Illustrations from John
1085 illustrations referencing John
Walter Brueggemann on God's World-Embracing Love - Progressive (John 3:16)
"The God of the Bible is not a God who is contained in heaven, but rather a God whose love moves toward the world in all its messiness." — Walter Brueggemann. God so loved THE WORLD—not just souls, no
Brian McLaren on Jesus as the Way - Progressive (John 14:6)
"Jesus doesn't say, 'I am the way, so everyone else is lost.' He says, 'I am the way'—focus on HIM, on following His path of love, justice, and reconciliation. The way of Jesus is a way of living, not
C.S. Lewis on Christ's Exclusive Claims - Traditional (John 14:6)
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher... Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse." — C.S. Lewis
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Victory Through Suffering - Lutheran (John 16:33)
"The world gives trouble; Christ gives peace. But His peace is not escape from trouble—He overcame through the cross, through suffering, through death. Our victory is not around suffering but through
Walter Brueggemann on Prophetic Realism - Progressive (John 16:33)
"Jesus promises trouble—the world resists the kingdom. Those who work for justice face opposition; those who challenge empire face persecution. But take heart: the powers have been overcome! The world
Karl Barth on Christ-Created Hearts - Christocentric (Psalm 51:10)
"The clean heart is created through Christ—His blood cleanses, His Spirit renews. David looked forward in hope; we look back in gratitude. The cross is where hearts are made clean; union with Christ i
Billy Graham on Personal Abiding - Baptist (John 15:5)
"YOU are the branch; Christ is YOUR Vine. Abide in HIM—personally, daily, continually. YOUR connection to Christ determines YOUR fruitfulness. No one can abide for you; no one can bear YOUR fruit. Sta
J. Vernon McGee on Tribulation and Triumph - Dispensational (John 16:33)
"Trouble intensifies as the age closes—Jesus warned of tribulation. But take heart: He has already overcome the world. The coming tribulation is real; so is Christ's ultimate triumph. The world system
Oscar Romero on Fruitful Witness - Liberation (John 15:5)
"The church abides in Christ to bear fruit for the poor. Branches disconnected from the Vine cannot sustain justice work; movements apart from Christ wither. But rooted in Him, we bear fruit that rema
John Wesley on Continuous Abiding - Wesleyan (John 15:5)
"'Abide in Me'—this requires our participation. We choose to stay connected; we discipline ourselves to remain. Grace flows through the connection, but we must maintain it. The branch that stops abidi
Joyce Meyer on Victorious Living - Pentecostal (John 16:33)
"Yes, you'll have trouble—Jesus said so! But TAKE HEART! He has OVERCOME! That means YOU can overcome! The same power that raised Jesus lives in you! Don't let trouble defeat you; the Victor lives ins
T.D. Jakes on Supernatural Abundant Life - Pentecostal (John 10:10)
"Jesus didn't come to give you ordinary life—He came to give you ABUNDANT life! OVERFLOWING! SUPERNATURAL! The enemy wants to steal your joy, kill your dreams, destroy your purpose—but JESUS gives LIF
John Wimber on Encountering the Living Way - Charismatic (John 14:6)
"Jesus is not just historically the way—He is presently, actively, experientially the way. Through the Spirit, we encounter the living Christ NOW. He guides, reveals truth, imparts life TODAY. The way
J. Vernon McGee on Christ in Dispensational Context - Dispensational (John 14:6)
"Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father—this has been true in every dispensation. Salvation has always been by faith; the OBJECT of faith has always been Christ, whether anticipated in the Old Tes
Karl Barth on Christ as God's Thought - Christocentric (Isaiah 55:8-9)
"God's thoughts are revealed in Christ—the Word made flesh IS God's thinking toward us. In Jesus we see the higher ways: grace not judgment, mercy not wrath, cross not throne. Christ IS the bridge bet
Billy Graham on Personal Abundant Life - Baptist (John 10:10)
"Jesus came that YOU might have life—and have it ABUNDANTLY. Not just existence but REAL life. Not just surviving but THRIVING. This is personal: Jesus offers abundant life to YOU. The thief wants YOU
Rowan Williams on Love and Fear - Anglican (1 John 4:18)
"Fear involves punishment—but in Christ, punishment is past. Perfect love is matured in us as we grasp the depths of grace. We move from servile fear to filial trust, from cowering to confidence. This
Barbara Brown Taylor on Love Against Fear Systems - Progressive (1 John 4:18)
"Fear is a tool of empire—fear of the other, fear of scarcity, fear of change. Perfect love dismantles fear's power. Love creates welcome, not walls; abundance, not hoarding; solidarity, not suspicion
Oscar Romero on Love Casting Out Fear of Persecution - Liberation (1 John 4:18)
"Oppressors use fear—fear of violence, fear of loss, fear of death. But perfect love gives martyrs their courage. Love of the poor overcomes fear of the powerful. Love of justice overcomes fear of con
John Wesley on Prevenient Love - Wesleyan (Romans 5:8)
"Christ died while we were sinners—this is prevenient grace in its starkest form. Before we sought God, He sought us. Before we loved, He loved. His death is the ultimate expression of grace that come
Lesslie Newbigin on God's Sending Love - Missional (John 3:16)
"Mission is not essentially an action by which the church puts forth its own power and wisdom to conquer the world around it; it is an action of God, putting forth the power of his Spirit to bring the
Martin Luther on the Gospel in Miniature - Lutheran (John 3:16)
"This text is rightly called the gospel in miniature because it contains the entire sum of the Christian doctrine in a brief compass: God so loved... that He gave... that whoever believes... shall not
Karl Barth on Christ as God's "Yes" - Christocentric (John 3:16)
"In Jesus Christ God has said Yes to humanity. The giving of the Son is the great divine Yes that precedes and grounds every other word from God. John 3:16 is not merely information about salvation; i
Gustavo Gutiérrez on God's Preferential Love - Liberation (John 3:16)
"God so loved the world—but we must ask: what does this love look like in a world of injustice? God's love is not neutral. It takes sides with the poor, the oppressed, the forgotten. To believe in Joh