Knowing Jesus: John 12 (Daily Devo)
The other day I took Nathan to his tee ball practice. It was just us together in the car. We weren’t able to sign up for a team near our house so it’s a little bit of a drive to get to the practice field.
Usually on a drive like this I would just throw on the radio or maybe one of my favorite podcast (just kind of fill the space). But I had the thought that I should try to take advantage of the time I had with Nathan.
I didn’t know what to ask, and I definitely wanted to avoid the dead end ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions, so I just asked him if he wanted to practice his catechism question for the week. He said yes, I asked him and he nailed it.
It then prompted me to ask a follow up question that ended up leading to a really thoughtful conversation with my son over gospel related matters.
INTENTIONALITY NOT TOOLS
Recently I heard Matt Chandler say that we are all being discipled at all times, that there is no coasting. Therefore, what we as parents must do is be intentional with the time we have.
Yes we try to have regular family devotional times, but discipleship can be much more regular and practical than that and can expand into moments when you are driving to the next kid’s activity. The key is intentionality.
EASY?
It’s not easy. What’s easy is turning the radio on or letting him watch a movie in the backseat. Anything that truly matters is usually hard in some way. Push through that and see how God honors your intentionality.
If you are not using a catechism to train your young children to know basic truths about God I would highly recommend you start. It’s not a commandment. You won’t find it in the Bible as a sin if you don’t, but it’s a very practical, easy way to have spiritual knowledge permeate through your regular family dynamics.
Currently with our family devotions (see below) we are using Tim Keller’s “new city catechism.” It’s great because it is thorough and has a highlighted part that younger kids can use.
For years we used the “First Catechism” littel green book by GCP. That book is actually what we used as the basis for the music resources we have for families (which I would also highly recommend you check out).
But it doesn’t matter what you use. God honors the principle of intentionality not the tools of the trade. God honors simple actions that come from a parental heart that desires for their children to know and treasure what he or she has come to love and treasure. It’s one of our highest passions here at Gospel Family, and we hope it extends into the life of the church.
As you dig into your Family Devotional time this week from John 12 (or anything else you may be using) we pray that you and your family may grow in your knowledge of Jesus. Please let us know if we can help in any way.
Josh Walker (@joshdwalker) is the co-founder and owner of One Fifty Media House, a Houston, TX based Audio and Video Design Team. He is the writer and author of music products such as Family Devo, Grammar Time and Hymns For Selena. He is married to Angela and has two beautiful children: Nathan and Charity Joy.
Day 1: John 12:1-8
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q18: Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished?
- A: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come. (bolded version is for younger children)
READ:
[1] Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. [3] Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. [4] But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, [5] “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” [6] He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. [7] Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. [8] For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”- John 12:1-8 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Judas is really annoyed at this act of Mary’s. Why? What does he really care about?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Thank Jesus for his love for us. He is not annoyed with our expressions of love. Ask him to make you more like Mary and less like Judas.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 2: John 12:9-26
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q18: Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished?
- A: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come. (bolded version is for younger children)
READ:
[9] When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. [10] So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, [11] because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
[12] The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. [13] So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” [14] And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, [15] “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” [16] His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. [17] The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. [18]The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. [19] So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
[20] Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. [21] So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” [22] Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. [23] And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. [24] Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. [25] Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. - John 12:9-26 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What does it mean to ‘love’ or ‘hate’ your life? What is Jesus teaching us?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Jesus said serving him means following him. Ask God to help you follow Jesus more closely than you ever have.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
DAY 3: John 12:27-36
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q18: Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished?
- A: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come. (bolded version is for younger children)
READ:
[27] “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. [28] Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” [29] The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” [30] Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. [31] Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. [32] And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” [33] He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. [34] So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”[35] So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. [36] While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” - John 12:27-36 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Why did the Father allow Jesus to “come to this hour?”
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Ask God to glorify himself (like Jesus did) in your life. Ask him for the confidence and grace to follow him, whatever life may bring.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 4: John 12:37-43
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q18: Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished?
- A: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come. (bolded version is for younger children)
READ:
When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. [37] Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, [38] so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” [39] Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, [40] “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”
[41] Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. [42] Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; [43] for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. - John 12:37-43 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What does it mean for you to ‘love the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God?”
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Ask God to to give you power to put off glorifying anything in your life besides God. Ask him to make you into a person that cares about what he thinks most of all.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 5: John 12:44-50
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q18: Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished?
- A: No, every sin is against the sovereignty, holiness, and goodness of God, and against his righteous law, and God is righteously angry with our sins and will punish them in his just judgment both in this life, and in the life to come. (bolded version is for younger children)
READ:
[44] And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. [45] And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. [46] I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. [47] If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. [48] The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. [49] For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. [50] And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” - John 12:44-50 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: For what reason does Jesus say he came into the world? How has he changed your life from ‘remaining’ in the darkness?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Jesus, thank you for dying to remove darkness from the world. May your light shine continuously brighter in my heart every day.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
