lent 2025
We are taking time on Sundays this Lent to explore 7 of Jesus' miracles recorded in the Gospel of John. Each of those accounts gives space for a lot of reflection on how people viewed Jesus, what they expected of him, what they reveal about the true nature of Jesus, and how modern readers might understand him. There’s a lot to unpack in each of these stories, so be sure to join us on Sundays or catch up on any sermons you miss by clicking here.
To go along with this series, we're also providing other resources that may be helpful during this season of reflection and preparation. Each Wednesday, we will post content examining how different characters in the Gospel of John viewed Jesus.
We also have a weekly reading plan that works through Jesus' story in the Gospel of John leading up to Easter. You can find that below and can download the plan by clicking on the image.
To go along with this series, we're also providing other resources that may be helpful during this season of reflection and preparation. Each Wednesday, we will post content examining how different characters in the Gospel of John viewed Jesus.
We also have a weekly reading plan that works through Jesus' story in the Gospel of John leading up to Easter. You can find that below and can download the plan by clicking on the image.
The Sacrifice That Sustains (April 2, 2025)
By Anna Christiansen
As a base, I wrote out most of John 6. I included some parchment paper I had used for baking, tore it up and placed it over some of the words. I used this to highlight some phrases including "bread of life." The torn pieces of paper reminded me of communion and Jesus' body broken for us. The colors blue & green represent life to me, reminding me of water and plants and Jesus speaks about the bread of life providing eternal life. I also used some plant motifs because of that. The reddish color is a nod to Jesus' blood shed for us which Jesus also speaks about in this passage. I wanted to include other scriptures that relate to this passage, such as the manna passage in Exodus, the Lord's prayer and the Last Supper.
Reflection Questions:
Keep in mind that the beginning of chapter 6 is the miracle of feeding the five thousand with bread.
- What is Jesus offering to the people?
- What does this passage reveal about Jesus? About the Father?
- Why does Jesus call himself the bread of life & the bread that has come down from heaven?
- Why is eating this bread that Jesus describes essential to eternal life? v.53-58
- What things do you seek to sustain you and give you life that aren't Jesus? How do they fall short?
By Anna Christiansen
As a base, I wrote out most of John 6. I included some parchment paper I had used for baking, tore it up and placed it over some of the words. I used this to highlight some phrases including "bread of life." The torn pieces of paper reminded me of communion and Jesus' body broken for us. The colors blue & green represent life to me, reminding me of water and plants and Jesus speaks about the bread of life providing eternal life. I also used some plant motifs because of that. The reddish color is a nod to Jesus' blood shed for us which Jesus also speaks about in this passage. I wanted to include other scriptures that relate to this passage, such as the manna passage in Exodus, the Lord's prayer and the Last Supper.
Reflection Questions:
Keep in mind that the beginning of chapter 6 is the miracle of feeding the five thousand with bread.
- What is Jesus offering to the people?
- What does this passage reveal about Jesus? About the Father?
- Why does Jesus call himself the bread of life & the bread that has come down from heaven?
- Why is eating this bread that Jesus describes essential to eternal life? v.53-58
- What things do you seek to sustain you and give you life that aren't Jesus? How do they fall short?
Lent Reflections for March 26, 2025
John 5:19-46
As we move through John, Jesus is revealing more about himself with each story. This section from chapter 5 is Jesus’ first recorded conversation with the Jewish leaders, and there are a lot of complicated statements that could be unpacked while studying these verses. One of the main ideas that Jesus keeps coming back to is life through the Father.
The word that Jesus uses for life has a very robust definition in Greek. It includes the idea of a real, full, and genuine existence devoted to God and reflective of his created human nature. This understanding of life through the Father is what Jesus is trying to communicate to the Jewish leaders, a correction of their misguided attempts to understand God and the scriptures. The life that is available through God because of Jesus’ coming death and resurrection is abundantly more than what the Jewish leaders hoped for, and we are invited to expect the same.
For our Lent reflection for today, listen to this song and reflect on the questions below:
Red Rocks Worship - Good Plans
What aspects of God’s promised provision regularly give you hope? How do you see that hope reflected in Jesus’ teachings in actions in John?
What space are you giving in your life to be reminded of God’s invitation to real, full, and genuine life in him? How are you experiencing that life?
John 5:19-46
As we move through John, Jesus is revealing more about himself with each story. This section from chapter 5 is Jesus’ first recorded conversation with the Jewish leaders, and there are a lot of complicated statements that could be unpacked while studying these verses. One of the main ideas that Jesus keeps coming back to is life through the Father.
The word that Jesus uses for life has a very robust definition in Greek. It includes the idea of a real, full, and genuine existence devoted to God and reflective of his created human nature. This understanding of life through the Father is what Jesus is trying to communicate to the Jewish leaders, a correction of their misguided attempts to understand God and the scriptures. The life that is available through God because of Jesus’ coming death and resurrection is abundantly more than what the Jewish leaders hoped for, and we are invited to expect the same.
For our Lent reflection for today, listen to this song and reflect on the questions below:
Red Rocks Worship - Good Plans
What aspects of God’s promised provision regularly give you hope? How do you see that hope reflected in Jesus’ teachings in actions in John?
What space are you giving in your life to be reminded of God’s invitation to real, full, and genuine life in him? How are you experiencing that life?
