John 21
Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Read: John 21
Thought
Why do we have Jesus’s threefold repetition of “do you love me?” Surely once was enough. and clearly Peter was upset, what is going on in this passage?
If you remember that Peter denied Jesus times and was distraught afterwards. Well, now he has three opportunities to say that he loves Jesus.
Three denials become three declarations.
And each time Jesus commissions him to feed his flock, to look after his church.
Peter has not been written off because of his failure. He has been given another chance
Reflection
Music: : ‘Who am I?’ by Casting Crowns
Do we feel that a failure in our past has “written us off”? Do we feel that we have let God down in some way?
Hand these things over to Jesus and ask him to help you see how he forgives you.
Ask Jesus to show you what he is commissioning you for.
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Francis
John 20
So I am sending you
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit..”
Read: John 20
Thought
John packs so much in this short paragraph.
The disciples start afraid , with locked doors, living in fear
They encounter the risen Jesus and were “glad” (surely an understated reaction!)
Jesus then sends them out “as the father sent him” and prays for them to be empowered by the Holy Spirit
These are the disciples who were afraid but are now apostles (lit sent out ones)
Reflection
What is the fear that stops us being sent out? Ask Jesus to show you
Music for reflection: break every chain
And ask Jesus to empower you with his Holy Spirit, to break out from this fear and walk in his power.
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Francis
John 19
I find no guilt in him
Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”
Read :John 19
Thought
Pilate found no guilt in Jesus for a very simple reason, that there was no guilt in him. Not merely as Pilate was thinking originally, of no guilt of a crime, but no guilt at all.
Jesus walked among us, but uniquely walked entirely in the way of God, uniquely lived without disobedience to the way of the father.
Jesus was tempted as we are, yet remained without sin.
And the innocent Jesus, went to the Cross. The innocent Jesus choose the Cross.
For us.
To pay the price of our Sin and disobedience. That we may walk free.
Reflection
The innocent Jesus choose the Cross. For us.
Not because we deserve it or have earnt it, but because God loves us. Because of his grace.
As you listen to the music, reflect on God’s grace – on his goodness to us with no consideration of whether we deserve it
Music for reflection: Nothing but Grace
What does it mean to us today to walk free?
Where can we show grace today? Ask Jesus to help us reflect his love
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Francis
John 18
It is better…
So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people
Read :John 18
Thought
John reminds us here of the words of the high priest Caiphas back in John 11. He had warned them about Jesus, that he would draw followers and in response to his uprising, the Romans would destroy the temple and the nation.
“You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Caiphas thought that Jesus would be destruction to them, and so it was better that he died.
Yet unknown to him , his words prophesied something he could not comprehend: That Jesus died to bring salvation to his people and even the world!
It was better for them that one man should die for the people.
Reflection
Song: Build my Life
Do we believe that Jesus gave his life for us, that we might live ? Ask Jesus to help us to really understand his love for us and his promise of eternal life.
That God might even speak through a man plotting Jesus’ death might seem surprising, but God speaks to his people. What is God saying to us?
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Francis
John 17
Knowing God
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
Read : John 17
Thought
The subject that John chooses to define in this passage, is one that we might think is self explanatory or just plain simple. And John’s definition is indeed simple, it’s just not quite what we might expect:
“this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”
Eternal life is summed up simply as knowing God and knowing Jesus. According to this radical definition – Eternal life is not just what happens when we die, or when Jesus comes again, but it starts now.
Eternal life is also not just quantitative, about going on for ever, but also qualitative. Its about quality of life, even life in all its fullness (John 10:10). For we are invited to know God – a relationship that will change our lives.
And John could see that Jesus’ death and resurrection inaugurated a new age of the kingdom, that we are invited to participate in.
We are invited into both the relationship and the mission of the trinity, in bringing Gods Kingdom here and now. And it all starts with relationship.
Reflection
Song: Build my Life
Do we really believe that God wants to both know us and to work with us?
Perhaps for some of us, today is a day where we need to put our past behind us and turn more towards Jesus. If so, tell him what you are sorry for, what you want to put behind you and respond to Jesus’s invitation to know him.
Ask Jesus to help you him know him more, to walk with him each day. Ask for God’s holy spirit in your life
Do we really believe that God wants to work with us? Ask Jesus to show you how this could happen in different parts of our lives.
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Francis
John 16
The spirit of truth
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Read : John 16
Thought
Jesus recognises that at this point the disciples were not in any state to understand more about what he was to do (and correspondingly, what they were to do).
They were in no state for what they needed to hear and understand. And in any other circumstance it would have been too late for Jesus and for them.
But in this circumstance, Jesus was going away and in doing so, would send the Holy Spirit to them.
As one member of the trinity left them, another was commissioned to come and he would never leave them.
And afterward when they were ready to listen and understand and follow, Then the Holy Spirit, that Jesus was sending, would help them understand. He would guide them into all truth. He would declare the things that are to come.
Reflection
Song: spirit fall
Are we ready to listen and understand and follow, ourselves? Ask Jesus to show you , anyway you need to get ready.
And ask Jesus to send his spirit to guide you into all truth. To declare the things that are to come.
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Francis
John 15
Cleaning, pruning, abiding
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing
Read : John 15
Thought
John 15 is undeniably a beautiful and evocative passage – but what exactly it evokes is a slightly harder question! This is one of those passages that is like a complex jigsaw, that unless you know what the picture is of, you may struggle to put it together.
The picture of the vine, the main image of this passage, was a negative image in the Old Testament that Jesus redeems. There it was used of Gods unruly disobedient people, whilst here Jesus is the true Vine who (as we have already heard) ‘only does what he sees the father doing’. And as we look at the pieces of the puzzle we will see that they all help to fill out this picture of true obedience as opposed to disobedience or sin.
In this context, the idea of being clean through the word (of obedience leading us away from sin) – makes sense. And once we understand the subtle wordplay that the root verb in Greek of pruning is cleaning, we can see that Jesus’s words about pruning are all about obedience – and about removing those things that cause us to sin and turn away from Gods way.
Likewise in v7 & 10 he explains that remaining or abiding in him, consists of obedience to his word and that we simply can’t do this on our own.
The only piece of this puzzle that then seems slightly tricky is the idea of Jesus remaining in us. Taking this phrase in isolation, the most obvious meaning of this would be for Gods spirit to indwell us and stay with us. And Scripture promises that his spirit will remind us of his words, that his spirit will guide us individually and his spirit will transform us (Gal 5:21-22) so that we can better follow and obey him.
Reflection
Song: waymaker
Where are we going the wrong way (in Disobedience to God) or where do we have the wrong perspective? Where do need to change our thinking , in line with Gods way? Ask Jesus to show you
And Ask Jesus to send his spirit to remind you of his words, to guide you and transform you.
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Francis
John 14
I am the way and the truth and the life
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Read :John 14
Thought
Thomas puts into words one of the biggest questions of all time, when he asks, “How can we know the way?” It is probably a question that all human beings have asked at one time or another during their lives. There are so many different choices, so many different paths, how can we possibly know which is the right way to take?
Jesus doesn’t just give an answer, he blows the question completely out of the water: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” The answer to Thomas’ question is not found through a particular road, by living a good life, doing good works, or following a specific philosophy. But “The Way” is a person, Jesus Christ. The early believers were called followers of “The Way;” followers of Jesus Christ.
Many people fear physical death, as it is for them “the great unknown.” But Jesus blasts away our fears, and his words are very specific, “In my Father’s house are many rooms” (or mansions). Jesus reassures us that he is going to prepare a place for us, and that one day heaven and earth will be re-joined together again.
We all individually have to come to God through Jesus and his finished work on the cross. There simply is no other way for us to be saved, apart from through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No-one else has conquered sin and death. Jesus is “The Way,” through whom we all must come to God.
Reflection
Song: waymaker
Thank Jesus that he is “The Way.” Praise Jesus that he has gone on ahead to prepare a home for us, when we get to the end of our physical lifetime here on earth.
Thank God that one day heaven and earth will be re-united and all of creation restored.
Commit your life and future afresh to Jesus today: to follow his way.
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Gee
John 13
The Servant King
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it round his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped round him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterwards you will understand.”
Read: John 13
Thought
Washing the feet of guests as they entered a home was a job given to the lowest of servants. Imagine how dirty and smelly peoples’ feet must have been in the hot climate of Israel. Yet the living God, the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords, “humbled himself and became nothing, taking the very nature of a servant (Philippians 2:7), the very lowest of servants, and washed his disciples’ feet.
But this washing of the disciples’ feet is not just a call to each one of us to be a servant to others. It is also a picture of the cross. In “taking off his outer clothing,” Jesus gave up his throne in heaven to become incarnate, and be born into this world. In “pouring water into a basin,” Jesus poured out his life upon the cross. In “washing his disciples’ feet,” Jesus washed their sins away, once for all time, upon the cross.
In saying “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet,” Jesus completed the sacrifice for sins, once for all time, upon the cross, yet we all still need to come to him individually, by faith, to be saved and to receive that salvation. It could also be a picture of the need to continue to confess our sins as we go through life, and to make ongoing restitution with God and other people. “Drying them with the towel,” could also be a symbol of our being sealed through the resurrection of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit now living within our hearts.
Reflection
Song:The servant King
Thank Jesus that he humbled himself and became the lowest servant of all, giving up his life for us on the cross, to wash us clean of all of our sins, past, present and future.
Thank Jesus that he was willing to wash away the dirtiness of our thoughts, words and actions, and make us clean in God’s sight, by faith.
Ask Jesus that your family, friends and neighbours may come to know this amazing “washing of Jesus” for themselves.
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Gee
John 12
The Day that Changed the World
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 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. …..And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Read: John 12
Thought
In the first century, Greek was the international language of the world, in the same way as English is today. In this passage, these “Greeks” represent the whole of the non-Jewish rest of the world, the “Gentiles.” The Greeks tell Andrew and Philip that “they would like to see Jesus.” But rather than saying, “bring the Greeks in,” Jesus then appears to go off at a tangent, speaking about a dying seed. Why?
This encounter contains two clear affirmations to Jesus that his “time has come.” The first of these signs is the arrival of these Greek representatives of the rest of the world; and the second sign follows, when the Father’s voice thunders from heaven, “I have glorified it (my name), and will glorify it again.”
The key verse in this passage is verse 32, when Jesus says, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” Jesus is speaking about his death on the cross for the sins of the whole world – for all humanity, both Jews and Gentiles – his defeat of evil, the bringing in of the new creation, and the gift of eternal life for everyone who believes in him. Through Christ’s death God will be glorified, and the whole world will be drawn to the cross, have to look upon it, and every individual will then have to make their own decision. The only way for these Greeks to really “see” Jesus then, is by looking at his cross, and by believing and receiving his salvation. The cross is the day that changed the world forever.
Reflection
Song: When I survey the wondrous cross
Think about the pain and suffering that Jesus endured, that we might be saved from sin and death and thank God for demonstrating his love for us all through the cross.
Lift up your loved ones and the world to God in prayer.
Reflect on the words, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Peter Gee
John 11
100% faithful prayer – Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.”Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Read: John 11
Thought
In this transitional story there are many connections with earlier chapters. This however has a larger connection, for the raising of Lazarus is the last of a series of Jesus’ signs that began in chapter 2. This points most clearly to what has been at the heart of Jesus’ keynote address in Chapter 5; that Jesus is the one who gives life. The irony, of course, is that he gives life by giving up his own life on the cross. A further irony is that by giving life to Lazarus, Jesus sets in motion his own death.
Jesus orders the mourners to take the stone away from the entrance of the tomb and just before raising Lazarus from the dead, keeps our focus on what is most significant. Here is the most powerful sign of Jesus’ power and authority, but it does not point to him except as evidence that he is doing what he sees the Father doing. He is here to glorify God, not himself. Prayer itself is the most significant thing about Jesus’ relationship with God and in this passage we don’ hear an actual petition but rather Jesus’ thanksgiving that the Father heard him.
Jesus knows he is heard; he has utter confidence in this relationship.
Reflection
Song: Thank you for saving me
Jesus knew 100% that His Father would hear and respond to His prayer. He did so by starting with thanking Him as he knew without question his prayer would be answered.
How often do we pray but with a percentage of doubt?
Where are we currently praying but at the same time doubting it will happen?
How might our prayers be transformed were we to start by thanking the Lord for answering our prayer before even make our request?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me.
Thank You for forgiving me.
Thank You for showing me my worthiness and for pursuing me.
I am in awe of You Lord!
I submit my heart to you Lord.
May Your Holy Spirit transform me and make me like You.
In Jesus’ name
Amen.
Victoria
John 10
The door to life
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Read John 10
Thought
The Jews did not understand the meaning of the story of the Good Shepherd. He began by saying: “I am the door.” when the sheep were out on the hills and did not return at night to the village at all, they were collected into sheep-folds on the hillside. In them there was an opening by which the sheep came in and went out; but there was no door of any kind. The shepherd would lay himself down across the opening and no sheep could get out or in except over his body. In the most literal sense the shepherd was the door.
That is what Jesus was thinking of when he said: “I am the door.” Through Him, and Him alone, men find access to God. Jesus opens the way to God. He is the door through whom alone entrance to God becomes possible for men.
Jesus came that men might be saved and have life more abundantly. The Greek phrase used for having it more abundantly means to have a superabundance of a thing. To be a follower of Jesus, to know who He is and what He means, is to have a superabundance of life.
When we try to live our own lives, life is a dull, dispirited thing. When we walk with Jesus, there comes a new vitality, a superabundance of life. It is only when we live with Christ that life becomes really worth living and we begin to live in the real sense of the word.
Reflection
Despite our best intentions, how easy it is to stray like the lost sheep and to find our own ways of doing things
Where in your life are you struggling with something and trying to sort it alone?
Where have you strayed from Jesus’ word and tried to do life on your own?
Today invite God to reveal to you those areas, offer up to Him your struggles and ask Him to be your guide in all things
Prayer
Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
and to be faithful
to the calling
you gave us to be shepherds
in your name.
Amen.
Victoria
John 9
Spiritual Blindness
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped him.
Read : John 9
Thought
John’s gospel is full of contrasts, and this chapter is no exception. There is the contrast between light and dark and the seeing and the blind.
It is interesting to note that throughout the chapter the authorities, instead of being pleased that Jesus healed a man born blind, are caught up in debates about whether the man really was blind (calling his parents as witnesses), where Jesus came from (from God or from somewhere else), and whether the man should have been healed on a sabbath. They are the learned ones. They would have known their scriptures. Yet they quiz the unnamed man (who was blind) all about Jesus. They are so dissatisfied with the poor man’s answer that they cast him out of the synagogue.
It is so lovely to see what Jesus does next. Jesus having heard that they had cast him out, came looking for him. Here is a real-life example of a parable that Jesus might have told. Jesus went to look for the man and wanted to talk to him.
Jesus had taken the physical barrier (blindness) from the man and now he wanted to speak to him face to face to be sure there were no spiritual barriers blocking the man from knowing who Jesus truly was.
Reflection
Song: First
Is there anything blocking your relationship with Jesus?
Does anything get in the way of you seeing him and knowing him for who he truly is?
Talk to him about it. He wants to find you and speak to you personally. Take some time to savour that thought and share with Jesus what is on your mind.
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Coral Francis
John 8
He who is without sin, let him throw the first stone
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Read John 8
Thought
The scribes and Pharisees are paired as Jesus’ opponents frequently in the Synoptic Gospels, but this is the only instance where they are paired in this Gospel. The question is whether this woman was guilty of adultery and should be stoned to death according to the law. However, it is really Jesus who is on trial here. They have seen him deal mercifully with sinners, and hope to show that he has strayed beyond the bounds of the law. They see the woman, not as a human being, but as a tool that they can use to entrap Jesus.
But Jesus invites those without any sin to throw the first stone. However, in that world of a double standard with regard to sin, Jesus’ challenge brings them face to face with this. The more experienced would have realised they were outflanked and thought better than to stand and argue with someone who so easily turned their most potent challenge to his own advantage.
Left alone with the woman Jesus doesn’t ask her whether she is guilty, but only whether anyone condemns her. She says ‘No one Lord’ and Jesus neither condemns nor excuses her but simply offers her a chance for a new life.
Jesus does the same for us too, as we turn to Him to forgive us our sins.
Reflection
Song: I’m forgiven
Jesus not only forgives our past but will continue to do so when we inevitably fail again. This is just as well as there is much to be forgiven in our lives and in this world we live.
If Jesus is prepared to forgive us our sins over and over; not judging us but showing compassion and mercy, who are we to judge others?
Where in our lives are we behaving like the Pharisees – judging mercilessly without the full facts?
Bring these times to Jesus asking again for His forgiveness and for us to show His compassion to others rather than condemnation.
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever.
Amen.
Victoria Robson
John 7
Rivers of living water
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Read: John 7
Thought
For the previous six days of the feast of tabernacles (one of the three major festivals in Jerusalem that attracted pilgrims from around the world) a daily ritual has been undertaken as water is poured at the altar of the temple by the high priest.
At this harvest festival, it symbolises Gods physical provision of the rain and water for the harvest. But there is also a spiritual symbolism, of the promise of the outpouring of God’s spirit upon his people. Not just of God’s physical provision that they experienced every day, but also a spiritual provision that they looked forward to, one day.
And it’s in this context that we have Jesus’s invitation “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”, And John footnotes this with his comment , that this was not for Jesus’ original hearers to experience there and then (for Jesus had not yet been glorified) , but rather for John’s readers.
So these words, this invitation, are for us.
Reflection
Song: spirit fall
Come to Jesus to drink of the living water.
Ask Jesus to pour out his spirit upon you
Ask Jesus to enable and equip you for all he has called you to do
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Peter Francis
John 6
Jesus is enough
Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread
from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread
of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him,
‘Sir, give us this bread always.’
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and
whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Read: John 6
Thought
Jesus refers here to Exodus 16, when manna (a type of bread) was provided by God for the
Hebrews as they were in the Wilderness, on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Jesus describes himself as the ‘bread of God, which comes down from heaven and gives life
to the world.’
Again, he says, ‘I am the bread of life.’ This is the first of the ‘I am’ sayings found in John’s
gospel (look out for some more in John 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15).
Jesus describes himself as bread. Bread would have been not just an everyday staple in
their diet. It would have been what sustained the community. Manna was an image of the
only thing that the people had to eat, miraculously provided in the wilderness.
Jesus said that if we come to him, we will never be hungry and never be thirsty. He will
provide all we need.
Reflection
Song: You restore my soul
Do we truly trust in Jesus to sustain us? Are we as completely reliant on Jesus as the
Hebrews were reliant on Manna in the Wilderness?
When we pray ‘Give us today our daily bread’ let us think of Jesus as the bread of life, that
gives life to the world.
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Coral Francis
John 5
Only what he sees….?
Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
Read: John 5
Thought
That Jesus only does what he sees the Father doing is an arresting thought – that he is so in tune with the will of the Father.
And this phrase grabs us, because it makes us think about how close we are to the will of the Father.
And it makes us wonder what this would look like in our lives.
Because all the way from Genesis chapter 3 we have stories of people imposing their will, of doing things their way and not God’s – only doing what they want to do! That is not Jesus’ way.
But to the disciples, Jesus paints a picture they all recognise.
A son learning his father’s trade, as an apprentice and copying his father, doing exactly what he is doing.
Reflection
Song: Build my Life
Are we copying what Jesus is doing, in our lives? Ask him to help us apprentice to him.
Jesus knew his scriptures and knew the will of God that ran through their pages. And he didn’t just know it – he did it.
And Jesus made time and spoke to his Father in prayer. He listened and acted on what God said.
Ask Jesus to help us truly mean “Your kingdom come; your will be done.”
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Peter Francis
John 4
An unlikely apostle?
So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him….Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.”
Read: John 4
Thought
The woman from Samaria was astonished.
Astonished that a woman shunned in her home town was welcomed by Jesus, transcending racial and gender barriers, let alone those around her reputation
Astonished that Jesus knew all about her, her past and her present.
Astonished that he saw a different future for her .
Astonished that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, the one she was waiting for, yet she never expected it to be Jesus. Yet her own behaviour, in response is then equally astonishing.
In response she goes and tells what Jesus has done for her and invites the people from her community to come and encounter Jesus themselves.
And her people continue to break barriers, inviting him to stay with them.
And many believe.
Reflection
Song: Build my Life
The woman from Samaria was a very unlikely apostle. Are there people who we know who are looking for a saviour, but would never expect it to be Jesus? Ask Jesus to come and astonish them!
What is our story of encountering Jesus? What has Jesus done or said for us? What would we answer if someone asked us why we follow him or what he has done for us? Start to think about your story and what you will say, when someone asks. (Then pray that they do!)
Prayer
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
From St Patrick’s Breastplate
Peter Francis
John 3
The Son of Man was lifted up for me!
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Thought
In a conversation with a Pharisee named Nicodemus, Jesus refers to a story in Moses’ life (Numbers 21 v 4-9). The Hebrews had been miraculously freed from slavery in Egypt, and had, again miraculously, crossed the Red Sea, but then grumbled in the wilderness about the food that God was providing. As a result of this, they were beset by poisonous snakes. But after Moses prayed, God asked him to make a bronze snake and lift it up on a pole as an antidote for the people. Everyone who had been bitten by the poisonous snakes could look up at the bronze snake and live. In John 3 v14-15 Jesus compares his own death on the cross to the uplifted snake from Numbers.
It is in this context that one of the most famous verses of the whole bible comes:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3 v 16
In the same way that the Hebrews looked at the snake and were saved from the poison (though they didn’t deserve it), we can look to Jesus’ ‘lifting up’ on our behalf (even though we don’t deserve it) and know that we can have eternal life.
In other words: thanks to what Jesus has done for us we can enter into a relationship with God for eternity. God doesn’t treat us as we deserve. That is what is so amazing about God’s grace!
Reflection
Music: Nothing but Grace
Philip Yancey, author of What’s so Amazing about Grace? Said ‘Love was compressed for all history in that lonely figure on the cross, who said that he could call down angels at any moment on a rescue mission but chose not to – because of us.’
Pause and reflect on what Jesus says here: He was lifted up so that you can have eternal life. Jesus was separated from God temporarily on the cross, so that we don’t have to be separated from God anymore.
Spend a few moments letting that sink in.
Thank God for his love for you and for what he has done for you.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
From St Patrick’s Breastplate
Coral Francis
John 2
Which temple?
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this.
Read: John 2
Thought
John is clear from the beginning of his Gospel that Jesus is victorious, that light conquers the darkness, but also astonishingly that this victory will be achieved by sacrifice.
This sacrifice is alluding to in chapter 1 as John the Baptist, already announces Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’. That like the lambs sacrificed at the temple, Jesus will be sacrificed, and this ultimate sacrifice will take away the sins of the world.
And in this passage Jesus himself talks about his resurrection, yet at the time the disciples would not have understood
By the time this gospel was written, the physical temple, the wonder of the world that stood before them, as Jesus spoke, was destroyed by the might of Rome and was rubble. And no one would have believed this could be possible.
But what was also fulfilled was yet more incredible, for Jesus himself was raised after three days, just as he predicted. And it was only then that the disciples remembered and understood his words.
For by his sacrifice, victory was won. And the temple, the place of sacrifice and divine encounter, was none other than Jesus.
Reflection
Song: waymaker
Ask Jesus to help us truly believe that he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and that means all of our sin, our failure, our mess.
Are there things in our lives that seemed immovable and unchangeable, but that were not? Hand these things over to Jesus and remember that he is our temple, our rock.
Prayer
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
From St Patrick’s Breastplate
Peter Francis
John 1
The whole story…
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Read: John 1
Thought
Johns Gospel doesn’t start with a baby in a manger, with Mary and Joseph or even John the Baptist and prophecies of Jesus, it starts with the creation of the universe!
And perhaps more shockingly, It starts with that creation happening through Jesus.
Although the Gospels tell of Jesus’ incarnation – of Jesus becoming man: As God, he had always existed and through him all things were made.
For John, Jesus cannot just be at the heart of the story. It is all the story of Jesus. Jesus is the the Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the end.
And Johns Gospel, his story of Jesus, is right from the beginning his good news of victory, for the light of Jesus shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Reflection
Song: waymaker
Is all of our story, the story of Jesus? Or are there parts of our lives over which he is not yet sovereign? Are there parts which are still in darkness?
Ask Jesus to bring his light to those areas. To bring his light to the darkness.
Prayer
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
From St Patrick’s Breastplate
Introduction
An Old Man Looks back to earlier days, when the world was a different place, to when Jesus came.
And decades later he doesn’t just recount the facts, or the things he saw, but reflects on the significance and impact of Jesus to the lives of his readers…. to us
Join us each day, to find out what John has in store for us