(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 …
