John 15

One thing I have always been curious about is the "discipline of practicing the presence of God." True, God through His Holy Spirit is working in and through us constantly, but we should be practicing to meet Him and love Him for who He is and to try to be guided by Him. Jesus got alone early in morning to meet with His Father. He trusted that the presence was going to go before Him. He was guided by God the Father in principle and decision. He was freed from the "rat race" in this aspect and allowed to live fully again. I want to be in Him like the branches in this chapter – I want to practice His way and not to be straying too far. I want to practice this way of life, do you?

John 14

After tonight's lesson, the word that jumps out to me in this passage is "love" and all that it seems to entail. Love is obedience to God. Love is connection and intimacy, like seen in the Trinity. Love is to love Jesus and follow His commands. Love is partly given by peace. Love is going ahead of us – preparing a way. Love is preparing us a place. Love is dying and rising from the grave that we might have freedom and a way to inherit our place with Him.

John 13

This passage starts with something that likely would have been humiliating to the disciples, the washing of their feet. We see in Peter's reaction either humiliation or anger or fear as Jesus did this act. I am not sure which or any emotions he was feeling, just that it made him very uncomfortable. How would it have made you feel?

This leads into the talk of Jesus' future betrayal and then Peter's denial of Jesus. What an intense set of moments! Everyone was failing Jesus all over the place. Yet He washed their feet. Philippians 2:5-11 shows us that we should be acting this way, like Jesus and given to Him completely – are you? I am trying to get there, I hope a bunch of you are too!

John 12

I get mad when I read about how mad the Pharisees get and how they keep asking for a sign – until I realize I am just like them. Are you? There are so many ways in which I ask God for help or something like that and then expect a sign, all the while I should just be looking at the things He is already doing. I hope some of you are this way too.

John 11

Jesus brought His friend, Lazarus, back from the grave. What a miracle! What a sight it must have been! So, in response to this, the Pharisees were overjoyed and blessed by Jesus? No, they plotted to kill Him, on behalf of the nation – which is far more significant than they ever would have thought. Wow, what a neat thing to say that and for it to come through – not in their power, but by the power of God. Jesus had to die to free a nation. This nation had no race or physical family tree. This nation was bigger than anyone knew. This nation had faith and grace at the heart of its inception. This nation is carrying on today, by Christ, in me (and hopefully you, but I don't want to assume). What does that mean to you?

John 10

As I meditated on this passage today, only one question was coming to mind – "Do I know His voice?" This has not escaped me and continues to be asked of me. If He were to return today or were to appear before me, would I know Him well enough to know Him? I think I do, I hope to know it better, but the question remains for you, "Do I know His voice?"

John 9

It is important for us not to cast judgments on things we know nothing about. I was reminded of this last week by Pat Robertson. He is a lightning rod for inflammatory comments, so he must be used to this. His comments felt inappropriate and misguided. To blame this disaster on a "deal with the devil" makes me raise my eyebrow. Is there sin on Haiti? Do they have a checkered past? Do they have so many inhumane things happening there that almost all of us would cringe to see it – before the earthquake? Yes, yep and yeah. All of these things are true and wrong. However, this does not automatically mean that this is why bad things happened – lest we be like three friends that curse their friends in another book (Job). Jesus' disciples pull one here and it begins the rest of the chapter/story/book. It proves Jesus' power. It proves that sin does not always cause hardship. It also proves that those touched by Jesus are never the same – and that others cannot handle it. Do you ever feel ashamed that you are not what Jesus would want. Maybe that means it is time to consider what could be done to grow in this way. What do you see happening here (pun intended).

John 8

What an intense moment with Jesus! Nevermind the fact that adulterers were to be stoned to death – both the man and the woman (where is he?). Nevermind that these guys try to trap Jesus and He just ignores them. Nevermind that we have no idea what He wrote on the ground, His words to her are the most powerful part in my opinion. He says, "go and leave your life of sin" or "go and sin no more." Wow! I wish we would all take this idea and run with it! Our encounters with God and with Christ Himself are to leave us grasping for change – wanting to leave our life of sin. If someone we know is lapsing or has never really gotten "into" Jesus it makes me wonder if they have ever really met Him. Now here I am not talking salvation or where they will end up in the end, but what experience and passion they have with/for Jesus. It is God alone who will be the final judge of men's hearts, but I can certainly question whether people are trying to live the life God called us to or not. However, as we've been pointing out this week, it is important to use tact and to use these moments for the growth of those we come in contact with.

I want to say "I am not of this world" and for people to know that my citizenship is in heaven.

I know that walking with Jesus is dangerous – they wanted to kill Him, after all.

Once again, Jesus upsets them, but slips away before they can throw rocks at Him. Wow! What are you getting out of this passage?

John 7

I find verse 12 fascinating. What do you think of Him? I bet Jesus is in the crowd and people are whispering about Him. Very rarely are people what we make them out to be. We speak of their goodness or badness, but ultimately people are never as good or as bad as we make them. People are complex and our views of people are often skewed. Look at the Tiger Woods' deal – everyone expects him to be perfect and to be a great golfer, father and husband. He should be, but he has been hiding so many things for so long and getting away with it – until he didn't. People might think I am either good or bad – but they don't know the real me, not really. If they could live with me they would see that I am neither – and without Christ I would be worse! Jesus, however, is every good thing we attribute to Him. He is sinless and holy. He may not be a giant or a magician, as I am sure some in the crowd had heard. They didn't even know what they were looking for, and He was in their midst, saying what they thought of Him. How do you think of Him? How do you perceive Him? I wonder if we are much different than that crowd.

One of my favorite parts of John is that Jesus keeps walking through the crowd without being caught. I think this is so cool, for "His time had not yet come."

I would encourage you to go read about the Feast of Tabernacles, and see why Jesus' statement on the "last and greatest day of the Feast" was so important – go ahead, do it!

John 6

This passage is huge, yes, but this passage is not only big on words but very big on theology. Jesus feeds the 5000, showing that He is God and can provide in miraculous ways. However, then He leaves the group, walks on water and begins to speak to the crowd about the fact that He is the bread of life. Only a couple of chapters ago, He said that He would be the water that would quench all thirst. Now He says that He can truly satisfy. Some have made a big deal about what He says, and what He truly means. He says "eat my flesh" and "drink my blood." What does He mean by this? I think one key application here is that Jesus wants us to be consumed by Him. We should be completely consuming Him as often as we can. Some think it is too tough to follow through on and they leave Him (v. 66). What would your reaction be? Why would that be the case?

John 5

This passage has one of my favorite stories about Jesus. He heals a man who needs it, but first asks – "Do you want to get well?" I think this is a question we all must ask ourselves and those with whom we work. Do you want to get well? What a tremendously simple yet profound question. Many people don't realize that this is the first step – you have to want to be well. Some of us just lack the commitment necessary to really follow through with our restoration process. We are not meant to carry sin or insecurities or infirmities. We are supposed to be free and healthy – spiritually and physically. We are supposed to have all of these things – but first, "do you want to get well?"

John 4

What a long and incredibly rich chapter! For now, however, I will just focus on one verse that really struck me. Jesus said, "but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." – John 4:14

Is this true of your life?

I know for a fact that there are times in my life where I thirst for the things I shouldn't thirst for. I shouldn't want them, and yet I do, but Jesus tells us that a life in Him should keep us from thirst. Have you ever been to a desert? I have been in the Mojave Desert in June and stood in 125* heat – now that will make you thirst! We stepped out of the car and all the air we were breathing disappeared. Our clothes clung tightly to our bodies and made us wish we were back in the air conditioned car. I was thirsty then. I have been on a hike up a little mini-mountain near Phoenix. It was not hot that day, but it was certainly dry and I remember a few times wishing I had more than my water bottle with me. Jesus lives in a land not too unlike a desert when He said this. He, in this chapter, is also in Samaria, which is even more like a desert than some other areas He spent time. They knew what it was to thirst. It meant that your body desired something for the very sake of maintaining life. Man can survive without food for a long time – but not without water. It is a necessity for life. I wish Jesus were more centered in my life at times, and I will likely be ashamed one day when I see just how far from the center Jesus really was my whole life. Even when I think He is center, there is likely something there that shouldn't be. I need to thirst for Him – and He will never stop satisfying. I want to thirst for Him – God give me strength!

John 3

A few things jump out – I don't know how many times I have read this passage and not realized how awkward Jesus' response to Nicodemus is. Nicodemus, a teacher of the law, and a Pharisee, comes to Jesus to talk and starts by complimenting Him, which might get him killed based on what his friends want to do with Jesus. Yet Jesus starts right in on this whole second birth thing – incredible! Jesus knew why Nicodemus was really there and just decided to cut to the chase instead of goofing around at all. I love it.

Second, how many of you know John 3:16? How about John 3:17 or John 3:14-15? I think all these verses together would be good to memorize. Who wants to join me?

Another point is that John the Baptist was a very humble and amazing man. Not many of us would give up our glory for someone else. However, he understood his role and that Jesus was to be made number one. I love his response and what happens after this. It is pretty cool and sobering to me to see a man live this way.

Lastly, I think there is a careful distinction made here. I think it deals with judgment and sin. Jesus and John point out that man condemns himself by not believing in Jesus. This seems to be saying that God's wrath is towards sin and that man falls under it without the Son. Therefore, it is a lack of faith in the Son that stokes the wrath of God. What do you think about that?

John 2

I wonder who the wedding was for? It must be either someone important or a relative, but it is interesting that Jesus and his mother are there along with the disciples. What do you think and react to when you see the account of the first miracle Jesus performed?

After this, Jesus goes to the temple and drives everyone out – or did He? Many see John as a faulty account because it lacks in linear detail like Matthew or Luke. However, this is not the purpose of this gospel. Jesus' life is not being recalled chronologically here, but in theological principles. He is miraculous and has authority over even the temple people! This is huge, and the fact that Jesus talks the same way that He does at the end of his life in the other gospels does not mean that this part of the story is wrong or in the wrong place – but that John has a different purpose and goal for this gospel. What do you think it is? Let's interact on it!

John 1

We begin one of the most theological books in the New Testament with the gospel (or good news) given to us from John. Traditionally, John was an old man when he wrote this account and had been one of the disciples who had unique access to Jesus while Christ walked on this earth. He was a part of the special group that was able to walk with Jesus to the Mount of Transfiguration. He, Peter and his brother James (not the James who wrote "James") were given unique access and were the leaders of the early church.

John 1 starts with amazing truths of who Jesus is, was and will be forever. What do you see as some of the things Jesus is? This is followed by a short account of John the Baptist's ministry and purpose on this earth. This is not the writer of this account, John, but a different John. He was cousins with Jesus and was preparing the nation for Jesus. After this, Jesus calls His first disciples. Would you have left everything to follow Jesus? How would you have reacted if you were Nathanael?

Districts

I am rarely speechless, but it happened this weekend. I watched some beautiful, amazing things happen that I hoped would happen one of these days – but they always leave you speechless when they actually happen. So with what happened, the students are wanting to step up and take more ownership. They want Bible studies and prayer meetings. As many seem to not be reading the Bible-in-a-year plan, we are going to take Bill Allison's challenge and read through John, then whatever you all want to read and so on and so forth. So John reading begins today – John 1.