A Slow Journey Through John

WEEK 44.4: 31  It was the Preparation Day and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath, especially since that Sabbath was an important day. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of those crucified broken and the bodies taken down.  32  Therefore, the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men who were crucified with Jesus.  33  When they came to Jesus, t...

WEEK 44.3: 28  After this, knowing that everything was already completed, in order to fulfill the scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”  29  A jar full of sour wine was nearby, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, placed it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips.  30  When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed.” Bowing his head, he gave up his life. SJTJ s a year-l...

WEEK 44.2: 28  After this, knowing that everything was already completed, in order to fulfill the scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”  29  A jar full of sour wine was nearby, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it, placed it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips.  30  When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed.” Bowing his head, he gave up his life. SJTJ s a year-l...

WEEK 44.1: 23  When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and his sandals, and divided them into four shares, one for each soldier. His shirt was seamless, woven as one piece from the top to the bottom.  24  They said to each other, “Let’s not tear it. Let’s cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the scripture, They divided my clothes among themselves,      and they c...

WEEK 43.7 Discussion questions below. Episode Summary In this emotionally heavy Week 43 explore episode, Nick and Jamie confront the brutal reality of Jesus's crucifixion in John 19:1-22. They examine the graphic violence of flogging and mockery, Pilate's increasingly desperate attempts to release Jesus while being manipulated by religious leaders who threaten "you're no friend of...

WEEK 43.6: The Prayer of Examen helps us reflect on the week that was in our Slow Journey Through John. SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.  Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus...

WEEK 43.5: The soldiers took Jesus prisoner.  17  Carrying his cross by himself, he went out to a place called Skull Place (in Aramaic,  Golgotha ).  18  That’s where they crucified him—and two others with him, one on each side and Jesus in the middle.  19  Pilate had a public notice written and posted on the cross. It read “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.”  20  Many of the Jews read thi...

WEEK 43.4: 12  From that moment on, Pilate wanted to release Jesus. However, the Jewish leaders cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t a friend of the emperor! Anyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes the emperor!” 13  When Pilate heard these words, he led Jesus out and seated him on the judge’s bench at the place called Stone Pavement (in Aramaic,  Gabbatha ).  14  It wa...

WEEK 43.3: 8  When Pilate heard this word, he was even more afraid.  9  He went back into the residence and spoke to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus didn’t answer.  10  So Pilate said, “You won’t speak to me? Don’t you know that I have authority to release you and also to crucify you?” 11  Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me if it had not been given to you from above. That’s why...

WEEK 43.2: 4  Pilate came out of the palace again and said to the Jewish leaders, “Look! I’m bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no grounds for a charge against him.”  5  When Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here’s the man.” 6  When the chief priests and their deputies saw him, they shouted out, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate told...

WEEK 43.1: 1  Then Pilate had Jesus taken and whipped.  2  The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe.  3  Over and over they went up to him and said, “Greetings, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intenti...

Episode Summary In this Week 42 explore episode, Nick reaches a milestone (finishing all his research for John) while Jamie shares her secret middle-grade fantasy book project with surprising success. They dive into John 18:19-40, examining Jesus's illegal trial before Annas, Peter's three denials contrasted with Jesus's three "I am" statements, and the beginning of Jesus&#39...

WEEK 42.6: The Prayer of Examen helps us reflect on the week that was in our Slow Journey Through John. SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.  Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus...

WEEK 42.5: 37  “So you are a king?” Pilate said. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Whoever accepts the truth listens to my voice.” 38  “What is truth?” Pilate asked. After Pilate said this, he returned to the Jewish leaders and said, “I find no grounds for any charge against him.  39  You have a custom that I rel...

WEEK 42.4: 33  Pilate went back into the palace. He summoned Jesus and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34  Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others spoken to you about me?” 35  Pilate responded, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your nation and its chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36  Jesus replied, “My kingdom doesn’t originate from this world. If it did, my...

WEEK 42.3: 28  The Jewish leaders led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early in the morning. So that they could eat the Passover, the Jewish leaders wouldn’t enter the palace; entering the palace would have made them ritually impure. 29  So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What charge do you bring against this man?” 30  They answered, “If he had done nothing wrong, we...

WEEK 42.2: 25  Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing with the guards, warming himself. They asked, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” Peter denied it, saying, “I’m not.” 26  A servant of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said to him, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”  27  Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed. SJTJ s a year-long cont...

WEEK 42.1: 19  Meanwhile, the chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.  20  Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly to the world. I’ve always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews gather. I’ve said nothing in private.  21  Why ask me? Ask those who heard what I told them. They know what I said.” 22  After Jesus spoke, one of the guards standing there sla...

WEEK 41.7 Discussion questions below. Episode Summary In this Week 41 Explore episode, Nick and Jamie dive into Jesus's arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1-18). They explore the stunning Exodus parallels throughout the narrative, from Jesus crossing the brook Kidron (red with Passover lamb blood) to commanding "let these people go." The episode examines the massive military...

WEEK 41.6: The Prayer of Examen helps us reflect on the week that was in our Slow Journey Through John. SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.  Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus...

WEEK 41.5: an imagination prayer based on Peter's sword and denials. SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways.  Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by study...

WEEK 41.4: 15  Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Because this other disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard.  16  However, Peter stood outside near the gate. Then the other disciple (the one known to the high priest) came out and spoke to the woman stationed at the gate, and she brought Peter in.  17  The servant woman stationed at...

WEEK 41.3: 10  Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)  11  Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?”  12  Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the guards from the Jewish leaders took Jesus into custody. They bound him  13  and led him...

WEEK 41.2: 4  Jesus knew everything that was to happen to him, so he went out and asked, “Who are you looking for?” 5  They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I Am.” (Judas, his betrayer, was standing with them.)  6  When he said, “I Am,” they shrank back and fell to the ground.  7  He asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8  Jesus answered, “...

WEEK 41.1: 18  After he said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples and crossed over to the other side of the Kidron Valley. He and his disciples entered a garden there.  2  Judas, his betrayer, also knew the place because Jesus often gathered there with his disciples.  3  Judas brought a company of soldiers and some guards from the chief priests and Pharisees. They came there carrying la...