The Gospel of John: The Bread of Life
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.
Now, we go into April with Jesus showing us that He is our source of life.
The Bread of Life . . .
In the Scriptures we are inscribing this month, we encounter powerful moments that reveal Jesus’ authority, His provision, and His invitation to true and lasting satisfaction:
• Healing at the Pool of Bethesda – Jesus restores a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, revealing His authority over sickness and the Sabbath.
• Jesus’ Authority from the Father – Jesus declares His unity with the Father and His power to give life and execute judgment.
• The Feeding of the Five Thousand – With just five loaves and two fish, Jesus meets the physical needs of a massive crowd.
• The True Bread of Life – Jesus shifts the conversation from physical hunger to spiritual fulfillment, offering Himself as the bread that truly satisfies.
Each of these moments challenges the people around Jesus—and us—to reconsider what it means to trust Him fully. He calls us to move beyond seeking temporary provision and lean into the deeper reality of who He is: the source of life itself. Do we trust Him with our lives?
Do We Trust Jesus?
At the Pool of Bethesda: Trusting His Authority: “My Father is always working, and so am I.” (John 5:17)
This statement reveals that Jesus’ authority comes directly from the Father. He isn’t just a teacher or prophet—He is the Son of God, working in perfect unity with the Father. The healing at the pool points to a deeper truth: Jesus has authority not only over sickness but over life itself.The Feeding of the Five Thousand: Trusting His Provision “Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated as much as they wanted.” (John 6:11) Jesus meets the physical needs of the crowd, but this miracle also points to something deeper. The people were focused on the bread—they wanted Jesus to keep feeding them. But Jesus redirects them: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life.” (John 6:27) Jesus is offering more than temporary provision—He is offering Himself as the true source of life.
The True Bread of Life: Trusting His Sufficiency “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”(John 6:35) This was a hard teaching for many to accept. They wanted a king, a leader who would fix their earthly problems. But Jesus offered them something deeper—eternal life. Many of His followers walked away because they couldn’t accept that He was asking for their full surrender, not just their admiration.
Peter’s response stands out as an example of faith:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)
Peter didn’t have all the answers. He didn’t fully understand what Jesus was saying—but he trusted that Jesus was the source of life. That trust was enough.
Moving Into The New Month.
These passages challenge us to examine where we place our trust. Are we looking to Jesus for quick fixes and temporary provision—or are we willing to surrender to Him as the true source of life?
• Like the man at the pool, we are invited to trust Jesus’ authority—even when His answer looks different than we expected.
• Like the crowds following Jesus, we are called to seek Him for who He is, not just what He can give us.
• Like Peter, we are asked to stay close to Jesus even when we don’t have all the answers—because He alone has the words of life.
Following Jesus means more than believing He can meet our needs—it means trusting Him to be enough even when the outcome isn’t what we imagined.
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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