March 27

Read John 13:18-30
19-20 "I'm telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am. Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me." (The Message)

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How many different ways did  people receive Jesus?
• How well do you think Jesus was able to prepare the disciples for what was yet to come?
• What does hospitality look like to you?
• How might others experience divine hospitality from us?

March 20

Read John 13: 1-17
 ^3-6Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"

 ⁷Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."

 ⁸Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!"

   Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."

 ⁹"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" (The Message)

Some questions to ponder and share with others:

• Why do you think Jesus and the disciples had not had their feet washed when they came into the house?
• Why do you think that Peter wanted Jesus to wash more than his feet when he finally gave in to Jesus?
• Who are the people that play the role of "washing feet" today?
• Why do you not want Jesus to wash your feet today?

March 13

Read John 12: 37-50
^36-40Jesus said all this, and then went into hiding. All these God-signs he had given them and they still didn't get it, still wouldn't trust him. This proved that the prophet Isaiah was right:

   God, who believed what we preached?

   Who recognized God's arm, outstretched and ready to act?
First they wouldn't believe, then they couldn't—again, just as Isaiah said:

   Their eyes are blinded,
      their hearts are hardened,
   So that they wouldn't see with their eyes
      and perceive with their hearts,
   And turn to me, God,
      so I could heal them.  (The Message)

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When you think about stories of blindness in the Bible what comes to mind?
• Is blindness always permanent in the Bible? If not how does someone gain their sight?
• Can you think of a time when you couldn't see something that was clearly in front of you? Why did you not see it?
• What can you do to keep your eyes open to see the working of God more easily?

March 6

Read John 12: 20-36
 ^20-21There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: "Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?"

 ^22-23Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. Jesus answered, "Time's up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. (The Message)

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What do you think the Greeks were hoping to see when they came to Jesus?
• Do you think the Greeks were ever able to see Jesus?
• Have you ever had someone come to you and ask to see Jesus? What did you do or say?
• What might a life look like where people would regularly come to ask to see Jesus?