Daily Reading Week 32
Sunday
John 5 (Scripture Focus 16-47)
Discover:
When the religious leaders realized Jesus was claiming equality with God, He didn’t back down—He affirmed it even more clearly. In John 5:17, Jesus says that just as God works on the Sabbath, so does He. But He’s not acting independently; the Father and Son are perfectly united in their work.
Today’s passage shows this deep unity. The Son does only what the Father does. He gives life just as the Father does (v. 21), and all judgment has been entrusted to Him. This doesn’t mean the Father is uninvolved—it means the Son’s actions are fully aligned with the Father’s will.
This reflects a key truth in Christian theology: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together in perfect unity. Their actions aren’t divided like a committee with separate tasks. Instead, each Person of the Trinity does the same work, in a way that reflects who They are. The Father acts as the unbegotten source, the Son as begotten, and the Spirit as proceeding from both. For example, salvation comes from the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Spirit.
It’s deep theology, but it’s also the historic belief of the church. If the Father fully reveals Himself to the Son, then the Son must be fully God, capable of doing all the Father does. As Augustine put it, every work of the Father is done through the Son.
We’ll never share the perfect unity Jesus has with the Father, but we can align our hearts with God’s will. Through prayer, repentance, and seeking His guidance, we grow in our desire to do what He calls us to do.
Respond:
1. How do you perceive Jesus' authority in your life? Do you see Him as just a teacher, or as
God who is actively working in your life?
2. Are there areas in your life where you prioritize rules or traditions over a genuine relationship with Jesus?
3. How can you be more open to seeing God at work in unexpected ways?
Monday
John 1 (Scripture Focus 1-18)
Discover:
Orthodox Christian theology doesn’t just affirm belief in one God—it emphasizes the biblical truth that God is one in essence and three in person: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully and equally God.
Today, we focus on the deity of the Son. John 1:1–18 tells us the Word was with God and was God, and this Word became flesh and lived among us. This is Jesus—the Son of God—fully divine and fully human, united in one person without confusion or compromise.
Other passages also show Jesus doing what only God can do. In Mark 2:1–12, He forgives sins—something only God has the authority to do. The scribes were shocked, and rightly so, if Jesus were merely human. But He wasn’t. He was claiming divine authority.
Jude 5 goes even further, saying that Jesus saved Israel from Egypt—something the Old Testament attributes to Yahweh. This means Jesus is Yahweh, the covenant Lord of Israel.
These are just a few examples. The New Testament consistently reveals Jesus as fully God, worthy of our worship and devotion. To deny His deity is to reject the clear teaching of Scripture.
Respond:
1. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Word who became flesh?
2. How does understanding Jesus as the light of the world impact your view of Him?
3. In what ways can you invite Jesus' light into areas of darkness in your life?
tuesday
John 3 (Scripture Focus 1-21)
Discover:
The phrase “born again” became widely known in American culture in 1976 when President Jimmy Carter used it to describe his faith. The term comes from Greek words meaning just that—born again—but there’s often confusion about what it really means. Many people claim to be Christians yet show no sign of a changed heart or life. And different denominations sometimes define regeneration in different ways.
Despite these differences, all Christian traditions agree on one thing: Jesus said we must be born again. In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus made it clear—no one can see the kingdom of God without this spiritual rebirth. Regeneration is when God replaces our heart of stone with a heart of flesh, giving us new desires and a new life.
This was a radical idea for many Pharisees, who believed their heritage as Abraham’s descendants guaranteed them a place in God’s kingdom. But Jesus taught that no one is born into the kingdom by bloodline—only by the Spirit. Without the new birth, we are not children of God.
It’s possible to grow up in church, be baptized, confirmed, and still not be born again. Have you experienced a changed heart that loves the things of God? This is a question every one of us should ask—especially if we’ve been around church all our lives. Don’t take your spiritual condition for granted.
Respond:
1. What does being "born again" mean to you, and have you experienced this transformation?
2. How does John 3:16 shape your understanding of God's love and salvation?
3. Are there areas in your life where you need to trust Jesus more fully?
Wednesday
John 10 (Scripture Focus 1-18)
Discover:
After Jesus healed the blind man at Siloam as recorded in John chapter 9, the man boldly defended Jesus before the religious leaders—and was cast out for it. But his story didn’t end there. Jesus found him again, and the man responded with worship, unlike the Pharisees who clung to their own understanding. This moment led Jesus to speak about shepherds and sheep, declaring, “I am the door of the sheep” and “I am the good shepherd”.
These images weren’t random. In Scripture, Israel’s leaders are often called shepherds, and the people are likened to sheep. David, the shepherd-king, pointed forward to Jesus—the true Shepherd-King. In contrast to the Pharisees, who failed to care for the people, Jesus presents Himself as the faithful shepherd who protects and leads His flock.
In ancient Israel, shepherds led their sheep to pasture by day and brought them to a secure sheepfold at night. This enclosure had one gate, guarded to keep out thieves and predators. Though many flocks might share the space, each sheep recognized its own shepherd’s voice and followed only him.
This imagery teaches two key truths:
God provides a place of eternal safety for His people.
Jesus is the only way into that safety. If He is the door, then salvation comes through Him alone.
Today, many suggest there are multiple paths to God. But adding more “doors” to the sheepfold denies the gospel’s power and clarity. True humility is found in trusting Jesus alone for salvation—and sharing that truth with others.
Respond:
1. How do you experience Jesus as your Good Shepherd in your daily life?
2. In what ways can you better recognize and respond to His voice?
3. How does knowing Jesus laid down His life for you impact your relationship with Him?
THursday
John 14 (Scripture Focus 1-14)
Discover:
As Jesus neared the final rejection by His people He turned His focus to His disciples. In an upper room, during their Last Supper, He gave them what we now call the Farewell Discourse (John 13–20). Knowing their hearts were troubled by His talk of leaving, Jesus offered them deep comfort—peace rooted in Himself, the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
This sixth “I AM” statement is rich with meaning:
· The Way: Jesus is the only path to the Father. Just as He said earlier that He is the Door of the Sheep, He now makes it clear again—there is no other way to God but through Him. This truth was countercultural then and still is today.
· The Truth: Jesus isn’t just truthful—He is the Truth. He is the standard by which all truth is measured. Because of this, we can trust everything He says, not only in the Gospels but throughout all of Scripture. He affirms that the entire Bible is God’s Word (Matt. 4:4; 19:3–6).
· The Life: Jesus is the source of all life. Only God can give life, and by claiming this, Jesus again affirms His divine nature.
Jesus didn’t leave His disciples in fear—He gave them Himself. In a world full of confusion and competing voices, we can rest in the truth that Jesus is the only way to God, the ultimate truth, and the giver of eternal life.
Respond:
1. How does Jesus being "the way, the truth, and the life" influence your faith journey?
2. What does it mean to you that Jesus is preparing a place for you?
3. How can you find peace in Jesus' presence during times of uncertainty?
Friday
John 15 (Scripture Focus 1-17)
Discover:
In our culture, love is often seen as just a feeling—something that comes and goes. When the feeling fades, relationships are easily abandoned. But Scripture paints a much deeper picture of love. Yes, love involves emotion, but it’s also expressed through action.
In John 15:9–10, Jesus tells us to abide in His love—and the way we do that is by keeping His commandments. Abiding in Christ’s love isn’t passive or just about warm feelings toward Him. It’s about living in obedience to Him.
This makes sense when we consider who God is. His love and holiness aren’t separate traits—they’re perfectly united. God’s love is a holy love. So to remain in His love, we pursue holiness. As John Calvin said, Christ doesn’t reconcile us to the Father so we can live however we want, but so we can be led by the Spirit and live under God’s authority.
Importantly, our obedience doesn’t earn God’s love. Scripture reminds us that we love because He first loved us. Our obedience is the result of His love working in us—not the cause of it. Calvin puts it well: our obedience is the effect of His love, not the reason He continues to love us.
Jesus isn’t talking about perfection here. He’s talking about sincere obedience—repenting when we fall short and trusting in His grace, not our own efforts.
Respond:
1. What does it mean for you to "abide" in Jesus, and how can you cultivate this relationship?
2. How does remaining in Jesus impact your ability to bear fruit in your life?
3. In what ways can you demonstrate Jesus' love to others this week?
Saturday
John 20 (Scripture Focus 24-31)
Discover:
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples while they were hiding in fear. It was a turning point—they received a mission to proclaim forgiveness through faith in Him. But Thomas wasn’t there, and when told about Jesus’ appearance, he refused to believe without physical proof. That’s why he’s often called “Doubting Thomas.”
Eight days later, Jesus returned—and this time, Thomas was present. Jesus invited him to touch His wounds, showing supernatural awareness of Thomas’ earlier doubts . Thomas responded with a powerful confession: “My Lord and my God!”. He may not have grasped all the implications, but he knew he was standing before the risen, divine Christ.
Jesus then blessed those who would believe without seeing Him physically. This wasn’t a rebuke of Thomas, but a reassurance to future believers: faith without sight is just as real and just as blessed. We, who trust in Jesus through the testimony of Scripture, are no less His disciples than those who saw Him face to face.
Faith doesn’t require physical proof—it rests on the trustworthy witness of Scripture and the work of the Spirit. Like Thomas, we may wrestle with doubt, but Jesus meets us with grace.
Respond:
1. How do you relate to Thomas' journey from doubt to belief?
2. What doubts or questions do you need to bring to Jesus?
3. How can you strengthen your faith in the reality of Jesus' resurrection?