Listen to Jesus

At Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, Pastor Zoe Hatcher continued the Listen to Jesus series with a message from John 9 titled “Now I See.” Throughout this series, we’ve been following Jesus through real moments—on a mountaintop, in the wilderness, in quiet conversations, and at a well. This week, we step into something a little more uncomfortable… a little more real. We see Jesus in the middle of messy ministry—and how people respond when He changes a life.

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John 9 – A Story About More Than Blindness

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:1–5

As Jesus walks along, He sees a man who has been blind since birth.

And right away, the disciples ask the question that so many people still ask today:

Who sinned?

It’s such a natural question—but it comes from a misunderstanding. There was this belief that suffering must be tied directly to sin. That if something is wrong, someone must have done something to deserve it.

But Jesus gently corrects that thinking.

This man’s blindness wasn’t about punishment.
It was an opportunity for the work of God to be revealed.

And that’s hard for us sometimes, because we want things to make sense. We want a clear cause and effect. But the reality is—we live in a broken world.

Sometimes people suffer, and there isn’t a simple explanation.

So instead of asking, “Why did this happen?” maybe the better question becomes:

“God, what are You doing here… and how do I trust You in it?”

Messy Ministry – Why Did Jesus Use Mud?

After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
John 9:6–7

And then Jesus does something unexpected.

He spits on the ground, makes mud, and places it on the man’s eyes.

It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s not what anyone would expect.

But nothing Jesus does is random.

This moment echoes something deeper:

Then the Lord God formed a man[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7

From the very beginning, God formed humanity from the dust of the ground. And here is Jesus—working with that same material.

It’s a reminder that He isn’t just healing something broken.

He is the Creator.
He understands the design.
He has authority over it.

Then He sends the man to the Pool of Siloam—which means “sent.”

Sent to be healed.
And then sent to go and tell.

Four Reactions to Jesus

As the story unfolds, what really stands out isn’t just the miracle—it’s how people respond to it.

And honestly, their reactions feel pretty familiar.

The Disciples – Assumption

They assume there must be a reason. A cause. A sin.

But not everything fits into that kind of equation.

The Neighbors – Skepticism

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

“Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.
John 9:8–12

The people who had seen this man for years… can’t believe it.

They question him.
They doubt him.
They even wonder if he’s the same person.

Because sometimes, when something doesn’t fit our understanding, it’s easier to explain it away than to accept that God might have done something miraculous.

The Pharisees – Prejudice

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
John 9:13–17

The religious leaders don’t celebrate what happened.

They focus on how it happened.

Jesus made mud.
It was the Sabbath.
That breaks the rules.

And in the process, they completely miss the point.

A man who has never seen in his life… can now see.

And they’re more concerned about the method than the miracle.

It’s a reminder:

It’s possible to be so focused on being right that you miss what God is doing.

The Parents – Fear

They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
John 9:18–23

His parents know something real has happened.

But they stay quiet.

Because identifying with Jesus comes with a cost.

And for them, that cost felt too high.

So they step back.
They stay safe.
They don’t speak up.

And if we’re honest… we’ve probably all been there at some point.

The Man’s Journey of Faith

While everyone else is debating, questioning, and holding back… the man himself is moving forward.

His faith doesn’t arrive fully formed.

It grows.

From Confusion to Clarity

At first, Jesus is just a man.

Then, maybe a prophet.

And then, when pressed, he says:

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
John 9:25

“I was blind, but now I see.”

He doesn’t have all the answers.
He can’t explain everything.

But he knows what happened to him.

And sometimes, that’s where faith begins.

Standing Firm Under Pressure

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
John 9:24–34

As the pressure increases, he doesn’t back down.

He speaks honestly.
He stands firm.

Even when it costs him.

Even when others are silent.

He chooses to identify with Jesus.

From Belief to Worship

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
John 9:35–38

After everything—after the questions, the pressure, even being cast out—Jesus finds him.

And asks:

Do you believe?

And you can feel the shift.

There’s a desire now.
A readiness.

And when Jesus reveals Himself, the response is immediate:

Belief…
Surrender…
And then worship.

Because when you truly encounter Jesus—when you know what He’s done—

worship becomes the natural response.

Seeing with Spiritual Eyes

This man didn’t just receive physical sight.

He began to see differently.

God Sees Differently

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:6–7

We tend to look at what’s on the surface.

God looks deeper.

And as we grow in faith, He begins to reshape how we see too.

Faith Means Seeing Beyond What’s Visible

Faith isn’t about ignoring reality.

It’s about trusting that God is at work—even when we can’t fully see it yet.

Growth Is the Goal

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

Faith is a journey.

It unfolds over time.

And the more we walk with Jesus, the more clearly we begin to see.

The Warning – Spiritual Blindness

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
John 9:39–41

At the end of the story, there’s a sobering moment.

The ones who could physically see… were actually blind.

Not because they couldn’t understand.

But because they refused to.

They were too focused on control, on certainty, on being right.

And they missed Jesus completely.

Where Are You on the Journey?

This story invites a response.

Not just reflection—but honesty.

Maybe you’re curious.
Maybe you’re unsure.
Maybe you’ve seen glimpses of God at work, but haven’t fully stepped in.

Or maybe you’re ready.

Ready to believe.
Ready to surrender.
Ready to worship.

The question is simple:

Where are you right now?

And what would it take to take one step closer?

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This message is part of the Listen to Jesus series at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA — a church where you can find hope, healing, and purpose.

Listen to Jesus – Part 4 | Melissa Robinson

Have you ever been physically thirsty—so thirsty that a cold drink of water feels like the best thing in the world? In the Bible, thirst is often used as a picture of something deeper: the spiritual longing every human heart carries. We try to satisfy that thirst with comfort, success, relationships, or distractions, but nothing truly fills the emptiness inside. In John 4, Jesus meets a woman who comes to a well looking for ordinary water—and instead offers her something that would change her life forever: living water for the soul.

This past Sunday at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, Melissa Robinson shared a message as part of our Listen to Jesus series. In Part 4: Living Water, Melissa walks through the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and shows how Jesus meets people right in the middle of their wilderness. Through this encounter, we’re reminded that Jesus doesn’t just address our temporary struggles—He offers something far deeper: a restored relationship with God and a source of spiritual life that never runs dry.

The Bible Tells One Connected Story

One of my favorite things about the Bible is how interconnected the Old Testament and New Testament are. When you really start paying attention, you realize that Jesus didn’t just appear suddenly in the New Testament—He has been present throughout the story from the very beginning.

We know that God is a triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and that all three have existed since the beginning of creation.

Throughout the Old Testament we see moments where God reveals Himself in ways that foreshadow Jesus:

• Humanity itself, created in the image of God — Genesis 1:27
• The mysterious visitors who meet Abraham — Genesis 18
• The man Jacob wrestles with — Genesis 32:22–32
• The Angel of the Lord who appears to Moses — Exodus 3
• The pillar of cloud and fire guiding Israel — Exodus 13:21
• The Ark of the Covenant and the tabernacle — Exodus 25–30
  

Even the Psalms point forward to Jesus.

A Song of Praise
Come, let us sing with joy to the Lord. Let us sing loud with joy to the rock Who saves us. Let us come before Him giving thanks. Let us make a sound of joy to Him with songs. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. The deep places of the earth are in His hand. And the tops of the mountains belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it. And His hands made the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship. Let us get down on our knees before the Lord Who made us. For He is our God. And we are the people of His field, and the sheep of His hand. If you hear His voice today,
Psalm 95:1–7

In this psalm we see descriptions of the Lord that Christians recognize clearly in Jesus:

• The Rock of our Salvation
• Our King above all gods
• Our Creator
• Our Shepherd

When Thirst Reveals the Heart

Psalm 95 refers back to a story in the wilderness when the Israelites were desperate for water.

All the people of Israel left the Desert of Sin, traveling from one place to another as the Lord told them. They set up their tents at Rephidim. But there was no water for the people to drink. So the people argued with Moses, saying, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you argue with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people were thirsty there for water. They complained against Moses, saying, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and animals with thirst?” So Moses called to the Lord, saying, “What should I do with these people? They are almost ready to throw stones at me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Pass in front of the people and take some of the leaders of Israel with you. Take the special stick in your hand with which you hit the Nile, and go. See, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb. When you hit the rock, water will come out of it and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, with the leaders of Israel watching. He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah because of the arguing of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Exodus 17:1–7

The people had been freed from slavery in Egypt. They had seen the ten plagues. They had watched the Red Sea part before them. They had experienced God’s protection through the pillar of cloud and fire.

And yet when they became thirsty in the wilderness, they doubted.

Their thirst exposed something deeper than physical need—it revealed faithlessness in their hearts.

Jesus Meets Us in the Wilderness

But God didn’t leave humanity wandering in that wilderness forever.

He sent Jesus.

In John 4, Jesus travels from Judea to Galilee and passes through Samaria. Most Jews would go out of their way to avoid Samaria because of the hostility between Jews and Samaritans.

But the text says something interesting.

Jesus had to go through Samaria.

This wasn’t about geography—it was about mission.

At a well near the town of Sychar, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman who has come to draw water.

Jesus knew the proud religious law-keepers had heard He was making and baptizing more followers than John. 2 Jesus did not baptize anyone Himself but His followers did. 3 Then Jesus went from the country of Judea to the country of Galilee. 4 He had to go through the country of Samaria. 5 So He came to a town in Samaria called Sycar. It was near the piece of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from traveling so He sat down just as He was by the well. It was about noon.

7 A woman of Samaria came to get water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 His followers had gone to the town to buy food. 9 The woman of Samaria said to Him, “You are a Jew. I am of Samaria. Why do You ask me for a drink when the Jews have nothing to do with the people of Samaria?”

10 Jesus said to her, “You do not know what God has to give. You do not know Who said to you, ‘Give Me a drink.’ If you knew, you would have asked Him. He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, the well is deep. You have nothing to get water with. Where will You get the living water? 12 Are You greater than our early father Jacob? He gave us the well. He and his children and his cattle drank from it.”

Jesus Tells of the Living Water
13 Jesus said to her, “Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty. The water that I will give him will become in him a well of life that lasts forever.”

15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I will never be thirsty. Then I will not have to come all this way for water.”

The True Kind of Worship
16 Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” 17 The woman said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said, “You told the truth when you said, ‘I have no husband.’ 18 You have had five husbands. The one you have now is not your husband. You told the truth.”

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I think You are a person Who speaks for God. 20 Our early fathers worshiped on this mountain. You Jews say Jerusalem is the place where men should worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me. The time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You people do not know what you worship. We Jews know what we worship. It is through the Jews that men are saved from the punishment of their sins. 23 The time is coming, yes, it is here now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father wants that kind of worshipers. 24 God is Spirit. Those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Jesus Is the One the Jews Are Looking For
25 The woman said to Him, “I know the Jews are looking for One Who is coming. He is called the Christ. When He comes, He will tell us everything.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am the Christ, the One talking with you!”

27 Right then the followers came back and were surprised and wondered about finding Him talking with a woman. But no one said, “What do You want?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”

28 The woman left her water jar and went into the town. She said to the men, 29 “Come and see a Man Who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of town and came to Him.

Jesus Tells Them of a New Kind of Food
31 During this time His followers were saying to Him, “Teacher, eat something.” 32 He said, “I have food to eat that you do not know of.” 33 The followers said to each other, “Has someone taken food to Him?” 34 Jesus said, “My food is to do what God wants Me to do and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘It is four months yet until the time to gather grain’? Listen! I say to you, open your eyes and look at the fields. They are white now and waiting for the grain to be gathered in. 36 The one who gathers gets his pay. He gathers fruit that lasts forever. The one who plants and the one who gathers will have joy together. 37 These words are true, ‘One man plants and another man gathers.’ 38 I sent you to gather where you have not planted. Others have planted and you have come along to gather in their fruit.”

The People of Samaria Believe in Jesus
39 Many people in that town of Samaria believed in Jesus because of what the woman said about Him. She said, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So the people of Samaria came to Him. They asked Him to stay with them. Jesus stayed there two days. 41 Many more people believed because of what He said. 42 They said to the woman, “Now we believe! It is no longer because of what you said about Jesus but we have heard Him ourselves. We know, for sure, that He is the Christ, the One Who saves men of this world from the punishment of their sins.”

John 4:1–42

Living Water for the Soul

Jesus asks her for a drink of water, which surprises her.

But then He tells her something astonishing.

Jesus said to her, “Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again.Whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty. The water that I will give him will become in him a well of life that lasts forever.”
John 4:13–14

The woman thinks Jesus is talking about physical water.

But Jesus is talking about living water.

All throughout the Old Testament, God is described as the source of living water.

As the deer desires rivers of water, so my soul desires You, O God.
Psalm 42:1

“Listen! Every one who is thirsty, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Isaiah 55:1

“For My people have done two sinful things: They have turned away from Me, the well of living waters. And they have cut out of the rock wells for water for themselves. They are broken wells that cannot hold water.”
Jeremiah 2:13

“On that day a well of water will be opened for the family of David and for the people of Jerusalem to make them clean from their sin.”

Zechariah 13:1

Worship in Spirit and Truth

The woman tries to shift the conversation to a theological debate about where people should worship.

But Jesus gives a much deeper answer.

“The time is coming, yes, it is here now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father wants that kind of worshipers. God is Spirit. Those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:23–24

True worship isn’t about a location.

It’s about the heart.

The Living Water We All Need

Jesus didn’t come just to make life easier.

He came to transform us.

Sin brought:

• death
• shame
• suffering
• separation from God

But Jesus came to restore our relationship with the Father.

Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one can go to the Father except by Me.”
John 14:6

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

He is the living water our souls need.

Plan Your Visit to Open Arms Community Church

If this message encouraged you or stirred something in your heart, we would love to welcome you.

Join us Sunday mornings at 71 Congress Street in Bradford, PA for worship at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM.

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Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA is a church where people are finding hope, healing, and purpose through a relationship with Jesus.

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Together we can keep sharing the good news of Jesus—the Living Water for a thirsty world.

Listen to Jesus – Part 3

Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA

In Part 3 of our Listen to Jesus series at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, Pastor Zoe Hatcher leads us into a clandestine nighttime meeting between Jesus and a Jewish leader named Nicodemus. We’ve followed Jesus to the mountaintop. We’ve followed Him into the wilderness. Now we listen in as He explains one of the most essential truths of the Gospel: You must be born again.

📺 Watch the Full Message Here

You Must Be Born Again

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
-John 3:1–8

Jesus doesn’t ease into the conversation.

Nicodemus begins respectfully. He acknowledges Jesus as a teacher from God. But before Nicodemus can ask his theological questions, Jesus cuts straight to the heart:

No one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.

Not improved.
Not reformed.
Not more religious.

Born again.

Just as physical birth is required to live in this world, spiritual birth is required to enter eternal life. You cannot exist physically without being born of flesh. And you cannot enter the Kingdom without being born of the Spirit.

Spiritual rebirth is not something that can be controlled or manufactured. The Spirit moves like the wind — unseen, powerful, impossible to manipulate. Just as you had nothing to do with your physical birth, you cannot control your spiritual birth. It must be surrendered to. It must be received as a gift.

You do not receive eternal life because your parents brought you to church.
You do not receive eternal life because you were raised in a Christian home.
You do not receive eternal life because you know the Bible.

You must be born again.

Who Was Nicodemus?

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,”said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

-John 3:9–13

Nicodemus was not spiritually uninformed. He was a Pharisee. A teacher of Israel. A member of the Sanhedrin — the Jewish ruling council.

He lived in Jerusalem.
He was respected.
He knew the Scriptures thoroughly.

Yet he came at night.

Why? Likely fear. Fear of being publicly associated with Jesus. Fear of his peers. Fear of exposure.

But he came personally.

He did not send an assistant. He did not rely on secondhand accounts. He sought Jesus for himself.

And that reveals the first truth:

1) Seek a Relationship with Jesus for Yourself

No one else can do this for you.

Nicodemus examined Jesus’ life and teaching personally. He separated fact from rumor. He came with questions.

No matter how educated or intelligent you are, you must come to Jesus with humility — ready to be taught.

Humility Is Required

Nicodemus knew what the Kingdom meant from Scripture. He knew it would be ruled by God. He knew it would be restored on earth. He knew it involved God’s chosen people.

But Jesus reveals something revolutionary.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
-John 3:16–18

The Kingdom is not limited to one nation.
It is not reserved for one ethnicity.
It is not secured by religious status.

God so loved the world.

And even Nicodemus — a Pharisee, a religious leader — must be born again.

This leads to the second truth:

2) Be Humble Enough to Learn

Intellectual knowledge does not guarantee salvation.

You can know Scripture and still miss the Savior.
You can understand theology and still need transformation.

The Kingdom is personal.
Entrance is repentance and spiritual rebirth.
Everyone must receive it.

Lay Down the Old to Receive the New

Jesus then says something that seems strange at first.

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
John 3:14–15

Why bring up a snake in the wilderness?

Because nothing Jesus says is random. He knows exactly who He is speaking to. Nicodemus would immediately recognize the reference.

They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;  they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.  The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”  So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
-Numbers 21:4–9

In the wilderness, the Israelites complained against God. Venomous snakes came among them. Many died. There was no cure. No anti-venom. No escape.

Then God instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole. Anyone who looked at it in faith would live.

It was not the bronze that healed them.
It was their belief in God expressed through obedience.

That bronze serpent was a type — a symbol — pointing forward to Christ.

Just as the serpent was lifted up, Jesus would be lifted up.

Just as those bitten could look and live, those poisoned by sin can look to Christ and live.

The third truth:

3) Lay Down the Old to Receive the New

Nicodemus knew the Law.
He knew the Old Testament.
But he needed a relationship with the God those Scriptures revealed.

Knowledge alone cannot save.
Religious effort cannot save.
Heritage cannot save.

Only Christ.

Look and Live

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-Hebrews 12:1–2

Fix your eyes on Jesus.

The Israelites were dying from snake bites — suffering intensely — and God provided a way. When they obeyed and looked up, they lived.

Sin is a deadly bite.
The Cross is the cure.

Jesus is the Healer lifted up for us.

What Is Eternal Life?

Eternal life is not simply an extension of this mortal life.

It is not living forever in the same broken condition.
It is life without death.
Life without sickness.
Life without evil.
Life without separation from God.

We often live as if this world is all there is. Like children in the backseat of a long road trip, complaining: “Are we there yet?”

All we can see is the discomfort of the moment.

But eternity is the destination.

Eternal life changes perspective. It shifts how suffering is viewed. It gives hope beyond the present moment.

But belief is more than intellectual agreement.

Belief means trust.
It means leaning your weight on Him.
It means putting Jesus in charge of both your present life and your eternal destiny.

Heaven and Hell Are Real

We will all live eternally.

The question is where.

Heaven is eternal life with God.
Hell is eternal separation from Him.

Hell is not fictional.
It is not symbolic.
It is separation from the love and presence of God.

Not choosing Jesus is already a choice.

And today is the second chance.

If you woke up today, if you are reading this, if you are hearing this message — this is grace extended. This is opportunity.

Tomorrow is not promised.

The Invitation: A, B, C

Salvation is simple — though following Jesus costs everything.

A — Admit your sin and accept His forgiveness.
B — Believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
C — Choose to follow Him with your life.

You do not become a Christian by sitting in church.
You do not become a Christian by wearing a cross.
You do not become a Christian by proximity.

You must choose.

Be born again.

No One Is Beyond Reach

Nicodemus began in the shadows. Later, he defended Jesus publicly. Eventually, he helped bury Him.

God was patient.
God was persistent.
God transformed him.

No one is unreachable.

Perhaps you once said you would never step into a church. Yet here you are. And the building is still standing.

God can reach anyone.
God can change anyone.
God can use anyone who is willing.

Pray This Today

If you are ready to make that choice, pray this from your heart:

Father God,
Thank You that You love me.
Thank You that You love me enough to send Your Son, Jesus, to die for me.

I confess that I have sinned.
I have done wrong.
I have hurt people.
I am sorry.

Please forgive me.

I believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
I choose You, Jesus.

Cleanse me.
Make me new.

Give me boldness to tell others about You
and to follow You faithfully with my life.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Your Next Step

If you have never personally chosen to follow Jesus, today is the day.

If you are unsure of your salvation, ask Him. The Holy Spirit gives assurance.

If you have been a quiet believer, step into the light.

You must be born again.

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If you made a decision to follow Jesus, or if you would like someone to pray with you, we would love to connect.

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Wilderness seasons are rarely something people choose. They often arrive without warning and bring confusion, loneliness, and deep questions. Yet throughout Scripture, wilderness is not only a place of struggle—it is repeatedly a place of encounter.

In this message from the Listen to Jesus series at Open Arms Community Church, Josh Hatcher explores what it truly means to listen to Jesus. Not only to hear His words, but to pay attention to His example, especially His journey into the wilderness before beginning His public ministry.

From the very beginning, God’s design for humanity was not chaos or deprivation, but a garden. God placed Adam and Eve in a cultivated place filled with beauty, provision, and purpose.

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.
Genesis 2:15–17 (NLT)

God did not set humanity up to fail. He gave abundance and one clear boundary. The boundary was not meant to restrict joy, but to protect life. Like a loving parent warning a child about the danger of falling from a great height, God clearly explained the consequence of crossing that line.

The garden was a gift.

But deception entered the story.

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Genesis 3:1–7 (NLT)

The serpent’s strategy was subtle. He did not begin with rebellion, but with doubt: Did God really say? That question still echoes today. Eve and Adam chose to trust a different voice, and with that choice came shame, brokenness, and death. Humanity was expelled from the garden into a broken world—a world Scripture often describes as wilderness, where survival would now require sweat, thorns, and struggle.

The wilderness becomes the backdrop of the human story.

Thousands of years later, Jesus steps directly into that same landscape.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

During that time the devil[a] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you.
And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’[”

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.’”

Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Matthew 4:1–11 (NLT)

Before preaching publicly. Before performing miracles in front of crowds. Before gathering disciples. Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

Not because He failed.
Not because He needed punishment.
But because preparation often happens in hidden places.

Jesus fasts for forty days and faces temptation from Satan. The enemy first appeals to physical hunger, then to pride, and finally to power. None of these temptations are simply about the surface issue. They are all about obedience. Whose voice will be trusted? Whose authority will be followed?

Each time, Jesus responds the same way: with Scripture.

He shows that victory over temptation is not found in willpower alone, but in a heart anchored in God’s Word.

Scripture tells us that this was not the only moment Jesus was tempted.

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 4:14–15 (NLT)

Jesus understands human weakness. He knows hunger, exhaustion, desire, grief, and loneliness. Yet He did not sin. Because of this, He stands as both our perfect example and our perfect sacrifice.

The contrast between Adam and Jesus becomes clear.

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:12–19 (NLT)

One man’s disobedience brought death to all. One Man’s obedience brings life to all.

Adam failed in a garden full of provision.
Jesus overcame in a wilderness of deprivation.

Where humanity fell, Christ stood firm.

The wilderness theme continues throughout Scripture. Moses encounters God in a burning bush while living in the wilderness. Israel wanders for forty years and is guided by God’s presence as fire and cloud. David hides in caves while being hunted, and some of his most beautiful psalms are written there.

A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.

I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
They will go down into the depths of the earth.
They will die by the sword
and become the food of jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God.
All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
while liars will be silenced.

Psalm 63 (NLT)

Over and over, God reveals Himself in desolate places.

The wilderness is not cursed. It may be hard. It may be lonely. It may be painful. But God’s presence is there.

Personal wilderness seasons often come in many forms—job loss, family crises, health struggles, grief, shame, or fear about the future. These seasons can stir anger, doubt, and honest questions toward God. Yet Scripture never promises a comfortable life. What God promises is His presence.

Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

Sometimes God does not immediately explain the “why.” Sometimes He simply draws near.

Listening to Jesus means slowing down enough to notice that nearness.

An Invitation to Listen

Listening to Jesus means slowing down enough to notice His nearness.

It means allowing space for prayer, reflection, and imagination.

Picture yourself lost, cold, exhausted, and afraid in the wilderness.

Then picture a fire in the distance.
Warmth.
Food.
Light.

Jesus waiting.

Not angry.
Not disappointed.
But welcoming.

“I’ve got you. You’re safe. I’m here.”

What might Jesus be saying in this moment?

The Breastplate of St. Patrick

I arise today through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near.

Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul,
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

If this message stirred something in you, we invite you to take a next step.

Support the mission of Open Arms Community Church

Plan a visit and join us on Sunday mornings at 71 Congress Street in Bradford, PA

As Open Arms Community Church enters the season of Lent, Lead Pastor Zoe Hatcher launched a new teaching series called Listen to Jesus—a call to slow down, remove distractions, and return to the most essential practice of Christian discipleship: hearing and obeying the words of Christ.

Throughout Advent and the weeks that followed, the church journeyed toward salvation, witnessing Jesus as the light of the world. Now comes the next step. To follow Jesus is not only to admire Him or believe in Him, but to listen to Him.

This message centers on a moment in Scripture where God the Father speaks audibly from heaven and gives a command that still shapes the life of every disciple today:

“This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”

Watch the Message

A Glimpse of Glory on the Mountain

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,”he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead

Matthew 17:1–9

Jesus leads Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, away from the crowds. There, before their eyes, He is transfigured. His face shines like the sun. His clothes become brilliant white. Moses and Elijah appear, speaking with Him. Then a bright cloud covers them, and God’s voice speaks from heaven.

This moment, known as the Transfiguration, is a brief but breathtaking glimpse of the true glory of the King. It is a special revelation of Jesus’ divinity and God’s affirmation of everything Jesus has done and everything He is about to do.

The disciples are not simply witnessing a miracle. They are being shown who Jesus really is.

This Is My Son

God’s first declaration is unmistakable: Jesus is His Son.

Jesus is not merely another prophet. He is not simply a great teacher or religious reformer. He is greater than all who came before Him. Born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus is God in the flesh.

In this moment, the Trinity is revealed. The Son is glorified. The Spirit is present in the cloud. The Father speaks from heaven. The fullness of God is made known before three ordinary men.

Whom I Love, With Him I Am Well Pleased

God does not only declare Jesus’ identity. He reveals His heart toward Him.

The Father loves the Son. Not reluctantly. Not distantly. He delights in Him.

The Greek word translated “well pleased” carries the meaning of taking pleasure in, approving of, choosing, and preferring. God does not merely tolerate Jesus—He delights in Him. He approves of Him. He has chosen Him.

This identity is the foundation from which Jesus lives and ministers. Secure in the Father’s love and approval, Jesus faces opposition, rejection, suffering, and ultimately the cross. Nothing can shake who He knows Himself to be.

And in a profound way, this same love is extended to those who belong to Christ.

A Familiar Voice at the Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:16–17

These same words were spoken when Jesus was baptized. At the very beginning of His ministry, heaven opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father declared Jesus’ identity.

But in Matthew 17, God adds something new.

“Listen to Him.”

What It Truly Means to Listen

The word “listen” in this passage is far richer than casual hearing. It carries the idea of hearing with understanding, perceiving, considering, and learning by hearing.

Listening to Jesus is not allowing His words to pass through the ears and quickly fade. It is receiving them deeply. It is letting them settle in the heart. It is learning from them. It is being shaped by them.

To listen, in the biblical sense, is ultimately to obey.

This is what it means to be a disciple.

Why Moses and Elijah Appeared

Moses represents the Law. Elijah represents the Prophets.

Together, they stand for the entire Old Testament witness. Their presence alongside Jesus declares something unmistakable: everything God has spoken through the Law and the Prophets finds its fulfillment in Christ.

Jesus is not replacing Scripture. He is completing it.

This moment reveals the New Covenant standing in continuity with everything God has spoken before.

Another Mountain, Another Cloud

The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.” When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Exodus 24:12–18

Long before the Transfiguration, Moses ascended Mount Sinai and encountered God in a cloud. God spoke from within that cloud and invited Moses into His presence.

The same pattern appears again in Matthew 17.

God does not call people from a distance. He invites them in.

God desires to be known.

God desires relationship.

God still invites His people into His presence today.

The Fulfillment of God’s Plan

Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus confirm His messianic mission. He is the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.

Peter, James, and John are given a window into something extraordinary: Scripture coming together before their eyes. The Law. The Prophets. The Messiah.

The Transfiguration is a foretaste of heaven—a glimpse of the glory that awaits those who belong to Christ.

A Moment for Worship, Not Activity

Peter’s instinct is to build shelters, to preserve the moment, to do something.

But this moment is not about action.

It is about adoration.

It is about awe.

It is about listening.

The Father is not assigning tasks. He is giving a command.

Listen to Jesus.

His Presence Is the Sign

Many people ask God for signs.

In Matthew 17, God shows that His presence is the sign.

Jesus is not absent.
Jesus is not silent.
Jesus is not hidden.

He is present and speaking.

Jesus Speaks What the Father Speaks

For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken
John 12:49

Everything Jesus says flows directly from the Father. To hear Jesus is to hear God.

If someone wants to know God’s will, God’s heart, and God’s wisdom, the place to begin is simple:

Listen to Jesus.

Peter’s Eyewitness Testimony

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:16–21

After the resurrection, Peter boldly testifies that what happened on the mountain was real. He saw it. He heard it. He witnessed Jesus’ glory and the Father’s voice.

His message is clear: this is trustworthy. This is reliable. This is true.

God said, “Listen to Jesus.”

So listen to Him.

Jesus Alone Is the Authority

Some treat Jesus’ teachings as one religious viewpoint among many.

Scripture presents a different reality.

God commands His people to listen to Jesus.

Jesus is the light shining in the darkness.
Jesus is the authority for truth.
Jesus is the guide for life.

A Lenten Invitation to Slow Down

Lent is an invitation to pause.

To remove distractions.
To create space.
To seek God intentionally.

Listening to Jesus does not happen by accident. It happens through intentional time in Scripture, prayer, and quiet attentiveness.

God is still speaking.

The question is whether His people are ready to listen.

If you’re searching for a church in Bradford, PA, Open Arms Community Church in Bradford PA is a place where people are discovering hope, healing, and purpose through a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

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