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Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. - John 21:25 Scripture: John 21:1-25 After Jesus had appeared to His disciples, a few went back to their old way of life. They had disqualified themselves from the resurrected ministry of Jesus Christ considering how they had abandoned Jesus in His darkest hour. Some may have even remained in their disbelief,

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that He had said these things to her. - John 20:18 Scripture: John 20:1-31 Upon His glorious resurrection, Jesus chooses to appear to Mary Magdalene. Jesus had casted out seven demons from Mary Magalene in Luke 8, and from that moment on she devoutly followed Jesus. But why did Jesus choose to appear to her first over His disciples or even family? It is because she stayed. John 19:25

At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. - John 19:41 Scripture: John 19:28-42 To expedite crucifixion, soldiers would often break the legs of the criminals to prevent them from lifting themselves up to breathe. When the soldiers came to Jesus with this motive, they found that He had already died. We know that Jesus did not die from suffocation, but from shock and blood loss. Today, we take t

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews. - John 19:19 Scripture: John 19:1-27 In preparation for Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate has a notice prepared and fastened on the cross. The notice read “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The Jews read this sign and protested, requesting that the sign say that Jesus claimed to be the king of the Jews. However, Pilate refuses and prepares this sign in Aramaic, Latin, an

Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my Kingdom is from another place." - John 18:36 Scripture: John 18:28-40 I, Barabbas, am a convicted murderer and thief, a member of a failed insurrection against Rome. Yet, I write this reflection as a freeman still trying to make sense of that day I stood next to a man named Jesus. I can still hear it. The roar of the crowd. It wasn’t the usu

Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. - John 18:27 Scripture: John 18:15-27 Our scripture highlights the failures of Peter that we as believers share more than we are willing to admit at times. Peter decided to follow Jesus and gains access to the high priest’s courtyard through another disciple who had a standing with the Jewish officials. We are reminded of Peter’s declaration of martyrdom in Matthew 26:35… But Peter declared, “Even if I have to

Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" - John 18:11 Scripture: John 18:1-14 After the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus would cross the Kidron Valley and enter the garden of Gethsemane with His disciples. Judas would arrive with a detachment of soldiers and some Jewish officials. They approached Jesus with torches, lanterns, and weapons, but when Jesus identified Himself, they all drew back and fell to the ground. He asks th

I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. - John 17:9 Scripture: John 17:1-26 Prior to Jesus’ arrest, He concludes the former portion of His ministry with intercession. He firstly prays in declaration that through Him, the work and word of God have been completed. Now all that remained would be Christ’s glorification referring to the finished work of the cross and resurrection. Jesus prays for those who have received

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33 Scripture: John 16:1-33 In response to sin, God establishes the nature through which the world and humanity would continue to progress. To Adam, God declares that he would toil all the days of his life, but the ground will produce only thorns and thistles. The same ground would serve as the dust to which he would return m

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. - John 15:8 Scripture: John 15:1-27 What does a plant need to grow? A good source of sunlight, a steady flow of water, and nutritious soil to grow in. Our scripture provides a powerful and relevant description of our desperate need for Christ. The gardener establishes the vine in a field with plenty of sunlight, water, and good soil just like God the Father has established Jesus Chr

My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? - John 14:2 Scripture: John 14:1-31 Jesus beckons His disciples to trust in Him despite what is to come. He comforts them in declaring that the events soon to come must take place so that the will of God to provide salvation would be fulfilled. In doing so, Jesus promises us that He is only going on ahead to prepare the way for us, not to leave us beh

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. - John 13:34 Scripture: John 13:1-38 Jesus spends His final moments before His arrest with His disciples over what would be known as the last supper. Jesus knew that the hour of His suffering had come and amongst His own there was one who would turn Him over to the authorities. His heart was filled with anguish and heartbreak, but rather than retreating into darkness or allowing the

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. - John 12:24 Scripture: John 12:20-50 The time for Jesus to endure the cross had come near but we want to bring our attention to the kind of words that Jesus chooses to describe what will happen. Rather than using words such as death, darkness, and fear, Jesus provides words such as glorified, honored, and lifted as descriptions

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. - John 12:8 Scripture: John 12:1-19 Our scripture today portrays two instances of worship side by side. The first setting provides for a private and intimate encounter when Mary took a pint of pure nard and poured it over Jesus’ feet. It was a worship filled with tears, thanksgiving, and adoration as she proceeded to wipe his feet with her hair. Scripture tells us that the fragrance of the perfume fille

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. - John 11:51-52 Scripture: John 11:45-57 The news of Lazarus’ resurrection spread quickly and many Jews who came to visit Mary and Martha believed in Jesus Christ; however, some told the Pharisees what had happened leading to an urgent meeting of

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." - John 11:25 Scripture: John 11:1-44 Jesus receives news that Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, lay sick in Bethany. Jesus remains in Perea, the east side of the Jordan river, for two more days before traveling to Bethany in Judea. Rather than immediately departing to Bethany, Jesus arrives four days after Lazarus had passed away. Not only this, but Jesu

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. - John 10:11 Scripture: John 10 In our scripture today, Jesus portrays His relationship with us to that of the good shepherd and His sheep. The goodness of this shepherd is described in three ways: 1. The shepherd builds a familiar relationship with his sheep so they would recognize his voice. 2. The shepherd provides a pasture to nurture his sheep. 3. The shepherd lays his life down for h

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. - John 9:5 Scripture: John 9 As Jesus was exiting the temple grounds, He encounters a man that was born blind. At the sight of him, Jesus’ disciples ask, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Throughout the Old Testament, God would declare blessings or curses over generations based on the actions of an individual. In the minds of Jesus’ disciples, this man or his parents must have committed

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. - John 8:32 Scripture: John 8:31-59 Our devotional reading takes us through one of Jesus’ most famous statements: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” These words deeply confused those around Jesus because to claim freedom for an individual would mean that they were in some way in bondage before. They cite their forefather Abraham

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12 Scripture: John 7:53-8:1-30 When Jesus was teaching the temp courts, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees dragged out a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand before the people. They challenged Jesus, hoping to entrap Him because they knew that the people loved Jesus because He had pro