Death and Dying

DEATH AND DYING

Both science and faith, each in its own way and in its proper place, should help us live, and therefore also help us face death, with greater courage and dignity. Death is a consequence of life. In other words, death is an integral part of life. Life and death form a continuous line.

Death should not be seen simply as the final point at the end of life. If we see it that way, it becomes a tragedy that seems to rob life of its meaning. On the contrary, death gives life a deeper sense of urgency and reality. Because we do not have unlimited time, and because we do not know the hour of our death, every moment of life becomes uniquely precious. Each moment is the only one we truly possess. Either we live it well, or we risk letting it slip away.

In this sense, dying is a task that is built through living. Just as in nature, where we begin the process of dying the very day we are born, because our bodies are temporary, our challenge is to live in such a way that each day could be our last, without needing another day to fix what we left undone. When we live this way, death takes on a different meaning. It stops being an unavoidable tragedy that surprises us and instead becomes a quiet companion, reminding us daily of life’s fragility and of the importance of living deeply, both personally and in our relationships with others.

In this way, the death of others can also teach us how to die well. Those we love who have already gone before us remind us that life is temporary and encourage us to live more courageously and more fully. How good it would be if, from early in life, we could see death in this way and relate to it without so much fear. Perhaps we would live with greater wisdom and courage.

Those who have died cannot simply be pushed aside into the silence of hospital rooms, morgues, or cemeteries. They remain part of our story. Not in a way that traps us in constant grief, but in a way that nourishes our memory and reshapes the meaning of our lives.

Finally, we must remember a powerful biblical example that reveals the deeper meaning of death. The cross and the death Jesus experienced upon it were not accidents. The death of Jesus of Nazareth was the consequence of the life he lived. His unwavering commitment to goodness and love led him to face the threats of the cross. Because he did not retreat even a single step from that commitment, death became inevitable. In that sense, death became part of his life.

Yet death did not have the final word. Instead of being an ending, it became the beginning of a new dimension of life: the resurrection.

The risen Christ is the same Jesus who was crucified. He still bears the wounds. Yet life has risen to a new reality where the boundaries between life and death are broken, and a new humanity, renewed and recreated can live fully.

So remember: time flies. Seize the day.

Rev. Marvel Souza

Wednesday Bible Study Recap - March 4

 

Encounter at the Well

Based on Gospel of John Chapter 4

This Wednesday, we had a great time studying the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, focusing on grace, identity, and transformation.

We started our study with a warm-up game using Wordwall, where we recalled events that are found specifically in the Gospel of John. It was a fun way to review key stories and help everyone remember how unique this Gospel is in presenting Jesus’ identity and ministry.

Right after the game, we compared John chapter 3 and John chapter 4. In chapter 3, Jesus meets Nicodemus, a religious leader who came to Jesus at night, representing religious authority, knowledge, and social status. In contrast, in chapter 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman during the day, representing social exclusion and marginalization. Nicodemus comes privately, while the Samaritan woman meets Jesus in public space at the well. These two encounters show that Jesus is for everyone — religious and non-religious, respected and excluded, powerful and vulnerable.

We then moved into the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. In this passage, Jesus travels through Samaria and stops at Jacob’s well. He is tired and thirsty, which reminds us that Jesus was fully human. At the same time, He was intentionally stepping into spaces that society would normally avoid.

In that culture, Jews and Samaritans had long-standing conflicts, and rabbis usually avoided public conversations with women. Yet Jesus intentionally crosses these social and cultural barriers to offer grace and relationship.

During our study, we discussed how the woman’s vision of Jesus changes progressively throughout the conversation. At first, she sees Him simply as:

• A Jew — recognizing the cultural and ethnic difference.

• Then as a Prophet — after Jesus reveals knowledge about her life.

• Finally, she recognizes Him as the Messiah — the Savior, the “I Am.”

This gradual revelation is powerful because it shows how faith can grow step by step as people encounter Jesus personally.

Jesus then speaks about living water, shifting the conversation from physical thirst to spiritual transformation. The woman initially thinks in practical, physical terms, but Jesus is speaking about eternal life, grace, and new identity.

One of the most symbolic moments is when the woman leaves her water jar behind. This represents leaving behind shame, old identities, and past burdens. She then goes back to her community as a witness to what Jesus had done in her life.

Key Takeaways

• Jesus meets us in ordinary places.

• God’s grace comes before transformation.

• Our understanding of Jesus often grows progressively through relationship.

• Our identity is shaped by who Jesus is.

We are reminded to love boldly, cross boundaries with compassion, and live as children of God through Christ.

Join us next Wednesday as we continue growing together in faith!

Link for the word wall game: https://wordwall.net/resource/67554410/gospel-of-john-jesus-events-matching

Rev. Marvel Souza

Wednesday Bible Study Recap – John 3

Wednesday Bible Study Recap – John 3

This past Wednesday, we spent time in Gospel of John, chapter 3, and began by reflecting on the theme of identity.

I invited everyone to think about a few simple but powerful questions:

• Who are you? (Your name, gender identity, where you were born.)
• What is your lineage?
• What shapes your sense of self?

We talked about how the four Gospels — Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke, and Gospel of John — are deeply concerned with helping us understand who Jesus is. In many ways, the Bible gives us four whole books to answer one question: Who is Jesus?

I connected this to last week’s sermon about Jesus’ temptation, when the tempter said, “If you are the Son of God…” — challenging Jesus’ identity. Identity matters deeply in Scripture because it shapes how we live, trust, and respond to God.

If we ask, “Who is Jesus?” and look specifically at the Gospel of John, here’s where we find clear answers:

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1. Who is Jesus?

📖 The Word (Logos)

• John 1:1–3 – “In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God.”

• John immediately identifies Jesus as eternal and divine.

📖 God in the flesh

• John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

• Jesus is not just sent by God — He is God incarnate.

📖 The Son of God

• John 1:34 – John the Baptist testifies: “This is the Son of God.”

• John 20:31 – The purpose of the book: “That you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.”

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2. What is His lineage / origin?

John doesn’t start with a genealogy like Matthew. Instead, he gives a cosmic origin story:

📖 Eternal origin

• John 1:1 – “In the beginning…”

• Jesus’ lineage is not just human — it is divine and eternal.

📖 Sent by the Father

• John 6:38 – “For I have come down from heaven…”

• John 8:42 – “I came from God and now I am here.”

John emphasizes that Jesus’ true origin is the Father.

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3. What defines His identity? (The “I Am” statements)

One of the strongest identity markers in John is the repeated “I Am” (ἐγώ εἰμι) language — echoing God’s name in Book of Exodus 3:14.

Here are key references:

• 📖 John 6:35 – “I am the bread of life.”

• 📖 John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world.”

• 📖 John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd.”

• 📖 John 11:25 – “I am the resurrection and the life.”

• 📖 John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

• 📖 John 15:1 – “I am the true vine.”

And most dramatically:

• 📖 John 8:58 – “Before Abraham was, I am.”

• This is a direct claim to divine identity, which is why the crowd tries to stone Him (John 8:59).

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4. How do others identify Him?

John also answers the identity question through witnesses:

• John 1:29 – “The Lamb of God.”

• John 4:26 – Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman.

• John 9:38 – The man born blind worships Him.

• John 20:28 – Thomas declares, “My Lord and my God!”

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Why is identity so central in John?

Because belief depends on identity.

John 20:31 makes it clear: the entire Gospel is written so that we may believe Jesus is the Son of God — and by believing, have life.

Identity in John is not abstract theology. It’s relational, saving, and life-giving.

And that makes all the difference.

We then divided John 3 into four movements:

1. Jesus and Nicodemus – A conversation about being born from above and spiritual transformation.
2. The Bronze Serpent and Faith – Looking back to Moses and the wilderness, and how faith leads to life.
3. The Heart of the Gospel – God’s love revealed: not condemnation, but salvation.
4. Light and Darkness – The invitation to step into the light and live transparently before God.

We also reflected on grace through a Wesleyan lens — prevenient grace (God reaching out first), justifying grace (God saving and restoring us), and sanctifying grace (God continuing to transform us).

Some of the questions we sat with were:

• How does it change your understanding of God to focus on love instead of condemnation?
• How can our church reflect this love in our community?
• Is there any area of your life where God is inviting you into the light?

It was a rich and honest conversation. John 3 reminds us that our identity is rooted not in fear or shame, but in being loved by God — and invited into the light.

Wednesday Bible Study - John 3: Summary and Quiz

 

Summary – John 3

In John 3, we meet Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, who comes to Jesus at night to ask questions about His teaching. Jesus tells him that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again—a spiritual rebirth through the Holy Spirit, not just physical birth.

Jesus explains that this new birth is necessary to enter eternal life and emphasizes the importance of faith in Him. One of the most well-known verses in the Bible comes from this chapter:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Jesus also teaches about the contrast between light and darkness: those who believe in Him live in the light, while those who reject Him remain in darkness. The chapter closes with John the Baptist affirming that he is not the Messiah, but a witness to Him, and emphasizing that belief in Jesus brings eternal life.

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Discussion Questions

1. Who was Nicodemus, and why do you think he came to Jesus at night?

2. What does Jesus mean when He says we must be “born again” (John 3:3)?

3. How does John 3:16 summarize the gospel in one verse?

4. What is the difference between living in the light and living in darkness according to Jesus (John 3:19–21)?

5. How can we “bear witness” to Jesus in our daily lives like John the Baptist did (John 3:30)?

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. Nicodemus was a ___________ who came to Jesus at night.

2. Jesus told Nicodemus that to see the kingdom of God, a person must be ___________ again.

3. Being born again is a spiritual birth through the ___________.

4. John 3:16 says, “For God so _______ the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever _______ in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

5. According to Jesus, those who follow Him live in the ________, while those who reject Him remain in ________.

6. John the Baptist said he is not the ___________, but he points people to Jesus.

7. Believing in Jesus gives us ___________ life.

Resource: 

FLCUMC Loas Angeles - video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vFmhNAGaAg

Castle Town UMCL - ight, Love, Life - Gospel of John: https://castletonumc.org/John_Week_1.pdf

Bible Study Recap – January 28

The Gospel of John – Chapter 1

Wednesday, January 28

Theme: Grace, Truth, and Our Birth into God’s Family

Last Wednesday, we began our journey through the Gospel of John by grounding ourselves in John chapter 1, a passage that sets the theological foundation for everything that follows in this Gospel. Rather than starting with Jesus’ birth or early ministry, John begins with eternity, inviting us to see Jesus not just as a teacher or prophet, but as God in the flesh.

Why John Was Written

We learned that the Gospel of John was likely written between AD 85–95, later than the other Gospels. By this time, the church was more established and facing serious challenges – persecution, theological confusion, and growing questions about who Jesus truly was. John writes with a clear purpose: not just to tell stories about Jesus, but to help readers believe and live in light of who Jesus is.

John himself states this purpose clearly:

“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

Belief, life, and identity are at the heart of this Gospel.

What Makes John Different

Unlike Matthew, Mark, and Luke – the Synoptic Gospels – John is deeply theological. He focuses on signs rather than parables, and each miracle or encounter points beyond itself to a deeper spiritual reality. John is less concerned with simply what happened and more concerned with what it means.

Writing to a mixed audience of Jewish and Gentile believers living in a Greek-influenced world, John bridges Jewish theology and Greek philosophy by introducing Jesus as the Logos (the Word), God’s creative, revealing presence made personal and visible.

“In the Beginning Was the Word”

John opens with one of the most powerful declarations in Scripture:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

By starting here, John makes it clear from the outset that Jesus is not created, not merely human, and not gradually revealed. He is fully divine, from the very beginning. Everything else – grace, truth, salvation, and new life – flows from this reality.

The Word does not remain distant.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)

God doesn’t shout instructions from heaven. God moves into the neighborhood.

Becoming Children of God

One of the most beautiful themes in John 1 is the idea of spiritual birth. We reflected on how becoming a child of God is not based on heritage, effort, or human will, but on receiving Jesus:

“To all who did receive him… he gave the right to become children of God - born of God.”

This marks a shift from religion based on performance to relationship rooted in grace. We are not slaves trying to earn approval, we are children who belong.

Jesus: Full of Grace and Truth

John describes Jesus as being “full of grace and truth.” These two are never separated in John’s Gospel. Truth without grace leads to condemnation. Grace without truth becomes shallow and cheap. In Jesus, they are perfectly united.

Truth in John is not just correct doctrine, it is a person. Jesus reveals reality as God intends it to be, exposing darkness not to shame us, but to heal us. Grace, meanwhile, comes before repentance, before transformation, and before perfection. From Jesus’ fullness, we receive “grace upon grace”, continuous, overflowing grace.

John the Baptist prepares the way, but Jesus brings fulfillment. His ministry does not begin with demands, but with presence.

Why This Still Matters

John begins with divinity because only God can:

• Give true grace
• Define real truth
• Make us children

Jesus doesn’t just teach grace and truth, He is grace and truth. When we hold both together, we move from fear to belonging, from striving to trust, and from slavery to true spiritual childhood.

We closed our time reflecting on these questions:

1. Why do you think John insists on holding grace and truth together?
2. Where do you see the church today being tempted to emphasize one over the other?
3. How does understanding yourself as a child of grace change the way you relate to God?
4. After answering the questions above, click the link to take the online quiz: https://wordwall.net/resource/61079703/religion/john-119-who-said-or-did

This study invited us not just to learn about Jesus—but to receive Him, and in doing so, to discover who we truly are.