For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
- 12:24 -- Jesus to Andrew, Philip, and the Greeks: "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." Importance: Key to effectiveness. Corresponds to the self-denial passages in Mark 8; Matt 16; Luke 9.
- 13:34-35 -- Jesus to the Eleven: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Importance: The New Commandment. One of three explicit discipleship passages.
- 14:6 -- Jesus to Thomas: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Importance: The sixth of seven "I am" sayings. The path is a person, not a religion; the truth is a person, not a list of doctrines; the life is found in Jesus (10:10), not an institution.
- 15:1 -- Jesus to the Eleven: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower." Importance: The final "I am" saying. Our productivity depends on staying tied in to Jesus.
- 16:33 -- Jesus to the Eleven: "I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” Importance: The key to overcoming fear, anxiety, and compromise.
- 17:17 -- Jesus in prayer: "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." Importance: The more we follow the Word, the holier we become. Becoming Christ-like is directly linked to obeying his Word.
- 18:36 -- Jesus to Pontius Pilate: Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Importance: Points up drastic difference between God's Kingdom and the political / military kingdoms of the world.
- 19:12 -- Pilate to the Jews: So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” Importance: The (ironic) mockery of Jesus. "Ecce homo" passage.
- 20:28 -- Thomas to Jesus: Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Importance: Jesus' deity. It is Christ, not the Roman emperor, who is divine.
- 21:21 -- Peter to Jesus: When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Importance: Our need to stay focused, not worried about the status of others.
Be sure to review these passages in the coming week or two, along with all the scriptures from John 1-11.
