In John, as Jesus promises that he will send his disciples another helper, he repeats again and again that the Holy Spirit will come and will remind them of who Christ is and all he has promised:
- He will bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you
- He will bear witness about me
- He will take what is mine and declare it to you
- He will glorify me
This is one of the biggest ways that the Spirit helps us—the Spirit empowers the Word of God and shows us Jesus in all his glory.
Seeing Jesus has huge implications for every aspect of our lives. In this activity, we will begin by meditating on who Christ is. After this, you will have an opportunity to respond in prayer. Consider not only how seeing Jesus impacts your own life, but also how it moves you to pray for others around you.
Seeing Jesus
Before meditating on God’s Word, take some time to pray, looking to the Holy Spirit to show you the beauty of Jesus and open your heart to receive his fullness. Afterwards, use one of the following Scripture meditation activities to dwell deeply on a passage that shows you the love, work, promises, and person of Jesus.
Walking with the Word – This activity is more active and may be helpful for adding some variety to your retreat time.
Praying with the Word – More structured, this activity leads you through four rounds of reading and praying through your selected Scripture passage.
Time with the Word – If you have the tendency to rush your time of Scripture meditation, this activity can be helpful through using timers to open up space for quieting your heart and meditating on God’s Word.
Seeing the Word – If the passage you choose has strong metaphors or imagery, this activity can help you linger on those images, picturing what God’s Word is seeking to communicate.
Possible Scriptures for Meditation:
- Isaiah 42:1–4 – He will bring justice to the nations
- Matthew 4:1–11 – Tempted by the devil
- Matthew 11:25–30 – I am gentle and lowly in heart
- Matthew 14:22–33 – Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid
- Matthew 17:1–8 – This is my beloved Son
- Mark 2:1–12 – The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins
- Mark 4:35–41 – Even the wind and the sea obey him
- Mark 5:21–43 – His compassion and power to heal
- Mark 6:30–44 – Feeding the 5000
- Mark 10:13–16 – Let the children come to me
- Mark 10:46–52 – Son of David, have mercy on me!
- Mark 11:15–19 – A house of prayer for all nations
- John 1:1–5 – He was in the beginning with God
- John 1:9–18 – We have all received grace upon grace
- John 7:37–39 – If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink
- John 10:27–30 – I give them eternal life, they will never perish
- Colossians 1:15–22 – He is the image of the invisible God
- Hebrews 1:1–4 – He is the radiance of the glory of God
- Hebrews 9:11–14 – Our high priest securing eternal redemption
- 1 Peter 2:21–25 – By his wounds you have been healed
- Revelation 1:12–18 – Fear not, I am the first and the last
- Revelation 5:4–10 – The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered
- Revelation 19:11–16 – King of kings and Lord of lords
Prayer Response
Take some time to pray in response to the work of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word in your heart and mind. Several possibilities for short prayer responses are listed below; feel free to do as many of them as you would like and in any order. Also, don’t feel limited to this list if there is some other type of response on your heart or mind. Consider whether it’s helpful to pray out loud, journal your prayer, walk and pray, or express your prayer through art, poetry, or song.
Praise Your Savior – Thank and worship Christ for all that he is and all he has done.
Our Rock in Sorrow – Bring your current difficulties to Jesus, honestly sharing your heart and entrusting them fully into his strong hands.
Interceding for Our Communities – What specific situations or needs do your friends, family, church, or community face right now? How do the work, person, and promises of Jesus speak into these needs? Pray for these people according to the Word of God and the promises of Christ.
The Savior of All – Bring the world’s peoples, nations, and situations before Christ. Pray for his work, his people, and his church. Pray for the growth and coming of his kingdom.
The Perfecter of Our Faith – As you look to Christ, how is he leading you away from broken sinful patterns and into his light and life? Talk to him about the specific areas of growth that he is laying on your heart.
The Suffering Servant – Have you seen Christ’s heart of sacrificial love today? How is he inviting you to join him in sacrificially loving and serving those around you? Talk to him about these needs and opportunities, asking him to provide the bread to give to those on your heart.
The Relational Shepherd – Praise God for his outgoing relational heart, that he draws us into communion with himself, is ever with us, shows abundant compassionate care to his children, and draws us together in Christ in perfect unity.