(John 13:6-11) (Note: The gospel for today is so similar to yesterday’s that the following scene from the Last Supper is used). Prayer: Jesus, bathe me in your cleansing waters. Imagination: (Picture Jesus washing Peter’s feet). Context: Peter is so special to Jesus that even in the washing of feet, …
(John 13:36-38) Prayer: Jesus, may I always be loyal to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at the Last Supper.) Context: Jesus often spoke about his betrayal. Up to now however, Jesus never revealed his betrayer or said openly that he would come from the twelve. Now he must focus on this …
(John 12:1-11) Prayer: O Jesus, let me be generous in serving you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus at table with Martha, Mary and Lazarus.) Context: Lazarus has just been raised from the dead. This scene continues the death to life theme, but now it focuses on Jesus, not Lazarus. Martha and Mary …
(Luke 19:28-40) Prayer: O Jesus, I place my garments at your feet. Imagination: (Picture Jesus riding upon a donkey with the great crowd. Context: This special procession is Messianic, openly fulfilling prophecies so the crowd knows that Jesus is their Messiah. However, Jesus does not ride a horse and proclaim …
(John 11:45-57) Prayer: Jesus, you died to save me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha.) Context: Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead. By giving Lazarus new life, Jesus seals his own death. Raising Lazarus leads the Sanhedrin to decide to kill Jesus, no …
(John 10:31-39) Prayer: O Jesus, you are truly God and truly man. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple) Context: The Jews understand clearly that Jesus is making himself equal to God. So they try to stone Jesus, claiming that he commits blasphemy. When Jesus preaches, the Jewish believes do …
(John 8:51-59) Prayer: Jesus, help me never to taste eternal death. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple Context: Jesus makes even stronger claims. Not only is he greater than Abraham but Abraham “rejoiced to see my day.” On the natural level, this is impossible. Jesus is certainly less than …
(John 8:31-36) Prayer: Jesus, set me free from the slavery of sin. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple Context: Jesus speaks to “the Jews who believed in him” (8:31). Although they believe, their faith is too limited. They consider Abraham greater than Jesus. They want to make Jesus part …
(John 8:21-30) Prayer: O Jesus, enlighten me and reveal your fullness. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the temple.) Context: In this text, Jesus does not say “I am the light of the world” but simply “I am”. In fact, he says it twice. By using these words, he claims equality with …
(John 8:12-20) Prayer: O Jesus, flood me with divine light. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the temple.) Context: After saving the woman caught in adultery from being stoned to death, Jesus calls himself “The light of the world”. He is challenged to produce witnesses. He claims that the Father is his …
(John 8:1-11) Prayer: O Jesus, forgive me and set me free from all my accusers. Imagination: (Picture Jesus in the temple with the accused woman before him.) Context: This story fulfills Jesus’ statement “You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.” (Jn 8:15) Jesus teaching in the temple …
(John 7:40-53) Prayer: O Jesus, never let me oppose you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus preaching in the Temple.) Context: Jesus has divided the crowd. Some think he is the Messiah and others say the Messiah must come from Bethlehem, the City of David. (John’s community knew that Jesus was born in …
(John 7:25-30) Prayer: O Jesus, I believe that you come from the Father. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple.) Context: When Jesus is in Galilee, he works miracles and receives acclaim. When he goes to Jerusalem, he finds persecution because the leaders want to kill him. The controversy centers …
(John 5:31-40) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to believe your testimony. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple.) Context: Jesus explains his purpose in healing the man. By this miraculous deed, the Father testifies about Jesus’ divine mission. Before this, John the Baptist testified about Jesus. However, the Jews accept …
Prayer: O Jesus, I accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: In this final part of the conflict, Jesus pinpoints the problem. His hearers listen to each other and praise one another. They do not open their ears to God. Moses did not …
(John 5:23-26) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to value eternal life. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples in the Temple.) Context: Jesus continues to defend his ministry as He focuses on God’s power to judge, to raise from the dead and to grant eternal life. The Father, (who obviously has …
(John 5-19-23) Prayer: O Jesus, reveal the Father and Jesus to me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples in the Temple.) Context: Jesus has just healed a man who lay ill for thirty-eight years. However, he healed him on the Sabbath, and “The Jews began to persecute Jesus” (Jn 5:16) …
(John 5:1-16) Prayer: O Jesus, heal my body and remove my sins. Imagination: (Picture Jesus speaking to the healed man. Context: John portrays Jesus as going to Jerusalem on feast days to show that Jesus fulfills Jewish aspirations concerning the Messiah. This is the third sign of new life (preceded …
(John 4:43-54) Prayer: O Jesus, you can do all things. Help me to believe. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the royal official pleading for his son.) Context: This is the second time in John’s gospel that Jesus reveals his power. This second miracle also takes place at Cana, and has some …
(Luke 15:17-24) Prayer: O Father, embrace me when I return to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: The father’s response to the Prodigal’s return is not a model for earthly fathers. It is how the heavenly father responds to our repentance. The son is reduced to the lowest …
