We first meet Nicodemus in chapter 3 of John’s Gospel. He seeks Jesus under the cover of night in order to learn from him, which—on the surface—seems an admirable deed. A...

At the conclusion of the Farewell Discourse (John 14–17), Jesus goes with his disciples to a garden in the Kidron Valley. There, on the east side of Jerusalem, Judas betrays him...

The one command Jesus issues to his disciples alone stands at the conclusion of today’s reading. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,” he tells them, “if you...

Jesus has just finished washing the disciples’ feet when he jolts them with the news: “One of you will betray me.” The disciples look at one another. Who could Jesus be...

The Jesus in this Gospel troubles me. In the other three Gospels, Jesus wavers before the cross—but not in John. Pondering the cross he asks, “What should I say, ‘Father save...

Jesus arrives in Bethany six days before the Passover. We have just learned that the authorities plan to put him to death. (See John 11:53-57.) And we can scarcely envision any...

We stand on the threshold of the complexities of Holy Week.Our readings this week have invited us to think about the intimate relationship between despair and hopefulness, sadness and joy. The...

Jesus experienced all our human emotions. As he moves toward Jerusalem for the last time, he teaches through parables; he heals; he calls to Zacchaeus. Then he sends two disciples to...

The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.” Wisdom about God comes from the mouth of one who has known distress and despair. The word salvation...

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” These daunting words begin the song found in Philippians 2, a song that does not glorify Jesus’ divinity or...