Insight! with Garry Nation

My rendition of Marijohn Wilkin's beautiful folk-gospel song from 1975.

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark say that after his resurrection Jesus instructed his disciples that he would meet them in Galilee, but it is John who tells the story of how that happened; and it is John who tells us of the restoration of Simon Peter. John 21

Peter, John, and the other disciples have their own encounter with the risen Lord. And, as usual, John names names and tells stories that none of the other Gospels tell--including one that unintentionally gave one disciple an unfortunate and undeserved nickname. John 19:16-42

The first witness to the resurrection of Jesus was a surprise. This is Mary Magdalene's first appearance in this Gospel, but it is her most impactful moment in the Scriptures, and the story of her encounter is one of the most moving. John 20:1-18

John presents a vivid, stirring account of the crucifixion of Jesus. But, unlike the other Gospels which present this cluster of events from a compilation of stories, John does so as a singular eyewitness who has his own personal memory and his own sense of what is most important to tell. John 19:16-42.

The more we know about Pilate, the more we see he had good reasons for trying to save Jesus. Why did he fail? John 19:1-16.

Jesus is brought before Pilate, who asks him one of he most important questions anyone could ever ask. But why does he not wait for an answer? John 18:28-40

Jesus is betrayed, arrested, questioned, and denied. John 18:1-27

Jesus presents 3 petitions to his Father: to Glorify, Sanctify, and Unify. John 17.

Almost all of Jesus' teachings on prayer and the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John are found in John 14-16, adding both content and context to those teachings found in the Synoptic Gospels. Jesus' promises are powerful, but it's important to interpret them in their own context. John 14:13-26; 15:7,8, 26; 16:1-15, 23-24.

Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure, telling them things they do not want to hear but absolutely need to know before he is taken from them. John 16:4-33.

Jesus explains how abiding in him and relying the Holy Spirit enables believers to cope with hostility from the world. John 15:12 - 16:4.

Having spoken at length about his own relation to the Father, Jesus explains to the disciples about how they relate to him and to the Father--using the extended metaphor of the vine and its branches. John 15:1-11

In John 14:12, Jesus tells his disciples that afterward those who believe in him would do his works and “greater” because he was going to his Father. This introduces his teaching regarding the Holy Spirit, whom he calls the "Paraclete," that is, the Helper or the Comforter.

In John 14:11, Jesus says, "Believe me...or else believe on account of the works themselves." This verse provides a springboard to discuss the apologetics - the argument for faith - in the Gospel of John.

After shocking his disciples with the word that one of them would betray him and another would deny, Jesus immediately turns and says, "Let not your hearts be troubled." In the discussion that follows he assures them that he is "the way, the truth, and the life," an expression that is both full of allusion to the Old Testament and potent with meaning for the gospel he wants them to preach.

It is one of the most iconic events in the Gospels: Jesus washes his disciples' feet. But like the twelve men in the room, we often misunderstand and misapply what Jesus did there.

One of the busiest chapters in this Gospel, John's summary of the last week of Jesus' ministry can be broken up into seven distinct events: (1) The Anointing, (2) The Plot, (3) The Entrance, (4) The Greeks, (5) The Agony, (6) The Unbelief, (7) The Great Summation. John 12.

Why does John choose to focus on only seven of Jesus' miracles, and what is their significance? These questions answered in this talk. John 1 - 11.

Jesus performs the seventh and most dramatic sign of all, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. John 11.

In Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), Jesus makes his most controversial statement yet. John 10:22-42.

The conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees begun in Chapter 9 continues. They've demanded to know who he is to do the things he does. He responds, "I am the Good Shepherd" a phrase more loaded with prophetic implications than we might imagine. John 10:1-21.

After proclaiming himself to be the light of the world, Jesus gives a fitting sign of his identity: he heals a man of blindness who had been born that way. The once-blind-now-seeing man encounters surprising blowback. John 9

The discussion and debate from Chapter 7 moves from the open court of the Temple a little further in, to the Treasury. The topic shifts from Jesus' proclamation of the gospel to what he has to say about himself--leading to an explosive climax. John 8:12-59.

On the last, great day of the feast Jesus publicly proclaims fulfillment of the prophets' promise of Living Water, and expounds on the gift of the Holy Spirit. John 7:32-52