In the Book of John, Jesus has more to say about the Holy Spirit than in any other Gospel. In His final time of teaching prior to His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus leaves His disciples with the promise of a coming paraclete: an “advocate” or “counselor.” Either rendering carries the meaning of “one who comes alongside.” In spite of many controversies pertaining to the Spirit, we dare not ignore the tremendous gift we’ve been given. Dare to allow the Spirit of God to live within you (14:17).

The night before His death, Jesus (the Logos) speaks a powerful “word” through His actions. He takes the towel of service and washes His disciples feet. And He does this knowing “that the Father had put all things under his power,” (13:3). The Lord is a Servant! And He bids us to go and do likewise. Dare to follow the example of Jesus by serving someone this week.

In the raising of Lazarus, Jesus makes a declarative statement: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes (lives in trusting obedience) in me will live, even though they die,” (11:25- 26). Jesus is in the transformation business; He offers new life. Do we really believe this radical claim? If so, we will “faith in Him” enough to dare to take off the graves clothes of death this week.

The healing of the blind man is central to the Gospel of John. Rather than affirming the man’s blindness as punishment for sin, Jesus declares that his condition is an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed. The contrast is between the restored sight of the blind man and the “blindness” of the Pharisees. But note also the man’s parents as they fail to embody “daring faith.” Dare to see what God is doing all around you.

Following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Jesus teaches that He is the bread of life and whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood will have life. But v66 notes that many turned away from Him because of this hard teaching. But Jesus is teaching a startling truth: He will offer himself as the food that gives eternal life. Dare to consume only Jesus this week.

The Samaritan woman at the well presents a stark contrast with Nicodemus from the previous chapter. Despite significant racial, cultural, religious and gender differences, Jesus engages her with the same transformative truth: life comes through Me! In response to her question about worship (v19-21), Jesus tells her that the center of worship is no longer a place; it’s a person. This truth transforms her life...and ours as well. Dare to reach out.

Nicodemus struggles to understand what it means to be “born again.” Another rendering is “born from above.” Nicodemus moves from certitude to mystery to discipleship (Fleer). He also moves from the darkness of self-reliance to the light of God- reliance. We see this exemplified in John the Baptist, who declares, “He must become greater, I must become less.” Dare to live in humility this week.

One word makes all others irrelevant. Jesus is the Word, the divine Son who is also God. John’s prologue echoes Genesis. In John 2, Mary says to others, “Do what he says.” This is what it means to receive Jesus as the Word, the Logos. Dare to speak a word about Jesus this week.

Beginning with the end in mind. John states the purpose of his writing: that you might believe. In the NT, faith is not abstract, but active. Best translated as “trusting obedience.” Additionally, faith is not something you “have”; it’s something you do. What are you doing by faith? Dare: read the Gospel of John this week.

God values that which is good. And He deems all three – justice, mercy, and humility – to be good, to be of great value. As God’s Kingdom people, may we subscribe to a Kingdom economy, valuing the things that God values.