Jesus provokes the religious leaders

 Today in the One Year Bible we read these verses:

1 Samuel 20:1-21:15
John 9:1-41
Psalm 113:1-114:8
Proverbs 15:15-17 

In John, Jesus is again healing on the Sabbath. It almost seems like He's deliberately provoking the religious leaders. He tells them things that will make them angry. He makes claims that He knows will cause them to seek His death. It's almost like He WANTS them to crucify Him.

And that is actually the case. It's hard to believe, but it makes sense when you read John 10:18. "No one takes My life: I give it willingly." Jesus came to teach us, yes. To show us how to be holy. To bring us the kingdom of God, and the church. But most of all, Jesus came to die for us. Throughout His public ministry, He repeatedly does things to purposefully cause the religious leaders to seek His death.

He did this for you, so that you can rise to eternal life with Him.

God, thanks for sending Jesus to willingly die for us. Help us to live for Him.