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w w w.fullcount ministries.co m A b o ut u s. O ur visi o n is t o gi v e e v er y b as e b all pl a y er ar o u n d t h e w orl d t h e o p p ort u nit y t o h e ar t h e G os p el of J es us C hrist, r es p o n d t o t h e m ess a g e, a n d gr o w i n t h eir r el ati o ns hi p wit h J es us C hrist.

O ur mi s si o n i s t o m a k e di s ci pl e s of J e s u s u si n g t h e g a m e of b a s e b all.

F ull C o u nt Mi ni stri e s b eli e v e s … …in the triune Go d: Father ( Creator), Son (the sole hea d of the Church), Holy S pirit. M att h e w 2 8: 1 9; 1 C or. 1 2: 4- 6; 2 C or. 1 3: 1 4 …the Bi ble is G o d breathe d an d free fro m error. 2 Ti m ot h y 3: 1 6 …in the po wer an d i m portance of prayer. J o h n 1 5: 7; P hil. 4: 6- 7 … we were ma de to fello wshi p with one another in brotherly love. M att h e w 1 8: 2 0; H e br e w s 1 0: 2 4- 2 5 … w e w er e m a d e t o gl orif y G o d. I s ai a h 4 3: 7; Ps al m s 8 6: 1 2; 1 C or. 1 0: 3 1 … we were ma de to make disci ples of ALL nations. M att h e w 2 8: 1 9; A ct s 1: 8

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We are driven by the fnal co m man d fro m Jesus to his disci ples to go an d make disci ples!

“ No w the eleven disci ples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus ha d directe d the m. And when they sa w hi m they worshiped hi m, but so me doubted. And Jesus ca me an d sai d t o the m, “ All auth ority in heaven an d on earth has been given t o me. G o theref ore a n d m a k e di s ci pl e s of all n ati o n s, b a pti zi n g t h e m i n t h e n a m e of t h e F at h er a n d of t h e S o n an d of the Holy S pirit, teachin g the m to o bserve all that I have co m man de d you. An d be- h ol d, I a m wit h y o u al w a y s, t o t h e e n d of t h e a g e.” - M att h e w 2 8: 1 6- 2 0

Bi bli c al t e xt i n t hi s b o o k u s e s t h e NI V tr a n sl ati o n of t h e Bi bl e. T hi s i s a fr e e r e s o ur c e f or this su m mer’s missi on tri ps an d is n ot f or c o m mercial distri buti on or resale. # F C M issio n s “He (Jesus) said to the m, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” - Mark 16:15 F C Resources | #F CRES O UR CES | E VE R Y HE A RT | Learn together.

We are dedicated to giving you what you need to succeed. We are currentl y building our librar y of resources - digitall y and in print. F C D Groups | #F C D Groups | E VE R Y TE A M | Gro w together.

A relationsh ip with God in Jesus Ch rist is created in co m m u ni t y. Wh eth er you h a ve t wo or twenty, we want to encourage you to m eet togeth er regularl y o ver th e word of God. Gath er weekl y and disco ver wh at th e Lord h as for you in... # F C D G r o u p s

Th is fall in D Groups !

We will specifically spotlig ht t he Gospel in t he creation account of Genesis. ... D o n’t miss t his!! Ta ble of Contents

S p a ni s h W or d s a n d P hr a s e s...... 1 Pr e s e a s Pres e as o n ...... 3 M a y 2 4..... A n Et er n alF Cr C o B w as n...... e b all | # F C B as e b all 5| E V E R Y P L A Y E R | Tr ai n t o g et h er. M a y 2 5..... All F all S h ort...... 6 M a y 2 6..... T h e Fr e e Gift...... 7 M a y 2 7..... D e m o n str ati o n of L o v e...... 8 M a y 2 8..... Tr u st a n d S urr e n d er...... 9 M a y 2 9..... A s s ur a n c e T hr o u g h J e s u s...... 1 0 M a y 3 0..... S a n cti f c ati o n ...... 1 1 First half of the 13; Season 13; May 31 - June 21 First Half of t he S e as o n ...... 1 3 M a y 3 1.....I ntr o t o J o h n’s G o s p el ...... 1 6 J u n e 1...... T h e W or d W al k s i nt o t h e W orl d...... 1 8 J u n e 2...... J e s u s’s A ut h orit y...... 2 2 Second half of the 101; Season 101; July 5 - All- St ar Bre a k

Second Half of the Season

P osts e as o n a s on 153; July 26 - August 1 153 N ot e s P a g e s...... 1 6 1

We lo ve th e g a m e. We use th is ga m e as a platfor m to engage th e nations with th e gospel of Jesus Ch rist, but we also strive to h elp gu ys be th e best baseball pla yers th e y can be. Preseaso n May 2 4 - 3 0 Preseason - Our Ministry Verse M a y 2 4 An Eternal Cro wn

Scri pture: “ Every one wh o c o m petes in the ga mes g oes int o strict trainin g. They d o it t o get a cr o wn that will n ot last, b ut w e d o it t o g et a cr o w n t h at will l a st f or e v er.” - 1 C ori nt hi a n s 9: 2 5

Rea din g: 1 Ti m othy 4:8 says, “Physical exercise has s o me value, but s piritual exercise is valua ble in every way, because it pr o mises life b oth f or the present an d f or the future.” Our b o dies are the seats of our s ouls, an d since we all have b e e n gi v e n a gift b y G o d wit h o ur b o di e s, it’s o nl y ri g ht t o t a k e c ar e of t h e m a s w e li v e, a s w e’r e w or ki n g a n d mi ni st er - i n g i n t h e w orl d.

Yo u ca n be a great base ball player - g o f or it . Trai n a n d use y o ur tale nts f or G o d. Get str o n ger. Get faster. Thr o w har der. Hit further... an d have y our eyes on the prize. Win cha m pionshi ps! But kn o w that y our stren gth, s pee d, an d a gility will fa de a way an d y our tro phies will be f or g otten (Ja mes 4:14). Your s oul, h o wever, will last bey on d an earthly grave (Revelati on 6:9, R o mans 8:38-39). There is an eternal cro wn t o be g otten... or l ost. An d this cro wn is the m ost i m p ortant! At the c ore of w h o w e ar e i s n ot o ur b o di e s, b ut o ur s o ul, a n d it’s s o i m p ort a nt t o e x er ci s e it s pirit u all y i n or d er t o “ s pirit u all y wi n” i n t hi s w orl d a n d t h e n e xt.

W h at i s s pirit u al tr ai ni n g ? W h y d o it ?

M ost i m p ortantly, t o be gin, we must start an d increase our belief in Jesus. J ohn 3:16 says, “f or G o d s o l ove d the w orl d that he gave his one an d only S on, that wh oever believes in hi m shall n ot perish but have eternal life.” Eternal life is a t ou gh thin g t o wra p y ou min d aroun d (an d the o p p osite of that is t o o... “ perishin g” an d “ceasin g t o live” is defnitely an en d an d is not so methin g we’ d pro ba bly want). We have been given a gift by Go d throu gh the work of his peo ple to hear the g os pel (the g o o d ne ws) an d a gift t o res p on d t o the g os pel in our lives. Over the next fe w days, we will dive dee per into so methin g calle d the “Ro mans Roa d to Salvation” for a better un derstan din g of the gos pel an d ho w we can res pon d t o the g os pel. A sh ortene d versi on of the g os pel is that we have been rec oncile d t o G o d throu gh Jesus Christ. G o d sent his S on, a su bstitute f or our deserve d punish ment bef ore our h oly G o d, t o pay f or our tres passes throu gh his death, an d he was raise d fro m the dea d by the po wer of the Holy S pirit (con querin g death for us), ascen de d into heaven, an d sat at the ri ght han d of the Father. He n o w has all auth ority on earth an d in heaven. We n o w have a w orthy, ri ghte ous kin g! We are t ol d t o re pent fro m our sin an d believe in hi m (J ohn 6:47, 2 Corinthians 7:10). N o w, sin d oesn’t have the p o wer it once ha d because Jesus ma de a way for us. Sin al ways lea ds to death, but throu gh Jesus, we have the o p portunity to li v e i n lif e, p e a c e, a n d h o p e i nt o a f ut ur e r el ati o n s hi p wit h G o d al o n g- si d e br ot h er s a n d si st er s i n t hi s ki n g d o m wit h G o d.

We train s piritually because every m o ment matters. Our ministry is calle d Full Count Ministries because we believe that a s w e li v e, w e li v e c o nti n u all y i n t h e p o siti o n of a “f ull c o u nt.” All t h e w or k y o u h a v e d o n e pr e p ari n g f or t h at n e xt m o m e nt has co me to this mo ment - a decision. Are you be pre pare d to s peak truth to your brother when he tells you that he d oesn’t believe in G o d? H o w will y ou react an d where will y our min d g o when a girl walks by in that really sh ort skirt? What will you do when so meone talks bad about you behind your back? What will you do when you lose everything in this w orl d? We nee d truth. We nee d to be plu g ge d into the true vine.

J e s u s s a y s t hi s:

“I a m t he tr ue vi ne, a n d my Fat her is t he gar de ner. He c uts off every bra nc h i n me t hat bears n o fr uit, w hile every bra nc h t h at d o e s b e ar fr uit h e pr u n e s s o t h at it will b e e v e n m or e fr uitf ul. Y o u ar e alr e a d y cl e a n b e c a u s e of t h e w or d I h a v e s p o k e n t o y o u. R e m ai n i n m e, a n d I will r e m ai n i n y o u. N o br a n c h c a n b e ar fr uit b y it s elf; it m u st r e m ai n i n t h e vi n e. Neither can you bear fruit unless you re main in me.” (John 15:1-4)

T h e r e al q u e sti o n i s, h o w c a n w e b e ar g o o d fr uit ? W e’r e t al ki n g a b o ut r e al fr uit t h at l a st s - w or k t h at will n ot b e w a st ef ul. W e n e e d t o g o t o J e s u s wit h e v er yt hi n g. I n hi m i s lif e a n d hi s w or d s ar e tr ut h. P ur p o s ef ul w or k i s o nl y i n hi m. It’s o ur j o b t o sh o w others h o w t o g o t o hi m t o o! Here at Full Count, we believe that bearin g g o o d fruit throu gh Jesus is intert wine d in our three core values: buil din g relationshi ps, teachin g the wor d, an d mo delin g o be dience. This su m mer, we are excite d that you have chosen to co me along side us as we dive deeper into beco ming more like Christ together through our su m mer missions tea m!

D a y 1 R e s p o n s e Where are you s piritually at this mo ment an d where do you want to be?

What are your ex pectations/ho pes for this mission season? Jot do wn so me goals.

To day’s Prayer Gui de:

Praise - Father, you are so goo d. You are pure, ri ghteous, an d holy Go d. You are everythin g we nee d. You ma de heaven an d earth! You h ol d everythin g in y our han ds. Wo w. Thank y ou f or sen din g y our s on, Jesus, t o live an d die f or us, rescuin g u s fr o m si n a n d d e at h!

C onfess - I have been s o selfsh. I d on’t think of other’s physical an d s piritual nee ds, or try t o meet the m or p oint the m t o y o u. I a m s o li mit e d i n c o m p ari s o n t o y o u. I f ail b e c a u s e I d o n’t b eli e v e f ull y i n y o u a n d t h e g o s p el.

Ask - Father, hel p me to believe the gos pel, the true gos pel. Hel p me believe more an d more in your son, Jesus. Teach me ho w to live. Dra w me closer to you this season alon g with my brothers on this su m mer missions tea m. Reveal my sins to m e a n d h el p m e t o t ur n fr o m t h e m. H el p m e b e a r e f e cti o n of y o u. L et m e b e a n a m b a s s a d or o n t h e mi s si o n f el d f or y o u. Let my w or ds an d acti ons be salt an d li ght int o the nati ons!

“ You are m y re w ar d, all I’ m livin g for. I surrender all my life to you.” T o d a y’s s o n g i s M y R e w ar d b y Kri sti a n St a n fll. > Scan this Q R c o de t o listen >

D a y 1 Preseason - The Ro man Road M a y 2 5 All Fall S h ort

S cri pt ur e: “ F or all h a v e si n n e d a n d f all s h ort of t h e gl or y of G o d” - R o m a n s 3: 2 3

R e a di n g: There are many in the worl d that woul d say that they are a goo d person. Many woul d pro ba bly say that a bout y o u. Y o u d o a l ot of t h e ri g ht t hi n g s. Y o u w a k e u p, g o t o s c h o ol or w or k, h el p p e o pl e w h e n t h e y n e e d it, a n d d o n’t co m plain too much. A hu ge difference bet ween what most peo ple believe an d what the bi ble says a bout peo ple is that none of us are actually goo d peo ple. Our stan dard of “goo d” an d Go d’s stan dard of “goo d” are t wo co m pletely different measure ments. We co m pare one another to the rest of us, while Go d measures us by his o wn moral an d holy c o m p a s s.

P a ul i s n’t t h e o nl y bi bli c al writ er t o s a y s o. I n M ar k 1 0: 1 8 e v e n J e s u s s a y s, “ n o o n e i s g o o d b ut G o d al o n e.” T hi s i s n’t j u st a Ne w Testa ment conce pt. Davi d sin gs, written in Psal m 14:

The Lord looks do wn fro m heaven o n all m a n ki n d to see if there are any who un derstan d, a n y w h o s e e k G o d. All have turne d a way, all have beco me corru pt; t h er e i s n o o n e w h o d o e s g o o d, n ot e v e n o n e.

A sill y e x a m pl e w o ul d b e t h at n o t e e b all pl a y er c a n c o m p ar e t o Mi k e Tr o ut. T h at w o ul d b e a ri di c ul o u s c o m p ari s o n! W e are even further re m ove d fro m bein g “g o o d” than that! We are s o far fro m G o d, it’s bey on d our a bility t o c o m prehen d it. The Go d who ma de heaven an d earth sets the stan dar d. He is the stan dar d. He is perfect an d holy, an d there is no one li k e hi m ( 1 S a m u el 2: 2). T hi s p ut s u s i n a r e all y b a d pl a c e wit h hi m, b e c a u s e h e i s al s o a j u st G o d. R e s p o n s e

yes no Check the applicable box to the left. I have either t ol d a lie or deceive d s o me one ( or b oth). I have st olen s o methin g (as little as a pa per cli p or as much as a penny). I have th ou ght a lustful th ou ght. I have wanted what other people have. I have done so methin g that di dn’t honor my parents. I a m perfect!

By your o wn confession, you are a sinful person in nee d of savin g fro m punish ment by a holy Go d... So are we all!

To day’s Prayer Gui de: Praise - Father, y ou are h oly. You are far a b ove me, an d y ou are the stan dar d of perfecti on. C o nf e s s - I a m a si n n er i n n e e d of y o u! Ask - Reveal my i m perfections that I may present the m to you. “In muck and mire our wretched souls Had fallen to the depths belo w” T o d a y’s s o n g i s All W e Si n n er s b y P a s si o n ft. Cr o w d er.

D a y 2 Preseason - The Ro man Road M a y 2 6 The Free Gift

S cri pt ur e: “ F or t h e w a g e s of si n i s d e at h, b ut t h e gift of G o d i s et er n al lif e i n C hri st J e s u s o ur L or d.” - R o m a n s 6: 2 3

R e a di n g: A lon g, lon g ti me a go, the frst man an d wo man create d by Go d were tol d by Go d that if they diso beye d, they w o ul d di e b e c a u s e of it ( G e n e si s 2: 1 7). T h e r e a s o n t h at w e all di e i s b e c a u s e of di s o b e di e n c e t o G o d. N o w, it’s j u st a si g n of hu manity. This is the reality - that because of our sin, we have deserve d an d secure d a physical death. The curse of d e at h i s t h e p a y m e nt ( or w a g e s) of o ur lif e st yl e a p art fr o m o ur d e ci si o n t o o b e y G o d. B ut, if y o u c a n li v e wit h d yi n g, w ell, the hole gets much dee per an d unsettlin g...

“I j u st w a nt t o g et w h at I d e s er v e,” y o u mi g ht h e ar. W ell, a s o n e mi s si o n t e a m m e m b er i n t h e p a st p oi nt e d o ut i n o n e of o ur d e v oti o n al s, “if w e g ot w h at w e d e s er v e d, t h e n w e w o ul d g et h ell.” W ait... h ell ? ? A s w e k n o w a n d vi e w i n s cri pt ur e, G o d is h oly. One sin se parates fro m hi m. Only one. An d we aren’t just se parate d by our sin, we have t o be punishe d f or it. Infnite h oliness c on de mns sin an d sinners t o an infnite de gree... f orever.

Heaven and hell are real places. They are eternal places. Heaven is a popular concept even a mong non- Christians. C ult ur all y, h ell i s a v er y u n p o p ul ar o n e, b ut i s i n f a ct bi bli c al a s w ell. I n M att h e w 2 5, J e s u s t al ks a b o ut s e p ar ati n g t h e s h e e p ( believers/o be dient) an d goats (un believers/ diso be dient). He stresses re ward to the o be dient believers an d punish ment t o dis o be dient un believers. The o be dient get eternal life, while the dis o be dient secure a de parture int o the “eternal fre pre pare d for the devil an d his an gels.” Go d cannot tolerate an d will not tolerate sin. Unlike many woul d say, we all do deserve to be punishe d.

I’ m gla d our coach doesn’t give u p on us because of our losin g record!

The goo d ne ws is that there is a way to reconciliation an d a way for our wa ges to be pai d by so meone else. As Ro mans 6: 2 3 s a y s, et er n al lif e i s a gift of G o d t hr o u g h J e s u s C hri st. H e i s t h e o nl y w a y, t h e tr ut h, a n d t h e lif e! R e s p o n s e

Wit h o ut be n di n g t he pa per or usi n g sciss ors, carefully an d perfectly tear this piece of pa per on the d otte d line. Yes, d o it. Can you tear it perfectly ?

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We are inca pa ble of acc o m plishin g a perfect tear because of the i m perfecti ons even in the f bers of the pa per! We are b orn i nt o si n. Ps al m 5 1: 5 s a y s, “ B e h ol d, I w a s br o u g ht f ort h i n i ni q uit y, A n d i n si n m y m ot h er c o n c ei v e d m e.”

To day’s Prayer Gui de: Pr ai s e - Y o u ar e a j u st, g o o d, h ol y G o d w h o d o e s n’t l et e vil w al k i nt o y o ur pr e s e n c e. Confess - We deserve, an d I deserve, punish ment for my sins. Ask - Give me eyes to see the de pths of my wron gs. “ Who else could rescue me fro m my failing Who else would offer His only Son” T o d a y’s s o n g i s O nl y A H ol y G o d b y Cit y Ali g ht.

D a y 3 We were c ast o ut of t he “So the LORD Godprese banished hi m fro m the Garden of Eden nce to work the ground fro m of which he had been taken.”a - Genesis 3:23 hh ol ol y y G G o o d, d, b utbut t hr o u g hthr h Jes usJesus, T H E C U R T AI N S E P A R A TI O N w as t or n i n h alf “At that mo ment the curtain of the te mple was torn in t wo fro m top to botto m. The earth shook, the rocks split” - Matthe w 27:51 i n a de m o nstr ati o n “But God de monstrates his o wn love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Ro mans 5: 8 of l o ve. Preseason - The Ro man Road M a y 2 7 De monstration of Love

Scri pture: “ But G o d de m onstrates his o wn l ove f or us in this: W hil e w e w er e still si n n er s, C hri st di e d f or u s.” - R o m a n s 5: 8 R e a di n g: J o h n r e c or ds J es us s a yi n g i n his g os p el a c c o u nt, “ gr e at er l o v e h as n o o n e t h a n t his: t o l a y d o w n o n e’s lif e f or o n e’s fri e n ds.” J es us di d n’t j ust t al k t h e t al k, h e w al k e d t h e w al k. Fr o m t h e frst c o u pl e of p a g es of t h e Bi bl e, w e s e e a d e v ast ati n g bl o w t o t h e r el ati o ns hi p b et w e e n G o d a n d m a n. M a n dis o b e y e d his Cr e at or a n d f ell i nt o si n. Si n c e G o d is h ol y, h e c a n n ot c oi n ci d e wit h si nf ul cr e at ur es. G e n esis 3: 2 3 s a ys, “ S o t h e Lord God banished hi m fro m the Garden of Eden to work the ground fro m which he had been taken.” Through history, we h a v e c o m m u ni c at e d t hr o u g h a v eil, f g ur ati v el y a n d lit er all y at ti m es. Pr a y er a n d s a cri f c es b e c a m e t h e w a y p e o pl e c o n n e ct e d wit h G o d. G o d t ol d his p e o pl e t o m a k e a t a b er n a cl e s o t h at pri ests c o ul d e nt er i nt o a cl os er pr es e n c e wit h G o d. T h er e w er e m a n y “ h o o ps” t o j u m p t hr o u g h t o g et t o G o d. E v e n i n M os es’s d a y, as cl os e as h e w as t o G o d, h e d es p er at el y w a nt e d t o s e e t h e f a c e of G o d; h o w e v er, G o d t ol d M os es, “ y o u c a n n ot s e e m y f a c e, f or n o o n e m a y s e e m e a n d li v e.” A g ai n a n d a g ai n, t h e p e o pl e of G o d f ail e d t o e ar n t h eir w a y b a c k t o G o d. T h e st or y of t h e Ol d T est a m e nt pr o v es t h e i n a bilit y t o r e c o n cil e o urs el v es t o a h ol y G o d. T h e n w h at c o ul d w e d o ? G o d h a d a pl a n t h at n o o n e s a w c o mi n g. First of all, si n c a n n ot g o u n p u nis h e d, a n d t h er e w as n o p at h w a y t o g et b a c k t o G o d wit h o ut s o m e o n e p utti n g t h e b at o n t h at b all. 1 Ti m ot h y 3: 1 6 s a ys, “ b e y o n d all q u esti o n, t h e m yst er y fr o m w hi c h tr u e g o dli n ess s pri n gs is gr e at: H e a p p e ar e d i n t h e fesh, was vin dicate d by the S pirit, was seen by an gels, was preache d a mon g the nations, was believe d on in the worl d, was t a k e n u p i n gl or y.” G o d hi ms elf p ut o n h u m a n f es h as t h e m a n J es us, a n d as h e w al k e d t his e art h, h e w as d es pis e d, r ej e ct e d, b e at e n, a n d kill e d - alt h o u g h s cri pt ur e is als o cl e ar t h at h e l ai d d o w n his lif e ( J o h n 1 0: 1 7). T h e o nl y m a n w h o w as wit h o ut si n was the only one worthy to cancel our de bt. He took our punish ment. He hit the sacrifce fy so that we coul d get ho me an d s c or e t h e wi n ni n g r u n. His o ut ( d e at h) p ai d t h e pri c e f or t h e wi n ( a lif e wit h G o d). As Jesus die d on the cross, an a mazin g thin g ha p pene d. Matthe w 27 recor ds, “ An d when Jesus ha d crie d out a gain in a lou d v oi c e, h e g a v e u p his s pirit. At t h at m o m e nt t h e c urt ai n of t h e t e m pl e w as t or n i n t w o fr o m t o p t o b ott o m. T h e e art h s h o o k, t h e r o c ks s plit.” At t h e v er y m o m e nt of J es us’s d e p art ur e fr o m t h e p h ysi c al w orl d, t h e c urt ai n of s e p ar ati o n i n t his w orl d w as t or n i n h alf. G o d d e m o nstr at e d t his gr e at a ct of l o v e s o t h at w e c o ul d c o m e t o hi m. W h at w as i m p ossi bl e, w as n o w m a d e p ossi bl e b y G o d’s w or k al o n e! H e w as t h e p erf e ct s a cri f c e. H e di e d t h e d e at h t h at w e d es er v e d f or o ur si n. T h a n k y o u, J es us! R es p o ns e: Who is so meone that has de monstrate d love for you? What di d they do?

Challen ge: Tell that pers on that y ou are thankful f or the m an d what they have d one f or y ou (face-t o-face, call, text, etc.).

To day’s Prayer Gui de: Pr ai s e - F at h er, y o u ar e ri g ht i n all t h at y o u d o. Y o ur gr a c e o v er f o w s o n m e. Confess - I a m not deservin g of your love, but you have de monstrate d a love for me that I can never pay back. A s k - Gi v e m e a t h a n kf ul h e art f or all y o ur gift s i n lif e, a n d e s p e ci all y f or t hi s s a cri f c e f or m y si n. “The war on death was waged - the po wer of hell forever broken” T o d a y’s s o n g i s F or e v er b y Bri a n J o h n s o n.

D a y 4 Preseason - The Ro man Road M a y 2 8 Trust & Surrender

Scri pture: “If y ou declare with y our m outh, “Jesus is Lor d,” an d believe in y our heart that G o d raise d hi m fro m the dea d, y o u will b e s a v e d. F or it i s wit h y o ur h e art t h at y o u b eli e v e a n d ar e j u sti f e d, a n d it i s wit h y o ur m o ut h t h at y o u pr of e s s your faith an d are save d.” - Ro mans 10:9-10 Rea din g: The gos pel woul dn’t be goo d ne ws if Jesus ha d die d an d staye d in the grave. As the war on death was wa ge d by Go d, he defeate d death - con querin g death by risin g fro m that grave. Death coul d not hol d our kin g ( Acts 2:24). Many witnesse d Jesus livin g f oll o win g his resurrecti on (J ohn 15:27, Acts 1:8). Then, he was taken u p int o heaven ( Acts 1:6-12). Every kin g bef ore hi m ha d die d an d staye d burie d, but Jesus is a livin g kin g! Salvati on is ma de p ossi ble because of his resurrecti on. He is n o w a dv ocatin g f or us in the presence of the Father in heaven, an d his w ork is bein g d o n e i n t h e w orl d t hr o u g h t h e p o w er of t h e H ol y S pirit i n u s. For us, this is goo d ne ws! We are bein g ma de ne w an d are bein g save d fro m death to life. We are ne w creations. Sin d o e s n’t h a v e t h e p o w er o v er u s it o n c e h a d; t hi s i s if w e a c c e pt t h e gift! True faith re quires acti on. As the sacrifce fy was hit, the base runner on thir d starts takin g ste ps. He co mes ho me! He can’t just stan d there an d ex pect the ga me t o be w on. As he sees the ball launche d int o the outfel d, s o methin g has t o b e d o n e o n hi s p art a s w ell. H e s e e s wit h hi s e y e s t h at h o m e i s hi s f or t h e t a ki n g, a n d h e m o v e s hi s f e et! G o d di d all t h e w or k t o off er s al v ati o n t o u s. T h e t hi n g w e h a v e t o d o i s a c c e pt it! Li k e t h e pl a y er st a n di n g o n t hir d b a s e, s e ei n g t h e b all hit i nt o t h e o ut f el d i s a l ot li k e h e ari n g a n d e x p eri e n ci n g t h e g o s p el t hr o u g h ot h er p e o pl e. B eli e vi n g a n d professin g faith is sho wn in the worl d an d to Go d by what we do in res ponse to the messa ge of the gos pel. Whether so meone has been raise d by a Christian househol d or not, whether so meone has been in dee p sin or not, an d whether s o me one has believe d in Jesus ten years a g o or n ot, t o day is the day of salvati on (2 C orinthians 6:2). True faith will n ot f a d e, a n d t h e h o p e of t h e g o s p el i n t h e h e art of t h e b eli e vi n g p er s o n i s a f a m e t h at will n e v er b e p ut o ut. T o d a y, we are calle d to believe in the a weso me po wer of Go d’s work in acco m plishin g the gos pel, an d we must work out our s al v ati o n a s m e n, c o m p ell e d b y o ur G o d’s l o v e f or u s i n t h e lif e, d e at h, a n d r e s urr e cti o n of C hri st ( P hili p pi a n s 2: 1 2). S al v ati o n i s h er e f or all... f or e v er y b a s e b all pl a y er! W e j u st n e e d t o c o m e h o m e. R e s p o n s e Have you delaye d your s print to ho me plate? Why? Or have you lost passion for the victory in Jesus you have?

Challen ge: Tell so meone that you are rea dy to “co me ho me,” or have so meone pray for you to s park a passion for Hi m.

To day’s Prayer Gui de: Pr ai s e - L or d, y o u h a v e d o n e all t h e h ar d w or k. Y o u d o n’t j u st l o v e u s, b ut y o u A R E l o v e. H el p m e t o b e p a s si o n at el y t h a n kf ul for the work you have done throu gh your Son, Jesus. Confess - In my fnite, hu man bo dy an d min d, I dis miss the a weso me po wer of the cross of Christ. Ask - Father, s park me into a passionate love for you an d this Gos pel messa ge goin g into missions season with F C. “I could let you do wn over and over But your love never changes” T o d a y’s s o n g i s C o mi n g H o m e b y H o u s e fr e s ft. N at e M o or e

D a y 5 Preseason - The Ro man Road M a y 2 9 Assurance Through Jesus

Scri pture: “For, ‘Every one wh o calls on the na me of the Lor d will be save d.’” - Ro mans 10:13 R e a di n g: U p t o t hi s p oi nt, t hr o u g h s cri pt ur e i n R o m a n s, w e h a v e s e e a l ot of t h e “ b a d n e w s.” Fir st, all h a v e f all e n s h ort of G o d’s gl or y, a n d t h e w a g e s of o ur si n i s d e at h. B ut w e g ai n t h e g o o d n e w s a s w e k e e p r e a di n g. T h e fr e e gift i s et er - n al lif e i n C hri st J e s u s o ur L or d. T h e w a y t h at h e di d t h at i s d yi n g i n o ur pl a c e. O ur p erf e ct ki n g di e d a si n n er’s d e at h. If we n o w declare with our m ouths, “Jesus is Lor d,” an d believe in our hearts that G o d raise d hi m fro m the dea d, we will be save d. For it is wit h o ur hearts t hat we believe a n d are j ustife d, a n d it is wit h o ur m o ut hs t hat we pr ofess o ur fait h an d are save d. This ensures that we must n ot only call out t o the win d or t o a frien d, but we must call on the na me of the Lor d (t o the Lor d) t o be save d s o we can live eternally with Hi m. This is a beautiful picture of assurance. Many rea din g this, es pecially rea din g the last fe w days, may have d ou bte d their or t h eir fri e n d’s s al v ati o n. G o d a s s ur e s u s t h at w h e n w e c all o n hi m f or s al v ati o n, h e will d eli v er! J e s u s c ar e s a b o ut y o ur heart chan ge. A hu ge part of salvati on is the bi g w or d “sanctifcati on.” In sanctifcati on, this is where G o d d oes m ost of t h e tr a n sf or mi n g. A s h u m a n b ei n g s i n a f all e n w orl d, t h er e m a y b e m a n y t hi n g s t h at G o d i s c alli n g y o u t o gi v e u p or pi c k u p i n s a n cti f c ati o n. F or e x a m pl e, i n 1 T h e s s al o ni a n s 4: 3 it s a y s, “It i s G o d’s will t h at y o u s h o ul d b e s a n cti f e d: t h at y ou sh oul d av oi d sexual i m m orality.” Sanctifcati on basically means “set a part.” With a Christ-centere d stan dar d: - H o w can y ou set y ourself a part in the way that y ou talk? - H o w can y ou set y ourself a part in the way that y ou act? - H o w can y ou set y ourself a part in the way that y ou pick frien ds? W h e n y o u tr ul y c all o n t h e n a m e of t h e L or d f or s al v ati o n, y o ur ol d s elf a n d p a st attr a cti o n s will b e c o m e d ull. Y o u will n o l on ger want t o be in sin. You will want t o be like Christ, an d surr oun d y ourself with other pe o ple strivin g thr ou gh that sa me g oal. Even s o, if y ou have n o one - everyone who calls on the na me of the Lor d will be save d!

R e s p o n s e H a v e y o u c all e d o n t h e n a m e of t h e L or d t o b e s a v e d ? W h at t hi n gs m a k e it h ar d t o s a n ctif y i nt o C hrist’s i m a g e i n o ur c ult ur e ?

To day’s Prayer Gui de: Praise - You are perfect an d Jesus, y ou were the perfect sacrifce f or my sin. C o nf e s s - I c all o n y o u n o w t o r e v e al m y si n t o m e - s h o w m e w h at I n e e d t o l a y at y o ur f e et. A s k - Str e n gt h e n m y f ait h i n y o ur p o w er t o s a v e, a s I d ail y f all s h ort of p erf e cti o n t h at y o u di s pl a y e d. “I will call upon the Lord For He alone is strong enough to save” T o d a y’s s o n g i s C all U p o n T h e L or d b y El e v ati o n W or s hi p

D a y 6 Preseason - The Ro man Road M a y 3 0 Evangelis m & Sancti fcation

Scri pt ure: “ Theref ore, I ur ge y ou, br ot hers an d sisters, in vie w of G o d’s mercy, t o offer y our b o dies as a livin g sacrifce, h oly an d pleasin g t o G o d—this is y our true an d pro per w orshi p. D o n ot c onf or m t o the pattern of this w orl d, but be transfor me d by the rene win g of your min d. Then you will be a ble to test an d a p prove what Go d’s will is—his goo d, pleasin g an d perfect will.” - Ro mans 12:1-2

R e a di n g: Fir st, y o ur lif e will c h a n g e m u c h m or e t h a n y o ur w or d s at t h e b e gi n ni n g; y o ur a cti o n s will f oll o w y o ur b eli ef i n w h at C hri st h a s d o n e f or y o u. J e s u s w a s cl e ar i n hi s m e s s a g e t o hi s di s ci pl e s w h e n h e s ai d i n M ar k 1 6: 1 5, “ g o i nt o all the w orl d an d preach the g os pel t o all creati on.” After hearin g a b out the a mazin g salvati on that G o d has offere d t o y ou, y ou very well may n ot be a ble t o kee p it t o y ourself! You may be askin g, “ H o w can I share?” or “ Wh o sh oul d I tell?” This missi on seas on, y ou have the o p p ortunity t o gro w in Christ with a grou p of men, set a part fro m y our daily grin d at y our h o me or sch o ol functi ons, t o learn better what it’s like t o f oll o w an d gro w in Christ, but als o gain enc oura ge ment to share your dee p ho pe in the savin g po wer of Go d throu gh Jesus Christ. This missi on seas on will be a ti me where y our min d can be rene we d, transf or me d, an d teste d. There will be plenty of o p p ortunities t o cast off y our ol d desires an d graft on ne w desires in Christ. G o d will give y ou o p p ortunities t o share the g o o d ne ws - parts of the G os pel as a tea m or the fullness of the G os pel in a bi g ger chunk of ti me. Ask G o d t o re- ne w y our min d this su m mer as y ou she d off sinful desires an d put on the cl othes of Christ this June an d July. What we d o k n o w i s t h at it i s Hi s will f or y o u t o b e o n mi s si o n a n d t o s h ar e t h e l o v e of J e s u s C hri st i n Ni c ar a g u a, H o n d ur a s, or at ho me, in your work place, an d at school.

R e s p o n s e All of us h a v e diff er e nt cir cl es of i n f u e n c e. W h at ar e t hr e e ar e as of i n f u e n c e t h at y o u c o ul d st art t o w e a v e g os p el- c e nt er e d c o n v ers ati o ns i nt o y o ur r el ati o ns hi ps ? At t h e t o p, y o u mi g ht p ut y o ur s c h o ol a n d t h e n list u p t o si x fri e n ds.

Exa mple: ho me m o m d a d ste p- m o m sister- Cassidy brother- Eli next door neighbors

To day’s Prayer Gui de: Pr ai s e - Y o u ar e t ot all y w ort h y of m y d e v oti o n - of all t h at I h a v e a n d all t h at I a m! Confess - I feel t otally ina de quate t o share y our salvati on, but y ou have even b ou ght that feelin g fro m me. Ask - Give me the w or ds t o say, l ove f or pe o ple, an d the acti ons t o f oll o w thr ou gh in presentin g y ou in a way w orthy t o y ou. There are so many that forget a bout you, althou gh you see us at every mo ment. Dra w us close to you, an d hel p me be a li g ht i n t hi s w orl d - a b e a c o n of h o p e i n d ar k n e s s.

“I believe I overco me By the po wer of His blood” T o d a y’s s o n g i s B e c a u s e H e Li v e s ( A m e n) b y M att M a h er

D a y 7 SeasoFirst half of t h e n May 3 1 - June 2 1 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n M a y 3 1 Intro to John’s Gos pel

Today in Full Count Missions - Our frst tea m of the seas on sh oul d be hea din g out t o Nicara gua t o day! This tea m will be hea din g to Mozonte, Nicara gua where our mission house is locate d an d will play ball ga mes there in the to wn. Please pray f or o ur frst tea m as t hey travel!

Purpose of Reading the Gospel of John Together As a ministry, we want t o refect dee ply on the g os pel this missi on seas on as we get g oin g an d as we share the g os pel. In six days, we covere d what peo ple ty pically call “The Ro man’s Roa d to Salvation” fro m the text written by Paul. No w, we will look into the win do w fro m the pers pective of the a postle John. He ha d an eye- witness account of Jesus. Fro m the get- go, John poetically, but meanin gfully an d truthfully shares that Jesus is the Wor d an d ca me into the worl d as so. John is refectin g back to the Genesis account here. Go d s poke wor ds to for m the worl d into existence in Genesis 1. Everythin g Go d ma de was ma de goo d. Over an d over, the text says, “ An d Go d sai d” an d “ Go d sa w that it was goo d”. What is re marka ble is that John elo quently makes this connection. He says, “the word beca me fesh an d d welt a mong us” (J ohn 1:14). Yes, he is the pure w or d of G o d. J ohn 1:17 says, “grace an d truth ca me throu gh Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the e m bo di ment of all thin gs goo d fro m Go d’s Word an d he live d it out in a sin-saturate d worl d. Throu gh the Gos pel of J ohn, we see other pe o ple’s reacti ons t o wh o Jesus is as well as what Jesus believe d hi mself t o be as he walke d the e art h li k e y o u a n d m e. As you rea d John’s Gos pel this mission season, we ho pe that Ro mans 8:29 will take a ne w meanin g for you as you see the ministry of Jesus. This verse says, “For th ose G o d f orekne w he als o pre destine d t o be c onf or me d t o the i ma ge of his Son, that he mi ght be the frst born a mon g many brothers an d sisters.” Our prayer for you is that you beco me more an d m ore c onf or me d int o the i ma ge of Jesus as y ou ste p acr oss cultural lines on an d off the fel d this year. You have a j o b t o d o! You will enc ounter pe o ple that d o n ot kn o w this g os pel. They d o n ot kn o w the real Jesus, an d they d o n ot have h o pe int o eternity! You have the w or ds, with the p o wer of the H oly S pirit, that can s peak life an d li ght int o death an d darkness. May be y ou y ourself haven’t rea d a g os pel acc ount all the way throu gh. We are excite d t o d o it with y ou this missi on seas on!

Have you ever share d the gos pel with so meone? circle > yes or no

What is hol din g you back fro m sharin g the gos pel?

These questions aren’t meant to give you a har d ti me! We want to co me alon g si de you an d encoura ge you to share your faith this su m mer. Our translat ors will clean u p any “ mistakes” y ou may have. Lean int o the G os pel of J ohn these next fe w weeks, an d we pray that it increases y our belief an d b ol dness in Jesus!

Further Rea din g - Intro duction Material fro m blueletter bi ble.or g

Authorship of the Gospel of John The A postle John is usually cre dite d with the authorshi p of the fourth Gos pel. First of all, the author ha d to have been an eye witness of the ministry of Jesus (1:14; 19:35; 21:24). He woul d have also ha d a decent fa miliarity with Palestine before the destruction of the te m ple in A D 70, an d woul d have been fa miliar with the Je wish way of life. J ohn the A p ostle d oes ft the descri pti on, but it is n ot exclusive t o hi m. Early tra diti ons hel p t o i dentify the auth or as J o h n. Ire nae us, a disci ple of J o h n’s disci ple Polycar p, is of t he earliest exta nt s o urces t o ass ociate J o h n wit h t he f o urt h G os pel. [1] Like the other G os pels, the title “ Acc or din g t o J ohn” ( K AT A I W A N N H N) is f oun d in the earliest manuscri pts. John an d his brother Ja mes, acco m panie d by their father Ze be dee, were pre paring their nets in a boat when Jesus

D a y 8 calle d the m. B oth Ja mes an d J ohn left the b oat an d their father t o f oll o w Jesus ( Matt 4:18-22). Jesus often t o ok Peter, J a m e s, a n d J o h n a si d e d e f ni n g t h e m a s a n i n n er cir cl e of di s ci pl e s ( 1 3: 2 3- 2 4; 2 0: 2- 1 0; 2 1: 2, 7, 2 0ff.). N ot o nl y i s J o h n c ounte d a m on g this select grou p, but he als o refers t o hi mself as the disci ple wh o m Jesus l ove d (13:23; 20:2; 21:7, 20). After the resurrecti on of Jesus, J ohn c ontinue d t o play an instru mental r ole in the early church. Paul referre d t o Peter, Ja mes, an d J ohn as the pillars of the church in Jerusale m ( Gal 2:9). J ohn is f oun d with Peter g oin g t o the te m ple when Peter heale d the cri p ple d man ( Acts 3:1-11). As a result both men went before the Sanhe drin ( Acts 4:1-23). Peter an d John later travele d u p to Sa maria to confr m the work that was goin g on there ( Acts 8:14-24). D ate a n d L o c ati o n of C o m p ositi o n of t he G os p el of J o h n J ohn’s G os pel is generally c onsi dere d t o be the last of the f our can onical G os pels t o be written. On the other han d, as Michaels p oints out, “n o li mit c oul d be fxe d on h o w early it c oul d have been written” because J ohn d oes n ot rely on the Syno ptic Gos pels. [2] In the past, so me have date d the Gos pel in the secon d century, but that vie w has decrease d in p o pularity after the disc overy of t w o i m p ortant manuscri pts of J ohn’s G os pel that are date d in the early part of the secon d century (P46 an d E gerton Pa p. 2). The majority of scholars date the Gos pel in the perio d A D 90-100, thou gh so me have date d it much earlier. [3] The l ocati on of J ohn’s G os pel has recently been dis pute d. The t w o p ossi bilities that have gaine d the m ost acce ptance are Syria an d Asia Minor. Syria is mentione d because of the Gos pel’s connection with the O des of Solo mon [4] an d I gnatius of Anti och (ca. 110), wh o ha d early ass ociati on with J ohn’s G os pel. On the other han d, early church tra diti on suggests that John co m pose d his Gos pel in E phesus ( Asia Minor). An exa m ple of this is the testi mony of Irenaeus: “Then J ohn, the disci ple of the Lor d, wh o ha d even reste d on his breast, hi mself als o gave f orth the G os pel, while he w a s li vi n g at E p h e s u s i n A si a.” [ 5] Purpose Behind the Text and the Audience of the Gospel of John J ohn s pecifcally states his pur p ose in 20:31, “ But these are written that y ou may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the S o n of G o d, a n d t h at b y b eli e vi n g y o u m a y h a v e lif e i n hi s n a m e.” T h er ef or e t h e p ur p o s e of J o h n’s G o s p el is t o “ c o n fr m an d secure Christians in the faith.” [6] J ohn als o uses 3:16 an d 8:24 t o su p p ort this. Euse bius ar gue d that J ohn wr ote in or der to co m ple ment the Syno ptics where they were lackin g, [7] while the Muratorian Canon su g geste d that his fello w di s ci pl e s i n A si a Mi n or ur g e d hi m t o writ e a n a c c o u nt. [ 8] The s pecifc reci pients are n ot clearly s pelle d out in the G os pel. Conjecture, al on g with the Murat orian Can on, w oul d s u g g e st t h at it w a s writt e n f or t h e di s ci pl e s i n A si a Mi n or, b ut t h er e i s n o c ert ai nt y i n t hi s. Bibliography [ 1] E u s e bi u s Hi st. E c cl. 2. 2 3. 1- 4; 4. 1 4. 3- 8; 5. 8. 4; 2 0. 4- 8 et al. [2] J. Ra msey Michaels. John. (Pea bo dy, Mass: Hen drickson Pu blishers, 1989), p. 17. [3] See J. A.T. Ro binson. The Priority of John. (Lon don: S C M, 1985) [4] The O des were part of an early Christian d ocu ment m ost likely written ori ginally in Ara maic-Syriac. [ 5] E u s e bi u s Hi st. E c cl. 5. 8. 4 [6] Werner Georg Kü m mel. Intro duction to the Ne w Testa ment ( Nashville: A bin g don Press, En glish Translation of the 17th E dition, 1975) p. 229. [ 7] E u s e bi u s Hi st. E c cl. 3. 2 4. 7ff. [8] H. C. Thiessen. Intro duction to the Ne w Testa ment. ( Gran d Ra pi ds: Eerd mans Pu blishin g Co., 1943). p. 172.

To day’s Prayer Gui de: Praise - Praise Go d that he orchestrate d a way for his Wor d to beco me fesh. Thank you, Go d, for the gos pel. Thank hi m for the o p portunity to hear an d res pon d to the gos pel! Confession - Confess that you have often shie d a way fro m sharin g the gos pel. Ask - Ask Go d that he woul d give you the bol dness an d coura ge to share the gos pel! “In a mo ment my eyes were opened, in that moment my heart was changed” Today’s song is The Gospel by Ryan Stevenson

D a y 8 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 1 C h a pt e r 1

(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was with God in the beginning. (3) Through hi m all things were made; without hi m nothing was made that has been made. (4) In hi m was lif e, a n d t h at lif e w a s t h e li g ht of all m a n ki n d. ( 5) T h e li g ht s hi n e s i n t h e d ar k n e s s, a n d t h e d ar k n e s s h a s n ot o v er c o m e it. (6) There was a man sent fro m Go d whose na me was John. (7) He ca me as a witness to testify concernin g that li ght, so t h at t hr o u g h hi m all mi g ht b eli e v e. ( 8) H e hi m s elf w a s n ot t h e li g ht; h e c a m e o nl y a s a wit n e s s t o t h e li g ht. (9) The true li ght that gives li ght t o every one was c o min g int o the w orl d. (10) He was in the w orl d, an d th ou gh the w orl d was ma de throu gh hi m, the worl d di d not reco gnize hi m. (11) He ca me to that which was his o wn, but his o wn di d not r e c ei v e hi m. ( 1 2) Y et t o all w h o di d r e c ei v e hi m, t o t h o s e w h o b eli e v e d i n hi s n a m e, h e g a v e t h e ri g ht t o b e c o m e c hil dr e n of G o d — ( 1 3) c hil dr e n b or n n ot of n at ur al d e s c e nt, n or of h u m a n d e ci si o n or a h u s b a n d’s will, b ut b or n of G o d. (14) The Word beca me fesh an d ma de his d wellin g a mon g us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one an d only Son, wh o ca me fro m the Father, full of grace an d truth. ( 1 5) ( J o h n t e sti f e d c o n c er ni n g hi m. H e cri e d o ut, s a yi n g, “ T hi s i s t h e o n e I s p o k e a b o ut w h e n I s ai d, ‘ H e w h o c o m e s aft er me has sur passe d me because he was bef ore me.’”) (16) Out of his fullness we have all receive d grace in place of grace alrea dy given. (17) For the la w was given throu gh Moses; grace an d truth ca me throu gh Jesus Christ. (18) No one has e v er s e e n G o d, b ut t h e o n e a n d o nl y S o n, w h o i s hi m s elf G o d a n d i s i n cl o s e st r el ati o n s hi p wit h t h e F at h er, h a s m a d e hi m k n o w n. (19) N o w this was J ohn’s testi m ony when the Je wish lea ders in Jerusale m sent priests an d Levites t o ask hi m wh o he was. ( 2 0) H e di d n ot f ail t o c o nf e s s, b ut c o nf e s s e d fr e el y, “I a m n ot t h e M e s si a h.” (21) They aske d hi m, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” H e s ai d, “I a m n ot.” “ Are you the Pro phet?” He ans were d, “ No.” (22) Finally they said, “ Who are you? Give us an ans wer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about y o ur s elf ?” ( 2 3) J o h n r e pli e d i n t h e w or d s of I s ai a h t h e pr o p h et, “I a m t h e v oi c e of o n e c alli n g i n t h e wil d er n e s s, ‘ M a k e str ai g ht t h e w a y f or t h e L or d.’” (24) No w the Pharisees who ha d been sent (25) questione d hi m, “ Why then do you ba ptize if you are not the Messiah, n or Elijah, n or the Pr o phet?” (26) “I ba ptize with water,” J ohn re plie d, “ but a m on g y ou stan ds one y ou d o n ot kn o w. (27) He is the one wh o c o mes after me, the stra ps of wh ose san dals I a m n ot w orthy t o untie.” (28) This all ha p pene d at Bethany on the other si de of the Jor dan, where John was ba ptizin g. (29) The next day John sa w Jesus co min g to ward hi m an d sai d, “Look, the La m b of Go d, who takes a way the sin of the worl d! (30) This is the one I meant when I sai d, ‘A man who co mes after me has sur passe d me because he was before m e.’ ( 3 1) I m y s elf di d n ot k n o w hi m, b ut t h e r e a s o n I c a m e b a pti zi n g wit h w at er w a s t h at h e mi g ht b e r e v e al e d t o I sr a el.” (32) Then John gave this testi mony: “I sa w the S pirit co me do wn fro m heaven as a dove an d re main on hi m. (33) An d I myself di d not kno w hi m, but the one who sent me to ba ptize with water tol d me, ‘The man on who m you see the S pirit c o m e d o w n a n d r e m ai n i s t h e o n e w h o will b a pti z e wit h t h e H ol y S pirit.’ ( 3 4) I h a v e s e e n a n d I t e stif y t h at t hi s i s G o d’s Chosen One.” (35) The next day J ohn was there a gain with t w o of his disci ples. (36) When he sa w Jesus passin g by, he sai d, “Lo ok, the La mb of God!” (37) When the t wo disci ples hear d hi m say this, they follo we d Jesus. (38) Turnin g aroun d, Jesus sa w the m follo win g an d asked, “ What do you want?” They sai d, “Ra b bi” ( which means “Teacher”), “ where are you stayin g?” ( 3 9) “ C o m e,” h e r e pli e d, “ a n d y o u will s e e.” S o they went an d sa w where he was stayin g, an d they s pent that day with hi m. It was a b out f our in the aftern o on.

D a y 9 (40) An dre w, Si mon Peter’s brother, was one of the t wo who heard what John ha d sai d an d who ha d follo we d Jesus. (41) The frst thin g An dre w di d was t o fn d his brother Si m on an d tell hi m, “ We have f oun d the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). (42) An d he brought hi m to Jesus. J e s u s l o o k e d at hi m a n d s ai d, “ Y o u ar e Si m o n s o n of J o h n. Y o u will b e c all e d C e p h a s” ( w hi c h, w h e n tr a n sl at e d, i s P et er). ( 4 3) T h e n e xt d a y J e s u s d e ci d e d t o l e a v e f or G alil e e. Fi n di n g P hili p, h e s ai d t o hi m, “ F oll o w m e.” ( 4 4) P hili p, li k e A n dr e w a n d P et er, w a s fr o m t h e t o w n of B et h s ai d a. ( 4 5) P hili p f o u n d N at h a n a el a n d t ol d hi m, “ W e h a v e found the one Moses wrote about in the La w, and about who m the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of J o s e p h.” (46) “ Nazareth! Can anything good co me fro m there?” Nathanael asked. “ C o m e a n d s e e,” s ai d P hili p. (47) When Jesus sa w Nathanael a p proachin g, he sai d of hi m, “ Here truly is an Israelite in wh o m there is n o deceit.” (48) “ Ho w do you kno w me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus ans were d, “I sa w y ou while y ou were still un der the f g tree bef ore Phili p calle d y ou.” (49) Then Nathanael declare d, “Ra b bi, y ou are the S on of G o d; y ou are the kin g of Israel.” (50) Jesus sai d, “ You believe because I t ol d y ou I sa w y ou un der the f g tree. You will see greater thin gs than that.” (51) He then a d de d, “ Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven o pen, an d the an gels of Go d ascen din g an d descen din g on’ t h e S o n of M a n.” - Re fection - E x a mi ne: In verses 1-14, what di d John write a bout “The Wor d”?

What di d J ohn the Ba ptist, An dre w, an d Nathanael say a b out Jesus?

A p pl y: Wh o d o y ou believe Jesus is?

What do you nee d hel p believin g a bout Jesus?

Pr a y: Ask G o d t o hel p y ou believe the truth a b out Jesus t o day. S pecifcally, G o d hel p me believe...

Ask G o d t o e m p o wer y ou t o share this truth a b out Jesus with others. Lor d, hel p... ( write s pecifc pe o ple or grou ps)

...t o b eli ev e i n t h e tr u e J es us “ You reign on high, Al mighty God, your love is like no other” T o d a y’s s o n g i s Pr e p ar e Y e t h e W a y b y Mi c h a el W. S mit h

D a y 9 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 2 C h a pt e r 2 (1) On the thir d day a we d din g t o ok place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ m other was there, (2) an d Jesus an d his disci ples ha d also been invite d to the we d din g. (3) When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother sai d to hi m, “They have no more wine.” (4) “ Wo man, why do you involve me?” Jesus re plie d. “ My hour has not yet co me.” (5) His m other sai d t o the servants, “ D o whatever he tells y ou.” (6) Near by stoo d six stone water jars, the kin d use d by the Je ws for cere monial washin g, each hol din g fro m t wenty to t hirt y g all o n s. ( 7) Jes us sai d t o t he serva nts, “Fill t he jars wit h water”; s o t hey flle d t he m t o t he bri m. (8) Then he tol d the m, “ No w dra w so me out an d take it to the master of the ban quet.” They di d s o, (9) an d the master of the ban quet taste d the water that ha d been turne d int o wine. He di d n ot realize where it had co me fro m, though the servants who had dra wn the water kne w. Then he called the bridegroo m aside (10) and sai d, “Everyone brin gs out the choice wine frst an d then the chea per wine after the guests have ha d too much to drink; but y ou have save d the best till n o w.” ( 1 1) W h at J e s u s di d h er e i n C a n a of G alil e e w a s t h e fr st of t h e si g n s t hr o u g h w hi c h h e r e v e al e d hi s gl or y; a n d hi s di s ci pl e s b eli e v e d i n hi m. (12) After this he went do wn to Ca pernau m with his mother an d brothers an d his disci ples. There they staye d for a fe w d a y s. (13) When it was al most ti me for the Je wish Passover, Jesus went u p to Jerusale m. (14) In the te m ple courts he foun d peo ple sellin g cattle, shee p an d doves, an d others sittin g at ta bles exchan gin g money. (15) So he ma de a whi p out of cords, an d drove all fro m the te m ple courts, both shee p an d cattle; he scattere d the coins of the money chan gers an d overturne d their ta bles. (16) To th ose wh o s ol d d oves he sai d, “ Get these out of here! St o p turnin g my Father’s h ouse int o a market!” (17) His disci ples re me m bere d that it is written: “Zeal f or y our h ouse will c onsu me me.” (18) The Je ws then res pon de d to hi m, “ What si gn can you sho w us to prove your authority to do all this?” (19) Jesus ans were d the m, “ Destr oy this te m ple, an d I will raise it a gain in three days.” ( 2 0) Th ey re pli e d, “It has take n f orty-six y ears t o b uil d t his t e m pl e, a n d y o u are g oi n g t o rais e it i n t hre e days?” ( 2 1) B ut t h e te m ple he ha d s poken of was his bo dy. (22) After he was raise d fro m the dea d, his disci ples recalle d what he ha d sai d. Then they believe d the scri pture an d the wor ds that Jesus ha d s poken. (23) No w while he was in Jerusale m at the Passover Festival, many peo ple sa w the si gns he was perfor min g an d believe d in his na me. (24) But Jesus w oul d n ot entrust hi mself t o the m, f or he kne w all pe o ple. (25) He di d n ot nee d any testi m ony a bout mankin d, for he kne w what was in each person.

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: W h at di d J es us d o at t h e w e d di n g, a n d w h at di d it r ev e al ?

Why was Jesus an gry in the te m ple c ourts?

W hat gives Jes us a ut h ority t o act i n t his a n ger?

Ex pan d on what verse 25 says a bout Jesus.

D a y 1 0 A p pl y: At t w o diff er e nt ti m es, J es us’s dis ci pl es “ b eli e v e d” i n t his c h a pt er (v ers es 1 1 a n d 2 2). R e a c h b a ck i nt o y o ur m e m ory a n d writ e d o w n t hi n gs t h at h a v e h el p e d y o u b eli e v e m or e i n J es us.

H o w can y ou su b mit t o the auth ority of Jesus in y our life?

Pr a y: As k G o d t o h el p y o u s u b mit m or e t o t h e a ut h ority of J es us. S p e ci f c ally, G o d h el p m e s u b mit...

...t o t h e a ut h ority of J es us t o d ay a n d i nt o t h e f ut ur e

“Author of my life All consu ming FIRE” T o d a y’s s o n g i s W e Gl orif y Y o ur N a m e b y Kri sti a n St a n fll

D a y 1 0 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 3 C h a pt e r 3 (1) No w there was a Pharisee, a man na med Nicode mus who was a me mber of the Je wish ruling council. (2) He ca me to Jesus at ni ght an d sai d, “Ra b bi, we kno w that you are a teacher who has co me fro m Go d. For no one coul d perfor m the si g n s y o u ar e d oi n g if G o d w er e n ot wit h hi m.” (3) Jesus re plie d, “ Very truly I tell y ou, n o one can see the kin g d o m of G o d unless they are b orn a gain.” (4) “ Ho w can so meone be born when they are ol d?” Nico de mus aske d. “Surely they cannot enter a secon d ti me into their mother’s wo mb to be born!” (5) Jesus ans were d, “ Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kin g do m of Go d unless they are born of water an d the S pirit. ( 6) Fl e s h gi v e s birt h t o f e s h, b ut t h e S pirit gi v e s birt h t o s pirit. ( 7) Y o u s h o ul d n ot b e s ur pri s e d at m y s a yi n g, ‘ Y o u must be b orn a gain.’ (8) The win d bl o ws wherever it pleases. You hear its s oun d, but y ou cann ot tell where it c o mes fro m or w h er e it i s g oi n g. S o it i s wit h e v er y o n e b or n of t h e S pirit.” (9) “ Ho w can this be?” Nicode mus asked. (10) “ You are Israel’s teacher,” sai d Jesus, “an d d o y ou n ot un derstan d these thin gs? (11) Very truly I tell y ou, we s peak of what we kn o w, an d we testify t o what we have seen, but still y ou pe o ple d o n ot acce pt our testi m ony. (12) I have s p oken t o y o u of e art hl y t hi n g s a n d y o u d o n ot b eli e v e; h o w t h e n will y o u b eli e v e if I s p e a k of h e a v e nl y t hi n g s ? ( 1 3) N o o n e h a s ever gone into heaven exce pt the one who ca me fro m heaven—the Son of Man. (14) Just as Moses lifte d u p the snake in t h e wil d er n e s s, s o t h e S o n of M a n m u st b e lift e d u p, ( 1 5) t h at e v er y o n e w h o b eli e v e s m a y h a v e et er n al lif e i n hi m.” (16) For Go d so love d the worl d that he gave his one an d only Son, that whoever believes in hi m shall not perish but have eternal life. (17) For G o d di d n ot sen d his S on int o the w orl d t o c on de mn the w orl d, but t o save the w orl d throu gh hi m. (18) Whoever believes in hi m is not con de mne d, but whoever does not believe stan ds con de mne d alrea dy because they have n ot believe d in the na me of G o d’s one an d only S on. (19) This is the ver dict: Li ght has c o me int o the w orl d, but peo ple love d darkness instea d of li ght because their dee ds were evil. (20) Everyone who does evil hates the li ght, an d will n ot c o m e i nt o t h e li g ht f or f e ar t h at t h eir d e e d s will b e e x p o s e d. ( 2 1) B ut w h o e v er li v e s b y t h e tr ut h c o m e s i nt o t h e li ght, s o that it may be seen plainly that what they have d one has been d one in the si ght of G o d. (22) After this, Jesus an d his disci ples went out into the Ju dean countrysi de, where he s pent so me ti me with the m, an d ba ptize d. (23) No w John also was ba ptizin g at Aenon near Sali m, because there was plenty of water, an d peo ple were co ming and being baptized. (24) (This was before John was put in prison.) (25) An argu ment developed bet ween so me of John’s disci ples an d a certain Je w over the matter of cere monial washin g. (26) They ca me to John an d sai d to hi m, “Ra b bi, that man who was with you on the other si de of the Jordan—the one you testife d a bout—look, he is ba ptizin g, an d everyone is goin g to hi m.” (27) To this J ohn re plie d, “ A pers on can receive only what is given the m fr o m heaven. (28) You y ourselves can testify that I sai d, ‘I a m n ot the Messiah but a m sent ahea d of hi m.’ (29) The bri de bel on gs t o the bri de gro o m. The frien d wh o atten ds t h e bri d e gr o o m w ait s a n d li st e n s f or hi m, a n d i s f ull of j o y w h e n h e h e ar s t h e bri d e gr o o m’s v oi c e. T h at j o y i s mi n e, a n d it is no w co mplete. (30) He must beco me greater; I must beco me less.” (31) The one who co mes fro m a bove is a bove all; the one who is fro m the earth belon gs to the earth, an d s peaks as one fro m the earth. The one who co mes fro m heaven is a bove all. (32) He testifes to what he has seen an d heard, but no one acce pts his testi mony. (33) Whoever has acce pte d it has certife d that Go d is truthful. (34) For the one who m Go d has sent s peaks the wor ds of Go d, for Go d gives the S pirit without li mit. (35) The Father loves the Son an d has place d e v er yt hi n g i n hi s h a n d s. ( 3 6) W h o e v er b eli e v e s i n t h e S o n h a s et er n al lif e, b ut w h o e v er r ej e ct s t h e S o n will n ot s e e lif e, for Go d’s wrath re mains on the m.

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: What t wo thin gs di d Jesus tell Nico de mus peo ple must be born of to enter the kin g do m of Go d?

D a y 1 1 W h o will h a v e et er n al lif e ? ( v ers e 1 5)

Why di d Go d sen d His Son? (verse 17)

Verse 36 presents t w o paths. What are they?

A p pl y: Jesus c o m pares li ght an d darkness t o g o o d an d evil dee ds. Is there anythin g that y ou fear c oul d be ex p ose d i n t h e li g ht ? T hi nk a b o ut t h es e t hi n gs, a n d pr ay t h at G o d w o ul d h el p y o u p ut t o d e at h a ny evil i n y o u.

J ohn says, “ He must bec o me greater; I must bec o me less.” In what ways can this bec o me true in y our life?

Pr a y: F at h er, y o u di d n ot s e n d y o ur S o n t o c o n d e m n or t o s e e a ny o n e p eris h. Y o u h ol d et er n al lif e i n y o ur h a n ds.

B e c o m e gr e at er i n my lif e, J es us, a n d h el p m e b e c o m e l ess i n... ( w h at ar e as ?)

“Holy, there is no one like You There is none beside You”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s B uil d M y Lif e b y P at B arr ett (f e at. C hri s T o mli n)

D a y 1 1 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 4 C h a pt e r 4 (1) No w Jesus learne d that the Pharisees ha d heard that he was gaining an d baptizing more disciples than John— (2) alt h o u g h i n f a ct it w a s n ot J e s u s w h o b a pti z e d, b ut hi s di s ci pl e s. ( 3) S o h e l eft J u d e a a n d w e nt b a c k o n c e m or e t o G alil e e. (4) No w he ha d to go throu gh Sa maria. (5) So he ca me to a to wn in Sa maria calle d Sychar, near the plot of groun d Jaco b ha d given t o his s on J ose ph. (6) Jac o b’s well was there, an d Jesus, tire d as he was fr o m the j ourney, sat d o wn by the well. It was a bout noon. (7) When a Sa maritan wo man ca me to dra w water, Jesus sai d to her, “ Will you give me a drink?” (8) ( His disci ples ha d gone into the to wn to buy foo d.) (9) The Sa maritan wo man sai d to hi m, “ You are a Je w an d I a m a Sa maritan wo man. Ho w can you ask me for a drink?” (For Je ws do not associate with Sa maritans.) (10) Jesus ans were d her, “If y ou kne w the gift of G o d an d wh o it is that asks y ou f or a drink, y ou w oul d have aske d hi m an d he woul d have given you livin g water.” (11) “Sir,” the wo man sai d, “you have nothin g to dra w with an d the well is dee p. Where can you get this livin g water? (12) Are y ou greater than our father Jac o b, wh o gave us the well an d drank fro m it hi mself, as di d als o his s ons an d his livest ock?” (13) Jesus ans were d, “Every one wh o drinks this water will be thirsty a gain, (14) but wh oever drinks the water I give the m will n e v er t hir st. I n d e e d, t h e w at er I gi v e t h e m will b e c o m e i n t h e m a s pri n g of w at er w elli n g u p t o et er n al lif e.” (15) The wo man sai d to hi m, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty an d have to kee p co min g here to dra w w at er.” (16) He tol d her, “ Go, call your hus ban d an d co me back.” (17) “I have n o hus ban d,” she re plie d. Jesus sai d t o her, “ You are ri ght when y ou say y ou have n o hus ban d. (18) The fact is, y ou have ha d fve hus ban ds, an d the man y ou n o w have is n ot y our hus ban d. What y ou have just sai d is quite true.” (19) “Sir,” the w o man sai d, “I can see that y ou are a pro phet. (20) Our ancest ors w orshi pe d on this m ountain, but y ou Je ws clai m that the place where we must w orshi p is in Jerusale m.” (21) “ Wo man,” Jesus re plie d, “ believe me, a ti me is co min g when you will worshi p the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusale m. (22) You Sa maritans worshi p what you do not kno w; we worshi p what we do kno w, for salvation is fro m the Je ws. (23) Yet a ti me is c o min g an d has n o w c o me when the true w orshi pers will w orshi p the Father in the S pirit an d in truth, f or they are the kin d of w orshi pers the Father seeks. (24) G o d is s pirit, an d his w orshi pers must w orshi p in the S pirit a n d i n tr ut h.” (25) The w o man sai d, “I kn o w that Messiah” (calle d Christ) “is c o min g. When he c o mes, he will ex plain everythin g t o us.” (26) Then Jesus declare d, “I, the one s peakin g t o y ou—I a m he.” (27) Just then his disci ples returne d an d were sur prise d to fn d hi m talkin g with a wo man. But no one aske d, “ What do you want?” or “ Why are you talkin g with her?” (28) Then, leavin g her water jar, the wo man went back to the to wn an d sai d to the peo ple, (29) “ Co me, see a man who tol d me everythin g I ever di d. Coul d this be the Messiah?” (30) They ca me out of the to wn an d ma de their way to ward hi m. (31) Mean while his disci ples urge d hi m, “Ra b bi, eat so methin g.” (32) But he sai d t o the m, “I have f o o d t o eat that y ou kn o w n othin g a b out.” (33) Then his disci ples sai d to each other, “ Coul d so meone have brou ght hi m foo d?” ( 3 4) “ M y f o o d,” s ai d J e s u s, “i s t o d o t h e will of hi m w h o s e nt m e a n d t o f ni s h hi s w or k. ( 3 5) D o n’t y o u h a v e a s a yi n g, ‘It’s still f o ur m o nt hs u ntil harvest’? I tell y o u, o pe n y o ur eyes a n d l o ok at t he fel ds! They are ri pe f or harvest. ( 3 6) Eve n no w the one who rea ps dra ws a wa ge an d harvests a cro p for eternal life, so that the so wer an d the rea per may be gla d t o gether. (37) Thus the sayin g ‘ One s o ws an d an other rea ps’ is true. (38) I sent y ou t o rea p what y ou have n ot w orke d f or. Others have done the har d work, an d you have rea pe d the benefts of their la bor.” (39) Many of the Sa maritans fro m that to wn believe d in hi m because of the wo man’s testi mony, “ He tol d me everythin g I

D a y 1 2 ever di d.” (40) So when the Sa maritans ca me to hi m, they urge d hi m to stay with the m, an d he staye d t wo days. (41) An d because of his words many more beca me believers. (42) They sai d to the wo man, “ We no lon ger believe just because of what you sai d; no w we have hear d for ourselves, an d w e k n o w t h at t hi s m a n r e all y i s t h e S a vi or of t h e w orl d.” (43) After the t w o days he left f or Galilee. (44) ( N o w Jesus hi mself ha d p ointe d out that a pro phet has n o h on or in his o wn country.) (45) When he arrive d in Galilee, the Galileans welco me d hi m. They ha d seen all that he ha d done in Jerusale m at the Pass over Festival, f or they als o ha d been there. ( 4 6) O n c e m or e h e vi sit e d C a n a i n G alil e e, w h er e h e h a d t ur n e d t h e w at er i nt o wi n e. A n d t h er e w a s a c ert ai n r o y al of f ci al wh ose s on lay sick at Ca pernau m. (47) When this man hear d that Jesus ha d arrive d in Galilee fro m Ju dea, he went t o hi m an d begge d hi m to co me an d heal his son, who was close to death. (48) “ Unless y ou pe o ple see si gns an d w on ders,” Jesus t ol d hi m, “y ou will never believe.” ( 4 9) T h e r o y al of f ci al s ai d, “ Sir, c o m e d o w n b ef or e m y c hil d di e s.” ( 5 0) “ G o,” J e s u s r e pli e d, “ y o ur s o n will li v e.” The man t o ok Jesus at his w or d an d de parte d. (51) While he was still on the way, his servants met hi m with the ne ws that hi s b o y w a s li vi n g. ( 5 2) W h e n h e i n q uir e d a s t o t h e ti m e w h e n hi s s o n g ot b ett er, t h e y s ai d t o hi m, “ Y e st er d a y, at o n e i n t h e aft er n o o n, t h e f e v er l eft hi m.” ( 5 3) T h e n t h e f at h er r e ali z e d t h at t hi s w a s t h e e x a ct ti m e at w hi c h J e s u s h a d s ai d t o hi m, “ Y o ur s o n will li v e.” S o h e a n d hi s whole household believed. (54) This was the secon d si gn Jesus perfor me d after co min g fro m Ju dea to Galilee.

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: Jesus talks to a Sa maritan wo man. Ho w much does he kno w about her? Ho w much does he kno w about you?

The Sa maritan w o man left her water jar (vs. 28) t o tell her pe o ple a b out Jesus. In turn, what di d the Sa maritans say a b out

J es us ? ( vs. 4 2)

Was the Sa maritan wo man a missionary?

A p pl y: For t w o days, Jesus was with the Sa maritans. They hear d an d believe d. You have valua ble ti me with un believers

o n y o ur missi o n tri p - t o s h ar e h o p e wit h t h e l ost p e o pl e i n a f or ei g n c o u ntry. W h at will y o u s h ar e ?

D a y 1 2 Pr a y: L or d, h el p m e b eli ev e ev e n m or e i n y o ur S o n t o d ay. I d o n’t n e e d si g ns a n d w o n d ers, n o, I n e e d y o ur S pirit wit h m e! I b e g y o u t o o p e n my ey es t o w h o y o u tr uly ar e. L et m e b e a w ell of y o ur livi n g w at er t o t h e l ost. I pr ay s p e ci f c ally f or...

... t o c o m e t ast e y o ur livi n g w at er!

L or d, giv e m e a l ovi n g h e art f or t h e br o k e n h e art e d a n d t h e h o pl ess i n my city a n d o n missi o n t his s u m m er. I als o pr ay...

“Pour Your glory down Let the thirsty drink and live”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s Li vi n g W at er b y G at e w a y W or s hi p

D a y 1 2 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 5 C h a pt er 5

(1) So me ti me later, Jesus went u p to Jerusale m for one of the Je wish festivals. (2) No w there is in Jerusale m near the Shee p Gate a pool, which in Ara maic is calle d Bethes da an d which is surroun de d by fve covere d colonna des. (3) Here a great nu m ber of disa ble d peo ple use d to lie—the blin d, the la me, the paralyze d. [(4) So me manuscri pts inclu de here, wh olly or in part, paralyze d—an d they waite d for the movin g of the waters. Fro m ti me to ti me an an gel of the Lor d woul d co me do wn and stir u p the waters. The frst one into the pool after each such distur bance would be cured of whatever disease they ha d. ] (5) One who was there ha d been an invali d for thirty-ei ght years. (6) When Jesus sa w hi m lyin g there an d learne d that he ha d been in this c on diti on f or a l on g ti me, he aske d hi m, “ D o y ou want t o get well?” ( 7) “ Sir,” t h e i n v ali d r e pli e d, “I h a v e n o o n e t o h el p m e i nt o t h e p o ol w h e n t h e w at er i s stirr e d. W hil e I a m tr yi n g t o g et i n, so meone else goes do wn ahead of me.” ( 8) T h e n J e s u s s ai d t o hi m, “ G et u p! Pi c k u p y o ur m at a n d w al k.” ( 9) At o n c e t h e m a n w a s c ur e d; h e pi c k e d u p hi s m at and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sa b bath, (10) an d so the Je wish lea ders sai d to the man who ha d been heale d, “It is the Sa b bath; the la w f or bi ds y ou t o carry y our mat.” ( 1 1) B ut h e r e pli e d, “ T h e m a n w h o m a d e m e w ell s ai d t o m e, ‘ Pi c k u p y o ur m at a n d w al k.’ ” ( 1 2) S o t h e y a s k e d hi m, “ W h o i s t hi s f ell o w w h o t ol d y o u t o pi c k it u p a n d w al k ?” (13) The man who was heale d ha d no i dea who it was, for Jesus ha d sli p pe d a way into the cro w d that was there. (14) Later Jesus f oun d hi m at the te m ple an d sai d t o hi m, “See, y ou are well a gain. St o p sinnin g or s o methin g w orse may ha p pen to you.” (15) The man went a way an d tol d the Je wish lea ders that it was Jesus who ha d ma de hi m well. (16) So, because Jesus was doin g these thin gs on the Sa b bath, the Je wish lea ders be gan to persecute hi m. (17) In his defense Jesus sai d t o the m, “ My Father is al ways at his w ork t o this very day, an d I t o o a m w orkin g.” (18) For this reas on they trie d all the more to kill hi m; not only was he breakin g the Sa b bath, but he was even callin g Go d his o wn Father, m a ki n g hi m s elf e q u al wit h G o d. (19) Jesus gave the m this ans wer: “ Very truly I tell y ou, the S on can d o n othin g by hi mself; he can d o only what he sees his Father doin g, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (20) For the Father loves the Son an d sho ws hi m all he d oes. Yes, an d he will sh o w hi m even greater w orks than these, s o that y ou will be a maze d. (21) For just as the Father r ai s e s t h e d e a d a n d gi v e s t h e m lif e, e v e n s o t h e S o n gi v e s lif e t o w h o m h e i s pl e a s e d t o gi v e it. ( 2 2) M or e o v er, t h e F at h er ju d ges n o one, but has entruste d all ju d g ment t o the S on, (23) that all may h on or the S on just as they h on or the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent hi m. ( 2 4) “ V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, w h o e v er h e ar s m y w or d a n d b eli e v e s hi m w h o s e nt m e h a s et er n al lif e a n d will n ot b e j u d g e d b ut h a s cr o s s e d o v er fr o m d e at h t o lif e. ( 2 5) V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, a ti m e i s c o mi n g a n d h a s n o w c o m e w h e n t h e d e a d will h e ar t h e v oi c e of t h e S o n of G o d a n d t h o s e w h o h e ar will li v e. ( 2 6) F or a s t h e F at h er h a s lif e i n hi m s elf, s o h e h a s gr a nt e d t h e S o n al s o t o h a v e lif e i n hi m s elf. ( 2 7) A n d h e h a s gi v e n hi m a ut h orit y t o j u d g e b e c a u s e h e i s t h e S o n of M a n. ( 2 8) “ D o n ot b e a m a z e d at t hi s, f or a ti m e i s c o mi n g w h e n all w h o ar e i n t h eir gr a v e s will h e ar hi s v oi c e ( 2 9) a n d c o m e o ut —t h o s e w h o h a v e d o n e w h at i s g o o d will ri s e t o li v e, a n d t h o s e w h o h a v e d o n e w h at i s e vil will ri s e t o b e c o n d e m n e d. ( 3 0) B y m y s elf I c a n d o n ot hi n g; I j u d g e o nl y a s I h e ar, a n d m y j u d g m e nt i s j u st, f or I s e e k n ot t o pl e a s e m y s elf b ut hi m who sent me. ( 3 1) “If I t e stif y a b o ut m y s elf, m y t e sti m o n y i s n ot tr u e. ( 3 2) T h er e i s a n ot h er w h o t e sti f e s i n m y f a v or, a n d I k n o w t h at hi s testi mony a bout me is true. (33) “ You have sent t o J ohn an d he has testife d t o the truth. (34) N ot that I acce pt hu man testi m ony; but I menti on it that y ou may be save d. (35) J ohn was a la m p that burne d an d gave li ght, an d y ou ch ose f or a ti me t o enj oy his li ght. (36) “I have testi m ony wei ghtier than that of J ohn. For the w orks that the Father has given me t o fnish —the very w orks that I a m d oin g—testify that the Father has sent me. (37) An d the Father wh o sent me has hi mself testife d c oncernin g me. You h a v e n e v er h e ar d hi s v oi c e n or s e e n hi s f or m, ( 3 8) n or d o e s hi s w or d d w ell i n y o u, f or y o u d o n ot b eli e v e t h e o n e h e s e nt. (39) You stu dy the Scri ptures dili gently because y ou think that in the m y ou have eternal life. These are the very Scri ptures that testify a b out me, (40) yet y ou refuse t o c o me t o me t o have life. (41) “I do not acce pt glory fro m hu man bein gs, (42) but I kno w you. I kno w that you do not have the love of Go d in your hearts. (43) I have co me in my Father’s na me, an d you do not acce pt me; but if so meone else co mes in his o wn na me, D a y 1 3 you will acce pt hi m. (44) Ho w can you believe since you acce pt glory fro m one another but do not seek the glory that co mes fro m the only God? (45) “ But d o n ot think I will accuse y ou bef ore the Father. Your accuser is M oses, on wh o m y our h o pes are set. (46) If y ou believe d Moses, you woul d believe me, for he wrote a bout me. (47) But since you do not believe what he wrote, ho w are y ou g oin g t o believe what I say?”

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: Is there any one y ou kn o w/ pass in life that never asks f or hel p that y ou c oul d len d a han d? Wh o is it an d

w h at is t h eir n e e d ?

Ho w does Jesus co m pare hi mself to the Father?

A p pl y: T h a nk a d o ct or a n d/ or n urs e f or d e di c ati n g t h eir w ork i n h el pi n g p e o pl e g et w ell, a n d als o t h a nk G o d f or his w ork i n

all o win g it t o ha p pen! In verse 17, Jesus says that he an d the Father are al ways at w ork. What are s o me thin gs y ou think

they are w orkin g on? Take 10 minutes t o thank the m f or each in divi dual thin g y ou can think of.

Pr a y: G o d, y o u ar e al w ays w or ki n g! Y o u d o n ot sl e e p. H el p m e t o c o n f d e i n y o ur p o w er t o d ay, a n d i nt o t h e r est of

my lif e wit h y o u. H el p m e tr ust y o u as I sl e e p t h at y o u w or k f or o ur g o o d!

“Even when I don’t see it, you’re working Even when I don’t feel it, you’re working”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s W a y M a k er b y P a ul M c Cl ur e | M o m e nt

D a y 1 3 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 6 C h a pt er 6 ( 1) S o m e ti m e aft er t hi s, J e s u s cr o s s e d t o t h e f ar s h or e of t h e S e a of G alil e e (t h at i s, t h e S e a of Ti b eri a s), ( 2) a n d a gr e at cro w d of peo ple follo we d hi m because they sa w the si gns he ha d perfor me d by healin g the sick. (3) Then Jesus went u p on a m ountainsi de an d sat d o wn with his disci ples. (4) The Je wish Pass over Festival was near. (5) When Jesus looke d u p an d sa w a great cro w d co min g to ward hi m, he sai d to Phili p, “ Where shall we buy brea d for these pe o ple t o eat?” (6) He aske d this only t o test hi m, f or he alrea dy ha d in min d what he was g oin g t o d o. (7) Phili p ans were d hi m, “It w oul d take m ore than half a year’s wa ges t o buy en ou gh brea d f or each one t o have a bite!” ( 8) A n ot h er of hi s di s ci pl e s, A n dr e w, Si m o n P et er’s br ot h er, s p o k e u p, ( 9) “ H er e i s a b o y wit h f v e s m all b arl e y l o a v e s a n d t w o s m all f s h, b ut h o w f ar will t h e y g o a m o n g s o m a n y ?” ( 1 0) J e s u s s ai d, “ H a v e t h e p e o pl e sit d o w n.” T h er e w a s pl e nt y of gr a s s i n t h at pl a c e, a n d t h e y s at d o w n ( a b o ut f v e t h o u s a n d m e n w er e t h er e). ( 1 1) J e s u s t h e n t o o k t h e l o a v e s, g a v e t h a n k s, a n d di stri b ut e d t o t h o s e w h o w er e s e at e d a s much as they wante d. He di d the sa me with the fsh. (12) When they ha d all ha d en ou gh t o eat, he sai d t o his disci ples, “ Gather the pieces that are left over. Let n othin g be waste d.” (13) S o they gathere d the m an d flle d t welve baskets with the pieces of the fve barley l oaves left over by th ose who had eaten. (14) After the peo ple sa w the si gn Jesus perfor me d, they be gan to say, “Surely this is the Pro phet who is to co me into the worl d.” (15) Jesus, kno win g that they inten de d to co me an d make hi m kin g by force, with dre w a gain to a mountain b y hi m s elf. (16) When evenin g ca me, his disci ples went d o wn t o the lake, (17) where they g ot int o a b oat an d set off across the lake for Ca pernau m. By no w it was dark, an d Jesus ha d not yet joine d the m. (18) A stron g win d was blo win g an d the waters gre w rou gh. (19) When they ha d ro we d a bout three or four miles, they sa w Jesus a p proachin g the boat, walkin g on the w at er; a n d t h e y w er e fri g ht e n e d. ( 2 0) B ut h e s ai d t o t h e m, “It i s I; d o n’t b e afr ai d.” ( 2 1) T h e n t h e y w er e willi n g t o t a k e hi m into the boat, an d i m me diately the boat reache d the shore where they were hea din g. (22) The next day the cro w d that ha d staye d on the o p posite shore of the lake realize d that only one boat ha d been there, an d that Jesus ha d n ot entere d it with his disci ples, but that they ha d g one a way al one. (23) Then s o me b oats fro m Ti berias lan de d near the place where the peo ple ha d eaten the brea d after the Lord ha d given thanks. (24) Once the cro w d realize d that neither Jesus n or his disci ples were there, they g ot int o the b oats an d went t o Ca pernau m in search of J e s u s. (25) When they foun d hi m on the other si de of the lake, they aske d hi m, “Ra b bi, when di d you get here?” (26) Jesus ans were d, “ Very truly I tell y ou, y ou are l o okin g f or me, n ot because y ou sa w the si gns I perf or me d but because y o u at e t h e l o a v e s a n d h a d y o ur fll. ( 2 7) D o n ot w or k f or f o o d t h at s p oil s, b ut f or f o o d t h at e n d ur e s t o et er n al lif e, w hi c h t h e S o n of M a n will gi v e y o u. F or o n hi m G o d t h e F at h er h a s pl a c e d hi s s e al of a p pr o v al.” (28) Then they aske d hi m, “ What must we do to do the works Go d requires?” (29) Jesus ans were d, “The w ork of G o d is this: t o believe in the one he has sent.” (30) So they aske d hi m, “ What si gn then will you give that we may see it an d believe you? What will you do? (31) Our ancest ors ate the manna in the wil derness; as it is written: ‘ He gave the m brea d fro m heaven t o eat.’” (32) Jesus sai d t o t he m, “ Very truly I tell y ou, it is n ot M oses w h o has given y ou t he brea d fr o m heaven, but it is my Fat her who gives you the true bread fro m heaven. (33) For the bread of God is the bread that co mes do wn fro m heaven and gi v e s lif e t o t h e w orl d.” ( 3 4) “Sir,” t h ey sai d, “al ways giv e us t his brea d.” (35) Then Jesus declare d, “I a m the brea d of life. Whoever co mes to me will never go hun gry, an d whoever believes in m e will n e v er b e t hir st y. ( 3 6) B ut a s I t ol d y o u, y o u h a v e s e e n m e a n d still y o u d o n ot b eli e v e. ( 3 7) All t h o s e t h e F at h er gi v e s m e will c o m e t o m e, a n d w h o e v er c o m e s t o m e I will n e v er dri v e a w a y. ( 3 8) F or I h a v e c o m e d o w n fr o m h e a v e n n ot t o d o m y will b ut t o d o t h e will of hi m w h o s e nt m e. ( 3 9) A n d t hi s i s t h e will of hi m w h o s e nt m e, t h at I s h all l o s e n o n e of all t h ose he has given me, but raise t he m u p at t he last day. (40) For my Fat her’s will is t hat every one w h o l o oks t o t he S on a n d b eli e v e s i n hi m s h all h a v e et er n al lif e, a n d I will r ai s e t h e m u p at t h e l a st d a y.” (41) At this the Je ws there be gan to gru m ble a bout hi m because he sai d, “I a m the brea d that ca me do wn fro m heaven.” (42) They sai d, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Jose ph, whose father an d mother we kno w? Ho w can he no w say, ‘I ca me D a y 1 4 do wn fro m heaven’?” (43) “Stop gru mbling a mong yourselves,” Jesus ans wered. (44) “ No one can co me to me unless the Father who sent m e dr a w s t h e m, a n d I will r ai s e t h e m u p at t h e l a st d a y. ( 4 5) It i s writt e n i n t h e Pr o p h et s: ‘ T h e y will all b e t a u g ht b y G o d.’ Everyone who has heard the Father an d learne d fro m hi m co mes to me. (46) No one has seen the Father exce pt the one w h o i s fr o m G o d; o nl y h e h a s s e e n t h e F at h er. ( 4 7) V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, t h e o n e w h o b eli e v e s h a s et er n al lif e. ( 4 8) I a m t h e brea d of life. (49) Your ancest ors ate the manna in the wil derness, yet they die d. (50) But here is the brea d that c o mes do wn fro m heaven, which anyone may eat an d not die. (51) I a m the livin g brea d that ca me do wn fro m heaven. Whoever e at s t hi s br e a d will li v e f or e v er. T hi s br e a d i s m y f e s h, w hi c h I will gi v e f or t h e lif e of t h e w orl d.” (52) Then the Je ws be gan to argue shar ply a mon g the mselves, “ Ho w can this man give us his fesh to eat?” ( 5 3) J e s u s s ai d t o t h e m, “ V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, u nl e s s y o u e at t h e f e s h of t h e S o n of M a n a n d dri n k hi s bl o o d, y o u h a v e n o lif e i n y o u. ( 5 4) W h o e v er e at s m y f e s h a n d dri n k s m y bl o o d h a s et er n al lif e, a n d I will r ai s e t h e m u p at t h e l a st d a y. ( 5 5) F or m y f e s h i s r e al f o o d a n d m y bl o o d i s r e al dri n k. ( 5 6) W h o e v er e at s m y f e s h a n d dri n k s m y bl o o d r e m ai n s i n m e, a n d I i n t h e m. ( 5 7) J u st a s t h e li vi n g F at h er s e nt m e a n d I li v e b e c a u s e of t h e F at h er, s o t h e o n e w h o f e e d s o n m e will li v e b e c a u s e of me. (58) This is the brea d that ca me d o wn fro m heaven. Your ancest ors ate manna an d die d, but wh oever fee ds on this br e a d will li v e f or e v er.” ( 5 9) H e s ai d t hi s w hil e t e a c hi n g i n t h e s y n a g o g u e i n C a p er n a u m. ( 6 0) O n h e ari n g it, m a n y of hi s di s ci pl e s s ai d, “ T hi s i s a h ar d t e a c hi n g. W h o c a n a c c e pt it ?” (61) A ware that his disci ples were gru m blin g a b out this, Jesus sai d t o the m, “ D oes this offen d y ou? (62) Then what if y ou see the Son of Man ascen d to where he was before! (63) The S pirit gives life; the fesh counts for nothin g. The wor ds I have s p oken t o y ou —they are full of the S pirit an d life. (64) Yet there are s o me of y ou wh o d o n ot believe.” For Jesus ha d kno wn fro m the be ginnin g which of the m di d not believe an d who woul d betray hi m. (65) He went on to say, “This is why I tol d you that no one can co me to me unless the Father has ena ble d the m.” ( 6 6) Fr o m t hi s ti m e m a n y of hi s di s ci pl e s t ur n e d b a c k a n d n o l o n g er f oll o w e d hi m. (67) “ You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus aske d the T welve. (68) Si mon Peter ans were d hi m, “Lord, to who m shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (69) We have co me to believe an d to kno w that you are the Holy One of Go d.” (70) Then Jesus re plie d, “ Have I n ot ch osen y ou, the T welve? Yet one of y ou is a devil!” (71) ( He meant Ju das, the s on of Si m on Iscari ot, wh o, th ou gh one of the T welve, was later t o betray hi m.)

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: What is the w ork that G o d re quires of pe o ple?

W h o will b e r ais e d u p o n t h e l ast d ay ? ( vs. 4 0)

What is the brea d that any one may eat an d live f orever?

What was a har d teachin g f or the pe o ple? (vs. 60)

A p pl y: H o w can y ou a p ply what Jesus says a b out his “f o o d” in y our life this year?

D a y 1 4 Pr a y: F at h er, giv e m e my d aily br e a d, a n d frst t h e br e a d y o u off er t hr o u g h y o ur S o n J es us. L or d, I as k y o u t o r ev e al ar e as i n my lif e w h er e I a m e ati n g s pirit u ally r ott e n f o o d. ( w h at ar e s o m e “f o o ds” y o u c a n st o p i n g esti n g t o d ay ?)

1)

2)

3)

“You are my daily bread Your very word spoken to me”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s T hi s I s T h e Air I Br e at h e b y C hri st y N o c k el s

D a y 1 4 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 7 C h a pt er 7 (1) After this, Jesus went aroun d in Galilee. He di d n ot want t o g o a b out in Ju dea because the Je wish lea ders there were l o okin g f or a way t o kill hi m. (2) But when the Je wish Festival of Ta bernacles was near, (3) Jesus’ brothers sai d t o hi m, “Leave Galilee an d go to Ju dea, so that your disci ples there may see the works you do. (4) No one who wants to beco me a p u bli c f g ur e a ct s i n s e cr et. Si n c e y o u ar e d oi n g t h e s e t hi n g s, s h o w y o ur s elf t o t h e w orl d.” ( 5) F or e v e n hi s o w n br ot h er s di d n ot b eli e v e i n hi m. (6) Theref ore Jesus t ol d t he m, “ My ti me is n ot yet here; f or y ou any ti me will d o. (7) The w orl d cann ot hate y ou, but it hates m e b e c a u s e I t e stif y t h at it s w or k s ar e e vil. ( 8) Y o u g o t o t h e f e sti v al. I a m n ot g oi n g u p t o t hi s f e sti v al, b e c a u s e m y ti m e h a s n ot y et f ull y c o m e.” ( 9) Aft er h e h a d s ai d t hi s, h e st a y e d i n G alil e e. ( 1 0) H o w e v er, aft er hi s br ot h er s h a d l eft f or t h e f e sti v al, h e w e nt al s o, n ot p u bli cl y, b ut i n s e cr et. ( 1 1) N o w at t h e f e sti v al the Je wish lea ders were watchin g for Jesus an d askin g, “ Where is he?” (12) A mong the cro wds there was widespread whispering about hi m. So me said, “ He is a good man.” Others re plie d, “ No, he deceives the peo ple.” (13) But no one woul d say anythin g pu blicly a bout hi m for fear of the l e a d er s. (14) N ot until half way throu gh the festival di d Jesus g o u p t o the te m ple c ourts an d be gin t o teach. (15) The Je ws there were a maze d an d aske d, “ Ho w di d this man get such learnin g without havin g been tau ght?” (16) Jesus ans wered, “ My teaching is not my o wn. It co mes fro m the one who sent me. (17) Anyone who chooses to do the will of Go d will fn d out whether my teaching co mes fro m Go d or whether I speak on my o wn. (18) Whoever speaks on their o wn d oes s o t o gain pers onal gl ory, but he wh o seeks the gl ory of the one wh o sent hi m is a man of truth; there is nothin g false a bout hi m. (19) Has not Moses given you the la w? Yet not one of you kee ps the la w. Why are you tryin g t o kill m e ?” (20) “You are de mon- possesse d,” the cro w d ans were d. “ Who is tryin g to kill you?” (21) Jesus sai d to the m, “I di d one miracle, an d you are all a maze d. (22) Yet, because Moses gave you circu mcision (thou gh actually it di d not co me fro m Moses, but fro m the patriarchs), you circu mcise a boy on the Sa b bath. (23) No w if a boy can be circu mcise d on the Sa b bath so that the la w of Moses may not be broken, why are you an gry with me for healin g a man’s whole bo dy on the Sa b bath? (24) Sto p ju d gin g by mere a p pearances, but instea d ju d ge correctly.” ( 2 5) At t h at p oi nt s o m e of t h e p e o pl e of J er u s al e m b e g a n t o a s k, “I s n’t t hi s t h e m a n t h e y ar e tr yi n g t o kill ? ( 2 6) H er e h e i s, s peakin g pu blicly, an d they are n ot sayin g a w or d t o hi m. Have the auth orities really c onclu de d that he is the Messiah? (27) But we kno w where this man is fro m; when the Messiah co mes, no one will kno w where he is fro m.” ( 2 8) T h e n J e s u s, still t e a c hi n g i n t h e t e m pl e c o urt s, cri e d o ut, “ Y e s, y o u k n o w m e, a n d y o u k n o w w h er e I a m fr o m. I a m not here on my o wn authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not kno w hi m, (29) but I kno w hi m because I a m fro m hi m an d he sent me.” ( 3 0) At t hi s t h e y tri e d t o s ei z e hi m, b ut n o o n e l ai d a h a n d o n hi m, b e c a u s e hi s h o ur h a d n ot y et c o m e. ( 3 1) Still, m a n y i n the cro w d believe d in hi m. They sai d, “ When the Messiah co mes, will he perfor m more si gns than this man?” (32) The Pharisees heard the cro w d whis perin g such thin gs a bout hi m. Then the chief priests an d the Pharisees sent te m ple guards to arrest hi m. ( 3 3) J e s u s s ai d, “I a m wit h y o u f or o nl y a s h ort ti m e, a n d t h e n I a m g oi n g t o t h e o n e w h o s e nt m e. ( 3 4) Y o u will l o o k f or m e, b ut y o u will n ot f n d m e; a n d w h er e I a m, y o u c a n n ot c o m e.” (35) The Je ws sai d to one another, “ Where does this man inten d to go that we cannot fn d hi m? Will he go where our peo ple live scattere d a mon g the Greeks, an d teach the Greeks? (36) What di d he mean when he sai d, ‘You will look for m e, b ut y o u will n ot f n d m e,’ a n d ‘ W h er e I a m, y o u c a n n ot c o m e’ ?” (37) On the last an d greatest day of the festival, Jesus st o o d an d sai d in a l ou d v oice, “Let any one wh o is thirsty c o me t o m e a n d dri n k. ( 3 8) W h o e v er b eli e v e s i n m e, a s S cri pt ur e h a s s ai d, ri v er s of li vi n g w at er will f o w fr o m wit hi n t h e m.” ( 3 9) B y this he meant the S pirit, wh o m th ose wh o believe d in hi m were later t o receive. U p t o that ti me the S pirit ha d n ot been given, since Jesus ha d n ot yet been gl orife d. (40) On hearin g his w or ds, s o me of the pe o ple sai d, “Surely this man is the Pro phet.” (41) Others sai d, “ He is the Messiah.” Still others aske d, “ H o w can the Messiah c o me fro m Galilee? (42) D oes n ot Scri pture say that the Messiah will c o me fro m D a y 1 5 Davi d’s descen dants an d fro m Bethlehe m, the to wn where Davi d live d?” (43) Thus the peo ple were divi de d because of J e s u s. ( 4 4) S o m e w a nt e d t o s ei z e hi m, b ut n o o n e l ai d a h a n d o n hi m. (45) Finally the te m ple guar ds went back to the chief priests an d the Pharisees, who aske d the m, “ Why di dn’t you brin g hi m i n ?” (46) “ No one ever s poke the way this man does,” the guards re plie d. (47) “You mean he has deceive d you also?” the Pharisees retorte d. (48) “ Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believe d in hi m? (49) N o! But this m o b that kn o ws n othin g of the la w—there is a curse on the m.” (50) Nicode mus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their o wn nu mber, asked, (51) “ Does our la w conde mn a man without frst hearing hi m to fnd out what he has been doing?” ( 5 2) T h e y r e pli e d, “ Ar e y o u fr o m G alil e e, t o o ? L o o k i nt o it, a n d y o u will f n d t h at a pr o p h et d o e s n ot c o m e o ut of G alil e e.”

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: * D o a little research* What is the Feast of Ta bernacles?

Wh o d oes Jesus attri bute all that he d oes an d his teachin g t o?

Wh o were the Pharisees an d why di dn’t they believe Jesus was the Messiah?

A p pl y: There is a stark c ontrast in the cro w d a b out wh o Jesus is. Jesus cann ot be a de m on- p ossesse d man an d als o

fll e d wit h riv ers of livi n g w at er. His o w n br ot h ers di d n’t b eli ev e hi m (v ers e 5). Fr o m s cri pt ur e a n d t esti m o ny, w e b eli ev e i n J es us

as Ki n g. H o w c a n w e t a p i nt o t h e riv ers of livi n g w at er t h at H e is ? H a v e y o u alr e a dy ?

Pr a y: As k J es us f or a n u nf aili n g b eli ef a n d l o v e f or f nis hi n g t h e mi nistry h e h as c all e d y o u t o i n Hi m. W h o ar e s o m e

pe o ple y ou can pray f or t o day that stru g gle with believin g in Jesus?

“ Walking do wn these desert roads Water for my thirsty soul”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s H ol y W at er b y W e T h e Ki n g d o m

D a y 1 5 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 8 C h a pt er 8 (1) but Jesus went t o the M ount of Olives. (2) At da wn he a p peare d a gain in the te m ple courts, where all the peo ple gathere d aroun d hi m, an d he sat do wn to teach the m. (3) The teachers of the la w an d the Pharisees brou ght in a wo man cau ght in a dultery. They ma de her stan d before the grou p (4) an d sai d to Jesus, “Teacher, this wo man was cau ght in the act of a dultery. (5) In the La w Moses co m man de d us t o st one such w o men. N o w what d o y ou say?” (6) They were usin g this questi on as a tra p, in or der t o have a basis f or a c c u si n g hi m. B ut J e s u s b e nt d o w n a n d st art e d t o writ e o n t h e gr o u n d wit h hi s f n g er. ( 7) W h e n t h e y k e pt o n q u e sti o ni n g hi m, h e str ai g ht e n e d u p a n d s ai d t o t h e m, “ L et a n y o n e of y o u w h o i s wit h o ut si n b e t h e fr st t o t hr o w a st o n e at h er.” ( 8) A g ai n h e stooped do wn and wrote on the ground. ( 9) At t hi s, t h o s e w h o h e ar d b e g a n t o g o a w a y o n e at a ti m e, t h e ol d er o n e s fr st, u ntil o nl y J e s u s w a s l eft, wit h t h e w o m a n still stan din g there. (10) Jesus strai ghtene d u p an d aske d her, “ Wo man, where are they? Has no one con de mne d you?” ( 1 1) “ N o o n e, sir,” s h e s ai d. “Then neither d o I c on de mn y ou,” Jesus declare d. “ G o n o w an d leave y our life of sin.” ( 1 2) W h e n J e s u s s p o k e a g ai n t o t h e p e o pl e, h e s ai d, “I a m t h e li g ht of t h e w orl d. W h o e v er f oll o w s m e will n e v er w al k i n d ar k n e s s, b ut will h a v e t h e li g ht of lif e.” (13) The Pharisees challen ge d hi m, “ Here y ou are, a p pearin g as y our o wn witness; y our testi m ony is n ot vali d.” ( 1 4) J e s u s a n s w er e d, “ E v e n if I t e stif y o n m y o w n b e h alf, m y t e sti m o n y i s v ali d, f or I k n o w w h er e I c a m e fr o m a n d w h er e I a m going. But you have no idea where I co me fro m or where I a m going. (15) You judge by hu man standards; I pass j u d g m e nt o n n o o n e. ( 1 6) B ut if I d o j u d g e, m y d e ci si o n s ar e tr u e, b e c a u s e I a m n ot al o n e. I st a n d wit h t h e F at h er, w h o s e nt m e. ( 1 7) I n y o ur o w n L a w it is writt e n t h at t h e t e sti m o n y of t w o wit n e s s e s is tr u e. ( 1 8) I a m o n e w h o t e sti f e s f or m y s elf; my other witness is the Father, wh o sent me.” (19) Then they aske d hi m, “ Where is your father?” “ You do not kno w me or my Father,” Jesus re plie d. “If you kne w me, you woul d kno w my Father also.” (20) He s poke these wor ds while teachin g in the te m ple courts near the place where the offerin gs were put. Yet no one seize d hi m, because his hour ha d not yet co me. ( 2 1) O n c e m or e J e s u s s ai d t o t h e m, “I a m g oi n g a w a y, a n d y o u will l o o k f or m e, a n d y o u will di e i n y o ur si n. W h er e I g o, you cannot co me.” ( 2 2) T hi s m a d e t h e J e w s a s k, “ Will h e kill hi m s elf ? I s t h at w h y h e s a y s, ‘ W h er e I g o, y o u c a n n ot c o m e’ ?” ( 2 3) B ut h e c o nti n u e d, “ Y o u ar e fr o m b el o w; I a m fr o m a b o v e. Y o u ar e of t hi s w orl d; I a m n ot of t hi s w orl d. ( 2 4) I t ol d y o u t h at y o u w o ul d di e i n y o ur si n s; if y o u d o n ot b eli e v e t h at I a m h e, y o u will i n d e e d di e i n y o ur si n s.” (25) “ Who are you?” they aske d. “J u st w h at I h a v e b e e n t elli n g y o u fr o m t h e b e gi n ni n g,” J e s u s r e pli e d. ( 2 6) “I h a v e m u c h t o s a y i n j u d g m e nt of y o u. B ut h e wh o sent me is trust w orthy, an d what I have hear d fr o m hi m I tell the w orl d.” (27) They di d n ot un derstan d that he was tellin g the m a b out his Father. (28) S o Jesus sai d, “ When y ou have lifte d u p the Son of Man, then you will kno w that I a m he an d that I do nothin g on my o wn but s peak just what the Father has tau ght m e. ( 2 9) T h e o n e w h o s e nt m e i s wit h m e; h e h a s n ot l eft m e al o n e, f or I al w a y s d o w h at pl e a s e s hi m.” ( 3 0) E v e n a s h e s p o k e, m a n y b eli e v e d i n hi m. ( 3 1) T o t h e J e w s w h o h a d b eli e v e d hi m, J e s u s s ai d, “If y o u h ol d t o m y t e a c hi n g, y o u ar e r e all y m y di s ci pl e s. ( 3 2) T h e n y o u will k n o w t h e tr ut h, a n d t h e tr ut h will s et y o u fr e e.” (33) They ans wered hi m, “ We are Abraha m’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. Ho w can you say that w e s h all b e s et fr e e ?” ( 3 4) J e s u s r e pli e d, “ V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, e v er y o n e w h o si n s i s a sl a v e t o si n. ( 3 5) N o w a sl a v e h a s n o p er m a n e nt pl a c e i n t h e f a mil y, b ut a s o n b el o n g s t o it f or e v er. ( 3 6) S o if t h e S o n s et s y o u fr e e, y o u will b e fr e e i n d e e d. ( 3 7) I k n o w t h at y o u ar e A braha m’s descen dants. Yet y ou are l o okin g f or a way t o kill me, because y ou have n o ro o m f or my w or d. (38) I a m tellin g y ou what I have seen in the Father’s presence, an d y ou are d oin g what y ou have hear d fro m y our father.” (39) “ A braha m is our father,” they ans were d. D a y 1 6 “If y o u w er e A br a h a m’s c hil dr e n,” s ai d J e s u s, “t h e n y o u w o ul d d o w h at A br a h a m di d. ( 4 0) A s it i s, y o u ar e l o o ki n g f or a way to kill me, a man who has tol d you the truth that I heard fro m Go d. A braha m di d not do such thin gs. (41) You are d oin g the w orks of y our o wn father.” “ We are n ot ille giti mate chil dren,” they proteste d. “The only Father we have is G o d hi mself.” (42) Jesus sai d to the m, “If Go d were your Father, you woul d love me, for I have co me here fro m Go d. I have not co me on my o wn; Go d sent me. (43) Why is my lan gua ge not clear to you? Because you are una ble to hear what I say. (44) You bel on g t o y our father, the devil, an d y ou want t o carry out y our father’s desires. He was a mur derer fro m the be ginnin g, n ot h ol di n g t o t h e tr ut h, f or t h er e i s n o tr ut h i n hi m. W h e n h e li e s, h e s p e a k s hi s n ati v e l a n g u a g e, f or h e i s a li ar a n d t h e f at h er of li e s. ( 4 5) Y et b e c a u s e I t ell t h e tr ut h, y o u d o n ot b eli e v e m e! ( 4 6) C a n a n y of y o u pr o v e m e g uilt y of si n ? If I a m tellin g the truth, why don’t you believe me? (47) Whoever belon gs to Go d hears what Go d says. The reason you do not hear is that y ou d o n ot bel on g t o G o d.” (48) The Je ws ans were d hi m, “ Aren’t we ri ght in sayin g that you are a Sa maritan an d de mon- possesse d?” (49) “I a m not possesse d by a de mon,” sai d Jesus, “ but I honor my Father an d you dishonor me. (50) I a m not seekin g gl or y f or m y s elf; b ut t h er e i s o n e w h o s e e k s it, a n d h e i s t h e j u d g e. ( 5 1) V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, w h o e v er o b e y s m y w or d will never see death.” (52) At this they exclai me d, “ No w we kno w that you are de mon-possesse d! A braha m die d an d so di d the prophets, yet y ou say that wh oever o beys y our w or d will never taste death. (53) Are y ou greater than our father A braha m? He die d, an d so di d the pro phets. Who do you think you are?” ( 5 4) J e s u s r e pli e d, “If I gl orif y m y s elf, m y gl or y m e a n s n ot hi n g. M y F at h er, w h o m y o u cl ai m a s y o ur G o d, i s t h e o n e w h o gl ori f e s m e. ( 5 5) T h o u g h y o u d o n ot k n o w hi m, I k n o w hi m. If I s ai d I di d n ot, I w o ul d b e a li ar li k e y o u, b ut I d o k n o w hi m an d o bey his wor d. (56) Your father A braha m rejoice d at the thou ght of seein g my day; he sa w it an d was gla d.” (57) “ You are n ot yet ffty years ol d,” they sai d t o hi m, “an d y ou have seen A braha m!” (58) “ Very truly I tell y ou,” Jesus ans were d, “ bef ore A braha m was b orn, I a m!” (59) At this, they picke d u p st ones t o st one hi m, b ut J e s u s hi d hi m s elf, sli p pi n g a w a y fr o m t h e t e m pl e gr o u n d s.

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: W h o is talki n g wit h Jes us i n t his c ha pter?

Ho w well di d they un derstan d what Jesus was sayin g?

What are s o me of the truths Jesus says a b out hi mself?

A p pl y: I n v ers e 1 2, J es us cl ai ms t o b e t h e li g ht of t h e w orl d. H o w oft e n d o y o u g o t o hi m - t h e li g ht of t h e w orl d

a n d als o t h e riv er of livi n g w at er ? F or a p plic ati o n t o d ay, s p e n d 5- 1 0 mi n ut es i n sil e n c e b ef or e t h e Ki n g ev e n b ef or e y o u s p e ak.

W h at is H e t elli n g y o u ?

Pr a y: As hu man bein gs, we are quick t o accuse others even when we are guilty of the sa me sin! Confess y our sins t o

D a y 1 6 G o d an d ask f or f or giveness. Write the m if necessary.

“Oh Jesus, friend of sinners Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing Fingers” T o d a y’s s o n g i s J e s u s, Fri e n d of Si n n er s b y C a sti n g Cr o w n s

D a y 1 6 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 9 C h a pt er 9

(1) As he went alon g, he sa w a man blin d fro m birth. (2) His disci ples aske d hi m, “Ra b bi, who sinne d, this man or his parents, that he was b orn blin d?” (3) “ Neither this man n or his parents sinne d,” sai d Jesus, “ but this ha p pene d s o that the w orks of G o d mi ght be dis playe d i n hi m. ( 4) A s l o n g a s it i s d a y, w e m u st d o t h e w or k s of hi m w h o s e nt m e. Ni g ht i s c o mi n g, w h e n n o o n e c a n w or k. ( 5) W hil e I a m i n t h e w orl d, I a m t h e li g ht of t h e w orl d.” (6) After sayin g this, he s pit on the groun d, ma de so me mu d with the saliva, an d put it on the man’s eyes. (7) “ Go,” he tol d hi m, “ wash in the Pool of Siloa m” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went an d washe d, an d ca me ho me seein g. (8) His neigh bors an d those who ha d for merly seen hi m begging aske d, “Isn’t this the sa me man who use d to sit an d beg?” (9) So me clai me d that he was. Ot h er s s ai d, “ N o, h e o nl y l o o k s li k e hi m.” B ut h e hi m s elf i n si st e d, “I a m t h e m a n.” (10) “ Ho w then were your eyes opened?” they asked. (11) He re plie d, “The man they call Jesus ma de so me mu d an d put it on my eyes. He tol d me to go to Siloa m an d wash. S o I went an d washe d, an d then I c oul d see.” (12) “ Where is this man?” they aske d hi m. “I d o n’t k n o w,” h e s ai d. (13) They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. (14) No w the day on which Jesus had made the mud an d o pene d the man’s eyes was a Sa b bath. (15) Therefore the Pharisees also aske d hi m ho w he ha d receive d his si ght. “ He put mu d on my eyes,” the man re plie d, “an d I washe d, an d no w I see.” (16) So me of the Pharisees sai d, “This man is not fro m Go d, for he does not kee p the Sa b bath.” But others aske d, “ Ho w can a sinner perfor m such si gns?” So they were divi de d. (17) Then they turne d a gain to the blin d man, “ What have you to say a bout hi m? It was your eyes he o pene d.” The man re plie d, “ He is a pro phet.” (18) They still di d n ot believe that he ha d been blin d an d ha d receive d his si ght until they sent f or the man’s parents. (19) “Is this y our s on?” they aske d. “Is this the one y ou say was b orn blin d? H o w is it that n o w he can see?” (20) “ We kno w he is our son,” the parents ans were d, “an d we kno w he was born blin d. (21) But ho w he can see no w, or w h o o p e n e d hi s e y e s, w e d o n’t k n o w. A s k hi m. H e i s of a g e; h e will s p e a k f or hi m s elf.” ( 2 2) Hi s p ar e nt s s ai d t hi s b e c a u s e they were afraid of the Je wish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who ackno wledged that Jesus was the Messiah w oul d be put out of the syna g o gue. (23) That was why his parents sai d, “ He is of a ge; ask hi m.” (24) A secon d ti me they su m mone d the man who ha d been blin d. “ Give glory to Go d by tellin g the truth,” they sai d. “ We k n o w t hi s m a n i s a si n n er.” ( 2 5) H e r e pli e d, “ W h et h er h e i s a si n n er or n ot, I d o n’t k n o w. O n e t hi n g I d o k n o w. I w a s bli n d b ut n o w I s e e!” (26) Then they aske d hi m, “ What di d he do to you? Ho w di d he open your eyes?” (27) He ans were d, “I have tol d you alrea dy an d you di d not listen. Why do you want to hear it a gain? Do you want to beco me his disci ples too?” ( 2 8) T h e n t h e y h url e d i n s ult s at hi m a n d s ai d, “ Y o u ar e t hi s f ell o w’s di s ci pl e! W e ar e di s ci pl e s of M o s e s! ( 2 9) W e k n o w t h at Go d s poke to Moses, but as for this fello w, we don’t even kno w where he co mes fro m.” (30) The man ans were d, “ No w that is re marka ble! You don’t kno w where he co mes fro m, yet he o pene d my eyes. (31) We kno w that Go d does not listen to sinners. He listens to the go dly person who does his will. (32) No bo dy has ever hear d of o p e ni n g t h e e y e s of a m a n b or n bli n d. ( 3 3) If t hi s m a n w er e n ot fr o m G o d, h e c o ul d d o n ot hi n g.” (34) To this they re plie d, “ You were stee pe d in sin at birth; h o w dare y ou lecture us!” An d they thre w hi m out. (35) Jesus heard that they ha d thro wn hi m out, an d when he foun d hi m, he sai d, “ Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

D a y 1 7 ( 3 6) “ W h o i s h e, sir ?” t h e m a n a s k e d. “ T ell m e s o t h at I m a y b eli e v e i n hi m.” (37) Jesus sai d, “ You have n o w seen hi m; in fact, he is the one s peakin g with y ou.” ( 3 8) T h e n t h e m a n s ai d, “ L or d, I b eli e v e,” a n d h e w or s hi p e d hi m. (39) Jesus sai d, “For ju d g ment I have co me into this worl d, so that the blin d will see an d those who see will beco me bli n d.” (40) So me Pharisees who were with hi m heard hi m say this an d aske d, “ What? Are we blin d too?” ( 4 1) J e s u s s ai d, “If y o u w er e bli n d, y o u w o ul d n ot b e g uilt y of si n; b ut n o w t h at y o u cl ai m y o u c a n s e e, y o ur g uilt r e m ai n s.

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: What are s o me of the hi ghli ghts of this cha pter?

W h at is t h e ulti m at e c a us e of all s uff eri n g a n d dis e as e ?

W h at is t h e ir o ny of v ers e 2 4 ?

A p pl y: Why were the man’s parents afrai d t o take a stan d? Are y ou s o meti mes afrai d t o take a stan d? Why?

Pr a y: L or d, si c k n ess a n d dis e as e d o es n’t c o m e fr o m y o u. Y o u m a d e all t hi n gs g o o d a n d p erf e ct, a n d all t hi n gs wr o n g i n

t h e w orl d c o m es fr o m si n. I pr ais e y o u as a g o o d Cr e at or. H el p m e t o h av e t h e c o ur a g e t o t a k e a st a n d f or y o u! I b eli ev e i n

y our p o wer t o heal an d t o use challen ges f or y our g o o d an d gl ory.

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart”

To day’s s on g is O pen the Eyes of My Heart by Duffey

D a y 1 7 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 1 0 C h a pt er 1 0

(1) “ Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the shee p pen by the gate, but cli m bs in by so me other way, is a thief an d a ro b ber. (2) The one wh o enters by the gate is the she pher d of the shee p. (3) The gatekee per o pens t h e g at e f or hi m, a n d t h e s h e e p li st e n t o hi s v oi c e. H e c all s hi s o w n s h e e p b y n a m e a n d l e a d s t h e m o ut. ( 4) W h e n h e h a s brou ght out all his o wn, he goes on ahea d of the m, an d his shee p follo w hi m because they kno w his voice. (5) But they will never f oll o w a stran ger; in fact, they will run a way fro m hi m because they d o n ot rec o gnize a stran ger’s v oice.” (6) Jesus use d this f gure of s peech, but the Pharisees di d not un derstan d what he was tellin g the m. (7) Theref ore Jesus sai d a gain, “ Very truly I tell y ou, I a m the gate f or the shee p. (8) All wh o have c o me bef ore me are thieves an d ro b bers, but the sheep have not listene d to the m. (9) I a m the gate; whoever enters through me will be s a v e d. T h e y will c o m e i n a n d g o o ut, a n d f n d p a st ur e. ( 1 0) T h e t hi ef c o m e s o nl y t o st e al a n d kill a n d d e str o y; I h a v e c o m e t h at t h e y m a y h a v e lif e, a n d h a v e it t o t h e f ull. (11) “I a m the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays do wn his life for the sheep. (12) The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not o wn the sheep. So when he sees the wolf co ming, he abandons the sheep and runs a way. Then the wolf attacks the fock an d scatters it. (13) The man runs a way because he is a hire d han d an d cares nothin g for the s h e e p. (14) “I a m the good shepherd; I kno w my sheep and my sheep kno w me— (15) just as the Father kno ws me and I kno w the Father —an d I lay d o wn my life f or the shee p. (16) I have other shee p that are n ot of this shee p pen. I must brin g the m al s o. T h e y t o o will li st e n t o m y v oi c e, a n d t h er e s h all b e o n e f o c k a n d o n e s h e p h er d. ( 1 7) T h e r e a s o n m y F at h er l o v e s m e i s t h at I l a y d o w n m y lif e — o nl y t o t a k e it u p a g ai n. ( 1 8) N o o n e t a k e s it fr o m m e, b ut I l a y it d o w n of m y o w n a c c or d. I h a v e auth ority t o lay it d o wn an d auth ority t o take it u p a gain. This c o m man d I receive d fro m my Father.” (19) The Je ws who heard these words were again divided. (20) Many of the m said, “ He is de mon-possessed and raving m a d. W h y li st e n t o hi m ?” (21) But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a de mon. Can a de mon open the eyes of the bli n d ?” (22) Then ca me the Festival of De dication at Jerusale m. It was winter, (23) an d Jesus was in the te m ple courts walkin g in Solo mon’s Colonnade. (24) The Je ws who were there gathered around hi m, saying, “ Ho w long will you keep us in s u s p e n s e ? If y o u ar e t h e M e s si a h, t ell u s pl ai nl y.” ( 2 5) J e s u s a n s w er e d, “I di d t ell y o u, b ut y o u d o n ot b eli e v e. T h e w or k s I d o i n m y F at h er’s n a m e t e stif y a b o ut m e, ( 2 6) b ut you do not believe because you are not my shee p. (27) My shee p listen to my voice; I kno w the m, an d they follo w me. (28) I give the m eternal life, an d they shall never perish; no one will snatch the m out of my han d. (29) My Father, who has given the m t o me, is greater than all; n o one can snatch the m out of my Father’s han d. (30) I an d the Father are one.” (31) Again his Je wish opponents picke d up stones to stone hi m, (32) but Jesus sai d to the m, “I have sho wn you many goo d works fro m the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” (33) “ We are not stonin g you for any goo d work,” they re plie d, “ but for blas phe my, because you, a mere man, clai m to b e G o d.” (34) Jesus ans were d the m, “Is it n ot written in y our La w, ‘I have sai d y ou are “g o ds”’? (35) If he calle d the m ‘g o ds,’ t o who m the word of Go d ca me—an d Scri pture cannot be set asi de— (36) what a bout the one who m the Father set a part as his very o wn an d sent into the worl d? Why then do you accuse me of blas phe my because I sai d, ‘I a m Go d’s Son’? (37) D o n ot b eli e v e m e u nl e s s I d o t h e w or k s of m y F at h er. ( 3 8) B ut if I d o t h e m, e v e n t h o u g h y o u d o n ot b eli e v e m e, b eli e v e the w orks, that y ou may kn o w an d un derstan d that the Father is in me, an d I in the Father.” (39) A gain they trie d t o seize hi m, but he esca pe d their gras p. (40) Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John ha d been ba ptizin g in the early days. There he staye d, (41) an d many peo ple ca me to hi m. They sai d, “Thou gh John never perfor me d a si gn, all that John sai d a bout this man was true.” (42) An d in that place many believe d in Jesus.

D a y 1 8 - Re fection - E x a mi ne: In verses 7 an d 11, Jesus calls hi mself t w o different thin gs. What are they an d what is si gnifcant a b out t h es e titl es?

His Je wish o p p onents really g ot an gry when Jesus sai d what he di d in verse 30. H o w di d he ex plain that he was “one with God” as God’s Son?

A p pl y: When y ou hear a preacher/teacher, what are s o me in dicat ors that he is authentic t o ri ght preachin g ( preachin g truth t o y ou)?

Pr a y: L or d, h el p m e t o list e n o nly t o tr u e t e a c hi n g, s o t h at I c a n r e f e ct tr ut h i n t h e w orl d! Giv e m e e ars f or s o u n d d o ctri n e. L et m e n ot o nly h e ar ri g ht t e a c hi n g, b ut i m pli m e nt it i nt o my d aily w alk wit h y o u!

“The cross has spoken, I a m forgiven The King of kings calls me His o wn”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s Li vi n g H o p e b y P hil Wi c k h a m

D a y 1 8 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 1 1 C h a pt er 1 1

(1) No w a man na me d Lazarus was sick. He was fro m Bethany, the villa ge of Mary an d her sister Martha. (2) (This Mary, wh ose brother Lazarus n o w lay sick, was the sa me one wh o p oure d perfu me on the Lor d an d wi pe d his feet with her hair.) ( 3) S o t he sisters se nt w or d t o Jes us, “L or d, t he o ne y o u l ove is sick.” ( 4) W h e n h e h e ar d t hi s, J e s u s s ai d, “ T hi s si c k n e s s will n ot e n d i n d e at h. N o, it i s f or G o d’s gl or y s o t h at G o d’s S o n m a y b e gl orife d throu gh it.” (5) N o w Jesus l ove d Martha an d her sister an d Lazarus. (6) S o when he hear d that Lazarus was sick, he staye d where he was t w o m ore days, (7) an d then he sai d t o his disci ples, “Let us g o back t o Ju dea.” (8) “ But Ra b bi,” they sai d, “a sh ort while a g o the Je ws there trie d t o st one y ou, an d yet y ou are g oin g back?” (9) Jesus ans were d, “ Are there n ot t welve h ours of dayli ght? Any one wh o walks in the dayti me will n ot stu m ble, f or they s e e b y t hi s w orl d’s li g ht. ( 1 0) It i s w h e n a p er s o n w al k s at ni g ht t h at t h e y st u m bl e, f or t h e y h a v e n o li g ht.” ( 1 1) Aft er h e h a d s ai d t hi s, h e w e nt o n t o t ell t h e m, “ O ur fri e n d L a z ar u s h a s f all e n a sl e e p; b ut I a m g oi n g t h er e t o w a k e hi m u p.” (12) His disci ples re plie d, “Lor d, if he slee ps, he will get better.” (13) Jesus ha d been s peakin g of his death, but his disci ples th ou ght he meant natural slee p. (14) So then he tol d the m plainly, “Lazarus is dea d, (15) an d for your sake I a m gla d I was not there, so that you may b eli e v e. B ut l et u s g o t o hi m.” (16) Then Th o mas (als o kn o wn as Di dy mus) sai d t o the rest of the disci ples, “Let us als o g o, that we may die with hi m.” (17) On his arrival, Jesus f oun d that Lazarus ha d alrea dy been in the t o m b f or f our days. (18) N o w Bethany was less than t wo miles fro m Jerusale m, (19) an d many Je ws ha d co me to Martha an d Mary to co mfort the m in the loss of their brother. (20) When Martha heard that Jesus was co ming, she went out to meet hi m, but Mary staye d at ho me. (21) “Lor d,” Martha sai d to Jesus, “if you ha d been here, my brother woul d not have die d. (22) But I kno w that even no w G o d will give y ou whatever y ou ask.” ( 2 3) Jes us sai d t o her, “ Yo ur br ot her will rise a gai n.” (24) Martha ans were d, “I kn o w he will rise a gain in the resurrecti on at the last day.” ( 2 5) J e s u s s ai d t o h er, “I a m t h e r e s urr e cti o n a n d t h e lif e. T h e o n e w h o b eli e v e s i n m e will li v e, e v e n t h o u g h t h e y di e; ( 2 6) a n d w h o e v er li v e s b y b eli e vi n g i n m e will n e v er di e. D o y o u b eli e v e t hi s ?” ( 2 7) “ Y e s, L or d,” s h e r e pli e d, “I b eli e v e t h at y o u ar e t h e M e s si a h, t h e S o n of G o d, w h o i s t o c o m e i nt o t h e w orl d.” (28) After she ha d sai d this, she went back an d calle d her sister Mary asi de. “The Teacher is here,” she sai d, “an d is askin g for you.” (29) When Mary hear d this, she got u p quickly an d went to hi m. (30) No w Jesus ha d not yet entere d the villa ge, but was still at the place where Martha ha d met hi m. (31) When the Je ws who ha d been with Mary in the house, co mfortin g her, notice d ho w quickly she got u p an d went out, they follo we d her, su p posin g she was goin g to the to m b to mourn there. (32) When Mary reache d the place where Jesus was an d sa w hi m, she fell at his feet an d sai d, “Lor d, if y ou ha d been here, my brother woul d not have die d.” (33) When Jesus sa w her weeping, and the Je ws who had co me along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in s pirit an d trou ble d. (34) “ Where have you lai d hi m?” he aske d. “ Co me an d see, Lor d,” they re plie d. ( 3 5) J e s u s w e pt. (36) Then the Je ws sai d, “See ho w he love d hi m!” (37) But so me of the m sai d, “ Coul d not he who o pene d the eyes of the blin d man have ke pt this man fro m dyin g?” (38) Jesus, once more dee ply move d, ca me to the to m b. It was a cave with a stone lai d across the entrance. (39) “Take a way the st one,” he sai d. “ But, L or d,” sai d Martha, the sister of the dea d man, “ by this ti me there is a ba d o d or, f or he has been there f our days.” ( 4 0) T h e n J e s u s s ai d, “ Di d I n ot t ell y o u t h at if y o u b eli e v e, y o u will s e e t h e gl or y of G o d ?”

D a y 1 9 (41) S o they t o ok a way the st one. Then Jesus l o oke d u p an d sai d, “Father, I thank y ou that y ou have hear d me. (42) I kne w that y ou al ways hear me, but I sai d this f or the beneft of the pe o ple stan din g here, that they may believe that y ou sent m e.” (43) When he ha d sai d this, Jesus calle d in a l ou d v oice, “Lazarus, c o me out!” (44) The dea d man ca me out, his han ds an d f e et wr a p p e d wit h stri p s of li n e n, a n d a cl ot h ar o u n d hi s f a c e. Jesus sai d t o the m, “Take off the grave cl othes an d let hi m g o.” (45) Theref ore many of the Je ws wh o ha d c o me t o visit Mary, an d ha d seen what Jesus di d, believe d in hi m. (46) But s o me of the m went to the Pharisees an d tol d the m what Jesus ha d done. (47) Then the chief priests an d the Pharisees calle d a meetin g of the Sanhe drin. “ What are we acco m plishin g?” they aske d. “ Here is this man perfor min g many si gns. (48) If we let hi m go on like this, everyone will believe in hi m, an d then the Ro mans will co me an d take a way both our te m ple an d our nation.” (49) Then one of the m, na me d Caia phas, who was hi gh priest that year, s poke u p, “You kno w nothin g at all! (50) You do n ot realize t hat it is better f or y ou t hat one man die f or t he pe o ple t han t hat t he w h ole nati on peris h.” (51) He di d n ot say this on his o wn, but as hi gh priest that year he pr o phesie d that Jesus w oul d die f or the Je wish nati on, (52) an d n ot only f or that nati on but als o f or the scattere d chil dren of G o d, t o brin g the m t o gether an d make the m one. ( 5 3) S o fr o m t h at d a y o n t h e y pl ott e d t o t a k e hi s lif e. (54) Therefore Jesus no lon ger move d a bout pu blicly a mon g the peo ple of Ju dea. Instea d he with dre w to a re gion near t h e wil d er n e s s, t o a vill a g e c all e d E p hr ai m, w h er e h e st a y e d wit h hi s di s ci pl e s. (55) When it was al most ti me for the Je wish Passover, many went u p fro m the country to Jerusale m for their cere monial cleansin g before the Passover. (56) They ke pt lookin g for Jesus, an d as they stoo d in the te m ple courts they aske d one an other, “ What d o y ou think? Isn’t he c o min g t o the festival at all?” (57) But the chief priests an d the Pharisees ha d given or ders that any one wh o f oun d out where Jesus was sh oul d re p ort it s o that they mi ght arrest hi m.

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: Jesus - the S on of G o d - m ourns death when he is face d with Lazarus’s death (alth ou gh he kn o ws he will raise hi m fro m the dea d).. Why di d Jesus wee p?

Wh o pro phesies Jesus dyin g f or the nati on of Israel? Di d he mean t o?

A p pl y: As w e s e e d e at h, w e s e e t h e w orl d as it is n ot s u p p os e t o b e. H o w c a n y o u b e a li g ht i n s u c h d ar k sit u ati o ns ? What is an exa m ple fro m this week (even a “ min or” one)?

Pr a y: L or d, giv e us ey es t o s e e t h e w or n g i n t h e w orl d a n d a c h a n c e t o b e a li g ht i n t h e w orl d i n d ar k sit u ati o ns, es p e ci ally n o w i n...

... a n d w e w el c o m e y o ur r et ur n w h e n ev eryt hi n g will b e p ut i n its pr o p er pl a c e!

D a y 1 9 “Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten Give me Your eyes so I can see”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s Gi v e M e Y o ur E y e s b y Br a n d o n H e at h

D a y 1 9 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 1 2 C h a pt er 1 2

(1) Six days before the Passover, Jesus ca me to Bethany, where Lazarus live d, who m Jesus ha d raise d fro m the dea d. (2) Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ h on or. Martha serve d, while Lazarus was a m on g th ose reclinin g at the ta ble with hi m. (3) Then Mary t o ok a b out a pint of pure nar d, an ex pensive perfu me; she p oure d it on Jesus’ feet an d wi pe d his feet with her hair. An d the h ouse was flle d with the fra grance of the perfu me. ( 4) B ut o n e of hi s di s ci pl e s, J u d a s I s c ari ot, w h o w a s l at er t o b etr a y hi m, o bj e ct e d, ( 5) “ W h y w a s n’t t hi s p erf u m e s ol d a n d the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wa ges.” (6) He di d not say this because he care d a bout the poor but because he was a thief; as kee per of the m oney ba g, he use d t o hel p hi mself t o what was put int o it. (7) “Leave her al one,” Jesus re plie d. “It was inten de d that she sh oul d save this perfu me f or the day of my burial. (8) You will al w a y s h a v e t h e p o or a m o n g y o u, b ut y o u will n ot al w a y s h a v e m e.” (9) Mean while a large cro wd of Je ws found out that Jesus was there and ca me, not only because of hi m but also to see Lazarus, wh o m he ha d raise d fro m the dea d. (10) S o the chief priests ma de plans t o kill Lazarus as well, (11) f or on account of hi m many of the Je ws were goin g over to Jesus an d believin g in hi m. (12) The next day the great cro w d that ha d c o me f or the festival hear d that Jesus was on his way t o Jerusale m. (13) They took pal m branches and went out to meet hi m, shouting, “ H o s a n n a!” “ Blesse d is he who co mes in the na me of the Lord!” “ Bl e s s e d i s t h e ki n g of I sr a el!” (14) Jesus f oun d a y oun g d onkey an d sat on it, as it is written: (15) “ Do not be afrai d, Dau ghter Zion; s e e, y o ur ki n g i s c o mi n g, s e at e d o n a d o n k e y’s c olt.” (16) At frst his disci ples di d n ot un derstan d all this. Only after Jesus was gl orife d di d they realize that these thin gs ha d been written a bout hi m an d that these thin gs ha d been done to hi m. (17) No w the cro w d that was with hi m when he calle d Lazarus fro m the to m b an d raise d hi m fro m the dea d continue d to s prea d the word. (18) Many peo ple, because they ha d heard that he ha d perfor me d this si gn, went out to meet hi m. (19) S o the Pharisees sai d t o one an other, “See, this is gettin g us n o where. Lo ok h o w the wh ole w orl d has g one after hi m!” (20) No w there were so me Greeks a mong those who went up to worship at the festival. (21) They ca me to Philip, who w a s fr o m B et h s ai d a i n G alil e e, wit h a r e q u e st. “ Sir,” t h e y s ai d, “ w e w o ul d li k e t o s e e J e s u s.” ( 2 2) P hili p w e nt t o t ell A n dr e w; A n dr e w a n d P hili p i n t ur n t ol d J e s u s. (23) Jesus re plie d, “The h our has c o me f or the S on of Man t o be gl orife d. (24) Very truly I tell y ou, unless a kernel of w h e at f all s t o t h e gr o u n d a n d di e s, it r e m ai n s o nl y a si n gl e s e e d. B ut if it di e s, it pr o d u c e s m a n y s e e d s. ( 2 5) A n y o n e w h o l o v e s t h eir lif e will l o s e it, w hil e a n y o n e w h o h at e s t h eir lif e i n t hi s w orl d will k e e p it f or et er n al lif e. ( 2 6) W h o e v er s er v e s m e m u st f oll o w m e; a n d w h er e I a m, m y s er v a nt al s o will b e. M y F at h er will h o n or t h e o n e w h o s er v e s m e. ( 2 7) “ N o w m y s o ul i s tr o u bl e d, a n d w h at s h all I s a y ? ‘ F at h er, s a v e m e fr o m t hi s h o ur’ ? N o, it w a s f or t hi s v er y r e a s o n I c a m e t o this h our. (28) Father, gl orify y our na me!” T h e n a v oi c e c a m e fr o m h e a v e n, “I h a v e gl ori f e d it, a n d will gl orif y it a g ai n.” ( 2 9) T h e cr o w d t h at w a s t h er e a n d h e ar d it sai d it ha d thun dere d; others sai d an an gel ha d s poken to hi m. ( 3 0) J e s u s s ai d, “ T hi s v oi c e w a s f or y o ur b e n e ft, n ot mi n e. ( 3 1) N o w is t h e ti m e f or j u d g m e nt o n t hi s w orl d; n o w t h e pri n c e of t hi s w orl d will b e dri v e n o ut. ( 3 2) A n d I, w h e n I a m lift e d u p fr o m t h e e art h, will dr a w all p e o pl e t o m y s elf.” ( 3 3) H e s ai d t hi s t o s h o w t h e ki n d of d e at h h e w a s g oi n g t o di e. (34) The cro w d s poke u p, “ We have heard fro m the La w that the Messiah will re main forever, so ho w can you say, ‘The S o n of M a n m u st b e lift e d u p’ ? W h o i s t hi s ‘ S o n of M a n’ ?” ( 3 5) T h e n J e s u s t ol d t h e m, “ Y o u ar e g oi n g t o h a v e t h e li g ht j u st a littl e w hil e l o n g er. W al k w hil e y o u h a v e t h e li g ht, b ef or e darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not kno w where they are goin g. (36) Believe in the li ght while y o u h a v e t h e li g ht, s o t h at y o u m a y b e c o m e c hil dr e n of li g ht.” W h e n h e h a d f ni s h e d s p e a ki n g, J e s u s l eft a n d hi d hi m s elf D a y 2 0 fr o m t h e m. (37) Even after Jesus ha d perf or me d s o many si gns in their presence, they still w oul d n ot believe in hi m. (38 This was t o f ul fll t h e w or d of I s ai a h t h e pr o p h et: “Lord, who has believed our message an d to who m has the ar m of the Lord been reveale d?” (39) For this reas on they c oul d n ot believe, because, as Isaiah says else where: (40) “ He has blin de d their eyes an d har dene d their hearts, s o they can neither see with their eyes, n or un derstan d wit h t heir hearts, n or t ur n — a n d I w o ul d h e al t h e m.” (41) Isaiah sai d this because he sa w Jesus’ glory an d s poke a bout hi m. (42) Yet at the sa me ti me many even a mon g the lea ders believe d in hi m. But because of the Pharisees they woul d not o penly ackno wle d ge their faith for fear they woul d be put out of the syna go gue; (43) for they love d hu man praise more than praise fro m God. (44) Then Jesus crie d out, “ Wh oever believes in me d oes n ot believe in me only, but in the one wh o sent me. (45) The one w h o l o o k s at m e i s s e ei n g t h e o n e w h o s e nt m e. ( 4 6) I h a v e c o m e i nt o t h e w orl d a s a li g ht, s o t h at n o o n e w h o b eli e v e s in me shoul d stay in darkness. (47) “If anyone hears my words but does not kee p the m, I do not ju d ge that person. For I di d not co me to ju d ge the worl d, but to save the worl d. (48) There is a ju d ge for the one who rejects me an d does not acce pt my wor ds; the very wor ds I have s poken will con de mn the m at the last day. (49) For I di d not s peak on my o wn, but the Father who sent me c o m m a n d e d m e t o s a y all t h at I h a v e s p o k e n. ( 5 0) I k n o w t h at hi s c o m m a n d l e a d s t o et er n al lif e. S o w h at e v er I s a y i s j u st what the Father has t ol d me t o say.”

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: Di d the disci ples un derstan d that Jesus was g oin g t o die?

What pr o phecies were fulflle d in this cha pter?

What does “hosannah” mean?

Jesus di dn’t co me to ______but to ______(verse 47).

A p pl y: See verses 23 throu gh 26. H o w can y ou a p ply these passa ges t o y our life practically?

Pr a y: L or d, h el p m e di e t o s elf! Giv e m e ey es t o s e e, e ars t o h e ar, a n d a h e art f or y o ur ki n g d o m t o c o m e t o t h e e art h t o d ay a n d f or ev er. All o w m e t o pl ay a p art i n r es c ui n g m e n a n d w o m e n o ut of t h eir si n a n d i nt o y o ur ar ms!

D a y 2 0 “Heal my heart and make it clean Open up my eyes to the things unseen”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s H o s a n n a h b y Hill s o n g U nit e d

D a y 2 0 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 1 3 C h a pt er 1 3 (1) It was just bef ore the Pass over Festival. Jesus kne w that the h our ha d c o me f or hi m t o leave this w orl d an d g o t o the Father. Havin g love d his o wn who were in the worl d, he love d the m to the en d. (2) The evenin g meal was in pro gress, an d the devil ha d alrea dy pro m pte d Ju das, the son of Si mon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. (3) Jesus kne w that the Father had put all things under his po wer, and that he had co me fro m God and was returnin g to Go d; (4) so he got u p fro m the meal, took off his outer clothin g, an d wra p pe d a to wel aroun d his waist. (5) After that, he p oure d water int o a basin an d be gan t o wash his disci ples’ feet, dryin g the m with the t o wel that was wrapped around hi m. (6) He ca me to Si mon Peter, who sai d to hi m, “Lor d, are you goin g to wash my feet?” (7) Jesus re plie d, “ You d o n ot realize n o w what I a m d oin g, but later y ou will un derstan d.” (8) “ N o,” sai d Peter, “y ou shall never wash my feet.” Jesus ans were d, “ Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (9) “Then, Lor d,” Si m on Peter re plie d, “n ot just my feet but my han ds an d my hea d as well!” (10) Jesus ans were d, “Those who have ha d a bath nee d only to wash their feet; their whole bo dy is clean. An d you are clean, thou gh not every one of you.” (11) For he kne w who was goin g to betray hi m, an d that was why he sai d not every one was clean. (12) When he ha d fnishe d washin g their feet, he put on his clothes an d returne d to his place. “ Do you un derstan d what I h a v e d o n e f or y o u ?” h e a s k e d t h e m. ( 1 3) “ Y o u c all m e ‘ T e a c h er’ a n d ‘ L or d,’ a n d ri g htl y s o, f or t h at i s w h at I a m. ( 1 4) N o w that I, your Lord an d Teacher, have washe d your feet, you also shoul d wash one another’s feet. (15) I have set you an exa m ple t hat y o u s h o ul d d o as I have d o ne f or y o u. ( 1 6) Very tr uly I tell y o u, n o serva nt is greater t ha n his master, n or is a messen ger greater than the one who sent hi m. (17) No w that you kno w these thin gs, you will be blesse d if you do the m. ( 1 8) “I a m n ot r ef erri n g t o all of y o u; I k n o w t h o s e I h a v e c h o s e n. B ut t hi s i s t o f ul fll t hi s p a s s a g e of S cri pt ur e: ‘ H e w h o share d my brea d has turne d a gainst me.’ ( 1 9) “I a m t elli n g y o u n o w b ef or e it h a p p e n s, s o t h at w h e n it d o e s h a p p e n y o u will b eli e v e t h at I a m w h o I a m. ( 2 0) V er y truly I tell you, whoever acce pts anyone I sen d acce pts me; an d whoever acce pts me acce pts the one who sent me.” ( 2 1) Aft er h e h a d s ai d t hi s, J e s u s w a s tr o u bl e d i n s pirit a n d t e sti f e d, “ V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, o n e of y o u i s g oi n g t o b etr a y m e.” (22) His disci ples stare d at one another, at a loss to kno w which of the m he meant. (23) One of the m, the disci ple who m Jesus l ove d, was reclinin g next t o hi m. (24) Si m on Peter m oti one d t o this disci ple an d sai d, “ Ask hi m which one he means.” (25) Leanin g back a gainst Jesus, he aske d hi m, “Lor d, wh o is it?” ( 2 6) J e s u s a n s w er e d, “It i s t h e o n e t o w h o m I will gi v e t hi s pi e c e of br e a d w h e n I h a v e di p p e d it i n t h e di s h.” T h e n, di p pi n g the piece of brea d, he gave it t o Ju das, the s on of Si m on Iscari ot. (27) As s o on as Ju das t o ok the brea d, Satan entere d i nt o hi m. So Jesus tol d hi m, “ What you are a bout to do, do quickly.” (28) But no one at the meal un derstoo d why Jesus sai d this to hi m. (29) Since Ju das ha d charge of the money, so me thou ght Jesus was tellin g hi m to buy what was nee de d for the festival, or t o give s o methin g t o the p o or. (30) As s o on as Ju das ha d taken the brea d, he went out. An d it was ni ght. ( 3 1) W h e n h e w a s g o n e, J e s u s s ai d, “ N o w t h e S o n of M a n i s gl ori f e d a n d G o d i s gl ori f e d i n hi m. ( 3 2) If G o d i s gl ori f e d i n hi m, G o d will gl orif y t h e S o n i n hi m s elf, a n d will gl orif y hi m at o n c e. ( 3 3) “ M y c hil dr e n, I will b e wit h y o u o nl y a littl e l o n g er. Y o u will l o o k f or m e, a n d j u st a s I t ol d t h e J e w s, s o I t ell y o u n o w: Where I a m going, you cannot co me. (34) “A ne w co m mand I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (35) By this every one will kn o w that y ou are my disci ples, if y ou l ove one an other.” (36) Si mon Peter aske d hi m, “Lord, where are you goin g?” J e s u s r e pli e d, “ W h er e I a m g oi n g, y o u c a n n ot f oll o w n o w, b ut y o u will f oll o w l at er.” ( 3 7) P et er a s k e d, “ L or d, w h y c a n’t I f oll o w y o u n o w ? I will l a y d o w n m y lif e f or y o u.” ( 3 8) T h e n J e s u s a n s w er e d, “ Will y o u r e all y l a y d o w n y o ur lif e f or m e ? V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, b ef or e t h e r o o st er cr o w s, y o u will di s o w n m e t hr e e ti m e s! D a y 2 1 - Re fection - E x a mi ne: As they were sitti n g at the ta ble, Si m o n Peter resiste d the f o ot washi n g at frst. D o y o u ofte n resist whe n so meone wants to do good for you?

Satan entere d Ju das when he t o ok the brea d. Jesus di d n ot fear Satan in the least - sayin g “ What y ou are a b out t o d o, d o it quickly.” D o y ou fear evil when y ou kn o w y ou have Jesus on y our si de? H o w d o y ou c o pe with fear in the w orl d?

A p pl y: Jesus sai d, “ Where I a m g oin g, y ou cann ot c o me.” He was s peakin g of his death. There are places aroun d the w orl d t h at p ut t o d e at h C hristi a ns. H e di d s ay t o t h e dis ci pl es, “ Y o u will f oll o w l at er.” T o d ay, pr ay f or t h os e w h o ar e f oll o wi n g J es us’ f o otst e ps a n d dyi n g f or hi m.

Pr a y: L or d, I w a nt t o b e e m oti o n ally tr a ns p ar e nt wit h y o u a n d s ay t h at I a m afr ai d of d e at h. I m ay n ev er b e f or c e d t o di e b e c a us e of my f ait h i n y o u, b ut t h er e ar e m a ny, my br ot h ers a n d sist ers i n t h e f ait h, t h at ar e b ei n g kill e d all ov er t h e w orl d b e c a us e t h ey l ov e y o u m or e t h a n lif e its elf. Pl e as e str e n gt h e n t h e m t o d ay.

“I Find the journey hard but It’s the reason I was born”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s C arr y M y Cr o s s b y T hir d D a y

D a y 2 1 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 1 4 C h a pt er 1 4

(1) “ Do not let your hearts be trou ble d. You believe in Go d; believe also in me. (2) My Father’s house has many roo ms; if t h at w er e n ot s o, w o ul d I h a v e t ol d y o u t h at I a m g oi n g t h er e t o pr e p ar e a pl a c e f or y o u ? ( 3) A n d if I g o a n d pr e p ar e a pl a c e f or y o u, I will c o m e b a c k a n d t a k e y o u t o b e wit h m e t h at y o u al s o m a y b e w h er e I a m. ( 4) Y o u k n o w t h e w a y t o t h e pl a c e w h er e I a m g oi n g.” (5) Tho mas sai d to hi m, “Lord, we don’t kno w where you are going, so ho w can we kno w the way?” (6) Jesus ans were d, “I a m the way an d the truth an d the life. No one co mes to the Father exce pt throu gh me. (7) If you r e all y k n o w m e, y o u will k n o w m y F at h er a s w ell. Fr o m n o w o n, y o u d o k n o w hi m a n d h a v e s e e n hi m.” ( 8) P hili p s ai d, “ L or d, s h o w u s t h e F at h er a n d t h at will b e e n o u g h f or u s.” (9) Jesus ans wered: “ Don’t you kno w me, Philip, even after I have been a mong you such a long ti me? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. H o w can y ou say, ‘Sh o w us the Father’? (10) D on’t y ou believe that I a m in the Father, an d t h at t h e F at h er i s i n m e ? T h e w or d s I s a y t o y o u I d o n ot s p e a k o n m y o w n a ut h orit y. R at h er, it i s t h e F at h er, li vi n g i n m e, w h o i s d oi n g hi s w or k. ( 1 1) B eli e v e m e w h e n I s a y t h at I a m i n t h e F at h er a n d t h e F at h er i s i n m e; or at l e a st b eli e v e o n t h e e vi d e n c e of t h e w or k s t h e m s el v e s. ( 1 2) V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, w h o e v er b eli e v e s i n m e will d o t h e w or k s I h a v e b e e n d oi n g, an d they will d o even greater thin gs than these, because I a m g oin g t o the Father. (13) An d I will d o whatever y ou ask in m y n a m e, s o t h at t h e F at h er m a y b e gl ori f e d i n t h e S o n. ( 1 4) Y o u m a y a s k m e f or a n yt hi n g i n m y n a m e, a n d I will d o it. ( 1 5) “If y o u l o v e m e, k e e p m y c o m m a n d s. ( 1 6) A n d I will a s k t h e F at h er, a n d h e will gi v e y o u a n ot h er a d v o c at e t o h el p y ou an d be with y ou f orever — (17) the S pirit of truth. The w orl d cann ot acce pt hi m, because it neither sees hi m n or kn o ws hi m. B ut y o u k n o w hi m, f or h e li v e s wit h y o u a n d will b e i n y o u. ( 1 8) I will n ot l e a v e y o u a s or p h a n s; I will c o m e t o y o u. ( 1 9) B ef or e l o n g, t h e w orl d will n ot s e e m e a n y m or e, b ut y o u will s e e m e. B e c a u s e I li v e, y o u al s o will li v e. ( 2 0) O n t h at d a y y o u will r e ali z e t h at I a m i n m y F at h er, a n d y o u ar e i n m e, a n d I a m i n y o u. ( 2 1) W h o e v er h a s m y c o m m a n d s a n d k e e p s t h e m i s t h e o n e w h o l o v e s m e. T h e o n e w h o l o v e s m e will b e l o v e d b y m y F at h er, a n d I t o o will l o v e t h e m a n d s h o w m y s elf t o t h e m.” (22) Then Ju das (n ot Ju das Iscari ot) sai d, “ But, Lor d, why d o y ou inten d t o sh o w y ourself t o us an d n ot t o the w orl d?” ( 2 3) J e s u s r e pli e d, “ A n y o n e w h o l o v e s m e will o b e y m y t e a c hi n g. M y F at h er will l o v e t h e m, a n d w e will c o m e t o t h e m a n d make our ho me with the m. (24) Anyone who does not love me will not o bey my teachin g. These words you hear are not my o wn; they belon g to the Father who sent me. (25) “ All this I have s p oken while still with y ou. (26) But the A dv ocate, the H oly S pirit, wh o m the Father will sen d in my n a m e, will t e a c h y o u all t hi n g s a n d will r e mi n d y o u of e v er yt hi n g I h a v e s ai d t o y o u. ( 2 7) P e a c e I l e a v e wit h y o u; m y p e a c e I gi v e y o u. I d o n ot gi v e t o y o u a s t h e w orl d gi v e s. D o n ot l et y o ur h e art s b e tr o u bl e d a n d d o n ot b e afr ai d. ( 2 8) “ Y o u h e ar d m e s a y, ‘I a m g oi n g a w a y a n d I a m c o mi n g b a c k t o y o u.’ If y o u l o v e d m e, y o u w o ul d b e gl a d t h at I a m g oin g t o the Father, f or the Father is greater than I. (29) I have t ol d y ou n o w bef ore it ha p pens, s o that when it d oes h a p p e n y o u will b eli e v e. ( 3 0) I will n ot s a y m u c h m or e t o y o u, f or t h e pri n c e of t hi s w orl d i s c o mi n g. H e h a s n o h ol d o v er me, (31) but he co mes so that the worl d may learn that I love the Father an d do exactly what my Father has co m man de d m e. “ Co me no w; let us leave.

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: I n verse 18, Jes us says, “I will n ot leave y o u as or pha ns,” beca use he se nt the H oly S pirit t o be with us. D o y o u

ackn o wle d ge this, an d in what ways has this truth been evi dent in y our life?

What d oes the H oly S pirit d o t o day?

D a y 2 2 A p pl y: V ers e 2 7 is c o mf orti n g t o all b eli e v ers. D o y o u k n o w a ny o n e t h at is g oi n g t hr o u g h a dif f c ult, p hysi c ally terri ble mo ment? What can you do this week to be the co mfort as they recover?

Pr a y: L or d, l et m e h ol d f ast t o y o ur H oly S pirit. L et m e b e a li g ht i n t h e w orl d. L et m e giv e n ot j ust e n o u g h t o “ g et by,” b ut

giv e my b est f or y o u - o ut w ar d t o t h e l ost i n t h e w orl d. H oly S pirit, r e mi n d m e of C hrist’s c o m m a n ds or t e a c h m e n e w his d e cr e es s o I c a n o b ey a n d l ov e Hi m. S p e ci f c ally, h el p m e t o w or k o n...

“I don’t wanna follow my own ways I’ m done chasing feelings”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s S pirit L e a d M e b y Mi c h a el K ett er er

D a y 2 2 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 1 5 C h a pt er 1 5 ( 1) “I a m t h e tr u e vi n e, a n d m y F at h er is t h e g ar d e n er. ( 2) H e c uts off e v er y br a n c h i n m e t h at b e ars n o fr uit, w hil e e v er y br a n c h t h at d o es b e ar fr uit h e pr u n es s o t h at it will b e e v e n m or e fr uitf ul. ( 3) Y o u ar e alr e a d y cl e a n b e c a us e of t h e w or d I h a v e s p o k e n t o y o u. ( 4) R e m ai n i n m e, as I als o r e m ai n i n y o u. N o br a n c h c a n b e ar fr uit b y its elf; it m ust r e m ai n i n t h e vi n e. N eit h er c a n y o u b e ar fr uit u nl ess y o u r e m ai n i n m e. ( 5) “I a m t h e vi n e; y o u ar e t h e br a n c h es. If y o u r e m ai n i n m e a n d I i n y o u, y o u will b e ar m u c h fr uit; a p art fr o m m e y o u c a n d o n ot hi n g. ( 6) If y o u d o n ot r e m ai n i n m e, y o u ar e li k e a br a n c h t h at is t hr o w n a w a y a n d wit h ers; s u c h br a n c h es ar e pi c k e d u p, t hr o w n i nt o t h e fr e a n d b ur n e d. ( 7) If y o u r e m ai n i n m e a n d m y w or ds r e m ai n i n y o u, as k w h at e v er y o u wis h, a n d it will b e d o n e f or y o u. ( 8) T his is t o m y F at h er’s gl or y, t h at y o u b e ar m u c h fr uit, s h o wi n g y o urs el v es t o b e m y dis ci pl es. ( 9) “ As t h e F at h er h as l o v e d m e, s o h a v e I l o v e d y o u. N o w r e m ai n i n m y l o v e. ( 1 0) If y o u k e e p m y c o m m a n ds, y o u will r e m ai n i n m y l o v e, j ust as I h a v e k e pt m y F at h er’s c o m m a n ds a n d r e m ai n i n his l o v e. ( 1 1) I h a v e t ol d y o u t his s o t h at m y j o y m a y b e i n y o u a n d t h at y o ur j o y m a y b e c o m pl et e. ( 1 2) M y c o m m a n d is t his: L o v e e a c h ot h er as I h a v e l o v e d y o u. ( 1 3) Gr e at er l o v e h as n o o n e t h a n t his: t o l a y d o w n o n e’s lif e f or o n e’s fri e n ds. ( 1 4) Y o u ar e m y fri e n ds if y o u d o w h at I c o m m a n d. ( 1 5) I n o l o n g er c all y o u s er v a nts, b e c a us e a s er v a nt d o es n ot k n o w his m ast er’s b usi n ess. I nst e a d, I h a v e c all e d y o u fri e n ds, f or e v er yt hi n g t h at I l e ar n e d fr o m m y F at h er I h a v e m a d e k n o w n t o y o u. ( 1 6) Y o u di d n ot c h o os e m e, b ut I c h os e y o u a n d a p p oi nt e d y o u s o t h at y o u mi g ht g o a n d b e ar fr uit —fr uit t h at will l ast — a n d s o t h at w h at e v er y o u as k i n m y n a m e t h e F at h er will gi v e y o u. ( 1 7) T his is my co m mand: Love each other. ( 1 8) “If t h e w orl d h at es y o u, k e e p i n mi n d t h at it h at e d m e frst. ( 1 9) If y o u b el o n g e d t o t h e w orl d, it w o ul d l o v e y o u as its o w n. As it is, y o u d o n ot b el o n g t o t h e w orl d, b ut I h a v e c h os e n y o u o ut of t h e w orl d. T h at is w h y t h e w orl d h at es y o u. ( 2 0) R e m e m b er w h at I t ol d y o u: ‘ A s er v a nt is n ot gr e at er t h a n his m ast er.’ If t h e y p ers e c ut e d m e, t h e y will p ers e c ut e y o u als o. If t h e y o b e y e d m y t e a c hi n g, t h e y will o b e y y o urs als o. ( 2 1) T h e y will tr e at y o u t his w a y b e c a us e of m y n a m e, f or t h e y d o n ot k n o w t h e o n e w h o s e nt m e. ( 2 2) If I h a d n ot c o m e a n d s p o k e n t o t h e m, t h e y w o ul d n ot b e g uilt y of si n; b ut n o w t h e y h a v e n o e x c us e f or t h eir si n. ( 2 3) W h o e v er h at es m e h at es m y F at h er as w ell. ( 2 4) If I h a d n ot d o n e a m o n g t h e m t h e w or ks n o o n e els e di d, t h e y w o ul d n ot b e g uilt y of si n. As it is, t h e y h a v e s e e n, a n d y et t h e y h a v e h at e d b ot h m e a n d m y F at h er. ( 2 5) B ut t his is t o f ul fll w h at is writt e n i n t h eir L a w: ‘ T h e y h at e d m e wit h o ut r e as o n.’ ( 2 6) “ W h e n t h e A d v o c at e c o m es, w h o m I will s e n d t o y o u fr o m t h e F at h er —t h e S pirit of tr ut h w h o g o es o ut fr o m t h e F at h er — h e will t estif y a b o ut m e. ( 2 7) A n d y o u als o m ust t estif y, f or y o u h a v e b e e n wit h m e fr o m t h e b e gi n ni n g. - Re fection - E x a mi ne: Ho w does Jesus say you can love hi m? (verse10)

What is his co m man d? (verses 12 & 17)

Should we expect persecution?

A p pl y: D o at least three acts of l ove t o war d pe o ple t o day ( d o n ot ex pect anythin g in return or say why y ou are d oin g it). Pr a y: L or d, m a k e it cl e ar t o m e h o w I c a n l ov e my n ei g h b or t o d ay! “And I’ll be my brothers keeper So the whole world will kno w that we’re not alone” T o d a y’s s o n g i s H ol d U s T o g et h er b y M att M a h er

D a y 2 3 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 1 6 C h a pt er 1 6

(1) “ All t his I have t ol d y ou s o t hat y ou will n ot fall a way. (2) They will put y ou out of t he syna g o gue; in fact, t he ti me is co min g when anyone who kills you will think they are offerin g a service to Go d. (3) They will do such thin gs because they have not kno wn the Father or me. (4) I have tol d you this, so that when their ti me co mes you will re me m ber that I w ar n e d y o u a b o ut t h e m. I di d n ot t ell y o u t hi s fr o m t h e b e gi n ni n g b e c a u s e I w a s wit h y o u, ( 5) b ut n o w I a m g oi n g t o hi m wh o sent me. N one of y ou asks me, ‘ Where are y ou g oin g?’ (6) Rather, y ou are flle d with grief because I have sai d these t hi n g s. ( 7) B ut v er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, it i s f or y o ur g o o d t h at I a m g oi n g a w a y. U nl e s s I g o a w a y, t h e A d v o c at e will n ot c o m e t o y o u; b ut if I g o, I will s e n d hi m t o y o u. ( 8) W h e n h e c o m e s, h e will pr o v e t h e w orl d t o b e i n t h e wr o n g a b o ut si n a n d righteousness and judg ment: (9) about sin, because people do not believe in me; (10) about righteousness, because I a m goin g to the Father, where you can see me no lon ger; (11) an d a bout ju d g ment, because the prince of this worl d no w stands conde mned. (12) “I have much more to say to you, more than you can no w bear. (13) But when he, the S pirit of truth, co mes, he will g ui d e y o u i nt o all t h e tr ut h. H e will n ot s p e a k o n hi s o w n; h e will s p e a k o nl y w h at h e h e ar s, a n d h e will t ell y o u w h at i s y et t o c o m e. ( 1 4) H e will gl orif y m e b e c a u s e it i s fr o m m e t h at h e will r e c ei v e w h at h e will m a k e k n o w n t o y o u. ( 1 5) All t h at b el o n g s t o t h e F at h er i s mi n e. T h at i s w h y I s ai d t h e S pirit will r e c ei v e fr o m m e w h at h e will m a k e k n o w n t o y o u.” ( 1 6) J e s u s w e nt o n t o s a y, “I n a littl e w hil e y o u will s e e m e n o m or e, a n d t h e n aft er a littl e w hil e y o u will s e e m e.” ( 1 7) At t hi s, s o m e of hi s di s ci pl e s s ai d t o o n e a n ot h er, “ W h at d o e s h e m e a n b y s a yi n g, ‘I n a littl e w hil e y o u will s e e m e n o m or e, a n d t h e n aft er a littl e w hil e y o u will s e e m e,’ a n d ‘ B e c a u s e I a m g oi n g t o t h e F at h er’ ?” ( 1 8) T h e y k e pt a s ki n g, “ W h at d o e s h e m e a n b y ‘ a littl e w hil e’ ? W e d o n’t u n d er st a n d w h at h e i s s a yi n g.” (19) Jesus sa w that they wante d t o ask hi m a b out this, s o he sai d t o the m, “ Are y ou askin g one an other what I meant when I s ai d, ‘I n a littl e w hil e y o u will s e e m e n o m or e, a n d t h e n aft er a littl e w hil e y o u will s e e m e’ ? ( 2 0) V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, y o u will w e e p a n d m o ur n w hil e t h e w orl d r ej oi c e s. Y o u will gri e v e, b ut y o ur gri ef will t ur n t o j o y. ( 2 1) A w o m a n gi vi n g birt h t o a chil d has pain because her ti me has co me; but when her ba by is born she forgets the an guish because of her joy that a c hil d i s b or n i nt o t h e w orl d. ( 2 2) S o wit h y o u: N o w i s y o ur ti m e of gri ef, b ut I will s e e y o u a g ai n a n d y o u will r ej oi c e, a n d n o o n e will t a k e a w a y y o ur j o y. ( 2 3) I n t h at d a y y o u will n o l o n g er a s k m e a n yt hi n g. V er y tr ul y I t ell y o u, m y F at h er will gi v e you whatever you ask in my na me. (24) Until no w you have not aske d for anythin g in my na me. Ask an d you will receive, a n d y o ur j o y will b e c o m pl et e. ( 2 5) “ T h o u g h I h a v e b e e n s p e a ki n g f g ur ati v el y, a ti m e i s c o mi n g w h e n I will n o l o n g er u s e t hi s ki n d of l a n g u a g e b ut will t ell y o u pl ai nl y a b o ut m y F at h er. ( 2 6) I n t h at d a y y o u will a s k i n m y n a m e. I a m n ot s a yi n g t h at I will a s k t h e F at h er o n y o ur b e h alf. ( 2 7) N o, t h e F at h er hi m s elf l o v e s y o u b e c a u s e y o u h a v e l o v e d m e a n d h a v e b eli e v e d t h at I c a m e fr o m G o d. ( 2 8) I ca me fro m the Father an d entere d the worl d; no w I a m leavin g the worl d an d goin g back to the Father.” (29) Then Jesus’ disci ples sai d, “ No w you are s peakin g clearly an d without f gures of s peech. (30) No w we can see that you kno w all thin gs an d that you do not even nee d to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you ca me fro m God.” (31) “ Do you no w believe?” Jesus re plie d. (32) “ A ti me is co min g an d in fact has co me when you will be scattere d, each t o y o ur o w n h o m e. Y o u will l e a v e m e all al o n e. Y et I a m n ot al o n e, f or m y F at h er i s wit h m e. ( 3 3) “I h a v e t ol d y o u t h e s e t hi n g s, s o t h at i n m e y o u m a y h a v e p e a c e. I n t hi s w orl d y o u will h a v e tr o u bl e. B ut t a k e h e art! I have overco me the world.”

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: T o d ay, t h e A d v o c at e ( H oly S pirit) is wit h us as J es us is wit h t h e f at h er. T h e dis ci pl es h a d t o s e e a n d

e x p eri e n c e t h eir L or d kill e d a n d b uri e d, b ut als o s a w hi m ris e n. T his is all v ery dif f c ult f or t h e dis ci pl es t o u n d erst a n d.

W h o is t h e pri n c e of t his w orl d c o n d e m n e d as t his is all h a p p e ni n g ? (s ai d i n v ers e 1 1)

W h at d o es it m e a n t h at all t h at w e as k i n his n a m e, h e will giv e ?

D a y 2 4 A p pl y: For fve minutes, sit an d think a b out the pro ble ms y ou have been facin g recently.

N ext, f or t e n mi n ut es, t hi nk o n w h at J es us di d a n d t h e p e a c e t h at h e off ers i nt o et er nity d es pit e t h os e pr o bl e ms.

Ask hi m f or h el p t hr o u g h t h os e tri als, b ut r est i n t h at p e a c e.

Pr a y: As k G o d t o h el p y o u o v er c o m e t h e o bsti cl es i n y o ur lif e t h at bri n g y o u tr o u bl e, b ut als o as k hi m t o fll t h e m wit h his p e a c e. If y o u h a v e littl e t o n ot hi n g t o pr ay f or, as k t h e cl os est p ers o n t o y o u h o w y o u c a n pr ay f or t h e m.

“Peace is a pro mise You keep You are peace to a restless soul” T o d a y’s s o n g i s P E A C E b y A m a n d a C o o k

D a y 2 4 First Half of t he Seas o n - The G os pel of J o h n J u n e 1 7 C h a pt er 1 7

(1) After Jesus sai d this, he looke d to war d heaven an d praye d: “Father, the h our has c o me. Gl orify y our S on, that y our S on may gl orify y ou. (2) For y ou grante d hi m auth ority over all p e o pl e t h at h e mi g ht gi v e et er n al lif e t o all t h o s e y o u h a v e gi v e n hi m. ( 3) N o w t hi s i s et er n al lif e: t h at t h e y k n o w y o u, t h e only true Go d, an d Jesus Christ, who m you have sent. (4) I have brou ght you glory on earth by fnishin g the work you gave me t o d o. (5) An d n o w, Father, gl orify me in y our presence with the gl ory I ha d with y ou bef ore the w orl d be gan. (6) “I have reveale d you to those who m you gave me out of the worl d. They were yours; you gave the m to me an d they have o beye d your word. (7) No w they kno w that everything you have given me co mes fro m you. (8) For I gave the m the words you gave me an d they acce pte d the m. They kne w with certainty that I ca me fro m you, an d they believe d that you s e nt m e. ( 9) I pr a y f or t h e m. I a m n ot pr a yi n g f or t h e w orl d, b ut f or t h o s e y o u h a v e gi v e n m e, f or t h e y ar e y o ur s. ( 1 0) All I h a v e i s y o ur s, a n d all y o u h a v e i s mi n e. A n d gl or y h a s c o m e t o m e t hr o u g h t h e m. ( 1 1) I will r e m ai n i n t h e w orl d n o l o n g er, but they are still in the w orl d, an d I a m c o min g t o y ou. H oly Father, protect the m by the p o wer of y our na me, the na me you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. (12) While I was with the m, I protecte d the m an d ke pt the m safe by that na me you gave me. None has been lost exce pt the one doo me d to destruction so that Scri pture woul d be fulflle d. ( 1 3) “I a m c o mi n g t o y o u n o w, b ut I s a y t h e s e t hi n g s w hil e I a m still i n t h e w orl d, s o t h at t h e y m a y h a v e t h e f ull m e a s ur e of my j oy within the m. (14) I have given the m y our w or d an d the w orl d has hate d the m, f or they are n ot of the w orl d any more than I a m of the worl d. (15) My prayer is not that you take the m out of the worl d but that you protect the m fro m t h e e vil o n e. ( 1 6) T h e y ar e n ot of t h e w orl d, e v e n a s I a m n ot of it. ( 1 7) S a n ctif y t h e m b y t h e tr ut h; y o ur w or d i s tr ut h. ( 1 8) As y ou sent me int o the w orl d, I have sent the m int o the w orl d. (19) For the m I sanctify myself, that they t o o may be truly s a n cti f e d. ( 2 0) “ M y pr a y er i s n ot f or t h e m al o n e. I pr a y al s o f or t h o s e w h o will b eli e v e i n m e t hr o u g h t h eir m e s s a g e, ( 2 1) t h at all of t h e m m a y b e o n e, F at h er, j u st a s y o u ar e i n m e a n d I a m i n y o u. M a y t h e y al s o b e i n u s s o t h at t h e w orl d m a y b eli e v e t h at y ou have sent me. (22) I have given the m the gl ory that y ou gave me, that they may be one as we are one— (23) I in the m an d you in me—so that they may be brou ght to co m plete unity. Then the worl d will kno w that you sent me an d have love d the m even as you have loved me. (24) “Father, I want th ose y ou have given me t o be with me where I a m, an d t o see my gl ory, the gl ory y ou have given me because you love d me before the creation of the worl d. (25) “Ri ghteous Father, thou gh the worl d does not kno w you, I kno w you, an d they kno w that you have sent me. (26) I have ma de you kno wn to the m, an d will continue to make you kno wn in order that the love you have for me may be in t h e m a n d t h at I m y s elf m a y b e i n t h e m.”

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: Where di d Jesus say he use d t o be? (verse 5)

Fro m Jesus, why have his disci ples (an d us) been sent int o the w orl d?

Where is Jesus g oin g when he says here that he is c o min g?

A p pl y: D o y ou wake u p every day as a missi on t o be sent int o the w orl d f or Jesus?

D a y 2 5 H o w can y ou make this a pri ority an d st o p f or gettin g y our missi on by G o d?

Pr a y: L or d, l et m e b e i n y o u as C hrist J es us is i n y o u. All o w m e t o l ov e ot h ers as y o u s e e ft as a m a n i n y o ur ki n g d o m. As I h av e br e at h, I h av e p ur p os e o n t his e art h t o l ov e ot h ers as y o u h av e l ov e d m e. B e wit h m e t o d ay i n t h e f or m of y o ur H oly S pirit as I l ov e a n d s h ar e t h e g os p el. S p e ci f c ally h el p m e...

“If the win d goes where You sen d it so will I If the rocks cry out in silence so will I”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s S o Will I b y A m a n d a C o o k | B et h el M u si c

D a y 2 5 Season - The Gospel of John J u n e 1 8 C h a pt er 1 8

( 1) W h e n h e h a d f ni s h e d pr a yi n g, J e s u s l eft wit h hi s di s ci pl e s a n d cr o s s e d t h e Ki dr o n V all e y. O n t h e ot h er si d e t h er e w a s a g ar d e n, a n d h e a n d hi s di s ci pl e s w e nt i nt o it. (2) No w Ju das, who betraye d hi m, kne w the place, because Jesus ha d often met there with his disci ples. (3) So Ju das ca me to the gar den, gui din g a detach ment of sol diers an d so me offcials fro m the chief priests an d the Pharisees. They were carryin g torches, lanterns an d wea pons. (4) Jesus, kno win g all that was goin g to ha p pen to hi m, went out an d aske d the m, “ Who is it you want?” (5) “Jesus of Nazareth,” they re plie d. “I a m he,” Jesus sai d. ( An d Ju das the trait or was stan din g there with the m.) (6) When Jesus sai d, “I a m he,” they dre w back a n d f ell t o t h e gr o u n d. (7) A gain he aske d the m, “ Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they sai d. ( 8) J e s u s a n s w er e d, “I t ol d y o u t h at I a m h e. If y o u ar e l o o ki n g f or m e, t h e n l et t h e s e m e n g o.” ( 9) T hi s h a p p e n e d s o t h at the wor ds he ha d s poken woul d be fulflle d: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” (10) Then Si mon Peter, who ha d a s word, dre w it an d struck the hi gh priest’s servant, cuttin g off his ri ght ear. (The servant’s na me was Malchus.) (11) Jesus co m man de d Peter, “Put your s word a way! Shall I not drink the cu p the Father has given me?” (12) Then the detach ment of sol diers with its co m man der an d the Je wish offcials arreste d Jesus. They boun d hi m (13) an d brou ght hi m frst t o Annas, wh o was the father-in-la w of Caia phas, the hi gh priest that year. (14) Caia phas was the one who ha d a dvise d the Je wish lea ders that it woul d be goo d if one man die d for the peo ple. (15) Si m on Peter an d an other disci ple were f oll o win g Jesus. Because this disci ple was kn o wn t o the hi gh priest, he went with Jesus int o the hi gh priest’s c ourtyar d, (16) but Peter ha d t o wait outsi de at the d o or. The other disci ple, wh o was kn o wn t o the hi gh priest, ca me back, s p oke t o the servant girl on duty there an d brou ght Peter in. (17) “ You aren’t one of this man’s disci ples t o o, are y ou?” she aske d Peter. H e r e pli e d, “I a m n ot.” (18) It was col d, an d the servants an d offcials stoo d aroun d a fre they ha d ma de to kee p war m. Peter also was stan din g wit h t h e m, w ar mi n g hi m s elf. (19) Mean while, the hi gh priest questi one d Jesus a b out his disci ples an d his teachin g. ( 2 0) “I h a v e s p o k e n o p e nl y t o t h e w orl d,” J e s u s r e pli e d. “I al w a y s t a u g ht i n s y n a g o g u e s or at t h e t e m pl e, w h er e all t h e Je ws co me to gether. I sai d nothin g in secret. (21) Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they kno w what I s ai d.” ( 2 2) W h e n J e s u s s ai d t hi s, o n e of t h e of f ci al s n e ar b y sl a p p e d hi m i n t h e f a c e. “I s t hi s t h e w a y y o u a n s w er t h e hi g h pri e st ?” he de manded. ( 2 3) “If I s ai d s o m et hi n g wr o n g,” J e s u s r e pli e d, “t e stif y a s t o w h at i s wr o n g. B ut if I s p o k e t h e tr ut h, w h y di d y o u stri k e m e ?” (24) Then Annas sent hi m boun d to Caia phas the hi gh priest. ( 2 5) M e a n w hil e, Si m o n P et er w a s still st a n di n g t h er e w ar mi n g hi m s elf. S o t h e y a s k e d hi m, “ Y o u ar e n’t o n e of hi s di s ci pl e s t o o, are y ou?” H e d e ni e d it, s a yi n g, “I a m n ot.” ( 2 6) O n e of t h e hi g h pri e st’s s er v a nt s, a r el ati v e of t h e m a n w h o s e e ar P et er h a d c ut off, c h all e n g e d hi m, “ Di d n’t I s e e y o u with hi m in the gar den?” (27) A gain Peter denie d it, an d at that m o ment a ro oster be gan t o cro w. (28) Then the Je wish lea ders t o ok Jesus fro m Caia phas t o the palace of the Ro man g overn or. By n o w it was early m ornin g, an d t o av oi d cere m onial uncleanness they di d n ot enter the palace, because they wante d t o be a ble t o eat the Pass over. (29) So Pilate ca me out to the m an d aske d, “ What charges are you brin gin g a gainst this man?” (30) “If he were n ot a cri minal,” they re plie d, “ we w oul d n ot have han de d hi m over t o y ou.”

D a y 2 6 (31) Pilate sai d, “Take hi m y ourselves an d ju d ge hi m by y our o wn la w.” “ B ut w e h a v e n o ri g ht t o e x e c ut e a n y o n e,” t h e y o bj e ct e d. ( 3 2) T hi s t o o k pl a c e t o f ul fll w h at J e s u s h a d s ai d a b o ut t h e ki n d of d e at h h e w a s g oi n g t o di e. (33) Pilate then went back insi de the palace, su m mone d Jesus an d aske d hi m, “ Are you the kin g of the Je ws?” (34) “Is that y our o wn i dea,” Jesus aske d, “or di d others talk t o y ou a b out me?” (35) “ A m I a Je w?” Pilate re plie d. “ Your o wn pe o ple an d chief priests han de d y ou over t o me. What is it y ou have d one?” (36) Jesus sai d, “ My kin g d o m is n ot of this w orl d. If it were, my servants w oul d f ght t o prevent my arrest by the Je wish lea ders. But no w my kin g do m is fro m another place.” ( 3 7) “ Y o u ar e a ki n g, t h e n!” s ai d Pil at e. Jes us a ns were d, “ Yo u say t hat I a m a ki n g. I n fact, t he reas o n I was b or n a n d ca me i nt o t he w orl d is t o testify t o t he tr ut h. Every one on the si de of truth listens t o me.” (38) “ What is truth?” ret orte d Pilate. With this he went out a gain t o the Je ws gathere d there an d sai d, “I fn d n o basis f or a char ge a gainst hi m. (39) But it is y our cust o m f or me t o release t o y ou one pris oner at the ti me of the Pass over. D o y ou want me t o release ‘the kin g of the Je ws’?” (40) They shoute d back, “ No, not hi m! Give us Bara b bas!” No w Bara b bas ha d taken part in an u prisin g.

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: Why di d the Je ws take Jesus to Ro man lea dershi p?

W h at is t h e si g ni f c a n c e of J es us b ei n g tri e d a n d kill e d i n t h e mi dst of P ass o v er ?

A p pl y: At the e n d of this cha pter, we see Jes us take the place of Bara b bas. He physically takes the place of a si n ner.

He als o d oes this f or every one that believes in hi m - Jesus physically takes y our place bef ore the thr one of G o d at

ju d ge ment. H o w d oes that make y ou feel? Is it har d t o believe?

Pr a y: L or d, giv e m e c o ur a g e t o s p e a k t h e g os p el i n tr ut h a n d t o liv e f or C hrist wit h o ut d e nyi n g hi m i n my w alk -

n o m att er t h e c ost! “ When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me You have been so, so kind to me”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s R e c kl e s s L o v e b y C or y A s b ur y

D a y 2 6 Season - The Gospel of John J u n e 1 9 C h a pt er 1 9

(1) Then Pilate took Jesus an d ha d hi m fo g ge d. (2) The sol diers t wiste d to gether a cro wn of thorns an d put it on his h e a d. T h e y cl ot h e d hi m i n a p ur pl e r o b e ( 3) a n d w e nt u p t o hi m a g ai n a n d a g ai n, s a yi n g, “ H ail, ki n g of t h e J e w s!” A n d t h e y sl a p p e d hi m i n t h e f a c e. (4) Once more Pilate ca me out an d sai d to the Je ws gathere d there, “Look, I a m brin gin g hi m out to you to let you kno w that I fn d n o basis f or a char ge a gainst hi m.” (5) When Jesus ca me out wearin g the cro wn of th orns an d the pur ple ro be, Pilate sai d t o the m, “ Here is the man!” (6) As s o on as the chief priests an d their offcials sa w hi m, they sh oute d, “ Crucify! Crucify!” B ut Pil at e a n s w er e d, “ Y o u t a k e hi m a n d cr u cif y hi m. A s f or m e, I f n d n o b a si s f or a c h ar g e a g ai n st hi m.” (7) The Je wish lea ders insiste d, “ We have a la w, an d accordin g to that la w he must die, because he clai me d to be the S o n of G o d.” (8) When Pilate hear d this, he was even more afrai d, (9) an d he went back insi de the palace. “ Where do you co me fro m?” he aske d Jesus, but Jesus gave hi m n o ans wer. (10) “ D o y ou refuse t o s peak t o me?” Pilate sai d. “ D on’t y ou realize I have p o wer either t o free y ou or t o crucify y ou?” (11) Jesus ans were d, “You woul d have no po wer over me if it were not given to you fro m a bove. Therefore the one who han de d me over t o y ou is guilty of a greater sin.” (12) Fr o m then on, Pilate trie d t o set Jesus free, but the Je wish lea ders ke pt sh outin g, “If y ou let this man g o, y ou are n o frien d of Caesar. Anyone who clai ms to be a kin g o p poses Caesar.” (13) When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat do wn on the judge’s seat at a place kno wn as the Stone Pave ment ( which in Ara maic is Ga b batha). (14) It was the day of Pre paration of the Passover; it was a bout noon. “ H er e i s y o ur ki n g,” Pil at e s ai d t o t h e J e w s. (15) But they shoute d, “Take hi m a way! Take hi m a way! Crucify hi m!” “ S h all I cr u cif y y o ur ki n g ?” Pil at e a s k e d. “ We have no kin g but Caesar,” the chief priests ans were d. (16) Finally Pilate han de d hi m over t o the m t o be crucife d. S o the s ol diers t o ok char ge of Jesus. (17) Carryin g his o wn cross, he went out t o the place of the Skull ( which in Ara maic is calle d Gol gotha). (18) There they crucife d hi m, an d with hi m t wo others—one on each si de an d Jesus in the mi d dle. (19) Pilate ha d a n otice pre pare d an d fastene d t o the cross. It rea d: jesus of nazareth, the kin g of the je ws. (20) Many of the Je ws rea d this si gn, f or the place where Jesus was crucife d was near the city, an d the si gn was written in Ara maic, Latin an d Greek. (21) The chief priests of the Je ws pr oteste d t o Pilate, “ D o n ot write ‘ The Kin g of the Je ws,’ but that this m a n cl ai m e d t o b e ki n g of t h e J e w s.” (22) Pilate ans were d, “ What I have written, I have written.” (23) When the s ol diers crucife d Jesus, they t o ok his cl othes, divi din g the m int o f our shares, one f or each of the m, with the undergar ment re maining. This gar ment was sea mless, woven in one piece fro m top to botto m. ( 2 4) “ L et’s n ot t e ar it,” t h e y s ai d t o o n e a n ot h er. “ L et’s d e ci d e b y l ot w h o will g et it.” This ha p pene d that the scri pture mi ght be fulflle d that sai d, “They divided my clothes a mong the m a n d c a st l ot s f or m y g ar m e nt.” S o t hi s i s w h at t h e s ol di er s di d. (25) Near the cross of Jesus stoo d his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clo pas, an d Mary Ma g dalene. (26) When Jesus sa w his m other there, an d the disci ple wh o m he l ove d stan din g near by, he sai d t o her, “ Wo man, here is y our s o n,” ( 2 7) a n d t o t h e di s ci pl e, “ H er e i s y o ur m ot h er.” Fr o m t h at ti m e o n, t hi s di s ci pl e t o o k h er i nt o hi s h o m e. (28) Later, kno win g that everythin g ha d no w been fnishe d, an d so that Scri pture woul d be fulflle d, Jesus sai d, “I a m

D a y 2 7 t hirsty.” (29) A jar of wine vine gar was t here, s o t hey s oake d a s p on ge in it, put t he s p on ge on a stalk of t he hyss o p plant, a n d lift e d it t o J e s u s’ li p s. ( 3 0) W h e n h e h a d r e c ei v e d t h e dri n k, J e s u s s ai d, “It i s f ni s h e d.” Wit h t h at, h e b o w e d hi s h e a d a n d g a v e u p hi s s pirit. (31) N o w it was the day of Pre parati on, an d the next day was t o be a s pecial Sa b bath. Because the Je wish lea ders di d n ot want the b o dies left on the crosses durin g the Sa b bath, they aske d Pilate t o have the le gs broken an d the b o dies taken do wn. (32) The sol diers therefore ca me an d broke the le gs of the frst man who ha d been crucife d with Jesus, an d then th ose of the other. (33) But when they ca me t o Jesus an d f oun d that he was alrea dy dea d, they di d n ot break his le gs. (34) Instea d, one of the sol diers pierce d Jesus’ si de with a s pear, brin gin g a su d den fo w of bloo d an d water. (35) The man w h o s a w it h a s gi v e n t e sti m o n y, a n d hi s t e sti m o n y is tr u e. H e k n o w s t h at h e t ell s t h e tr ut h, a n d h e t e sti f e s s o t h at y o u al s o may believe. (36) These thin gs ha p pene d s o that the scri pture w oul d be fulflle d: “ N ot one of his b ones will be broken,” (37) an d, as an other scri pture says, “They will l o ok on the one they have pierce d.” (38) Later, J ose ph of Ari mathea aske d Pilate f or the b o dy of Jesus. N o w J ose ph was a disci ple of Jesus, but secretly because he feare d the Je wish lea ders. With Pilate’s per mission, he ca me an d took the bo dy a way. (39) He was acco m panie d by Nico de mus, the man who earlier ha d visite d Jesus at night. Nico de mus brought a mixture of myrrh an d aloes, a bout seventy-fve poun ds. (40) Takin g Jesus’ bo dy, the t wo of the m wra p pe d it, with the s pices, in stri ps of linen. This was in accordance with Je wish burial custo ms. (41) At the place where Jesus was crucife d, there was a garden, an d in the gar den a ne w t o m b, in which n o one ha d ever been lai d. (42) Because it was the Je wish day of Pre parati on an d since the to m b was near by, they lai d Jesus there.

- Re fection - E x a mi ne: What thi n gs i n this cha pter d oes J oh n rec or d as f ulflli n g past scri pt ure?

What is the si gnifcance of bl o o d an d water c o min g fro m Jesus si de?

A p pl y: Pil at e w or k e d t o s hift bl a m e e ntir ely o n t h e J e wis h p e o pl e f or t h e d e at h of J es us o n t h e cr oss. J e w a n d G e ntil e put Jesus on the cross, an d he gave u p his s pirit there. Next ti me y ou are face d with a deli m ma, h o w can y ou o wn u p t o

the act - take the bla me an d not make excuses?

Pr a y: L or d, I a m f ar fr o m p erf e ct. I h av e d o n e m u c h wr o n g i n y o ur si g ht. F or giv e m e - it w as my si n t h at p ut y o ur S o n J es us o n t h e cr oss. H el p m e t o o w n u p t o my si ns, b ut als o k n o w h o w m u c h y o u l ov e d m e t hr o u g h it. Giv e m e p o w er t o

ov er c o m e evil t hr o u g h t h e p o w er of y o ur H oly S pirit. T h a n k y o u, J es us, f or g oi n g t o t h e cr oss willi n gly f or m e a n d all w h o

w a nt t o b e f or giv e n a n d b eli ev e i n y o u! “The word beca me Flesh Bore my sin and death” T o d a y’s s o n g i s L e a d M e t o t h e Cr o s s b y Fr a n c e s c a B atti st elli

D a y 2 7 Season - The Gospel of John J u n e 2 0 C h a pt er 2 0

( 1) E arl y o n t h e fr st d a y of t h e w e e k, w hil e it w a s still d ar k, M ar y M a g d al e n e w e nt t o t h e t o m b a n d s a w t h at t h e st o n e h a d been re move d fro m the entrance. (2) So she ca me runnin g to Si mon Peter an d the other disci ple, the one Jesus love d, an d sai d, “They have taken the Lord out of the to m b, an d we don’t kno w where they have put hi m!” (3) S o Peter an d the other disci ple starte d f or the t o m b. (4) B oth were runnin g, but the other disci ple outran Peter an d reache d the t o m b frst. (5) He bent over an d l o oke d in at the stri ps of linen lyin g there but di d n ot g o in. (6) Then Si m on P et er c a m e al o n g b e hi n d hi m a n d w e nt str ai g ht i nt o t h e t o m b. H e s a w t h e stri p s of li n e n l yi n g t h er e, ( 7) a s w ell a s t h e cl ot h t h at h a d b e e n wr a p p e d ar o u n d J e s u s’ h e a d. T h e cl ot h w a s still l yi n g i n it s pl a c e, s e p ar at e fr o m t h e li n e n. ( 8) Fi n all y t h e other disci ple, wh o ha d reache d the t o m b frst, als o went insi de. He sa w an d believe d. (9) (They still di d n ot un derstan d fro m Scri pture that Jesus ha d t o rise fro m the dea d.) (10) Then the disci ples went back t o where they were stayin g. (11) No w Mary stoo d outsi de the to m b cryin g. As she we pt, she bent over to look into the to m b (12) an d sa w t wo an gels in white, seate d where Jesus’ bo dy ha d been, one at the hea d an d the other at the foot. (13) They aske d her, “ Wo man, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lor d a way,” she sai d, “an d I don’t kno w where they have put hi m.” (14) At this, she turne d aroun d an d sa w Jesus stan din g there, but she di d n ot realize that it was Jesus. (15) He aske d her, “ Wo man, why are you cryin g? Who is it you are lookin g for?” T hi n ki n g h e w a s t h e g ar d e n er, s h e s ai d, “ Sir, if y o u h a v e c arri e d hi m a w a y, t ell m e w h er e y o u h a v e p ut hi m, a n d I will g et hi m.” (16) Jesus sai d t o her, “ Mary.” She turne d to ward hi m an d crie d out in Ara maic, “Ra b boni!” ( which means “Teacher”). (17) Jesus sai d, “ D o n ot h ol d on t o me, f or I have n ot yet ascen de d t o the Father. G o instea d t o my br others an d tell the m, ‘I a m ascen din g to my Father an d your Father, to my Go d an d your Go d.’” (18) Mary Ma g dalene went to the disci ples with the ne ws: “I have seen the Lord!” An d she tol d the m that he ha d sai d these thin gs t o her. (19) On the evenin g of that frst day of the week, when the disci ples were t o gether, with the d o ors l ocke d f or fear of the Je wish lea ders, Jesus ca me an d stoo d a mong the m an d sai d, “Peace be with you!” (20) After he sai d this, he sho we d the m his han ds an d si de. The disci ples were overjoye d when they sa w the Lord. (21) A gain Jesus sai d, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I a m sen din g you.” (22) An d with that he breathe d o n t h e m a n d s ai d, “ R e c ei v e t h e H ol y S pirit. ( 2 3) If y o u f or gi v e a n y o n e’s si n s, t h eir si n s ar e f or gi v e n; if y o u d o n ot f or gi v e the m, they are n ot f or given.” (24) No w Tho mas (also kno wn as Di dy mus), one of the T welve, was not with the disci ples when Jesus ca me. (25) So the other disci ples t ol d hi m, “ We have seen the Lor d!” But he sai d to the m, “ Unless I see the nail marks in his han ds an d put my fn ger where the nails were, an d put my han d i nt o hi s si d e, I will n ot b eli e v e.” (26) A week later his disci ples were in the house a gain, an d Tho mas was with the m. Thou gh the doors were locke d, Jesus ca me an d stoo d a mon g the m an d sai d, “Peace be with you!” (27) Then he sai d to Tho mas, “Put your fn ger here; see my han ds. Reach out your han d an d put it into my si de. Sto p dou btin g an d believe.” (28) Tho mas said to hi m, “ My Lord and my God!” (29) Then Jesus tol d hi m, “ Because you have seen me, you have believe d; blesse d are those who have not seen an d yet have believe d.” (30) Jesus perfor me d many other si gns in the presence of his disci ples, which are not recorde d in this book. (31) But these are written that y ou may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the S on of G o d, an d that by believin g y ou may have life i n hi s n a m e.

D a y 2 8 - Re fection - E x a mi ne: Jesus may have been unrec o gniza ble because of the crucifxi on (severe beatin g an d whi p pin g). Even still, as he was reveale d, so me dou bte d until they sa w hi m - es pecially Tho mas. What does Jesus say a bout those who believe

an d d on’t get t o see Jesus’s resurrecte d b o dy?

A p pl y: Many stru g gle with s o me level of d ou bt. Ask one pers on t o day wh o they believe Jesus is an d share y our b eli ef if as k e d as w ell.

Pr a y: Pray with that sa me pers on. Ask G o d t o increase y our faith an d theirs in Jesus - an d what he di d f or y ou on the

cross. Thank hi m f or c on querin g the grave!

“I see my past has been redee med The new has co me”

T o d a y’s s o n g i s R e s urr e cti o n P o w er b y C hri s T o mli n

D a y 2 8 Season - The Gospel of John J u n e 2 1 C h a pt er 2 1

(1) After war d Jesus a p peare d a gain t o his disci ples, by the Sea of Galilee. It ha p pene d this way: (2) Si m on Peter, Th o mas (also kno wn as Di dy mus), Nathanael fro m Cana in Galilee, the sons of Ze be dee, an d t wo other disci ples were to gether. ( 3) “I’ m g oi n g o ut t o f s h,” Si m o n P et er t ol d t h e m, a n d t h e y s ai d, “ W e’ll g o wit h y o u.” S o t h e y w e nt o ut a n d g ot i nt o t h e b oat, but that ni ght they cau ght n othin g. (4) Early in the m ornin g, Jesus st o o d on the sh ore, but the disci ples di d n ot realize that it was Jesus. (5) He calle d out t o the m, “Frien ds, haven’t y ou any fsh?” “ No,” they ans were d. (6) He sai d, “Thro w your net on the ri ght si de of the boat an d you will fn d so me.” When they di d, they were una ble to haul the net in because of the lar ge nu m ber of fsh. ( 7) The n t he disci ple w h o m Jes us l ove d sai d t o Peter, “It is t he L or d!” As s o o n as Si m o n Peter hear d hi m say, “It is t he L or d,” he wra p pe d his outer gar ment aroun d hi m (for he ha d taken it off) an d ju m pe d into the water. (8) The other disci ples f oll o we d in the b oat, t o win g the net full of fsh, f or they were n ot far fro m sh ore, a b out a hun dre d yar ds. (9) When they lan de d, they sa w a fre of burnin g c oals there with fsh on it, an d s o me brea d. (10) Jesus sai d to the m, “ Brin g so me of the fsh you have just cau ght.” (11) So Si mon Peter cli m be d back into the boat an d dra g ge d the net ash ore. It was full of lar ge fsh, 153, but even with s o many the net was n ot t orn. (12) Jesus sai d t o the m, “ Co me an d have breakfast.” None of the disci ples dare d ask hi m, “ Who are you?” They kne w it was the Lord. (13) Jesus ca me, took the brea d an d gave it to the m, an d di d the sa me with the fsh. (14) This was no w the thir d ti me Jesus a p peare d t o his disci ples after he was raise d fro m the dea d. (15) When they ha d fnishe d eatin g, Jesus sai d to Si mon Peter, “Si mon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “ Y e s, L or d,” h e s ai d, “ y o u k n o w t h at I l o v e y o u.” Jesus sai d, “Fee d my la m bs.” (16) A gain Jesus sai d, “Si mon son of John, do you love me?” He ans were d, “ Yes, Lor d, y ou kn o w that I l ove y ou.” Jesus sai d, “Take care of my shee p.” ( 1 7) T h e t hir d ti m e h e s ai d t o hi m, “ Si m o n s o n of J o h n, d o y o u l o v e m e ?” Peter was hurt because Jesus aske d hi m the thir d ti me, “ D o y ou l ove me?” He sai d, “Lor d, y ou kn o w all thin gs; y ou kn o w t h at I l o v e y o u.” Jesus sai d, “Fee d my shee p. (18) Very truly I tell you, when you were youn ger you dresse d yourself an d went where you wante d; but when you are ol d you will stretch out your han ds, an d so meone else will dress you an d lea d you where you d o n ot want t o g o.” (19) Jesus sai d this t o in dicate the kin d of death by which Peter w oul d gl orify G o d. Then he sai d t o hi m, “ F oll o w m e!” (20) Peter turned and sa w that the disciple who m Jesus loved was follo wing the m. (This was the one who had leaned back a gainst Jesus at the su p per an d ha d sai d, “Lor d, who is goin g to betray you?”) (21) When Peter sa w hi m, he aske d, “Lord, what a bout hi m?” ( 2 2) J e s u s a n s w er e d, “If I w a nt hi m t o r e m ai n ali v e u ntil I r et ur n, w h at i s t h at t o y o u ? Y o u m u st f oll o w m e.” ( 2 3) B e c a u s e of this, the ru m or s prea d a m on g the believers that this disci ple w oul d n ot die. But Jesus di d n ot say that he w oul d n ot die; h e o nl y s ai d, “If I w a nt hi m t o r e m ai n ali v e u ntil I r et ur n, w h at i s t h at t o y o u ?” (24) This is the disci ple wh o testifes t o these thin gs an d wh o wrote the m d o wn. We kn o w that his testi m ony is true. (25) Jesus di d many other thin gs as well. If every one of the m were written do wn, I su p pose that even the whole worl d woul d not have roo m for the books that woul d be written.

D a y 2 9 - Re fection - E x a mi ne: What d o y ou think the si gnifcance/f orsha d o win g of catchin g all the fsh was f or the disci ples?

Peter denie d Jesus before his death, but ho w do we kno w he was forgiven?

What do we kno w a bout “the disci ple who m Jesus love d?”

A p pl y: In y our o wn w or ds ( on pa per, in y our hea d, or out l ou d) try t o rec ount the “hi ghli ghts” of the G os pel of J ohn t h at w er e c o nvicti n g, i ns piri n g, e n c o ur a gi n g, e nli g ht e ni n g, h o p ef ul... w h at will y o u t ak e wit h y o u ?

D a y 2 9 Pr a y: Lor d, thank y ou f or givin g me these w or ds an d preservin g the m f or y our church. Let me never take the m f or gr a nt e d. T h a n k y o u, J es us, f or livi n g t h e lif e I c o ul d n ev er liv e o n my o w n a n d f or dyi n g t h e d e at h I d es erv e d - b ut als o risi n g i n p o w er! Y o u h ol d t h e f at e of ev ery livi n g t hi n g b e c a us e of w h at y o u di d i nt o et er nity. T h a n k y o u, J es us!

“Sing a ne w song to Hi m who sits on Heaven’s mercy seat” T o d a y’s s o n g i s R e v el ati o n S o n g b y P hilli p s, Cr ai g & D e a n

D a y 2 9 N ot e s N ot e s N ot e s N ot e s N ot e s