Week 8 — Passion, Death, and Resurrection
Reading: John 18–21
Opening Prayer (Before Each Session)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Heavenly Father,
You spoke Your eternal Word into the silence of the world,
and in the fullness of time,
that Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon us now,
that as we open the Gospel according to Saint John,
our minds may be enlightened,
our hearts set on fire,
and our souls drawn more deeply into Your divine life.
Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the World,
remove from us all blindness and hardness of heart.
Teach us to see as You see,
to hear Your voice,
and to follow where You lead.
Like the first disciples,
give us the courage to “come and see,”
and the humility to remain with You.
May this time in Your Word not pass in vain,
but bear fruit in faith, hope, and love.
We ask this through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Guided Questions
How does Jesus freely embrace His Passion?
What stands out in His trial before Pilate?
What is significant about the Crucifixion in John’s Gospel?
How do the Resurrection appearances transform the disciples?
What is Jesus asking of Peter—and of you—at the end?
Closing Prayer (After Each Session)
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the Bread of Life,
the Light of the World,
and the Good Shepherd who calls us by name.
We thank You for the gift of Your Word,
for the truths revealed to us this day,
and for the grace to sit at Your feet and listen.
What we have heard with our ears,
plant now in our hearts.
What we have come to understand,
strengthen by Your grace.
What we struggle to believe,
increase within us.
As we go forth,
help us to walk in the light,
to remain in Your love,
and to bear witness to the truth in our lives.
Keep us faithful, Lord,
until the day we see You face to face.
For You live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.
Week 1 — The Prologue (John 1:1–18)
Observation
What titles are given to Jesus in this passage (Word, Light, Life, etc.)?
What contrasts does John emphasize (light/darkness, acceptance/rejection)?
Interpretation
What does it mean that Jesus is the “Word” (Logos)?
Why does John begin “in the beginning”? What is he connecting to?
Application
Where do you see “darkness” and “light” in your life right now?
What would it mean for you to “receive Him” more fully this week?