Week 21: Exploring John 13-17
In week 21, we continue our 1-year New Testament reading plan and dive into John chapters 13 through 17, a section rich with Jesus’ final teachings and prayers before His crucifixion. These chapters capture the essence of Jesus’ farewell to His disciples, showcasing His servant leadership, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and His deep desire for unity among believers. From the profound act of washing His disciples’ feet and the giving of a new commandment to the comforting promises of the Holy Spirit and His prayer for future believers, this week provides profound insights into Jesus’ heart and mission. These readings invite us to explore how Jesus’ teachings and prayers can transform our lives and our relationships with others.
John 13
During the Last Supper in John 13, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, modeling servant leadership, and predicts His betrayal by Judas. He gives a new commandment to love one another as He has loved them, and Peter’s denial is foretold.
John 14
In John 14, Jesus comforts His disciples, promising them the Holy Spirit as their helper and emphasizing that He is the way, the truth, and the life. He reassures them of His return and the eternal home He is preparing for them.
John 15
In John 15, Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine and branches to teach about abiding in Him and bearing fruit through a relationship with Him. He speaks of the coming persecution and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding and testifying to the truth.
John 16
In John 16, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure, explaining the coming of the Holy Spirit who will guide them and convict the world of sin. He speaks of the sorrow they will experience but promises joy and peace through their relationship with Him.
John 17
In John 17, Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and all future believers, asking for unity among them and for them to experience the same love and glory He shares with the Father. His prayer emphasizes His mission and the relationship between Him and the Father.
Week 21: New Testament Reading Assignment
Each week, we will read 5 chapters of the New Testament. Some people may prefer to read during the weekdays, while others might enjoy doing most of their reading on the weekends. Choose the method that works best for you!
Printable Resource:
Week 21: Reflection Questions for John 13-17
Consider the following reflection questions:
John 13: The Last Supper and Jesus’ New Commandment
- What is the significance of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, and how can you practice humility and service in your own relationships?
- What is the new commandment Jesus gives, and how can you apply this command to love one another in your interactions with others?
- How does Jesus’ foretelling of His betrayal reveal His understanding of His mission, and how can you remain faithful and committed in the face of betrayal or challenges?
- What does Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial reveal about human weakness, and how can you prepare yourself to stand firm in your faith despite your own shortcomings?
John 14: Comfort and Promise
- What does Jesus mean when He says He is “the way, and the truth, and the life,” and how can you navigate your life with this understanding of Jesus?
- What promise does Jesus make about the Holy Spirit, and how can you seek and rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your daily decisions?
- How does Jesus describe His relationship with the Father, and how can this understanding deepen your relationship with both the Father and the Son?
- What does Jesus mean by offering peace to His followers, and how can you experience and share this peace in your own life?
John 15: The True Vine and the Call to Love
- What does Jesus mean when He refers to Himself as the “true vine,” and how can you remain connected to Him to bear fruit in your life?
- What is the significance of Jesus’ command to love one another, and how can you demonstrate this love in your daily interactions?
- How does Jesus describe the world’s reaction to His followers, and how can you respond to opposition or hatred in a way that reflects His love and grace?
- What role does the Holy Spirit play in the life of a believer, and how can you be more aware of and responsive to the Spirit’s work in your life?
John 16: The Coming of the Holy Spirit and the Joy of Resurrection
- What does Jesus say about the work of the Holy Spirit, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you in your daily life?
- How does Jesus explain the transformation of sorrow into joy, and how can you find hope and joy in difficult circumstances?
- What does Jesus mean when He says He has overcome the world, and how can you draw strength and courage from His victory in your own challenges?
- How can you apply Jesus’ teachings on the need for prayer and asking in His name to your own prayer life and relationship with God?
John 17: The High Priestly Prayer
- What is the significance of Jesus’ high priestly prayer, and how can you incorporate His prayers for unity and sanctification into your own life?
- How does Jesus’ prayer for Himself reveal His purpose and mission, and how can you align your own goals and prayers with His example?
- What does Jesus pray for His disciples, and how can you support and pray for others in a similar way?
- How does Jesus’ prayer for all believers reflect His vision for the Church, and how can you contribute to the unity and mission of the Church?
Reflective Prayer
Choose a few verses or topics from these chapters and pray over them. Consider using the ACTS method — Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, Supplication:
- Adoration: Praise God. What specific characteristics of God do these readings bring to mind?
- Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. What specific sins do these readings bring to mind?
- Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. What in these readings inspires gratitude?
- Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. What in these readings inspires a prayer?
If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.
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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
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