Category: John

John 13:3-4 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Verse 7 (see below) has long been a favorite of my “Why?”-oriented brain. To think that someday I might understand, even though there are so many things in this life that don’t make sense to me, brings me comfort. Though, I’m pretty sure that once I’m in a place to get all those answers that seem so important on this side of the veil, I don’t think I’ll care enough to ask the questions anymore.

John 13:5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

More important here, I think, is what Jesus is doing. He has power over all things. He came from God and is going to God. So what does He do? Wash the disciples feet—a filthy, dirty, servile, humbling job. He knew that Judas would betray Him and everyone else would desert Him and still He serves them in this incredibly personal, intimate way.

John 13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Lord, There are so many things in this life that I don’t understand. But Your intimate, humbling act of service to the disciples even though You knew what was coming seems pretty clear. You call me to humble myself in service to others, to show them they are worthwhile and worthy, even though they are human and fallible, even though they will disappoint. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

John 13:7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Have a blessed day.

John 12:27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

Jesus was fully human and fully divine. He knew what it was to struggle. Yet when He struggled, He always turned back to God, back to God’s will for Him. In verse 28, God even speaks, affirming and supporting Jesus. And yet the people don’t (won’t? can’t?) understand.

John 12:37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

I can be pretty cynical at times. There are absolutely situations that I’m an “I’ll believe it *when* I see it” type of gal. As easy as it is for me to shake my head at these unbelieving Jews, I know I can be just as bad. Hopefully, that humility is the beginning of wisdom.

John 12:42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;

Lord, Some saw and did not believe. Some believed but were too afraid to openly acknowledge their faith. Help me to see, to believe, to openly live my faith, to comfort Your people, to bring You glory. Always. Amen.

John 12:43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

Have a blessed day.

John 12:2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.

The three gospel accounts of this meal very slightly, but there are consistencies throughout: the expensive nard used to anoint Jesus, the woman who does the anointing, the disciples’ outrage at the wasted money that the nard represents, Jesus’s rebuke of the disciples’ attitudes and defense of the woman’s actions.

John 12:3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Jesus even says in Mark 14:8 “She did what she could.” That really strict a cord. I have choices every day about what I do and how I act. I want to hear my Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” when I meet Him face to face. But the reality is that I don’t always do what I can. Jesus, Help me.

John 12:4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected….

Lord, Thank You for the reminder that I am the one in charge of my attitude and my actions. Help me to do what I can, every day, to bring You praise and glory, to honor You, and to comfort Your people. Amen.

John 12:7-8 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you,but you will not always have me.”

Have a blessed day.

John 17:20-21a “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.

Enns says that, for him, “…trust means letting go of the need to know, of the need to be certain.” I think that one of the things that has been eluding me is the fact that this letting go of those needs is continual, a daily letting go, a daily trusting of Christ. It’s such a simple truth, yet, for me, it’s not easy.

John 17:21b May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus says in John 17:20-21 that His prayer for us is that we will be in Christ and in God just as Christ is in God, that we may have the level of trust that we can say as Jesus did, not only, “”My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” but also, “Not my will but Yours be done.” That is deep, abiding, eternal trust. I want that desperately.

John 17:22-23a I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.

Lord, Help me to set aside the need to know, the need to be certain. The idea that life has to be something I understand is my pride speaking, I know. Help me daily to set aside that need, that pride. Help me to trust You—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—unequivocally. Always. Amen.

John 17:23b Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Have a blessed day.

John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Here, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him and three times gave him the directive to feed and care for His sheep. Some posit that it was necessary for Jesus to say this three times for Peter to fully understand that Jesus still has a plan and a use for him in His kingdom, even after his repeated denial.

John 21:16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The thing that gets me here, that makes Peter so relatable to me, is that after Jesus gives him a specific directive (“Follow me”), Peter’s response is not to accept the invitation but to ask about Jesus’s plans for another disciple. Was this because he was nervous about what Jesus was calling him to? Was he jealous? Was he afraid? Was he hesitant to commit and therefore deflecting?

John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Lord, I fully believe that You have a plan for each of us, something that could be accomplished in other ways but that You uniquely created us to do. Help me to dedicate myself to Your call for me and not to worry about the ways in which You are calling others. Help me to bring You praise and glory always. Amen.

John 21:20-21 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them….When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Have a blessed day.

John 19:4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”

I wonder if, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, Pilate ever thought about these moments, his role, what he did and could have done differently. Did he beat himself up for failing to act? Did he learn a lesson from his inaction and do differently in the future? Did Jesus’s death have any effect?

John 19:6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

How and how often am I guilty of the same things as Pilate, having the ability to act and failing to do so? What causes me to act this way? Fear? Ignorance? Jealousy? Anger?

John 19:8-9 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.

Lord, Help me to act when I have the ability to positively affect a situation. Help me to love and not doubt or fear or hate. Help me to be Your hands and feet in this world, to have Your heart, to love and serve as You do. Amen.

John 19:10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

Have a blessed day.