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

When I walk my dog, we see grapevines on back fences, producing clusters of small, tasty, dark blue grapes. I decided to grow some, so I picked a cluster, dried the seeds, and planted them in a flowerpot. Nothing grew. 

The next year I put three cuttings in a jar of water. They grew roots, I forgot about them, and they dried out. I planted them anyway. 

Can you believe it? After a long cold winter, one cutting grew and produced a few leaves. It survived the next winter and this year produced an extravagance of leaves. But no grapes. Maybe next year?

Psalm 80 calls Israel a vine that God transplanted from Egyptian slavery to the Promised Land. Jesus borrows the vine picture in John 15, but his vineyard isn’t Israel. It’s himself. He said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. My father, the gardener, cuts off dead branches, and prunes the rest.” 

This new vine doesn’t grow in soil, it grows in God. Jesus said, “I am in the father and the father is in me. You too are in me. Stay there, live there” (14:11, 15:1). 

Some comments about the grapevine. 

1. Jesus calls his followers branches, and tells them to remain in the vine. Sounds like a stay-at-home directive, not like the Great Commission where Jesus sends his disciples around the world. 

What does it mean to remain in Jesus? He said, “My father and I will make our home in you” (14:23). I think we remain by welcoming him home, by listening to his quiet, inner voice, by attending to his presence. Remaining is a mystical relationship with Jesus.

2. Jesus encourages the branches to bear fruit. Ha! Something less mystical for us practical types. I think Jesus wants me to grow several varieties, replacing my driven, frustrated, angry inner life with fruit of the Spirit like peace and joy.

My temptation to isolate gives way to building relationships with family and church and community. 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, my life spins madly off in all directions. Help me remain in you and be at peace.

I avoid people. Help me to welcome them into my life, as you welcome me into yours.

I live with inner idols, imagining myself at the centre of love, and popularity, and success. Destroy my idols, until only you are present in my thoughts and hopes. 

Teach me to bear fruit, doing my duty of love to family and church and community. 

As branches draw life from the vine, help me to draw life from you. 

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 feel lost? Not sure what way to go?

Jesus said, “I am the way. And the truth and the life.”  

What does that mean? How can a person be the way and the truth and the life?

I woke at 4:30 the other morning with a dream. Stumbling out of bed, I  started the coffee maker and wrote down my dream. 

It went like this: The taxicab I was riding in made a dangerous left turn on a red light. Next thing I knew, I was in my own car, backing down a hill on a muddy road. The car slid out of control, spun round 180 degrees, and zoomed forward, narrowly missing obstacles on the road. Suddenly, I’m on a bicycle turning left onto a busy gravel road. And at the next intersection, broken stoplights. I wait in the growing twilight, worrying that my bike doesn’t have lights for night riding, and that the stoplights may never change. 

What a great dream. But what does it mean? I used to dismiss my dreams as empty noise. But God often spoke to Bible characters in dreams, so I now keep a journal of dreams. 

This dream. Taxi, car, bicycle. Turn left on red. Back down a muddy hill. Wait for stoplights that don’t work. The whole dream is me trying to find my way — and not finding it.

That’s often my dream journey: random, disconnected, and unclear. Like my life. I’m not good at finding my way on my own.

In John 14, Thomas said, “We don’t know the way.” And Jesus answered, “I am the way” (v. 6). Not directions. A person.

Maybe that’s what I need. Not Google Maps telling me, “Turn right. Turn left. Take exit 346.” I need a travelling companion who shows me the way. 

I need Jesus. The way.

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, you are the way and the truth and the life. 

I’ve read self-help books, but they’re not much help. I read scripture, but I get lost in ancient poetry and history and lists of rules. 

I’m surrounded by real news and fake news. I’m confounded by conspiracy theories and real conspiracies. O Jesus, how can I find the truth? 

Be my way. Take me where weI need to go. Help me think clearly and truly. Help me live rightly and wisely. Be my guide on the way, my mentor in truth, my companion in life. Be my way, my truth, and my 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 have a place you call home? Maybe you have a second home . . . a lakeside cottage or a cabin in the mountains. In John 14, Jesus talks about two homes.

He said, “My Father’s house has lots of rooms. I’m going there to make a place for you. And you know how to get there” (v 2-3). 

“Not so fast,” said Thomas. “We don’t know where your father’s house is and we don’t know how to get there” (v 5).  

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (v 6). That’s odd. How can a person be the way to a place? 

Then Jesus introduced a second home by saying, “Those who love me obey my teaching. My father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (v. 23).

Jesus isn’t coming alone. He’s bringing his father. And someone else is coming with them. Jesus said, “The father will send the advocate, the Holy Spirit, to teach you and remind you of everything I’ve told you” (v 26).

Advocate? That’s the word for a lawyer, for legal counsel to defend me in court, or press my case against my enemies. Why does my spiritual life need a lawyer? 

Perhaps because of another guest at the party. “The prince of this world is coming,” warned Jesus (v. 30). That prince is Satan. The devil is on his way. He’s a lawyer for the prosecution, exhibiting our sins in court, accusing us of being fake Christians. 

The Accuser (Satan) and the Advocate (the Holy Spirit). Talk about opposing forces in my life. Opposing forces in the world. Opposing forces in cosmic history.

Meanwhile, we know the story ends happily, because Jesus is waiting for us in his father’s house, where he’s preparing our forever home. 

Until then, Jesus and his father and the Holy Spirit Advocate live in us, protecting us from Satan the Accuser, showing us the way home.

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, you have gone to prepare a home for us. And you came to make your home in us. 

Sometimes I feel you at home in me. Sometimes I feel the father’s love. Sometimes I hear the Spirit’s gentle promptings.

But often the loudest voice in my life is the Accuser who says, “You’re not good enough. You don’t love God with all your heart. You’re a phoney, not a serious Jesus follower.” 

O Jesus, help me live more fully in the knowledge and power of your life in me. Help me hear more clearly the voice of your spirit offering help and forgiveness and hope. Help me live more wisely as a child of the father. 

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”.

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.