Observe the Word

In John 17:20-26, Jesus prays for us, for all who will believe because of the apostles’ witness, and as he prays, Jesus describes his vision for unity and witness in Christian communities based on the truth of God’s name and reality of abiding in him.

In John 17:6-19, Jesus makes three prayer requests for his disciples as he commissions them to go into the world and not be of the world. If Jesus were to pray for you, what would he ask for?

In John 17:1-5, Jesus begins his prayer of sanctification for New Testament believers with a prayer for his own glory. How does God’s desire for his own glory relate to his pursuit of a people called by his name?

In John 16:16-33, in the midst of the disciples’ confusion, we are compelled to address the nature of prayer as Jesus promises for the fourth time, “If you shall ask the Father for anything, he will give it to you in My name.”

In John 15:18-16:15, we consider the disciple’s relationship to the world as both separate from the world and also committed to engagement with the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In John 15:12-17, we recognize the fundamentals of discipleship as abiding and loving while also addressing what Jesus meant when he said, “you will do greater works.”

In John 15 Jesus provides for us the simple and deep discipleship image of the vine and the branches. We will consider the heart of abiding in Christ, the acts of abiding in Christ and the fruit of abiding in Christ.

In John 14:16-31 and John 16:5-15 Jesus we consider the promise of Jesus to send the Holy Spirit, who is the promised Holy Spirit and what roles does the Holy Spirit fulfill in the lives of believers.

In John 14 while comforting his disciples Jesus further develops the nature of discipleship, emphasizing the message of the disciple and the submission of the disciple.

In John 13:21-38 Jesus issues a new commandment for his disciples to love one another even as he has loved them. The command comes in a somber atmosphere as Jesus announces his plan to leave the disciples and foretells of his betrayal and denial.

In John 13 we begin the section of John’s Gospel that focuses on true discipleship with three lessons from Jesus’ symbolic act of washing his disciples’ feet.

In John 12 Jesus declares “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. This is the conclusion to the first part of the Gospel, chapters 2-12, which we have titled The Word Among Us and, at the same time, the introduction to the second part of the Gospel, chapters 13-20, which we have titled The Hour of His Glory. 

In John 11 Jesus provides a sign that points directly to himself as the Resurrection and the Life. He raises Lazarus from the dead to affirm the truth that life in this world is experienced through walking with him and life in the next becomes a reality through believing in him.

In John 10 Jesus follows up the sign of healing the blind man with teaching about himself as the Door of the Sheep and the Good Shepherd. This lesson ends the second major section of the Gospel, chapters 5-10.

In John 9 Jesus again declares, “I am the light of the world!” Paired to this declaration, he gives us a sign and concludes with these words, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”