The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 101: Signs and Wonders
Date: April 11, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode Overview

On Day 101, Fr. Mike continues guiding listeners through the Gospel of John (chapters 7, 8, and 9) and the concluding verses of Proverbs chapter 5. The central theme is the revelation of Jesus’ identity through signs and wonders and the varied responses of people—belief, disbelief, and division. Fr. Mike unpacks the significance of miracles (signs), Jesus’ divine claims (“I Am”), the healing of the man born blind, and practical wisdom from Proverbs around character, discipline, and fidelity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jesus’ Teaching and the Growing Tension – John 7

• Setting: Jesus navigates opposition and disbelief, even from his own family, during the Feast of Tabernacles.
• Key Insight: Jesus operates according to God’s timing, not human pressure or expectation (03:55+).
• Division Among the People:
  • Some marvel at his teachings and miracles, wondering if he is the Christ (06:35).
  • Contrast between those eager to arrest him and those who begin to believe in him, sparked by both his words and his miracle-working power.

Notable Quote:

“If you do these things, show yourself to the world… For even his brethren did not believe in him.” — Jesus’ family to him (01:30), highlighting both misunderstanding and doubt.

2. “I Am” and the Identity of Jesus – John 8

• The Woman Caught in Adultery:

  • Powerful demonstration of mercy over condemnation as Jesus challenges anyone “without sin” to cast the first stone (13:00).
  • Jesus’ refusal to condemn the woman stands as a template for mercy.

  “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” — Jesus (13:40)

• Jesus as the Light of the World:

  • Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness…” (14:50).
  • The Pharisees challenge Jesus’ testimony; he responds it's validated by the Father as well.

• Radical Claims and Divine Identity:

  • Jesus says, “Before Abraham was, I am.” A clear, audacious assertion of divinity, recalling God’s self-revelation in Exodus (19:20).
  • This claim provokes an immediate desire to stone him—showing how controversial and revolutionary his self-identification is.

  “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” — Jesus (18:15)

3. The Healing of the Man Born Blind – John 9

• Miraculous Sign:

  • Jesus heals a man blind from birth, using clay made from spit and instructing him to wash in the pool of Siloam (21:10).
  • The disciples’ question (“Who sinned, this man or his parents?”) leads Jesus to clarify: trials can be occasions for God’s work to be revealed.

  “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.” — Jesus (21:20)

• Reaction and Investigation:

  • Intense skepticism from religious authorities: they investigate the healing, question the man and his parents, and struggle to accept Jesus’ authority (23:00+).
  • The formerly blind man testifies simply, “One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (24:45). This plain, experiential testimony is central to the narrative of faith.

  “Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” — The healed man (27:00)

• Spiritual Blindness:

  • After being cast out by the Pharisees, the man professes faith in Jesus, highlighting the contrast between physical and spiritual sight (28:30).
  • Jesus’ final comment to the Pharisees: spiritual blindness is more perilous than physical.

  “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” — Jesus (29:20)

4. Reflections from Proverbs 5:15–23

• Observations:

  • The passage offers wisdom about fidelity, self-discipline, and the consequences of folly and lack of self-control (31:15).
  • While “Warning Against Loose Women” may seem outdated or irrelevant, Fr. Mike explains that it’s fundamentally about character—choosing noble company and living with self-mastery.

  “He dies for lack of discipline. And because of his great folly, he is lost.” — Proverbs 5:23 (32:45)

• Application:

  • Lack of discipline causes “shipwreck” in life, not only in relationships but in many areas.
  • Jesus calls his followers to pick up their cross—to do hard things. Real discipleship requires character and the willingness to be convicted and transformed.

Memorable Moments and Notable Quotes

• On Miracles:

  “The sign points to something… Jesus is who he says he is… If you don’t believe me, trust the works.” — Fr. Mike (34:10)

• On Jesus’ Divine Claim:

  “He’s not just the Messiah, but actually is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father. And this is massive.” — Fr. Mike (35:20)

• On Discipleship:

  “There’s so much shipwreck of our lives that can happen because of a lack of discipline, a lack of a willingness to do the hard things, a lack of willingness… to take up our cross and follow him.” — Fr. Mike (36:15)

• On Spiritual Openness:

  “As we continue to journey through John’s Gospel, my invitation for all of us is to keep our eyes open.” — Fr. Mike (38:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:30 – Jesus’ brothers urge him to reveal himself; misunderstanding and disbelief
• 06:35 – Division among the people about Jesus’ identity
• 13:00 – The woman caught in adultery and Jesus’ merciful response
• 14:50 – “I am the light of the world” discourse
• 19:20 – “Before Abraham was, I am” — Jesus’ claim to divinity
• 21:10 – The healing of the man born blind
• 24:45 – The man’s simple testimony: “Though I was blind, now I see”
• 27:00 – The healed man’s defense before the Pharisees
• 29:20 – Jesus on spiritual blindness: guilt of those who claim to see
• 31:15 – Proverbs’ teaching on character, fidelity, and discipline
• 35:20 – Reflection on the divinity of Jesus and the purpose of miracles
• 36:15 – The necessity of discipline in the Christian life

Final Reflections and Takeaways

• Miracles serve as signs, revealing who Jesus truly is—not just a teacher or prophet, but God himself.
• People’s responses to Jesus vary dramatically: some are open, some are divided, some are hostile.
• True sight is more than physical—Jesus heals both literal and spiritual blindness.
• Practical wisdom from Proverbs reminds listeners that daily, disciplined choices form character, which is essential for following Christ.
• Fr. Mike encourages the audience to let the Word “wash over you”—don’t worry about catching every detail but allow Scripture to shape your life.
• “Let’s keep praying for each other as we have the next four days in John’s Gospel… right now we get to live in the New Testament for a while, which is such an incredible gift.” — Fr. Mike (39:20)

For listeners:
This episode is dense with theological richness, spiritual challenge, and practical reflection. Whether you’re new to Scripture or seasoned, it’s an invitation to deeper faith, honest self-examination, and to remain open to both the astonishing claims and transformative grace of Jesus.