(John 13:1-13) Prayer: Jesus, wash me and cleanse. Me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus washing the Disciples’ feet.) Context: This gospel highlights the great contrast. Jesus has all power, yet he acts like a servant. He washes the disciples’ feet as if they were the master of the house. He explains the …
(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 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 …
(Luke 11:15-26) Prayer – O Jesus, use your great power to bless ME. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with the disciples and the crowds). Context: In this text, Jesus meets two enemies. They agree that Jesus worked these miracles and cast out Satan. Some question the source of his power and others …
(Luke 16:19-31) Prayer – O Lord, awaken me by this warning. Do not let me be like the foolish brothers. Imagination – (Picture Jesus teaching the crowds.) Context: Judaism believed that riches proved God’s favor and that poverty proved sinfulness. Jesus reveals the true picture, which shocks his audience. The …
(Matthew 7:7-12) Prayer: O Jesus, teach me to ask and to seek and to knock. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching His disciples to have confidence in prayer.) Context: God wants to bless you. First, he wants you to seek his blessings (so when you receive them you will thank God and …
(Luke 9:22-25) Prayer – O Jesus, in time of trial, do not let me turn my back on you. Imagination- (Picture Jesus teaching his disciples.) Context: Having told the disciples that he will suffer, die and rise, Jesus gathers the crowd and explains that they also will suffer if they …
(Mark 6:7-13) Prayer – O Jesus, send me forth to bring your gospel to the whole world. Imagination – (Picture the Twelve gathered around, listening to Jesus’ instructions.) Context: Jesus does not have enough time to evangelize all of Israel. So, he sends out the Twelve. This is totally his …
(Mark 4-21-25) Prayer – O Lord, put your light on the lampstand of my heart. Imagination: (Picture Jesus speaking to the disciples.) Context: This text is really four different sayings which Mark links by opposite words, like hidden/revealed and given/taken away. They are all teachings about the Kingdom. Gospel Text: …
(Mark 3:7-12) Prayer: Draw near, O Lord, so I can touch you in faith. Imagination: (Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowds who are healed as they touch him.) Context: In this section, Mark pauses. Jesus tries to get out of the limelight by spending time with his disciples. However, his …
(Mark 1:40-45) Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Help me to believe that Jesus can cleanse me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus cleansing the leper) Context: Mark provides no geographical setting for this miracle. His goal is to show Jesus’ power and how his fame quickly spreads. Jesus tries to avoid this publicity. Gospel …
(Luke 4:14-30) Prayer – O Jesus, send the Spirit of the Father upon me. Imagination: (Picture Jesus teaching in the synagogue.) Context: Having overcome Satan’s three temptations, Jesus begins his public ministry. Other gospels record this visit to the synagogue but Luke gives it preeminence. This is Jesus’ inauguration address …
(Matthew 11:11-15) Prayer: O Jesus, prepare me for the greatness of your Kingdom. Imagination: (Picture Jesus talking to his disciples about John.) Context: John is the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Yet, because he did not live to see Jesus’ Kingdom, the least in Jesus’ Kingdom is greater than …
(Matthew 7:24-27) Prayer – O Jesus, I will put your word into practice so my house will always stand. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: Jesus chooses an example from the people’s daily experiences. In Israel, the rains come suddenly. A dry canal becomes quickly a raging stream. This …
(Luke 21:20-28) Prayer: O Jesus, be with us in times of disasters. Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining to his disciples the fall of Jerusalem) Context: Jesus prophesied that the Romans would destroy Jerusalem, which they did in 70 A.D. Luke wrote his gospel fifteen years after this destruction. However, these words …
(Luke 19:41-44) Prayer: O Jesus, let me know the time of your visitation. Imagination: (Picture Jesus weeping over Jerusalem.) Context: As Jesus comes close to Jerusalem, he suddenly stops and weeps. He knows the future destruction of this city and describes it clearly. He pinpoints the cause of the failure. …
(Luke 17:20-25) Prayer – O Lord, prepare me for your coming. Imagination: (Picture Jesus instructing his disciples). Context: The Pharisees want to know when the Kingdom would come. The question is futile because the Kingdom is already present as the Spirit dwells in the believer. A final and total coming …
(Luke 15:1-10) Prayer: O Jesus, show me how precious I am to you. Imagination: (Picture Jesus with His disciples.) Context: These twin parables are closely connected to the Prodigal Son parable. A hundred sheep was a medium sized flock. The shepherd must have been poor, unable to pay a helper. …
(Luke 13:31-35) Prayer: O Jesus, let me follow you to Jerusalem. Imagination – (Picture Jesus with his disciples and the Pharisees.) Context: Seemingly, the Pharisees are warning Jesus to leave Herod’s territory. Really, they want him to go to Jerusalem where they have more power. Jesus knows their plans and …
