John 20

 How do you imagine the disciples responded to Jesus after His resurrection?  What would it been like to stand in the shoes of Thomas?  Josh’s words include the punch line “…so that you might believe.”  How could we not grasp the eye witness account of Jesus’ great friend, Jesus?  John was a changed man, wanting us to know that we too can be transformed, regardless of our previous issues. 

“God’s honesty about life in this broken world is a welcome to each of us to be just as honest. In fact, an entire book of the Bible (Psalms) is a script of the honest cries of God’s people—cries of confusion, doubt, and fear in the midst of the painful trials of life. God never reprimands us for being afraid. He never mocks us in our weakness. He never minimizes what we’re going through. He never turns his back on us when we wonder what he’s doing or why we’re facing what we’re facing. Not only can your Lord handle every bit of your honesty, but his Word is a welcome to be honest.” - Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

“For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them.” - John Ortberg, The Life You've Always Wanted

John 19

 How do the events and people portrayed in John 19 impact you?  The drama surrounding Jesus has so much emotional upheaval. If you and I had been bystanders, I think I would scream “Why doesn’t God do something?”  But in reality, this is God who they are about to torture and execute. This is being orchestrated by the Creator of the universe  considering our sin, rebellion, and wandering, we should be the ones tortured for not living up to the standards of God’s design. Jesus withheld His mighty power to our personal Savior and Lord. How can we worship Him but to surrender to Him. 

“Suffering reminds us that we are not as righteous as we’ve thought and not as faithful as we’ve confessed to be. Suffering brings you and me to the end of ourselves. It exposes and confronts us. It makes it harder and harder to hold on to the delusion of our righteousness. This is why it is so important to remember that God is faithful to us, not because we are righteous, but because he is. He continues to love us, not because we perfectly love him, but because his love for us remains perfect. He remains near, not because we’ve never thought of running away, but because he would never turn his back on the promises he’s made to us.” - Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

Song - Narrow Road

 Narrow Road

https://youtu.be/Rlp8PsdsVJ0?si=KIUKFlbB_qwTHH-O

Song by Chris Renzema

Overview

Listen

Lyrics

Been walkin' for a while
My feet are gettin' tired
My heart's a little heavy
But You keep me goin'
Been walkin' for a while
Mile after mile
My soul's a little weary
But You keep me goin'
You keep me goin'

You said it'd be a narrow road
You said it'd be a narrow road
So why am I surprised when it seems I'm on my own?
You said it'd be a narrow road
This world would never be my home
The journey might be lonely, but I'd never be alone
Oh, oh, oh
I'd never be alone

Been walkin' for a while
Wanderin' in the wild
You're holdin' me steady
Yeah, You keep me goin'
Been walkin' for a while
Followin' the fire
And Your Spirit is within me
And it keeps me goin'

You said it'd be a narrow road
You said it'd be a narrow road
So why am I surprised when it seems I'm on my own?
You said it'd be a narrow road
This world would never be my home
The journey might be lonely, but I'd never be alone
Oh, oh, oh
I'd never be alone
Ooh, oh

So, I will walk wherever You're leadin'
Cloud by day, and a fire by evenin'
You're the lamp that's guidin' my feet
So I can see where I am goin'

I will walk wherever You're leadin'
Cloud by day, and a fire by evenin'
You're the lamp that's guidin' my feet
So I can see where I am goin'

You said it'd be a narrow road
You said it'd be a narrow road
So why am I surprised when it seems I'm on my own?
You said it'd be a narrow road
This world would never be my home
The journey might be lonely, but I'd never be alone
Oh, oh, oh
I'd never be alone
Oh, oh, oh
I'd never be alone

John 18

I used to worry that I would deny that I was a Christ follower if I were backed into a corner. Would I be faithful?  I wonder what the disciples thought when Judas betrayed Jesus, and when Peter denied that he knew Jesus. Each of us can work our entire lives to develop a good reputation but could ruin it in a few seconds of poor decision making. Will be faithful to who Hod has called us to be?  In my struggle with these issues, I’ve decided that I have been focusing on myself too much. God is far more than faithful.  He knows my heart and knows my frailty. His grace is sufficient for those moments of disappointment and discouragement. Hs will NEVER leave me or abandon me. 

“When you are exhausted, discouraged, overwhelmed, and barely holding on to hope, it’s tempting to work yourself into thinking that things are not as bad as they seem or that you’re better off than you actually are. But because denial doesn’t deal with reality but avoids reality, it never goes anywhere good. It will never give you what you need or help you be what you need to be when the unthinkable enters your door. But because Jesus walked in your shoes and faced what you now face, you’ve been forever liberated from the trap of denial. You’re free to be weak and to cry out in weakness and free from ever having to put on a spiritual act.” - Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

“ His enemies wouldn’t dare lay hands on Him in the temple, so Jesus went outside the city, and in the dead of night, hundreds of soldiers came to arrest Him. Jesus is now resolved to go to the cross. He steps out of the shadows and asks, “Who are you looking for?” 

“Jesus of Nazareth.” Even when Jesus identified Himself, for a moment, nobody recognized Him. Even Judas didn’t know Him initially. Have you ever noticed verse six? “Now when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” 

For just a moment, Jesus revealed His glory and the soldiers fell backward—not forward in worship, but backward in fear and in absolute dismay. Utter confusion broke out. Just for a moment, they see more than Jesus of Nazareth in front of them; they see the Lord of glory, God revealed in human flesh. This all happened to fulfill prophecy (see Psalm 27:1-2, 35:4, and 40:14). Even in this dark hour, for just a moment, Jesus reveals who He really is.” - J Vernon McGee

John 17

 Have you been around a person who really knows how to pray?  How would you explain the simplicity but depth to their praying?  When I am with. Person like that, I know that it takes more than practice. Their words are matched by N honest vulnerable humility that has come through testing and trial. That person’s heart is on fire for Hod, even though they may be hurting or filled with grief. Jesus’s praying is filled with love, purpose and meaning. Jesus knew His Father and so can we. 

“Suffering confronts us with the fact that life is not about us but about God. It is not about our glory but his.” / Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

““Pray as you can, and somewhere along the way, you will make the most important discovery of your life—the love the Father has for you. That discovery is God’s end of the deal. Your part is just to show up honestly. Show up, and keep showing up. That’s the one nonnegotiable when it comes to prayer.” - Tyler Staton, Praying Like Monks

“Jesus essentially hands in His final report to the Father. He says, “I finished the work You gave me to do.” He’s done all that is necessary for us to be saved. The gospel and salvation is never what God asks you to do to be saved, but instead it’s God telling you what He’s already done for you. Do you believe that by faith? 

Read John 17:6-10.

Next, Jesus prays for His disciples. He rehearses with the Father the beautiful relationship He’s had with this team. They now know that God sent Him. And now, with the love of the greatest teacher for His students, He intercedes for them. 

Read John 17:11-17.

This Great High Priestly prayer of Christ is for the present hour and for you. He prays for the unity of believers, an organic unity only God can accomplish. Our joy is only fulfilled in God. 

God’s Word is the most revolutionary book there is in the world. Its radical message is that you can’t save yourself; only Jesus Christ can. That runs counter to the world’s do-it-yourself philosophy.” - J Vernon McGee

"That’s it! You talk to God like a friend. You vent. You ask. You laugh. You listen. You unload. You just talk. You don’t try to sound more holy or pure or spiritual than you are. Prayer isn’t a noble monologue; it’s a free-flowing conversation, and the only way to get prayer wrong is to try to get it right.  When it comes to prayer, God isn’t grading essays; he’s talking to children....The deep fear that robs our prayers of power is the lie that the Lord isn’t near.” - Tyler Staton, Praying Like Monks

John 16

 What disturbs you about our culture and the way decisions are made?  When horrific events destroy people’s lives, what is your reaction?  For me, Jesus’s statement “In this world you will have trouble” is profound. I used to mistakenly believe that if I believe the right stuff, everything would be okay. I’d avoid so many problems and life would be awesome. That may be partly true, but the reality of what Jesus taught is that we do not live in a perfect world, despite our beliefs. Following Christ is seeking the kingdom in a fallen world, searching where He is moving, even in the moral dilemmas and chaos of 2025. He is present and He will NEVER leave us or abandon us. 

“Suffering reminds us that we are not as righteous as we’ve thought and not as faithful as we’ve confessed to be. Suffering brings you and me to the end of ourselves. It exposes and confronts us. It makes it harder and harder to hold on to the delusion of our righteousness. This is why it is so important to remember that God is faithful to us, not because we are righteous, but because he is. He continues to love us, not because we perfectly love him, but because his love for us remains perfect. He remains near, not because we’ve never thought of running away, but because he would never turn his back on the promises he’s made to us.” - Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

“This heavy talk gave the disciples a heavy heart. Jesus saw their sorrow. “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you” (v. 7). Why was that best? 

Jesus’ purpose in coming to this world was to die and “give His life a ransom for many” (see Mark 10:45). Once that was accomplished, He went back to the Father. 

When Jesus became a man, He limited himself to being in one place at a time. The Holy Spirit can be in all places at once. 

The Holy Spirit will be the Comforter, and He’ll come alongside us to perform several unique ministries: 

* He convicts us of sin. Like a prosecuting attorney, the Spirit of God presents evidence in your heart that helps you turn from sin and leads you to faith in Jesus Christ. 

* He convicts us of righteousness. Jesus’ resurrection not only subtracted our sins, it added our righteousness. 

* He convicts us of judgment. The world is like a man waiting on death row. 

The Holy Spirit, our teacher, guides us into truth. He takes the deep things of God and shows them to us—something He alone can do. (See 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10.)” - J Vernon McGee

“For each of us, God is calling us increasingly into an area of fellowship with Him, in which He doesn't have to tell us what to do. That's one of the things that is wrong with the, what would Jesus do idea. One of the things He would do is not have to be told what to do.”

From The Dallas Willard Podcast: 18. Streams In the Desert and Wells of Living Water: Christ's Congregations as Fountains of Light and Life (2004), Jan 13, 2025

John 15

 How have you experienced pruning?  Have you suffered the loss of someone, or some vital part of your life, that has awakened God’s presence in you?  Nearly everyone has or will go through stretches of suffering and pain. I wonder what Jesus’s words sounded like to the disciples. How were the words received?  I imagine if Jesus were to ‘show up’ tomorrow morning and say these same words to us in a personal way, what would the impact be in our lives?  I’m hoping I would soak in His presence and not run  I’m guilty of glossing over these words, minimizing the influence they have for the here and now  

“Many of those who are humiliated are not humble. Some react to humiliation with anger, others with patience, and others with freedom. The first are culpable, the next harmless, the last just.”— Bernard of Clairvaux

“In this glorious passage, notice three important words. The first is the little word “in” (used seven times). “Every branch in me.” To be saved means to be “in Christ.” Notice also the word “fruit” (used six times) and “abide” (nine times). Abiding in Christ is how we bear fruit. 

Fruit, of course, is God’s life showing up in a believer. The fruit of God’s Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering (see Galatians 5:22-23). Other fruit is effective prayer (v. 7), continuous fruit (v. 11), and joy celestial—if a person has this fruit in their life, they will invite people into God’s presence by their very lives, if not also by their spoken word. 

When a branch in Christ does not bear fruit, the Father trims it off either by setting it aside or by death. This doesn’t mean we lose our salvation, since we’re talking about fruit-bearing here, not eternal life. Even if a branch bears fruit, the Father may prune it so it bears even more. Sometimes it hurts when He takes out of our lives what hinders us, but in the end it means more fruit. 

The Father also cleanses us through the supernatural power of His Word. The only way to abide in Him is to allow Him to cleanse us daily and to continue in His love. This means constant communion with God—at your kitchen sink, in the car, at the office, and on the street. 

It’s our choice whether we abide in Christ. We can break our fellowship by allowing sin in our lives, by stepping out of God’s will, and by worldliness.” -  J Vernon McGee