The bigger picture
As we continue in this season of Easter, we celebrate the victory that Christ has won for us over death and reflect on what that means for how we live our lives here on earth. The apostle Peter delivers a sermon which describes how the people denied Jesus and had him killed, yet somehow it was all according to God’s plan to bring life to the world.
Love and obedience
Our world makes people obey the rules out of fear of what the consequences might be of breaking them. Jesus speaks about rules in a radically different way—He puts them in a context of love.
Knowing the way
In John 14, Jesus is speaking to His disciples on the night of His betrayal. These words from Jesus are known as the ‘farewell discourse’ which is actually a very poor title. These words are focussed on arrival rather than farewell and it is not a discourse but a proclamation of the gospel.
Sheep, shepherds, and thieves
On Good Shepherd Sunday, our gospel reading stops one verse short of that particular statement of Jesus. Instead, in John 10:1–10, Jesus identifies himself as something else as part of this illustration.
Fear, forgiveness, and faith
The disciples were first forgiven their own sin before they were equipped and sent out to forgive. May our risen Lord do the same with us.
Stats don’t lie (Jn. 14:23–29)
It’s very easy to lose hope based on what we don’t have as a church. God is reminding us of the precious gift we do have: salvation. Why do we think we need anything else?
Feed my sheep (Jn. 21:1–19)
Jesus forgave Peter and entrusted his flock to him. By his grace, Jesus has forgiven you. By his grace, he is calling you to serve him and his people with the gifts you have been given.
Jesus meets us (Jn. 20:19–31)
In our fear and worry, Jesus offers us his peace. In our questions and scepticism, he shows us himself.