The Book of John

  John 12:9-11 Because so many believed in Jesus after Lazarus rose from the dead the temple leadership wanted to kill Lazarus too! Lord Jesus, help us to keep our faith even through the dangers of this world.  In Your strong name. Amen

  John 12:1-8 Where should the money be spent?  Are we choosing where based on our love for Christ of based on our love for self?  Are we being honest with ourselves and with God? In this story Jesus knew He was about to die so He allowed Mary to show her love for Him by anointing Him with expensive perfume as opposed to selling the perfume and giving to the poor.  Jesus responded this way saying "the poor you will always have with you`` Lord Jesus, we know when much is given much is required.  Please allow us to appropriately share what You have given to us.  In Your mighty name, Amen.

  John 11:54-57 After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead the church leadership decided things had gone to far.  They lived in fear of the Romans so they decided to arrest Jesus. Lord Jesus, sometimes our fear causes us to do things that seem in appropriate.  We know You're in the business of turning what satan means for harm into good but Lord, we are so fallible!  Yet we know "perfect love casts out all fear" so Lord Jesus we ask You to fill us with Your love in Jesus name.

  John 11:45-53 The leaders couldn't take it anymore.  The fear was getting to them and they just couldn't see that Jesus was the Messiah!  Yet, one of them heard from God and spoke God's truth " Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all!   You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” Lord Jesus, You have a plan and many times we don't understand it all; yet You continue to work through sinful people.  Help us to be obedient to You so Your Kingdom can come and Your will can be done on earth as it is in heaven.  In Your mighty name.  Amen

  John 11:38-44    Jesus didn't come when Lazarus was alive but it didn't mean He stopped doing miracles!  In this case He had the power to raise Lazarus from the dead!!!, after 4 days! Lord Jesus, help us not to give up on You when You choose not to answer our prayers in the way we wish and/or You choose not to answer our prayers on our schedule.  Help us to stay true to You through it all!  In Your mighty name.  Amen

  John 11:36-37 God loved Lazarus.  He even wept at his passing yet he didn't heal him before he died.  Why?  Folks around Him were asking this question.  We too get into asking this question Why God?  Yet we know in this story greater things are yet to come! Lord Jesus, when You don't answer our prayers the way we have prayed them will You help us know that they weren't answered because greater things are yet to come.  In Your precious name.  Amen

John 11:27-35   Martha proclaims Jesus as Messiah and then Jesus met Mary and those who came with her.  When He saw them weeping He wept.  This is the kind of God we serve.  One who is the Messiah yet still empathizes with us! Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love.  You had everything in heaven yet came to us as our Messiah and friend!  Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

  John 11:17-26 Jesus is the resurrection and the life...do we believe?  Lazarus had been dead for 4 days!  Martha is disappointed Jesus had not come while he was still alive yet she stilled believed!  There are times when God doesn't answer our prayers the way we wanted them answered so He can perform an even bigger miracle. Lord Jesus, we believe! Please help our unbelief.  In Your mighty name. Amen

  John 11:8-16 These verses challenge us on death.  Should Jesus go to Lazarus?  After all, the disciples think Jesus life is at stake if He goes. Jesus responds to them in such a way that they know He's not afraid...but the disciple's are also concerned for their lives too as noted in verse 16.  Should they go where they're not wanted by those in authority, in order to be with their friends?  Jesus has waited for Lazarus to die before He decides to go!  This is to show the disciples that He has power over death. Lord Jesus, please help us to make wise decisions that glorify You.  Help us to remember that You have conquered death.  In Your mighty name.

  John 11:1-7 Jesus did an interesting thing here.  He waited!  It doesn't seem fair but sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers right away because He has another purpose in mind. Lord Jesus, if we understood Your purposes all the time we'd be God and we're not.  So Lord, please give us patience with You so we can see even greater things.  In Your mighty name.  Amen

  John 10:31-42 It was against the law to claim to be the Messiah if you're not and the Jewish leaders knew it!  So this passage emphasized that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah because they wanted to stone Him.  In His defense He pointed out that if He was not the Messiah how could He heal the sick and raise the dead!  We must observe what He does to determine the truth. Lord Jesus, we're thinking of folks who haven't accepted You as Messiah yet.  Would You help them to observe what You do and open their eyes to see the truth.  In Your mighty name. Amen Here is a picture of Jesus challenging Peter "do you love me?" and His response "feed my sheep".  May people observe us and turn to the Messiah.

  John 10:22-30 Jesus basically says He is the Messiah but only His sheep understand this. Lord Jesus, please open the eyes of our friends, neighbours and family so they may see the truth; that You are the Messiah.  In Your mighty name.  Amen

  John 10:19-21 People are now trying to decided who Jesus is.  They're struggling with His words about surrendering His life so some think He's crazy and demon possessed yet others observed Him healing a blind man and say a demon possessed man couldn't do that! Lord Jesus, please open our eyes to the truth!  Help us to see You. Protect our hearts, souls and minds so that we may understand You and give us the courage to obey You.  In Your mighty name. Amen

  John 10:17-18 Jesus is sharing His understanding of His death.  He didn't have to die.  He could have walked away but He chose to die for us...Knowing that there is life after death.  It is not the death that is the issue here; it's the pain He went through before death!   Jesus, You are totally amazing!  You were beaten, made to carry a heavy cross, nailed to a cross all for us!  Thank You; and Thank You for choosing life after death to show us You have victorious over death.  You are more than we could ever hope for.

  John 10:15-16 These verses are interesting because Jesus is emphasizing that He is the good shepherd for more than just us!  I don't know who He was thinking about when He said " I have other sheep  that are not of this sheep pen" but it's highlighted in my mind; He has more sheep than us! Maybe He was thinking of the Gentiles or maybe for us He's thinking of another denomination, another country, or even another religion! Lord Jesus, please help us to not limit You and Your work.  Help us to recognize there is more than us in this world.  Thank You for the folk You are bring into my life from India.  Please show me how I am to respond to them and help me with my geography lesson!  In Your mighty name!  Amen

  John 10:11-14 Jesus compares Himself to an owner of sheep versus a hired hand.  As the owner He's willing to sacrifice His life for His sheep.  The hired hand on the other hand runs away from trouble.  In addition the owner knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. Lord Jesus, as we study Your word help us to understand who You are. You love us and care for us.  Help us to recognize Your voice as You guide and direct us.  In Your might name.  Amen

  John 10:1-10 When a friend calls on the phone you recognize your friend's voice but when a new friend calls it takes time to recognize their voice.  This is true with God too.  It's important to hear God's voice in such a way that you can confirm what He's asking through what you know of His personality in scripture.  This is why reading scripture is so important.  It is also why coming to God in prayer on a regular basis is important; so you get to recognize His voice. Lord Jesus, help us to recognize Your voice and give us the faith and courage to obey it.  In Your mighty name.  Amen

  John 9:42-50 Here we're being challenged to watch what we say or do because if it causes someone else to stumble we're in trouble.   Lord Jesus, please help us to be sensitive to those around us.  Help us to spur each other on to an increased faith and more love and encouragement.  In Your mighty name.

  John 9:35-41 Can you see God at work?  Are you rejecting folks that Christ accepts? Lord Jesus, open our eyes to show us where You are working and help us to have the courage to join You in Your work. In Your might name. Amen

John 9:13-34   Here we have a testimony before the skeptical.  Yet the man just kept to the facts.  Enjoy the story. Lord Jesus, there are some who should know the truth but miss it completely.  Even when this happens help us to stick to the facts and continue to follow You.  In Your mighty name.

  John 9:8-12 People noticed and started to ask so the former blind man told what he knew. Lord Jesus, please help others to notice the difference in our lives and help us to honestly tell the truth.  In Your mighty name.

  John 9:1-7 The question the disciples had was why was this man born blind?  Was it the sins of his parents or of him? and this is Jesus answer  “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.   4  As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.   5  While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Lord Jesus, may our lives display the works of God.  Show us how to bring others into a saving knowledge of You.  In Your might name. The pool of Siloam

  John 8:48-59 Liar, lunatic or Lord?  Here the people are questioning who He is.  They think He is of the devil (a lunatic), they think He's a liar, but He declares "I am"; a phrase they would know refers to God. (Exodus 3:14) C.S. Lewis writes “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizin...

  John 8:31-47 Jesus is noting that the people around Him don't believe Him yet He's telling the truth.  He goes on to say they are children of Abraham and/or the devil because they don't recognize Him, the Son of the living God. Lord Jesus, help us to hear Your voice and help us not to listen to the father of all lies, the devil.  Help us to trust You with each moment of our day. Here are pictures from a mountain where folks believe the town folk took Jesus to force Him off and kill Him...yet He just walked away because it wasn't His time yet.