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 EEEEEK KEEKKTTH THREE HRE HREE HR H RE R WEEK WEE WE W EEK EEE SIX SSI IIXXEEEE
WEEK SIX
Reflection: • What was your first big purchase? Did you treat it differently than something you didn’t own? For example, have you ever rented a car? Did you wash it? Why or why not?
•
Jesus often used illustrations applicable to His audience. He used fishing, farming, and everyday objects to reveal Himself and His Kingdom. The original audience would have understood the life of a shepherd in deeper ways that we do. What occupation do you think Jesus would compare Himself to today? Why?
• Jesus shares that His sheep listen to His voice. They can tell the difference between His and the hired hand. What are some ways you can practice listening to discern His voice this week?
TODAY’S READING: JOHN 10:11-21 Fresh on the heals of Jesus’, “I AM the door” declaration (John 10:7) Jesus makes another I AM pronouncement. He states,
[11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11, ESV) He goes on to paint a picture of two caretakers. One is the good shepherd, Himself, who is willing to lay down everything that He is for His flock. The other is a hired hand “who does not own the sheep” (vs 12). Ownership matters doesn’t it? It determines the level of care and energy we’re willing to put into something. Think back to your first big purchase. Not something small like a toy or a bike. A big purchase, like your first car. For many of us
our first cars came on the back side of much labor and saving. We worked hard for that rust covered body that left oil stains in every parking spot. Sure, the seats were torn and the passenger door didn’t open from the outside, but there was something so special about it, right? Even though many would not give it a second look on the road, to us it was the most beautiful thing. Why? Because it was ours. We worked hard to get it. We owned it. Ownership changes our perspective on what is beautiful, important, and worth our time.
Maybe that’s a simplistic way to describe what Jesus is speaking on here, but it is the essence of what He’s sharing. His love for us emanates from the fact that we are His. Others may look at us and see the areas of our lives that resemble chipped paint or rusty wheels, but not Him. Others may try to define us by our mistakes and scars, but He looks at us through the lens of the cross, the means by which He “purchased” us.
NOTES:
GOOD SHEPHER
DAY TWO TODAY’S READING: JOHN 18-19 Today’s devotion looks a bit different. There is no commentary, no reflection questions. Why? Well, yesterday in our devotion Jesus made two massive statements. First, He is the Good Shepherd, willing to lay down His life for His sheep. Second, the sheep hear and know His voice. We don’t want to move on from the enormity of those statements too quickly. John 18 and 19 give us an opportunity to see these two statements come to life. Jesus is arrested, betrayed, crucified, and dies. He lays down His life for His sheep.
DAY THREE
As you read through John 18 and 19 walk slowly remembering that these are the words of our Good Shepherd. These words are His voice spilled out on the page for you to ingest. Pay attention to what stands out as you read. Listen closely for His voice.
NOTES:
TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 12:24-26 As Jesus gets closer and closer to the cross His conversations with His disciples begins to become more thick with intentional teaching. On many occasions He is very forward in sharing what the future holds. He is going to die. The disciples object. We all would. The relationship formed between this group is deep and has been life-changing for the disciples. They don’t want to see their time come to an end let alone at the expense of Jesus’ life. Jesus shares,
[24] Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. [25] Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:24–26, ESV)
THE
For a seed to do what it was designed to do…it must die. It must go into the ground and be transformed into something bigger, stronger, and more fruitful. If it simply remains a seed it makes no impact on the world around it. But if it dies…
O
Luke shares a bit of a different take in his gospel as Jesus shares these words.
(Luke 9:23–25, ESV) As followers of Jesus our lives are meant to be a series of daily deaths. It’s one of those upside down, Kingdom of God paradoxes. The more we give away, the more we gain. The more we serve, the more we find purpose. The more we die, the more we live. The disciples would go on to learn this as they watch their friend be crucified and rise from the dead just days later. There are certain things we cannot see, cannot achieve, cannot experience without dying to self. All of these men, aside from Judas…that’s a whole other story, would go on to die for their faith in Jesus. And to this day we benefit from the fruit of their commitment through the Word and their example.
NOTES:
Reflection: •
Timing and context matters when you read the Scriptures. We sometimes forget that we have the privilege of looking back through the lens of the cross, yet when Jesus shared these words the cross was nowhere in sight. What do you think they believed about Jesus’ charge to “take up your cross daily and follow me”?
•
In what ways do you see those around you “loving life” and thus “forfeiting” themselves? It’s easy to see it in others (see about a log and a speck in Matthew 7), but in what ways do you see that love of life in yourself?
•
How can you put this into practice this week? Is there an area in your life where you can sacrifice something and trust God with the outcome…trusting that sacrifice, death to self, leads to life? Do not rush into this decision. Pray through it. Allow Him to dictate where and what you should sacrifice.
DO YOU
UNDERSTAND?
DAY FOUR
[23] And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. [24] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. [25] For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 13 Peter is one of the most dynamic characters in all of the Scriptures. It’s no wonder he gets so much air time in the gospels. He’s always speaking up first, jumping out of boats, or missing the point. He misses the mark a lot, but his passion shines through his flubs. That passion seems to be one of the reasons Jesus loves Peter so much. His actions are often a springboard into a valuable lesson about life, love, or service of others. Here in chapter 13 we see Peter’s passion on display. During their final meal together Jesus stoops down to wash the feet of His disciples. It’s a tremendous act of humility, an example for others to follow. It’s no surprise that Peter doesn’t quite grasp what’s really going on. As Jesus approaches him Peter objects.
[6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” [7] Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” [8] Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” (John 13:6–8, ESV) Peter believes this act of washing feet is below Jesus. He has proven Himself to be the Son of God, the very Creator of the universe. Why would He bend to our level to wash the filth from our feet? Because that’s what the Good Shepherd has come for. He has come to lay down His life for His sheep. Clearly we know that Jesus laid down His life for us on the cross, but don’t miss this moment. Here Jesus is showing us what laying down our lives will look like most often. Rarely will any of us be called upon to die a martyr’s death for our faith, but all of us are called to bend a knee and serve others in sacrificial ways. Giving up our time, our resources, our knowledge, our finances, or our possessions in a sacrificial way can be life altering for the recipients. This moment altered Peter’s life. He is beginning to see that there is something larger going on here, as there usually is with Jesus. To Peter’s objection Jesus says,
“If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” [9] Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” (John 13:8–9, ESV)
Once Jesus is done He says to the group,
[12] …“Do you understand what I have done to you? [13] You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. (John 13:12–15, ESV) In this moment Jesus uses Peter’s objection to teach and to set a precedent for all of His followers. Acts of humility in the service of others is how we follow Him and how we lay down our lives like our Good Shepherd.
NOTES:
Reflection: • Foot washing is still practiced in some Christian
denominations as an ordinance of the church. Would this experience make you uncomfortable? Why or why not? Thinking through what this experience would feel like, can you understand Peter’s position a bit better?
• Has there ever been a time when Jesus spoke
to you through His Word, or a sermon, or through others, but you objected? When Peter learned to allow this moment to happen his faith and understanding grew. In prayer revisit that moment when Jesus spoke to you and you stepped back. Repent, receive His forgiveness, and ask if there is any area He is calling you to serve today.
DAY FIVE
THE IMAGE OF
There’s the Peter we know and love. His passion swings the pendulum hard from “don’t touch my feet” to “give me an entire bath!”
GOD
TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 10:22-42 Someone along the way did some intense counting and determined that John 10:30 is the middle verse of John’s entire gospel. It is the verse that has just as many before it as it does after it. Interestingly enough the idea it communicates is the very fulcrum of John’s entire message.
[30] I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30, ESV) If you want to know what God is like, just look to Jesus. Listen to how He speaks to people. Look at the way He extends compassion. He guards those in the margins and challenges those in authority. His mixture of truth and grace provides an honest look at who God is. The early church described Him this way.
[15] He is the image of the invisible God … [19] in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (Colossians 1:15, 19, ESV) While this should bring a sense of comfort to our souls, if we’re honest with each other at times it’s unsettling. We sometimes forget that God made us in His image, not the other way around. Our inheritance of sin causes us to form a god in our own image… a god that looks like us, acts like us, votes like us, or dishes out reward and punishment like us. When Jesus doesn’t line up with those preconceived notions it troubles us. It troubled the religious elite of His day. It’s the very reason that they aimed to kill Jesus again and again (vs. 31). It’s the reason they would eventually cry out, “crucify Him!” (John 19:6). It caused a visceral reaction in their core because He didn’t line up with their idea of who God was supposed to be.
This is why we must stay close to the Written Word (Bible) in order to know more and more the Living Word (Jesus). The more time we spend with Him the more familiar we become with His character and His ways. The closer we are to Him the more we will recognize how, when, and where He is working in us and in others.
Reflection: • What are some of the “images” you’ve created of God that you have later found out to be false? How did your view change?
• The religious elite aimed to silence and even kill Jesus because He challenged their views. When you
views are challenged what are some next steps you take? Do you tend to ignore the challenge and stick to your ways or are you open to dig, explore, and learn?
• Throughout this sermon series and devotion, what has been your favorite story in John’s gospel? Go back and revisit that story right now. Before you do take a moment to pray that God would reveal something new about Himself to you in His Words.
NOTES:
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