Bethany Lutheran Church

As we wrap up our series of Meeting Jesus in John’s Gospel, we will see how Jesus meets us in our fears, doubts, and confusion but he doesn’t leave us there. Jesus invites us to follow him as he breathes his peace upon us, even when things don’t make sense and seem unclear. Only by His Spirit can we truly see and believe.  John 20:1-29 (ESV)Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw t

“What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Following Jesus is often unclear and scary. As Jesus was preparing to leave his disciples they had lots of questions about what was next. Jesus didn’t give them a step-by-step plan to follow. Rather he gave them an example of what it meant to be his disciple, of what it meant to be marked by his love, and how to extend his love to the world around them. And Jesus invites us into the same way of living. John 13:1-20; 31-35  (ESV)Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it a

In this story we see Jesus’ humanity and divinity come together as he and his friends stare death in the face. But Jesus is not too quick to “save the day.” Instead, he sits with Mary and Martha in their heartbreak. Sometimes it feels like Jesus has let us down. What can we learn about pain and disappointment from Jesus’ meeting with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? John 11:17-37 (ESV)Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her,

Jesus meets a man born blind and miraculously heals him. The man is later interrogated about who had done this act on the Sabbath. The man could only answer by saying, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” The man’s answer infuriated the religious leaders and they began a debate about who Jesus was. Jesus quickly revealed that they were indeed the blind ones. When we meet Jesus he often opens our eyes to see and experience life and God in new ways that may not make sense to the world around us. How do we give testimony to God’s action in our lives? John 9:1-41 (ESV)As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having

Forty days after Easter the church celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised would happen back in John 15 and 16. Join us as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday and as we exigence the Spirit-led life. Acts 2:1–21 (ESV) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians an

Jesus’ words are often difficult to receive. Jesus’ words often revealed people’s true motives and allegiances. But Jesus was ok with people not following him. He didn’t hedge on the truth or beg people to follow him. How do Jesus’ words challenge our motives and allegiances when we meet him in our real lives? 

In John’s Gospel Jesus meets people all across the spectrum of faith, from religious leaders like Nicodemus to outcasts like the women and the well. Jesus seems to be harsh with this woman, calling out her sin. But what if Jesus was doing a deeper work? What if he was actually meeting her in her deepest place of shame and in turn offering her healing and inviting her into a new way of being human? Perhaps he is extending the same invitation to us. 

Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, came to Jesus by night. Nicodemus was curious about Jesus and who he was and where he came from. But Jesus did not give him easy answers. Jesus spoke about water and Spirit and being “born again.” What did this all mean for Nicodemus, for the people of Israel, and for us today? John 3:1-21 (ESV)Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit i

Jesus’ first disciples heard of this rabbi from John the Baptizer and were instantly drawn to Jesus. Their response to Jesus’ call was to bring others to Jesus. What have you heard about Jesus? What has drawn you to Jesus? How is Jesus inviting you to tell others to “Come and see”? 

John first met Jesus when they were both in their mothers’ wombs. Yet, in the first chapter of John’s Gospel John the Baptizer has to come to grips with who he is and what his calling is in light of who Jesus is and what his calling is. Who are we as the people of God and what is our calling as we confess with John, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1:19-34