Monthly Quiet Times from the Book of John

Monthly Quiet Times from the Book of John

By Susie Fowler

Day 1 – Read John 1

The author of this book wants to let us in on an amazing secret. Guess who is the creator of the earth and in fact created human beings? You guessed it – Jesus Christ! “The Word” is a reference for Jesus. He is God. God is made up of three identities – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the “son part” of God. Isn’t it exciting to think about Jesus creating us and all the stuff on earth? Notice in the first chapters of Genesis that God spoke creation into place. As I’m writing this, I’m looking at the flowers in my back yard. I’m really glad He thought up flowers. I’m so happy that He decided to make the world in color rather than just in black and white! Look around you right now and take in God’s special creation. You get to enjoy this for a whole month! Verse 4 tells us that Jesus is The Light. Consider the immensity of total darkness. Darkness just has a feeling of heaviness, but even the light from one small candle dispels darkness completely. Have you been touched by this light in your life. Have you felt the cleansing properties of this light? Have you been warmed to your very core by this light? Have you received the peace of this light which dispels and eliminates the darkness of fear and guilt in your life? Jesus is not hiding from us. He wants to be known and wants to live with us. We get the privilege of being a son or daughter of God because of Him. As a child of the King, you are a prince or princess with all the inherent blessings and responsibilities. If you’ve never thought about this before, please begin to explore your new identity.

The image of the lamb is used repeatedly to describe Jesus. Lambs were used as sacrifices all through the Old Testament. (Read Genesis 22:1-18 when you get a chance) Jesus, the lamb of God, is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies. (Read Isaiah 53:6,7)

Verses 40-50 are the beginning of Jesus calling people to Him. So often we live as if our relationship with God is all about what we do & what we decide. The truth is that Jesus called you & me just like He called Andrew & Peter. We have been called to John for this month. He invited them (& us) to a life full of adventure & purpose. He invited them to a life that was anything but boring. On the contrary, Jesus is inviting all of us to follow Him into a life that will be so rich, so challenging and so full. He will never get so far ahead of us that we can’t follow. He will, however, occasionally look like He’s stepping off a cliff. It’s in these times that we need to decide if He is trustworthy. Is He able to hold you up? Is He really who He says He is – “the One and Only God”(1:18).

Questions to consider:

1. When did you first recognize Jesus? Were you looking for Him? How did He reveal Himself to you?
2. Where have you felt the light of God shine in your life in the last few weeks? Name those times where you’ve seen God show up.
3. Where are a few places in your life that the light of God needs to shine to dispel the darkness?

Use the back of this sheet to journal about anything you saw in this chapter that spoke to you. This is God’s living word and He is talking to you!

Day 2 – Read John 2

This is the story of Jesus’ first miracle! This story has often been misunderstood. Sometimes people have felt that Jesus was disrespectful to His mother or reluctant to help her. The fact that she tells the servants to do whatever He says tells us that isn’t true. She understood His intent and trusted Him to handle the situation. Trust is a huge factor in any relationship. Have you ever had a friend that you felt you couldn’t trust? The depth of the relationship doesn’t go too far does it? The subject of miracles has always been somewhat curious to me. Why did Jesus do this with the wine? Why did He heal some people and not others? I believe the question has many answers, but one may be that we don’t receive a miracle because we don’t ask for one. Miracles are events that demonstrate God’s power. They are about renewal and restoration. God loves to give us a glimpse of His power. We’ll see lots of miracles this month so be on the lookout for them. Let’s ask for big things and watch Him do His thing.

Verses 12-23 is an amazing passage of scripture. The temple was the “50 yard line” for daily activity during this time period. The Jewish Passover was the most significant day of celebration in their year (it still is today). It signifies a time that God spared the lives of their people. It is the Old Testament representation of what Jesus did for us. Because of the blood of Jesus covering us, we do not die because of our sin. Read Exodus 12:1-30 for the story of the Passover. It’s really worth it so don’t skip this part. The people that Jesus became angry with were taking a holiday that should have been only about worship and turning it into a purely commercial opportunity. Sound familiar? Jesus’ anger was righteous anger. Righteous anger is actually love expressed toward what is wrong. We have righteous anger over the abuse of a child, etc. Maybe you’ve been exposed to anger that is destructive, but this is not the intent of Jesus. The purpose of His anger is always to restore. It will be directed toward a person or situation that has “jumped the track” from the life that God intended. God’s #1 goal is to love His creation and keep it close. We’re going to be working hard with people you’re just getting to know in close circumstances. I’d be really surprised if you didn’t feel anger at some point toward one of your new summer staff friends. This will be a great chance to let God show you how to handle things the way He does.

Questions:

1. Do you struggle with trusting Jesus with your life? What is one way that you could risk trusting Him today?
2. What kind of miracle are you asking for right now?
3. What do you get angry about? How do you handle your anger? Is your anger righteous or not?

Write down anything you learned from today’s passage. As you spend time talking with Jesus today, ask Him to reveal any unrighteous anger issues you might have. Ask Him to free your heart from any anger that is controlling you and hurting you.

Day 3 – Read John 3

Okay, so what does this “born again” thing mean anyway? Jesus is giving us a chance at a complete do over in our lives. When He created us, He had a perfect plan for our lives. All of us have lived a life apart from Him and His plan. I don’tthink it would be hard for any of us to admit that some things in our lives have really gone wrong. When we choose to begin a life with Jesus, He wants to usher us back into the life He planned for us. There is a natural fear that if you trust Jesus He will take all the good stuff away from you. The opposite is the truth. He wants you to keep all the good stuff and make it way, way, better, while taking away all things that are keeping you from being who you are meant to be. Read Jeremiah 29:11-13 and II Corinthians 5:17. You’ll be really encouraged by these 2 passages.

Verses 16-21 are so incredible. Just in case you were wondering why God sent His son, He tells us, because of LOVE! That love shines so bright that it actually burns away the darkness. It is a love that does not condemn but instead restores. Romans 5:8 & 8:1-Our job is to believe. God wants our faith and faith is a matter of the heart. “To believe is to put Christ in charge of our present plans & eternal destiny. Believing is both trusting his words as reliable, and relying on him for the power to change.” (Life Application Bible)

Verses 22-36 raise the most important question in our spiritual lives. “Who is Jesus Christ?” Our answer to this question will grow over a lifetime as we get to know Him better. I certainly know my husband better now after 34 years than I did on the day that I married him. When we understand who Jesus is, we are compelled to believe what he said. Verse 34 says that God gives the Spirit without limit. The Holy Spirit will continuously give us knowledge of God as we seek it. He wants to be known so we can grasp just a little of His vast love for us.

Questions:

1. Jesus will never grab anything out of your hands. What things are good in your life that you wouldn’t want to replace? What are some things you’d like to clear out of your life?

1. Are you struggling with belief in God? In what area are you struggling?

1. Write down everything you can think of about who Jesus is.

As you pray today, thank God for all those things you’ve written about Jesus. Rest in the security that you are firmly in the grasp of the God of the universe.

Day 4 – Read John 4

It is important to understand a little history about Samaritans. The region of Samaria chose to follow foreign gods and place their allegiance with other countries many, many years before this story takes place. Because of that, the Jewish people wouldn’t have anything to do with them. In fact, a Jewish person wouldn’t even go through the region while traveling. The fact that Jesus chose to go through there was very significant because it was the beginning of His demonstration that God was available to and loved all people, not just Jews. The Samaritan woman came to the well for water in the middle of the day (probably noon) to avoid all the other women in town who probably rejected her because of her lifestyle. Not only was she a Samaritan but she was a woman as well. Men just didn’t have conversations with women who weren’t members of their family. Jesus didn’t initiate this conversation about water because He was incapable of getting it Himself. He sees into the hearts of all of us and will always go right to the area that needs healing. This woman’s lifestyle was sucking the life out of her. She was with one man after another because she was thirsty for something to satisfy her. The Old Testament makes many references to the Messiah(Jesus) being living water. Jesus is letting them know who He was. The living water that Jesus offered her (and us) satisfies the thirst of the soul not just the body. She throws up several “smoke screens” to try to distract Jesus from her personal life. There are so many times that I find it hard to face the problems in my life and become distracted with other things to avoid the subject. When she finally sees the gift Jesus is offering her, she can’t help but want to share it with others. As you work today, look at all the kids around camp. Pray for them and ask God for a rich harvest this week.

As you read verses 43-54, can you imagine how the Dad in this story must have felt when he learned that his son had been healed? The Bible says that Jesus came to set us free. Read John 8:32 and Galatians 5:1. He set this boy free from illness and death. He set this Dad free from mourning. The best gift He gave them, however, was the knowledge of who He was. He was God who is able to do all things. I think the key element of this story was the faith and belief of the Dad. This man put his trust in Jesus even when he didn’t set the result. That’s just what Jesus would have us do. Jesus always hears our prayers and immediately begins the process of answering them. We don’t always see an immediate result or get the answer we’re looking for, but we can trust that He is answering.

Questions:

1. What smoke screens are you throwing up in your life to avoid dealing with the problem areas of your life?
2. What is one thing in your life that it would take God to accomplish (something you know you can’t do yourself)? Would you be willing to ask Him for it this week?
3. Have you seen God do a miracle in your life? (Tell someone on summer staff about it today if you get a chance so they can be encouraged by it.)

What did God speak to you about in scripture today (do a little journaling)? Be in a posture of listening today as you pray. Ask Jesus to show you who to share living water with today.

Day 5 – Read John 5

I often see people on the street corners with signs asking for money or food. Honestly, I don’t know what to think. Sometimes I think they should just go get a job. In my more compassionate moments, I wonder what brought them to this point in their lives. I wish I was like Jesus who can see right into the heart of people and understand their situations. The invalid by the pool was in a horrible situation. He didn’t even know Jesus, but Jesus knew him and his situation. Jesus responded to the man out of pure compassion without even being asked. What a crazy question to ask this man, “Do you want to get well?” Well, duh! Maybe it’s not so crazy. With healing comes responsibility. It’s so much easier sometimes to have an excuse for why we can’t seem to get our lives together. “I’m an invalid so I can’t work…” (I’ll bet Coop has a few things to say on this subject.) I know I make excuses for my shortcomings all the time rather than going to Jesus and asking for help. Dr. Phil says there is something about our negative behavior that is working for us or we wouldn’t keep doing it. Perhaps we have become content with less than the best for us. Sin numbs us to our invalid condition. Most of the kids in camp don’t even know they’re sick. So…if Jesus was asking you right now, “Do you want to get well?” what would your answer be?

Jesus is talking to the really religious guys of the time – the Pharisees and Sadducees – in verses 19-47. These men knew a lot about the Jewish religion and the Old Testament. The problem was that they only knew the religion, but didn’t really know God. It reminds me of a doctor who is really smart and capable but just can’t understand what you’re saying about how you’re feeling, or a teacher who knows everything about their subject but just can’t teach it. God is standing right in front of them, and they don’t even recognize Him. Jesus is trying to tell them that life is about a relationship with God and what God wants to do for them personally not about rules and regulations and facts. He has shaken up their well ordered world. Getting to know Jesus will always shake up your world.

Questions:

1. What needs healing in your life? Do you want to get well? What is holding you back from asking for healing?
2. People who say they’re “Christians” often know a lot about the religion but know very little of the man Christ? What would most characterize you? Does Jesus have your heart or just your head?
3. What would you like Jesus to do for you today?

As you pray, imagine Jesus as the Master Physician touching every part of you that needs healing. Ask Him to reveal Himself personally to you. Open yourself to who He is beyond your preconceived ideas. Get ready to be surprised by your savior!

Day 6 – Read John 6

Verse 2 raises an interesting question. Why are we following Jesus? Many people in this chapter were following Him for the free food and miracles. They were in it for what they could get. It was probably the hot thing to do that summer. Jesus handed out free food and did those miracles so they would recognize God and choose a life with Him. He wanted to draw them into the deeper things of life, but unfortunately they only wanted the surface stuff. How many times do we grab what is in front of us and move on without discovering what wonderful riches are available to us if we will simply be patient and look closer. The feeding of the five thousand is such a cool miracle. I’ve often wondered what it must have been like. I know that I would have wanted to stare into the bottom of the basket and watch the fish and bread miraculously appear over and over again. Jesus had a plan – Jesus always has a plan. Phillip could only see what was in front of him so he saw the impossible. Andrew took a few looks at Jesus so he thought just maybe Jesus could do something with the kid’s meal (but probably not). With Jesus, anything is possible. Let’s be in a posture of expecting miracles this month!

Over and over Jesus reveals Himself in this chapter. He feeds them and walks on the water to them and explains things to them. The religious leaders just refused to open their eyes and see. How frustrating, but I think this happens with us every day. Verse 44 tells us that the Father is continually drawing us to Himself. So what is our responsibility? Verse 29 says that the WORK of God is to believe. Our immediate response might be, “Oh, that’s easy, I believe in God.” But, do we believe God for every aspect of our lives every day? Now that takes work. The paycheck for this kind of work is huge. The great comfort to me is that even when I mess up, He will never (ever) loose me (verse 39, 40). I’ve lost both my kids in a store when they were little. I’m so glad that my Father in Heaven is a better parent than me.