WEEK 30.1: 20 Some Greeks were among those who had come up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and made a request: “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew, and Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 29.7 Discussion questions below.

Episode Summary

In this Week 29 Explore episode, Nick and Jamie enter Jesus' final week with John 12. They examine the banquet at Bethany where Martha serves and Mary performs her extravagant anointing of Jesus, leading to a rich discussion about activist versus contemplative worship styles and the dangers of prescriptive worship leadership. The episode then covers the Triumphal Entry, where Jesus deliberately chooses a donkey over a warhorse to correct expectations about his kingship, challenging both ancient and modern tendencies to merge faith with political power.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 

00:59 Reflecting on Jesus' Last Week 

02:23 Recap of the Past Week's Events 

04:23 The Banquet at Bethany 

09:11 Martha's Act of Service 

15:37 Mary's Extravagant Worship 

23:46 Judas' Complaint and Jesus' Response 

26:16 The Complexity of Judas' Character 

26:40 Lazarus' Predicament and the Cost of Following Jesus 

27:09 Mary's Act of Worship and Judas' Criticism 

29:10 The True Value of Worship 

34:01 The Danger of Prescriptive Worship 

38:32 Jesus' Words About the Poor 

40:11 The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem 

48:17 Reflecting on God's Greater Plan 

52:36 Closing Thoughts and Prayer

Key Points

• Activist vs. Contemplative Worship: Martha's practical service and Mary's contemplative anointing represent two equally beautiful expressions of devotion that Jesus honours without comparison
• Mary's Scandalous Extravagance: $40,000 worth of nard poured on Jesus's feet, wiped with her hair - an act that violated multiple social norms but demonstrated pure worship without regard for others' opinions
• Judas's Criticism Reveals Character: His complaint about "waste" exposes both his thievery and his inability to understand the value of worship versus the price of perfume
• Donkey vs. Warhorse Symbolism: Jesus deliberately rides a donkey into Jerusalem to correct expectations - he comes as a peaceful king, not a military conqueror like people hoped
• Dangers of Prescriptive Worship: Modern worship leaders can manipulate through commands and guilt rather than inviting authentic expression, contrasting with Jesus's protection of Mary's agency

Discussion Questions

Read through John 12:1-19. Share what the passage reveals to you about God, about humanity, and about following Jesus. Then discuss some or all of the following questions:

1. Worship Styles: Do you lean more toward Martha's activist service or Mary's contemplative devotion? How has your church environment shaped your comfort level with different expressions of worship?
   
2. Extravagant Devotion: Mary used a year's wages worth of perfume in one act of worship. What does extravagant devotion to Jesus look like in your life, and what holds you back from more abandoned worship?
   
3. Judas's Criticism: When have you found yourself criticizing others' expressions of faith or devotion? What might your criticism reveal about your own values or character?
   
4. Prescriptive Worship: Have you experienced worship environments that felt manipulative or guilt-inducing? How can we create space for authentic worship while still providing leadership and direction?
   
5. Political Expectations: The crowds expected a military messiah but got a peaceful king on a donkey. How do modern expectations about political power and faith potentially limit our understanding of Jesus's kingdom?

End your time by taking a minute to listen to the Holy Spirit and prayerfully choose an “I will…” intention. One small, practical step you’ll take this week to put your learning into practice.

Connect With Us

• Email: [email protected]
• Social Media: @GoTheWildWay on Instagram and Facebook
• Website: thewildway.ca

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

WEEK 29.6: The Prayer of Examen helps us reflect on the week that was in our Slow Journey Through John.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 29.5: 16 His disciples didn’t understand these things at first. After he was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

17 The crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were testifying about him. 18 That’s why the crowd came to meet him, because they had heard about this miraculous sign that he had done. 19 Therefore, the Pharisees said to each other, “See! You’ve accomplished nothing! Look! The whole world is following him!”

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 29.4: 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him. They shouted,

“Hosanna!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Blessings on the king of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15 Don’t be afraid, Daughter Zion.
        Look! Your king is coming,
            sitting on a donkey’s colt.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 29.3: 4 Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), complained, 5 “This perfume was worth a year’s wages![b] Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” (6 He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would take what was in it.)

7 Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial, and this is how she has used it. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me.”

9 Many Jews learned that he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 The chief priests decided that they would kill Lazarus too. 11 It was because of Lazarus that many of the Jews had deserted them and come to believe in Jesus.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 29.2: 1 Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Lazarus and his sisters hosted a dinner for him. Martha served and Lazarus was among those who joined him at the table. 3 Then Mary took an extraordinary amount, almost three-quarters of a pound, of very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, then wiped his feet dry with her hair. The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 29.1: an imagination prayer based on John 12:1-7.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne

WEEK 28.7: Discussion questions below.

Episode Summary

In this Week 28 explore episode, Nick and Jamie examine the powerful conclusion of John 11, focusing on Jesus's emotional response to grief, the miracle of raising Lazarus, and the deadly plot that follows. They explore the profound humanity of Christ as he weeps alongside mourners, discuss the "jacket analogy" for growing in faith when God's calling feels too big, and unpack what it means to live in the present reality of resurrection. The episode addresses how we approach God differently in grief, the ongoing process of being "unbound" from things that hinder us, and the dangerous intersection of politics and religion.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome

00:57 Recap of John 11

01:43 Jesus Weeps: The Humanity of Christ 

03:25 Mary and Martha: Different Approaches to Grief 

09:06 Jesus at the Tomb: The Miracle of Lazarus 

27:25 Martha's Faith and Human Doubt 

29:03 The Jacket Analogy: Growing in Faith 

30:18 The Wild Adventure with God 

31:38 Seeing God's Glory

32:46 Jesus' Public Prayer and Lazarus' Resurrection 

36:28 Unbinding Lazarus: The Role of Community 

42:00 The Plot to Kill Jesus 

50:33 Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Key Points

• Jesus Weeps - Full Humanity: Jesus bursts into tears showing complete emotional engagement with human grief, demonstrating healthy masculinity that includes deep compassion alongside strength

• Different Grief Responses: Mary and Martha approach Jesus differently in their pain - both are welcomed and met according to their needs, showing there's no "right" way to grieve
• The Jacket Analogy: God gives us challenges that feel "too big" like oversized jackets, allowing us to grow into them through faith, then provides new challenges for continued growth
• Present Resurrection Reality: Jesus declares "I am the resurrection and the life" as present truth, not just future hope - we're already dead and raised with Christ right now
• Unbinding Process: After resurrection comes liberation from "grave clothes" - the ongoing work of being freed from beliefs, habits, and experiences that bind us and smell of death

Discussion Questions

Read through John 11:27-57. Share what the passage reveals to you about God, about humanity, and about following Jesus. Then discuss some or all of the following questions:

1. Jesus's Tears: How does seeing Jesus weep change your understanding of God's character? What permission does this give you regarding your own emotional responses to loss and pain?
   
2. Grief Approaches: Mary and Martha responded to Jesus very differently in their grief - one more emotional, one more logical. How do you typically approach God during difficult times, and how might Jesus meet you according to your specific needs?
   
3. The Jacket Analogy: Can you think of a time when God gave you a "jacket too big" - a calling or challenge that felt beyond your abilities? How did you grow into it, and what new challenge might God be presenting now?
   
4. Present vs. Future Resurrection: The hosts emphasize that resurrection is a present reality, not just future hope. How do you experience being "already dead and raised with Christ" in your current daily life?
   
5. Unbinding Others: David Ford describes our mission as "unbind him and let him go" - helping others find freedom from what binds them. What "grave clothes" have others helped you remove, and how are you helping unbind others in your community?

End your time by taking a minute to listen to the Holy Spirit and prayerfully choose an “I will…” intention. One small, practical step you’ll take this week to put your learning into practice.

Connect With Us

• Email: [email protected]
• Social Media: @GoTheWildWay on Instagram and Facebook
• Website: thewildway.ca

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

WEEK 28.6: The Prayer of Examen helps us reflect on the week that was in our Slow Journey Through John.

DONATE TO THE WILD WAY⁠.  Your support helps us create spiritual formation and discipleship resources that help people be formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. 

SJTJ s a year-long contemplative journey through the Gospel of John. We invite you into Scripture, reflection, and intentional practices to help you pause, listen, and respond to God’s love in transformative ways. 

Weekdays are 10-12-minute devotionals to help you abide in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, learn by studying the Scriptures, and go with intention to love the world. 

Weekends we release a short prayer of examen reflecting on the previous week and/or a longer teaching podcast that more deeply explores the themes and implications of John. 

Occasionally we have an excursus episode, which is basically an extra episode addressing listener questions or certain topics that require extended exploration.

Bibliography

Visit our website

Follow us on social media for weekly practices: @gothewildway

Contact us: podcast (at) thewildway.ca

Most Scripture from the Common English Bible (2012).

Music credits:

Weekday music by Maksym Dudchyk on Pixabay. Used with permission.

Examen music: Music by Laniakea from Uppbeat. License code: HRU7UD9ID388DFJT

Teaching podcast: Music produced by Nick Osborne