John 13 begins with the narrator sharing that the Passover was near. In the Book of John, Jesus’ death is intricately connected to the Passover and Exodus events (see Exodus 12–14). Jesus knows that his “hour”—the time for his betrayal, death, and resurrection—had come. This is the setting for the last meal that Jesus would share with his disciples.
Read MoreThe narrative of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus, found in John 11, has captivated audiences for generations. The story is told with a high level of suspense and emotion. The episode begins with the narrator telling us that a man named Lazarus, brother of two women named Mary and Martha, has fallen ill. The story assumes a close relationship between Jesus and these siblings. Jesus responds to the word sent by the sister by informing his disciples—and us, the audience—that the situation will not end in death, but in God being glorified. We know, from that moment, that this story will end well, no matter how it might get there.
Read MoreIn John’s tenth chapter, Jesus continues to converse with the Pharisees. They are skeptical of him and all the acts he has performed. It is at this point in Scripture that Jesus shares his third and fourth “I am” statements, given to better convey his character to those listening. He does so by setting the scene: a sheep pen with numerous flocks of sheep. Jesus parallels himself with two different aspects of his illustration.
Read MoreJohn begins his Gospel in John 1:4-5 stating that the Word (Jesus) is, “…the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Now in chapter 8, we see Jesus proclaim, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (v.12). This bold statement by Jesus did not sit well with the religious establishment of that day.
Read MoreThis passage, an encounter between the teachers of the law, Jesus, and the woman caught in adultery, is one of my favorites. It’s as if Jesus uses this encounter to provide a “show-and-tell” of how to apply the teachings from the Sermon on the Mount to a real life situation.
However, prior to the next few days of digging into this passage, a few words are in order about the unique history of it.
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