Immerse: Bible Reading Experience - NLT Daily Bible In A Year

Day 68: Light Shines in Darkness: John 7-9 Presents Jesus as Savior to the Spiritually Blind

Reading: John

Experience the mounting tension in John 7-9 as this Immerse Bible reading presents Jesus making radical claims during the Feast of Tabernacles, declaring that rivers of living water will flow from his belly and positioning himself as the light of the world while debates about his identity intensify around him. The NLT translation preserves the revolutionary scene of Jesus confronting the woman caught in adultery with the challenge 'let him who is without sin cast the first stone'—a Scripture reading moment that exposes the hypocrisy of religious judgment and reveals divine mercy at its most beautiful. As this Bible podcast episode unfolds, Jesus' declaration 'before Abraham was, I am' makes the implicit explicit: he is claiming the covenant name of God himself, provoking intense opposition from those determined to protect religious orthodoxy at all costs. The Immerse Messiah format shines as we follow the healing of a man born blind, then watch the Pharisees gradually reveal their own spiritual blindness through their stubborn refusal to acknowledge what their eyes could see. This community Bible study explores the irony that those with physical sight are spiritually blind while the blind man's simple faith and willingness to testify to what Jesus did opens his eyes—both literally and spiritually. Small group discussion of these chapters naturally invites reflection on what blinds us to truth and how Jesus breaks through our resistance with patient, persistent grace.


Buy Immerse Messiah today!


4 Questions to get your conversations started:

1.    What stood out to you this week?
2.    Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3.    Did anything make you think differently about God?
4.    How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE

3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1.    Use Immerse: Messiah instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.

2.    Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open, honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.

3.    Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Messiah, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”


And for more great Bible podcasts for Christians and small groups, check out https://lumivoz.com or search for Lumivoz in your podcast app of choice.


What is Immerse: Bible Reading Experience - NLT Daily Bible In A Year?

Take a breath, find your place, and read deeply. Discover the joy of reading God’s word with the Immerse New Living Translation (NLT) Bible.

This daily Bible podcast will take you through the Bible in a year following the Immerse Bible Reading Experience. So grab your family and small group and go through the Bible in a year together with Immerse. Each of the 6 volumes is available online or at your favorite Christian bookstore.

Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The
Daily Bible Reading Experience.

Day 68.

after this, Jesus crossed over to
the far side of the Sea of Galilee,

also known as the Sea of Tiberius.

A huge crowd kept following him
wherever he went because they saw his

miraculous signs as he healed the sick.

Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat
down with his disciples around him.

It was nearly time for the
Jewish Passover celebration.

Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of
people coming to look for him.

Turning to Philip, he asked, where can
we buy bread to feed all these people?

He was testing Philip for.

He already knew what he was going to do.

Philip replied, even if we
worked for months, we wouldn't

have enough money to feed them.

Then Andrew, Simon
Peter's brother, spoke up.

There's a young boy here with
five barley loaves and two fish.

But what good is that
with this huge crowd?

Tell everyone to sit down.

Jesus said, so they all sat
down on the grassy slopes.

The men alone numbered about 5,000.

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks
to God and distributed them to the people.

Afterward he did the same with the fish,
and they all ate as much as they wanted.

After everyone was full, Jesus
told his disciples, now gather the

leftovers so that nothing is wasted.

So they picked up the pieces and filled
12 baskets with scraps left by the people

who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

When the people saw him do this
miraculous sign, they exclaimed.

Surely he is the prophet.

We have been expecting.

When Jesus saw that they were ready
to force him to be their king, he

slipped away into the hills by himself.

That evening, Jesus disciples went down
to the shore to wait for him, but as

darkness fell and Jesus still hadn't
come back, they got into the boat and

headed across the lake toward Capernaum.

Soon a gale swept down upon them
and the sea grew very rough.

They had rode three or four miles
when suddenly they saw Jesus walking

on the water toward the boat.

They were terrified, but he called
out to them, don't be afraid.

I am here.

Then they were eager to let him
in the boat and immediately they

arrived at their destination.

The next day, the crowd that had stayed
on the far shore saw that the disciples

had taken the only boat, and they
realized Jesus had not gone with them.

Several boats from Tiberius landed near
the place where the Lord had blessed

the bread and the people had eaten.

So when the crowd saw that, neither
Jesus nor his disciples were there,

they got into the boats and went
across to Capernaum to look for him.

They found him on the other
side of the lake and asked

Rabbi, when did you get here?

Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, you
want to be with me because I fed you.

Not because you understood the miraculous
signs, but don't be so concerned

about perishable things like food.

Spend your energy seeking the eternal
life that the son of man can give you.

For God.

The father has given me
the seal of his approval.

They replied, we want to
perform God's works too.

What should we do?

Jesus told them, this is the
only work God wants from you.

Believe in the one he has sent, they
answered, show us a miraculous sign.

If you want us to believe
in you, what can you do?

After all, our ancestors ate manna.

While they journeyed
through the wilderness.

The scriptures say Moses gave
them bread from heaven to eat.

Jesus said, I tell you the truth, Moses
didn't give you bread from heaven.

My father did.

And now he offers you the
true bread from heaven.

The true bread of God is the
one who comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.

Sir, they said, give us
that bread every day.

Jesus replied, I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will
never be hungry again.

Whoever believes in me
will never be thirsty.

But you haven't believed in me
even though you have seen me.

However, those the father has given me
will come to me and I will never reject

them for I have come down from heaven to
do the will of God who sent me not to do

my own will, and this is the will of God
that I should not lose even one of all

those he has given me, but that I should
raise them up at the last day for it is my

father's will that all who see his son and
believe in him should have eternal life.

I will raise them up at the last day.

Then the people began to murmur in
disagreement because he had said, I am

the bread that came down from heaven.

They said, isn't this
Jesus, the son of Joseph?

We know his father and mother.

How can he say, I came down from
heaven, but Jesus replied, stop

complaining about what I said.

For no one can come to me unless the
father who sent me draws them to me

and at the last day, I will raise them
up as it is written in the scriptures.

They will all be taught by God.

Everyone who listens to the Father
and learns from him comes to me.

Not that anyone has ever seen the Father.

Only I who was sent
from God have seen him.

I tell you the truth.

Anyone who believes has eternal life.

Yes, I am the bread of life.

Your ancestors ate manna in the
wilderness, but they all died.

Anyone who eats the bread from
heaven however will never die.

I am the living bread that
came down from heaven.

Anyone who eats this
bread will live forever.

And this bread, which I will offer
so the world may live is my flesh.

Then the people began arguing with
each other about what he meant.

How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

They asked.

So Jesus said Again, I tell you the
truth, unless you eat the flesh of the

son of man and drink his blood, you
cannot have eternal life within you.

But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks
my blood has eternal life, and I will

raise that person at the last day.

For my flesh is true food
and my blood is true.

Drink.

Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks,
my blood remains in me and I in him.

I live because of the living
father who sent me in the same way.

Anyone who feeds on me
will live because of me.

I am the true bread that
came down from heaven.

Anyone who eats this bread will
not die as your ancestors did.

Even though they ate the
manna, but will live forever.

He said these things while he
was teaching in the synagogue in

Capernaum, many of his disciples
said, this is very hard to understand.

How can anyone accept it?

Jesus was aware that his disciples
were complaining, so he said

to them, does this offend you?

Then what will you think if you see
the Son of Man ascend to heaven again?

The spirit alone gives eternal life.

Human effort accomplishes nothing,
and the very words I have spoken

to you are spirit and life, but
some of you do not believe me.

For Jesus knew from the beginning,
which ones didn't believe, and

he knew who would betray him.

Then he said, that is why I said
that people can't come to me

unless the father gives them to me.

At this point, many of his disciples
turned away and deserted him.

Then Jesus turned to the 12 and
asked, are you also going to leave?

Simon?

Peter replied, Lord, to whom would we go?

You have the words that give eternal life.

We believe, and we know you
are the holy one of God.

Then Jesus said, I chose the
12 of you, but one is a devil.

He was speaking of Judas son of
Simon Iscariot, one of the 12, who

would later betray him after this.

Jesus traveled around Galilee.

He wanted to stay out of Judea where
the Jewish leaders were plotting

his death, but soon it was time for
the Jewish Festival of Shelters,

and Jesus' brothers said to him.

Leave here and go to Judea where
your followers can see your miracles.

You can't become famous
if you hide like this.

If you can do such wonderful
things, show yourself to the world.

For even his brothers
didn't believe in him.

Jesus replied, now is not the right time
for me to go, but you can go anytime.

The world can't hate you.

But it does hate me because
I accuse it of doing evil.

You go on.

I'm not going to this festival because
my time has not yet come after saying

these things, Jesus remained in Galilee,
but after his brothers left for the

festival, Jesus also went though
secretly staying out of public view.

The Jewish leaders tried to find
him at the festival and kept

asking if anyone had seen him.

There was a lot of grumbling
about him among the crowds.

Some argued he's a good man, but
others said he's nothing but a fraud.

Who deceives the people, but no one had
the courage to speak favorably about him

in public for they were afraid of getting
in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

Then midway through the festival, Jesus
went up to the temple and began to teach.

The people were surprised
when they heard him.

How does he know so much
when he hasn't been trained?

They asked.

So Jesus told them, my
message is not my own.

It comes from God who sent me.

Anyone who wants to do the will of
God will know whether my teaching

is from God or is merely my own.

Those who speak for themselves want
glory only for themselves, but a

person who seeks to honor the one
who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

Moses gave you the law,
but none of you obeys it.

In fact, you are trying to kill me.

The crowd replied, your demon
possessed who's trying to kill you.

Jesus replied, I did one miracle on
the Sabbath, and you were amazed.

But you work on the Sabbath too when
you obey Moses law of circumcision.

Actually, this tradition of
circumcision began with the patriarchs

long before the law of Moses.

Four.

If the correct time for circumcising, your
son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and

do it so as not to break the law of Moses.

So why should you be angry with me
for healing a man on the Sabbath?

Look beneath the surface
so you can judge correctly.

Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem
started to ask each other, isn't

this the man they're trying to kill?

But here he is speaking in public
and they say nothing to him.

Could our leaders possibly believe that
he is the Messiah, but how could he be

for we know where this man comes from.

When the Messiah comes,
he will simply appear.

No one will know where he comes from.

While Jesus was teaching in the
temple, he called out, yes, you

know me and you know where I come
from, but I'm not here on my own.

The one who sent me is true
and you don't know him.

But I know him because I come
from him and he sent me to you.

Then the leaders tried to arrest
him, but no one laid a hand on him

because his time had not yet come.

Many among the crowds at
the temple believed in him.

After all, they said, would you expect
the Messiah to do more miraculous

signs than this man has done?

When the Pharisees heard that the crowds
were whispering such things, they and

the leading priests sent temple guards
to arrest Jesus, but Jesus told them, I

will be with you only a little longer,
then I will return to the one who sent me.

You will search for me, but not find
me, and you cannot go where I am going.

The Jewish leaders were
puzzled by this statement.

Where is he planning to go?

They asked, is he thinking of
leaving the country and going

to the Jews and other lands?

Maybe he will even teach the Greeks.

What does he mean when he says, you
will search for me but not find me

and you cannot go where I'm going?

On the last day, the climax
of the festival, Jesus stood

and shouted to the crowds.

Anyone who is thirsty may come to me.

Anyone who believes in me may
come and drink for the scriptures.

Declare rivers of living water
will flow from his heart.

When he said living water, he was
speaking of the spirit who would be given

to everyone believing in him, but the
spirit had not yet been given because

Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.

When the crowds heard him say this,
some of them declared, surely this man

is the prophet we've been expecting.

Others said he is the Messiah,
still, others said, but he can't be.

Will the Messiah come from Galilee?

For the scriptures clearly state
that the Messiah will be born of the

royal line of David in Bethlehem, the
village where King David was born.

So the crowd was divided about him.

Some even wanted him arrested,
but no one laid a hand on him.

When the Temple guards returned
without having arrested Jesus,

the leading priests and Pharisees
demanded, why didn't you bring him in?

We have never heard
anyone speak like this.

The guards responded,
have you been led astray?

Two, the Pharisees mocked.

Is there a single one of us rulers
or Pharisees who believes in him?

This foolish crowd follows him,
but they are ignorant of the law.

God's curse is on them.

Then Nicodemus, the leader who had
met with Jesus earlier, spoke up.

Is it legal to convict a man
before he is given a hearing?

He asked.

They replied, are you from Galilee?

Two.

Search the scriptures and
see for your yourself.

No prophet ever comes from Galilee.

The most ancient Greek manuscripts do
not include John 7 53 through eight 11.

Then the meeting broke up
and everybody went home.

Jesus returned to the Mount of
Olives, but early the next morning,

he was back again at the temple.

A crowd soon gathered and he sat down
and taught them as he was speaking,

the teachers of religious law and
the Pharisees brought a woman who had

been caught in the act of adultery.

They put her in front
of the crowd, teacher.

They said to Jesus, this woman
was caught in the act of adultery.

The law of Moses says to
stone her, what do you say?

They were trying to trap him into saying
something they could use against him.

But Jesus stooped down and wrote
in the dust with his finger.

They kept demanding an answer,
so he stood up again and said,

alright, but let the one who has
never sinned throw the first stone.

Then he stooped down again
and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they
slipped away one by one, beginning with

the oldest, until only Jesus was left in
the middle of the crowd with the woman.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to
the woman, where are your accusers?

Didn't even one of them condemn you?

No, Lord, she said, and
Jesus said, neither do I go.

And sin no more.

This concludes today's
Immer reading experience.

Thank you for joining us.