The Gospel of John: The Light of the World.
Welcome to Inscribe the Word, the Gospel of John. This year, we are slowly and intentionally writing through John’s Gospel, and we invite you to join us.
Inscribe the Word is a spiritual practice rooted in the discipline of Scripture writing—taking time to handwrite passages of the Bible as a way to slow down, reflect, and meditate on God’s Word. By writing Scripture, we engage our minds and hearts in a deeper way, noticing the richness of each word and allowing the truths of the Bible to sink more deeply into our souls. It’s not about how much we write but how intentionally we engage, creating space for the Holy Spirit to speak, teach, and transform us through the living Word of God.
This year, we invite you to slow down and savor the Gospel of John. The Gospel was written to reveal Jesus in a way that invites us into a deeper relationship with Him. John doesn’t just tell us what Jesus did—he shows us who Jesus is: the Word made flesh, the Light of the world, and the Bread of life. By inscribing this Gospel, we’re creating space to meditate on each verse, letting its truths settle in our hearts and minds.
We’re not rushing.
From January to November, we’ll focus on one section of John each month, with a new theme that highlights the richness of this Gospel. December will be a time of reflection, journaling through how these Scriptures have spoken to us.
If you prefer to Inscribe another topic or theme this year, CLICK HERE for our ITW Collection.
This January, we inscribed John 1:1-John 2:11, and we saw Jesus as The Light of the World.
This February, we inscribed John 2:12-4:6, and we went from the cleansing waters of baptism to new creation and being born again.
This March, we inscribed John 4:7-5:14, and we went from broken to whole in the hands of Jesus.
This April, we inscribed John 5:15-6:27, and we saw Jesus as the Bread of Life and our total sustenance.
This May, we inscribed John 6:48-7:46, and we saw Jesus as the giver of Living Water and having the words of life.
Now, we come to the beauty of June, as we experience The Light of the World!
In the Scriptures we are inscribing this month, we continue to encounter the powerful tension between belief and unbelief, sight and blindness, law and grace:
Division Over Jesus – As Jesus openly teaches, the crowds are divided. Some perceive Him as the Messiah, while others view Him as a threat to their cherished traditions.
The Woman Caught in Adultery – In a remarkable display of compassion, Jesus unveils the beauty of God’s heart: not judgment, but forgiveness and restoration.
The Light of the World – Jesus boldly declares that He is the Light, illuminating the darkness and calling us to walk in His truth.
Healing the Man Born Blind – With compassion and power, Jesus heals a man born blind, a miracle that reveals spiritual blindness among the religious leaders and opens new eyes to faith.
Each of these moments challenges us to reflect on our position: whether we stand in the light of truth or in the shadows of pride and unbelief. Jesus invites us not only to perceive physically but also to perceive spiritually—to recognize Him as the Light and to walk in His truth. Once more, we are confronted with the theme of trust.
Do We Trust Jesus?
Trusting His Mercy:
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)
The religious leaders brought a woman caught in sin, hoping to trap Jesus. But instead of condemnation, He offers mercy and calls her to new life. Trusting Jesus means believing that His grace is greater than our guilt. He came not to shame us, but to save us.
Trusting His Light:
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12)
In a world clouded by confusion and pride, Jesus shines clearly as the true Light. Trusting Him means letting His truth expose our sin, guide our steps, and lead us out of darkness into life.
Trusting His Identity:
“Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)
The crowds struggled to accept Jesus’ true nature. He was not just a teacher or prophet, but the eternal Son of God. Trust requires recognizing Jesus as more than a helper or moral guide. He is the great I Am, and is worthy of our full belief and surrender.
Trusting His Power to Heal:
“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25)
The man born blind didn’t have all the answers. He simply bore witness to what Jesus had done in his life. Trust means acknowledging that while we may not understand everything, we can stand firm in the transformation Jesus has begun in us.
Moving Into The New Month.
As we inscribe these passages, consider journaling these questions in your Inscibe the Word notebook.
Are we trusting in Jesus’ mercy or clinging to guilt and shame?
Are we walking in His light or stumbling in the shadows?
Are we believing in who He truly is or shaping Him into something easier to accept?
Are we letting His healing change us even when the world doubts?
May this month be a time of stepping out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
Join the Conversation
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this daily study, grow in your understanding of Scripture, and access exclusive weekly teachings and resources, join our Substack community for just $7 a month. You will receive:
Inscribe the Word Resources: Each week, we will provide you with a full list of resources to accompany your daily Inscribe the Word Scripture writing passages. Resources can include videos, articles, commentaries, maps, and charts.
A Weekly Post: Each week, we will bring together all of the Inscribe the Wordthemes for the week ahead in a simple and straightforward post.
Exclusive Community Conversations: Join Steven, Erika, and fellow subscribers in a weekly “Group Text” thread, where we share thoughts on culture and practical tips on building a life of worship.
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We hope to see you there!
