there is nothing to mourn: Lazarus is a living child of God.

11:17-19 Jesus arrives, it's a long travel He endured to be there. During the time he journey, the family buried Lazarus and worked to come to terms with his death. It's important that they experienced the full motions of their loved on leaving earth... Jesus wanted to show that even when live appears to be quite final, it is not final at all.

11:20-21 Martha is very faithful -- she loves and trust Jesus. The only concept of "life" at the time was that it could only exist on earth. Martha believes that Jesus can ensure a person's life on earth, but she does not yet know that Jesus can ensure a person's life in spirit... in eternity, elsewhere from earth.

Even though Lazarus had died, and she believed it a final death, her faith in Jesus remained. She remained convinced and connected with His compassion and wisdom. She continued believing that He was capable of amazing miracles of kindness, such as healing. Her faith, undoubtedly, is part of what inspired God to work with her brother on such a beautiful matter.

11:22 Martha is saying: Even though my Lazarus died, I know that God is good and that He answers the prayers of His children according to His will, His will which nourishes, protects and chooses the best plan for each of His children.

11:23 Jesus informs her of what is to come: Her brother will come alive. (Of course he will, we know that God's children are always alive.)

11:24 Martha is faithful, she believes that upon God's return to humanity all will rise. However, she also knows that that will not come for humanity for sometime. 

11:25-26 Jesus explains to her that through Him comes all life -- because He is the embodiment of all that God is. When one accepts Jesus, they subsequently accept God's philosophy. Likewise, when someone accepts God's philosophy (in whichever manner they come to know it) they subsequently accept Jesus. Those with the philosophy of God in their souls never truly die. They only symbolically "sleep" when they leave earth.

11:27 Martha is so strong in her faith... and her life is impacted amazingly by it.

11:28-29 Mary is also deeply faithful. She's enthusiastic and comforted to be with Jesus.

11:30-32 Jesus joins with Mary to pay respect together to Lazarus. 

11:33 Let's explore Jesus' groan.  Imagine how overcome with emotion Jesus must have been (and must often be): Although He's perfectly, faithfully, personally aware of spiritual life all God's children are given after leaving earth, those who He loves most are not aware -- and they're suffering great sadness. Jesus is emotionally impacted by what we, His beloved, experience in our own hearts. He passionately wants us to be comforted by our creator but He knows that we (throughout time) have struggled to develop that strong, trusting relationship -- and for that reason, have experienced deep sadness. 

It's a heavy load to bear and He selflessly, passionately accepted it. He placed it, Himself, on His own shoulders. To experience the pain of those you love is the hardest sadness to bear. He wanted to heal them, to comfort them but humanity is often so stubborn and too obtuse to realize and accept the natural love that surrounds them.

Jesus is also entirely aware of how difficult it can be to live on earth. He came to earth to live the experience of earth, the waves of emotion, the peaks and craters of happiness and desperation. It is a necessary experience for us to create who we are, to develop our authentic faith, but it's not an easy experience and He understands that. He truly was troubled because He just wanted to love and even cradle humanity -- but He knew that we must go through this, sometimes very difficult, experience in order to choose and therefore inherit true, lasting peace and life. 

11:34 Wanting, needing to move forward in the plan of God, Jesus asks to be brought to Lazarus.

11:35 Jesus wept. This is the shortest verse in the entire Bible but it speaks of so much. It was so generous of Jesus to join humanity on earth. Emotions coursed through Him -- He was made aware of the entire plan for humanity, from conception to completion. He therefore was fully informed of all the generations of suffering and sadness humanity would face at the hands of the unkind and unjust (who also are given freedom to create who they wish to be). God needs each of us to identify to Him who we are in order to know where to place us. 

Imagine how courageous, how strong, how selfless a soul needs to be to carry such knowledge, such emotion for the whole of humanity. 

11:36-37 As always, there is a split between believers and non-believers. Part of believing in God is understanding that sometimes we will not at first understand His plan. There are some believers who, at the first sight of trouble, completely abandon God. Others are more contemplative, more faithful in understanding that there is order and compassionately calculated plan behind every aspect of life (whether they yet understand it or not).

God has the ability to keep each human alive forever, even on Earth... but sometimes we must accept that a person has earned their right and gift of residing with God in the spirit (and for a time we miss them while we remain on earth).

11:38-39 Jesus is ready and prepared to bring Lazarus' spirit back to earth. He Himself is deeply contemplative, undoubtedly conversing with God -- praying for the ability to properly carry out the plan.

11:40 Remember your faith, Jesus is saying, trust the words I promised.

11:41 Jesus always lifts up His eyes.  God is always at the forefront of everything thing He does and thinks. He always thanks God for hearing and for being with Him. It's also comforting for us to keep God (and gratitude toward Him) with us in every of our endeavors and thoughts. He hears and He answers, be perceptive enough to listen.

11:42 Jesus speaks aloud to exemplify the conversations we can and should have with God. God is with us in our thoughts just as well as He was/is with Jesus in His. Jesus spoke out so that they would understand the familiarity God has with us and our situations and that we can speak directly with Him about all of it. Also: Jesus wants everyone (and us) to understand that He was sent by God, to carry out God's plan. Jesus is humble and He always ensures that people (we) know everything He does is from, by and because of God.

11:43 Having thanked and consulted God, Jesus is ready to restore Lazarus on earth.

11:44 Without delay, Lazarus' spirit returned to his body on earth. An extraordinary moment. Through Jesus came the thriving life and ability of God. God's love courses through us and it truly is enlivening, bold, brilliant... overwhelming even, in the best of ways.

11:45-46 There is still a division between the people who are perceptive of the miracle-philosophy of God before their eyes and the people who arrogantly strive to retain their own authority on earth.

11:47-48 Jesus' adversaries did not know how to proceed. They desperately feared losing their authority over the people and nation and wanted to eliminate Jesus... moreover, they knew that if Jesus continued to move throughout humanity teaching and performing miracles, they would never again have control over anything. Jesus made the formerly oppressed strong and wise and therefore, no longer vulnerable to their corrupt oppressors.

11:49 Caiaphas called Jesus' adversaries out for being without logic. To plan to kill a just and godly prophet indeed revealed that they knew nothing at all.

11:50-51 Caiaphas has prophesied, been given knowledge and perception from God regarding Jesus' purpose. Jesus' life enabled to many to live. Jesus' life was devoted to teaching people how to thrive, how to disentangle themselves from chaos and selfish desire and because of that, ensured that so many would actually live purposeful and redeeming lives.

11:52 Caiaphas tried to explain to them: Jesus' life is a good thing for us, the best thing. Jesus' purpose and message worked (and continues to work) to unite all of the compassionate people (God's children) throughout the earth.

11:53 They were stubborn and driven by their own greediness and refused to listen to Caiaphas. They ignored and rejected the message Jesus' life taught and exemplified to them. They remained intent on killing Him.

In different ways, people today still work to extinguish the elements of God's philosophy from the earth. Every act of evil, injustice, unkindness, selfishness is a rejection of Him and what He stands for. Do not rest complacent thinking that people like the Pharisees and Jesus' adversaries are gone from the earth. Every day we must work with God to uncover their corruptions and free the victims of their actions. These people are corrupt church leaders, despotic rulers, moral-less companies... we have a responsibility to protect and foster humanity. It is our greatest work, our most important task and we will triumph in it when we work with God.

11:54 Jesus kept a lower profile because He still had work to be done. It was essential that He perfectly complete the entire plan, reach each person who was a part of it. These people He was with would be the very people who brought us this scripture... God's philosophy needed to be cemented in the earth, made available for all through generation and location.

11:55-57 People, the adversaries especially, were on high alert for spotting Jesus. On holidays especially they plotted to capture Him. They were desperate to mute the Voice which threatened their corrupt authority. They will always fail in their efforts. God's prominent voice WAS, IS, and ALWAYS WILL BE triumphant. 

NT: The Book of John, Chapter 10

John 10:1-42

10:1 The one place scheming and deceiving cannot get you is with God. People might find ways to weasel themselves into positions of authority and honor but that will not work with God. Only authentic, sincere kindness allows a person through the door of His house.

10:2 Jesus, worthy of entering through the door, is the shepherd of the sheep. Likewise, whoever is authentically, sincerely kind, is eligible to protect God's children. 

10:3 A sincere, compassionate shepherd/teacher/guide/friend (however you wish you label the relationship) is readily and enthusiastically welcomed through the symbolic door of God's house. Additionally, this shepherd shows their authenticity by knowing and cherishing each particular member of their group. Jesus, our shepherd, does indeed lead us out of many things: sadness, confusion, chaos... and He knows us each uniquely. 

10:4 Continuing the metaphor: the shepherd leads the sheep (with love and wisdom), goes before them to protect them and the sheep happily and contentedly follow because they know they can trust the shepherd. This is instructive; we can follow our creator's lead because He has proven Himself trustworthy and compassionate. 

10:5 A sheep, led by a kind and wise shepherd, does not stray to other, untrustworthy shepherds. God instructs His students well, enables us to discern kindness from deceit and equips us with the ability to deny and reject philosophy's contradictory to His own. He devotes Himself to our well-being.

10:6 Jesus used this metaphor to humbly teach the message of Himself as the shepherd symbol (a description of His purpose of gathering and leading God's children), but because they did not understand, He explains the metaphor in detail in the following verses.

10:7 Jesus explains: the only way into God's family, heaven (however you like to think of being with God) is through the way of life Jesus teaches. Jesus teaches us to be honest, just, and empathetic -- if we are those things, the door is wide open for entry.

10:8 Throughout history (and still today) people, religions and organizations have been established and deceitfully pretend to be upholders of Jesus' message. Instead, they prey on others to obtain wealth, fame, and/or control for themselves. God is very observant -- He knows that His true children never fall victim to these deceitful types for they are able to recognize truth from lie. They have identified and believed in their true creator and nothing leads them astray.

10:9 Living life with the philosophy Jesus taught us is the way to be saved. To be saved from what? We hear it all the time but what does it mean? God's way of life saves us from ourselves. It saves us from the mistakes and chaos humanity raises while on earth. It leads us away from materialism, greed, selfishness... and leads us directly into freedom, protection and peace (pasture).

10:10-11 Jesus' entire purpose, inspiration and motivation is to give, protect and better life for all of God's children. His purpose was not to come and rule or punish... it was to set people free from chaos and heal them from the cruel punishments inflicted upon them by the unjust.

10:12-13 Contrarily, there are some selfish, manipulative leaders, teachers, church members, etc. who pretend to be good-shepherds but instead are looking only to procure wealth and control for themselves. The very moment their following is in danger (danger caused by their corrupt rule, no doubt) they completely abandon them to protect their own selves.

Be very perceptive when choosing who to follow, join or befriend. A person's actions speak for their true character and you want to be with someone honest, loyal, and compassionate.

Jesus walks right into danger for us. He puts Himself in the midst of His enemies because He loves us so much. He lays His life down to have the opportunity to teach us how to save our own.

10:14 Jesus emphasizes His zealous, deep and particular love for each of us, individually. He is with us in spirit in our lives, our thoughts, our experiences... in every moment. If we allow Him to, He guides us, protects us, instructs us, heals us. He knows precisely what we need because every aspect of our souls and lives is important to Him.

10:15 Beautiful verse, it must be repeated: As the Father knows me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. Jesus and God are in sync and they both wholeheartedly agree that they love us. Their selfless, boundless love devotes itself entirely to our well-being.

10:16 Humans are so focused on division. Jesus wants us to understand that there are many "batches" of people in the world (each diverse from the other) yet all of them are welcome and a part of Him. The core of Jesus message is compassion and no matter the path a person or culture takes to reach Him, if it is a path of compassion, they will indeed reach Him and be welcomed. Humans often become obsessed with rules and exclusivity but God welcomes all who are kind. Even if a person does not believe in or know of Jesus, they are an integral part of His family if they are compassionate, good people during their lives. They do the work of God without even realizing -- and there is something very special in that. They are good by nature... God would never turn such a person away.

10:17 Another verse I must reiterate: Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. This verse, in essence, is Jesus' entire life story condensed. Jesus is beloved by God because of His selfless compassion for humanity -- He comes to earth to guide us despite knowing He would be mocked, beaten and killed for it. His selfless compassion therefore gives Him life. God gifts life to the selflessly compassionate -- a brighter, eternal, perfect life.

10:18 Jesus life could not have been taken without His willingness. Jesus had the choice not to come. He did not lose His life because of His enemies, He allowed them to take it. He allowed them to take it because the message He brought was worth the pain and torture He would endure to bring it. God allows Jesus to reclaim His eternal life because He's earned it and has gifted eternal life to countless others.

10:19-21 The crowd is quite divided. The perceptive see the truth and empathy of Jesus' message. The disbelieving close their ears to anything which threatens their corrupt authority on earth.

10:22-24 Although His entire life was dedicated to exemplifying the philosophy He taught, His adversaries persisted in questioning Him.

10:25 He reminds them that He has often and clearly proclaimed His identity through healing, teaching, wisdom, kindness...

10:26 Jesus' sheep, His followers, are easily able to identify the truth of His words because the compassion He speaks of us a familiar concept in their own hearts innately. His adversaries do not understand His message because their hearts are selfish and unjust.

10:27 Jesus' sheep, again -- His followers, know Him and understand Him because they have felt His lasting and compassionate impact in their lives. They willingly devote themselves to God because they trust His love and wisdom.

10:28 With God, you are always protected. Your faithful, spiritual connection with Him guides you throughout your lifetime: celebrates with you in times of joy and supports you during challenges. At the end of your time on earth, you eternally join the creator, the comforter that guided you through life.

10:29 There is no force, person, ideology or organization with more control than God. We've spoken before of What/Who God is, manifested...our God is more than universal. God is nature, science, creator... a being, a spirit so comprehensive we cannot even adequately perceive the nature of existence. God is not a king on a thrown... God is LIFE, LIGHT, WISDOM, EMPATHY manifested. Such a thing cannot be quantified. With life, light and wisdom behind you... who or what could ever make you stumble?

10:30 Jesus is the manifestation of everything our creator, our Father embodies. To know one is to know the other. To know compassion is to know them both.

10:31-33 What of Jesus' message warranted stone-throwing? Stone-throwing, metaphorically, is something all unkind souls/humans do. They wish to instill and provoke fear in the people they disagree with... violence is their outlet, their method. Always be a proponent defending against such violent injustice.

10:34-36 Jesus is explaining that just as they, we, humanity belongs to God... so does He belong to God. Where is the blasphemy in that? We are all God's children... Jesus proudly proclaims His relationship to God and yet is condemned for it. Their arguments continue to be senseless, illogical and contradictory to what they say they believe. By saying He is the Son of God... Jesus is not claiming to be anything more than any of us are. We are all sons and daughters of God. Jesus is often emphasized as God's child because of how GOOD He is at it -- purely and innocently selfless and empathetic. Jesus is a humble child, a glad child, a productive child and because of that -- He is a manifestation of all that God embodies. Where is the blasphemy in that? If nothing else does, His actions during His time on earth prove all of that to be true.

10:37-38 If by nothing else, Jesus is saying, determine who I am and if I am truthful by what I say and do. He agrees that if a person does not exemplify what they say, they cannot be trusted. But Jesus does the work of God (healing, guiding, loving) and His works are a testimony of everything He teaches. His works alone identify Him as a soul of God's.

10:39 Remember what Jesus taught us in verse 18 of this chapter: Jesus willingly gives His life... and therefore it is only given when He is finished teaching and spreading the philosophy of God in every place and person it needed to be.

10:40-42 Jesus joins John the Baptist. John's disciples and followers believed his message because Jesus' works proved everything John foretold and taught them to be true. They were observant and perceptive: Jesus' life spoke for itself and identified Him as a prophet from God. 

NT: The Book John, Chapter 9

John 9:1-41

9:1 Our talents as well as our shortcomings, our abilities as well as our disabilities, are orchestrated by God as tools with which we make our impact on the world. Our creator is resourceful, just as every element of our universe is a pillar or sibling to another in order to create more complex life, every element of our character, body and mind can be a pillar to another person or idea. 

This particular man is blind. In scripture, his blindness serves as a symbol of guiltless faithlessness. Jesus will allow this man to see, will offer His love, healing and guidance to the man and then will allow the man choose to douse his life in what was proffered. 

In his actual life, in the context of the time, this particular man's blindness serves as a living example of how God loves and works with and through the humble and disregarded. God works with the humble because the trait of humility requires a human to be kind, thoughtful, perceptive and productive. A human with these traits is the exact type of soul God recognizes and loves. These traits enable a human to be quite extraordinarily gifted in promoting, creating and fostering compassion in their families, neighborhoods, communities, regions...in the world. 

Humans often underestimated the seemingly feeble. Contrarily, God knows that a strong soul is a resilient spirit and when the core of a human being is courageous and kind, God exhibits through that person that a kind spirit is able and essential in doing amazing things. It's a bold testimony when God enables  a meek, disregarded human to change the world with an idea. 

We are expertly placed. Our particular situations, experiences and locations are meant to prod out our humanity. Wherever each of us is, we have the opportunity to use our circumstances to send a message. The message we choose to send is entirely our decision. Even, sometimes especially, our misfortunes enable us to be inspirations to others. 

9:2 There was a widely-believed misconception at the time: people believed that disabilities were inherited punishments. In this context of time, medical knowledge was nearly non-existent. People did not understand the concepts of DNA or germ. Therefore, instead of to science, they attributed ailment to fantasies of demons or punishment. 

9:3 Jesus explains that not only is the man not being punished, but he's actually been gifted by God. Imagine that -- Jesus turned the connotation of illness from awful to awesome. Works of God are revealed through unexpected people. God loves all of His children and the children who suffer are jam-packed with His plan. Not only do they serve as living inspirations to others but they are also souls who encourage and give opportunity for other people to show and give action to their compassion. 

This man may have become a teacher of the philosophy of God, might have taught about the first and second advent of Jesus, about the events planned for earth... but each human consciously and also unconsciously serves as a testimony. 

9:4 This man was an integral part of Jesus' purpose -- his life was one of Jesus' works to do. So many lessons are taught by this man's life... 1) ailment is not punishment, 2) disability gives opportunity for ability 3) love and guidance from God are healing 4) productivity of kindness are the work to do for God. Jesus has many of these lessons to teach and He reminds them (and us) that His time to do so is limited. With the wisdom of God made available by Jesus for the entire earth through generation, Jesus was to return back to God...

As we discussed in prior books (Matthew, Mark and Luke) for a time, another teacher will come to the earth -- a teacher with the exact opposite message of Jesus'. During such time, the works done by humanity will be nearly completed, we each will have cemented our works (by way of living our lives). The time for working with God is now. 

9:5 Jesus remains in the world as long as He remains in even just one soul's heart. The spirit of God is throughout the world, in nature and every act of kindness. The light from Jesus is each soul with compassion, living with the philosophy of God in their heart. 

Jesus is explaining to us: as long as you are with me, I am with you, lighting your way.

9:6 This is symbolic of Jesus using the very elements of Himself to proffer love, guidance and healing.

9:7 When the philosophy of God is offered to you, the second (and crucial step) is to accept it and let it course through our lives. Jesus did His part... the man (and we) still had to make the decision to do ours. Relationships of faith with God are a mutual effort. 

9:8 People were astonished. They expected nothing from this previously-blind man. God never underestimates His children. God has amazing plans for all of us if we wish to take them on.

9:9 There's gossip and disbelief that a man they believed to be useless became an instrumental child of God, his sight healed -- but also his mind and philosophy of life cleansed and guided. 

9:10 This verse is symbolic of the man's testimony. When people see an unlikely soul triumph, it serves as a message and inspiration to others. Part of this man's purpose was the inspire and gather new children of God -- having seen the amazing and kind works of God, they began their own journeys of faith. 

9:11 Faith is exhibited here. The man recounts his conversation and time with Jesus precisely. Not only that -- the man had faith. Jesus told the man that if he agreed with the philosophy He taught, he could trust that it would heal him. With faith (and no tangible proof), the man followed Jesus' advice. By faith, he became the tangible proof. Fulfilling yet another of God's plans.

9:12 Jesus kept moving. He did not loiter around for fame or appreciation. He was not a circus show. Jesus was productive, determined, and motivated. Immediately upon completing one of His works, He began another... in another place, with another person. He passionately wanted to help and guide as many people as He could. Pure compassion drove Jesus in complete humility to be at the service of humanity every second of His time here on earth.

9:13-15 The Pharisees are back with their illogical arguments. They were displeased with Jesus because He broke on of their rules: no healing on certain days. This might seem preposterous to you, that they would get away with such a common-senseless rule -- but remember that even today, many church leaders get away with blatant hypocrisy and non-logic.

9:16 A wiser group makes a perceptive observation: a sinful person does not do compassionate acts. Rather than become stuck in the murky waters of senseless rules, these people observe Jesus' behavior in determining the state of His character. He isn't doing anything wrong -- in fact, He's doing everything right.

9:17-19 Rather than rejoice at this man's healing, the Pharisees exhaustively use their time and others' time to try to discredit the story.

9:20-21 Not yet having developed their strength and faith through Jesus, the parents are afraid to recount the story their son experienced to the Pharisees. This is how the Pharisees ruled over people -- through fear. Jesus was working to break down their corrupt systems are they were most unhappy about it.

The parents, however, do tell the truth: they claim the man as their son and they assure that he was indeed born blind. 

9:22-23 The parents were afraid. They did not want their son to be punished, not even at the expense of the truth. What a horrible way to live -- this is exactly why Jesus was so purposeful and determined. He did not want God's children to live in such a fretful way.

9:24-25 The man does not want to become involved in the escalating battle of the Pharisees against Jesus. He boldly admits what he knows to be true: Jesus healed him.

9:26-27 The Pharisees' interrogation is unending. They search and toil to find fault with Jesus but they cannot. Exasperated, the healed man insinuates that, evidenced by all of the desperate questions, the Pharisees seem to want to become students of Jesus themselves.

9:28-29 Clinging to their argument of being students of the Old Testament, they neglect to see that Jesus is an integral part of even Moses' life. Their faith is false and formulaic, if they truly believed in Moses, they would also believe in the kind and familiar acts of Jesus (who existed even before Moses, with God).

One thing they are correct in: highlighting their difference and separation from Jesus and the philosophy of God He is spreading throughout the world.

Their faith is false and formulaic for this reason: in Deuteronomy 18:15, Jesus' life as a prophet on earth is foretold by God. Obviously these men claim to be of God but are not... they do not even know (or follow!) the scripture they claim to cherish.

9:30-33 Finally, the man must make known the truth of his observations: God listens to the kindhearted and heals them (often in unexpected ways). If you do His will (living with compassion) He hears every word you say and even think. Never before on earth (and never since) has a person been able to heal any and every ailment effortlessly... Jesus' life and actions were loud and clear evidence of His being a prophet.

9:34 Arrogant and stubborn, desperate to cling onto their false claims of holiness and power, the Pharisees excommunicated the man. These people (types of which still exist today) do not have any compassion or value for the disabled, the humble, the meek. They believe they are better than the healed man... but how could they possibly be?

Be observant. A wise person always admits that they have more to learn. We are all students: of God, of nature, of life. We must never become too impressed with our own intellect -- we could not even possibly exist without a creator. Moreover, we must cherish and protect the lives of others as much as we cherish and protect our own (we must cherish and protect them even more). Through healing others, we heal ourselves.

Be observant because you can always determine the character of a person by seeing how they behave with and treat others. A person's words are weak but their actions are strong indications of who they truly are.

9:35-38 It's easy for this man to accept Jesus as the Son of God because Jesus is the living embodiment of everything God stands for. The man is thrilled, eager and quick to show and proclaim his love and faith.

9:39 Jesus speaks of the symbol that this message is: God brings clarity to the blind of faith. He brings truth to those we cannot see it without being guided to it. Jesus' life bolstered the feeble with wisdom, love and courage and simultaneously dismantled the power of the deceitful oppressors (this exemplified in the symbol of them losing their sight).

9:40 The blindness Jesus is teaching us in this chapter is spiritual blindness: the inability to see the compassionate philosophy of God. In this way, the Pharisees are indeed blind.

9:41 This verse is quite deep, let's explore it: if the Pharisees were innocently blind (not yet aware or presented with the the knowledge and understanding of the compassionate way to live) they would be forgiven and guided by God. Yet, the Pharisees know that their actions are hateful and wrong and yet they commit their atrocities and deceits anyway. They proclaim to know everything... and since they claim to know everything, that means they know better... yet choose not to live that way.

They are deliberately evil, selfish and manipulating. When a person knows good and bad, but chooses bad, they become responsible for, and guilty of, their actions.

To whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 12:48): when you know good from bad (are given the spiritual-wisdom to discern the two), you are quite expected to do much GOOD. Their sin remains because they know better but choose bad. They Pharisees also have a lot of power and wealth and they are therefore expected to use it wisely and compassionately, but they do not. We are responsible for how we live our lives -- and that statement should make a kind person very happy.

NT: The Book of John, Chapter 8

John 8:1-59

8:1-2 How instructive it is that Jesus is always teaching. He values every opportunity before Him because it's an opportunity for Him to share His kindness, His love, His guidance with humanity (who He had endless, abundant love for). Our lives are our opportunities to do the same: to share our kindness, our love and guidance if we are asked for it.

8:3 Attempting a scheme, the Pharisees concoct a situation they believe will be difficult for Jesus - they underestimate the wisdom of His compassion. Unfortunately, while on earth, there are people who will try to undermine others. Our best weapon against them is our wisdom, our perception and our compassion. Truth and kindness always have a way to solve and accomplish, to find answers when others do not see them.

The Pharisees bring to Jesus a woman who has committed one of their crimes. 

8:4-5 In these versus we learn what the Pharisees scheme is. They capture this woman who has been unfaithful to her partner and also to the law they follow, the guidance given by Moses in the Old Testament which they subscribe to. Remember that these people, adversaries of Jesus, do not follow these laws as guidance... ways to navigate life without too much trouble. Instead, they use this guidance to impose strict laws upon people... they love the power and control they have over citizens. 

Knowing that Jesus acknowledges and supports the Old Testament guidance from Moses, the Pharisees want to trap Him between 1) going against it in order to save the woman or 2)  to stick with the words of Moses and thereby condemn the woman. They will be unsuccessful in forcing Jesus to choose between those 2 options.

8:6 Their plan is revealed -- they do not care about the woman or the law, they only wish to debunk Jesus and regain their corrupt power over the people. They have turned off their common sense and compassion in order to strictly govern, satisfying their greed for power.

We are not given the details of what Jesus wrote on the ground, but knowing His quick wisdom we can presume that whatever He wrote, He made it clearly known that He was well aware of what's written in the Old Testament... and likely pointed out that He was also well aware of how the Pharisees had twisted what was written to benefit themselves. In the Old Testament, adultery is taught to be handled differently than the punishment the Pharisees want to inflict upon her. Essentially, (although another study altogether) The Book of Numbers, Chapter 5 demonstrates that a guilty woman should bear her guilt of betraying her partner... but not be killed for it. 

Deeper Metaphor: Our unification with God (platonic) is symbolized as marriage often in the Bible, for us to better understand a complex idea. Each of us has been "unfaithful" to God at times in our lives: this means that there have been times in our lives, as individuals and as societies, that we have been as compassionate or humble as we should have been. This message teaches us that our mistakes are looked at by God with understanding and forgiveness and so: we always have the chance to redeem ourselves. To be more kindhearted. A mistake does not warrant death or punishment. 

8:7 This is a popular biblical verse. It reminds us that before we judge and punish another person, we must acknowledge our own mistakes (and we all have them). When we realize that we are all living in this complex world, sometimes letting it get the better of us, we can more easily understand and forgive others when they make a mistake. 

8:8-9 Whatever Jesus wrote, it reminded the woman's accusers of their own transgressions and they then abandoned their argument against her (realizing that they were not more innocent than she). Punishing her would be hypocritical. 

The fact that the accusers left in a specific order leads us to believe that Jesus individual addressed each of them, reminding each of them (with detailed precision and accuracy) of their own mistakes. Jesus has all knowledge and all wisdom. He knows each person better than they even know themselves -- none of their mistakes were hidden to Him. When they learned that, they left -- they had no foundation to support their argument any longer. 

Only the woman remained with Jesus.

8:10 With humility, Jesus points out that she is not the only person who has made a mistake. For Jesus to do this, we can understand that she likely felt very badly about hurting her husband (symbolically: transgressing from God). Jesus wanted her to know that every person makes the same mistake of transgressing from God and that every person is given forgiveness and guidance by Him.

8:11 None of them could accuse her without hypocrisy. Jesus wanted her to know that He, and God, would not condemn her for a mistake. Instead, they would work with her to be more compassionate. God does not punish; God allows the ramifications of our own decisions. When we make a bad decision, consequences logically follow... but God will lead us out of those consequences if we want and work to start making good decisions. God does not punish; God heals and loves and guides. 

8:12 Jesus is explaining to all of humanity: The message of God is our guidance through difficulty. It teaches us how to be compassionate, wise and humble -- the three qualities which purchase us happiness, purpose and life. God's light is love and it is generous and bountiful for whoever wishes to be a part of His family.

Some people only understand this on its surface -- they believe that saying they follow Jesus means they actually follow Him... wrong. To follow Jesus means to follow the advice He gives, which comes from God. If you follow the advice... so much light will light up your life. I would not, and could not say these things without personally receiving their truth in my life. 

8:13 The Pharisees reject Jesus' statements. Be aware of why they reject Him: because they do not want to lose their power, status and wealth (obtained corruptly and challenged by His message). Yet, trying to be clever and subtle, they claim that Jesus cannot speak for Himself His truth.

In a daily-life perspective their deceptive claim might work, but only superficially. For example, if you know who you are, where you are from and what you believe in, you do not need someone else to speak it for you in order for it to be true. Sure, people may not believe what you say... but your actions speak for themselves (as a second witness). Likewise, everything Jesus said, He lived. The proof was in every moment of His life.

8:14 Jesus is teaching us about who He is and what He stands for. Although the truth of our relationship with God is revealed in a million moments of love, guidance and patience, our initial understanding of Him comes through Jesus (and, I believe, can come from other sources for different people). Right here anyway, in this verse, Jesus brings to us the nature of God: the embodiment of truth without exception. Whether these adversaries want to believe it or not, Jesus is speaking of His unwillingness to ever be or do anything except what is truth. We all get our opportunities to see His truth unfold (during or at the end of our lives on earth) and Jesus wants us to know that we can expect, trust and find comfort that from Him we are only given the truth.

The direct message at the end of this verse is toward the evil adversaries with whom He is conversing: they cannot exist in the spiritual truths and comforts because of their rejection of them. God's love is proffered to all but unless one reaches out and accepts it, they cannot obtain it. Because these adversaries are not reaching out (are not making any effort to understand because their ideologies are in opposition to it) they cannot logically have it, or be where Jesus is. It's not a punishment -- it's a choice.

8:15 Jesus did not come to the earth to judge and condemn. Quite contrarily, He came to the earth with patience and understanding. He is our living example -- accepting and perceptive. Jesus knew very well that each individual faces a series of challenges in their lives and that during them, mistakes are made and sometimes the lessons mistakes teach are ignored. He came to help, guide, support. He knew that the surface of what a person appeared to be, did not always (or even usually) reflect the core of their soul. Humans are flawed but Jesus taught us that flaws are also opportunities to be better, kinder, wiser than we were before. He dug deeply to uncover the true soul beneath the mess and chaos humans often get themselves into.

The wonder and beauty of God is evidenced in His passionate effort to retrieve the lost and broken. Jesus did not come collecting gems (metaphorically or otherwise); He came to find the oppressed, the crooked... and to realign them, lead them to the home of compassion and comfort.

Sometimes He met a person who, when presented with His alternate route, would reject it. But very, very often He met people who opened their minds and hearts to His message of compassion... and therefore, He saved so many from themselves and others (from the ways of life which bring us discontentment and frustration).

8:16 Jesus wants them (and us) to know that although He does not judge, He wants us to find comfort in the fact that God is omniscient. Nothing is hidden from Him; He understands each of the complexities of every person's thought and life. If ever there were a hand to be in, it would be His (full of compassion and understanding).

Exploring the word "Judgement" for a moment: It's instinctive and wise to discern the character of a thing, person and idea. In fact, it's imperative that you are able to observe and analyze. In this way, it's fair and wise to develop your own understanding. The trouble of judgement comes when we use our understanding (and remember it's always limited, we are not omniscient) to condemn others. The trouble comes when we hate or segregate others, labeling them "bad," when we have no understanding of them.

When God judges someone, it is without motive. God judgement is simply this: Him identifying us as we have presented ourselves during our lives. He does not determine if we are good or bad, or anything else... we determine the definition of our character by how we live, treat others, and make decisions.

Humans, however, tend to judge people with motive, and often we decide something is bad without considering all of the complex evidence. We therefore neglect sometimes to see the good in something we labelled incorrectly. Example: Racism. Groups of humans decide certain people are bad (a selfish motive) and unfairly judge (through that selfish motive) ignorant of the truth. This happens broadly, and individually: from racism in a country to bullying on a school bus.

Be happy that God's judgement is ENTIRELY different from humans'. God essentially allows us to judge ourselves... and then we walk to path we ourselves chose. His omniscience allows Him to be patience with us because it uncovers the reasoning behind the mistakes that we make (and sometimes we're guiltless).

Back to the verse: Jesus came as a manifestation of everything God embodies. That makes Him a vessel through which God's wisdom and truth can arrive.

8:17-18 Jesus is explaining that His witness (the witness who proclaims His truth) is God. They seek a second opinion and they definitely receive one. God surely is all around us, but until we open our minds to perceptive, spiritual thought, we miss His presence.

8:19 I love this verse for its depth: it would be useless for Jesus to explain where God is because these people refuse to believe in Him. Keep in mind that there is a difference between people who do not believe out of corrupt, selfish reasons and people who just, frankly, have a difficult time conceiving the idea.

Jesus explains that the people who receive His compassionate message are opened to the understanding of where and who God is... it does not need to be explained to them. God's magnitude, His spiritual presence is explained to them (and to you, you'll realize) subtlety yet skillfully and prominently.

How could they understand that God is everywhere? Within each breathe we take in, flowing through the veins of every leaf and rooted tree? Within the animated life of the planet and its surroundings. As you develop your relationship with God, you will understand more and more just how alive and present He really is. Aware, adept, vibrant in every moment.

8:20 His hour had not yet come: Every moment of Jesus' life was allowing and orchestrated by God in order to teach, heal, and guide as many people (through generations and geographical locations) as He could. God would allow Jesus' death because from it would come a great message. Therefore, Jesus was shielded by God and no person, hatred or strength could penetrate that protection until and unless God lifted it. (But we know Jesus remained protected by God even while allowed to be vulnerable to His adversaries). Likewise, we are protected by God. Nothing can triumph over us with Him as our guide and protector -- give Him permission (by way of giving Him your trust) to shield you.

When we do not trust God, He is patient and respectful of that -- without our permission, He will not intervene in our lives. That is not a punishment! He is respecting our freedom. When we do give our trust to God, He is eager and passionate and flawless in living up to it. He really does await our permission and He loves nothing more than shielding us, guiding us, loving us.

8:21 Jesus predicts His return to God, to His spiritual life. Meanwhile, evil will construct its own death. Acts of greed and injustice are burdens which inevitably suffocate the unkind. Those who trade their lives for wealth and power will have done just that, traded their lives. Without a life, one cannot join Jesus, it's simply illogical.

8:22 These hardhearted men do not understand the metaphor, the message within Jesus' words. They do not understand that their accumulated unkindness will wither away their lives, making them unable to continue into the spiritual.

8:23 Above, Not of This World: These a symbols for the qualities God, Jesus and God's children embody and promote in the world. God's eternity does not exist in these societies we have build in the world. This world is corrupted in some ways as materialism and greed have nearly consumed it. Above is the spiritual, the light and warm of God placed prominently above all else because of it's purity and empathy.

Beneath, Of This World: To be proclaimed "of this world" is a metaphor for a person who values the materialistic greed which poisons the world. Beneath is symbolic of the powerlessness of that which is not born from above: man, soul or idea.

8:24 A person who will die of their sins is a person who becomes so consumed with evil, deception, greed, power and control that they lose sight of the value of life -- others' and their own. To disregard the life and well-being of another is to relinquish your own.

Their sins bring them to death, not necessarily out of punishment, but out of consequence. Evil works are of death and therefore workers of evil meet their master.

8:25-26 They are not listening. Jesus continues to tell them the same truth He has proclaimed from the beginning. Jesus came, a voice for the world, to teach of our creator. These men could have chosen to disagree with Jesus and simply move along. The reason they persisted and eventually killed Him is because of their love of money and power. Jesus' testimony threatened their control (Jesus taught people to be free and kind and wise) and they wanted Him dead for it. 

8:27 They did not understand because they did not want to even try. These deep and informative metaphors are only available for understanding to anyone who seeks to learn from them.

8:28 Jesus explains that upon His death on the cross, God will make Jesus' truthful message known. After Jesus' death, Jesus returned to the earth in His spirit and revealed that His message was true: God gives life and light to the kind.

Sometimes when these more complex, spiritual contexts come up it becomes difficult to reconcile the seeming reality of our world and another, a spiritual world. If it's too deep, stick with the core concepts: God loves you. God is as involved in your life as you'll let Him be. The more perceptive you become, the more you work on your personal philosophy, the more apparent that truth will be.

8:29 Jesus draws strength and direction from the truth that God is always with Him. We also can draw strength and guidance from God. He loves us, He wants us to succeed in happiness and compassion and when we work with Him, we always achieve it.

8:30 To those who were listening, Jesus' message resonated. The words of an honest soul are comforting and guiding. These people heard a man (Jesus) speaking of kindness, justice, love, and life and they saw that He also exemplified those things... it enabled them to see His truth and believe.

8:31-32 Whoever listens to and agrees with the philosophy of God becomes His student. God's students double (triple, quadruple, etc.) as other things: teachers, friends, doctors,... God's children fill a great many positions in the world to bring and foster compassion.

Truth is made up of perceiving, observing, analyzing, understanding and wisdom. With those tools in your mind, truth will indeed set you free: truth will enable you to logically and triumphantly escape injustice. Those tools are given by God... if our head is thought of as a toolbox, He loads us with the exact equipment we need to build strong foundations for our minds and souls to live.

God's compassionate truth sets people free because it breaks the chains which hold people onto sadness, frustration, desire. He enables us to see and think clearly which results in our making better decisions but also in having the strength to stick with them.

8:37 In the Old Testament, Abraham was a great and faithful child of God. These men proclaimed their holiness because of their relation to Abraham... but Jesus explains that it is the philosophy of life we live that determines a place in God's family. Each person is individually responsible for what they do on earth -- and that's beautiful to people who are kind.

They seek to kill Jesus because His word of compassion has no place in their hearts -- they are not compassionate. No matter who or what we try to tie ourselves to, we are made up of only the decisions we, personally make.

8:38 Subtlety, Jesus explains that there are two fathers. The Father, of Jesus' is the creator and inspiration behind life and love. The father of these men (and of all the unkind) is the promoter of injustice and greed. Good and evil are not of the same family. Each person must choose which they would like to be a member of.

8:39 Although they passionately professed their relation to Abraham, Jesus explains that if they were indeed of Abraham (sharing his faith and kindness) they would do works of faith and kindness like Abraham did. With common sense, Jesus reveals the wide holes in their argument.

8:40 Certainly Abraham never rejected, threatened, or mocked God's philosophy (which Jesus was/is the embodiment of).

8:41-42 No matter how desperately they cling to their relation with Abraham, their evil works  (the way they live their lives) identify them as members of evil and unkindness.

A message within this conversation is to always be able to identify a weak argument. Many people proclaim many things and we need to be able to discern truth from lies. These men claim to be one thing but only hypocritically -- the claim to be of kindness but how they live their lives is unkind.

Everything Jesus teaches He also lives. His truth is apparent because is compassionate in all moment. He is observant and wise. He is guided by God and the fulfillment of His tremendously complex purpose is evidence of that.

8:43 Jesus explains that a deceitful, selfish heart cannot understand compassion. Unfortunately, many of us know the truth of that statement. Jesus wants them (and us) to understand that those hateful kinds of souls are not members of God's family.

8:44 A bold and accurate character assessment by Jesus. The devil, Satan, the adversary... however you want to refer to him/it, is the embodiment of deceit and greed. People who promote those things are symbolically related to him. (Cain is subtlety referenced in this verse, a person from the Old Testament who killed his brother out of jealously and greed).

8:45-46 All of this commotion around Jesus and they have no sin to accuse Him of. Jesus was constantly kind, productive, humble... healing people's minds and hearts and bodies. These men do not want to accept the truth of Jesus' words because it condemns them and highlights their poor character.

8:47 I love this verse for it's truth and simplicity: He who is of God hears God's words... children of God are able to identify His presence in their lives -- develop your faith and relationship with Him, it's beautiful and eternal.

8:48-8:49 Jesus' adversaries try to label him as being ill or deranged. Their attempts to discredit Him will not work -- people are observing the truth and clarity of His words. Jesus' full respect and devotion is toward God and He exemplifies that in His life and interactions with others.

8:50 Those who dishonor the message of Jesus dishonor God because the message is compassion and to go against compassion is evil.

8:51 God's family is eternal; nothing can thwart God's river of lighted love. The spirit is resilient.

8:52-53 This proclamation of eternal life is not comprehended by them. Life after death is not a concept they (even try to) understand. Even people today believe that death is final... but children of God understand that death is only final for the evil. Life experience on earth allows each soul (human) to decide which family they belong to... light lives forever and dark is extinguished.

My personal belief is that our minds, bodies, souls, planet... is far too beautiful and complex, scientifically extraordinary to be accidental or final. I see God's eternal, resilient creation everywhere I look. After all, how would I even have eyes to see with without Him?

8:54 Humility. Everything Jesus is and promotes is of God and is done selflessly. He wants no glory for Himself, He wishes solely to bring love and comfort to people who are kind and in need of it.

8:55 It's very easily to identify a person who holds God's philosophy in their heart. Kindness is revealing of a person's character. Likewise, unkindness reveals a person's character. Jesus' actions speak of His truth, His familiarity with God.

(Also: Am I the only one who loves the sense of humor in this verse?)

8:56 Maybe it's just my own sense of humor that is tickled in this verse but -- how wonderful is it that Jesus speaks of the eternal, spiritual place of God, of Abraham being alive and also of Abraham's support and love of Jesus and His mission all at once (despite these adversaries denials and rejections)? So wonderful.

It's like He's saying "Not only is Abraham alive... but also he wants nothing to do with your evil acts and is in fact a big supporter of mine." These evil men march around proclaiming their ties to Abraham, thinking they can get away with lies because they do not believe Abraham exists any longer.

Or, "I just got off the God-phone with Abraham and he actually requests you stop comparing yourselves to him..." Okay, now I'm running with it but you get the point. Children of God are alive and well. Jesus is very familiar with Abraham because God's family is informed and close-knit. We are each loved deeply and individually by Jesus and God -- our specific, particular selves are entirely known and loved by them.

8:57 They truly refuse to contemplate the idea of the eternal spirit.

8:58 Beautiful verse. Comforting. Before anything, anyone... was God. God always is. His name translates to I AM, because He IS, always. Long before the frivolity humans got themselves entangled in... God was here, The Creator of the universe... the sun, each atom and particle that makes up these things. Jesus brings the message home, neatly and boldly. These men hypocritically worship Abraham, but even the great Abraham is a human soul, made by God... a tiny part of everything that is God. Not only does God know Abraham... he created him. As a manifestation of all that God is, Jesus knows and has fostered his life as well.

All of the joking and back-and-forth of the conversation is brought home -- God's mighty, eternal presence is proclaimed.

8:59 Symbolically, Jesus is not vulnerable to their anger and evil. Jesus is fulfilling a humble, compassionate purpose and their anger cannot entrap Him unless and until God allows it for a reason.