READ John 5
Jesus infuriates the religious leaders by claiming equality with God.

INSIGHT
Many people in this world—atheists, agnostics, and those in pseudo-Christian cults—say that Jesus was merely a man, not God. What’s more, these people say Jesus never claimed to be God. The Incarnation—the doctrine that Jesus was one person with two natures, one human, one divine—is an anti-biblical and absurd idea invented by the church in later centuries, these skeptics opine. The gospel of John certainly dispels that notion. In chapter 8, John writes that the religious leaders of His day picked up stones to slay the Lord Jesus Christ because He made Himself equal
with God. The Jewish leaders were men of Jesus’ time and culture. They understood Jesus’ meaning far better than 21st-century skeptics. And as far as they were concerned, Jesus was committing the blasphemy of claiming to be God-a capital offense.

PRAYER
As an act of personal worship, offer the following praise to God the Son:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1-4, 14).

Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand,
like a servant girl’s eyes on her mistress’s hand,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God
until he shows us favor.  
Show us favor, Lord, show us favor,
for we’ve had more than enough contempt
(Psalm 123:2-3).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
But I enter your house
by the abundance of your faithful love;  
I bow down toward your holy temple
in reverential awe of you
(Psalm 5:7).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:

• A greater love for the God-Man, Christ Jesus
• The needs of your extended family
• Your activities for the day
• Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.  
You freed me from affliction;  
be gracious to me and hear my prayer
(Psalm 4:1).