This Is the New Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. As we read, we’ll gain a broader understanding of the redemptive story of Scripture. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture.
What Is John? About 90 percent of the material in the Gospel of John is unique to this book of the Bible. John, a disciple of Jesus, highlighted Jesus’s identity as the Son who reveals the nature of God the Father. He also points to how Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy, festivals, and institutions.
How John Fits Into the Story: Of all the New Testament books, the Gospel of John most clearly teaches the divine identity of Christ. Rather than focusing on the miracles, parables, and public speeches that are so prominent in the other Gospel accounts, John emphasizes the identity of Jesus as the Son of God and His invitation to respond in faith.
Reflection Questions:
1. How does Jesus describe His relationship to God the Father in today’s reading? How do these passages broaden or change your understanding of who Jesus is?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
I was struck with how difficult (emotionally) it must of been for Jesus to leave the Father and come to earth. His love for us is immense!
John has always been a favorite of mine. He writes about such intimate interactions with depth where some of the other stories in the gospels feel like a quick summary. My story loving heart enjoys the dialogue with the woman at the well, Nicodemus and Mary and Martha. The opportunity to eavesdrop on Jesus’ prayer life in chapter 17? Amazing.
Reading John 1 reminded me of a sermon I heard recently. Jesus IS God, and He is not my buddy. Personally, I’d like to interact with Jesus as someone who can just hook me up when I need a deal or help finding the remote. However, Jesus is fully God, and we would miss the awesomeness of His coming without that. I want to come with the appropriate response, not forgetting who He is and the He is fully God.
Also, John 1:5 is evidently in what is called double present tense, which means it’s happening right now. “The light SHINES in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.” When I contemplate the darkness in this world and in our lives, it gives me hope and courage to remember that the Light SHINES (today, right now, this minute) in our darkness. May we see the evidence of the Light shining today.
Please pray for our sweet Selah. She had to come home yesterday from camp due to some of the counselors testing positive for COVID. She’s so sad because the week had been amazing. And I’m sad for her and my youngest sister who was one who tested positive. Such a hard way for things to go after 5 weeks at camp without an issue.
Also, update for those who have prayed for my brother Nate and his fiancé. They are hopeful after their intensive counseling, but there’s still hurt to work through and direction to be sought.
Jesus is fully God who always was and is to come. And also fully man made of flesh and came to be one with man. When he was here he was still fully God but experienced the human existence in its entirety.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for ALL of your wonderful supportive and life-giving prayers!!! I feel and am encouraged by every single one of them!! May each of you be blessed today and always!!!
DOROTHY, I too have experienced this (side effects/meds) and am hoping for that outcome.. but as you probably know it takes time, rest and patience. Grateful for your prayers!!
An update on my brother… the next 4 months will be crucial for him and the way his neurologist wants to tackle the diagnosis… he will not be driving during this time, which is incredibly challenging for him, (we live in a state that is pretty spread out & requires a lot of driving to get places) especially with school, but better to be safe than sorry! He has decided that he’s going to finish out this semester (2 more weeks) and then reassess everything… he has some big decisions ahead of him (should he finish his degree? how should he do that? Etc..) and needs LOTS of prayer!!! Please keep PRAYING for him!!! Thank you ladies so much!!!
Hey SRT family—looking for a part time job now that we are more settled in TN (moved down here last summer from MA). I have a 3.5 year old son and 1 year old daughter. Have loved being home with them this last year and excited/nervous/sad and lots of other emotions about going back to work. I’m a PA in healthcare. Interviewed with one job this week and will hear back tomorrow (Friday) if I got it. Would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and peace and insight. We also need to find someone to be with our kids when we both work; God helped us find a wonderful nanny in the past. Praying we may find someone again who will bless our family as she helps care for our kids and to whom we can be a blessing in return.
Thank you for letting me share. Pray for all of you as I read through the comments and as you come to mind.
Love the book of John—-I memorized the section from Chapter 1 some years ago and makes me want to review that again. We are going through Deuteronomy and Psalms in our church reading plan and community group and just love seeing God’s Father heart woven throughout Scripture. Thank you for your love, Father. Thank you for Jesus and your sweet Holy Spirit. We love you.
Jen Brewer I will be praying for you and your family !
What part of TN are you in?
Hendersonville, just north of Nashville!
The passage in John 5 discusses how the father and son are equal. The son does what the father has taught him. I have to say the verse on the son being the sole judge of man is the first time reading this passage that caught my attention. During his earthly ministry Jesus needed to be able to judge the heart of those he was interacting with so he could know those who believed and had faith and those like the Pharisees who acted like they had faith.
My previous comment refers to @MIRI AM post.
I think this means that, when Jesus suffered, died and crushed the wages of sin at the cross, God now sees us through the lens of His gracious redemption. I think this verse refers to eternal judgement and not accountability, how we conduct ourselves as believers. In 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul says that we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ…for the things that were done while in the body. I think of it this way, as the oldest of three, my mom used to say to me “You’re older, you set an example.” Or when I’d broken a rule, “As the older sister, you should know better!”