Morning Meditations

In this episode, we see that Jesus begins to talk about one of his disciples betraying him and all the disciples cant't tell who is he talking about!

In this episode, Jesus washes his disciples feet and tells them that they should follow his example of service!

In this episode, we see that Jesus said he did not come to judge, but to save!

In this episode, we see that there are religious leaders in Jesus day who believe in Him, but are afraid to be associated with Jesus because they are afraid of losing their standing in the community!

In this episode, we see that when Jesus is glorified on the cross, the light of truth is shone both on who God is and who we are as humans. We are reminded that God's judgement is not God being petty or angry, but rather God's intention that we be made pure!

In this episode, we see that Jesus speaks of being glorified in the cross, and that those who serve him will follow him in laying down their lives!

In this episode, we see Jesus riding in to Jerusalem on a donkey and we are reminded that the Kingdom of God is Different than the Kingdoms of this world!

In this episode, the people are showing up to see Jesus and Lazarus who has recently been raised from the dead, and the religious leaders are ready to even kill Lazarus to stop the crowds from following Jesus!

In this episode, we see that Mary is willing to be wastefully extravagant in her worship of Jesus!

In this episode, we see the high priest telling the religious leaders that it was better that one man die for the nation!

In this episode, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and we get a glimpse into the confidence Jesus has in the Father!

In this episode, we are reminded that even though Jesus knew he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, he still weeps when he sees Lazarus's family and friends weeping. We are reminded to allow ourselves to mourn and to have compassion on others in their mourning as well!

In this episode, we see that both Mary and Martha have questions about where Jesus was when their brother died, and we are reminded that God can handle our questions as well.

In this episode, Jesus arrives at Martha and Mary's house to find there brother has been dead for four days, but Jesus lets Martha know that her brother will rise again.

In this episode, we see that the person we often call "doubting" Thomas is ready to go to his death for Jesus, and we are reminded that people are often much more complex than we realize!

In this episode, Jesus hears that his friend is sick, but waits two days before heading to Judea.

In this episode, we see that the religious leaders in Jerusalem keep wanting to have Jesus killed, but the people who had gone out to hear John the Baptist begin to believe in Jesus!

In this episode, Jesus talks about the fact that his sheep know him and follow him and no one can snatch them out of His hand!

In this episode, Jesus says that no one takes his life from him but that he lays it down of his own accord. We talk about the nature of self-sacrificing love.

In this episode, Jesus tells his followers that there are other sheep that he must bring in that are not of this sheep pen. We are reminded that the good news is for all people!

In this episode, we hear Jesus say, "I am the good shepherd." We are reminded of the goodness of God and challenged to come to "know" this good shepherd!

In this episode, we talk about Jesus who is the one who unites divinity and humanity, making a way for us to have life to the full!

In this episode, Jesus continues to talk to the Pharisees, using the metaphor of sheep that know their shepherd's voice!

In this episode, we see that Jesus finds the man born blind, and reveals that he is the Son of Man. The man born blind worships Jesus right there. Meanwhile, the Pharisees are continually closing their eyes to who Jesus is!

In this episode, we see the religious leaders continuing to question the blind man about Jesus identity and how he opened the man's eyes. The man counters with a simple testimony, "I was blind, but now I see."

As we continue to read the story of the blind man Jesus healed, his parents are questioned about how their son was healed and it's obvious that they do not want to get involved.

In this episode, people are arguing about whether the man born blind was actually the person who used to sit and beg and he assures them that he is and shares his testimony of what Jesus has done in his life!

In this episode, Jesus encounters a man who has been blind since birth. Jesus puts mud and saliva on his eyes and tells him to go wash, and when he washes he is healed!

In this episode, Jesus says "I am the light of the world," and we consider the idea that encountering Him might just change the way we see everything!

In this episode, Jesus encounters a woman caught in the act of adultery and he offers her forgiveness and mercy in the place of condemnation. We are challenged to offer the same mercy to those we encounter In our daily lives!

In this episode, we see the religious leaders don't believe Jesus could be the Messiah, because he was from the wrong hometown. And we are reminded that God often shows up in unexpected places!

In this episode, Jesus stands up on the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles and offers all those listening living water.

In this episode, we see Jesus telling the crowd that he will only be with them a short time, and that they cannot go where he is going. We are reminded that although Jesus would eventually ascend to the Father, he sends his Spirit to be with us!

In this episode, Jesus calls out the religious leaders because they aren't following the law of Moses that they seem to be so passionate about. We are reminded that it is our inward motivations that we should examine as followers of Jesus!

In this episode, the crowds are wondering where Jesus received his wisdom, and he lets them know that he speaks the words the Father gives him!

In this episode, Jesus brothers want him to go to Judea to bring attention to his ministry, but Jesus is discerning enough to know that it is not yet his time.

In this episode, some of those following Jesus walk away. Jesus asks his disciples if they also want to leave and Peter wonders where else they could go because Jesus has the words of eternal life!

In this episode, Jesus says he is the Bread of Life, and tells the Jews that unless they eat His flesh and drink his blood they can have no part of Him. We are reminded that remaining in Christ and living in community are two ways that we experience this eternal life of Christ.

In this episode, the crowd is trying to understand Jesus' words about being bread come down from heaven and he tells them that no one can come to him unless the Father draws them!

In this episode, the crowd continues to want bread from Jesus, but he wants them to trust Him for eternal life!

In this episode, Jesus confronts the crowd that is just wanting more bread, and he offers them food that endures!

In this episode, Jesus comes walking to the disciples on the water, and brings peace to the chaos when they let him in the boat!

In this episode, we see that the crowd wants to make Jesus King by force, but he chooses to go on the mountainside to find solitude.

In this episode, Jesus feeds 5000 men plus women and children, and we are reminded that we serve a God of abundance!

In this episode, we see that Jesus is not stating his own case, but that the Father testifies on his behalf. We also see Jesus tell the religious leaders that, even after having all the law of Moses, they are missing God's activity right in front of them!

In this episode, the religious leaders want to kill Jesus because he has made himself equal with God! We are encouraged to trust in Son of God just like he completely trusted the Father!

In this episode, Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, and the man immediately gets reprimanded by the religious leaders for "working" on the Sabbath because he is carrying his mat!

In this episode, we see that Jesus encounters a man who has been lame for 38 years and asks him, "Do you want to get well?"

In this episode, a royal official asks Jesus to heal his son. Jesus proceeds to tell the man that his boy will live. The man takes Jesus at his word, and the boy is healed immediately!

In this episode, many Samaritans believe because of the woman's testimony. We are reminded of the power of our story in sharing good news!

In this episode, we learn that when we encounter the living God, our priorities shift. We are challenged to learn to see God at work throughout our day!