Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Has someone offered to wash your feet recently? Would you let them do it if they offered?

I was in a group with people who had difficult marriages, difficult jobs, difficult children, and a difficult faith life. At one meeting, we took towels and a dishpan of water, and washed each other’s feet. How moving to see couples step back from their disagreements, kneel in front of each other, and wash their feet.

That’s what Jesus did in John 13. 

John’s gospel contrasts dirty feet and the dirty job of washing them with Jesus’ eternal power and glory. Jesus knew he had come from God and was returning to God, that God had put everything under his power. So how did he use his power? 

He used it to wash his disciples’ feet, teaching them to serve others. But Jesus wasn’t the only one mentoring disciples. The devil showed up, prompting Judas to betray Jesus. Dirty devil, dirty plans, dirty feet. Lots of cleanup needed. 

Why didn’t Jesus delegate the footwashing? President Trump doesn’t wash the feet of his MAGA faithful. But Jesus waded right in with towels and water. He didn’t evict the devil. He didn’t confront Judas the betrayer. No, he just washed 24 dirty feet. 

Only Peter understood how inappropriate this was. “Thanks, but no thanks,” he said. “I respect who you are, Jesus, but it is not your job to wash my feet” (v 8).  

Jesus replied, “You need me to wash your feet. Let’s get on with it” (v 8). 

And then Jesus talked about other dirt in the room, saying, “One of you will betray me” (v 21). Judas accepted the footwashing and broke bread with Jesus, then he welcomed the devil into his life. John’s gospel says “Judas went out, and it was night” (v 30). A night of spiritual darkness, a night to betray Jesus. Judas’ feet were clean but he was getting them dirty again.  

Meanwhile Jesus said to Peter, “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (v. 38). Peter, with clean feet and a full stomach, would soon dirty himself with three denials. 

Let’s pray. 

Jesus, that was a long night for everyone. For Judas the betrayer, for Peter the denier, and for you who walked into betrayal and denial.  

You came from the father’s glory, you were returning to the father’s glory, and you accepted the cross as part your glory saying, “Soon I will be glorified” (v 31). 

Holy and powerful Jesus, wash our feet. Wash away the dirt of sin. Teach us to be faithful through the long dark nights of our lives. And bring us at last to your glory.

Amen.

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Did Jesus act out a parody? I think his Palm Sunday procession into Jerusalem was a parody of a Roman victory parade. 

A Roman general, having crushed his enemies, would ride into Rome on a war chariot pulled by fierce war horses. Troops, captives, and spoils of war accompanied him. Military, political, and religious celebrations made for a spectacular and vivid holiday. 

Jesus rode into Jerusalem, not Rome. No war horse or chariot, just an unimpressive donkey. No troops and captives in to show off, just friends and disciples who hoped his popularity in the countryside would bring acclaim and fame in Jerusalem. 

Always up for a good parade, people spread palm branches and shouted, “Blessed is the king of Israel!” (v 12). 

But Jesus didn’t want to be king. He said, “Here’s the kind of glory I will earn. A kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies. I am wheat. You are wheat. We have crosses to carry and deaths to die before our hope grows to life” (v 23-26). 

Hmmm. That doesn’t sound like a victory speech.

Jesus’ fame kept growing. News of Lazarus’ resurrection spread through Jerusalem, until the religious leaders said, “Not good. This guy’s going viral! The whole world is watching him” (v 19). 

For the last time in John’s gospel, Jesus defends himself, saying “I am the light of the world. Walk in the light while it is here. Otherwise, darkness will overtake you” (v 35-36). 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, you knew darkness was coming, that soon Judas would betray you. That soon the sun would not shine when you were crucified. Soon, a funeral, your funeral, with your body sealed in a dark, borrowed tomb. 

And you invited us into darkness and death . . . unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. 

O Jesus, we want you to give us spiritual gifts to affirm our identity, to comfort us, to give us strength. We want you to be our light and love, but you warn us of darkness and death. 

O Jesus, light of the world, help us as we follow you into darkness, like buried seeds, like children of God carrying crosses. And afterward, bring us to your glorious light. 

Amen.

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Do you know who first called death “The Big Sleep”? Raymond Chandler wasn’t first, but he made it famous in a 1939 hardboiled mystery novel and film.

Guess what! Jesus used the metaphor centuries earlier. In John 10, two days after Lazarus was reported sick, Jesus said, “He is sleeping. I think I’ll go wake him up” (v 11). 

The disciples said, “If he’s sick, he needs sleep. It’ll help him get better” (v.12). 

Jesus said, “Lazarus is dead. Let’s visit and see what faith can do” (v 14-15). 

Doubting Thomas said, “Good idea. Let’s go die with Lazarus” (v 16).

Sure enough. When they arrived, Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. Jesus said to Martha, “Your brother will rise again” (v. 23). 

Martha replied, “Well, yes, in the distant future when all the dead are raised. But that’s not much help today” (v 24). 

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. I’m helpful today” (v 25). 

Was this a helpful response to Martha, while she was grieving her dead brother, remembering that she too was on the road to the Big Sleep? 

Lazarus’ other sister, Mary, said to Jesus, “Lord, if you’d been here, my brother wouldn’t have died” (v 32). 

Jesus said, “Show me the tomb” (v 33). 

There they rolled away the stone from the entrance, releasing the stench of death. Jesus said to the stinking body, “Lazarus! Come out!” 

He did.

Jesus said, “Take off his grave clothes and let him go” (v 44). 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, as you journeyed toward the cross, Lazarus foreshadowed your death and resurrection. We still hear your words to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.” But what does that mean for us as we journey toward our last and lasting sleep? 

For Lazarus it meant release from his tomb and decomposing grave clothes. For Mary and Martha, it meant a restored family in the present, not just a distant resurrection at the end of the world.

As we live in our dying bodies, we believe you give eternal life. When we attend funerals, we trust in a future resurrection. When we lower a coffin, we believe you overcame death. And we believe that whether we live or sleep, you give eternal life. 

Amen.

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Do you think of yourself as a god? In John 10, Jesus said, “Scripture calls people who heard the word of God are called gods” (v 34-36). Really? Calling us gods? Where did that come from?

Before we start calling people gods, let’s look more closely at Jesus’ words.

When he was in the temple, Jews said to him, “Don’t keep us in suspense. If you’re the Messiah, just say so” (v 24). 

Jesus said, “I’ve already said so, but you refuse to believe. That’s because you’re not God’s sheep. God’s sheep listen to me and I give them eternal life. I am one with God” (v 25-30). 

Jesus’ opponents choked at that answer. Not just Messiah . . . now Jesus is claiming that he, a mere man, is one with God. Impossible. Blasphemy. A capital sin deserving capital punishment, so they picked up stones to stone him (v 33).

Jesus responded by quoting Psalm 82. Listen to it:
  “You are gods;
      You are all sons of the Most High,
  But you will die like mere mortals;
      You will fall like every other ruler.”
          Ps 82:6

The psalmist says, “You are small-g gods, sons of the Most High, but you will die like mortals.” Whoever heard of gods dying like men? Some commentaries suggest that the psalmist used the word “god” to mean kings who represent God’s rule on earth, or maybe judges representing God’s judgment.

But Jesus didn’t explain it like that. He took the psalm at face value. He said, “If the psalmist called people gods when they received the word of God, why do you have a problem when I call myself the son of God?” (v 34-36). 

The Jews didn’t argue with Jesus’ use of scripture. Nor his use of the word “gods”. Nor his claim to be a son of God. Instead, they tried to arrest him, but he walked away. 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, you kept getting yourself into trouble by claiming a special relationship with God. You called yourself shepherd of God’s sheep, giver of eternal life, son of God, the great I AM, and now, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).  

And you used the word “god” much more loosely than we do. You used it for mortals who die.  

Yet, in many ways, Jesus, we humans are gods on earth. We use the rich resources in magical ways to make planes and ships and cell phones and bombs. We judge our enemies and make war on them. We idolize celebrities and worship them.  

Forgive us for ignoring you as we build our kingdom on earth. Forgive us for exploiting creation for our gain instead of your honor. 

May your strong words shake us up, Jesus. May we worship your father, the big-G God, and may imitate him like small-g gods, representing his rule of truth and justice and compassion.

Amen.

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Have you seen a picture of Jesus as a long-haired Caucasian cuddling a white lamb? Sure wouldn’t be a black lamb, would it? I remember that image from Sunday school. What a tame take on the Good Shepherd.  

John 10 has a more robust image of the Good Shepherd. He fends off sheep thieves, criticizes contractors who fleece them, and protects the sheep from wolves.

Jesus is building on a rich history of Old Testament shepherd stories. Remember Abel, son of Adam? He was the first shepherd. His brother Cain murdered him. 

Joseph’s shepherd brothers sold him into Egyptian slavery, smeared blood on his many-colored coat, and said, “Father, is this Joseph’s coat we found?” 

After leaving a life of royalty in Egypt, Moses was a desert shepherd until God called him to shepherd the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. Forty years later Moses prayed, “When I die, send someone to shepherd your people” (Num 27:15-17). 

David, the shepherd boy who killed the giant Goliath, was the good shepherd king of Israel, except when he was a bad shepherd king. 

Other prophets castigated Israel’s leaders as false shepherds. Listen to Isaiah:
    The leaders are dogs with mighty appetites,
    They are shepherds who lack understanding, who seek their own gain. 
          (Isa 56:11) 

The leaders are dogs, says Isaiah. Not sheep dogs. Sheep-eating dogs. 

Jesus takes up the shepherd theme in John 10 where he says, “I am the good shepherd” (v 10), “I am the gate for the sheep” (v 7), and “All who came before me are thieves and robbers” (v 8). All who came before him? What about Moses and David and Isaiah? 

Again Jesus says, “The shepherds who work on contract don’t care about the sheep. They see a wolf, they run. But I’m the good shepherd. I protect my sheep with my life!” (v 11).

Jesus declares, “My sheep recognize my voice and follow me; but a stranger’s voice scares them away” (v 4).

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, we hear cacophony of voices that drown out your words. The internet algorithms tells us what to think, sermons tell us how to live, the marketing gods tell us what to desire and why to buy. 

How can we hear your voice in our noisy world? What are you saying to us? 

Teach us to recognize your shepherd voice.
    To listen to your silence in our noisy world.
    To hear you speak into our busy lives.
    To know your presence in distracted thoughts.
    To trust your goodness in our scattered days. 

Help us recognize the thieves and contractors and wolves who promote themselves as religious leaders, but care nothing for the sheep. Help us respond to shepherds who know your voice and speak your words. 

Amen.

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

In John 9, when Jesus met a man born blind, he said, “A dark night is coming when no one can work. So we must do God’s work while the daylight lasts” (v 4-5).

What work do you think Jesus did? He used spittle to make mud, put it on the blind man’s eyes, and told him to wash. He regained his sight, a miracle in mud. 

Amazed beyond words, the man’s friends took him to the Pharisees for a religious opinion. 

The Pharisees’ response? Confused! Only God can restore sight. And this fellow was healed on a Sabbath, a direct violation of God’s law, accordig to the Pharisees. Where was God in this strange story?

Being good Bible scholars, the Pharisees launched an investigation by interviewing the man. Conclusion: he probably hadn’t been blind after all (v 18). So he wasn’t healed on the Sabbath! Problem solved! 

Then they interviewed the man’s parents.  “Yes, he’s our son, and for sure he was born blind. But if you want to know why he can see now, don’t ask us, ask him. He’s a grownup.” (v 21-22). 

Still not satisfied, the Pharisees brought the man back for a second interview. Not much of an interview. All they did was present their conclusion: “Give God glory, because we know the man who healed you is a sinner” (v 24).

“That’s what you know,”  said the man. “Here’s what I know. Only God can make the blind see, and God sure doesn’t listen to sinners. Get it? My healer is from God” (v 30-33).

The Pharisees didn’t get it and didn’t want it. They angrily retorted, “You were born a sinner and nobody has cured you of that problem. Don’t presume to teach us about God!” They kicked him out of the synagogue. 

Jesus found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

“Who is he, Lord? I want to believe” (v 36). 

Jesus said, “It’s me” (v 37).

The man said, “I believe” and worshiped Jesus (v 38).

But Jesus wasn’t finished with the Pharisees yet. He said, “I judge the world. I make the blind see. I tell people who see, that they are blind” (v 39).

The Pharisees said, “Surely you don’t think we’re blind, do you?” (v 40). 

Jesus said, “You claim to see, but you can’t see what’s right in front of you. Yes you’re blind” (v 41). 

Two comments: 

1. Remember the sorting hats in Harry Potter? Hats that assigned new students to one of four houses? In John’s gospel, as Jesus brings light to blind eyes and dark souls, people are sorted into those who believe and worship, and those who reject the light and sink into the coming darkness. 

2. And second, what is that dark night Jesus predicted? Is it a dark night of unbelief for those who reject him? Is it the dark night of his crucifixion? Is it the darkness of A.D. 70 when Rome leveled Jerusalem? Or is it the dark night at the world’s end?

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, we think our eyes are open and we think we see clearly. We study scripture to find you, we act righteously to please you. 

Still the Pharisees’ question haunts us. “Surely you don’t think we are blind?” 

Send your spirit to convict us. Help us see the light. With the man born blind we say, “Lord, I believe” and with him we worship you. 

Save us from the dark night.

Amen.

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

What are the chances Jesus got frustrated now and then? Sure sounds like it in John chapter 8.

A conversation with some Pharisees started positively when Jesus told them,“I am the light of the world.” (v 12)

But they shot back, “You can’t say that about yourself. You need a witness.” (v 13)

Jesus said, “I have two witnesses. Me and my father. That’s adequate.” (v 18)

“Really?” they said. “Who’s your father?” (v 19)

“No one you know,” replied Jesus. (v 19) 

Ouch. Here we go again. Jesus and his challengers talking past each other. 

Jesus said, “If you don’t believe me, you’ll die in your sins. If you do believe, the truth will set you free.” (vv 21, 32)

The listeners replied, “We’re not slaves. We don’t need to be freed.” (v 33) 

“Yes you do,” Jesus said. “You’re slaves to sin. That makes you children of the devil” (v. 38). 

“No way,” they protested. “The devil our father. Not him! Abraham is!” (v 39) 

“Umm, no,” said Jesus. “Some of you want to kill me. That proves who your father is.” (v 40-41) 

“Never,” the Jews said. “Our father is God. It’s you who has problems with the devil. You’re demon possessed!” (v 48)  

Jesus said, “Not so. God is my father. If you keep my words, you will honor him and you’ll live forever.” (49) 

“Get real,” they said. “Abraham and the prophets died. But you make people live forever? Are you greater than Abraham?” (v. 57)

Jesus said, “Abraham looked forward to my coming.” (v 56) 

They said, “You’re not even 50 and you’ve seen Abraham?” (v 57) 

Jesus said, “Before Abraham was born, I AM.” (v. 58) 

I AM. That’s what God called himself when he talked to Moses from the burning bush. And now Jesus uses God’s name. The crowd said, “Blasphemy!” and wanted to stone him. But Jesus walked away. 

Let’s pray. 

Two thousand years have passed. And still your name, I AM, speaks into our minds and hearts. 

Help us believe the truth that sets us free. Help us believe you give eternal life. Help us live as members of Abraham’s, and your family, which is the family of God. 

Amen. 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube.

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

In John 8, the Pharisees and teachers of the law caught a woman in the act of adultery. They brought her to Jesus, publicly accusing her. They had no compassion for her shame, no forgiveness for her sin, no accusation against her companion. 

They said to Jesus, “The penalty for adultery is stoning. Do you obey the law?” 

Good question. Did Jesus subscribe to the hard-on-crime punishments of the Old Testament? Or was he a soft-on-crime liberal, squeamish about the death penalty? 

Jesus ignored the questioners. He didn’t answer them. Instead, he wrote in the dust with his finger. But when they persisted, he said, “If any of you is without sin, feel free to start the stoning” (v 7). 

That hit a note with the Pharisees. Now who was soft on crime? The woman wasn’t the only lawbreaker in that crowd. Jesus wasn’t the only observer who was reluctant to start throwing stones.

The accusers drifted away, one by one, until Jesus was alone with the woman. He asked, “Where are they? Doesn’t anyone condemn you?” (v 10). 

“No one, Lord,” she replied.

“Then neither do I. Go, and stop sinning” (v 12). 

Some comments. 

1. This story is a latecomer to John’s gospel. It’s not in the earliest manuscripts. Some scholars speculate that the early church didn’t want a Jesus who was soft on sexual sin. Being soft on crime can lead to all sorts of bad outcomes.

2. The only one who emerges from this story looking good is Jesus.

3. Jesus didn’t take the actual black-and-white Old Testament law about stoning literally. He flexed his application of the law, and he encouraged others to do likewise. Makes me wonder what other parts of the Old Testament Jesus didn’t take literally. 

4. My fourth comment. The Pharisees may have been fans of capital punishment as a solution for sin and lawlessness, but Jesus wasn’t. Perhaps John’s gospel will propose a different solution for sin. Stay tuned.

Let’s pray.

O Jesus, you helped the woman escape the death penalty, but who will help you escape the cross? 

The Pharisees weren’t prepared to stone the woman. But they will soon clamor for your crucifixion.

You freed the woman from the Pharisees’ hate and condemnation. But who will set you free when they come for you? 

O Jesus, we are like the woman . . . guilty of sexual sins, and other sins, in our minds and in public places. Rescue us from shame. Deliver us from guilt. Save us from the accusations of conscience and the condemnation of the evil one. Do not deliver us to punishments prescribed by your law. 

Teach us to stop sinning. 

Amen 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube

Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.

Does Jesus confuse you sometimes? In John 7, he confused many people. 

Let’s start in Galilee, where his brothers said, “Hey, you’re getting famous. Why don’t you go to the feast in Jerusalem and promote yourself?” (v 3).  

Jesus said, “No thanks. It’s not the right time for me to go. But anytime is good for you” (v 6). A confusing answer–what kind of “right time” was Jesus talking about? 

In Jerusalem, some said of Jesus, “He’s a good man”. Others were not so kind: “Don’t believe it. He’s a con artist” (v 12-13). More confusion.

After a while Jesus changed his mind, went to Jerusalem, and taught at the temple. People said, “This man didn’t go to school. Where did he get his learning?” (v 15). 

Jesus said, “My teaching comes from God. But you people ignore Moses’ law and God’s law. That’s why you want to kill me” (v 16-19).

The people said, “You’re insane. No one wants to kill you. Are you demon possessed?” (v 21-22). 

But someone clued into who Jesus was. “Hey! This is that guy the Pharisees want to kill. But they’re not doing it. Maybe they’ve decided he’s the Messiah” (v 25-26). Others said, “Impossible! He’s just a peasant from Galilee. He can’t be the Messiah” (v 27). 

Jesus responded, “Why are you fixated on my history in Galilee? You know I come from God” (v 28-29). And he added, “I’ll soon go where you can’t find me” (v 33-34). 

More confusion. Where did Jesus come from? And where did he plan to go? (v 35-37). 

Later Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me . . . rivers of living water will flow from within them” (v 37-38). 

More confusion. Some said, “He speaks like a prophet, or even the Messiah.” Others said, “No way. The Messiah comes from Bethlehem. This guy’s from Galilee” (v 40-44).

Temple guards sent to arrest Jesus reported back to the priests and Pharisees. Without bringing Jesus. “Why aren’t you doing your job?” the leaders demanded (v 45).

“Nobody ever spoke like this man,” they said (v 46). 

“What?” They replied, “Has this dude deceived you too? Only the ignorant crowds believe him” (v 47). 

Nicodemus, another leader, tried to dilute their contempt. “Chill out! Does our law permit us to condemn a man before we hear his defense?” (v 51). 

They replied, “Don’t talk like a backwater Galilean, Nicodemus. There’s no way a prophet can come from Galilee” (v 52). 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, amid the noise and confusion of Jerusalem, I hear your invitation, “If anyone is thirsty, come to me and drink” (v 37). 

I live in the confusion of late modernity. Evolution and astrophysics point to an older and larger universe than we can imagine. But they do not lead us to you. 

Science has sequenced our DNA and given warmongers bigger and better bombs, but we still do not know the way to peace. 

Psychology has documented the mental health impacts of dysfunction and trauma, but struggles to heal the mind. 

The confusion of this world leaves me thirsty for you, Jesus. The conflicts in my soul make me long for healing. The turmoil of my mind makes me wish for clarity. 

O Jesus, be my way, my truth, my life. Give your living water to my thirsty soul. 

Amen 

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.  

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube