he Word Became Flesh 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through hi hings were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the arkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning tha ght, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone oming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was hi wn, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 hildren born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. ave seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, say This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all receive race in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but th ne and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah 19 No his was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confess eely, “I am not the Messiah.”21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”He said, “I am not.”“Are you the Prophet?”He answered, “No.” 22 Fin hey said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the pr t, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d] 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “W hen do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”26 “I baptize with[e] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do no now. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jor here John was baptizing. John Testifies About Jesus 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away t n of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him ut the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from hea s a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit ome down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[f] John’s Disciples Follow esus 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”37 When the two disc eard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher”), “where are you staying?”39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with h was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The fi hing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked m and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[g]). Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43 The next day esus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip foun athanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joeph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he sai m, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still und he fig tree before Philip called you.”49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”50 Jesus said, “You believe[h] ecause I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[i] you[j] will see ‘heaven open nd the angels of God ascending and descending on’[k] the Son of Man.” Jesus Changes Water Into Wine 1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in alilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “ ave no more wine.”4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he ou.”6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b] 7 Jesus said to th ervants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” The d so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who rawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the gues ave had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revea s glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a ays. Jesus Clears the Temple Courts 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found peopl elling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both heep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop urning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[c] 18 The Jews then respon o him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three ays.”20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was ody. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. 23 N hile he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[d] 24 But Jesus would not entru mself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus 1No here was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that y re a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no an see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter econd time into their mother’s womb to be born!”5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of wat nd the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 Th ind 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.”[ How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak o hat we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not elieve; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 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,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g] or 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. 17 For God did not send his S to the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands ondemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people lo arkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds w e exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. ohn Testifies Again About Jesus 22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptiz Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John as put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to Joh nd said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is goin m.” 27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but a
WEEK WEE WE W EEEEE EEK KKTTH THREE HRE HREE HR H RE R WEEK WEE WE W EEK EEK FFI FIVE IVE IIV VVEEEEE
WEEK FIVE
RESURRECTION TODAY’S READING: JOHN 11 A line can be drawn through the middle of John’s gospel. Chapters 1-11 focus on Jesus’ “I AM” statements and the signs, or miracles that back them up. These chapters capture Jesus’ nearly three years of ministry on earth. In the remaining chapters 12-21 John zooms in on the final week that would lead to Jesus’ crucifixion, death, burial, and ultimately His resurrection. There is perhaps no more powerful way to end this first section in chapter 11 and forecast the next section then with His most powerful sign and His most profound “I AM” statement. Word comes that Lazarus, Jesus’ friend, has fallen ill. The message seems urgent, but Jesus does something curious. He doesn’t move. He stays right where He is for a few more days. Reading this full story we see why Jesus doesn’t move. He’s in it to glorify God. There’s something much larger going on behind the spiritual scenes that the disciples, Mary, and Martha are not aware of. But that’s a tough truth to embrace isn’t it? How many times in your life have you wanted God to just get up and move on your behalf, but He seem to just stay put? He doesn’t move. Was it a healing that you prayed for like Mary and Martha, but it never came? Was it a career choice that seemed to elude clarity despite praying for the decision more than you’ve ever prayed for anything? Was it a relationship that you watched unravel
Reflection: as you begged Him to do something? God, please…just get up and move. When Jesus finally does arrive Lazarus is dead and in the grave. All hope that Mary and Martha had was gone. Well, almost all hope. When Jesus shares with Martha that her brother will rise again she gives an answer that may feel familiar to us.
[24] Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11:24, ESV) In other words she says, “I know. Things will be better in heaven. After this life is over.” How often do we confess similar truths not realizing how short-sighted they are? Martha’s not wrong. Lazarus will rise on the last day. But God isn’t just interested in the last day. He’s deeply invested in today. Jesus challenges Martha with this truth.
[25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, [26] and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
•
Think of a time when you prayed that God would move for you, but He seemed silent and still. What did you feel in that moment? When and how did He eventually show up?
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Do you believe that Jesus is deeply invested in more than just your eternal security…that He is invested in the details of today? How does this impact your daily life?
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What is an area of your life that needs resurrecting today? Read 1 Peter 5:67. Pray and believe that the Lord is listening.
(John 11:25–26, ESV) Did you notice that last question? Jesus asks, “Do you believe this?” Martha, do you believe that I can do more than just secure an afterlife for you? Do you believe that because I love you I want to bring healing to you and your family today? His invitation to believe was an invitation for today, not hidden somewhere on the other side of this life. The same question can be directed our way today. Do we believe? Do we believe that Jesus is deeply invested in more than just our afterlife? Do we believe that He can bring resurrection and life to marriages that we thought were dead? Do we believe that through Jesus we can experience a resurrection of our pasts in a way that we see careers, friendships, finances, or health rise to life once again? Do you believe this?
Martha and Mary have two very different reactions to Jesus’ late arrival at the scene of their brother’s death, yet they both express the same frustration. Notice that verse 21 (Martha) and verse 32 (Mary) both share the same sentiment.
NOTES:
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” We all recognize these words. They are words of pain and we’ve all cried them at one time or another. They are the words “If only…”. If only God had showed up. If only He would have answered my prayers. If only He would have changed my wife’s heart… had allowed me to get the promotion… could have healed my son’s addiction… would have removed that tumor. Examples abound. Insert your “If only…” prayer here. We all have them. With the death of Lazarus, Mary and Martha’s minds were no doubt reeling. Not only are they grieving the loss of their brother, but their future is on shaky ground. There’s no mention of husbands or parents. To be a woman on your own in this era would be incredibly difficult if not impossible. Jesus’ arrival could have prevented all of their heartbreak…if only.
DAY TWO
Yesterday we explored those moments when we just wish God would move on our behalf. There is
IF ONLY TODAY’S READING: JOHN 11:17-27
a dramatic difference between “God move” prayers and “If only…” prayers. The former carry with them a bit of anxiety wondering if He’ll intervene. The latter carry grief wondering why He didn’t. One sits on the horizon with hope while the other has to live in the ripple effects of regret cycling the various scenarios over and over in our minds. This is where Mary and Martha are trapped. Can you empathize with them? What we need to realize is “If only…” prayers are incomplete prayers. They display tremendous faith by showing that we believe that if God were present He could have done something about our circumstances, but because He didn’t show up we wonder if there is something missing. Does He just lack desire? Did He forget about us? Does He just not care about what’s going on in our lives? As the account moves on we see that Jesus did care, very much. However, He was willing to do the right thing even though it was the tough thing. He could have just come and healed Lazarus, but instead He allowed His friend who He loved deeply (vs. 3 & 36) to die for something greater. Instead of just healing one person physically that day John tells us that He healed many spiritually.
[45] Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, (John 11:45, ESV) Consider that had Mary and Martha’s prayers been answered in the way they wanted them to be answered a multitude of people would not have come to believe in Jesus that day.
Reflection: • What have been some of your “If only…” prayers? What are some of the ways you have processed
through those moments? If this is still a struggle for you, please connect with your campus staff or the North Way Counseling Center.
• Do you believe that God cares greatly about what you’ve gone through? In what ways has He shown you this truth?
• Jesus did the right thing even though it was the tough thing. Read Isaiah 55:8-9. Does this bring you comfort or unrest? Confess to God exactly how this makes you feel.
DAY THREE | TODAY’S READING: JOHN 20 “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” - Martin Luther Resurrection has far more impact than we often give it credit. It’s one of those theological concepts that we place higher up on the shelf like a seldom used kitchen appliance. We don’t feel like we need it now, but someday we will. It’s important, but not for everyday use. But what if it is supposed to be? What if Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is supposed to be the central driving force in our earthly lives? Because death holds no power over us we are meant to live our lives with drastic difference and depth of purpose.
“Lazarus, come out.” (John 11:43, ESV)
Do you suppose that Lazarus’ life was forever changed by those words? Not just his life that day, but for the rest of his earthly life. No doubt it consumed him to the point that everything about him changed. His joy was more full. His mannerism more expressive. His spirit more lively. Walking away from the grave will do that to a person. Do you think Mary and Martha, his sisters, were impacted by the events that took place in the graveyard that day? It would be hard not to be greatly affected by what happened. Hearing Jesus claim to be the very essence of resurrection and life and then seeing Him back that up with unimaginable action might cause one to rethink all that they know. Resurrection changes people. Here’s the big take away. Jesus’ resurrection is yours. He tells us,
[19] … Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:19, ESV) Can others see the impact of resurrection in your life?
Reflection: • How does a proper perspective on death give us purpose in life? What negative results can come from trying to sidestep death?
• What are you doing with your
resurrected life? Is the change evident to those around you?
NOTES:
THE GOD WHO
CRIES DAY FOUR | TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 11:28-37
It’s hard for us to imagine our Bibles without chapter and verse references, but they were not a part of the original manuscripts. They were added much later to help with navigation around such a large collection of letters, poems, and books. Chapter divisions have had many contributors from the fourth century until they solidified in the twelfth century. Verses are the contribution of one man. In 1555 printmaker Robert Estienne laid out the structure we still use to this day. It is an interesting exercise to question why Estienne chose the verse breaks he did. Why did he divide this thought into two verses or leave those two sentences as one? This is especially interesting in the story of Lazarus’ resurrection. John 11 famously holds the smallest verse.
[35] Jesus wept. (John 11:35 ESV) There is something so incredibly beautiful about those words isn’t there? Perhaps it was the mere thought of God crying that caused Estienne to set aside these two words by themselves. Maybe there just was no category for that part of the story. They had to stand alone. In a very raw moment, this is Jesus’ humanity on display. This is a picture of the heart of God for us, His created beings. Even though He knew the outcome would lead to Lazarus’s resurrection, Jesus wept over the death of His friend. He wept with Mary, standing in her pain with her before redeeming her pain for her. A God who cries is a God who deeply cares for us.
Reflection:
• Do you have a favorite verse or verses in the Bible? What is it about that particular verse that stands out and speaks to you?
• There are three moments captured in the Scriptures where Jesus cries: here at Lazarus’ grave (John 11:35), over the sin of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44), and in the Garden of Gethsemane (Hebrews 5:7). Take some time to read each of these occurrences in their context. What do these moments teach you about the heart of God?
The Holy Spirit was given to us as a gift and a promise of more to come, but He’s so much more than that. He’s a helper, comforter, and counselor. He’s the power behind our Christian life. Paul shares this profound truth.
[11] If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11, ESV)
Since the beginning pages of Genesis the Spirit of God has been present and working uniquely. His presence is both seen and sensed throughout the historical accounts of the Old Testament. His guidance is evident in the wisdom literature of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. His voice is heard in the prophets that pointed the way toward the Messiah. He was also there when the stone was rolled away and resurrection became a reality. The Apostle Paul shared with the early church that that same Spirit is involved in our lives. He said,
[13] In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Take a moment to reread that verse and allow this truth to settle in deep. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave is the same Spirit that lives inside of you! What if each morning before our day gets rolling we would remind ourselves of that truth? Would it change our perspective about the value of the person in the bathroom mirror each morning? How would it impact our interactions with our families? Our coworkers? How would it impact the way we approach difficulties or problems? With that kind of compassion and power… nothing is off limits.
(Ephesians 1:13–14, ESV)
DAY FIVE TODAY’S READING: EPHESIANS 1:13-14 ROMANS 8:10-11
Sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Seals were used in Paul’s day in similar ways to today. Packages and letters were sealed to ensure that what the recipient received was what the sender sent. Seals conveyed legitimacy and ownership. In other words the Spirit authenticates who we are and whose we are. This is further confirmed by the word “guarantee”. It’s the Greek word “deposit”, similar to a down payment that guarantees a complete payment to come.
NOTES:
Reflection:
• Compared to the Father and Son, the Holy Spirit can be an
intimidating relationship. When you think of the Holy Spirit, what are some of your first thoughts? Is there anything uncomfortable about the Spirit for you? If you would like to dig deeper a great, approachable resource to dig deeper is Francis Chan’s “Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit”.
• Identify one practical way you can make yourself more
aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in you this week. It could be setting a morning alarm on your phone to remind you. It could be hand writing the above verses each morning or printing them off to keep them in front of your eyes throughout the day.
• With this truth in hand, how will you live differently today?
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