The Gospel of John: Love To The End
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.
This June, we inscribed John 7:47-9:24, and we saw Jesus as the Light of the World
This July, we inscribed John 9:25-11:34.
Now, we come to the beauty of August, as we experience One who Loved to the end.
In the Scriptures we are inscribing this month, we move into some of the most intimate, tender, and revealing moments of Jesus’ ministry. These moments show not only what He did, but who He is. These chapters are not about public miracles or confrontations with religious leaders. They are about love that is deep, personal, and sacrificial love.
Jesus Weeps at Lazarus’s Tomb – The shortest verse in the Bible is one of the most profound. Jesus, knowing He will raise Lazarus, still enters into the sorrow of His friends. He does not stand at a distance. He weeps. This is not weakness. It is love. Love that feels. Love that enters into our pain.
The Raising of Lazarus – With a loud cry, Jesus calls His friend out of the grave. It’s a powerful foreshadowing of His own resurrection, but it’s also a personal act of compassion. Jesus reveals Himself not just as the Messiah who performs wonders, but as the Life itself. He doesn’t just give life. He is life.
The Plot to Kill Jesus – As Lazarus walks out of the tomb, the religious leaders plot to put Jesus in one. Love always costs something. And in this case, love will cost Jesus everything. Yet, He does not pull away.
Mary Anoints Jesus – In a beautiful act of devotion, Mary pours out expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet. Her love is extravagant, unashamed, and prophetic. While others criticize, Jesus receives it. He honors her offering and foreshadows His burial. It is love preparing the way.
The Triumphal Entry – Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy and revealing His humility. The crowds cheer, not yet understanding what kind of King He truly is. He is not coming to conquer Rome, but to conquer sin, suffering, and death.
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet – On the night He would be betrayed, Jesus wraps a towel around His waist. The King of kings kneels to serve. This is not just an example to follow. It is a revelation of God’s nature. At the heart of the universe is a LOVE that stoops, serves, and saves.
Each of these moments pulses with one truth:
The love of Jesus doesn’t flinch, pull back, or end.
It enters our sorrow, meets us in our weakness, walks with us in confusion, and loves us to the very end.
Will We Receive This Love?
Receiving His Compassion:
“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)
We do not have a distant Savior. We have One who weeps with us, who is moved by our pain. Jesus doesn’t hurry us past grief. He enters into it. His tears remind us that divine love is not emotionless but deeply present.
Receiving His Life:
“I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
Jesus does not merely offer solutions; He offers Himself. Resurrection is not an event. It’s a Person. When we are close to Him, life rises. Love raises dead things. Hope breathes again.
Receiving His Sacrifice:
“Leave her alone… It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” (John 12:7)
Mary poured out her love without knowing the full weight of what she was doing, but Jesus knew. He received it as preparation. Love is not always efficient. It’s often extravagant. Can we offer Jesus our worship, even when others don’t understand?
Receiving His Humility:
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)
Jesus’ love leads Him to the floor, to the towel, to the dust. He models a way of life where the greatest is the servant. But before we imitate Him, we must first let Him wash us. Can we accept that kind of love that stoops low and gets personal?
This month, as you Inscribe the Word, you’re not just writing about events in history. You’re tracing the shape of divine love.
A love that weeps.
A love that calls forth life.
A love that lays itself down.
A love that stoops to serve.
A love that never ends.
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.
Full Access to All Writing: Access everything we publish on Substack, including exclusive subscriber-only content.
We hope to see you there!
