Tag: Christians

Morning Reading : Luke 23.1-7 NLT – innocent

Reading: Luke 23:1-7 NLT

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Then the entire council took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. They began to state their case: “This man has been leading our people astray by telling them not to pay their taxes to the Roman government and by claiming he is the Messiah, a king.”

So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.” Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!”

Then they became insistent. “But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes—all over Judea, from Galilee to Jerusalem!”

“Oh, is he a Galilean?” Pilate asked. When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.

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Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.20-21 ESV

We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hymn: “And Can It Be (Amazing Love)” – Charles Wesley (1738)

7th Sunday of Easter: Revelation 22. 12-21 NLT – Come!

Reading: Revelation 22:12-21 NLT

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

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Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.

Prayer: Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

Spiritual Song: “Come to the well” – Casting Crowns

Morning Reading: Luke 22:66-67, 69-71 NLT – Jesus Messiah

Reading: Luke 22:66-67, 69-71 NLT

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At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law.

Jesus was led before this high council,  and they said, “Tell us, are you the Messiah?” But he replied, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me.  But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand. ”

They all shouted, “So, are you claiming to be the Son of God?” And he replied, “You say that I am.” “Why do we need other witnesses?” they said. “We ourselves heard him say it.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus Messiah – You rescued me from the grip of sin and death. You pray for me… intercede for me. To you belongs all the glory and power. Amen.

Spiritual Song: Jesus Messiah – Chris Tomlin

Morning Reading: Luke 22:63-65 NLT – brutality

Reading: Luke 22:63-65 NLT

Christ Mocked by Soldiers Georges Rouault, 1932
Christ Mocked by Soldiers
Georges Rouault, 1932

The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and said, “Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?” And they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at him.

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Reading: Isaiah 53.3 NLT

He was despised and rejected — a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

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Morning Reading: Luke 22.54-62 NLT – not me

Reading: Luke 22:54-62 NLT

So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there.

"The Denial of St. Peter" Gerrit van Honthurst, c. 1623
“The Denial of St. Peter”
Gerrit van Honthurst, c. 1623

A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”

After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.

About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.”

And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter.

Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Fill me with a spirit of repentance and remorse for the times that I have denied you.  May I weep with Peter over my weakness of resolve. Forgive me… and give me the the courage to follow you… come what may. May I honor you in all things. Amen.

Hymn: “Are Ye Able,” Said the Master –  Earl Marlatt (1926)

“Are ye able,” said the Master, “to be crucified with me?” “Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered, “to the death we follow thee.”

Refrain: Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.

Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes, that his pardoned soul is worthy
of a place in paradise?

Are ye able when the shadows close around you with the sod, to believe that spirit triumphs, to commend your soul to God?

Are ye able? Still the Master whispers down eternity, and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee.