John 13-21: The place of greatest glory

Where Is God's Glory Most Clearly Seen?

It is a question that cuts to the heart of the Christian faith. Where do you go to see God in his fullest, most undeniable glory?

Not to a mountaintop at sunrise. Not to the grandeur of creation, magnificent as that is. Not even to the miracles of Jesus in Galilee — the water turned to wine, the thousands fed, the dead raised from the tomb of Lazarus.

According to the Gospel of John, the place of greatest glory is a wooden cross on a hill outside Jerusalem. And the moment of God's highest exaltation is the moment his Son bows his head and dies.

John 13–21: The Place of Greatest Glory by Josh Moody takes small groups to that extraordinary place — and to the empty tomb that followed — through eight carefully crafted Bible studies in the final chapters of John's Gospel. It is a guide that does not simply explain the text. It brings groups to gaze at it — and to be changed by what they see.

Eight Studies at the Heart of the Gospel

The final nine chapters of John's Gospel contain some of the most profound and theologically rich material in the entire New Testament. The Upper Room Discourse — Jesus washing his disciples' feet, his farewell words of comfort, his great High Priestly prayer. The arrest in the garden, the trials before Pilate, the crucifixion. The resurrection appearances — Mary Magdalene at the tomb, Thomas and his doubts, the restoration of Peter, the great commission.

Josh Moody works through this material with the twin commitments that make the best Bible study guides genuinely valuable: close, careful attention to what John actually wrote, and a consistent focus on how this text changes the way we live. The result is eight studies that are exegetically grounded, pastorally warm, and immediately applicable to the realities of Christian life and discipleship.

Gazing at the Cross — and Being Changed

One of the most distinctive contributions of this study guide is its invitation not merely to understand the cross and resurrection but to gaze at them. Moody draws on John's own visual and contemplative language — the disciple whom Jesus loved leaning on his breast, Mary weeping outside the empty tomb, Thomas touching the wounds — to help group participants engage with these events not just intellectually but personally and devotionally.

This is Bible study that aims for the heart as well as the mind. It is the kind of engagement with Scripture that the apostle John himself intended — writing so that his readers might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they might have life in his name.

Built for Groups — and for Leaders

Like all the studies in The Good Book Company's series, John 13–21 is built for small group use. The discussion questions are thoughtfully crafted to open up genuine conversation — drawing out different perspectives, surfacing honest questions, and leading naturally toward deeper engagement with the text and with one another.

The comprehensive leader's guide at the back gives facilitators the preparation and support they need to guide the group confidently — understanding the key themes of each passage, anticipating where discussion might go, and knowing how to draw the group back to the text when needed. This makes it an ideal resource for both experienced and first-time small group leaders.

What This Study Covers

• John 13 — Jesus washing the disciples' feet; the new commandment to love one another; the prediction of Peter's denial
• John 14 — Jesus the way, the truth, and the life; the promise of the Holy Spirit; the peace Jesus gives
• John 15 — The vine and the branches; abiding in Christ; love and friendship; the world's hatred
• John 16 — The work of the Holy Spirit; the disciples' grief and Jesus's promised joy; prayer in Jesus's name
• John 17 — The great High Priestly prayer — Jesus praying for himself, his disciples, and all who will believe
• John 18–19 — The arrest; the trials before Pilate; the crucifixion and death of Jesus; the burial
• John 20 — The empty tomb; Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Jesus; the appearance to the disciples; Thomas and his doubt
• John 21 — The appearance by the Sea of Galilee; the restoration of Peter; the great commission; the beloved disciple's witness

What Readers Will Gain

• A deep, close engagement with John 13–21 — the Upper Room Discourse, the passion narrative, and the resurrection appearances
• A richer understanding of what the cross means — seen through John's distinctive theological lens as the place of God's greatest glory
• Fresh insight into the resurrection appearances and what they reveal about the risen Jesus and the mission he gives his people
• A transformed understanding of discipleship, love, prayer, and abiding in Christ, drawn from the Upper Room Discourse
• Real-life application drawn honestly and carefully from the text — for personal faith, community life, and gospel witness
• Rich, substantive group discussion opened up by questions designed to genuinely engage
• Comprehensive leader's notes for facilitators wanting to lead the study well

Who Should Read This Book

• Small group leaders wanting a trustworthy, well-structured study guide on the final chapters of John's Gospel
• Church members wanting a substantive, text-focused Bible study for their group
• Individual Christians wanting to work through John 13–21 in a careful, devotional, and applicatory way
• Pastors and elders wanting a reliable resource for congregational small groups or mid-week Bible study
• Christians preparing for Easter wanting a deep, text-grounded engagement with the passion and resurrection narratives
• New and growing believers wanting to be led carefully through some of the most important chapters in the New Testament
• Theology students and seminary candidates studying the Gospel of John
• Churches in India running small group Bible study programmes, discipleship courses, or Lent and Easter series

About the Author

Josh Moody is the Senior Pastor of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois — one of the most historically significant evangelical churches in the United States — and the founder of God Centered Life Ministries. He holds a PhD from Cambridge University and is a widely respected preacher, author, and Bible teacher known for combining rigorous academic training with deep pastoral warmth and genuine accessibility. He is the author of numerous books including No Other Gospel, Journey to Joy, and the God Centered Life commentary series. His work on John's Gospel reflects decades of careful study and preaching through the text — and his particular gift for helping ordinary readers see the glory of God in the pages of Scripture makes John 13–21 an outstanding guide for groups of all kinds.

About the Good Book Company Bible Study Series

John 13–21: The Place of Greatest Glory is published by The Good Book Company as part of their widely trusted range of small group and personal Bible study guides. The series is characterised by close attention to the biblical text, real-life application, and thoughtful discussion questions — making these among the most highly regarded Bible study resources available for small groups and churches worldwide. Companion volumes covering John 1–12 and other books of the Bible are also available, and several are stocked through For The Truth.