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Getting Started… “The Word became human and made his home among us…” With these words John sets out the theme of his Gospel: examining the life of Jesus, God in the flesh. And being one of the twelve Disciples, John was uniquely placed as an eyewitness to the life and ministry of the Messiah. From the hills of Galilee to the streets of Jerusalem, we’ll walk with Jesus and see his compassion for the sick and the marginalized. We’ll hear his confrontations with the Pharisees,

The Word READ John 1:1-2 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. These are some of the most important verses in the Bible. They also reveal that when you come across a term like “Word” that is difficult to understand; keep reading and it will be explained. Verse 14 does this, “So the Word became human and made his home among us.” This reveals that the “Word” in verse 1 refers to Je

Clear the Way READ John 1:19-23 19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” 22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of

Andrew and Peter READ John 1:40-42 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). Andrew stands out as an example of how believers can s

Water into Wine READ John 2:5-9 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. 9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was

Rebuilding the Temple READ John 2:20-22 20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said. This is another example that when you come across something in the Bible you do not understand, keep reading. I

Heavenly Things READ John 3:9-12 9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked. 10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” Nicodemus was a wise religious teacher, but he did not un

Our Appointed Work READ John 3:26-28 26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us.” 27 John replied, “God in heaven appoints each man’s work. 28 My work is to prepare the way for that man so that everyone will go to him. You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am

A Stop in Samaria READ John 4:4-6 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. The Samaritans were despised by the Judeans because they were a mixed race. This resulted when the Northern Kingdom was taken captive in 722 B.C. by the Assyrians who repopulated th

Places of Worship READ John 4:19-21 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” 21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.” The woman revealed a religious background by even kn

Ripe for Harvest READ John 4:35-36 35 “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!” These verses are often referred to, but little is said about the larger context. Could it be that the harvest Jesus was referring to

The Official's Son READ John 4:46-47 46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die. Having done a miracle in Cana, there would be curiosity seekers wanting to see Jesus do more. And no matter where He went

Thirty-Eight Years READ John 5:5-7 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” 7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” This account in John 5 of the person Jesus met at the pool provides valuable information. It tells much about the

The Son Gives Life READ John 5:20-21 20 “For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants.” Jesus further explains His intimate relationship with the heavenly Father. Notice that nothing the Father does is hidden from the S

A Greater Witness READ John 5:36-37 36 “But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face. . . . ” The religious leaders were impressed with John the Baptist at first but not with Jesus. So He explained to the unbelievers about what proved Him to be the Messi

Hillside Chat READ John 6:3-4 3 Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. 4 (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) Many of the teachings of Jesus took place on a hill top. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25) are two such examples. Now He teaches again from a hill. Mention of the Jewish Passover helps remind the reader that this feast would soon take place during which time the Pas

Kingmakers Evaded READ John 6:14-15 14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. Notice how people are so drawn to the supernatural. In the days of Jesus it confused them into doing things that He didn’t want them to do. What if an impostor had done a miracle? Would the people have

Perishable Things READ John 6:26-27 26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” Previously it was asked if you thought all in the crowd following Jesus were really believers. This pas

My Father's Will READ John 6:38-40 38 “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” The crowd did not understand the comments Jesus made about Hi

Tough Teaching READ John 6:55-59 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” 59 He said thes

Festival Dilemma Day 1 READ John 7:1-5 1 After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. 2 But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3 and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4 You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 5 For even his brothers d

Work on the Sabbath READ John 7:20-24 20 The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. 22 But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) 23 For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to

You Cannot Follow READ John 7:35-36 35 The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?” The comments of Jesus mystified even the Jewish leaders. All they could do in their confusion was to repeat th

The Woman Caught in Adultery READ John 8:1-5 1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says t